2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commission is establishing a docket to consider the Postal Service's request to add Priority Mail Contract 44 to the competitive product list. This notice provides public notice of the Postal Service's filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

EPA is granting full approval of revisions to the West Virginia State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the State of West Virginia through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) on August 31, 2011, with the exception of the narrow issue of the requirement to include condensable emissions of particulate matter (condensables) in the definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant'' in the State's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) program. These revisions pertaining to West Virginia's PSD program incorporate preconstruction permitting regulations for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) into the West Virginia SIP. In light of a comment received on the July 31, 2012 proposed rule, EPA is reviewing West Virginia State Rule 45CSR14 to determine the extent to which its definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant'' satisfies the corresponding Federal definition, and will address this issue in a separate action. In addition, EPA is granting full approval of the PSD portions of other related infrastructure submissions required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) which are necessary to implement, maintain, and enforce the 1997 PM2.5 and ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, and the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS, with the exception of the narrow issue of the requirement to include condensables in the definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant.'' EPA will address this issue in a separate action. EPA is granting approval of these revisions in accordance with the requirements of the CAA.

EPA is proposing to approve revisions to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern negative declarations for volatile organic compound (VOC) source categories for the SMAQMD. We are proposing to approve these negative declarations under the Clean Air Act as amended in 1990 (CAA or the Act).

We are rescinding an airworthiness directive (AD) for all Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A Model P-180 airplanes. That AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Italy. We issued that AD to prevent the brake hydraulic fluid from leaking because of the brake assembly rods contacting the brake valve tubing, which could result in the inability to adequately stop the airplane during ground operations. Since we issued that AD, we have determined this is no longer an unsafe condition and that regularly scheduled annual inspections address this subject.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 5304-SIMPLE, Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (SIMPLE)Not for Use With a Designated Financial Institution; Form 5305-SIMPLE, Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees of Small Employers (SIMPLE)for Use With a Designated Financial Institution; Notice 98-4, Simple IRA Plan Guidance.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of alternating current (AC) generator failures in-service due to incomplete fusion in the weld joint of the rotor band assembly. This AD requires inspecting the AC generator to determine the part number, and replacing the AC generator if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent rotor windings from coming in contact with the generator housing, which could result in debris contaminating and potentially blocking the engine oil scavenge system, leading to loss of oil pressure and an in-flight shutdown of the engine.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200 and -200C series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of elevator vibration and bearing swage failures. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections for any discrepancies (such as a gap or a loose spacer) of the aft attach lugs for the elevator tab control mechanism, and replacement if necessary; and, for other airplanes, contacting the FAA for inspection or repair instructions and doing the work specified in those instructions. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct discrepancies in the aft attach lugs for the elevator tab control mechanism, which could result in elevator and tab vibration. Consequent structural failure of the elevator or horizontal stabilizer could result in loss of structural integrity and loss of airplane control.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list 15 species on the Hawaiian island of Hawaii as endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), and to designate critical habitat for 1 of these species. For the remaining 14 species that we are proposing to list in this rule, we find that critical habitat is not determinable at this time. We also propose to designate critical habitat for two plant species that were listed as endangered species in 1986 and 1994. The proposed critical habitat designation totals 18,766 acres (ac) (7,597 hectares (ha)), and includes both occupied and unoccupied habitat. Approximately 55 percent of the area being proposed as critical habitat is already designated as critical habitat for 42 plants and the Blackburn's sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni). In addition, we propose a taxonomic change for one endangered plant species.

Notice is hereby given that a permit has been issued to James Lloyd-Smith, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, 610 Charles E. Young Dr. South, Box 723905, Los Angeles, California 90095-7239 to conduct research on California sea lions (Zalophus californianus).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-214, -232 and -233; and Model A321-211, -213, and -231 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a missing fastener between certain stringers of the fuselage frame which connects the frame to a tee. This proposed AD would require a rototest inspection and modification or repair of the fuselage frame at the affected area. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the fuselage that could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that high rate discharge (HRD) bottle explosive cartridges of a cargo compartment fire extinguisher system were swapped between the forward and aft cargo compartments. Additional investigation also revealed the possibility of swapping between the electrical connectors of the HRD and low rate discharge (LRD) bottles, and a rotated installation of the HRD bottle. Improper assembly of the fire extinguishing bottle might cause the extinguishing agent to be discharged toward the unselected cargo compartment rather than toward the cargo compartment with fire. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the HRD bottle for correct installation and to determine if the pressure switch is in the correct position, and re-installation if necessary; an inspection of the HRD and LRD bottle discharge heads to determine the part number and replacement if necessary; and, for certain airplanes, an inspection to determine the part numbers of the HRD and LRD electrical connectors, and relocation if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent the inability of the fire extinguishing system to suppress fire.

This action serves as a notice that NMFS, on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), has determined that the Gulf of Maine (GOM) stock of haddock is subject to overfishing and is approaching an overfished condition. In addition, the rebuilding plans for American plaice and the Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE/MA) stock of winter flounder were found to have not resulted in adequate progress toward rebuilding the affected fish stocks. NMFS notifies the appropriate fishery management council (Council) whenever it determines that overfishing is occurring, a stock is in an overfished condition, a stock is approaching an overfished condition, or when a rebuilding plan has not resulted in adequate progress toward ending overfishing and rebuilding affected fish stocks.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of two in- service incidents where the left main landing gear (MLG) failed to extend. This proposed AD would require installing stopper plates on the aft uplock frames in the MLG bay adjacent to the right and left MLG uplock assemblies. We are proposing this AD to prevent incorrect installation of the upper bolt in the MLG uplock assembly, which could prevent the MLG from extending and adversely affect the safe landing of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that, for certain airplanes, reinforcement straps were not bonded to the center overhead stowage bins in the passenger compartment. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require performing an inspection of reinforcement straps to ensure they are correctly bonded to the center overhead stowage bins, and bonding the reinforcement straps to the center overhead stowage bins if necessary. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would require installing reinforcement straps on the center overhead stowage bins. We are proposing this AD to prevent missing or incorrectly bonded reinforcement straps, which could result in the center overhead stowage bins breaking loose and causing injury to passengers and damage to equipment during in-flight turbulence.

Notice is hereby given of the appointment of members to the Performance Review Board of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters to require an initial and repetitive inspections of the outer skin, butt strap, and fuselage frame for a crack and modification of the helicopter. This proposed AD is prompted by an AD issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, which states that a crack was discovered in a fuselage frame during a daily check. The proposed actions are intended to detect a crack, to prevent loss of airframe structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes; Model A330-200 and - 300 series airplanes; and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect in certain rods installed in the belly fairing, which could lead to cracks at the crimped end of the rod. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the rods to determine the manufacturer; and for affected parts, an inspection for any cracking of the rods, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the rods, which could result in rupture of rods that attach the belly fairing to the airframe, leading to separation of the belly fairing from the airframe, and consequent damage to airplane structure and airplane systems.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, notice is hereby given that the next meeting of the Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee (CHPAC) will be held November 7 and 8, 2012 at EPA's Potomac Yards Building (2777 South Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202), Room 4120 North. The CHPAC was created to advise the Environmental Protection Agency on science, regulations, and other issues relating to children's environmental health.