2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-1B model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by several reports of fuel leaks caused by high cycle fatigue (HCF) cracks found at the braze joints on fuel manifolds, and the subsequent manufacturer redesign of the high-pressure turbine (HPT) fuel hose variable stator vane (VSV) manifold, VSV fuel hose manifold, low-pressure turbine (LPT) fuel hose variable bleed valve (VBV) manifold, and VBV fuel hose manifold. This AD requires removal and replacement of the fuel hydraulic lines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rulemaking proposes changes to simplify the processes for eligible individuals to enroll and retain eligibility in Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Basic Health Program. This proposed rule would remove barriers and facilitate enrollment of new applicants, particularly those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid; align enrollment and renewal requirements for most individuals in Medicaid; establish beneficiary protections related to returned mail; create timeliness requirements for redeterminations of eligibility in Medicaid and CHIP; make transitions between programs easier; eliminate access barriers for children enrolled in CHIP by prohibiting premium lock-out periods, waiting periods, and benefit limitations; and modernize recordkeeping requirements to ensure proper documentation of eligibility and enrollment.

We are soliciting public comment on a new approach to indemnity value determination and a new framework for the indemnity regulations. These parts address payment of indemnity for the destruction and disposition of animals the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) classifies as infected with, suspect of, or exposed to diseases of concern, to eradicate and control foreign animal diseases, emerging diseases, and program diseases. The current regulations for valuing animals for the purpose of indemnification vary from species to species and, in some cases, disease to disease within a species. The new approach would harmonize how APHIS determines animal values and deals with costs associated with transportation, cleaning, disposal, and other points at which variations occur in how APHIS manages indemnity and compensation.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Beaufort Inlet in Morehead City, North Carolina. This SLR restricts vessel traffic on the AICW and Beaufort Inlet during high-speed boat races. The restriction of vessel traffic movement in the SLR is to protect participants and spectators from the hazards posed by these events. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina or a designated representative.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Oxirane, 2-(phenoxymethyl)-, polymer with oxirane, monobutyl ether, block, when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Spring Regulatory Sciences (SRS) on behalf of Stepan Company (Stepan) submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Oxirane, 2-(phenoxymethyl)-, polymer with oxirane, monobutyl ether, block, on food or feed commodities.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is confirming the effective date of June 10, 2022, for the final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of May 10, 2022, and that amended the color additive regulations to provide for the safe use of Antarctic krill meal, composed of the ground and dried tissue of Euphausia superba, with or without the lipid fraction, for use in the feed of salmonid fish, to enhance the color of their flesh.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from how the CSX Transportation railroad drawbridge across the Pascagoula River, mile 1.5, Pascagoula, MS will be operated. The bridge will continue to open according to the drawbridge regulations but the bridge tender will operate this bridge from a remote location at the CSX railroad terminal in Mobile, Alabama. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding these proposed changes.

This document contains an Interpretive Bulletin (IB) setting forth guidelines for determining when a qualified public accountant is independent for purposes of auditing and rendering an opinion on the financial statements required to be included in the annual report filed with the Department of Labor (Department) under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). Under ERISA, a plan administrator is generally required to retain, on behalf of all plan participants, an ``independent qualified public accountant'' to conduct an annual examination of the plan's financial statements and to render an opinion as to whether the financial statements are presented fairly in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and whether the schedules required to be included in the plan's annual report present fairly, and in all material respects the information contained therein when considered in conjunction with the financial statements taken as a whole. The purpose of this document is to revise and restate an IB the Department issued in 1975 on accountant independence in order to remove certain outdated and unnecessarily restrictive provisions and reorganize its provisions for clarity while continuing to ensure that the Department's interpretations foster proper auditor independence and access of employee benefit plan to highly qualified auditors and audit firms.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') has determined that miscellaneous gas products (``MGPs''), which are comprised of decorative hearths and outdoor heaters, qualify as covered products under Part A of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''). DOE has determined that coverage of MGPs is necessary and appropriate to carry out the purposes of EPCA, and that the average U.S. household energy use for MGPs is likely to exceed 100 kilowatt-hours per year.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing error that can create dents on the lower wing plank, close to the flap arm locations at certain wing stations; as a result, cracks could develop and weaken the structural integrity of the wings before being detected by any existing required inspections. This AD requires an inspection for damage (including dents, cracks, discoloration, gouges, scratches, or other surface damage) of the lower wing plank in the flap arm areas at certain wing stations, and repair if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) has issued Consumer Financial Protection Circular 2022-04, titled, ``Insufficient Data Protection or Security for Sensitive Consumer Information.'' In this circular, the Bureau responds to the question, ``Can entities violate the prohibition on unfair acts or practices in the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) when they have insufficient data protection or information security?''

These special conditions are issued for the Bombardier Model BD-700-1A10 and BD-700-1A11 airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by L2 Consulting Services, Inc., will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for airplanes. This design feature is associated with the installation of an electronic network system architecture that will allow increased connectivity to and access from external network sources, (e.g., operator networks, wireless devices, internet connectivity, service provider satellite communications, electronic flight bags, etc.) to the airplane's previously isolated electronic assets (networks, systems, and databases). 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) 2017-10- 24, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330- 300 series airplanes; AD 2018-23-14, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series airplanes, Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes, and Model A330-300 series airplanes; and AD 2021-05-12, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes. AD 2017-10-24, AD 2018-23-14, and AD 2021-05-12 require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD revises the applicability by adding airplanes. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2018-23-14 and AD 2021-05-12, and 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. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of styrene, copolymers with acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid, with none and/or one or more of the following monomers or polymers: acrylamidopropyl methyl sulfonic acid, methallyl sulfonic acid, 3-sulfopropyl acrylate, 3-sulfopropyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl methacrylate, hydroxypropyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, hydroxyethyl acrylate, lauryl methacrylate, and/or poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), [alpha]-(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)-[omega]- methoxy-; and its sodium, potassium, ammonium, monoethanolamine, and triethanolamine salts; the resulting polymer having a minimum number average molecular weight (in amu), 1200, when used as an inert ingredient in pesticide formulations. Croda, Inc., submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting to amend the existing exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for styrene, copolymers with acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid with none and/or one or more monomers or polymers by including poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), [alpha]-(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propenyl)-[omega]- methoxy- as an additional polymer in the tolerance exemption description. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of styrene, copolymers with acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid with none and/or one or more monomers or polymers, as described above.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) establishes the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program (Outreach Grant Program), which will provide eligible partners grant funds to conduct outreach in support of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

The Commission is acknowledging a Postal Service application for waiver pursuant to Commission regulations as it relates to a workshare discount. This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The Coast Guard is issuing this interim rule to remove an incorrect statement about field preemption of State or local regulations regarding inland navigation. The incorrect language was added in a 2014 rulemaking, and the error was recently discovered. By removing the language, this rule clarifies the ability of States to regulate inland navigation as they have historically done. This rule does not require States to take any action.

The National Indian Gaming Commission is amending agency procedures for calculating the amount of annual fee a gaming operation owes the National Indian Gaming Commission. The amendment excludes certain promotional credits from the calculation of the annual fee a gaming operation owes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to authorize changes to Florida's hazardous waste program under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). These changes were outlined in an application to the EPA and correspond to certain Federal rules promulgated between July 1, 1987 through June 30, 2020. The EPA reviewed Florida's application and has determined that these changes satisfy all requirements needed to qualify for final authorization. Therefore, in the ``Rules and Regulations'' section of this Federal Register, we are authorizing Florida for these changes as a direct final action without a prior proposed rule. If we receive no adverse comment, we will not take further action on this proposed rule.

In September 2017, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) published a consumer product safety standard for infant bouncer seats under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA). The standard incorporated by reference the ASTM voluntary standard for infant bouncer seats that had been adopted earlier in 2017 and was in effect at the time. ASTM updated the mandatory standard for infant bouncer seats in 2019 and again in 2022. Consistent with the CPSIA's process for updating mandatory standards for durable infant or toddler products that are based on a voluntary standard, when the voluntary standards organization revises the standard, this direct final rule updates the mandatory standard for infant bouncer seats to incorporate by reference ASTM's 2022 version of the voluntary standard.

On April 13, 2022, the Media Bureau, Video Division (Bureau) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Maine Public Broadcasting Corporation (Petitioner), the licensee of WCBB, channel *10, Augusta, Maine, requesting the substitution of channel *20 for channel *10 at Augusta in the Table of Allotments. For the reasons set forth in the Report and Order referenced below, the Bureau amends Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) regulations to substitute channel *20 for channel *10 at Augusta.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is proposing to amend its current worker safety and health program regulation. The proposed amendment would make corrections to the worker safety and health program regulation requirements related to beryllium and beryllium compounds for purposes of accuracy and consistency with DOE's Chronic Beryllium Disease Prevention Program regulation, and to clarify that DOE did not intend to adopt the 2016 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value for beryllium and beryllium compounds.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all General Electric Company (GE) CT7-8A model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the existing engine maintenance manual (EMM) to incorporate reduced life limits for certain stage 1 turbine aft cooling plates, stage 2 turbine forward cooling plates, turbine interstage seals, and stage 4 turbine disks. This AD requires revising the ALS of the existing EMM and the operator's existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate reduced life limits for these parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E Surface airspace, and Class E Airspace Designated as an Extension to Class D airspace at Martin State Airport, Baltimore, MD. This action replaces the Baltimore Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Collocated Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) with the term Point of Origin. Also, this action removes unnecessary verbiage from the descriptor header. In addition, this action makes an editorial change replacing the term Airport/ Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace and makes the editorial change replacing the term Notice to Airmen with the term Notice to Air Missions. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.