January 11, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive detailed and ultrasonic inspections of the thrust links of the rear engine mounts for any crack or fracture and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would require repetitive replacement of the thrust links with new or overhauled thrust links, which ends the repetitive detailed and ultrasonic inspections. This proposed AD results from the finding of fractured and cracked forward lugs of the rear engine mount thrust link on the number one strut on two airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracked or fractured thrust links that could lead to the loss of the load path for the rear engine mount bulkhead and damage to other primary engine mount structure, which could result in the in-flight separation of the engine from the airplane and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

NMFS issues a final rule to open the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI) to directed fishing for groundfish using trawl, pot, and hook- and-line gear from March 15, 2006, through March 31, 2006. Because NMFS' Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) will not conduct research in this area in 2006, closure of the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area is not needed. This action is intended to relieve an unnecessary restriction on groundfish fisheries and allow the optimum utilization of fishery resources, in accordance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This final rule also will remove the regulations for the Cape Sarichef Research Restriction Area, and regulations for the Chiniak Gully Research Area because both research projects have ended.

This proposed rule would amend our regulations that allow a Farm Credit System (FCS, Farm Credit, or System) bank or association to terminate its FCS charter and become a financial institution under another Federal or State chartering authority. With these amendments, we propose to update the existing regulations to clarify our requirements, separate our review of stockholder disclosure information from our review of the termination itself, improve communications, strengthen the role of an institution's directors in the termination process, and make other changes.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Elanco Animal Health. The supplemental NADA provides for use of monensin Type C medicated feeds in component feeding systems (including top dress) for increased milk production efficiency in dairy cows.

The Department is publishing this final rule to revise the requirements and procedures for the reimbursement of TRICARE Dental program participating providers. Participating providers will no longer be reimbursed at the equivalent of a percentile of prevailing charges sufficiently above the 50th percentile of prevailing charges made for similar services in the same locality (region) or state, or the provider's actual charge, whichever is lower, less any cost-share amount due for authorized services. Specifically, the revision will require TRICARE Dental Program participating providers to be reimbursed in accordance with the contractor's network agreements, less any cost- share amount due for authorized services.

This document contains a final regulation implementing the notice requirement in section 101(f) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Section 103 of the Pension Funding Equity Act of 2004 (PFEA '04) amended section 101 of ERISA by adding a new subsection (f), which requires the administrator of a multiemployer defined benefit plan to provide participants, beneficiaries, and certain other parties, including the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, with an annual funding notice indicating, among other things, whether the plan's funded current liability percentage is at least 100 percent. This document also contains a model notice that may be used by plan administrators in discharging their duties under section 101(f).