2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities will hold a meeting of the Arts and Artifacts International Indemnity Panel.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), in coordination with the State of Wyoming and other partners, will reestablish additional populations of the black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a federally listed endangered mammal, into prairie dog (Cynomys spp.) occupied habitat in Wyoming and classify any reestablished population as a nonessential experimental population (NEP) under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This final rule establishes the NEP area and provides for allowable legal incidental taking of the black-footed ferret within the defined NEP area. The best available data indicate the reintroduction of black-footed ferrets to Wyoming is biologically feasible and will promote conservation and recovery of the species. This NEP area and two previously designated NEPs in Wyoming collectively cover the entire State of Wyoming and provide consistent management flexibility Statewide. We are also amending the historical range column for the species within the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) to include Mexico; the historical range information in the List is informational, not regulatory.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Washington (FEMA- 4243-DR), dated 10/20/2015. Incident: Wildfires and Mudslides. Incident Period: 08/09/2015 through 09/10/2015. Effective Date: 10/20/2015. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/21/2015. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/20/2016.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of South Carolina (FEMA-4241-DR), dated 10/05/2015. Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 10/01/2015 and continuing. Effective Date: 10/20/2015. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/04/2015. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/05/2016.

In this document, the Commission amends language in its rules to reflect that regulatory fees must be paid electronically, and can no longer be paid by check or money order. Electronic payments are not only cost-effective, they are also efficient and can provide an electronic ``paper trail''. As a result, in an effort to improve efficiency, the Commission discontinued the practice of paying regulatory fees with a check or money order.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of South Carolina (FEMA-4241-DR), dated 10/15/2015. Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 10/01/2015 and continuing. Effective Date: 10/20/2015. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/14/2015. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/14/2016.

PHMSA is issuing an interim final rule to prohibit passengers and crewmembers from carrying battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices (e.g., e-cigarettes, e-cigs, e-cigars, e-pipes, e- hookahs, personal vaporizers, electronic nicotine delivery systems) in checked baggage and prohibit passengers and crewmembers from charging the devices and/or batteries on board the aircraft. These devices may continue to be carried in carry-on baggage. This action is consistent with a similar action taken by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that incorporated this restriction into the 2015- 2016 Edition of the ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air by way of an addendum and is necessary to address an immediate safety risk. This interim final rule does not impact the existing rules on the transport of lithium batteries or other portable electronic devices that are transported for personal use in a passenger's checked or carry-on baggage. Because the actions taken in this interim final rule address a public safety risk, PHMSA finds that good cause exists to amend the regulations without advance notice and opportunity for public comment. For the reasons described below, public notice is impracticable, unnecessary, and contrary to the public interest. PHMSA encourages persons to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments containing relevant information, data, or views. We will consider all comments received on or before the closing date for comments. We will consider late filed comments to the extent practicable. This interim final rule may be amended based on comments received.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires each State Implementation Plan (SIP) to contain adequate provisions prohibiting emissions that will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. On June 28, 2010, the State of Idaho made a submittal to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address these requirements. The EPA is proposing to approve the submittal as meeting the requirement that each SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions that will contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) in any other state.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to add Montenegro and New Zealand as newly designated countries under the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement.

DoD has adopted as final, with changes, an interim rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, as amended by the NDAA for FY 2013. This final rule allows DoD to consider the impact of supply chain risk in specified types of procurements related to national security systems.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fiberglas-Technik Rudolf Lindner GmbH & Co. KG Models G103 TWIN ASTIR, G103 TWIN II, and G103A TWIN II ACRO gliders. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a broken bell-crank installed in the air brake control system. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to amend the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) regulation to expand eligibility to apply for coverage under the Program. This rule expands the definition of ``qualified relative'' to include opposite-sex domestic partners of Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees, annuitants, members of the uniformed services, and retired members of the uniformed services. In addition, this rule provides that adult children of domestic partners will be considered one of the types of individuals comprising the statutory term ``qualified relative'' who may apply for FLTCIP coverage.

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

The Secretary amends the cash management regulations and other sections of the Student Assistance General Provisions regulations issued under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA). These final regulations are intended to ensure that students have convenient access to their title IV, HEA program funds, do not incur unreasonable and uncommon financial account fees on their title IV funds, and are not led to believe they must open a particular financial account to receive their Federal student aid. In addition, the final regulations update other provisions in the cash management regulations and otherwise amend the Student Assistance General Provisions. The final regulations also clarify how previously passed coursework is treated for title IV eligibility purposes and streamline the requirements for converting clock hours to credit hours.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is amending its regulations that govern market-based rate authorizations for wholesale sales of electric energy, capacity, and ancillary services by public utilities pursuant to the Federal Power Act. This order represents another step in the Commission's efforts to modify, clarify and streamline certain aspects of its market-based rate program. The Commission is eliminating or refining certain existing filing requirements for market-based rate sellers as well as providing clarification regarding several issues. The specific components of this rule, in conjunction with other regulatory activities, are designed to ensure that the market-based rates charged by public utilities are just and reasonable.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing a draft environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for public comment related to a request to amend Renewed Facility Operating License No. DPR-59, including the general licensed Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation, issued to Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (ENO, ``the licensee''), for operation of the James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant, (hereinafter ``JAFNPP'' or ``the facility''), located in Oswego County, New York. The requested amendment would permit licensee security personnel to use certain firearms and ammunition feeding devices not previously permitted, notwithstanding State, local, and certain Federal firearms laws or regulations that otherwise prohibit such actions.