December 11, 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is adopting a final rule to amend the definition of ``judge'' in the rules of practice and procedure to formulate or amend a marketing agreement, marketing order, or certain research and promotion orders. The new definition adds a presiding official appointed by the Secretary, as well as an administrative law judge, as an official who may preside over the rulemaking hearing.

Due to the receipt of an adverse comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the October 13, 2017, direct final rule that would have approved changes to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) State Implementation Plan (SIP) to revise Florida's requirements and procedures for emissions monitoring at stationary sources. EPA will address the comment in a separate final action based upon the proposed rulemaking action, also published on October 13, 2017.

On December 1, 2017, the United States Copyright Office published a notice of proposed rulemaking and request for comments concerning the royalty reporting practices of cable operators under section 111 and proposed revisions to the Statement of Account forms, and on proposed amendments to the Statement of Account filing requirements. The Copyright Office has determined that reply comments would also be appropriate for this rulemaking. In addition, the Office has determined that informal ex-parte communications with interested parties might be beneficial, such as to discuss nuances of proposed regulatory language.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Military Street Bridge, mile 0.33, the Seventh Street Bridge, mile 0.50, the Tenth Street Bridge, mile 0.94, and the Canadian National Railroad Bridge, mile 1.56, across the Black River at Port Huron, MI. The City of Port Huron requested the winter hours to be expanded for City-operated highway bridges. We have reviewed the regulation in its entirety because the current regulation is approximately 30 years old, use of the waterway has substantially changed, and the current language and conditions in the regulation are difficult to follow and understand.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Bridge across the Columbia River, mile 105.6, at Vancouver, WA. The deviation is necessary to accommodate replacement gears, shafts and bearings. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to- navigation position during maintenance activities.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Zodiac Seats France, 537 series cabin attendant seats. This proposed AD was prompted by operator reports that safety belt wear was found at the attachment to the cabin attendant seat. This proposed AD would require inspecting the safety belt webbing, and modifying and re-marking each affected cabin attendant seat. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters on the Lower Mississippi River above Head of Passes between mile marker (MM) 94.0 and MM 95.0. This safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with a fireworks display on January 6, 2018. This rulemaking will prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of the Lower Mississippi River between mile marker (MM) 94 and MM 95, above Head of Passes. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near New Orleans, LA, during a fireworks display on April 21, 2018. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to find that three states have failed to submit timely revisions to their state implementation plans (SIPs) as required to satisfy certain requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) for implementation of the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (2008 ozone NAAQS). These findings of failure to submit apply to states with overdue SIP revisions (or attainment plans) for nonattainment areas reclassified from ``Marginal'' to ``Moderate'' in May 2016 because the areas failed to attain the 2008 ozone NAAQS by the Marginal area attainment date of July 20, 2015. The SIP revisions to address all applicable Moderate area attainment plan requirements for these areas were due on January 1, 2017. This action requires the affected states to timely submit a SIP revision consistent with the requirements of the CAA and the EPA regulations. If a state fails to make the required timely SIP submittal, or if a submitted SIP is incomplete, the CAA requires the imposition of sanctions for the affected area(s). In addition, the EPA is obligated to promulgate a federal implementation plan (FIP) to address any outstanding SIP requirements if a state does not submit, and the EPA does not approve, a state's submittal within 24 months of the effective date of these findings.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Yuma Municipal Airport, Yuma, CO, to accommodate the development of area navigation (RNAV) instrument flight rules (IFR) operations under standard instrument approach and departure procedures at the airport, and for the safety and management of IFR operations within the National Airspace System.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-22-08, which applied to all Airbus Model A318 and A319 series airplanes; Model A320-111, -211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2014-22-08 required revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate new or revised airworthiness limitation requirements. This new AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate new or revised airworthiness limitation requirements, and removes airplanes from the applicability. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance instructions and airworthiness limitations are necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Commission is proposing rules related to the current system of regulating rates and classes for market dominant products. Proposed rules are the result of a Commission statutory review wherein the Commission was required to review whether the system was achieving the objectives, taking into account the factors, established by Congress under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. This notice informs the public of the proposed rules, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to modify the use conditions required for use of three flammable refrigerants, isobutane (R-600a), propane (R-290), and R-441A, in new household refrigerators, freezers, and combination refrigerators and freezers under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program. The use conditions, which address safe use of flammable refrigerants, are being revised to reflect the incorporation by reference of an updated standard from Underwriters Laboratories.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation Inc. Models 510, 680, and 680A airplanes equipped with certain part number brake assemblies. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that brake pad wear indicator pins were set incorrectly, which could lead to brake pad wear beyond the acceptable limits without indication. This proposed AD would require inspection of the brake pad wear indicator pins and replacement of the brake assembly if any pin is set incorrectly. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.