2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may approve petitions for H-2A and H-2B nonimmigrant status only for nationals of countries \1\ that the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has designated by notice published in the Federal Register. That notice must be renewed each year. This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is identifying 84 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A program and 83 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2B program for the coming year.

In this document, the Commission proposes to amend its rules to modify its current four-year compensation rate plan for Video Relay Service (VRS), adopted in 2013, by adopting a limited-duration compensation rate freeze applicable to VRS providers with 500,000 or fewer monthly minutes, and solicits comment on whether to adopt a number of service quality measures that could enhance the functional equivalence of VRS.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is correcting a notice that was published in the Federal Register (FR) on October 26, 2015, regarding the submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of a request to renew an existing collection of information entitled, ``Physical Protection of Category 1 and Category 2 Quantities of Radioactive Material.'' This action is necessary to correct information about the number of respondents to this information collection.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is clarifying the compliance date that we provided for certain food establishments subject to a final rule that published in the Federal Register of September 17, 2015. Among other things, that final rule amended our regulation for current good manufacturing practice in manufacturing, packing, or holding human food to modernize it, and to add requirements for domestic and foreign facilities that are required to register under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) to establish and implement hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls for human food. We are taking this action in response to requests for clarification of the compliance date for facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold grade ``A'' milk or milk products and that are regulated under the National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) system.

This document contains proposed amendments to claims procedure regulations for plans providing disability benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The amendments would revise and strengthen the current rules primarily by adopting certain of the new procedural protections and safeguards made applicable to group health plans by the Affordable Care Act. If adopted as final, the proposed regulation would affect plan administrators and participants and beneficiaries of plans providing disability benefits, and others who assist in the provision of these benefits, such as third-party benefits administrators and other service providers that provide benefits to participants and beneficiaries of these plans.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is proposing to establish requirements concerning ``gluten-free'' labeling for foods that are fermented or hydrolyzed or that contain fermented or hydrolyzed ingredients. These additional requirements for the ``gluten- free'' labeling rule are needed to help ensure that individuals with celiac disease are not misled and receive truthful and accurate information with respect to fermented or hydrolyzed foods labeled as ``gluten-free.'' There is uncertainty in interpreting the results of current gluten test methods for fermented and hydrolyzed foods on a quantitative basis that equates the test results in terms of intact gluten. Thus, we propose to evaluate compliance of such fermented and hydrolyzed foods that bear a ``gluten-free'' claim with the gluten-free labeling rule based on records that are made and kept by the manufacturer of the food bearing the ``gluten-free'' claim and made available to us for inspection and copying. The records would need to provide adequate assurance that the food is ``gluten-free'' in compliance with the gluten-free food labeling final rule before fermentation or hydrolysis. In addition, the proposed rule would require the manufacturer of fermented or hydrolyzed foods bearing the ``gluten-free'' claim to document that it has adequately evaluated the potential for gluten cross-contact and, if identified, that the manufacturer has implemented measures to prevent the introduction of gluten into the food during the manufacturing process. Likewise, manufacturers of foods that contain fermented or hydrolyzed ingredients and bear the ``gluten-free'' claim would be required to make and keep records that demonstrate with adequate assurance that the fermented or hydrolyzed ingredients are ``gluten-free'' in compliance with the gluten-free food labeling final rule. Finally, the proposed rule would state that we would evaluate compliance of distilled foods by verifying the absence of protein using scientifically valid analytical methods that can reliably detect the presence of protein or protein fragments in the distilled food.

On May 8, 2015, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), published a final rule entitled ``Hazardous Materials: Enhanced Tank Car Standards and Operational Controls for High-Hazard Flammable Trains,'' which adopted requirements designed to reduce the consequences and, in some instances, reduce the probability of accidents involving trains transporting large quantities of Class 3 flammable liquids. The Hazardous Materials Regulations provide a person the opportunity to appeal a PHMSA action, including a final rule. PHMSA received six appeals regarding the final rule, one of which was withdrawn. This document responds to the five remaining appeals submitted by the Dangerous Goods Advisory Council (DGAC), American Chemistry Council (ACC), Association of American Railroads (AAR), American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), and jointly the Umatilla, Yakama, Warm Springs, and Nez Perce tribes (Columbia River Treaty Tribes) and the Quinault Indian Nation (Northwest Treaty Tribes).

This document contains the changes to the regulations governing the administration of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act of 2000, as amended (EEOICPA or Act), being proposed by the Department of Labor (Department or DOL). Part B of the Act provides uniform lump-sum payments and medical benefits to covered employees and, where applicable, to survivors of such employees, of the Department of Energy (DOE), its predecessor agencies and certain of its vendors, contractors and subcontractors. Part B of the Act also provides smaller uniform lump-sum payments and medical benefits to individuals found eligible by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for benefits under section 5 of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) and, where applicable, to their survivors. Part E of the Act provides variable lump-sum payments (based on a worker's permanent impairment and/or qualifying calendar years of established wage-loss) and medical benefits for covered DOE contractor employees and, where applicable, provides variable lump-sum payments to survivors of such employees (based on a worker's death due to a covered illness and any qualifying calendar years of established wage-loss). Part E of the Act also provides these same payments and benefits to uranium miners, millers and ore transporters covered by section 5 of RECA and, where applicable, to survivors of such employees. The Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP) administers the adjudication of claims and the payment of benefits under EEOICPA, with National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimating the amounts of radiation received by employees alleged to have sustained cancer as a result of such exposure and establishing guidelines to be followed by OWCP in determining whether such cancers are at least as likely as not related to employment. Both DOE and DOJ are responsible for notifying potential claimants and for submitting evidence necessary for OWCP's adjudication of claims under EEOICPA.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gives notice that the City of New York (the City), through its Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as the ``Responsible Entity,'' as that term is defined by 24 CFR 58.2(a)(7)(i), and as the Lead Agency in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will evaluate the environmental and social impacts of alternatives that are being proposed to improve coastal and social resiliency by installing an integrated flood protection system on the East Side of Southern Manhattan between Montgomery Street on the south and East 23rd Street on the north (with an alternative that extends to East 25th Street). Such measures would be designed to address the impacts of coastal flooding on the quality of the human environment due to both storm hazards and sea level rise. The City, through OMB, is the Grantee of Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds that have been appropriated under the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 (Pub. L. 113-2, approved January 29, 2013) related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas resulting from a major disaster that was declared pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1974 (Stafford Act) in calendar years 2011, 2012, and 2013. This project includes funds that were awarded as the ``BIG U'' as part of HUD's Rebuild by Design competition. The proposed EIS will address the environmental review requirements of NEPA, the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) (6 NYCRR Part 617), and the New York City Environmental Quality Review (CEQR). This Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS is therefore, being published in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508 and HUD regulations found at 24 CFR part 58 and is announcing that a public scoping process on the EIS is commencing.

In response to a request from Mid Continent Steel & Wire, Inc. (Petitioner), the Department of Commerce (the Department) is initiating a changed circumstances review of the antidumping duty order on certain steel nails from Malaysia.

The Department of Commerce (the Department) and the International Trade Commission (the ITC) have determined that revocation of the antidumping duty (AD) orders on carbazole violet pigment (CVP-23) from the People's Republic of China (PRC) and India would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping and material injury to an industry in the United States. The Department and the ITC have also determined that revocation of the countervailing duty (CVD) order on CVP-23 from India would likely lead to continuation or recurrence of net countervailable subsidies and material injury to an industry in the United States. Therefore, the Department is publishing a notice of continuation for these AD and CVD orders.

The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is no cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and any present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Hudson Museum has completed an inventory of human remains, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and present-day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains should submit a written request to the Hudson Museum, University of Maine. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, has determined that the cultural items listed in this notice meet the definition of unassociated funerary objects. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to claim these cultural items should submit a written request to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. If no additional claimants come forward, transfer of control of the cultural items to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

The Neville Public Museum of Brown County has completed an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects, in consultation with the appropriate Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations, and has determined that there is a cultural affiliation between the human remains and associated funerary objects and present- day Indian tribes or Native Hawaiian organizations. Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request to the Neville Public Museum of Brown County. If no additional requestors come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the lineal descendants, Indian tribes, or Native Hawaiian organizations stated in this notice may proceed.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hereby provides notice that the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) will host a two (2) public teleconference meetings on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time and Tuesday, December 15, 2015, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Items to be discussed by NEJAC over these coming meetings include respectively: U.S. Housing and Urban Development Final Rule on Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing and Assessment Tool; and Chemical Plant Safety and Community Revitalization: 20 Years of the Brownfields Program. There will be an opportunity for the public to comment on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, December 15, 2015 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Members of the public are encouraged to provide comments relevant to the topics of the meeting. For additional information about registering to attend the meeting or to provide public comment, please see ``REGISTRATION'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within a 2000-ft radius of an ordnance detonation area. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the unexploded ordnance detonation. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of requests to modify permits issued to conduct activities regulated and permits issued under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of a requested permit modification and permit issued.

The National Endowment for the Humanities will hold six meetings of the Humanities Panel, a federal advisory committee, during December, 2015. The purpose of the meetings is for panel review, discussion, evaluation, and recommendation of applications for financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of the Air Force announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.