The President has issued an administrative order continuing for one year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13224 on September 23, 2001, "Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism."
The State Department is requesting comments or suggestions regarding items for inclusion in a new Plan of Action for implementing the U.S.-Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation (MOU) signed on February 20, 2006. It encourages submitters to refer to: (1) the U.S.-Oman MOU, (2) the U.S.-Oman 2006-2008 Environmental Cooperation Work Program, (3) the Environment Chapter (17) of the U.S. -- Oman Free Trade Agreement, and (4) the Environmental Review of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement. Comments are due by October 20, 2010.
On September 17, 2010, Agriculture Secretary Vilsack announced the opening of a new Agricultural Trade Office in Shenyang, the capital of northwest China's international trade hub in Liaoning province. The opening of this Agricultural Trade Office marks USDA's expansion into the hub of northeast China and reflects the Administration's National Export Initiative (NEI).
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a proposed rule that would restrict the use of cell phones while operating a commercial motor vehicle. This rulemaking would also address the National Transportation Safety Board's "Most Wanted List" of safety recommendations.
On September 17, 2010, President Obama announced his intent to nominate Rebecca Dye as a Commissioner to the Federal Maritime Commission. Dye was originally confirmed as a Federal Maritime Commissioner in 2002. She was nominated to her second term, which expired on June 30, 2010, in July 2005.
The White House has posted a new report, "100 Recovery Act Projects that are Changing America,” which highlights some of the most innovative and effective Recovery Act projects across the U.S.
The International Trade Administration is currently seeking nominations for membership on the Civil Nuclear Trade Advisory Committee (CINTAC). The purpose of the CINTAC is to advise the Secretary regarding the development and administration of programs to expand U.S. exports of civil nuclear goods and services in accordance with applicable U.S. regulations. Nominations are due by October 12, 2010.
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):
Seafood safety experts from the Food and Drug Administration and the University of Maryland Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) are training 10 scientists from Bangladesh on how to eliminate health hazards from aquaculture -- the controlled production of seafood, much of which is exported to the United States.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is requesting comments regarding a proposal of a fasttrack ex parte reexamination voucher pilot program to create incentives for technologies and licensing behavior that address humanitarian needs through the intellectual property system, which would allow patent owners to more readily and less expensively affirm the validity of their patents. Comments are due by November 19, 2010.