2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is amending the requirements in Subpart J of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) that govern the use of dispersants, other chemicals and other spill mitigating substances when responding to oil discharges into waters of the United States. Specifically, this action establishes monitoring requirements for dispersant use in response to major oil discharges and/or certain dispersant use situations in the navigable waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines, the waters of the contiguous zone, and the high seas beyond the contiguous zone in connection with activities under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, activities under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, or activities that may affect natural resources belonging to, appertaining to, or under the exclusive management authority of the United States, including resources under the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (``navigable waters of the United States and adjoining shorelines''). These new monitoring requirements are anticipated to better target dispersant use, thus reducing the risks to the environment. Further, the amendments are intended to ensure that On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) and Regional Response Teams (RRTs) have relevant information to support response decision-making regarding dispersant use.

The FAA is correcting a final rule published on December 11, 2020. In that final rule, which became effective on the date of publication, the FAA removed the regulations codifying the Special Rule for Model Aircraft as a result of a change in applicable law. The FAA inadvertently listed an incorrect amendment number for the final rule. This document corrects that error.

The Coast Guard is amending the operating schedule that governs the Canadian National Railroad Bridge, mile 55.72, across the Fox River to operate remotely. The request was made by the bridge owner. This rule re-establishes remote operations of the bridge and will not change the operating schedule of the bridge.

This action amends Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-29 in the northeastern United States in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project (NEC ACR) for improved efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) while reducing the dependency on ground based navigational systems.

This action amends VOR Federal airways V-39 and V-93 in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route (NEC ACR), and the VOR Minimum Operational Network (VOR MON) Projects.

This action establishes Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-437 in the northeastern United States in support of the Northeast Corridor Atlantic Coast Route Project (NEC ACR) for improve efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) while reducing the dependency on ground based navigational systems.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is withdrawing its proposed rule to approve Missouri's revisions to the state's open burning rule, as published in the Federal Register on January 13, 2020. By a letter to the EPA dated May 26, 2021, Missouri withdrew its request for approval of revisions to this rule in the state implementation plan (SIP).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of several occurrences of a cracked main gearbox (MGB) spherical bearing lock nut (lock nut). This proposed AD would require removing from service a certain part-numbered MGB lock nut that is installed on certain part- numbered MGBs and replacing it with newly designed MGB lock nut. This proposed AD would also would prohibit installing any MGB with the affected MGB lock nut and would prohibit installing any affected MGB lock nut on any helicopter. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify the Class D airspace at McChord Field (Joint Base Lewis-McChord), Tacoma, WA. After a review of the airspace, the FAA found it necessary to amend the existing airspace for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at this location and Visual Flight Rules (VFR) at a satellite airport. This proposal would also remove a reference to the McChord Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range beacon (VOR) from the legal description, update the airport name and city, and amend the geographical coordinates for the airport to match the FAA's database.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its small business size standards, which are used to qualify an NRC licensee as a ``small entity'' under the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA). The purpose of these size standards is for reducing annual NRC license fees for small entities. These standards do not apply to NRC contracting for goods and services. The NRC is proposing to increase the upper and lower tiers for its receipts-based small entity size standards for small businesses and small not-for- profit organizations. This change will allow NRC standards to remain consistent with the inflation adjustments made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) size standard for nonmanufacturing concerns. In addition, in accordance with the Small Business Runway Extension Act of 2018 (Runway Act), the NRC is proposing to change the calculation of annual average receipts for the receipts-based NRC size standard for small businesses that provide a service or small businesses not engaged in manufacturing from a 3-year averaging period to a 5-year averaging period. The public is invited to submit comments on this proposed rule.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-80A and CF6-80C2 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by an inspection by the manufacturer that revealed cracking of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 1 disk. This AD requires visual inspection and fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) of the HPT thermal shield and, if cracking is detected, removal from service of the HPT thermal shield, HPT rotor stage 1 disk and HPT rotor stage 2 disk. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

On May 17, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by WGEM License, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of WGEM-TV, channel 10 (NBC), Quincy, Illinois, requesting the substitution of channel 19 for channel 10 at Quincy 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 19 for channel 10 at Quincy.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KECI-TV, channel 13 (NBC), Missoula, Montana, requesting the substitution of channel 20 for channel 13 at Missoula 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 20 for channel 13 at Missoula.

On April 21, 2021, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner), the licensee of KRCR-TV, channel 7 (ABC), Redding, California, requesting the substitution of channel 15 for channel 7 at Redding 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 15 for channel 7 at Redding.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (``Board'') is amending Regulation D, Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions to revise the rate of interest paid on balances maintained to satisfy reserve balance requirements (``IORR'') and the rate of interest paid on excess balances (``IOER'') maintained at Federal Reserve Banks by or on behalf of eligible institutions. The final amendments specify that IORR is 0.15 percent and IOER is 0.15 percent, a 0.05 percentage point increase from their prior levels. The amendments are intended to enhance the role of IORR and IOER in maintaining the Federal funds rate in the target range established by the Federal Open Market Committee (``FOMC'' or ``Committee'').

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing the final document entitled, ``Implementation of Quality Assurance Criteria and 10 CFR 50.59 for Nuclear Power Plant Components Produced Using Advanced Manufacturing Technologies.''

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Pointe to La Pointe Swim event in Bayfield, WI, from 7 a.m. through 11 a.m. on August 7, 2021. This action is necessary to protect participants and spectators during the event. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Duluth or a designated on-scene representative.

This document contains proposed regulations amending the rules for filing electronically and affects persons required to file partnership returns, corporate income tax returns, unrelated business income tax returns, withholding tax returns, and certain information returns, registration statements, disclosure statements, notifications, actuarial reports, and certain excise tax returns. The proposed amendments reflect changes made by the Taxpayer First Act of 2019 (TFA) and are consistent with the TFA's emphasis on increasing electronic filing. This document also withdraws proposed regulations published in the Federal Register on May 31, 2018, amending the rules for determining whether information returns must be filed electronically.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Salem Memorial Airport, Salem, MO. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Maples very high frequency (VHF) omnidirectional range (VOR) as part of the VOR Minimal Operational Network (MON) Program.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Tennessee, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Air Pollution Control Division, via a letter dated January 23, 2020. The SIP revision includes the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) for the Knoxville, Tennessee Area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Knoxville Area'' or ``Area''). The Knoxville Area, as defined in this action, is comprised of Jefferson, Loudon, and Sevier Counties in their entireties, the portion of Cocke County that falls within the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and a portion of Anderson County that excludes the area surrounding Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Bull Run Fossil Plant. EPA is approving the Knoxville Area LMP because it provides for the maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS within the Knoxville Area through the end of the second 10-year portion of the maintenance period. The effect of this action is to make certain commitments related to maintenance of the 1997 8-hour ozone NAAQS in the Knoxville Area federally enforceable as part of the Tennessee SIP.

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (Gulfstream) Model GVII-G500 airplanes. The NPRM was prompted by a report of a fuel quantity disparity between the overhead panel touch screens and the touch screen controllers. The NPRM proposed to require incorporating operating limitations into the airplane flight manual (AFM) until the fuel quantity management system (FQMS) software is updated. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that there is not an unsafe condition because all affected airplanes have updated software. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth at Wilder Runway LLC Airport, Port Alsworth, AK. This action will accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) procedures and ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rule (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. This action will also correct an error in the airport name to match the FAA's database.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations around the conditions by which VA benefits debts or medical debts are reported to consumer reporting agencies (CRA). The Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 provides the Secretary authority to prescribe regulations that establish the minimum amount of a benefits or medical debt that the Secretary will report to the CRA. This proposed change will establish the methodology for determining a minimum threshold for debts reported to CRA.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report that damage (scorch marks) was found on an internal life raft installation that contained a half rescue kit. This AD requires identifying the part number and serial number of each half rescue kit located in the internal life raft installation and, depending on the findings, inspecting the life raft for damage, inspecting the condition of the flashlight battery, testing the flashlight battery, and replacing the life raft or flashlight battery (including the leak test) as applicable, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now 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 H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model CABRI G2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that, during scheduled maintenance on two helicopters, cracks were found on a certain main rotor (MR) non-rotating scissor link. This proposed AD would require replacing an affected MR non-rotating scissor link with a serviceable part. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.