2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), establish a nonessential experimental population (NEP) of the gray wolf (Canis lupus) in the State of Colorado, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). The State of Colorado (Colorado Parks and Wildlife or CPW) requested that the Service establish an NEP in conjunction with their State-led gray wolf reintroduction effort. Establishment of this NEP provides for allowable, legal, purposeful, and incidental taking of the gray wolf within a defined NEP area while concurrently providing for the conservation of the species. The geographic boundary of the NEP is the entire State of Colorado. The best available data indicate that reintroduction of the gray wolf into Colorado is biologically feasible and will promote the conservation of the species.

FMCSA amends its Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP) regulations to incorporate by reference the updated Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) handbook containing inspection procedures and out-of-service criteria (OOSC) for inspections of shipments of transuranic waste and highway route-controlled quantities (HRCQs) of radioactive material (RAM). The OOSC provide enforcement personnel nationwide, including FMCSA's State partners, with uniform enforcement tolerances for inspections. Currently, the regulations reference the April 1, 2022, edition of the handbook. Through this rule, FMCSA incorporates by reference the April 1, 2023, edition.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-21-15, which applies to certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (DAI) Model DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. AD 2022-21-15 requires replacing the rudder T-yoke axle with an improved rudder T-yoke axle. Since the FAA issued AD 2022- 21-15, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) superseded its mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) to correct an unsafe condition on these products. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, inspecting the rudder steering bracket edge distance and depending on the inspection results, inspecting the T-yoke bolt hole for wear and play, and corrective action if necessary. For certain airplanes this proposed AD would require replacing the rudder T-yoke bolt (axle) with a serviceable part, and applying torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head, and self-locking nut. For all airplanes this proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head for proper alignment and the self- locking nut for proper installation and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to revise the Agency's Privacy Act regulations to exempt a new system of records, EPA-100, OIG Data Analytics Enterprise, from certain requirements of the Privacy Act. In this rulemaking, the Agency exempts portions of this system from certain provisions of the Privacy Act because of law enforcement requirements and to avoid interference during the conduct of criminal, civil, or administrative actions or investigations. Additionally, EPA is taking direct final action to revise the Agency's Privacy Act regulations to update the names of systems of records with general and specific exemptions, change wording to reflect that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) is an independent component of EPA, incorporate the revised citation for the Inspector General Act of 1978 and to remove specific systems of record which are no longer exempt.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model BD-700-2A12 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports from the supplier that some overheat detection sensing elements of the bleed air leak detection system were manufactured with insufficient salt fill, which can result in an inability to detect hot bleed air leaks. This proposed AD would require maintenance records verification, and if an affected part is installed, would prohibit the use of certain Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) items under certain conditions by requiring revising the operator's existing MEL. This proposed AD would also require testing the overheat detection sensing elements, marking each serviceable sensing element with a witness mark, and replacing each nonserviceable part with a serviceable part. This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of affected parts under certain conditions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) proposes to add a regulation implementing a provision of the First Step Act (FSA) that requires Federal Prison Industries (FPI) and the BOP to reserve a portion of the compensation inmates would otherwise receive for working to assist these inmates with costs associated with release from prison upon completion of their sentence through release from custody, placement in pre-release custody (e.g., home confinement or Residential Reentry Center), or conditional release.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau) has before it a notice of proposed rulemaking issued in response to a petition for rulemaking filed by Iowa Public Broadcasting Board (Petitioner), the licensee of noncommercial educational television PBS member station KDIN-TV (KDIN-TV or Station), channel *11, Des Moines, Iowa. The Petitioner has requested the substitution of channel *34 in place of channel *11 at Des Moines in the Table of TV Allotments, and requested that we delete vacant channel *34, Ames, Iowa (Ames) and substitute it with the allotment of vacant channel *21 to Ames. Petitioner filed comments in support of the petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming its commitment to apply for channel *34.

NMFS issues regulations to implement Amendment 52 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (FMP), as submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (the Council). For golden tilefish, this final rule revises the annual catch limits (ACLs), commercial longline component fishing season, and recreational accountability measures (AMs). For blueline tilefish, this final rule reduces the recreational bag limit, modifies the possession limits, and revises the recreational AMs. In addition, Amendment 52 updates the acceptable biological catch (ABC), overfishing limit (OFL), and annual optimum yield (OY). The purpose of this final rule and Amendment 52 is to respond to the most recent stock assessment for golden tilefish, and to prevent recreational landings from exceeding the recreational ACLs for golden tilefish and blueline tilefish.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is making miscellaneous technical updates, clarifications, and corrections to PBGC's regulations, including to clarify a special financial assistance withdrawal liability condition and to update the reference to the dollar limit for lump-sum distributions in the closeout of sufficient multiemployer plans to reflect changes implemented under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), are removing the plants island bedstraw (Galium buxifolium) and Santa Cruz Island dudleya (Dudleya nesiotica) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Plants on the basis of recovery. Both of these native plant species occur in the Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California. This final rule is based on our review of the best available scientific and commercial data, which indicates that the threats to island bedstraw and Santa Cruz Island dudleya have been eliminated or reduced to the point that these species have recovered and no longer meet the definition of an endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act).

The NCUA Board (Board) proposes to incorporate its ``Second Chance'' Interpretive Ruling and Policy Statement 19-1 (IRPS 19-1) and the Fair Hiring in Banking Act (FHBA) into its regulations. The Federal Credit Union Act prohibits, except with the Board's prior written consent, any person who has been convicted of certain criminal offenses involving dishonesty or breach of trust (a covered offense), or who has entered into a pretrial diversion or similar program in connection with a prosecution for such offense (program entry), from participating in the conduct of the affairs of an insured credit union.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or the Agency) issues this final rule to update its regulations for the Small Business Development Centers Program (the SBDC Program or the Program). The Office of Small Business Development Centers has not comprehensively updated its regulations since 1995. This final rule updates and clarifies the regulations, making them more efficient, effective, transparent, and comprehensive, and puts them in alignment with current SBA policy and guidance. This final rule also includes policy and procedural changes identified by the Agency as necessary to preserve the integrity and legislative intent of the Program. Finally, it incorporates updates to conform with administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards (Uniform Guidance).

The Coast Guard is reopening the comment period to solicit additional comments concerning its notice of temporary deviation to the regulation governing the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, FL. The expected increase in railway service was delayed and did not commence until late September 2023. Due to this delay, it was determined that we did not afford the public adequate opportunity to provide comments. We are reopening the comment period to allow the public more time to comment. The comment period is now open until November 30, 2023.

This action removes Class D airspace, Class E surface airspace, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Choctaw NOLF, Milton, FL.

This document reschedules and changes to telephonic-only the public hearing originally scheduled for November 7, 2023, for a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG-122793-19) that was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. The rescheduled hearing will be held on November 13, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET by telephone only. The proposed regulations relate to information reporting by brokers, the determination of amount realized and basis, and backup withholding, for certain digital asset sales and exchanges.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Thales AVS France SAS (Thales) flight management computer navigation modules (FMC2 NAVM) installed on, but not limited to, airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that, due to software issues, certain FMC2 NAVM navigation modules provide erroneous data to the flight management computer, compromising safe flight of the airplane. This AD requires revising the existing aircraft flight manual (AFM) for your airplane and updating the navigation database. This AD also prohibits installing a database unless certain procedures were removed. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-26-10 for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Model RB211- 524G2-19, RB211-524G3-19, RB211-524H-36, and RB211-524H2-19 engines. AD 2013-26-10 required a one-time reduction in the cyclic life of certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) rotor stage 1 and stage 2 disks, and removal of disks that exceed the reduced cycle life. Since the FAA issued AD 2013-26-10, the manufacturer has revised the engine time limits manual (TLM), introducing new and more restrictive instructions. This AD is prompted by the manufacturer revising the engine time limits manual, introducing new and more restrictive instructions. This AD requires revisions to the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the operator's existing approved engine maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of possible chafing of a power harness at fuselage frame (FR) 65. This proposed AD would require rerouting the power harness, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (``EPCA''), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including dehumidifiers. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'') to periodically determine whether more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this notice of proposed rulemaking (``NOPR''), DOE proposes amended energy conservation standards for dehumidifiers, and also announces a public meeting to receive comment on these proposed standards and associated analyses and results.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020-01- 13, which applied to all Dassault Aviation Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes. AD 2020-01-13 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD continues to require the actions in AD 2020-01- 13 and require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations; as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve revisions to the California state implementation plan (SIP) concerning vehicle miles traveled (VMT) offset demonstrations for the Los Angeles-South Coast Air Basin (South Coast), Riverside County (Coachella Valley), Los Angeles-San Bernadino Counties (West Mojave Desert), and San Joaquin Valley nonattainment areas (NAAs) for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (2015 ozone NAAQS). The EPA is taking action to approve these revisions because they demonstrate that California has added or implemented specific enforceable transportation control strategies and transportation control measures to offset the growth in emissions from growth in VMT and vehicle trips. We are taking final action to approve these revisions under the Clean Air Act (CAA or ``the Act''), which establishes VMT offset demonstration requirements for ozone nonattainment areas classified as ``Severe'' or ``Extreme.''

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a Florida State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision, submitted by the State of Florida through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) on April 1, 2022. The SIP revision revises multiple stationary source rules in Florida's SIP with substantive and minor changes throughout. EPA is approving these changes pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act).

This rule adjusts representation on the Cattlemen's Beef Promotion and Research Board (Board), established under the Beef Promotion and Research Act of 1985 (Act), to reflect changes in domestic cattle inventories as well as changes in levels of imported cattle, beef, and beef products that have occurred since the Board was last reapportioned in July 2020. These adjustments are required by the Beef Promotion and Research Order (Order) and will result in a decrease in Board membership from 101 to 99, effective with the Secretary of Agriculture's (Secretary) appointments from nominees requested in Spring of 2023. This final rule also updates the list of Qualified State Beef Councils (QSBCs) in the Order by removing the Maryland Beef Industry Council which voted to dissolve their State beef council.

This notice announces the reconvening of the national public hearing, which began on August 23, 2023, in Carmel, Indiana, to consider and take evidence on proposals to amend the pricing formulas in the 11 Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMOs).

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. (Embraer) Model EMB-505 airplanes. This AD was prompted by analysis of certain monuments (the right-hand refreshment center and left-hand forward cabinet) that identified the need for installing structural reinforcements and replacing certain floor support rivets. This AD requires installing structural reinforcements on certain monuments and replacing certain floor support rivets, as specified in an Ag[ecirc]ncia Nacional de Avia[ccedil][atilde]o Civil (ANAC) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.