January 3, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes to revise the identification marking requirements for fishing gear marker buoys (buoys) used in Federal waters off Alaska. This proposed rule would eliminate the requirement that hook-and-line, longline pot, and pot-and-line buoys be marked with the vessel's name. The requirement to mark buoys with either the vessel's Federal fisheries permit number or Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) number remains in effect. This action is needed to remove a regulatory requirement that is unnecessary. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI Groundfish FMP), the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA Groundfish FMP), and other applicable laws.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to promulgate amendments to a final rule that revised national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants for existing and new secondary lead smelters. The final rule was published on January 5, 2012. This direct final action amends certain regulatory text to clarify compliance dates. Additionally, we are making amendments to clarify certain provisions in the 2012 final rule related to monitoring of negative pressure in total enclosures. This action also corrects typographical errors in a table listing congeners of dioxins and furans and the testing requirements for total hydrocarbons.

Pursuant to section 102(c) of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (MPRSA), the EPA today designates the Atchafalaya-West Ocean Disposal Site (ODMDS-West), located adjacent to and west of the Atchafalaya River Bar Channel (ARBC) of Louisiana as a permanent ocean dredged material disposal site (ODMDS). This designation will allow continued use of the site, which was previously designated a temporary site pursuant to MPRSA section 103(b). In addition to the designation, the EPA now issues a technical amendment to correct seven typographical errors. The designation of the Atchafalaya ODMDS-West disposal site does not by itself authorize the disposal of dredged material, but makes the site available for use for dredged material from the ARBC if no environmentally preferable, practicable alternative for managing that dredged material exists, and if analysis of the dredged material indicates that it is suitable for open-water disposal. This action is to designate adequate, environmentally-acceptable ocean disposal site capacity for suitable dredged material from the ARBC.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is revising the regulations for hazardous waste management under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to conditionally exclude carbon dioxide (CO2) streams that are hazardous from the definition of hazardous waste, provided these hazardous CO2 streams are captured from emission sources, are injected into Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class VI wells for purposes of geologic sequestration (GS), and meet certain other conditions. EPA is taking this action because the Agency believes that the management of these CO2 streams, when meeting certain conditions, does not present a substantial risk to human health or the environment, and therefore additional regulation pursuant to RCRA's hazardous waste regulations is unnecessary. EPA expects that this amendment will substantially reduce the uncertainty associated with identifying these CO2 streams under RCRA subtitle C, and will also facilitate the deployment of GS by providing additional regulatory certainty.

For the period beginning January 1, 2014, and ending on June 30, 2014, the prompt payment interest rate is 2\1/8\ per centum per annum.

Based on its regulatory review under Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review), the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is moving the flat-rate premium due date for large plans to later in the premium payment yearto the same date as the variable-rate premium due date for such plansstarting with the 2014 plan year. Thus, large calendar-year plans' 2014 flat-rate premiums will be due October 15, 2014. This action implements part of a PBGC project to make its premium rules more effective and less burdensome by simplifying due dates, coordinating the due date for terminating plans with the termination process, making conforming and clarifying changes to the variable-rate premium rules, providing for relief from penalties, and making other changes. The rest of the project will be implemented by a separate final rule.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is withdrawing its proposed notice concerning proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include the addition or modification of any Base Flood Elevation, base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps, and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study reports for Bullitt County, Kentucky and Incorporated Areas.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce the commencement of the proceeding to determine the rates and terms for the use of sound recordings in transmissions made by new subscription services and for the making of ephemeral recordings necessary for the facilitation of such transmissions for the period beginning on January 1, 2016, and ending on December 31, 2020. A party wishing to participate in this rate determination proceeding must file its Petition to Participate and the accompanying $150 filing fee by the deadline in this notice.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD), Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District (MBUAPCD), and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from architectural coatings, liquefied petroleum gas transfer, and ignition of barbecue charcoal. We are approving three local rules and rescinding one local rule that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.