March 19, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues a final rule under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) to modify retention limits for swordfish harvested in the U.S. West Coast-based deep-set tuna longline (DSLL) fishery. The DSLL fishery is managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS FMP). The final rule implements the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) recommendation to modify HMS FMP regulations governing the possession and landing limits of swordfish captured in the DSLL fishery as follows: if a vessel without an observer onboard uses any J-hooks (tuna hooks), the trip limit is 10 swordfish; if a vessel without an observer onboard uses only circle hooks, the trip limit is 25 swordfish; if the vessel carries a NMFS- approved observer during the entire fishing trip, there is no limit on swordfish retained.

The EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule titled ``Proposed Confidentiality Determinations for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Systems Source Category, and Amendments to Table A-7, of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Rule''.

EPA is proposing to approve several revisions to the Maryland State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). These revisions pertain to preconstruction requirements under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and non-attainment New Source Review (NSR) programs. The proposed SIP revisions will satisfy the following required SIP elements: NSR Reform, NOX as a precursor to ozone, PM2.5, and Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). Additionally, EPA is proposing, as a separate action, to approve Maryland's submittals for purposes of meeting the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) which relate to Maryland's PSD permitting program and are necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 1997 8-hour ozone and PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. This action is being taken under the CAA.

This rule amends the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations on an interim basis to implement the preferential tariff treatment and other customs-related provisions of the United States- Korea Free Trade Agreement.

When a shipper files a formal complaint that a railroad's rate is too high, the Surface Transportation Board (Board) must determine whether the challenged rate is reasonable. To present its case using the Board's procedures for small cases, the complaining shipper needs to obtain from the Board confidential information that the Board collects regarding the rates that the defendant railroad charges other shippers for similar shipments. Pursuant to the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2010, the Board is formalizing its rules with respect to the Three-Benchmark methodology for adjudicating simplified rate case complaints, making the most recent four years of this confidential information available to parties and permitting the parties to use any combination of the four years of confidential information when presenting their cases.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to reclassify nucleic acid-based in vitro diagnostic devices for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory specimens from class III (premarket approval) into class II (special controls). These devices are intended to be used as an aid in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT9D series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires revisions to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the manufacturer's Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to include required enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts at each piece-part opportunity. This new AD requires additional revisions to the JT9D series engines ALS sections of the manufacturer's ICA. This AD was prompted by the need to require enhanced inspection of selected critical life-limited parts of JT9D series engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent critical life-limited rotating engine part failure, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Alpha Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes. 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 oil lines fitted to affected aircraft are not fire resistant. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.