December 15, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

National Forest System Land Management Planning
Document Number: 2016-30191
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Forest Service
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is amending regulations pertaining to the National Forest System Land Management Planning. This final rule amends the 2012 rule and is intended to clarify the Department's direction for plan amendments, including direction for amending land management plans developed under the 1982 rule.
Revised Inspection of Records and Related Fees
Document Number: 2016-30183
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation
The Surface Transportation Board (Board or STB) is revising its regulations governing ``Inspection of Records'' and ``Fees'' in accordance with changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) made by the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (FOIA Improvement Act). Pursuant to the FOIA Improvement Act, the Board is extending the deadline for administrative appeals, adding information on dispute resolution services, and amending the way fees are charged in certain circumstances.
Partial Approval, Partial Disapproval of California Air Plan Revisions, Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District
Document Number: 2016-30179
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a partial approval and partial disapproval of revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD or District) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern the District's demonstration regarding Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) requirements for the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). We are proposing action on local SIP revisions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; 2016 Commercial Accountability Measure and Closure for South Atlantic Gray Triggerfish; July through December Season
Document Number: 2016-30137
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS implements accountability measures for commercial gray triggerfish in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic. NMFS projects commercial landings for gray triggerfish will reach the commercial annual catch limit (ACL) (commercial quota) for the period July through December by December 16, 2016. Therefore, NMFS is closing the commercial sector for gray triggerfish in the South Atlantic EEZ on December 16, 2016. This closure is necessary to protect the gray triggerfish resource.
Group Registration of Contributions to Periodicals
Document Number: 2016-30077
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Library of Congress, Agencies and Commissions, Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office is extending the deadline for the submission of written comments in response to its December 1, 2016 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding group registration of contributions to periodicals.
Supplementary Registration
Document Number: 2016-30076
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Library of Congress, Agencies and Commissions, Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office is extending the deadline for the submission of written comments in response to its December 1, 2016 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding supplementary registration.
Group Registration of Photographs
Document Number: 2016-30071
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Library of Congress, Agencies and Commissions, Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office is extending the deadline for the submission of written comments in response to its December 1, 2016 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking regarding group registration of photographs.
Addition of Certain Persons to the Entity List
Document Number: 2016-30061
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security
This final rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding seven persons to the Entity List. The seven persons who are added to the Entity List have been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. These seven persons will be listed on the Entity List under the destination of Pakistan.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; Interstate Transport of Fine Particle and Ozone Air Pollution
Document Number: 2016-30052
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is proposing to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP), the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES), the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC). These SIP submissions address provisions of the Clean Air Act that require each state to submit a SIP to address emissions that may adversely affect another state's air quality through interstate transport. The EPA is proposing that all four States have adequate provisions to prohibit in-state emissions activities from significantly contributing to nonattainment, or interfering with the maintenance, of the 1997 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in other states, and that Rhode Island and Vermont have adequate provisions to prohibit in-state emissions activities from significantly contributing to nonattainment, or interfering with maintenance, of the 1997 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in other states. The intended effect of this action is to propose approval of the SIP revisions submitted by Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
United States Navy Restricted Area, SUPSHIP USN, Gulf Coast, Pascagoula, Mississippi
Document Number: 2016-30015
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Defense, Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is establishing a restricted area around the Huntington Ingalls Incorporated/Ingalls Shipbuilding and Dry Dock (HII) facility located in Pascagoula Mississippi, because of the sensitive nature of the on-going and potential future activities at that facility. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, Gulf Coast, located in Pascagoula, Mississippi is responsible for United States Navy shipbuilding activities at the HII facility, USA located in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The restricted area will be used for on-going construction when vessels are placed in the water. The restricted area is essential to protect persons and property from the dangers associated with the operation and safeguard the area from accidents, sabotage and other subversive acts.
Loan Guarantees for Projects That Employ Innovative Technologies
Document Number: 2016-30006
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Energy
The Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) publishes a final rule to amend the existing regulations for the loan guarantee program authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Title XVII or the Act). Section 1703 of Title XVII (section 1703) authorizes the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to make loan guarantees for projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester air pollutants or anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases. Such projects must also employ new or significantly improved technologies as compared to commercial technologies in service in the United States at the time the guarantee is issued. The two principal goals of section 1703 are to encourage commercial use in the United States of new or significantly improved energy-related technologies and to achieve substantial environmental benefits. Section 1703 also identifies ten categories of technologies and projects that are potentially eligible for loan guarantees. Commercial use of these technologies is expected to help sustain and promote economic growth, produce a more stable and secure energy supply and economy for the United States, and improve the environment. As a result of experience gained implementing the loan guarantee program authorized by section 1703, and information received from program participants, including applicants, borrowers, sponsors, and lenders, as well as various energy industry groups, DOE finalizes amendments to the existing regulations to provide increased clarity and transparency, reduce paperwork, and provide a more workable interpretation of certain statutory provisions in light of DOE's experience with operation of the Title XVII program.
Freedom of Information Act Policies and Procedures
Document Number: 2016-29985
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Office of the United States Trade Representative
This rule amends the Office of the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) regulations under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The final rule is a comprehensive update of the prior USTR implementing rule and describes in plain language how to make a FOIA request to USTR and how the FOIA Office processes requests for records. The FOIA rule appears in subpart B to part 2004.
World Trade Center Health Program; Amendments to Definitions, Appeals, and Other Requirements
Document Number: 2016-29957
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
In 2011 and 2012, the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), promulgated regulations designed to govern the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program (Program), including the processes by which eligible responders and survivors may apply for enrollment in the Program, obtain health monitoring and treatment for WTC-related health conditions, and appeal enrollment and treatment decisions, as well as a process to add new conditions to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions (List). After using the regulations for a number of years, the Administrator of the WTC Health Program identified potential improvements to certain existing provisions, including, but not limited to, appeals of enrollment, certification, and treatment decisions, as well as the procedures for the addition of health conditions for WTC Health Program coverage. He also identified the need to add new regulatory provisions, including, but not limited to, standards for the disenrollment of a WTC Health Program member and decertification of a certified WTC-related health condition. A notice of proposed rulemaking was published on August 17, 2016; this action addresses public comments received on that proposed rulemaking, as well as three interim final rules promulgated since 2011, and finalizes the proposed rule and three interim final rules.
Enhancing Retailer Standards in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Document Number: 2016-29837
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS or the Agency) is updating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or the Program) regulations pertaining to the eligibility criteria for retail food stores to participate in the Program by finalizing a proposed rule that was published on February 17, 2016. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (the 2014 Farm Bill) amended the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 (the Act) to increase the requirement that certain SNAP authorized retail food stores have available on a continuous basis at least three varieties of items in each of four staple food categories, to a mandatory minimum of seven varieties. The 2014 Farm Bill also amended the Act to increase, for certain SNAP authorized retail food stores, the minimum number of staple food categories in which perishable foods are required from two to three. This final rule codifies these mandatory requirements. In addition, FNS is codifying several other discretionary changes to the existing eligibility criteria. The first is to address depth of stock by establishing a minimum of three stocking units per staple food variety. The rule also amends the definitions of ``staple food,'' ``retail food store,'' and ``ineligible firms'', and defines the term ``firm'' as discussed in the Supplementary Information. Finally, this rule allows FNS to consider the need for food access when making a SNAP authorization determination for applicant firms that fail to meet certain authorization requirements and reaffirms FNS's authority to disclose to the public certain information about retailers who have violated SNAP rules.
Maritime Radio Equipment and Related Matters
Document Number: 2016-29612
Type: Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Federal Communications Commission, Agencies and Commissions
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) addresses a number of important issues regarding updating rules and requirements for technologies used to locate and rescue distressed ships and individuals in distress at sea or on land to provide better and more accurate data to rescue personnel. The Commission also addresses issues regarding radar equipment, the use of portable marine Very High Frequency (VHF) transmitters by persons on shore; permitting VHF digital small message service (VDSMS); and allowing assignment or transfer of control of ship station licenses. The Commission is amending its rules to permit the maritime community to make use of the most advanced and reliable communications technologies available for the alerting of search and rescue authorities when a vessel or individual is in distress, and to further the Commission's goal of ensuring that the spectrum allocated for emergency communications is used effectively and efficiently.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing the Black-Capped Vireo From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife
Document Number: 2016-29547
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2016-12-15
Agency: Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior
Under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act), we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to remove the black-capped vireo (Vireo atricapilla) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (List) due to recovery (``delist''). This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to this species have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species has recovered and no longer meets the definition of endangered or threatened under the Act. This document also serves as the 12-month finding on a petition to reclassify this species from endangered to threatened on the List.
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