March 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing three special anchorage areas in the Connecticut River in the vicinity Old Saybrook, CT. This action is necessary to facilitate safe navigation in that area and provide safe and secure anchorages for vessels less than 20 meters in length. This action is intended to increase the safety of life and property in the Connecticut River in the vicinity of Old Saybrook, improve the safety of anchored vessels, and provide for the overall safe and efficient flow of vessel traffic and commerce.

This action announces that on October 26, 2015, EPA Region 10 and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, entered into a Partial Delegation of Administrative Authority agreement to carry out certain day-to-day activities associated with implementation of the Federal Implementation Plan for the Colville Reservation (Colville FIP). A note of this partial delegation is being added to the Colville FIP in the Code of Federal Regulations.

NMFS implements an accountability measure for the commercial longline component for golden tilefish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. Commercial longline landings for golden tilefish are projected to reach the longline component's commercial annual catch limit (ACL) on March 15, 2016. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial longline component for golden tilefish in the South Atlantic EEZ on March 15, 2016, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing year, January 1, 2017. This closure is necessary to protect the golden tilefish resource.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the S165 (North Landing Road) Bridge across the North Landing River, mile 20.2, at Chesapeake, VA. This deviation is necessary to perform emergency bridge repairs. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

We are extending the comment period for our proposed rule that would amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations concerning the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of marine mammals in captivity. This action will allow interested persons additional time to prepare and submit comments.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season apportionment of the 2016 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to trawl catcher vessels in the BSAI.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) TSIO-550-K, TSIOF-550-K, TSIO- 550-C, TSIOF-550-D, and TSIO-550-N reciprocating engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) resulting in injuries and significant airplane damage. This proposed AD would require replacing the oil cooler cross fitting assembly. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the oil cooler cross fitting and engine, IFSD and loss of the airplane.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2006-18- 14 that applies to all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 650-15 and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines. AD 2006-18-14 requires calculating and re-establishing the cyclic life of stage 1 high- pressure turbine (HPT) disks, part number (P/N) JR32013 and P/N JR33838, and stage 1 low-pressure turbine (LPT) disk, P/N JR32318A. This proposed AD would require re-calculating the cyclic life, and would impose a reduced cyclic life, of stage 1 HPT disk, P/N JR32013. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of stage 1 HPT disks, P/N JR32013 and P/N JR33838, and stage 1 LPT disk, P/N JR32318A, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dowty Propellers R352/6-123-F/1, R352/6-123-F/2, and R410/6-123-F/35 model propellers. This AD was prompted by reports of dowel hole cracks in the face of the rear hub half. This AD requires installing dowel hole liners as necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of structural integrity of the propeller hub, which could result in damage to the propeller and damage to the airplane.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register of February 19, 2016, amending Class E surface area airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, in the Enid, OK, area to allow additional time for charting. This correction adds the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) language inadvertently removed from the Class E surface area description for Vance AFB, and Woodring Municipal Airport, Enid, OK. Adjustment of the geographic coordinates are also made to the Vance VHF Omnidirectional Range Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) listed in the Class E airspace area designated as an extension to the Class D surface area.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin doors, removing any labels, placards, or markings that are in an incorrect location, and installing placards where they are missing. This proposed AD is prompted by the determination that placards had not been installed according to specifications on newly manufactured helicopters. The proposed actions are intended to provide exit procedures during an emergency.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce Department) hereby revises its debt collection regulations as a result of, and to conform to, an amendment made by the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (DATA Act). Specifically, the law, as amended by the DATA Act, requires Commerce Department to refer to the Secretary of the Treasury all past due, legally enforceable nontax debt that are over 120 days delinquent, including nontax debt administered by a third party acting as an agent for the Federal Government, for purposes of administrative offset. These revised debt collection regulations also provide updated references to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service as the agency within the Department of the Treasury to which Commerce Department refers delinquent debts to reflect a reorganization made by the Department of the Treasury.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the Louisiana black bear (Ursus americanus luteolus) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List). This action is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that this subspecies has recovered and no longer meets the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Our review of the status of this subspecies shows that the threats have been eliminated or reduced, adequate regulatory mechanisms exist, and populations are stable such that the species is not currently, and is not likely to again become, a threatened species within the foreseeable future in all or a significant portion of its range. This rule also removes from the List the American black bear, which is listed within the historical range of the Louisiana black bear due to similarity of appearance, and removes designated critical habitat for the Louisiana black bear. Finally, this rule also announces the availability of a final post-delisting monitoring (PDM) plan for the Louisiana black bear.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Portales Municipal Airport, Clovis, NM. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Portales non-directional radio beacon (NDB), cancellation of NDB approaches at Portales Municipal Airport, and implementation of area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport. This action will also update the geographic coordinates for Portales Municipal Airport to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. This proposal would enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations in the Clovis, NM, airspace area.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, and 500N helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wire routing in the left-hand fuel cell and corrective action, if necessary. This AD also requires installing a warning decal on the left-hand fuel cell access cover. This AD was prompted by accidents resulting from incorrectly positioned fuel pump wiring within the fuel tank interfering with the operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which caused an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit. The actions are intended to detect and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent interference with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency landing.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its F-1 nonimmigrant student visa regulations on optional practical training (OPT) for certain students with degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) from U.S. institutions of higher education. Specifically, the final rule allows such F-1 STEM students who have elected to pursue 12 months of OPT in the United States to extend the OPT period by 24 months (STEM OPT extension). This 24-month extension effectively replaces the 17-month STEM OPT extension previously available to certain STEM students. The rule also improves and increases oversight over STEM OPT extensions by, among other things, requiring the implementation of formal training plans by employers, adding wage and other protections for STEM OPT students and U.S. workers, and allowing extensions only to students with degrees from accredited schools. As with the prior 17-month STEM OPT extension, the rule authorizes STEM OPT extensions only for students employed by employers who participate in E-Verify. The rule also includes the ``Cap-Gap'' relief first introduced in a 2008 DHS regulation for any F- 1 student with a timely filed H-1B petition and request for change of status.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 96-12-12, which applies to certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-300, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. AD 96-12-12 requires a one-time inspection of the bulkhead assembly at fuselage station (FS) 317.75 for cracks and the installation of one of two reinforcement kits determined by whether cracks were found during the inspection. This new AD requires repetitive inspections of the bulkhead assembly at FS 317.75 for cracks, repair of cracks as necessary, and the installation of a reinforcement modification. This AD was prompted by cracks found in the FS 317.75 upper bulkhead. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2016 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.0250 to $0.0300 per 18-pound lug of grapes handled under the marketing order (order). The Committee locally administers the order, and is comprised of producers and handlers of grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California. Assessments upon grape handlers are used by the Committee to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the program. The fiscal period began on January 1 and ends December 31. The assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education proposes priorities and definitions under the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (Fulbright-Hays GPA) Program. The Assistant Secretary may use these priorities and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2016 and later years. We take this action to focus Federal financial assistance on an identified national need. We intend the priorities to address a gap in the types of institutions, faculty, and students that have historically benefitted from international education opportunities.

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for Atlantic migratory group cobia that are not sold (recreational) in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects that recreational landings of Atlantic migratory group cobia will reach the recreational annual catch target (ACT) by June 20, 2016. Therefore, NMFS closes the recreational sector for Atlantic migratory group cobia on June 20, 2016, and it will remain closed for the remainder of the fishing year through December 31, 2016. This closure is necessary to protect the resource of Atlantic migratory group cobia.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all waters of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) from mile 321.4 to mile 321.6. The safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, and infrastructure from potential damage and safety hazards associated with work being completed on new power lines across the river. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP). Deviation from the safety zone may be requested and will be considered on a case-by-case basis as specifically authorized by the COTP or a designated representative.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is updating its regulations to reflect a change of address. CNCS headquarters moved to 250 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20525, effective January 25, 2016.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B, 2B1, 2C, 2C1, 2C2, 2D, 2E, 2S1, and 2S2 turboshaft engines. This AD requires inspection, and, depending on the results, removal of the engine accessory gearbox (AGB). This AD was prompted by a report of an uncommanded in-flight shutdown (IFSD) of an Arriel 2 engine caused by rupture of the 41-tooth gear, which forms part of the bevel gear in the engine AGB. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine AGB, which could lead to in-flight shutdown, damage to the engine, and damage to the aircraft.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve South Coast Air Quality Management District's (SCAQMD or District) Rule 2449, Control of Oxides of Nitrogen Emissions from Off- Road Diesel Vehicles, which adopts by reference title 13, chapter 9, section 2449.2 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), ``Surplus Off-Road Opt-In for NOX (SOON) Program,'' as part of the SCAQMD portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). SCAQMD Rule 2449 requires certain in-use off-road vehicle fleets to meet more stringent requirements in the South Coast area when funding is provided by the District in order to achieve additional reductions of oxides of Nitrogen (NOX). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.