May 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document includes proposed regulations under sections 36B and 6011 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) that clarify that the reduction of the personal exemption deduction to zero for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2026, does not affect an individual taxpayer's ability to claim the premium tax credit. These proposed regulations affect individuals who claim the premium tax credit.

The Department of Energy (DOE) publishes this final rule to update personnel references within DOE's Office of Electricity and update an email address that is no longer in use. This final rule is needed to conform to the current organizational structure within DOE's Office of Electricity and does not otherwise substantively change the current regulations.

NMFS closes the northern area Angling category fishery for large medium and giant (``trophy'' (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action is being taken to prevent further overharvest of the Angling category northern area trophy BFT subquota.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-6, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC-6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/ B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, PC-6/C1-H2, PC-6-H1, and PC-6-H2 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as flap actuator taper pins that were not swaged during the manufacturing process. The FAA is issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9 is issuing a Notice of Intent to Delete the JASCO Chemical Corporation Superfund Site (Site) located in Mountain View, California, 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). EPA and the State of California, through the Department of Toxic Substances Control, have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to update the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to reflect Oklahoma's current New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) delegation status and mailing address for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ). The ODEQ has submitted updated regulations for delegation of the EPA authority for implementation and enforcement of certain NSPS. The updated State regulations incorporate by reference certain NSPS promulgated by the EPA, as they existed through June 30, 2018.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the approximately 15,900-acre ``Palos Verdes Peninsula'' viticultural area in the southwestern coastal region of Los Angeles County, California. The proposed viticultural area does not lie within, nor does it contain, any other established viticultural area. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on this proposed addition to its regulations.

The Department of Education (Department) extends the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 application amendment period for Impact Aid program (IAP) applications, CFDA number 84.041, under sections 7002 and 7003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA). We extend the application amendment deadline from June 30, 2020, to August 31, 2020, by 11:59:59 p.m., to allow local educational agencies (LEAs) impacted by the extraordinary circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic additional time to submit their amended applications.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 8 announces the deletion of the Operable Unit 1 (OU1), Former Export Plant of the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site (Site) located in Lincoln County, Montana, from the National Priorities List (NPL). 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). This partial deletion pertains to OU1. Operable Unit 2 (OU2), Former Screening Plant, was deleted from the NPL on April 10, 2019. Operable Unit 3 (OU3), Former Vermiculite Mine; Operable Unit 4 and Operable Unit 7 (OU4/OU7), Residential/Commercial Properties of Libby and Troy; Operable Unit 5 (OU5), Former Stimson Lumber Mill; Operable Unit 6 (OU6), BNSF Rail Corridor; and Operable Unit 8 (OU8), Highways and Roadways, are not being considered for deletion as part of this proposed action and will remain on the NPL. The EPA and the State of Montana, through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA, other than operation and maintenance, monitoring and five-year reviews, have been completed. However, the deletion of these parcels does not preclude future actions under Superfund.

The Coast Guard is adding, deleting, and modifying the special local regulations for annual recurring marine events, safety zones for firework displays, and swim events in the Coast Guard Sector Northern New England Captain of the Port Zone. When enforced, these special local regulations and safety zones will restrict vessels from transiting regulated areas during certain annually recurring events. The special local regulations and safety zones are intended to expedite public notification and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with certain marine events.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing an interim final rule to update the Business and Industry (B&I) Guaranteed Loan Program to allow flexibility to obligate federal funds for guaranteed loans pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) in response to the national COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The RBCS is responsible for administering the B&I Guaranteed Loan Program.

This document announces the decision of the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to continue to temporarily limit the travel of individuals from Mexico into the United States at land ports of entry along the United States-Mexico border. Such travel will be limited to ``essential travel,'' as further defined in this document.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to amend the Standards of Performance for New Residential Wood Heaters, New Residential Hydronic Heaters and Forced-Air Furnaces. In response to the situation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, this proposed action restores the retail sales opportunities that were provided by the original 5-year period for ``Step 1'' wood heaters, hydronic heaters, and forced-air furnaces that were manufactured or imported before the May 15, 2020, ``Step 2'' compliance date. Upon promulgation, retailers may continue selling Step 1 heaters through November 30, 2020.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of recurrent loss of tightening torque on several attachment bolts of the tail rotor hub body. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the tail rotor hub body for cracks and applicable corrective actions if necessary, and repetitive replacement of the attachment bolts, washers, and nuts of the tail rotor hub body. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Wheatland County at Harlowton Airport, Harlowton, MT. Two areas are established to contain arriving and departing IFR aircraft operating to/from the airport. The first area extends upward from 700 feet above the surface and the second area extends upward from 1,200 feet above the surface.

On April 2, 2020, the Coast Guard published a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish temporary special local regulations on June 20, 2020, to provide for the safety of life on certain navigable waters of the Upper Potomac River during the Washington, DC Sharkfest Swim. The Coast Guard is publishing this revised notice of proposed rulemaking because the event sponsor has postponed the event until September 27, 2020. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

EPA is proposing to exempt residues of the antimicrobial pesticide ingredients dipropylene glycol and triethylene glycol from the requirement of a tolerance when used on or applied to food-contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy-processing equipment, and food- processing equipment and utensils. This rulemaking is proposed on the Agency's own initiative under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to address residues identified as part of the Agency's registration review program under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Georgia through a letter dated October 18, 2019, updating Georgia's rule titled Emission Reduction Credits which establishes a program for sources in specified counties to apply for credits for voluntary emissions reductions. EPA has evaluated Georgia's submittal and preliminarily determined that it meets the applicable requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and EPA regulations.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation for all navigable waters of the Ohio River from mile marker (MM) 597.0 to MM 607.0. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Louisville, KY, during Thunder over Louisville. Entry into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Ohio Valley (COTP) or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of revisions to the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from the primary copper smelter in Hayden, Arizona. We are proposing action on a local rule submitted by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) that regulates these emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

Petitions for Reconsideration (Petitions) have been filed in the Commission's proceeding by Ashley B. Thompson, on behalf of American Hospital Association and Roxanne Yaghoubi, on behalf of American Dental Association.

This final rule amends regulations of the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to renew reporting requirements for the mandatory BE-180 Benchmark Survey of Financial Services Transactions between U.S. Financial Services Providers and Foreign Persons. This survey applies to the 2019 fiscal reporting year. This mandatory benchmark survey, conducted under the authority of the International Investment and Trade in Services Survey Act, covers the universe of transactions in financial services and is BEA's most comprehensive survey of such transactions. For the 2019 benchmark survey, BEA is making several changes in the data items collected and the design of the survey form.

This document contains proposed regulations concerning the rehabilitation credit, including rules to coordinate the new 5-year period over which the credit may be claimed with other special rules for investment credit property. These proposed regulations affect taxpayers that claim the rehabilitation credit.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is revising its response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Michigan v. EPA, which held that the EPA erred by not considering cost in its determination that regulation under section 112 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions from coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units (EGUs) is appropriate and necessary. After primarily comparing the cost of compliance relative to the benefits of HAP emission reduction from regulation, the EPA finds that it is not ``appropriate and necessary'' to regulate HAP emissions from coal- and oil-fired EGUs, thereby reversing the Agency's previous conclusion under CAA section 112(n)(1)(A) and correcting flaws in the Agency's prior response to Michigan v. EPA. We further find that finalizing this new response to Michigan v. EPA will not remove the Coal- and Oil-Fired EGU source category from the CAA section 112(c) list of sources that must be regulated under CAA section 112(d) and will not affect the existing CAA section 112(d) emissions standards that regulate HAP emissions from coal- and oil-fired EGUs. The EPA is also finalizing the residual risk and technology review (RTR) conducted for the Coal- and Oil-Fired EGU source category regulated under national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP), commonly referred to as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Based on the results of the RTR analyses, the Agency is not promulgating any revisions to the MATS rule.

The Secretary of Agriculture is issuing this rule to implement the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). CFAP provides assistance to agricultural producers impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. This rule establishes provisions for direct payments to producers of eligible commodities. This rule specifies the eligibility requirements, payment calculations, and application procedures for CFAP.