March 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to change the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the PATH Railroad Bridge, mile 3.0, and the Hack-Freight Bridge, mile 3.1, across the Hackensack River, New Jersey. The bridge owners, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson (PATH) and Conrail, submitted requests to revise the operation schedule for the PATH Railroad Bridge and to change the Conrail Hack-Freight to operate remotely. In addition, we will be removing obsolete unnecessary language and requirements from the existing regulation that are now listed under other regulations. It is expected that these changes will continue to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5 is issuing a notice of intent to delete the Eau Claire Municipal Well Field Superfund Site located in Eau Claire, Wisconsin from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). EPA and the State of Wisconsin, through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

With this document, EPA is opening the public comment period for several registration reviews. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Registration review dockets contain information that will assist the public in understanding the types of information and issues that the Agency may consider during the course of registration reviews. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment. This document also announces the Agency's intent not to open registration review dockets for endosulfan, tall oil fatty acids and K salts, thiophanate-ethyl, and thiazopyr. The registrants have decided not to support continued registration of these pesticides and, therefore, EPA is not planning to open dockets for these pesticides under the registration review program. EPA is also announcing the availability of an amended final work plan (FWP) for chlorinated isocyanurates.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 727 airplanes. This AD will complete certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of small repairs done on the vertical flange of the rib chord, repetitive inspections for cracking along the upper fillet radius of the rib chord, and a large repair or preventive modification if necessary. Accomplishment of a large repair or preventive modification terminates the actions of this AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracks in the rib upper chord, which could result in the inability of the wing structure to support the limit load condition, and consequent loss of structural integrity of the wing.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-25-04 for Eurocopter France Model AS350B3 helicopters with a certain modification (MOD) installed. AD 2012-25-04 required installing two placards and revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). AD 2012-25-04 also required certain checks and inspecting and replacing, if necessary, all four laminated half-bearings (bearings). This new AD retains the previous AD requirements, requires certain modifications which would be terminating action for the airspeed limitations, and adds certain helicopter models to the bearing inspection with a different inspection interval. These actions are intended to prevent vibration due to a failed bearing, failure of the tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to create an overarching prescription for a research and development-related clause with an alternate. The rule also includes separate prescriptions for the basic and alternate clause and includes the full text of the alternate clause.

The Department of Commerce (``the Department'') and the International Trade Commission (``ITC'') determined that revocation of the existing antidumping duty (``AD'') order on persulfates from the People's Republic of China (``PRC'') would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States. Therefore, the Department is publishing this notice of continuation of the AD order.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Four Corners Power Plant and Navajo Mine Energy Project (Project), in northwestern New Mexico and by this notice is announcing the opening of the comment period.

In this Third Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to revise its regulatory framework to require delivery of accurate location information to PSAPs for wireless 911 calls placed from indoors. In the near term, it proposes to establish interim indoor accuracy metrics that will provide approximate location information sufficient to identify the building for most indoor calls. It also proposes to add a requirement for provision of vertical location (z-axis or elevation) information that would enable first responders to identify floor level for most calls from multi-story buildings. In the long term, the Commission proposes to develop more granular indoor location accuracy standards, consistent with the evolving capabilities of indoor location technology and increased deployment of in-building communications infrastructure. These standards would provide for delivery to PSAPs of in-building location information at the room or office suite level. The Commission also proposes measures to strengthen existing location accuracy requirements. The Commission requests comment on these proposals to improve location accuracy for wireless 911 calls.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This proposed AD would require replacing a fitting that is part of the refuel control solenoid valve assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

In this document the Federal Communication Commission's (Commission) Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB), under authority delegated by the Commission, seeks to refresh the record in EB Docket No. 04-296 on issues raised in a Petition for Immediate Interim Relief (Petition) filed by the Independent Spanish Broadcasters Association, the Office of Communications of the United Church of Christ, Inc., and the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (hereinafter collectively or individually referred to as ``MMTC''), regarding the ability of non-English speakers to access emergency information and similar multilingual issues. The Commission initially sought comment on the petition in the Commission's First EAS Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (First R&O and FNPRM in EB Docket 04-296, and subsequently sought comment on the petition in the Commission's Second EAS Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Second R&O and FNPRM), in that docket. MMTC also has expanded upon the petition in subsequent ex parte filings before the Commission.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This AD was prompted by results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires accomplishing modifications to the fuel system. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-08-25 that applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-400F series airplanes. AD 2008-08-25 required installing drains and drain tubes to eliminate water accumulation in the drip shield above the M826 cardfile in the main equipment center. This new AD requires installing modified drain tubes, relocating wire bundle routing, installing a new drip shield and drip shield deflectors, and replacing insulation blankets. For certain airplanes, this new AD also concurrently requires sealing the drain slot, installing spuds, and installing drain tubes. This AD was prompted by reports of continued water damage to diode fire card 285U0072-1 in the M826 automatic fire overheat logic test system cardfile following a false FWD CARGO FIRE message, with no change in frequency, which resulted in an air turn back. We are issuing this AD to prevent water from exiting over the edge of the existing drip shield and contaminating electrical components in the M826 cardfile, which could result in an electrical short and potential loss of several functions essential for safe flight.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including commercial refrigeration equipment (CRE). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether more-stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this final rule, DOE is adopting more-stringent energy conservation standards for some classes of commercial refrigeration equipment. It has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is amending its regulations regarding the electronic submission of forms to provide for the electronic submission to TTB of copies of certain forms, where the original is to be retained by the submitter along with other records. This amendment removes a barrier that industry members have faced when trying to apply for permits completely by electronic means. TTB is also amending its regulations to address circumstances where TTB requires certain information to be submitted to other agencies. Specifically, the amendments provide that TTB requirements for information to be submitted to another agency may be met by the electronic submission of the information, as long as the other agency has provided for such a submission of information by electronic means. In addition, TTB is amending its regulations governing the records that distilled spirits plant (DSP) proprietors must keep of finished products. Specifically, TTB is removing the requirement that DSP proprietors keep a daily summary record of the kind of distilled spirits bottled or packaged. Finally, TTB is amending its regulations regarding closures that must be affixed to containers of imported distilled spirits products or of such products brought into the United States from Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands. The amendments remove a requirement that a part of the closure remain attached to the container when opened. This amendment will align the regulations for such products with those applicable to domestic distilled spirits products.

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 laminated woven sacks from the People's Republic of China (PRC) would likely lead to a continuation or recurrence of net countervailable subsidies and material injury to an industry in the United States, the Department is publishing a notice of continuation of the CVD order.

This Notice provides clarifying guidance, waivers, and alternative requirements for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery grantees in receipt of funds under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub. L. 113-2). To date, the Department has allocated $10.6 billion under the Act to assist recovery in the most impacted and distressed areas identified in major disaster declarations due to Hurricane Sandy and other eligible events in calendar years 2011, 2012 and 2013.

FMCSA announces that Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) has requested an exemption for one commercial motor vehicle (CMV) driver from the Federal requirement to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL) issued by one of the States. Daimler requests that the exemption cover a project engineer who will test drive CMVs for Daimler within the United States. This driver holds a valid German CDL and wants to test-drive Daimler vehicles on U.S. roads to better understand product requirements for these systems in ``real world'' environments, and verify results. Daimler believes the requirements for a German CDL ensure that the same level of safety is met or exceeded as if this driver had a U.S. State-issued CDL.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Rock Island Railroad and Highway Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 482.9, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the Front Street 5K Run/Walk to cross the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position for one hour.

FMCSA announces that it is reinstating the informal hearing procedure authorized under the Rules of Practice for Motor Carrier, Intermodal Equipment Provider, Broker, Freight Forwarder, and Hazardous Materials Proceedings (Rules of Practice), codified at 49 CFR part 386. On June 7, 2010, the Agency stated that it would not entertain new requests for informal hearings pending a reevaluation of the procedure, based on concerns about the neutrality of Agency Hearing Officers. After conducting numerous informal hearings (involving cases that were pending at the time the 2010 notice was published) with an attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel's Section of Adjudications serving as Hearing Officer, the Agency believes informal hearings should remain an option for administrative adjudication of contested civil penalty claims and will again permit respondents in enforcement cases to request this option. Prior to June 7, 2010, FMCSA had made informal hearings available only to respondents located within its Eastern and Midwestern Service Centers. The Agency removes this geographical limitation and will make informal hearings available to all respondents, regardless of where they are domiciled.