December 3, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rulemaking relieves burdens on pilots seeking to obtain aeronautical experience, training, and certification by increasing the allowed use of aviation training devices. These training devices have proven to be an effective, safe, and affordable means of obtaining pilot experience. These actions are necessary to bring the regulations in line with current needs and activities of the general aviation training community and pilots.

On September 30, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of proposed rulemaking for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment in the Federal Register. This document announces the reopening of the public comment period for submitting comments and data on the proposed rulemaking, associated technical support document (TSD), or any other aspect of the rulemaking for small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment. The reopened comment period ends December 22, 2014.

On February 11, 2014, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to amend the test procedures for commercial clothes washers (CCWs). That proposed rulemaking serves as the basis for today's action. DOE is issuing a final rule making a technical correction to the certification reporting requirements for CCWs established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA), adopting a new test procedure to be used to determine compliance with any revised energy conservation standards for CCWs, and clarifying the dates for which the current and new test procedures must be used to determine compliance with existing energy conservation standards and any future revised energy conservation standards for CCWs.

NMFS proposes regulations that would revise Federal regulations regarding sport fishing guide services for Pacific halibut in International Pacific Halibut Commission Regulatory Areas 2C (Southeast Alaska) and 3A (Central Gulf of Alaska). The proposed regulations would remove the requirement that a guided sport (charter) vessel guide be on board the same vessel as a charter vessel angler to provide sport fishing guide services. This proposed rule would clarify that all sport fishing for halibut in which anglers receive assistance from a compensated guide would be managed under charter fishery regulations, and all harvest would accrue toward charter allocations. This proposed rule would align Federal regulations with State of Alaska regulations. Additional minor changes to the regulatory text pertaining to the charter halibut fishery would be required to maintain consistency in the regulations with these new definitions. This action is necessary to achieve the halibut fishery management goals of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to amend the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program regulations to add an additional enrollment type called ``self plus one'' for premium rating and family member eligibility purposes.

On July 1, 2014, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) proposed to adjust the timing of the annual stress testing cycle and to clarify the method used to calculate regulatory capital in the stress tests (proposed rule). The OCC is now adopting the proposed rule as final (final rule). The final rule shifts the dates of the annual stress testing cycle by approximately three months. The final rule also provides that covered institutions will not have to calculate their risk-weighted assets using the internal ratings-based and advanced measurement approaches until the stress testing cycle beginning on January 1, 2016.

EPA issued a document in the Federal Register of September 12, 2013, announcing the filing of a pesticide tolerance petition for residues of the fungicide, Bacillus subtilis strain IAB/BS03. That pesticide petition requested that EPA establish an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of that fungicide in or on all food commodities. Through an administrative error, the summary of the pesticide petition was not made available in the docket. Now available in the docket, this document reopens the comment period for that pesticide petition for 30 days to allow for public review and comment.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC, Commission) announces that there will be an opportunity for interested persons to present oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) the Commission issued proposing a standard to reduce the risk of injury associated with recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). Any oral comments will be part of the rulemaking record.

This rulemaking adopts as final, without change, a proposed rule creating regulations for the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) benefits program. Through the HISA benefits program, VA provides monetary benefits to disabled veterans for necessary home improvements and alterations. An increase in the HISA benefits limit was authorized by the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. This rulemaking codifies regulations governing the HISA benefits program and incorporates the increase in HISA benefits authorized by the 2010 Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a request submitted by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) on September 17, 2014, to revise the Indiana state implementation plan (SIP). The submission revises the Indiana Administrative Code (IAC) definition of ``References to the Code of Federal Regulations,'' from the 2011 edition to the 2013 edition. There is also a revised definition of ``Board.''

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to correctly reflect the compliance deadlines for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) as revised by the effect of the action of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit or Court) granting the EPA's motion to lift the previous stay of CSAPR and delay (toll) its deadlines by three years. With these ministerial amendments, the CFR text will correctly indicate that CSAPR's Phase 1 emissions budgets apply in 2015 and 2016 and that CSAPR's Phase 2 emissions budgets and assurance provisions apply in 2017 and beyond. The ministerial amendments similarly correct dates in the CFR text related to specific activities required or permitted under CSAPR by regulated sources, the EPA, and states, as well as dates related to the sunsetting of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) upon its replacement by CSAPR. The amendments are necessary to clarify the timing of requirements and elections under CSAPR as shown in the CFR text so that compliance can begin in an orderly manner on January 1, 2015, consistent with the Court's order. The EPA is also taking comment on the amendments being made in this interim final rule and will consider whether to retain these revisions as promulgated or whether further revisions are necessary to make the CSAPR compliance deadlines consistent with the Court's order.

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 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.

We, NMFS, propose to designate critical habitat for the Arctic subspecies (Phoca hispida hispida) of the ringed seal (Phoca hispida) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We propose to designate one specific area of marine habitat in the northern Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. We are soliciting comments from the public on all aspects of the proposal, including our identification and consideration of the economic, national security, and other relevant impacts of the proposed designation.

On January 18, 2013, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) to revise its test procedures for cooking products established under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The NOPR proposed a change to the test equipment that would allow for measuring the energy efficiency of induction cooking tops and ranges. To address issues raised in comments regarding the NOPR, DOE conducted additional research and analysis. In this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNOPR), DOE modifies its proposal to change the test equipment to allow for measuring the energy efficiency of induction cooking tops and proposes to add an additional test block size for electric surface units with large diameters (both induction and electric resistance). In addition, DOE proposes methods to test non-circular electric surface units, electric surface units with flexible concentric cooking zones, and full-surface induction cooking tops. In this SNOPR, DOE also proposes amendments to add a larger test block size to test gas surface units with higher input rates. DOE also proposes to incorporate methods for measuring conventional oven volume, to clarify that the existing oven test block must be used to test all ovens regardless of input rate, and to measure the energy consumption and efficiency of conventional ovens equipped with an oven separator. Additionally, DOE is proposing technical corrections to the units of measurement in certain calculations and the annual useful cooking energy output for gas cooktops.