September 22, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces the FAA's intent to designate Silvercraft S.co.p.a. (Silvercraft) Type Certificate (TC) H2EU, issued in the normal category, as abandoned. The FAA has been unable to locate Silvercraft, the TC holder, concerning the continued airworthiness of the aircraft certificated under its TC. The Federal Aviation Regulations (regulations) require that TC holders report certain failures, malfunctions, and defects to the FAA. The regulations also require, upon request, that TC holders submit design changes to the FAA that are necessary to correct any unsafe condition in their products. The FAA is responsible for surveillance of Silvercraft's ability to perform continued operational safety management and oversight of the helicopter on its TC. This action is intended to ensure that Silvercraft Model SH-4 helicopters are under a TC that has active continued operational safety management and oversight by a TC holder that can be subject to periodic safety audits by the FAA.

On September 10, 2013, the Department of Energy (DOE or Department) issued in the Federal Register a revision to its regulations governing the standards for medical, physical performance, training, and access authorizations for protective force (PF) personnel employed by contractors providing security services to the Department. Subsequently, the DOE created a new Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security (AU) to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of its environmental, health, safety and security policy. Certain functions that previously were carried out by the Office of Health, Safety and Security have been transferred to the new office. This final rule makes technical amendments to DOE's regulations to substitute the officials to whom or offices to which functions have been transferred pursuant to the reorganization. Today's regulatory amendments do not alter substantive rights or obligations under current law.

Due to adverse comments received, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the direct final approval of a revision to the Alabama State Implementation Plan (SIP), submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on March 27, 2015. EPA stated in the direct final rule that if EPA received adverse comments by August 26, 2015, the direct final rule would be withdrawn and not take effect.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Rouge River in the vicinity of Detroit, MI. This zone is intended to restrict and control movement of vessels in a portion of the Rouge River. This zone is necessary to protect vessels from potential hazards associated with dredging operations.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the oral electronic vision aid into class II (special controls). The special controls that will apply to the device are identified in this order and will be part of the codified language for the oral electronic vision aid's classification. The Agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') proposes to amend a provision of the Commission's regulations in connection with the material terms for which counterparties must resolve discrepancies when engaging in portfolio reconciliation.

NMFS suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2016 fishing year. NMFS also announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2016 will remain status quo. Regulations governing these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged.

GSA is amending the Federal Management Regulations (FMR) reporting requirements to state that large agencies must submit to GSA their prior fiscal year mail reports in the Simplified Mail Accountability Reporting Tool annually by December 1.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations that would implement its authority under Section 161A of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), to permit NRC licensees and certificate holders to apply for preemption authority and enhanced weapons authority, and conduct associated firearms background checks. The NRC proposed new regulations on February 3, 2011, that would implement its authority under Section 161A. On January 10, 2013, the NRC proposed to further revise the regulations to include at- reactor independent spent fuel storage installations (ISFSI) as a class of designated facilities. The NRC is now proposing to further revise the proposed rule language that addresses the voluntary application for enhanced weapons authority, preemption authority, and the mandatory firearms background checks under Section 161A.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is proposing to amend certain regulations pertaining to registration and process filings related to acidified foods and thermally processed low-acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers (historically referred to as ``low-acid canned foods'' or ``LACF''). The amendments would reflect new FDA process filing form numbers and would make changes to addresses or locations where such forms can be found or must be sent. Additionally, the amendments would remove obsolete references to the effective dates that occurred years ago and update a reference to another Federal Agency.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-19-04, for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2011-19-04 required repetitive inspections for cracking of the left- hand and right-hand inboard and outboard elevator servo-control rod eye-ends, and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires an inspection to determine if certain elevator servo-control parts are installed, and replacement if necessary. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain elevator servo-control parts that do not conform to the approved type design have been installed and may have the potential of cracks in the rod eye-end. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct rod eye-end cracking, which could result in uncontrolled elevator surface and consequent reduced control of the airplane.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. The NPRM proposed to supersede Airworthiness Directives (AD) 2011-13-11 and AD 2013-16-09. AD 2011-13-11 currently requires an amendment of the airplane flight manual (AFM), repetitive checks of specific centralized fault display system (CFDS) messages, an inspection of the opening sequence of the main landing gear (MLG) door actuator for discrepancies if certain messages are found, and corrective actions if necessary. AD 2013-16-09 currently requires an inspection to determine airplane configuration and part numbers of the landing gear control interface unit and MLG door actuators; and, for affected airplanes, repetitive inspections of the opening sequence of the MLG door actuator, and replacement of the MLG door actuator if necessary; and provides optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. The NPRM was prompted by a determination that the interval of the MLG door opening sequence inspection must be reduced. The NPRM proposed to reduce the interval of the MLG door opening sequence inspection, and also to replace or modify certain MLG door actuators. This action revises the NPRM by adding a flushing procedure to be performed when installing a new MLG door actuator. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to detect and correct deterioration of the damping ring and associated retaining ring of the MLG door actuator, which can sufficiently increase the friction inside the actuator to restrict opening of the MLG door by gravity, during operation of the landing gear alternate (free-fall) extension system. This condition could prevent the full extension and/or down-locking of the MLG, possibly resulting in MLG collapse during landing and consequent damage to the airplane and injury to occupants. Since these actions impose an additional burden over those proposed in the NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.