September 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is seeking qualified individuals to serve on the Forensic Laboratory Needs-Technology Working Group (FLN-TWG). The FLN-TWG was established in 2018 to build upon the work of the National Commission of Forensic Sciences.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission's consideration concerning a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is reopening the comment period for the notice, published in the Federal Register of March 1, 2023, establishing a public docket and requesting information and comments. FDA is reopening the comment period to update comments and to receive any new information.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is announcing the availability of two additional draft chapters of a multichapter draft guidance for industry entitled ``Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.'' This multichapter draft guidance, when finalized, will explain FDA's current thinking on how to comply with the requirements for hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls under FDA's regulation entitled ``Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food.'' The newly available draft chapters are entitled ``Chapter 11Food Allergen Program'' and ``Chapter 16 Acidified Foods.'' This draft guidance is not final nor is it in effect at this time.

NMFS has received a request from the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the East Tongue Point (ETP) construction project in Astoria, Oregon. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an incidental harassment authorization (IHA) to incidentally take marine mammals during the specified activities. NMFS is also requesting comments on a possible one-time, 1-year renewal that could be issued under certain circumstances and if all requirements are met, as described in Request for Public Comments at the end of this notice. NMFS will consider public comments prior to making any final decision on the issuance of the requested MMPA authorization and agency responses will be summarized in the final notice of our decision.

Following careful reconsideration of the water quality certification rule the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) promulgated in 2020, the Agency is finalizing a rule revising and replacing the 2020 regulatory requirements for water quality certification under Clean Water Act (CWA) section 401. This final rule updates the existing regulations to better align with the statutory text and purpose of the CWA; to clarify, reinforce, and provide a measure of consistency with elements of section 401 certification practice that have evolved over the more than 50 years since EPA first promulgated water quality certification regulations; and to support an efficient and predictable certification process that is consistent with the water quality protection and cooperative federalism principles central to CWA section 401. An Executive order signed on January 20, 2021, entitled ``Protecting Public Health and the Environment and Restoring Science to Tackle the Climate Crisis,'' directed the Agency to review the water quality certification rule EPA promulgated in 2020, and this final rule culminates that review. The Agency is also finalizing conforming amendments to the water quality certification regulations for EPA-issued National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits.

FMCSA announces receipt of applications from nine individuals for an exemption from the hearing requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) to operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce. If granted, the exemptions would enable these hard of hearing and deaf individuals to operate CMVs in interstate commerce.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled ``Cybersecurity in Medical Devices: Quality System Considerations and Content of Premarket Submissions.'' As more medical devices are becoming interconnected, cybersecurity threats have become more numerous, more frequent, more severe, and more clinically impactful. As a result, ensuring medical device safety and effectiveness includes adequate medical device cybersecurity, as well as its security as part of the larger system. This final guidance supersedes the final guidance ``Content of Premarket Submissions for Management of Cybersecurity in Medical Devices,'' issued October 2, 2014.

The Groundfish and Economics Subcommittees of the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC) will convene an online meeting to review the non-trawl commercial fishery sablefish trip limit model used by the Pacific Council's Groundfish Management Team (GMT). The methodology review meeting is open to the public.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), withdraw the proposed rule to reclassify the Virgin Islands tree boa (listed as Epicrates monensis granti) from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended. This withdrawal is based on new information we received during the proposed rule's public comment periods, specifically new survey results that indicate that the Virgin Islands tree boa is likely extirpated from Cayo Ratones. We also realized an error in calculations that reduced the resiliency of the Cayo Diablo population. After evaluating the status of the species following these changes, we find that the species still meets the Act's definition of an endangered species. We have, therefore, determined that reclassification of this species is not appropriate at this time. Accordingly, we also withdraw the proposed 4(d) rule for the Virgin Islands tree boa.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Department is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing for the Commission's consideration concerning a negotiated service agreement. This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

This notice publishes the approval of the Fourth Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the State of Washington.

This notice publishes the approval of the Fifth Amendment to the Tribal-State Compact between the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the State of Washington.