August 23, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within Sector Boston's Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for the drilling, blasting, and dredging operation on the navigable waters of Boston Inner Harbor, in the main ship channel near Castle Island. This temporary safety zone is necessary to enhance navigation, vessel safety, marine environmental protection, and provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the drilling, blasting and dredging operations in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rock removal project. Entering into, transiting through, mooring or anchoring within this safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the COTP or the designated on-scene representative.

EPA is proposing to approve several State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Maryland. These revisions pertain to adoption by Maryland of the California Low Emission Vehicle Program (LEV), or California Clean Car Program. The underlying Maryland regulations require all new 2011 and subsequent model year passenger cars, light trucks, and medium-duty vehicles having a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,000 pounds or less that are sold in Maryland to meet California emission standards. The Clean Air Act (CAA) contains authority by which other states may adopt new motor vehicle emissions standards that are identical to California's standards. Specifically, Maryland has adopted California's light and medium-duty new vehicle standards by reference, and then submitted these rules as part of the State's SIP revision to EPA. The Maryland Clean Car program has two objectives. The first is to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), both of which are precursors to the formation of ground level ozone pollution, from new motor vehicles sold in Maryland. The second objective of the program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new motor vehicles weighing under 10,000 pounds GVWR. Maryland submitted supplemental SIP revisions to modify its own program to match updates by California to its program and to harmonize with recently established Federal (and California) greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards promulgated by EPA applicable to 2012-2016 model year vehicles of the same vehicle types covered by Maryland's rules. This action is being taken under the CAA.

EPA is proposing to approve the attainment demonstration portion of the attainment plan submitted by the State of Maryland through the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) as a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision that demonstrates attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for the Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE, moderate nonattainment area (Philadelphia Area) by the applicable attainment date of June 2011. EPA has determined that Maryland's SIP revision meets the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). This action is being taken in accordance with the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is supplementing our prior proposal to approve a source-specific State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision and requesting public comment on additional information we are adding to our docket to revise the South Coast Air Quality Management District (District or SCAQMD) portion of the California SIP. This source-specific SIP revision is known as the CPV Sentinel Energy Project AB 1318 Tracking System (``AB 1318 Tracking System''). We are supplementing our proposed approval of this SIP revision to provide additional information and request comment on three issues: (1) the District's quantification of the offsets it transferred to the AB 1318 Tracking System; (2) the District's surplus adjustment of the offsets in the AB 1318 Tracking System; and (3) which District Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) is appropriate for determining the base year to evaluate the availability of offsets from shutdown sources.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary moving security zones around Certain Dangerous Cargo (CDC) vessels, which are vessels carrying anhydrous ammonia, liquefied propane gas (LPG), and ammonium nitrate. The security zones will start at buoys 3 and 4 in Tampa Bay ``F'' cut following the vessel to the pier, from pier to pier for berth shifts, and from the pier out to buoys 3 and 4 in Tampa Bay ``F'' cut. The security zones are to be implemented during the 2012 Republican National Convention from August 25, 2012, through August 31, 2012.

The FAA proposes to exclude tethered launches as defined in this proposal from the existing licensing requirements. This proposed rule would maintain public safety for these launches by providing launch vehicle operators with clear and simple criteria for a safe tethered launch. The FAA would not require a license, permit or waiver for tethered launches that satisfy the design and operational criteria proposed here.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 71 relating to airspace designations to reflect the approval by the Director of the Federal Register of the incorporation by reference of FAA Order 7400.9W, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points. This action also explains the procedures the FAA will use to amend the listings of Class A, B, C, D, and E airspace areas; air traffic service routes; and reporting points incorporated by reference.

EPA is approving in part and disapproving in part the remaining portion of the Nevada Regional Haze State Implementation Plan (SIP) that implements the Clean Air Act (CAA) Regional Haze Rule requiring states to prevent any future and remedy any existing man-made impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I areas through a regional haze program. EPA is approving Nevada's selection of a nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions limit of 0.20 lb/MMBtu as Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) for the Reid Gardner Generating Station (RGGS) at Units 1 and 2. EPA is disapproving two provisions of Nevada's BART determination for NOX at RGGS: The emissions limit for Unit 3 and the compliance method for all three units. EPA is promulgating a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) which replaces the disapproved provisions by establishing a BART emissions limit for NOX of 0.20 lb/MMBtu at Unit 3, and a 30-day averaging period for compliance on a heat input-weighted basis across all three units. We encourage the State to submit a revised SIP to replace all portions of our FIP. Moreover, we stand ready to work with the State to develop a revised plan.

The Coast Guard is revising the existing Cottonwood Island anchorage and establishing a new designated anchorage. The change is necessary to ensure that there are sufficient anchorage grounds on the Columbia River.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay near Yerba Buena Island, CA in support of the Bay Bridge Load Transfer Safety Zone from August 1, 2012 through October 31, 2012. This safety zone is established to protect mariners transiting the area from the dangers associated with the load transfer operations. 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 their designated representative.

Sections 1032(f), 1098, and 1100A of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) direct the Bureau to issue proposed rules and forms that combine certain disclosures that consumers receive in connection with applying for and closing on a mortgage loan under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. Consistent with this requirement, the Bureau is proposing to amend Regulation X (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) and Regulation Z (Truth in Lending) to establish new disclosure requirements and forms in Regulation Z for most closed-end consumer credit transactions secured by real property. In addition to combining the existing disclosure requirements and implementing new requirements in the Dodd-Frank Act, the proposed rule provides extensive guidance regarding compliance with those requirements.