2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides a notice of public hearing on proposed regulations that provide guidance regarding when a foreign insurance company's income is excluded from the definition of passive income under section 1297(b)(2)(B).

This rule implements a recommendation from the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Committee (Committee) for a decrease in the assessment rate established for the 2015-2016 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.10 to $0.05 per hundredweight of onions handled under the marketing order (order). The Committee locally administers the order and is comprised of producers and handlers of onions operating within the area of production. Assessments upon onion handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period begins July 1 and ends June 30. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

This proposal invites comments on prescribing late payment and interest charges on past due assessments under the Paper and Paper- Based Packaging Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order). The Order is administered by the Paper and Packaging Board (Board) with oversight by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under the Order, assessments are collected from manufacturers and importers and used for projects to promote paper and paper-based packaging. This proposal would implement authority contained in the Order that allows the Board to collect late payment and interest charges on past due assessments. Two additional changes are proposed to reflect current practices and update the Order and regulations. This action would contribute to effective administration of the program and was unanimously recommended by the Board.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is proposing to amend the definition and standard of identity for the ``roaster'' or ``roasting chicken'' poultry class to better reflect the characteristics of ``roaster'' chickens in the market today. ``Roasters'' or ``roasting chickens'' are described in terms of the age and ready-to-cook (RTC) carcass weight of the bird. Genetic changes and management techniques have continued to reduce the grow-out period and increased the RTC weight for this poultry class. Therefore, FSIS is proposing to amend the ``roaster'' definition to remove the 8-week minimum age criterion and increase the RTC carcass weight from 5 pounds to 5.5 pounds. This action is being taken in response to a petition submitted by the National Chicken Council.

The Coast Guard is amending and updating its special local regulations relating to recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events that take place in the Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility (AOR). This final rule informs the public of regularly scheduled marine parades, regattas, and other recurring events that require additional safety measures through establishing a special local regulation. Through this final rule, the list of recurring marine events requiring special local regulation is updated with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in the Eighth Coast Guard District AOR. When these special local regulations are enforced, certain restrictions are placed on marine traffic in specified areas. Additionally, this one rulemaking project reduces administrative costs involved in producing a separate rule for each individual recurring event, and serves to provide notice of the known recurring events requiring a special local regulation throughout the year.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving elements of State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions from the State of Colorado to demonstrate the State meets infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (Act, CAA) for the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) promulgated for ozone on March 12, 2008; lead (Pb) on October 15, 2008; and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on January 22, 2010. Section 110(a) of the CAA requires that each state submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace at Van Nuys Airport, Van Nuys, CA. After reviewing the airspace, the FAA found the need to increase the Class D airspace and Class E surface areas for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for arriving and departing aircraft at the airport. The geographic coordinates of the satellite airports also would be adjusted for Class D airspace and Class E surface area airspace as well as noting a name change for Burbank- Glendale-Pasadena Airport.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic contamination of the power control unit (PCU) electro-hydraulic servo valves (EHSVs) used in the flight control system; this contamination caused a restriction in the EHSVs resulting in the display of status messages from the engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS). This proposed AD would require installing markers to limit the hydraulic system fluid used to a specific brand, doing hydraulic fluid tests of the hydraulic systems, replacing hydraulic system fluid if necessary, and doing all applicable related investigative and corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to prevent the failure of flight control hydraulic PCUs, which could lead to reduced controllability of the airplane.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of methane sulfonic acid (CAS Reg. No.75- 75-2) when used as an inert ingredient (acidifying agent) in pesticide formulations applied to animals at a maximum concentration not to exceed 3% by weight and when used as an inert ingredient in antimicrobial pesticide formulations applied to food-contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy-processing equipment, and food- processing equipment and utensils at a concentration not to exceed 5,000 parts per million (ppm). Lewis & Harrison, on behalf of BASF Corporation, 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 methane sulfonic acid.

This action finalizes the residual risk and technology review conducted for the Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production source categories regulated under national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP). In addition, this action finalizes an 8-year review of the current new source performance standards (NSPS) for five source categories. We are also taking final action addressing Clean Air Act (CAA) provisions related to emission standards for hazardous air pollutants, review and revision of emission standards, and work practice standards. The final amendments to the Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing NESHAP include: Numeric emission limits for previously unregulated mercury (Hg) and total fluoride emissions from calciners; work practice standards for hydrogen fluoride (HF) emissions from previously unregulated gypsum dewatering stacks and cooling ponds; clarifications to the applicability and monitoring requirements to accommodate process equipment and technology changes; removal of the exemptions for startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM); adoption of work practice standards for periods of startup and shutdown; and revised recordkeeping and reporting requirements for periods of SSM. The final amendments to the Phosphate Fertilizer Production NESHAP include: Clarifications to the applicability and monitoring requirements to accommodate process equipment and technology changes; removal of the exemptions for SSM; adoption of work practice standards for periods of startup and shutdown; and revised recordkeeping and reporting requirements for periods of SSM. The revised NESHAP for Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing facilities will mitigate future increases of Hg emissions from phosphate rock calciners by requiring pollution prevention measures. Further, based on the 8-year review of the current NSPS for these source categories, the EPA determined that no revisions to the numeric emission limits in those rules are warranted.

The Coast Guard is establishing a special local regulation for all waters of the Tennessee River, beginning at mile marker 647.0 and ending at mile marker 648.0 on September 4-5, 2015. This special regulation is necessary to provide safety for the racers that will be participating in the ``Racing on the Tennessee.'' Entry into this area will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or designated representative.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Walnut Board (Board) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2015-16 and subsequent marketing years from $0.0189 to $0.0379 per kernelweight pound of assessable walnuts. The Board locally administers the marketing order and is comprised of growers and handlers of walnuts operating within the area of production. Assessments upon walnut handlers are used by the Board to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The marketing year begins September 1 and ends August 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

On June 23, 2015, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published a notice of public meeting (NOPM) in the Federal Register announcing the availability of the framework document regarding energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts. DOE also held a public meeting presenting the framework document on July 17, 2015. The comment period was scheduled to end August 7, 2015. After receiving a request for an additional two weeks to comment, DOE has decided to reopen the comment period for submitting comments and data in response to the framework document regarding energy conservation standards for fluorescent lamp ballasts. The comment period is extended to September 2, 2015.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the esophageal thermal regulation device into class II (special controls). The special controls that will apply to the device are identified in this order and will be part of the codified language for the esophageal thermal regulation device's classification. The Agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.

This action proposes special conditions for the Cessna Model 680A airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design features side-facing seats equipped with airbag systems. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

This action proposes special conditions for Gulfstream Model GVII-G500 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with side-stick controllers, instead of conventional-control wheel-and-column design, for pitch and roll control. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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.

These special conditions are issued for Gulfstream Model GVII- G500 airplanes. These airplanes have a novel or unusual design feature associated with control-surface awareness provided by the electronic flight-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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Missouri and received by EPA on December 17, 2013, pertaining to Missouri's regulation ``Controlling Emissions During Episodes of High Air Pollution Potential.'' This regulation specifies conditions that establish air pollution alerts and emergency alert levels, and associated procedures and emission reduction objectives statewide. This action revises the SIP by amending an existing table in the regulation, clarifying requirements of the regulation related to emission reduction plans and other provisions, and makes administrative and format changes, all consistent with Federal regulations.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the Holtec International HI- STORM 100 Cask System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to add Revision 1 to Amendment No. 8 (effective May 2, 2012, as corrected on November 16, 2012), to the Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1014. Amendment No. 8, Revision 1, changes burnup/ cooling time limits for thimble plug devices, changes Metamic-HT material testing requirements, changes Metamic-HT material minimum guaranteed values, and updates fuel definitions to allow boiling water reactor fuel affected by certain corrosion mechanisms with specific guidelines to be classified as undamaged fuel.

This proposed rule would establish opening dates and adjust quotas for the 2016 fishing season for the Atlantic commercial shark fisheries. Quotas would be adjusted as allowable based on any over- and/or underharvests experienced during 2015 and previous fishing seasons. In addition, NMFS proposes season openings based on adaptive management measures to provide, to the extent practicable, fishing opportunities for commercial shark fishermen in all regions and areas. The proposed measures could affect fishing opportunities for commercial shark fishermen in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

We are adopting amendments to Item 402 of Regulation S-K to implement Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 953(b) directs the Commission to amend Item 402 of Regulation S-K to require disclosure of the median of the annual total compensation of all employees of a registrant (excluding the chief executive officer), the annual total compensation of that registrant's chief executive officer, and the ratio of the median of the annual total compensation of all employees to the annual total compensation of the chief executive officer. The disclosure is required in any annual report, proxy or information statement, or registration statement that requires executive compensation disclosure pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K. The disclosure requirement does not apply to emerging growth companies, smaller reporting companies, or foreign private issuers.

This document primarily amends OSHA regulations to remove the detailed descriptions of State plan coverage, purely historical data, and other unnecessarily codified information. In addition, this document moves most of the general provisions of subpart A of part 1952 into part 1902, where the general regulations on State plan criteria are found. It also amends several other OSHA regulations to delete references to part 1952, which will no longer apply. The purpose of these revisions is to eliminate the unnecessary codification of material in the Code of Federal Regulations and thus save the time and funds currently expended in publicizing State plan revisions. The streamlining of OSHA State plan regulations does not change the areas of coverage or any other substantive components of any State plan. It also does not affect the rights and responsibilities of the State plans, or any employers or employees, except to eliminate the burden on State plan designees to keep paper copies of approved State plans and plan supplements in an office, and to submit multiple copies of proposed State plan documents to OSHA. This document also contains a request for comments for an Information Collection Request (ICR) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), which covers all collection of information requirements in OSHA State plan regulations.

This action expands the lateral boundary of restricted area R- 3804B, Fort Polk, LA, and raises the restricted area ceiling to, but not including 10,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). The expanded restricted area airspace will contain new live fire ranges to support mission requirements of the U.S. Army in order to fully exploit the capabilities of modern weapons systems and complex training scenarios that replicate conditions encountered during military deployments today. This action also amends time of designation for R-3804A and R- 3804B to better reflect when the restricted areas are in use by the U.S. Army and when the airspace is available to nonparticipants. Lastly, this action makes administrative editorial corrections to the R-3804A, R-3804B, and R-3804C legal descriptions.

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

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing revisions to its policy statement on reporting abnormal occurrences (AO) to Congress. The proposed revisions would clarify and restructure the criteria used by the NRC and Agreement States for determining whether to consider an incident or event as an AO. The proposed revisions to the policy statement would ensure consistency with current NRC guidance and regulations. The NRC is requesting public comments on the proposed revision to the policy statement at this time.