2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 revision of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments for information needed to determine a claimant's eligibility for disability insurance benefits.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to reflect internal organizational changes and conforming amendments. These changes include adding the address for a new NRC building at headquarters, removing references to several committees that no longer exist, adding the Computer Security Office, removing all references to the Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs because that office has merged with the Office of Nuclear Material Safety and Safeguards, and making conforming amendments throughout the regulations to reflect this office merger.

The Office of Operations, Security, and Preparedness (OSP), 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 a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information needed to issue a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) identification card.

As part of NCUA's Regulatory Modernization Initiative, the NCUA Board (Board) is revising two of NCUA's regulations regarding appraisals. In response to a recent amendment to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Regulation B, the Board is eliminating from NCUA's regulations the now duplicative requirement that federal credit unions (FCUs) make available, to any requesting member, a copy of the appraisal used in connection with that member's application for a loan secured by a first lien on a dwelling. Also, the Board is amending NCUA's appraisal regulations by expanding the current exemption for certain transactions involving an existing extension of credit. More specifically, under the expanded exemption, a federally insured credit union (FICU) will be permitted to refinance or modify a real estate- related loan held by the FICU, without having to obtain another appraisal, if there is no advancement of new monies or if there is adequate collateral protection even with the advancement of new monies. Lastly, the Board is making a minor technical amendment to the definition of the term ``application.''

The NCUA Board (Board) is continuing its comprehensive review of its regulations to identify outdated, unnecessary, or burdensome regulatory requirements imposed on federally insured credit unions, as contemplated by section 2222 of the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996 (EGRPRA). This second decennial review of regulations began when the Board issued its first EGRPRA notice on May 22, 2014, covering the two categories of ``Applications and Reporting'' and ``Powers and Activities.'' \1\ Today, the Board continues the review process with the publication of this second notice, covering the next three categories of rules: ``Agency Programs,'' ``Capital,'' and ``Consumer Protection.'' This review presents a significant opportunity to consider the possibilities for burden reduction in groups of similar regulations. The Board welcomes comment on the categories, the order of review, and all other aspects of this initiative in order to maximize the review's effectiveness.

With this notice, EPA is opening the public comment period for several registration reviews. Registration review is EPA's periodic review of pesticide registrations to ensure that each pesticide continues to satisfy the statutory standard for registration, that is, the pesticide can perform its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. Registration review dockets contain information that will assist the public in understanding the types of information and issues that the Agency may consider during the course of registration reviews. Through this program, EPA is ensuring that each pesticide's registration is based on current scientific and other knowledge, including its effects on human health and the environment. For flufenpyr-ethyl, EPA is seeking comment on the preliminary work plan, the ecological problem formulation, and the human health draft risk assessment. For Sodium Fluoride, Yellow Mustard Seed and Sulfonic Acid, EPA is seeking comment on the Combined Work Plan, Summary Document, and Proposed Interim Registration Review Decision, which includes the human health and ecological risk assessments. This notice also announces a registration review case closure for thiacloprid.

Bexar County and the City of San Antonio (applicants) have applied to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for an incidental take permit (ITP, TE-48571B-0) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The requested permit would authorize incidental take of nine federally listed species in Bexar County and the City of San Antonio. The applicants have completed a draft Habitat Conservation Plan, referred to as the Southern Edwards Plateau (SEP dHCP), as part of the application package. The Service also announces the availability of a draft Environmental Impact Statement (dEIS), which has been prepared to evaluate the permit application in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We are making the permit application package, including the SEP dHCP and dEIS, available for public review and comment.

This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for use to assist the homeless.

This joint interim final rule implements for all Federal award-making agencies the final guidance Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (Uniform Guidance) published by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on December 26, 2013. This rule is necessary in order to incorporate into regulation and thus bring into effect the Uniform Guidance as required by OMB. Implementation of this guidance will reduce administrative burden and risk of waste, fraud, and abuse for the approximately $600 billion per year awarded in Federal financial assistance. The result will be more Federal dollars reprogrammed to support the mission, new entities able to compete and win awards, and ultimately a stronger framework to provide key services to American citizens and support the basic research that underpins the United States economy.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA), Science Advisory Board (SAB) Staff Office is announcing a teleconference of the Chartered SAB to conduct a review of two draft reports of recommendations regarding the agency's 2013 and 2014 Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards (STAA). The Chartered SAB teleconference will be closed to the public.

The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations to serve on the North Slope Science Initiative, Science Technical Advisory Panel (STAP). The STAP provides advice and recommendations to the North Slope Science Initiative Oversight Group on issues such as identifying and prioritizing inventory, monitoring and research needs, and providing other scientific information as requested by the Oversight Group.

On September 12, 2014, the Department of Commerce (the ``Department'') published the Preliminary Results of the 2013-2014 administrative review on certain frozen warmwater shrimp (``shrimp'') from the People's Republic of China (``PRC''), covering the period of review (``POR'') from February 1, 2013, through January 31, 2014.\1\ We gave interested parties an opportunity to submit comments on the Preliminary Results, but none were received. Therefore, these final results are unchanged from the Preliminary Results, and we continue to find that Shantou Yuexing Enterprise Company (``SYEC''), and Zhanjiang Regal Integrated Marine Resources Co., Ltd. (``Regal'') did not have reviewable entries during this POR. Additionally, we continue to find that Rizhao Smart Foods Co., Ltd. (``Smart Foods'') is not eligible for a separate rate, and we will continue to treat it as part of the PRC- wide entity.

In this document, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) seeks comment on whether certain long-pending petitions and requests identified in the Public Notice should be dismissed as dormant. PSHSB seeks to determine whether the long-term pending filings listed in the Attachment are candidates for dismissal because the items either have been abandoned, are no longer of interest to the filing party, or for which no further action is required or contemplated.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Jackson Street Drawbridge across the Red River, mile 88.6, at Alexandria, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to install four new pinion gears that are essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and not open to vessel traffic.

The Coast Guard is developing policy to help vessel and facility operators identify and address cyber-related vulnerabilities that could contribute to a Transportation Security Incident. Coast Guard regulations require certain vessel and facility operators to conduct security assessments, and to develop security plans that address vulnerabilities identified by the security assessment. The Coast Guard is seeking public input from the maritime industry and other interested parties on how to identify and mitigate potential vulnerabilities to cyber-dependent systems. The Coast Guard will consider these public comments in developing relevant guidance, which may include standards, guidelines, and best practices to protect maritime critical infrastructure.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an exemption in response to a July 17, 2013, request from Duke Energy Florida, Inc. (DEF or the licensee), from certain regulatory requirements. The exemption would remove the requirement that a licensed senior operator approve the emergency suspension of security measures for Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Generating Plant (CR3) during certain emergency conditions or during severe weather.

This final notice announces the availability of Major Project Financial Plan Guidance. February 2, 2015

As authorized by the 2014 Omnibus Act, ACF is requesting public comment on a voluntary set of minimum health and safety standards for early care and education settings titled, ``Caring for Our Children Basics.''

On October 20, 2014, the Administrator of the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program received a petition to add primary biliary cirrhosis (Petition 006) to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions (List). The Administrator has not found sufficient scientific evidence to conduct an analysis of whether to add primary biliary cirrhosis to the List. Accordingly, the Administrator finds that insufficient evidence exists to request a recommendation of the WTC Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), to publish a proposed rule, or to publish a determination not to publish a proposed rule.