November 10, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified 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).

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.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is extending the public comment period by sixty (60) days for its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; request for comments. Additionally, FTA hereby provides notice that it intends to host two Webinars to discuss the Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the Commission

This action announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water and determining compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes EPA to approve the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. EPA is using this streamlined authority to make 25 additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples required by regulation. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection.

Section 321 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires the Commission to conduct a rulemaking to consider the effectiveness of current labeling requirements for lamps (commonly referred to as ``light bulbs'') and to consider alternative labeling approaches. After reviewing public comments and consumer research, the Commission seeks comments on proposed changes to the existing labeling requirements for lamp products.

We are requesting your comments on whether and how we should revise the criteria in our Listing of Impairments (the listings) for evaluating genitourinary impairments in adults and children. We are requesting your comments as part of our ongoing effort to ensure that our listings reflect current medical knowledge. If we propose specific revisions, we will publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register.

The National Institutes of Health is amending the current regulations governing grants for research projects by revising the definition of Principal Investigator to mean one or more individuals designated by the grantee in the grant application and approved by the Secretary, who is or are responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the project, rather than limiting the role of Principal Investigator to one single individual; and the conditions for multiple or concurrent awards pursuant to one or more applications.

OSHA invites interested parties to participate in informal stakeholder meetings on the workplace hazards of combustible dust. OSHA plans to use the information gathered at these meetings in developing a proposed standard for combustible dust.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area extending from the entrance of East Rockaway Inlet to the Atlantic Beach Bridge, Nassau County, New York. This regulated navigation area will affect commercial vessels carrying petroleum products in excess of 250 barrels by requiring them to plan all transits of the regulated navigation area so that they maintain a minimum of two feet under keel clearance at all times. Additionally, they may not transit the regulated navigation area if a small craft advisory, or more severe weather warning, has been issued, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound. This action is necessary because significant shoaling in this area has reduced the depths of the navigable channel and has increased the risk of vessels grounding in the channel and the potential for a significant oil spill.

The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]), to reflect changes to the prices for the following Shipping Services:

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulations governing the operation of the LA 75 pontoon bridge and the LA 77 swing bridge across the Lower Grand River, mile 38.4 and 47.0 respectively, in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. The Iberville Parish School Board has requested that the operating regulations of these bridges be changed to allow an additional 30 minutes to the end of each scheduled closure period to provide more time for school buses to transit across the bridge.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending to February 5, 2010, the comment period for the proposed rule that appeared in the Federal Register of September 23, 2009. In the proposed rule, FDA requested comments on current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements applicable to combination products. The agency is taking this action in response to requests for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

EPA is proposing to approve sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and nitrogen oxides emission limitations and related requirements for a Warrick County electrical generating unit. The provisions, which will be added for the Southern Indiana Gas and Electric Company's F.B. Culley Generating Station, are contained in a Federal consent decree. Indiana requested revising its State Implementation Plan (SIP) to include the provisions on September 11, 2008. Adding these limitations will strengthen the Indiana SIP.

This final rule sets forth an update to the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) rates; the national standardized 60-day episode rates, the national per-visit rates, the non-routine medical supply (NRS) conversion factors, and the low utilization payment amount (LUPA) add-on payment amounts, under the Medicare prospective payment system for home health agencies effective January 1, 2010. This rule also updates the wage index used under the HH PPS. In addition, this rule changes the HH PPS outlier policy, requires the submission of OASIS data as a condition for payment under the HH PPS, implements a revised Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C) for episodes beginning on or after January 1, 2010, and implements a Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Home Health Care Survey (HHCAHPS) affecting payment to HHAs beginning in CY 2012. Also, this rule makes payment safeguards that will improve our enrollment process, improve the quality of care that Medicare beneficiaries receive from HHAs, and reduce the Medicare program's vulnerability to fraud. This rule also adds clarifying language to the ``skilled services'' section and Conditions of Participation (CoP) section of our regulations. This rule also clarifies the coverage of routine medical supplies under the HH PPS.