2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to section 215 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), the Commission proposes to remand revisions to the Transmission Operations and Interconnection Reliability Operations and Coordination Reliability Standards, developed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), which the Commission has certified as the Electric Reliability Organization responsible for developing and enforcing mandatory Reliability Standards. In addition, the Commission proposes to approve NERC's proposed revisions to Reliability Standard TOP-006-3.

In this Final Rule, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending the pro forma Small Generator Interconnection Procedures (SGIP) and pro forma Small Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA) to: Incorporate provisions that provide an Interconnection Customer with the option of requesting from the Transmission Provider a pre-application report providing existing information about system conditions at a possible Point of Interconnection; revise the 2 megawatt (MW) threshold for participation in the Fast Track Process included in section 2 of the pro forma SGIP; revise the customer options meeting and the supplemental review following failure of the Fast Track screens so that the supplemental review is performed at the discretion of the Interconnection Customer and includes minimum load and other screens to determine if a Small Generating Facility may be interconnected safely and reliably; revise the pro forma SGIP Facilities Study Agreement to allow the Interconnection Customer the opportunity to provide written comments to the Transmission Provider on the upgrades required for interconnection; revise the pro forma SGIP and the pro forma SGIA to specifically include energy storage devices; and clarify certain sections of the pro forma SGIP and the pro forma SGIA. The reforms should ensure interconnection time and costs for Interconnection Customers and Transmission Providers are just and reasonable and help remedy undue discrimination, while continuing to ensure safety and reliability.

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on potential measures to expedite the environmental and historic preservation review of new wireless facilities and on rules to implement statutory provisions governing State and local review of wireless siting proposals. By this action, the Commission seeks to promote the deployment of infrastructure that is necessary to provide the public with advanced wireless broadband services, consistent with governing law and the public interest.

This notice lists communities where the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations), as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for each community, is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. The FIRM, and where applicable, portions of the FIS report, have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Title 44, Part 65 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR Part 65). The LOMR will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes, the currently effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Nebraska (FEMA-4156-DR), dated November 26, 2013, and related determinations.

On November 14, 2013, the United States Court of International Trade (``CIT'') issued its final judgment in Home Meridian Int'l, Inc. v. United States Consol. Court No. 11-00325 \1\ and sustained the Department of Commerce's (``the Department'') final results of second remand determination.\2\ Consistent with the decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (``CAFC'') in Timken Co. v. United States, 893 F.2d 337 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (``Timken''), as clarified by Diamond Sawblades Mfrs. Coalition v. United States, 626 F.3d 1374 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (``Diamond Sawblades''), the Department is notifying the public that the final judgment in this case is not in harmony with the Department's Final Results \3\ and is amending its Final Results with regard to the calculation of the weighted average margin applied to the mandatory respondent, Dalian Huafeng Furniture Group Co., Ltd. (``Huafeng''), and the two separate rate respondents included in this decision: Nanhai Baiyi Woodwork Co. Ltd. (``Nanhai'') and Dongguan Liaobushangdun Huada Furniture Factory and Great Rich (HK) Enterprise Co., Ltd. (``Dongguan'').

As a result of the determinations by the Department of Commerce (the Department) and the International Trade Commission (the ITC) that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on circular welded carbon quality steel pipe (circular welded pipe) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of net countervailable subsidies and material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department is publishing this notice of continuation of the CVD order.

NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management actions to be included in Regulatory Amendment 17 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic Region (Regulatory Amendment 17). Regulatory Amendment 17 will consider alternatives to modify existing marine protected areas (MPAs) and establish new MPAs. The purpose of this NOI is to solicit public comments on the scope of issues to be addressed in the DEIS and to announce scoping meetings.

The Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') has determined that a request for a new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on drawn stainless steel sinks (``drawn sinks'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), received on October 25, 2013, meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for initiation. The period of review (``POR'') of this new shipper review is October 4, 2012, through October 14, 2013.

Notice is hereby given of a meeting of the Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiation and Trade Policy. Date, Time, Place: December 16, 2013; 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.; U.S. Department of Labor, Secretary's Conference Room, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. Purpose: The meeting will include a review and discussion of current issues which influence U.S. trade policy. Potential U.S. negotiating objectives and bargaining positions in current and anticipated trade negotiations will be discussed. Pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2155(f)(2)(A), it has been determined that the meeting will be concerned with matters the disclosure of which would seriously compromise the Government's negotiating objectives or bargaining positions. Therefore, the meeting is exempt from the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of sections 10 and 11 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (relating to open meetings, public notice, public participation, and public availability of documents). 5 U.S.C. App. Accordingly, the meeting will be closed to the public.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PHMSA invites comments on an information collection pertaining to Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) Grants. PHMSA will request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a revision to the current information collection. The revision implements a statutory requirement in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (Public Law No. 112- 141, July 6, 2012) (MAP-21) to submit an annual report to Congress that identifies the ultimate recipients of HMEP grants and contains a detailed accounting and description of each grant expenditure by each grant recipient, including the amount of, and purpose for, each expenditure. This notice describes and seeks comment on the request for information PHMSA seeks to collect in order to comply with MAP-21.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation that governs the U.S. Highway 90 bridge across Chef Menteur Pass, mile 2.8, at New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to affect repairs and maintenance that is required for safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for 18 consecutive days, except that the bridge will open twice daily during the middle 14 days of the repair period.

This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as lead agency intends to gather information necessary for preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) in connection with the Wilton Rancheria's (Tribe) application requesting that the United States acquire land in trust in Sacramento County, California, for the construction and operation of a gaming facility.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announces the establishment of a fee for applicants of the TSA Pre[check]TM Application Program. Members of the public may apply to this TSA program by voluntarily providing biometric and biographic information and paying a fee. TSA will use these fees from applicants to fund selected activities of the TSA Pre[check]TM Application Program, including the cost of conducting the security threat assessment and adjudicating the application. Successful applicants will be eligible to receive expedited screening at participating U.S. airport security checkpoints, including use of a dedicated screening lane and more limited physical screening.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce our intent to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Phase I of the Chokecherry-Sierra Madre Wind Energy Project. Our draft EIS will analyze the environmental impacts associated with our decision on whether to issue a permit authorizing take of eagles for Phase I of the project. Programmatic eagle take permits are authorized under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (BGEPA), and its implementing regulations. We are requesting public comments on issues that should be addressed in our draft EIS.

The Department of the Navy hereby gives notice of its intent to grant to ICAP Patent Brokerage, LLC, a revocable, nonassignable, partially exclusive license in the United States to practice the Government-Owned inventions described in U.S. Patent No. 6,011,291: Video Display With Integrated Control Circuitry Formed On a Dielectric Substrate//U.S. Patent No. 6,312,968: Method For Fabricating an Electrically Addressable Silicon-On-Sapphire Light Valve//U.S. Patent No. 8,073,804: System and Method For Type 2 KASER (Knowledge Amplification by Structured Expert Randomization)//U.S. Patent No. 8,085,459: Plasmonic Transistor//U.S. Patent No. 8,094,317: Plasmonic Router//U.S. Patent No. 8,107,151: Plasmonic Logic Device//U.S. Patent No. 8,111,443: Plasmonic Transistor//U.S. Patent No. 8,530,885: Graphene-Based Conductive, Lossless Photonic Bandgap Method and Apparatus//U.S. Patent No. 8,537,457: Plasmonic Correlation Spectrometer.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s). Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and further ways to reduce the information burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid Control Number.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area (A-Basin) has submitted a proposal to the White River National Forest (WRNF) to pursue approval of proposed projects included in its 2012 Master Development Plan (MDP). The WRNF has accepted this proposal, and is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze and disclose the potential environmental effects of implementing the projects. The Proposed Action is designed to: Provide The Beavers with snow safety operations and ski patrol services consistent with statements made in the 2002 WRNF Forest Plan FEIS; accommodate existing and future demand for high Alpine and open bowl skiing while protecting and enhancing the distinctive skiing experience that A-Basin provides; improve access to Montezuma Bowl; upgrade or remove existing lifts, as needed; improve water storage capacity for existing snowmaking operations; and, enhance four-season recreational opportunities.