July 14, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Assistant Deputy Secretary for Innovation and Improvement announces final priorities, requirements, and definitions under the CSP Grants for National Leadership Activities. The Assistant Deputy Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2015 and later years.

NMFS withdraws a proposed rule that would have established new regulations pertaining to compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the context of fishery management actions developed pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). Instead of going forward with a final rule directly resulting from the 2008 proposed rule, NMFS issued an internal policy on February 19, 2013. This policy, entitled ``National Environmental Policy Act Compliance for Council-Initiated Fishery Management Actions under the Magnuson-Stevens Act'' clarifies roles and responsibilities of NMFS and the Regional Fishery Management Councils (Councils), explains timing and procedural linkages, provides guidance on documentation needs, and fosters partnerships and cooperation between NMFS and Councils on NEPA compliance. NMFS consulted with the Councils and with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) on proposed revisions to the 2013 NMFS NEPA policy directive, and based on those consultations NMFS now proposes to use this policy as a basis for issuing revised and updated NEPA procedures for MSA actions in the form of a line-office supplement to NOAA Administrative Order (NAO) 216-6. On June 30, 2014, NMFS published a Federal Register notice of availability of the draft revised and updated NEPA procedures for MSA actions and requested public comments, with a 90-day public comment period.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Fox River in Green Bay, WI. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from a portion of the Fox River due to a water ski show. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect the surrounding public and vessels from the hazards associated with the water ski show.

The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') requests public comment on the overall costs and benefits, and regulatory and economic impact, of its Rules and Regulations Under the Hobby Protection Act (``Rules''), as part of the agency's regular review of all its regulations and guides.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Monongahela River mile 0.0 to mile 0.22. This safety zone is needed to protect vessels transiting the area and event spectators from the hazards associated with a barge-based fireworks display. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the SR 175 Bridge across Lewis Channel and Black Narrows, mile 3.5, at Chincoteague, VA. This deviation will be a test to change the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. This deviation will require the bridge to open on demand at all times.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conditionally approving revisions to the Texas New Source Review (NSR) State Implementation Plan (SIP) to establish the Texas Minor NSR Flexible Permits Program, submitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The conditional approval is predicated on a commitment from TCEQ in a letter dated December 9, 2013, to adopt certain minor clarifications to the Flexible Permit Program by November 30, 2014. The EPA is finalizing this action under section 110 of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the operation of the Pulaski Bridge across Newtown Creek, mile 0.6, at New York City, New York. The deviation is necessary to accommodate additional commuter bus traffic passing over the Pulaski Bridge as a result of the closure of the Newtown MTA G-Line Tunnel for repairs. This deviation allows the Pulaski Bridge to remain in the closed position intermittently for thirty-four days.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maryland pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA). Whenever new or revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are promulgated, the CAA requires states to submit a plan for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of such NAAQS. The plan is required to address basic program elements, including, but not limited to regulatory structure, monitoring, modeling, legal authority, and adequate resources necessary to assure attainment and maintenance of the standards. These elements are referred to as infrastructure requirements. The State of Maryland has made a submittal addressing the infrastructure requirements for the 2010 nitrogen dioxide (NO2) NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the manufacture of medium density fiberboard, melamine and phenol resins used in plasticizing paper and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from stationary internal combustion engines. We are proposing to rescind local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). Under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), we are rescinding local rules that concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the manufacture of medium density fiberboard, melamine and phenol resins used in plasticizing paper and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from stationary internal combustion engines.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a request submitted by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on January 8, 2014, to revise the Illinois State Implementation Plan (SIP) for volatile organic matter (VOM). The approval revises the Illinois SIP by substituting a new party as the holder of the adjusted standard for VOM granted to Royal Fiberglass Pools, Inc. (Royal), for the facility located in Dix, Illinois. EPA approved the adjusted standard for Royal on June 27, 2011. Due to a change in ownership, the facility is now owned by Latham Pool Products, Inc., d/b/a Viking Pools. The revision amends the adjusted standard for VOM currently approved in the SIP for the facility to reflect the change in ownership. This revision does not change any of the VOM control requirements and will not result in an increase in VOM emissions at the facility.

This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for CY 2015 to implement applicable statutory requirements and changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems. In this proposed rule, we describe the proposed changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. In addition, this proposed rule would update and refine the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program and the ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program. In this document, we also are proposing changes to the data sources used for expansion requests for physician owned hospitals under the physician self-referral regulations; changes to the underlying authority for the requirement of an admission order for all hospital inpatient admissions and changes to require physician certification for hospital inpatient admissions only for long-stay cases and outlier cases; and changes to establish a three-level appeals process for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations and Part D sponsors that would be applicable to CMS-identified overpayments associated with data submitted by these organizations and sponsors.

This rule 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.