November 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act and its implementing regulations, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) gives notice that the Charter for the Humanities Panel advisory committee was renewed for an additional two-year period on November 19, 2021. The Chairperson of NEH determined that the renewal of the Humanities Panel is necessary and in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed upon the Chairperson of NEH by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965, as amended.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is holding a series of meetings to implement the Voluntary Agreement for the Manufacture and Distribution of Critical Healthcare Resources Necessary to Respond to a Pandemic.

NMFS has received a request from the U.S. Coast Guard for authorization to take small numbers of marine mammals incidental to conducting construction activities related to maintenance and repair of eight of their facilities in Alaska over the course of five years from the date of issuance. Pursuant to regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is announcing receipt of the U.S. Coast Guard's request for the development and implementation of regulations governing the incidental taking of marine mammals. NMFS invites the public to provide information, suggestions, and comments on the application and request.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding natural gas processing (NGP) facilities (also known as natural gas liquid extraction facilities) to the scope of the industrial sectors covered by the reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), commonly known as the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). Adding these facilities will meaningfully increase the information available to the public on releases and other waste management of listed chemicals from the NGP sector and further the purposes of EPCRA.

The boundary of Lowell National Historical Park is modified to include two parcels of land with a total of approximately 1.66 acres located in the City of Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, adjoining the Park. The United States of America acquired an easement over these properties from the City of Lowell in exchange for federal real property interests conveyed to the City.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting this Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)-sponsored information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). Public comments on the ICR are invited.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the operating schedule that governs the Morrison Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.8, at Portland, OR. Multnomah County, Oregon, the bridge owner, is requesting to change the current regulation to allow painting and preservation of the Morrison Bridge including the double bascule span. The modified rule would change from a full span opening to a single leaf, half opening, and operation. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Forest Service is seeking comments from all interested individuals and organizations on the renewal of a currently approved information collection, Understanding Value Trade-offs regarding Fire Hazard Reduction Programs in the Wildland-Urban Interface.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from 11 individuals for an exemption from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions will enable these individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce without meeting the vision requirement in one eye.

On January 26, 2021, the White House issued a Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships that reaffirmed Executive Order 13175 on Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments (2000) and the associated Presidential Memorandum on Tribal Consultation released in November 2009. In response, NOAA is requesting review of its policy and procedures to implement these directives. NOAA is seeking comment from federally recognized Indian Tribes and other interested parties on its policies and guidance documents for government-to-government consultation with federally recognized Indian Tribes.

In accordance with the regulations implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) as amended, notification is hereby given that NMFS has issued an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to the Chesapeake Tunnel Joint Venture (CTJV) to incidentally harass, by Level A and Level B harassment only, marine mammals during construction activities associated with the Parallel Thimble Shoal Tunnel Project (PTST) in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

On October 21, 2021, and published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued 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 NRC is issuing an Order correcting and superseding the Order of October 21, 2021.

We are amending the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) regulations governing facilities that conduct research, experimentation, teaching, and testing by removing duplicative and unnecessary reviews and requests for information. We are removing the requirement that registered research facilities update their registration information every 3 years because the information is already collected by other means. We are also removing a redundant requirement for the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at each facility to conduct a continuing review of research activities involving animals and instead requiring a complete resubmission and review of such activities at least every 3 years. We will also no longer require that research facilities request an inactive status if they no longer use, handle, or transport AWA covered animals. In addition, we are clarifying the duration of a registration and conditions for its cancellation and will no longer require that the Institutional Official or Chief Executive Officer sign the annual report. We are also making miscellaneous changes to improve readability. These changes will reduce duplicative requirements and administrative burden on facilities while continuing to ensure the integrity and credibility of research findings and the protection of research animals.

We are advising the public that we have added the Kingdom of Bhutan to the list of regions that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service considers to be affected with African swine fever (ASF). We have taken this action because of confirmation of ASF in the Kingdom of Bhutan.

The NCUA Board (``Board'') is adopting a final rule amending its chartering and field of membership (``FOM'') rules to modernize requirements related to service facilities for multiple common bond (``MCB'') federal credit unions (``FCUs''). The final rule provides that shared locations are service facilities for purposes of MCB FCU additions of groups, regardless of whether the FCU has an ownership interest in the shared branching network providing the locations. Shared locations, including electronic facilities offering required services such as video teller machines, are also service facilities for purposes of MCB FCU additions of underserved areas, regardless of whether the FCU has an ownership interest. The final rule does not include other changes proposed to the definition of service facility; accordingly, ATMs continue to be excluded from the definition of service facility for additions of underserved areas.

EPA has received applications to register new uses for pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients. Pursuant to the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA is hereby providing notice of receipt and opportunity to comment on these applications.