August 17, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule consolidates requirements governing the Employment Assistance Program and the Adult Vocational Training Program. These programs assist eligible Indian people to obtain job skills and to obtain and retain permanent employment. Combining these regulations is consistent with changes to the Department's budget, which has combined these two regulations into one line item.

EPA is making an interim final determination to stay and defer imposition of sanctions based on a proposed approval of revisions to the Pinal County portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP) published elsewhere in today's Federal Register. The revisions concern Pinal County Rules 2-8-320, 4-2-020, 4-2-030, 4-4, 4-5, 4-7, and 4-9.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) parts 3025 and 3052 to reflect a statutory change limiting the acquisition of products containing textiles from sources outside the United States.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) amends the regulations for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (refuge) that pertain to existing programs for migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, and big game hunting. These changes take effect with the 2009-2010 season, implement portions of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the refuge approved in 2006, and amend other regulations. We also make amendments to reflect recent OMB approval of new hunting and fishing application forms and activity reports for national wildlife refuges.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones extending 500 meters in all directions from each of the two submerged turret-loading buoys and accompanying systems that are part of GDF Suez Energy's Neptune Deepwater Port located in the Atlantic Ocean off of Boston, Massachusetts. The purpose of these temporary safety zones is to protect vessels and mariners from the potential safety hazards associated with construction of the deepwater port facilities and the large sub-surface turret buoys, and to protect the deepwater port infrastructure. All vessels, with the exception of deepwater port support vessels, are prohibited from entering into, remaining or moving within either of the safety zones.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') announces the availability of documents pertaining to the expert peer review record completed on the Renewable Fuel Standard Program (RFS2) Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Analysis. On May 5, 2009, EPA announced proposed revisions to the National Renewable Fuel Standard program (commonly known as the RFS program) as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. EISA established new renewable fuel categories and eligibility requirements, including setting the first ever mandatory GHG reduction thresholds for the various categories of renewable fuels. EISA also defined the term lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As part of proposed revisions to the RFS program and in accordance with the EISA definition of GHG emissions, EPA examined the GHG impacts associated with different types of renewable fuels. Several new pieces of analysis were developed to support this lifecycle assessment. EPA decided to initiate an independent peer review to help respond to stakeholder concerns and to ensure that the Agency makes decisions based on the best science available. The Agency, in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget and EPA peer review guidance contracted with independent, third party sources to conduct an external expert peer review of this work. The results of the expert peer review are being made available to the public for notice and comment to supplement the current record.

FRA is proposing to standardize and establish Federal requirements for railroad bridges. This proposed rule would require track owners to implement bridge management programs that include annual inspections of railroad bridges. The proposed rule would also require track owners to know the safe capacity load of bridges and to conduct special inspections if the weather or other conditions warrant such inspections. Finally, the proposed rule would also require the audit of the bridge management programs and the inspections.