May 12, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Electric Company (GE) GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B model turbofan engines with a certain interstage high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor seal installed. This AD requires initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (USIs) of the interstage HPT rotor seal and, depending on the results of the inspection, replacement of the interstage HPT rotor seal with a part eligible for installation. This AD also requires the removal of the interstage HPT rotor seal at the next engine shop visit. This AD was prompted by investigative findings from an event involving an uncontained interstage HPT rotor seal failure that resulted in debris penetrating the fuselage and the other engine. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

Due to the receipt of an adverse comment, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing the March 13, 2020 direct final rule approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Massachusetts' SIP revision approved the infrastructure requirements to demonstrate the Commonwealth has the necessary resources to comply with the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This action is being taken in accordance with the Clean Air Act.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Tahlequah Municipal Airport in Tahlequah, OK. This action is the result of airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Tahlequah non-directional radio beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Pratt Regional Airport, Pratt, KS. This action is the result of airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Pratt non-directional beacon (NDB), which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport. This amendment also updates the airport name and the geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This rule finalizes revisions to the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) regulations proposed on April 19, 2019. AFCARS regulations require title IV-E agencies to collect and report data to ACF on children in out-of-home care, children who exit out-of-home care to adoption or legal guardianship, and children who are covered by a title IV-E adoption or guardianship assistance agreement.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 7 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete 117 residential parcels of the Omaha Lead Superfund site (Site or OLS) located in Omaha, Nebraska, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the State of Nebraska, through the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, determined that all appropriate Response Actions under CERCLA were completed at the identified parcels. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under CERCLA. This partial deletion pertains to 117 residential parcels. The remaining parcels will remain on the NPL and are not being considered for deletion as part of this action.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is initiating an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for water-source heat pumps (WSHPs). This request for information (RFI) solicits information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for WSHPs, a category of covered commercial equipment, would result in significant additional energy savings and whether such standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified. DOE welcomes written comments from the public on any subject within the scope of this document (including those topics not specifically raised in this RFI), as well as the submission of data and other relevant information.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Commission or CFTC) is proposing amendments to the regulations governing which swaps are exempt from the clearing requirement set forth in the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA). The proposed amendments would address the treatment of swaps entered into by certain central banks, sovereign entities, and international financial institutions. The Commission also is issuing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to further propose amendments to exempt from required clearing swaps entered into by certain bank holding companies, savings and loan holding companies, and community development financial institutions. Lastly, the Commission is proposing to publish a compliance schedule setting forth all the past compliance dates for the 2012 and 2016 swap clearing requirement regulations and to make certain other, non-substantive technical amendments to the relevant part of its regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing changes to the test procedures for heavy-duty engines and vehicles to improve accuracy and reduce testing burden. EPA is also proposing other regulatory amendments concerning light-duty vehicles, heavy-duty vehicles, highway motorcycles, locomotives, marine engines, other nonroad engines and vehicles, stationary engines. These would affect the certification procedures for exhaust emission standards, and related requirements. EPA is proposing similar amendments for evaporative emission standards for nonroad equipment and portable fuel containers. These amendments would increase compliance flexibility, harmonize with other requirements, add clarity, correct errors, and streamline the regulations. Given the nature of the proposed changes, they would have neither significant environmental impacts nor significant economic impacts for any sector.