2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is soliciting comments concerning final regulations in Treasury Decision (TD) 8649, Netting Rule for Certain Conversion Transactions.

The Peace Corps is submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collections. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A300 series airplanes; Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that a Model A319 airplane lost the right-hand front windshield in flight. Due to the design similarity, this condition can also exist or develop on Model A300, A300-600, and A310 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections and electrical test measurements (ETMs) of the affected parts, and applicable corrective actions, and prohibits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions, 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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and 747-8 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of three opened door 5 right ceiling stowage boxes that fell freely and injured a flight attendant in each event. This AD requires replacing certain snubbers of the door 5 ceiling stowage boxes on certain airplanes, and replacing certain snubbers and changing the location of the snubber attachments on certain other airplanes. This AD also requires an operation check of the stowage boxes or snubber, as applicable, and applicable on- condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled, ``Circumstances that Constitute Delaying, Denying, Limiting, or Refusing a Drug or Device Inspection.'' The FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017 (FDARA) amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) so that, as is the case with a drug, a device is deemed to be adulterated if the owner, operator, or agent of the factory, warehouse, or establishment at which the device is manufactured, processed, packed, or held delays, denies, or limits an FDA inspection. This draft guidance describes, for both drugs and now devices, the types of behaviors (actions, inactions, and circumstances) that the FDA considers to constitute delaying, denying, or limiting inspection, or refusing to permit entry or inspection. Once finalized, this draft guidance is intended to supersede the October 2014 FDA final guidance for industry entitled, ``Circumstances that Constitute Delaying, Denying, Limiting, or Refusing a Drug Inspection.'' However, until this draft guidance is finalized, the October 2014 FDA guidance remains in effect until it is withdrawn and will continue to reflect FDA's current thinking on this issue. FDA is particularly interested in comments on the inclusion of devices to the October 2014 guidance.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This pre-clearance consultation program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The purpose of this Notice is to solicit comments concerning a plan to offer a new grant program to support internships and fellowships for American Latino museums. A copy of the proposed information collection request can be obtained by contacting the individual listed below in the ADDRESSES section of this Notice.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

As discussed in the DATES section below, the Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is announcing that it has posted the transcript on its website of the virtual public hearing regarding the proposed amendment to prohibited transaction class exemption 84-14 (the QPAM Exemption) and determined the closing date for the proposed amendment's reopened comment period.

The Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor (DOL) is issuing this notice to announce the 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWR) for the employment of temporary or seasonal nonimmigrant foreign workers (H-2A workers) to perform agricultural labor or services other than the herding or production of livestock on the range. AEWRs are the minimum wage rates the DOL has determined must be offered and paid by employers to H-2A workers and workers in corresponding employment to help ensure the Department meets its statutory obligation to certify that the employment of H-2A foreign workers will not have an adverse effect on the wages of agricultural workers in the United States (U.S.) similarly employed. In this notice, DOL announces updates of the AEWRs and the average AEWR, which is used to calculate adjustments to required bond amounts for H-2A Labor Contractors.

The U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) preliminarily determines that U.S. imports of stainless steel round wire (SSWire) from the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Vietnam) are not circumventing the antidumping duty (AD) order on stainless steel wire rod (SSWR) from the Republic of Korea (Korea).

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, that the North Carolina Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a virtual business meeting via Zoom at 12:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 16, 2023, to discuss their report on Legal Financial Obligations in the state.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, that the North Carolina Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a virtual business meeting via Zoom at 12 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 16, 2023, to discuss their report on Legal Financial Obligations in the state.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) announces the availability of an updated consumer publication, ``What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit,'' also known as the HELOC booklet, required by the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), as implemented by Regulation Z. This version of the HELOC booklet is updated to align with the Bureau's educational efforts, to be more concise, and to improve readability and usability.

On October 7, 2022, the Postal Service published notice of price adjustments and minor classification changes with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) concluded that price adjustments and classification changes contained in the Postal Service's notification may go into effect on January 22, 2023. The Postal Service will revise Notice 123, Price List, to reflect the new prices. In addition, the Postal Service will update country names throughout mailing standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]) by changing ``Turkey'' to ``Turkiye,'' which is the official short name for the Republic of Turkiye.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) requests the extension of the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) approval of an existing information collection titled ``Generic Information Collection Plan to Conduct Cognitive and Pilot Testing of Research Methods, Instruments, and Forms'' approved under OMB Number 3170-0055.

Findings of research misconduct have been made against Alice C. Chang, Ph.D. (formerly named Chun-Ju Chang) (Respondent), who was an Associate Professor of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University (PU). Respondent engaged in research misconduct in research supported by U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) funds, specifically National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), grants P30 CA023168 and R37 CA215087. The administrative actions, including debarment for a period of ten (10) years, were implemented beginning on December 7, 2022, and are detailed below.

This final rule implements regulatory amendments that apply to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program participants that operate in the non-tribal Pacific whiting fishery. This rulemaking adjusts the primary Pacific whiting season start date for all sectors of the Pacific whiting fishery north of 40[deg]30' N latitude (lat.) from May 15 to May 1, removes from regulation the mothership catcher vessel (MSCV) processor obligation deadline of November 30, removes from regulation the Mothership (MS) processor cap of 45 percent, and provides the ability to operate as a Catcher/Processor (CP) and an MS in the same year. This action is necessary to provide MS sector participants with greater operational flexibility by modifying specific regulations that have been identified as potentially contributing to lower attainment of the Pacific whiting allocation compared to the CP and shoreside Pacific whiting sectors. This final rule is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan, and other applicable laws.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Loan Programs Office (LPO), announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to consider the environmental impacts associated with providing potential financial assistance (a federal loan guarantee) to Grain Belt Express, LLC, for construction and energization of Phase 1 of the Grain Belt Express Transmission Line Project (Grain Belt Express Project). The Grain Belt Express Project consists of an approximately 530-mile-long high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) transmission line, with a terminus in Ford County, Kansas, and a terminus in Monroe County, Missouri; two HVDC converter stations; a 1,000-foot alternating-current (AC) transmission line from the HVDC converter station at the terminus of the Ford County, Kansas HVDC transmission line to an existing substation; and an approximately 40- mile AC transmission line from the HVDC converter station at the terminus of the Monroe County, Missouri HVDC transmission line to an existing substation and a proposed substation, both in Callaway County, Missouri. This notice of intent (NOI) announces the EIS scoping process as well as a notice of proposed floodplain action. Detailed information about the project can be found at www.EIS-GrainBeltExpress.com.

FinCEN is promulgating proposed regulations regarding access by authorized recipients to beneficial ownership information (BOI) that will be reported to FinCEN pursuant to Section 6403 of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), enacted into law as part of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (AML Act), which is itself part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA). The proposed regulations would implement the strict protocols on security and confidentiality required by the CTA to protect sensitive personally identifiable information (PII) reported to FinCEN. The NPRM explains the circumstances in which specified recipients would have access to BOI and outlines data protection protocols and oversight mechanisms applicable to each recipient category. The disclosure of BOI to authorized recipients in accordance with appropriate protocols and oversight will help law enforcement and national security agencies prevent and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, tax fraud, and other illicit activity, as well as protect national security. FinCEN is also proposing regulations to specify when and how reporting companies can use FinCEN identifiers to report the BOI of entities.