2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loose or disconnected powerplant FIREX interconnection hoses. This proposed AD would require replacing certain existing FIREX hose assemblies with a newly designed FIREX hose assembly, 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.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) establishes the 673,059-acre ``Virginia Peninsula'' viticultural area (AVA) in southeastern Virginia. The Virginia Peninsula viticultural area is not located within, nor does it contain, any other established viticultural area. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to amend the regulations that set forth the standards of identity for distilled spirits to include Singani as a type of brandy that is a distinctive product of Bolivia. This proposal follows a joint petition submitted by the Plurinational State of Bolivia and Singani 63, Inc., and subsequent discussions with the Office of the United States Trade Representative. TTB invites comments on this proposed amendment to its regulations, including comments on its proposal to authorize a minimum bottling proof of 35 percent alcohol by volume (or 70[deg] proof) for Singani.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision formally submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This revision fulfills Pennsylvania's emissions statement requirement for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is issuing a proposed rule with request for comments on the housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) for 2022 through 2024. The Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 (the Safety and Soundness Act) requires FHFA to establish annual housing goals for mortgages purchased by the Enterprises. The housing goals include separate categories for single-family and multifamily mortgages on housing that is affordable to low-income and very low- income families, among other categories. The existing housing goals for the Enterprises include benchmark levels through the end of 2021. This proposed rule would establish new benchmark levels for the housing goals and subgoals for 2022 through 2024. The proposed rule would also replace the low-income areas subgoal with separate area-based subgoals targeting the individual components of the low-income areas subgoal (minority census tracts and low-income census tracts). Finally, the proposed rule would make several technical changes to definitions and other provisions to conform the regulation to existing practice.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish two temporary safety zones for the navigable waters of the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth Harbor. The first safety zone will be a 100-yard radius around any vessel, barge, or dredging equipment engaged in dredging operations. The second safety zone will be a 500-yard radius around any vessel, barge, or dredging equipment engaged in blasting operations and any blasting worksites. The safety zones are necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with dredging, drilling, and blasting operations for overall widening of the uppermost turning basin of the Piscataqua River. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Northern New England or a Designated Representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning the EKAPCD's demonstration regarding reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements and negative declarations for the 2008 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the portion of the Kern County nonattainment area under the jurisdiction of EKAPCD. We are proposing action on a SIP revision under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act). We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-12-05 for certain CFM International S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B, CFM56-5C, and CFM56- 7B model turbofan engines with a certain rotating air high-pressure turbine (HPT) front seal. AD 2019-12-05 required replacement of the affected rotating air HPT front seal with a part eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by cracks found in the rotating air HPT front seal. This AD requires replacement of affected rotating air HPT front seals installed on CFM CFM56-5B, CFM56-5C, and CFM56-7B model turbofan engines that have fewer cycles since being reconfigured than the engines affected by AD 2019-12-05. This AD also requires CFM56-5B or CFM56-7B model turbofan engines with a reconfigured rotating air HPT front seal that was previously operated in a CFM56-5C model turbofan engine to follow the removal requirements for the CFM56-5C model turbofan engine. 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 General Electric Company (GE) CF34-10E model turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed Teflon material in the A-sump oil strainer (strainer assembly) screen after several reports of in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) and unscheduled engine removals (UERs). This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive visual inspections of the strainer assembly screen. As a terminating action to the initial and repetitive visual inspections, this proposed AD would require the replacement of the stationary oil seal at the No. 1 forward bearing. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-19-28, which applies to certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 ECJ, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes; and AD 2014-16-16, which applies to all of those airplane models. AD 2014-16-16 requires, for certain airplanes, retorquing and replacing the pylon lower link fittings, and for all airplanes, repetitively retorquing those fittings. AD 2018-19-28 requires modifying the attaching parts of the pylon lower link fittings. Since the FAA issued AD 2014-16-16 and AD 2018-19-28, the FAA finds it necessary to change the compliance time for the modification. This proposed AD would require an inspection of certain shear pins, replacement if necessary, and revised compliance times for the modification, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of Rhode Island Sound within 500 yards of the swimmer crossing the channel from Block Island, Rhode Island to East Matunuck, Rhode Island. This safety zone is needed to protect the swimmer, event sponsors' safety vessels, and others in the maritime community from the safety hazards that may arise during his event. When enforced, entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Southeastern New England or a designated representative.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model C-212-CB, C-212-CC, C-212- CD, C-212-CE, C-212-CF, C-212-DE, and C-212-DF airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of cracks on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) side fuselage skin and on a certain frame underneath the skin, near the leading edge of the wing. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the LH and RH side center wing fairings at a certain frame, around the wing leading edge for discrepancies (cracks), and repair if necessary, 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 FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) indicating that the frame splice between certain stringers is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This proposed AD would require an inspection of certain fuselage frame splices for existing repairs, repetitive inspections of certain fuselage frame splices for cracking, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This proposed rule would implement an Avocado Administrative Committee recommendation to increase the assessment rate established for the 2021-22 and subsequent fiscal years. The proposed assessment rate would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve multiple state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. These revisions were submitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) to establish and require reasonably available control technology (RACT) for twenty-three major sources of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and/ or nitrogen oxides (NOX) pursuant to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's conditionally approved RACT regulations. In this rulemaking action, EPA is proposing to approve source-specific RACT determinations (case-by-case or alternative NOX emission limits) for sources at twenty-three major NOX and VOC emitting facilities submitted by PADEP. These RACT evaluations were submitted to meet RACT requirements for the 1997 and 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

In January 2021, FMCSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend its regulations to permit individuals who cannot meet either the current distant visual acuity or field of vision standard, or both, in one eye to be physically qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. The comment period closed on March 15, 2021. The Agency received 69 comments. In May 2021, FMCSA requested, in part, that FMCSA's Medical Review Board (MRB) review and analyze the comments from medical professionals and associations and make recommendations regarding the proposed alternative vision standard for FMCSA to consider. The Agency announces the availability of the MRB's report and requests comments on the MRB's recommendations. MRB Task 21-1 Report is available in Docket Number FMCSA-2019-0049.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service proposes amendments to the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List) section of the USDA's organic regulations to implement recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) by the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). This rule proposes the removal from the National List of several substances currently allowed for various uses in organic crop production, livestock production, and manufacture of processed products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) and Operating Permits Program revision submitted by the State of Missouri on May 25, 2021. These revisions update the listed emission reporting years and update the emissions fee for permitted sources as set by Missouri Statute from $48 per ton of air pollution emitted annually to $53 in calendar year 2021 and $55 per ton of air pollution emitted annually for emissions in calendar year 2022 and beyond; effective March 30, 2021.

The Department of Education (Department) adopts as final regulations, with changes, the interim final regulations for total and permanent disability (TPD) student loan discharge.

This document announces the decision of the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to continue to temporarily limit the travel of individuals from Mexico into the United States at land ports of entry along the United States-Mexico border. Such travel will be limited to ``essential travel,'' as further defined in this document.

On May 7, 2021, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requested public comment on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to obtain input from stakeholders on the agency's plan to amend its regulations on categorical exclusions for licensing, regulatory, and administrative actions that individually or cumulatively do not have a significant effect on the human environment. The public comment period closed on July 21, 2021. The NRC has decided to reopen the public comment period until September 21, 2021, to allow more time for members of the public to develop and submit their comments.

Certain credit card issuers must submit credit card agreements and data to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (CARD Act). The Bureau is issuing new technical specifications for complying with those submission requirements. Credit card issuers will make the required submissions under TILA and the CARD Act through the Bureau's ``Collect'' website. These technical specifications include registration information and the URL for the website at which issuers (or their designees) can submit the required information.

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Model CL-600-2B16 (Bombardier) airplane. This airplane, as modified by Pro Star Aviation LLC (Pro Star Aviation), will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is a system that emits infrared laser energy outside the aircraft as a countermeasure against heat-seeking missiles. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-19-11 for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2020-19-11 required repetitive borescope inspections of the 90-degree tail rotor gearbox (TGB) and depending on the inspection results, removing the TGB from service. This AD was prompted by the determination that additional parts may be susceptible to the unsafe condition. This AD retains the inspection requirements of AD 2020-19-11, and revises the compliance time and applicability. 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 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a cracked main rotor stationary swashplate assembly (swashplate assembly). This proposed AD would require visually inspecting the swashplate assembly at specified intervals and depending on the results, removing the swashplate assembly from service. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.