July 14, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document requests comments on a petition for rule making filed by SSR Communications, Inc., proposing to amend the FM Table of Allotments, by allotting Channel 292A at Lihue, Hawaii, as the community's sixth local service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 292A can be allotted to Lihue, Hawaii, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 2.5 km (1.6 miles) north of the community. The reference coordinates are 22-00-00 NL and 159-21-00 WL.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of North Dakota (FEMA-4717-DR), dated 07/05/2023. Incident: Flooding. Incident Period: 04/10/2023 through 05/06/2023.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Austro Engine GmbH Model E4 and E4P engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of piston failures and the determination that certain batches of pistons were manufactured with a dimensional deviation in the piston pin bore and piston diameter. This proposed AD would require repetitive engine oil analysis for aluminum content outside the acceptable limits and, if necessary, replacement of the pistons, piston rings, con-rods assembly, and crankcase or, as an alternative, replacement of the engine core. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve portions of state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of California to meet Clean Air Act (CAA or ``Act'') requirements for the 1997 annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or ``standards'') in the San Joaquin Valley PM2.5 nonattainment area. Specifically, the EPA is proposing to approve those portions of the submitted SIP revisions as they pertain to the Serious nonattainment area and CAA section 189(d) requirements for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS, except for the requirement for contingency measures. In addition, the EPA is proposing to approve 2020 and 2023 motor vehicle emissions budgets and the trading mechanism for use in transportation conformity analyses for the 1997 annual PM2.5 NAAQS. The EPA will accept comments on this proposed rule during a 30-day public comment period.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding a diisononyl phthalate (DINP) category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). In this action, EPA is adding the DINP category to the toxic chemical list as a category defined to include branched alkyl di-esters of 1,2 benzenedicarboxylic acid in which alkyl ester moieties contain a total of nine carbons. The DINP category meets the EPCRA chronic human health effects toxicity criterion because the members of the category can reasonably be anticipated to cause serious or irreversible reproductive dysfunctions as well as other serious or irreversible chronic health effects in humans, specifically, developmental, kidney, and liver toxicity.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) amends the rules of practice in patent cases and the rules regarding the representation of others before the USPTO to better protect the public and improve compliance with USPTO requirements. This final rule formalizes the USPTO's Diversion Pilot Program for patent and trademark practitioners whose physical or mental health issues or law practice management issues resulted in minor misconduct. Formalizing the Pilot Program aligns USPTO disciplinary practice with a majority of states and provides practitioners an opportunity to address the root causes of such misconduct. In addition, this final rule requires foreign attorneys or agents granted reciprocal recognition to practice before the USPTO in trademark matters to provide and update their contact and licensure status information or have their recognition withdrawn so the public will have access to up-to-date information. This final rule also defers to a state's attorney licensing authority regarding alternative business structures between a practitioner and a non-practitioner to reduce the potential for conflicts between the USPTO and the attorney licensing authority. Further, this final rule removes a fee required when changing one's status from a patent agent to a patent attorney and makes minor adjustments to other provisions related to the representation of others before the USPTO.