2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of New Hampshire on November 15, 2012. This revision amends New Hampshire's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) programs to make the programs consistent with the federal requirements. EPA is also conditionally approving a commitment from the state to submit revised regulations addressing three elements of EPA's PSD and NNSR programs that were not submitted with the November 15, 2012 submittal. EPA is also approving revisions to two definitions related to New Hampshire's permitting programs that were submitted on July 1, 2003. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to revise the hazardous waste generator regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) to improve compliance and thereby enhance protection of human health and the environment. Specifically, EPA proposes to revise certain components of the hazardous waste generator regulatory program; address gaps in the regulations; provide greater flexibility for hazardous waste generators to manage their hazardous waste in a cost-effective and protective manner; reorganize the hazardous waste generator regulations to make them more user-friendly and thus improve their usability by the regulated community; and make technical corrections and conforming changes to address inadvertent errors, remove obsolete references to programs that no longer exist, and improve the readability of the regulations. These proposed changes are both a result of EPA's experience in implementing and evaluating the hazardous waste generator program over the last 30 years, as well as a response to concerns and issues identified by the states and regulated community.

Pursuant to the Federal Power Act, the Commission approves a revised Reliability Standard, PRC-005-4 (Protection System, Automatic Reclosing and Sudden Pressure Relaying Maintenance), developed and submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). In addition, the Commission approves one new definition and four revised definitions referenced in the proposed Reliability Standard, as well as the assigned violation risk factors and violation severity levels, and the associated implementation plan. Consistent with Order No. 758, the proposed Reliability Standard requires applicable entities to test and maintain certain sudden pressure relays as part of a protection system maintenance program.

This rule finalizes the Department of Energy (DOE)'s part of the Federal Awarding Agency Regulatory Implementation of Office of Management and Budget's Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards joint interim rule which was issued December 19, 2014 and makes several technical corrections to DOE's portion of the interim final rule. DOE is not making new policy with either the interim final rule or this final rule. All regulatory language included here is consistent with either the policies in the Uniform Guidance or DOE's existing policies and practices.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations Implementing NEPA (CEQ regulations), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is issuing a final rule to revise its NEPA implementing regulations to provide categorical exclusions for certain actions related to substantial equivalence (SE) reports, SE exemption requests, and tobacco product applications, and the rescission (order withdrawing an order) or suspension of orders regarding the marketing of tobacco products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act). FDA is also amending its NEPA implementing regulations to include tobacco products, where appropriate, in light of its new authority under the Tobacco Control Act.

Consistent with Executive Order 13563, Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, and in particular its emphasis on burden- reduction and on retrospective analysis of existing rules, a Request for Comments was published on November 28, 2014, to solicit input on State highway safety plan development and reporting requirements, which specifically refers to the development of the State Highway Safety Plan (HSP) and Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP), and the reporting requirements of the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and HSP. Thirty-eight unique letters were received and this document provides a summary of the input from these letters. Given the lack of support for any significant changes in the highway safety plan development and reporting requirements, neither the FHWA nor NHTSA will change the HSP or SHSP development requirements nor change the HSIP or HSP reporting requirements at this time. However, the FHWA and NHTSA will consider the valuable information offered in the responses to inform the agencies' decisions on their respective highway safety programs.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the September 20, 2011, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, provided by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC) for inclusion into the South Carolina SIP. This final action pertains to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) infrastructure requirements for the 2008 Lead national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. SC DHEC certified that the South Carolina SIP contains provisions to ensure the 2008 Lead NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in South Carolina. With the exception of provisions pertaining to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting which EPA has already approved, EPA is taking final action to approve South Carolina's infrastructure SIP submission, provided to EPA on September 20, 2011.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve portions of the October 14, 2011, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, provided by the State of Florida, through the Department of Environmental Protection (FL DEP) for inclusion into the Florida SIP. This final submission pertains to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) infrastructure requirements for the 2008 Lead national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. FL DEP certified that the Florida SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2008 Lead NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Florida. With the exception of provisions pertaining to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting which EPA has already approved, EPA is taking final action to approve Florida's infrastructure submission, provided to EPA on October 14, 2011, as satisfying the required infrastructure elements for the 2008 Lead NAAQS.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-20- 01, for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601- 3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. AD 2014-20-01 currently requires repetitive inspections for any fuel leak in the right-hand landing lights compartment, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. AD 2014-20-01 also provides for an optional replacement of the connector of the fuel boost pump canister of the auxiliary power unit (APU), which terminates the repetitive inspections. Since we issued AD 2014-20-01, we have determined that a terminating action for the repetitive inspections is necessary. This proposed AD would retain the repetitive inspections for any fuel leak in the right-hand landing lights compartment and the related investigative and corrective actions, and would require replacing the connector of the fuel boost pump canister of the APU. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fuel leaks in the right-hand landing lights compartment, which, in combination with the heat generated by the taxi lights and landing lights on the ground reaching the auto-ignition temperature of the fuel, could result in ignition of any fuel or fumes present in the right-hand landing lights compartment.

This action amends the name and geographic coordinates of the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport at Burbank, CA. The Burbank-Glendale- Pasadena Airport has been renamed Bob Hope Airport and geographic coordinates are updated to reflect recent surveys of the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Blake Field Airport, Delta CO, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures developed for the airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at the Newberry VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), Newberry, MI, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Minneapolis Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). This action enhances the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System (NAS). A minor change in the regulatory text is made to align the new Class E airspace with Minneapolis ARTCC's airspace.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50, MYSTERE-FALCON 900, FALCON 900EX, FALCON 2000, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an in-flight lightning strike to the WHELEN anti-collision light located on the top of the vertical fin tip that caused severe damage and induced the loss of some airplane functions. This proposed AD would require modification of the anti- collision light bonding. We are proposing this AD to prevent loss of electrical power and essential functions, and possible reduced control of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Honda Aircraft Company, Model HA-420 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing this final rule to exclude Central Liquidity Facility-related bridge loans (CLF-related bridge loans) from the aggregate unsecured lending cap to one borrower applicable to corporate credit unions (Corporates). Specifically, a CLF-related bridge loan that is exempt from that cap is a bridge loan made by a Corporate to a natural person credit union where the natural person credit union has been approved for a loan by the CLF and is awaiting funding from the CLF. Additionally, this rule excludes CLF- related bridge loans from the calculation of ``net assets'' and ``net risk weighted assets'' for determining minimum capital requirements.

These special conditions are issued for the Cirrus Design Corporation SF50 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the use of an electronic engine control system instead of a traditional mechanical control system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The Federal Maritime Commission proposes to amend its rules of practice and procedure concerning time and service in adjudicative proceedings. These revisions improve consistency across various processes and increase efficiency for parties to proceedings.

We, NMFS, announce 12-month findings and listing determinations on a petition to list the gulf grouper (Mycteroperca jordani) and the island grouper (Mycteroperca fusca) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have completed comprehensive status reviews for these two marine fish species in response to a petition submitted by WildEarth Guardians. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, we have determined that the gulf grouper is currently in danger of extinction throughout its range and, therefore, meets the definition of an endangered species. After reviewing the best scientific and commercial data available, we have also determined that the island grouper is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, but is likely to become so within the foreseeable future. Therefore, we conclude that the island grouper meets the definition of a threatened species. We are soliciting information that may be relevant to inform the final determinations for these two species.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA), as amended, prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including single package vertical air conditioner (SPVAC) and single package vertical heat pump (SPVHP) equipment (collectively referred to as single package vertical units or SPVUs). EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to determine whether more-stringent standards for SPVACs and SPVHPs would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this final rule, DOE is adopting standards equivalent to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)/ Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) Standard 90.1-2013 levels for four SPVU equipment classes, and adopting amended energy conservation standards for two other equipment classes of single package vertical units more stringent than the SPVU standards in ASHRAE Standard 90.1- 2013. DOE has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for this equipment are technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in the significant conservation of energy.

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) is amending its regulations to codify procedures for correcting certain default investment fund errors.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the State of Alabama's March 27, 2015, State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). This SIP revision provides Alabama's state-determined allowance allocations for existing electric generating units (EGUs) in the State for the 2016 control periods and replaces the allowance allocations for the 2016 control periods established by EPA under the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). The CSAPR addresses the ``good neighbor'' provision of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) that requires states to reduce the transport of pollution that significantly affects downwind air quality. In this final action, EPA is approving Alabama's SIP revision, incorporating the state-determined allocations for the 2016 control periods into the SIP, and amending the regulatory text of the CSAPR Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to reflect this approval and inclusion of the state-determined allocations. EPA's allocations of CSAPR trading program allowances for Alabama for control periods in 2017 and beyond remain in place until the State submits and EPA approves state- determined allocations for those control periods through another SIP revision. The CSAPR FIPs for Alabama remain in place until such time as the State decides to replace the FIPs with a SIP revision.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making a technical amendment to the Code of Federal Regulations to restore the inadvertent deletion of the entry for ``Rest of State'' from the table listing California air quality planning area designations for particulate matter of ten microns of less (PM10).

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing a public meeting entitled ``FDA Food Safety Modernization Act: Final Rules to Establish Requirements for Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human and Animal Food.'' The public meeting will provide interested persons an opportunity to discuss the final rules for current good manufacturing practice, hazard analysis, and risk-based preventive controls for human and animal food (the preventive controls final rules) and FDA's comprehensive planning effort for the next phase of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) implementation, which involves putting in place the new public health prevention measures and the risk-based industry oversight framework that is at the core of FSMA. The purpose of the public meeting is to brief stakeholders and interested persons on the key components of the preventive controls final rules, respond to questions, and discuss the next phase of FSMA implementation with respect to human and animal food preventive controls requirements.

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 and catcher vessels using trawl gear to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear, Amendment 80 (A80) catcher processors (C/Ps), American Fisheries Act (AFA) trawl C/Ps, 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.

NMFS announces that the State of Maine is transferring a portion of its 2015 commercial Atlantic bluefish quota to the State of Rhode Island. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.