March 27, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS issues this temporary rule (also referred to herein as ``emergency action'') to provide it with authority to waive observer coverage requirements established in regulations promulgated under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) and other statutes, consistent with applicable law and international obligations. NMFS is taking this action to address public health concerns relating to the evolving pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). NMFS is taking this action to protect public health, economic security, and food security, and to safeguard the health and safety of fishermen, observers, and other persons involved with such monitoring programs, while safeguarding the ability of fishermen to continue business operations and produce seafood for the Nation. This action also authorizes NMFS to waive some training or other program requirements to ensure that as many observers are available as possible while ensuring the safety and health of the observers and trainers.

On March 3, 2020, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) published in the Federal Register a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) requesting comment on the Bureau's proposal to amend Regulation F, which implements the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), to require debt collectors to make certain disclosures when collecting time-barred debts. The SNPRM provided a 60- day comment period that was set to close on May 4, 2020. To allow interested persons more time to consider and submit their comments, the Bureau has determined that an extension of the comment period until June 5, 2020, is appropriate.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or ``Agency'') proposes to approve portions of two state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements for the 2006 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) Serious nonattainment area. Specifically, the EPA proposes to approve those portions of the ``2018 Plan for the 1997, 2006, and 2012 PM2.5 Standards'' and the ``San Joaquin Valley Supplement to the 2016 State Strategy for the State Implementation Plan'' that pertain to the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS and address CAA requirements for Serious PM2.5 nonattainment areas. The EPA also proposes to approve inter-pollutant trading ratios for use in transportation conformity analyses for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS. As part of this action, the EPA proposes to grant an extension of the Serious area attainment date for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in the San Joaquin Valley from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2024 based on a proposed determination that the State has satisfied the statutory criteria for this extension. We may, however, reconsider this proposal or deny California's request for extension of the attainment date if, based on new information or public comments, we find that the State has not satisfied the statutory criteria for this extension.

The NCUA Board (Board) is seeking comment on a proposed rule that would amend the NCUA's corporate credit union regulation. The proposed rule would update, clarify, and simplify several provisions of the NCUA's corporate credit union regulation, including: Permitting a corporate credit union to make a minimal investment in a credit union service organization (CUSO) without the CUSO being classified as a corporate CUSO under the NCUA's rules; expanding the categories of senior staff positions at member credit unions eligible to serve on a corporate credit union's board; amending the minimum experience and independence requirement for a corporate credit union's enterprise risk management expert; and requiring a corporate credit union to deduct certain investments in subordinated debt instruments issued by natural person credit unions.