2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This rule sets forth the Department's processes and procedures governing the review, clearance, and issuance of guidance documents and codifies existing Department limitations on the use of Department guidance documents in criminal and civil enforcement actions brought by the Department.

FRA is revising its regulations governing the minimum safety requirements for railroad track. The changes include allowing inspection of rail using continuous rail testing; allowing the use of flange-bearing frogs in crossing diamonds; relaxing the guard check gage limits on heavy-point frogs used in Class 5 track; removing an inspection-method exception for high-density commuter lines; and other miscellaneous revisions. Overall, the revisions will benefit track owners, railroads, and the public by reducing unnecessary costs and incentivizing innovation, while improving rail safety.

This document sets forth final regulations that provide guidance for employers concerning income tax withholding from employees' wages. These final regulations concern the amount of Federal income tax employers withhold from employees' wages, implement changes in the Internal Revenue Code made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and reflect the redesigned withholding allowance certificate (Form W-4) and related IRS publications. These final regulations affect employers that pay wages subject to Federal income tax withholding and employees who receive wages subject to Federal income tax withholding.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Atka mackerel in the Central Aleutian district (CAI) of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI) by vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery. This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2020 total allowable catch (TAC) of Atka mackerel in the CAI allocated to vessels participating in the BSAI trawl limited access sector fishery.

This final rule further amends the regulatory relief originally provided in the Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) final rule and the Limited Extension of Relief for Certain Persons and Operations during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency final rule. The relief in this final rule applies to a new population of airmen and does not extend the relief provided in the amended Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). The amended relief applies to new persons who may have challenges complying with certain training, recent experience, testing, and checking requirements. This relief allows operators to continue to use pilots and other crewmembers in support of essential operations during this extended period. This SFAR also provides regulatory relief to additional persons unable to meet duration and renewal requirements due to the public health emergency. Finally, this rule allows certain air carriers and operators to fly temporary overflow aircraft to a point of storage pursuant to a special flight permit with a continuing authorization.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-BK 117 B-2, and MBB-BK 117 C-1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports that the adhesive seal prevented the doors from jettisoning properly. This AD requires removing certain seals, replacing certain seals with newly certified seals and revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by the FAA's analysis of the Model 747 fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires modifying the fuel quantity indicating system (FQIS) to prevent development of an ignition source inside the center fuel tank due to electrical fault conditions. This AD also provides alternative actions for cargo airplanes. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X, FALCON 900EX, and FALCON 2000EX airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of primary display unit (PDU) data flickering on airplanes equipped with EASy software. This AD requires amending the applicable Dassault airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate the applicable AFM change project (CP), as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by revising, in part, the licensing policy for items controlled for crime control (CC) reasons, which is designed to promote respect for human rights throughout the world. BIS also is amending the EAR to provide that, except for items controlled for short supply reasons, it will consider human rights concerns when reviewing license applications for items controlled for reasons other than CC. This revision is necessary to clarify to the exporting community that licensing decisions are based in part upon U.S. Government assessments of whether items may be used to engage in, or enable violations or abuses of, human rights including those involving censorship, surveillance, detention, or excessive use of force.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD), Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD), Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District (MCAPCD), and Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern negative declarations for the Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry (Oil and Natural Gas CTG). We are taking comments on this proposal to approve the PCAPCD, AVAQMD, MCAPCD, and EKAPCD negative declarations into the California SIP. We plan to follow with a final action.

This document directs that a referendum be conducted among eligible producers of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos grown in Florida to determine whether they favor continuance of the marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pummelos produced in the production area.

This action removes restricted area R-4811 at Hawthorne, NV. This restricted area was established for the purpose of ordinance disposal. The United States Department of the Army has informed the FAA it no longer has a requirement for this area; therefore, the airspace is being returned to the National Airspace System (NAS).

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA, we, or our) adopts a final rule that amends its investment regulations to allow Farm Credit System (FCS or System) associations to purchase and hold the portion of certain loans that non-FCS lenders originate and sell in the secondary market, and that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) unconditionally guarantees or insures as to the timely payment of principal and interest.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') amends the Rules and Regulations Under the Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (``Textile Rules'' or ``Rules'') to incorporate the most recent ISO 2076 standard for generic fiber names.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) is revising one regulation and removing 19 regulations from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) related to the Program for Investment in Microentrepreneurs (PRIME) that are repetitive and unnecessary because they duplicate identical guidance and requirements already stipulated in other legal sources and/or provided to grant applicant and recipients in the annual PRIME funding opportunity announcement. The removal of these regulations assists the public by simplifying SBA's regulations in the CFR and reducing the amount of time grant applicants and recipients must spend reviewing programmatic guidance.

On July 2, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug application for BYFAVO (remimazolam) for intravenous use. Remimazolam is chemically known as 4H-imidazol[1,2- a][1,4]benzodiazepine-4-propionic acid, 8-bromo-1-methyl-6-(2- pyridinyl)-(4S)-methyl ester, benzenesulfonate (1:1) and also, methyl 3-[(4S)-8-bromo-1-methyl-6-pyridin-2-yl-4H-imidazo[1,2- a][1,4]benzodiazepin-4yl]propanoate benzenesulfonic acid. The Department of Health and Human Services provided the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with a scheduling recommendation to place remimazolam and its salts in schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). In accordance with the CSA, as amended by the Improving Regulatory Transparency for New Medical Therapies Act, DEA is hereby issuing an interim final rule placing remimazolam, including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible, in schedule IV of the CSA.

NMFS announces that the states of Maine and New Jersey are transferring a portion of their 2020 commercial bluefish quota to the states of Rhode Island and North Carolina, respectively. These quota adjustments are necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised commercial bluefish quotas for Maine, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and North Carolina.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing three virtual public meetings entitled ``Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods; Proposed Rule.'' The purpose of the public meetings is to discuss the proposed rule entitled ``Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods,'' which was issued under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). These public meetings are intended to facilitate and support the public's evaluation and commenting process on the proposed rule.

This action modifies Class D airspace at Yakima Air Terminal/ McAllister Field Airport. This action also modifies Class E airspace, designated as a surface area. Additionally, this action removes Class E airspace, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area. Further, this action modifies Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface, and removes the Class E airspace extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action removes the Yakima VOR from the Class E5 airspace legal description. Lastly, this action implements administrative corrections to the airspaces' legal descriptions

This action modifies Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Lake County Airport. This action also updates the airport's geographic coordinates.

This action proposes to modify Class D airspace at Glacier Park International Airport. This action also proposes to modify Class E airspace, designated as a surface area. Additionally, this action proposes to modify Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Further, this action proposes to modify Class E airspace, extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action also proposes to remove the Smith Lake NDB from the Class E airspace legal descriptions. Lastly, this action proposes several administrative corrections to the airspace legal descriptions. This action would ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action modifies Class D airspace at Eastern Oregon Regional at Pendleton Airport. This action also modifies Class E airspace, designated as a surface area. Additionally, this action establishes Class E airspace, designated as an extension to a Class D or Class E surface area. Further, this action modifies Class E airspace, extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. This action also removes Class E airspace, extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action also removes the Pendleton VORTAC from the airspace text headers and legal descriptions. Lastly, this action implements administrative corrections to the airspace text headers and legal descriptions.

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.

The Secretary is issuing this rule in order to update the versions of the What Works Clearinghouse Standards Handbook and What Works Clearinghouse Procedures Handbook incorporated by reference into the Department's applicable regulations.

This proposed rule would implement a recommendation from the Administrative Committee for Pistachios (Committee) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2020-21 and subsequent production years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.