November 16, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice announces that FHWA has received and reviewed an application from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) requesting participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This Program allows for FHWA to assign, and States to assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and all or part of FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to one or more Federal highway projects within the State. The FHWA has determined the application to be complete and developed a draft MOU with UDOT outlining how the State would implement the program with FHWA oversight. The FHWA invites the public to comment on UDOT's request, including its application and the proposed MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation, and other activities.

Effective with the publication of this Notice in the Federal Register, agencies will be able to utilize the updated standardized Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR) format for both interim and final progress reporting.

This notice announces that FHWA has received and reviewed a renewal package from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) requesting renewed participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Program). This Program allows for FHWA to assign, and States to assume, responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and all or part of FHWA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any Federal environmental law with respect to one or more Federal highway projects within the State. The FHWA has determined the renewal package to be complete, and developed a draft renewal MOU with Caltrans outlining how the State will implement the program with FHWA oversight. The public is invited to comment on Caltrans' request, including its renewal package and the proposed renewal MOU, which includes the proposed assignments and assumptions of environmental review, consultation and other activities.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone in the West Duwamish Waterway in Seattle, Washington for scheduled drydock movements at Vigor Industrial. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public and workers involved in the drydock movements. The safety zone would prohibit any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone when a notice of enforcement is issued, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a Designated Representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

This document corrects typographical errors that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register on September 16, 2016 entitled ``Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Emergency Preparedness Requirements for Medicare and Medicaid Participating Providers and Suppliers.''

The U.S. Department of Commerce issued an amended Export Trade Certificate of Review to CPEC on November 1, 2016.

NMFS announces its intent to issue exempted fishing permits (EFPs), scientific research permits (SRPs), display permits, letters of acknowledgment (LOAs), shark research fishery permits, and chartering permits for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in 2017. EFPs and related permits would authorize collection of a limited number of tunas, swordfish, billfishes, and sharks (collectively known as HMS) from Federal waters in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico for the purposes of scientific data collection, bycatch research, public display, and to evaluate the efficacy of environmental clean-up efforts, among other things. LOAs acknowledge that scientific research activity aboard a scientific research vessel is being conducted. Chartering permits allow the owner of a U.S. fishing vessel to fish under a chartering arrangement, which is a contract or agreement between a U.S. vessel owner and a foreign entity by which the control, use, or services of a vessel are secured for a period of time for fishing for Atlantic HMS on the high seas or in the Exclusive Economic Zone of other nations. Generally, EFPs and related permits would be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2017, unless otherwise specified, subject to the terms and conditions of individual permits.

In accordance with regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as amended, notification is hereby given that a Letter of Authorization (LOA) has been issued to the City of Seattle's Department of Transportation (SDOT) for the take of eight species of marine mammals incidental to pile driving activities associated with the Elliot Bay Seawall Project (EBSP).

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information, and to allow a second opportunity for public comment on the notice. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding the burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including any of the following subjects: (1) The necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.