As required by the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Environmental Protection Agency has issued "receipt and status" reports on the premanufacture notices (PMNs) and applications for test marketing exemptions (TMEs) that it has received from those intending to manufacture (which includes import) a new chemical (i.e., a chemical not on the TSCA Inventory). The notices cover the periods of June 21-30, 2010 and September 1-17, 2010. Comments are due November 1, 2010.
The Federal Maritime Commission announces that it is transitioning to an upgraded Web site operating platform, the first of two major phases in its Web site upgrade and redesign process, which will provide more transparency and public access and input for FMC's activities, information, and services. Users of FMC's service contract filing system, SERVCON, may access this system either through the FMC's Web site or directly via https://servcon.fmc.gov.
Transportation Secretary LaHood announced the availability of a new report, "Moving Forward: A Progress Report," which updates the U.S. Department of Transportation’s efforts to develop a first-ever comprehensive National Rail Plan (NRP). Among other things, the report found that a long-term commitment is needed to help freight and passenger rail accommodate future U.S. economic and population growth.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Department of Energy has announced that it is initiating a rulemaking to amend the energy conservation standards for certain commercial and industrial electric motors under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA)1.
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
The Committee for the Implementation of Textile Agreements has issued a notice announcing the fiscal year 2011 duty-free tariff preference level and lesser-developed beneficiary countries (LDBC) sublimit for certain apparel from African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) beneficiary countries,1 as specified in HTS 9819.11.09 and 9819.11.12.
The Federal Maritime Commission has announced that it has two meetings scheduled for the rest of 2010, one on October 27, 2010, and the other on December 8, 2010. FMC will issue its agendas for these meetings at a later time.
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced that three additional airport projects have been selected for funding, paid for with more than $2.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars that became available because of airport projects that came in under budget nationwide. The three projects are: (1) Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, to fund the ongoing construction and paving of the new international terminal apron; (2) Lawrence, Mass., Municipal Airport, to fund several pavement rehabilitation projects on airport taxiways and aircraft parking aprons; and (3) CharlesM. Schulz-Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, Calif., to allow the airport to complete the second phase of its terminal rehabilitation and replace the terminal building roof.
The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea announces that South Korea will host the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) talks this week that aim to expand preferential duties and fuel cross-border commerce. The talks start Tuesday, September 28, and involve representatives from six APTA member countries striving to conclude the fourth round of talks that began in 2007.