October 24, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing to revise its rules concerning the operation of experimental light sport aircraft. The current regulations prohibited the use of these aircraft for flight training for compensation or hire after January 31, 2010. Allowing the use of experimental light sport aircraft for compensation or hire for the purpose of flight training would increase safety by allowing greater access to aircraft that can be used for light sport aircraft and ultralight training. The proposed rule would add language that permits training in experimental light sport aircraft for compensation or hire for the purpose of flight training through existing deviation authority.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a request from Louisiana for EPA to relax the federal Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) standard applicable to gasoline introduced into commerce from June 1 to September 15 of each year for the Louisiana parishes of East Baton Rouge, West Baton Rouge, Livingston, Ascension, and Iberville (the Baton Rouge Area). Specifically, EPA is approving amendments to the regulations to allow the gasoline RVP standard for the Baton Rouge Area to change from 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) to 9.0 psi. EPA has determined that this change to the federal RVP regulation is consistent with the applicable provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This guidance relates to section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and its implementing regulations. Section 1332 provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury (collectively, the Secretaries) with the discretion to approve a state's proposal to waive specific provisions of the PPACA (a State Innovation Waiver, now also referred to as a State Relief and Empowerment Waiver), provided the section 1332 state plan meets certain requirements. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of the Treasury (collectively, the Departments) finalized implementing regulations on February 27, 2012. This updated guidance provides supplementary information about the requirements that must be met for the approval of a State Innovation Waiver, the Secretaries' application review procedures, the calculation of pass-through funding, certain analytical requirements, and operational considerations. This guidance supersedes the guidance related to section 1332 of the PPACA that was previously published on December 16, 2015. Changes include increasing flexibility with respect to the manner in which a section 1332 state plan may meet section 1332 standards in order to be eligible to be approved by the Secretaries, clarifying the adjustments the Secretaries may make to maintain federal deficit neutrality, and allowing for states to use existing legislative authority to authorize section 1332 waivers in certain scenarios. The Departments are committed to empowering states to innovate in ways that will strengthen their health insurance markets, expand choices of coverage, target public resources to those most in need, and meet the unique circumstances of each state. This guidance aims to lower barriers to innovation for states seeking to reform their health insurance markets.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Glasflugel Models Club Libelle 205, H 301 ``Libelle,'' H 301B ``Libelle,'' Kestrel, Mosquito, Standard ``Libelle,'' and Standard Libelle-201B gliders. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as jamming between the double two-ring end of the towing cable and the deflector angles of the center of gravity (C.G.) release mechanism. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-01-02, which applied to certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8 and 787-9 airplanes. AD 2017-01-02 required an inspection for discrepant inboard and outboard trailing edge flap rotary actuators, and replacing the rotary actuator or doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD continues to retain those actions. This AD also adds airplanes to the applicability and reduces the number of affected actuators. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that some inboard and outboard trailing edge flap rotary actuators may have been assembled with an incorrect no-back brake rotor-stator stack sequence during manufacturing. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

During a review of Texas' regulations, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified State-initiated changes to its hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA has determined that these changes are minor and satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for Final authorization and is proposing to authorize the State-initiated changes. This rule also proposes to codify in the regulations the prior approval of Texas' hazardous waste management program and incorporate by reference authorized provisions of the State's statutes and regulations.