October 30, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

EPA is proposing to approve the State of North Carolina's March 27, 2013, State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the State's approved Maintenance Plan for the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill (Triangle) 1997 8-hour Ozone Maintenance Area. Specifically, North Carolina's revision, including updated modeling, shows that the Triangle Area would continue to maintain the 1997 8-hour ozone standard if the currently applicable Federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard for gasoline from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) were modified to 9.0 psi for three portions (Wake and Durham Counties, and a portion of Granville County) of the ``Triangle Area'' of North Carolina during the high-ozone season. The State has included a technical demonstration with the revision to demonstrate that a less-stringent RVP standard of 9.0 psi in these areas would not interfere with continued maintenance of the 1997 8-hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or any other applicable standard. Approval of this SIP revision is a prerequisite for EPA's consideration of an amendment to the regulations to remove the aforementioned portions of the Triangle Area from the list of areas that are currently subject to the Federal 7.8 psi RVP requirements. In addition, EPA is also proposing to approve changes to the motor vehicle emission budgets (MVEBs) used in the 1997 8-hour ozone maintenance plan for the Triangle Area. The use of new models and the relaxation of the RVP requirement has resulted in a revised safety margin which North Carolina is reallocating among the MVEBs associated the Maintenance Plan. EPA has preliminarily determined that North Carolina's March 27, 2013, SIP revision with respect to the changes to the modeling and associated technical demonstration associated with the State's request for the removal of the Federal RVP requirements, and with respect to the updated MVEBs, is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). Should EPA decide to remove the subject portions of the Triangle Area from those areas subject to the 7.8 psi Federal RVP requirements, such action will occur in a subsequent rulemaking.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Bering Sea subarea and Eastern Aleutian district (BS/EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Eastern Aleutian district (EAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing a final rule to require federally insured credit unions (FICUs) with less than $50 million in assets to maintain a basic written policy that provides a credit union board-approved framework for managing liquidity and a list of contingent liquidity sources that can be employed under adverse circumstances. The rule requires FICUs with assets of $50 million or more to have a contingency funding plan that clearly sets out strategies for addressing liquidity shortfalls in emergency situations. Finally, the rule requires FICUs with assets of $250 million or more to have access to a backup federal liquidity source for emergency situations.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2013 total allowable catch (TAC) of Pacific ocean perch in this area allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access fishery.

NMFS reopens the 2013-2014 commercial sector for king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). NMFS previously projected that the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) (equal to the commercial quota) for king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf EEZ would be reached by September 20, 2013, and closed the western zone of the Gulf to commercial king mackerel fishing in the EEZ at noon, local time, September 20, 2013, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 1, 2014. However, updated landings estimates indicate the commercial ACL (commercial quota) for king mackerel in the western zone of the Gulf EEZ has not been reached at this time. Therefore, NMFS is reopening the western zone of the Gulf to commercial king mackerel fishing in the EEZ at 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 1, 2013, until 12:01 a.m., local time, on November 3, 2013. The intended effect of this temporary rule is to maximize harvest benefits for the commercial sector for Gulf king mackerel in the western zone.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Hannibal Railroad Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 309.9, at Hannibal, Missouri. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to replace critical control components that are essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. The work is scheduled in the winter, when the impact on navigation is minimal, instead of scheduling the work at other times in the year, when river traffic is prevalent. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for 39 days.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 170/Centerville Turnpike Bridge, at AICW mile 15.2, across Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, at Chesapeake, VA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate structural repairs to the superstructure of the SR 170/Centerville Turnpike Bridge. This temporary deviation will allow the drawbridge to change the operating schedule on specific dates and times.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) (collectively, the Agencies) are proposing to amend their regulations regarding loans in areas having special flood hazards to implement provisions of the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. Specifically, the proposal would establish requirements with respect to the escrow of flood insurance payments, the acceptance of private flood insurance coverage, and the force-placement of flood insurance. The proposal also would clarify the Agencies' flood insurance regulations with respect to other amendments made by the Act and make technical corrections. Furthermore, the OCC and the FDIC are proposing to integrate their flood insurance regulations for national banks and Federal savings associations and for State non-member banks and State savings associations, respectively.