2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether more-stringent, amended standards for these products would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this notice, DOE proposes energy conservation standards for residential furnaces and for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps identical to those set forth in a direct final rule published elsewhere in today's Federal Register. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawing the direct final rule, DOE will publish a notice withdrawing the direct final rule and will proceed with this proposed rule.

On May 11, 2011, the OCC, Board, FDIC, FCA, and FHFA (collectively, the Agencies) published in the Federal Register a joint notice of proposed rulemaking for public comment to establish minimum margin and capital requirements for registered swap dealers, major swap participants, security-based swap dealers, and major security-based swap participants for which one of the Agencies is the prudential regulator (the proposed rule). Due to the complexity of the rulemaking, to allow parties more time to consider the impact of the proposed rule, and so that the comment period on the proposed rule will run concurrently with the comment period for similar margin and capital requirements proposed by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Agencies have determined that an extension of the comment period until July 11, 2011 is appropriate. This action will allow interested persons additional time to analyze the proposed rules and prepare their comments.

This document contains correcting amendments to temporary regulations (TD 9529) that were published in the Federal Register on Friday, June 10, 2011 (76 FR 33997) removing the duplicate filing requirement for Form 5472, ``Information Return of a 25% Foreign-Owned U.S. corporation or a Foreign Corporation Engaged in a U.S. Trade or Business.''

This document corrects a minor typographical error appearing in the final rule published in the Federal Register of February 24, 2011.

This document requests comments on a petition for rulemaking filed by Kenneth W. Diebel, licensee of FM Station KGGM, Channel 228A, Delhi, Louisiana, proposing the substitution of FM Channel 228A for vacant FM Channel 230A at Bastrop, Louisiana. The proposed substitution of Channel 228A at Bastrop accommodates the hybrid application, which requests the substitution of Channel 230C3 for Channel 228A at Delphi, Louisiana. See File No. BNPH-20110214ADS. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 228A can be allotted to Bastrop consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Rules, with a site restriction 5.3 kilometers (3.3 miles) northeast of the community. The reference coordinates are 32-48-20 NL and 91-52-05 WL. See Supplementary Information, supra.

Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing an amendment to temporary regulations published July 23, 2010 under the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the Affordable Care Act) regarding internal claims and appeals and external review processes. The IRS is issuing the temporary regulations at the same time that the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor and the Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are issuing a substantially similar amendment to interim final regulations published July 23, 2010 with respect to group health plans and health insurance coverage offered in connection with a group health plan under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act. The temporary regulations provide guidance to employers, group health plans, and health insurance issuers providing group health insurance coverage. The text of those temporary regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations.

The FAA published a Notice of Meetings in the Federal Register of June 17, 2011, concerning a proposal to modify Class B airspace at Las Vegas, NV. The document contained an incorrect address for the informal airspace meeting scheduled Tuesday, August 23, 2011, in Henderson, NV. Also, the document contained the wrong phone number for the contact person. The information for the other two meetings is correct as originally published.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and particulate matter (PM) emissions from glass melting furnaces. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

Louisiana has applied to the EPA for final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization, and is authorizing the State's changes through this immediate final action. The EPA is publishing this rule to authorize the changes without a prior proposal because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. Unless we receive written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the decision to authorize Louisiana's changes to its hazardous waste program will take effect. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will publish a document in the Federal Register withdrawing this rule before it takes effect, and a separate document in the proposed rules section of this Federal Register will serve as a proposal to authorize the changes.

This final rule revises the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to implement changes made to the Wassenaar Arrangement's List of Dual Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar List) maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement, or WA) at the December 2009 WA Plenary Meeting (the Plenary) that relate to Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 4A003. These changes agreed to at the Plenary pertain to raising the Adjusted Peak Performance (APP) for digital computers in ECCN 4A003. In accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 1998, the President's report for High Performance Computers was sent to Congress on February 7, 2011, to identify and set forth a justification for the new APP. This rule also makes corresponding revisions to License Exception APP, the de minimis rule, and post shipment verification reporting requirements in the EAR. Additionally, this rule moves Albania and Croatia from Computer Tier 3 to Computer Tier 1 in the section of the EAR dedicated to export control requirements for high performance computers. The Administration believes Albania and Croatia are eligible to be treated as Computer Tier 1 countries because their governments have made the necessary reforms to allow the countries to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and have adopted accepted global standards in export controls.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final regulation to confirm, with one change, the interim final rule (IFR) entitled ``Medical Devices; Exception From General Requirements for Informed Consent.'' This final rule confirms the IFR's establishment of a new exception from the general requirements for informed consent to permit the use of investigational in vitro diagnostic devices to identify chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents without informed consent in certain circumstances. FDA has created this exception to help ensure that individuals who may have been exposed to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agent are able to benefit from the timely use of the most appropriate diagnostic devices, including those that are investigational. This final rule adds a requirement that the investigator submit the required documentation to FDA, in addition to submitting it to the reviewing Institutional Review Board (IRB).

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the Padanaram Bridge across the Apponagansett River, mile 1.0, at Dartmouth, Massachusetts. The owner of the bridge has requested relief from crewing the bridge in the early morning hours when there have been no requests to open the bridge. It is expected that this change to the regulations would provide relief to the bridge owner while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Burlington-Bristol Bridge on Route 413, across the Delaware River, at mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA. The deviation restricts the operation of the draw span in order to facilitate the replacement of the operating lift cables.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Richmond Inner Harbor, off of the Lucretia Edwards Park in Richmond, CA in support of the Independence Day Fireworks Celebration for the City of Richmond. This temporary safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters off of Weber Point in Stockton, California in support of a fourth of July fireworks display. This temporary safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Sector Boston Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for the Fan Pier Yacht Club Fireworks display. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the fireworks event. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the designated on- scene representative.

This final rule amends regulations concerning vehicle modifications which accommodate people with disabilities to update and expand a reference in an exemption relating to the Federal motor vehicle safety standard for side impact protection. The expanded exemption facilitates the mobility of drivers and passengers with disabilities.

This document contains final and temporary regulations under section 956 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) regarding the determination of basis in certain United States property acquired by a controlled foreign corporation in certain nonrecognition transactions that are intended to repatriate earnings and profits of the controlled foreign corporation without U.S. income taxation. The regulations affect United States shareholders of a controlled foreign corporation that acquires United States property in certain nonrecognition transactions.

The NCUA is amending its regulation to permit federal credit unions (FCUs) that do not qualify for a low-income designation using the geo-coding software the agency has developed for that purpose to submit an analysis of a statistically valid sample of member income data as evidence they qualify for the designation. The final rule, by permitting FCUs to use a statistically valid sample of member incomes drawn from loan files or a survey, eases the burden on FCUs seeking to qualify for a low-income designation. The final rule is very similar to the proposed, with additional wording about not combining a survey and loan file review.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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:

This action announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water and determining compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) authorizes EPA to approve the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. EPA is using this streamlined authority to make 11 additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples required by regulation. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection.

EPA is granting Minnesota final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The agency published a proposed rule on January 14, 2011 and provided for public comment. The public comment period ended on February 14, 2011. We received no comments. No further opportunity for comment will be provided. EPA has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization. We now make a final decision to authorize Minnesota's changes through this final action.

This action proposes to clarify prior interpretations of the seat belt and seating requirements of 14 CFR 91.107(a)(3). These prior interpretations state that the shared use of a single restraint may be permissible. The proposed clarification states that the use of a seat belt and/or seat by more than one occupant is appropriate only if: The seat belt is approved and rated for such use; the structural strength requirements for the seat are not exceeded; and the seat usage conforms with the limitations contained in the approved portion of the Airplane Flight Manual. The proposed clarification also emphasizes that the proper restraint method for children during operations conducted under part 91 relies on the good judgment of the pilot, who should be intimately aware of the capabilities and structural requirements of the aircraft that he or she is operating.

The Gulfstream GVI airplane will have numerous electrically operated systems whose function is needed for continued safe flight and landing of the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream GVI airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with connectivity of the passenger domain computer systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.