February 14, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On November 29, 2018, the Department published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend the Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance regulations. That NPRM established a 60-day comment period from November 29, 2018, through January 28, 2019. On January 28, the Department published in the Federal Register a document extending the public comment period for two days, until January 30, 2019. In an abundance of caution, to the extent that some users may have experienced technical issues preventing the submission of comments using the Federal eRulemaking Portal, the Department is reopening the comment period for one day on February 15, 2019.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the soil portion of the Beckman Instruments Superfund Site (Site) located in Porterville, California, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). EPA and the State of California, through the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), have determined that all appropriate soil response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund. This partial deletion pertains to the soil; a map indicating the area to be deleted is in the public docket. The groundwater will remain on the NPL and is not being considered for deletion as part of this action. Maintenance, monitoring, and five-year reviews of the groundwater remedy will continue until all drinking water standards have been met.

In this document, the Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) extends the deadlines for comment on an industry proposal to revise the carriage election notice process.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to eliminate the E-Rate amortization requirement, which requires E-Rate applicants to amortize over three years upfront, non-recurring category one charges of $500,000 or more. Through this measure, the Commission seeks to further the Commission's goal of closing the digital divide by facilitating and promoting increased broadband infrastructure deployment to our nation's schools and libraries.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a portion of a revision to the North Carolina State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (formerly the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR)), Division of Air Quality, through a letter dated March 24, 2006. The revision includes changes to permitting regulations. The revision is part of North Carolina's strategy to meet and maintain the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action is being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and its implementing regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of North Carolina through the North Carolina Division of Air Quality (NCDAQ) with a letter dated March 21, 2018. The SIP submittal includes changes to the State's air quality rules for ozone to be consistent with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is approving these provisions of the SIP revision because the State has demonstrated that these changes are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and federal regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. On February 9, 2018, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) submitted revisions to the EPA satisfying the MassDEP's earlier commitment to adopt and submit provisions that meet certain requirements of the Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) air permit program regulations. The EPA is also proposing to approve the Commonwealth's NNSR certification, which was included in the February 9, 2018 SIP revision, as sufficient for the purposes of satisfying the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In addition, this action will also convert the EPA's December 21, 2016 conditional approval for certain infrastructure provisions relating to Massachusetts's NNSR air permit program to full approval. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR72 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive maintenance instructions and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance instructions and airworthiness limitations. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (``EEOC'' or ``Commission'') is proposing a revision to its federal sector complaint processing regulations in order to bring them into compliance with a federal circuit court decision concerning whether and when a complainant may file a civil action after having previously filed an administrative appeal or request for reconsideration with the EEOC. The EEOC also proposes making certain editorial changes.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is proposing to delay the August 19, 2019 compliance date for the mandatory underwriting provisions of the regulation promulgated by the Bureau in November 2017 governing Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans (2017 Final Rule or Rule) by 15 months to November 19, 2020. This proposal is related to another proposal, published separately in this issue of the Federal Register, seeking comment on whether the Bureau should rescind the mandatory underwriting provisions of the 2017 Final Rule.

The Board is requesting comment on a proposed rule that would amend the Board's company-run stress test and supervisory stress test rules, consistent with section 401 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA). Specifically, the proposed rule would revise the minimum threshold for state member banks to conduct stress tests from $10 billion to $250 billion, revise the frequency with which state member banks with assets greater than $250 billion would be required to conduct stress tests, and remove the adverse scenario from the list of required scenarios. The proposed rule would also make conforming changes to the Board's company-run and supervisory stress test requirements for bank holding companies, U.S. intermediate holding companies of foreign banking organizations, and nonbank financial companies supervised by the Board, the Board's Policy Statement on the Scenario Design Framework for Stress Testing, and the stress testing requirements for certain savings and loan holding companies that were proposed for public comment on October 31, 2018. Finally, the proposed rule would revise the scope of applicability of the company-run stress testing requirements for certain savings and loan holding companies that were proposed for public comment on October 31, 2018.