2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission ("Commission") seeks comment on additional action it can take to help survivors of domestic violence access safe and affordable connectivity, particularly in the context of connected car services which may be used to stalk, harass, and revictimize survivors of domestic violence.

This rule amends the requirements for investing lenders and investing mortgagees to gain or maintain their status as a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) approved lender or mortgagee. This revision makes FHA's approval requirements consistent with investing mortgagees' and investing lenders' risk, reduces barriers to FHA approval for new investing mortgagees and investing lenders, and increases access to capital for all FHA-approved mortgagees and lenders. HUD is clarifying that the general annual certification requirement for lenders and mortgagees is applicable to investing lenders and investing mortgagees. HUD is also defining Government- Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) separately from other governmental-type entities to ensure that FHA requirements specific to loan origination do not apply to GSEs. Finally, HUD is eliminating obsolete language related to lender and mortgagee net worth requirements. This final rule adopts HUD's July 18, 2023, proposed rule with minor revisions.

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted amendment 127 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI), amendment 115 to the FMP for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), amendment 56 to the FMP for BSAI King and Tanner Crabs, amendment 17 to the FMP for the Salmon Fisheries in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) Off Alaska, and amendment 3 to the FMP for Fish Resources of the Arctic Management Area (amendments) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, these amendments would revise the FMPs by updating the description and identification of essential fish habitat (EFH) and updating information on adverse impacts to EFH based on the best scientific information available. These amendments are intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the FMPs, and other applicable laws.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District (AVAQMD) and the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD) portions of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning rules submitted to address section 185 of the Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act) with respect to the 1979 1-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS or standard). We are proposing action on these local rules that were submitted as equivalent alternatives to a statutory section 185 program. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

This action amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range Federal airway (VOR) V-506 in the vicinity of Kodiak, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the loss of signal from the Kodiak, AK, VOR and due to the pending decommissioning of the Hotham, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB).

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 rules appearing in Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05, which amends the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). Interested parties may obtain further information regarding these rules by referring to FAC 2024-05, which also published in this issue of the Federal Register.

DoD, GSA, and NASA are issuing a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to restructure and update the regulations to focus on current environmental and sustainability matters and to implement a requirement for agencies to procure sustainable products and services to the maximum extent practicable.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is revising the OMB Guidance for Grants and Agreements, which is now called the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance. The final guidance reflects public comments received in response to the OMB Notification of Proposed Guidance published in October 2023 and comments received from Federal agencies. In response to comments, OMB is revising and updating the guidance to incorporate recent OMB policy priorities related to Federal financial assistance and to reduce agency and recipient burden. OMB is also incorporating certain statutory requirements and clarifying certain sections of the prior version of the guidance that recipients or agencies have interpreted in different ways. OMB is also making revisions to use plain language, improve flow, and address inconsistent use of terms within the guidance text. Finally, OMB is making revisions to improve Federal financial assistance management, transparency, and oversight through more accessible and readily comprehensible guidance.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is promulgating new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model year (MY) 2032 and later heavy-duty highway vehicles that phase in starting as early MY 2027 for certain vehicle categories. The phase in revises certain MY 2027 GHG standards that were established previously under EPA's Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and VehiclesPhase 2 rule ("HD GHG Phase 2"). This document also updates discrete elements of the Averaging Banking and Trading program, including providing additional flexibilities for manufacturers to support the implementation of the Phase 3 program balanced by limiting the availability of certain advanced technology credits initially established under the HD GHG Phase 2 rule. EPA is also adding warranty requirements for batteries and other components of zero-emission vehicles and requiring customer-facing battery state-of- health monitors for plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles. In this action, we are also finalizing additional revisions, including clarifying and editorial amendments to certain highway heavy-duty vehicle provisions and certain test procedures for heavy-duty engines.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-21-15 for certain Diamond Aircraft Industries GmbH (DAI) Model DA 42, DA 42 NG, and DA 42 M-NG airplanes. AD 2022-21-15 required 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 AD requires, 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 AD requires replacing the rudder T-yoke bolt (axle) with a serviceable part, installing a new self-locking nut, and applying torque seal marks on the rudder T-yoke bolt head and self-locking nut. For all airplanes this AD requires 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 AD also prohibits the installation of affected parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) makes changes to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to expand the scope of items that require a license for export and reexport to Iran; this rule also expands the scope of the Russia/Belarus/ Temporarily occupied Crimea region of Ukraine Foreign Direct Product (FDP) rule and the Iran FDP rule. Certain foreign-made items located outside of the United States are subject to the EAR because they meet criteria specified under one of the FDP rules under the EAR. This final rule expands the product scope of two of the FDP rules to make additional items subject to the EAR and imposes a license requirement when they are reexported or exported from abroad to Iran, Russia, Belarus, or the Temporarily occupied Crimea region of Ukraine. Prior to this rule, BIS had not controlled all foreign transactions involving items covered by this rule, but in light of recent events and the need to fully leverage EAR controls to address U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, these additional controls are now warranted under the EAR.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary special local regulation in the Upper Bay of New York Harbor in support of Sail Grand Prix 2024 from June 21, 2024, through June 23, 2024. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life from the dangers associated with high-speed sailing during the event. This proposed rulemaking would temporarily prohibit persons and vessels from entering, transiting through, blocking, or loitering within the event area, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New York or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is publishing official notice that the Transportation Security Oversight Board (TSOB) ratified Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Directive Pipeline-2021-01C and Security Directive Pipeline-2021-02D, applicable to owners and operators of critical hazardous liquid and natural gas pipeline infrastructure (owner/operators). Security Directive Pipeline-2021-01C, issued on May 22, 2023, extended the requirements of the Security Directive Pipeline-2021-01 series for an additional year. Security Directive Pipeline-2021-02D, issued on July 26, 2023, extended the requirements of the Security Directive Pipeline- 2021-02 series for an additional year and amended them to strengthen their effectiveness and address emerging cyber threats.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its spent fuel storage regulations by revising the Westinghouse Electric Company LLC FuelSolutionsTM Spent Fuel Management System listing within the "List of approved spent fuel storage casks" to renew the initial certificate and Amendment Nos. 1 through 4 to Certificate of Compliance No. 1026. The renewal of the initial certificate of compliance and Amendment Nos. 1 through 4 for 40 years revises the certificate's conditions and technical specifications to address aging management activities related to the structures, systems, and components important to safety of the dry storage system to ensure that these will maintain their intended functions during the period of extended storage operations.

This document provides a notice of public hearing on proposed regulations regarding excise taxes on taxable distributions made by a sponsoring organization from a donor advised fund (DAF), and on the agreement of certain fund managers to the making of such distributions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is adopting amendments to Volume II of the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system Filer Manual ("EDGAR Filer Manual" or "Filer Manual") and related rules and forms. EDGAR Release 24.1 will be deployed in the EDGAR system on March 18, 2024.

The Department of Justice ("Department") is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") regulations to implement the provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that broaden the definition of when a person is considered "engaged in the business" ("EIB") as a dealer in firearms other than a gunsmith or pawnbroker. This final rule incorporates the BSCA's definitions of "predominantly earn a profit" ("PEP") and "terrorism," and amends the regulatory definitions of "principal objective of livelihood and profit" and "engaged in the business" to ensure each conforms with the BSCA's statutory changes and can be relied upon by the public. The rule also clarifies what it means for a person to be "engaged in the business" of dealing in firearms and to have the intent to "predominantly earn a profit" from the sale or disposition of firearms. In addition, it clarifies the term "dealer" and defines the term "responsible person." These clarifications and definitions assist persons in understanding when they are required to have a license to deal in firearms. Consistent with the Gun Control Act ("GCA") and existing regulations, the rule also defines the term "personal collection" to clarify when persons are not "engaged in the business" because they make only occasional sales to enhance a personal collection or for a hobby, or if the firearms they sell are all or part of a personal collection. This rule further addresses the procedures that former licensees, and responsible persons acting on behalf of such licensees, must follow when they liquidate business inventory upon revocation or other termination of their license. Finally, the rule clarifies that a licensee transferring a firearm to another licensee must do so by following the verification and recordkeeping procedures in the regulations, rather than by using a Firearms Transaction Record, ATF Form 4473.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) is amending the child-resistant packaging requirements of CPSC's regulation to exempt baloxavir marboxil tablets, currently marketed as XOFLUZATM, in packages containing not more than 80 mg of the drug, from the special packaging requirements. XOFLUZA is used to treat the flu, and the drug is taken in one dose within 48 hours of experiencing flu symptoms. The final rule exempts this prescription drug product on the basis that child-resistant packaging is not needed to protect young children from serious injury or illness because the product is not acutely toxic and lacks adverse human experience associated with ingestion.

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to list the whitespotted eagle ray (Aetobatus narinari) as a threatened or endangered species and to designate critical habitat concurrent with the listing. We find that the petition does not present substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted.

This rule provides implementation by the Department of Justice of the HAVANA Act of 2021. The HAVANA Act authorizes agency heads to provide payments to certain individuals who have incurred qualifying injuries to the brain. This rule covers current and former Department of Justice employees and their dependents.

The Health Resources and Services Administration administers section 340B of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, which is referred to as the "340B Drug Pricing Program" or the "340B Program." This final rule will apply to all drug manufacturers and covered entities that participate in the 340B Program. The final rule sets forth the requirements and procedures for the 340B Program's administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process. This final rule revises the 340B administrative dispute resolution process set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations.

NMFS proposes the 2024-2026 specifications for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan as recommended by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. This action proposes to set the 2024 Illex squid and 2024-2026 longfin squid specifications and reaffirms the 2024 chub mackerel and butterfish specifications. The implementing regulations for the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan require us to publish specifications every fishing year for each of these species and to provide an opportunity for public comment. The proposed specifications are intended to establish allowable harvest levels that will prevent overfishing, consistent with the most recent scientific information.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) proposes modifications to the rules of practice for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) that the Director and, by delegation, the PTAB will use in exercising discretion to institute IPRs and PGRs. The Office proposes these provisions in light of stakeholder feedback received in response to an October 2020 Request for Comments (RFC) and an April 2023 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The proposals enhance and build on existing precedent and guidance regarding the exercise of the Director's discretion pursuant to the America Invents Act (AIA) to determine whether to institute an IPR or PGR proceeding with regard to serial petitions, parallel petitions, and petitions implicating the same or substantially the same art or arguments previously presented to the Office. The proposed rules also provide a separate briefing process for discretionary institution arguments and align the procedures for termination of proceedings pre- and post- institution.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is issuing this final rule and interpretive guidance to implement the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which requires a covered entity to provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified employee's or applicant's known limitations related to, affected by, or arising out of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, unless the accommodation will cause an undue hardship on the operation of the business of the covered entity.