January 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NSPS for Sewage Sludge Incineration Units (EPA ICR Number 2369.06, OMB Control Number 2060- 0658), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through January 31, 2024. Public comments were previously requested, via the Federal Register on May 18, 2023, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-15-09, AD 2020-15-09, and AD 2022-16-07. AD 2014-15-09 applies to all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200 and -300, and A340- 200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. AD 2020-15-09 applies to all Airbus SAS Model A330-941 airplanes. AD 2014-15-09 and AD 2020-15- 09 require repetitive operational tests of the hydraulic locking function on certain spoiler servo-controls (SSCs) and replacement if necessary. AD 2022-16-07 applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, and A330-300 series airplanes. AD 2022-16-07 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-16-07, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2014- 15-09, AD 2020-15-09, and AD 2022-16-07 and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD also removes Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes from the applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) defers the commencement of the next five-year deployment obligation term for legacy rate-of-return carriers receiving Connect America Fund Broadband Loop Support (CAF BLS) in 2024 until January 1, 2025, while it considers general program reforms.

This final rule adjusts certain immigration and naturalization benefit request fees charged by USCIS. This rule also provides additional fee exemptions for certain humanitarian categories and makes changes to certain other immigration benefit request requirements. USCIS conducted a comprehensive biennial fee review and determined that current fees do not recover the full cost of providing adjudication and naturalization services. DHS is adjusting the fee schedule to fully recover costs and maintain adequate service. This final rule also responds to public comments received on the USCIS proposed fee schedule published on January 4, 2023.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice (DOJ), will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on November 21, 2023, allowing a 60-day comment period.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Suitability Executive Agent Programs, is notifying the general public and other Federal agencies that OPM proposes to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revise and renew the Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions (SF 85P) and Supplemental Questionnaire for Selected Positions (SF 85P-S).

NMFS received a request from Bluepoint Wind, LLC (BPW) for the renewal of their currently active incidental harassment authorization (IHA) (hereinafter, the ``initial IHA'') to take marine mammals incidental to marine site characterization surveys in coastal waters off of New York and New Jersey in the New York Bight, specifically within the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Commercial Lease of Submerged Lands for Renewable Energy Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (Lease) Area OCS-A 0537 and associated export cable route (ECR) area. BPW's activities will not be completed prior to the IHA's expiration. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), prior to issuing the currently active IHA, NMFS requested comments on both the proposed IHA and the potential for renewing the initial authorization if certain requirements were satisfied. The renewal requirements have been satisfied, and NMFS is now providing an additional 15-day comment period to allow for any additional comments on the proposed renewal not previously provided during the initial 30- day comment period.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register on December 21, 2023. The document announced the availability of a final guidance for industry entitled ``Development of Monoclonal Antibody Products Targeting SARS- CoV-2 for Emergency Use Authorization.'' The document was published with an incorrect docket number. This document corrects that error.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a single notice to announce the issuance of three exemptions in response to requests from one licensee in response to a change to NRC's regulations published in the Federal Register on March 14, 2023.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on an extension of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning information collected for eligible properties insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies to certify the floodproofing of residential basements.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning a revision of an instrument for the Public Assistance (PA) program eligibility determinations, grants management, and compliance with Federal laws and regulations.

This action would revise certain aircraft maintenance inspection rules for small, corporate-sized, and unmanned aircraft. The proposed changes include additional inspection program options for owners of single-engine turbine-powered airplanes and unmanned aircraft, relaxed mechanical reliability reporting requirements for certain aircraft, and several changes to clarify and simplify various maintenance-related regulations. These proposed amendments would relieve aircraft owners, operators, maintenance providers, and the FAA. The proposed amendments would provide greater flexibility for aircraft maintenance, standardized reporting requirements, and provide clarification of various maintenance-related regulations.

FinCEN is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), pursuant to section 311 of the USA PATRIOT Act, that proposes prohibiting the opening or maintaining of a correspondent account in the United States for, or on behalf of, Al-Huda Bank, a foreign financial institution based in Iraq found to be of primary money laundering concern.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily finds that certain carbon and alloy steel cut-to-length plate (CTL plate) from Italy were made at less than normal value (NV) during the period of review (POR), May 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023. Commerce also determines that one mandatory respondent did not make sales of subject merchandise at less than normal value during the POR. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval renew information collection. The collection involves requesting that small on-demand operators voluntarily provide the number of revenue passengers that boarded their aircraft at each airport annually. This information is used in determining an airport's category and eligibility for federal funding on an annual basis. It is not available through any other federal data source.