2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all GROB Aircraft SE (type certificate previously held by GROB Aircraft AG) (GROB) Model G 115EG airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as in-flight detachment of a rudder actuator hinge bracket. This AD requires repairing the support structure at the attachment to the attachment bolts on certain flight control surfaces, inspecting the support structure at the attachment bolts of all flight control surfaces, and taking corrective actions if discrepancies are detected. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing approval of State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of Georgia through the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (GA EPD) on July 2, 2020, and November 4, 2021, to address the base year emissions inventory requirements and emissions statements requirements for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the Atlanta, Georgia 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as the ``Atlanta Area''). These requirements apply to all ozone nonattainment areas in Georgia. These actions are being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is expanding the approximately 64,640-acre ``Clarksburg'' viticultural area by approximately 27,945 acres. The Clarksburg viticultural area is located in Sacramento, Solano, and Yolo Counties, in California, and the expansion area is located in Sacramento and Solano Counties. The established Clarksburg viticultural area and the expansion area are not located within any other established viticultural area. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to establish the approximately 7,605-acre ``Long Valley-Lake County'' viticultural area in Lake County, California. Additionally, TTB proposes to expand the boundary of the established 14,000-acre High Valley viticultural area by approximately 1,542 acres in order to create a contiguous border with the proposed Long Valley-Lake County viticultural area. Only the western third of the proposed Long Valley-Lake County viticultural area, and approximately three quarters of the High Valley viticultural area, would lie within the established, multi-county North Coast viticultural area. To avoid this partial overlap with the High Valley and proposed Long Valley-Lake County viticultural areas, TTB is proposing to expand the boundary of the North Coast viticultural area by approximately 23,690 acres. TTB designates viticultural areas to allow vintners to better describe the origin of their wines and to allow consumers to better identify wines they may purchase. TTB invites comments on these proposals.

This rule provides for annual adjustments to the level of civil monetary penalties contained in Bureau of Indian Affairs (Bureau) regulations to account for inflation under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance.

FMCSA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to allow driver applicants to take the commercial driver's license (CDL) general and specialized knowledge tests in a State (the testing State) other than the applicant's State of domicile. The NPRM also proposed that the applicant's State of domicile would be required to accept knowledge test results from the testing State. As explained further below, FMCSA is taking this action after considering the comments received following the publication of the NPRM.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is proposing to amend and update its VA Acquisition Regulation (VAAR) in phased increments to revise or remove any policy superseded by changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), to remove procedural guidance internal to VA into the VA Acquisition Manual (VAAM), and to incorporate any new agency specific regulations or policies. This rulemaking revises coverage concerning Acquisition Planning, Required Sources of Supplies and Services, Market Research, and Small Business Programs, as well as affected parts to include Definitions of Words and Terms, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Contract Financing, Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses, and Forms.

The Coast Guard will enforce the USX Superfund Site Safety Zones: St. Louis River, and this notice of enforcement serves as a reminder to mariners this is still an enforced safety zone under Coast Guard regulations. Our regulation for safety zones within the Ninth Coast Guard District identifies this area as a regulated area within Spirit Lake Duluth, MN.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary security zones for certain navigable waters of the Christina and Schuylkill Rivers and Darby Creek. The security zones are needed to safeguard persons, including those under the protection of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), and property from terrorist acts or incidents and to prevent terrorist acts or incidents while travelling across navigable waters between Wilmington, DE, and Philadelphia, PA. These security zones will be enforced only for the protection of those persons when in the area and will restrict vessel traffic while the zones are being enforced. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Delaware Bay or a designated representative.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) amends the Farm Loan Programs (FLP) regulations to implement certain provisions authorized by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill). This rule revises the provisions on FLP loan limits, allows additional flexibility for loan applicants to meet the required farming experience, provides higher guarantee rates for lenders to provide credit to beginning farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers, provides additional program benefits for veterans, provides equitable relief to certain borrowers, allows borrowers who have received debt restructuring with a write down to receive Emergency loans (EM), and expands those issues that are covered under the agricultural Certified Mediation Program. In addition to the 2018 Farm Bill changes, FSA also amends the regulations for loan servicing relating to accepting cash payments and establishing a fee for dishonored checks; these are discretionary changes. The result of these changes will increase loan limits or improve the various loan programs to relieve some restrictions to participation or otherwise encourage participation. This rule also revises the way FSA will establish the maximum interest rates in response to the discontinuing publication of the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) interest rates. The result of these changes will enable FSA to provide clearer guidance on maximum interest rates and allow for more consistency across all lenders participating in the guaranteed loan program. In addition, this rule corrects references to supervised credit in the regulations.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing approval of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision to the Jefferson County portion of the Kentucky SIP submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ) to EPA on August 12, 2020. The SIP revision was submitted by KDAQ on behalf of the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (LMAPCD) to address the emissions statement requirements for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for the Jefferson County portion of the Louisville, Kentucky 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as ``Jefferson County''). Jefferson County is part of the Kentucky portion of the Louisville, Kentucky-Indiana 2015 8-hour ozone nonattainment area (hereinafter referred to as ``the Louisville, KY Area'') which is comprised of Bullitt, Jefferson, and Oldham Counties in Kentucky. EPA will consider the emissions statement requirements for the Bullitt and Oldham portions of the Louisville, KY Area in a separate action. This action is being taken pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS or Department), through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), proposes to update the existing regulation for NIH Loan Repayment Programs (LRPs) to reflect the consolidation of NIH LRPs into two programs, the Intramural Loan Repayment Program (for NIH researchers) and the Extramural Loan Repayment Program (for non-NIH researchers); the direct authority of the NIH Director to administer the NIH LRPs (formerly the duty of the Secretary, HHS); and the increase in the annual loan repayment amount from a maximum of $35,000 to a maximum of $50,000.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Kentucky (Commonwealth), through the Energy and Environmental Cabinet (Cabinet) on October 15, 2020. The SIP revision updates the Commonwealth's regulation for the control of fugitive emissions. This revision contains minor non-substantive changes, grammatical edits, renumbering, the removal of one provision, the addition of one new requirement, and the incorporation of two definitions to support the new requirement. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to fully approve the Limited Maintenance Plan (LMP) submitted by the State of Montana to EPA on November 4, 2021, for the Thompson Falls Moderate nonattainment area (NAA) for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to a nominal 10 micrometers (PM10) and concurrently redesignate the NAA to attainment for the 24-hour PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). In order to approve the LMP and redesignation, EPA is proposing to determine that the Thompson Falls NAA has attained the 1987 24-hour PM10 NAAQS of 150 [micro]g/m\3\. This determination is based upon monitored air quality data for the PM10 NAAQS during the years 2015-2020. EPA is taking this action pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The U.S. Copyright Office is amending its regulations to establish procedures governing the process by which corporations, partnerships, and unincorporated associations may designate agents to receive service of the initial notice of a proceeding and claim asserted against them before the Copyright Claims Board. The amended regulations provide the requirements for designating a service agent, amending the designation, and maintaining the directory of designated service agents.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations governing the requirements and procedures for juveniles seeking classification as a Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) and related adjustment of status to lawful permanent resident (LPR). This rule codifies statutorily mandated changes and clarifies the following: the definitions of key terms, such as ``juvenile court'' and ``judicial determination''; what constitutes a qualifying juvenile court order for SIJ purposes; what constitutes a qualifying parental reunification determination; DHS's consent function; and applicable bars to adjustment, inadmissibility grounds, and waivers for SIJ-based adjustment to LPR status. This rule also removes bases for automatic revocation that are inconsistent with the statutory requirements of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA 2008) and makes other technical and procedural changes. DHS is issuing this rule to update the regulations as required by law, further align SIJ classification with the statutory purpose of providing humanitarian protection to eligible child survivors of parental abuse, abandonment, or neglect, and clarify the SIJ regulations.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Owatonna, MN. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Owatonna Outer Marker (OM) and Owatonna non-directional beacon (NDB). The name and geographical coordinates of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

In response to Belarus's substantial enabling of the Russian Federation's (Russia)'s further invasion of Ukraine, this rule is adding new license requirements and review policies for Belarus to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to render Belarus subject to the same sanctions that were imposed on Russia under the EAR effective February 24, 2022. These new sanctions impose new Commerce Control List (CCL)-based license requirements for Belarus; revise the two foreign ``direct product'' rules (FDP rules) that are specific to Russia and Russian `military end users' to make them also applicable to Belarus and Belarusian `military end users;' specify a license review policy of denial applicable to all of the license requirements on Belarus that are being added in this rule, with certain limited exceptions; significantly restrict the use of EAR license exceptions; expand the existing `military end use' and `military end user' control scope to include Belarus for all items ``subject to the EAR'' other than food and medicine designated EAR99; and add two new Belarusian entities to the Entity List as `military end users.' This rule also imposes a license requirement for nuclear nonproliferation items for exports and reexports to Belarus and removes Belarus from Country Group A:4 under the EAR. In addition, for Belarus and Russia, this rule amends the availability of License Exceptions AVS and ENC and includes clarifying guidance on the availability of CCD.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a portion of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of South Carolina, through the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC DHEC or Department), on April 24, 2020. The SIP revision updates the numbering and formatting of South Carolina's regulations applicable to emissions inventories, emissions statements, and credible evidence. EPA is proposing to approve these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) and implementing federal regulations.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of phosphoric acid (CAS Reg. No. 7664-38-2) when used as an inert ingredient (pH adjuster) in antimicrobial formulations applied to food-contact surfaces in public eating places, dairy-processing equipment, food-processing equipment and utensils. Technology Sciences Group Inc., on behalf of the Clorox Services Company (Representing Clorox Professional Products Company), submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting the establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of phosphoric acid when used in accordance with this exemption.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is withdrawing a direct final rule that would have updated the access authorization fees charged to NRC licensees for work performed under the Material Access Authorization Program and the Information Access Authority Program. The direct final rule also would have made two administrative changes to revise definitions to include new naming conventions for background investigation case types and to specify the electronic process for completing security forms. The NRC is taking this action because it has received a significant adverse comment in response to the companion proposed rule that was published with the direct final rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the regulations applicable to phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)) promulgated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Specifically, EPA is extending the compliance date applicable to the prohibition on processing and distribution in commerce of certain PIP (3:1)-containing articles, and the PIP (3:1) used to make those articles, until October 31, 2024, along with the compliance date for the associated recordkeeping requirements for manufacturers, processors, and distributors of PIP (3:1)-containing articles. This final rule follows issuance of a proposed rule for public comment on October 28, 2021; comments on the proposed rule are responded to in this action.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Griffin-Spalding County Airport, Griffin, GA. This action removes the city associated with the Griffin-Spalding County Airport's legal description. In addition, this action increases the airport's radius, and increases the extensions to the northwest and to the southeast of the airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) CF34-10E model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer investigation that revealed Teflon material in the A-sump oil strainer (strainer assembly) screen after several reports of in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) and unscheduled engine removals (UERs). This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the strainer assembly screen. As a terminating action to the initial and repetitive visual inspections, this AD requires the replacement of the stationary oil seal at the No. 1 forward bearing. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment, of which computer room air conditioners (CRACs) are a category. EPCA requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) to consider the need for amended standards each time the relevant industry standard is amended with respect to the standard levels or design requirements applicable to that equipment, or periodically under a six-year-lookback review provision. In this document, DOE is proposing amended energy conservation standards for CRACs that rely on a new efficiency metric and are equivalent to those levels specified in the industry standard. DOE has preliminarily determined that it lacks the clear and convincing evidence required by the statute to adopt standards more stringent than the levels specified in the industry standard. This document also announces a public meeting webinar to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.