Notice of Proposed Changes to the Natural Resources Conservation Service's National Handbook of Conservation Practices
AGENCY: Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability of proposed changes in the NRCS National Handbook of Conservation Practices for public review and comment.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of the intention of NRCS to issue 21 new or revised conservation practice standards in its National Handbook of Conservation Practices. These standards include: Amendments for Treatment of Agricultural Waste (Code 591), Early Successional Habitat Development (Code 647), Firebreak (Code 394), Fuel Break (Code 383), Land Reclamation, Toxic Discharge Control (Code 455), Residue and Tillage Management--Mulch Till (Code 345), Residue and Tillage Management--No Till/Strip Till/Direct Seed (Code 329), Residue and Tillage Management--Ridge Till (Code 346), Restoration and Management of Declining Habitats (Code 643), Riparian Herbaceous Cover (Code 390), Shallow Water Management for Wildlife (Code 646), Slash Treatment (Code 384), Streambank and Shoreline Protection (Code 580), Solid/Liquid Waste Separation Facility (Code 632), Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (Code 645), Use Exclusion (Code 472), Waste Treatment (Code 629), Wetland Creation (Code 658), Wetland Enhancement (Code 659), Wetland Restoration (Code 657), and Wetland Wildlife Habitat Management (Code 644). NRCS State Conservationists who choose to adopt these practices for use within their States will incorporate them into Section IV of their respective electronic Field Office Technical Guides. These practices may be used in conservation systems that treat highly erodible land, or on land determined to be wetland.
DATES: Effective Dates:
Comments will be received for a 30-day period commencing with this date of publication. This series of new or revised conservation practice standards will be adopted after the close of the 30-day period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of these standards can be downloaded or printed from the following Web site: ftp://ftp-fc.sc.egov.usda.gov/NHQ/practice-standards/federal-register/. Single
copies of these standards are also available from NRCS in Washington, DC. Submit individual inquiries in writing to Daniel Meyer, National Agricultural Engineer, Natural Resources Conservation Service, P.O. Box 2890, Room 6139-S, Washington, DC 20013-2890.
Add Malaysia to List of Regions in Which Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Subtype H5N1 Is Considered To Exist
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Interim rule and request for comments.
SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations concerning the importation of animals and animal products by adding Malaysia to the list of regions in which highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 is considered to exist. We are taking this action because there has been an outbreak of HPAI subtype H5N1 in Malaysia. This action is necessary to prevent the introduction of HPAI subtype H5N1 into the United States.
DATES: This interim rule was effective August 7, 2004. We will consider all comments that we receive on or before April 4, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
EDOCKET: Go to http://www.epa.gov/feddocket to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once you have entered EDOCKET, click on the "View Open APHIS Dockets'' link to locate this document.
Postal Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send four copies of your comment (an original and three copies) to Docket No. 04-091-1, Regulatory Analysis and Development, PPD, APHIS, Station 3C71, 4700 River Road Unit 118, Riverdale, MD 20737-1238. Please state that your comment refers to Docket No. 04-091-1.
E-mail: Address your comment to email@example.com. Your comment must be contained in the body of your message; do not send attached files. Please include your name and address in your message and "Docket No. 04-091-1'' on the subject line.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for locating this docket and submitting comments.
Reading Room: You may read any comments that we receive on this docket in our reading room. The reading room is located in room 1141 of the USDA South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC. Normal reading room hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. To be sure someone is there to help you, please call (202) 690-2817 before coming.
Other Information: You may view APHIS documents published in the Federal Register and related information, including the names of groups and individuals who have commented on APHIS dockets, on the Internet at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Julie Garnier, Staff Veterinarian, Technical Trade Issues Team, National Center for Import and Export, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 39, Riverdale, MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-5677.
U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product Prospectuses
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comments.
SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration publishes this notice to announce the availability of draft Prospectuses for three of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) Synthesis and Assessment Products (Products) for public comment. These draft Prospectuses address the following CCSP Topics:
Product 2.1 Scenarios of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Atmospheric Concentrations and Review of Integrated Scenario Development and Application;
Product 2.2 North American Carbon Budget and Implications for the Global Carbon Cycle; and
Product 3.1 Climate Models and Their Uses and Limitations: Climate Sensitivity, Feedbacks, and Uncertainties.
After consideration of comments received on the draft Prospectuses, the final Prospectuses along with the comments received will be published on the CCSP web site.
DATES: Comments must be received by March 7, 2005.
ADDRESSES: The draft Prospectuses are posted on the CCSP Program Office web site. The web addresses to access the draft Prospectuses are:
Product 2.1 (emissions scenarios):
Product 2.2 (North American carbon budget):
Product 3.1 (climate models):
Detailed instructions for making comments on the draft Prospectuses are provided with each Prospectus. Comments should be prepared in accordance with these instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard H. Moss, Ph.D., Director, Climate Change Science Program Office (202) 419-3476.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The CCSP was established by the President in 2002 to coordinate and integrate scientific research on global change and climate change sponsored by 13 participating departments and agencies of the U.S. Government. The CCSP is charged with preparing information resources that support climate-related discussions and decisions, including scientific synthesis and assessment analyses that support evaluation of important policy issues. The Prospectuses addressed by this notice provide a topical overview and describe plans for scoping, drafting, reviewing, producing, and disseminating three of 21 final synthesis and assessment Products that will be produced by the CCSP.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Scientific Advisory Board
AGENCY: Department of Defense.
SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463), announcement is made of the following Committee meeting:
DATES: March 15, 2005 from 9000 to 1700 and March 16, 2005 from 0800 to 1525.
ADDRESSES: Quality Inn Jacksonville, 701 N. Marine Blvd., Jacksonville, NC 28540.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Taunya King, SERDP Program Office, 901 North Stuart Street, Suite 303, Arlington, VA or by telephone at (703) 696-2124.
Matters To Be Considered
Research and Development proposals and continuing projects requesting Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program funds in excess of $1M will be reviewed.
This meeting is open to the public. Any interested person may attend, appear before, or file statements with the Scientific Advisory Board at the time and in the manner permitted by the Board.
AGENCY: National Assessment Governing Board; U.S. Department of Education.
ACTION: Notice of open teleconference meeting.
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the schedule and proposed agenda of a forthcoming teleconference meeting of the Assessment Development Committee of the National Assessment Governing Board. This notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required under section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify members of the general public of their opportunity to attend. Individuals who will need special accommodations in order to attend the meeting (i.e.; interpreting services, assistive listening devices, materials in alternative format) should notify Munira Mwalimu at 202-357-6938 or at Munira.Mwalimu@ed.gov no later than February 10, 2004. We will attempt to meet requests after this date, but cannot guarantee availability of the requested accommodation. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Date: February 14, 2005.
Time: 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: National Assessment Governing Board, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Munira Mwalimu, Operations Officer, National Assessment Governing Board, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Suite 825, Washington, DC 20002-4233, telephone: (202) 357-6938.
On February 14, 2005, the Assessment Development Committee will hold a teleconference meeting from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to discuss and take action, on behalf of the National Assessment Governing Board on a concept paper which examines the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading framework in the context of preparedness for college and the workplace. The concept paper was prepared for the Governing Board under contract with Achieve, Inc.
A transcript of the teleconference, and other related matters which are informative to the public and consistent with the policy of the section 5 U.S.C. 552b(c), will be available to the public within 14 days after the meeting. Records are kept of all Board proceedings and are available for public inspection at the U.S. Department of Education, National Assessment Governing Board, Suite 825, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., Washington, DC from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
SUMMARY: This notice announces a meeting of the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee (BESAC). Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 86 Stat. 770) requires that public notice of these meetings be announced in the Federal Register.
DATES: Monday, March 7, 2005, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday, March 8, 2005, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center, 9751 Washingtonian Boulevard, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Talamini; Office of Basic Energy Sciences; U.S. Department of Energy; Germantown Building, Independence Avenue, Washington, DC 20585; Telephone: (301) 903-4563.
Purpose of the Meeting: The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice and guidance with respect to the basic energy sciences research program.
Tentative Agenda: Agenda will include discussions of the following:
News from the Office of Science.
News from the Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
Public Participation: The meeting is open to the public. If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. If you would like to make oral statements regarding any of the items on the agenda, you should contact Karen Talamini at (301) 903-6594 (fax) or firstname.lastname@example.org (e-mail). You must make your request for an oral statement at least 5 business days prior to the meeting. Reasonable provision will be made to include the scheduled oral statements on the agenda. The Chairperson of the Committee will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Public comment will follow the 10-minute rule.
Minutes: The minutes of this meeting will be available for public review and copying within 30 days at the Freedom of Information Public Reading Room; 1E-190, Forrestal Building; 1000 Independence Avenue, SW.; Washington, DC 20585; between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.
Science Advisory Board Staff Office; EPI Suite Review Panel of the Science Advisory Board; Request for Nominations
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office (hereinafter, the "Staff Office'') is announcing the formation of a new SAB review panel known as the EPI Suite Review Panel of the Science Advisory Board (hereinafter, the "Panel'') and is hereby soliciting nominations for this Panel.
DATES: Nominations should be submitted by February 22, 2005, per the instructions below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Any member of the public wishing further information regarding this Request for Nominations may contact Ms. Kathleen White, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), EPA Science Advisory Board Staff, at telephone/voice mail: (202) 343-9878; or via e-mail at: email@example.com. General information concerning the SAB can be found on the EPA Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.
Science Advisory Board Staff Office; Notification of Upcoming Science Advisory Board Meeting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
SUMMARY: The EPA Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office announces a public meeting of the EPA Science Advisory Board (the Board) to discuss the EPA science and research programs and budget, and to conduct other Board activities.
ADDRESSES: The meeting of the Science Advisory Board will be held in the Polaris Room of the Ronald Reagan Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004.
DATES: February 17-18, 2005. A public meeting of the Board will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on February 17 and 18, 2005 (eastern time).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Members of the public who wish to obtain further information regarding the SAB may contact Mr. Thomas O. Miller, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), U.S. EPA Science Advisory Board Staff Office (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; by telephone/voice mail at (202) 343-9982; or via e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org. The SAB Mailing address is: U.S. EPA, Science
Advisory Board (1400F), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. General information about the SAB, as well as any updates concerning the meeting announced in this notice, may be found in the SAB Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/sab.
Board of Scientific Counselors, Ecological Research Subcommittee
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of meetings.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, the Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development (ORD), announces three meetings of the Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Ecological Research Subcommittee.
DATES: Two teleconference call meetings will be held, the first on Thursday, February 17, 2005, from 3 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and the second on Thursday, March 3, 2005, from 3 to 5:30 p.m. A face-to-face meeting will be held beginning Monday, March 7, 2005 (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), continuing on Tuesday, March 8, 2005 (8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.), and concluding on Wednesday, March 9, 2005 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.). All times noted are Eastern Standard Time. Meetings may adjourn early if all business is completed.
ADDRESSES: Conference calls: Participation in the conference calls will be by teleconference only--meeting rooms will not be used. Members of the public may obtain the call-in number and access code for the teleconference meeting from Greg Susanke, whose contact information is listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Face-to-Face Meeting: The face-to-face meeting will be held at the U.S. EPA Research Triangle Park (RTP) Campus, National Computer Center Building (Room N110), located at 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
Draft agendas for the meetings are available from Greg Susanke, whose contact information is listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for the draft agendas will be accepted up to 2 business days prior to each conference call/meeting date. The draft agendas also can be viewed through EDOCKET, as provided in Unit I.A. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
Any member of the public interested in making an oral presentation at one of the conference calls or at the face-to-face meeting may contact Greg Susanke, whose contact information is listed under the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section of this notice. Requests for making oral presentations will be accepted up to 2 business days prior to each conference call/meeting date. In general, each individual making an oral presentation will be limited to a total of three minutes.
Written comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in Unit I.B. of this section. Written comments will be accepted up to 2 business days prior to each conference call/meeting date.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Greg Susanke, Designated Federal Officer, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Mail Code 8104R, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC; telephone (202) 564-9945; fax (202) 565-2925; e-mail email@example.com.
Good Neighbor Environmental Board Meeting
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
SUMMARY: The next meeting of the Good Neighbor Environmental Board, a Federal advisory committee that reports to the President and Congress on environmental and infrastructure projects along the U.S. border with Mexico, will take place in Eagle Pass, Texas, on February 16th and 17th, 2005. It is open to the public.
DATES: On February 16th, the meeting will begin at 8:30 a.m. (registration at 8 a.m.) and end at 3 p.m. Interested parties will then proceed to a nearby location to hear from additional speakers until
5:30 p.m. On February 17th, the Board will hold a routine business meeting from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. (registration at 7:30 a.m.).
ADDRESSES: The meeting site is the Middle Rio Grande Workforce Center, 1200 Ferry St, Eagle Pass Texas. The phone number is (830) 773-1191.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elaine M. Koerner, Designated Federal Officer for the Good Neighbor Environmental Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Tel: (202) 233-0069. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.org.
Pesticides; Procedural Regulations for Registration Review; Notification to the Secretary of Agriculture
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notification to the Secretary of Agriculture.
SUMMARY: This document notifies the public that theAdministrator of EPA has forwarded to the Secretary of Agriculture a draft proposed rule as required by section 25(a) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The draft proposed rule would establish procedures for conducting a periodic review of pesticide registrations. FIFRA section 3(g) directs the Agency to establish by regulation procedures for reviewing pesticide registrations, with a goal of reviewing each pesticide's registration every 15 years. The purpose of this review is to assure that a pesticide continues to meet the FIFRA standard for registration. The legislative history for FIFRA 3(g) noted that because safety standards change over time, it is necessary to assure that pesticides continue to meet these standards as new knowledge and information are developed.
Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct and Financial Disclosure Requirements for Employees of the Department of Health and Human Services
AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
ACTION: Interim final rule with request for comments.
SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services, with the concurrence of the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), is amending the HHS regulation that supplements the OGE Standards of Ethical Conduct. This interim final rule specifies additional procedural and substantive requirements that are necessary to address ethical issues at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and updates nomenclature, definitions, and procedures applicable to other components of the Department. The rule: Revises the definition of a significantly regulated organization for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Updates the organization titles of designated separate agencies; Amends the gift exception for native artwork and craft items received from Indian tribes or Alaska Native organizations; Aligns the FDA prohibited holdings limit with the de minimis holdings exemption in OGE regulations; Revises prior approval procedures for outside activities; and, subject to certain exceptions: Prohibits NIH employees from engaging in certain outside activities with supported research institutions, health care providers or insurers, health-related trade or professional associations, and biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and other companies substantially affected by the programs, policies, or operations of the NIH; Bars NIH employees who file a public or confidential financial disclosure report from holding financial interests in substantially affected organizations; Subjects NIH non-filer employees to a monetary cap on holdings in such organizations; Specifies for NIH employees prior approval procedures for and limitations on the receipt of certain awards from outside sources; and Imposes a one-year disqualification period during which NIH employees are precluded from official actions involving an award donor. In addition, the Department is adding a new supplemental part to expand financial disclosure reporting requirements for certain outside activities and to ensure that prohibited financial interests are identified.
DATES: This interim rule is effective February 3, 2005. Comments received by April 4, 2005, will be considered prior to issuance of a final rule.
ADDRESSES: Send comments in writing to the Office of the General Counsel, Ethics Division, Department of Health and Human Services, Room 700-E, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201, Attention: Linda L. Conte. Comments also may be
sent electronically to the following e-mail address: email@example.com. For e-mail messages, the subject line should include the following reference: "Comments on Interim Final HHS Supplemental Ethics Rule.''
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edgar M. Swindell, Associate General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Ethics Division, Department of Health and Human Services, telephone (202) 690-7258, fax (202) 205-9752.
Notice of Meeting: Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society
Pursuant to Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given of the sixth meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Genetics, Health, and Society (SACGHS), U.S. Public Health Service. The meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on February 28, 2005 and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on March 1, 2005 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel, 5701 Marinelli Road, North Bethesda, Maryland. The meeting will be open to the public with attendance limited to space available. The meeting will be webcast.
The meeting is expected to include presentations and deliberations on several topics, including the following: a revised draft report with recommendations about coverage and reimbursement for genetic technologies and services; current and proposed efforts to understand gene-environment interactions through large population studies; the Committee's efforts to explore stakeholder perspectives on the need for Federal legislation to prevent genetic discrimination in health insurance and employment; the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders and Genetic Diseases in Newborns and Children regarding the provision of screening, counseling and health care services for newborns and children having or at risk for heritable disorders; and efforts to improve the quality of laboratory testing for rare diseases. Time will be provided each day for public comments.
Under authority of 42 U.S.C. 217a, Section 222 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services established SACGHS to serve as a public forum for deliberations on the board range of human health and societal issues raised by the development and use of genetic technologies and, as warranted, to provide advice on these issues. The draft meeting agenda and other information about SACGHS, including information about access to the webcast, will be available at the following Web site: http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/sacghs.htm.
The Committee would welcome hearing from anyone wishing to provide public comment on any issue related to genetics, health and society. Individuals who would like to provide public comment or who plan to attend the meeting and need special assistance, such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, should notify the SACGHS Executive Secretary, Ms. Sarah Carr, by telephone at 301-496-9838 or e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.org. The SACGHS office is located at 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 750, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Workshop on Manufacturing Research and Development in Three Priority Areas: Nanomanufacturing, Manufacturing for the Hydrogen Economy, and Intelligent and Integrated Manufacturing Systems;
Sponsored by the National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Technology, Interagency Working Group on Manufacturing Research and Development
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
SUMMARY: A public forum sponsored by the Manufacturing Research and Development Interagency Working Group (IWG) of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) will be held to review the current state of manufacturing research and development in three priority areas: nanomanufacturing, manufacturing for the hydrogen economy, and intelligent and integrated manufacturing systems.
DATES AND ADDRESSES: The Manufacturing Research and Development Interagency Working Group (IWG) will hold a one-day public forum on Thursday, March 3, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public forum will be held in the auditorium at the Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20418.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information regarding this Notice, please contact Susan Skemp, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Washington, DC. Telephone: (202) 456-6043. Email: email@example.com.