July 28, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) helicopters. That AD currently requires certain checks and inspections of the tail rotor blades. If a crack is found, the existing AD requires replacing the tail rotor blade (blade) with an airworthy blade before further flight. This action would require the same checks and inspections until they are required to be replaced and would remove certain serial numbered and specifically coded tail rotor blades from the applicability of the AD. This proposal is prompted by the approved rework of certain tail rotor blades and two newly redesigned tail rotor blades, which, if installed, constitutes terminating action for the inspection requirements. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect a crack in a blade, and to prevent loss of a blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The Commission requests comments on a channel substitution proposed by Trinity Christian Center of Santa Ana, Inc., d/b/a Trinity Broadcasting Network (``Trinity''), the licensee of WPGD-DT, DTV channel 51, Hendersonville, Tennessee. Trinity requests the substitution of DTV channel 33 for channel 51 at Hendersonville.

The Department of State is proposing to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) by increasing the registration fees, changing the registration renewal period, and making other minor administrative changes.

On June 24, 2008, EPA published in the Federal Register final amendments to the current standards of performance for petroleum refineries and separate standards of performance for new, modified, or reconstructed process units at petroleum refineries. Both of these final rules had an effective date of June 24, 2008. This document stays the effective date of the rule for the newly promulgated standards of performance for new, modified, or reconstructed process units at petroleum refineries to September 26, 2008 to be consistent with sections 801 and 808 of the Congressional Review Act, enacted as part of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act, 5 U.S.C. 801, 808. The effective date for the final rule promulgating amendments to the current standards of performance for petroleum refineries is not changing and remains June 24, 2008.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain McDonnell Douglas transport category airplanes. The existing AD currently requires modification of the installation wiring for the electric motor-operated auxiliary hydraulic pumps in the right wheel well area of the main landing gear; repetitive inspections of the numbers 1 and 2 electric motors of the auxiliary hydraulic pumps for electrical resistance, continuity, mechanical rotation, and associated airplane wiring resistance/voltage; and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would, for certain airplanes, also require modifying and rerouting, as applicable, certain components of the wiring of the electric motor for the auxiliary hydraulic pump located in the right wheel well. This proposed AD results from reports of failure of the electric motor for the auxiliary hydraulic pump. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the electric motors of the hydraulic pump and associated wiring, which could result in fire at the auxiliary hydraulic pump and consequent damage to the adjacent electrical equipment and/or structure.

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) finalizes the Coverage Enhancement Option (CEO) Provisions. The intended effect of this action is to restrict the effect of the current Pilot Coverage Enhancement Option to the 2008 and prior crop years and replace with revised permanent CEO provisions, and to better meet the needs of insured producers. The changes will apply for the 2009 and succeeding crop years.

This final rule amends the mileage reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned vehicle (POV) when that mode of transportation is authorized or approved as more advantageous to the Government. The governing regulation is revised to increase the cost of operating a privately owned airplane from $1.07 to $1.26 per mile, a privately owned automobile (POA) from $0.505 to $0.585 cents per mile, and a privately owned motorcycle from $0.305 to $0.585 cents per mile.

This final rule prohibits Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, including organizations offering MA plans to employer and union group health plan sponsors, from making midyear changes to non-prescription drug benefits, premiums, and cost-sharing submitted in their approved bids for a given contract year. This final rule also clarifies that MA organizations offering certain kinds of plans restricted to employer and union group health plan sponsors and not open to general enrollment may continue to offer benefit enhancements as they do currently, through means other than midyear benefit enhancements (MYBEs). Programs of all-inclusive care for elderly (PACE) are not subject to the provisions of this final rule and may continue to offer enhanced benefits as specified in our guidance for PACE plans.

In this proposed rule, the Department of Labor (Department or DOL) proposes to revise regulations issued pursuant to the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) and the Portal-to-Portal Act of 1947 (Portal Act) that have become out of date because of subsequent legislation or court decisions. These proposed revisions will conform the regulations to FLSA amendments passed in 1974, 1977, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2007, and Portal Act amendments passed in 1996.