April 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by removing License Exception Civil End Users (CIV) and requiring a license for national security-controlled items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to countries of national security concern. This will advance U.S. national security interests by allowing U.S. government review of these transactions to these countries prior to export, reexport or transfer (in-country) in accordance with current licensing policy for national security-controlled items on the CCL. This rule also makes conforming changes to the CCL by removing the CIV paragraph from each Export Control Classification Number on the CCL where it appears.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announces the availability of $3 billion in funds for the purchase and distribution of fresh produce and dairy and meat products for Americans facing challenges due to the COVID-19 national emergency. AMS is utilizing an existing commodity procurement infrastructure to streamline and expand delivery of fresh produce and dairy and meat products to non-profit and governmental organizations that can distribute the commodities to Americans in need. Interested entities may apply for program participation through AMS's solicitation process.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing this interim final rule to make a conforming amendment to its capital adequacy regulation following the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act authorizes the Small Business Administration to create a loan guarantee program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to help certain businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act requires that PPP loans receive a zero percent risk weighting under the NCUA's risk-based capital requirements. To reflect the statutory requirement, the interim final rule amends the NCUA's capital adequacy regulation to provide that covered PPP loans receive a zero percent risk weight. The interim final rule also provides that if the covered loan is pledged as collateral for a non-recourse loan that is provided as part of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's (FRB) PPP Lending Facility, the covered loan can be excluded from a credit union's calculation of total assets for the purposes of calculating its net worth ratio. The interim final rule also makes a conforming amendment to the definition of commercial loan in the NCUA's member business loans and commercial lending rule. The Board has found good cause to issue the interim final rule without advance notice-and-comment procedures and with an effective date upon publication.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information collection provisions in FDA's infant formula recall regulations.

Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of a currently approved collection, and allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice.

The FHWA, on behalf of Caltrans, is issuing this notice to announce actions taken by Caltrans, that are final. The actions relate to a proposed highway project on State Route 55 (Post Miles 10.4 to R17.9) in the Cities of Orange, Tustin, Santa Ana, and Anaheim in the County of Orange, State of California. Those actions grant licenses, permits, and approvals for the project.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing updates to the identifying information of persons and a vessel currently included in the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (the SDN List). All property and interests in property of these persons or relating to this vessel that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction continue to be blocked, and U.S. persons generally continue to be prohibited from engaging in transactions with these persons or relating to this vessel.

We are giving notice that the Secretary of Agriculture is soliciting nominations for the election of a member at-large and regional members and their alternates for the General Conference Committee of the National Poultry Improvement Plan.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing the names of persons whose property and interests in property have been unblocked and who have been removed from the list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is reopening the comment period for the notice, published in the Federal Register of January 3, 2020. In the notice, FDA opened a public docket to solicit input and comments from interested stakeholders, including racial and ethnic minority, underrepresented, and underserved populations on the Office of Minority Health and Health Equity Strategic Priorities (OMHHE). FDA is reopening the comment period to update comments and to receive any new information.

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

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a revised information collection request (ICR), It's Time to Sign Up for Direct Deposit or Direct Express, RI 38-128.

The Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.-build requirements of the coastwise trade laws to allow the carriage of no more than twelve passengers for hire on vessels, which are three years old or more. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below.

On April 3, 2020, the National Science Foundation, on behalf of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), announced a request for information regarding development of the next 5-year Arctic Research Plan: 2022-2026, originally open for a 90-day public comment period. In response to the challenges of providing input on the next 5-year Arctic Research Plan: 2022-2026 during the current global pandemic, IARPC is extending the public comment period for an additional 30 days.

This announcement provides notice that the decision record has closed for an administrative appeal filed by WesternGeco (Appellant) under the Coastal Zone Management Act requesting that the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) override an objection by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control to a consistency certification for a proposed project to conduct a marine Geological and Geophysical seismic survey in the Atlantic Ocean.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to an April 6, 2020, request from the Virginia Electric and Power Company to temporarily suspend the requirement for on-the-job training to allow certain security training personnel to re- qualify for assigned duties and responsibilities as an Armed Responder for the Surry Power Station, Units 1 and 2.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed renewal of a collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (``PRA''), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment. This notice solicits comments on the recordkeeping obligations set forth in certain aspects of certain of the Commission's recordkeeping regulations.