2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents
Results 3,651 - 3,700 of 5,042
Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Use of the Government Property Clause (DFARS Case 2015-D035)
DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to expand the prescription for using the Federal Acquisition (FAR) Government property clause.
Regulatory Capital Rule: Revisions to the Supplementary Leverage Ratio To Exclude Certain Central Bank Deposits of Banking Organizations Predominantly Engaged in Custody, Safekeeping and Asset Servicing Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation are inviting public comment on a proposal to implement section 402 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act. Section 402 directs these agencies to amend the supplementary leverage ratio of the regulatory capital rule to exclude certain funds of banking organizations deposited with central banks if the banking organization is predominantly engaged in custody, safekeeping, and asset servicing activities.
Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty Act; Religious Use of Feathers
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), have received a petition for rulemaking, which asks the Service to revise the existing rules pertaining to the religious use of federally protected bird feathers. The petition is being published pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement entered into in 2016 by the United States with McAllen Grace Brethren Church and the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Any changes to existing rules will be subject to a public comment period, and tribal consultation consistent with Executive Order 13175 and the Department of the Interior Policy on Consultation with Indian Tribes. The Service seeks comments on the petition.
Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787 Series Airplanes; Seats With Inertia Locking Devices
This action proposes special conditions for Boeing Model 787 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. This design feature is seats with inertia locking devices. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Pacific Halibut Fisheries; Catch Sharing Plan
This final rule implements the Pacific Halibut Catch Sharing Plan for the International Pacific Halibut Commission's regulatory Area 2A off Washington, Oregon, and California. In addition, this final rule implements portions of the Catch Sharing Plan and management measures that are not implemented through the International Pacific Halibut Commission. These measures include the recreational fishery seasons and management measures for Area 2A. These actions are intended to conserve Pacific halibut and provide angler opportunity where available.
Airworthiness Criteria: Special Class Airworthiness Criteria for the Yamaha Fazer R
The FAA announces airworthiness criteria for a special class of aircraft, the Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., model Fazer R, which is an unmanned aircraft system. It designates airworthiness criteria found by the FAA to provide an equivalent level of safety to existing standards.
Privacy Act of 1974: Implementation of Exemptions; Department of Homeland Security/ALL-018 Administrative Grievance Records
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is giving concurrent notice of an updated reissued system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the ``Department of Homeland Security/ALL-018 Administrative Grievance Records'' System of Records and this final rule. This system of records covers all current and former DHS employees, except for employees of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), who have submitted grievances under DHS's Administrative Grievance System or in accordance with a negotiated grievance procedure. In this final rule, the Department removes all exemptions previously applied to this system of records.
Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections Sanctions Regulations
The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is adding regulations to implement Executive Order of September 12, 2018 (``Imposing Certain Sanctions in the Event of Foreign Interference in a United States Election''). OFAC intends to supplement these regulations with a more comprehensive set of regulations, which may include additional interpretive and definitional guidance, general licenses, and statements of licensing policy.
Security Zone; Burke Lakefront Airport, Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a security zone for navigable waters of Lake Erie, Cleveland, OH. This security zone is necessary to protect the public and surrounding waterways from terrorist acts, sabotage, or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Buffalo or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Safety Zone for Fireworks Display; Upper Potomac River, Washington, DC
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Upper Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters of the Upper Potomac River at Washington, DC on July 4, 2019 (with alternate date of July 5, 2019) during a fireworks display to commemorate the July 4th holiday. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Fisheries of the Exclusive Economic Zone Off Alaska; Greenland Turbot in the Aleutian Islands Subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area
NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2019 Greenland turbot initial total allowable catch (ITAC) in the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.
Safety Zone; Grosse Pointe War Memorial Red, White, and Blue Gala Fireworks, Lake St. Clair, Grosse Pointe, MI
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 420-foot radius of a portion of Lake St. Clair, Grosse Point, MI. This zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from potential hazards associated with the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Red, White, and Blue Gala Fireworks.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of hydraulic leakage caused by damage to aileron and elevator actuators from lightning strikes. This AD requires an inspection or records check to inspect for certain parts, detailed inspections of aileron and elevator power control units (PCUs), and applicable on- condition actions. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Compensatory Time Off for Religious Observances and Other Miscellaneous Changes
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to amend its current regulations on compensatory time off for religious observances. The final rule addresses comments and clarifies provisions on employee coverage, employee and agency responsibilities, scheduling time to earn and use religious compensatory time off, accumulation and documentation, and employee separation or transfer. We are also implementing other miscellaneous changes in the pay and leave area.
Fiduciary Capacity; Non-Fiduciary Custody Activities
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is inviting comment on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) regarding its fiduciary activities rules and a potential rule for non- fiduciary custody activities of national banks, Federal savings associations, and Federal branches of foreign banks. Specifically, the OCC is considering an amendment to its fiduciary rule to update the definition of fiduciary capacity to include certain State recognized trust-related activities. The OCC also is considering issuing a regulation that would establish certain basic requirements for non- fiduciary custody activities of national banks and Federal savings associations.
Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Fox River, Green Bay, WI
The Coast Guard proposes to authorize the Main Street Bridge, mile 1.58, the Walnut Street Bridge, mile 1.81, and the Tilleman Memorial Bridge, mile 2.27, all over the Fox River at Green Bay, WI to operate remotely. The request was made by WISDOT to operate all three bridges from the Walnut Street Bridge. This proposed rule will test the remote operations with tenders onsite, and will not change the operating schedule of the bridges.
Withdrawal of Finding of Substantial Inadequacy of Implementation Plan and of Call for Texas State Implementation Plan Revision-Affirmative Defense Provisions
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 6 Regional Administrator is considering an alternative interpretation regarding affirmative defense provisions in State Implementation Plans (SIPs) of states in EPA Region 6 that departs from the EPA's 2015 policy on this subject. In accordance with the Federal Clean Air Act (Act or CAA), the EPA Region 6 is proposing to make a finding that the affirmative defense provisions in the SIP for the state of Texas applicable to excess emissions that occur during certain upset events and unplanned maintenance, startup, or shutdown activities are narrowly tailored and limited to ensure protection of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and other CAA requirements, and would be consistent with the newly announced alternative interpretation if adopted. Accordingly, the EPA Region 6 also is proposing to withdraw the SIP call issued to Texas that was published on June 12, 2015.
Request for Information Regarding Potential Regulatory Changes to the Remittance Rule
The Electronic Fund Transfers Act (EFTA), as amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), establishes certain protections for consumers sending international money transfers, or remittance transfers. The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's (Bureau) remittance rules (Remittance Rule or Rule) implement these protections. This document seeks information and evidence that may inform possible changes to the Rule that would not eliminate, but would mitigate the effects of the expiration of a statutory exception for certain financial institutions. EFTA expressly limits the length of the temporary exception to July 21, 2020 and does not authorize the Bureau to extend this term. Therefore, the exception will expire on July 21, 2020 unless Congress changes the law. In addition, the Bureau seeks information and evidence related to the scope of coverage of the Rule, including whether to change a safe harbor threshold in the Rule that determines whether a person makes remittance transfers in the normal course of its business, and whether an exception for small financial institutions may be appropriate.
Special Conditions: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A.; Model P2012 Airplane; Installation of Rechargeable Lithium Batteries
These special conditions are issued for the Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A., Model P2012 airplane. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of a rechargeable lithium battery. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Special Conditions: Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A., Model P2012 Airplane; Electronic Engine Control System Installation
These special conditions are issued for the Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam S.P.A., Model P2012 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with installation of an engine that includes an electronic engine control system. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Hamilton, OH
This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Butler County Regional Airport-Hogan Field, Hamilton, OH. This action is due to an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Richmond VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), which provided navigation information to the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.
Amendment of Class E Airspace; Connersville and Richmond, IN
This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mettel Field Airport, Connersville, IN, and Richmond Municipal Airport, Richmond, IN. This action is due to an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Richmond VHF omnidirectional range (VOR), which provided navigation information to the instrument procedures at these airports, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airports are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautic database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at these airports.
Updating the Description of Functions for the Executive Office for United States Attorneys
This final rule amends the organizational regulations of the Department of Justice to make ministerial changes to the description of the organization and functions of the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA).
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; 90-Day Findings for Four Species
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 90- day findings on four petitions to add species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). Based on our review, we find that petitions to list the Arizona eryngo (Eryngium sparganophyllum) and giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, with the publication of this document, we announce that we plan to initiate reviews of the statuses of those species to determine if the petitioned actions are warranted. To ensure that the status reviews are comprehensive, we are requesting scientific and commercial data and other information regarding those species. Based on the status reviews, we will issue 12-month findings on the petitions, which will address whether or not the petitioned actions are warranted, in accordance with the Act. We also find that petitions to list the Refugio manzanita (Arctostaphylos refugioensis) and San Gabriel chestnut snail (Glyptostoma gabrielense) do not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned actions may be warranted. Therefore, we are not initiating status reviews of these species in response to the petitions. We refer to these findings as ``not substantial'' petition findings.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery; 2019 Closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area to the Limited Access General Category Fishery
NMFS announces the closure of the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area for the remainder of the 2019 fishing year for Limited Access General Category vessels. Regulations require this action once NMFS projects that 100 percent of the Limited Access General Category total allowable catch for the Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area will be harvested. This action is intended to prevent the overharvest of the 2019 total allowable catch allocated to the Limited Access General Category Fishery.
Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Common Pool Measures for Fishing Year 2019
This action implements measures for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the 2019 fishing year. This action is necessary to ensure that the Northeast multispecies common pool fishery may achieve the optimum yield (OY) for the relevant stocks, while controlling catch to help prevent inseason closures or quota overages. These measures include possession and trip limits and the allocation of zero trips into the Closed Area II Yellowtail Flounder/Haddock Special Access Program for common pool vessels to target yellowtail flounder.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; 2019 and 2020 Sector Operations Plans and 2019 Allocation of Northeast Multispecies Annual Catch Entitlements
This rule approves Northeast multispecies sector operations plans and grants regulatory exemptions for fishing years 2019 and 2020, approves the formation of a new sector, and allocates annual catch entitlements to approved sectors for fishing year 2019. Approval of sector operations plans and contracts and allocation of annual catch entitlements is necessary for sectors to operate. This action is intended to allow limited access permit holders to form sectors, as authorized under the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan, and to exempt them from certain effort control regulations to improve the efficiency and economics of sector vessels.
Safety Zones; Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Buffalo Zone
The Coast Guard proposes to amend its safety zones regulation for Annual Events in the Captain of the Port Buffalo Zone. This proposed amendment adds eight new permanent safety zones. These amendments and additions are necessary to protect spectators, participants, and vessels from the hazards associated with annual maritime events, including fireworks displays, boat races, and air shows. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Special Local Regulation; Lake Pontchartrain, New Orleans, LA
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for certain navigable waters of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, LA. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from potential hazards created by the Kenner Super Boat Grand Prix Race. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New Orleans or a designated representative.
Safety Zone; Upper Mississippi River MM 486 to 491.1, Riverdale, IA
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River between mile markers (MM) 486 through MM 491.1 in the vicinity of Riverdale, IA. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these waters during a large scale paddle event. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Safety Zone; Pittsburgh Pirates Fireworks, Allegheny River, Pittsburgh, PA
The Coast Guard will enforce safety zones for the Pittsburgh Pirates Fireworks on the Allegheny River, extending the entire width of the river, from mile 0.2 to 0.9 in Pittsburgh, PA. The safety zones are necessary to protect vessels transiting the area and event spectators from the hazards associated with the Pittsburgh Pirates barge-based firework displays following certain home games throughout the season. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the safety zones is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Pittsburgh (COTP) or a designated representative.
Safety Zone; Cuyahoga 50th Parade of Lights; Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH
The Coast Guard proposes to establish a moving safety zone for certain waters of the Cuyahoga River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters in the Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, OH, during the Cleveland Parade of Lights on June 22, 2019. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from the potential hazards created by 125 vessels transiting in the river with lights not normally used for marine traffic navigation lights. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Buffalo. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
User Fees for Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Services
On May 13, 2016, the Air Transport Association of America filed suit against the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), claiming APHIS' 2015 final rule setting fee structures for its Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program (Docket No. APHIS- 2013-0021, effective December 28, 2015) violated the Administrative Procedure Act. In its March 28, 2018 Order, the U.S District Court for the District of Columbia rejected challenges based on the calculations and methods for setting the fees and APHIS' adoption of the final rule. However, the Court also held that APHIS improperly relied on an expired provision in the relevant statute to justify its ability to levy a fee to support a reserve account. In so doing, the Court did ``not evaluate or rule on the agency's current argument that it has authority to fund a reserve'' pursuant to other statutory authority. In this clarification to the final rule, APHIS clarifies that, while we accept the court's holding that congressional authority under one specific provision of the statute to maintain a reasonable balance in the reserve account expired in 2002, this expiration does not abrogate our authority to collect for a reserve, as that authorization is written into other provisions of the statute. This interpretation is consistent with APHIS' long-standing precedent as set forth in prior rulemakings. The agency is only seeking comments related to the legal authority for the reserve component of AQI User Fee Program and is not reexamining any other aspect of the program at this time, including the AQI User Fee calculation.
Child Support Program Technical Corrections Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Correction
This document corrects the regulatory identification number (RIN) that appeared in the heading of a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register of December 18, 2018. Through that document, OCSE proposed to eliminate regulations rendered outdated or unnecessary and make technical amendments to the Flexibility, Efficiency, and Modernization in Child Support Enforcement final rule, published on December 20, 2016, including proposing to amend the compliance date for review and adjustment of child support orders.
Interstate and Intrastate Natural Gas Pipelines; Rate Changes Relating to Federal Income Tax Rate; American Forest & Paper Association
The Federal Energy Commission (Commission) denies rehearing and reaffirms its determinations in Order No. 849. Order No. 849 adopted procedures for determining which jurisdictional natural gas pipelines may be collecting unjust and unreasonable rates in light of the income tax reductions provided by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the Commission's revised policy and precedent concerning tax allowances to address the double recovery issue identified by United Airlines, Inc. v. FERC. These procedures also allowed interstate natural gas pipelines to voluntarily reduce their rates.
Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Removal of Allegheny County Requirements Applicable to Motor Gasoline Volatility in the Allegheny County Portion of the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), on March 19, 2019. This revision seeks removal from the Pennsylvania SIP of Allegheny County requirements limiting summertime gasoline volatility to 7.8 pounds per square inch (psi) Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), which were originally adopted to reduce ozone precursor pollution to address nonattainment of the 1-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) in the Allegheny County portion of the Pittsburgh-Beavery Valley ozone nonattainment area (hereafter referred to as the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area). In December 2018, EPA issued a final approval of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PA DEP) request to remove from the SIP the PA DEP requirements limiting the summer RVP of gasoline in the Pittsburgh-Beaver Valley Area. As part of that action, EPA also approved the accompanying demonstration prepared by Pennsylvania that shows that the emission impacts from removal of the program will not interfere with the area's ability to attain or maintain any NAAQS. EPA is proposing that this prior approved noninterference demonstration also serves to support Pennsylvania's request to remove the separate program imposed by Allegheny County requiring summer 7.8 psi RVP gasoline and that removal of this substantially similar, local low-RVP program will not interfere with the area's ability to attain or maintain the NAAQS. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Determination of Attainment by the Attainment Date; 2006 24-Hour Fine Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standard; Pinal County, Arizona
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the West Central Pinal County nonattainment area attained the 2006 24-hour national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (PM2.5 or ``fine particulate matter'') by December 31, 2017, the statutory attainment date for the area. The proposal is based on the three-year average of annual 98th percentile 24-hour concentrations for the 2015-2017 period, using complete, quality-assured, and certified PM2.5 monitoring data.
Air Plan Approval; California; South Coast Air Quality Management District
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) from on-road heavy-duty vehicles. We are proposing to approve a local measure to reduce NOX emissions from these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Energy Conservation Program: Data Collection and Comparison With Forecasted Unit Sales of Five Lamp Types
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is informing the public of its collection of shipment data and creation of spreadsheet models to provide comparisons between 2018 unit sales and benchmark estimate unit sales of five lamp types (i.e., rough service lamps, vibration service lamps, 3-way incandescent lamps, 2,601-3,300 lumen general service incandescent lamps, and shatter-resistant lamps). For 3-way incandescent lamps, 2,601-3,300 lumen general service incandescent lamps, and shatter-resistant lamps, the 2018 sales are not greater than 200 percent of the forecasted estimates. The 2018 unit sales for vibration service lamps are greater than 200 percent of the benchmark unit sales estimate. The 2018 unit sales for rough service lamps are below the benchmark unit sales estimate. DOE has prepared, and is making available on its website, a spreadsheet showing the comparisons of projected sales versus 2018 sales, as well as the model used to generate the original sales estimates.
Privacy of Consumer Financial Information-Amendment To Conform Regulations to the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is adopting amendments to revise its regulations requiring covered persons to provide annual privacy notices to customers. The revisions implement the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act's (``FAST Act'') December 2015 statutory amendment to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (``GLB Act'') by providing an exception to the annual notice requirement under certain conditions.
Restrictions on Discontinued Uses of Asbestos; Significant New Use Rule
Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), EPA is promulgating a rule to ensure that any discontinued uses of asbestos cannot re-enter the marketplace without EPA review, closing a loophole in the regulatory regime for asbestos.
Medicare Program; FY 2020 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Requirements
This proposed rule would update the hospice wage index, payment rates, and cap amount for fiscal year 2020. This rule proposes to rebase the continuous home care, general inpatient care, and the inpatient respite care per diem payment rates in a budget-neutral manner to more accurately align Medicare payments with the costs of providing care. In addition, this rule proposes to modify the election statement by requiring an addendum that includes information aimed at increasing coverage transparency for patient under a hospice election. Finally, this rule proposes changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program.
Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Focused Additional Comment in Business Data Services and USTelecom Forbearance Petition Proceedings and Reopens Secure Data Enclave
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau reopens the secure data enclave, supplements the record in the business data services (BDS) and USTelecom proceedings with additional tables and information placed in the secure data enclave, and seeks focused comment on whether the additional data informs the extent of competition for transport.
Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program and Value-Based Purchasing Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2020
This proposed rule would update the payment rates used under the prospective payment system (PPS) for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) for fiscal year (FY) 2020. We also propose minor revisions to the regulation text to reflect the revised assessment schedule under Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM). Additionally, we propose to revise the definition of group therapy under the SNF PPS, and to implement a subregulatory process for updating the code lists (International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Version (ICD-10) codes) used under PDPM. We are also soliciting comments on stakeholder concerns regarding the appropriateness of the wage index used to adjust SNF payments. In addition, the proposed rule includes proposals for the SNF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) and the SNF Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program that will affect Medicare payment to SNFs.
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2020
This final rule sets forth payment parameters and provisions related to the risk adjustment and risk adjustment data validation programs; cost-sharing parameters; and user fees for Federally- facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) and State-based Exchanges on the Federal Platform (SBE-FPs). It finalizes changes that will allow greater flexibility related to the duties and training requirements for the Navigator program and changes that will provide greater flexibility for direct enrollment entities, while strengthening program integrity oversight over those entities. It finalizes a change intended to reduce the costs of prescription drugs. This final rule also includes changes to Exchange standards related to eligibility and enrollment; exemptions; and other related topics.
TSCA Chemical Data Reporting Revisions and Small Manufacturer Definition Update for Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under TSCA Section 8(a)
EPA is proposing to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) section 8(a) Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) requirements and the TSCA section 8(a) size standards for small manufacturers. The current CDR rule requires manufacturers (including importers) of certain chemical substances listed on the TSCA Chemical Substance Inventory (TSCA Inventory) to report data on chemical manufacturing, processing, and use every 4 years. EPA is proposing several changes to the CDR rule to make regulatory updates to align with new statutory requirements of TSCA, improve the CDR data collected as necessary to support the implementation of TSCA, and potentially reduce burden for certain CDR reporters. Proposed updates to the definition for small manufacturers, including a new definition for small governments, are being made in accordance with TSCA section 8(a)(3)(C) and impact certain reporting and recordkeeping requirements for TSCA section 8(a) rules, including CDR. The definitions may reduce burden on chemical manufacturers by increasing the number of manufacturers considered small. Overall, these regulatory modifications may better address EPA and public information needs by providing additional information that is currently not collected; improve the usability and reliability of the reported data; and ensure that data are available in a timely manner.
Guidance Under Section 851 Relating to Investments in Stock and Securities; Correction
This document contains corrections to final regulations (TD 9851) that were published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, March 19, 2019. The final regulations provide guidance relating to the income test used to determine whether a corporation may qualify as a regulated investment company (RIC) for Federal income tax purposes.
Compliance Policy for Combination Product Postmarketing Safety Reporting; Immediately in Effect Guidance for Industry; Availability
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the availability of an update to the immediately in effect guidance for industry entitled ``Compliance Policy for Combination Product Postmarketing Safety Reporting.'' This guidance describes FDA's compliance policy for combination product applicants and constituent part applicants and activities under FDA regulations that addresses combination product postmarketing safety reporting. FDA is updating this guidance by extending the period of time during which FDA does not intend to enforce certain combination product postmarketing safety reporting requirements.
Natural Resources Defense Council et al.: Response to the Objections and Denial of the Requests for a Public Hearing
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is overruling the objections and is denying the requests for a public hearing, submitted by the Environmental Defense Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for Food Safety, Clean Water Action, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Center for Environmental Health, Environmental Working Group, and Improving Kids' Environment.
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