Executive Office of the President – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Section 182 of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act) (19 U.S.C. 2242), requires the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to identify countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. persons who rely on intellectual property protection. Section 182 is commonly referred to as the ``Special 301'' provision of the Trade Act. In addition, USTR is required to determine which of those countries should be identified as Priority Foreign Countries. On April 30, 2005, USTR announced the results of the 2005 Special 301 review and stated that Out-of-Cycle Reviews (OCRs) would be conducted for Ukraine and Saudi Arabia. USTR will conduct these OCRs in the fall of 2005. USTR requests written comments from the public concerning the acts, policies, and practices relevant for this review under Section 182 of the Trade Act.

This notice sets forth the timetable for the hearing and public comments on petitions requesting modifications in the status of certain GSP beneficiary countries.

The Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) Board, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, invites public comments on the staff discussion paper regarding a provision that provides an exemption from CAS for contracts that are executed and performed entirely outside the United States, its territories, and possessions.

The United States Trade Representative (``Trade Representative'') has determined that an appropriate response to the Government of Ukraine's adoption of important improvements to its legislation protecting intellectual property rights (``IPR'') is to terminate the 100% ad valorem duties currently in place on Ukrainian exports. In addition, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is conducting an out-of-cycle review (``OCR'') under Section 182 (commonly referred to as the ``Special 301'' provision) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (``Trade Act'') focused on whether Ukraine has implemented fully the legislative improvements and has otherwise strengthened IPR enforcement. At the conclusion of the OCR, the Trade Representative will determine whether to revoke the identification of Ukraine as a priority foreign country (``PFC'') and accordingly to change Ukraine's status on the Special 301 list, and whether to restore Ukraine's benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (``GSP''). USTR requests written comments from the public concerning these matters.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: September 20, 2005, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 100 of the National Academies Keck Center located at 500 Fifth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/ pcast.html. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday, September 20, 2005, at approximately 9 a.m. The PCAST is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on research and commercialization activities in the areas of pharmacogenomics (or personalized medicine) and alternative energy. These are both areas in which PCAST may undertake studies regarding the Federal role in research and development and the barriers and possible implications surrounding widespread adoption. A review and update of other PCAST topics (e.g., nanotechnology) is also tentatively scheduled to occur. This session will end at approximately 5 p.m. Additional information on the agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https:// www.ostp.gov/PCAST/pcast.html. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Celia Merzbacher, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456- 7116, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6021.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is relocating Circular A-87, ``Cost Principles for State, Local, and Indian Tribal Governments,'' to Title 2 in the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Subtitle A, Chapter II, part 225 as part of an initiative to provide the public with a central location for Federal government policies on grants and other financial assistance and nonprocurement agreements. Consolidating the OMB guidance and co-locating the agency regulations provides a good foundation for streamlining and simplifying the policy framework for grants and agreements as part of the efforts to implement the Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 1999 (Pub. L. 106-107).

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is updating its guidance on nonprocurement debarment and suspension to conform to the common rule that 33 Federal agencies published on November 26, 2003. The agencies issued that common rule after resolving public comments received in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. In updating the guidance, the OMB is making two improvements to streamline the policy framework in this area. First, we are issuing the guidance in a format that is suitable for Federal agency adoption. Agency adoption of the guidance will reduce the volume of Federal regulations on nonprocurement debarment and suspension, making it easier for the affected public to use, and easier and less expensive for the Federal Government to maintain. Second, we are publishing the guidance in the recently established Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR). Locating it in 2 CFR will make it easier to find. Also, the OMB guidance will be co- located in the same title of the CFR as Federal agencies' implementing regulations that adopt the guidance. That is, consistent with the framework put in place when OMB established Title 2, each Federal agency will issue its implementing regulation in its chapter in Subtitle B of 2 CFR. This notice also makes minor changes to the previously issued 2 CFR part 215, to conform that part with the guidance published today.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) received petitions in connection with the 2005 annual review to modify the list of products that are eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP program and to modify the GSP status of certain GSP beneficiary developing countries because of country practices. The list of country practice petitions accepted for review will be announced in the Federal Register at a later date. This notice announces the product petitions that are accepted for further review in the 2005 GSP Annual Review, and sets forth the schedule for comment and public hearing on these petitions, for requesting participation in the hearing, and for submitting pre-hearing and post-hearing briefs.