2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule codifies Onshore Order 1Approval of Operations; Onshore Order 2Drilling Operations on Federal and Indian Oil and Gas Leases; Onshore Order 6Hydrogen Sulfide Operations; and Onshore Order 7Disposal of Produced Water. This rule places the existing regulations, which were promulgated over the years through various notice and comment rulemakings but not codified in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), into the CFR in their entirety without making any substantive changes.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) is amending its regulations regarding the formal enforcement procedures that are available if the DOT's Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) takes enforcement action against an airline or ticket agent, and efforts to settle the matter through a consent order are unsuccessful. Consistent with existing law, this final rule clarifies that DOT may bring a civil action in a United States District Court.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-18-12, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A330-841 and -941 airplanes. AD 2022-18-12 requires installing serviceable engine electronic control (EEC) software or EEC units having the serviceable software, limiting certain parts installation configurations, and prior or concurrent modification of EEC software. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-18-12, there was a determination that engine crystal icing protection could be (temporarily) lost if an erroneous total pressure value is provided by the airplane system, which is addressed through EEC software. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2022-18-12 and would require adding new limitations for intermixing of certain EEC software standards and a new operational limitation for engines with certain EEC software installed, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of certain engines under certain conditions. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Madison Dane County Regional Airport- Truax Field, WI, Class C airspace description to update the Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field name and the geographic coordinates of the airport reference point (ARP) for the Dane County Regional Airport- Truax Field and Waunakee Airport, WI, to match the FAA's National Airspace System Resources (NASR) database information. Additionally, this action amends the airspace description by updating the header format and replacing the outdated terms ``Notice to Airmen'' and ``Airport/Facility Directory'' with the current terminology. This action does not change the boundaries, altitudes, or operating requirements of the Class C airspace area.

The Secretary is issuing updated waivers and modifications of statutory and regulatory provisions governing the Federal student financial aid programs under the authority of the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act). The waivers and modifications in this document apply only to the national emergency declared in regard to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. With the termination of the COVID-19 national emergency, effective April 10, 2023, each waiver and modification identified in this document expires at the end of the award year that ends on June 30, 2023, unless otherwise noted in this document or unless it is otherwise extended by the Secretary in a document published in the Federal Register. HEROES Act waivers and modifications included in earlier documents sunset in accordance with the timeframes provided in those documents.

The Commission established a review seeking input from the public regarding any additional regulations that may be necessary to achieve the objectives of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) over the longer-term, particularly for issues related to maximizing incentives to increase efficiency and reduce costs, maintaining high-quality service standards, and assuring financial stability (including retained earnings). This Order reactivating docket informs the public of the docket's reactivation, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

On November 26, 2021, the Department of Commerce (Department) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to amend Department regulations, ``Securing the Information and Communications Technology Supply Chain,'' to implement provisions of Executive Order 14034, ``Protecting Americans' Sensitive Data from Foreign Adversaries'' (E.O. 14034). This final rule responds to, and adopts changes based on, the comments received to the NPRM. Consistent with the factors enumerated in E.O. 14034, the final rule amends the Securing the Information and Communications Technology Supply Chain regulations to provide additional criteria that the Secretary may consider when determining whether ICTS transactions involving connected software applications present undue or unacceptable risks (as those terms are defined in the regulations). The final rule also adds definitions for ``end-point computing devices'' and ``via the internet'' for the purposes of this rule to clarify the definition of connected software applications provided in E.O. 14034.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain DAHER AEROSPACE (type certificate previously held by SOCATA) Model TBM 700 airplanes. This AD was prompted by mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI identifies the unsafe condition as interference between the emergency exit trim panel and the upholstery panel, which could result in additional effort required to open the emergency exit door. This AD requires modification of the gripping strap, which maintains the upholstery panel on the emergency exit trim panel. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends the Class D and Class E surface airspace and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Huntsville, AL, as the result of a biennial airspace evaluation. This action extends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface surrounding Redstone Army Airfield (AAF) and Huntsville Executive Tom Sharp Jr. Field. The FAA will also update terminology in the Class D and Class E surface airspace descriptions for Redstone AAF.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Grand Coulee Dam Airport, Electric City, WA, in support of the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is revising the rules of practice pertaining to patent term adjustment to require that the patent term adjustment statement regarding information disclosure statements be submitted on an Office form using the appropriate document code. The use of the Office form and document code will streamline certain aspects of prosecution by more accurately capturing and accounting for the patent term adjustment statement without unnecessary back-and-forth between the Office and applicant. It will also conserve resources by eliminating the need for a manual review of the patent term adjustment statement. Applicants who submit a patent term adjustment statement regarding information disclosure statements without using the Office form or the appropriate document code will need to request reconsideration of the patent term adjustment for the information disclosure statement to not be considered a failure to engage in reasonable efforts to conclude the prosecution (processing or examination) of the application. The Office conducts a redetermination of patent term adjustment in response to this request, and the redetermination will include the Office's manual review of the patent term adjustment statement.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of July 17, 2023, for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on May 2, 2023. The direct final rule amended the TN Americas LLC, NUHOMS[supreg] EOS Dry Spent Fuel Storage System listing within the ``List of approved spent fuel storage casks'' to include Amendment No. 3 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1042.

On March 30, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to approve revisions to the Idaho State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted by the State of Idaho (Idaho or the State) on December 29, 2022. The SIP revision, applicable in the Boise-Northern Ada County Carbon Monoxide area (Northern Ada County CO area) in Idaho, removes the Inspection and Maintenance (I/M) program, which was previously approved into the SIP for use as a control measure in the State's plan to address motor vehicle emissions in the nonattainment area. The SIP revision included a demonstration that the requested revision would not interfere with attainment or maintenance of any national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) or with any other applicable requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA is taking final action to approve Idaho's December 29, 2022, submission.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a limited approval and limited disapproval of a revision to the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD) portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). This revision concerns emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) from stationary gas turbines. Under the authority of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), this action simultaneously approves a local rule that regulates these emission sources and identifies deficiencies with the rule that must be corrected for the EPA to grant full approval of the rule.

NMFS issues regulations to implement management measures described in Amendment 54 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) (Amendment 54), as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This final rule and Amendment 54 revise Gulf greater amberjack sector allocations and catch limits. The purposes of this final rule and Amendment 54 are to end overfishing of Gulf greater amberjack and to update catch limits to be consistent with the best scientific information available.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters on the Upper Mississippi River between 636-635, east of Island number one hundred seventy-two. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by high-speed power vessels. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Upper Mississippi River.

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for rock sole, flathead sole, Alaska plaice, and other flatfish by vessels using trawl gear in the Herring Savings Areas of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the 2023 herring bycatch allowance specified for the rock sole, flathead sole, Alaska plaice, and other flatfish fisheries in the BSAI. This action includes prohibiting directed fishing for rock sole, flathead sole, other flatfish by vessels participating in the Community Development Quota Program.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Carthage, TX. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Carthage non-directional beacon (NDB). The name and geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Madison Dane County Regional Airport-Truax Field, WI, and establishes Class E airspace at Madison, WI. This action is the result of an airspace review requested by the FAA Airspace Rules and Regulations office. The name and geographic coordinates of various airports are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is amending its Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) regarding contractor requirements on foreign tax reporting, conference planning, and trade and investment activities. These revisions are intended to bring the AIDAR into compliance with revised Agency policies and procedures and statutory requirements.

This final rule amends certain airworthiness regulations applicable to cabin pressurization systems and oxygen dispensing equipment on transport category airplanes, to facilitate certification of those airplanes, systems, and equipment for operation at high elevation airports. This rule eliminates the need for certain equivalent level of safety findings and exemptions.

This action removes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for A.P. Hill AAF (Fort A.P. Hill), VA, as instrument approach procedures for this airport no longer exist.

This rule implements a recommendation from the Cherry Industry Administrative Board (Board) to increase the assessment rate established for the 2022-23 and subsequent fiscal periods. The assessment rate will remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Cape Vincent French Festival Fireworks to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways, including the St. Lawrence River, during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Ninth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event as the St. Lawrence River, Cape Vincent, NY. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Coast Guard Safety Zone Coordinator or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.