January 17, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve, or conditionally approve, all or portions of two state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the Coachella Valley ozone nonattainment area (``Coachella Valley''). The two SIP revisions include the portions of the ``Final 2016 Air Quality Management Plan'' and the ``2018 Updates to the California State Implementation Plan'' that address ozone in the Coachella Valley. These submittals address the nonattainment area requirements for the 2008 8- hour ozone NAAQS, including the requirements for an emissions inventory, emissions statements, attainment demonstration, reasonable further progress (RFP), reasonably available control measures, contingency measures, and motor vehicle emissions budgets. The EPA is proposing to approve these submittals as meeting all the applicable ozone nonattainment area requirements except for the contingency measure requirements, for which the EPA is proposing to conditionally approve the RFP contingency measures and to defer action on the attainment contingency measure.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 airplanes and Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 ECJ, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that certain main landing gear (MLG) aft pintle pins repaired using a sulphamate nickel plating have a life limit that is less than the certified life limit. This proposed AD would require a one-time records review and a general visual inspection (GVI) of the MLG aft pintle pins to determine if certain repairs were done, and replacement of certain MLG aft pintle pins with serviceable MLG aft pintle pins, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) Brazilian AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab AB, Support and Services Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

NMFS has received a request from Hilcorp Alaska, LLC (Hilcorp) and Eni US Operating Co. Inc. (Eni) for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to ice road and ice trail construction, maintenance, and operation in Alaska's North Slope, over the course of five years (2020-2025). As required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is proposing regulations to govern that take and requests comments on the proposed regulations. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

The final rule revises regulations that implement certain provisions of section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018 (FIRRMA). The interim rule also adds a new definition for the term ``principal place of business'' and the Department of the Treasury is seeking comments on this definition. While this rule retains many features of the prior regulations, the rule makes a number of substantive changes, primarily to implement FIRRMA.

The rule proposes to amend the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA or Department) regulation that covers equal opportunity for participation of faith-based organizations in USDA programs and to implement Executive Order 13831 (Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative). Among other changes, this rule proposes changes to provide clarity about the rights and obligations of faith- based organizations participating in Department programs, clarify the Department's guidance documents for financial assistance in regard to faith-based organizations, and eliminate certain requirements for faith-based organizations that no longer reflect executive branch guidance. This proposed rulemaking is intended to ensure that the Department's social service programs are implemented in a manner consistent with the requirements of federal law, including the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.

The rule proposes to amend Department of Justice (``Department'') regulations on equal treatment for faith-based and other neighborhood organizations and to implement Executive Order 13831 (Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative). Among other changes, this rule proposes changes to provide clarity about the rights and obligations of faith-based organizations participating in Department programs, clarify the Department's guidance documents for financial assistance in regard to faith-based organizations, and eliminate certain requirements for faith-based organizations that no longer reflect executive branch guidance. This proposed rulemaking is intended to ensure that the Department's social service programs are implemented in a manner consistent with the requirements of Federal law, including the First Amendment to the Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

In response to the United States Supreme Court's decision in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer (2017), the United States Attorney General's October 6, 2017 Memorandum on Federal Law Protections for Religious Liberty,and Executive Order 13831 (Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative), the Department proposes revising the current regulations regarding the eligibility of faith-based entities to participate in the Department's Direct Grant programs, State-Administered Formula Grant programs, and discretionary grant programs authorized under title III and V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and the eligibility of students to obtain certain benefits under those programs. Additionally, in response to E.O. 13864 (Improving Free Inquiry, Transparent, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities), the Department proposes to revise the current regulations to encourage institutions to foster environments that promote open, intellectually engaging, and diverse debate, including through compliance with the First Amendment for public institutions and compliance with stated institutional policies regarding freedom of speech, including academic freedom, for private institutions.

The rule proposes to amend Department of Labor (Department, DOL) regulations to implement Executive Order 13831 (Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative). Among other changes, this rule proposes changes to provide clarity about the rights and obligations of faith-based organizations participating in Department programs, clarify the Department's guidance documents for financial assistance in regard to faith-based organizations, and eliminate certain requirements for faith-based organizations that no longer reflect executive branch guidance. This proposed rulemaking is intended to ensure that the Department's social service programs are implemented in a manner consistent with the requirements of federal law, including the First Amendment to the Constitution and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.