51962 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Proposed Rules 

material. Accordingly, the Commission 

frequently is unable to act on requests 

for confidential treatment of information 

it believes should be made publicly 

available. The proposed amendments 

are intended to permit staff to promptly 

resolve confidentiality issues in 

connection with material submitted 

pursuant to parts 40 and 41 by creating, 

as permitted by part 145, a separate 

procedure from that specified in 

regulation 145.9. The proposed 

procedure would not be triggered by a 

FOIA request but instead would require 

that registered entities desiring 

confidential treatment for information 

submitted under parts 40 and 41 

simultaneously file a detailed written 

justification in support of such a 

request. Commission staff would make 

an initial determination to grant or deny 

confidential treatment. The proposed 

amendments to part 40 provide a 

process under which a registered entity 

may appeal the staff’s decision and 

further provide that in the event of a 

subsequent FOIA request, both the 

requester and the submitter would have 

the appeal rights specified in 

Commission regulation 145.9. 

The comment period closes on 

September 2, 2008. By letter dated 

August 29, 2008, The Chicago 

Mercantile Exchange requested 

additional time to address the issues 

raised in the proposed rulemaking. In 

order to encourage the submission of 

meaningful comments and to assure that 

all views are considered in its final 

determination, the Commission has 

determined to grant the request and to 

give full consideration to any comment 

received during the extension period. 

Accordingly, the comment period for 

the Commission’s proposed 

amendments to parts 40, 41 and 145 is 

hereby extended to September 17, 2008. 

Issued in Washington, DC on September 2, 

2008, by the Commission. 

Sauntia S. Warfield, 

Staff Assistant. 

[FR Doc. E8–20684 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6351–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Bureau of Customs and Border 

Protection 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

19 CFR Parts 4, 7, 10, 102, 134, and 177 

[USCBP–2007–0100] 

RIN 1505–AB49 

Uniform Rules of Origin for Imported 

Merchandise 

AGENCIES: Customs and Border 

Protection, Department of Homeland 

Security; Department of the Treasury. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; 

extension of comment period. 

SUMMARY: This document provides an 

additional 30 days for interested parties 

to submit comments on the proposed 

rule to amend the Customs and Border 

Protection (‘‘CBP’’) regulations to 

establish uniform rules governing CBP 

determinations of the country of origin 

of imported merchandise. The proposed 

rule was published in the Federal 

Register on July 25, 2008 (73 FR 43385), 

and the comment period was scheduled 

to expire on September 23, 2008. 

DATES: Comments on the proposed rule 

must be received on or before October 

23, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, 

identified by docket number, by one of 

the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

via docket number USCBP–2007–0100. 

• Mail: Trade and Commercial 

Regulations Branch, Regulations and 

Rulings, Office of International Trade, 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 

1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., (Mint 

Annex), Washington, DC 20229. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the agency name and 

docket number for this rulemaking. All 

comments received will be posted 

without change to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information provided. For 

detailed instructions on submitting 

comments and additional information 

on the rulemaking process, see the 

‘‘Public Participation’’ heading of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this document. 

Docket: For access to the docket to 

read background documents or 

comments received, go to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Submitted 

comments may be inspected during 

regular business days between the hours 

of 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at the Trade and 

Commercial Regulations Branch, 

Regulations and Rulings, Office of 

International Trade, U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection, 799 9th Street, NW., 

5th Floor, Washington, DC. 

Arrangements to inspect submitted 

comments should be made in advance 

by calling Mr. Joseph Clark at (202) 572–

8768. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Monika Brenner, Valuation and Special 

Programs, Office of International Trade, 

202–572–8835; Heather K. Pinnock, 

Tariff Classification and Marking, Office 

of International Trade, 202–572–8828. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Public Participation 

Interested persons are invited to 

participate in this rulemaking by 

submitting written data, views, or 

arguments on all aspects of the 

proposed rule. CBP also invites 

comments that relate to the economic, 

environmental, or federalism effects that 

might result from this proposed rule. 

Comments that will provide the most 

assistance to CBP will reference a 

specific portion of the proposed rule, 

explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include data, 

information, or authority that support 

such recommended change. See 

ADDRESSES above for information on 

how to submit comments. 

Background 

CBP published a notice of proposed 

rulemaking in the Federal Register (73 

FR 43385) on July 25, 2008, proposing 

to amend the CBP regulations to 

establish uniform rules of origin for 

imported merchandise. The proposed 

rule would extend application of the 

country of origin rules codified in 19 

CFR part 102. Those rules have proven 

to be more objective and transparent 

and provide greater predictability in 

determining the country of origin of 

imported merchandise than the system 

of case-by-case adjudication they would 

replace. The proposed change also will 

aid an importer’s exercise of reasonable 

care. In addition, the document 

proposes to amend the country of origin 

rules applicable to pipe fitting and 

flanges, printed greeting cards, glass 

optical fiber, and rice preparations. 

Finally, the proposed rule would amend 

the textile regulations set forth in 

§ 102.21 to make corrections so that the 

regulations reflect the language of 

section 334(b)(5) of the Uruguay Round 

Agreements Act. 

The notice of proposed rulemaking 

invited the public to comment on the 

proposal. Comments on the proposed 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 174 / Monday, September 8, 2008 / Proposed Rules 51963 

rule were requested on or before 

September 23, 2008. 

Extension of Comment Period 

In response to the proposed rule 

published in the Federal Register, CBP 

has received correspondence from 

several parties requesting an extension 

of the comment period. A decision has 

been made to grant an extension of 30 

days. Comments are now due on or 

before October 23, 2008. 

Dated: September 2, 2008. 

Harold M. Singer, 

Director, Regulations and Disclosure Law 

Division, Regulations and Rulings, Office of 

International Trade. 

Timothy E. Skud, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary (Tax, Trade and 

Tariff Policy), Office of Tax Policy, United 

States Treasury Department. 

[FR Doc. E8–20662 Filed 9–5–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–14–P 

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION 

20 CFR Parts 404, 408, 416, and 422 

[Docket No. SSA–2007–0068] 

RIN 0960–AG56 

Revisions to Rules on Representation 

of Parties 

AGENCY: Social Security Administration. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking. 

SUMMARY: We are proposing several 

revisions to our rules on representation 

of parties. These proposed rules would 

recognize entities as representatives, 

define the concept of a principal 

representative, and authorize principal 

representatives to sign and file a claim 

for benefits on behalf of a claimant. 

These proposed rules would also 

mandate the use of Form SSA–1696 to 

appoint, revoke, or withdraw an 

appointment of a representative, and to 

waive a fee or direct payment of the fee. 

We propose to define the concept of a 

professional representative and require 

professional representatives to use our 

electronic services as they become 

available, including requiring 

professional representatives to submit 

certain requests for reconsideration or a 

hearing before an administrative law 

judge (ALJ) electronically. Finally, we 

propose to require representatives to 

keep paper copies of certain documents 

that we may require. We are proposing 

these revisions to reflect changes in 

representatives’ business practices and 

to improve our efficiency by enhancing 

use of the Internet. 

DATES: To make sure that your 

comments are considered, we must 

receive them no later than November 7, 

2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

by any one of four methods—Internet, 

facsimile, regular mail, or handdelivery. Commenters should not 

submit the same comments multiple 

times or by more than one method. 

Regardless of which of the following 

methods you choose, please state that 

your comments refer to Docket No. 

SSA–2007–0068 to ensure that we can 

associate your comments with the 

correct regulation: 

1. Federal eRulemaking portal at 

http://www.regulations.gov. (This is the 

most expedient method for submitting 

your comments, and we strongly urge 

you to use it.) In the Search Documents 

section of the Web page, type ‘‘SSA–

2007–0068’’, select ‘‘Go’’, and then click 

‘‘Send a Comment or Submission.’’ The 

Federal eRulemaking portal issues you a 

tracking number when you submit a 

comment. 

2. Telefax to (410) 966–2830. 

3. Letter to the Commissioner of 

Social Security, P.O. Box 17703, 

Baltimore, MD 21235–7703. 

4. Deliver your comments to the 

Office of Regulations, Social Security 

Administration, 922 Altmeyer Building, 

6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, 

Maryland 21235–6401, between 8 a.m. 

and 4:30 p.m. on regular business days. 

All comments are posted on the 

Federal eRulemaking portal, although 

they may not appear for several days 

after receipt of the comment. You may 

also inspect the comments on regular 

business days by making arrangements 

with the contact person shown in this 

preamble. 

Caution: All comments we receive 

from members of the public are 

available for public viewing on the 

Federal eRulemaking portal at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. Therefore, you 

should be careful to include in your 

comments only information that you 

wish to make publicly available on the 

Internet. We strongly urge you not to 

include any personal information, such 

as your Social Security number or 

medical information, in your comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marg Handel, Supervisory Social 

Insurance Specialist, Office of Income 

Security Programs, Social Security 

Administration, 6401 Security 

Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235–6401, 

(410) 965–4639. For information on 

eligibility or filing for benefits, call our 

national toll-free number, 1–800–772–

1213 or TTY 1–800–325–0778, or visit 

our Internet site, Social Security Online, 

at http://www.socialsecurity.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Version 

The electronic file of this document is 

available on the date of publication in 

the Federal Register at http:// 

www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. 

Explanation of Changes 

Background 

We may issue rules and regulations to 

administer the provisions of the Act. 42 

U.S.C. 405(a), 902(a)(5), 810(a), and 

1383(d)(1). Specifically, we may issue 

regulations to recognize agents or other 

persons, other than attorneys, as 

representatives of individuals claiming 

benefits under the programs we 

administer. 42 U.S.C. 406(a)(1) and 

1383(d)(2). We may also issue 

regulations to administer the Special 

Benefits for Certain World War II 

Veterans program, 42 U.S.C. 1010, and 

we have extended the rules by which 

we appoint and discipline 

representatives for claims under that 

program except where to do so would be 

impractical or contrary to the Act. 20 

CFR 408.1101. Pursuant to the cited 

authority, we propose to revise our 

current regulations on Representation of 

Parties found in part 404 subparts G, J, 

and R, part 408 subpart K, part 416 

subparts C, N, and O, and part 422 

subparts C and F. 

Recognizing Entities as Representatives 

Individuals who want to obtain 

benefits from us may want someone to 

help them through the application 

process. Frequently, such claimants 

formally appoint a representative to act 

on their behalf and help guide their 

claim. A representative may, on behalf 

of a claimant, obtain and submit 

information and evidence about the 

claim, make statements about facts and 

law, and make requests or give notices 

about the claim to us. In return, the 

representative may receive a fee for their 

services from a portion of the claimant’s 

past-due benefits. 

Currently, we recognize attorneys or 

other ‘‘persons’’ as representatives of 

individuals who claim benefits under 

title II or title XVI of the Act. 42 U.S.C. 

406(a)(1) and 1383(d)(1). Although the 

term ‘‘person’’ is defined broadly in the 

Act to include partnerships, 

corporations, and associations, we have 

previously chosen to recognize only 

individuals as representatives of 

claimants. In the decades since we 

adopted that policy, the business 

practices of those who represent 

claimants have changed significantly. 

Many representatives now practice in 

group settings and provide their services 

collectively to claimants. In addition, 

many claimants may prefer to hire a 


sroberts on PROD1PC70 with PROPOSALS