2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 2,401 - 2,450 of 5,050
Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2018; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; and Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
This major proposed rule addresses changes to the Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B payment policies.
Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2018 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019
Under section 211 of the Clean Air Act, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set renewable fuel percentage standards every year. This action proposes the annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that apply to gasoline and diesel transportation fuel produced or imported in the year 2018. Relying on statutory waiver authority that is available when projected cellulosic biofuel production volumes are less than the applicable volume specified in the statute, the EPA is proposing volume requirements for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel that are below the statutory applicable volumes, and lower than the 2017 requirements. In this action, we are also proposing the applicable volume of biomass-based diesel for 2019.
Safety Zone; Marine City Maritime Festival Water Ski Show, St. Clair River, Marine City, MI
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 2000-foot portion of the St. Clair River in the vicinity of Marine City, MI. This zone is necessary to protect vessels from potential hazards associated with the Marine City Maritime Festival Water Ski Show.
Air Plan Approval; ME; Regional Haze 5-Year Progress Report
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve Maine's regional haze progress report, submitted on February 23, 2016, as a revision to its State Implementation Plan (SIP). Maine's SIP revision addresses requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA's rules that require states to submit periodic reports describing progress toward reasonable progress goals (RPGs) established for regional haze and a determination of the adequacy of the State's existing regional haze SIP. Maine's progress report notes that Maine has implemented the measures in the regional haze SIP due to be in place by the date of the progress report and that visibility in federal Class I areas affected by emissions from Maine is improving and has already met the applicable RPGs for 2018. EPA is proposing approval of Maine's determination that the State's regional haze SIP is adequate to meet these reasonable progress goals for the first implementation period covering through 2018 and requires no substantive revision at this time.
Security Zone; Atlantic Ocean, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean for a United States Navy exercise. There will be a zone approximately 4 nautical miles wide extending from .75 nautical miles off the beach to 4 nautical miles offshore. The zone will begin approximately .4 nautical miles south of Port Everglades Inlet. The security zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the surrounding waterway from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami.
Suspension of Community Eligibility
This rule identifies communities where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date. Also, information identifying the current participation status of a community can be obtained from FEMA's Community Status Book (CSB). The CSB is available at https:// www.fema.gov/national-flood-insurance-program-community-statu s-book.
United States Army, Corps of Engineers; Subgroup to the DoD Regulatory Reform Task Force, Review of Existing Rules
In accordance with Executive Order 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' the United States Army, Corps of Engineers Subgroup to the DoD Regulatory Reform Task Force is seeking input on its existing regulations that may be appropriate for repeal, replacement, or modification. See the Supplementary Information section below for additional guidance.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Chambers Creek, Steilacoom, WA
The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Chambers Creek Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad vertical lift railroad bridge across Chambers Creek, mile 0.01, near Steilacoom in Pierce County, WA. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule, for the second time within the past year, to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is appropriate.
Home Mortgage Disclosure (Regulation C) Temporary Increase in Institutional and Transactional Coverage Thresholds for Open-End Lines of Credit
The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau or CFPB) proposes amendments to Regulation C that would, for a period of two years, increase the threshold for collecting and reporting data with respect to open-end lines of credit so that financial institutions originating fewer than 500 open-end lines of credit in either of the preceding two years would not be required to begin collecting such data until January 1, 2020.
Return Due Date and Extended Due Date Changes
In the Rules and Regulations section of this issue of the Federal Register, the IRS is issuing temporary regulations that update the due dates and extensions of time to file certain tax returns and information returns. The text of those regulations also serves as the text of these proposed regulations.
Return Due Date and Extended Due Date Changes
This document contains final and temporary regulations that update the due dates and extensions of time to file certain tax returns and information returns. The dates are updated to reflect the new statutory requirements set by section 2006 of the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015 and section 201 of the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. These regulations affect taxpayers who file Form W-2 (series, except Form W-2G), Form W-3, Form 990 (series), Form 1099-MISC, Form 1041, Form 1041-A, Form 1065, Form 1120 (series), Form 4720, Form 5227, Form 6069, Form 8804, or Form 8870.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-02- 03, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, and -400ER series airplanes. AD 2017-02-03 requires inspection of the plastic potable water coupling, and corrective actions if necessary; installation of new spray shrouds; and inspection of previously installed spray shields, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued AD 2017-02-03, we have determined that it is necessary to modify a hose assembly installation for certain airplanes, and add airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability and, for certain airplanes, require hose assembly removals and installations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Model 212 and Model 412 helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain oil and fuel check valves and prohibits installing them on any helicopter. This AD is prompted by a report of cracked or leaking check valves. These actions are intended to address an unsafe condition on these helicopters.
Medicare Program: Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs
This proposed rule would revise the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) and the Medicare ambulatory surgical center (ASC) payment system for CY 2018 to implement changes arising from our continuing experience with these systems and certain provisions under the 21st Century Cures Act (Pub. L. 114-255). In this proposed rule, we describe the proposed changes to the amounts and factors used to determine the payment rates for Medicare services paid under the OPPS and those paid under the ASC payment system. In addition, this proposed rule would update and refine the requirements for the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program and the ASC Quality Reporting (ASCQR) Program.
Procedures for Chemical Risk Evaluation Under the Amended Toxic Substances Control Act
As required under section 6(b)(4) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is issuing a rule that establishes a process for conducting risk evaluations to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or other non-risk factors, including an unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation, under the conditions of use. This process incorporates the science requirements of the amended statute, including best available science and weight of the scientific evidence. Risk evaluation is the second step, after Prioritization, in a new process of existing chemical substance review and management established under recent amendments to TSCA. This rule identifies the steps of a risk evaluation process including: scope, hazard assessment, exposure assessment, risk characterization, and finally a risk determination. This process will be used for the first ten chemical substances undergoing evaluation from the 2014 update of the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments (to the maximum extent practicable). Chemical substances designated as High-Priority Substances during the prioritization process and those chemical substances for which EPA has initiated a risk evaluation in response to a manufacturer request, will always be subject to this process. The final rule also includes the required ``form and criteria'' applicable to such manufacturer requests.
Procedures for Prioritization of Chemicals for Risk Evaluation Under the Toxic Substances Control Act
As required under section 6(b)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is issuing a final rule that establishes the process and criteria that EPA will use to identify chemical substances as either High-Priority Substances for risk evaluation, or Low-Priority Substances for which risk evaluations are not warranted at the time. The final rule describes the processes for formally initiating the prioritization process on a selected candidate, providing opportunities for public comment, screening the candidate against certain criteria, and proposing and finalizing designations of priority. Prioritization is the initial step in a new process of existing chemical substance review and risk management activity established under TSCA.
Special Enrollment Examination User Fee for Enrolled Agents
This document contains a final regulation changing the amount of the user fee for the special enrollment examination to become an enrolled agent. The charging of user fees is authorized by the Independent Offices Appropriations Act of 1952. The final regulation affects individuals taking the enrolled agent special enrollment examination.
Exercise of Time-Limited Authority To Increase the Fiscal Year 2017 Numerical Limitation for the H-2B Temporary Nonagricultural Worker Program
The Secretary of Homeland Security (``Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, has decided to increase the numerical limitation on H-2B nonimmigrant visas to authorize the issuance of up to an additional 15,000 through the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. This is a one-time increase based on a time-limited statutory authority and does not affect the H-2B program in future fiscal years. The Departments are promulgating regulations to implement this determination.
Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Texas; Reasonably Available Control Technology for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to conditionally approve revisions to the Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) addressing Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for the Martin Marietta (formerly, Texas Industries, Inc., or TXI) cement manufacturing plant in Ellis County. We are proposing to fully approve revisions to the Texas SIP addressing NOX RACT for all other affected sources in the ten county Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) 2008 8-Hour ozone nonattainment area. We are also proposing to approve NOX RACT negative declarations (a finding that there are no emission sources in certain categories) for the DFW 2008 8-Hour ozone nonattainment area. The DFW 2008 8-Hour ozone nonattainment area consists of Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise counties. The RACT requirements apply to major sources of NOX in these ten counties.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 6-Month Extension of Final Determination on the Proposed Threatened Status for Chorizanthe parryi
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 6-month extension of the final determination of whether to list the Chorizanthe parryi var. fernandina (San Fernando Valley spineflower), a plant species from southern California, as a threatened species. Along with this announcement to extend the final determination, we are also reopening the comment period on the proposed rule to list the species, for an additional 30 days. We are taking this action to extend the final determination based on substantial disagreement regarding the potential impact of Argentine ant invasion on the pollination ecology of C. parryi var. fernandina and scientific uncertainty related to establishment of C. parryi var. fernandina using introduction of seed into suitable, unoccupied areas. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule. We will submit a final listing determination to the Federal Register on or before March 15, 2018.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Reapportionment of the 2017 Gulf of Alaska Pacific Halibut Prohibited Species Catch Limits for the Trawl Deep-Water and Shallow-Water Fishery Categories
NMFS is reapportioning the seasonal apportionments of the 2017 Pacific halibut prohibited species catch (PSC) limits for the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fishery categories in the Gulf of Alaska. This action is necessary to account for the actual halibut PSC use by the trawl deep-water and shallow-water species fishery categories from May 15, 2017 through June 30, 2017. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Omnibus Acceptable Biological Catch Framework Adjustment
This action proposes regulations to implement an Omnibus Framework Adjustment to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council acceptable biological catch setting process. This proposed rule is necessary to provide the public with an opportunity to review and comment on the measures recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Council to the National Marine Fisheries Service for implementation. The intended effect of these measures would help bring stability to quotas while accounting for year-to-year changes in stock size projections, and allow the Mid-Atlantic Council's Fishery Management Plans to automatically incorporate the best available scientific information when calculating acceptable biological catches. This action also proposes to revise regulatory language to clarify the Mid-Atlantic Council's acceptable biological catch control rule assessment level designations.
Approval of California Air Plan Revisions, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from landfill gas flaring at the Kiefer Landfill in Sacramento, California. We are proposing to approve portions of two SMAQMD operating permits that limit VOC emissions from this facility under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Air Plan Approval; ME; Consumer Products Alternative Control Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP). The SIP revision consists of an Alternative Control Plan (ACP) for the control of volatile organic compound emissions from Reckitt Benckiser's Air Wick Air Freshener Single Phase Aerosol Spray, issued pursuant to Maine's consumer products rule. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.
Approval of California Air Plan Revisions; Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (SMAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from organic chemical manufacturing operations. We are proposing to approve a local rule and a rule rescission to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Air Plan Approval; Maine; Motor Vehicle Fuel Requirements
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP) on August 28, 2015. This SIP revision includes a revised motor vehicle fuel volatility regulation that has been updated to be consistent with existing Federal regulations which require retailers to sell reformulated gasoline (RFG) in the counties of York, Cumberland, Sagadahoc, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Knox, and Lincoln, as of June 1, 2015. The intended effect of this action is to approve of this amendment into the Maine SIP. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.
Air Plan Approval; ME; Consumer Products Alternative Control Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (Maine DEP). The SIP revision consists of an Alternative Control Plan (ACP) for the control of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from Reckitt Benckiser's Air Wick Air Freshener Single Phase Aerosol Spray, issued pursuant to Maine's consumer products rule. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.
Administrative Amendments to Environmental Protection Agency Acquisition Regulation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final rule to amend the Environmental Protection Agency Acquisition Regulation (EPAAR) to make administrative updates, corrections and minor edits. EPA does not anticipate any adverse comments.
Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for Fiscal Year 2017; Corrections
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a final rule amending regulations that will become effective August 29, 2017. The fiscal year (FY) 2017 final fee rule, published June 30, 2017, amends the licensing, inspection, special project, and annual fees charged to NRC applicants and licensees. This document corrects the annual fees for fuel facility licensees.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination from fatigue testing that cracks could develop in the cabin floor beam junction at certain fuselage frame locations. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking in the cabin floor beam junction at certain fuselage frame locations, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of an aborted takeoff because the rudder pedals were not operating correctly. Investigation revealed a protruding screw in the rudder pedal heel rest adjacent to the pedals. This AD requires a torque check of the screws in the cover assembly of the heel rest for both the Captain and the First Officer's rudder pedals, and corrective action if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Services B.V. Airplanes
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that certain wing fuel tank access panels are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD requires replacement of affected access panels and modification of the coamings of the associated access holes. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Arbitration Agreements
Pursuant to section 1028(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is issuing this final rule to regulate arbitration agreements in contracts for specified consumer financial product and services. First, the final rule prohibits covered providers of certain consumer financial products and services from using an agreement with a consumer that provides for arbitration of any future dispute between the parties to bar the consumer from filing or participating in a class action concerning the covered consumer financial product or service. Second, the final rule requires covered providers that are involved in an arbitration pursuant to a pre-dispute arbitration agreement to submit specified arbitral records to the Bureau and also to submit specified court records. The Bureau is also adopting official interpretations to the regulation.
Final Format and Summary of Responses to Request for Information Regarding Disclosures for Student Financial Accounts; Announcement of Applicable Dates
On May 9, 2017, the Department of Education (Department) published in the Federal Register a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit ideas and information related to the major features and types of commonly assessed fees that postsecondary institutions (institutions) must disclose under Department regulations with regard to each of the institution's Tier 1 (T1) or Tier 2 (T2) arrangements. The Department announces the final format for these disclosures. To allow institutions sufficient time to adopt the final format, if they elect to do so, the Department is allowing additional timeuntil January 1, 2018for institutions to comply with the applicable disclosure requirements.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Connecticut River, East Haddam, CT
The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Route 82 Bridge (East Haddam Swing Bridge) across the Connecticut River, mile 16.8, at East Haddam, Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Transportation submitted a request to reduce scheduled openings of the span for recreational vessels during the boating season and to allow the bridge owner to require six hours notice for bridge openings at night during the winter season. It is expected this change to the regulations will better serve the needs of the community while still continuing to satisfy the reasonable needs of navigation.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Shrewsbury River, Sea Bright, New Jersey
The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Monmouth County Highway Bridge (alternatively referred to as the ``Sea Bright Bridge'' or the ``S-32 Bridge'') across the Shrewsbury River, mile 4.0 at Sea Bright, New Jersey. The bridge owner submitted a request to reduce scheduled openings of the span and include Fridays within the seasonal weekend operating schedule for the bridge. It is expected this change to the regulations will better serve the needs of the community while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.
National Maritime Security Advisory Committee-Input To Support Regulatory Reform of Coast Guard Regulations-New Task
The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing a new task to the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee (NMSAC). The U.S. Coast Guard is asking NMSAC to help the agency identify existing regulations, guidance, and collections of information (that fall within the scope of the Committee's charter) for possible repeal, replacement, or modification. This tasking is in response to the issuance of Executive Orders 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs; 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda;'' and 13783, ``Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth.'' The full Committee is scheduled to meet by teleconference on August 24, 2017, to discuss this tasking. This teleconference will be open to the public. The U.S. Coast Guard will consider NMSAC recommendations as part of the process of identifying regulations, guidance, and collections of information to be repealed, replaced, or modified pursuant to the three Executive Orders discussed above.
Lower Mississippi Waterway Safety Advisory Committee-Input To Support Regulatory Reform of Coast Guard Regulations-New Task
The U.S. Coast Guard is issuing a new task to the Lower Mississippi Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC). The U.S. Coast Guard is asking LMRWSAC to help the agency identify existing regulations, guidance, and collections of information (that fall within the scope of the Committee's charter) for possible repeal, replacement, or modification. This tasking is in response to the issuance of Executive Orders 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs; 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda;'' and 13783, ``Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth.'' The full Committee is scheduled to meet by teleconference on August 2, 2017, to discuss this tasking. This teleconference will be open to the public. The U.S. Coast Guard will consider LMRWSAC recommendations as part of the process of identifying regulations, guidance, and collections of information to be repealed, replaced, or modified pursuant to the three Executive Orders discussed above.
Repeal of Regulations Governing the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) issues this NPRM to propose the repeal of its regulations governing the Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP). The PTFP is a competitive grant program that helps public broadcasting stations, state and local governments, Indian Tribes, and nonprofit organizations to construct public television and radio stations. As of Fiscal Year 2011, no funds have been available for PTFP grants. NTIA is proposing to repeal its regulations governing the PTFP because the regulations are unnecessary and obsolete.
Air Plan Approval; NC; Open Burning and Miscellaneous Revisions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve several revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (formerly the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR)), Division of Air Quality (DAQ), on October 14, 2004, March 24, 2006, and January 31, 2008. The revisions include changes to several regulations and the addition of a new section to the Exclusionary Rules of the North Carolina SIP. These revisions are part of North Carolina's strategy to meet and maintain the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action is being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and its implementing regulations.
Air Plan Approval; NC; Open Burning and Miscellaneous Revisions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve several revisions to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North Carolina, through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (formerly the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources), Division of Air Quality, on October 14, 2004, March 24, 2006, and January 31, 2008. The proposed revisions pertain to changes to several regulations and the addition of a new section to the Exclusionary Rules of the North Carolina SIP. These revisions are part of North Carolina's strategy to meet and maintain the national ambient air quality standards. This action is being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act and its implementing regulations.
Air Plan Approval; Illinois; NAAQS Updates
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revised rules submitted by the State of Illinois as State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions. The submitted rules update Illinois' ambient air quality standards to include the 2015 primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone (O3), add EPA-promulgated monitoring methods for several NAAQS, and address EPA's revocation of the 1997 O3 NAAQS. In addition, the revised rules contain the timing requirements for the ``flagging of exceptional events'' and the submission of documentation supporting exceptional events for the initial area designations for the 2015 primary annual O3 standard. These SIP revisions update Illinois air pollution control regulations to be ``identical-in-substance'' to EPA rulemakings related to the NAAQS that occurred between January 1, 2014 and June 17, 2016.
Public Hearing for Standards for 2018 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019 Under the Renewable Fuel Standard Program
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a public hearing to be held in Washington, DC on August 1, 2017 for the proposed rule ``Renewable Fuel Standard Program: Standards for 2018 and Biomass-Based Diesel Volume for 2019.'' This proposed rule will be published separately in the Federal Register. The pre-publication version of this proposal can be found at https://www.epa.gov/renewable- fuel-standard-program/regulations-and-volume-standards-under- renewable- fuel-standard. In the separate notice of proposed rulemaking, EPA has proposed amendments to the renewable fuel standard program regulations that would establish annual percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and renewable fuels that would apply to all gasoline and diesel produced in the U.S. or imported in the year 2018. In addition, the separate proposal includes a proposed biomass-based diesel applicable volume for 2019.
Air Plan Approval; Illinois; NAAQS Updates
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revised rules submitted by the State of Illinois as State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions. The submitted rules update Illinois' ambient air quality standards to include the 2015 primary National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone (O3), add EPA-promulgated monitoring methods for multiple NAAQS, and address EPA's revocation of the 1997 O3 NAAQS. In addition, the revised rules contain the timing requirements for the ``flagging of exceptional events'' and the submission of documentation supporting exceptional events for the initial area designations for the 2015 primary annual O3 standard. These SIP revisions update Illinois air pollution control regulations to be ``identical-in-substance'' to EPA rulemakings related to the NAAQS that occurred between January 1, 2014 and July 13, 2016.
Production or Disclosure of Material or Information; Adding the Definition of a Record and Clarifying Language Concerning the Timing of Responses to Requests and Specific Categories of Records
The Postal Service is adding the definition of a record to its regulations concerning the Freedom of Information Act. The Postal Service is deleting language in order to clarify the timing of responses to requests. The Postal Service is also adding two words to two provisions in its Freedom of Information Act regulations concerning special categories of records, for clarification purposes.
Incorporation by Reference of American Society of Mechanical Engineers Codes and Code Cases
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to incorporate by reference recent editions and addenda to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Codes for nuclear power plants and a standard for quality assurance. The NRC is also incorporating by reference six ASME Code Cases. This action is in accordance with the NRC's policy to periodically update the regulations to incorporate by reference new editions and addenda of the ASME Codes and is intended to maintain the safety of nuclear power plants and to make NRC activities more effective and efficient.
Air Plan Approval; KY; Revisions to Ambient Air Quality Standards
On September 9, 2016, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ), submitted a revision to the Kentucky State Implementation Plan (SIP). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve changes to the Commonwealth's air quality standards for carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone, particulate matter (both PM10 and PM2.5), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) to reflect the historical and current National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is proposing to approve this SIP revision because the Commonwealth has demonstrated that these change are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). KDAQ's submission also includes additional air quality standards for hydrogen sulfide, fluorides, and odor; however, EPA is not proposing to approve these state standards into the SIP.
Air Plan Approval; Minnesota; State Board Requirements
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) submission from Minnesota addressing the state board requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is also proposing to approve elements of Minnesota's submission addressing the infrastructure requirements relating to state boards for the 1997 ozone, 1997 fine particulate (PM2.5), 2006 PM2.5, 2008 lead (Pb), 2008 ozone, 2010 nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2), and 2012 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This SIP revision was submitted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on May 26, 2016.
Air Plan Approval; Minnesota; 2008 Ozone Transport
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a May 26, 2016, State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from Minnesota that is intended to demonstrate that the Minnesota SIP meets certain interstate transport requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This submission addresses the requirement that each SIP contain adequate provisions prohibiting air emissions that will have certain adverse air quality effects in other states. EPA is proposing to approve this SIP as containing adequate provisions to ensure that Minnesota emissions do not significantly contribute to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the 2008 ozone NAAQS in any other state.
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