Friday, March 6, 2009

Environmental Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 43, March 6, 2009

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Federal Register
Vol. 74, No. 43
Friday, March 6, 2009
 
 
There are 5 announcements in this issue
 
    1. TOXICS - ICR. EPA. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Notification of Chemical Exports - TSCA Section 12(b); EPA ICR No. 0795.13, OMB Control No. 2070-0030
 
    2. WILDLIFE - Presidential Documents. Memorandum of March 3, 2009. The Endangered Species Act
 
    3. ALL - Presidential Documents. Memorandum of March 4, 2009. Government Contracting
 
    4. WATER, DRINK - FRI/Delay Effective Date. USDA. Rural Utilities Service. Rural Development Guaranteed Loans
 
    5. ALL - NM. DOS. Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
 
CODES USED:  THE FOLLOWING CODES ARE USED TO IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF ANNOUNCEMENT & ISSUE AREA.  

REPORTING FORMAT: ISSUE CODE - TYPE CODE. AGENCY. ANNOUNCEMENT.
ISSUE CODES:  AIR - Air; ALL - Cross-Media, ecosystems, Env. Justice; CLIMATE - Climate Change, Global Warming; DRINK - Drinking Water, SDWA, Underground Injection; ENERGY - Energy; GLAKES  - Great Lakes; HAZ - Hazardous Waste, RCRA, HSWA, DOT/RSPA, Some Nuclear (NRC); LAND - Land Use, Forests; P2 - Pollution Prevention, Sustainability, Recycling, Pjt. XL; REMED - Remediation, Brownfields, Superfund; TANKS - AST, UST; TOXICS = Toxics, TRI, TSCA, Pesticides, Risks, RTK; TRANSPORT -  Transportation; SOLID - Solid Waste, RCRA Subtitle D; WATER - Surface Water, NPS, NPDES, Wetlands; WILDLIFE = Wildlife, Biodiversity, Endangered Species.
TYPE CODES: ANPR - Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; FR - Final Rule; FRD - Direct final rule; FRI - Interim final rule; ICR - Information Collection Request; ND - Notice of data, information, reports, etc. availability; NF - Notice of Fuding Opportunity; NM - Notice of Meeting; NS - Notice of administrative/court settlement; PR - Proposed Rule; ROD - Record of decision.
 

ANNOUNCEMENT 1


Subject: TOXICS - ICR. EPA. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Notification of Chemical Exports - TSCA Section 12(b);
EPA ICR No. 0795.13, OMB Control No. 2070-0030
 
[Federal Register: March 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 43)]
[Notices]              
[Page 9815-9816]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2008-0906; FRL-8403-4]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Notification of Chemical Exports - TSCA Section 12(b);
EPA ICR No. 0795.13, OMB Control No. 2070-0030

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR,
entitled: ``Notification of Chemical Exports - TSCA Section 12(b)'' and
identified by EPA ICR No. 0795.13 and OMB Control No. 2070-0030, is
scheduled to expire on November 30, 2009. Before submitting the ICR to
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the proposed information collection.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 5, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2008-0906, by one of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
    Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA
East, Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Attention:
Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2008-0906. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930. Such deliveries are only accepted
during the DCO's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Colby
Lintner, Regulatory Coordinator, Environmental Assistance Division
(7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-
Hotline@epa.gov
.
    For technical information contact: Gerry Brown, Chemical Control
Division (7405M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-8086; fax
number: (202) 564-4765; e-mail address: brown.gerry@epa.gov.
 
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ANNOUNCEMENT 2


Subject: WILDLIFE - Presidential Documents. Memorandum of March 3, 2009. The Endangered Species Act
 
[Federal Register: March 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 43)]
[Presidential Documents]              
[Page 9753-9754]   

                        Presidential Documents

Title 3--
The President

                Memorandum of March 3, 2009
 
                The Endangered Species Act

                Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and
                Agencies

                The Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. 1531 et
                seq., reflects one of the Nation's profound
                commitments. Pursuant to that Act, the Federal
                Government has long required a process of broad
                interagency consultation to ensure the application of
                scientific and technical expertise to decisions that
                may affect threatened or endangered species. Under that
                interagency process, executive departments and agencies
                (agencies) contemplating an action that may affect
                endangered or threatened species have long been
                required, except in certain limited circumstances, to
                consult with, and in some circumstances obtain the
                prior written concurrence of, the Fish and Wildlife
                Service (FWS) and/or the National Marine Fisheries
                Service (NMFS)--the expert agencies that have the
                primary responsibility to ensure that the ESA is
                implemented in accordance with the law.

                On December 16, 2008, the Departments of the Interior
                and Commerce issued a joint regulation that modified
                these longstanding requirements. See 73 Fed. Reg.
                76272. This new regulation expands the circumstances in
                which an agency may determine not to consult with, or
                obtain the written concurrence of, the FWS or NMFS
                prior to undertaking an action that may affect
                threatened or endangered species. But under the new
                regulation, agencies may continue the previous practice
                of consulting with, and obtaining the written
                concurrence of, the FWS and NMFS as a matter of
                discretion.

                I hereby request the Secretaries of the Interior and
                Commerce to review the regulation issued on December
                16, 2008, and to determine whether to undertake new
                rulemaking procedures with respect to consultative and
                concurrence processes that will promote the purposes of
                the ESA.

                Until such review is completed, I request the heads of
                all agencies to exercise their discretion, under the
                new regulation, to follow the prior longstanding
                consultation and concurrence practices involving the
                FWS and NMFS.

                This memorandum is not intended to, and does not,
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any
                other person. Agencies shall carry out the provisions
                of this memorandum to the extent permitted by law and
                consistent with statutory authorities.

                The Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and
                directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal
                Register.              
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,
                    Washington, March 3, 2009
 
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ANNOUNCEMENT 3


Subject: ALL - Presidential Documents. Memorandum of March 4, 2009. Government Contracting
 
[Federal Register: March 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 43)]
[Presidential Documents]              
[Page 9755-9757]

                        Presidential Documents 

                Memorandum of March 4, 2009

                 Government Contracting

                Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and
                Agencies

                The Federal Government has an overriding obligation to
                American taxpayers. It should perform its functions
                efficiently and effectively while ensuring that its
                actions result in the best value for the taxpayers.

                Since 2001, spending on Government contracts has more
                than doubled, reaching over $500 billion in 2008.
                During this same period, there has been a significant
                increase in the dollars awarded without full and open
                competition and an increase in the dollars obligated
                through cost-reimbursement contracts. Between fiscal
                years 2000 and 2008, for example, dollars obligated
                under cost-reimbursement contracts nearly doubled, from
                $71 billion in 2000 to $135 billion in 2008. Reversing
                these trends away from full and open competition and
                toward cost-reimbursement contracts could result in
                savings of billions of dollars each year for the
                American taxpayer. . .
 
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ANNOUNCEMENT 4


Subject: WATER, DRINK - FRI/Delay Effective Date. USDA. Rural Utilities Service. Rural Development Guaranteed Loans
 
[Federal Register: March 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 43)]
[Rules and Regulations]              
[Page 9759]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 1779

Rural Housing Service

7 CFR Part 3575

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Parts 4279 and 4280

Rural Business--Cooperative Service

Rural Housing Service

Rural Utilities Service

7 CFR Part 5001

[FR Doc. E9-3092]
RIN 0570-AA65

Rural Development Guaranteed Loans

AGENCIES: Rural Business--Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service,
Rural Utilities Service, USDA.

ACTION: Interim rule; delay of the effective date.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Rural Development is further delaying the effective date of
the interim rule for Rural Development Guaranteed Loans, which was
published on December 17, 2008, to June 1, 2009. The interim rule
establishes a unified guaranteed loan platform for the enhanced
delivery of four existing Rural Development guaranteed loan programs--
Community Facility; Water and Waste Disposal; Business and Industry;
and Rural Energy for America Program, formerly known as Renewable
Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvement Projects.

DATES: The effective date of the interim rule, which was published on
December 17, 2008 [73 FR 76698], delayed until February 17, 2008 [74 FR
2823], delayed until March 9, 2009 [74 FR 7179], is further delayed
until June 1, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael Foore, Rural Development,
Business and Cooperative Programs, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Stop 3201, Washington, DC 20250-3201; e-mail:
Michael.Foore@wdc.usda.gov; telephone (202) 690-4730.

 
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ANNOUNCEMENT 5


Subject: ALL - NM. DOS. Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)
 
[Federal Register: March 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 43)]
[Notices]              
[Page 9867-9868]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6538]

Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA-DR)

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that, as set forth in
Chapter 17 (Environment) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the CAFTA-DR governments
intend to hold the fourth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council
(the ``Council'') in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 10, 2009. The
Council will hold an information session for members of the public on
March 10, 2009, from 2-4 p.m. in the Ramada Herradura Hotel, facing the
General Ca[ntilde]as Highway, five kilometers south of the Juan
Santamaria International Airport. The purpose of the Council meetings
is detailed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    The meeting agenda will include a review of issues concerning
implementation of the Environment Chapter, review and formal adoption
of Working Procedures and a Public Outreach Plan for the Secretariat
for Environmental Matters Under the CAFTA-DR (``Secretariat''),
appointment of a new General Coordinator for the Secretariat, and
presentations of various accomplishments under the CAFTA-DR
Environmental Cooperation Program.
    The Department of State and USTR invite interested agencies,
organizations, and members of the public to submit written comments or
suggestions regarding agenda items and to attend the public session. In
preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to the CAFTA-DR
Environment Chapter and the Final Environment Review of the CAFTA-DR
(available at http://www.ustr.gov) and the Environmental Cooperation
Agreement (ECA) (available at http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ trade/).

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, submit comments on or
before March 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:
(1) Rachel Kastenberg, Department of State, Bureau of Oceans,
Environment, and Science, Office of Environmental Policy by electronic
mail at kastenbergRL@state.gov with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR EAC
Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) Mara M. Burr, Deputy
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environment and
Natural Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative by
electronic mail at mburr@ustr.eop.gov with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR
EAC Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202)
647-9266 or Mara M. Burr, Telephone (202) 395-7320.
 
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