2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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.

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) posted an interim final rule announcing the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act temporarily adds a new program, titled the ``Paycheck Protection Program,'' to the SBA's 7(a) Loan Program. The CARES Act also provides for forgiveness of up to the full principal amount of qualifying loans guaranteed under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP is intended to provide economic relief to small businesses nationwide adversely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SBA posted additional interim final rules on April 3, 2020, April 14, 2020, April 24, 2020, April 28, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 5, 2020, May 8, 2020, May 13, 2020, and May 14, 2020, and the Department of the Treasury posted an additional interim final rule on April 28, 2020. This interim final rule supplements the previously posted interim final rules by providing guidance on additional eligibility requirements related to entities with foreign affiliates, and requests public comment.

The Surface Transportation Board (STB or Board) is adopting a final rule amending its railroad performance data reporting regulations to include chemical and plastics traffic as a distinct reporting category for the ``cars-held'' metric.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Inc. Model 60 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a reverse thrust command accelerating the airplane instead of decelerating the airplane. The acceleration with reverse thrust commanded occurred when the thrust reverser doors were in the stowed position instead of the deployed position. This AD requires installing a thrust reverser (T/R) Voice Command Warning System (VCWS) to alert the crew of a T/R malfunction. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') is initiating an effort to determine whether to amend the current energy conservation standards for consumer water heaters. This request for information (``RFI'') solicits information from the public to help DOE determine whether amended standards for consumer water heaters would result in significant 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 topics not raised in this RFI).

This proposed rule would modify 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, this proposed rule would modify 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 clarifying amendments to the definition for the term ``substantial interest.''

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) proposes to deregulate and detariff the end user interstate access charges currently included on consumers' and small businesses' local telephone bills. The proposal would also prohibit carriers from separately listing these charges on customers' bills and address issues related to the Universal Service Fund's and other federal programs' historic reliance on these charges in certain circumstances. The need to regulate and tariff those charges is declining as consumers and businesses continue to rapidly migrate away from traditional telephone service provided by local exchange carriers to next-generation voice service options. Detariffing and deregulating these charges will give carriers the flexibility to price their services competitively. Eliminating these charges from consumers' telephone bills will make it easier for consumers to understand their telephone bills, compare prices among voice service providers, and better ensure that a voice service provider's advertised price is closer to the total price that appears on its customers' bills.

In accordance with the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is redesignating the Indianapolis, Indiana area from nonattainment to attainment for the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO2) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The area is comprised of Perry, Wayne, and Center Townships in Marion County, Indiana. EPA is also approving, as a revision to the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP), Indiana's maintenance plan for this area. EPA proposed to approve Indiana's redesignation request and maintenance plan on April 30, 2019 and received two public comment submissions.

This action removes exclusionary language from the Final Rule published in the Federal Register on March 31, 2020 for Mountain Home Municipal Airport's Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. If the exclusionary language remains in the Final Rule, the FAA's Aeronautical Information Service will be required to recalculate the airport's airspace boundaries whenever Mountain Home Air Force Base's Class D and E Surface areas are modified. However, the removal of the language does not affect the charted boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD would require various repetitive inspections of the main rotor (MR) damper. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of in- service MR damper failures and the development of an improved MR damper. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to loss of the lead-lag damping function of the MR blade, possibly resulting in damage to adjacent critical rotor components and subsequent loss control of the helicopter. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that certain elevator power control unit (PCU) arm fittings have nonconforming fillet radii. This AD requires an inspection for affected elevator PCU assemblies, inspections of affected elevator PCU arm fittings for nonconforming fillet radii and cracks, replacement if necessary, and re- identification of the affected elevator PCU assemblies. 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 Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of vibrations around the 12Hz frequency due to the specific helicopter configuration. This AD requires removing the removable parts of the dual hoist installation or removing the de-icing system. This AD also allows, for certain helicopters, revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter and installing a placard as an optional method of compliance. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness directive (AD) 2017-06-06 and AD 2019-12-10, which applied to all Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. Those ADs required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate additional new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

PHMSA is withdrawing the January 18, 2017, ANPRM concerning vapor pressure for crude oil transported by rail. PHMSA's decision is based on comments received to the ANPRM, as well as an extensive study conducted by the Sandia National Laboratories which found that the vapor pressure of crude oil is not a significant factor in the severity of pool fire or fireball scenarios, and concluded that results of the study do not support creating a regulatory distinction for crude oils based on vapor pressure. In withdrawing the ANPRM, PHMSA is providing notice of its determination that the establishment of vapor pressure limits would not improve the safety of rail transportation of crude oil. Therefore, PHMSA is no longer considering vapor pressure limits for the transportation of crude oil by rail or any other mode. Furthermore, PHMSA is also providing notice that, after considering comments received to the ANPRM, it is no longer considering imposing vapor pressure standards for other unrefined petroleum-based products and Class 3 flammable liquid hazardous materials by any mode.

The Postal Service proposes to withdraw all authorizations to distribute Postage Evidencing Systems (PES) that are not producing compliant Intelligent Mail Indicia (IMI) on June 30th, 2024. IMI compliant PES are defined in the IMI Performance Criteria (IMIPC) and produce only IMI-Minimum (IMI-MIN), IMI-Standard (IMI-STD), and IMI- Maximum (IMI-MAX) indicia constructs (as stated in the Performance Criteria). All PES that are not IMIPC compliant, also referenced as Phase VI-IBI and Phase VII-PC Postage, will become Decertified PES on that date, and the Postal Service will withdraw the provider's authority to distribute Decertified PES. Postage indicia printed by Decertified PES will no longer be considered valid postage one hundred and eighty (180) days after June 30th, 2024.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC or Commission) proposes to amend its procedural regulations to establish rules for issuing guidance. These rules make guidance documents readily available to the public, ensure that guidance will be treated as non- binding, require a notice and public comment period for significant guidance, and establish a public petition process for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of guidance.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is correcting a footnote in the preamble of a direct final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on January 14, 2020 and that became effective on March 16, 2020. The direct final rule revised certain safety standards for explosives at metal and nonmetal mines.

This rule amends General Prohibition Three, also known as the foreign-produced direct product rule, by exercising existing authority under the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA), to impose a new control over certain foreign-produced items, when there is knowledge that such items are destined to a designated entity on the Entity List. A foreign-produced item is subject to the new control if the entity for which the item is destined has a footnote 1 designation in the Entity List. This rule also applies this new control to Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei) and its non-U.S. affiliates listed as entities. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is requesting comments on the impact of this rule.

This document provides a notice of public hearing on proposed regulations relating to the imposition of certain user fees on tax return preparers. The proposed regulations reduce the amount of the user fee to apply for or renew a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) and affect individuals who apply for or renew a PTIN.

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) posted an interim final rule announcing the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act temporarily adds a new program, titled the ``Paycheck Protection Program,'' to the SBA's 7(a) Loan Program. The CARES Act also provides for forgiveness of up to the full principal amount of qualifying loans guaranteed under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP is intended to provide economic relief to small businesses nationwide adversely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SBA posted additional interim final rules on April 3, 2020, April 14, 2020, April 24, 2020, April 28, 2020, April 30, 2020, May 5, 2020, and May 8, 2020, and the Department of the Treasury posted an additional interim final rule on April 28, 2020. This interim final rule supplements the previously posted interim final rules by providing guidance on the ability to increase certain PPP loans, and requests public comment.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is extending the comment period on EPA's proposal to establish a Federal Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) permit program. The document announcing this proposal was published on February 20, 2020, and the public comment period was originally scheduled to end on April 20, 2020. In a document published on April 14, 2020, EPA extended the comment period 30 days, through May 20, 2020. In this document, EPA is extending the public comment period an additional 60 days, through July 19, 2020.

The Secretary of Education amends the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). The final regulations specify how recipients of Federal financial assistance covered by Title IX, including elementary and secondary schools as well as postsecondary institutions, (hereinafter collectively referred to as ``recipients'' or ``schools''), must respond to allegations of sexual harassment consistent with Title IX's prohibition against sex discrimination. These regulations are intended to effectuate Title IX's prohibition against sex discrimination by requiring recipients to address sexual harassment as a form of sex discrimination in education programs or activities. The final regulations obligate recipients to respond promptly and supportively to persons alleged to be victimized by sexual harassment, resolve allegations of sexual harassment promptly and accurately under a predictable, fair grievance process that provides due process protections to alleged victims and alleged perpetrators of sexual harassment, and effectively implement remedies for victims. The final regulations also clarify and modify Title IX regulatory requirements regarding remedies the Department may impose on recipients for Title IX violations, the intersection between Title IX, Constitutional protections, and other laws, the designation by each recipient of a Title IX Coordinator to address sex discrimination including sexual harassment, the dissemination of a recipient's non- discrimination policy and contact information for a Title IX Coordinator, the adoption by recipients of grievance procedures and a grievance process, how a recipient may claim a religious exemption, and prohibition of retaliation for exercise of rights under Title IX.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in Framework Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Coastal Migratory Pelagics (CMP) of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) and Atlantic Region (CMP FMP), as prepared by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would revise the Atlantic migratory group king mackerel commercial trip limit in the Atlantic southern zone during the October through February fishing season. The purpose of this proposed rule is to support increased fishing activity and economic opportunity while continuing to constrain harvest to the annual catch limit (ACL).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to find that Berrien County, Michigan is attaining the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS or standard) and is proposing to approve a request from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) to redesignate the area to attainment for the 2015 ozone NAAQS because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EGLE submitted this request on January 30, 2020 and submitted a clarification letter on March 30, 2020. EPA is also proposing to approve, as a revision to the Michigan State Implementation Plan (SIP), the State's plan for maintaining the 2015 ozone NAAQS through 2030 in the Berrien County area. Finally, EPA finds adequate and is proposing to approve Michigan's 2023 and 2030 volatile organic compound (VOC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOX) Motor Vehicle Emission Budgets (MVEBs) for the Berrien County area.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the Fairbanks North Star Borough nonattainment area failed to attain the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the December 31, 2019 ``Serious'' area attainment date. This proposed determination is based on complete, quality-assured and certified PM2.5 monitoring data for 2017-2019. The EPA is also proposing to deny the State's request for an extension of the Serious area attainment date for the Fairbanks North Star Borough nonattainment area. Upon finalization of these determinations, the State will be subject to further statutory and regulatory requirements for this area, including a new State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission meeting additional requirements that the State must submit by December 31, 2020.