May 11, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 1 - 43 of 43
Authority of Health Care Providers To Practice Telehealth
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its medical regulations by standardizing the delivery of care by VA health care providers through telehealth. This rule ensures that VA health care providers can offer the same level of care to all beneficiaries, irrespective of the State or location in a State of the VA health care provider or the beneficiary. This final rule achieves important Federal interests by increasing the availability of mental health, specialty, and general clinical care for all beneficiaries.
Walnuts Grown in California; Order Amending Marketing Order 984
This final rule amends Marketing Order No. 984, which regulates the handling of walnuts grown in California. The amendment, which was proposed by the California Walnut Board (Board), was approved by growers in the referendum. This action authorizes the Board to borrow from a commercial lending institution to fund operations and marketing/research expenses for the program.
Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan Including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, and Calumet-Saganashkee Channel, Chicago, IL
The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone: Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Main Branch of the Chicago River between the Wells Street Bridge and the Wabash Street Bridge. This action is necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with the hazards of a bridge based fireworks display.
Safety Zone; Cocos Lagoon, Merizo, GU
The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone for navigable waters within Cocos Lagoon. This safety zone will encompass the designated swim course for the Cocos Crossing swim event in the waters of Cocos Lagoon, Merizo, Guam. This safety zone is necessary to protect all persons and vessels participating in this marine event from potential safety hazards associated with vessel traffic in the area. Race participants, chase boats, and organizers of the event will be exempt from the safety zone. Entry of persons or vessels into the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Guam (COTP).
Pacific Island Fisheries; Closure of the 2018 Hawaii Shallow-Set Longline Fishery; Court Order
This final rule closes the Hawaii shallow-set pelagic longline fishery in compliance with an order of the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019; Correction
This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register on April 17, 2018 entitled ``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2019.''
Safety Zones; Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley Annual and Recurring Safety Zones Update
The Coast Guard is amending and updating its safety zones regulations for annual events that take place in the Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley area. This action is necessary to update the current list of recurring safety zones with revisions, additional events, and removal of events that no longer take place in Sector Ohio Valley. This regulation restricts vessel traffic from the safety zones during the events unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley or a designated representative.
Milk in the Florida Marketing Area; Order Amending the Order
This final rule amends the Florida Federal milk marketing order (FMMO) to adopt a temporary assessment on Class I milk. Assessment revenue will be disbursed to handlers and producers who incurred extraordinary marketing losses and expenses due to Hurricane Irma in September 2017. More than the required number of producers for the Florida marketing area have approved the issuance of the final order as amended.
Medicare Program; Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule Adjustments To Resume the Transitional 50/50 Blended Rates To Provide Relief in Rural Areas and Non-Contiguous Areas
This interim final rule with comment period makes technical amendments to the regulation to reflect the extension of the transition period from June 30, 2016 to December 31, 2016 that was mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act for phasing in fee schedule adjustments for certain durable medical equipment (DME) and enteral nutrition paid in areas not subject to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP). In addition, this interim final rule with comment period amends the regulation to resume the transition period's blended fee schedule rates for items furnished in rural areas and non-contiguous areas (Alaska, Hawaii, and United States territories) not subject to the CBP from June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. This interim final rule with comment period also makes technical amendments to existing regulations for DMEPOS items and services to reflect the exclusion of infusion drugs used with DME from the DMEPOS CBP.
Tart Cherries Grown in the States of Michigan, et al.; Free and Restricted Percentages for the 2017-18 Crop Year for Tart Cherries
This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) to establish free and restricted percentages for the 2017-18 crop year under the Marketing Order for tart cherries grown in the states of Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. This action would establish the proportion of tart cherries from the 2017 crop which may be handled in commercial outlets. This action should stabilize marketing conditions by adjusting supply to meet market demand and help improve grower returns.
Restoring Internet Freedom
In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's Restoring Internet Freedom Declaratory Ruling, Report and Order, and Order (Order)'s transparency rule. This document is consistent with the Order, which stated that the Commission would publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the refinements to the transparency rule, the delayed amendatory instructions revising the Commission's rules consistent with the Order, and the Order, which among other things restore the classification of broadband internet access service as an information service, reinstate the private mobile service classification of mobile broadband internet access service, and eliminate the conduct rules imposed by the Title II Order.
Radio Broadcasting Services; Connerville, Oklahoma
This document requests comments on a Petition for Rule Making filed by The Chickasaw Nation, proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by allotting Channel 247A at Connerville, Oklahoma, as the first local Tribal-owned commercial service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 247A can be allotted to Connerville consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules. The reference coordinates are 34-25-00 NL and 96-43-53 WL with a site restriction of 9.40 km (5.84 miles) southwest of the community.
Expanded Access to Non-VA Care Through the Veterans Choice Program
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adopts as final, with no change, an interim final rule revising its medical regulations that implement section 101 of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, as amended, (hereafter referred to as ``the Choice Act''), which requires VA to establish a program (hereafter referred to as the ``Veterans Choice Program'' or the ``Program'') to furnish hospital care and medical services through eligible non-VA health care providers to eligible veterans who either cannot be seen within the wait-time goals of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) or who qualify based on their place of residence or face an unusual or excessive burden in traveling to a VA medical facility. Those revisions contained in the interim final rule, which is now adopted as final, were required by amendments to the Choice Act made by the Construction Authorization and Choice Improvement Act of 2014, and by the Surface Transportation and Veterans Health Care Choice Improvement Act of 2015. VA published an interim final rule on December 1, 2015, implementing those regulatory revisions, and we received seven public comments. This final rule responds to those public comments and does not make any further regulatory revisions.
Safety Zone; Pacific Ocean, Kilauea Lava Flow Ocean Entry on Southeast Side of Island of Hawaii, HI
The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone surrounding the area of entry of lava from the Kilauea volcano into the Pacific Ocean on the southeast side of the Island of Hawaii, HI. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from the potential hazards associated with molten lava entering the ocean. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone during active lava flow reaching the Pacific Ocean on Kilauea volcano's southeast coast unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Honolulu or a designated representative.
Safety Zone; Barge PFE-LB444, San Joaquin River, Blackslough Landing, CA
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the San Joaquin River due to an unstable, partially submerged barge with hull number PFE-LB444. The temporary safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the barge and associated recovery efforts. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port San Francisco.
Recurring Safety Zone; Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Team/Friday Night Fireworks
The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones for the Corpus Christi Hooks Baseball Team/Friday Night Fireworks on odd week Fridays from May 11, 2018 through August 24, 2018, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Eighth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in Corpus Christi, TX. During the enforcement periods, entry into these zones is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi (COTP) or a designated representative.
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Reclassifying Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleri from Endangered to Threatened
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), reclassify Echinocereus fendleri var. kuenzleri (Kuenzler hedgehog cactus) from endangered to threatened on the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination is based on a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, which indicates that the threats to this plant have been reduced to the point that it no longer meets the definition of endangered under the Act, but that it is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future.
Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL 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 an incorrect size bolt may have been used to assemble the elevator bellcrank pivot joint. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Matching Funds Requirements for Agricultural Research and Extension Capacity Funds at 1890 Land-Grant Institutions, Including Central State University, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State University, and at 1862 Land-Grant Institutions in Insular Areas
This final rule amends National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) regulations for the purpose of implementing the statutory amendments applicable to the National Institute of Food and Agriculture's (NIFA) matching requirements for Federal agricultural research and extension capacity (formula) funds for 1890 land-grant institutions (LGUs), including Central State University, Tuskegee University, and West Virginia State University, and 1862 land-grant institutions in insular areas, and to remove the term ``qualifying educational activities.'' These matching requirements were amended by the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act; the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008; and the Agricultural Act of 2014.
Airworthiness Directives; Pacific Aerospace Limited Airplanes
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and address an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as insufficient clearance between the pitot tubes and the primary support at the flame arrester intersection. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Passports
This final rule provides various changes and updates to the Department of State passport rules. The final rule incorporates statutory passport denial and revocation requirements for certain convicted sex offenders. It notes that, notwithstanding the legal bases for denial or revocation of a passport, the Department may issue a passport for direct return to the United States. It sets out the Department's procedures for denying and cancelling Consular Reports of Birth Abroad. Finally, the final rule provides additional information relating to the conduct of review hearings.
Air Plan Approval; ID, Pinehurst PM10
On September 29, 2017, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) submitted a redesignation request and limited maintenance plan (LMP) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to ten micrometers (PM10) for the PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) developed for the Pinehurst PM10 Nonattainment Area (NAA) and Pinehurst PM10 Expansion Nonattainment Area (NAA). The redesignation request asserts that the area meets the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for redesignation identified in section 107(d)(3)(E). This limited maintenance plan for these contiguous nonattainment areas addresses maintenance of the PM10 standard for a ten-year period beyond redesignation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to approve this IDEQ Implementation Plan (SIP) revision. The EPA also proposes to approve the September 15, 2013, high wind exceptional event at the Pinehurst monitoring station. Additionally, the EPA is proposing to approve the emissions inventory for the West Silver Valley annual PM2.5 NAA.
Air Plan Approval; KY; Fine Particulate Matter and Ozone NAAQS Revisions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve portions of State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality, on December 21, 2016, and August 29, 2017, on behalf of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District). The changes to the SIP that EPA is taking final action to approve are the portions of the submittals that modify the District's Ambient Air Quality Standards regulation, specifically changes to the District's air quality standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ozone to reflect the 2012 PM2.5 and 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). EPA has determined that the December 21, 2016, and August 29, 2017, SIP revisions are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). EPA will act on the other portions of the December 21, 2016, and August 29, 2017, submittals in a separate action.
Accepted Means of Compliance; Airworthiness Standards: Normal Category Airplanes
This document announces the availability of 63 Means of Compliance (MOC) based on 30 published ASTM International (ASTM) consensus standards developed by ASTM Committee F44 on General Aviation Aircraft. A total of 46 of these accepted MOCs consist of ASTM consensus standards as published, with the remaining 17 MOCs comprised of a combination of ASTM standards and FAA changes. The Administrator finds these MOCs to be an acceptable means, but not the only means, of showing compliance to the applicable regulations in part 23, amendment 23-64, for normal category airplanes. The Administrator further finds that these accepted means of complying with part 23, amendment 23-64, provide at least the same level of safety as the corresponding requirements in part 23, amendment 23-63.
Proposed Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Aspen, CO
This action proposes to amend Class E airspace designated as an extension and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Aspen-Pitkin County Airport/Sardy Field, Aspen, CO, by realigning the Class E extension and removing the part-time Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) language from the legal description, and reducing the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and removing Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action would also update the airport's geographic coordinates in the associated Class D and E airspace areas to match the FAA's aeronautical database. These changes are necessary to accommodate airspace redesign for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. Also, an editorial change would be made to the Class D airspace and Class E extension airspace legal descriptions replacing Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement.
Establishment of Class E Airspace, Paris, ID
This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Bear Lake County Airport, Paris, ID, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport. This action is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.
Establishment of Class E Airspace, Manley Hot Springs, AK
This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Manley Hot Springs Airport, Manley Hot Springs, AK, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures at the airport. This action ensures the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. Also, this action corrects a rounding error of one second in degrees of latitude for the geographic coordinates of the airport.
Proposed Amendment of Class E Airspace; Kemmerer, WY
This action proposes to amend Class E surface area airspace at Kemmerer Municipal Airport, Kemmerer, WY, by enlarging the airspace area north of the airport and removing the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) part-time status for the airspace. Also, this action would reduce Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface and remove Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. After a review of the airspace, the FAA found these actions necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters with a lower strobe light installed. This proposed AD would require installing a cable mount, inspecting the lower strobe light wiring harness, and re-routing the wiring harness. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of interference between the lower strobe light wiring harness and the helicopter structure. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.
Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 50 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loose, worn, or missing attachment bolts for the main landing gear (MLG) center door assemblies. This proposed AD would require repetitive detailed inspections of the forward and aft MLG center door assembly attachments for loose, missing, damaged, or bottomed out attachment bolts; any wear to the retention clip assemblies as applicable; and applicable on-condition actions. This proposed AD would also provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. Since this is a rotable parts issue, the applicability of this AD has been expanded beyond the airplanes listed in the related service bulletin to include all airplanes on which the MLG center door assemblies may be installed. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report indicating that cracks were found on the fuselage frame webs at stations forward and aft of the overwing emergency exits between stringers S-7 and S-8. This proposed AD would require repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of the fuselage frame webs at certain stations between stringers S-7 and S-8 and applicable on-condition actions. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Rural Call Completion
In this document, we seek comment on rules to implement the recently enacted Improving Rural Call Quality and Reliability Act (``RCC Act''), which directs us to establish registration requirements and service quality standards for ``intermediate providers''entities that transmit calls without serving as the originating or terminating provider. By giving us clear authority to shine a light on intermediate providers and hold them accountable for their performance, the RCC Act provides an important additional tool we can use in our work to promote call completion to all Americans. We anticipate that the rules we will adopt to implement the RCC Act's direction to regulate intermediate providers will complement our covered provider monitoring rule by ensuring that the participants in the call path share in the responsibility to ensure that calls to rural areas are completed. We also seek comment on sunsetting the recording and retention rules established in the 2013 RCC Order upon implementation of the RCC Act.
Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Fisheries
NMFS is adjusting the Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) General category daily retention limit from the default limit of one large medium or giant BFT to three large medium or giant BFT for June 1 through August 31, 2018. This action is based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat category permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT.
Extension of Deadline for Action on the Section 126(b) Petition From New York
In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that 60 days is insufficient time to complete the technical and other analyses and public notice-and-comment process required for our review of a petition dated March 12, 2018, submitted by the state of New York pursuant to section 126(b) of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The petition requests that the EPA make a finding that emissions from the collection of identified sources in nine states (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) significantly contribute to and interfere with maintenance of the 2008 and 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) in New York State. Under section 307(d)(10) of the CAA, the EPA is authorized to grant a time extension for responding to a petition if the EPA determines that the extension is necessary to afford the public, and the Agency, adequate opportunity to carry out the purposes of the section 307(d) notice-and-comment rulemaking requirements. By this action, the EPA is making that determination. The EPA is, therefore, extending the deadline for acting on the petition from May 13, 2018, to no later than November 9, 2018.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-15-13, which applied to certain Airbus Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321- 111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2015- 15-13 required a modification of the potable water service panel and waste water service panel, including doing applicable related investigative and corrective actions. This AD requires a modification of the waste water and potable water service panels with new compliance times. This AD also removes certain airplanes from the applicability and adds Model A320-216 airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the potable water and waste water service panel areas are subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342 airplanes; Model A340-200 series airplanes; and Model A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires contacting the FAA to obtain instructions for addressing the unsafe condition on these products, and doing the actions specified in those instructions. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks on both left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides on certain frame (FR) locations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a revision of an airworthiness limitation items (ALI) document. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the specified maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes
We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-17- 04, which applies to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), and Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. AD 2015-17-04 requires replacement of left and right fixed control rods and lever assemblies of the elevator control system. Since we issued AD 2015-17-04, we have received a report indicating that certain revisions of the service information were missing instructions. This proposed AD would require a detailed visual inspection of the key washers and self- locking nuts of the elevator control linkages and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing 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 all The Boeing Company Model 787-8 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the part number of the occupant restraint system on the standard attendant seats, and doing additional inspections and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by a report of loose attachment bolts on the occupant restraint system on a standard attendant seat due to the bolts being over-torqued during production. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-25-18, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-1A10 and BD- 700-1A11 airplanes. AD 2016-25-18 required an inspection for discrepancies of the attachment points of the links between the engine rear mount assemblies, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD requires an inspection of certain attachment points, corrective action if necessary, and replacement of certain bolts and nuts in the engine rear mount assemblies. This AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by the determination that replacement of certain nuts and bolts in the engine rear mount assemblies is necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Design Standards for Highways
The FHWA requests comments on a proposed revision to design standards and standard specifications that applies to new construction, reconstruction, resurfacing (except for maintenance resurfacing), restoration, and rehabilitation projects on the National Highway System (NHS). The proposed rule would incorporate by reference the latest versions of design standards and standard specifications previously adopted and incorporated by reference, and would remove the corresponding outdated or superseded versions of these standards and specifications. Use of the updated standards will be required for all NHS projects authorized to proceed with design activities on or after the effective date of the final rule.
Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control Revisions
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is proposing to revise existing regulations for well control and blowout preventer systems. This proposed rule would revise requirements for well design, well control, casing, cementing, real-time monitoring (RTM), and subsea containment. These revisions modify regulations pertaining to offshore oil and gas drilling, completions, workovers, and decommissioning in accordance with Executive and Secretary of the Interior's Orders to ensure safety and environmental protection, while correcting errors and reducing certain unnecessary regulatory burdens imposed under the existing regulations. Accordingly, after thoroughly reexamining the original Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control final rule (WCR), experiences from the implementation process, and BSEE policy, BSEE proposes to amend, revise, or remove current regulatory provisions that create unnecessary burdens on stakeholders while ensuring safety and environmental protection. The proposed regulations would also address various issues and errors that were identified during the implementation of the recent rulemaking on these issues.
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