August 20, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning dual consolidated loss regulations.

This final rule revises the regulations governing the format used for conducting the required environmental reviews for HUD program and policy actions. HUD's current regulations require that HUD staff document environmental review compliance using form HUD-4128. Recipients receiving HUD assistance and other entities responsible for conducting environmental reviews (responsible entities) are currently allowed to either use HUD-recommended formats or develop equivalent formats for documenting environmental review compliance. The reference to a specific form number in part 50 restricts HUD's ability to adopt alternative form designations and forms, while authorizing the use of alternate forms makes it difficult for HUD to assess, compare, and collect data on responsible entities' environmental review records. Despite being applicable to different parties, environmental review responsibilities under parts 50 and 58 are substantively similar. In light of that, the final rule gives the Departmental Environmental Clearance Officer (DECO) the authority to create one standardized format for use in reviews and authorize exceptions, thereby eliminating unnecessary distinctions between reviews completed by HUD employees and responsible entities. This final rule also makes a technical amendment by making the steps required to prepare an environmental assessment in HUD's regulations consistent with the ``Environmental Assessment'' definition provided in the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

As authorized by 46 U.S.C. 12121, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing concerning an addition of Global Expedited Package Services 3 to the competitive product list. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The EPA is approving a limited maintenance plan submitted by the State of Washington on November 29, 2013, for the Kent, Seattle, and Tacoma maintenance areas for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM10). The EPA first identified these areas in 1987 as potentially violating the 24-hour PM10 national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). All three areas have been attaining the NAAQS since 1990, due to State Implementation Plan (SIP) measures such as a residential wood smoke control program, a prohibition on outdoor burning, and industrial controls. The areas were redesignated to attainment for the 24[hyphen]hour PM10 NAAQS effective May 2001, when the EPA approved the first 10[hyphen]year maintenance plan. This limited maintenance plan covers the second 10-year maintenance period ending in May 2021. The EPA received one set of adverse comments focused primarily on proposed coal export terminals that may be built in the Pacific Northwest or possible expansion of coal export terminals in Canada that may impact the three maintenance areas in the future.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub., L. 92-463, as amended), the National Science Foundation announces the following meeting: Name: Proposal Review Panel for Expeditions in Computing (EIC) Program (1192) Site Visit.

On July 30, 2014, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announced the availability for public review and comment of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and environmental assessment (draft CCP/EA) for Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi. However, edits had not yet been completed on the draft CCP/EA, and the document is not yet ready for public review. We will publish a second Federal Register notice when the draft CCP/EA is ready for review.

The Coast Guard proposes revisions to its regulations for commercial fishing vessels carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargoes in bulk. The proposed revisions would reflect a 1984 statutory change that eliminated fishery-specific and geographical limitations on a statutory exemption that, effectively, permits certain commercial fishing vessels to carry and dispense flammable and combustible material including petroleum products; additionally, this proposed revision would simplify regulatory text. This notice of proposed rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety mission.