March 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Toll-Free Phone Line Project Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

An open meeting of the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel Special Projects Committee will be conducted. The Taxpayer Advocacy Panel is soliciting public comments, ideas, and suggestions on improving customer service at the Internal Revenue Service.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent special local regulation on Lake Superior within the Keweenaw Waterway for the annual Breakers to Bridge Paddle Festival. This annual event historically occurs within the first 2 weeks of September and lasts for 1 day. This action is necessary to safeguard the participants and spectators on the water in a portion of the Keweenaw Waterway between the North Entry and the Portage Lake Lift Bridge located in Houghton, MI. This regulation would functionally restrict all vessel speeds while within a designated no-wake zone, unless otherwise specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Duluth or a designated representative. The area forming the subject of this permanent special local regulation is described below. We invite your comments on this notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

The Defense Science Board (DSB) 2017 Summer Study Task Force on Countering Anti-access Systems with Longer Range and Standoff Capabilities (``the Long Range Effects 2017 Summer Study Task Force'') will meet in closed session on Thursday, March 23, 2017, from 7:50 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Pentagon, Room MD779, Washington, DC 20330 and Friday, March 24, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Strategic Analysis Inc., The Executive Conference Center, 4075 Wilson Blvd., Suite 350, Arlington, VA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve elements of State Implementation Plan (SIP) submissions from Vermont regarding the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) for the 1997 fine particle matter (PM2.5), 1997 ozone, 2006 PM2.5, 2008 lead (Pb), 2008 ozone, 2010 nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). We also are proposing to approve two statutes and one Executive Order submitted by Vermont in support of its demonstration that the infrastructure requirements of the CAA have been met. In addition, we are conditionally approving certain elements of Vermont's submittals relating to prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) requirements. Last, we are proposing to update the classification for two of Vermont's air quality control regions for SO2 based on recent air quality monitoring data collected by the state, which will grant the state an exemption from the infrastructure SIP contingency plan obligation for SO2. The infrastructure requirements are designed to ensure that the structural components of each state's air quality management program are adequate to meet the state's responsibilities under the CAA.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations that govern the license renewal process for non- power reactors, testing facilities, and other production or utilization facilities, licensed under the authority of Section 103, Section 104a, or Section 104c of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (AEA), that are not nuclear power reactors. In this proposed rule, the NRC collectively refers to these facilities as non-power production or utilization facilities (NPUFs). The NRC is proposing to: Eliminate license terms for licenses issued under the authority of Sections 104a or 104c of the AEA, other than for testing facilities; define the license renewal process for licenses issued to testing facilities or under the authority of Section 103 of the AEA; require all NPUF licensees to submit final safety analysis report (FSAR) updates to the NRC every 5 years; and provide an accident dose criterion of 1 rem (0.01 Sievert (Sv)) total effective dose equivalent (TEDE) for NPUFs other than testing facilities. The proposed rule also includes other changes, as described in Section III, ``Discussion,'' of this document. The NRC is issuing concurrently draft Regulatory Guide (DG-2006), ``Preparation of Updated Final Safety Analysis Reports for Non-power Production or Utilization Facilities,'' for review and comment. The NRC anticipates the proposed rule and associated draft implementing guidance would result in reduced burden on both licensees and the NRC, and would create a more responsive and efficient regulatory framework that will continue to protect public health and safety, promote the common defense and security, and protect the environment. During the public comment period, the NRC plans to hold a public meeting to promote a full understanding of the proposed rule and facilitate the public's ability to submit comments on the proposed rule.

In accordance with the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (``CERCLA''), notice is hereby given of the proposed administrative settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') and the City of Central, CO (``Settling Party''). Pursuant to the terms of the proposed settlement, the Settling Party will enact a land use ordinance and conduct operations and maintenance activities over the Quartz Hill Tailings Pile, within the Central City/ Clear Creek Superfund Site. In exchange, the EPA will provide a covenant not to sue, and release certain liens against property owned by the Settling Party within the Central City/Clear Creek Superfund Site. The State of Colorado is also a signatory to the proposed agreement.

PHMSA is issuing a final rule to amend the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to maintain consistency with international regulations and standards by incorporating various amendments, including changes to proper shipping names, hazard classes, packing groups, special provisions, packaging authorizations, air transport quantity limitations, and vessel stowage requirements. These revisions are necessary to harmonize the HMR with recent changes made to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air, and the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous GoodsModel Regulations. Additionally, PHMSA is adopting several amendments to the HMR that result from coordination with Canada under the U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council.

The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Currently, the IRS is soliciting comments concerning Form 14134, Application for Certificate of Subordination of Federal Tax Lien, and Form 14135, Application for Certificate of Discharge of Property from Federal Tax Lien.

This rule amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing two persons listed under the destination of China from the Entity List. The two removals are the result of a request for removal received by BIS pursuant to the section of the EAR used for requesting removal or modification of an Entity List entry and a review of information provided in the removal request in accordance with the procedure for requesting removal or modification of an Entity List entity. In light of the recent settlement of administrative and criminal enforcement actions against ZTE Corporation and ZTE Kangxun, the End-User Review Committee (ERC) has determined that these two persons being removed have performed their undertakings to the U.S. Government in a timely manner and have otherwise cooperated with the U.S. Government in resolving the matter which led to the two entities' listing. This final rule also adds one person to the Entity List. This person who is added to the Entity List has been determined by the U.S. Government to be acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States. This person will be listed on the Entity List under the destination of China. Lastly, this final rule makes a conforming change to the EAR as a result of the removal of these two persons from the Entity List.

A determination has been made that a foreign person has engaged in activities that warrant the imposition of measures pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. The Act provides for penalties on foreign entities and individuals for the transfer to or acquisition from Iran since January 1, 1999; the transfer to or acquisition from Syria since January 1, 2005; or the transfer to or acquisition from North Korea since January 1, 2006, of goods, services, or technology controlled under multilateral control lists (Missile Technology Control Regime, Australia Group, Chemical Weapons Convention, Nuclear Suppliers Group, Wassenaar Arrangement) or otherwise having the potential to make a material contribution to the development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or cruise or ballistic missile systems. The latter category includes (a) items of the same kind as those on multilateral lists but falling below the control list parameters when it is determined that such items have the potential of making a material contribution to WMD or cruise or ballistic missile systems, (b) items on U.S. national control lists for WMD/missile reasons that are not on multilateral lists, and (c) other items with the potential of making such a material contribution when added through case-by-case decisions.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted (no later than May 30, 2017) to be assured of consideration.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted (no later than May 30, 2017) to be assured of consideration.

EPA was directed by Congress in the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act), which amended the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), to carry out and publish in the Federal Register not later than April 1, 2017, an inventory of mercury supply, use, and trade in the United States. The Lautenberg Act defines ``mercury'' as ``elemental mercury'' or ``a mercury compound.'' Consistent with this mandate, EPA is announcing the availability of this initial inventory report, which is a compilation of publicly available data on the supply, use, and trade of elemental mercury and mercury compounds.