2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) proposes this rule to implement the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 (31 U.S.C. 3801 et seq.), by establishing administrative procedures for imposing civil penalties and assessments against persons who make false, fictitious, or fraudulent claims or written statements to FHFA in the context of its contracting or employment activities, where the amount of money or the value of property or services involved or requested from FHFA is $150,000 or less.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of ammonium acetate (CAS No. 631-61-8) when used as an inert ingredient (buffering agent) limited to 15% in pesticide formulations applied to pre-harvested crops. Exponent Inc., 1150 Connecticut Ave., Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20036 on behalf of the Gowan Company LLC., 370 South Main Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of ammonium acetate.

This document contains proposed regulations that would require annual country-by-country reporting by United States persons (U.S. persons) that are the ultimate parent entity of a multinational enterprise (MNE) group. These proposed regulations affect U.S. persons that are the ultimate parent entity of an MNE group that has annual revenue for the preceding annual accounting period of $850,000,000 or more. This document invites comments from the public on all aspects of the proposed rules and provides the opportunity for the public to request a public hearing.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') is amending its system safeguards rules for designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and swap data repositories, by enhancing and clarifying existing provisions relating to system safeguards risk analysis and oversight and cybersecurity testing, and adding new provisions concerning certain aspects of cybersecurity testing. The Commission is clarifying the existing system safeguards rules for all designated contract markets, swap execution facilities, and swap data repositories by specifying and defining the types of cybersecurity testing essential to fulfilling system safeguards testing obligations, including vulnerability testing, penetration testing, controls testing, security incident response plan testing, and enterprise technology risk assessment. The Commission is also clarifying rule provisions respecting the categories of risk analysis and oversight that statutorily-required programs of system safeguards-related risk analysis and oversight must address; system safeguards-related books and records obligations; the scope of system safeguards testing; internal reporting and review of testing results; and remediation of vulnerabilities and deficiencies. The new provisions concerning certain aspects of cybersecurity testing, applicable to covered designated markets (as defined) and all swap data repositories, include minimum frequency requirements for conducting the essential types of cybersecurity testing, and requirements for performance of certain tests by independent contractors. In this release, the Commission is also issuing an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting public comment concerning whether the minimum testing frequency and independent contractor testing requirements should be applied, via a future Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, to covered swap execution facilities (to be defined).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the discovery of corroded circlips in fuel vent protectors (FVP) having a certain part number. This proposed AD would require an inspection to determine the part number and serial number of the FVP, and replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corroded circlips. Corroded circlips could lead to failure of the circlips and consequent movement of the FVP, resulting in a reduction of the flame protector capability of the FVP cartridge, which could result in damage to the airplane in case of lightning impact or fire on the ground.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), withdraw the proposed rule to reclassify the arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This withdrawal is based on our conclusion that the types of threats to the arroyo toad remain the same as at the time of listing and are ongoing, and new threats have been identified. Some conservation efforts are ongoing in most populations to help manage and reduce impacts to arroyo toads from many ongoing threats; however, the species has not yet responded to an extent that would allow a change in listing status. The intent of the reclassification criteria in the recovery plan (Service 1999) has not been met. We have therefore determined that reclassification of this species is not appropriate at this time.

This action removes jet route J-477 in the northwest United States. The FAA is taking this action to reflect and accommodate the decommissioning of the Medicine Hat VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) in Alberta, Canada.

In this final rule, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) reaffirms that the currently prescribed test procedure, with certain amendments adopted in this rulemaking, must be used when measuring the energy efficiency of certain categories of small, large, and very large air-cooled commercial package air conditioners and heating equipment. The final rule, in addition to satisfying the agency's obligation to periodically review its test procedures for covered equipment, also clarifies specific certification, compliance, and enforcement provisions related to this equipment. The final rule limits the incorporation by reference of the industry test procedure ANSI/AHRI Standard 340/360-2007, ``2007 Standard for Performance Rating of Commercial and Industrial Unitary Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment,'' to certain sections and addenda; clarifies indoor airflow tolerance and adjustment specifications when meeting other rating conditions; clarifies requirements for condenser head pressure controls; clarifies units of measurement for airflow; establishes a tolerance on part-load rating points and specifies the ambient temperatures used for the part-load rating points; and defines the term, ``integrated energy efficiency ratio.''

We are proposing Rule 13q-1 and an amendment to Form SD to implement Section 1504 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act relating to disclosure of payments by resource extraction issuers. Rule 13q-1 was initially adopted by the Commission on August 22, 2012, but it was subsequently vacated by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Section 1504 of the Dodd- Frank Act added Section 13(q) to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which directs the Commission to issue rules requiring resource extraction issuers to include in an annual report information relating to any payment made by the issuer, a subsidiary of the issuer, or an entity under the control of the issuer, to a foreign government or the Federal Government for the purpose of the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals. Section 13(q) requires a resource extraction issuer to provide information about the type and total amount of such payments made for each project related to the commercial development of oil, natural gas, or minerals, and the type and total amount of payments made to each government. In addition, Section 13(q) requires a resource extraction issuer to provide information about those payments in an interactive data format.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. The NPRM proposed to require replacing certain pitot probes on the captain, first officer, and standby sides with certain new pitot probes. The NPRM was prompted by reports of airspeed indication discrepancies while flying at high altitudes in inclement weather. This action revises the NPRM by reducing the proposed compliance time for replacing certain pitot probes based on a risk assessment due to additional reports of airspeed indication discrepancies while flying at high altitudes in inclement weather. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) to prevent airspeed indication discrepancies during inclement weather, which, depending on the prevailing altitude, could lead to unknown accumulation of ice crystals and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane. 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.

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) is seeking comment from the public regarding the United States (U.S.) Standards for Rough Rice, Brown Rice for Processing, and Milled Rice under the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946 (AMA). To ensure that standards and official grading practices remain relevant, GIPSA invites interested parties to comment on whether the current rice standards and grading practices need to be changed.

This action updates the using agency information for restricted areas R-2932, R-2933, R-2934 and R-2935; Cape Canaveral, FL. This is an administrative change to reflect the current organization tasked with using agency responsibilities for the restricted areas. It does not affect the boundaries, designated altitudes, time of designation or activities conducted within the restricted areas.

Through this interim rule, the Coast Guard is providing administrative changes to the existing reporting requirements under the Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) applicable to barges loaded with certain dangerous cargoes on the inland rivers in the Eighth District area of responsibility. The current stay of reporting requirements under the RNA is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2015. This interim rule limits the reporting requirements in that rule for an interim period while also requesting comments before proposing or finalizing any long term or permanent revisions to the existing reporting requirements.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound (LIS) Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. This temporary final rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters. Entry into, transit through, mooring or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by COTP Sector LIS.

NMFS announces that the States of North Carolina and Maine and the Commonwealth of Virginia are transferring portions of their 2015 commercial summer flounder quotas to the State of Connecticut. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provision. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial quota for each state involved.

The Securities and Exchange Commission published in the Federal Register of November 16, 2015, the final rule, Regulation Crowdfunding, under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to implement the requirements of Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012. The effective date for subpart U, which adds Form Funding Portal, was inadvertently omitted in the DATES section of the Federal Register. This correction adds the effective date for subpart U, Form Funding Portal.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its medical regulations that govern reimbursement of emergency treatment provided by non-VA medical care providers. VA is clarifying its regulations insofar as it involves the reimbursement of medications prescribed or provided to the veteran during the episode of non-VA emergency treatment.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's EAS Test Reporting System (ETRS). This notice is consistent with the Emergency Alert System (EAS) Sixth Report and Order, FCC 15-60, which stated that the Commission would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of those rules.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is proposing to amend the performance standard for sunlamp products and ultraviolet (UV) lamps intended for use in these products. This standard was last amended in 1985. The current amendments seek to improve consumer safety by requiring more effective communication regarding the risks posed by these products. They also would reduce risks to consumers by updating technical requirements to reflect current science, and by adopting and incorporating by reference certain elements from the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) International Standard 60335-2-27, Ed. 5.0: 2009-12.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of a supplemental new animal drug application (NADA) filed by Pharmgate LLC for the use of a Type A medicated article containing bacitracin methylenedisalicylate to manufacture Type B and Type C medicated feeds for chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, and feedlot cattle. This supplemental approval reflects FDA's effectiveness conclusions that relied on the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council Drug Efficacy Study Group's evaluation of the effectiveness of this drug as well indications for use not subject to this review.

The FDIC is proposing to amend its regulations requiring insured State nonmember banks, or subsidiaries of such banks, that act as transfer agents for qualifying securities under section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ('34 Act) to register with the FDIC. First, the proposed amendments would require insured State savings associations and subsidiaries of such State savings associations that act as transfer agents for qualifying securities to register with the FDIC, similar to the registration requirements applicable to insured State nonmember banks and subsidiaries of such banks. Second, the proposed amendments would revise the definition of qualifying securities to reflect statutory changes to the '34 Act made by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act). The proposed amendments are consistent with the FDIC's continuing review of its regulations under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996.