August 15, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), in order to assess the impacts of issuing annual catch limits for the subsistence harvest of bowhead whales by Alaska Natives from 2019 onward. Publication of this document begins the official scoping period that will help identify issues and alternatives to be considered in the EIS.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is seeking scientific information submissions from the public. Scientific information is being solicited to inform our review of Mobile Health Technology for Diabetes, which is currently being conducted by the AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Centers (EPC) Program. Access to published and unpublished pertinent scientific information will improve the quality of this review.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a new anchorage area, Anchorage Area Alpha (A) East in Bolivar Roads near Galveston, Texas. The establishment of this additional anchorage area would enhance navigational safety, support regional maritime security needs, and contribute to the free flow of commerce in the Houston-Galveston area. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Department of Navy's (DoN) intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the transition of the remaining F/A-18A/C/D (Hornet) aircraft, based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, to the F/A-18E/F (Super Hornet), published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2015 (80 FR 175), is hereby modified. The DoN is redesignating the EIS as an Environmental Assessment (EA). The DoN will hold public meetings on August 29 and 30, 2017, to inform the public and answer questions about the Draft EA and the proposed action as well as provide opportunities for the public to comment on the Draft EA.

The U.S. Department of the Navy (Navy), after carefully weighing the environmental consequences of the proposed action, announces its decision to implement Alternative 1, the Navy's preferred alternative as described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Disposal and Reuse of Surplus Property at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport, Rhode Island. This decision will make 158 acres of former NAVSTA Newport property available to the local communities of Aquidneck Island for economic redevelopment.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2017 total allowable catch of sablefish allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the West Yakutat District of the GOA will be reached.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of crack indications in the right wing upper aft skin, originating from fastener holes common to the rear spar upper chord. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the wing upper aft skin, and applicable on-condition actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the regulation for valuation dates in September 2017. The interest assumptions are used for paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by the pension insurance system administered by PBGC.

This notice announces actions taken by the FHWA that are final within the meaning of 23 U.S.C.139(l)(1). The actions relate to a proposed highway project, the Middlebury Bridge and Rail Project on Main Street and Merchants Row over the Vermont Western Rail Corridor in the Town of Middlebury, Addison County, Vermont. Those actions grant approvals for the project.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) maintains, as part of its Export Administration Regulations (EAR), the Commerce Control List (CCL), which identifies certain items subject to Department of Commerce jurisdiction. This final rule revises the CCL, as well as corresponding parts of the EAR, to implement changes made to the Wassenaar Arrangement List of Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (WA List) maintained and agreed to by governments participating in the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual-Use Goods and Technologies (Wassenaar Arrangement, or WA) at the December 2016 WA Plenary meeting. The Wassenaar Arrangement advocates implementation of effective export controls on strategic items with the objective of improving regional and international security and stability. This rule harmonizes the CCL with the agreements reached at the 2016 Plenary meeting by revising Export Control Classification Numbers (ECCNs) controlled for national security reasons in each category of the CCL, as well as making other associated changes to the EAR.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the frame web adjacent to the air-conditioning support brackets. This proposed AD would require an inspection for any air conditioning bracket assembly or intercostal, and depending on the results, repetitive inspections for cracking of certain locations and applicable on-condition actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-12- 05, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. AD 2012-12-05 currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking under the stop fittings and intercostal flanges and for cracking of the intercostal web, attachment clips, stringer splice channels, frame, reinforcement angle, shear web, frame outer chord and inner chord; a one-time inspection to detect missing fasteners; repetitive inspections of the cargo barrier net fitting for cracking; repetitive inspections for cracking of the stringer S-15L aft intercostal; and repair or corrective action if necessary. Since we issued AD 2012-12-05, we have received reports of additional cracking in locations not covered by the inspections in that AD. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD would add new repetitive inspections of certain areas of the frame inner chord, and applicable on-condition actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-09- 07, which applies to all The Boeing Company Model 787 airplanes. AD 2015-09-07 requires a repetitive maintenance task for electrical power deactivation. Since we issued AD 2015-09-07, Boeing has developed new software for the generator control unit (GCU) that addresses the software counter overflow anomaly that prompted the issuance of AD 2015-09-07. This proposed AD would require installing the new GCU software. This proposed AD would also remove certain airplanes from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-02- 01, which applies to certain Airbus Model A320-211, -212, and -231 airplanes. AD 2016-02-01 requires repetitive inspections to detect cracks of the pressurized floor fittings at a certain frame, and renewal of the zone protective finish or replacement of fittings with new fittings if necessary. AD 2016-02-01 also provides an optional modification that is terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Since we issued AD 2016-02-01, the manufacturer conducted an additional fatigue analysis of cracking of the pressurized floor fittings and determined that the optional modification should be a required action. This proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2016-02-01, and would require accomplishment of the modification. This proposed AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.