March 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is giving notice that it intends to issue a series of revised conservation practice standards in the National Handbook of Conservation Practices (NHCP). NRCS is also giving the public an opportunity to provide comments on specified conservation practice standards in NHCP.

In accordance with the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is publishing the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 (VVSG 2.0) Requirements for public comment. Aligned with the VVSG 2.0 Principles and Guidelines, the VVSG 2.0 Requirements represent the requirements to which a voting system is tested to obtain certification under the EAC Testing and Certification Program.

In this notice, OSHA announces the application of DEKRA Certification, Inc., for recognition as a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) and presents the agency's preliminary finding to grant this recognition. Additionally, OSHA proposes to modify the NRTL Program's List of Appropriate Test Standards to add two additional test standards.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) Model 600N helicopters. This AD requires establishing a life limit for the main rotor (M/R) blade upper control collective/longitudinal link assembly (link assembly). This AD was prompted by the discovery that the life limit was omitted from the maintenance manual. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends 11 high altitude area navigation (RNAV) routes (Q-routes) in support of the Florida Metroplex Project. The amendments provide more efficient, streamlined route options for users, and improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS).

This rulemaking proposes to amend the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) regulations to strengthen program integrity by codifying in regulations changes that have been tested through policy guidance and by streamlining requirements among Child Nutrition Programs. These changes update important definitions, simplify the application process, enhance monitoring requirements, and provide more discretion at the State agency level to manage program operations. The intended effect of this rulemaking is to clarify, simplify, and streamline program administration in order to facilitate compliance with program requirements. The original comment period for this proposed rule, published on January 23, 2020, ends on March 23, 2020. FNS is extending the comment period through April 22, 2020.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Washington State Implementation Plan (SIP) that were submitted by the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) in coordination with the Northwest Clean Air Agency (NWCAA). This proposed revision would update certain NWCAA regulations currently in the SIP, remove obsolete regulations, and approve a subset of updated Ecology regulations to apply in NWCAA's jurisdiction.

This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-24, V-97, and V-171 due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Lone Rock, WI (LNR), VOR/ Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigation aid (NAVAID), which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected air traffic service (ATS) routes. The Lone Rock VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action proposes to amend one jet route, J-6; three VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways, V-5, V-49, and V-243; and two area navigation (RNAV) routes, Q-68 and T-325. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Bowling Green, KY, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid (NAVAID). The Bowling Green VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action changes the effective date of a final rule published in the Federal Register on February 21, 2020, amending VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-82 and V-217, and area navigation (RNAV) route T-383 in the vicinity of Baudette, MN. The ATS route amendments were due to the planned decommissioning of the Baudette VOR. The FAA is delaying the effective date to coincide with the expected completion of the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT) purchase and flight check of a new Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) facility to support the Instrument Landing System (ILS) or Localizer (LOC) Approach to Runway (RWY) 31 instrument approach procedure, which is affected by the loss of the Baudette VOR, at Warroad International Memorial Airport, MN.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (``Board'') is amending Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions) to revise the rate of interest paid on balances maintained to satisfy reserve balance requirements (``IORR'') and the rate of interest paid on excess balances (``IOER'') maintained at Federal Reserve Banks by or on behalf of eligible institutions. The final amendments specify that IORR is 0.10 percent and IOER is 0.10 percent, a 1.00 percentage point decrease from their prior levels. The amendments are intended to enhance the role of IORR and IOER in maintaining the Federal funds rate in the target range established by the Federal Open Market Committee (``FOMC'' or ``Committee'').

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBS) published an interim rule on December 23, 2011, which made several revisions to the Rural Business Investment program. Through this action, RBS finalizes the rule based on public comments, amends its regulations, and incorporates new program requirements established in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 Bill for the Rural Business Investment Program. This action, which affects some of the substantive aspects of the Rural Business Investment Program, is expected to decrease the time and workload necessary in carrying out the Rural Business Investment Program.

This final rule incorporates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) existing internal policy and procedures relating to the issuance of guidance documents into the Code of Federal Regulations.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is adopting a final rule that amends its stress testing rule, consistent with section 401 of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (EGRRCPA). These amendments adopt the proposed amendments without change to modify the minimum threshold for the regulated entities to conduct stress tests increased from $10 billion to $250 billion; removal of the requirements for Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks) subject to stress testing; and removal of the adverse scenario from the list of required scenarios. These amendments align FHFA's rule with rules adopted by other financial institution regulators that implement the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) stress testing requirements, as amended by EGRRCPA.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is revising chapter I of its regulations. These revisions are necessary to reflect changes to the Agency's organizational structure, including the reorganization of the Office of Regulatory Affairs. The revisions replace references to the District Director with references to the Division Director and make other related changes. The rule does not impose any new regulatory requirements on affected parties. This action is editorial in nature and is intended to improve the accuracy of the Agency's regulations.

In this document, the Commission announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information collections associated with the carriage election procedures adopted in the Commission's 2019 CEN Order, FCC 19-69, and that compliance with the modified rules is now required. This document is consistent with the 2019 CEN Order, FCC 19-69, which states that the Commission will publish a document in the Federal Register announcing a compliance date for the modified rule sections and revise the rule accordingly.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive cycling of the airplane electrical power. This AD was prompted by a report that the stale-data monitoring function of the common core system (CCS) may be lost when continuously powered on for 51 days. This could lead to undetected or unannunciated loss of common data network (CDN) message age validation, combined with a CDN switch failure. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing for public comment draft NUREG-1409, ``Backfitting Guidelines,'' Revision 1. This draft NUREG provides guidance on the implementation of the backfitting and issue finality provisions of the NRC's regulations and the NRC's forward fitting policy in accordance with Management Directive and Handbook 8.4, ``Management of Backfitting, Forward Fitting, Issue Finality, and Information Requests.''

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for pollock in Statistical Area 620 in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the B season allowance of the 2020 total allowable catch of pollock for Statistical Area 620 in the GOA.