June 13, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or the Board) invites all attorneys interested in providing pro bono representation to pro se appellants in their appeals of Board decisions to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit to submit their names and contact information to MSPB.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

On April 2, 2014, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the agency) took direct final action on a petition submitted by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to allow DLA to import foreign- manufactured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from Japan effective on July 1, 2014, unless EPA received adverse written comments or a request to hold an informal hearing. Because EPA received an adverse comment, as well as a request for an informal hearing, we are withdrawing the direct final rule titled, ``Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Manufacturing (Import) Exemption for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA).'' This notice also announces the time and location of that hearing.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This action adds products to the Procurement List that will be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will hold a public meeting to discuss the energy model used in the engineering analysis supporting its energy conservation standard rulemaking for automatic commercial ice makers. During the meeting, DOE will provide detailed description of the Energy Model and demonstrate its use.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is giving notice that it intends to establish a negotiated rulemaking working group under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (ASRAC) in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (NRA) to negotiate proposed Federal standards for the energy efficiency of manufactured homes. The purpose of the working group will be to discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on a proposed rule for the energy efficiency of manufactured homes, as authorized by section 413 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA). The working group will consist of representatives of parties having a defined stake in the outcome of the proposed standards, and will consult as appropriate with a range of experts on technical issues.

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council's (MAFMC) Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Advisory Panel (AP) will hold a public meeting.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has submitted a public information collection request (ICR) entitled AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps' Team Leader Application for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Copies of this ICR, with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling the Corporation for National and Community Service, Doug Hale, at 202- 606-7530 or email to dhale@cns.gov. Individuals who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TTY-TDD) may call 1-800-833- 3722 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published, in the Federal Register on May 16, 2014, the Notice of Intent to prepare an integrated environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed improvements to and reconfiguration of the VA Black Hills Health Care System (VA BHHCS) services in the Hot Springs and Rapid City, South Dakota vicinities. Due to public request and the unavailability of the regulations.gov public comment Web site, the comment period for the scoping process has been extended from June 16, 2014 to August 16, 2014.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has received a complaint entitled Certain Marine Sonar Imaging Devices, Including Downscan and Sidescan Devices, Products Containing the Same, and Components Thereof, DN 3018; the Commission is soliciting comments on any public interest issues raised by the complaint or complainant's filing under section 210.8(b) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (19 CFR 210.8(b)).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Coast Guard is finalizing the escort requirements for double hull tankers over 5,000 gross tons transporting oil in bulk on the waters of Prince William Sound, Alaska (PWS). This final rule mandates two tug escorts for these tankers. The Coast Guard previously published an interim rule on August 19, 2013. Section 711 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 directed the Coast Guard to promulgate regulations as soon as practicable to ensure that tug escort requirements apply to these double hull tankers.

With this final rule, NOAA re-establishes the process by which communities may submit applications to have NOAA consider nominations of areas of the marine and Great Lakes environments as national marine sanctuaries. Communities, in this context, are defined as a collection of interested individuals or groups (e.g., a friends of group, a chamber of commerce); local, tribal, state, or national agencies; elected officials; or topic-based stakeholder groups, at the local, regional or national level (e.g., a local chapter of an environmental organization, a regionally-based fishing group, a national-level recreation or tourism organization, academia or science-based group, or an industry association). Through this nomination process, NOAA is seeking to give communities an opportunity to identify special marine and Great Lakes areas they believe would benefit from designation as a national marine sanctuary. There is no requirement for who may nominate an area for consideration; however, nominations should demonstrate broad support from a variety of stakeholders and interested parties. This rule contains the criteria and considerations NOAA will use to evaluate national marine sanctuary nominations, describes the process for submitting national marine sanctuary nominations, and promulgates the regulations necessary to implement this action. If NOAA determines a nomination adequately meets the final criteria and considerations, it may place that nomination into an inventory of areas for the NOAA Administrator, as delegated from the Secretary of Commerce, to consider for designation as a national marine sanctuary. As such, NOAA is not designating any new national marine sanctuaries with this action. In issuing this rule, NOAA replaces the currently inactive Site Evaluation List with a new process for communities and other interested parties to work collaboratively and innovatively in their submission of national marine sanctuary nominations. The re-opening of the sanctuary nomination process was supported by the majority of the nearly 18,000 comments NOAA received on its proposed rule issued June 28, 2013.

Today the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is issuing Safety Advisory 14-2 to provide guidance to rail fixed guideway public transportation agencies of the need to assess the adequacy of safe stopping distances for rail transit trains in terminal stations. This safety advisory recommends specific and immediate action for rail transit agencies not overseen by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), and provides supporting technical resources. FTA is issuing this guidance in response to preliminary investigative findings from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the collision and derailment that occurred at the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) on March 24, 2014. Further, FTA is directing each State Safety Oversight (SSO) agency designated to implement FTA's SSO program specified at 49 CFR part 659 and 49 U.S.C. 5329(e) to coordinate with every rail transit agency within its jurisdiction to review and approve, as necessary, corrective action plans to be implemented to address Safety Advisory 14-2, ``Verification of Rail Vehicle Safe Stopping Distances in Terminal Stations'' by August 12, 2014. Additionally, FTA directs SSO agencies to provide a summary of actions taken by each rail transit agency in the next Annual SSO Program Report. FTA's Safety Advisory 14-2, ``Verification of Rail Vehicle Safe Stopping Distances in Terminal Stations,'' is available in its entirety on the agency's public Web site (https://www.fta.dot.gov/tso_ 15922.html).

This action establishes Class E airspace at Crandon, WI. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Crandon/Steve Conway Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

Framework Adjustment 3 to the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan would establish a process for setting river herring (alewife and blueback) and shad (American and hickory) catch caps for the herring fishery. In addition, this action would set these catch caps for the 2014 and 2015 fishing years. This action is consistent with Herring Amendment 5, which addresses river herring catch and allows for river herring and shad catch caps to be implemented through a framework. This action would allow the Council to set river herring and shad catch caps and associated measures in future years through specifications or frameworks, whichever is appropriate. Catch of river herring and shad includes both bycatch (discards) and incidental catch that is retained.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is withdrawing its final rule concerning the flood elevation determinations for Colfax County, Nebraska, and Incorporated Areas.