2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 1, 2019 amending the regulation text and official interpretations for Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), to include annual calculations for dollar amounts for several provisions in Regulation Z. This document corrects an error in one of the amendments to the official interpretation for Regulation Z.

The U.S. Copyright Office is extending the deadline for the submission of written reply comments in response to its September 24, 2019 notification of inquiry regarding implementation regulations for the Musical Works Modernization Act, title I of the Orrin G. Hatch-Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act.

The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to amend the agency's regulation requiring appraisals for certain real estate-related transactions. The proposed rule would increase the threshold level below which appraisals would not be required for residential real estate-related transactions from $250,000 to $400,000. Consistent with the requirement for other transactions that fall below applicable appraisal thresholds, federally insured credit unions (FICUs) would be required to obtain written estimates of market value of the real estate collateral that is consistent with safe and sound banking practices in lieu of an appraisal. For easier reference, the proposed rule would explicitly incorporate the existing statutory requirement that appraisals be subject to appropriate review for compliance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP). This proposal is consistent with the final rule, effective on October 9, 2019, issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (other banking agencies) that increases the threshold level at or below which appraisals are not required for residential real estate transactions from $250,000 to $400,000.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice invites the general public and other public agencies to comment on this proposed information collection. This collection is a new collection for the assessment of the collection, analysis, validation, and reporting of SNAP E&T data collected by States.

This notice announces action taken by FHWA and that are final. This final agency action relates to a proposed highway project, improvements to US 340, from the Charles Town Bypass in Jefferson County, West Virginia to just south of the state boundary in Clarke County, Virginia. This decision will be used by Federal agencies in subsequent proceedings, including decisions to grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the proposed highway project. The FHWA's Record of Decision (ROD) provides details on the Selected Alternative for the proposed improvements.

This action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Madera Municipal Airport, Madera, CA, eliminates references to the Clovis and Friant Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range/Tactical Air Navigation Aids (VORTAC) from the Airspace description, and updates the airport's geographic coordinates to match the FAA's aeronautical database. In addition, this action updates the airspace lateral dimensions to meet current requirements. This action supports the operation of Instrument flight Rules (IFR) under standard instrument approach and departure procedures in the National Airspace System.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is amending its regulations to implement several provisions of the National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) of 2016 and 2017 and the Recovery Improvements for Small Entities After Disaster Act of 2015 (RISE Act), as well as to clarify existing regulations. This rule clarifies that contracting officers have the authority to request information in connection with a contractor's compliance with applicable limitations on subcontracting clauses; provides exclusions for purposes of compliance with the limitations on subcontracting for certain contracts performed outside of the United States, for environmental remediation contracts, and for information technology service acquisitions that require substantial cloud computing; requires a prime contractor with a commercial subcontracting plan to include indirect costs in its subcontracting goals; establishes that failure to provide timely subcontracting reports may constitute a material breach of the contract; clarifies the requirements for size and status recertification; and limits the scope of Procurement Center Representative (PCR) reviews of Department of Defense acquisitions performed outside of the United States and its territories. This rule also authorizes agencies to receive double credit for small business goaling achievements as announced in SBA's scorecard for local area small business set-asides in connection with a disaster. Finally, SBA is removing the kit assembler exception to the non-manufacturer rule.

This rule codifies in the regulations the prior approval of North Dakota's underground storage tank program and incorporates by reference approved provisions of the State's regulations. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the regulations entitled, ``Approved Underground Storage Tank Programs,'' to provide notification of the approval status of State programs and to incorporate by reference into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) those provisions of the State's regulations that are approved and that the EPA will enforce under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). The EPA previously provided notification and opportunity for comments on the Agency's decisions to approve the North Dakota underground storage tank program, and the EPA is not reopening the decisions, nor requesting comments, on the approval of the North Dakota program, as published in the Federal Register documents specified in Section I.C of this document.

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

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC) amends the Common Crop Insurance Regulations, Coarse Grains Crop Insurance Provisions (Crop Provisions). The intended effect of this action is to allow separate enterprise and optional units by the cropping practices Following Another Crop (FAC) and Not Following Another Crop (NFAC). The changes will be effective for the 2020 and succeeding crop years.

NMFS apportions amounts of the non-specified reserve, to the initial total allowable catch (ITAC) of Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) sculpins and to the total allowable catch (TAC) of Aleutian Islands (AI) Greenland turbot, Bering Sea (BS) ``other rockfish,'' BSAI arrowtooth flounder, BSAI sharks, BSAI shortraker rockfish, and Bering Sea and Eastern Aleutian Islands (BS/EAI) blackspotted/rougheye rockfish. This action is necessary to allow the fisheries to continue operating. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the fishery management plan for the BSAI management area.

NMFS reviewed the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regional marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) in accordance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). SARs for marine mammals in the Alaska, Atlantic, and Pacific regions were revised according to new information. NMFS solicits public comments on the draft 2019 SARs. In addition to releasing draft 2019 Pacific SARs for public comment, NMFS is also providing an opportunity to comment on the final 2018 Western North Pacific (WNP) gray whale SAR previously published in the Federal Register on June 19, 2019 (84 FR 28489). NMFS is also requesting new information for strategic stocks that were not updated in 2019.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a new information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposes to renew an information collection with revisions.

The FHWA, on behalf of ODOT, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by ODOT that are final. The actions relate to the proposed modification of United States Route 62 (US-62) in the County of Stark, State of Ohio. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on October 23, 2019, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of EcoFactor, Inc. of Palo Alto, California. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain smart thermostats, smart HVAC systems, and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 8,131,497 (``the '497 patent''); U.S. Patent No. 8,423,322 (``the '322 patent''); U.S. Patent No. 8,498,753 (``the '753 patent''); and U.S. Patent No. 10,018,371 (``the '371 patent''). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders.

On October 28, 2019, the Secretary of Transportation issued an order launching the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) initiative. ROUTES will help the Department of Transportation (DOT) address disparities in rural transportation infrastructure to tangibly improve safety and economic competitiveness in all parts of the country. This notice requests comments on unmet transportation infrastructure needs in rural transportation, barriers that rural communities face in addressing these needs, stakeholders' experiences with applying to and using DOT discretionary grant and credit programs, and opportunities for DOT to improve its services and technical assistance to rural communities in relation to these grant and credit programs.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ED is proposing a revision of an existing information collection.