August 29, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On June 28, 2016, the FAA published a final rule entitled Operation and Certification of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (81 FR 42063) which will result in new information collection requirements. This rule updates the FAA's list of OMB control numbers to display the control numbers associated with the approved information collection activities in the final rule.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of several initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

The Federal Maritime Commission (Commission) is amending its user fees to more accurately align fees with the costs associated with each service provided by the Commission. Specifically, the Commission is increasing fees for: Filing complaints and certain petitions; records searches, document copying, and admissions to practice; paper filing of ocean transportation intermediary (OTI) applications; filing applications for special permission; and filing agreements. The Commission is also lowering fees for: Reviewing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests; revising clerical errors on service contracts; revising clerical errors on non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) service arrangements; and Commission services to passenger vessel operators (PVOs). In addition, the Commission is repealing four existing fees for: Adding interested parties to a specific docket mailing list; the Regulated Persons Index database; database reports on Effective Carrier Agreements; and filing petitions for rulemaking, and adding a new fee for requests for expedited review of an agreement filing.

This document proposes to amend the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations regarding the requirement to file a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) certification when importing into the customs territory of the United States chemicals in bulk form or as part of mixtures and articles containing a chemical or mixture. The proposed regulations include an electronic option for filing TSCA certifications, consistent with the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006. This document also proposes to clarify and add certain definitions, and to eliminate the paper-based blanket certification process. The document was prepared in consultation with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency with primary responsibility for implementing TSCA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of New Hampshire. The revisions consist of single source orders that establish reasonably available control technology for three sources of volatile organic compounds. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

This document amends the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan guaranty regulations to correct an oversight in the delegation of authority to exercise the powers and functions of the Secretary with respect to the guaranty or insurance of loans and the rights and liabilities arising therefrom. This document also incorporates into regulatory form delegatory authority already granted certain VA loan guaranty officials to administer and manage properties acquired by VA.

This final rule amends the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) test procedures for medium base compact fluorescent lamps (MBCFLs) and adopts test procedures for new metrics for all CFLs including hybrid CFLs and CFLs with bases other than medium screw base. In this final rule, DOE replaces references to ENERGY STAR[supreg] testing requirements with references to the latest versions of the relevant industry standard test methods referenced by the ENERGY STAR testing requirements, with certain modifications. In addition, DOE adopts new test procedures to support the ongoing energy conservation standards rulemaking for general service lamps (GSLs), the recently revised final test procedure and energy conservation standards for ceiling fan light kits (CFLKs), and the labeling requirements specified by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The test procedures will also support the ENERGY STAR program requirements for lamps and luminaires. Specifically, this final rule adopts test methods for new metrics including color rendering index (CRI), correlated color temperature (CCT), power factor, and start time. DOE also adopts test procedures for additional CFL categories, including non-integrated CFLs and integrated CFLs that are not MBCFLs. This final rule also revises the sampling plan for performance metrics and incorporates methods to measure standby mode power.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is withdrawing approval of eight new animal drug applications (NADAs) at the sponsor's request because these products are no longer manufactured or marketed.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a new subpart that updates the Emission Guidelines and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (Emission Guidelines). The EPA reviewed the landfills Emission Guidelines based on changes in the landfills industry since the Emission Guidelines were promulgated in 1996. The EPA's review of the Emission Guidelines for municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills considered landfills that accepted waste after November 8, 1987, and commenced construction, reconstruction, or modification on or before July 17, 2014. Based on this review, the EPA has determined that it is appropriate to revise the Emission Guidelines to reflect changes to the population of landfills and the results of an analysis of the timing and methods for reducing emissions. This action will achieve additional reductions in emissions of landfill gas and its components, including methane, by lowering the emissions threshold at which a landfill must install controls. This action also incorporates new data and information received in response to an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking and a proposed rulemaking and addresses other regulatory issues including surface emissions monitoring, wellhead monitoring, and the definition of landfill gas treatment system. The revised Emission Guidelines, once implemented through revised state plans or a revised federal plan, will reduce emissions of landfill gas, which contains both nonmethane organic compounds and methane. Landfills are a significant source of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas pollutant. These avoided emissions will improve air quality and reduce the potential for public health and welfare effects associated with exposure to landfill gas emissions.