March 14, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to approve 18 sector operations plans and contracts for fishing year (FY) 2013, provide allocations of Northeast (NE) multispecies to these sectors, and grant regulatory exemptions. We request comment on the proposed sector operations plans and contracts; the environmental assessment (EA) analyzing the impacts of the operations plans; and our proposal to grant 25 of the 39 regulatory exemptions requested by the sectors. Approval of sector operations plans is necessary to allocate quotas to the sectors and for the sectors to operate. The NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) allows limited access permit holders to form sectors, and requires sectors to submit their operations plans and contracts to us, NMFS, for approval or disapproval. Approved sectors are exempt from certain effort control regulations and receive allocation of NE multispecies (groundfish) based on its members' fishing history. Written comments must be received on or before March 29, 2013.

The Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (SLSDC) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Regulations and Rules (Practices and Procedures in Canada) in their respective jurisdictions. Under agreement with the SLSMC, the SLSDC is amending the joint regulations by updating the Seaway Regulations and Rules in various categories. The changes will update the following sections of the Regulations and Rules: Condition of Vessels; Seaway Navigation; Dangerous Cargo; and, Information and Reports. These amendments are necessary to take account of updated procedures and will enhance the safety of transits through the Seaway. Several of the amendments are merely editorial or for clarification of existing requirements. The joint regulations will become effective in Canada on March 31, 2013. For consistency, because these are joint regulations under international agreement, and to avoid confusion among users of the Seaway, the SLSDC finds that there is good cause to make the U.S. version of the amendments effective on the same date.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Selmer, TN, as the Sibley Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Robert Sibley Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the geographic coordinates of airport.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of St. Thomas Harbor in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands during the Corp. Event Finale UHC firework display. The safety zone is necessary to protect the public from the hazards associated with launching fireworks over navigable waters of the United States. The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 24, 2013, and will entail a barge being positioned near the St. Thomas Harbor channel from which fireworks will be lit.

FMCSA promulgates the regulatory exemptions for the ``transportation of agricultural commodities and farm supplies'' and for ``covered farm vehicles'' and their drivers enacted by sections 32101(d) and 32934, respectively, of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Although prior statutory exemptions involving agriculture are unchanged, some of these exemptions overlap with MAP-21 provisions. In these cases, regulated entities will be able to choose the exemption, or set of exemptions, under which to operate. They must, however, comply fully with the terms of each exemption they claim.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) EC 135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters equipped with a certain main transmission housing upper part. This proposed AD would require installing a corrugated washer in the middle of the main transmission filter housing upper part and modifying the main transmission housing upper part. This proposed AD is prompted by an inspection of housing upper parts that revealed the bypass inlet in the oil filter area was not manufactured in accordance with applicable design specifications. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the main transmission and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The Postal ServiceTM proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 604.9, and other DMM sections, to remove obsolete standards pertaining to postage refunds and stamp exchanges; standardize processes for requesting refunds for PC Postage[supreg] labels and extra service refunds; and change the methods for calculating refund assessment amounts.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) published in the Federal Register of February 14, 2013, a final rule revising the rules of practice in patent cases for consistency with, and to address the examination issues raised by, the changes in the first inventor to file provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) (First Inventor to File Final Rule). Due to a technical issue, the First Inventor to File Final Rule as published in the Federal Register is missing text in the provisions pertaining to claims for priority to a foreign application in an application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). This document corrects the omission in the First Inventor to File Final Rule as published in the Federal Register.

The Bureau of the Census (Census Bureau) is amending its regulations to reflect new export reporting requirements. Specifically, the Census Bureau is requiring mandatory filing of export information through the Automated Export System (AES) or through AESDirect for all shipments of used self-propelled vehicles and temporary exports. In addition to adopting new export reporting requirements and modifying the postdeparture filing program, the Census Bureau is making remedial changes to the FTR to improve clarity and to correct errors.

This final rule (``rule'') sets forth procedures and criteria United States Trustees shall use when determining whether applicants seeking to become and remain approved nonprofit budget and credit counseling agencies (``credit counseling agencies'' or ``agencies'') satisfy all prerequisites of the United States Code, as implemented under this rule. Under the current law, an individual may not be a debtor under title 11 of the United States Code, unless during the 180- day period preceding the date of filing a bankruptcy petition, the individual receives adequate counseling from a credit counseling agency that is approved by the United States Trustee. The current law enumerates mandatory prerequisites and minimum standards applicants seeking to become approved credit counseling agencies must meet. Under this rule, United States Trustees will approve applicants for inclusion on publicly available agency lists in one or more federal judicial districts if an applicant establishes it meets all the requirements of the United States Code, as implemented under this rule. After obtaining such approval, a credit counseling agency shall be authorized to provide credit counseling in a federal judicial district during the time the agency remains approved. EOUST intends to add to its regulations governing credit counseling agencies, two new provisions not previously included in the proposed rule on this subject. A new section 58.17(c)(11) will require agencies to notify the United States Trustee of certain actions pursuant to 11 U.S.C. 111(g)(2) or other consumer protection statutes, such as an entry of judgment or mediation award, or the agency's entry into a settlement order, consent decree, or assurance of voluntary compliance. The second provision will amend section 58.20(j) to require an agency to assist an individual with limited English proficiency by expeditiously directing the individual to an agency that can provide counseling in the language of the individual's choice. Because these provisions were not discussed in the proposed rule published on February 1, 2008, EOUST will publish another Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting public comment with respect to these two provisions.