September 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On July 28, 2014, FRA published an NPRM proposing to expand the scope of its alcohol and drug regulations to cover employees who perform maintenance-of-way (MOW) activities and certain additional substantive amendments. This document provides notice that FRA is extending the comment period for this NPRM by 60 days.

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR Part 404 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.

PHMSA is notifying the public of its intent to extend the comment period by thirty days for a notice of proposed rulemaking entitled ``Hazardous Materials: Reverse Logistics'' under Docket Number PHMSA-2011-0143 (HM-253) published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2014.

The Federal Advisory Council on Occupational Safety and Health (FACOSH) will meet November 6, 2014, in Washington, DC.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns particulate matter (PM) emissions from incinerators, burn-off ovens and crematories. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to this notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine entitlement to dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC), death pension and accrued benefits, and dependency and indemnity compensation by a surviving spouse or child-in-service death.

In accordance with section 10 (a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2), we announce an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) meeting on ``AHRQ RFA-HS14-009, ``Evaluating AHRQ Initiative to Accelerate the Dissemination and Implementation of PCOR Finding in Primary Care (R01).'' As with other SEP meetings, this meeting will commence in open session before closing to the public for the duration of the meeting.

The scientific peer review subcommittees listed below are part of AHRQ's Health Services Research Initial Review Group Committee. Grant applications are to be reviewed and discussed at these meetings. Each subcommittee meeting will commence in open session before closing to the public for the duration of the meeting. These meetings will be closed to the public in accordance with 5 U.S.C. App. 2 section 10(d), 5 U.S.C. section 552b(c)(4), and 5 U.S.C. section 552b(c)(6).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 is publishing a final Notice of Deletion of the Monroe Auto Equipment (Paragould Pit) Superfund Site located in Paragould, Greene County, Arkansas, from the National Priorities List (NPL). 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). This final deletion is being published by EPA with the concurrence of the State of Arkansas, through the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), because EPA has determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

This action amends the Appendix listing airports/locations with special operating restrictions in FAA's general operating and flight rules. Specifically, this action adds an additional entry for Houston, TX (William P. Hobby Airport), and San Diego, CA (Marine Corps Air Station Miramar), to the Appendix, which lists the airports where aircraft operating within 30 nautical miles (NM) of the listed airports, from the surface upward to 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL) must be equipped with an altitude encoding transponder. The FAA is taking this action to correctly identify applicable airports under the appropriate sections in the Appendix.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern oxides of nitrogen (NOX) emissions from boilers, steam generators, and process heaters. We are proposing to approve local rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

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.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) streamlines and eliminates outdated provisions of the Commission's rules governing the construction, marking, and lighting of antenna structures.

The Secretary of State's designation of ``Countries of Particular Concern'' for religious freedom violations. Pursuant to section 408(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-292), as amended (the Act), notice is hereby given that, on July 18, 2014, the Secretary of State, under authority delegated by the President, has designated each of the following as a ``Country of Particular Concern'' (CPC) under section 402(b) of the Act, for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Secretary simultaneously designated the following Presidential Actions for these CPCs: For Burma, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 126.1(a) pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For China, the existing ongoing restriction on exports to China of crime control and detection instruments and equipment, under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101- 246), pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Eritrea, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 126.1(a) pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Iran, the existing ongoing travel restrictions based on serious human rights abuses under section 221(a)(1)(C) of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For North Korea, the existing ongoing restrictions to which North Korea is subject, pursuant to sections 402 and 409 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik Amendment) pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Saudi Arabia, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act; For Sudan, the restriction on making certain appropriated funds available for assistance to the Government of Sudan in the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, currently set forth in section 7042(j) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2014 (Div. K, Pub. L. 113-76), and any provision of law that is the same or substantially the same as this provision, pursuant to section 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Turkmenistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act; and For Uzbekistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to section 407 of the Act.

The Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee (SCAS) will meet via teleconference on Friday, October 10, 2014 at 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (ET). The Subcommittee will discuss recommendations regarding environmental issues affecting small communities, specifically agricultural issues and recommendations on Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. Proposed Rule, as well as other environmental issues such as Clean Air Act Section 111(d), and other air quality issues. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Subcommittee will hear comments from the public between 11:05 a.m.- 11:15 a.m. on October 10, 2014. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Subcommittee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to eargle.frances@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for presentations requires it. The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) will meet via teleconference on Friday, October 10, 2014, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. (ET). The Committee will discuss recommendations of the subcommittee and LGAC workgroups including recommendations on Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. and Clean Air Act Section 111(d) recommendations, as well as other issues important to local governments. This is an open meeting and all interested persons are invited to participate. The Committee will hear comments from the public between 12:00 p.m.-12:15 p.m. (ET) on Friday, October 10, 2014. Individuals or organizations wishing to address the Committee will be allowed a maximum of five minutes to present their point of view. Also, written comments should be submitted electronically to eargle.frances@epa.gov. Please contact the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) at the number listed below to schedule a time on the agenda. Time will be allotted on a first-come first-serve basis, and the total period for comments may be extended if the number of requests for presentations requires it.

Under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gives notice of a meeting of the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Governmental Advisory Committee (GAC) to the U.S. Representative to the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The National and Governmental Advisory Committees advise the EPA Administrator in her capacity as the U.S. Representative to the CEC Council. The Committees are authorized under Articles 17 and 18 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC), North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, Public Law 103-182, and as directed by Executive Order 12915, entitled ``Federal Implementation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation.'' The NAC is composed of 14 members representing academia, environmental non-governmental organizations, and private industry. The GAC consists of 15 members representing state, local, and Tribal governments. The Committees are responsible for providing advice to the U.S. Representative on a wide range of strategic, scientific, technological, regulatory, and economic issues related to implementation and further elaboration of the NAAEC. The purpose of this meeting is to provide advice on the Operational Plan of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, traditional ecological knowledge, and to discuss other trade and environment issues in North America. The meeting will also include a public comment session. The agenda, meeting materials, and general information about NAC and GAC will be available at https://www2.epa.gov/faca/nac-gac.