2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-01 and AD 2021-05-51, which apply to certain Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 model turbofan engines. AD 2019-03-01 requires performing initial and repetitive thermal acoustic image (TAI) inspections for cracks in certain 1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades and removal of those blades that fail inspection. AD 2021-05-51 requires performing a one-time TAI inspection for cracks in certain 1st-stage LPC blades and removal of those blades that fail inspection. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-03-01 and AD 2021-05-51, the manufacturer determined the need to add initial and repetitive ultrasonic testing (UT) inspections of the 1st-stage LPC blades. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive UT inspections and TAI inspections for cracks in certain 1st-stage LPC blades and removal of those blades that fail inspection. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of three incidents involving in-flight fan blade failures on certain Pratt & Whitney engines (``fan blades'' are also known as ``1st-stage low-pressure compressor (LPC) blades''these terms are used interchangeably in this proposed AD). This proposed AD would require installation of debris shields on the thrust reverser (T/R) inner wall at the left and right sides of the lower bifurcation, inspection of the fan cowl doors for moisture ingression, repetitive functional checks of the hydraulic pump shutoff valves to ensure they close in response to the fire handle input, and corrective actions if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The General Services Administration (GSA), in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, is amending the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to authorize Withholding Tax Allowance (WTA) and Relocation Income Tax Allowance (RITA) to all individuals who receive relocation allowances paid by the Federal Government. This amendment is in accordance with legislative changes to GSA's statutory authority for taxes on reimbursements for travel, transportation, and relocation expenses as enacted in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020, and as further amended by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list four of six distinct population segments (DPSs) of the foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii), a stream dwelling amphibian from Oregon and California, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the foothill yellow-legged frog. After a review of the best scientific and commercial information available, we find that listing the South Sierra and South Coast DPSs as endangered and the North Feather and Central Coast DPSs as threatened is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list these four DPSs under the Act, with the South Sierra and South Coast DPSs listed as endangered species, and the North Feather and Central Coast DPSs listed as threatened species. Our proposal to list the North Feather and Central Coast DPSs as threatened species also includes a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act for each of these two DPSs. If we finalize this proposed rule for these four DPSs, we will then add them to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to them. We have determined that designation of critical habitat for these four DPSs is not determinable at this time. We have also determined that the North Coast DPS (in Oregon and northern California) and the North Sierra DPS (in Yuba, Sierra, Nevada, and Placer Counties, California) of the foothill yellow-legged frog do not warrant listing at this time.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to update the access authorization fees charged to NRC licensees for work performed under the Material Access Authorization Program and the Information Access Authority Program. The change in fees is due to an increase in the review time for each application for access authorization. This amendment is prompted by a recent audit of fees performed by an external certified public accounting and financial management services firm and ensures that the NRC continues to recover the full costs of processing access authorization requests from NRC licensees. The direct final rule also makes two administrative changes to revise definitions to include new naming conventions for background investigation case types and to specify the electronic process for completing security forms.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-18-08 which applied to all Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 and GP7277 model turbofan engines. AD 2019-18-08 required a visual inspection of the engine fan hub assembly, initial and repetitive eddy current inspections (ECIs) of the engine fan hub blade slot bottom and blade slot front edge for cracks, and replacement of the engine fan hub blade lock assembly for certain affected engines. This AD continues to require initial and repetitive ECIs and adds an ultrasonic test (UT) inspection. This AD also lowers the repetitive ECI threshold, and requires an independent inspection of the engine fan hub assembly at the next disassembly and the next reassembly of the engine fan hub blade lock assembly and a visual inspection of the engine fan hub assembly for damage. This AD also requires replacement of the engine fan hub assembly with a part eligible for installation if damage is found outside serviceable limits. This AD was prompted by an uncontained failure of the engine fan hub. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that after a certain circuit breaker tripped, power to the two pitot-static (P/S) probe heaters on the right-hand side was lost, and the flightcrew discovered conflicting procedures in the flightcrew operations manual/quick reference handbook (FCOM/QRH). This proposed AD would require revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate procedures to be applied during P/S probe heater failure conditions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-200 and -200C series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of nuisance stick shaker activation while the airplane was accelerating to cruise speed at the top of a climb. Investigation revealed that the activation was caused when the angle of attack (AOA) (also known as angle of airflow) sensor vanes froze and malfunctioned due to insufficient heat in certain AOA sensors to prevent ice buildup. This AD requires inspecting the AOA sensors for certain part numbers or vane shapes, and replacing any affected AOA sensor with a new or serviceable sensor. 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 The Boeing Company Model 777 airplanes. This AD was prompted by significant changes, including new or more restrictive requirements, made to the airworthiness limitations (AWLs) and Critical Design Configuration Control Limitations (CDCCLs) related to fuel tank ignition prevention, the engine fuel suction feed system, and the nitrogen generation system. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

As required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, the Federal Election Commission is adjusting for inflation the civil monetary penalties established under the Federal Election Campaign Act, the Presidential Election Campaign Fund Act, and the Presidential Primary Matching Payment Account Act. The civil monetary penalties being adjusted are those negotiated by the Commission or imposed by a court for certain statutory violations, and those imposed by the Commission for late filing of or failure to file certain reports required by the Federal Election Campaign Act. The adjusted civil monetary penalties are calculated according to a statutory formula and the adjusted amounts will apply to penalties assessed after the effective date of these rules.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to partially approve a revision to the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from off-road diesel agricultural vehicles and equipment. We are approving portions of a local measure to reduce emissions from these sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) and deferring action on the remaining portions of this measure.

PHMSA is amending the pipeline safety regulations to explicitly state that certain coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and coastal beaches are classified as unusually sensitive areas for the purpose of compliance with the hazardous liquid integrity management regulations. This amendment implements mandates contained in the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2016, as amended by the PIPES Act of 2020. A hazardous liquid pipeline that could affect these newly designated areas must be included in an operator's integrity management program.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision from the State of Hawaii addressing requirements in the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') regarding interstate transport for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Hawaii submitted a SIP revision on November 12, 2019, addressing the CAA provision prohibiting any source or other type of emissions activity in one state from emitting any air pollutant in amounts that will contribute significantly to nonattainment or interfere with maintenance of the NAAQS in any other state (the ``good neighbor'' provision). The EPA is finalizing approval of Hawaii's good neighbor SIP revision for the 2015 ozone NAAQS.

This final rule with comment period finalizes certain provisions of the fiscal year 2022 IPPS/LTCH PPS proposed rule. These provisions implement policies based on legislative changes relative to Medicare graduate medical education (GME) for teaching hospitals provided by sections 126, 127, and 131 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021; and changes, clarifications, and codifications for Medicare organ acquisition payment policies relative to organ procurement organizations (OPOs), transplant hospitals, and donor community hospitals. In addition, this final rule with comment period solicits comments on certain GME issues to inform potential future rulemaking

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 that have no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental effects. In a proposed rule published in the September 15, 2020, issue of the Federal Register, the Corps proposed to reissue 52 existing NWPs and issue five new NWPs, plus the NWP general conditions and definitions. In a final rule published in the January 13, 2021, issue of the Federal Register, the Corps reissued 12 of the 52 existing NWPs and four of the five new NWPs, as well as the NWP general conditions and definitions. In this final rule, the Corps is reissuing the remaining 40 existing NWPs and issuing the remaining one new NWP. The NWP general conditions and definitions published in the January 13, 2021, issue of the Federal Register apply to the 41 NWPs reissued or issued in this final rule.

Please take notice that the Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') received a petition for rulemaking from Institute for Policy Integrity and has published that petition online at https:// www.regulations.gov. This petition requests promulgation of regulations to address the practice of drip pricing. The Commission invites written comments concerning the petition. Publication of this petition is pursuant to the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure and does not affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Pembina, ND. The FAA is proposing this action due to an airspace review conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Humbolt very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is amending the Weapons of Mass Destruction Trade Control Regulations to add a June 28, 2005 Executive order as an authority, remove the appendix to the part, and modify three definitions referencing the appendix.

This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the final rule published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2021 entitled ``Medicare Program; CY 2022 Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Provider Enrollment Regulation Updates; and Provider and Supplier Prepayment and Post- Payment Medical Review Requirements'' (referred to hereafter as the ``CY 2022 PFS final rule''). The effective date of the CY 2022 PFS final rule is January 1, 2022.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of in-service findings of corrosion on the flange of the main landing gear (MLG) lower spindle pin. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the left and right MLG lower spindle pins to detect corrosion, and applicable repair or replacement if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Cadillac, MI; Ludington, MI; and Manistee, MI. The FAA is proposing this action due to airspace reviews conducted as part of the decommissioning of the Manistee very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The names and geographic coordinates of various airports would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in a framework action to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule modifies catch limits in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for lane snapper. The purpose of this final rule and the framework action is to modify the annual catch limit (ACL), to revise an accountability measure (AM), and to achieve optimum yield (OY) for the stock while preventing overfishing. This final rule also makes minor administrative changes to replace outdated NMFS website addresses and language about required software for the Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) programs. Additionally, this final rule reopens the harvest of lane snapper for the commercial and recreational sectors as a result of the ACL increase.

The Department of Commerce is extending the comment period for the proposed rule entitled, ``Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain; Connected Software Applications,'' that was published in the Federal Register on November 26, 2021. The proposed rule's comment period, which would have ended on December 27, 2021, is extended until January 11, 2022.

This final rule provides a simplified measure of capital adequacy for federally insured, natural-person credit unions (credit unions) classified as complex (those with total assets greater than $500 million). Under the final rule, a complex credit union that maintains a minimum net worth ratio, and that meets other qualifying criteria, is eligible to opt into the complex credit union leverage ratio (CCULR) framework if they have a minimum net worth ratio of nine percent. A complex credit union that opts into the CCULR framework need not calculate a risk-based capital ratio under the NCUA Board's October 29, 2015 risk-based capital final rule, as amended on October 18, 2018. A qualifying complex credit union that opts into the CCULR framework and maintains the minimum net worth ratio is considered well capitalized. The final rule also makes several amendments to update the NCUA's October 29, 2015 risk-based capital final rule, including addressing asset securitizations issued by credit unions, clarifying the treatment of off-balance sheet exposures, deducting certain mortgage servicing assets from a complex credit union's risk-based capital numerator, revising the treatment of goodwill, and amending other asset risk weights.