September 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700- 715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 engines. This AD was prompted by reports of malformed scallop edge geometry and surface conditions at the front flange scallops of affected low-pressure compressor (LPC) booster rotors. This AD requires repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the front flange scallops of the LPC booster rotor for any cracks, replacement or repair of the LPC booster rotor if necessary and, as an optional terminating action to the repetitive FPIs, a visual inspection for malformed scallop edge geometry and malformed surface conditions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Commission has before it a petition for rulemaking (Petition) filed by Iowa Public Broadcasting Board (Petitioner or IPB), the licensee of noncommercial educational television PBS member station KDIN-TV (KDIN-TV or Station), channel *11, Des Moines, Iowa. The Petitioner requests the substitution of channel *34 in place of channel *11 at Des Moines, Iowa in the Table of TV Allotments, and requests that we delete vacant channel *34, Ames, Iowa and substitute it with the allotment of vacant channel *21 to Ames, Iowa.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C1, SA-365C2, and SA-365N helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of damaged control rod dual bearings (dual bearings) that are installed on the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the TGB magnetic plug for particles, analyzing any particles collected, taking corrective actions if necessary, and reporting certain information. Finally, this proposed AD would allow an affected dual bearing to be installed on a helicopter if certain actions are accomplished, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations governing when, during the hiring process, a hiring agency can request information typically collected during a background investigation from an applicant for Federal employment. In addition, OPM is issuing new regulations establishing the requirement for the timing of collection of criminal history information and for governing complaint procedures under which an applicant for a position in the civil service may submit a complaint, or any other information, relating to compliance by an employee of an agency in reference to the timing of collection of criminal history information. Furthermore, the final rule outlines adverse action procedures that apply when it is alleged that an agency employee has violated the requirements and appeal procedures that will be available from a determination by OPM adverse to the Federal employee. Nothing in this rule shall be read in derogation of any individual's rights under Title VII. This rule implements the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2019 (Fair Chance Act). With some exceptions, the Fair Chance Act prohibits Federal agencies and Federal contractors acting on their behalf from requesting that an applicant for Federal employment disclose criminal history record information before the agency makes a conditional offer of employment to that applicant. The Fair Chance Act identifies some positions to which the prohibition shall not apply. It also requires OPM to establish complaint procedures under which an applicant for a position in the civil service may submit a complaint, or any other information, relating to compliance with the Fair Chance Act by an employee of an agency, establishes minimum penalties and procedures to be followed before a penalty may be assessed, and requires OPM to establish appeal procedures available in the event of a determination adverse to the Federal employee.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is inviting public comment on a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend the Board's rule that identifies and establishes risk-based capital surcharges for global systemically important bank holding companies (GSIBs). The proposal would also amend the Systemic Risk Report (FR Y- 15), which is the source of inputs to the implementation of the GSIB framework under the capital rule. The changes set forth in the proposal would improve the precision of the GSIB surcharge and better measure systemic risk under the framework. For certain systemic indicators currently measured only as of a single date, the proposal would change to reporting of the average of daily or monthly values to reduce the effects of temporary changes to indicator values around measurement dates. To improve risk capture, the proposal would also make improvements to the measurement of some systemic indicators used in the GSIB surcharge framework and the framework for determining prudential standards for large banking organizations. In addition, the proposal would reduce cliff effects and enhance the sensitivity of the surcharge to changes in the method 2 score by calculating surcharges based on narrower score band ranges. Finally, the proposal would make several amendments to the FR Y-15 to improve the consistency of data reporting and systemic indicator measurement.

The EPA is granting the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) the authority to implement and enforce the amended Rhode Island Code of Regulations, Control of Emissions from Organic Solvent Cleaning (Organic Solvent Cleaning Rule), and the General Definitions Regulation (General Definitions Rule) in place of the National Emission Standard for Halogenated Solvent Cleaning (Halogenated Solvent NESHAP) as a partial rule substitution as it applies to organic solvent cleaning machines in Rhode Island. RI DEM's amended Organic Solvent Cleaning Rule and General Definitions Rule will apply to all sources that otherwise would be regulated by the Halogenated Solvent NESHAP, except for continuous web cleaning machines, for which the Halogenated Solvent NESHAP will continue to apply. This approval makes RI DEM's amended Organic Solvent Cleaning Rule and General Definitions Rule federally enforceable. This action is being taken under the Clean Air Act.

The Department of Defense (Department or DoD) is giving concurrent notice of a new Department-wide system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the DoD-0019, ``Information Technology Access and Audit Records,'' system of records and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, because of national security requirements and to avoid interference during the conduct of criminal, civil, or administrative actions or investigations.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts rules to establish the enhanced discounts available for monthly broadband services provided in high-cost areas by participants in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Diamond Aircraft Industries Inc. Model DA 62 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of baggage nets installed with defective buckles, which may result in failure of the baggage net to restrain the baggage or cargo, which could lead to injury to the occupants in the case of an emergency landing. This proposed AD would require identifying and replacing the affected part. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

As part of the rulemaking process for the 2023-2024 season for migratory game bird hunting, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (hereinafter, Service or we) has revised the process for establishing regulations for certain Tribes on Federal Indian reservations, off- reservation trust lands, and ceded lands. The Service recognizes Tribal treaty rights and the reserved hunting rights and management authority of Indian Tribes and seeks to strengthen Tribal sovereignty. We will no longer require that Tribes annually submit a proposal to the Service for our review and approval and no longer publish in the Federal Register the annual Tribal migratory bird hunting regulations. Instead, the regulations now include elements of our current guidelines for establishing migratory game bird hunting regulations on Federal Indian reservations (including off-reservation trust lands) and ceded lands. Since 1985, Tribal migratory bird harvest has been small with negligible impact to bird population status, and we anticipate that Tribal hunting of migratory birds will continue to have similar negligible impacts to bird populations in the future. This rule will reduce administrative burdens on both the Tribes and the Service while continuing to sustain healthy migratory game bird populations for future generations.

This rulemaking adopts as final, with changes, an interim final rule that amended the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) adjudication regulations governing presumptive service connection based on presumed exposures to fine particulate matter. The amendment was necessary to provide health care, services, and benefits to Gulf War Veterans who were exposed to fine particulate matter associated with deployment to the Southwest Asia theater of operations, as well as Afghanistan, Syria, Djibouti, and Uzbekistan. The amendment eased the evidentiary burden of Gulf War Veterans who file claims with VA for asthma, rhinitis, and sinusitis, to include rhinosinusitis.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Portland Dragon Boat Races from September 9 through 10, 2023, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Thirteenth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on the Willamette River in Portland, OR. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with the directions from the Patrol Commander or any official patrol vessel. Official patrol vessels may consist of any Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, or local law enforcement vessels assigned or approved by the Captain of the Port, Sector Columbia River.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its medical regulations and State Veterans Home (State home) regulations. VA proposes to update the criteria used by VA in determining whether a veteran has no adequate means of support relative to eligibility for domiciliary care, and to shift the focus of the regulatory language from the veterans' ability to pursue substantially gainful employment to a broader consideration of available support systems and medical conditions or disabilities that might impact the veteran's ability to live independently. In addition, we propose amending our State home regulations to implement VA's authority to waive certain eligibility requirements for receipt of State home domiciliary care per diem.