2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a left-hand (LH) side stairway door that inadvertently opened in flight and tore off from its attachment fittings. This proposed AD would require inspecting the locking safety mechanism of the LH side stairway door handle and depending on the results, corrective action. This proposed AD would also require modifying that locking safety mechanism as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-19-11 for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. AD 2020-19-11 requires repetitive borescope inspections of the 90-degree tail rotor gearbox (TGB) and depending on the inspection results, removing the TGB from service. Since the FAA issued AD 2020- 19-11, it was determined that additional parts may be susceptible to the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain the inspection requirements of AD 2020-19-11, and revise the compliance time and applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is redesignating the Idaho portion of the Logan, Utah-Idaho fine particulate matter (PM2.5) nonattainment area (Logan UT-ID NAA) to attainment for the 2006 PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). EPA is also approving a maintenance plan for the area demonstrating continued compliance with the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS through 2031, which the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) submitted along with the redesignation request on September 13, 2019, for inclusion in the Idaho State Implementation Plan (SIP). Additionally, EPA is approving the 2031 motor vehicle emissions budgets included in Idaho's maintenance plan for PM2.5, nitrogen oxides (NOX) and volatile organic compounds (VOC). EPA is taking this final action pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act).

This action amends VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-72, V-132, V-190, and V-289; and removes VOR Federal airway V-238 in the vicinity of Maples, MO. The VOR Federal airway modifications are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Maples, MO, VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigation aid (NAVAID) which provides navigation guidance for portions of the affected airways listed above. The Maples VOR is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve, or conditionally approve, all or portions of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements for the 2008 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the Nevada County (Western part), California ozone nonattainment area (``Western Nevada County''). The SIP revision is the ``Ozone Attainment Plan, Western Nevada County, State Implementation Plan for the 2008 Primary Federal 8-Hour Ozone Standard of .075 ppm'' (``2018 Western Nevada County Ozone Plan'' or ``Plan''). The 2018 Western Nevada County Ozone Plan addresses the ``Serious'' nonattainment area requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS, including the requirements for emissions inventories, attainment demonstration, reasonable further progress, reasonably available control measures, and contingency measures, among others; and establishes motor vehicle emissions budgets. The EPA is approving the 2018 Western Nevada County Ozone Plan as meeting all the applicable ozone nonattainment area requirements except for the contingency measure requirement, which the EPA is conditionally approving.

In this action, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promulgating a Federal plan to implement the Emission Guidelines (EG) and Compliance Times for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Landfills (2016 MSW Landfills EG) for existing MSW landfills located in states and Indian country where state plans or tribal plans are not in effect. This MSW Landfills Federal Plan includes the same elements as required for a state plan: Identification of legal authority and mechanisms for implementation; inventory of designated facilities; emissions inventory; emission limits; compliance schedules; a process for the EPA or state review of design plans for site-specific gas collection and control systems (GCCS); testing, monitoring, reporting and record keeping requirements; and public hearing requirements. Additionally, this action summarizes implementation and delegation of authority of the MSW Landfills Federal Plan.

This document announces the availability of EPA's response to a portion of the petition it received February 8, 2021, from People for Protecting Peace River, Center for Biological Diversity, and 16 other organizations. While the petition requested three actions related to TSCA, EPA has determined that only one of those actions is an appropriate request: A request to issue a test rule under TSCA requiring testing of phosphogypsum and process wastewater from phosphoric acid production. EPA is treating the other portions of the petition involving TSCA as a petition under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA); those other portions request EPA to initiate the prioritization process for designating phosphogypsum and process wastewater as high-priority substances for risk evaluation, and to make a determination by rule under TSCA that the use of phosphogypsum in road construction is a significant new use. Therefore, this document does not provide EPA's response to these two TSCA-requested actions. Also, this document does not address the petitioners' requests under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). After careful consideration, EPA has denied the TSCA section 21 portion of the petition for the reasons set forth in this document.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) is correcting the amendatory instructions for the E-Licensing Report and Order that appeared in the Federal Register on December 29, 2020. The Report and Order finalizes the Commission's transition to electronic interactions for licenses in the Wireless Radio Services. We make this correction because an amendatory instruction in the rules can no longer be implemented as written. This is because the rule was modified after the Report and Order was adopted but before the rule modification was scheduled to take effect.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD), Placer County Air Pollution Control District (PCAPCD) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern emissions of: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) from metal coating operations. We are proposing to approve local rules and rescissions to regulate these emission sources 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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all CFM International, S.A. (CFM) CFM56-5B and CFM56-7B model turbofan engines with a certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) inner stationary seal installed. This AD was prompted by cracks found in the rotating air HPT front seal. This AD requires removal, inspection, and replacement of the affected HPT inner stationary seal and, depending on the findings, replacement of the rotating air HPT front seal, HPT rotor blades, and No. 3 ball bearing. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Petition for Reconsideration (Petition) has been filed in the Commission's rulemaking proceeding by Joshua M. Bercu, on behalf of USTelecomThe Broadband Association.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by the loss of a windshield in flight, and the consequent rapid depressurization of the flight deck, which caused damage to flight deck items and systems and subsequent thermal shock and overheat, damage to windshield structural plies, and impaired structural integrity of the windshield. This AD requires repetitive inspections and electrical test measurements (EMTs) of affected windshields, and corrective actions 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.

DoD is making technical amendments to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to provide needed editorial changes.

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 that establishes a requirement for use of the best available information regarding past performance of subcontractors and joint venture partners when awarding DoD contracts for construction and architect-engineer services.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to permit expedited contract closeout through a waiver by the contractor and the Government of entitlement to any residual dollar amounts that are due to either party at the time of contract closeout. The changes are necessary to establish an expedited contract closeout agreement that will save administrative costs for both the contractor and the Government.

OSHA is proposing changes to the Walking-Working Surfaces standards to clarify which handrail and stair rail system requirements apply to new stair rail systems.

OSHA is scheduling an informal public hearing on its proposed rule ``Hazard Communication Standard.'' The public hearing will begin September 21, 2021 at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time (ET). The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on February 16, 2021. The initial public comment period was to end April 19, 2021, but was extended to May 19, 2021, in response to requests from the public.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD or ``District'') portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). We are also proposing to determine that the submitted SIP revision fulfills the District's and the State's commitment to adopt and submit a specific enforceable contingency measure to address Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and the 2012 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Muscle Shoals, AL, due to the decommissioning of the Muscle Shoals Very High Frequency Omni- Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC), and cancellation of the associated approach at Northwest Alabama Regional Airport. This action would also update the airport name under the Class E surface airspace. This action would also make an editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class E airspace. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede AD 2002-08-16, which applies to certain Eurocopter France SA341G, SA342J, and SA-360C helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require removing certain main rotor head torsion tie bars (tie bars) from service and revising the limitations section of the existing maintenance manual for your helicopter by adding life limits for those tie bars. The NPRM was prompted by the determination that another part- numbered tie bar was affected by the same unsafe condition. This action reopens the comment period because a significant amount of time has elapsed since the NPRM was published. This action also revises the NPRM by updating the type certificate holder's name, updating the estimated cost information, clarifying the requirements and compliance times, and adding parts installation prohibitions. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') proposes to amend the test procedures for commercial prerinse spray valves to incorporate by reference the current version of the relevant industry standard, i.e., ASTM F2324. ASTM F2324 (2019) is a reaffirmation of the industry standard currently incorporated by reference in the DOE test procedure for commercial prerinse spray valves and as such, this proposal would not substantively change the current test procedure. DOE also proposes to amend the commercial prerinse spray valves definition to codify existing guidance on the application of the definition. DOE is seeking comment from interested parties on the proposal.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend the regulations pertaining to the name of the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. VA provides benefits and services under the program name of ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment''. VA is proposing to amend the name to ``Veteran Readiness and Employment'' (VR&E). VA further proposes that the references to the position of ``Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Officer'' be amended to ``Veteran Readiness and Employment Officer'' and the position of ``Director of Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment'' be amended to ``Executive Director of Veteran Readiness and Employment''.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the FKCC Swim Around Key West, Key West, Florida from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on June 12, 2021. Our regulation for recurring safety zones within the Captain of the Port Key West Zone identifies the regulated area for this event. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

This final rule removes from the Code of Federal Regulations an interim final rule (IFR) issued in October 2020, which has since been vacated by a federal district court.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directives (AD) 2000-23- 04 R1 and AD 2018-20-14, which applied to certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes. AD 2000-23-04 R1 and AD 2018-20-14 required revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new and/or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by the FAA's determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.