March 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. This AD requires a detailed inspection for cracked and missing nuts, and replacement of cracked or missing nuts with new nuts having the same part number. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked nuts detected during production. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracked or missing nuts, and replace all affected nuts in multiple locations (including fuel tank areas) that could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A340-600 series airplanes. This AD requires a detailed inspection for abnormalities of the ball lock retainer on the off-wing ramp slides; for closure of the soft cover; for full engagement of the slide release pin; for broken, missing, and improper placement of the safety tie thread on the slide release pin; and for proper functioning of the vent valve; and replacement of the off-wing ramp slides if necessary. This AD was prompted by reports of in-flight loss of the blow-out panel and the slide unit from a right-hand off-wing ramp- slide. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct abnormalities of the ball lock retainer, if the soft cover is open, if the slide pin release is not engaged or the safety tie thread is missing, broken, or improperly placed and the vent valve is not functioning properly, which could result in in-flight loss of the off-wing ramp slide.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Models PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC- 6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2- H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as loose elevator and rudder hinge bolts caused by incorrect torquing and locking of the bolts, which could lead to in-flight failure of the elevator or rudder attachment. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``EEOC'' or ``Commission'') is issuing this final rule to amend its Age Discrimination in Employment Act (``ADEA'' or ``Act'') regulations concerning disparate-impact claims and the reasonable factors other than age defense (``RFOA''). The Commission published proposed rules in the Federal Register on March 31, 2008, and February 18, 2010, for sixty-day notice-and-comment periods. After consideration of the public comments, the Commission has revised portions of the proposed rules and is now issuing a final rule covering both proposals.

Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to Alejandro Acevedo-Guti[eacute]rrez, Ph.D., Biology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA to conduct research on harbor seals (Phoca vitulina).

The Department of Commerce (``Department'') is extending the time limit for the preliminary results of the administrative review of certain steel threaded rod from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''). The review covers the period April 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011.

NMFS issues this notice to inform interested persons of the voting period for the fishing capacity reduction program referendum for the Southeast Alaska Purse Seine Salmon Fishery.

This document proposes to modify the Commission's rules to allow Economic Area (EA)-based 800 MHz Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) licensees to exceed a channel spacing and bandwidth limitation, subject to two conditions. The Commission proposes to allow licensees to exceed the channel spacing and bandwidth limitation in the 813.5-824/858.5-869 MHz band in National Public Safety Planning Advisory Committee (NPSPAC) regions where 800 MHz public safety licensee reconfiguration is complete. In areas where 800 MHz public safety reconfiguration is incomplete, EA-based 800 MHz licensees would only be allowed to exceed the channel spacing and bandwidth limitation in the 813.5-821/858.5-866 MHz band. Further, the Commission proposes to require any EA-based 800 MHz SMR licensee that intends to exceed the channel spacing and bandwidth limitation of its rules, which govern the above-listed MHz bands, to provide 30 days written notice to public safety licensees with base stations in the NPSPAC region and within 113 kilometers (70 miles) of the affected NPSPAC region. The Commission seeks comment on any additional steps that may need to be taken to protect 800 MHz public safety licensees against any possible increased interference. The proposed rule changes would allow geographic-based 800 MHz SMR licensees the flexibility to deploy new technologies and to better utilize their licensed spectrum, while also protecting 800 MHz public safety entities.

EPA is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These revisions pertaining to Pennsylvania's nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) program incorporate preconstruction permitting regulations for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) into the Pennsylvania SIP. EPA is approving these revisions in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This rule amends the Schedule of Fees for consular services (Schedule) for nonimmigrant visa application processing fees, border crossing card application processing fees and immigrant visa application processing fees. The rule increases from $140 to $160 the fee charged for the processing of an application for most non-petition- based nonimmigrant visas (Machine-Readable Visas or MRVs) and Border Crossing Cards (BCCs) for Mexican citizens age 15 and over. The rule also provides amended application processing fees for certain categories of petition-based nonimmigrant visas and treaty trader and investor visas (all of which are also MRVs), as well as amended tiered application processing fees for immigrant visas. Finally, the rule increases from $14 to $15 the BCC fee charged to Mexican citizen minors who apply in Mexico, and whose parent or guardian already has a BCC or is applying for one, based on a Congressionally mandated surcharge that took effect since the last adjustment to the Schedule of Fees. The Department of State is adjusting the fees to ensure that sufficient resources are available to meet the costs of providing consular services in light of the recent fee review's findings that the U.S. government is not fully covering its costs for the processing of these visas under the current fee structure.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has received a complaint entitled Certain Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Devices and Products Containing Same, DN 2888; the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or complainant's filing under section 210.8(b) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.8(b)).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use. This notice seeks comments concerning the use of a form to collect data for the development and continuation of the National Fire Department Census.

EPA is making a final determination regarding the Harrisburg- Lebanon-Carlisle-York, Allentown, Johnstown, and Lancaster nonattainment areas (hereafter referred to as ``Areas'') for the 24- hour 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). EPA is determining that the Areas have clean data for the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. These determinations are based upon complete, quality-assured, quality- controlled, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that these Areas have monitored attainment of the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2008-2010 data in EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. EPA's determinations relieve these Areas from the requirements to submit an attainment demonstration, associated reasonably available control measures, a reasonable further progress plan, contingency measures, and other planning State Implementation Plans (SIPs) related to attainment of the standard for so long as these Areas continue to meet the 24-hour 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

EPA is taking a direct final action to approve revisions which repeal and replace existing rules, and revisions to the applicable State Implementation Plan (SIP) for New Mexico submitted by the State of New Mexico on April 11, 2002, and April 25, 2005, which relate to construction permit fee requirement regulations. The repeal and replace and SIP revisions included in this action would address section 110(a)(2) Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA) requirements related to fees for reviewing and acting on specific air quality construction permit applications received by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED or Department) and for implementing and enforcing the terms and conditions of the construction permit, excluding any court costs or other costs associated with an enforcement action. EPA has determined that these SIP revisions comply with the Clean Air Act and EPA regulations and are consistent with EPA policies. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Act.

Various U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations require the transmission of advance cargo information to CBP through a CBP-approved electronic data interchange (EDI) system. CBP recently completed the testing of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) for the transmission of advance ocean and rail cargo information. This notice announces that, after a six month transition period, ACE will be the only CBP-approved EDI for submitting required advance information for ocean and rail cargo.

As part of its regular business meeting held on December 15, 2011, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, the Commission convened a public hearing, at which it took the following actions: (1) Rescinded approval for three water resources projects; and (2) approved, denied, or tabled the applications of certain water resources projects. The Commission took additional actions at its business meeting as set forth in the Supplementary Information below.