Notices. Notice of public comment period on a first external review draft
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BILLING CODE 6560-50-P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Draft Air Quality Criteria for Lead [E-Docket ID No. ORD-2004-0018; FRL-8004-3] AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of public comment period on a first external review draft. SUMMARY: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)is announcing a public comment period for the draft document titled, “Air Quality Criteria for Lead; First External Review Draft” (EPA/600/R-05/144). The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment within EPA's Office of Research and Development. EPA is releasing this draft document solely for the purpose of seeking public comment. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency policy, viewpoint, or determination. EPA will consider any public comments submitted in accordance with this notice when revising the document. DATES: The public comment period begins on or about December 1, 2005, and ends February 15, 2006. Technical comments should be in writing and must be received by EPA by February 15, 2006. Comments may be submitted electronically via EPA's E-Docket, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. Please follow the detailed instructions as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. ADDRESSES: The draft “Air Quality Criteria for Lead; First External Review Draft” is available primarily via the Internet on the National Center for Environmental Assessment's home page under the Recent Additions and Publications menus at *http://www.epa.gov/ncea* . A limited number of CD-ROM or paper copies will be available. Contact Ms. Diane Ray by phone (919-541-3637), fax (919-541-1818), or e-mail ( *ray.diane@epa.gov* ) to request either of these, and please provide your name, your mailing address, and the document title, “Air Quality Criteria for Lead; First External Review Draft,” (EPA/600/R-05/144) to facilitate processing of your request. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the public comment period, contact the Office of Environmental Information Docket; telephone: 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov* . For technical information, contact Lori White, Ph.D., NCEA; telephone: 919-541-3146; facsimile: 919-541-1818; or e-mail: *white.lori@epa.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Information about the Project/Document Section 108(a) of the Clean Air Act directs the Administrator to identify certain pollutants which “may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and welfare” and to issue air quality criteria for them. These air quality criteria are to “accurately reflect the latest scientific knowledge useful in indicating the kind and extent of all identifiable effects on public health or welfare which may be expected from the presence of [a] pollutant in the ambient air * * *.” Under section 109 of the Act, EPA is then to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for each pollutant for which EPA has issued criteria. Section 109(d) of the Act requires subsequent periodic review and, if appropriate, revision of existing air quality criteria to reflect advances in scientific knowledge on the effects of the pollutant on public health and welfare. EPA is also to revise the NAAQS, if appropriate, based on the revised criteria. Lead is one of six “criteria” pollutants for which EPA has established air quality criteria and NAAQS. On November 9, 2004 (69 FR 64926), EPA formally initiated its current review of the criteria and NAAQS for lead, requesting the submission of recent scientific information on specified topics. One of the next steps in this process was to prepare a project work plan for revision of the existing “Air Quality Criteria for Lead,” EPA-600/8-83/028aF-dF (published in June 1986) and an associated supplement (EPA-600/8-89/049F) published in 1990. Accordingly, a draft of EPA's “Project Work Plan for Revised Air Quality Criteria for Lead” (NCEA-R-1465) was released on January 7, 2005 for public comment (70 FR 1439) and was discussed by the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) via a publicly accessible March 28, 2005, teleconference consultation (70 FR 11629). On July 15, 2005 (70 FR 41007), several workshops were announced to discuss, with invited recognized scientific experts, initial draft materials that dealt with various lead-related issues being addressed in the draft AQCD for lead. These workshops were held August 4-5, 16-18, and 17-19, 2005. After the end of the comment period on the Air Quality Criteria for Lead, First External Review Draft, EPA will present the draft at a public meeting for review by CASAC. Public comments received will be provided to the CASAC review panel. There will be a **Federal Register** notice to inform the public of the exact date and time of that CASAC meeting. II. How To Submit Technical Comments to EPA's E-Docket EPA has established an official public docket for information pertaining to the revision of the Lead AQCD, Docket ID No. ORD-2004-0018. The official public docket is the collection of materials available for public viewing and includes the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received, and other information related to this action, but excludes Confidential Business Information
(CBI)or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket is available for public viewing at the Office of Environmental Information
(OEI)Docket in the Headquarters EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West Building, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Public Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is 202-566-1752; facsimile: 202-566-1753; or e-mail: *ORD.Docket@epa.gov* . An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, E-Docket. You may use E-Docket at *http://www.epa.gov/edocket/* to submit or view public comments, to access the index of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “search,” then key in the appropriate docket identification number. Certain types of information will not be placed in E-Docket. Information claimed as CBI and other information for which disclosure is restricted by statute will not be available for public viewing in the official public docket or in E-Docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be placed in E-Docket but will be referenced there and will be available as printed material in the official public docket. If you intend to submit comments to EPA, please note that it is EPA's policy to make public comments available for public viewing as received and without change at the EPA Docket Center or in E-Docket. This policy applies to information submitted electronically or in paper form, except where restricted by copyright, CBI, or statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available in the official public docket. Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or delivered to the docket will be transferred to E-Docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the Docket will be scanned and placed in E-Docket. Where practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph will be placed in E-Docket with a brief description written by the docket staff. You may submit comments electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or by hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, include the appropriate docket identification number with your submission. Please ensure that your comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments received after the closing date will be marked “late,” and may only be considered if time permits. If you submit comments electronically, EPA recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an e-mail address or other contact information in the body of your comment. Also include this contact information on the outside of any submitted disk or CD-ROM, and in any cover letter accompanying the disk or CD-ROM. This ensures that you can be identified as the person submitting the comment and allows EPA to contact you in case the Agency cannot read your submission due to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance of your comment. EPA will not edit your comment, and any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public docket and made available in E-Docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, it may delay or preclude consideration of your comment. Electronic submission of comments to E-Docket is EPA's preferred method for receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at *http://www.epa.gov/edocket* , and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. To access EPA's electronic public docket from the EPA Internet Home Page, select “Information Sources,” “Dockets,” and “EPA Dockets.” Once in the system, select “search,” and then key in Docket ID No. ORD-2004-0018. The system is an “anonymous access” system, which means EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact information unless you provide it in the body of your comment. Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to *ORD.Docket@epa.gov* , Attention: Docket ID No. ORD-2004-0018. In contrast to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an “anonymous access” system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to the docket without going through EPA's E-Docket, EPA's e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address, and it becomes part of the information in the official public docket and in E-Docket. You may submit comments on a disk or CD-ROM that you mail to the OEI Docket mailing address. Files will be accepted in WordPerfect, Word, or PDF format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption. If you provide comments in writing, please submit one unbound original with pages numbered consecutively, and three copies of the comments. For attachments, provide an index, number pages consecutively with the comments, and submit an unbound original and three copies. Dated: November 23, 2005. Peter W. Preuss, Director, National Center for Environmental Assessment. [FR Doc. E5-6760 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION [OMB Control No. 3090-0280] General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation; Information Collection; Tax Adjustment Clause 552.270-30 AGENCY: Office of the Chief Acquisition Officer, General Services Administration (GSA). ACTION: Notice of request for comments regarding a renewal to an existing OMB clearance. SUMMARY: Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the General Services Administration will be submitting to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)a request to review and approve a renewal of a currently approved information collection requirement regarding tax adjustments under leasehold acquisitions. This collection requires contractors to submit information to the Government to substantiate an increase or decrease in real estate taxes under a leasehold acquisition so that the Government can make tax adjustments as necessary to the leasehold acquisition. Information collected under this authority is necessary to assess proper tax adjustments against each leasehold acquisition. The clearance currently expires on April 30, 2006. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. DATES: *Comment Due Date:* January 31, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerald Zaffos, Contract Policy Division, GSA
(202)208-6091. ADDRESSES: Submit comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the Regulatory Secretariat (VIR), General Services Administration, Room 4035, 1800 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20405. Please cite OMB Control No. 3090-0280, Tax Adjustment Clause 552.270-30, in all correspondence. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Purpose The General Services Administration
(GSA)has various mission responsibilities related to the acquisition and provision supply, service, and leasehold acquisitions. These mission responsibilities generate requirements that are realized through the solicitation and award of various types of contracts. Individual solicitations and resulting contracts may impose unique information collection and reporting requirements on contractors, not required by regulation, but necessary to evaluate particular program accomplishments, measure success in meeting program objectives, or adjust acquisition requirements. Leasehold acquisitions provide for real estate tax adjustments due to changes in real estate taxes on land and buildings occupied by the Government. In a leasehold acquisition, the lessor shall provide the following information regarding real estate taxes:
(1)Any notice which may affect the valuation of land and buildings covered by this lease for real estate tax purposes;
(2)Any notice of a tax credit or tax refund related to land and buildings covered by this lease; and
(3)Each tax bill related to land and building covered by this lease. The lessor is also required to provide the contracting officer a proper invoice including evidence of payment to receive the tax adjustment. Depending on the leasehold acquisition, the tax adjustment can result in either the lessor receiving a credit or the Government receiving a credit. B. Annual Reporting Burden *Respondents:* 7041. *Responses Per Respondent:* 1. *Total Responses:* 7041. *Hours Per Response:* 6. *Total Burden Hours:* 42,246. *OBTAINING COPIES OF PROPOSALS:* Requesters may obtain a copy of the information collection documents from the General Services Administration, Regulatory Secretariat (VIR), 1800 F Street, NW., Room 4035, Washington, DC 20405, telephone
(202)208-7312. Please cite OMB Control No. 3090-0280, Tax Adjustment Clause 552.270-30, in all correspondence. Dated: November 28, 2005. Gerald Zaffos, Director, Contract Policy Division. [FR Doc. E5-6738 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-61-S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Request for Public Comment; Public Meetings in Calendar Years 2005 and 2006; Economic Impact of Federal Health Care Regulations AGENCY: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This notice announces the dates and locations of the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
(ASPE)Town Hall meetings to be held in calendar years 2005 and 2006 to solicit public comment on quantifying the economic impact of major Federal regulations governing the health care industry. These public meetings provide a forum for interested parties to make oral presentations and/or to submit written comments about the impact of regulations. In particular, commenters are requested to provide an estimate of the economic impact of Federal health care regulations, guidance documents, or paperwork requirements, and also to describe the methods used to calculate the economic impact of the regulations. The Town Hall meetings will be held in several cities across the country to provide an opportunity for input. In addition, individuals may also submit written comments for consideration regardless of their ability to attend the Town Hall meetings. DATES: *Meeting Dates:* The first Town Hall meeting was held on November 3, 2005, in Washington, DC. The remaining meetings will be held on December 8, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois; January 12, 2006 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and February 2, 2006 in San Francisco, California. Information about the Town Hall meetings and registration procedures are available on the Web site *http://aspe.hhs.gov/arrb/index.shtml* . Each meeting day will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. (in the respective cities' time zones). On-site registration and sign-up for public comments will open one hour before each meeting. Participants are encouraged to pre-register for the meetings (see below for registration information). ADDRESSES: The December 8, 2005 Town Hall meeting will be held at: Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago, 163 East Walton Place @ North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611. Telephone: 312-751-8100. Fax: 312-751-9205. The January 12, 2006 Town Hall meeting will be held at: The Sheraton Oklahoma City, One North Broadway, Oklahoma City, OK 73102. Telephone: 405-235-2780. Fax: 405-232-4782. The February 2, 2006 Town Hall meeting will be held at: Hilton San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf, 2620 Jones Street, San Francisco, CA 94133. Telephone: 415-885-4700. Fax: 415-771-8945. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marty McGeein, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Telephone:
(202)690-6443. *Web site:* Additional details regarding the Town Hall meeting process for public comments on the economic impact of Federal health care regulations, along with information on how to register and guidelines for an effective presentation and/or electronic comment submission, can be found on the project Web site at: *http://aspe.hhs.gov/arrb/index.shtml* . SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background House Appropriations Committee Report 108-636 includes a provision for the Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (HHS/ASPE) and the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB)to establish an interagency committee, to be coordinated by HHS. The committee's role is to examine major Federal regulations governing the health care industry and to make suggestions regarding how health care regulation could be coordinated and simplified to reduce costs and burdens and improve translation of biomedical research into medical practice, while continuing to protect patients. The interagency committee will examine the economic impact of the major Federal regulations governing the health care industry, and will explore both immediate steps and longer-term proposals for reducing regulatory burden, while maintaining the highest quality health care and other patient protections. In accord with the House Appropriations Committee's intent, ASPE and OMB have undertaken several complementary activities. The HHS/OMB interagency committee is conducting a comprehensive review of Federal health care regulations, guidance, and paperwork requirements in order to identify areas for reform. In order to facilitate the work of this committee, ASPE and OMB are soliciting public nominations of regulatory reforms in several ways. First, we published a notice in the **Federal Register** on October 4, 2005, soliciting public nominations of reforms. Second, we are holding a series of Town Hall meetings in several cities across the country to provide an opportunity for input from health care administrators, institutional providers, physicians, practitioners, patients, and others about the impact of regulations, and to identify other potential areas for reform. The purpose of this **Federal Register** notice is to give potential participants in these Town Hall meetings more information regarding how their participation and the information they provide can facilitate the consideration of their suggestions for regulatory reform. In particular, participants in the Town Hall meetings and individuals who submit written comments are requested to provide, to the extent feasible, an estimate of the economic impact of health care regulations, guidance documents, or paperwork requirements, and also to describe the methods used to calculate the economic impact of the regulations. The findings from the Town Hall meetings, other reform nominations and comments from the public, and the subsequent work of the HHS/OMB committee will be synthesized and included in a report to Congress. II. Registration Registration Procedures: Registration can be completed online at *http://aspe.hhs.gov/arrb/index.shtml* . To register by telephone, contact Bridgette Saunders of Social and Scientific Systems at
(301)628-3158. (Social and Scientific Systems is the Contractor to HHS/ASPE to provide logistical support for the Town Hall meetings.) The following information must be provided when registering: Name, organization name and address, and consent to publish contact information on a participants list and other reports to document the Town Hall Meeting. A Social & Scientific Systems, Inc. staff member will confirm your registration by mail, e-mail, or fax. III. Presentations and Comment Format A. “5-Minute” Public Comment Presentations Meeting attendees can sign up at the meeting, on a first-come, first-served basis, to make 5-minute presentations. We ask that commenters focus on the economic impacts of health care regulations, and quantify these impacts to the extent possible. Depending on the number of persons who sign up to make public comments, we will decide whether additional time will be allotted. In order to offer the same opportunity to all attendees, there is no pre-registration for 5-minute speakers. Attendees can sign up only on the day of the meeting to make a 5-minute presentation. They must provide their name, title, and organization name on the sign-up sheet, and identify the general area of health care regulation that they will address. B. Written Comments From Meeting Attendees Written comments are welcome from the public regardless of attendance at a Town Hall Meeting or whether they make an oral presentation at a Town Hall Meeting. Written comments can be submitted either at the meeting, or before or after the meeting via e-mail to the mailboxes specified on the project Web site: *http://aspe.hhs.gov/arrb/index.shtml* or via regular mail to Marty McGeein, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 200 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20201. Please note that electronic submissions are preferred due to delays in receiving U.S. Postal Mail. We are able to consider only those comments received in writing and/or via e-mail by 5 p.m. EST on February 9, 2006. IV. Special Accommodations Individuals attending a meeting who are hearing- or visually-impaired and have special requirements, or a condition that requires special assistance or accommodations, must provide this information when registering for the meeting and accommodations will be made. Dated: November 29, 2005. Donald Young, Acting Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), HHS. John D. Graham, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), OMB. [FR Doc. 05-23582 Filed 12-1-05; 8:45 am]