September 19, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is requesting public comments on its initiation of a Secretarial Amendment to implement annual catch limits (ACLs) and measures to ensure accountability (AMs) in the small-mesh multispecies fishery. NMFS is initiating the Secretarial Amendment because the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is not able to develop and submit Amendment 19 to establish ACLs and AMs for the small-mesh multispecies fishery as required by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), until well past the statutory deadline of 2011. As required by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, NMFS is announcing four public meetings to allow interested parties the opportunity to provide input on the action.

The Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) has been engaged for several years in an interagency discussion of its existing Cargo Preference regulations. In accordance with Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' the Maritime Administration (MarAd) is evaluating the rules' continued validity and whether they effectively address current issues. As part of this review, MarAd invites the public to participate in a comment process designed to help it provide for a more easily administered system of regulations to benefit shippers and shipper agencies in meeting cargo preference requirements pursuant to the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, as amended (the Act) and Maritime Administration implementing regulations.

The Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) published a proposed rule on July 27, 2011 (76 FR 44836-44855), revising and amending the regulations that administer the Export Credit Guarantee (GSM-102) Program. Changes in this proposed rule incorporate program operational changes and information from press releases and notices to participants that have been implemented since the publication of the current rule, and include other administrative revisions to enhance clarity and program integrity. CCC is extending the comment period for the proposed rule to give the public more time to provide input and recommendations on the proposed rule. The original comment period would have closed on September 26, 2011; CCC is extending the comment period for 30 additional days. With this extension, the public may submit comments through October 26, 2011.

The Coast Guard is establishing a regulated navigation area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Sakonnet River under and surrounding construction of the new Route 24 bridge that crosses the Sakonnet River between Tiverton and Portsmouth, Rhode Island. This rule implements certain safety measures including establishment of a temporary channel beneath the bridge, speed restrictions, and suspension of all vessel traffic within the RNA during construction operations that could pose an imminent hazard to vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during construction of the Route 24 bridge over the main channel of the Sakonnet River.

On March 21, 2011, the Department of Justice published a proposed rule revising its existing regulations under the Freedom of Information Act. The comment period for that rule closed on April 20, 2011. The Department is reopening the comment period for an additional 30-day period.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of an original new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Merial, Ltd. The NADA provides for the veterinary prescription use of gamithromycin injectable solution for the management of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). FDA is also amending the regulations to add the established tolerances for residues of gamithromycin in edible tissues of cattle.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of an abbreviated new animal drug application (ANADA) filed by Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd. The ANADA provides for use of an ivermectin injectable solution for treatment and control of various internal and external parasites in cattle, swine, reindeer, and American bison.

This action amends five existing Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes and establishes four new ATS routes. The existing routes being amended are Q-42, J-60, V-16, V-229 and V-449. The new routes are Q-62, Q-406, Q-448 and Q-480. The FAA is taking this action to increase National Airspace System (NAS) efficiency, enhance safety and reduce delays within the New York metropolitan area airspace.

The Department is amending its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations to require intercity, commuter, and high-speed passenger railroads to ensure, at new and altered station platforms, that passengers with disabilities can get on and off any accessible car of the train. Passenger railroads must provide level-entry boarding at new or altered stations in which no track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations. For new or altered stations in which track passing through the station and adjacent to platforms is shared with existing freight rail operations, passenger railroads will be able to choose among a variety of means to meet a performance standard to ensure that passengers with disabilities can access each accessible train car that other passengers can board at the station. These means include providing car-borne lifts, station-based lifts, or mini-high platforms. The Department will review a railroad's proposed method to ensure that it provides reliable and safe services to individuals with disabilities in an integrated manner. The rule also codifies the existing DOT mechanism for issuing ADA guidance, modifies provisions concerning the carriage of wheelchairs, and makes minor technical changes to the Department's ADA rules.