January 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Justice is adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties assessed or enforced by components of the Department, in accordance with the provisions of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, for penalties assessed after January 29, 2018, with respect to violations occurring after November 2, 2015.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that operation of fuselage doors was interrupted due to corrosion in certain door roller bearings. This AD requires a one-time detailed inspection of the bearings for corrosion, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Federal Election Commission requests comments on proposed changes to its regulations concerning independent expenditures by candidates. The Commission also requests comments on proposed changes to its regulations to address reporting of independent expenditures and electioneering communications that relate to presidential primary elections and that are publicly distributed in multiple states but that do not refer to any particular state's primary election. The Commission has made no final decision on the issues and proposals presented in this rulemaking.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of the Cry51Aa2.834_16 protein derived from Bacillus thuringiensis in or on cotton, when used as a plant- incorporated protectant. Monsanto Company submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting this exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need under FFDCA to establish a maximum permissible level for such residues.

On January 19, 2017, HUD and other federal departments and agencies published a final rule which revised the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects (2018 Requirements). Most of the 2018 Requirements were scheduled to become effective on January 19, 2018, with a general compliance date of January 19, 2018. On January 22, 2018, the Federal departments and agencies that adopted the 2018 Requirements published an interim final rule (``the interagency interim final rule'') that delays the effective date and general compliance date of the 2018 Requirements for six months, to July 19, 2018. The purpose of the delay is to provide additional time to regulated entities for the preparations necessary to implement the 2018 requirements. Due to statutory prepublication requirements applicable to HUD rules, HUD was unable to be a signatory to the interagency interim final rule. Through this interim final rule, HUD adopts the interagency interim final rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a Clean Air Act (CAA) section 111(d)/129 plan (the ``plan'') submitted by the Division of Air Quality of the North Dakota Department of Health (the ``Department'') on June 12, 2014. The plan would allow for the implementation of emissions guidelines for existing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration (CISWI) units within the jurisdiction of the State of North Dakota. The plan creates new enforceable emissions limits and operating procedures for existing CISWI units within the State of North Dakota in accordance with the requirements established by the revised CISWI new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines (EG), promulgated by the EPA on March 21, 2011, with subsequent final amendments to the rule promulgated on February 7, 2013. This proposed plan approval rulemaking is being taken in accordance with the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA and the relevant parts and subparts of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

This regulation establishes time-limited tolerances for residues of flonicamid in or on prickly pear, fruit and prickly pear, pads. This action is in response to EPA's granting of an emergency exemption under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of the pesticide on prickly pear, fruit and prickly pear, pads. This regulation establishes a maximum permissible level for residues of flonicamid in or on these commodities. The time- limited tolerances expire on December 31, 2020.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Agency, or we) is amending the general biologics regulations relating to time of inspection requirements and also removing duties of inspector requirements. FDA is taking this action to remove outdated requirements and accommodate new approaches, such as a risk-based inspection frequency for drug establishments, thereby providing flexibility without diminishing public health protections. This action is part of FDA's implementation of Executive Orders (E.O.s) 13771 and 13777. Under these E.O.s, FDA is comprehensively reviewing existing regulations to identify opportunities for repeal, replacement, or modification that will result in meaningful burden reduction while allowing the Agency to achieve our public health mission and fulfill statutory obligations. The Agency is issuing these amendments directly as a final rule because we believe they are noncontroversial and FDA anticipates no significant adverse comments.

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.

On August 30, 2017, the Commission issued a final rule determining that certain plastics and additives would not contain the phthalates that the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) prohibits from use in children's toys and child care articles. Subsequently, the Commission issued a final rule that removes some phthalates from the statutory prohibition and adds others. This direct final rule revises the determinations rule to cover the phthalates that the phthalates final rule prohibits from use in children's toys and child care articles.

This rule implements inflation adjustments to civil money penalties (CMPs) that the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation (FCSIC) may impose under the Farm Credit Act of 1971, as amended. These adjustments are required by 2015 amendments to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990.

This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) initiates a comprehensive review of the national television audience reach cap, including the UHF discount used by broadcasters to determine compliance with the cap. The national cap limits entities from owning or controlling television stations that, together, reach more than 39 percent of the television households in the country. The NPRM asks questions about whether a cap is still needed and what public interest goals it would promote, where the cap should be set if still needed, and how compliance with the cap should be calculated, including the question of whether the UHF discount should be eliminated. The Notice also invites comment on the Commission's legal authority to take such actions.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2018 Pacific cod total allowable catch allocated to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 m) LOA using hook-and-line or pot gear in the BSAI.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in a framework action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). If implemented, this proposed rule would change the recreational fishing year and modify the recreational fixed closed season for greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The purposes of this proposed rule and the framework action are to constrain recreational harvest to assist in ending overfishing, and to rebuild the greater amberjack stock in the Gulf, while maximizing optimum yield (OY) of the greater amberjack stock in the Gulf.

Consistent with Executive Order 13771 entitled ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,'' and Executive Order 13777 entitled, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' and as part of the efforts of HUD's Regulatory Reform Task Force, this document informs the public that HUD is reviewing its existing and planned manufactured housing regulatory actions to assess their actual and potential compliance costs and reduce regulatory burden. HUD invites public comment to assist in identifying regulations that may be outmoded, ineffective or excessively burdensome and should be modified, streamlined, replaced or repealed.

In the regulation of health care, the United States has a long history of providing conscience-based protections for individuals and entities with objections to certain activities based on religious belief and moral convictions. Multiple such statutory protections apply to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, or the Department) and the programs or activities it funds or administers. The Department proposes to revise regulations previously promulgated to ensure that persons or entities are not subjected to certain practices or policies that violate conscience, coerce, or discriminate, in violation of such Federal laws. Through this rulemaking, the Department proposes to grant overall responsibility to its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) for ensuring that the Department, its components, HHS programs and activities, and those who participate in HHS programs or activities comply with Federal laws protecting the rights of conscience and prohibiting associated discriminatory policies and practices in such programs and activities. In addition to conducting outreach and providing technical assistance, OCR will have the authority to initiate compliance reviews, conduct investigations, supervise and coordinate compliance by the Department and its components, and use enforcement tools otherwise available in civil rights law to address violations and resolve complaints. In order to ensure that recipients of Federal financial assistance and other Department funds comply with their legal obligations, the Department will require certain recipients to maintain records; cooperate with OCR's investigations, reviews, or other enforcement actions; submit written assurances and certifications of compliance to the Department; and provide notice to individuals and entities about their conscience and associated anti-discrimination rights, as applicable.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the main rotor (M/R) mast jet oil lubrication hose (oil hose). This AD is prompted by a report of a blocked oil hose. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain serial numbered Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 429 helicopters. This proposed AD would require marking a serial number on life-limited forward spars and actuator fitting assemblies. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

NMFS closes the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) off Georgia in the South Atlantic to trawling for penaeid shrimp, i.e., brown, pink, and white shrimp. This closure is necessary to protect the spawning stock of white shrimp that has been subject to unusually cold weather conditions where state water temperatures have been 9 [deg]C (48[emsp14][deg]F), or less, for at least 7 consecutive days.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Chambers Bay railroad lift bridge (Chambers Bay Bridge) across Chambers Bay, mile 0.01, near Steilacoom in Pierce County, WA. The deviation allows the Chambers Bay Bridge to operate without a duty bridge operator during the late evening and early morning hours over the relevant dates. During these hours the Chambers Bay Bridge will remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

The Coast Guard is establishing an emergency temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River between mile marker (MM) 40 and MM 45. This emergency safety zone is needed to protect life, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with lightering operations of a grounded barge. Entry of down-bound vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, we, or Agency) is announcing the availability of another draft chapter of a multichapter guidance for industry entitled ``Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry.'' This multichapter draft guidance is intended to explain our current thinking on how to comply with the requirements for hazard analysis and risk- based preventive controls under our rule entitled ``Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.'' The newly available draft chapter is entitled ``Chapter 15Supply-Chain Program for Human Food Products.''

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals.'' The draft guidance, once finalized, will provide our thinking on how importers of human or animal food can comply with the regulation on foreign supplier verification programs (FSVPs) issued on November 27, 2015.