August 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The EPA is proposing to approve an exemption request from the requirements contained in Section 182(f) of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for Northern Maine (specifically, Oxford, Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Penobscot, Washington, Aroostook, and portions of Hancock and Waldo Counties). This area, along with the rest of the State of Maine, are part of the Ozone Transport Region (OTR) as provided for in section 184(a) of the Act. Section 182(f) in combination with section 184 (relating to ozone transport regions) of the Act requires States in the OTR, such as Maine, to adopt reasonably available control technology (RACT) rules for major stationary sources of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and to provide for nonattainment area new source review (NSR) for new sources and modifications that are major for NOX. This exemption request, submitted by the State of Maine on March 24, 2005 with supplemental submittals dated April 19, 2005 and June 28, 2005, is based on a demonstration that NOX emissions in the exemption area are not impacting Maine's nonattainment areas or other nonattainment areas in the OTR during times when elevated ozone levels are monitored in those areas. As such, additional reductions in NOX emissions from this area beyond what the State regulations already provide for are not necessary for future attainment in any of Maine's ozone nonattainment areas or other ozone nonattainment areas in the OTR. Thus, as provided for in section 182(f)(2), additional NOX reductions in these areas would constitute excess reductions that can be waived under the Act. This action is being taken under the CAA.

EPA is reopening the comment period for a proposed rule published June 27, 2005 (70 FR 36901). On June 27, 2005, EPA proposed to disapprove revisions to Ohio rules that provide for use of continuous opacity monitoring data but allow more exceedances of the general opacity limit in cases where the owner of an eligible large coal fired boiler opts to use these data for determining compliance. EPA also proposed to approve other elements of Ohio's rule submittal that clarified Ohio's rules. In response to requests from the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and from the law firm of Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, EPA is reopening the comment period through August 24, 2005. All comments received on or before August 24, 2005 will be entered into the public record and considered by EPA before taking final action on the proposed rule.

With this action, EPA is allocating essential use allowances for import and production of class I stratospheric ozone depleting substances (ODSs) for calendar year 2005. Essential use allowances enable a person to obtain controlled class I ODSs as an exemption to the regulatory ban of production and import of these chemicals, which became effective on January 1, 1996. EPA allocates essential use allowances for exempted production or import of a specific quantity of class I ODS solely for the designated essential purpose. The allocations total 1,820.48 metric tons of chlorofluorocarbons for use in metered dose inhalers.

This regulation establishes a time-limited tolerance for residues of myclobutanil in or on soybeans. This action is in response to EPA's granting of an emergency exemption under section 18 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of the pesticide on soybeans. This regulation establishes a maximum permissible level for residues of myclobutanil in this food commodity. The tolerance will expire and is revoked on December 31, 2009.

The EPA is proposing to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) of the Commonwealth of Kentucky which incorporates Kentucky rule 401 KAR 52:080 into the Kentucky SIP. The Commonwealth submitted the revision on October 31, 2003. This rule affects sources whose actual emissions are less than 50 percent of the major source threshold whereas the sources' potential to emit (PTE) exceeds the major source threshold. The EPA is also notifying the public that the Agency's conditional approval of Kentucky rule 401 KAR 52:080, as submitted on March 15, 2001, and published on August 15, 2002, is disapproved as of October 15, 2003. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, the EPA is approving the Commonwealth's SIP revision as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no significant, material, and adverse comments are received in response to this rule, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this rule. The EPA will not institute a second comment period on this document. Any parties interested in commenting on this document should do so at this time.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the Port of Baltimore, Maryland during the movement of the historic Sloop- of-War U.S.S. CONSTELLATION. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the dead ship tow of the vessel from its berth, to the Fort McHenry Angle on the Patapsco River, and return. This action will restrict vessel traffic in portions of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, the Northwest Harbor, and the Patapsco River.

This document corrects the docket number and an incorrect reference in the proposed rule, ``Washington, DC Metropolitan Area Special Flight Rules Area,'' published in the Federal Register of August 4, 2005.

This temporary rule implements the new certification requirements regarding production practices and procedures for imported natural wine contained in section 2002 of the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004, which amended section 5382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. We are amending the wine regulations to incorporate these changes. We also are soliciting comments from all interested parties on the implementation of these new requirements through a notice of proposed rulemaking published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, us, or USFWS) proposes to approve four shot types or alloys for hunting waterfowl and coots and to change the listing of approved nontoxic shot types in 50 CFR 20.21(j) to reflect the cumulative approvals of nontoxic shot types and alloys. These four shot types or alloys were submitted to us separately, and we published advance notices of proposed rulemakings for these shot types under RINs 1018-AU04, 1018-AU09, 1018-AU13, and 1018-AU28, respectively. We now combine all these actions under RIN 1018-AU04. In addition, we propose to approve alloys of several metals because we have approved the metals individually at or near 100% in nontoxic shot.

Today, EPA is proposing actions to address the interstate transport of emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) that contribute significantly to nonattainment and maintenance problems with respect to the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 8-hour ozone. As one part of today's action, EPA is proposing its response to a petition submitted to EPA by the State of North Carolina under section 126 of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The petition requests that EPA find that SO2 and/or NOX emissions from electric generating units (EGUs) in 13 States are significantly contributing to PM2.5 and/or 8-hour ozone nonattainment and maintenance problems in North Carolina, and requests that EPA establish control requirements to prohibit such significant contribution. The EPA's proposed response is based on extensive analyses conducted for the recently issued Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). The EPA is proposing to deny the petition for sources in States not shown to be linked to nonattainment and maintenance problems in North Carolina under the CAIR. For sources in States that are linked to North Carolina under the CAIR, EPA is proposing in the alternative to deny the petition if EPA promulgates Federal implementation plans (FIPs) to address the interstate transport no later than the final section 126 response or to grant the petition if EPA does not promulgate the FIPs prior to or concurrently with the section 126 response. The EPA's preferred option is to promulgate the FIP concurrently with the final section 126 response. In today's action, EPA is also proposing FIPs for all jurisdictions that are covered by the CAIR. The FIPs would regulate EGUs in the affected States and achieve the emissions reductions requirements established by the CAIR until States have approved State implementation plans (SIPs) to achieve the reductions. The EPA intends the FIP to satisfy the concerns cited in the section 126 petition and provide a Federal backstop for the CAIR. In no way should the FIP for CAIR be viewed as a sign of any concern about States meeting the SIP responsibilities under CAIR. As the control requirements for both the section 126 action and the FIP, EPA is proposing Federal NOX and SO2 trading programs that provide emissions reductions equal to those required under the CAIR in affected States. The Section 126 and FIP actions would not constrain States in their selection of control strategies to meet the CAIR. The EPA intends to withdraw section 126 or FIP requirements in a State if that State submits and EPA approves a SIP meeting the requirements of CAIR. Today's action also proposes revisions to the CAIR in order to address the interaction between the EPA-administered Federal CAIR trading programs proposed today and the EPA-administered State CAIR trading programs that will be created by any State that elects to submit a SIP establishing such a trading program to meet the requirements of the CAIR. In addition, EPA is proposing revisions to the CAIR to correct certain minor errors. Today's action also proposes revisions to the Acid Rain Program in order to make the administrative appeals procedures, which currently apply to final determinations by the Administrator under the EPA- administered State CAIR trading programs, also apply to the EPA- administered trading programs under the section 126 and FIP actions. In addition, we are proposing certain minor revisions to the Acid Rain Program that would apply to all affected units.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-111, -211, -212, and -231 airplanes. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, modifying the cables and access holes to the inner tank fuel pumps; and, for certain other airplanes, inspecting the fuel pump access holes and modifying the access holes, if necessary. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent chafing of the fuel pump cables, which could result in electrical arcing and possible ignition of fuel vapors and consequent explosion of the fuel tank.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to all Boeing Model 747SP, 747SR, 747-100, - 100B, -100B SUD, -200B, -200C, -200F, and -300 series airplanes, that would have required modification of the escape slide/raft pack assembly and cable release sliders. This new action revises the proposed rule by incorporating new service information, which clarifies the airplanes on which certain actions must be done, and by adding a new requirement for certain airplanes. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent improper deployment of the escape slide/raft or blockage of the passenger/crew doors in the event of an emergency evacuation, which could result in injury to passengers or crewmembers. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

This action corrects errors in the legal descriptions of Area Navigation Instrument Flight Rules Terminal Transition Routes (RITTR) listed in a final rule published in the Federal Register on June 15, 2005 (70 FR 34649), Airspace Docket No. 04-ASO-15.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with side-facing single-occupant seats equipped with inflatable lapbelts. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This notice proposes to amend the Class E airspace area in the Binghampton, NY area. The development of multiple area navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) for numerous airports within the Binghampton, NY area with approved Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations and the resulting overlap of designated Class E-5 airspace have made this proposal necessary. The proposal would correct the name of the airport and update the Airport Reference Point (ARP). The proposal would consolidate the Class E-5 airspace designations for six airports in the Binghampton area and result in the rescission of five separate Class E-5 descriptions through separate rulemaking action. The area would be depicted on aeronautical charts for pilot reference.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer Model ERJ 190 series airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features are associated with (1) engine size and torque load which affect sudden engine stoppage, (2) electrical and electronic systems which perform critical functions, and (3) an Automatic Takeoff thrust Control Systems (ATTCS). These special conditions also pertain to the effects of such novel or unusual design features, such as their effects on the structural performance of the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. 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 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, us, or USFWS) approves shot formulated of 62 percent iron, 25 percent tungsten, and 13 percent nickel as nontoxic for waterfowl and coot hunting in the United States. We assessed possible toxicity effects of the Iron-Tungsten-Nickel (ITN) shot, and determined that it is not a threat to wildlife or their habitats, and that further testing of ITN shot is not necessary. We have prepared a Final Environmental Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact in support of this decision. This rule also corrects an error and adds clarity to the list of currently approved nontoxic shot types.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, - 3A2, -3B, and -3B1 turbofan engines. That AD currently requires a onetime inspection, and if necessary replacing certain fan disks for electrical arc-out indications. That AD also reduces the life limit of certain fan disks. This proposed AD would require the same actions and adds one disk part number (P/N) and serial number (SN) to the affected fan disks. This proposed AD results from an error in the first part number and serial number listed in Table 1 of the original AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent rupture of the fan disk due to cracks that initiate at an electrical arc-out, which could result in an uncontained failure of the engine.

NMFS is notifying the owners and operators of registered vessels of their assignments for the B season Atka mackerel fishery in harvest limit area (HLA) 542 and/or 543 of the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to allow the harvest of the B season Atka mackerel HLA limits established for area 542 and area 543.

NMFS is closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2005 halibut bycatch allowance specified for the trawl Pacific cod fishery category in the BSAI.

We are proposing to amend the regulations by adding Argentina to the list of regions considered free of exotic Newcastle disease. We have conducted a risk evaluation and have determined that Argentina has met our requirements for being recognized as free of this disease. This proposed action would eliminate certain restrictions on the importation into the United States of poultry and poultry products from Argentina. We would also add Argentina to the list of regions that, although declared free of exotic Newcastle disease, must provide an additional certification to confirm that any poultry or poultry products offered for importation into the United States originate in a region free of exotic Newcastle disease and that, prior to importation into the United States, such poultry or poultry products were not commingled with poultry or poultry products from regions where exotic Newcastle disease exists.

As part of a comprehensive plan for reducing the serious risk of rollover crashes and the risk of death and serious injury in those crashes, this document proposes to upgrade the agency's safety standard on roof crush resistance in several ways. First, we are proposing to extend the application of the standard to vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less. Second, we are proposing to increase the applied force to 2.5 times each vehicle's unloaded weight, and to eliminate an existing limit on the force applied to passenger cars. Third, we are proposing to replace the current limit on the amount of roof crush with a new requirement for maintenance of enough headroom to accommodate a mid-size adult male occupant. Because the impacts of this rulemaking would affect and be affected by other aspects of the comprehensive effort to reduce rollover-related injuries and fatalities, we are also seeking comments on some of those other aspects.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes. This AD requires you to install identification sleeves on the wiring for both engine fire extinguisher bottles. This AD results from reports of incorrectly connecting wires to the engine fire extinguisher bottles. We are issuing this AD to prevent incorrect installation of the wires to the engine fire extinguisher bottles, which could result in failure of the engine fire extinguisher bottles to discharge when activated. This failure could lead to the inability to control an engine fire.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-111 airplanes and Model A320-200 series airplanes. This AD requires doing a one-time general visual inspection of the axle nut on each main landing gear (MLG) wheel for the presence of locking bolts and associated hardware; doing any related investigative and corrective actions as applicable; and submitting an inspection report to the manufacturer. This AD results from a report that an axle nut had separated from an axle on a main landing gear (MLG) wheel, due to missing locking bolts. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct missing locking bolts on the axle nuts of the MLG wheels. Absence of the locking bolts could result in separation of a wheel(s) from the axle and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane during takeoff and landing, and possible injury to people on the ground.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747, 757, 767, and 777 series airplanes. That AD currently requires modifying certain drip shields located on the flight deck, and follow-on actions. This new AD removes certain airplanes that are included in the applicability statement of the existing AD, and requires modifying additional drip shields on the flight deck of certain other airplanes. This AD is prompted by a determination that certain airplanes have drip shields that are not adequately resistant to fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent potential ignition of the moisture barrier cover of the drip shield, which could propagate a small fire that results from an electrical arc, leading to a larger fire.