2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 5,301 - 5,350 of 31,152
Revision of the Duty To Disclose Information in Patent Applications and Reexamination Proceedings
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or PTO) is proposing revisions to the materiality standard for the duty to disclose information in patent applications and reexamination proceedings (duty of disclosure) in light of a 2011 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (Federal Circuit). The Office previously issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on July 21, 2011, and due to the passage of time since the comment period closed in 2011, the Office considers it appropriate to seek additional comments from our stakeholders before issuing a final rulemaking. In the current notice of proposed rulemaking, the Office is seeking public comments on the rules of practice, as revised in response to the comments received from our stakeholders.
State of Kentucky Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II Program; Primacy Approval
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Underground Injection Control Class II (UIC) Program for primacy. The EPA determined that the state's program is consistent with the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) at Section 1425 to prevent underground injection activities that endanger underground sources of drinking water. The agency's approval allows the state to implement and enforce state regulations for UIC Class II injection wells located within the state. The Commonwealth's authority excludes the regulation of injection well Classes I, III, IV, V and VI and all wells on Indian lands, as required by rule under the SDWA.
Commonwealth of Kentucky Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II Program; Primacy Approval
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the Commonwealth of Kentucky Underground Injection Control (UIC) Class II Program for primacy. The EPA determined that the state's program is consistent with the provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) at section 1425 to prevent underground injection activities that endanger underground sources of drinking water. The agency's approval allows the state to implement and enforce state regulations for UIC Class II injection wells only located within the state. The Commonwealth's authority excludes the regulation of injection well Classes I, III, IV, V and VI and all wells on Indian lands, as required by rule under the SDWA. The agency requests public comment on this proposed rule and supporting documentation. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, the agency published EPA's approval of the state's program as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If the agency receives no adverse comment, EPA will not take further action on this proposed rule.
Agency Forms Submitted for OMB Review, Request for Comments
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens. The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collections; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to the RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if the RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of the publication date. 1. Title and purpose of information collection: Vocational Report; OMB 3220-0141. Section 2 of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides for payment of disability annuities to qualified employees and widow(ers). The establishment of permanent disability for work in the applicant's ``regular occupation'' or for work in any regular employment is prescribed in 20 CFR 220.12 and 220.13 respectively. The RRB utilizes Form G-251, Vocational Report, to obtain an applicant's work history. This information is used by the RRB to determine the effect of a disability on an applicant's ability to work. Form G-251 is designed for use with the RRB's disability benefit application forms and is provided to all applicants for employee disability annuities and to those applicants for a widow(er)'s disability annuity who indicate that they have been employed at some time. Completion is required to obtain or retain a benefit. One response is requested of each respondent. Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (81 FR 17511 on August 29, 2016) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.
North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area, Tennessee Lands Unsuitable for Mining Final Petition Evaluation Document and Environmental Impact Statement OSM-EIS-37
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) announces that the final Petition Evaluation Document and Environmental Impact Statement (PED/EIS) for the North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area Petition to Find Certain Lands Unsuitable for Surface Coal Mining Operations is available for public review and comment.
Definitions; Cost Standards and Procedures; Purchasing and Property Management
The Legal Services Corporation (LSC or Corporation) is issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking to request comment on the Corporation's proposed revisions to its Definitions and Cost Standards and Procedures rules and the creation of a new part from LSC's Property Acquisition and Management Manual (PAMM).
Federal Property Suitable as Facilities To Assist the Homeless
This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for use to assist the homeless.
Energy Labeling Rule
The Federal Trade Commission is correcting a final rule published in the Federal Register of September 15, 2016 (81 FR 63634). This document corrects provisions in the final rule related to ceiling fan labeling requirements.
Freedom of Information Regulations
This rule amends the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS's) Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations. The regulations have been revised in order to incorporate changes made to the FOIA by the Electronic FOIA Act of 1996 (E-FOIA Act), the Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007 (OPEN Government Act), and the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 (FOIA Improvement Act). Additionally, the regulations have been updated to reflect changes to the organization, to make the FOIA process easier for the public to navigate, to update HHS's fee schedule, and to make provisions clearer.
Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands; Minimum Property Standards for Flood Hazard Exposure; Building to the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard
This proposed rule would revise HUD's regulations governing floodplain management to require, as part of the decision making process established to ensure compliance with Executive orders on Floodplain Management and Federal Flood Risk Management, that a HUD assisted or financed (including mortgage insurance) project involving new construction or substantial improvement that is situated in an area subject to floods be elevated or floodproofed between 2 and 3 feet above the base flood elevation as determined by best available information. The proposed rule would also revise HUD's Minimum Property Standards for one-to-four unit housing under HUD mortgage insurance and low-rent public housing programs. Building to the proposed standards will, consistent with the Executive orders, increase resiliency to flooding, reduce the risk of flood loss, minimize the impact of floods on human safety, health, and welfare, and promote sound, sustainable, long-term planning informed by a more accurate evaluation of flood risk that takes into account possible sea level rise and increased development associated with population growth. This document also proposes to revise a categorical exclusion available when HUD performs the environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and related Federal laws by making it consistent with changes to a similar categorical exclusion that is available to HUD grantees or other responsible entities when they perform these environmental reviews. This change will make the review standard identical regardless of whether HUD or a grantee is performing the review.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries Off West Coast States; Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery; 2017-2018 Biennial Specifications and Management Measures; Amendment 27
This proposed rule would establish the 2017-2018 harvest specifications and management measures for groundfish taken in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (PCGFMP). This proposed rule would also revise the management measures that are intended to keep the total catch of each groundfish species or species complex within the harvest specifications. This action also includes regulations to implement Amendment 27 to the PCGFMP, which adds deacon rockfish to the PCGFMP, reclassifies big skate as an actively managed stock, add a new inseason management process for commercial and recreational in California, and makes several clarifications.
Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Miscellaneous Refrigeration Products
The Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (``EPCA''), as amended, established the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles. Based on provisions in EPCA that enable the Secretary of Energy to classify additional types of consumer products as covered products, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') classified miscellaneous refrigeration products (``MREFs'') as covered consumer products under EPCA. In determining whether to set standards for products, DOE must evaluate whether new standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would save a significant amount of energy. In this proposed rule, DOE proposes new energy conservation standards for MREFs identical to those set forth in a direct final rule published elsewhere in this Federal Register. If DOE receives adverse comment and determines that such comment may provide a reasonable basis for withdrawal, DOE will publish a notice withdrawing the final rule and will proceed with this proposed rule.
Court of Indian Offenses Serving the Wind River Indian Reservation
This notice accompanies the interim final rule establishing a Court of Indian Offenses (also known as CFR Court) for the Wind River Indian Reservation. It waives the application of certain sections of the regulations for the Court of Indian Offenses serving the Wind River Indian Reservation to allow BIA to establish a CFR court when necessary. It will also allow the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs to appoint a magistrate without the need for confirmation by the tribal governing body.
Addition of the Wind River Indian Reservation to the List of Courts of Indian Offenses
This interim final rule establishes a Court of Indian Offenses (also known as CFR Court) for the Wind River Indian Reservation until the agency can promulgate a final rule that considers comments received.
Office of Federal High-Performance Green Buildings; Green Building Advisory Committee; Notification of Upcoming Public Advisory Committee Meeting
Notice of this meeting is being provided according to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 10(a)(2). This notice provides the agenda and schedule for the November 17, 2016 meeting of the Green Building Advisory Committee (the Committee). The meeting is open to the public and the site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Interested individuals must register to attend as instructed below under Supplementary Information.
Agency Requests for Renewal of a Previously Approved Information Collection(s): America's Marine Highway Program
The Maritime Administration (MARAD) invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The information to be collected will be used by the Maritime Administration to evaluate and review applications being submitted for project designation. The review will assess factors such as project scope, impact, public benefit, environmental effect, offsetting costs, cost to the government (if any), the likelihood of long-term self-supporting operations, and its relationship with Marine Highway Routes once designated. We are required to publish this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13.
Importation of Hass Avocados From Colombia
We are proposing to amend the fruits and vegetables regulations to allow the importation of Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental United States. As a condition of entry, Hass avocados from Colombia would have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that would include requirements for importation in commercial consignments; registration and monitoring of places of production and packinghouses; pest-free places of production; grove sanitation, monitoring, and pest control practices; lot identification; and inspection for quarantine pests by the Colombian national plant protection organization. Additionally, avocados from Colombia would be required to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate with an additional declaration stating that the avocados have been produced in accordance with the proposed requirements. This action would allow for the importation of Hass avocados from Colombia into the continental United States while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of plant pests.
Importation of Orchids in Growing Media From Taiwan
We are proposing to amend the regulations governing the importation of plants for planting to add orchid plants of the genus Dendrobium from Taiwan to the list of plants that may be imported into the United States in an approved growing medium, subject to specified growing, inspection, and certification requirements. We are taking this action in response to a request from the Taiwanese Government and after determining that the plants could be imported, under certain conditions, without resulting in the introduction into, or the dissemination within, the United States of a plant pest or noxious weed.
Subsidy Programs Provided by Countries Exporting Softwood Lumber and Softwood Lumber Products to the United States; Request for Comment
The Department of Commerce (Department) seeks public comment on any subsidies, including stumpage subsidies, provided by certain countries exporting softwood lumber or softwood lumber products to the United States during the period January 1, 2016 through June 30, 2016.
North Carolina Disaster Number NC-00081
This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of North Carolina (FEMA-4285-DR), dated 10/10/2016. Incident: Hurricane Matthew. Incident Period: 10/04/2016 and continuing.
Indemnification Payments; Correction and Extension of Comment Period
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is correcting the regulatory text, and extending the comment period for, the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on September 20, 2016, regarding Golden Parachute and Indemnification Payments. FHFA is taking this action to correct and to extend the comment period to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments on the proposed rule.
Phosphor Copper From the Republic of Korea: Postponement of Final Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value
The Department of Commerce (the Department) is postponing the deadline for issuing the final determination in the less-than-fair- value (LTFV) investigation of phosphor copper from the Republic of Korea (Korea) and is extending the provisional measures from a four- month period to a period of not more than six months.
Cost-of-Living Increase and Other Determinations for 2017
Under title II of the Social Security Act (Act), there will be a 0.3 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits effective December 2016. In addition, the national average wage index for 2015 is $48,098.63. The cost-of-living increase and national average wage index affect other program parameters as described below.
Certain Cased Pencils From the People's Republic of China: Final Results of Antidumping Duty New Shipper Review; 2014-2015
On June 10, 2016, the Department of Commerce (the Department) published the preliminary results of the new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on certain cased pencils from the People's Republic of China. This review covers one company, Wah Yuen Stationery Co., Ltd. and its affiliated producer, Shandong Wah Yuen Stationery Co., Ltd. (collectively, Wah Yuen), for the period of review (POR) December 1, 2014, through May 31, 2015. We invited interested parties to comment on the Preliminary Results. Based upon our analysis of the comments received, we made changes to the margin calculations for the final results. As a result of these changes, we find that the exporter Wah Yuen made a sale of subject merchandise at below normal value during the POR.
Performance Review Board Members
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is publishing the names of the Performance Review Board Members who are reviewing performance for Fiscal Year 2016.
Certain New Chemicals; Receipt and Status Information for June 2016
EPA is required under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to publish in the Federal Register a notice of receipt of a Premanufacture notice (PMN); an application for a test marketing exemption (TME), both pending and/or expired; and a periodic status report on any new chemicals under EPA review and the receipt of notices of commencement (NOC) to manufacture those chemicals. This document covers the period from June 22, 2016 to June 30, 2016.
Notice of Tentative Approval and Opportunity for Public Comment and Public Hearing for Public Water System Supervision Program Revision for Maryland
Notice is hereby given that the State of Maryland is revising its approved Public Water System Supervision Program. Maryland has adopted drinking water regulations for the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection By-Products Rule (Stage2). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that Maryland's Stage 2 Rule meets all minimum federal requirements, and that it is no less stringent than the corresponding federal regulation. Therefore, EPA has tentatively decided to approve the State program revisions.
Office of Nuclear Energy; Request for Information on Approaches Involving Private Initiatives for Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy, released on its Web site a Request for Information (RFI) on Private Initiatives (PIs) for Consolidated Interim Storage Facilities. The purpose of the RFI is to gather input on the role of PIs for private consolidated interim storage facilities (ISF) services as part of an integrated waste management system.
Partial Approval and Partial Disapproval of Attainment Plan for the Idaho Portion of the Logan, Utah/Idaho PM2.5
Franklin County, Idaho is a rural and sparsely populated county adjacent to Cache County, Utah. In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated Cache County, along with Franklin County, as part of the multi-state Logan, Utah-Idaho fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (Logan UT-ID). On December 14, 2012, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) submitted a State Implementation Plan (2012 SIP submittal) to address attainment planning requirements for the Idaho portion of the Logan UT-ID nonattainment area. On December 24, 2014, the IDEQ submitted a supplement to the 2012 SIP submission that included additional analysis (2014 amendment). The EPA has evaluated the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 amendment to determine whether the submissions meet the applicable Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements. Based on this evaluation, the EPA is proposing to approve certain provisions and disapprove other provisions of the 2012 SIP submittal and 2014 amendment.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Sacramento River, Sacramento, CA
The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Tower Drawbridge across the Sacramento River, mile 59.0, at Sacramento, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the community to participate in the Run Because You Can 5K event. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed- to-navigation position during the deviation period.
Revisions to Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (NASA Case 2015-N030)
NASA is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations, titled Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards to revise the requirements related to information contained in a Federal award for commercial firms with no cost sharing requirement and to add new or modify existing terms and conditions related to indirect cost charges and access to research results.
Boundary Adjustment at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park
The boundary of Hopewell Culture National Historical Park is adjusted to include an adjacent nonfederal parcel of land containing 4.03 acres. Upon completion of this adjustment, fee simple interest in the land will be acquired by exchange for a federal parcel within the park. The federal parcel will be conveyed subject to restrictions to ensure continued compatible use of the property within the park. Both parcels are located in Ross County, Ohio.
National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program; List of Petitions Received
HRSA is publishing this notice of petitions received under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (the Program), as required by Section 2112(b)(2) of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended. While the Secretary of HHS is named as the respondent in all proceedings brought by the filing of petitions for compensation under the Program, the United States Court of Federal Claims is charged by statute with responsibility for considering and acting upon the petitions.
Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement, Fire Island National Seashore, New York
The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of the Draft Fire Island Wilderness Breach Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft Breach Plan/EIS) for Fire Island National Seashore, New York. The Draft Breach Plan/EIS presents and analyzes the potential consequences of three alternatives that will guide the management of the breach that occurred in the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness during Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012.
Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps: Availability of Provisional Analysis Results
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has completed a provisional analysis to translate the residential central air conditioner and heat pump energy conservation standard levels recommended by the CAC/HP ECS Working Groupexpressed in terms of the test procedure at the time of the Working Group negotiationsinto levels consistent with the DOE test procedure proposed in the August 2016 test procedure SNOPR. At this time, DOE is not proposing any energy conservation standard for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps. However, it is publishing these analysis results and the underlining assumptions and calculations that might ultimately support a proposed standard. DOE encourages stakeholders to provide any additional data or information that may improve the analysis.
Kansas Disaster #KS-00098
This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Kansas (FEMA-4287- DR), dated 10/20/2016. Incident: Severe Storms and Flooding. Incident Period: 09/02/2016 through 09/12/2016.
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Groundfish Plan Team will meet in November in Seattle, WA.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) is scheduling a public meeting of its Monkfish Committee to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). Recommendations from this group will be brought to the full Council for formal consideration and action, if appropriate.
Preparations for the 32nd Session of the UN Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS)
This notice is to advise interested persons that on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, OSHA will conduct a public meeting to discuss proposals in preparation for the 32nd session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (UNSCEGHS) to be held December 7 through December 9, 2016 in Geneva, Switzerland. OSHA, along with the U.S. Interagency GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals) Coordinating Group, plans to consider the comments and information gathered at this public meeting when developing the U.S. Government positions for the UNSCEGHS meeting. OSHA also will give an update on the Regulatory Cooperation Council (RCC). Also, on Tuesday, November 15, 2016, the Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) will conduct a public meeting (See Docket No. PHMSA-2016-0114 Notice No. 16-19) to discuss proposals in preparation for the 50th session of the United Nations Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods (UNSCE TDG) to be held November 27 to December 6, 2016, in Geneva, Switzerland. During this meeting, PHMSA is also requesting comments relative to potential new work items that may be considered for inclusion in its international agenda. PHMSA will also provide an update on recent actions to enhance transparency and stakeholder interaction through improvements to the international standards portion of its Web site.
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council, NEFMC) will hold a three-day meeting to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
New England Fishery Management Council; Public Meeting; Cancellation
The New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has cancelled the public meeting of its Herring Advisory Panel that was scheduled for Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at 10:30 a.m.
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