October 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), Contractor Conflicts of Interest (EPA ICR Number 1550.12, OMB Control Number 2030-0023) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through December 31, 2021. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on April 9, 2021 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act in the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requests public nominations of scientific experts to consider for service as ad hoc reviewers assisting the SACC with two peer review topics anticipated for early 2022: The draft EPA TSCA Systematic Review Protocol; and the draft EPA TSCA Screening Level Approach for Assessing Ambient Air and Water Exposures to Fenceline Communities. Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals to be considered prospective candidates for these reviews by following the instructions provided in this document. Individuals may also self-nominate.

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 that the Virginia Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold a meeting via web-conference on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The purpose of the meeting is to review and discuss testimony received regarding civil rights and police accountability in the state.

We are advising the public that we have prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with importation of fresh turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa into the United States (including territories). Based on the analysis, we have determined that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds via the importation of turmeric (Curcuma longa) rhizome from Samoa. We are making the pest risk analysis available to the public for review and comment.

NMFS proposes a 2022 limit of 2,000 metric tons (t) of longline-caught bigeye tuna for each U.S. Pacific territory (American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), collectively ``the territories''). NMFS would allow each territory to allocate up to 1,500 t to U.S. longline fishing vessels through specified fishing agreements that meet established criteria. However, the overall allocation limit among all territories may not exceed 3,000 t. As an accountability measure, NMFS would monitor, attribute, and restrict (if necessary) catches of longline-caught bigeye tuna, including catches made under a specified fishing agreement. The proposed catch limits and accountability measures would support the long-term sustainability of fishery resources of the U.S. Pacific Islands.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Department of Justice (DOJ) will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The U.S. Copyright Office is extending the deadline for the submission of written comments in response to its September 29, 2021, notification of proposed rulemaking regarding initiating proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an Order approving the application dated May 19, 2021, as supplemented by letter dated September 14, 2021, filed by Arizona Public Service Company (APS), on behalf of Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP) and Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM). The application sought NRC consent to the partial transfers of Renewed Facility Operating License Nos. NPF-41 and NPF-51 for Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (Palo Verde), Units 1 and 2, respectively, and the general license for the Palo Verde Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). Specifically, it sought NRC consent to the transfers from PNM to SRP of a 7.9333330 percent share of the undivided interests in Palo Verde, Unit 1, and of a 0.7933333 percent share of the undivided interests in Palo Verde Unit 2. No physical changes or operational changes were proposed in the application.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in cooperation with the General Services Administration (GSA), announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the acquisition of a Site in Mace, West Virginia, and the development of this Site into a replacement for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Underground Safety Research Program facility (Proposed Action). The acquisition and development will replace the former Lake Lynn Experimental Mine in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, and will support research programs focused on miner health and safety issues. The site to be acquired and developed includes 461.35 acres located off U.S. Route 219 in Randolph and Pocahontas Counties near Mace, West Virginia (Site).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, will submit the collection of information abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The PRA submission describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden and it includes the actual data collection instrument.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the issuance of a priority review voucher to the sponsor of a rare pediatric disease product application. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) authorizes FDA to award priority review vouchers to sponsors of approved rare pediatric disease product applications that meet certain criteria. FDA is required to publish notice of the award of the priority review voucher. FDA has determined that RETHYMIC (allogeneic processed thymus tissue-agdc), manufactured by Enzyvant Therapeutics, GmbH, meets the criteria for a priority review voucher.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing a final rule that amends the NCUA's credit union service organization (CUSO) regulation. The final rule accomplishes two objectives: expanding the list of permissible activities and services for CUSOs to include the origination of any type of loan that a Federal credit union (FCU) may originate; and granting the Board additional flexibility to approve permissible activities and services.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act and OMB procedures, SBA is publishing this notice to allow all interested member of the public an additional 30 days to provide comments on the proposed collection of information.

The Department of the Interior proposes to revise regulations implementing the Buy Indian Act, which provides the Department with authority to set aside procurement contracts for Indian-owned and controlled businesses. These revisions would eliminate barriers to Indian Economic Enterprises from competing on certain construction contracts, expand Indian Economic Enterprises' ability to subcontract construction work consistent with other socio-economic set-aside programs, and give greater preference to Indian Economic Enterprises when a deviation from the Buy Indian Act is necessary, among other updates.

On October 1, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published a request for information (``RFI'') undertaking the preliminary stages of a rulemaking to consider potential test procedures for fans and blowers, including air circulating fan heads. The RFI provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by November 1, 2021. DOE received requests from the Air Movement and Control Association (AMCA) International asking for a 21- day extension of the public comment period. DOE has reviewed this request and is granting an extension of the public comment period for 14 days to allow public comments to be submitted until November 15, 2021.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) provides guidance and voluntary best practices regarding the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Reimbursement Program (Reimbursement Program) disposal and verification requirements to assist providers of advanced communications services participating in the Reimbursement Program; revises the certification language in the FCC Form 5640, which participants must submit to request funding allocations and disbursements from the Reimbursement Program; and makes minor corrections to the Catalog of Eligible Expenses and Estimated Costs that is used by Reimbursement Program applicants to assist with reporting cost estimates for funding allocation requests.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (``the Service'') proposes to rescind the final rule titled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Regulations for Designating Critical Habitat'' that published on December 18, 2020, and became effective January 19, 2021 (``the Final Rule''). The proposed rescission, if finalized, would remove the regulations established by that rule.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce their final determination of the rates and terms for two statutory licenses (permitting certain digital performances of sound recordings and the making of ephemeral recordings) for the period beginning January 1, 2021, and ending on December 31, 2025.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking input from the public regarding document examination practices associated with the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. DHS solicits this input to better understand employers' and employees' experiences with this process and to examine the impacts of remote document examination conducted during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. DHS especially seeks to understand the potential costs and benefits of allowing for future remote document examination flexibilities.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) maintains controls on the export, reexport and transfer (in-country) of dual-use items and less sensitive military items pursuant to the Export Administration Regulations, including the Commerce Control List (CCL). Certain items that could be of potential concern for export control purposes are not yet listed on the CCL or controlled multilaterally, because they are emerging technologies. Among these items is Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology, which includes, inter alia, neural-controlled interfaces, mind-machine interfaces, direct neural interfaces, and brain-machine interfaces. BIS is seeking public comments on the potential uses of this technology, particularly with respect to its impact on U.S. national security (e.g., whether such technology could provide the United States, or any of its adversaries, with a qualitative military or intelligence advantage). This document also requests public comments on how to ensure that the scope of any controls that may be imposed on this technology would be effective (in terms of protecting U.S. national security interests) and appropriate (with respect to minimizing their potential impact on legitimate commercial or scientific applications).

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of the Treasury (``Treasury'' or the ``Department'') proposes to modify the current Treasury system of records titled, ``Department of the Treasury, SORN .016Reasonable Accommodations Records System of Records.'' The purpose of this system is to allow Treasury and its bureaus to collect and maintain records on: Applicants for employment who have disabilities; individuals with disabilities to facilitate their participation in a Treasury program or activity, including attendance at a meeting, training, conference or other Treasury- sponsored event at either a Treasury facility or outside Treasury employees who seek accommodations to allow them to perform the essential functions of their job; employees with disabilities who request or receive reasonable accommodation as required by the Department as the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2008 (ADAAA); individuals who receive accommodations under the Family Medical Leave Act, and individuals who request or receive accommodations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Another purpose of this system is to track and report the processing of Treasury-wide requests for reasonable accommodation while ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including confidentiality requirements protecting information individuals submit in support of accommodation requests.

New or modified Base (1-percent annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations) as shown on the indicated Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for each of the communities listed in the table below are finalized. Each LOMR revises the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, currently in effect for the listed communities.