2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this Report and Order, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) amends its rules to establish a licensing and regulatory framework for space stations in the Digital Broadcast Satellite Service in the 12.2-12.7 GHz and 17.3-17.8 GHz frequency bands that harmonizes the rules regulating DBS with those regulating geostationary-satellite orbit Fixed-Satellite Service systems.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the Clean Air Act (CAA) state plan revision for existing large and small municipal waste combustors (MWCs) submitted by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) on October 1, 2018. The revised state plan incorporates wood residue combustion fuel quality standards and test methods at MWC facilities that process and combust construction and demolition debris.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The revision pertains to the Commonwealth's plan, submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), for maintaining the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) (referred to as the ``1997 ozone NAAQS'') in the Greene County, Pennsylvania area (Greene County Area). EPA is approving these revisions to the Pennsylvania SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation of certain navigable waters of Huntington Bay, Long Island, NY, for the Lighthouse Musicfest marine event. This action is necessary to provide the safety of life on these navigable waters during the event scheduled for Saturday, September 4, 2021. This rule will allow the Coast Guard to prohibit vessel traffic in the vicinity of the event and establishes mooring areas and a speed restriction in the designated zone.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of ``other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 total allowable catch of ``other rockfish'' in the Western and Central Regulatory Areas of the GOA.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2021 Pacific cod total allowable catch apportioned to catcher vessels greater than or equal to 50 feet LOA using hook-and-line gear in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving revisions to the ozone attainment portions of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the states of New Jersey and New York to meet the Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for attaining the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Specifically, the EPA is approving New Jersey's and New York's demonstrations of attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS for their portions of the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island NY-NJ-CT Moderate 1997 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereafter, the NY-NJ-CT area or the NY-NJ-CT nonattainment area). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.

The Coast Guard is amending its special local regulations for recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events in Southern California Annual Marine Events for the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone. This final rule will add one new recurring special local regulation. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the event. This final rule will restrict vessel traffic in the designated areas during the events unless authorized by the Captain of the Port San Diego or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters within a 25-yard radius of any foundation, support, stanchion, pier or abutment of the Seagull Bridge located on the Quinnipiac River, Hamden, CT. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel and property from potential hazards created by falling debris. Vessels or persons are prohibited from entering the zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Long Island Sound or a designated representative.

Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the State of Kansas's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). This action is based on the EPA's determination that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed for program approval. This action also proposes to codify EPA's approval of Kansas's State program and incorporate by reference those provisions of the State regulations that we have determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under sections 9005 and 9006 of RCRA Subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.

On August 9, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published a request for information (``RFI'') undertaking an early assessment review for amended energy conservation standards for commercial and industrial pumps (``pumps''). The RFI provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information by September 8, 2021. DOE received requests from Grundfos and Pentair on August 10, 2021 and August 12, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment period for 60 days until November 8, 2021. Additionally, DOE received requests from the Hydraulic Institute (``HI''), and a group of California Investor-Owned Utilities (``CA IOUs''), comprised of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison, on August 12, 2021 and August 13, 2021, respectively, asking DOE to extend the public comment period for 30 days until October 8, 2021. DOE has reviewed these requests and is granting an extension of the public comment period to allow public comments to be submitted until October 8, 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the Eagle River, Alaska (AK) limited maintenance plan (LMP) submitted on November 10, 2020, by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC or ``the State''). This plan addresses the second 10-year maintenance period after redesignation for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM10). An LMP is used to meet Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for formerly designated nonattainment areas that meet certain qualification criteria. The EPA is proposing to determine that Alaska's submittal meets the CAA requirements. The plan relies upon control measures contained in the first 10-year maintenance plan and the determination that the Eagle River area currently monitors PM10 levels well below the PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or ``the standard'').

This document contains a correction to an interim final rule published in the Federal Register on Friday, August 13, 2021. The rule codifies statutory requirements enacted by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. This document also extends the comment period for the interim final rule.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of Camden Harbor in Camden, Maine. The temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from hazards associated with a fireworks display. When enforced, this rule will prohibit persons and vessels from entering into the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Northern New England or a Designated Representative.

NMFS proposes to implement allowable catch levels, an overfishing limit, an allowable biological catch, and an annual catch limit for Pacific mackerel in the U.S. exclusive economic zone off the West Coast (California, Oregon and Washington) for the fishing seasons 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. This proposed rule is pursuant to the Coastal Pelagic Species Fishery Management Plan. The proposed harvest guideline and annual catch target for the 2021-2022 fishing season are 8,323 metric tons (mt) and 7,323 mt, respectively. The proposed harvest guideline and annual catch target for the 2022-2023 fishing season are 5,822 mt and 4,822 mt, respectively. If the fishery attains the annual catch target in either fishing season, the directed fishery will close, reserving the 1,000-mt difference between the harvest guideline and annual catch target as a set-aside for incidental landings in other Coastal Pelagic Species fisheries and other sources of mortality. This document is intended to conserve and manage the Pacific mackerel stock off the U.S. West Coast.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is issuing a final rule amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to update an outdated reference to a legacy website.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, - 132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, - 231, and -232 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during re-engineering of galley G5, a 9G forward full scale qualification test was performed, and the door of the waste compartment opened before the required load was reached. This proposed AD would require modifying the waste compartment door of each affected galley, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to take action on portions of four state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by California to address Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements for the 2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') and for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) PM2.5 nonattainment area. Specifically, the EPA proposes to approve all but the contingency measure element of the submitted Moderate area plan for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS, as updated by the submitted Serious area plan and related Valley State SIP Strategy, as meeting all applicable Moderate area plan requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS and to approve 2022 motor vehicle emissions budgets for use in transportation conformity analyses for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA proposes to disapprove the contingency measure element with respect to the ``Moderate'' area requirements for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA also proposes to reclassify the SJV PM2.5 nonattainment area, including reservation areas of Indian country and any other area of Indian country within it where the EPA or a tribe has demonstrated that the tribe has jurisdiction, as a ``Serious'' nonattainment area for the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS based on the EPA's determination that the area cannot practicably attain the standard by the applicable Moderate area attainment date of December 31, 2021. Upon final reclassification of the SJV as a Serious area for this NAAQS, California would be required to submit a Serious area plan for the area that includes a demonstration of attainment by the applicable Serious area attainment date, which is no later than December 31, 2025, or by the most expeditious alternative date practicable. However, we note that California has already submitted such Serious area plan that the EPA will address in a separate rulemaking. Lastly, the EPA is proposing to disapprove the contingency measure element in the Serious area plan for the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Frankfort Dow Memorial Field, Frankfort, MI. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews caused by the decommissioning of the Manistee very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program. The name and geographic coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of reduced yaw control, during an approach for landing, that resulted from rupture of the tail rotor gearbox (TGB) actuating rod and uncoupling of the steel sleeve from inside the external aluminum tube. This AD requires dye penetrant inspecting certain TGB actuating rods for a crack, and depending on the inspection results, replacing the TGB actuating rod, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Coast Guard proposes changing the operating schedule that governs the State Route 22 (SR 22) drawbridge across the Tchefuncta River mile 2.5, Madisonville, St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. This action is necessary to relieve vehicular traffic congestion and enhance safety along SR 22 in Madisonville, LA.

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau or CFPB) makes limited revisions to its regulations that establish the procedures used by the public to obtain records from the Bureau under the Privacy Act of 1974 (Privacy Act). The revisions will change the definition of ``Chief Privacy Officer'' in order to align the Chief Privacy Officer's authorities and responsibilities identified in the regulation to those of the Bureau's designated Senior Agency Official for Privacy. The revisions will also facilitate electronic or remote identity proofing and authentication by creating an additional method for a requester to verify their identity when submitting a Privacy Act request to the Bureau.

The Coast Guard is proposing to revise the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes. The proposal would provide mariners seeking these endorsements the option to take a modified basic firefighting course that eliminates training on equipment that is not required to be carried on towing vessels operating on inland waters or Western Rivers. Applicants who take the modified basic firefighting course would reduce their costs due to the courses being shorter and less expensive than the longer basic firefighting courses.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') proposes to amend the test procedures for residential and commercial clothes washers to specify test conditions, instrument specifications, and test settings; address large clothes container capacities; add product-specific enforcement provisions; delete obsolete provisions; and consolidate all test cloth-related provisions and codify additional test cloth material verification procedures used by industry. DOE also proposes to create a new test procedure for residential and commercial clothes washers with additional modifications for certain test conditions, measurement of average cycle time, required test cycles, tested load sizes, semi- automatic clothes washer provisions, new performance metrics, and updated usage factors. The proposed new test procedure would be used for the evaluation and issuance of updated efficiency standards, as well as to determine compliance with the updated standards. As part of this proposal, DOE is announcing a webinar to collect comments and data on this proposal. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal.

On June 16, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Corridor Television, L.L.P. (Petitioner), the licensee of KCWX (MyNetwork), channel 5, Fredericksburg, Texas, requesting the substitution of channel 8 for channel 5 at Fredericksburg in the DTV Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends FCC regulations to substitute channel 8 for channel 5 at Fredericksburg.