November 16, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 17, 2011, EPA published in the Federal Register a proposed rule proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove the Arkansas Regional Haze (RH) State Implementation Plan (SIP) and to partially approve and partially disapprove Arkansas' Interstate Transport SIP to address pollution affecting visibility, and requested comment by November 16, 2011. EPA is extending the public comment period for the proposed rule until December 22, 2011.

This action modifies Class E airspace at Driggs, ID to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Driggs-Reed Memorial Airport. This action also updates the airport name and adjusts the geographic coordinates of the airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to modify Class D and Class E airspace at Bozeman, Gallatin Field Airport, Bozeman, MT, to accommodate aircraft using Instrument Landing System (ILS) Localizer (LOC) standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. This action also would establish Class E En Route Domestic airspace to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) traffic from en route airspace to the airport. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Bozeman airspace area, would enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is seeking public input on its plan to retrospectively review its Regulations implementing the USACE Regulatory Program at 33 CFR parts 320-332 and 334. Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review'' (E.O.), issued on January 18, 2011, directs Federal agencies to review existing significant regulations and identify those that can be made more effective or less burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives. The Regulations are essential for implementation of the Regulatory mission; thus, USACE believes they are a significant rule warranting review pursuant to E.O. 13563. The E.O. further directs each agency to periodically review its existing significant regulations to determine whether any such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed so as to make the agency's regulatory program more effective or less burdensome in achieving the regulatory objectives. Section 404(e) of the Clean Water Act authorizes USACE to development general permits, including nationwide permits (NWPs), for minor activities in waters of the U.S. for a period of five years. Accordingly, every five years, USACE undergoes a reauthorization process for the NWP program and includes public notice and provides an opportunity for public hearing. Comments for the NWP program are submitted during the reauthorization process. Therefore, USACE is currently complying with the E.O. 13563 direction to periodically review its existing significant regulations. Other regulations will be reviewed on an as-needed basis in accordance with new laws, court cases, etc.

This rule identifies communities, where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of [alpha]-Hydro-[omega]- hydroxypoly(oxyethylene), minimum number average molecular weight (in amu), 17,000; also known as polyethylene glycol, when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Clariant Corporation submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of [alpha]-Hydro-[omega]- hydroxypoly(oxyethylene), minimum number average molecular weight (in amu), 17,000 on food or feed commodities.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) amends its regulations regarding clothing allowances. The amendment provides for an annual clothing allowance for each qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance worn or used by a veteran for a service-connected disability or disabilities that wears out or tears a single article of the veteran's clothing and for each physician-prescribed medication used by a veteran for a skin condition that is due to a service-connected disability that affects a single outergarment. The amendment also provides two annual clothing allowances if a veteran wears or uses more than one qualifying prosthetic or orthopedic appliance, physician- prescribed medication for more than one skin condition, or an appliance and a medication for a service-connected disability or disabilities and the appliance(s) or medication(s) together cause a single article of clothing to wear out faster than if affected by a single appliance or medication. This amendment also makes certain technical changes to the rule.

Section 2715 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Public Law 111-84, amended the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to change the authority of the Department of Defense to convey property to a local redevelopment authority (LRA) for purposes of job generation on a military installation closed or realigned under a base closure law. Such a conveyance is known as an Economic Development Conveyance (EDC). Economic Development Conveyances were created by amendments to the Base Closure and Realignment law in 1993, creating a new tool for communities experiencing negative economic effects caused by the elimination of a significant number of jobs in the community. Congress recognized that the existing authority under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (as amended and otherwise known as the Real Property Act) was not structured to deal with the unique challenges of assisting base closure communities with economic recovery and job creation, many with decaying or obsolete infrastructure and other redevelopment challenges. Under this revised authority, the Department is no longer required to seek fair market value for an EDC. An EDC may be for consideration at or below the estimated fair market value, including without consideration. The amendment expands the flexibility of the Department regarding the form of consideration it may accept, including the authority to accept consideration in the form of revenue sharing or so-called ``back-end'' funding. Back-end funding is consideration consisting of a share of the revenues that the LRA receives from third- party buyers or lessees from sales and leases of the conveyed property, consideration in kind (including goods and services), real property and improvements, or such other consideration as the Secretary considers appropriate. The amendment also provides that the Department's determination of the consideration may account for the economic conditions of the local affected community and the estimated costs to redevelop the property. This final rule amends the existing regulation on reutilization of installations closed under the base closure process to conform to the amendment to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 and makes other improvements that encourage expedited property transfers for job creation that allow for the Department to recover a share of the revenues obtained.

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended (Fair Housing Act or Act), prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, or financing of dwellings and in other housing-related activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, or national origin.\1\ HUD, to which Congress gave the authority and responsibility for administering the Fair Housing Act and the power to make rules implementing the Act, has long interpreted the Act to prohibit housing practices with a discriminatory effect, even where there has been no intent to discriminate.

On August 25, 2011, (76 FR 53086) PHMSA published in the Federal Register an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) titled: ``Safety of Gas Transmission Pipelines'' seeking comments on the need for changes to the regulations covering gas transmission pipelines. PHMSA has received requests to extend the comment period in order to have more time to evaluate the ANPRM. PHMSA is extending the comment period from December 2, 2011, to January 20, 2012.

EPA is finalizing approval of revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions were proposed in the Federal Register on September 12, 2011 and concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from steam enhanced crude oil production and aerospace coating operations. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or the Commission) has made available its initial Plan for retrospective analysis of its existing regulations to determine whether any such regulations should be modified, streamlined, expanded, or repealed. This action is part of the NRC's voluntary implementation of Executive Order (EO) 13579, ``Regulation and Independent Regulatory Agencies,'' issued by the President on July 11, 2011. The purpose of the NRC's review is to make its regulatory program more effective and less burdensome in achieving its regulatory objectives. The NRC is not instituting a public comment period for the initial Plan at this time but anticipates issuing a revised version for public comment in Calendar Year (CY) 2012 to reflect, as appropriate, any Commission decisions related to the Fukushima Task Force Report.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) is making a number of nonsubstantive, editorial revisions to the Commission's rules. These revisions remove certain rule provisions that are without current legal effect and therefore are obsolete, amend rules that contain references to obsolete rules or statutory provisions, and correct rules that contain outdated terminology or typographical errors. These nonsubstantive revisions are part of the Commission's ongoing examination and improvement of FCC processes and procedures. The revisions clarify, simplify, and harmonize our rules, making the rules more readily accessible to the public and avoiding potential confusion for interested parties and Commission staff alike.