December 3, 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing that the amendments to the Risk Management Program under the Clean Air Act put forward in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2017 are in effect.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the old Goethals Bridge Pier C on the Staten Island, NY side of the Federal navigation channel. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by underwater explosives demolition of Pier C. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port New York and New Jersey or a designated representative.

The Commission's safety standard for disposable and novelty lighters includes specified requirements for child resistance. The standard defines ``disposable lighters,'' in part, as refillable lighters that use butane or similar fuels that have a Customs Value or ex-factory price below a threshold value (initially set at $2.00 in 1993). The standard provides that the initial $2.00 value adjusts every 5 years for inflation. This document revises the cigarette lighter standard to adjust the import value to $2.75.

The Coast Guard is revising the regulation for safety zones for annual fireworks displays in the Captain of the Port Zone Columbia River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the fireworks displays. This rule includes updating 3 existing safety zones, adding 1 safety zone for a fireworks display that was previously published as a temporary regulation, and removing 10 safety zones for inactive fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the SR 413/Burlington-Bristol bridge, which carries SR 413 across the Delaware River, mile 117.8, between Burlington, NJ and Bristol, PA. The deviation is necessary to facilitate an inspection and bridge maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position.

This final rule amends the CFR by removing a subpart that delineates internal responsibilities regarding indexing, public inspection, and Federal Register publication of Department of the Navy (DON) directives and other documents affecting the public. It has been determined that this subpart is no longer required, as the procedures outlined in it are internal to the DON.

On February 10, 2016, the Federal Election Commission received a Petition for Rulemaking that asks the Commission to promulgate rules establishing specific time periods for the submission of public comments on drafts of advisory opinions. The Commission seeks comments on this petition.

The Department of Homeland Security (``DHS'' or ``the Department'') is proposing to amend its regulations governing petitions filed on behalf of H-1B beneficiaries who may be counted toward the 65,000 visa cap established under the Immigration and Nationality Act (``H-1B regular cap'') or beneficiaries with advanced degrees from U.S. institutions of higher education who are eligible for an exemption from the regular cap (``advanced degree exemption''). The proposed amendments would require petitioners seeking to file H-1B petitions subject to the regular cap, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption, to first electronically register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (``USCIS'') during a designated registration period. USCIS would select from among the registrations timely received a sufficient number projected as needed to meet the applicable H-1B allocations. DHS also proposes to change the process by which USCIS counts H-1B registrations (or petitions, if the registration requirement is suspended), by first selecting registrations submitted on behalf of all beneficiaries, including those eligible for the advanced degree exemption. USCIS would then select from the remaining registrations a sufficient number projected as needed to reach the advanced degree exemption. Changing the order in which USCIS counts these separate allocations would likely increase the number of beneficiaries with a master's or higher degree from a U.S. institution of higher education to be selected for further processing under the H-1B allocations.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation on December 15, 2018 from 2:00 p.m. through 11:30 p.m. to provide for the safety and security of navigable waterways during the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Holiday Boat Parade. During the enforcement period, all non-participant persons and vessels will be prohibited from entering, transiting, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Miami or a designated representative. The operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with instructions from the Coast Guard or designated representative.