2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement changes to the Small Business Administration's regulations for the Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program to reflect current policies, eliminate ambiguities, and reduce burdens on small businesses and procuring agencies.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement statutory and regulatory changes regarding joint ventures made by the Small Business Administration (SBA) in its final rule published in the Federal Register on July 25, 2016, and to clarify that 8(a) joint ventures are not certified into the 8(a) program. Additionally, the rule implements SBA's statutory and regulatory changes that eliminated SBA approval of joint venture agreements for competitive 8(a) awards.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission or FCC) adopts several rule updates to otherwise outdated rules for low power television and TV translator stations following the July 13, 2021, transition from analog to digital operations. This final rule deletes or revises rules that no longer have any practical effect given the completion of the low power television (LPTV)/translator digital transition, or that are otherwise obsolete or irrelevant. In addition, this final rule makes certain ministerial changes, for example, to delete analog rules, and to add definitions and other information previously adopted in rulemaking proceedings but inadvertently omitted from the rules.

This action proposes to amend VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airway V-181 and Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-400 and revoke VOR Federal airway V-250 and the Yankton, SD, Low Altitude Reporting Point. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Yankton, SD, VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Yankton VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Ironman Ho'ala practice swim and Ironman World Championship Triathlon on October 2, 6, and 8, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Fourteenth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on certain waters of Kailua Bay, Kailua- Kona, Hawaii. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the control of 4-piperidone, its acetals, its amides, its carbamates, its salts, and salts of its acetals, its amides, and its carbamates, whenever the existence of such is possible, as a list I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act. The Drug Enforcement Administration finds that 4-piperidone is used in the illicit manufacture of the controlled substance fentanyl, and is important to the manufacture of the controlled substance fentanyl because it cannot be replaced by other chemicals in its respective synthetic pathways which are used in the illicit manufacture of fentanyl. If finalized, this action would subject handlers of 4-piperidone to the chemical regulatory provisions of the Controlled Substances Act and its implementing regulations. This rulemaking does not establish a threshold for domestic and international transactions of 4-piperidone. As such, all transactions of chemical mixtures containing 4-piperidone will be regulated at any concentration and will be subject to control under the Controlled Substances Act.

The Coast Guard is proposing to align the Liquid Chemical Categorization tables with the 2020 Edition of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk and the International Maritime Organization's Marine Environment Protection Committee's Circular 25. The updated tables would provide a list of the liquid hazardous materials and liquefied and compressed gases approved for international and domestic maritime transportation, and indicate how each substance is categorized by its pollution potential, safe carriage requirements, chemical flammability, combustibility, and compatibility with other substances. This proposed rule would impose no additional costs to chemical shippers or vessel owners.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD was prompted by the identification of certain parts needing maintenance actions, including life limits and maintenance tasks. This AD requires incorporating into existing maintenance records requirements (airworthiness limitations), 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 Airbus SAS Model A320-251N, -253N, and -271N airplanes; and Model A321-251N, -253N, -271N, and -272N airplanes. This AD was prompted by the failure of an electronic centralized aircraft monitor (ECAM) warning to be triggered during heating of several sensing elements of the over-heat detection system (OHDS) loop sequentially during flight test operation procedures. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) with an AFM Temporary Revision (TR) to provide procedures to operate the airplane without functioning bleed leak detection; revising the operator's existing FAA-approved minimum equipment list (MEL); and modifying the electrical connections of the bleed monitoring computers (BMCs), which allows for the removal of the AFM TR and the MEL revision; 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-26- 08, which applied to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Model PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes. AD 2016-26-08 required incorporating revisions into the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance program and inspecting the main landing gear (MLG) attachment bolts for cracks and corrosion. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-26-08, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to add a new life limit for certain MLG actuator bottom attachment bolts and then superseded it again to add new life limits for the rudder bellcrank. This AD requires incorporating new revisions to the ALS of the existing airplane maintenance manual (AMM) or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to establish a 5-year life limit for certain MLG actuator bottom attachment bolts and new life limits for the rudder bellcrank. 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 Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that significant water accumulation was discovered in the oxygen service compartment access panels of multiple airplanes. This AD requires modifying the oxygen service compartment door to introduce a means of water drainage. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of in-service findings of corrosion on the flange of the main landing gear (MLG) lower spindle pin. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the left and right MLG lower spindle pins to detect corrosion, and applicable repair or replacement if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) 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 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during regular pre-flight checks multiple door assist handles failed by pulling loose from their lower attachment point in the doorway support bracket. This proposed AD would require, depending on airplane configuration, doing an inspection of the forward and aft door assist handles for correct installation, installing a new retainer above the lower keyway of the support bracket assembly at certain locations, installing a placard on certain support bracket assemblies, reidentifying the support bracket assembly, and replacing the upper spring clip. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This final rule follows HUD's interim final rule published on December 2, 2016. The interim rule changed the method by which HUD determines participating jurisdictions' compliance with the statutory 24-month commitment requirements on the use of HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) funds, including the set-aside for community housing development organizations, under the Cranston- Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 (NAHA). Specifically, it implemented a grant-specific method for determining compliance with such requirements. In addition, the interim rule revised the method of administering program income to prevent participating jurisdictions from losing allocated HOME funds when they expend program income. This rule finalizes the December 2, 2016, interim rule without change.

This rule makes technical corrections to the regulations that govern the National Bridge Inspection Standards Program. The amendments contained herein make no substantive changes to FHWA regulations, policies, or procedures.

PHMSA is publishing this ANPRM to solicit feedback on potential adjustments to the statutorily mandated hazardous materials registration and fee assessment program. Actions such as the potential adjustment of fees or the addition of other entities among those required to register may be necessary to fund PHMSA's national emergency preparedness grant programs at the newly authorized level in accordance with the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. To fully engage with stakeholders, this ANPRM solicits comments and input on questions related to the scope of the registration and fee assessment program. Any comments, data, and information received will be used to evaluate and draft proposed amendments.

This final rule removes changes to regulatory text resulting from two final rules issued in June 2020, which were vacated by a Federal district court in February 2022. This final rule implements the vacatur by removing certain regulatory text governing asylum applications, interviews, and eligibility for employment authorization and an employment authorization document (EAD) based on a pending asylum application. It also reinserts various regulatory provisions as they appeared prior to the effective dates of the two final rules issued in June 2020.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (``Access Board'' or ``Board'') is issuing this Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to begin the process of supplementing its accessibility guidelines for buildings and facilities covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 to address access to various types of self-service transaction machines (SSTMs), including electronic self-service kiosks, for persons with disabilities. By this ANPRM, the Access Board invites public comment on the planned approach to supplementing its ADA Accessibility Guidelines and ABA Accessibility Guidelines with new scoping and technical provisions for SSTMs and self-service kiosks. The Board will consider comments received in response to this ANPRM in its development of these guidelines for SSTMs and self-service kiosks in a future rulemaking.

This regulation establishes tolerances for residues of glufosinate in or on multiple commodities that are identified and discussed later in this document. Interregional Project Number 4 (IR-4) and BASF Corporation requested these tolerances under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters near the Downtown Detroit, Detroit, MI. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with fireworks displays created by the K/E Electric Party Firework Show display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Detroit or his designated representative.

This final rule provides additional crediting options for certain pilot in command (PIC) time to count towards the 1,000 hours of air carrier experience required to serve as a PIC in air carrier operations. In addition, this final rule allows credit for select military time in a powered-lift flown in horizontal flight towards the 250 hours of airplane time as PIC, or second in command (SIC) performing the duties of PIC, required for an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. This action is necessary to expand opportunities for pilots that meet the amended criteria to use relevant flight experience toward the requirements for an ATP certificate and to meet PIC qualification requirements for air carrier operations.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations that govern VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) by extending eligibility for legacy participants, legacy applicants and their Family Caregivers, and the applicable benefits afforded to such Family Caregivers, to include the monthly stipend, by three years. VA is also making non-substantive technical amendments to the regulations.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to define San Mateo County, California, as an area of application county to the Monterey, CA, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. This change is necessary because there are three NAF FWS employees working in San Mateo County, and the county is not currently defined to a NAF wage area.

The National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) is amending the procedures for Submission of Gaming Ordinance or Resolution under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The amendment revises the regulations controlling the submission and approval requirements of tribal gaming ordinances or resolutions and amendments thereof. Notably, the rule: authorizes the submission of documents in electronic or physical form; clarifies that the submission requirements apply to amendments of ordinances or resolutions; eliminates the requirement that an Indian tribe provide copies of all gaming regulations with its submission and instead requires a tribe to submit gaming regulations only upon request; initiates the 90-day deadline for the NIGC Chair ruling upon receipt of a complete submission; requires tribes that subsequently amend a gaming ordinance pending before the Chair to provide an authentic resolution withdrawing the pending submission and resubmitting the revised submission; and eliminates the requirement that the NIGC Chair publish a tribe's entire gaming ordinance in the Federal Register, requiring notice of approval to be published with the Chair's approval letter instead. In addition, the NIGC has made other non-substantive revisions, such as citation to cross references, minor grammatical revisions, and formatting changes.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) is issuing a rule to address the hazard associated with ingestion of one or more high-powered magnets. The CPSC has determined that unreasonable risks of injury are associated with small, powerful magnets that, when ingested, can interact internally through body tissue, which can lead to acute and long-term health consequences or death. The rule establishes requirements for subject magnet products that are designed, marketed, or intended to be used for entertainment, jewelry (including children's jewelry), mental stimulation, stress relief, or a combination of these purposes, and that contain one or more loose or separable magnets, but the subject products do not include magnet products sold and/or distributed solely to school educators, researchers, professionals, and/or commercial or industrial users exclusively for educational, research, professional, commercial, and/or industrial purposes. Each loose or separable magnet in a product that is subject to the rule and that fits entirely within CPSC's small parts cylinder must have a flux index of less than 50 kG\2\ mm\2\. The flux index is determined by the method described in the ASTM F963 Toy Standard. The rule exempts from its requirements toys subject to the ASTM F963 Toy Standard. The Commission takes this action under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).