2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA or the Agency) is seeking comments on a proposed rule that would address barriers to sustainable housing opportunities for underserved communities by codifying existing FHFA practices in regulation and adding new requirements related to fair lending, fair housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans. The proposed rule would improve FHFA's fulfillment of its statutory purposes and its oversight of the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac), and the Federal Home Loan Banks (Banks) (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac collectively, the Enterprises; the Enterprises and the Banks collectively, regulated entities), and their fulfillment of their statutory purposes.

In this document, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) extends the enforcement of the technical standard transition period for hearing aid compatibility by six months from June 5, 2023 to December 5, 2023. We take this step to ensure that handset manufacturers can continue to release the newest handset models capable of achieving hearing aid compatibility while we consider a pending waiver request filed by ATIS addressing the volume control requirements of the newest hearing aid compatibility technical standard.

This document makes an amendment to the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in order to make needed editorial changes.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the statutory expiration of the Federal Helium System in accordance with the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget for a new information collection related to livestock production practices under the USDA organic regulations.

On March 3, 2023, PHMSA published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), entitled ``Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Miscellaneous Petitions and Updating Regulatory Requirements (HM- 219D),'' proposing changes to update, clarify, improve the safety of, or streamline various regulatory requirements. In response to a request for an extension of the comment period submitted by Worthington Industries, PHMSA is extending the comment period for the HM-219D NPRM for an additional 45 days. Comments to the HM-219D NPRM will now be due by June 16, 2023.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for certain waters in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Marathon, Florida. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters of Marathon, FL, during the 2023 Race World Offshore 7 Mile Grand Prix. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing one general license (GL) issued pursuant to the Syrian Sanctions Regulations: GL 22, which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

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 62, 63, 64, and 65, each of which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

This advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) seeks the public's input on changes that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD or the Department) is considering to its implementing regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) for federally assisted and HUD conducted programs and activities. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in all programs and activities receiving Federal financial assistance and in programs and activities conducted by executive agencies. After this ANPRM is published, the Department intends to draft a Notice of a Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that would propose the adoption of an updated Federal accessibility standard for purposes of compliance with HUD's Section 504 regulations. In addition, the Department intends for this NPRM to propose revisions to HUD's Section 504 regulations to clarify recipients' obligations, including how to account for advances in accessible design, information and communication technology, and assistive technologies that have become available since HUD's Section 504 regulations were originally published in 1988.

The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) proposes to amend the regulations related to notifying a State regulatory authority of a possible violation of any requirement of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). The proposed rule would also amend the Federal regulations regarding corrective actions for State regulatory program issues. Together, the proposed updates to these two areas of the Federal regulations would amend the overall ``ten-day notice'' (TDN) process. Although a final rule covering these topics went into effect in 2020 (2020 TDN Rule), the rule has proven to delay our consideration of some possible SMCRA violations. In 2021, the Department of the Interior undertook a reexamination of the 2020 TDN Rule and decided to engage in this rulemaking effort. The primary goals of this rulemaking are to reduce burdens for citizens to engage in the TDN process, establish procedures for OSMRE to properly evaluate and process citizen allegations about possible SMCRA violations, clearly set forth the regulatory requirements for the TDN process, and continue to minimize the duplication of inspections, enforcement, and administration of SMCRA. In addition, we will continue to afford our State regulatory authority partners due deference during the TDN process to an extent that is appropriate under SMCRA. The proposed rule would ensure that possible SMCRA violations are properly identified and addressed in a timely fashion. When OSMRE obtains adequate proof of an imminent harm, OSMRE would immediately conduct a Federal inspection, outside of the TDN process, as SMCRA requires. Overall, we believe that this proposed rule would align more closely than the 2020 TDN Rule with SMCRA's requirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing amendments to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) that apply to the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI) and to the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) that apply to the SOCMI (more commonly referred to as the Hazardous Organic NESHAP or HON) and Group I and II Polymers and Resins Industries (P&R I and P&R II). The EPA is proposing decisions resulting from the Agency's technology review of the HON, P&R I, and P&R II, and its eight-year review of the NSPS that apply to the SOCMI. The EPA is also proposing amendments to the NSPS for equipment leaks of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in SOCMI based on its reconsideration of certain issues raised in an administrative petition for reconsideration. Furthermore, the EPA is proposing to strengthen the emission standards for ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions and chloroprene emissions after considering the results of a risk assessment for the HON and Neoprene Production processes subject to P&R I. Lastly, the EPA is proposing to remove exemptions from standards for periods of startup, shutdown, and malfunction (SSM), to add work practice standards for such periods where appropriate, and to add provisions for electronic reporting. We estimate that the proposed amendments to the NESHAP would reduce hazardous air pollutants (HAP) emissions (excluding EtO and chloroprene) from the SOCMI, P&R I, and P&R II sources by approximately 1,123 tons per year (tpy), reduce EtO emissions from HON processes by approximately 58 tpy, and reduce chloroprene emissions from Neoprene Production processes in P&R I by approximately 14 tpy. We also estimate that these proposed amendments to the NESHAP will reduce excess emissions of HAP from flares in the SOCMI and P&R I source categories by an additional 4,858 tpy. Lastly, we estimate that the proposed amendments to the NSPS would reduce VOC emissions from the SOCMI source category by approximately 1,609 tpy.

The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) in various sections to discontinue the use of hardcopy postage statements for domestic commercial mailings.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), determine threatened species status under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Act), as amended, for the Wright's marsh thistle (Cirsium wrightii), a thistle species from New Mexico. We also designate critical habitat. In total, approximately 156.8 acres (63.4 hectares) in Chaves, Eddy, Guadalupe, Otero, and Socorro Counties, New Mexico, fall within the boundaries of the critical habitat designation. This rule adds the species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. We also finalize a rule under the authority of section 4(d) of the Act that provides measures that are necessary and advisable to provide for the conservation of this species.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Cross City Airport, Cross City, FL, as a new instrument approach procedure has been designed for this airport. This action would also update this airport's geographic coordinates to coincide with the FAA's database.

The Coast Guard is establishing three temporary, 500-yard radius, moving security zones for certain vessels carrying Certain Dangerous Cargoes (CDC) within the Corpus Christi Ship Channel and La Quinta Channel. The temporary security zones are needed to protect the vessels, the CDC cargo, and the surrounding waterway from terrorist acts, sabotage, or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Corpus Christi or a designated representative.

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 FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB412 and AB412 EP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a fatigue crack in a left-hand (LH) fin spar cap. This AD requires cleaning and repetitively inspecting certain part-numbered LH fin spar caps, and repetitively inspecting the exterior of the fin skin and, depending on the results, accomplishing corrective action. This AD also prohibits certain corrective actions as a terminating action for the repetitive inspections unless the corrective actions have been approved as a terminating action, 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 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 April 26, 2023, through May 5, 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 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has adopted a final rule making inflation adjustments to civil monetary penalties within its jurisdiction. This final rule represents the annual 2023 inflation adjustments of monetary penalties. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of missing shims, a wrong type of shim, shanked fasteners, fastener head gaps, and incorrect hole sizes common to the left and right sides at a certain station (STA) frame inner chord and web. This AD requires inspecting for existing repairs, inspecting the area for cracking, and performing applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

NMFS proposes to implement Amendment 1 to the Puerto Rico Fishery Management Plan (FMP), Amendment 1 to the St. Croix FMP, and Amendment 1 to the St. Thomas and St. John FMP (jointly Amendments 1), as submitted by the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule and Amendments 1 would prohibit the use of buoy gear by the recreational sector in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters and modify the regulatory definition of buoy gear to increase the maximum number of allowable hooks used by the commercial sector in U.S. Caribbean Federal waters from 10 to 25. The purpose of this proposed rule and Amendments 1 is to allow commercial fishermen targeting deep-water fish, including snappers and groupers, in the U.S. Caribbean Federal waters to use buoy gear with up to 25 hooks, while protecting deep- water reef fish resources and habitats and minimizing user conflicts.

The EPA is proposing to amend the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Coal- and Oil-Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs), commonly known as the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). Specifically, the EPA is proposing to amend the surrogate standard for non-mercury (Hg) metal HAP (filterable particulate matter (fPM)) for existing coal-fired EGUs; the fPM compliance demonstration requirements; the Hg standard for lignite- fired EGUs; and the definition of startup. These proposed amendments are the result of the EPA's review of the May 22, 2020 residual risk and technology review (RTR) of MATS.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane, ether with 1,2,3-propanetriol (3:1); minimum average number molecular weight 6,000 Daltons (CAS Reg. No. 9082-00-2) when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Delta Analytical Corporation on behalf of Borchers Americas, Inc., submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane, ether with 1,2,3-propanetriol (3:1) on food or feed commodities when used in accordance with these exemptions.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane, ether with D-glucitol (6:1) when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Delta Analytical Corporation, on behalf of Borchers Americas, Inc. submitted a petition to EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane, ether with D-glucitol (6:1) on food or feed commodities when used in accordance with these exemptions.