December 8, 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Modoc sucker (Catostomus microps) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to this species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Because we are removing the Modoc sucker from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife, we are also removing the designated critical habitat for this species. In addition, we are making available the final post-delisting monitoring plan for the species.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the navigable waters of the Hackensack River surrounding the Witt-Penn Bridge between Jersey City and Kearny, NJ. In response to a planned Witt-Penn Bridge construction project, this rule allows the Coast Guard to prohibit all vessel traffic through the safety zone during bridge replacement operations that could pose an imminent hazard to persons and vessels operating in the area. This rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life in the vicinity of the construction of the Witt-Penn Bridge.

NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) and total allowable catch (TAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) northern rockfish, BSAI octopus, BSAI sculpins, and BSAI skates in the BSAI management area. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.

NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amounts of Pacific cod from catcher vessels greater than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using pot gear, American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl catcher processors (C/Ps), and catcher vessels using trawl gear to C/Ps using hook-and-line gear and C/Ps using pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. This action is necessary to allow the 2015 total allowable catch of Pacific cod to be harvested.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a revision to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) portion of the California SIP. We are approving a local emergency episode plan that describes actions that PCAPCD will take to prevent dangerously high ambient emission levels under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and Yolo-Solano Air Quality Management District (YSAQMD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from motor vehicle and mobile equipment refinishing coating operations. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating the materials that are incorporated by reference (IBR) into the North Dakota State Implementation Plan (SIP). The regulations affected by this update have been previously submitted by the North Dakota Department of Health and approved by the EPA. In this action, the EPA is also notifying the public of corrections to typographical errors and minor formatting changes to the IBR tables. This update affects the SIP materials that are available for public inspection at the EPA Regional Office.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD), and Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from architectural coatings. We are approving local rules that regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-23-250, PA-24-250, PA-24-260, PA-24-400, PA-30, PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31P, PA-39, and PA-E23-250 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an accident caused by fuel starvation where the shape of the wing fuel tanks and fuel below a certain level in that tank may have allowed the fuel to move away from the tank outlet during certain maneuvers. This AD requires installing a fuel system management placard on the airplane instrument panel and adding text to the Limitations Section of the pilot's operating handbook (POH)/airplane flight manual (AFM). We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve two revisions to the Nevada state implementation plan. The first revision provides a demonstration of implementation of best available control measures (BACM) for control of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal ten micrometers (PM10) within Truckee Meadows. The second revision is a plan that provides for the maintenance of the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or ``standard'') for PM10 in Truckee Meadows through 2030, includes an emissions inventory consistent with attainment, and establishes motor vehicle emissions budgets. In connection with these approvals, the EPA is taking final action to determine that major stationary sources of PM10 precursors do not contribute significantly to elevated PM10 levels in the area. Also, based in part on the approvals of the BACM demonstration and maintenance plan and determination regarding PM10 precursors, the EPA is taking final action to approve the State of Nevada's request for redesignation of the Truckee Meadows nonattainment area to attainment for the PM10 standard. Lastly, the EPA is taking final action to delete the area designation for Truckee Meadows for the revoked standard for total suspended particulate (TSP). The EPA is taking these actions because the SIP revisions meet the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for such plans and related motor vehicle emissions budgets and because the area meets the Clean Air Act requirements for redesignation of nonattainment areas to attainment.