October 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified BFEs are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

In this document, the International Bureau of the Commission invites interested parties to provide any supplemental information or comments concerning the Commission's proposed ground-path interference rules for 17/24 GHz Reverse Band Broadcasting-Satellite Service (BSS) operations. This request is intended to refresh the record in this proceeding, and to provide parties with the opportunity to update or add to their comments, as well as allowing parties who have not filed comments in this proceeding previously to do so.

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list a ``Northwest Atlantic Distinct Population Segment'' (DPS) or ``United States DPS'' of thorny skate (Amblyraja radiata) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition to list thorny skate presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. We will conduct a review of the status of the species to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the status review is comprehensive, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information pertaining to this species from any interested party.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 22 Bridge over the Tchefuncta River, mile 2.5, at Madisonville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to complete scheduled maintenance of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for approximately six weeks while allowing for two scheduled openings on scheduled work days except for a five-day period and a 36-hour period, both in December, when there will be complete closures. The bridge will operate normally on non-scheduled work days and on weekends.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the John F. Kennedy Space Center/NASA Parkway Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 885.0, Addison Point, FL. For the safety of the participants, this temporary operating schedule will allow the bridge to not open to navigation including tugs with tows, during the Rocketman Triathlon in November.

This direct final rule amends the Coast Guard's merchant mariner manning regulations to align them with statutory changes made by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014. The Act allows oilers serving on certain offshore support vessels, towing vessels, and barges to be divided into at least two watches. This change increases the sea service credit affected mariners are permitted to earn for each 12-hour period of work from one day to one and a half days.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-19-02 for all The Boeing Company Model 767 airplanes. AD 2015-19-02 required revising the maintenance or inspection program to include new airworthiness limitations. This AD continues to require a maintenance or inspection program revision, but with revised language. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain language in the airworthiness limitation was not accurate in AD 2015-19-02. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct latent failures of the fuel shutoff valve to the engine and auxiliary power unit (APU), which could result in the inability to shut off fuel to the engine and APU and, in case of certain fires, an uncontrollable fire that could lead to structural failure.

The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for competitive products.

We are proposing to update our service-wide regulations governing the exercise of non-federal oil and gas rights, to improve our ability to protect park resources, values, and visitors from potential impacts associated with non-federal oil and gas operations located within National Park Service units. The proposed rule would also make the regulations consistent with existing policies and practices, and update the format to improve clarity and simplify application and compliance for oil and gas operators and our employees.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (``Commission'' or ``CPSC'') on August 19, 2015 published a notice that the Commission received a petition for rulemaking under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA'') regarding additive organohalogen flame retardants. The notice invited the public to submit written comments concerning the petition by October 19, 2015. The Commission has received two requests to extend the comment period. In response to these requests, the Commission is extending the comment period to January 19, 2016. Additionally, the Commission announces that there will be an opportunity for interested persons to present oral comments on the petition.

Based on its review of the air quality criteria for ozone (O3) and related photochemical oxidants and national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for O3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising the primary and secondary NAAQS for O3 to provide requisite protection of public health and welfare, respectively. The EPA is revising the levels of both standards to 0.070 parts per million (ppm), and retaining their indicators (O3), forms (fourth-highest daily maximum, averaged across three consecutive years) and averaging times (eight hours). The EPA is making corresponding revisions in data handling conventions for O3 and changes to the Air Quality Index (AQI); revising regulations for the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) program to add a transition provision for certain applications; and establishing exceptional events schedules and providing information related to implementing the revised standards. The EPA is also revising the O3 monitoring seasons, the Federal Reference Method (FRM) for monitoring O3 in the ambient air, Federal Equivalent Method (FEM) analyzer performance requirements, and the Photochemical Assessment Monitoring Stations (PAMS) network. Along with exceptional events schedules related to implementing the revised O3 standards, the EPA is applying this same schedule approach to other future new or revised NAAQS and removing obsolete regulatory language for expired exceptional events deadlines. The EPA is making minor changes to the procedures and time periods for evaluating potential FRMs and equivalent methods, including making the requirements for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) consistent with the requirements for O3, and removing an obsolete requirement for the annual submission of Product Manufacturing Checklists by manufacturers of FRMs and FEMs for monitors of fine and coarse particulate matter. For a more detailed summary, see the Executive Summary below.

The Department of State amends provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations related to the appointment of Foreign Service Officers. The revised rules will be substantially the same as, and will supplement, Department of State guidance currently in the Foreign Affairs Manual, which is also available to the public.

We are amending the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of fresh peppers into the United States from Ecuador. As a condition of entry, the fruit will have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for fruit fly trapping, pre-harvest inspections, production sites, and packinghouse procedures designed to exclude quarantine pests. The fruit will also be required to be imported in commercial consignments and accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the national plant protection organization of Ecuador stating that the consignment was produced and prepared for export in accordance with the requirements in the systems approach. This action allows for the importation of fresh peppers from Ecuador while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests into the United States.

On September 14, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of data availability (NODA) in the Federal Register regarding energy conservation standards for residential furnaces (RF ECS NODA). The comment period was scheduled to end October 14, 2015. After receiving a request for additional time to prepare and submit comments, DOE has decided to reopen the comment period for submitting comments regarding the RF ECS NODA. The comment period is reopened through November 6, 2015.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Coleman Memorial Bridge (US 17) across the York River, mile 7.0, at Yorktown, VA. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to facilitate mechanical repairs to the bridge.

This action establishes Class E surface area airspace at Pearson Field, Vancouver, WA, to accommodate existing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) at the airport. This enhances the safety and management of SIAPs for Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action removes Class E airspace at O'Neal Airport, Vincennes, IN. Controlled airspace is no longer needed as the airport was abandoned in 2009 and is being removed from the FAAs database.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company (BNSF) Bridge 37.0 across the Snohomish River, mile 3.5 at Marysville, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate scheduled bridge rail joint maintenance and replacement. The deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the maintenance to allow safe movement of work crews.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's Rulemaking Proceeding by Ari Q. Fitzgerald, on behalf of GE Healthcare; Ronald J. Bruno on behalf of The VideoHouse, Inc.; Benjamin Perez on behalf of Abacus Television; Lawrence Rogow on behalf of WMTM, LLC; and Larry E. Morton on behalf of KMYA, LLC.

The National Park Service is amending its regulations for sport hunting and trapping in national preserves in Alaska. This rule provides that the National Park Service does not adopt State of Alaska management actions or laws or regulations that authorize taking of wildlife, which are related to predator reduction efforts (as defined in this rule). This rule affirms current State prohibitions on harvest practices by adopting them as federal regulation. The rule also prohibits the following activities that are allowed under State law: Taking any black bear, including cubs and sows with cubs, with artificial light at den sites; taking brown bears and black bears over bait; taking wolves and coyotes during the denning season; harvest of swimming caribou or taking caribou from a motorboat while under power; and using dogs to hunt black bears. The rule also simplifies and updates procedures for closing an area or restricting an activity in National Park Service areas in Alaska; updates obsolete subsistence regulations; prohibits obstructing persons engaged in lawful hunting or trapping; and authorizes the use of native species as bait for fishing.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes) modified by a particular supplemental type certificate (STC). This proposed AD was prompted by a report of chafing found on the overflow sensor harness of the surge tank, and subsequent contact between the electrical wiring and fuel tank structure. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection for damage of the outer tank of the overflow sensor harness, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD would also require modification of the sensor harness. We are proposing this AD to prevent chafing of the harness and subsequent contact between the electrical wiring and fuel tank structure, which could result in electrical arcing and a fuel tank explosion.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is adopting as final, with changes, a rule amending the Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR) to add clauses regarding applicable export control requirements for DOE contracts. The rule recognizes contractor responsibilities to comply with all applicable export control laws and regulations in the performance of DOE contracts and prescribes Export Clauses to address these responsibilities.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW4164, PW4168, PW4168A, PW4164-1D, PW4168-1D, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by crack finds in the 6th stage low-pressure turbine (LPT) disk. This AD requires removal of the affected 6th stage LPT disks. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the 6th stage LPT disk, which could lead to an uncontained disk release, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve into Oregon's State Implementation Plan (SIP) a submittal from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) dated July 7, 2014, containing revisions to the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency's (LRAPA) open burning rules adopted on March 14, 2008. The revised LRAPA open burning rules make clarifications and provide for additional controls of open burning activities in Lane County, would reduce particulate emissions in Lane County, and would strengthen Oregon's SIP. The EPA is also proposing to approve a submittal from the ODEQ dated June 30, 2014, to update Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) that relate to procedures in contested cases (appeals), enforcement procedures, and civil penalties. The EPA is proposing to approve most of the submitted provisions because the revisions clarify and strengthen the SIP and are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA is not proposing to approve certain provisions of the submitted rules that do not relate to the requirements for SIPs under section 110 of the CAA. Finally, the EPA is proposing to correct the SIP pursuant to the authority of section 110(k)(6) of the CAA to remove certain provisions previously approved by the EPA that do not relate to the requirements for SIPs under section 110 of the CAA.