Miscellaneous International Trade Notices
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a final rule that implements the voluntary early retirement provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which apply to most executive branch agencies. This final rule, effective June 14, 2004, explains how an agency requests authority from OPM to offer voluntary early retirement to its employees. (FR Pub 06/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-13484.pdf)
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1. OPM Issues Final Rule on Certain Voluntary Early Retirement Provisions
2. OPM Issues Final Rule to Implement Certain Human Resources Flexibilities
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a final rule, effective July 15, 2004, which revises its regulations to implement certain Government-wide human resources flexibilities contained in the Chief Human Capital Officers Act of 2002. These regulations provide agencies with, among other things: ability to appoint qualified candidates for positions in the competitive service using direct-hire procedures; increased flexibility in accessing applicants using alternative (category-based) rating and selection procedures, etc. (FR Pub 06/15/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-13426.pdf)
3. APHIS Seeks Comments on Humane Handling, Etc. of Certain Birds, Rats, and Mice
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking which states that it is considering several changes to the regulations at 9 CFR Parts 2 and 3 to help promote the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds, rats, and mice not specifically excluded from coverage under the AWA. As a result, APHIS is soliciting comments from the public to, among other things, help determine how it should regulate those animals. Written comments are due on or before August 3, 2004. (D/N 98-106-4, FR Pub 06/04/04, available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12692.pdf)
4. Foreign-Trade Zones Board Actions
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board (FTZB) has issued the following notices of recent FTZB actions:
| FTZ applicant | Company or action |
| Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce (FTZ 222) | Quantegy, Inc. |
| Greater Rockford Airport Authority (FTZ 176) | application for expansion/reorganization |
| Greater Detroit Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ 70) | application for expansion |
| Northern Mississippi FTZ, Inc. (Proposed FTZ) | extension of comment period |
| Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority (FTZ 8) | application for expansion |
| Cross Hller-North America (operator of FTZ 210-Site 2) | approval of expansion of manufacturing authority |
| Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (FTZ 181) | approval of expansion |
FTZ notices (FR Pubs 05/27/04, 06/01/04 and 06/08/04) available at http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12040.pdf, http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12290.pdf, http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12288.pdf, and http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/06jun20041800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2004/pdf/04-12942.pdf