2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Missouri on February 5, 2019. Missouri requested that EPA revise its approved plan which restricts emission of lead from specific lead smelter-refinery installations. The revisions remove emission restrictions for a facility that is no longer operating, update a reference to the Federal National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for secondary lead smelters, and update incorporation by reference to testing methods. Minor editorial revisions have also been made for clarity. The EPA's approval of this rule revision is being done in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the State Implementation Plans (SIP) for Florida, Georgia, the Jefferson County portion of Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The SIP revisions incorporate changes to the definition of chemical process plants under the States' Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) regulations. Consistent with an EPA regulation completed in 2007, EPA is approving the rules for Florida, Georgia, the Jefferson County portion of Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina that modify the definition of chemical process plant to exclude ethanol manufacturing facilities that produce ethanol by natural fermentation processes. Approving these modified definitions clarifies that the PSD major source applicability threshold in the SIPs for these ethanol plants is 250 tons per year (tpy) (rather than 100 tpy) and removes the requirement to include fugitive emissions when determining if the source is major for PSD. EPA concludes that the changes to the state and local rules are approvable because the Agency believes that they are consistent with EPA regulations governing state PSD programs and will not interfere with any applicable requirement concerning attainment and reasonable further progress (as defined in section 171 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act)), or any other applicable requirement of the CAA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve portions of two state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the Coachella Valley ozone nonattainment area (``Coachella Valley''). The two SIP revisions include the portions of the ``Final 2016 Air Quality Management Plan'' and the ``2018 Updates to the California State Implementation Plan'' that address ozone in the Coachella Valley. These submittals address the nonattainment area requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone NAAQS, including the requirements for an emissions inventory, emissions statements, attainment demonstration, reasonable further progress, reasonably available control measures, contingency measures, and motor vehicle emissions budgets. The EPA is taking final action to approve these submittals as meeting all the applicable ozone nonattainment area requirements except for the contingency measure requirements, for which the EPA is deferring action.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce 12- month findings on a petition to remove the distinct population segment (DPS) of the western yellow-billed cuckoo from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (i.e., to ``delist'' that DPS) and a petition to list a DPS of the U.S. population of northwestern moose under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that it is not warranted at this time to delist the DPS of the western yellow-billed cuckoo. However, we ask the public to submit to us at any time any new information relevant to the status of the DPS of the western yellow-billed cuckoo or its habitat. We also find that the U.S. population of northwestern moose does not meet the criteria for discreteness as a DPS and the petitioned northwestern moose DPS is not a listable entity under the Act.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving multiple elements of the infrastructure State Implementation Plan (SIP) requirements for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for Utah, along with taking no action on three Utah infrastructure SIP elements. The EPA is approving Utah's January 29, 2020 SIP submission for the following Clean Air Act (CAA) section 110(a)(2) infrastructure elements for the 2015 ozone NAAQS: (A), (B), (C), (D)(i)(II) Prong 3, (D)(ii), (E), (F), (G), (H), (J), (K), (L), and (M). The EPA is not proposing any action in this rule on elements (D)(i)(I) (Prongs 1 and 2), and (D)(i)(II) (Prong 4). The EPA is taking this action pursuant to the CAA.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with 2,5-furandione and 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene, potassium salt; when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Solvay USA, Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with 2,5-furandione and 2,4,4-trimethyl-1-pentene, potassium salt on food or feed commodities.

The Commonwealth of Kentucky (Commonwealth or State) has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for final approval of its Underground Storage Tank (UST) program under Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA or Act). The EPA has reviewed the Commonwealth's application (State Application) and has made a final determination that the Commonwealth's UST program (UST Program) described in the State Application satisfies all the requirements necessary to qualify for final approval. Thus, the EPA is granting final approval to the State to operate its UST Program for petroleum and hazardous substances. On July 1, 2020, the EPA provided notification and an opportunity for comment on the Agency's tentative determination to approve the State's UST Program. No comments were received on the Agency's tentative determination and no further opportunity for comment will be provided.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the Feather River Air Quality Management District (FRAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from vehicle and mobile equipment coating operations. We are approving a local rule that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the California Air Resources Board's (CARB's) Consumer Products portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from consumer products and a supporting test method. The EPA is also approving revisions to California's Tables of Maximum Incremental Reactivity (MIR) Values to support its Aerosol Coating Products regulation. We are approving state rules to regulate these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (``FRTIB'') is amending its regulations to increase the automatic enrollment percentage from 3 percent to 5 percent of basic pay for all participants who are automatically enrolled in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) on or after October 1, 2020 and for Blended Retirement Service (BRS) participants who are automatically re-enrolled in the TSP on or after January 1, 2021. In addition, the FRTIB is making a non- substantive clarification regarding installment payments calculated based on life expectancy.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a revision to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for the State of Missouri. This final action will amend the SIP to revise a Missouri regulation that restricts emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from industrial surface coating operations in Clay, Jackson, and Platte Counties in Missouri. Specifically, the revisions to the rule remove restrictive words, adds exemptions, includes definitions specific to the rule, corrects test method references, removes obsolete requirements specific to sources that have closed, changes sections to the standard rule format, and makes minor clarifications and grammatical changes. The exemptions were added to make this rule consistent with the St. Louis version of this rule, 10 Code of State Regulation (CSR) 10- 5.330 Industrial Surface Coating Operations. These exemptions are not expected to result in an emission increase. The other revisions are administrative in nature and do not impact the stringency of the SIP or air quality. The EPA's approval of this rule revision is in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Air Quality Control Board (ABCAQCB) has submitted updated regulations for receiving delegation and approval of a program for the implementation and enforcement of certain New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for all sources (both Title V and non-Title V sources). These updated regulations apply to certain NSPS promulgated by the EPA, as amended between September 14, 2013 and January 23, 2017; certain NESHAP promulgated by the EPA, as amended between September 14, 2013 and January 23, 2017; and other NESHAP promulgated by the EPA, as amended between September 14, 2013 and January 23, 2017, as adopted by the ABCAQCB. The EPA is providing notice that it is updating the delegation of certain NSPS to ABCAQCB and taking proposed action to approve the delegation of certain NESHAP to ABCAQCB. The delegation of authority under this action does not apply to sources located in areas defined as Indian Country.

The Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education announces priorities, requirements, and definitions for the Open Textbooks Pilot (OTP) program conducted under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), CFDA number 84.116T. The Assistant Secretary may use one or more of these priorities, requirements, and definitions for competitions in fiscal year (FY) 2020 and later years. We take this action to focus Federal financial assistance on the creation of new open textbooks (as defined in this notice) and to expand the use of open textbooks in courses that are part of a degree- granting program, particularly those with high enrollments. We intend this action to further develop and identify programs and practices that improve instruction and student learning outcomes, as well as increase access, affordability, and completion rates, for students seeking postsecondary education degrees through the development, enhancement, and use of open textbooks.

FinCEN is issuing a final rule implementing sections 352, 326 and 312 of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (``USA PATRIOT Act'') and removing the anti-money laundering program exemption for banks that lack a Federal functional regulator, including, but not limited to, private banks, non-federally insured credit unions, and certain trust companies. The Final Rule requires minimum standards for anti-money laundering programs for banks without a Federal functional regulator to ensure that all banks, regardless of whether they are subject to Federal regulation and oversight, are required to establish and implement anti-money laundering programs, and extends customer identification program requirements and beneficial ownership requirements to those banks not already subject to these requirements.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Torrington Municipal Airport, Torrington, WY, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures. This action ensures the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

This action modifies the Class E surface area airspace and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet and 1,200 feet above the surface of the earth at Merle K (Mudhole) Smith Airport, Cordova, AK, eliminates references to the Glacier River Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) and updates the Airport's geographic coordinates to match the FAA's current aeronautical database. This action supports Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations under standard instrument approach and departure procedures in the National Airspace System.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab AB, Support and Services Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes; and Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that certain nose landing gear (NLG) door attachment bolts are susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. This proposed AD would require replacing certain NLG door attachment bolts with serviceable bolts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe certain interest assumptions under the benefit payments regulation for plans with valuation dates in October 2020 and interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates in the fourth quarter of 2020. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits and paying certain benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by the pension insurance system administered by PBGC.

The Federal Trade Commission (``FTC'' or ``Commission'') requests public comment on its Duties of Users of Consumer Reports Regarding Address Discrepancies Rule (``Address Discrepancy Rule'') as part of its systematic review of all current Commission regulations and guides. The FTC also proposes to amend the Rule to accord with changes made to the Fair Credit Reporting Act (``FCRA'') by the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Board is issuing a final rule revising its rules regarding availability of information. The revisions clarify and update the Board's regulations implementing the Freedom of Information Act and the rules governing the disclosure of confidential supervisory information and other nonpublic information of the Board.

This final rule modifies certain provisions in the regulations of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States that implement section 721 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as amended by the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act of 2018. Specifically, the rule modifies the mandatory declaration provision for certain foreign investment transactions involving a U.S. business that produces, designs, tests, manufactures, fabricates, or develops one or more critical technologies. It also makes amendments to the definition of the term ``substantial interest'' and a related provision, and makes one technical revision.

This action finalizes amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) for the oil and natural gas sector. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted reconsideration on the fugitive emissions requirements, well site pneumatic pump standards, requirements for certification of closed vent systems (CVS) by a professional engineer (PE), and the provisions to apply for the use of an alternative means of emission limitation (AMEL). This final action includes amendments as a result of the EPA's reconsideration of the issues associated with the above mentioned four subject areas and other issues raised in the reconsideration petitions for the NSPS, as well as amendments to streamline the implementation of the rule. This action also includes technical corrections and additional clarifying language in the regulatory text and/or preamble where the EPA concludes further clarification is warranted.

The Department of the Army proposes to amend this regulation in order to revise eligibility criteria for interment (in ground) and inurnment (above ground) at Arlington National Cemetery. This rule does not affect veterans' burial benefits or eligibility at Department of Veterans Affairs' national cemeteries.

Nationwide Permits (NWPs) authorize certain activities under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act and Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is proposing to reissue its existing NWPs and associated general conditions and definitions, with some modifications. We are also proposing to issue five new NWPs. Two of those proposed new NWPs would authorize certain categories of mariculture activities (i.e., seaweed and finfish mariculture) that are not authorized by NWP 48. We are proposing to divide the current NWP that authorizes utility line activities (NWP 12) into three separate NWPs that address the differences in how different linear projects are constructed, the substances they convey, and the different standards and best management practices that help ensure those NWPs authorize only those activities that have no more than minimal adverse environmental effects. Specifically, we are proposing to modify the current utility line NWP 12 to authorize only oil and natural gas pipeline activities. Two proposed new NWPs would authorize activities associated with the construction, maintenance, repair, and removal of electric utility lines/telecommunication lines and utility lines that convey water, sewage, and other substances. The fifth proposed new NWP would authorize discharges of dredged or fill material into jurisdictional waters for the construction, expansion, and maintenance of water reuse and reclamation facilities. We are proposing these modifications to simplify and clarify the NWPs, reduce burdens on the regulated public, and continue to comply with the statutory requirement that these NWPs authorize only activities with no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. The Corps is requesting comment on all aspects of these proposed nationwide permits.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the ``Commission'') is adopting amendments to its rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to establish an expedited review procedure for applications that are substantially identical to recent precedent as well as a rule to establish an internal timeframe for review of applications outside of such expedited procedure. In addition, the Commission is adopting an amendment to its rules under the Investment Company Act of 1940 to deem an application outside of expedited review withdrawn when the applicant does not respond in writing to comments within 120 days.