2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone that encompasses certain navigable waters in the Cleveland Inner Harbor West Basin on Lake Erie, for the Whiskey Island Paddlefest in Cleveland, OH. This action is necessary and intended for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during this event. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the respective safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port Buffalo or a designated representative.

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 284A at Puhi, Hawaii, as the community's first local service. A staff engineering analysis indicates that Channel 284A can be allotted to Puhi, Hawaii, consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules, with a site restriction of 10.8 km (6.7 miles) west of the community. The reference coordinates are 21-58-24 NL and 159-29-45 WL.

The FAA is withdrawing the NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 28, 2018, proposing to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-299, and establish T-318 and T-360 in support of transitioning the National Airspace System (NAS) from ground-based to satellite-based navigation.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would have applied to certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A11 airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by changing the applicability. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-18-09, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A319-111, -112, - 113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133; A320-211, -212, -214, -216, - 231, -232, -233, -251N, and -271N; and A321-111, -112, -131, -211, - 212, -213, -231, -232, -251N, and -253N airplanes. AD 2022-18-09 continues to require the actions in AD 2019-26-01 and AD 2021-23-15, and adds airplanes to the applicability. Since the FAA issued AD 2022- 18-09, it was determined that additional airplanes and galleys are subject to the unsafe condition, and a compliance time for certain airplanes should be extended. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-18-09 and would require expanding the applicability, obtaining and following additional instructions for certain modified airplanes, and extending the compliance time for certain airplanes, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report the axis index washers on the forward and rear main landing gear door hinges were found inverted in production. This proposed AD would require a one-time detailed inspection of the axis index washers for correct installation, and, depending on findings, replacement of the axis index washers, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-21-13, which applies to certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd. & Co KG (RRD) Model Trent 1000 engines. AD 2021-21-13 requires the operator to revise the airworthiness limitation section (ALS) of their existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP) by incorporating the revised tasks of the applicable time limits manual (TLM) for each affected model turbofan engine. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-21-13, the manufacturer has revised the TLM, introducing new and more restrictive instructions. This proposed AD would require revisions to the ALS of the operator's existing approved AMP, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action revokes Jet Route J-184 and establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-180 in the southwest United States. The existing Jet Route has service limitations associated with signal coverage related issues. The new RNAV route replaces the Jet Route, as well as provides additional RNAV routing within the National Airspace System (NAS) in support of transitioning it from a ground- based to satellite-based navigation system.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to revise the table of reduction factors for early commencing dates of survivor annuities for spouses of separated employees who die before the date on which they would be eligible for unreduced deferred annuities. The annuity factor for spouses of deceased employees who die in service when those spouses elect to receive the basic employee death benefit in 36 installments under the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Act of 1986 remains unchanged. These proposed revisions are necessary to ensure that the tables conform to the economic and demographic assumptions adopted by the Board of Actuaries and published in the Federal Register on April 14, 2023, as required by law.

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.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulations to reflect a change in the name of Division of Dockets Management to Dockets Management Staff and information regarding copies. This action is editorial in nature and is intended to improve the accuracy of the Agency's regulations.

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.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking final action to approve the ``Coso Junction PM10 Planning Area Second 10-Year Maintenance Plan'' (``Coso Junction Second Maintenance Plan'' or ``Plan'') as a revision to the state implementation plan (SIP) for the State of California. The Coso Junction Second Maintenance Plan includes, among other elements, a base year emissions inventory, a maintenance demonstration, and contingency provisions. The EPA is finalizing this action because the SIP revision meets the applicable statutory and regulatory requirements for such plans. The EPA is also taking final action to find the contribution of motor vehicle emissions to the area's continued attainment of the 1987 PM10 standards to be insignificant. Once this insignificance finding is finalized, the area will not have to complete a regional emissions analysis for any transportation conformity determinations necessary for the Coso Junction Planning Area (CJPA).

NMFS proposes regulations to implement Amendment 53 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic (FMP), as prepared and submitted by the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council). For gag, this proposed rule would revise the sector annual catch limits (ACLs), commercial trip limits, recreational bag, vessel, and possession limits, and recreational accountability measures (AMs). For black grouper, this proposed rule would revise the recreational bag, vessel, and possession limits. In addition, Amendment 53 would establish a rebuilding plan, and revise the overfishing levels, acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual optimum yield (OY), and sector allocations for gag. The purpose of this proposed rule and Amendment 53 is to end overfishing of gag, rebuild the stock, and achieve OY while minimizing, to the extent practicable, adverse social and economic effects.

On June 23, 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) published the notice of proposed rulemaking, Public Aircraft Logging of Flight Time, Training in Certain Aircraft Holding Special Airworthiness Certificates, and Flight Instructor Privileges. In that document, the FAA inadvertently provided an incorrect docket number in the heading. This correction corrects that error.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) adopts an Order that closes Lockbox 979097 and modifies the relevant rule provisions to require electronic filing and fee payments.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) is adopting amendments to its rules to require derivatives clearing organizations (DCOs) to establish and consult with one or more risk management committees (RMCs) comprised of clearing members and customers of clearing members on matters that could materially affect the risk profile of the DCO. In addition, the Commission is adopting minimum requirements for RMC composition and rotation, and requiring DCOs to establish and enforce fitness standards for RMC members. The Commission is also adopting requirements for DCOs to maintain written policies and procedures governing the RMC consultation process and the role of RMC members. Finally, the Commission is adopting requirements for DCOs to establish one or more market participant risk advisory working groups (RWGs) that must convene at least two times per year, and adopt written policies and procedures related to the formation and role of the RWG.

NASA published a document in the Federal Register on July 5, 2023, concerning Delegations and Designations. The document contained an error in amendatory instruction 2.a.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Benton Field Airport, Redding, CA. The Class E airspace supports the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

NMFS announces ten inseason actions for the 2023-2024 ocean salmon fishing season. These inseason actions modify the commercial salmon troll fisheries in the area from the U.S./Canada border to Cape Falcon, OR.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families proposes to amend the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposes changes to lower families' child care costs, which can be a significant financial strain for families and disincentivize work, training, and education. It proposes changes to improve child care provider payment rates and practices to increase parent choice for child care arrangements and help stabilize operations for participating providers. It also proposes ways for CCDF Lead Agencies to streamline eligibility and enrollment processes so families can receive child care assistance faster and so program bureaucracy is less likely to disrupt parent employment, training, and education and impede access to child care. The NPRM also includes technical and other changes to improve clarity and program implementation.