2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 3, 2013, the Department of Commerce's Internet Policy Task Force (Task Force) published a notice of public meeting and a request for public comments on five issues critical to economic growth, job creation, and cultural development that were identified in the Department's Green Paper on Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy (Green Paper). The purpose of this notice is to announce a change in the date of the public meeting and additional opportunities for the submission of public comments. The public meeting (previously scheduled for October 30, 2013) will now be held on December 12, 2013. The deadline for the submission of pre- meeting comments is November 13, 2013. Post-meeting comments are due on or before January 10, 2014.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes certain steps to implement an industry solution to provide interoperable Long Term Evolution (LTE) in the Lower 700 MHz band to improve choice and quality for consumers of mobile services. The Commission revises its Part 27 rules to modify the technical requirements for the Lower 700 MHz D and E blocks to eliminate potential harmful interference while continuing to allow high value use of D and E blocks. Additionally, the Commission proposes to modify AT&T's B and C Block licenses. Finally, the Commission waives the construction requirements for A, B, and E Block licensees and extends the deadlines.

In accordance with section 102(a)(4)(C) of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Reform Act of 1989, this announcement notifies the public of funding decisions made by the Department in a competition for funding under the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for the McKinney-Vento HMIS Technical Assistance program for Fiscal Year 2013. This announcement contains the names of the awardees and amounts of the awards made available by HUD.

This action confirms the effective date of the direct final rule published on September 16, 2013, and responds to the comments received on that direct final rule. The rule permits an airman who passes a practical test for issuance of a flight instructor certificate, a practical test for the addition of a rating to a flight instructor certificate, a practical test for renewal of a flight instructor certificate, or a practical test for the reinstatement of a flight instructor certificate to meet the 24-calendar month flight review requirements. This rule also clarifies that the generally applicable recent flight experience requirements do not apply to a pilot in command who is employed by a commuter or on-demand operator if the pilot in command is in compliance with the specific pilot in command qualifications and recent experience requirements for that commuter or on-demand operator. Finally, this rule permits replacement airman and medical certificates to be requested online, or by any other method acceptable to the Administrator. These changes relieve regulatory burdens and clarify existing regulations.

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 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 ways to further 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 OMB control number.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to conduct public scoping under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to gather information to prepare a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) related to an incidental take permit (ITP) application that Champlin Hawaii Wind Holdings, LLC (Champlin) intends to submit to the Service pursuant to the requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (ESA). The proposed permit would authorize the incidental take of listed species caused by the construction and operation of Champlin's proposed Na Pua Makani Project (Project) near Kahuku, Hawaii, for production of wind-generated electrical energy on the island of Oahu. In accordance with ESA requirements for an ITP, Champlin is preparing a habitat conservation plan (HCP) to minimize and mitigate the impacts of take of the covered species likely to be caused by the Project. The DEIS will address the impacts of, and alternatives to, issuance of the ITP and implementation of the HCP to determine if these actions may significantly affect the human environment. This notice initiates the public scoping period for the DEIS during which we invite other agencies and the public to attend a public meeting and submit oral and written comments that provide suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives that should addressed in the DEIS.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) is announcing that the information collection request for General Reclamation Requirements, has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information collection FERC-574, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw Exemption, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (78 FR 49491, 8/14/2013) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments on the FERC-574 and is making this notation in its submittal to OMB.

On August 22, 2013, NMFS published a notice of public hearings for Draft Amendment 7 to the 2006 Consolidated Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (2006 Consolidated HMS FMP), which provided dates and locations for ten scheduled public hearings. Three of the ten scheduled public hearings were cancelled due to the shut- down of the Federal Government from October 1 through 16, 2013. In this document, NMFS announces the dates and locations for three rescheduled public hearings to provide opportunities for members of the public to comment on the management measures proposed in Draft Amendment 7. The Amendment 7 proposed rule, which published August 21, 2013, includes a variety of management measures to ensure sustainable management of bluefin tuna consistent with the 2006 Consolidated HMS FMP and address ongoing management challenges in the Atlantic bluefin tuna fisheries.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request an extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the importation of French beans and runner beans from Kenya into the United States.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given of a meeting of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Community Banking, which will be held in Washington, DC The Advisory Committee will provide advice and recommendations on a broad range of policy issues that have particular impact on small community banks throughout the United States and the local communities they serve, with a focus on rural areas.

The Department of Defense is publishing the unclassified text of a section 36(b)(1) arms sales notification. This is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated July 21, 1996.