Introduction to the Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan, 71085-71097 [2019-26533]
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[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 247 (Thursday, December 26, 2019)] [Unknown Section] [Pages 71085-71097] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2019-26533] [[Page 71085]] Vol. 84 Thursday, No. 247 December 26, 2019 Part II Regulatory Information Service Center ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Introduction to the Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan Federal Register / Vol. 84 , No. 247 / Thursday, December 26, 2019 / UA: Regulatory Plan [[Page 71086]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE CENTER Introduction to the Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan This Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan continues to reflect a fundamental shift of the Regulatory state. Starting with confidence in private markets and individual choices, this Administration is reassessing existing regulatory burdens. This year marks year three in the Administration's efforts under Executive Order 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs'' (January 30, 2017) to continue to lower the burden of regulation on the American people. This Administration also approaches the imposition of new regulatory requirements with care to ensure that regulations are consistent with law, understandable to the public and not hidden in indecipherable text or implementing guidance, correct a substantial market failure, and are net beneficial to the public. Furthermore, the Plan, along with the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (``Agenda''), identifies the Administration's priorities in a manner that continues to be transparent and accessible to the public. Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Policy The 2019 Plan both sets a new direction in regulatory policy and preserves many longstanding regulatory best practices. Stressing that, where statutorily permitted, ``it is essential to manage the costs associated with the governmental imposition of private expenditures required to comply with Federal regulations,'' in E.O. 13771 President Trump directed all Federal agencies to issue two deregulatory actions for each new regulation implemented and to reduce net new regulatory costs to zero. He also created regulatory reform officers and regulatory reform taskforces in each agency in E.O. 13777 ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' (February 24, 2017). Within the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) implements Federal regulatory policy and has led efforts to implement these presidential directives, working with agencies to identify deregulatory actions and eliminate regulatory burdens. Regulatory Transparency This Administration continues to work to make sure that the public is adequately informed about upcoming regulatory activity. Through the past few agenda cycles, OIRA has emphasized to the agencies that the Agenda and Plan should only contain items the Agencies truly believe are going to be pursued in the near future. For too long, the Agenda has contained old actions that agencies are not actively pursuing. This Administration has also taken steps to make sure that agencies uphold the law governing the quality of the data and evidence they use to justify their policy and program choices. In a recent Memorandum, OMB reminded agencies that they must ensure that information that is likely to have a clear and substantial impact on important public policies or important private sector decisions is communicated transparently, clearly articulates the underlying assumptions and uncertainties, and prioritizes increased access to the data and models underlying such information.\1\ In addition, OMB's guidance on implementing The Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 emphasizes the importance of increasing transparency and trust about the data brought to bear in decision-making and the need to align evidence building with Administration priorities, including regulatory and deregulatory activities.\2\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ OMB M-19-15. Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: ``Improving Implementation of the Information Quality Act.'' April 24, 2019 https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/M-19-15.pdf. \2\ OMB M 19-23. Memorandum for the heads of Executive Departments and Agencies. Phase 1 Implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018: Leaning Agendas, Personnel, and Planning Guidance. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/M-19-23.pdf. Federal Data Strategy https://strategy.data.gov/action-plan/; https://strategy.data.gov/practices/. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition, this Administration has taken several significant steps to make sure that regulation is not created through other means, and that both the public and Congress have adequate notice of agency intentions. Recently, the President signed Executive Order 13891 titled ``Promoting the Rule of Law through Improved Agency Guidance.'' This E.O. emphasizes that Americans deserve an open and fair regulatory process that imposes new obligations on the public only when consistent with applicable law and after an agency follows appropriate procedures. The E.O. makes it the policy of the executive branch to require that agencies treat guidance documents as non-binding both in law and in practice, take public input into account when appropriate in formulating guidance documents, and make guidance documents readily available to the public. On April 11, 2019, OMB also issued Memorandum M-19-14, ``Guidance on Compliance with the Congressional Review Act.'' Memorandum M-19-14 updates existing OMB guidance to agencies with regard to both OIRA and agency responsibilities under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) by (1) clarifying that guidance documents fall within the definition of ``rule'' under the CRA and (2) making the process by which OIRA makes ``major determinations'' more consistent and thorough, including through the receipt of adequate agency analysis on whether a rule is major. Conclusion The agency plans herein discussed push against the inertia of steadily expanding regulatory burdens and represent this Administration's commitment to reducing regulations that no longer benefit our society. The plans also send a clear message that the public can invest and plan for the future without the looming threat of being surprised by burdensome and unnecessary new regulations. OIRA looks forward to working with the agencies and all interested stakeholders to deliver meaningful regulatory reform to the American people. Department of Agriculture ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1............................. Establishment of a 0581-AD82 Final Rule Stage. Domestic Hemp Production Program. 2............................. Importation, Interstate 0579-AE47 Final Rule Stage. Movement, and Release Into the Environment of Certain Genetically Engineered Organisms. 3............................. Revision of Categorical 0584-AE62 Proposed Rule Stage. Eligibility in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). [[Page 71087]] 4............................. Supplemental Nutrition 0584-AE69 Proposed Rule Stage. Assistance Program (SNAP): Standardization of State Heating and Cooling Standard Utility Allowances. 5............................. Supplemental Nutrition 0584-AE57 Final Rule Stage. Assistance Program: Requirements for Able- Bodied Adults Without Dependents. 6............................. Prior Label Approval 0583-AD78 Proposed Rule Stage. System: Expansion of Generic Label Approval. 7............................. Alaska Roadless Rule..... 0596-AD37 Proposed Rule Stage. 8............................. National Environmental 0596-AD31 Final Rule Stage. Policy Act Procedures. 9............................. Servicing Regulation for 0572-AC41 Final Rule Stage. the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) Telecommunications Programs. 10............................ OneRD Guaranteed Loan 0572-AC43 Final Rule Stage. Regulation. 11............................ Rural Broadband Grant, 0572-AC46 Final Rule Stage. Loan, and Loan Guarantee Program. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Commerce ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12............................ Fishery Disaster 0648-BI97 Proposed Rule Stage. Determinations and Assistance Under the Magnuson Stevens Act and Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act. 13............................ NOAA Mitigation Policy... 0648-BJ32 Proposed Rule Stage. 14............................ Taking and Importing 0648-BB38 Final Rule Stage. Marine Mammals: Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Geophysical Surveys Related to Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of Mexico. 15............................ Magnuson-Stevens 0648-BH87 Final Rule Stage. Fisheries Conservation and Management Act; Traceability Information Program for Seafood. 16............................ Trademark Fee Adjustment. 0651-AD42 Proposed Rule Stage. 17............................ Setting and Adjusting 0651-AD31 Final Rule Stage. Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2020. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Defense ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18............................ Family Advocacy Program.. 0790-AI49 Proposed Rule Stage. 19............................ Limitations on Terms of 0790-AK79 Proposed Rule Stage. Consumer Credit Extended to Service Members and Dependents, Amendment. 20............................ Department of Defense 0790-AK86 Final Rule Stage. (DoD)-Defense Industrial Base (DIB) Cybersecurity (CS) Activities. 21............................ Contractor Purchasing 0750-AJ48 Final Rule Stage. System Review Threshold (DFARS Case 2017-D038). 22............................ Covered 0750-AJ84 Final Rule Stage. Telecommunications Equipment or Services (DFARS Case 2018-D022). 23............................ Prompt Payments of Small 0750-AK25 Final Rule Stage. Business Subcontractors (DFARS Case 2018-D068). 24............................ Performance-Based 0750-AK37 Final Rule Stage. Payments (DFARS Case 2019-D002). 25............................ Nonmanufacturer Rule for 0750-AK39 Final Rule Stage. 8(a) Participants (DFARS Case 2019-D004). 26............................ Revised Eligibility 0702-AB08 Proposed Rule Stage. Criteria at Arlington National Cemetery. 27............................ Natural Disaster 0710-AA78 Proposed Rule Stage. Procedures: Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Activities of the Corps of Engineers. 28............................ Compensatory Mitigation 0710-AA83 Proposed Rule Stage. for Losses of Aquatic Resources--Review and Approval of Mitigation Banks and In-Lieu Fee Programs. 29............................ Reissuance and 0710-AA84 Proposed Rule Stage. Modification of Nationwide Permits. 30............................ Policy for Domestic, 0710-AA72 Final Rule Stage. Municipal, and Industrial Water Supply Uses of Reservoir Projects Operated by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 31............................ Revised Definition of 0710-AA80 Final Rule Stage. ``Waters of the United States''. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Education ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32............................ Nondiscrimination on the 1870-AA14 Final Rule Stage. Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. 33............................ EDGAR Revisions.......... 1875-AA14 Proposed Rule Stage. 34............................ Ensuring Student Access 1840-AD38 Proposed Rule Stage. to High Quality and Innovative Postsecondary Educational Programs. 35............................ Eligibility of Faith- 1840-AD40 Proposed Rule Stage. Based Entities and Activities--Title IV Programs. 36............................ TEACH Grants............. 1840-AD44 Proposed Rule Stage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 71088]] Department of Energy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37............................ Energy Conservation 1904-AC11 Proposed Rule Stage. Standards for Manufactured Housing. 38............................ Procedures, 1904-AD38 Final Rule Stage. Interpretations, and Policies for Consideration of New or Revised Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Products. 39............................ Notice of Proposed 1904-AE35 Final Rule Stage. Rulemaking to Consider Establishing a New Product Class for Residential Dishwashers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Health and Human Services ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40............................ Equal Participation of 0991-AC13 Proposed Rule Stage. Faith-Based Organizations in HHS's Programs and Activities: Implementation of Executive Order 13931. 41............................ Establishment of 0991-AC15 Proposed Rule Stage. Safeguards and Program Integrity Requirements for HHS-Funded Extramural Research Involving Human Fetal Tissue. 42............................ Revisions to the Safe 0936-AA10 Proposed Rule Stage. Harbors Under the Anti- Kickback Statute and Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalties Rules Regarding Beneficiary Inducement. 43............................ HIPAA Privacy: Changes To 0945-AA00 Proposed Rule Stage. Support, and Remove Barriers to, Coordinated Care and Individual Engagement. 44............................ Nondiscrimination in 0945-AA11 Final Rule Stage. Health and Health Education Programs or Activities. 45............................ 21st Century Cures Act: 0955-AA01 Final Rule Stage. Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program. 46............................ Coordinating Care and 0930-AA32 Final Rule Stage. Information Sharing in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. 47............................ Requirements for Tobacco 0910-AH91 Proposed Rule Stage. Product Manufacturing Practice. 48............................ Nutrient Content Claims, 0910-AI13 Proposed Rule Stage. Definition of Term: Healthy. 49............................ Modified Risk Tobacco 0910-AI38 Proposed Rule Stage. Product Applications. 50............................ Importation of 0910-AI45 Proposed Rule Stage. Prescription Drugs. 51............................ Removing Financial 0906-AB23 Proposed Rule Stage. Disincentives to Living Organ Donation. 52............................ Medicaid Fiscal 0938-AT50 Proposed Rule Stage. Accountability (CMS-2393- P). 53............................ Modernizing and 0938-AT64 Proposed Rule Stage. Clarifying the Physician Self-Referral Regulations (CMS-1720-P). 54............................ Medicare Coverage of 0938-AT88 Proposed Rule Stage. Innovative Technologies (CMS-3372-P). 55............................ International Pricing 0938-AT91 Proposed Rule Stage. Index Model For Medicare Part B Drugs (CMS-5528- P). 56............................ Proposed Changes to the 0938-AT97 Proposed Rule Stage. Medicare Advantage and the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program for Contract Year 2021 (CMS- 4190-P). 57............................ HHS Notice of Benefit and 0938-AT98 Proposed Rule Stage. Payment Parameters for 2021 (CMS-9916-P). 58............................ Organ Procurement 0938-AU02 Proposed Rule Stage. Organizations (OPOs) (CMS-3380-P). 59............................ Transparency in Coverage 0938-AU04 Proposed Rule Stage. (CMS-9915-P). 60............................ Medicaid and CHIP Managed 0938-AT40 Final Rule Stage. Care (CMS-2408-F). 61............................ Exchange Program 0938-AT53 Final Rule Stage. Integrity (CMS-9922-F). 62............................ Strengthening Work in 0970-AC79 Proposed Rule Stage. TANF. 63............................ Adoption and Foster Care 0970-AC72 Final Rule Stage. Analysis and Reporting System. 64............................ Head Start Service 0970-AC73 Final Rule Stage. Duration Requirements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Homeland Security ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 65............................ Strengthening the H-1B 1615-AC13 Proposed Rule Stage. Nonimmigrant Visa Classification Program. 66............................ Collection and Use of 1615-AC14 Proposed Rule Stage. Biometrics by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. 67............................ Removing H-4 Dependent 1615-AC15 Proposed Rule Stage. Spouses From the Classes of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorization. 68............................ U.S. Citizenship and 1615-AC18 Proposed Rule Stage. Immigration Services Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements. 69............................ Removal of 30-Day 1615-AC19 Proposed Rule Stage. Processing Provision for Asylum Applicant-Related Form I-765 Employment Authorization Applications. 70............................ Electronic Processing of 1615-AC20 Proposed Rule Stage. Immigration Benefit Requests. 71............................ Improvements to the 1615-AC23 Proposed Rule Stage. Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions Processing. 72............................ Procedures for Asylum 1615-AC24 Proposed Rule Stage. Applications and Reasonable Fear Determinations. 73............................ Asylum Application, 1615-AC27 Proposed Rule Stage. Interview, and Employment Authorization for Applicants. 74............................ Enhancing the Integrity 1615-AC39 Proposed Rule Stage. of the Affidavit of Support. 75............................ Removal of International 1615-AC04 Final Rule Stage. Entrepreneur Parole Program. 76............................ Removal of Certain 1625-AC48 Proposed Rule Stage. International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as Amended (STCW) Training Requirements. 77............................ Harmonization of the Fees 1651-AB34 Proposed Rule Stage. and Application Procedures for the Global Entry and SENTRI Programs and Other Changes. [[Page 71089]] 78............................ Collection of Biometric 1651-AB12 Final Rule Stage. Data From Aliens Upon Entry To and Exit From the United States. 79............................ Implementation of the 1651-AB14 Final Rule Stage. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) at U.S. Land Borders. 80............................ Mandatory Advance 1651-AB33 Final Rule Stage. Electronic Information for International Mail Shipments. 81............................ Vetting of Certain 1652-AA69 Proposed Rule Stage. Surface Transportation Employees. 82............................ Amending Vetting 1652-AA70 Proposed Rule Stage. Requirements for Employees With Access to a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA). 83............................ Protection of Sensitive 1652-AA08 Final Rule Stage. Security Information. 84............................ Flight Training for 1652-AA35 Final Rule Stage. Aliens and Other Designated Individuals; Security Awareness Training for Flight School Employees. 85............................ Security Training for 1652-AA55 Final Rule Stage. Surface Transportation Employees. 86............................ Visa Security Program Fee 1653-AA77 Proposed Rule Stage. 87............................ Establishing a Maximum 1653-AA78 Proposed Rule Stage. Period of Authorized Stay for Students, Exchange Visitors, and Media Representatives. 88............................ Cost of Assistance 1660-AA99 Proposed Rule Stage. Estimates in the Disaster Declaration Process for the Public Assistance Program. 89............................ Update to FEMA's 1660-AA91 Final Rule Stage. Regulations on Rulemaking Procedures. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Housing and Urban Development ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 90............................ Mortgage Insurance for 2502-AJ50 Proposed Rule Stage. Mortgage Transactions Involving Downpayment Assistance Programs (FR- 6150). 91............................ Economic Growth 2577-AD05 Proposed Rule Stage. Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act: Implementation of New Physical Conditions Inspection Standards (FR- 6086). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of the Interior ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 92............................ Revisions to the 1082-AA01 Proposed Rule Stage. Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf. 93............................ Risk Management, 1082-AA02 Proposed Rule Stage. Financial Assurance and Loss Prevention. 94............................ Deregulating and 1010-AE04 Proposed Rule Stage. Streamlining Renewable Energy Regulations. 95............................ Non-Energy Solid Leasable 1004-AE58 Proposed Rule Stage. Mineral Royalty Rate Reduction. 96............................ Revisions to the Oil and 1004-AE59 Proposed Rule Stage. Gas Site Security, Oil Measurement, and Gas Measurement Regulations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Labor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 97............................ Affirmative Action and 1250-AA08 Proposed Rule Stage. Nondiscrimination Obligations of Federal Contractors and Subcontractors: TRICARE and Certain Other Health Care Providers. 98............................ Implementing Legal 1250-AA09 Final Rule Stage. Requirements Regarding the Equal Opportunity Clause's Religious Exemption. 99............................ Trust Annual Reports..... 1245-AA09 Final Rule Stage. 100........................... Regular and Basic Rates 1235-AA24 Final Rule Stage. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 101........................... Joint Employer Status 1235-AA26 Final Rule Stage. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 102........................... Trade Adjustment 1205-AB78 Proposed Rule Stage. Assistance for Workers. 103........................... Apprenticeship Programs, 1205-AB85 Final Rule Stage. Labor Standards for Registration, Amendment of Regulations. 104........................... Default Electronic 1210-AB90 Proposed Rule Stage. Disclosures by Employee Pension Benefit Plans Under ERISA. 105........................... Exposure to Beryllium to 1218-AD20 Final Rule Stage. Review General Industry Provisions. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Department of Veterans Affairs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 106........................... Program of Comprehensive 2900-AQ48 Proposed Rule Stage. Assistance for Family Caregivers Amendments Under the VA MISSION Act of 2018. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 71090]] Environmental Protection Agency ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 107........................... Control of Air Pollution 2060-AU41 Prerule Stage. from New Motor Vehicles: Heavy-Duty Engine Standards. 108........................... Addition of Certain Per- 2070-AK51 Prerule Stage. and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory. 109........................... Regulatory Determinations 2040-AF93 Prerule Stage. for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfate (PFOS). 110........................... Reclassification of Major 2060-AM75 Proposed Rule Stage. Sources as Area Sources Under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. 111........................... Review of the National 2060-AS50 Proposed Rule Stage. Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter. 112........................... Prevention of Significant 2060-AT89 Proposed Rule Stage. Deterioration (PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NSR): Project Emissions Accounting. 113........................... Oil and Natural Gas 2060-AT90 Proposed Rule Stage. Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review. 114........................... Renewable Fuel Standard 2060-AU28 Proposed Rule Stage. Program: Modification of Statutory Volume Targets. 115........................... Review of the Primary 2060-AU40 Proposed Rule Stage. National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone. 116........................... Renewable Fuel Standard 2060-AU42 Proposed Rule Stage. Program: Standards for 2020, Biomass-Based Diesel Volumes for 2021, and Other Changes. 117........................... Increasing Consistency 2060-AU51 Proposed Rule Stage. and Transparency in Considering Benefits and Costs in the Clean Air Act Rulemaking Process. 118........................... Long-Chain Perfluoroalkyl 2070-AJ99 Proposed Rule Stage. Carboxylate and Perfluoroalkyl Sulfonate Chemical Substances; Significant New Use Rule. 119........................... Pesticides; Agricultural 2070-AK49 Proposed Rule Stage. Worker Protection Standard; Revision of the Application Exclusion Zone Requirements. 120........................... Review of Dust-Lead Post- 2070-AK50 Proposed Rule Stage. Abatement Clearance Levels. 121........................... Protectants (Pips) To 2070-AK54 Proposed Rule Stage. Reflect Newer Technologies. 122........................... Strengthening 2080-AA14 Proposed Rule Stage. Transparency in Regulatory Science. 123........................... Hazardous and Solid Waste 2050-AG98 Proposed Rule Stage. Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; Enhancing Public Access to Information; Reconsideration of Beneficial Use Criteria and Piles. 124........................... Financial Responsibility 2050-AH05 Proposed Rule Stage. Requirements Under CERCLA Section 108(b) for the Chemical Manufacturing Industry. 125........................... Financial Responsibility 2050-AH06 Proposed Rule Stage. Requirements Under CERCLA Section 108(b) for the Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing Industry. 126........................... Hazardous and Solid Waste 2050-AH07 Proposed Rule Stage. Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities: Federal CCR Permit Program. 127........................... Designating PFOA and PFOS 2050-AH09 Proposed Rule Stage. as CERCLA Hazardous Substances. 128........................... Hazardous and Solid Waste 2050-AH10 Proposed Rule Stage. Management System: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals From Electric Utilities; A Holistic Approach to Closure Part A: Deadline to Initiate Closure. 129........................... Hazardous and Solid Waste 2050-AH11 Proposed Rule Stage. Management System: Disposal of CCR; A Holistic Approach to Closure Part B: Alternate Demonstration for Unlined Surface Impoundments; Implementation of Closure; Legacy Units. 130........................... National Primary Drinking 2040-AF15 Proposed Rule Stage. Water Regulations for Lead and Copper: Regulatory Revisions. 131........................... Peak Flows Management.... 2040-AF81 Proposed Rule Stage. 132........................... Updating Regulations on 2040-AF86 Proposed Rule Stage. Water Quality Certification. 133........................... Clean Water Act Section 2040-AF88 Proposed Rule Stage. 404(c) Regulatory Revision. 134........................... Vessel Incidental 2040-AF92 Proposed Rule Stage. Discharge Act of 2018-- Development of National Performance Standards for Marine Pollution Control Devices for Discharges Incidental to the Normal Operation of Commercial Vessels. 135........................... Review of Standards of 2060-AT56 Final Rule Stage. Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New, Modified, and Reconstructed Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units. 136........................... NESHAP: Coal- and Oil- 2060-AT99 Final Rule Stage. Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units-- Reconsideration of Supplemental Cost Finding and Residual Risk and Technology Review. 137........................... The Safer Affordable Fuel- 2060-AU09 Final Rule Stage. Efficient (SAFE) Vehicles Rule for Model Years 2021-2026 Passenger Cars and Light Trucks. 138........................... Accidental Release 2050-AG95 Final Rule Stage. Prevention Requirements: Risk Management Programs Under the Clean Air Act: Reconsideration of Amendments. 139........................... Revised Definition of 2040-AF75 Final Rule Stage. ``Waters of the United States'' (Step 2). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 140........................... Federal Sector Equal 3046-AB00 Proposed Rule Stage. Employment Opportunity Process. 141........................... Amendments to Regulations 3046-AB10 Proposed Rule Stage. Under the Americans With Disabilities Act. 142........................... Amendments to Regulations 3046-AB11 Proposed Rule Stage. Under the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. [[Page 71091]] 143........................... Joint Employer Status 3046-AB16 Proposed Rule Stage. Under the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Statutes. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Small Business Administration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 144........................... Small Business HUBZone 3245-AG38 Final Rule Stage. Program and Government Contracting Programs. 145........................... Women-Owned Small 3245-AG75 Final Rule Stage. Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women- Owned Small Business-- Certification. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Social Security Administration ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 146........................... Hearings Held by 0960-AI25 Proposed Rule Stage. Administrative Appeals Judges of the Appeals Council. 147........................... Rules Regarding the 0960-AI27 Proposed Rule Stage. Frequency and Notice of Continuing Disability Reviews. 148........................... Revising Evaluation of 0960-AI40 Proposed Rule Stage. Vocational Factors in the Disability Determination Process. 149........................... Removing Inability to 0960-AH86 Final Rule Stage. Communicate in English as an Education Category. 150........................... Setting the Manner for 0960-AI09 Final Rule Stage. the Appearance of Parties and Witnesses at a Hearing. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DOD/GSA/NASA (FAR) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 151........................... Federal Acquisition 9000-AM58 Final Rule Stage. Regulation (FAR); FAR Case 2013-002; Reporting of Nonconforming Items to the Government- Industry Data Exchange Program. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Consumer Product Safety Commission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 152........................... Flammability Standard for 3041-AB35 Final Rule Stage. Upholstered Furniture. 153........................... Regulatory Options for 3041-AC31 Final Rule Stage. Table Saws. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- National Indian Gaming Commission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 154........................... Definitions.............. 3141-AA32 Proposed Rule Stage. 155........................... Management Contracts..... 3141-AA58 Proposed Rule Stage. 156........................... Buy Indian Goods and 3141-AA62 Proposed Rule Stage. Services (BIGS). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nuclear Regulatory Commission ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regulation Sequence No. Title Identifier No. Rulemaking stage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 157........................... Enhanced Weapons for 3150-AJ55 Prerule Stage. Spent Fuel Storage Installations and Transportation--Section 161A Authority [NRC-2015- 0018]. 158........................... NuScale Small Modular 3150-AJ98 Prerule Stage. Reactor Design Certification [NRC-2017- 0029]. 159........................... Low-Level Radioactive 3150-AI92 Proposed Rule Stage. Waste Disposal [NRC-2011- 0012]. 160........................... Enhanced Security for 3150-AJ41 Proposed Rule Stage. Special Nuclear Material [NRC-2014-0118]. 161........................... Cyber Security at Fuel 3150-AJ64 Proposed Rule Stage. Cycle Facilities [NRC- 2015-0179]. 162........................... Approval of American 3150-AJ94 Proposed Rule Stage. Society of Mechanical Engineers Code Cases, Revision 39 [NRC-2017- 0025]. 163........................... 2019 Edition of the 3150-AK09 Proposed Rule Stage. American Society of Mechanical Engineers Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code [NRC-2017- 0226]. 164........................... Revision of Fee 3150-AK10 Proposed Rule Stage. Schedules: Fee Recovery for FY 2020 [NRC-2017- 0228]. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 71092]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE CENTER Introduction to the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions--Fall 2019 AGENCY: Regulatory Information Service Center. ACTION: Introduction to the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Publication of the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions and the Regulatory Plan represent key components of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' Executive Order 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,'' January 30, 2017, and Executive Order 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' February 24, 2017. The fall editions of the Unified Agenda include the agency regulatory plans required by E.O. 12866, which identify regulatory priorities and provide additional detail about the most important significant regulatory actions that agencies expect to take in the coming year. In addition, the Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual ``regulatory flexibility agendas'' describing regulatory actions they are developing that will have significant effects on small businesses and other small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). The Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda), published in the fall and spring, helps agencies fulfill all of these requirements. All federal regulatory agencies have chosen to publish their regulatory agendas as part of this publication. The complete Unified Agenda and Regulatory Plan can be found online at https://www.reginfo.gov and a reduced print version can be found in the Federal Register. Information regarding obtaining printed copies can also be found on the Reginfo.gov website (or below, VI. How can users get copies of the Plan and the Agenda?). The fall 2019 Unified Agenda publication appearing in the Federal Register includes the Regulatory Plan and agency regulatory flexibility agendas, in accordance with the publication requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Agency regulatory flexibility agendas contain only those Agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. The complete fall 2019 Unified Agenda contains the Regulatory Plans of 28 Federal agencies and 66 Federal agency regulatory agendas. ADDRESSES: Regulatory Information Service Center (MVE), General Services Administration, 1800 F Street NW, 2219F, Washington, DC 20405. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information about specific regulatory actions, please refer to the agency contact listed for each entry. To provide comment on or to obtain further information about this publication, contact: John C. Thomas, Executive Director, Regulatory Information Service Center (MR), U.S. General Services Administration, 1800 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20405, (202) 482-7340. You may also send comments to us by email at: [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Table of Contents Introduction to the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions I. What are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda? II. Why are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda published? III. How are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda organized? IV. What information appears for each entry? V. Abbreviations VI. How can users get copies of the Plan and the Agenda? Introduction to the Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan Agency Regulatory Plans Cabinet Departments Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Education Department of Energy Department of Health and Human Services Department of Homeland Security Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of the Interior Department of Justice Department of Labor Department of Transportation Department of the Treasury Department of Veterans Affairs Other Executive Agencies Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Environmental Protection Agency Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Services Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Archives and Records Administration Office of Personnel Management Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Small Business Administration Social Security Administration Independent Regulatory Agencies Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Product Safety Commission Federal Trade Commission National Indian Gaming Commission Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agency Agendas Cabinet Departments Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Energy Department of Health and Human Services Department of Homeland Security Department of the Interior Department of Labor Department of Transportation Department of the Treasury Department of Veterans Affairs Other Executive Agencies Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Environmental Protection Agency General Services Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Management and Budget Railroad Retirement Board Small Business Administration Joint Authority Department of Defense/General Services Administration/National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Federal Acquisition Regulation) Independent Regulatory Agencies Commodity Futures Trading Commission Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Consumer Product Safety Commission Federal Communications Commission Federal Reserve System National Labor Relations Board Nuclear Regulatory Commission Securities and Exchange Commission Surface Transportation Board Table of Contents Introduction to the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions I. What are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda? II. Why are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda published? III. How are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda organized? IV. What information appears for each entry? V. Abbreviations VI. How can users get copies of the Plan and the Agenda? Introduction to the Fall 2019 Regulatory Plan Agency Regulatory Plans Cabinet Departments Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Education Department of Energy [[Page 71093]] Department of Health and Human Services Department of Homeland Security Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Interior Department of Justice Department of Labor Department of Transportation Department of Treasury Department of Veterans Affairs Other Executive Agencies Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Environmental Protection Agency Equal Employment Opportunity Commission General Services Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Archives and Records Administration Office of Personnel Management Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Small Business Administration Social Security Administration Federal Acquisition Regulation Independent Regulatory Agencies Consumer Product Safety Commission Federal Trade Commission National Indian Gaming Commission Nuclear Regulatory Commission Agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas Cabinet Departments Department of Agriculture Department of Commerce Department of Defense Department of Energy Department of Health and Human Services Department of Homeland Security Department of Interior Department of Labor Department of Transportation Department of Treasury Department of Veterans Affairs Other Executive Agencies Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Environmental Protection Agency Federal Acquisition Regulation General Services Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration Office of Management and Budget Railroad Retirement Board Small Business Administration Independent Agencies Commodity Futures Trading Commission Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Product Safety Commission Federal Communication Commission Federal Reserve System National Labor Relations Board Nuclear Regulatory Commission Securities and Exchange Commission Introduction to the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions I. What are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda? The Regulatory Plan serves as a defining statement of the Administration's regulatory and deregulatory policies and priorities. The Plan is part of the fall edition of the Unified Agenda. Each participating agency's regulatory plan contains: (1) A narrative statement of the agency's regulatory and deregulatory priorities, and, for the most part, (2) a description of the most important significant regulatory and deregulatory actions that the agency reasonably expects to issue in proposed or final form during the upcoming fiscal year. This edition includes the regulatory plans of 30 agencies. The Unified Agenda provides information about regulations that the Government is considering or reviewing. The Unified Agenda has appeared in the Federal Register twice each year since 1983 and has been available online since 1995. The complete Unified Agenda is available to the public at https://www.reginfo.gov. The online Unified Agenda offers flexible search tools and access to the historic Unified Agenda database to 1995. The complete online edition of the Unified Agenda includes regulatory agendas from 65 Federal agencies. Agencies of the United States Congress are not included. The fall 2019 Unified Agenda publication appearing in the Federal Register consists of The Regulatory Plan and agency regulatory flexibility agendas, in accordance with the publication requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Agency regulatory flexibility agendas contain only those Agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Printed entries display only the fields required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Complete agenda information for those entries appears, in a uniform format, in the online Unified Agenda at https://www.reginfo.gov. The following agencies have no entries for inclusion in the printed regulatory flexibility agenda. An asterisk (*) indicates agencies that appear in The Regulatory Plan. The regulatory agendas of these agencies are available to the public at https://reginfo.gov. Cabinet Departments Department of Education * Department of Justice * Department of Housing and Urban Development * Department of State Other Executive Agencies Agency for International Development American Battle Monuments Commission Commission on Civil Rights Committee for Purchase From the People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled Corporation for National and Community Service Council on Environmental Quality Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia Equal Employment Opportunity Commission * Federal Mediation Conciliation Service Institute of Museum and Library Services National Archives and Records Administration * National Endowment for the Arts National Endowment for the Humanities National Mediation Board Office of Government Ethics Office of Personnel Management * Peace Corps Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation * Presidio Trust Private Civil Liberties Oversight Board Social Security Administration * U.S. Agency for Global Media United States International Development Finance Corporation Independent Agencies Farm Credit Administration Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Housing Finance Agency Federal Maritime Commission Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission Federal Trade Commission * National Credit Union Administration National Indian Gaming Commission* National Transportation Safety Board Postal Regulatory Commission U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board The Regulatory Information Service Center compiles the Unified Agenda for the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), part of the Office of Management and Budget. OIRA is responsible for overseeing the Federal Government's regulatory, paperwork, and information resource management activities, including implementation of Executive Order 12866 (incorporated in Executive Order 13563). The Center also provides information about Federal regulatory activity to the President and his Executive Office, the Congress, agency officials, and the public. The activities included in the Agenda are, in general, those that will have a regulatory action within the next 12 months. Agencies may choose to include activities that will have a longer timeframe than 12 months. Agency [[Page 71094]] agendas also show actions or reviews completed or withdrawn since the last Unified Agenda. Executive Order 12866 does not require agencies to include regulations concerning military or foreign affairs functions or regulations related to agency organization, management, or personnel matters. Agencies prepared entries for this publication to give the public notice of their plans to review, propose, and issue regulations. They have tried to predict their activities over the next 12 months as accurately as possible, but dates and schedules are subject to change. Agencies may withdraw some of the regulations now under development, and they may issue or propose other regulations not included in their agendas. Agency actions in the rulemaking process may occur before or after the dates they have listed. The Regulatory Plan and Unified Agenda do not create a legal obligation on agencies to adhere to schedules in this publication or to confine their regulatory activities to those regulations that appear within it. II. Why are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda published? The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda helps agencies comply with their obligations under the Regulatory Flexibility Act and various Executive orders and other statutes. Regulatory Flexibility Act The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to identify those rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). Agencies meet that requirement by including the information in their submissions for the Unified Agenda. Agencies may also indicate those regulations that they are reviewing as part of their periodic review of existing rules under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 610). Executive Order 13272, ``Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking,'' signed August 13, 2002 (67 FR 53461), provides additional guidance on compliance with the Act. Executive Order 12866 Executive Order 12866, ``Regulatory Planning and Review,'' September 30, 1993 (58 FR 51735), requires covered agencies to prepare an agenda of all regulations under development or review. The Order also requires that certain agencies prepare annually a regulatory plan of their ``most important significant regulatory actions,'' which appears as part of the fall Unified Agenda. Executive Order 13497, signed January 30, 2009 (74 FR 6113), revoked the amendments to Executive Order 12866 that were contained in Executive Order 13258 and Executive Order 13422. Executive Order 13771 Executive Order 13771, ``Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs,'' January 30, 2017 (82 FR 9339) requires each agency to identify for elimination two prior regulations for every one new regulation issued, and the cost of planned regulations be prudently managed and controlled through a budgeting process. Executive Order 13777 Executive Order 13777, ``Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda,'' February 24, 2017 (82 FR 12285) requires each agency to designate an agency official as its Regulatory Reform Officer (RRO). Each RRO shall oversee the implementation of regulatory reform initiatives and policies to ensure that agencies effectively carry out regulatory reforms, consistent with applicable law. The Executive Order also directs that each agency designate a regulatory Reform Task Force. Executive Order 13563 Executive Order 13563, ``Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,'' January 18, 2011 (76 FR 3821) supplements and reaffirms the principles, structures, and definitions governing contemporary regulatory review that were established in Executive Order 12866, which includes the general principles of regulation and public participation, and orders integration and innovation in coordination across agencies; flexible approaches where relevant, feasible, and consistent with regulatory approaches; scientific integrity in any scientific or technological information and processes used to support the agencies' regulatory actions; and retrospective analysis of existing regulations. Executive Order 13132 Executive Order 13132, ``Federalism,'' August 4, 1999 (64 FR 43255), directs agencies to have an accountable process to ensure meaningful and timely input by State and local officials in the development of regulatory policies that have ``federalism implications'' as defined in the Order. Under the Order, an agency that is proposing a regulation with federalism implications, which either preempt State law or impose non-statutory unfunded substantial direct compliance costs on State and local governments, must consult with State and local officials early in the process of developing the regulation. In addition, the agency must provide to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget a federalism summary impact statement for such a regulation, which consists of a description of the extent of the agency's prior consultation with State and local officials, a summary of their concerns and the agency's position supporting the need to issue the regulation, and a statement of the extent to which those concerns have been met. As part of this effort, agencies include in their submissions for the Unified Agenda information on whether their regulatory actions may have an effect on the various levels of government and whether those actions have federalism implications. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4, title II) requires agencies to prepare written assessments of the costs and benefits of significant regulatory actions ``that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more in any 1 year.'' The requirement does not apply to independent regulatory agencies, nor does it apply to certain subject areas excluded by section 4 of the Act. Affected agencies identify in the Unified Agenda those regulatory actions they believe are subject to title II of the Act. Executive Order 13211 Executive Order 13211, ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' May 18, 2001 (66 FR 28355), directs agencies to provide, to the extent possible, information regarding the adverse effects that agency actions may have on the supply, distribution, and use of energy. Under the Order, the agency must prepare and submit a Statement of Energy Effects to the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, for ``those matters identified as significant energy actions.'' As part of this effort, agencies may optionally include in their submissions for the Unified Agenda information on whether they have prepared or plan to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for their regulatory actions. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (Pub. L. 104-121, title II) established a procedure for congressional review of rules (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), which defers, unless exempted, the effective date of a [[Page 71095]] ``major'' rule for at least 60 days from the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register. The Act specifies that a rule is ``major'' if it has resulted, or is likely to result, in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or meets other criteria specified in that Act. The Act provides that the Administrator of OIRA will make the final determination as to whether a rule is major. III. How are the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda organized? The Regulatory Plan appears in part II in a daily edition of the Federal Register. The Plan is a single document beginning with an introduction, followed by a table of contents, followed by each agency's section of the Plan. Following the Plan in the Federal Register, as separate parts, are the regulatory flexibility agendas for each agency whose agenda includes entries for rules which are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities or rules that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Each printed agenda appears as a separate part. The sections of the Plan and the parts of the Unified Agenda are organized alphabetically in four groups: Cabinet departments; other executive agencies; the Federal Acquisition Regulation, a joint authority (Agenda only); and independent regulatory agencies. Agencies may in turn be divided into subagencies. Each printed agency agenda has a table of contents listing the agency's printed entries that follow. Each agency's part of the Agenda contains a preamble providing information specific to that agency. Each printed agency agenda has a table of contents listing the agency's printed entries that follow. Each agency's section of the Plan contains a narrative statement of regulatory priorities and, for most agencies, a description of the agency's most important significant regulatory and deregulatory actions. Each agency's part of the Agenda contains a preamble providing information specific to that agency plus descriptions of the agency's regulatory and deregulatory actions. The online, complete Unified Agenda contains the preambles of all participating agencies. Unlike the printed edition, the online Agenda has no fixed ordering. In the online Agenda, users can select the particular agencies' agendas they want to see. Users have broad flexibility to specify the characteristics of the entries of interest to them by choosing the desired responses to individual data fields. To see a listing of all of an agency's entries, a user can select the agency without specifying any particular characteristics of entries. Each entry in the Agenda is associated with one of five rulemaking stages. The rulemaking stages are: 1. Prerule Stage--actions agencies will undertake to determine whether or how to initiate rulemaking. Such actions occur prior to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and may include Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRMs) and reviews of existing regulations. 2. Proposed Rule Stage--actions for which agencies plan to publish a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as the next step in their rulemaking process or for which the closing date of the NPRM Comment Period is the next step. 3. Final Rule Stage--actions for which agencies plan to publish a final rule or an interim final rule or to take other final action as the next step. 4. Long-Term Actions--items under development but for which the agency does not expect to have a regulatory action within the 12 months after publication of this edition of the Unified Agenda. Some of the entries in this section may contain abbreviated information. 5. Completed Actions--actions or reviews the agency has completed or withdrawn since publishing its last agenda. This section also includes items the agency began and completed between issues of the Agenda. Long-Term Actions are rulemakings reported during the publication cycle that are outside of the required 12-month reporting period for which the Agenda was intended. Completed Actions in the publication cycle are rulemakings that are ending their lifecycle either by Withdrawal or completion of the rulemaking process. Therefore, the Long-Term and Completed RINs do not represent the ongoing, forward- looking nature intended for reporting developing rulemakings in the Agenda pursuant to Executive Order 12866, section 4(b) and 4(c). To further differentiate these two stages of rulemaking in the Unified Agenda from active rulemakings, Long-Term and Completed Actions are reported separately from active rulemakings, which can be any of the first three stages of rulemaking listed above. A separate search function is provided on https://reginfo.gov to search for Completed and Long-Term Actions apart from each other and active RINs. A bullet () preceding the title of an entry indicates that the entry is appearing in the Unified Agenda for the first time. In the printed edition, all entries are numbered sequentially from the beginning to the end of the publication. The sequence number preceding the title of each entry identifies the location of the entry in this edition. The sequence number is used as the reference in the printed table of contents. Sequence numbers are not used in the online Unified Agenda because the unique Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) is able to provide this cross-reference capability. Editions of the Unified Agenda prior to fall 2007 contained several indexes, which identified entries with various characteristics. These included regulatory actions for which agencies believe that the Regulatory Flexibility Act may require a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis, actions selected for periodic review under section 610(c) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, and actions that may have federalism implications as defined in Executive Order 13132 or other effects on levels of government. These indexes are no longer compiled, because users of the online Unified Agenda have the flexibility to search for entries with any combination of desired characteristics. The online edition retains the Unified Agenda's subject index based on the Federal Register Thesaurus of Indexing Terms. In addition, online users have the option of searching Agenda text fields for words or phrases. IV. What information appears for each entry? All entries in the online Unified Agenda contain uniform data elements including, at a minimum, the following information: Title of the Regulation--a brief description of the subject of the regulation. In the printed edition, the notation ``Section 610 Review'' following the title indicates that the agency has selected the rule for its periodic review of existing rules under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 610(c)). Some agencies have indicated completions of section 610 reviews or rulemaking actions resulting from completed section 610 reviews. In the online edition, these notations appear in a separate field. Priority--an indication of the significance of the regulation. Agencies assign each entry to one of the following five categories of significance. (1) Economically Significant As defined in Executive Order 12866, a rulemaking action that will have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or will adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector [[Page 71096]] of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities. The definition of an ``economically significant'' rule is similar but not identical to the definition of a ``major'' rule under 5 U.S.C. 801 (Pub. L. 104-121). (See below.) (2) Other Significant A rulemaking that is not Economically Significant but is considered Significant by the agency. This category includes rules that the agency anticipates will be reviewed under Executive Order 12866 or rules that are a priority of the agency head. These rules may or may not be included in the agency's regulatory plan. (3) Substantive, Nonsignificant A rulemaking that has substantive impacts, but is neither Significant, nor Routine and Frequent, nor Informational/ Administrative/Other. (4) Routine and Frequent A rulemaking that is a specific case of a multiple recurring application of a regulatory program in the Code of Federal Regulations and that does not alter the body of the regulation. (5) Informational/Administrative/Other A rulemaking that is primarily informational or pertains to agency matters not central to accomplishing the agency's regulatory mandate but that the agency places in the Unified Agenda to inform the public of the activity. Major--whether the rule is ``major'' under 5 U.S.C. 801 (Pub. L. 104-121) because it has resulted or is likely to result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or meets other criteria specified in that Act. The Act provides that the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs will make the final determination as to whether a rule is major. Unfunded Mandates--whether the rule is covered by section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4). The Act requires that, before issuing an NPRM likely to result in a mandate that may result in expenditures by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector of more than $100 million in 1 year, agencies, other than independent regulatory agencies, shall prepare a written statement containing an assessment of the anticipated costs and benefits of the Federal mandate. Legal Authority--the section(s) of the United States Code (U.S.C.) or Public Law (Pub. L.) or the Executive order (E.O.) that authorize(s) the regulatory action. Agencies may provide popular name references to laws in addition to these citations. CFR Citation--the section(s) of the Code of Federal Regulations that will be affected by the action. Legal Deadline--whether the action is subject to a statutory or judicial deadline, the date of that deadline, and whether the deadline pertains to an NPRM, a Final Action, or some other action. Abstract--a brief description of the problem the regulation will address; the need for a Federal solution; to the extent available, alternatives that the agency is considering to address the problem; and potential costs and benefits of the action. Timetable--the dates and citations (if available) for all past steps and a projected date for at least the next step for the regulatory action. A date displayed in the form 12/00/19 means the agency is predicting the month and year the action will take place but not the day it will occur. In some instances, agencies may indicate what the next action will be, but the date of that action is ``To Be Determined.'' ``Next Action Undetermined'' indicates the agency does not know what action it will take next. Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required--whether an analysis is required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) because the rulemaking action is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as defined by the Act. Small Entities Affected--the types of small entities (businesses, governmental jurisdictions, or organizations) on which the rulemaking action is likely to have an impact as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Some agencies have chosen to indicate likely effects on small entities even though they believe that a Regulatory Flexibility Analysis will not be required. Government Levels Affected--whether the action is expected to affect levels of government and, if so, whether the governments are State, local, tribal, or Federal. International Impacts--whether the regulation is expected to have international trade and investment effects, or otherwise may be of interest to the Nation's international trading partners. Federalism--whether the action has ``federalism implications'' as defined in Executive Order 13132. This term refers to actions ``that have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the national government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.'' Independent regulatory agencies are not required to supply this information. Included in the Regulatory Plan--whether the rulemaking was included in the agency's current regulatory plan published in fall 2017. Agency Contact--the name and phone number of at least one person in the agency who is knowledgeable about the rulemaking action. The agency may also provide the title, address, fax number, email address, and TDD for each agency contact. Some agencies have provided the following optional information: RIN Information URL--the internet address of a site that provides more information about the entry. Public Comment URL--the internet address of a site that will accept public comments on the entry. Alternatively, timely public comments may be submitted at the Governmentwide e-rulemaking site, https://www.regulations.gov. Additional Information--any information an agency wishes to include that does not have a specific corresponding data element. Compliance Cost to the Public--the estimated gross compliance cost of the action. Affected Sectors--the industrial sectors that the action may most affect, either directly or indirectly. Affected sectors are identified by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes. Energy Effects--an indication of whether the agency has prepared or plans to prepare a Statement of Energy Effects for the action, as required by Executive Order 13211 ``Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use,'' signed May 18, 2001 (66 FR 28355). Related RINs--one or more past or current RIN(s) associated with activity related to this action, such as merged RINs, split RINs, new activity for previously completed RINs, or duplicate RINs. Statement of Need--a description of the need for the regulatory action. Summary of the Legal Basis--a description of the legal basis for the action, including whether any aspect of the action is required by statute or court order. Alternatives--a description of the alternatives the agency has considered or will consider as required by section 4(c)(1)(B) of Executive Order 12866. Anticipated Costs and Benefits--a description of preliminary estimates of [[Page 71097]] the anticipated costs and benefits of the action. Risks--a description of the magnitude of the risk the action addresses, the amount by which the agency expects the action to reduce this risk, and the relation of the risk and this risk reduction effort to other risks and risk reduction efforts within the agency's jurisdiction. V. Abbreviations The following abbreviations appear throughout this publication: ANPRM--An Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is a preliminary notice, published in the Federal Register, announcing that an agency is considering a regulatory action. An agency may issue an ANPRM before it develops a detailed proposed rule. An ANPRM describes the general area that may be subject to regulation and usually asks for public comment on the issues and options being discussed. An ANPRM is issued only when an agency believes it needs to gather more information before proceeding to a notice of proposed rulemaking. CFR--The Code of Federal Regulations is an annual codification of the general and permanent regulations published in the Federal Register by the agencies of the Federal Government. The Code is divided into 50 titles, each title covering a broad area subject to Federal regulation. The CFR is keyed to and kept up to date by the daily issues of the Federal Register. E.O.--An Executive order is a directive from the President to Executive agencies, issued under constitutional or statutory authority. Executive orders are published in the Federal Register and in title 3 of the Code of Federal Regulations. FR--The Federal Register is a daily Federal Government publication that provides a uniform system for publishing Presidential documents, all proposed and final regulations, notices of meetings, and other official documents issued by Federal agencies. FY--The Federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30. [ssquf] NPRM--A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking is the document an agency issues and publishes in the Federal Register that describes and solicits public comments on a proposed regulatory action. Under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553), an NPRM must include, at a minimum: A statement of the time, place, and nature of the public rulemaking proceeding; [ssquf] A reference to the legal authority under which the rule is proposed; and Either the terms or substance of the proposed rule or a description of the subjects and issues involved. PL (or Pub. L.)--A public law is a law passed by Congress and signed by the President or enacted over his veto. It has general applicability, unlike a private law that applies only to those persons or entities specifically designated. Public laws are numbered in sequence throughout the 2-year life of each Congress; for example, Public Law 112-4 is the fourth public law of the 112th Congress. RFA--A Regulatory Flexibility Analysis is a description and analysis of the impact of a rule on small entities, including small businesses, small governmental jurisdictions, and certain small not- for-profit organizations. The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) requires each agency to prepare an initial RFA for public comment when it is required to publish an NPRM and to make available a final RFA when the final rule is published, unless the agency head certifies that the rule would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. RIN--The Regulation Identifier Number is assigned by the Regulatory Information Service Center to identify each regulatory action listed in the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda, as directed by Executive Order 12866 (section 4(b)). Additionally, OMB has asked agencies to include RINs in the headings of their Rule and Proposed Rule documents when publishing them in the Federal Register, to make it easier for the public and agency officials to track the publication history of regulatory actions throughout their development. Seq. No.--The sequence number identifies the location of an entry in the printed edition of the Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda. Note that a specific regulatory action will have the same RIN throughout its development but will generally have different sequence numbers if it appears in different printed editions of the Unified Agenda. Sequence numbers are not used in the online Unified Agenda. U.S.C.--The United States Code is a consolidation and codification of all general and permanent laws of the United States. The U.S.C. is divided into 50 titles, each title covering a broad area of Federal law. VI. How can users get copies of the Plan and the Agenda? Copies of the Federal Register issue containing the printed edition of The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda (agency regulatory flexibility agendas) are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954. Telephone: (202) 512-1800 or 1-866-512-1800 (toll-free). Copies of individual agency materials may be available directly from the agency or may be found on the agency's website. Please contact the particular agency for further information. All editions of The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions since fall 1995 are available in electronic form at https://reginfo.gov, along with flexible search tools. The Government Printing Office's GPO FDsys website contains copies of the Agendas and Regulatory Plans that have been printed in the Federal Register. These documents are available at https://www.fdsys.gov. Dated: November 18, 2019. John C. Thomas, Executive Director. [FR Doc. 2019-26533 Filed 12-23-19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6820-27-P
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