April 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS is amending the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP) based on the results of the 2016 stock assessment update for Atlantic dusky sharks. Based on this assessment, NMFS determined that the dusky shark stock remains overfished and is experiencing overfishing. Consistent with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson- Stevens Act), NMFS is implementing management measures that will reduce fishing mortality on dusky sharks to end overfishing and rebuild the dusky shark population consistent with legal requirements. The final measures could affect HMS-permitted commercial and recreational fishermen who harvest sharks or whose fishing vessels interact with sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.

This document revises Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical regulations to reflect the codification of the authority for the VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), a program through which VA contracts with private dental insurers to offer premium-based dental insurance to enrolled veterans and certain survivors and dependents of veterans. The VA Dental Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2016 codified the authority of the VADIP, and this final rulemaking accordingly revises the authority citation in the VA medical regulations that implement VADIP.

The Department of State (Department) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on September 8, 2016, proposing to amend its regulations implementing the 1993 Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000. 81 FR 62322. The Department hereby withdraws that action. The comments provided in response to the NPRM will be considered in drafting a new rule, which is expected to be published later this year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces that it is reviewing and, if appropriate will initiate proceedings to suspend, revise or rescind the Clean Power Plan.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) proposes amendments to Regulation B to permit creditors additional flexibility in complying with Regulation B in order to facilitate compliance with Regulation C, to add certain model forms and remove others from Regulation B, and to make various other amendments to Regulation B and its commentary to facilitate the collection and retention of information about the ethnicity, sex, and race of certain mortgage applicants.

This final rule addresses the hospital-specific limitation on Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments under section 1923(g)(1)(A) of the Social Security Act (Act), and the application of such limitation in the annual DSH audits required under section 1923(j) of the Act, by clarifying that the hospital-specific DSH limit is based only on uncompensated care costs. Specifically, this rule makes explicit in the text of the regulation, an existing interpretation that uncompensated care costs include only those costs for Medicaid eligible individuals that remain after accounting for payments made to hospitals by or on behalf of Medicaid eligible individuals, including Medicare and other third party payments that compensate the hospitals for care furnished to such individuals. As a result, the hospital-specific limit calculation will reflect only the costs for Medicaid eligible individuals for which the hospital has not received payment from any source.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone on the waters of the Charleston Harbor in Charleston, SC, during the Charleston Race Week from April 20, 2017, through April 23, 2017. Charleston Race Week is a series of sail boat races in the Charleston Harbor. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, spectators, and the general public during the event. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the October 23, 2015 proposals for a federal plan to implement the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission guidelines (EGs) for existing fossil fuel-fired electric generating units (EGUs), for model trading rules for implementation of the EGs, and for amendments to the Clean Air Act (CAA) 111(d) framework regulations, and the June 30, 2016 proposed rule concerning design details of the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP).

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Start of the Chicago to Mackinac Race on a portion of Lake Michigan on July 15, 2017. This action is intended to ensure the safety of life on the navigable waterway immediately before, during, and after this event. During the enforcement period listed below, no vessel may transit this safety zone without approval from the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone for the navigable waters surrounding the entry of lava from Kilauea volcano into the Pacific Ocean on the southeast side of the Island of Hawaii, HI. The safety zone will encompass all waters extending 300 meters (984 feet) in all directions around all entry points of lava flow into the ocean. The entry points of the lava vary, and the safety zone will vary accordingly. The safety zone is needed to protect persons and vessels from the potential hazards associated with molten lava entering the ocean resulting in explosions of large chunks of hot rock and debris upon impact, collapses of the sea cliff into the ocean, hot lava arching out and falling into the ocean, and the release of toxic gases. Entry of persons or vessels into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Honolulu or his designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Fremont Bridge, mile 2.6, and the University Bridge, mile 4.3, both crossing the Lake Washington Ship Canal at Seattle, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate the Brooks Trailhead 10K & 15K foot race event. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed-to-navigation position to allow for the safe movement of event participants.

The Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States to adjudicate claims and determine the eligibility of individuals for payment for harms suffered by residents of Guam resulting from the occupation of Guam by Imperial Japanese military forces during World War II. This rule establishes procedures for the filing and adjudication of claims brought under the Guam Loyalty Recognition Act. The rule also provides definitions for the statutory terms ``severe personal injury'' and ``personal injury,'' and amends regulations concerning the payment of attorney's fees.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Morgan City Railroad Bridge across the Atchafalaya River (also known as Berwick Bay), mile 17.5 [Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Morgan City-Port Allen Alternate Route), mile 0.3] in Morgan City, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. This deviation is necessary to perform maintenance needed for the continued safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows for the bridge to remain closed-to-navigation for two (2) days, 7 hours each day.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) administers the FSFL Program on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). In the final rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2016, a word was inadvertently removed from the regulations. This document reinserts that word back into the regulation.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Thunder Over the Boardwalk Air show special local regulation from 11 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. on August 22-23, 2017. This action is necessary to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States immediately prior to, during, and immediately after this air show. During the enforcement period, and in accordance with the special local regulations, no vessel or person may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area unless authorized by Captain of the Port Delaware Bay or a designated representative.

NMFS closes the coastwide General category fishery for large medium and giant Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) until the General category reopens on June 1, 2017. This action is being taken to prevent any further overharvest of the available adjusted General category January 2017 BFT subquota.

To comply with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, FRA is adjusting the minimum, maximum, and aggravated maximum penalties it will apply when assessing a civil penalty for a violation of a railroad safety statute, regulation, or order under its authority. FRA is also adjusting the minimum penalty, ordinary maximum penalty, and aggravated maximum penalty that it will apply when assessing a civil monetary penalty for a knowing violation of the Federal hazardous material transportation laws or a regulation, special permit, order, or approval issued under those laws. The aggravated maximum penalty under the hazardous material transportation laws is available only for a violation that results in death, serious illness, or severe injury to any person or substantial destruction of property.