March 15, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Alabama (FEMA-4419-DR), dated 03/05/2019. Incident: Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Tornadoes. Incident Period: 03/03/2019.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a 45- day public comment period associated with the release of the Systematic Review Protocol for the Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))] IRIS Assessment. This document communicates the rationale for conducting the assessment of Cr(VI), describes screening criteria to identify relevant literature, outlines the approach for evaluating study quality, and describes the process of evidence synthesis/integration and dose- response methods. The protocol includes the list of studies currently considered in the assessment. EPA is releasing this protocol for public comment at least 30 days in advance of a public science webinar planned on April 24, 2019.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'' or ``Office'') provides notice of a pilot program for motion to amend (``MTA'') practice and procedures in trial proceedings under the America Invents Act (``AIA'') before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (``PTAB'' or ``Board''). In particular, a patent owner who files an MTA will have the ability to choose how that motion will proceed before the Board, including whether to request preliminary guidance from the Board on the MTA and whether to file a revised MTA. The Office previously published a notice requesting comments on proposed modifications to the current MTA practice and procedures. The Office has considered those comments and greatly appreciates the feedback. In view of the comments received, the Office has modified its prior proposal in certain respects as reflected in this notice, and will implement the MTA pilot program presented in this notice.

The Coast Guard is beginning a new study of routes used by ships to access ports on the Atlantic Coast of the United States. This new study supplements and builds on the Atlantic Coast Port Access Route Study (ACPARS) completed on April 5, 2017.

The Coast Guard is issuing a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Portal Bridge across the Hackensack River, mile 5.0, at Little Snake Hill, New Jersey. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public about the impact to both train and vessel traffic generated by this change.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled ``Medical Devices Containing Materials Derived from Animal Sources (Except for In Vitro Diagnostic Devices).'' FDA is issuing this guidance to update the policy regarding the use of animal-derived material in medical device manufacturing. These animal-derived materials may carry a risk of transmitting infectious disease when improperly collected, stored, or manufactured. The guidance describes the information manufacturers should document at the manufacturing facility and include in any premarket submissions.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that countervailable subsidies have been provided to producers and exporters of aluminum extrusions from the People's Republic of China (China) for the period of review (POR) January 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that none of the companies subject to this review have established their entitlement to a separate rate during the May 1, 2017, through April 30, 2018 period of review (POR) and, thus, are part of the China- wide entity. We invite interested parties to comment on these preliminary results.

The Coast Guard is amending the anchorage regulations for the Sabine Pass Channel, Sabine Pass, TX anchorage ground for the navigational safety of vessels entering and exiting a new liquefied natural gas terminal mooring basin being constructed on the eastern waterfront of the Sabine Pass Channel. This amendment will reduce the overall size of the existing anchorage.

New or modified Base (1-percent annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations) as shown on the indicated Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for each of the communities listed in the table below are finalized. Each LOMR revises the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, currently in effect for the listed communities. The flood hazard determinations modified by each LOMR will be used to calculate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and their contents.

Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Detroit District, announces its intent to conduct public scoping and solicit public comments to gather information to prepare a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on behalf of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) related to the proposed Grand River Habitat Restoration and Invasive Species Control Project in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The project must provide a means to block sea lamprey from moving upstream, as this invasive species is currently blocked by the existing 6th Street Dam in the Grand River, must maintain or reduce the current risk of flooding upstream, and must provide for fish passage into upstream areas. If implemented, the project is expected to adversely impact existing healthy mussel population, which includes the federally-listed endangered scaleshell and snuffbox mussels as well as a number of state-listed mussel species.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval, from the Office of Management and Budget, for an extension of and revision to the currently approved information collection Swine Contract Library. OMB approved this information collection as OMB 0580-0021 under Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards (GIPSA). Due to the realignment of offices authorized by the Secretary's memorandum dated November 14, 2017, which eliminated the GIPSA as a standalone agency, the Swine Contract Library activities formerly part of GIPSA are now assigned a new OMB control number of 0581-0311.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the renewal of currently approved information collection of 0581-0125 Regulations Governing Inspection Certification of Fresh & Processed Fruits, Vegetables, & Other Products.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the A season allowance of the 2019 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to vessels using jig gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.