October 5, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 4314(c)(4), this notice announces the appointment of members of the Legal Division PRB. The purpose of this Board is to review and make recommendations concerning proposed performance appraisals, ratings, bonuses, and other appropriate personnel actions for incumbents of SES positions in the Legal Division.

This document contains corrections to final regulations (TD 9784) that were published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 (81 FR 59849). The final regulations that clarify the definition of real property for purposes of real estate investment trust provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) announces a public meeting of the U.S. Maritime Transportation System National Advisory Committee (MTSNAC) to discuss advice and recommendations for the U.S. Department of Transportation on issues related to the maritime transportation system. The MTSNAC will consider new bylaws, form subcommittees and working groups, and develop work plans and recommendations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of two revisions to the Georgia State Implementation Plan submitted by the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection on July 25, 2014, and November 1, 2015. These revisions modify the definition of ``volatile organic compounds'' (VOC). Specifically, these revisions add two compounds to the list of those excluded from the VOC definition on the basis that these compounds make a negligible contribution to tropospheric ozone formation. This action is being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the Miami tiger beetle (Cicindelidia floridana), a beetle species from Miami-Dade County, Florida. The effect of this regulation will be to add this species to the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to this species.

HUD is issuing this document to supplement its responses to certain insurance industry comments to HUD's proposed rule implementing the Fair Housing Act's (``Act'') discriminatory effects standard. These commenters requested, inter alia, total or partial exemptions or safe harbors from liability under the Act's discriminatory effects standard. After careful reconsideration of the insurance industry comments in accordance with the court's decision in Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCIAA) v. Donovan, HUD has determined that categorical exemptions or safe harbors for insurance practices are unworkable and inconsistent with the broad fair housing objectives and obligations embodied in the Act. HUD continues to believe that the commenters' concerns regarding application of the discriminatory effects standard to insurance practices can and should be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), designate critical habitat for the Kentucky arrow darter (Etheostoma spilotum) under the Endangered Species Act (Act). In total, approximately 398 stream kilometers (skm) (248 stream miles (smi)) fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation.

This document contains final and temporary regulations concerning how liabilities are allocated for purposes of section 707 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) and when certain obligations are recognized for purposes of determining whether a liability is a recourse partnership liability under section 752. These regulations affect partnerships and their partners. The text of these temporary regulations serves as part of the text of proposed regulations (REG- 122855-15) published in the Proposed Rules section in this issue of the Federal Register.

The Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act (STOCK Act) was enacted on April 4, 2012. The Act imposed additional financial disclosure requirements on individuals required to file public financial disclosure statements pursuant to the Ethics in Government Act. Pursuant to section 402(b) of the Ethics in Government Act, the U.S. Office of Government Ethics (OGE) is revising the regulations governing financial disclosure to incorporate the new reporting requirements imposed by the STOCK Act. As a part of the revision, OGE also is modernizing language, making changes to the confidential filing requirements, adding and updating examples, and conforming the language of the regulation more closely to that of the Ethics in Government Act. In addition, OGE is proposing an updated definition of ``widely diversified'' for Excepted Investment Fund purposes that brings the definition in line with the definition of ``diversified'' found in the exemptions to the conflicts of interest law governing personal financial interests.