2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) will be providing an opportunity for interested parties to present oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) the Commission issued regarding a safety standard for clothing storage units (CSUs). Any oral comments will be part of the rulemaking record.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that published in the Federal Register. The AD applies to CFM International, S.A. CFM56-3 and CFM56-7B model turbofan engines with certain accessory gearbox assembly (AGB) not equipped with a dynamic oil seal assembly in the handcranking pad. As published, the part numbers (P/Ns) listed in paragraph (i)(2)(i) are incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same; however, for clarity, the FAA is publishing the entire rule in the Federal Register.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for a fireworks display at The Wharf DC on April 2, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for Fireworks Displays within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the safety zone for this event in Washington, DC. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the safety zone must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of adipic acid (CAS Reg. No. 124-04-9) when used as an inert ingredient (acidification or buffering agent, pH regulator) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops. Verdesian Life Sciences U.S., LLC, and Fine Agrochemicals Ltd., submitted petitions to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requesting the establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for adipic acid. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of adipic acid on food or feed commodities when used in accordance with this exemption.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) announces the availability of the preliminary analysis it has conducted for purposes of evaluating the need for amended energy conservation standards for consumer water heaters, which is set forth in the Department's preliminary technical support document (TSD) for this rulemaking. DOE will hold a public meeting via webinar to discuss and receive comment on its preliminary analysis. The meeting will cover the analytical framework, models, and tools used to evaluate potential standards; the results of preliminary analyses performed; potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses (if DOE determines that proposed amendments are necessary); and other relevant issues. In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), an agency in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Mission area, published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on September 23, 2020, to amend its regulations for the Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans and Grants Programs to implement changes related to the development of a sustainable plan for the Rental Assistance (RA) program. Through this action, RHS is adopting the changes as proposed. The regulation updates are intended to provide additional RA program flexibility and transparency, and to improve the efficiency of managing assets in the Direct Loan portfolio.

This proposed rule would implement electronic monitoring (EM) program regulations for vessels using groundfish bottom trawl and non- whiting midwater trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. The proposed action would allow vessels using bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl gear to use EM in place of human observers to meet requirements for 100 percent at-sea catch monitoring. The proposed action is intended to increase operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for vessels in the groundfish trawl fishery. The proposed rule would also revise some existing regulations for EM vessels and EM service providers to clarify and streamline EM program requirements.

On January 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) published in the Federal Register a request for information (RFI) regarding Test Procedures and Energy Conservation Standards for Consumer Air Cleaners. On February 10, 2022, DOE received a joint comment from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP), and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), (collectively, the ``Joint Commenters''), requesting a 45-day extension of the public comment period for the RFI. DOE has reviewed these requests and is reopening the public comment period to allow comments to be submitted until April 10, 2022.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of fatty acids, tall-oil, esters with triethanolamine, ethoxylated (CAS Reg No. 68605-38-9) and fatty acids, C8-18 and C18-unsatd., esters with polyethylene glycol ether with triethanolamine (3:1) (CAS Reg No. 2464873-19-4) (herein referred to 20ETO and 10ETO, respectively) when used as inert ingredients (surfactant) in pesticide formulations applied to growing crops pre- and post-harvest, not to exceed 10% in the final pesticide formulation. Exponent, Inc. on behalf of Lamberti USA, Incorporated submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting establishment of an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of 20ETO and 10ETO.

This action proposes to revoke Colored Federal airway Blue 79 (B-79) in the vicinity of Annette Island, AK due to the pending decommissioning of the Nichols, AK, (ICK) Non-directional Beacon (NDB).

This action adds the proposed amendment of jet route J-73 that was inadvertently omitted from the NPRM for Docket No. FAA-2021-1079. This action supports the VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Minimum Operational Network (MON) program to improve the efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS) and reduce dependency on ground-based navigational systems.

DoD is issuing a final rule amending the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement a section of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 that modifies the criteria required to exempt from competition certain follow-on production contracts.

This action proposes to revoke Colored Federal airway Amber 4 (A-4) in the vicinity of Anakatuvuk Pass, AK due to the pending decommissioning of the Anaktuvuk Pass, AK, (AKP) Non-directional Beacon (NDB).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted to EPA by the Commonwealth of Kentucky through the Kentucky Division for Air Quality (KDAQ) on October 15, 2020. The proposed changes were submitted by KDAQ to address the emissions statement requirements for the 2015 8- hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for Kentucky counties in the Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky 2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS nonattainment area (Cincinnati, OH-KY Area), and for some of the Kentucky counties in the Louisville, Kentucky-Indiana 2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS nonattainment area (Louisville, KY-IN Area). Specifically, EPA is proposing to approve the emissions statement requirements for portions of Boone, Campbell, and Kenton Counties in the Cincinnati, OH-KY Area, and Bullitt and Oldham Counties in the Louisville, KY-IN Area. EPA will consider and take action, or has considered and taken action, on submissions addressing the emissions statement requirements for the remaining counties in these two nonattainment areas, including the Jefferson County, Kentucky portion of the Louisville, KY-IN Area, in separate rulemakings. EPA is proposing approval pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing to amend the transportation industry drug testing program procedures regulation to include oral fluid testing. This will give employers a choice that will help combat employee cheating on urine drug tests and provide a more economical, less intrusive means of achieving the safety goals of the program. The proposal includes other provisions to update the Department's regulation, and to harmonize, as needed, with the new Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs using Oral Fluid established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-06- 06, which applied to certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. AD 2021-06-06 required repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the pilot collective stick and grip assembly and revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-06-06, the pilot collective stick and grip assembly has been redesigned. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2021-06-06, requires modifying your helicopter to include the improved pilot collective stick tube and adds a terminating action for the repetitive FPIs. This AD also prohibits installing any pilot collective stick and grip assembly unless certain requirements of this AD are met. 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 AVOX System Inc. (formerly Scott Aviation) oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, and oxygen valve assemblies, installed on but not limited to various transport airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cylinder and valve assemblies having oxygen leakage from the valve assembly vent hole, caused by the absence of a guide that maintains appropriate spacing between certain parts. This AD requires an inspection of the oxygen valve assemblies, and oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, to determine the serial number of the valve, cylinder, and entire assembly. For assemblies and parts with certain serial numbers, this AD requires a detailed inspection for correct spacing of the gap between the bottom of the packing retainer and top of the valve body on the assemblies, and replacement of assemblies having unacceptable gaps. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In response to EPA's August 2021 final rule revoking all tolerances for the insecticide chlorpyrifos under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), several objections, hearing requests, and requests for stay were filed by numerous parties representing a wide variety of growers and pesticide users. In this Order, EPA denies all objections to, requests for hearing on those objections, as well as requests for stay of the final rule.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are extending the comment period on our December 28, 2021, proposed rule to list four distinct population segments (DPSs) of the foothill yellow- legged frog (Rana boylii), a stream-dwelling amphibian from Oregon and California, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are extending the proposed rule's comment period for 30 days to give all interested parties an additional opportunity to comment. Comments previously submitted need not be resubmitted as they are already incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered in the final rule.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS or the Agency), a Rural Development agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is confirming the final rule published in the Federal Register on April 27, 2021, to remove the provisions relating to guaranteed loans and to make other revisions to enhance program delivery and customer service for the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). This notice presents the opportunity for the Agency to provide its responses to the public comments received on the final rule and to confirm the final rule as published.

This final rule amends the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) organic regulations to implement recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The rule prohibits fourteen nonorganic ingredients, which are currently allowed in the manufacture of organic processed products. The rule also prohibits two substances (vitamin B1 and procaine), which are currently allowed in organic crop and livestock production. Finally, the rule renews an allowance for two substances (oxytocin and sucrose octanoate esters) in organic production.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine endangered species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the peppered chub (Macrhybopsis tetranema), a freshwater fish species historically found in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, which is now extirpated from all but six percent of its historical range. We also designate critical habitat. In total, approximately 872 river miles (1,404 river kilometers) in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. We are excluding approximately 197 river miles (317 river kilometers) of critical habitat in Kansas that was included in the proposed critical habitat designation. This rule adds the species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extends the Act's protections to the peppered chub designated critical habitat.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect application-related actions for new animal drug applications (NADAs), abbreviated new animal drug applications (ANADAs), and a conditionally approved new animal drug application (cNADA) during July, August, and September 2021. FDA is informing the public of the availability of summaries of the basis of approval and of environmental review documents, where applicable. The animal drug regulations are also being amended to improve the accuracy of the regulations.

This action increases the possession and trip limits of Gulf of Maine cod, Cape Cod/Gulf of Maine yellowtail flounder, and witch flounder for Northeast multispecies common pool vessels for the remainder of the 2021 fishing year. This action will provide the common pool fishery greater opportunity to harvest, but not exceed, the annual quotas for these stocks.

NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2022 commercial summer flounder quota to the Commonwealth of Virginia. This adjustment to the 2022 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2022 commercial quotas for North Carolina and Virginia.