2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action reopens the comment period for an NPRM that was published on October 17, 2016. In that document, the FAA proposed to revise its rules for pilot compartment view to allow ground tests to demonstrate compliance for night operations. The FAA is extending the comment period closing date to allow time to adequately analyze the draft advisory circulars (ACs) associated with the proposed rule and prepare comments.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 912 F2, 912 F3, 912 F4, 912 S2, 912 S3, 912 S4, 914 F2, 914 F3, and 914 F4 reciprocating engines. This AD requires replacement of any affected carburetor float with a float that is eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape in the manufacturing of the affected floats. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the carburetor float, failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Manti-Ephraim Airport, Manti, UT, to accommodate new Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for standard instrument approach and departure procedures. The establishment of Class E airspace is necessary to support the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to deny several petitions requesting that EPA initiate a rulemaking process to reconsider or change its regulations that identify refiners and importers of gasoline and diesel fuel as the entities responsible for complying with the annual percentage standards adopted under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. EPA is providing an opportunity for the public to comment on the petitions we have received and on our proposed denial of the requests to initiate rulemaking.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing to amend its regulations pertaining to the production of wine and in particular in regard to the permissible treatments that may be applied to wine and to juice from which wine is made. These proposed amendments are in response to requests from wine industry members to authorize certain wine treating materials and processes not currently authorized by TTB regulations. TTB invites comments on the proposed regulatory changes described in this document, as well as on other wine treatment issues for which regulatory amendments are not proposed in this document.

This final rule revises the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) Program allocation formula authorized by section 302 of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996, as amended (NAHASDA). Through the IHBG Program, HUD provides federal housing assistance for Indian tribes in a manner that recognizes the right of Indian self-determination and tribal self-government. HUD negotiated this final rule with active tribal participation and using the procedures of the Negotiated Rulemaking Act of 1990. The regulatory changes reflect the consensus decisions reached by HUD and the tribal representatives on ways to improve and clarify the current regulations governing the IHBG Program formula.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, and 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that wear and possible leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the No. 3 hydraulic system reservoir could occur and cause high hydraulic fluid temperature and/or prevent the system from reaching normal operating pressure. This AD requires repetitive operational checks for wear and leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the reservoir of the No. 3 hydraulic system, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-12- 04, which applies to certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. AD 2008-12-04 currently requires various repetitive inspections to detect cracks along the chem-milled steps of the fuselage skin, and to detect missing or loose fasteners in the area of the preventive modification or repairs, replacement of the time- limited repair with the permanent repair if applicable, and applicable corrective actions, if necessary, which would end certain repetitive inspections. Since we issued AD 2008-12-04, an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) has indicated that the upper skin panel at the chem-milled step above the lap joint is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD) if the modification was installed after 30,000 total flight cycles. This proposed AD would reduce the post-modification inspection compliance times, limit installation of the preventive modification to airplanes with fewer than 30,000 total flight cycles, and add repetitive inspections for modified airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the upper skin panel at the chem-milled step above the lap joint, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. This AD was prompted by a new revision to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing, and updated analysis. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate updated inspection requirements and life limits that address fatigue cracking of principal structural elements (PSEs). We are issuing this AD to ensure that fatigue cracking of PSEs is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could result in reduced structural integrity of the PSEs and critical components.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau or CFPB) is issuing this final rule to create comprehensive consumer protections for prepaid accounts under Regulation E, which implements the Electronic Fund Transfer Act; Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act; and the official interpretations to those regulations. The final rule modifies general Regulation E requirements to create tailored provisions governing disclosures, limited liability and error resolution, and periodic statements, and adds new requirements regarding the posting of account agreements. Additionally, the final rule regulates overdraft credit features that may be offered in conjunction with prepaid accounts. Subject to certain exceptions, such credit features will be covered under Regulation Z where the credit feature is offered by the prepaid account issuer, its affiliate, or its business partner and credit can be accessed in the course of a transaction conducted with a prepaid card.

GSA is amending the Federal Property Management Regulations (FPMR) to delete repetitive information that has already migrated to the Federal Management Regulation (FMR).

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of endothall in or on multiple commodities which are identified and discussed later in this document. United Phosphorus, Inc. requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve and disapprove elements of State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from the State of Oklahoma for the 2012 Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) and the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) NAAQS. The 2012 PM2.5 submission addresses how the existing SIP provides for implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of this NAAQS (infrastructure SIP or i-SIP). The i-SIP ensures that the Oklahoma SIP is adequate to meet the State's responsibilities under the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA). The majority of the 2010 SO2 submission was addressed in a separate rulemaking, only the visibility component listed in 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) is being addressed in this action. We are proposing to disapprove the visibility component of 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II), often referred to as prong 4. We are also proposing to disapprove the portion of the January 28, 2015 SIP submission from Oklahoma for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) NAAQS only as it addresses Section 110(a)(2)(D)(i)(II) for visibility protection.

PHMSA is publishing this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in response to the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016, which reauthorizes the pipeline safety program and requires a number of reports and mandates. The PIPES Act requires PHMSA to take regulatory actions to establish minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities; to update the minimum safety standards for permanent, small scale liquefied natural gas pipeline facilities; and to publish an ANPRM to address a petition for rulemaking proposing hazardous materials regulations related to the marking of identification numbers on cargo tanks. This ANPRM specifically addresses the PIPES Act requirement applicable to the petition for rulemaking related to the marking of identification numbers on cargo tanks. PHMSA will consider the comments, data, and information received in any future action related to the petition.

In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (``FDIC'') proposes to rescind and remove from the Code of Federal Regulations the subpart entitled ``Consumer Protection in Sales of Insurance'' (``the subpart'') that was included in the regulations transferred to the FDIC from the Office of Thrift Supervision (``OTS'') on July 21, 2011 in connection with the implementation of applicable provisions of title III of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (``Dodd-Frank Act''). The requirements for State savings associations in this subpart are substantively similar to the requirements in the FDIC's part which is also entitled ``Consumer Protection in Sales of Insurance'' (``the part'') and is applicable for all insured depository institutions (``IDIs'') for which the FDIC has been designated the appropriate Federal banking agency. The FDIC proposes to rescind in its entirety the subpart and to modify the scope of the part to include State savings associations and their subsidiaries to conform to and reflect the scope of the FDIC's current supervisory responsibilities as the appropriate Federal banking agency. The FDIC also proposes to define ``FDIC-supervised insured depository institution or institution'' and ``State savings association.'' Finally, the FDIC proposes to transfer an anticoercion and antitying provision from the subpart that is applicable to State savings associations. Upon removal of the subpart, the Consumer Protection in Sales of Insurance, regulations applicable for all IDIs for which the FDIC has been designated the appropriate Federal banking agency will be found in the part.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule that implements statutory changes pertaining to veterans' preference. These changes were made in response to the Hubbard Act, which broadened the category of individuals eligible for veterans' preference; and to implement the VOW (Veterans Opportunity to Work) to Hire Heroes Act of 2011, which requires Federal agencies to treat certain active duty service members as preference eligibles for purposes of an appointment to the competitive service, even though the service members have not been discharged or released from active duty and do not have a Department of Defense (DD) Form 214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. In addition, OPM has updated its regulations to reference existing requirements for the alternative ranking and selection procedure called ``category rating,'' and to add a reference to the end date of Operation Iraqi Freedom, which affected veteran status and preference eligibility. This action aligns OPM's regulations with existing statutes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve in part, and disapprove in part, portions of the April 23, 2013, and December 9, 2015, of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions, submitted by the State of Alabama, through the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), to demonstrate that the State meets certain infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 2010 1-hour nitrogen dioxide (NO2) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The CAA requires that each state adopt and submit a SIP for the implementation, maintenance and enforcement of each NAAQS promulgated by EPA, which is commonly referred to as an ``infrastructure'' SIP. ADEM certified that the Alabama SIP contains provisions that ensure the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS is implemented, enforced, and maintained in Alabama. With the exception of the provisions pertaining to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) permitting, and visibility in other states, for which EPA is proposing no action through this notice, and the provisions respecting state boards, for which EPA is finalizing disapproval, EPA has determined portions of Alabama's infrastructure SIP submissions, provided to EPA on April 23, 2013, and updated on December 9, 2015, satisfy certain required infrastructure elements for the 2010 1-hour NO2 NAAQS.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD or ``the District'') Rule 2449, Control of Oxides of Nitrogen Emissions from Off-Road Diesel Vehicles, as a revision to the SCAQMD portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). SCAQMD Rule 2449 adopts by reference title 13, chapter 9, section 2449.2 of the California Code of Regulations, ``Surplus Off-Road Opt-In for NOX (SOON) Program.'' SCAQMD Rule 2449 requires certain in-use off-road vehicle fleets to meet more stringent requirements in the South Coast area when funding is provided by the District in order to achieve additional reductions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to update a procedure in the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS). The procedure provides the ongoing quality assurance/ quality control (QA/QC) procedures for assessing the acceptability of particulate matter (PM) continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS). The procedure explains the criteria for passing an annual response correlation audit (RCA) and the criteria for passing an annual relative response audit (RRA). The procedure currently contains a requirement that the annual QA/QC test results for affected facilities must fall within the same response range that was used to develop the existing PM CEMS correlation curve. As a result, some facilities are unable to meet the criteria for passing their annual QA/QC test because their emissions are now lower than the range previously set during their correlation testing. We are modifying the procedure to allow facilities to extend their PM CEMS correlation regression line to the lowest PM CEMS response obtained during the annual RCA or RRA, when these PM CEMS responses are less than the lowest response used to develop the existing correlation curve. This change will ensure that facilities that have reduced their emissions since completing their correlation testing will no longer be penalized because their lower emissions fall outside their initial response range. This action also corrects a typographical error in the procedure.

This rule modifies the Commerce Control List (CCL) entries for two types of items: Military aircraft and related items, and military gas turbine engines and related items. The rule adds clarifying text to the descriptions of the types of military aircraft controlled on the CCL. The lists of items that are subject only to the anti-terrorism reason for control are clarified and expanded. This rule, which is being published simultaneously with a rule by the Department of State, is based on a review of Categories VIII and XIX of the United States Munitions List (USML). This rule and the related Department of State rule are part of a plan to review rules published as part of the Export Control Reform Initiative (ECRI). This rule also furthers the retrospective regulatory review directed by the President in Executive Order 13563.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the bushings of the inner and outer forward trusses of both engines. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of delaminated and worn engine mount bushings. The proposed actions are intended to detect delaminated engine mount bushings, which can lead to excessive vibration, cracking, failure of the engine mount front support pins, and loss of helicopter control.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) exempts an amended system of records, NLRB-17, Personnel Security Records, from certain provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, pursuant to sections (k)(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), and (7) of that Act.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model G-1159B airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a review of airplane maintenance records, which revealed that incorrect rudder assemblies were installed on certain airplanes. This proposed AD would require certain inspections, and replacement or modification of the rudder assembly if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting amendments to modernize Rule 147 under the Securities Act of 1933, which provides a safe harbor for compliance with the Section 3(a)(11) exemption from registration for intrastate securities offerings. We are also establishing a new intrastate offering exemption under the Securities Act, designated Rule 147A, which will be similar to amended Rule 147, but will have no restriction on offers and will allow issuers to be incorporated or organized outside of the state in which the intrastate offering is conducted provided certain conditions are met. The amendments to Rule 147 and new Rule 147A are designed to facilitate capital formation, including through offerings relying upon intrastate crowdfunding provisions under state securities laws, while maintaining appropriate investor protections and providing state securities regulators with the flexibility to add additional investor protections they deem appropriate for offerings within their state. We also are adopting amendments to Rule 504 of Regulation D under the Securities Act to facilitate issuers' capital raising efforts and provide additional investor protections. The amendments to Rule 504 will increase the aggregate amount of securities that may be offered and sold in any twelve-month period from $1 million to $5 million and disqualify certain bad actors from participation in Rule 504 offerings. In light of these amendments to Rule 504, we are also repealing Rule 505.