April 1, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the US 50 Bridge, over Isle of Wight (Sinepuxent) Bay, mile 0.5, at Ocean City, MD. This proposal would revise the current closure times to accommodate heavy volumes of vehicular traffic following the annual July 4th fireworks show.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Morehead City, North Carolina. The safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of mariners on navigable waters during maintenance on the U.S. 70 Fixed Bridge crossing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 203.7, at Morehead City, North Carolina. The safety zone will temporarily restrict vessel movement within the designated area.

The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 requires the Federal Aviation Administration to initiate rulemaking to require air carriers conducting domestic, flag, and supplemental operations to make available on their Web sites information to enable passengers to determine which child safety seats can be used on aircraft in these operations. To fulfill the requirements of the Act, the FAA proposes to require air carriers to make available on their Web sites the width of the widest passenger seat in each class of service for each make, model and series of airplane used in passenger-carrying operations. If finalized as proposed, this rule would provide greater information to caregivers to help them determine whether a particular child restraint system will fit in an airplane seat. This proposal does not affect existing regulations regarding the use of child restraint systems on board airplanes or a passenger under the age of 2 traveling onboard aircraft with or without the use of a child restraint system.

This document contains corrections to final regulations (TD 9644) that were published in the Federal Register on Monday, December 2, 2013 (78 FR 72394). The final regulations provide guidance on the general application of the Net Investment Income Tax and the computation of Net Investment Income.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve several revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) related to the Texas Minor New Source Review (NSR) Standard Permits (SP) Program. First, EPA is approving revisions submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ, or Commission) on January 3, 2000, and March 11, 2011, expanding the Texas SP Program to include the Rule Standard Permit (Rule SP). The EPA is also proposing to approve a revision to the Texas SIP submitted by the TCEQ on February 1, 2006, for a specific Rule SP, the Rule Standard Permit for Pollution Control Projects (Rule SP for PCP) as meeting the requirements for a Minor NSR SIP revision. Finally, because EPA is proposing to approve the Rule SP for PCP, EPA is also proposing to approve a severable portion of the January 3, 2000, submittal concerning the Texas Senate Bill 7 (SB7) permitting program for grandfathered and electing electric generating facilities (EGFs). All of the Texas SB7 EGFs permitting program provisions have been approved as part of the Texas NSR SIP except for this severable portion. This severable portion allowing for the use of the Rule SP for PCP for permitting of collateral emission increases is being proposed for approval as meeting the requirements for a Minor NSR SIP revision. EPA is proposing these actions under section 110 of the Federal Clean Air Act (the Act or CAA) through a direct final rulemaking.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is proposing to amend the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to define contractor business system as accounting system, estimating system, purchasing system, earned value management system (EVMS), and property management system. DOE is proposing to implement compliance enforcement mechanisms in the form of a contractor business system clause and related clauses that includes a provision that would allow contracting officers to withhold a percentage of payments, under certain conditions, when a contractor's business system contains significant deficiencies.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to maintain user fees for cotton producers for 2014 crop cotton classification services under the Cotton Statistics and Estimates Act at the same level as in 2013. These fees are also authorized under the Cotton Standards Act of 1923. The 2013 crop user fee was $2.20 per bale, and AMS proposes to continue the fee for the 2014 cotton crop at that same level. This proposed fee and the existing reserve are sufficient to cover the costs of providing classification services for the 2014 crop, including costs for administration and supervision.

This action removes Class E airspace at Kwigillingock Airport, Kwigillingock, AK, due to the cancellation of the approaches. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the management of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System.

This action modifies the Class E airspace at Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Airport, Sitka, AK. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate the new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. This action enhances the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), remove the island night lizard (Xantusia riversiana) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to this species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or threatened species under the Act.

The Coast Guard is updating special local regulations and permanent safety zones in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone for annual recurring marine events. When enforced, these proposed special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during certain annually recurring events. The revised special local regulations and safety zones will expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain maritime events.