On August 27, 2010, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration submitted a final rule to the Office of Management and Budget entitled: "Drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicles: Limiting the Use of Wireless Communication Devices." FMCSA states that this rulemaking would ban text messaging while operating a commercial motor vehicle. This rulemaking is in response to FMCSA-sponsored studies that analyzed safety incidents and distracted drivers. This rulemaking would also address the National Transportation Safety Board´s "Most Wanted List" of safety recommendations.
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
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 Department of Homeland Security announces that the Homeland Security Advisory Council will meet via teleconference on Septermber 16, 2010 for the purpose of reviewing the report of the HSAC’s Southwest Border Task Force.
Commerce Secretary Locke met with artists and representatives from the music industry on August 30, 2010 to discuss the administration’s commitment to global enforcement of laws against intellectual property piracy. Earlier this year, Locke also met with representatives from the motion picture industry in Los Angeles to stress the importance of strong intellectual property rights. In July, the Commerce Department’s U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration hosted a conference on “Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Information Economy,” bringing together representatives of the music industry and other content owners, Internet Service Providers and public interest groups.
The International Trade Administration calls for applications and sets forth objectives, procedures and application review criteria associated with support for domestic trade shows by the International Buyer Program. This announcement covers selection for International Buyer Program participation for calendar year 2012. Applications are due by November 1, 2010.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has issued a final rule, effective October 1, 2010, which corrects editorial errors, makes minor regulatory changes and, in response to requests for clarification, improves the clarity of certain provisions in the Hazardous Materials Regulations. The amendments contained in this rule are nonsubstantive changes and do not impose new requirements.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology announces that it intends to terminate, effective September 30, 2010, the Commercial Products Testing Laboratory Accreditation Program offered by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP), which includes the following areas of testing: paints and related coatings, paper and related products, building seals and sealants, plastics, plumbing, roofing, and mattresses.
In joint actions, the Departments of Treasury and State haveannounced the designations of five North Korean entities and three individuals under Executive Order13382 for supporting North Korea's Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) program, which freezesthe assets of WMD proliferators and their supporters and isolates them from the U.S. financial and commercial systems.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is publishing the name of one newly-designated individual in Saudi Arabia whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to Executive Order 13224, “Blocking Property and Prohibiting Transactions With Persons Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism,” effective August 24, 2010.