October 1, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, Agency, or we) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on the information collection provisions of our reporting and recordkeeping requirements for antimicrobial animal drug sales and distribution.

EPA is proposing two technical corrections to the light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards regulations finalized in the 2012 rulemaking that established standards for model years 2017- 2025 light-duty vehicles. First, EPA proposes to correct regulations pertaining to how auto manufacturers must calculate credits for the GHG program's optional advanced technology incentives. The regulations currently in place result in auto manufacturers receiving fewer credits than the agency intended for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, fuel cell electric vehicles, and natural gas fueled vehicles. Auto manufacturers requested through a petition letter submitted jointly by the Auto Alliance and Global Automakers in June 2016 that EPA correct the regulations to provide the intended level of credits for these technologies. Second, the regulations regarding how manufacturers must calculate certain types of off-cycle credits contain an error and are inconsistent with the 2012 final rule preamble, raising implementation concerns for some manufacturers. The proposed amendments would clarify the calculation methodology in the regulations. Both of these corrections allow the program to be implemented as originally intended. The proposed corrections are not expected to result in any additional regulatory burdens or costs.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Connecticut. The SIP revisions are for the Greater Connecticut and the Connecticut portion of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT moderate ozone nonattainment areas. EPA is approving submittals which include 2011 base year emissions inventories, an emissions statement certification, reasonable further progress (RFP) demonstrations, reasonably available control measures (RACM) analyses, motor vehicle emissions budgets, and contingency measures. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Coast Guard is establishing a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) for certain waters of the Straits of Mackinac. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and protection of property on these navigable waters near Mackinaw City, MI. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from anchoring or loitering within the RNA unless authorized by the Captain of the Port of Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan or a designated representative.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Clean Air Act (CAA) prohibits knowingly venting or releasing ozone-depleting and substitute refrigerants in the course of maintaining, servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances or industrial process refrigeration. On November 18, 2016, EPA finalized a rule that updated the existing refrigerant management requirements and extended requirements that previously applied only to refrigerants containing an ozone-depleting substance (ODS) to substitute refrigerants such as hydrofluorocarbons that are subject to the venting prohibition (i.e., those that have not been exempted from that prohibition). The Agency is revisiting the aspects of the 2016 Rule that apply to equipment containing such substitute refrigerants. This action proposes changes to the legal interpretation that supported that rule and amendments to the regulations based on the revised interpretation. More specifically, in connection with the proposed changes to the legal interpretation, EPA is proposing to revise the appliance maintenance and leak repair provisions so they apply only to equipment using refrigerant containing a class I or class II substance. Based on this proposed limitation of the leak repair requirements, this document further proposes to revise the list of practices that must be followed in order for refrigerant releases to be considered de minimis to clarify that the reference to following leak repair practices only applies to equipment that contains ODS refrigerant. EPA is also taking comment on whether, in connection with the proposed changes to the legal interpretation, the 2016 Rule's extension of subpart F refrigerant management requirements to such substitute refrigerants should be rescinded in full. Additionally, EPA is proposing to extend by six to twelve months the January 1, 2019 compliance date for when appliances containing only substitute refrigerants subject to the venting prohibition must comply with the appliance maintenance and leak repair provisions.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs three bridges at Astoria, OR; they include the US 101 highway bridge (Youngs Bay Bridge) across Youngs Bay, mile 0.7, the Oregon State highway bridge (Old Youngs Bay Bridge) across Youngs Bay, mile 2.4, foot of Fifth Street, and the Oregon State highway bridge (Lewis and Clark River Bridge) across the Lewis and Clark River, mile 1.0. The deviation allows the three subject bridges' owner to remove the bridge operator during the late evening and early morning hours. This deviation allows the bridge to open during weekends and nighttime hours after receiving a 2 hour advance notice.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter, -200, and -300 series airplanes; and Airbus SAS Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of deficient fatigue performance of high strength steel used in forgings. Components made from the affected high strength steel are installed on the main landing gear (MLG), nose landing gear (NLG), and center landing gear (CLG). This AD requires identifying the part number and serial number of certain components installed on the MLG, NLG, and CLG; replacing affected parts; identifying the airplane's weight variant; and determining the applicable life limit for certain components installed on the MLG, NLG, and CLG. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.