2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) grants, in part, the Request for Waiver filed by the Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition and the Consortium for School Networking (collectively, the Petitioners). The Bureau waives and extends the service delivery date for certain applicants who applied for Emergency Connectivity Fund support for equipment, other non-recurring services, and recurring services during the first, second, and third filing windows. The Bureau also waives and extends the service delivery date for recurring service requests for first, second, and third filing window applicants that were approved for new construction services, but were unable to use the full amount of their approved funding for monthly recurring services associated with the construction.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-24- 13, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318 series airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -216, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-111, -112, -131, -211, -212, -213, -231, and -232 airplanes. AD 2019-24-13 required repetitive high-frequency eddy current (HFEC) inspections for cracking of a stiffener of a certain lateral window frame, and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain inspection times need to be revised. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2019-24-13, with amended compliance times, 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.

This action establishes Class E airspace at San Saba, TX. This action supports the establishment of new public instrument procedures.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone June 30, 2023, through July 4, 2023, on the Kanawha River, Charleston, WV, for events associated with the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta. The safety zone will cover all navigable waters between mile marker 58 and 59. This action is necessary to protect regatta participants, the public, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a regatta, as well as fireworks. This rulemaking prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Ohio Valley or a designated representative.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing four general licenses (GLs) issued pursuant to the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations: GLs 13E, 66, 67, and 68, each of which were previously made available on OFAC's website.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is extending for an additional 30 days the comment period for an advance notice of proposed rulemaking it published on November 9, 2022, entitled, ``Consideration of Updates to Trade Practice Regulations.'' TTB is taking this action in response to a request submitted by multiple stakeholder organizations.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone in the navigable waters of Suisun Bay, off Concord, CA, in support of explosive on- loading to Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) from June 4, 2023, through June 10, 2023. This safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential explosion within the explosive arc. The safety zone is open to all persons and vessels for transitory use, but vessel operators desiring to anchor or otherwise loiter within the safety zone must obtain the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative. All persons and vessels operating within the safety zone must comply with all directions given to them by the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay, outside McCovey Cove, in San Francisco, CA in support of an aerial drone display on June 8 through 9, 2023. The safety zone is necessary to protect the personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by drones. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the San Francisco Bay, in Sausalito, CA in support of a fireworks display on June 10, 2023. The safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the Dearborn Street Bridge, mile 1.13, over the Main Branch of the Chicago River at Chicago, Illinois. During this maintenance period, the bridge need only operate one leaf while the other leaf remains secured to masted navigation. Vessels able to pass under the bridge without an opening may do so at any time.

This document is issued under the joint authority of DoD, GSA, and NASA. This Small Entity Compliance Guide has been prepared in accordance with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. It consists of a summary of the rule appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04, which amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Interested parties may obtain further information regarding this rule by referring to FAC 2023-04, which precedes this document.

This document summarizes the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) rule agreed to by the Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) in this Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04. A companion document, the Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG), follows this FAC.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of the St. Mary's River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Piney Point, MD, during a high-speed power boat demonstration event on June 10, 2023, and June 11, 2023. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region, or the Coast Guard Event Patrol Commander.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations relating to notification of a claims decision in accordance with section 807 of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins Act of 2022 (PACT Act), specifically to permit electronic decision notification between claimants or beneficiaries and VA.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended (EPCA), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including small, large, and very large commercial package air conditioning and heating equipment, of which computer room air conditioners (CRACs) are a category. EPCA requires the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) to consider the need for amended standards each time American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1 is amended with respect to the standard levels or design requirements applicable to that equipment, or periodically under a six-year-lookback review provision. In this final rule, DOE is adopting amended energy conservation standards for CRACs that rely on a new efficiency metric and are equivalent to those levels specified in ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2019. DOE has determined that it lacks the clear and convincing evidence required by the statute to adopt standards more stringent than the levels specified in the industry standard.

The FAA is removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 92-02-14, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A320 series airplanes. AD 92- 02-14 required inspection for correct installation of the flexible control cables on the overwing emergency escape slides. The FAA issued AD 92-02-14 to prevent failure of the overwing emergency escape slides to deploy, which would compromise use of the exit during an emergency. Since the FAA issued AD 92-02-14, no new occurrences of incorrect cable installations have been reported, and existing maintenance activities are adequate to prevent new occurrences. Therefore, the FAA has determined that AD 92-02-14 is no longer necessary. Accordingly, AD 92- 02-14 is removed.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that applied to certain Continental Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (Continental) Model C-125, C145, GO-300, IO-360, IO-470, IO-520, IO- 550, O-300, O-470, TSIO-360, and TSIO-520 series engines with a certain oil filter adapter installed. The NPRM proposed to supersede AD 2022- 04-04. This action revises the NPRM by updating the applicability to include Continental model engines with certain oil filter adapters installed and updating the service information references. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden by expanding the applicability, the agency is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing an interim rule amending its regulations governing the registration of copyright claims in secure tests to continue the current rule that was adopted to address the national emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Office has decided to continue allowing otherwise-eligible tests that were administered online during the national emergency to qualify as secure tests, provided the test administrator employs sufficient security measures. The Office is also continuing its procedure allowing examination of secure test claims via secure teleconference. Finally, the Office is requesting public comment whether the interim rule should be made permanent and whether it should restrict examinations of secure test claims to virtual examinations.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts rules to eliminate further exploitation of the access charge system by access-stimulating entities, which ultimately causes IXCs and end-user customers to bear costs for services they don't use.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of Whites Bay. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Henderson Harbor, NY, during a fireworks display on July 1, 2023. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Buffalo or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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.

On April 13, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled ``National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Emissions Standards for Sterilization Facilities Residual Risk and Technology Review.'' The EPA is extending the comment period on this proposed rule that currently closes on June 12, 2023, by 15 days. The comment period will now remain open until June 27, 2023, to allow additional time for stakeholders to review and comment on the proposal.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to amend our regulations to revise current regulatory authorizations and add new regulatory authorizations for possession of migratory birds and eagles and other purposes. These proposed changes would more efficiently and appropriately authorize the general public, educators, and government agency employees to possess birds and eagles in certain specific situations while meeting our obligations under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. We also propose a change to the Airborne Hunting Act regulations to clarify what Federal authorizations may be used to comply with that statute.

On May 4, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a rule titled, ``Revision and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Texas; Regional Haze Federal Implementation Plan; Disapproval and Need for Error Correction; Denial of Reconsideration of Provisions Governing Alternative to Source-Specific Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART) Determinations.'' The EPA is extending the comment period on the proposed rule that was scheduled to close on July 3, 2023. The EPA has received requests for additional time to review and comment on the proposed rule revisions.

The Coast Guard will enforce three separate safety zones for three associated fireworks displays at The Wharf DC. The fireworks displays will be on June 3, 2023, June 10, 2023, and June 23, 2023. Our regulation for Fireworks Displays within the Fifth Coast Guard District identifies the safety zone for these events in Washington, DC. During the enforcement period of each safety zone, vessels may not enter, remain in, or transit through the safety zone unless authorized to do so by the COTP or his representative, and vessels in the vicinity must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.