September 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public nominations of scientific and technical experts to review the draft Risk Evaluation for Tris(2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The draft risk evaluation will be released for public review and comment in December 2023 through a separate Federal Register document and subsequently submitted for letter peer review by the expert reviewers.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Health Agency announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

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

NMFS is establishing a Take Reduction Team (TRT or Team) to address the incidental mortality and serious injury (M/SI) of humpback whales that would, at a minimum, consider Federal sablefish pot fishery interactions with the Central America/Southern Mexico-CA/OR/WA and Mainland Mexico-CA/OR/WA stocks of humpback whales, and may also be expanded to consider other fisheries in the Pacific Ocean. The TRT will develop a Take Reduction Plan (TRP or Plan) as required under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). NMFS requests public comments on information relevant to establishing the TRT as well as interest from stakeholders who wish to be considered for TRT membership.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended (FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Northwest California Integrated Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft RMP/EIS) for the Redding Field Office and Arcata Field Office. By this notice, the BLM is providing information announcing the opening of the comment period on the Draft RMP/EIS and is announcing the comment period on the BLM's proposed areas of critical environmental concern (ACECs).

NMFS issued an amended experimental fishing permit (EFP) to the Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) on September 20, 2023 to evaluate the risk of seabird interactions in the Hawaii shallow-set longline fishery when setting fishing gear 1 hour before and 1 hour after local sunset and using tori lines instead of required blue-dyed bait and strategic offal discharge as seabird mitigation measures. The intent of the EFP is to conduct a preliminary evaluation of potential alternative effective methods of discouraging seabird interactions while providing operational flexibility during setting in the shallow-set longline fishery. The amendment will extend the expiration date to August 24, 2024 and modify the list of vessels authorized under the EFP. All other terms and conditions of the EFP are unchanged. The amended EFP invalidates and replaces the EFP issued by NMFS to HLA on January 24, 2023.

The Department of the Treasury, on behalf of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), will submit the individual FinCEN identifier application information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), on or after the date of publication of this notice. The details included in the information collection are listed below. The public is invited to submit comments on this information collection request.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act established the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program (referred to as National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Assignment Program), allows a State to assume FHWA's environmental responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, and compliance under NEPA. When a State assumes these Federal responsibilities, the State becomes solely responsible and liable for carrying out the responsibilities it has assumed, in lieu of FHWA. This program mandates annual audits during each of the first 4 years of State participation to ensure compliance with program requirements. This is the third audit of the Arizona Department of Transportation's (ADOT) performance of its responsibilities under the NEPA Assignment Program. This notice announces and solicits comments on the third audit report for ADOT.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's intention to request a revision to and extension of approval of an information collection associated with the regulations for the commercial transportation of equines to slaughtering facilities.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 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 residential leases without further BIA approval.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) approved the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation 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 agricultural leases without further BIA approval.

This notice informs the public that the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs proclaimed approximately 20.06 acres, more or less, as an addition to the reservation of Kalispel Indian Community of the Kalispel Reservation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the availability of two guidance documents that will help sprout operations subject to FDA's final rule entitled ``Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption'' (the Produce Safety Rule) understand the topics covered in the Produce Safety Rule pertaining to personnel qualifications, training, and hygienic practices; equipment, tools, and buildings; and sampling and testing of spent sprout irrigation water (or in-process sprouts). FDA is issuing a draft guidance entitled, ``Draft Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Sprouts for Human Consumption,'' which revises a currently issued draft guidance entitled ``Compliance with and Recommendations for Implementation of the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption for Sprout Operations'' (January 23, 2017) (the January 2017 draft guidance). In addition, FDA is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Sprouts for Human Consumption,'' which finalizes portions of the January 2017 draft guidance with additional clarifications in response to comments.

BOEM announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Virginia Electric and Power Company (dba Dominion Energy) for the proposed Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Commercial Project (Project), offshore Virginia Beach, Virginia. The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the Project as described in the COP (the proposed action) and the alternatives to the proposed action, including the no action alternative. The FEIS will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the COP.

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