October 4, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule updates the fees set forth in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mineral resources regulations for the processing of certain minerals program-related actions. It also adjusts certain filing fees for minerals-related documents. These updated fees include those for actions such as lease renewals and mineral patent adjudications.

This notice establishes operating cost adjustment factors (OCAFs) for project-based assistance contracts issued under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and renewed under the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (MAHRA) for eligible multifamily housing projects having an anniversary date on or after February 11, 2022. OCAFs are annual factors used to adjust Section 8 rents renewed under section 515 or section 524 of MAHRA.

NMFS adjusts the 2021 baseline quotas for U.S. North Atlantic albacore tuna (northern albacore), North and South Atlantic swordfish, and the Atlantic bluefin Reserve category based on available underharvest of the 2020 adjusted U.S. quotas. This action is necessary to implement binding recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). This action to adjust the quotas is only temporary and will be effective through December 31, 2021. On January 1, 2022, full annual baseline allocations of northern albacore, North and South Atlantic swordfish, and the Atlantic bluefin tuna will renew and be available to U.S. harvest.

Notice is hereby given that the Rural Utilities Service (RUS), an agency within the Department of Agriculture, has prepared and is announcing that a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a project proposed by Next Era Energy Inc (NEER), is available for public review and comment. RUS is publishing the Draft EIS to inform interested parties and the general public about the project proposal and to invite the public to comment on the proposed action addressed in the Draft EIS. The Draft EIS was prepared in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA and the Rural Utilities Service, Environmental Policies and Procedures and evaluates the potential environmental effects related to providing financial assistance for the NEER, Skeleton Creek Solar and Battery Storage Project, a proposed 250- megawatt (MW) solar array, plus 200-MW/800-megawatt-hour (MWh) storage facility using photovoltaic (PV) modules on private lands in Garfield County. The purpose and need of the proposed Project is to meet the needs of the Western Farmers Electric Cooperative (WFEC). The Project will allow NextEra to provide the additional generation capacity needed by WFEC to serve electrical needs at a reasonable cost to their member cooperatives. RUS has determined that its action regarding the proposed Project is an undertaking subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulation, ``Protection of Historic Properties'' and as part of its broad environmental review process, RUS must take into account the effect of the proposed project on historic properties. RUS is using its procedures for public involvement under NEPA to meet its responsibilities to solicit and consider the views of the public during Section 106 review. Accordingly, comments submitted in response to this Notice will inform RUS decision-making during Section 106 review. As noted in the Federal Register notice announcing the intent to prepare an EIS on March 15, 2021, RUS invited any interested party wishing to participate directly with the agency as a ``consulting party'' in Section 106 review may submit a written request to the RUS contact provided below. RUS will consider, and provide a timely response to, any and all requests for consulting party status.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service, a Rural Development agency of USDA, hereinafter referred to as ``RBCS'' or ``the Agency,'' published in the Federal Register on May 14, 2021, a final rule with request for comments. This document presents the opportunity for the Agency to provide its responses to the public comments received on the final rule and to confirm the final rule as published.

Under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) gives notice that it is re-establishing the charter for the National Institute of Corrections Advisory Board (hereafter referred to as ``the Board'').

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Chester Catawba Regional Airport, Chester, SC; Lancaster County-McWhirter Field Airport, Lancaster, SC; JAARS- Townsend Airport, Waxhaw, NC; and Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport, Lincolnton, NC. The FAA is making this action as a result of the Charlotte Class B Biennial Review. This action updates the airport names of Chester Catawba Regional Airport, JAARS-Townsend Airport, and Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport. In addition, this action updates the geographic coordinates of Lancaster County-McWhirter Field Airport and Lincolnton-Lincoln County Regional Airport to coincide with the FAA's database. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This notice announces a virtual public meeting of the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee also known as the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC), and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee also known as the Liquid Pipeline Advisory Committee (LPAC), to discuss a variety of policy issues and topics relevant to both gas and liquid pipeline safety. In addition, the committees will discuss the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled: ``Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Amendments.''

This action amends Jet Routes J-107 and J-515, and VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-181; establishes low altitude Area Navigation (RNAV) route, T-407; and revokes the Humboldt, MN, Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point, in the northcentral United States. This action is necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Humboldt, MN, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC). The Humboldt VOR, which provides navigation guidance to portions of the affected Air Traffic Service (ATS) routes, is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) program.

On January 7, 2021, we, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (we, the Service, or USFWS), published a final rule (January 7 rule) defining the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) as it applies to conduct resulting in the injury or death of migratory birds protected by the MBTA. We now revoke that rule for the reasons set forth below. The immediate effect of this final rule is to return to implementing the MBTA as prohibiting incidental take and applying enforcement discretion, consistent with judicial precedent and longstanding agency practice prior to 2017.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued an order granting a one-year interim extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 6,406,699 (`699 patent).

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 Advisory Committee to the U.S. Section of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is announcing the convening of its fall meeting.

This notice announces the public meeting of the Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care, and Services (Advisory Council). The Advisory Council provides advice on how to prevent or reduce the burden of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias on people with the disease and their caregivers. During the October 25, 2021 meeting the Advisory Council will hear presentations about ways to support and strengthen the long-term services and supports direct care workforce, both paid and unpaid, to support access to care, improve the quality of caregiving, and meet the growing demand for long-term care dementia services. The Advisory Council will also hear about a recent workshop on the behavioral and social research and clinical practice implications of preclinical diagnosis of AD/ADRD, as well as the AD/ ADRD decadal study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Federal representatives will provide updates on work towards the goals of the National Plan to Address Alzheimer's Disease in the last quarter.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that a meeting of the Tennessee Advisory Committee to the Commission will convene by Webex call on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, Wednesday, November 10, 2021, and Wednesday, December 8, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. (CT). The purpose is to discuss the proposal for their next project.