December 22, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces the availability of Policy Letter 11-15, which describes steps the Coast Guard is taking to implement a statutory change in mariner credentialing requirements. This policy letter details how the Coast Guard is relaxing its Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) enforcement posture for mariners who serve on board vessels that are not required to have a vessel security plan. It also describes policy changes to allow these mariners to acquire and renew a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) without holding a valid TWIC.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish special local regulations on the Ashley River in Charleston, South Carolina during the Patriot Challenge Kayak Race on Saturday, April 28, 2012. Approximately 150 paddle boats are anticipated to participate in the Patriot Challenge Kayak Race. Participant paddle boats will include: kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters of the United States during the race. The special local regulations consist of a series of moving buffer zones around participant vessels as they transit the Ashley River from Brittlebank Park to Tidewater Reach and back to Brittlebank Park. Persons and vessels that are not participating in the race are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within any of the buffer zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Charleston or a designated representative.

This action proposes to reduce the 2012 annual catch limits (ACLs) for the Atlantic herring (herring) fishery to account for catch overages in 2010 and to prevent overfishing.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes), and Model A310 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a crack in the forward cargo door selector valve pipe located in the avionics bay opposite to line replaceable unit racking. This proposed AD would require replacing a certain aluminum high pressure pipe with a new corrosion resistant stainless steel pipe. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking in the forward cargo door selector valve pipe which could impact the 90 VU avionics line replaceable unit, and could result in multiple computer failures, affecting flight safety.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on a submission by the North American Numbering Council (NANC) recommending that a transferring service provider may only require the following information when the new service provider requests a CSR: any working telephone number associated with the customer's account; a positive indication that the new service provider has the authority from the customer; and the date the customer gave that authority. The Commission seeks comment on whether it should adopt the recommendation as a rule.

This action proposes to establish Class E Airspace at Bellefonte, PA, to accommodate the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Bellefonte Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to extend the March 6, 2012 effective date of the ``Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters; Final Rule'' (inland waters rule) for ninety days to June 4, 2012. EPA's inland waters rule included an effective date of March 6, 2012 for the entire regulation except for the site-specific alternative criteria provision, which took effect on February 4, 2011. This proposal to revise the effective date for the inland waters rule does not affect or change the February 4, 2011 effective date for the site-specific alternative criteria provision. In this proposal, EPA is requesting comment on extending the effective date for the ``Water Quality Standards for the State of Florida's Lakes and Flowing Waters; Final Rule.''

This action proposes to amend NIGC regulations to include tribes, wholly owned tribal entities, and national banks that are already federally regulated or required to undergo a background investigation and licensure by a state or tribe pursuant to a tribal- state compact as entities that the Chair may exercise discretion regarding the submission of information and background investigations. This process may provide for a streamlined review for such entities in the background investigation process required for management contracts. The proposed revision may reduce duplication of efforts while maintaining the integrity of NIGC review. The proposal maintains the Chair's discretion in determining which entities should be allowed to proceed through an expedited background investigation. This amendment has been included in this proposed rule. The Commission also considered revising its regulations to clarify that a management contractor should be required to submit background information when the contract is for management of both Class II and Class III gaming activities. Many public comments noted that it was not a necessary revision. The Commission agrees with those public comments and does not propose that clarification.

The OCC, the Board, and the FDIC (collectively, the ``agencies'') are amending their Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations to adjust the asset-size thresholds used to define ``small bank'' or ``small savings association'' and ``intermediate small bank'' or ``intermediate small savings association.'' As required by the CRA regulations, the adjustment to the threshold amount is based on the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to remove any reference to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 161 and codify requirements for standards already in use.

The NCUA Board (Board) requests public comment on the scope and requirements of a regulation to require federally insured credit unions (FICUs) to have access to backup federal liquidity sources for use in times of financial emergency and distressed economic circumstances. The Board also seeks comment on how such a regulation could be implemented to maximize economic benefit while minimizing regulatory burden on credit unions.

This action proposes to amend the preamble and regulatory text to the Final Response to Petition From New Jersey Regarding SO2 Emissions From the Portland Generating Station (Portland) published November 7, 2011, to revise minor misstatements. These revisions clarify the EPA's finding that Portland significantly contributes to nonattainment or interferes with maintenance of the 1- hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the State of New Jersey, and not in specific counties within the state. These revisions have no impact on any other provisions of the rule.

This document corrects an error in the rule language of a direct final rule pertaining to EPA's approval of the revised motor vehicle emissions budgets for the Charleston, Huntington, Parkersburg, Weirton, and Wheeling 8-hour ozone maintenance areas. The previous rulemaking amended the maintenance plans' 2009 and 2018 motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) submitted by the State of West Virginia.

On June 22, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (the Board) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing various amendments of its rules and regulations governing the filing and processing of petitions relating to the representation of employees for purposes of collective bargaining with their employer. This document explains which of the proposed amendments the Board is adopting at this time in the final rule and sets forth the Board's responses to comments concerning those proposals. The Board believes that the final rule will reduce unnecessary litigation in representation cases and thereby enable the Board to better fulfill its duty to expeditiously resolve questions concerning representation. The final rule will also save time and resources for the parties and the agency. The final rule will focus pre-election hearings on those issues relevant to determining if there is a question concerning representation, provide for pre-election briefing only when it will assist the decision makers, reduce piecemeal appeals to the Board, consolidate requests for Board review of regional directors' pre- and post-election determinations into a single, post-election request, make Board review of post-election regional determinations discretionary, and eliminate duplicative regulations. The final rule will allow the Board to more promptly determine if there is a question concerning representation and, if so, to resolve it by conducting a secret-ballot election and certifying the results.

Title X of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) transferred rulemaking authority for a number of consumer financial protection laws from seven Federal agencies to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) as of July 21, 2011. The Bureau is in the process of republishing the regulations implementing those laws with technical and conforming changes to reflect the transfer of authority and certain other changes made by the Dodd-Frank Act. In light of the transfer of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's (Board's) rulemaking authority for the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) to the Bureau, the Bureau is publishing for public comment an interim final rule establishing a new Regulation Z (Truth in Lending). This interim final rule does not impose any new substantive obligations on persons subject to the existing Regulation Z, previously published by the Board.