2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS published a final rule on June 28, 2019, to implement an electronic monitoring (EM) program for catcher vessels in the Pacific whiting fishery and fixed gear vessels in the shorebased groundfish Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery. The final rule established an application process for interested vessel owners; performance standards for EM systems; requirements for vessel operators; a permitting process and standards for EM service providers; and requirements for processors (first receivers) for receiving and disposing of prohibited and protected species from EM trips. This action corrects the numbering of two paragraphs in the Code of Federal Regulations. These corrections are necessary so that the implementing regulations are accurate and implement the action as intended by the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council).

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for three fireworks displays taking place over the Washington Channel, adjacent to The Wharf DC, Washington, DC; the first on August 4, 2019, the second on September 21, 2019, and the third on December 7, 2019. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of life on navigable waterways during these fireworks displays. Our regulation for recurring fireworks displays from January 12, 2019, through December 31, 2019 identifies the temporary safety zones for these fireworks display events. During the enforcement periods, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters of the Missouri River between Mile Marker (MM) 28.2 and MM 28.8. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative

NMFS proposes 2020 specifications for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries and projects 2021 summer flounder specifications. The implementing regulations for the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan and the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan require us to publish specifications for the upcoming fishing year for each of these species and to provide an opportunity for public comment. This action is intended to inform the public of the proposed specifications for the start of the 2020 fishing year for these four species and announces the projected 2021 summer flounder specifications.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is revising its regulations governing market-based rates for public utilities. The Commission will collect certain information currently filed in the electric market-based rate program in a consolidated and streamlined manner through a relational database. The relational database construct modernizes the Commission's data collection processes, eliminates duplications, and renders information collected through its market-based rate program usable and accessible for the Commission. The Commission will not adopt the proposal from the NOPR to collect Connected Entity data from market-based rate Sellers and entities trading virtual or holding financial transmission rights in this final rule. With respect to the market-based rate program, the Commission will adopt changes that reduce and clarify the scope of ownership information that Sellers must provide as part of their market-based rate filings. In addition, the Commission will modify its regulations to change the information required in a Seller's asset appendix as well as the format through which such information must be submitted. The revised regulations will require a Seller to update the relational database on a monthly basis to reflect any changes that have occurred but will also extend the change in status filing requirement to a quarterly filing obligation. Finally, the Commission will modify its regulations to eliminate the requirement that Sellers submit corporate organizational charts.

As part of an ongoing effort to better organize the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) seeks public comment on consolidating and clarifying the various exemptions located throughout the regulations. DDTC does not seek input on whether individual exemptions in the ITAR should be expanded or eliminated, but rather requests comments regarding: Which exemptions, if any, are redundant or could be consolidated; and which exemptions, if any, contain language that introduces significant ambiguity or hinders the exemption's intended use.

Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Oregon's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the State. The EPA has determined that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed for program approval. This action also codifies the EPA's approval of Oregon's State program and incorporates by reference those provisions of the State's regulations that we have determined meet the requirements for approval. The State's federally-authorized and codified UST program, as revised pursuant to this action, will remain subject to the EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under Sections 9005 and 9006 of RCRA Subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.

The Department of Labor (Department or DOL) proposes to amend its regulations regarding the certification of temporary employment of nonimmigrant workers employed in temporary or seasonal agricultural employment and the enforcement of the contractual obligations applicable to employers of such nonimmigrant workers. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM or proposed rule) streamlines the process by which the Department reviews employers' applications for temporary agricultural labor certifications to use in petitioning the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to employ a nonimmigrant worker in H-2A status. Amendments to the current regulations focus on modernizing the H-2A program and eliminating inefficiencies. The Department also proposes to amend the regulations for enforcement of contractual obligations for temporary foreign agricultural workers and the Wagner- Peyser Act regulations to provide consistency with revisions to H-2A program regulations governing the temporary agricultural labor certification process.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the General Provisions to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). The proposed amendments implement the plain language reading of the ``major source'' and ``area source'' definitions of section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and provide that a major source can reclassify to area source status at any time by limiting its potential to emit (PTE) hazardous air pollutants (HAP) to below the major source thresholds of 10 tons per year (tpy) of any single HAP or 25 tpy of any combination of HAP. The EPA is proposing that PTE HAP limits must meet the proposed effectiveness criteria of being legally and practicably enforceable. The proposal also clarifies the requirements that apply to sources choosing to reclassify to area source status after the first substantive compliance date of an applicable NESHAP standard. The EPA is proposing electronic notification when a source reclassifies. We are also proposing to revise provisions in specific NESHAP standards that specify the applicability of General Provisions requirements to account for the regulatory provisions we are proposing to add through this rule.

The FAA is amending a regulation to allow helicopter air ambulance (HAA) operators to conduct instrument flight rules departure and approach procedures at airports and heliports that do not have an approved weather reporting source. This rule applies to HAA aircraft without functioning severe weather detection equipment (airborne radar or lightning strike detection equipment), to permit instrument flight rules departure and approach procedures when the pilot in command reasonably determines that the operation will not encounter severe weather at the destination, the alternate destination, or along the route of flight. This amended rule also updates requirements to address the discontinuance of area forecasts and certain requirements concerning HAA departure procedures.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Charlevoix Venetian Boat Parade on July 27, 2019, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the Round Lake, Charlevoix, MI must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander.

On May 13, 2019, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission) published in the Federal Register a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled Certain Swap Data Repository and Data Reporting Requirements. The comment period for the NPRM closes on July 29, 2019. The Commission is extending the comment period for this NPRM by an additional 90 days.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Utah on March 27, 2014, and August 7, 2018. The submittals revise the portions of the Utah Administrative Code (UAC) that pertain to the issuance of Utah air quality permits for major sources in nonattainment areas. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

In this document, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) provides notice that it issued Orders, dated March 5, 2019, with respect to stress test reporting as of December 31, 2018, under section 165(i)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Summary Instructions and Guidance accompanied the Orders to provide testing scenarios.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted under cover letters dated December 21, 2016, and August 25, 2017, by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Energy and Environment Cabinet (Cabinet). The SIP revisions were submitted by the Cabinet on behalf of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD or District) and make amendments to Jefferson County's regulations regarding definitions and the federally enforceable district origin operating permit (FEDOOP) program. EPA is approving the revisions modifying these regulations because the Agency believes they are consistent with the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This AD was prompted by fatigue analysis indicating stress concentrations, as well as the discovery of a helicopter with a crack in the station (STA) 362 frame and skin. This AD requires inspecting the main transmission forward and aft frame assemblies and adjacent skins for a crack and loose fasteners, and establishing life limits for certain frame assemblies. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In this order on rehearing, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission grants in part and denies in part rehearing and clarification regarding certain revisions to its regulations related to interlocking officers and directors.

We propose to revise the criteria in the Listing of Impairments (listings) that we use to evaluate claims involving digestive and skin disorders in adults and children under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (Act). The proposed revisions reflect our adjudicative experience, advances in medical knowledge, and comments we received from experts and the public in response to two advance notices of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM).

The NCUA Board (Board) is finalizing a rule that amends its regulations regarding fidelity bonds for corporate credit unions and natural person credit unions. The rule strengthens a board of directors' oversight of a federally insured credit union's (FICU) fidelity bond coverage; ensures an adequate period to discover and file fidelity bond claims following a FICU's liquidation; codifies a 2017 NCUA Office of General Counsel legal opinion that permits a natural person credit union's fidelity bond to include coverage for certain credit union service organizations (CUSOs); and addresses Board approval of bond forms.

We are advising the public of our decision to authorize the importation into the continental United States of fresh raspberry fruit from Morocco. Based on the findings of a pest risk analysis, which we made available to the public for review and comment, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of raspberries from Morocco.

This document provides notification of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard that were made temporarily effective but expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This document lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, drawbridge operation regulations and regulated navigation areas, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

Section 5(a) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, as amended, provides that households in which each member receives benefits under a State program funded under part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) (also known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grants \1\) shall be categorically eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Currently, SNAP regulations broadly interpret ``benefits'' to mean cash assistance and non-cash or in-kind benefits or services from any TANF-funded program.\2\ In operation, this has allowed categorical eligibility for SNAP to be conferred on households based on receipt of minimal benefits issued by TANF-funded programs which may not conduct a robust eligibility determination and do not meaningfully move families toward self-sufficiency. The Food and Nutrition Act has clear parameters regarding the income and resource limits that SNAP households must meet, and categorical eligibility is intended to apply only when the conferring program has properly determined eligibility. Extending categorical eligibility to participants who have not been screened for eligibility compromises program integrity and reduces public confidence that benefits are being provided to eligible households.

In this Order, EPA denies the objections to EPA's March 29, 2017 order denying a 2007 petition from the Pesticide Action Network North America (PANNA) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to revoke all tolerances and cancel all registrations for the insecticide chlorpyrifos. This order is issued under section 408(g)(2)(C) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and constitutes final agency action on the 2007 petition. The objections were filed by Earthjustice on behalf of 12 public interest groups, the North Coast Rivers Alliance, and the States of New York, Washington, California, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, and Vermont.

This action removes RNAV route Q-106 which extends between the SMELZ, FL, waypoint (WP) and the GADAY, AL, WP. With the implementation additional Q routes by the Florida Metroplex Q-route Project, the FAA has determined that Q-106 is no longer required.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the State of Rhode Island's State Implementation Plan (SIP) relating to the regulation of fine particulate matter (that is, particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 2.5 micrometers, generally referred to as ``PM2.5''), PM10 (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers), and nitrogen oxides (NOX) within the context of Rhode Island's Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permitting program. The EPA is also proposing to take action on other minor changes to Rhode Island's PSD permitting program. In addition, EPA is proposing to convert several conditionally approved infrastructure SIP elements to fully approved elements in relation to the 2008 ozone, 2008 lead, 2010 nitrogen dioxide and the 1997 and 2006 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). These actions are being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA).