March 13, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this document, the Commission seeks comment on the parameters for the process in determining whether areas are eligible for funding under the Mobility Fund Phase II. The Commission established the framework for the Mobility Fund Phase II in a Report and Orderadopted concurrently with the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (Further Notice)but had remaining questions regarding the process in which entities may challenge the areas eligible for support. Therefore, the Commission anticipates that additional comment will allow it to make more informed decisions on the challenge process, thereby making a more robust, targeted challenge process that efficiently resolves disputes about areas eligible for MF-II support.

This action expands the restricted airspace at Farallon De Medinilla Island, Mariana Islands, by designating a new area, R-7201A, that surrounds the existing R-7201. R-7201A encompasses that airspace between a 3 nautical mile (NM) radius and a 12-NM radius of lat. 16[deg]01'04'' N., long. 146[deg]03'31'' E. The new restricted airspace provides the required airspace to conduct military training scenarios using air-to-ground ordnance delivery, naval gunfire, lasers and special operations training.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend and update its VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR). Under this initiative, all parts of the regulation are being reviewed in phased increments to revise or remove any policy that has been superseded by changes in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), to remove any procedural guidance that is internal to the VA, and to incorporate any new regulations or policies. Acquisition regulations become outdated over time and require updating to incorporate additional policies, solicitation provisions, or contract clauses that implement and supplement the FAR to satisfy VA mission needs, and to incorporate changes in dollar and approval thresholds, definitions, and VA position titles and offices. This Proposed Rule will correct inconsistencies, remove redundant and duplicate material already covered by the FAR, delete outdated material or information, and appropriately renumber VAAR text, clauses and provisions where required to comport with FAR format, numbering and arrangement. This Proposed Rule will streamline the VAAR to implement and supplement the FAR only when required, and remove internal agency guidance as noted above in keeping with the FAR principles concerning agency acquisition regulations.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is correcting the final rule served on November 30, 2016, by including one additional Standard Transportation Commodity Code (STCC) to the group of 14 previously included in the final rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements applicable to the Owens Valley PM10 nonattainment area (NA). The Owens Valley PM10 NA is classified as a ``Serious'' nonattainment area for the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter of ten microns or less (PM10). The submitted SIP revision is the ``Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District 2016 Owens Valley Planning Area PM10 State Implementation Plan'' (``2016 PM10 Plan'' or ``Plan''). The State's obligation to submit the 2016 PM10 Plan was triggered by the EPA's 2007 finding that the Owens Valley PM10 NA had failed to meet its December 31, 2006, deadline to attain the PM10 NAAQS. The CAA requires a Serious PM10 nonattainment area that fails to meet its attainment deadline to submit a plan providing for attainment of the PM10 NAAQS and for an annual reduction in PM10 emissions of not less than five percent until attainment of the PM10 NAAQS. The EPA is approving the 2016 PM10 Plan because it meets all relevant statutory and regulatory requirements.

This action proposes to establish Class E en route airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface to accommodate Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC), centered near Sacramento, CA. Establishment of this airspace area would ensure controlled airspace exists in those areas where the Federal airway structure is inadequate.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that the Imperial County, California Moderate nonattainment area (``the Imperial County NA'') has attained the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS or ``standard''). This determination, also known as a clean data determination (CDD), is based upon complete, quality-assured, and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the area has monitored attainment of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS based on the 2013-2015 data available in the EPA's Air Quality System database. As a consequence of this determination of attainment, certain Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements that apply to the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District (ICAPCD or ``District'') shall be suspended for so long as the area continues to meet the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS. The area remains nonattainment for the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA is also approving a revision to California's state implementation plan (SIP) consisting of the 2008 emissions inventory for the Imperial County NA submitted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB or ``State'') on January 9, 2015. This action is being taken under the CAA. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we are proposing approval and soliciting written comment on these actions. If we receive adverse comments on this direct final rule that result in withdrawal of the entire rule or any part(s) of it, we will address those comments when we finalize the proposal. The EPA does not plan to institute a second comment period on this action. Any parties interested in commenting must do so at this time.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-112 airplanes, A319-111, -112, -115, -132, and -133 airplanes, A320-214, -232, and -233 airplanes, and A321-211, -212, - 213, -231, and -232 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a quality control review on the final assembly line, which determined that aluminum alloy with inadequate heat treatment had been delivered and used on several structural parts. This AD requires a one-time eddy current conductivity measurement of certain cabin, cargo compartment, and frame structural parts to determine if aluminum alloy with inadequate heat treatment was used, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-08-11 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2012-08- 11 required repetitive inspections for defects and damage of the retract port flexible hoses on the main landing gear (MLG) retraction actuators, and replacement if necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2012-08-11, requires reorientation of the retraction actuator of the MLG, and removes airplanes from the applicability. This AD was prompted by test results that showed that failure of a retract port flexible hose of a MLG retraction actuator could cause excessive hydraulic fluid leakage. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.