October 21, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This proposed rule invites comments on the establishment of a minimum quality regulation for lots of pistachios imported into the United States. The regulation would specify maximum aflatoxin tolerance levels as well as mandatory aflatoxin testing and certification requirements. The proposed import quality requirements would be the same as or comparable to those in effect for the domestically produced commodity. Under this proposal, aflatoxin levels in imported pistachios could not exceed 15 parts per billion (ppb), as certified by aflatoxin inspection certificates issued by an accredited laboratory. This action is intended to assure consumers that all pistachios offered for sale in the United States meet the same aflatoxin standards, thus promoting high quality product in the market place and fostering consumer satisfaction. This rule also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a new information collection requirement, including two new forms that would be completed by either laboratories or pistachio importers.

This rule changes the grower diversion regulations prescribed under the marketing order for tart cherries (order). The order regulates the handling of tart cherries grown in the States of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin and is administered locally by the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board). This rule suspends indefinitely the regulations establishing random row as a method of grower diversion. With growers consistently choosing other diversion methods which offer more flexibility and fewer potential problems, the Board recommended this suspension to bring grower diversion requirements in line with current industry practices.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Schempp-Hirth Flugzeugbau GmbH Model Discus 2cT gliders. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Savannah River in Augusta, Georgia during the 2011 Head of the South Regatta, which will consist of a series of rowing races. The 2011 Head of the South Regatta is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 11, 2011 and Saturday, November 12, 2011. The temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Savannah or a designated representative.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposes placing the substance ezogabine, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible, into Schedule V of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). This proposed action is pursuant to the CSA which requires that such actions be made on the record after opportunity for a hearing through formal rulemaking.

EPA is promulgating this final rule under section 4(a)(1)(B) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require manufacturers, importers, and processors to conduct testing to obtain screening level data for health and environmental effects and chemical fate for 15 high production volume (HPV) chemical substances listed in this final rule. This test data is needed in order to help EPA to determine whether these 15 HPV chemical substances pose a risk to human health and/or environmental safety. Based on comments received by EPA on the proposed rule for this final rule, EPA has determined that only 15 of the 29 HPV chemical substances proposed for testing meet the criteria for testing at this time.

EPA co-proposes two options for obtaining basic information from CAFOs to support EPA in meeting its water quality protection responsibilities under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The purpose of this co-proposal is to improve and restore water quality by collecting facility-specific information that would improve EPA's ability to effectively implement the NPDES program and to ensure that CAFOs are complying with the requirements of the CWA. Under one co-proposed option, EPA would use the authority of CWA section 308 to obtain certain identifying information from all CAFOs. Under the other option, EPA could use the authority of CWA section 308 to obtain this information from CAFOs that fall within areas that have been identified as having water quality concerns likely associated with CAFOs (focus watersheds). However, EPA would make every reasonable effort to assess the utility of existing publicly available data and programs to obtain identifying information about CAFOs by working with partners at the Federal, state, and local level before determining whether an information collection request is necessary. This information would allow EPA to achieve more efficiently and effectively the water quality protection goals and objectives of the CWA. EPA also requests comment on three alternative approaches to gather information about CAFOs, which could be used to achieve the objectives of this proposed action in protecting water quality.

This document clarifies the compliance date by which manufacturers must begin to use portions of a recently promulgated test procedure (i.e., the April 15, 2011 final rule) when certifying walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. This document also adopts regulatory text changes to reflect the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) intent that only manufacturers of components of walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers are required to submit certification reports. Additionally, the final rule clarifies the types of test data needed to support the certification of compliance pursuant to DOE's existing test procedures for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers and the recently promulgated test procedure for this equipment. Finally, DOE is adopting an extension to the compliance date for which manufacturers, including importers, need to certify compliance to the Department of metal halide lamp ballasts and fixtures.

The State of New York has petitioned for approval of alternate odometer requirements to certain requirements under Federal odometer law. New York's proposed program would apply to vehicles that have been transferred to New York motor vehicle dealers. Ultimately, the proposed program would generate the issuance of a non-secure paper odometer disclosure receipt when a vehicle is transferred from a licensed New York dealer to a person other than a licensed New York dealer, such as an out-of-state person. In view of the nature of this receipt as an odometer disclosure for vehicle titling, NHTSA preliminarily denies New York's petition. This notice is not a final agency action.

EPA is proposing to issue a test rule under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 4(a)(1)(B) to require manufacturers and processors of 23 high production volume (HPV) chemical substances to develop screening-level health, environmental, and fate data based on the potential for substantial exposures of workers and consumers to these chemicals. EPA is also proposing to issue simultaneously a significant new use rule (SNUR) for another 22 HPV chemical substances under TSCA section 5(a)(2). The SNUR would require persons to file a significant new use notice (SNUN) with EPA prior to manufacturing, importing, or processing any of these chemical substances for use in a consumer product or for any use, or combination of uses, that is reasonably likely to expose 1,000 or more workers at a single corporate entity. The required notification would provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use and, if necessary, to prohibit or limit that activity before it occurs. EPA is also soliciting comment on a number of issues with regard to both the test rule and the SNUR.

On January 27, 2011, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Air Quality (DAQ), submitted a request to redesignate the Kentucky portion of the Cincinnati-Hamilton, Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana (hereafter referred to the ``Tri-state Cincinnati-Hamilton Area'') fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area to attainment for the 1997 Annual PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); and to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision containing a maintenance plan for the Kentucky portion of the Tri-state Cincinnati- Hamilton Area. The Tri-state Cincinnati-Hamilton Area is comprised of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties in Kentucky (hereafter referred to as the ``Northern Kentucky Area'' or ``Area''); Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties in Ohio; and a portion of Dearborn County in Indiana. EPA is proposing to approve the redesignation request for Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties, along with the related SIP revision, including the Commonwealth's plan for maintaining attainment of the PM2.5 standard in the Northern Kentucky Area. EPA is also proposing to approve Kentucky's nitrogen oxides (NOX) and PM2.5 Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for 2015 and 2021 for the Northern Kentucky Area. On December 9, 2010, and January 25, 2011, respectively, Ohio and Indiana submitted requests to redesignate their portion of the Tri-state Cincinnati-Hamilton Area to attainment for the 1997 PM2.5 NAAQS. EPA is taking action on the requests from Ohio and Indiana in an action separate from these proposed actions.