January 16, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has placed in the docket and on its Web site, guidance, in the form of a Circular, to assist recipients in their implementation of the Urbanized Area Formula Program. The purpose of this Circular is to provide recipients of FTA financial assistance with instructions and guidance on the program's administration and the grant application process.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to obtain contact information on individuals residing in a remote location.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine an applicant's eligibility for loan guaranty benefits.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension without change of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information needed to determine Philippine claimants' eligibility for pension benefits.

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision without change of a currently approved collection and allow 60 days for public comment in response to this notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine a claimant's eligibility for educational benefits.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the state of Iowa. These revisions amend the Iowa air quality rules to eliminate state- only emissions testing procedures and adopt Federal methods; to reduce notification time for portable plant relocations, and allow electronic submittals of notifications; to update air quality definitions to be consistent with federal definitions, and to place into rule the specific procedures for conducting emissions testing. EPA is also approving revisions to the Iowa Title V Operating Permits Program to revise the definition of ``EPA Reference Method,'' and to adopt by reference the revised Title V Periodic Monitoring Guidance.

The proposed regulations provide guidance on certain provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and conform the regulations to statutory changes in the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The proposed regulations also modify the basis allocation rules to prevent certain unintended consequences of the current basis allocation rules for substituted basis transactions. Finally, the proposed regulations provide additional guidance on allocations resulting from revaluations of partnership property. The proposed regulations affect partnerships and their partners. This document also contains a notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, it must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatement of previously approved collections. This document describes a renewal of existing information collections for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material from the Republic of Bulgaria. These restrictions are being imposed pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Bulgaria that has been entered into under the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act in accordance with the 1970 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The final rule amends CBP regulations by adding Bulgaria to the list of countries for which a bilateral agreement has been entered into for imposing cultural property import restrictions. The final rule also contains the designated list that describes the types of archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material to which the restrictions apply.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) intends to amend its regulations pertaining to occupational safety and health investigations of places of employment conducted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to update outdated terminology and strike references to obsolete government offices or divisions. These changes will not affect current practices.

This final rule amends the Medicaid regulations to define and describe state plan section 1915(i) home and community-based services (HCBS) under the Social Security Act (the Act) amended by the Affordable Care Act. This rule offers states new flexibilities in providing necessary and appropriate services to elderly and disabled populations. This rule describes Medicaid coverage of the optional state plan benefit to furnish home and community based-services and draw federal matching funds. This rule also provides for a 5-year duration for certain demonstration projects or waivers at the discretion of the Secretary, when they provide medical assistance for individuals dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare benefits, includes payment reassignment provisions because state Medicaid programs often operate as the primary or only payer for the class of practitioners that includes HCBS providers, and amends Medicaid regulations to provide home and community-based setting requirements related to the Affordable Care Act for Community First Choice State plan option. This final rule also makes several important changes to the regulations implementing Medicaid 1915(c) HCBS waivers.