February 11, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) modifies its rules for Vehicle-Mounted Earth Stations (VMES) in order to promote greater flexibility for VMES operators, which, in turn, should enable the VMES industry to create more spectrally-efficient broadband solutions in the Ku-band without causing harmful interference to Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS) providers and without exposing the general public to harmful radiofrequency radiation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating the rulemaking and data collection process to consider amending the energy conservation standards for residential boilers. This rulemaking will satisfy the statutory requirement for DOE to conduct a second round of energy conservation standards rulemaking for residential boilers, and it will also fulfill DOE's statutory obligation to review energy conservation standards within six years after issuance of any final rule establishing or amending a standard to determine whether such standards should be amended. After concluding its initial review of the available information and public comments, DOE will publish either a notice of the determination that standards do not need to be amended, or a notice of proposed rulemaking including new proposed standards. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared a Framework Document that details the analytical approach and scope of coverage for the rulemaking, and identifies several issues on which DOE is particularly interested in receiving comments. DOE will hold a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on its planned analytical approach and issues it will address in this rulemaking proceeding. DOE welcomes written comments and relevant data from the public on any subject within the scope of this rulemaking. A copy of the Framework Document is available at: https://www1.eere.energy.gov/ buildings/appliancestandards/residential/furnacesboilers.html .

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters, to require inspecting for a crack in the control lever attachment yokes, and if needed, replacing the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This proposed AD is prompted by improper casting of TGB casing assemblies, which may lead to cracking. A crack in the control lever attachment yokes could cause a loss of tail rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of control of the helicopter.

This rule invites comments on reestablishing the membership on the Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Area No. 2 (Committee). The Committee locally administers the marketing order regulating the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado. This rule would modify the Committee membership structure by amending the position allocated to a producer from Conejos County. Beginning with the 2013-2014 term of office, such designated Committee position would be allocated to an eligible producer operating in either Conejos or Costilla County. This action is expected to improve Committee representation for producers from this sub-region of the production area.

This rule revises the administrative rules prescribed under the marketing order regulating the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West. The marketing order is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). This rule changes the date by which a producer must transfer excess spearmint oil to another producer, or deliver such oil to the Committee or its designees for storage, from November 1 to December 1. This rule also changes the date that the Committee must pool identified excess oil as reserve oil from November 1 to December 1. The changes are a relaxation of the handling regulations and are expected to benefit producers, handlers, and consumers.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Cape Fear River Memorial Bridge, across the Cape Fear River, mile 26.8, at Wilmington, NC. The deviation is necessary to restrict the operation of the draw span to facilitate the bi-annual trunnion inspection.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the General Edwards Bridge, mile 1.7, across the Saugus River between Lynn and Revere, Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to facilitate architectural rehabilitation of the bridge towers. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position to allow scaffolding be attached to the bascule lift span to access work area.

Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified BFEs are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

EPA is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Maryland State Implementation Plan (SIP). The revisions pertain to adoption through incorporation by reference of the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by the State of Maryland. EPA is approving these revisions that adopt the NAAQS for ozone (O3), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), lead (Pb), particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) as well as the relevant reference and equivalent monitoring methods through incorporation by reference into the Code of Maryland regulations (COMAR) on an ``as amended'' basis which will prospectively incorporate all future revisions and additions to the NAAQS in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

EPA proposes to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland for the purpose of adopting through incorporation by reference the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because EPA views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.

In this document, the Commission affirms, modifies, and clarifies its actions in response to various petitions for reconsideration and/or clarification. The revised rules are intended to enable Wireless Communications Service (WCS) licensees to deploy broadband services in the 2305-2320 MHz and 2345-2360 MHz (2.3 GHz) WCS bands while continuing to protect Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) operator Sirius XM Radio Inc. (Sirius XM) and aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) operations in adjacent bands and the deep space network (DSN) earth station in Goldstone, California from harmful interference. In addition, the revised rules will facilitate the flexible deployment and operation of SDARS terrestrial repeaters in the 2320-2345 MHz SDARS band, while protecting adjacent bands WCS licensees from harmful interference.

The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is unilaterally rescinding its joint Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and issuing its own FOIA regulations. The new regulations provide the NEH's proposed procedures for disclosure of its records, as required by the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. 552, as amended. These regulations also provide the proposed procedures for disclosing records of the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities (FCAH), an agency for which NEH provides legal counsel.