2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DoD is proposing to amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to remove a DFARS solicitation provision and modify the text of an existing DFARS contract clause to include the operative text of that DFARS provision.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the pygmy three-toed sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus; hereafter ``pygmy sloth''), an arboreal mammal species from Panama, as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the pygmy sloth. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the pygmy sloth as a threatened species with a rule issued under section 4(d) of the Act (``4(d) rule''). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it will add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to all ATR-GIE Avions de Transport Regional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. As published, the docket number specified in the preamble and regulatory text is incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-13-11, which applies to certain AVOX Systems Inc. (formerly Scott Aviation) oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies; and oxygen valve assemblies; installed on but not limited to various transport airplanes. AD 2023-13-11 requires an inspection of the oxygen valve assemblies, and oxygen cylinder and valve assemblies, to determine the serial number of the valve, cylinder, and entire assembly; and for certain assemblies and parts, a detailed inspection for correct spacing of the gap between the bottom of the packing retainer and top of the valve body on the assemblies and replacement of assemblies having unacceptable gaps. AD 2023-13-11 also limits the installation of affected parts under certain conditions and requires reporting inspection results and returning certain assemblies to the manufacturer. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-13-11, the manufacturer identified additional assemblies and parts subject to the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2023-13-11 and require similar actions for those additional assemblies and parts. 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 General Electric Company (GE) Model GEnx-1B64/P1, GEnx- 1B64/P2, GEnx-1B67, GEnx-1B67/P1, GEnx-1B67/P2, GEnx-1B70, GEnx-1B70/ 75/P1, GEnx-1B70/75/P2, GEnx-1B70/P1, GEnx-1B70/P2, GEnx-1B70C/P1, GEnx-1B70C/P2, GEnx-1B74/75/P1, GEnx-1B74/75/P2, GEnx-1B76/P2, GEnx- 1B76A/P2, GEnx-2B67, GEnx-2B67B, and GEnx-2B67/P engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a manufacturer evaluation that determined a lower life limit is necessary for certain stages 6-10 compressor rotor spools (stages 6-10 spools) than allowed by the engine shop manual (ESM). This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of the stages 6-10 spools for previously accomplished blend repairs, a one-time inspection of the blend repairs on the stages 6-10 spools for compliance with the updated allowable limits, and replacement if necessary. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Pursuant to its authority under the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act), the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) is amending its regulations to enhance, improve and strengthen its enforcement and administration of the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) laws. Specifically, Commerce is revising some of its procedures, codifying certain areas of its practice, and enhancing certain areas of its methodologies and analyses to address price and cost distortions, as well as certain countervailable subsidies, in different capacities.

This document contains proposed regulations that would identify certain charitable remainder annuity trust (CRAT) transactions and substantially similar transactions as listed transactions, a type of reportable transaction. Material advisors and certain participants in these listed transactions would be required to file disclosures with the IRS and would be subject to penalties for failure to disclose. The proposed regulations would affect participants in these transactions as well as material advisors but provide that certain organizations whose only role or interest in the transaction is as a charitable remainderman will not be treated as participants in the transaction or as parties to a prohibited tax shelter transaction subject to excise taxes and disclosure requirements. Finally, this document provides notice of a public hearing on the proposed regulations.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of several occurrences of a power transfer unit (PTU) control valve that failed to open when commanded. This proposed AD would require installing new relays and changing certain wire bundles leading to the PTU control valve. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a Regulated Navigation Area for certain waters of the Willamette River. This action is necessary to preserve the integrity of sampling ports at the NW Natural Gasco Sediments Site Project Area on these navigable waters near Portland, Oregon. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels in the designated area from activities that could disturb or damage the sampling ports unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Columbia River or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus SAS (Airbus) Model A350 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the applicable airworthiness standards. This design feature is seats with inertia locking devices (ILD). The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is proposing minimum safety standards for rail transit roadway worker protection (RWP) to ensure the safe operation of public transportation systems and to prevent accidents, incidents, fatalities, and injuries to transit workers who may access the roadway in the performance of work. This NPRM would apply to rail transit agencies (RTAs) covered by the State Safety Oversight (SSO) program, SSO agencies (SSOAs), and rail transit workers who access the roadway to perform work. It would set minimum standards for RWP program elements, including an RWP manual and track access guide; requirements for on-track safety and supervision, job safety briefings, good faith safety challenges, and reporting unsafe acts and conditions and near-misses; development and implementation of risk-based redundant protections for workers; and establishment of RWP training and qualification and RWP compliance monitoring activities. RTAs would be expected to comply with these Federal standards as a baseline and use their existing Safety Management System (SMS) processes to determine any additional mitigations appropriate to address the level of RWP risk identified. SSOAs would oversee and enforce implementation of the RWP program requirements.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations for the Multi-Family Housing Direct Loans and Grants Programs to require that Section 515, 514, and 516 Multi-Family Housing program borrowers provide tenants with written notification a minimum of 30 days prior to a lease termination or eviction action for nonpayment of rent, as statutorily required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, (CARES Act). The ``30-day notice'' requirement applies regardless of the existence of a presidentially declared national emergency or the availability of emergency rental assistance funds. This rule will require this notice to include instructions on how a tenant can cure the nonpayment to avoid eviction, and how to recertify household income. This final rule also adds that the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretary) may require MFH Section 515 and 514 borrowers and Section 516 grantees to issue information as provided by the Secretary during a presidential declaration of a public health emergency.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve the regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) submitted by the State of New York through the Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC or New York) on May 12, 2020, as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule for the program's second implementation period. New York's SIP submission addresses the requirement that states must periodically revise their long-term strategies for making reasonable progress towards the national goal of preventing any future, and remedying any existing, anthropogenic impairment of visibility in mandatory Class I Federal areas, including regional haze. The SIP submission also addresses other applicable requirements for the second implementation period of the regional haze program. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to sections 110 and 169A of the Clean Air Act.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is revising the rules of practice in patent cases to update the signature rule to provide for the broader permissibility of electronic signatures using third-party document-signing software, such as DocuSign[supreg] and Acrobat[supreg] Sign, and more closely align signature requirements with the rules of practice in trademark cases. The revised rules will provide additional flexibility and convenience to patent applicants and owners, practitioners, and other parties who sign patent-related correspondence, and promote consistency by establishing signature requirements which are common to both patent and trademark matters.

This document corrects a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG- 131756-11) published in the Federal Register on November 27, 2023, containing proposed regulations that would update regulations regarding whether persons are treated as related persons who are subject to certain special rules pertaining to transactions with partnerships.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-25-12 and AD 2022-11-11, which apply to certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited Model DHC-8-401 and -402 airplanes. AD 2021- 25-12 requires repetitive lubrications of the trailing arm of the nose landing gear (NLG). AD 2021-25-12 also requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program to include new and revised airworthiness limitations. AD 2022-11-11 requires a modification to the NLG shock strut assembly. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-25-12 and AD 2022-11-11, it has been determined that the pivot pin and tow fitting assembly of the NLG must be replaced. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD 2021-25-12 and AD 2022-11-11 and would require replacement of the pivot pin and tow fitting assembly with a new, improved pivot pin and tow fitting assembly and prohibit the installation of affected parts. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-14-10, which applies 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 2022-14-10 requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the radius of the front spar vertical stringers and the horizontal floor beam on a certain frame (FR), repetitive inspections for cracking of the fastener holes of the front spar vertical stringers on that frame, and repair if necessary. AD 2022-14-10 provides, for certain airplanes, a modification of the center wing box area that terminates the repetitive inspections under certain conditions. Since the FAA issued AD 2022-14-10, an additional airplane model has been identified that is also subject to the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2022-14-10 and would add Model A321-271N airplanes to the applicability, 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 Coast Guard is proposing to establish 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 2024 Race World Offshore 7 Mile Grand Prix. The proposed 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. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

This proposed rule revises regulations for fish and shellfish seasons, harvest limits, methods, and means related to taking of fish and shellfish for subsistence uses during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 regulatory years. The Federal Subsistence Board (hereafter referred to as ``the Board'') is on a schedule of completing the process of revising subsistence taking of fish and shellfish regulations in odd- numbered years and subsistence taking of wildlife regulations in even- numbered years; public proposal and review processes take place during the preceding year. The Board also addresses customary and traditional use determinations during the applicable cycle. When final, the resulting rulemaking replaces the existing subsistence fish and shellfish taking regulations. This proposed rule may also amend the general regulations on subsistence taking of fish and wildlife.

NMFS approves and implements the measures included in Framework Adjustment 38 to the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery Management Plan as adopted and submitted by the New England Fishery Management Council. Framework 38 establishes scallop specifications and other measures for fishing years 2024 and 2025. Framework 35 implements measures to protect small scallops which would thereby support rotational access area trips to the fleet in future years. To promote uniformity in the fishery, this final rule also corrects and clarifies regulatory text that is unnecessary, outdated, or unclear. This action is necessary to prevent overfishing and improve both yield-per-recruit and the overall management of the Atlantic sea scallop resource.

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (Committee), operating as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission (Commission), is publishing a final rule that clarifies the Commission's authority to consider different pricing methodologies to establish the initial Fair Market Price (FMP) for Procurement List (PL) additions and changes to the FMP. The final rule also permits the central nonprofit agency (CNA) to distribute certain high-dollar services orders on a competitive basis to the authorized nonprofit agency (NPA) after considering price and non-price factors. Lastly, the final rule further clarifies the Commission's authority to authorize and deauthorize NPAs as mandatory sources and require all NPAs to provide the right of first refusal of employment to the current employees of an incumbent NPA who are blind or have other significant disabilities for positions for which they are qualified.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 525, 525A, and 525B airplanes with Tamarack active technology load alleviation system (ATLAS) winglets installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SA03842NY. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an un-annunciated failure of the ATLAS system. This proposed AD would require installing placards on the left-hand inboard edge of the Tamarack active camber surface (TACS) and revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) for your airplane. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation (GLS) and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation (SLSMC) of Canada, under international agreement, jointly publish and presently administer the St. Lawrence Seaway Tariff of Tolls in their respective jurisdictions. The Tariff sets forth the level of tolls assessed on all commodities and vessels transiting the facilities operated by the GLS and the SLSMC. The GLS is revising its regulations to reflect the fees and charges levied by the SLSMC in Canada starting in the 2024 navigation season, which are effective only in Canada.

In this final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) makes changes to the end-user controls of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to add end-user controls, and in certain cases expand existing end-user controls, on certain persons identified on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN List) maintained by the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

The Coast Guard proposes to establish 67 temporary safety zones around the construction of each facility during the development of the Revolution Wind Farm project area within Federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf, specifically in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0486, approximately 15 nautical miles offshore southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island. This action protects life, property, and the environment during construction of each facility from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2027. When enforced, only attending vessels and vessels with authorization are permitted to enter or remain in the temporary safety zones.