August 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are issuing this interim final rule with request for comments to revise our regulations on how we waive the recovery of certain overpayment debts. We will apply this interim final rule when an affected beneficiary requests waiver of certain overpayment debts that accrued during a portion of the COVID-19 pandemic period. Under this rule, we may waive recovery of these overpayment debts using a streamlined internal process. Since the overpayment debts at issue occurred because of the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 national public health emergency, we can assume that these debts are not the fault of the affected beneficiaries due directly to our strategic decision to reprioritize workloads to stop manually processing certain actions, and it would be against equity and good conscience to collect them. In particular, qualifying overpayment debts include those incurred between March 1 to September 30, 2020 that we did not manually process as a result of our cession of certain activities, and that we identified by December 31. We expect that this interim final rule will allow us to maintain effective stewardship of the Social Security programs, while simultaneously ensuring that affected beneficiaries are not disadvantaged by our actions during this unprecedented national public health emergency.

The Administrator for the Southeastern Power Administration (Southeastern) has confirmed and approved, on an interim basis, new rate schedules VA-1-D, VA-2-D, VA-3-D, VA-4-D, DEP-1-D, DEP-2-D, DEP-3- D, DEP-4-D, AP-1-D, AP-2-D, AP-3-D, AP-4-D, NC-1-D, and Replacement-2- C. These rate schedules are applicable to Southeastern power sold to existing preference customers in the Virginia and North Carolina service area. The rate schedules are approved on an interim basis through September 30, 2025, and are subject to confirmation and approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on a final basis.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment a draft NUREG, NUREG/CR-7002, ``Criteria for Development of Evacuation Time Estimate Studies,'' Revision 1. This draft NUREG provides guidance to meet NRC requirements for development of evacuation time estimates (ETEs) to support emergency planning. This revision reflects the importance of various ETE model parameters based on the results of an applied research study on ETEs. The format and criteria provided in this document will support consistent application of the ETE methodology and will facilitate consistent NRC review of ETE studies. The NRC is soliciting public comment on the contemplated action and invites stakeholders and interested persons to participate. The NRC plans to hold a public meeting to promote full understanding of the contemplated action and facilitate public comment.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued 13 exemptions in response to requests from 12 licensees. The exemptions allow these licensees temporary relief from certain requirements under NRC regulations. The exemptions are in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE). The NRC is issuing a single notice to announce the issuance of the exemptions.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that Difluoromethane (R-32) from the People's Republic of China (China) is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing a new system of records to be maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 09-20-0180, ``Electronic Import Permit Program Portal (eIPP Portal).'' The system of records will be used by CDC to monitor the importation of infectious biological agents, infectious substances, and vectors of human disease.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Ocean Service (NOS) announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Coral Reef Conservation Program's (CRCP's) final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). On August 20, 2020, the NOS Acting Assistant Administrator signed the ROD, which constitutes the agency's final decision.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a second interim rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require an offeror to represent annually, after conducting a reasonable inquiry, whether it uses covered telecommunications equipment or services, or any equipment, system, or service that uses covered telecommunications equipment or services. The new annual representation in the provision implements a section of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to certain Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo) Model AB139, AW139, AW169, and AW189 helicopters. As published, one service bulletin reference in the AD is incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

This document contains final regulations under sections 245A and 954 of the Internal Revenue Code (the ``Code'') that limit the deduction for certain dividends received by United States persons from foreign corporations under section 245A and the exception to subpart F income under section 954(c)(6) for certain dividends received by controlled foreign corporations. This document also contains final regulations under section 6038 of the Code regarding information reporting to facilitate administration of the final regulations. The guidance relates to changes made to the applicable law by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted on December 22, 2017. This document finalizes proposed regulations published on June 18, 2019, and removes temporary regulations published on the same date.

NASA is finalizing a revision to the NASA Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (NFS) requiring covered contractors and subcontractors at all tiers to use electronic parts that are currently in production and purchased from the original manufacturers of the parts, their authorized dealers, or suppliers who obtain such parts exclusively from the original manufacturers of the parts or their authorized dealers. These changes implement section 823(c)(2)(B) of Public Law 115-10, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Transition Authorization Act of 2017.

The National Science Board's Committee on National Science and Engineering Policy (SEP), pursuant to NSF regulations, the National Science Foundation Act, as amended, and the Government in the Sunshine Act, hereby gives notice of the scheduling of a teleconference for the transaction of National Science Board business, as follows.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the National Park Service is hereby giving notice that the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument Advisory Council (Council) will meet as indicated below.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-108, ``Federal Agency Responsibilities for Review, Reporting, and Publication under the Privacy Act,'' the Department of Commerce (Department) is issuing this notice of intent to modify a system of records, COMMERCE/CENSUS-5, Decennial Census Programs.

Notice is hereby given of the appointment of members to the Performance Review Board (PRB) of the EEOC.

The DoD is publishing this notice to announce that the following Federal Advisory Committee meeting of the U.S. Strategic Command Strategic Advisory Group will take place.