July 18, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FHWA is extending the comment period for a notice of availability for a DEIS for the Hunts Point Access Improvement Project, which was published on June 1, 2018. The original comment period is set to close on July 16, 2018. The extension is based on the FHWA's desire to allow interested parties sufficient time to review and provide comprehensive comments on this DEIS. Therefore, the closing date for comments is changed to July 31, 2018, which will provide those interested in commenting additional time to discuss, evaluate, and submit responses.

The 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (2017 WHIP) will provide payments to eligible producers who suffered eligible crop, tree, bush, and vine losses resulting from hurricanes and wildfires that occurred in the 2017 calendar year, as authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA). This rule specifies the administrative provisions, eligibility requirements, application procedures, and payment calculations for 2017 WHIP.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a determination of attainment by the attainment date and a clean data determination (CDD) for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Logan, Utah (UT)-Idaho (ID) nonattainment area. The determination is based upon quality-assured, quality-controlled and certified ambient air monitoring data showing that the area has attained the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) based on 2015-2017 data available in the EPA's Air Quality System (AQS) database. Based on the proposed determination that the Logan, UT-ID nonattainment area is currently attaining the 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS, the EPA is also proposing to determine that the obligation for Utah and Idaho to make submissions to meet certain Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) requirements related to attainment of the NAAQS for this area is not applicable for as long as the area continues to attain the NAAQS.

Under authority of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention Implementation Act (WCPFC Implementation Act), NMFS issues this final rule that establishes limits on fishing effort by U.S. purse seine vessels in the U.S. exclusive economic zone and on the high seas between the latitudes of 20[deg] N and 20[deg] S in the area of application of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (Convention); restrictions regarding the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) for U.S. purse seine fishing vessels; limits on the catches of bigeye tuna by U.S. longline vessels in the Convention area; prohibitions on U.S. vessels used to fish for highly migratory species from engaging in transshipment in a particular area of the high seas (the Eastern High Seas Special Management Area or EHSSMA); and removal of existing reporting requirements for vessels transiting the EHSSMA. The rule also makes corrections to outdated cross references in existing regulatory text. This action is necessary to satisfy the obligations of the United States under the Convention, to which it is a Contracting Party.

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirements (EPCRA sections 302, 303, and 304).'' (EPA ICR No. 1395.10, OMB Control No. 2050-0092) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2018. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) proposes measures to ensure that internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) remains sustainable for those individuals who need it by reducing waste and thereby bringing under control the exponential growth of the program. The Commission seeks comment on measures to ensure fair and efficient provider compensation, including compensation for the provision of IP CTS using fully automated speech recognition (ASR); move the compensation rate closer to reasonable cost; expand the IP CTS contribution base; and reduce the risk of providers signing up ineligible customers and encouraging IP CTS usage regardless of a consumer's need for the service. The Commission also seeks comment on IP CTS performance goals and metrics to ensure service quality for users.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is amending its regulations to reflect a change of address for the Office of Federal Acknowledgment. This rule is a technical amendment that corrects the address for filing petitions for Federal acknowledgment as an Indian Tribe.

NMFS is closing the Southern Exclusion Zone (SEZ) to deep-set longline fishing through December 31, 2018, for all vessels registered under the Hawaii longline limited access program, as a result of the fishery reaching the established annual trigger of two observed false killer whale mortalities or serious injuries (M&SI) in the fishery within the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Hawaii. This action is necessary to comply with False Killer Whale Take Reduction Plan (Plan) regulations that establish the SEZ closure trigger and procedures to limit M&SI of false killer whales in the Hawaii deep-set longline fishery.

The Commission is proposing revisions to the periodic reporting requirements codified in our regulations. This document informs the public of the proposed rules, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

On May 7, 2019, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) announced its intention in a Federal Register Notice (83 FR 20139) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the following information collection: Voluntary Oil and Gas Industry Safety Data Program. The Oil and Gas Industry Safety Data (ISO) program, is a component of BTS's SafeOCS data sharing framework, that provides a trusted, proactive means for the oil and gas industry to report sensitive and proprietary safety information, and to identify early warnings of safety problems and potential safety issues by uncovering hidden, at-risk conditions not previously exposed from analysis of reportable accidents and incidents. The ISD identifies a broader range of data categories to ensure safe performance and appropriate risk management, which adds a learning component to assist the oil and gas industry in achieving improved safety performance. At that time, BTS also encouraged interested parties to submit comments to docket number DOT-OST-2017-0043, allowing for a 60-day comment period. The comment period closed on July 7, 2018. BTS received two non-relevant comments from the anonymous public entities. The purpose of this Notice is to respond to the comments received on the May 7, 2018 announcement and allow 30 days for public comment to OMB on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Production, Import, Export, Destruction, Transhipment, and Exempted Uses of Ozone-Depleting Substances (EPA ICR No. 1432.34, OMB Control No. 2060-0170), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed revision of the ICR, which is currently approved through October 2018. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on January 19, 2018 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An agency may not conduct or sponsor and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

At the request of The Chickasaw Nation, the Audio Division amends the FM Table of Allotments by allotting FM Channel 247A at Connerville, Oklahoma, as a Tribal Allotment and a first local Tribal- owned service to the community. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 247A can be allotted at Connerville, Oklahoma, as proposed, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction 9.40 km (5.84 miles) southwest of the community. The reference coordinates are 34-25-00 NL and 96-43-53 WL.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is terminating the South Texas Project (STP) Units 3 and 4 Combined Licenses (COLs) designated as NPF-97 and NPF-98, and their included licenses to manufacture, produce, transfer, receive, acquire, own, possess, or use byproduct material. By letter dated June 22, 2018, Nuclear Innovation North America, LLC (NINA) requested that the NRC terminate the STP Units 3 and 4 COLs. Construction was not initiated for STP Units 3 and 4, and nuclear materials were never procured or possessed under these licenses. Consequently, the STP Units 3 and 4 site is approved for unrestricted use.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission's consideration concerning negotiated service agreements. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the renewal of the Science Board to the Food and Drug Administration (Committee) by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (Commissioner). The Commissioner has determined that it is in the public interest to renew the Science Board to the Food and Drug Administration for an additional 2 years beyond the charter expiration date. The new charter will be in effect until June 26, 2020.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the upper reaches of Taylor Bayou Turning Basin in Port Arthur, TX. This action is necessary to provide protection for the levee and temporary protection wall located at the north end of the turning basin until permanent repairs can be effected. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur (COTP) or a designated representative.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) that a meeting of the Mississippi Advisory Committee to the Commission will convene by conference call at 1:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday, July 27, 2018. The purpose of the meeting is to continue discussion for potential topics of study.

As part of our continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) invites comments on the proposed information collection associated with its chemist certification program.