January 10, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DoD has developed internal regulations on the design, construction, installation, and use of marine pollution control devices (MCPDs) to meet performance standards for 11 discharges incidental to the normal operation of a vessel of the Armed Forces into the navigable waters of the United States, the territorial seas, and the contiguous zone, and is making them publicly available.

The Postal Service has filed an Annual Compliance Report on the costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service associated with its products in fiscal year 2022. Within 90 days, the Commission must evaluate that information and issue its determination as to whether rates were compliant and whether service standards in effect were met. To assist in this, the Commission seeks public comments on the Postal Service's Annual Compliance Report.

We are revising our rules regarding service of legal process in lawsuits involving judicial review of final decisions of the Commissioner of Social Security on individual claims for benefits under title II, VIII, or XVI of the Social Security Act (Act) or individual claims for a Medicare Part D subsidy under title XVIII of the Act. We are revising our rules to provide that when summonses and complaints in these lawsuits are mailed, they should be sent to a central address, regardless of where the lawsuit is filed. We will also accept electronic service in these suits in accordance with the new Supplemental Rules for Social Security Actions, added to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (FRCP) effective December 1, 2022. Additionally, we are updating our headquarters address; removing obsolete references and past jurisdictional responsibilities of regional Office of the General Counsel (OGC) offices, which no longer exist; and making other minor editorial changes. We expect that these changes will make the service of process for affected cases more streamlined and consistent with the FRCP.

The Department of the Treasury's (Treasury) Bureau of the Fiscal Service (``Fiscal Service'' or ``we''), is proposing to amend its regulation that implements a statutory mandate requiring the Federal Government to deliver non-tax payments by electronic funds transfer (EFT) unless a waiver is available. Among other things, this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) would strengthen the EFT requirement by narrowing the scope of existing waivers from the EFT mandate or requiring agencies to obtain Fiscal Service's approval to invoke certain existing waivers; provide that Treasury has the right to nullify an agency's use of a waiver if Treasury determines that application of a waiver would lead to an agency initiating an unusually large number or proportion of payments by means other than EFT; and clarify that when an agency fails to make a payment by EFT as prescribed by part 208, Treasury has authority to assess a charge to an agency. The proposed changes reflect the reality that the use of electronic payments has expanded significantly since the waivers from the EFT mandate were first published in 1998 and also seek to take advantage of Treasury's growing profile of electronic payment options, which are faster, less expensive, and safer than paper checks. Strengthening the EFT requirements as proposed in the NPRM is also consistent with Treasury's commitment to reducing check payments.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA or Agency), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites public comments on a new information collection titled ``Tech Sprints,'' as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). This information collection has not yet been assigned a control number by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). FHFA intends to submit the information collection to OMB for review and approval of a three- year control number.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff accepts, dockets, and is considering an application for the renewal of Facility Operating License No. R-33, submitted by GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas, LLC (the licensee), dated November 19, 2020, as supplemented. The renewed license would authorize the licensee to operate the GE- Hitachi Nuclear Test Reactor at a maximum steady-state thermal power of 100 kilowatts for an additional 20 years from the date of issuance. The GE-Hitachi Nuclear Test Reactor is located at the GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Vallecitos Nuclear Center in Sunol, California. Because this application contains sensitive unclassified non-safeguards information (SUNSI), an order imposes procedures to obtain access to SUNSI for contention preparation.

HUD is seeking approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, HUD is requesting comment from all interested parties on the proposed collection of information. The purpose of this notice is to allow for an additional 30 days of public comment.

The New England Fishery Management Council (Council, NEFMC) will hold a three-day in-person meeting with an option for remote participation to consider actions affecting New England fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Council continues to follow all public safety measures related to COVID-19 and intends to do so for this meeting.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Coastal Pelagic Species Management Team (CPSMT) will hold a public meeting.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians Leasing Ordinance under the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act of 2012 (HEARTH Act). With this approval, the Tribe is authorized to enter into agriculture, business, and wind and solar leases without further BIA approval.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act that the Colorado Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold business meetings on Wednesdays: January 18 and February 15, 2023; from 3-4 p.m. Mountain Time. The purpose of the meetings is to plan for briefings on school attendance zones. The committee will also hold a briefing on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, from 3-5 p.m. Mountain Time. The purpose of the briefing is to hear from experts on the topic of school attendance zones. Business Meeting Dates: Wednesdays: January 18 and February 15, 2023; 3-4 p.m. (MT). Zoom Link for Business Meetings: https://tinyurl.com/279fjudv. Business Meetings by Phone Only: 1-551-285-1373 (USA Toll Free); Meeting ID: 160 614 2807#. Briefing Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2023; 3:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. (MT). Zoom Link for Briefing: https://tinyurl.com/2s49wt8k. Briefing by Phone Only: 1-551-285-1373 (USA Toll Free); Meeting ID: 160 058 4700#.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission), and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), that the Maine Advisory Committee to the Commission will hold virtual monthly meetings for transcript and report discussion on the following Thursdays at 12 p.m. (ET): January 12, February 9, March 9, and April 13, 2023.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, that the Wyoming Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will hold a virtual business meeting via Zoom at 1:00 p.m. MT on Monday, February 6, 2023. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss briefing plans for the Committee's project on housing discrimination.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the provisions of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (Commission) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, that the New York Advisory Committee (Committee) will hold a virtual business meeting via Zoom on Friday, January 20, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, for the purpose of discussing and voting on potential panelists for the next virtual public briefing on the New York child welfare system.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) and its implementing regulations, this notice announces that FRA is forwarding the Information Collection Requests (ICRs) abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. These ICRs describe the information collections and their expected burdens. On July 5, 2022, FRA published a notice providing a 60-day period for public comment on the ICRs.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the availability of a draft habitat conservation plan (HCP) and draft categorical exclusion (CatEx) for activities associated with an application for an incidental take permit (ITP) under the Endangered Species Act. The ITP would authorize take of the Santa Barbara County distinct population segment of the California tiger salamander incidental to activities associated with Golden State Water Company's (applicant) Kelt Reservoir Project in Orcutt, Santa Barbara County, California. The applicant developed the draft HCP as part of their application for an ITP. The Service prepared a draft low-effect screening form and environmental action statement in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate the potential effects to the natural and human environment resulting from issuing an ITP to the applicant. We invite comments from the public and Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing an extension without change of a currently approved information collection request (ICR).

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) seeks public comments on a Draft Strategic Enforcement Plan for 20232027 as part of its strategic planning process.