February 19, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA amends digital flight data recorder regulations affecting certain air carriers and operators. This final rule prohibits the filtering of some original flight recorder sensor signals unless a certificate holder can show that the data can be accurately reconstructed. This final rule improves the integrity and quality of the data recorded on digital flight data recorders while giving aircraft designers and operators more flexibility in system design and operation where allowable.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-32R-301T and PA-46-350P airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to replace any spot- welded V-band exhaust coupling with a riveted V-band exhaust coupling. This proposed AD results from reports that spot-welded V-band exhaust couplings are failing. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the V-band exhaust coupling, which could cause the exhaust pipe to detach from the turbocharger. This failure could result in release of high temperature gases inside the engine compartment and possibly cause an in-flight fire. An in-flight fire could lead to loss of control.

This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding ten additional persons located in Hong Kong and Taiwan to the Entity List (Supplement No. 4 to Part 744) on the basis of Section 744.11 of the EAR. These persons that are added to the Entity List have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.

On January 5, 2010, NMFS proposed regulations to revise the critical habitat designation for the endangered leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) by designating additional areas within the Pacific Ocean. Specific areas proposed for designation include two adjacent marine areas totaling approximately 46,100 square miles (119,400 square km) stretching along the California coast from Point Arena to Point Vincente; and one 24,500 square mile (63,455 square km) marine area stretching from Cape Flattery, WA, to the Umpqua River (Winchester Bay), OR, east of a line approximating the 2,000 meter depth contour. The areas proposed for designation comprise approximately 70,600 square miles (182,854 square km) of marine habitat. NMFS is extending the comment period on the proposed regulations until April 23, 2010.

NMFS proposes 2010 specifications for the Atlantic deep-sea red crab fishery, including a target total allowable catch (TAC) and a fleet-wide days-at-sea (DAS) allocation. The implementing regulations for the Atlantic Deep-Sea Red Crab Fishery Management Plan (FMP) require NMFS to publish specifications for up to a period of 3 years and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The intent of this rulemaking is to specify the target TAC and other management measures in order to manage the red crab resource for fishing year (FY) 2010.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Closed Captioning of Video Programming; Closed Captioning Requirements for Digital Television Receivers, Declaratory Ruling and Order (2008 Closed Captioning Order). This notice is consistent with the 2008 Closed Captioning Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

On February 10, 2000 (65 FR 6698), EPA published emission standards for light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks requiring vehicle manufacturers to reduce tailpipe emissions. Specifically, EPA sought to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides and non-methane hydrocarbons, pollutants which contribute to ozone pollution. The rulemaking also required oil refiners to limit the sulfur content of the gasoline they produce. Sulfur in gasoline has a detrimental impact on catalyst performance and the sulfur requirements have enabled the introduction of advanced technology emission control systems on motor vehicles.

The Commission is noticing a Postal Service petition proposing a change in transportation cost system sampling. The proposal involves distributing rail costs using inter-BMC highway distribution factors. This notice briefly describes the Postal Service's rationale for

The Delaware River Basin Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on proposed amendments to the Administrative ManualPart IIIBasin RegulationsWater Supply Charges to revise the schedule of water charges.

NCUA is amending its rules governing secondary capital accounts to permit low-income designated credit unions to redeem all or part of secondary capital accepted from the United States Government or any of its subdivisions at any time after the secondary capital has been on deposit for two years. The amendments will also allow early redemption, under the same terms and conditions, of secondary capital accepted as a match to the government-funded secondary capital. Finally, the amendments change the loss distribution provision that applies to secondary capital accounts so that secondary capital accepted under the 2010 Community Development Capital Program is senior to any required matching secondary capital accepted from an alternative source. Early redemption will continue to require approval of the appropriate Regional Director. The amended rule will accomplish the following: bring NCUA regulations into compliance with the Community Development Capital Program; and allow qualifying low-income designated credit unions that accept secondary capital pursuant to the Troubled Asset Relief Program through the Community Development Capital Program to avoid an accelerated interest rate on the secondary capital over the last five years to maturation.

NMFS closes the commercial hook-and-line fishery for king mackerel in the southern Florida west coast subzone. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf king mackerel resource.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher/processors using hook-and-line gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2010 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to catcher/processors using hook-and- line gear in the BSAI.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is issuing a final rule to prohibit the use of spearfishing gear in Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary (GRNMS or sanctuary). Possession of spearfishing gear is also prohibited except for vessels passing through the sanctuary without interruption, and only when the gear is stowed and not available for immediate use. Spearfishing can selectively target larger fish, and can significantly reduce abundance and alter the relative size structure of target species toward smaller fish. In addition, spearfishing can impact ecosystem health by altering the composition of the overall natural communities of species. The largest fish are important as predators in maintaining a balanced and complete ecosystem; their selective removal may cause ecological imbalance. Therefore, the prohibition provides protection to the fishes and natural live-bottom community for which the sanctuary was designated. The final rule also facilitates enforcement of an existing prohibition against the use of powerheads within the sanctuary. An environmental assessment has been prepared for this proposed action.