November 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This direct final rule contains amendments to the regulations governing the HUBZone Program. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is making changes to its regulations to implement provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 which authorized the inclusion of ``Governor-designated covered areas'' under the HUBZone program. This direct final rule would merely replicate these statutory changes into SBA's regulations.

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-539 (Gas Pipeline Certificates: Import and Export Related Applications) and submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new tests are necessary to address potential air leaks in the reservoir air pressurization lines. This proposed AD would require repetitive pressurization tests of the reservoir air pressurization lines for pipe rupture and leaks, and repair or replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Amendment 9 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Coral and Coral Reefs of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 9) and an associated framework action to the FMP, as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would establish new habitat areas of particular concern (HAPCs), some of which include a prohibition of the deployment of bottom-tending gear, and modify current fishing regulations for the other existing HAPCs in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf). Additionally, this proposed rule would implement complementary management measures for Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) in the Gulf. The purpose of this proposed rule is to protect coral essential fish habitat in the Gulf.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

This notice announces the availability for public comment of the NOAA Unmanned Systems, Artificial Intelligence, `Omics, and Cloud draft strategies. These strategies are intended to dramatically expand our application of these four emerging science and technology focus areas by improving the efficiency, effectiveness and coordination of their development and usage across the agency.

This document contains an exemption issued by the Department of Labor (the Department) from certain of the prohibited transaction restrictions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA or the Act) and/or the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the Code). This notice is for the following granted exemption: 2019-07, Credit Suisse AG, D-11962.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Mission Bay Parade of Lights special local regulations on the waters of Mission Bay, California on December 14, 2019. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, sponsor vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from anchoring, blocking, loitering, or impeding within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB). Vacancies are expected to be filled by March 31, 2020. Sources in addition to this Federal Register Notice may also be utilized in the solicitation of nominees.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that ceramic tile from the People's Republic of China (China) is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value (LTFV). The period of investigation (POI) is October 1, 2018 through March 31, 2019. Interested parties are invited to comment on this preliminary determination.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) is amending the preliminary determination of the less-than-fair-value investigation of wooden cabinets and vanities and components thereof (wooden cabinets and vanities) from the People's Republic of China (China) to correct significant ministerial errors.

The Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that certain emulsion styrene-butadiene rubber (ESB rubber) from Brazil is being, or is likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value. Interested parties are invited to comment on these preliminary results.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing a public workshop to convene a discussion on incorporating clinical outcome assessments (COAs) into endpoints for regulatory decision making. This workshop will inform development of patient- focused drug development guidance as required by the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) and as part of commitments made by FDA under the sixth authorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments (PDUFA VI). The Agency will publish a discussion document approximately 1 month before the workshop date. FDA is interested in seeking information and comments on the approaches proposed in the discussion document, as well as input on examples that could be illustrated in the forthcoming draft guidance, where approaches proposed in the discussion document have been successfully applied.

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a new matching program with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This matching agreement establishes the terms, conditions, and safeguards under which CMS will disclose to SSA Medicare non-utilization information for Social Security Title II beneficiaries aged 90 and above. CMS will identify Medicare enrollees whose records have been inactive for three or more years. SSA will use this data as an indicator to select and prioritize cases for review to determine continued eligibility for benefits under Title II of the Social Security Act (Act). SSA will contact these individuals to verify ongoing eligibility. SSA will use this data for the purposes of fraud discovery and the analysis of fraud program operations; this agreement allows for SSA's Office of Anti-Fraud Programs (OAFP) to evaluate the data for the purposes of fraud detection. SSA will refer individual cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for investigation.

FMCSA announces that it has received an application from Palmetto State Armory (PSA) requesting an exemption to increase the 100 air-mile radius in ``short-haul operations,'' to 150 air-miles for its drivers. PSA requests the exemption to permit two of its commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers to record hours of servie on time records instead of record of duty status (RODS) when operating between 100 and 150 air miles. FMCSA requests public comment on PSA's application for exemption.