October 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC) is issuing a final rule, establishing procedures for the public to obtain information from MCRMC under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

This document announces the availability of the Science Advisory Board's (SAB) final peer review of the EPA's draft report Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis. This document has been placed in the docket for the EPA and the Corps proposed rule ``Definition of `Waters of the United States' Under the Clean Water Act.''

This rule establishes, 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.

This rule establishes, 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.

Under the authority of Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides grants for the mitigation, management, and control of any fire or fire complex on public or private forest land or grassland that threatens such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. This rule finalizes, without change, a proposed rule to revise the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) program regulations to lengthen the potential extension for the grantee's submission of its grant application to FEMA from up to 3 months to up to 6 months. This rule also finalizes, without change, the proposed regulation to lengthen the potential extension for a subgrantee to submit a project worksheet from up to 3 months to up to 6 months. The rule finalizes additional minor administrative changes to the rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the reporting and recordkeeping requirements of the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. These amendments include an alternative verification approach in lieu of collecting certain data elements for which the EPA has identified disclosure concerns and for which the reporting deadline was deferred until March 31, 2015. The alternative verification approach includes the addition of new verification, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements while maintaining the EPA's ability to verify emissions and ensure compliance with the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. In conjunction with the amendments, the EPA is establishing final confidentiality determinations for the new data elements added in this action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove several State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California pursuant to the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for ozone, fine particulate patter (PM2.5), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). We refer to such SIP revisions as ``infrastructure'' SIPs because they are intended to address basic structural SIP requirements for new or revised NAAQS including, but not limited to, legal authority, regulatory structure, resources, permit programs, and monitoring necessary to assure attainment and maintenance of the standards. In addition, we are proposing to reclassify certain regions of the state for emergency episode planning purposes with respect to ozone, NO2, SO2, and particulate matter (PM). Finally, we are proposing to approve into the SIP several state provisions addressing CAA conflict of interest requirements into the California SIP and an emergency episode planning rule for Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for PM. We are taking comments on this proposal and, after considering any comments submitted, plan to take final action.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone in support of World War II ordinance disposal found southeast of Buoy 3 in Saipan Harbor. This safety zone will encompass a 140 yard radius centered around a blue and white buoy, located at approximately 15 degrees 13.370 minutes North Latitude, 145 degrees 42.256 minutes East Longitude, southeast of Buoy 3 in Saipan Harbor. (NAD 1983)

The Secretary amends the regulations governing the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. These regulations strengthen and improve administration of the Federal Direct PLUS Loan Program authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA).

This document provides the methodology and data sources necessary to determine federal payment amounts made in program year 2016 to states that elect to establish a Basic Health Program under the Affordable Care Act to offer health benefits coverage to low-income individuals otherwise eligible to purchase coverage through Affordable Insurance Exchanges.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 767- 2C airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features include the addition of four body fuel tanks and a modified fuel management system that, directly or as a result of failure or malfunction, could affect the airplane's structural performance. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These 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.

This document corrects two errors that appeared in Docket No. FAA-2014-0666, Special Conditions No. 25-566-SC, which was published in the Federal Register on September 12, 2014 (79 FR 54572). There is an error in the header information and in one instance of one of the airplane model numbers in the publication.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Grob-Werke Models G115EG and G120A airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a defective starter solenoid. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'') is proposing to amend part 14 of its regulations, under which the Commission may deny, temporarily or permanently, the privilege of certain persons to appear or practice before it. The amendment clarifies the Commission's standard for determining when an accountant has engaged in ``unethical or improper professional conduct'' which has been established as a basis for denying the accountant the privilege of appearing or practicing before the Commission.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic fluid loss from the reservoir of the main landing gear's (MLG's) alternate extension system. This proposed AD would require inspection for correct assembly of the MLG's alternate extension system reservoir lid, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to, in the event of a failure of the primary MLG extension system, prevent failure of the alternate MLG extension system to fully extend the MLG into a down-and-locked position, which could result in collapse of both MLG during touchdown.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to California's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for Imperial County that address Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements concerning ozone precursor emissions inventories of volatile organic compounds and oxides of nitrogen. These emissions inventories were submitted by California to meet CAA requirements for Imperial County, which was designated as a moderate nonattainment areas under the 1997 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model FU24-954 and FU24A-954 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracking of the control column at the wiring access hole, which could lead to loss of control. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (CFPB) is issuing a compliance bulletin and policy guidance entitled ``Compliance Bulletin and Policy GuidanceMortgage Servicing Transfers'' in light of potential risks to consumers that may arise in connection with transfers of residential mortgage servicing rights.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is converting the proposed rule as a final rule amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to remove GSAR clause Progressive Awards and Monthly Quantity Allocations.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of metrafenone in or on multiple commodities that are identified and discussed later in this document. Interregional Research Project Number 4 (IR-4) requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA), as part of its annual public notification process, is publishing for notice an index of the 18 Board policy statements currently in existence. Most of the policy statements remain unchanged since our last Federal Register notice on October 24, 2013 (78 FR 63380), except for one with minor updates on Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2014 Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) apportioned to trawl catcher vessels in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

This document announces the availability of a proposed new chapter of FAA Order 8900.1, and a proposed new AC related to Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses. The new chapter in FAA Order 8900.1 chapter establishes Policy not previously addressed in FAA Orders or ACs. The associated AC, 65-XX, provides guidelines to operators and potential operators of Aircraft Dispatcher Certification Courses.

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, or our) issued a final rule on December 24, 2013, to establish a regulatory framework for Farm Credit System (System) banks and associations to report their accounts and exposures to the FCA. The final rule required compliance as of the effective date, which was February 21, 2014, except for certain Reporting Entity's requirements. The compliance date for those requirements was delayed to allow for the development of and transition to the System's central data repository. This document provides the compliance date for the Reporting Entity requirements.

On August 13, 2013, the Department of Education (the Department) published a notice of final regulations in the Federal Register to amend our Education Department General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR). In this document, the Department proposes to further amend EDGAR to add a definition of ``What Works Clearinghouse Evidence Standards'' (WWC Evidence Standards) in our regulations to standardize references to this term. In addition, the Department proposes to amend the definition of ``large sample'' in our regulation. We also propose technical edits to our regulations to improve the consistency and clarity of the regulations. Finally, we propose to redesignate our regulations and to include in that redesignated section an additional provision that would allow the Secretary to give special consideration to projects supported by evidence of promise.