2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Current FAA regulations require that foreign applicants for operating specifications must hold a valid air operator certificate issued by the State of the Operator. Some International Civil Aviation Organization Contracting States have joined together to form Regional Safety Oversight Organizations. These organizations may provide a uniform regulatory structure for safety oversight and provide technical assistance and the execution of safety oversight functions on behalf of their member States. Regional Safety Oversight Organizations have been established in many parts of the world. These organizations may be formed based on a variety of differing arrangements among member States. The institutional structures of these organizations range from highly formalized intergovernmental organizations established on the basis of formal legal agreements, to less formalized organizations established under the International Civil Aviation Organization Cooperative Development of Operational Safety and Continuing Airworthiness Program. States participating in Regional Safety Oversight Organizations may delegate various functions or tasks to these organizations based on the extent of delegated legal authority stipulated in the Regional Safety Oversight Organization's formation documentation. One of the functions member States may delegate to some of the highly formalized and more fully resourced Regional Safety Oversight Organizations is the issuance of air operator certificates on behalf of the State of the Operator. This regulation change would allow the FAA to review and, if acceptable to the Administrator, recognize as valid air operator certificates issued by the Regional Safety Oversight Organization to foreign air carriers on behalf of the State of the Operator for purposes of evaluating foreign applicants for operating specifications.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of an initial filing of a pesticide petition requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule entitled "Labeling Requirements for Approved or Conditionally Approved New Animal Drugs" published in the Federal Register of March 12, 2024, by 60 days. The Agency is taking this action in response to a request for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 and Model ATR72 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of heavy corrosion on one of the two lugs of the travel limiting unit (TLU) lever assembly. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the TLU lever assembly for corrosion and, depending on findings, a conductivity test and applicable corrective actions, and prohibits the installation of affected parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Model PA-28-181, PA-28R-201, PA- 34-220T, and PA-44-180 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a double-drilled bolt hole of the rear wing spar attachment fitting found during an unscheduled inspection of an airplane due to a ground collision with an automobile. This AD requires inspecting the rear wing spar attachment fitting and, if discrepancies are found, inspecting the forward wing spar attachment fitting, accomplishing corrective actions as required, and reporting to the FAA when corrective actions are required. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend its regulations titled, Safety Zone; City of Valdez July 4th Fireworks, Port Valdez; Valdez, AK. The City of Valdez has changed the annual firework displays from July 4th to December 31st each year. It is therefore necessary to amend the CFR to reflect the correct date of the fireworks display. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that the pivot door pressure seals on the thrust reverser fixed structure were found disbonded or missing on several airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the pivot door pressure seals and accomplishing applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD would also require a functional test of the thrust reversers. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts a Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, Order, and Order on Reconsideration that reestablishes the Commission's authority over broadband internet access service (BIAS). The Declaratory Ruling classifies broadband internet access service as a telecommunications service under Title II of the Communications Act, providing the Commission with additional authority to safeguard national security, advance public safety, protect consumers, and facilitate broadband deployment. The Order establishes broad, tailored forbearance of the Commission's application of Title II to broadband providers while maintaining Title II provisions the Commission needs to fulfill its obligations and objectives. The Report and Order reinstates straightforward, clear rules that prohibit blocking, throttling, or engaging in paid or affiliated prioritization arrangements, adopts certain enhancements to the transparency rule, and reinstates a general conduct standard that prohibits unreasonable interference or unreasonable disadvantage to consumers or edge providers. The Order on Reconsideration partially grants and otherwise dismisses as moot four petitions for reconsideration filed in response to the 2020 Restoring Internet Freedom Remand Order.

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation, Inc. (Textron) 550 (Bravo), 560 (Ultra Encore), and 560XL (Excel) series airplanes as modified by Aerospace Design & Compliance, LLC (ADC). This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is the installation of an electronic networks system architecture that will allow increased connectivity to and access from external network sources to the airplane's previously isolated electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases). The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The National Park Service proposes to amend the special regulations for Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area to allow for bicycle use on approximately 20.6 miles of trails.

The Department of Justice ("DOJ") proposes to transfer marijuana from schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act ("CSA") to schedule III of the CSA, consistent with the view of the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") that marijuana has a currently accepted medical use as well as HHS's views about marijuana's abuse potential and level of physical or psychological dependence. The CSA requires that such actions be made through formal rulemaking on the record after opportunity for a hearing. If the transfer to schedule III is finalized, the regulatory controls applicable to schedule III controlled substances would apply, as appropriate, along with existing marijuana-specific requirements and any additional controls that might be implemented, including those that might be implemented to meet U.S. treaty obligations. If marijuana is transferred into schedule III, the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, and possession of marijuana would remain subject to the applicable criminal prohibitions of the CSA. Any drugs containing a substance within the CSA's definition of "marijuana" would also remain subject to the applicable prohibitions in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FDCA"). DOJ is soliciting comments on this proposal.

On January 23, 2024, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) issued a direct final rule revising the Agency for International Development Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) to maintain consistency with Federal and agency regulations, remove obsolete material and internal agency procedures, and make editorial amendments to clarify the regulation. This document makes two corrections to the rule.

On May 2, 2024, the Coast Guard published a temporary interim rule and request for comments extending the effective period for the 63 temporary 500-meter safety zones around the construction of each facility during the development of the Vineyard Wind 1 Wind Farm project area. That rule contained an incorrect phone number for the First Coast Guard District Command Center. This document corrects the phone number in the regulatory text of the rule. This document also withdraws a correction that we issued on May 14, 2024, that proceeded to fix the wrong phone number in the temporary interim rule.

The Department of the Treasury and the SEC are jointly issuing a proposed rulemaking implementing the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 with regard to certain investment advisers. If, as proposed in a separate rulemaking, certain investment advisers are included in the definition of "financial institution" under the Bank Secrecy Act, the Secretary of the Treasury and the SEC will be required to jointly prescribe a regulation that, among other things, requires investment advisers to implement reasonable procedures to verify the identities of their customers.

FRA is establishing regulations for the certification of dispatchers, pursuant to the authority granted in section 402 of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA).

The Coast Guard will enforce certain safety zones located in the federal regulations for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes Zone. This action is necessary and intended to protect the safety of life and property on navigable waters prior to, during, and immediately after these events. During each enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard will enforce multiple safety zones located in federal regulations for recurring marine events taking place in July 2024. This action is necessary and intended for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during these events. During the enforcement periods, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Eastern Great Lakes or a designated representative.

The Board and the CFPB (collectively, the Agencies) are amending Regulation CC, which implements the Expedited Funds Availability Act (EFA Act) and the Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act (Check 21 Act), to fulfill a statutory requirement in the EFA Act to adjust the dollar amounts under the EFA Act for inflation.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating cracks in the frame inner chord and web at station (STA) 727. This proposed AD would require an inspection for any repair, repetitive inspections of the frame inner chord and web at STA 727 for any crack, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

OSHA is amending the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform to the United Nations' Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS), primarily Revision 7 (Rev. 7), address issues that arose during the implementation of the 2012 update to the HCS, and provide better alignment with other U.S. agencies and international trading partners, while enhancing the effectiveness of the standard. Consistent with Executive Order 13563 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which call for assessment and, where appropriate, modification and improvement of existing rules, OSHA has reviewed the existing HCS. The agency has determined that the revisions in this final rule will enhance the effectiveness of the HCS by ensuring employees are appropriately apprised of the chemical hazards to which they may be exposed, thus reducing the incidence of chemical-related occupational illnesses and injuries. The modifications to the standard include revised criteria for classification of certain health and physical hazards, revised provisions for updating labels, new labeling provisions for small containers, new provisions related to trade secrets, technical amendments related to the contents of safety data sheets (SDSs), and related revisions to definitions of terms used in the standard.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heat pumps with a rated cooling capacity greater than or equal to 65,000 Btu/h. In this notice of proposed rulemaking ("NOPR"), the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") proposes amended energy conservation standards, based on clear and convincing evidence, identical to those set forth in a direct final rule ("DFR") published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal of the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notification of withdrawal and will proceed with this proposed rule.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including circulator pumps. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to periodically determine whether more-stringent, standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this final rule, DOE is adopting new energy conservation standards for circulator pumps. It has determined that the energy conservation standards for this equipment would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

A final rule was published in the Federal Register on April 8, 2024, amending Class D surface area and Class E airspace for Greenbrier Valley Airport, Lewisburg, WV, as the BUSHI non-directional beacon (NDB) was removed from the airspace descriptions. This action corrects the Class D airspace description by changing the ceiling of the airspace from 4,000 feet to 4,800 feet.

The Department of Energy (DOE or Department) revises its regulations regarding records maintained on individuals under the Privacy Act. The revisions would clarify and update procedural requirements pertaining to the inclusion of a Social Security number (SSN) on documents that the Department sends by mail. These revisions are necessary to implement the SSN Fraud Prevention Act of 2017's restriction on the inclusion of SSNs on documents sent by mail by the Federal Government. Additionally, the Department proposes to maintain a publicly available list authorizing certain designated documents to include SSNs if: inclusion is necessary; and the documents are requested by individuals outside DOE or other Federal agencies.

This document corrects a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG- 123376-22) published in the Federal Register on March 29, 2024, containing proposed amendments to the regulations relating to the disclosure of specified return information to the Bureau of the Census (Bureau).