March 27, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS proposes to close the Chiniak Gully region on the east side of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) to all commercial trawl fishing and testing of trawl gear from August 1 to a date no later than September 20 from 2006 through 2010. NMFS plans to conduct controlled experiments on the effects of commercial fishing on pollock distribution and abundance, as part of a comprehensive investigation of Steller sea lion (SSL) and commercial fishery interactions. This action is needed to support the proposed experimental design by prohibiting commercial trawl fishing in the control site of Chiniak Gully. The proposed research could improve information on pollock movements and on the potential impacts of commercial pollock harvests on prey availability to SSLs. This action is intended to improve information used to evaluate fishery management actions to protect SSLs and their designated critical habitat.

This action establishes a RITTR, designated T-210, in the Jacksonville, FL, terminal area. The purpose of this route is to expedite the handling of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) overflight aircraft transitioning through busy terminal airspace. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace in the Jacksonville, FL, terminal area.

This document identifies and provides guidance on the current FAA policies regarding requests for an exemption from the rules governing the operation of aircraft for the purpose of carrying passengers on living history flights in return for compensation. Specifically, this document clarifies which aircraft are potentially eligible for an exemption and what type of information petitioners should submit to the FAA for proper consideration of relief from the applicable regulations. This policy does not apply to flight crew training or commercial space transportation issues.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is issuing this notice to advise the public of the approval of a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on an Environmental Assessment for proposed Federal actions at Southern Illinois Airport, Carbondale-Murphysboro, Illinois. The FONSI specifies that the proposed federal actions and local development projects are consistent with existing environmental policies and objectives as set forth in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and will not significantly affect the quality of the environment. A description of the proposed Federal actions is: (a) To issue an environmental finding to allow approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the development items listed below; (b) Approval of the Airport Layout Plan (ALP) for the development items listed below; and (c) Establish eligibility of the Southern Illinois Airport Authority to compete for Federal funding for the development projects depicted on the Airport Layout Plan. The specific items in the local airport development project include: Acquisition of approximately 210 acres of land in fee simple title including relocation assistance for one (1) residence; Widening of the existing Runway 18R/36L by 15 feet and construction of a 500- foot extension to Runway 36L to provide a total runway dimension of 4,000 feet x 75 feet. This action includes all appropriate grading and drainage; Extension and widening of the existing parallel taxiway to Runway 18R/36L to serve the extended runway threshold; Construction of new airport facilities in the western and northwestern airfield quadrants. This action includes the construction of a new west side entrance roadway system; creation of a new GPS non-precision Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) for Runways 18R, 36L, and 36; relocation of portions of Airport Road, Fox Farm Road and the Airport Entrance Road to allow for the initiation of new non-precision instrument approach procedures for Runways 36L and 36R; relocation of a portion of Fox Farm Road to remove the facility from within the Runway Protection Zone (RPZ) for Runway 06; relocation of the existing Visual Approach Descent Indicator (VADI) lights and associated wind cone to serve the relocated Runway 36L threshold; installation of Medium Intensity Runway Lights (MIRL) on the extended and widened runway; installation of Medium Intensity Taxiway Lights (MITL) on the extended on widened taxiway; relocation of a portion of the Southern Illinois Power Company's electric lines to allow for the new SIAPs to Runways 36L and 36; removal of obstructions in the approaches to Runways 06 and 18L; mitigation of impacts to 2.7 acres of wetlands; and the approval of the Southern Illinois ALP. Copies of the environmental decision and the Final EA are available for public information review during regular business hours at the following locations: 1. Southern Illinois Airport, 665 North Airport Road, Murphysboro, Illinois 62966. 2. Division of Aeronautics-Illinois Department of Transportation, One Langhorne Bond Drive, Capital Airport, Springfield, IL 62707. 3. Chicago Airports District Office, Room 320, Federal Aviation Administration, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary fixed security zones in the waters extending approximately 100 yards around six separate oil refinery piers in the San Francisco Bay area. These security zones are an integral part of the Coast Guard's efforts to protect these facilities and the surrounding areas from destruction or damage due to accidents, subversive acts, or other causes of a similar nature. Entry into the zones is prohibited, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Francisco Bay, or his designated representative. These zones will be subject to discretionary and random patrol and monitoring by Coast Guard, Federal, state and local law enforcement assets.

The EPA is requesting comment on the overwhelming transport classification for 8-hour ozone nonattainment areas as requested in a petition for reconsideration of EPA's final rule to implement the 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or standard). We are requesting comment on the draft guidance document entitled ``Criteria For Assessing Whether an Ozone Nonattainment Area is Affected by Overwhelming Transport,'' and we are reopening the comment period on our proposed rule regarding how the Clean Air Act (CAA) section 172 requirements would apply to an area that might receive an overwhelming transport classification. In the Phase 1 Rule to Implement the 8-Hour Ozone NAAQS we stated that we were considering the comments we received on the issue of applicable requirements for these subpart 1 areas and would address them when we issued guidance on assessing overwhelming transport. Consequently, today's action takes comment on the overwhelming transport guidance and on the applicable requirements that would apply to areas receiving the overwhelming transport classification. In addition, EPA is holding a public hearing on April 12, 2006.

We, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM), are approving an amendment to the Oklahoma regulatory program (Oklahoma program) under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA or the Act). Oklahoma proposed revisions to its rules concerning cross sections, maps, and plans; subsidence control; impoundments; revegetation success standards; and roads. Oklahoma withdrew its previously proposed revisions to its rules concerning review of decision not to inspect or enforce. Oklahoma intends to revise its program to provide additional safeguards, clarify ambiguities, and improve operational efficiency.

The Coast Guard is establishing three special anchorage areas in Long Beach, California where vessels less than 20 meters (approximately 65 feet) in length, and barges, canal boats, scows, or other nondescript craft, would not be required to sound signals required by Rule 35 of the Inland Navigation Rules. The effect of these special anchorages is to reduce the risk of vessel collisions within the harbors of Los Angeles and Long Beach by grouping unmanned barges, which typically do not sound signals in reduced visibility, within specified areas and indicating these designated areas on charts. Vessels moored in these areas will not have to sound signals in restricted visibility.

EPA is finalizing approval of revisions to the Nevada State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions were proposed in the Federal Register on September 13, 2005 and include definitions, sulfur oxide emission regulations, and various other burning regulations. We are approving these regulations in order to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to correct several miscellaneous errors in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), update the address for Region III, and remove all references to Subpart J in Parts 32 and 35. This document is necessary to inform the public of these minor changes to NRC regulations.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-100 series airplanes; Model A319-100 series airplanes; Model A320-111 airplanes; Model A320-200 series airplanes; Model A321-100 series airplanes; and Model A321-200 series airplanes. This AD requires replacing the water drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors with new valves. This AD results from a report indicating that, during a test of the fire extinguishing system, air leakage through the water drain valves in the forward and aft cargo doors reduced the concentration of fire extinguishing agent to below the level required to suppress a fire. We are issuing this AD to prevent air leakage through the water drain valves, which, in the event of a fire in the forward or aft cargo compartment, could result in an insufficient concentration of fire extinguishing agent and consequent inability of the fire extinguishing system to suppress the fire.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-100 and A319-100 series airplanes, A320-111 airplanes, A320-200 series airplanes, and A321-100 and A321-200 series airplanes. This AD requires operators to review the airplane's maintenance records to determine the part numbers of the magnetic fuel level indicators (MFLI) of the wing fuel tanks, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from several in-service incidents of wear and detachment of the top-stops from the MFLI. Such detachment allows the top-stop to move around the wing fuel tank, and the top-stop could come into contact or in close proximity with a gauging probe, resulting in compromise of the air gap between the probe and the structure and creating a potential ignition source. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the wing fuel tank in the event of a lightning strike, which could result in a fire or explosion.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) propose to establish the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment (WGL DPS) of the gray wolf (Canis lupus). This DPS includes all of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan; the eastern half of North Dakota and South Dakota; the northern half of Iowa; the northern portions of Illinois and Iowa; and the northwestern portion of Ohio. We further propose to remove the WGL DPS from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife established under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We propose these actions because available data indicate that this DPS no longer meets the definitions of threatened or endangered under the Act. The threats have been reduced or eliminated as evidenced by a population that is stable or increasing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan, and greatly exceeds the numerical recovery criteria established in its recovery plan. Completed State wolf management plans will provide adequate protection and management of the species if delisted in the WGL DPS. The proposed rule, if finalized, would remove this DPS from the protections of the Act. This proposed rule would also remove the currently designated critical habitat for the gray wolf in Minnesota and Michigan and remove the current special regulations for gray wolves in Minnesota.