May 9, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment this continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

OSHA solicits public comments concerning its proposal to extend the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the information collection requirements specified in the Inorganic Arsenic Standard.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA PMC Program Management Committee Plenary.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, this notice announces that the National Advisory Council of the National Health Service Corps (NACNHSC) will hold a public meeting.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Economic Adjustment announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'' or ``Office'') proposes changes to the claim construction standard for interpreting claims in inter partes review (``IPR''), post-grant review (``PGR''), and the transitional program for covered business method patents (``CBM'') proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (``PTAB'' or ``Board''). In particular, the Office proposes to replace the broadest reasonable interpretation (``BRI'') standard for construing unexpired patent claims and proposed claims in these trial proceedings with a standard that is the same as the standard applied in federal district courts and International Trade Commission (``ITC'') proceedings. The Office also proposes to amend the rules to add that the Office will consider any prior claim construction determination concerning a term of the involved claim in a civil action, or an ITC proceeding, that is timely made of record in an IPR, PGR, or CBM proceeding.

This rule implements a recommendation from the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee (Committee) to decrease the assessment rate established for the 2018 fiscal period for grapes grown in a designated area of southeastern California. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Department of Defense has submitted to OMB for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve, as a revision of the California state implementation plan (SIP), the State's request to redesignate the Chico nonattainment area to attainment for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard. The EPA is also proposing to approve the PM2.5 maintenance plan and the determination that contributions from motor vehicle emissions to the PM2.5 pollution in the Chico nonattainment area are insignificant. The EPA is proposing this action because the SIP revision meets the requirements of the Clean Air Act and EPA guidance for such plans. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a request from New Jersey to revise its State Implementation Plan (SIP) to incorporate revisions to the motor vehicle enhanced inspection and maintenance (I/M) program. New Jersey has made several amendments to its I/M program and has requested that the SIP be revised to include these changes. EPA is approving New Jersey's amendments to its I/M program to discontinue idle tests on model years 1995 and older light duty gasoline vehicles, idle tests on heavy-duty gasoline vehicles and gas cap leak testing. In addition, heavy-duty gasoline vehicles equipped with on-board diagnostics (OBD) will be subject to OBD testing with this revision. The intended effect of this action is to maintain consistency between the State-adopted rules and the federally approved SIP.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-200, - 300, and -320 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require updating the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, SA- 365N1, and SA-366G1 helicopters. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the aft fuselage outer skin. This proposed AD is prompted by several reports of aft fuselage outer skin disbonding. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-16-03 for SOCATA Models TB 9 and TB 10 airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as fatigue cracking of the wing front attachments on the wing and fuselage sides. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of Eighty Eighth RTCA SC-147 Plenary Session Joint with EUROCAE WG-75.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``SEC'' or the ``Commission'') is publishing for comment a proposed interpretation of the standard of conduct for investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the ``Advisers Act'' or the ``Act''). The Commission also is requesting comment on: Licensing and continuing education requirements for personnel of SEC- registered investment advisers; delivery of account statements to clients with investment advisory accounts; and financial responsibility requirements for SEC-registered investment advisers, including fidelity bonds.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is proposing new and amended rules and forms under both the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (``Advisers Act'') and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') to require registered investment advisers and registered broker-dealers (together, ``firms'') to provide a brief relationship summary to retail investors to inform them about the relationships and services the firm offers, the standard of conduct and the fees and costs associated with those services, specified conflicts of interest, and whether the firm and its financial professionals currently have reportable legal or disciplinary events. Retail investors would receive a relationship summary at the beginning of a relationship with a firm, and would receive updated information following a material change. The relationship summary would be subject to Commission filing and recordkeeping requirements. The Commission also is proposing two rules to reduce investor confusion in the marketplace for firm services, a new rule under the Exchange Act that would restrict broker-dealers and associated natural persons of broker- dealers, when communicating with a retail investor, from using the term ``adviser'' or ``advisor'' in specified circumstances; and new rules under the Exchange Act and Advisers Act that would require broker- dealers and investment advisers, and their associated natural persons and supervised persons, respectively, to disclose, in retail investor communications, the firm's registration status with the Commission and an associated natural person's and/or supervised person's relationship with the firm.