February 14, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Models PC-12 and PC-12/45 airplanes equipped with certain crew seat bucket assemblies with and without a backrest recline system. This proposed AD would require you to replace the backrest tubes on these crew seat bucket assemblies at a specified time and adds a life limit for these backrest tubes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent cracks in the backrest tubes of certain crew seat bucket assemblies, which could result in failure of the seat system. This failure could lead to the pilot and co-pilot's reduced ability to control the airplane. This failure could also affect the proper function of the seat restrain system in the case of an emergency landing.

The Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) is proposing to change its regulations concerning corporate governance to add a preapproved bylaw that federally chartered savings associations and mutual holding companies (collectively, federal savings associations) may adopt. The bylaw would preclude persons who, among other things, are under indictment for or have been convicted of certain crimes involving dishonesty or breach of trust, or have been subject to certain cease and desist orders entered by any of the banking agencies, from being members of the federal savings association's Board of Directors. The proposal would also permit federal savings associations to adopt bylaws that bar such persons from nominating individuals for membership on the federal savings association's Board of Directors. The proposal is intended to permit federal savings associations to protect their businesses from the adverse effects that are likely to result when the reputation of their board members is not conducive to maintaining the public's trust.

Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations and modified Base Flood Elevations (BFEs) are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Modified Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) are finalized for the communities listed below. These modified elevations will be used to calculate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and their contents.

This interim rule lists communities where modification of the Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. New flood insurance premium rates will be calculated from the modified BFEs for new buildings and their contents.

This rule establishes continuing assessment rates for the Fresh Pear Committee and the Processed Pear Committee (Committees) for the 2005-2006 fiscal period and subsequent fiscal periods. The Committees recommended the establishment of three base rates of assessment for any or all varieties or subvarieties of pears classified as ``summer/fall'', ``winter'', and ``other'' for fresh pears and pears for processing, respectively. This rule also modifies handling and reporting requirements in conformance with the amendments made to the marketing order for pears grown in Oregon and Washington on May 21, 2005, and to reflect current pear industry operating practices under the marketing order. The marketing order is locally administered by the Committees. Assessments upon pear handlers are used by the Committees to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period began July 1 and ends June 30. The assessment rates will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

EPA is taking final action to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Governor of Utah on September 20, 1999 and February 5, 2001. The September 20, 1999 submittal revises the numbering and format of the Utah Administrative Code (UAC) rules within Utah's SIP. The February 5, 2001 submittal restores a paragraph that was inadvertently deleted from Utah's rules when the State submitted their SIP submittal dated September 20, 1999 that renumbered the UAC rules. The intended effect of this action is to make these provisions federally enforceable. In addition, the approval of Utah's SIP revision dated September 20, 1999 supersedes and replaces previous SIP revisions submitted by Utah on October 26, 2000, September 7, 1999, two SIP revisions submitted February 6, 1996, and one submitted on January 27, 1995. Some of the provisions of the rules submitted in Utah's SIP revisions will be addressed at a later date by more recent SIP actions that have been submitted which supersede and replace the earlier SIP submittal actions. EPA will be removing Utah's Asbestos Work Practices, Contractor Certification, AHERA Accreditation and AHERA Implementation rule R307-1-8 and Eligibility of Pollution Control Expenditures for Sales Tax Exemption rule R307-1-6 from Utah's federally enforceable SIP because these rules are not generally related to attainment of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and are therefore not required to be in Utah's SIP. Finally, EPA will be removing Utah's National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS) rule R307-1-4.12. Utah has delegation of authority for NESHAPs in 40 CFR part 61 (49 FR 36368), pursuant to 110(k)(6) of the Act, therefore we are removing the existing language (R307-1-4.12) that was approved into Utah's current SIP because it is no longer required to be in the SIP. This action is being taken under section 110 of the Clean Air Act.