January 8, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Board of Governors (Board) is amending appendix A of Regulation CC to delete the reference to the Utica office of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and reassign the Federal Reserve routing symbols currently listed under that office to the head office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and the head office of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. The Board is also amending appendix B of Regulation CC to delete the reference to the Utica office. In addition, the Board is providing advance notice of future amendments to appendix A that are anticipated in connection with the next phase of the Reserve Banks' restructuring of the check-processing operations within the Federal Reserve System.

PHMSA proposes to revise the Federal pipeline safety regulations to allow certain thermoplastic pipelines made from new Polyamide-11 (PA-11) pipe to be designed using a higher design factor and to raise the design pressure limit for the same pipelines. Design pressure calculations and design pressure limitations for all other thermoplastic pipes (PE-polyethylene, PB-polybutylene, PVC-polyvinyl chloride, etc.) would remain unchanged. These rule changes would allow pipeline operators to operate certain pipelines constructed of new PA- 11 pipe at higher operating pressures than currently allowed by the existing rules. This would allow pipeline operators to take advantage of the strength characteristics of PA-11 pipe.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Wheatland, WY. Additional Class E airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Phifer Airfield. This will improve the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft executing the new RNAV GPS SIAP at Phifer Airfield, Wheatland, WY.

The Secretary of Education (Secretary) announces the establishment of two negotiated rulemaking committees to develop proposed regulations related to the Federal student aid programs authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). The first committee will develop proposed regulations for the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant program. The second committee will develop proposed regulations for other Federal student aid programs authorized by Title IV of the HEA.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the date for filing reply comments from December 31, 2007, to January 16, 2008, to provide parties additional time to evaluate the extensive comments received and prepare their replies.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Washington Street S136 Bridge, across the Norwalk River, mile 0.0, at Norwalk, Connecticut. This deviation allows the bridge owner to open only one of the two moveable spans for bridge openings between January 2, 2008 and March 31, 2008. Vessels that require a full two-span bridge opening will be required to provide at least a twelve-hour advance notice by calling the bridge operator at (203) 866-7691. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The EPA is proposing to revise its regulations relating to the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirement that Federal actions conform to the appropriate State, Tribal or Federal implementation plan for attaining clean air (``general conformity''). EPA has only revised the General Conformity Regulations once since they were promulgated in 1993 to include de minimis emission levels for fine particulate matter and its precursors (July 17, 2006). Over this period, EPA and other Federal agencies have gained experience with the implementation of the existing regulations and have identified several issues with their implementation. In addition, in 2004 EPA issued regulations to implement the revised ozone standard and in 2007 issued regulations to implement the new fine particulate matter standard. These regulations could affect the timing and process for general conformity determinations. State and other air quality agencies are in the process of developing revised plans to attain the new standards and the proposed revisions to the General Conformity Regulations will be helpful to the State, Tribe, and local agencies as well as the Federal agencies in developing and commenting on the proposed SIP revisions. This proposed rule revision provides for a streamline process for Federal agencies and States and Tribes to ensure Federal activities are incorporated in these State implementation plans (SIPs). Where that is not possible it provides an efficient and effective process for Federal agencies to ensure their actions do not cause or contribute to a violation of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) or interfere with the purpose of a State, Tribal or Federal implementation plan to attain or maintain the NAAQS.

This final rule explicitly conforms the eligibility requirements for applicants to the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Appraiser Roster to longstanding HUD practices, as well as to existing nationwide industry practice. Only appraisers on the roster may perform required appraisals of properties that are to serve as security for FHA-insured single-family mortgages. Among other requirements, the current regulations require that an applicant must be a state-licensed or state-certified appraiser and pass a HUD examination on FHA appraisal methods and reporting. This final rule codifies HUD's longstanding practice and the nationwide practice that such certification or licensing comply with national criteria for education, experience, and passage of a state-administered examination. This final rule also eliminates the requirement for applicants to pass a HUD test on FHA appraisal methods and reporting, because the test has become duplicative of the national examination requirements for state licensure and certification and, therefore, unnecessary.

The Coast Guard is temporarily revising the security zones in the Port of Tampa, East Bay, Rattlesnake, Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Big Bend for the purpose of providing counter-surveillance, intrusion detection and response measures. Entry into these zones will be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

This proposed rule would provide for an option for Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Sponsors to offer a separate prescription drug premium amount for low-income subsidy (LIS) individuals subject to certain conditions. We are proposing to allow PDP Sponsors to offer a reduced premium amount for LIS-eligible individuals to ensure that at least five PDP Sponsors in every PDP region would have a PDP with a premium at or below the premium subsidy amount. This provision will help to ensure there are a sufficient number of organizations offering zero-premium plans in each region and reduce the number of LIS beneficiary reassignments to other organizations.