February 9, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Transportation (DOT) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to extend information collection. The collection involves preparation of certifications, and documents detailing how specific grant criteria will be met. The information to be collected will be used to and/or is necessary because it is required under 23 CFR part 1313, to apply for Section 410 grant funds. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.

The Centers of Excellence (COE) program in health professions education for under-represented minority (URM) individuals is authorized by section 736 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), 42 U.S.C. 293 (2011). The purpose of this final notice is to inform interested individuals of the criteria that will be used to determine the eligibility of designated health professions schools to apply for COE funding in fiscal year (FY) 2012 and subsequent fiscal years. The Supplementary Information in this Notice provides a brief synopsis of the public comments that the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) received on the updates to the proposed eligibility criteria in response to the November 7, 2011 Federal Register Notice, specifically addressing: 1) the proposed graduation threshold eligibility criteria, 2) the COE eligibility criteria in general, and 3) the purpose of the COE program as authorized by the PHS Act.

The Commission is adopting a new set of rules for appeals of post office closings. The new rules are intended to update existing rules; foster clarity and simplicity, especially in terms of requirements that apply to the public; and expedite the appeal process. The rules incorporate some, but not all, of the proposed rules, as well as some commenters' suggestions. Some proposals have been deferred to allow time for further consideration. Adoption of a new set of rules will improve the post office closing appeal process.

The recent passage of the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 has set forth several mandates and reports to Congress that PHMSA must complete. Reports on leak detection and automatic/remote control valves are among these mandates. PHMSA is sponsoring these public meetings to further study how to encourage operators to expand the use of leak detection systems (LDS) and improve system effectiveness on the Nation's pipeline infrastructure and how remote control and automatic control valves can be installed to lessen the volume of natural gas and hazardous liquid released during catastrophic pipeline events.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Bonded Warehouse Proprietor's Submission (CBP Form 300). This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning Country of Origin Marking Requirements for Containers or Holders. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13).

EPA is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove submittals from the state of Arkansas pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that address the infrastructure elements specified in the CAA section 110(a)(2), necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 1997 8-hour ozone and the 1997 and 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or standards). We are proposing to find that the current Arkansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) meets the following infrastructure elements for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS and the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS: 110(a)(2)(A), (B), (E), (F), (G), (H), (K), (L), (M), and portions of (C), (D)(ii) and (J). We are proposing to find that the current Arkansas SIP does not meet the infrastructure requirements for the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS and the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS at 110(a)(2) for portions of (C), (D)(ii), and (J) because the EPA-approved SIP prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) program does not apply to greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting sources. We also are proposing to find that the current Arkansas SIP does not meet the infrastructure requirements for the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS at 110(a)(2) for portions of (C), (D)(ii), and (J) because Arkansas has not submitted the PSD SIP revision required by EPA's Implementation of the New Source Review (NSR) Program for Particulate Matter Less Than 2.5 Micrometers (73 FR 28321, May 16, 2008). Further, we are proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove the provisions of SIP submissions that emissions from sources in Arkansas do not interfere with measures required in the SIP of any other state under part C of the CAA to prevent significant deterioration of air quality, with regard to the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS and the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. The partial disapprovals herein are because Arkansas cannot issue permits for GHG emissions and because the State did not submit the required PM2.5 PSD SIP revision. Finally, for purposes of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS, EPA is proposing to approve SIP revisions that modify the Arkansas PSD SIP to include nitrogen oxides (NOX) as an ozone precursor. This action is being taken under section 110 and part C of the Act. Finally, EPA is also proposing to make a correction to the attainment status table in 40 CFR 81.304 to accurately reflect the redesignation date of Crittenden County, Arkansas to attainment for the 1997 8-hour ozone standard.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce plc RB211-Trent 500 series turbofan engines. This AD requires a one-time inspection of the fuel tubes and fuel tube clips for evidence of damage, wear, and fuel leakage. This AD was prompted by reports of wear found between the securing clips and the low-pressure (LP) fuel tube outer surface, which reduces the fuel tube wall thickness, leading to fracture of the fuel tube and consequent fuel leak. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine fuel leaks, which could result in risk to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain CFM International, S.A. model CFM56-5B series turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a normal quality sampling at CFM International, S.A. that isolated a production batch of fan blades with nonconforming geometry of mid-span shroud tips of the fan blades. This AD requires removing from service certain serial number (S/N) fan blades. We are issuing this AD to prevent an inflight shutdown (IFSD) of one or more engines following foreign object damage (FOD) or a bird strike.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) is proposing accessibility standards for medical diagnostic equipment. The proposed standards contain minimum technical criteria to ensure that medical diagnostic equipment, including examination tables, examination chairs, weight scales, mammography equipment, and other imaging equipment used by health care providers for diagnostic purposes are accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. The standards will allow independent entry to, use of, and exit from the equipment by individuals with disabilities to the maximum extent possible. The standards do not impose any mandatory requirements on health care providers or medical device manufacturers. However, other agencies, referred to as an enforcing authority in the standards, may issue regulations or adopt policies that require health care providers subject to their jurisdiction to acquire accessible medical diagnostic equipment that conforms to the standards.

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act establishes several new trial proceedings to be conducted by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board) including inter partes review, post-grant review, the transitional program for covered business method patents, and derivation proceedings. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act also requires the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO) to promulgate rules specific to each proceeding. In separate rulemakings elsewhere in this issue and in the February 10, 2012, issue of the Federal Register, the Office proposes rules relating to Board trial practice for the new proceedings. The Office publishes in this document a practice guide for the proposed trial rules to advise the public on the general framework of the proposed regulations, including the structure and times for taking action in each of the new proceedings.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all CPAC, Inc. (type certificate formerly held by Commander Aircraft Corporation, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and Rockwell International) Models 112, 112B, 112TC, 112TCA, 114, 114A, 114B, and 114TC airplanes. That AD currently requires a one-time inspection of the elevator spar for cracks and, if any crack is found, either replace with a serviceable elevator spar that is found free of cracks or repair/modify the elevator spar with an FAA-approved method. That AD also requires reporting to the FAA the results of the inspection. Since we issued that AD, using the data collected through the reporting requirement, we have determined there is a need for continued inspections. This new AD requires repetitive inspections of the elevator spar for cracks and, if any crack is found, either replacing with a serviceable elevator spar that is free of any cracks and/or corrosion or repairing/modifying the elevator spar with an FAA-approved procedure. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.