2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends the Class E airspace at Corsicana, TX. This action is the result of an airspace review as part of the decommissioning of the Powell non-directional beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

On January 24, 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') published two requests for information (``RFIs'') regarding dedicated- purpose pool pumps. DOE published a RFI regarding test procedures for dedicated-purpose pool pumps and a RFI regarding energy conservation standards for dedicated-purpose pool pumps. The RFIs each provided an opportunity for submitting written comments, data, and information on the proposal by February 23, 2022. DOE received a request from the Pool and Hut Tub Alliance on February 9, 2022, and a joint request from the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison on February 11, 2022, each asking DOE to extend the public comment periods for both RFIs for 30 additional days. DOE has reviewed these requests and is reopening the public comment periods to allow comments to be submitted until March 9, 2022.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is side-stick controllers for pitch and roll control. 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 U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or ``the Department'') will hold a webinar to discuss and receive comments on the preliminary analysis it has conducted for purposes of evaluating energy conservation standards for external power supplies (``EPSs''). The meeting will cover the analytical framework, models, and tools that DOE is using to evaluate potential standards for this product; the results of preliminary analyses performed by DOE for this product; the potential energy conservation standard levels derived from these analyses that DOE could consider for this product should it determine that proposed amendments are necessary; and any other issues relevant to the evaluation of energy conservation standards for EPSs. In addition, DOE encourages written comments on these subjects. To inform interested parties and to facilitate this process, DOE has prepared an agenda, a preliminary technical support document (``TSD''), and briefing materials, which are available on the DOE website at: www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/ standards.aspx?productid=1.

Department of the Air Force (DAF) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on December 17, 2021, Appointment to the Air Force Academy. This document corrects the RIN number from 0701- AA81 to 0701-AA94.

On July 28, 2021, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Pacific Area Command issued the Pacific Coast-Port Access Route Study (PAC-PARS) in the Federal Register directing USCG District Eleven and USCG District Thirteen to complete a PARS on the Pacific coast. In support of the PAC-PARS, USCG District Eleven has identified four areas to evaluate activities within its area of responsibility. USCG District Eleven requests public comments regarding vessel traffic patterns in the areas near Point Mugu and south of the Channel Islands in the Pacific Missile Range, San Francisco Bay, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Humboldt Bay and Morro Bay offshore Wind Energy Areas (WEAs). Information received will be used to make recommendations regarding establishing safety routing measures to improve waterway operations and vessel movement along the California coast.

This document corrects technical errors that appeared in the proposed rule published in the Federal Register on January 12, 2022 entitled ``Medicare Program; Contract Year 2023 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Programs.''

This final rule updates the definition of ``investigating official'' in the Department's Program Fraud regulations. The definition is revised to include inspectors general that have been established since the Program Fraud regulations were implemented. This final rule adopts a November 23, 2021 proposed rule without change.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') proposes rules to shorten the standard settlement cycle for most broker-dealer transactions from two business days after the trade date (``T+2'') to one business day after the trade date (``T+1''). To facilitate a T+1 standard settlement cycle, the Commission also proposes new requirements for the processing of institutional trades by broker-dealers, investment advisers, and certain clearing agencies. These requirements are designed to protect investors, reduce risk, and increase operational efficiency. The Commission proposes to require compliance with a T+1 standard settlement cycle, if adopted, by March 31, 2024. The Commission also solicits comment on how best to further advance beyond T+1.

This document contains proposed regulations relating to required minimum distributions from qualified plans; section 403(b) annuity contracts, custodial accounts, and retirement income accounts; individual retirement accounts and annuities; and eligible deferred compensation plans under section 457. These regulations will affect administrators of, and participants in, those plans; owners of individual retirement accounts and annuities; employees for whom amounts are contributed to section 403(b) annuity contracts, custodial accounts, or retirement income accounts; and beneficiaries of those plans, contracts, accounts, and annuities.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Morrison Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.8, at Portland, OR. Multnomah County, Oregon, the bridge owner, is requesting to change the current regulation to allow painting and preservation of the Morrison Bridge including the double bascule span. The modified rule would change normal bridge operations from a full span opening to a single leaf, or half span opening.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to prescribe how it determines whether a noncitizen is inadmissible to the United States under section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) because they are likely at any time to become a public charge. Noncitizens who seek adjustment of status or a visa, or who are applicants for admission, must establish that they are not likely at any time to become a public charge, unless Congress has expressly exempted them from this ground of inadmissibility or has otherwise permitted them to seek a waiver of inadmissibility. Under this proposed rule, a noncitizen would be considered likely at any time to become a public charge if they are likely at any time to become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence, as demonstrated by either the receipt of public cash assistance for income maintenance or long-term institutionalization at government expense. In August of 2019, DHS issued a different rule on this topic, which is no longer in effect. This proposed rule, if finalized, would implement a different policy than the August 2019 Final Rule.

This final rule adjusts the level of the maximum daily civil monetary penalty contained in the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. The civil penalty inflation adjustment, using a 1.06222 multiplier, accounts for one year of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) spanning from October 2020 to October 2021.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the District of Columbia (DC), State of Maryland (MD), and Commonwealth of Virginia (VA) (collectively, the States). This revision consists of the base year inventory for the Washington, DC-MD-VA nonattainment area (the DC Area) for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act (CAA).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, -500, -600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes, except for Model 737- 200 and -200C series airplanes equipped with a certain flight control system. This AD was prompted by a determination that radio altimeters cannot be relied upon to perform their intended function if they experience interference from wireless broadband operations in the 3.7- 3.98 GHz frequency band (5G C-Band), and a recent determination that, during approach, landings, and go-arounds, as a result of this interference, certain airplane systems may not properly function, resulting in increased flightcrew workload while on approach with the flight director, autothrottle, or autopilot engaged, which could result in reduced ability of the flightcrew to maintain safe flight and landing of the airplane. This AD requires revising the limitations and operating procedures sections of the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate specific operating procedures for instrument landing system (ILS) approaches, speedbrake deployment, go-arounds, and missed approaches, when in the presence of 5G C-Band interference as identified by Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs). 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 De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier, Inc.) Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a certain bolt at the pivot pin link being found missing or having stress corrosion cracking. This proposed AD would require a modification to the nose landing gear (NLG) shock strut assembly. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

In accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, this final rule adjusts for inflation the civil monetary penalty for violation of the notice-posting requirements in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-11-05, which applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (now Bell Textron Canada Limited) Model 429 helicopters having certain tail rotor (TR) pitch link assemblies. AD 2019-11-05 requires inspecting the TR pitch link assemblies, and replacing certain pitch link bearings. Since the FAA issued AD 2019-11-05, the FAA has determined that all TR pitch link assemblies are affected by the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2019-11-05, and would revise the applicability and require inspections of certain other TR pitch link assemblies. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-11- 25, which applied to certain Airbus Helicopters (type certificate previously held by Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and EC130T2 helicopters. AD 2021-11-25 required revising the existing rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter by inserting a new procedure (temporary). Since the FAA issued AD 2021-11-25, the manufacturer identified an additional affected full authority digital engine control (FADEC) part number and developed an optional modification for the affected FADECs. This AD requires revising the existing RFM for your helicopter by inserting a new procedure (temporary). This AD also requires, for helicopter on which an optional terminating action (installation of serviceable FADECs) was done, removing the applicable temporary procedure from the existing RFM for your helicopter. In addition, this AD also adds helicopters to the applicability. Furthermore, this AD prohibits the installation of an affected FADEC. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Skaneateles Aero Drome, Skaneateles, NY, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) serving this airport, as well as updating the airport's name. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

This proposal presents the results of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) review of the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing Plants and the technology review (TR) for the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Lead Acid Battery Manufacturing Area Sources as required under the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA is proposing revised lead (Pb) emission limits for grid casting, paste mixing, and lead reclamation operations for both the area source NESHAP (for new and existing sources) and under a new NSPS subpart (for lead acid battery facilities that begin construction, reconstruction, or modification after February 23, 2022). In addition, the EPA is proposing the following amendments for both the area source NESHAP (for new and existing sources) and under a new NSPS subpart (for lead acid battery facilities that begin construction, reconstruction or modification after February 23, 2022): Performance testing once every 5 years to demonstrate compliance; work practices to minimize emissions of fugitive lead dust; increased inspection frequency of fabric filters; bag leak detection systems for facilities above a certain size; clarification of activities that are considered to be lead reclamation activities; electronic reporting of performance test results and semiannual compliance reports; and the removal of exemptions for periods of start-up, shut down, and malfunctions. The EPA is also proposing a revision to the applicability provisions in the area source NESHAP such that facilities which make lead-bearing battery parts or process input material, including but not limited to grid casting facilities and lead oxide manufacturing facilities, will be subject to the area source NESHAP.

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. These changes seek to streamline and align the VAAR with the FAR and remove outdated and duplicative requirements and reduce burden on contractors. The VAAM incorporates portions of the removed VAAR as well as other internal agency acquisition policy. VA will rewrite certain parts of the VAAR and VAAM, and as VAAR parts are rewritten, will publish them in the Federal Register. VA will combine related topics, as appropriate. This rulemaking revises VAAR coverage concerning Department of Veterans Affairs Acquisition Regulation System and Research and Development. It also revises affected parts concerning Definitions of Words and Terms, Required Sources of Supplies and Services, Types of Contracts and Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses.

We are proposing to amend the regulations to establish standards governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds, excluding birds bred for use in research, covered under the Animal Welfare Act. This action would ensure the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds not bred for use in research and covered under the Act.