September 28, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Refrigerant Management Regulations for Small Cans of Motor Vehicle Refrigerant
Document Number: 2017-20840
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is taking direct final action to correct an editing oversight that led to a potential conflict in a prior rulemaking as to whether or not containers holding two pounds or less of non-exempt substitute refrigerants for use in motor vehicle air conditioning that are not equipped with a self-sealing valve can be sold to persons that are not certified technicians, provided those small cans were manufactured or imported prior to January 1, 2018. This action clarifies that those small cans may continue to be sold to persons that are not certified as technicians under sections 608 or 609 of the Clean Air Act.
Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Refrigerant Management Regulations for Small Cans of Motor Vehicle Refrigerant
Document Number: 2017-20838
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
EPA is proposing this action to correct an editing oversight that lead to a potential conflict in a prior rulemaking as to whether or not containers holding two pounds or less of non-exempt substitute refrigerants for use in motor vehicle air conditioning that are not equipped with a self-sealing valve can be sold to persons that are not certified technicians, provided those small cans were manufactured or imported prior to January 1, 2018. This action clarifies that those small cans may continue to be sold to persons that are not certified as technicians under sections 608 or 609 of the Clean Air Act. In the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, EPA is publishing this action as a direct final rule without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.
National Performance Management Measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Freight Movement on the Interstate System, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program
Document Number: 2017-20804
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation
This document announces the effective date for specific portions of the National Performance Management measures; Assessing Performance of the National Highway System, Freight Movement on the Interstate System, and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program Final Rule (PM#3).
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Snapper-Grouper Resources of the South Atlantic; Commercial Trip Limit Reduction for Vermilion Snapper
Document Number: 2017-20792
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NMFS reduces the commercial trip limit for vermilion snapper in or from the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the South Atlantic to 500 lb (227 kg), gutted weight, 555 lb (252 kg), round weight. This trip limit reduction is necessary to protect the South Atlantic vermilion snapper resource.
Extension of Import Restrictions on Archaeological and Ecclesiastical Ethnological Materials From Guatemala
Document Number: 2017-20785
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of the Treasury
This final rule amends U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect the extension of import restrictions on certain archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological materials from Guatemala. These restrictions, which were last extended and revised by CBP Dec. 12-17, are due to expire on September 29, 2017, unless extended. The Acting Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State (Department of State), has determined that conditions continue to warrant the imposition of import restrictions. Accordingly, the restrictions will remain in effect for an additional five years, and the CBP regulations are being amended to indicate this additional extension. These restrictions are being extended pursuant to determinations of the Department of State under the terms of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, which implements the 1970 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. CBP Dec. 12-17 contains the Designated List of archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological materials that describes the articles to which the restrictions apply.
Customer Due Diligence Requirements for Financial Institutions; Correction
Document Number: 2017-20777
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Department of the Treasury, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
FinCEN is making technical corrections to a final rule published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. The final rule relates to certain customer due diligence standards applicable to covered financial institutions, defined as banks, brokers or dealers in securities, mutual funds, and futures commission merchants and introducing brokers in commodities. As published, the final rule contains technical errors that could cause confusion if not corrected.
Airworthiness Directives; Honeywell International Inc. Turbofan Engines
Document Number: 2017-20776
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Honeywell International Inc. (Honeywell) TFE731-20 and TFE731-40 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by two fan disks found with a manufacturing-caused flaw. This AD requires removing affected fan disks and replacing fan disks with a part eligible for installation. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Trading Programs
Document Number: 2017-20724
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The submitted revision requests EPA remove from the Virginia SIP regulations from the Virginia Administrative Code that established EPA-administered trading programs under the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), one of which also included requirements to address nitrogen oxide (NOX) reductions required under the NOX SIP Call. The EPA-administered trading programs under CAIR were discontinued on December 31, 2014 upon the implementation of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which was promulgated by EPA to replace CAIR. CSAPR established federal implementation plans (FIPs) for 23 states, including Virginia. The SIP submittal seeks removal from the Virginia SIP of Virginia regulations that implemented the CAIR annual NOX, ozone season NOX, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) trading programs (as CSAPR has replaced CAIR). EPA is approving the SIP revision in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Virginia; Removal of Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) Trading Programs
Document Number: 2017-20723
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of removing regulations from the Virginia SIP that established EPA-administered annual NOX, ozone season NOX, and sulfur dioxide (SO2) trading programs under the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR). These EPA-administered trading programs under CAIR were discontinued on December 31, 2014 upon the implementation of the Cross- State Air Pollution Rule (CASPR), which was promulgated by EPA to replace CAIR. In the Final Rules section of this Federal Register, EPA is approving the State's SIP submittal as a direct final rule without prior proposal because the Agency views this as a noncontroversial submittal and anticipates no adverse comments. A detailed rationale for the approval is set forth in the direct final rule. If no adverse comments are received in response to this action, no further activity is contemplated. If EPA receives adverse comments, the direct final rule will be withdrawn and all public comments received will be addressed in a subsequent final rule based on this proposed rule. EPA will not institute a second comment period. Any parties interested in commenting on this action should do so at this time.
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Enhanced Monitoring; California
Document Number: 2017-20722
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California on November 10, 1993. This SIP revision concerns the establishment of a Photochemical Assessment Monitoring System (PAMS) network in six ozone nonattainment areas within California. The EPA is taking this action under the Clean Air Act based on the conclusion that all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements related to PAMS SIP revisions have been met.
Air Plan Approval; New Hampshire; Nonattainment Plan for the Central New Hampshire SO2
Document Number: 2017-20721
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision that the State of New Hampshire submitted to EPA on January 31, 2017 for attaining the 1- hour sulfur dioxide (SO2) primary national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for the Central New Hampshire Nonattainment Area. This plan (herein called a ``nonattainment plan'') includes New Hampshire's attainment demonstration and other elements required under the Clean Air Act (CAA). In addition to an attainment demonstration, the nonattainment plan addresses the requirement for meeting reasonable further progress (RFP) toward attainment of the NAAQS, reasonably available control measures and reasonably available control technology (RACM/RACT), base-year and projection-year emission inventories, and contingency measures. As a part of approving the attainment demonstration, EPA is also proposing to approve SO2 emission limits and associated compliance parameters for Merrimack Station into the New Hampshire SIP. EPA proposes to conclude that New Hampshire has appropriately demonstrated that the nonattainment plan provisions provide for attainment of the 2010 1-hour primary SO2 NAAQS in the Central New Hampshire Nonattainment Area by the applicable attainment date and that the nonattainment plan meets the other applicable requirements under the CAA.
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines
Document Number: 2017-20718
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 875-17, RB211-Trent 877-17, RB211-Trent 884-17, RB211-Trent 884B-17, RB211-Trent 892-17, RB211- Trent 892B-17, and RB211-Trent 895-17 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by low-pressure compressor (LPC) case A-frame hollow locating pins that may have reduced integrity due to incorrect heat treatment. This proposed AD would require replacement of the LPC case A-frame hollow locating pins. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce plc Turbofan Engines
Document Number: 2017-20702
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 553-61, Trent 553A2-61, Trent 556-61, Trent 556A2-61, Trent 556B-61, Trent 556B2-61, Trent 560-61, and Trent 560A2-61 turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement of the low- pressure compressor (LPC) case A-frame hollow locating pins. This AD was prompted by LPC case A-frame hollow locating pins that may have reduced integrity due to incorrect heat treatment. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
Public Approval of Tax-Exempt Private Activity Bonds
Document Number: 2017-20661
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Internal Revenue Service, Department of Treasury, Department of the Treasury
This document contains proposed regulations to update and streamline the public approval requirement provided in section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to tax-exempt private activity bonds issued by State and local governments. The proposed regulations would update the existing regulations on the public approval requirement to reflect statutory changes, to streamline the public approval process, and to reduce burden on State and local governments that issue tax-exempt private activity bonds. This document also withdraws two previous notices of proposed rulemaking on this topic. The proposed regulations affect State and local governments that issue tax-exempt private activity bonds.
Technical Standards
Document Number: 2017-20635
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: National Indian Gaming Commission, Department of the Interior
The National Indian Gaming Commission proposes to amend the minimum technical standards for Class II gaming systems and equipment. The proposed rule would amend regulations that describe how tribal governments, tribal gaming regulatory authorities, and tribal gaming operations comply with the technical standards. In particular, the proposed rule amends the requirement that gaming systems manufactured before November 10, 2008, be modified to meet standards applicable to gaming systems manufactured on or after November 10, 2008, or be removed from the gaming floor by November 10, 2018. The Commission proposes this action to assist tribal governments, tribal gaming regulatory authorities, and operations in ensuring the integrity and security of Class II games and gaming revenue through minimum technical standards for Class II gaming systems and equipment.
Program for Eliminating Duplication of Environmental Reviews
Document Number: 2017-20561
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Federal Transit Administration
This NPRM provides interested parties with the opportunity to comment on proposed regulations governing the U.S. Department of Transportation's (DOT) Program for Eliminating Duplication of Environmental Reviews (Program) established by Section 1309 of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act). Section 1309 directed the U.S. Secretary of Transportation (Secretary) to establish a pilot program authorizing up to five States to conduct environmental reviews and make approvals for projects under State environmental laws and regulations instead of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FAST Act requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), to promulgate regulations to implement the requirements of the Program, including application requirements and criteria necessary to determine whether State laws and regulations are at least as stringent as the applicable Federal law. The FHWA, FRA, and FTA, hereinafter referred to as ``the Agencies,'' are proposing these regulations on behalf of the Secretary and seek comments on the proposals contained in this NPRM. This rule would also implement a provision in Section 1308 of the FAST Act that amends the corrective action period that the Agencies must provide to a State participating in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (Section 327 Program).
Head Start Program
Document Number: 2017-20499
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families
The Office of Head Start will delay the compliance date for background check procedures and the date for programs to participate in their state or local Quality Rating and Improvement Systems (QRIS). Both requirements are described in the Head Start Program Performance Standards (HSPPS) final rule that was published in the Federal Register on September 6, 2016. We believe programs and states will benefit from more time to fully implement these changes.
Changes to the In-Bond Process
Document Number: 2017-20495
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of the Treasury
This final rule adopts, with several changes, proposed amendments to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations regarding changes to the in-bond process published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2012. The in-bond process allows imported merchandise to be entered at one U.S. port of entry without appraisement or payment of duties and transported by a bonded carrier to another U.S. port of entry or other authorized destination provided all statutory and regulatory conditions are met. At the destination port, the merchandise is entered or exported. The changes in this rule, including the automation of the in-bond process, will enhance CBP's ability to regulate and track in-bond merchandise and ensure that in- bond merchandise is properly entered or exported. This document addresses comments received in response to the proposed rule and makes several changes in response to the comments that further simplify and facilitate the in-bond process.
Rules of Practice for Protests and Appeals Regarding Eligibility for Inclusion in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Center for Verification and Evaluation Database
Document Number: 2017-20384
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Small Business Administration, Agencies and Commissions
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is proposing to amend the rules of practice of its Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA) to implement procedures for protests of eligibility for inclusion in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) database, and procedures for appeals of denials and cancellations of inclusion in the CVE database. These amendments would be in accordance with Sections 1832 and 1833 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (NDAA 2017).
Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production Risk and Technology Review Reconsideration
Document Number: 2017-20171
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Environmental Protection Agency
This action finalizes amendments to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production source categories. These final amendments are in response to two petitions for reconsideration filed by industry stakeholders on the rule revisions to the NESHAP for the Phosphoric Acid Manufacturing and Phosphate Fertilizer Production source categories that were promulgated on August 19, 2015. We are revising the compliance date by which affected sources must include emissions from oxidation reactors when determining compliance with the total fluoride emission limits for superphosphoric acid (SPA) process lines. In addition, we are revising the compliance date for the monitoring requirements for low-energy absorbers. We are also clarifying one option and adding a new option, to the monitoring requirements for low-energy absorbers.
Hazelnuts Grown in Oregon and Washington; Secretary's Decision and Referendum Order on Proposed Amendments to Marketing Order No. 982
Document Number: 2017-19920
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture
This decision proposes amendments to Marketing Order No. 982 (order), which regulates the handling of hazelnuts grown in Oregon and Washington, and provides growers with the opportunity to vote in a referendum to determine if they favor the changes. Two amendments are proposed by the Hazelnut Marketing Board (Board), which is responsible for local administration of the order. The proposed amendments would add both the authority to regulate quality for the purpose of pathogen reduction and the authority to establish different regulations for different markets. In addition, the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) proposed to make any such changes as may be necessary to the order to conform to any amendment that may result from the public hearing. The proposals would aid in pathogen reduction and the industry's ability to meet the needs of different market destinations.
Availability of Records
Document Number: 2017-19897
Type: Rule
Date: 2017-09-28
Agency: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Agencies and Commissions
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``EEOC'' or ``Commission'') is issuing a final rule revising its Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) regulations in order to implement the substantive and procedural changes to the FOIA identified in the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016 and update two district office addresses and the Office of Legal Counsel's fax number.
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