June 16, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is amending its regulations regarding separate requirements for check airmen who check only in flight simulators and flight instructors who instruct only in flight simulators. This document corrects minor technical errors in the codified text of those regulations.

In this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM), the Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, us, our) is requesting comments on alternatives to using credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical ratings organizations (NRSRO or credit rating agency) in regulations addressing the Risk-Based Capital Stress Test (RBCST or stress test) for the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac or FAMC). Recent legislation requires every Federal agency to remove any references to credit ratings from its regulations and to substitute them with other standards of creditworthiness considered appropriate. Additionally, in response to this same legislative emphasis on ensuring appropriate prudential oversight of derivatives transactions, we are considering whether the RBCST should include a more explicit and comprehensive capital charge for counterparty risk stemming from derivative transactions. Lastly, through the ANPRM we are seeking public input on how we might revise the operational and strategic business planning requirements for FAMC to place greater emphasis on diversity and inclusion.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone from Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan. This safety zone will cover 77 miles of navigable waterways in the Chicago area and is intended to restrict vessels from entering certain segments of the navigable waters of the Des Plaines River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, branches of the Chicago River, and the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel. This safety zone is necessary to protect the waters, waterway users and vessels from hazards associated with a myriad of actions designed to control the spread of aquatic nuisance species. Because the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) may take such actions at any time and in any segment of the waterways covered by this safety zone, this safety zone will provide the Captain of the Port, Sector Lake Michigan, the ability to take targeted and expeditious action to protect vessels and persons from the hazards associated with any Federal and state efforts to control aquatic nuisance species.

The Coast Guard is advising the public of its intent to finalize regulations previously published as an interim rule on January 6, 2004. The interim rule (IR) was published to enhance the application procedures for the Merchant Mariner Licensing and Documentation program, which were necessary to improve maritime safety and promote the national security interest of the United States, but was never published as a final rule. Because of the lapse in time since the interim rule publication, the Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public on one remaining section of the interim rule that has remained unfinalized. The Coast Guard intends to finalize this one section of the interim rule.

This document corrects the formatting of text and charts published in the Federal Register of June 09, 2011 (76 FR 33818), regarding Protection of Cleared Swaps Customer Contracts and Collateral; Conforming Amendments to the Commodity Broker Bankruptcy Provisions.

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).

GSA is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) by increasing the set lump-sum rate amount to be paid for the miscellaneous expenses allowance (MEA), when the employee chooses not to provide documentation of miscellaneous expenses.

In this document, the Commission seeks additional, focused comment on certain issues raised in its Wireless Backhaul proceeding to remove regulatory barriers to the use of spectrum for backhaul and other point-to-point and point-to-multipoint communications and to increase efficient use of spectrum for backhaul, by updating regulatory classifications that may not have kept pace with the evolution of converged digital technologies. Specifically, we seek to supplement the record in this proceeding on the feasibility of sharing in the 7 and 13 GHz bands, limiting the frequency ranges available for Fixed Service (FS) in order to ensure the continuation of electronic newsgathering operations, and the appropriate channelization scheme, coordination procedures, and capacity and loading requirements for the bands.

This rule adds a new license exception to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) that authorizes the export, reexport, and transfer (in-country) of specified items to destinations that pose relatively low risk that those items will be used for a purpose that license requirements are designed to prevent. Use of the exception is conditioned upon the creation and exchange by the parties to the transaction of notifications and statements designed to provide assurance against diversion of such items to other destinations. The exception is only relevant to exports, reexports, and transfers for which a license is required under the EAR. Thus, if the EAR do not impose an obligation to apply for and receive a license before exporting, reexporting, or transferring an item subject to the EAR, STA is not relevant to the transaction. The exception does not alter any of the General Prohibitions in the EAR against unlicensed exports, reexports, or transfers to proscribed end users, end uses, or destinations. This rule, has been cleared by several departments, including Defense, State, Homeland Security, and Justice. This rule is part of the Administration's Export Control Reform Initiative, undertaken as a result of the fundamental review of the U.S. export control system that the President announced in August 2009.

This establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.