March 11, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the type certification requirements for chemical oxygen generators installed on transport category airplanes so the generators are secure and not subject to misuse. This rule increases the level of security for future transport category airplane designs but does not directly affect the existing fleet of those airplanes.

The EEOC is correcting a cross-reference in its regulation concerning the requirements for a valid waiver of an individual's right to file a lawsuit under the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act (OWBPA) amendments to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). This is a technical correction.

Upon application from Eglin Air Force Base (Eglin AFB), we (the National Marine Fisheries Service) issue regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act to govern the unintentional takings of marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to testing and training activities associated with Precision Strike Weapon (PSW) and Air-to- Surface (AS) gunnery missions, both of which are military readiness activities, at Eglin AFB, FL from approximately March 2014 to March 2019. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letters of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the described activities and specified timeframes, prescribe the permissible methods of take and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on the affected species or stocks of marine mammals and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of the incidental take.

EPA is announcing an extension of the public comment period for the proposed rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans: Alabama: Error Correction and Disapproval of Revisions to the Visible Emissions Rule.'' The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2014. Written comments on the proposed rule were to be submitted to EPA on or before March 17, 2014 (30-day comment period). As requested, EPA is extending the original public comment period by 60 days. The public comment period will now close on May 16, 2014.

DoD is making technical amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to provide needed editorial changes.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the extension of the public scoping period for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as well as a public scoping meeting to discuss the scope of the EIS for the proposed rule to establish standards for growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption. FDA is holding a public scoping meeting as part of our ongoing efforts to seek public input on the issues and alternatives that we should consider when preparing the EIS and to provide information about the EIS process (including how to submit comments, data, and other information to the rulemaking docket), to solicit oral stakeholder and public comments on the scope of the EIS, and to respond to questions about the EIS.

Section 1203 of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) declared that performance management will transform the Federal-aid highway program and refocus it on national transportation goals, increase accountability and transparency of the Federal-aid highway program, and improve project decision making through performance-based planning and programming. Section 1203 of MAP-21 identifies national transportation goals and requires the Secretary to promulgate a rulemaking to establish performance measures and standards in specified Federal-aid highway program areas. This NPRM proposes to establish measures for State departments of transportation (State DOT) to use to carry out the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and to assess serious injuries and fatalities per vehicle mile traveled, and the number of serious injuries and fatalities. The HSIP is a core Federal-aid highway program with the purpose of achieving a significant reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on all public roads, including non-State-owned public roads and roads on tribal lands.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Metro North (SAGA) Bridge. The deviation is necessary to facilitate replacement of timber ties at the bridge. This deviation allows the Metro North SAGA Bridge, across Saugatuck River, mile 1.1, at Saugatuck, Connecticut, to require an advance notice for bridge openings for 15 days at various times.

The Board is adopting a final rule to require a bank holding company with total consolidated assets of $50 billion or more to estimate its tier 1 common ratio using the exiting definition for purposes of the Board's capital plan and stress test rules; defer until October 1, 2015, the use of the Board's advanced approaches rule for purposes of the Board's capital planning and stress testing rules; maintain the one-year transition period in the current stress test cycle during which bank holding companies and most state member banks with more than $10 billion but less than $50 billion in total consolidated assets are not required to incorporate the Board's Basel III-based revised regulatory capital framework that the Board approved on July 2, 2013 (revised capital framework); and make minor, conforming changes to the Board's capital plan rule and stress test rules. The final rule maintains all the changes to the Board's capital plan rule and stress test rules that were required under two interim final rules that the Board issued in September 2013, except that under the final rule, no banking organization is required to use the advanced approaches rule for purposes of the capital planning and stress testing rules until 2015.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect a change of sponsor for 110 approved new animal drug applications (NADAs) and 14 approved abbreviated new animal drug applications (ANADAs) for new animal drug for use in animal feed from Pfizer, Inc., including its several subsidiaries and divisions, to Zoetis, Inc.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of erratic electrical status indications on the push button annunciators and the engine instrument and crew alerting system. Certain of those reported incidents resulted in the airplane experiencing a momentary loss of electrical power and loss of flight displays. This AD requires modification of the direct current power centers. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of electrical power, which could result in the loss of flight displays and reduced controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and SA330J helicopters. This AD prohibits use of the hydraulic hoist in helicopters equipped with certain parts and configurations until a hoist beam lower fitting protector is installed. This AD was prompted by a report that the hoist cable jammed during a rescue at sea. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent the hoist cable from jamming and subsequent cable failure, which could result in injury and damage to the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, EC225LP, and SA330J helicopters with a certain tail rotor control turnbuckle (turnbuckle) installed. This AD requires inspecting the turnbuckles for corrosion or a crack, and depending on the results, either replacing the turnbuckle or treating the turnbuckle for corrosion. This AD was prompted by a report that a turnbuckle had failed because of corrosion. The actions of this AD are intended to detect corrosion or a crack on a turnbuckle and prevent the failure of a turnbuckle, loss of control of the tail rotor and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.