July 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As part of the requirements of Section 103 of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting public comment regarding effective methods, measures, and practices for the design and construction of separate building spaces (also known as tenant spaces) to create high-performance, energy efficient spaces. In preparation for completing a study required by the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, DOE is requesting information on the feasibility of significantly improving energy efficiency in commercial buildings through the design and construction, by owners and tenants, of separate spaces with high-performance energy efficiency measures; and encouraging owners and tenants to implement high-performance energy efficiency measures in separate spaces. The term `high-performance energy efficiency measure' means a technology, product, or practice that will result in substantial operational cost savings by reducing energy consumption and utility costs while maintaining indoor air quality, appropriate light levels and occupant comfort. DOE will use input from this Federal Register notice to inform the study, to be completed by April 30, 2016.

The U.S. Department of State (the Department) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the public that it intends to prepare an environmental analysis consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) to evaluate the potential impacts of the construction and operation of a proposed new pipeline that would carry crude oil across the United States-Canada border. This NOI informs the public about the proposed project and solicits participation and comments from interested federal, tribal, state, and local government entities and the public. The Department is soliciting comments to help inform the scope and content of the environmental review, as well as the level (either an environmental assessment or environmental impact statement).

On April 03, 2015, the Department of Navy (DoN) published a Notice of Availability and Notice of Public Meetings for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement for Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Joint Military Training. A notice extending the public comment period by 60 days was published on May 14, 2015. The purpose of this notice is to announce an additional 14-day extension of the public comment period to August 17, 2015 Eastern Daylight Time (E.D.T.) [August 18, 2015, Chamorro Standard Time (ChST)]. This extension is made in recognition of the communications disruptions in the CNMI caused by the damage to the undersea cable between Guam and Saipan.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision of a currently approved collection: 1625-0014, Request for Designation and Exemption of Oceanographic Research Vessels. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of an extension of a currently approved collection: 1625-0095, Oil and Hazardous Material Pollution Prevention and Safety Records, Equivalents/Alternatives and Exemptions. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard will enforce the annual Seafair Air Show safety zone on Lake Washington, Seattle, WA from 8 a.m. on July 30, 2015 to 4 p.m. on August 2, 2015. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of the public from inherent dangers associated with these annual aerial displays. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter or transit this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or Designated Representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the waters of the Savannah River during the Intermedix IRONMAN 70.3 event on September 27, 2015. This regulation is necessary to protect the lives of the participants on the navigable waters of the Savannah River due to hazards associated with 3,600 IRONMAN athletes swimming in the Savannah River. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Savannah or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of the Army announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. The Rental Assistance Demonstration allows public Housing and Moderate Rehabilitation (Mod Rehab) properties to convert to long-term Section 8 rental assistance contracts; and Rent Supplement, Rental Assistance Payment and Mod Rehab properties upon contract expiration or termination, to convert Tenant Protection Vouchers (TPVs) to Project Based Vouchers (PBVs). Participation in the initiative will be voluntary; the attached applications will be used to determine eligibility for Public Housing and Mod Rehab owners only.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying the public of its finding that the motor vehicle emissions budgets (MVEBs) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of a nominal 2.5 microns or less (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) in the Klamath Falls PM2.5 state implementation plan (SIP or attainment plan) are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The attainment plan was submitted to the EPA by the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ or the State) on December 12, 2012, with a clarification to the MVEB submitted on December 19, 2013. As a result of this adequacy finding, the Oregon DEQ, the Oregon Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Transportation will be required to use these MVEBs for future transportation conformity determinations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying the public of its finding that the Grants Pass, Oregon second 10-year limited maintenance plan (LMP) for carbon monoxide (CO) is adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The LMP was submitted to the EPA by the State of Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ or the State) on April 22, 2015. As a result of our adequacy finding, regional emissions analyses will no longer be required as part of the transportation conformity demonstrations for CO for the Grants Pass area.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a supplement to its proposed approval of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Iowa (Iowa) through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Iowa's SIP revision addresses requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's rules that require states to submit periodic reports describing progress toward reasonable progress goals established for regional haze and a determination of the adequacy of the state's existing implementation plan addressing regional haze (region haze SIP). EPA's proposed approval of Iowa's periodic report on progress toward reasonable progress goals and determination of adequacy of the state's regional haze SIP published in the Federal Register on July 3, 2014. This supplemental proposal addresses the potential effects on our proposed approval from the April 29, 2014, decision of the United States Supreme Court (Supreme Court) remanding to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) EPA's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) for further proceedings and the D.C. Circuit's decision to lift the stay of CSAPR.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Lake Hood Seaplane Base under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program that was submitted for Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport and Lake Hood Seaplane Base and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before January 23, 2016.

The Department of the Treasury, and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an extension of an existing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is soliciting comments concerning its Generic Clearance for Meaningful Access Information Collections (Conferences).

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) sponsored information collection request (ICR) titled, ``Occupational Noise Exposure,'' to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval for continued use, without change, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is adopting a final rule that makes technical amendments to descriptions of its organization and structure and its seal and logo.

In compliance with the requirement of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary (OS), Department of Health and Human Services, announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). A 60-day Federal Register Notice has been published for this system. This request is to approve a revision to a currently approved collection with OMB number 0990-0407, and is not a new request for approval.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Office of Rural Health, is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to the Veterans Rural Health Advisory Committee (VRHAC). The Committee advises the Secretary on ways to improve and enhance access to VA healthcare services for enrolled Veterans residing in rural areas and the identification of barriers to providing services. The Committee makes recommendations to the Secretary regarding such activities. Nominations of qualified candidates are being sought to fill upcoming vacancies on the Committee. Authority: The Committee was established in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 2.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.