March 15, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document responds to a petition for reconsideration of FRA's final rule published on June 12, 2012, mandating that certain railroads establish and maintain systems that allow members of the public to call the railroads, using a toll-free telephone number, and report an emergency or other unsafe condition at highway-rail and pathway grade crossings. This document amends and clarifies the final rule.

For 60-month projects initially funded in fiscal year (FY) 2008 under the Rehabilitation Continuing Education Program (RCEP) for the Technical Assistance and Continuing Education Centers (TACE Centers), the Secretary proposes to waive the requirements that generally prohibit project periods exceeding five years and extensions of project periods involving the obligation of additional Federal funds. The Secretary also proposes to extend project periods for one year or longer. The proposed extension and waiver would enable the currently funded TACE Centers to receive funding through September 30, 2014.

EPA is proposing to disapprove a narrow portion of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of West Virginia on August 31, 2011. EPA is proposing this action because a narrow portion of the submittal does not satisfy the Federal requirement for the inclusion of condensable emissions of particulate matter (condensables) within the definition of ``regulated new source review (NSR) pollutant.'' Additionally, because West Virginia's August 31, 2011 SIP revision does not adequately account for condensable emissions within the definition of ``regulated NSR pollutant,'' EPA is also proposing to disapprove specific Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) portions of related infrastructure submissions required by the Clean Air Act (CAA) to implement, maintain, and enforce the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS, and the 2008 lead and ozone NAAQS. This action is being taken under the CAA.

The Assistant Administrator (AA) for Fisheries, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), on behalf of the International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC), publishes annual management measures promulgated as regulations by the IPHC and approved by the Secretary of State governing the Pacific halibut fishery. The AA also announces approval of the Area 2A (waters off the U.S. West Coast) Catch Sharing Plan (CSP), with modifications recommended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), along with implementing regulations for 2013, and provides notice of the guideline harvest levels (GHLs) for Areas 2C and 3A. These actions are intended to enhance the conservation of Pacific halibut and further the goals and objectives of the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC) and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) (Councils).

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Quad City Heart Walk to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for two hours.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge (Route 73), across the Delaware River, mile 107.2 between the townships of Tacony, PA and Palmyra, NJ. This deviation is necessary to facilitate the replacement of the second part of the bascule span deck. This deviation will not reduce the vertical clearance of the bridge.

This document provides a notice of public hearing on proposed regulations that provide comprehensive guidance for the award program authorized under Internal Revenue Code section 7623, as amended. The regulations provide guidance on submitting information regarding underpayments of tax or violations of the internal revenue laws and filing claims for award, as well as on the administrative proceedings applicable to claims for award under section 7623. The regulations also provide guidance on the determination and payment of awards, and provide definitions of key terms used in section 7623. Finally, the regulations confirm that the Director, officers, and employees of the Whistleblower Office are authorized to disclose return information to the extent necessary to conduct whistleblower administrative proceedings.

This document contains corrections to a notice of proposed rulemaking and notice of public hearing (REG-138006-12) that was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, January 2, 2013 (78 FR 218). The proposed regulations provide guidance under section 4980H of the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the shared responsibility for employers regarding employee health coverage.

The Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee will hold its fifth meeting. On July 5, 2012, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) established the advisory committee to make recommendations to the Board on matters associated with comments received and responses to questions included in a previously published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Morrisville, VT, as the Morrisville-Stowe Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Morrisville-Stowe State Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

NMFS proposes to approve and implement regulations through Framework Adjustment 24 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan (Framework 24), which the New England Fishery Management Council adopted and submitted to NMFS for approval. Framework 24 would set specifications for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery for the 2013 fishing year, including days-at-sea allocations, individual fishing quotas, and sea scallop access area trip allocations. This action would also set precautionary default fishing year 2014 specifications, in case the New England Fishery Management Council delays the development of the next framework, resulting in implementation after the March 1, 2014, start of the 2014 fishing year, and transitional measures are needed. In addition, Framework 24 adjusts the Georges Bank scallop access area seasonal closure schedules, and because that changes exemptions to areas closed to fishing specified in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, Framework 24 must be a joint action with that plan (Framework Adjustment 49). Framework 24 also continues the closures of the Delmarva and Elephant Trunk scallop access areas, refines the management of yellowtail flounder accountability measures in the scallop fishery, makes adjustments to the industry-funded observer program, and provides more flexibility in the management of the individual fishing quota program.