October 31, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is amending its regulations by relocating to the FHFA chapter of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) a Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) regulation relating to procedures under which the Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks) and the Office of Finance (OF) may request waivers, approvals, no-action letters, and regulatory interpretations. The final rule modifies these regulations to make them also applicable to the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (collectively, Enterprises) and repeals provisions relating to the procedures for requesting case-by-case determinations. The final rule also relocates a definition to the general definitions section of the FHFA regulations.

The Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education proposes priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for the State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) program. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, definitions, and selection criteria for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2015 and later years. We propose this action to enable tribal educational agencies (TEAs) to administer formula grant programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), and to improve the partnership between TEAs and the State educational agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs) that educate students from the affected tribe.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of [alpha]-alkyl (minimum C6 linear, branched, saturated and/or unsaturated)-[omega]-hydroxypolyoxyethylene polymer with or without polyoxypropylene, mixture of di- and monohydrogen phosphate esters and the corresponding ammonium, calcium, magnesium, monoethanolamine, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts of the phosphate esters; minimum oxyethylene content is 2 moles; minimum oxypropylene content is 0 moles, herein referred to as alkyl alcohol alkoxylate phosphate derivatives (AAAPD) and [alpha]- alkyl(C6- C15)-[omega]-hydroxypoly(oxyethylene)sulfate, and its ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc salts, poly(oxyethylene) content averages 2-4 moles, herein referred to alkyl alcohol alkoxylate sulfate derivatives (AAASD) to include Chemical Abstract Service Registry Numbers listed in the Supplementary Information when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Spring Trading Company, LLC., on behalf of Croda Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of alkyl alcohol alkoxylate phosphate and sulfate derivatives on food or feed commodities.

In this notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposes to revise its test procedures for ceiling fan light kits (CFLKs). DOE proposes to update the current test procedures (appendix V) by replacing references to ENERGY STAR test procedures with references to DOE lamps test procedures for medium screw base lamps and to industry test procedures for pin-based fluorescent lamps. DOE also proposes to establish new test procedures (appendix V1) that would support amendments to CFLK energy conservation standards that are currently being considered by DOE. Specifically, these new test procedures would establish an efficacy-based metric for all lamps packaged with CFLKs and for CFLKs with integrated solid-state lighting circuitry. DOE proposes that CFLKs with lamp types without corresponding DOE test procedures would be tested using current industry test procedures for those lamp types. This NOPR also clarifies the energy conservation standards for ceiling fan light kits by replacing references to ENERGY STAR with tables that contain the specific performance requirements from the ENERGY STAR documents. Finally, DOE also addresses standby and off-mode power consumption and provides updated guidance related to accent lighting in CFLKs. DOE is also announcing a public meeting to discuss and receive comments on the content presented in this rulemaking.

Through this RFI, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is commencing a notice-and-comment rulemaking to consider amending its ``Process Improvement Rule,'' with specific focus to clarify its process related to the promulgation of direct final rules (DFRs). The issues for discussion and public comment in this RFI include those raised in recent litigation concerning energy conservation standards for gas furnaces, central air conditioners and heat pumps, which has since been settled.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule that would redefine the geographic boundaries of several appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas for pay-setting purposes. Based on recent reviews of Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) boundaries in a number of wage areas, OPM proposes redefinitions affecting the following wage areas: Washington, DC; Hagerstown- Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN; Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC, and Southwestern Wisconsin. In addition, this proposed rule would make three minor corrections to the Miami, FL; Columbus, GA, and Kansas City, MO, wage areas.

These final special conditions are issued for the SNECMA, Silvercrest-2 SC-2D engine model. This engine will have a novel or unusual design featurean additional takeoff rating that increases the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) limit to maintain takeoff thrust in certain high ambient temperature conditions with one engine inoperative (OEI) for a maximum of 10 minutes. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These final special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 meters) length overall (LOA) using pot gear, catcher vessels using trawl gear, and American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher/processors (C/Ps) to Amendment 80 (A80) C/Ps, C/Ps using hook-and-line gear, and C/Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2014 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

The State of Arkansas has applied to EPA for Final authorization of the changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). EPA proposes to grant Final authorization to the State of Arkansas. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is authorizing the changes by an immediate final rule. EPA did not make a proposal prior to the direct final rule because we believe this action is not controversial and do not expect comments that oppose it. We have explained the reasons for this authorization in the preamble to the direct final rule. Unless we get written comments which oppose this authorization during the comment period, the direct final rule will become effective on the date it establishes, and we will not take further action on this proposal. If we receive comments that oppose this action, we will withdraw the direct final rule and it will not take effect. We will then respond to public comments in a later final rule based on this proposal. You may not have another opportunity for comment. If you want to comment on this action, you must do so at this time.

This interim rule revises the quantity of Class 1 (Scotch) spearmint oil that handlers may purchase from, or handle on behalf of, producers during the 2014-2015 marketing year under the Far West spearmint oil marketing order. This rule increases the Scotch spearmint oil salable quantity from 1,149,030 pounds to 1,984,423 pounds and the allotment percentage from 55 percent to 95 percent. The marketing order regulates the handling of spearmint oil produced in the Far West and is administered locally by the Spearmint Oil Administrative Committee (Committee). The Committee recommended this rule for the purpose of maintaining orderly marketing conditions in the Far West spearmint oil market.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to amend its rules for licensing and operation of space stations and earth stations for communication by radio. The proposed changes would, among other things, facilitate international coordination of proposed satellite networks; eliminate the need to assess compliance with interim milestone requirements; revise bond requirements to more effectively deter spectrum warehousing; clarify requirements for routine earth station licensing; and expand applicability of routine licensing standards.