2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

NMFS closes the General category fishery for Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the June through August time period. The General category may only retain, possess, or land large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) BFT when open. This action applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. This action also waives the previously scheduled restricted-fishing days (RFDs) for the remainder of the June through August time period. With the RFDs waived during the closure, fishermen aboard General category permitted vessels and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels may tag and release BFT of all sizes, subject to the requirements of the catch- and-release and tag-and-release programs. On September 1, 2024, the fishery will reopen automatically and previously-scheduled RFDs for September will resume.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of oxirane, phenyl-, polymer with oxirane, mono(dihydrogen phosphate), decyl ether, minimum number average molecular weight 1300 Daltons (CAS Reg. No. 308336-53-0) when used as an inert ingredient in a pesticide chemical formulation. Evonik Corporation, 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, phenyl-, polymer with oxirane, mono(dihydrogen phosphate), decyl ether on food or feed commodities when used in accordance with these exemptions.

USCIS is correcting a final rule that published in the Federal Register on April 30, 2024. The final rule amended DHS regulations governing the requirements and procedures for victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons seeking T nonimmigrant status. These technical corrections will fix typographical and non-substantive technical errors.

This advisory opinion affirms the current applicability of consumer protections and creditor obligations under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and its implementing Regulation Z to transactions in which a consumer purchases a home under a "contract for deed." When a creditor sells a home to a buyer under a contract for deed, that transaction will generally meet TILA and Regulation Z's definition of credit. Where the transaction is secured by the buyer's dwelling, the buyer will also generally be entitled to the protections associated with residential mortgage loans under TILA.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending its regulations to allow aircraft to operate either with "No Smoking" signs continuously illuminated or with "No Smoking" signs a crewmember can turn on and off. Currently, crewmembers must be able to manually turn aircraft "No Smoking" signs on and off. However, the current regulations were drafted when the Department of Transportation (DOT) permitted smoking at times on commercial flights. These amendments bring FAA regulations into alignment with current practice for aircraft manufacturing and operations.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or Agency) proposes to amend its regulations governing the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program to clarify certain policies. In 2019, SBA published a comprehensive revision to the HUBZone Program regulations, which implemented changes intended to make the HUBZone Program more efficient and effective. This proposed rule is intended to clarify and improve policies surrounding some of those changes. In particular, the rule proposes to require any certified HUBZone small business to be eligible as of the date of offer for any HUBZone contract. SBA also proposes to make several changes to SBA's size and 8(a) Business Development (BD) regulations, as well as some technical changes to the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) and Veteran Small Business Certification (VetCert) programs. Of note, the proposed rule would delete the program specific recertification requirements contained separately in SBA's size, 8(a) BD, HUBZone, WOSB, and VetCert and move them to a new section that would cover all size and status recertification requirements. This should ensure that the size and status requirements will be uniformly applied.

This interim final rule lengthens the required records retention for lenders that made loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to ten years. PPP was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act as a temporary emergency guaranteed loan program to provide economic relief to small businesses nationwide adversely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19), as amended. SBA has issued a number of final rules implementing the PPP Program. This interim final rule harmonizes the PPP lender records retention requirements with subsequent legislation extending the statute of limitations for criminal charges and civil enforcement actions for alleged PPP borrower fraud to ten years after the offense.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Lake Michigan at Chicago Harbor and Burnham Park Harbor safety and security zone on a portion of Lake Michigan in Chicago, IL. This action is intended to protect spectators and dignitaries associated with the Democratic National Convention. During the enforcement period listed below, entry into, transiting, or anchoring within the safety and security zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated Coast Guard or U.S. Secret Service representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing specific areas of the Hudson and East Rivers where safety zones will be enforced on the navigable waters beneath aerial drone shows. This action is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by aerial drone displays. This final rule would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector New York or a designated representative.

On July 27, 2024, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an interim final rule establishing three special use areas within Federal waters of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) from July 27, 2024 through August 26, 2024. This notice extends the temporary special use areas an additional 60 days. The special use areas prohibit all entry except for restoration activities under a valid Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) permit, continuous transit without interruption, and for law enforcement purposes, from August 26, 2024 to October 25, 2024. This temporary rule is necessary to prevent or minimize destruction of, loss of, or injury to sanctuary resources, specifically to facilitate restoration activities to improve or repair living habitats through protecting coral nursery stock at this site from potential impacts caused by anchor damage and/or fishing gear. This extension is necessary to protect the corals in the temporary special use areas until water temperatures cool and all of the corals are moved back to the original in-shore permitted nursery site. This temporary special use area will expire within 120 days from the date it was established.

The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC" or "Commission") is issuing this final rule and Statement of Basis and Purpose ("SBP") relating to certain specified unfair or deceptive acts or practices involving consumer reviews or testimonials. This final rule, among other things, prohibits selling or purchasing fake consumer reviews or testimonials, buying positive or negative consumer reviews, certain insiders creating consumer reviews or testimonials without clearly disclosing their relationships, creating a company-controlled review website that falsely purports to provide independent reviews, certain review suppression practices, and selling or purchasing fake indicators of social media influence.

GSA is issuing a final rule that makes technical amendments to the Federal Management Regulation (FMR) regarding gender neutrality. These technical amendments result in more inclusive language by replacing gender-specific pronouns (e.g., he, she, his, her) with non- gendered pronouns. GSA is also correcting minor grammatical and administrative errors in FMR parts 102-5 and 102-42. These changes are grammatical and technical in nature and do not result in added costs or associated policy changes.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) in October 2023 to address risks of death and injury associated with infant suffocations, falls, and other hazards associated with infant and infant/toddler rockers (rockers). CPSC announces the availability of, and seeks comment on, details about incident data relevant to the rulemaking and associated with infant and toddler rocker use. CPSC also seeks comment on a standard tessellation language (STL) file (used in computer-aided design) for a firmness test fixture proposed in the NPR, and a updated version of the voluntary standard for rockers.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface of the earth, due to the Area Navigation (RNAV) (Global Positioning System [GPS])-A approach being re-oriented to the north. Additionally, this action proposes administrative amendments to update the airport's existing Class E airspace legal description. These actions would support the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a design review that found insufficient clearance between fire extinguishing system (FIREX) lines and certain fasteners in the center mid-fuselage area. This proposed AD would require an inspection for positioning and sufficient clearance of certain fasteners in certain fuselage and keel beam areas, an inspection for damage of the fire extinguishing lines, and applicable corrective actions, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department of State ("Department") is amending a regulation relating to the effect of certain pardons on criminal- related grounds of visa ineligibility.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GVII-G500 and GVII- G600 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking in the electrical grounding receptacles located on the left and right wings. This proposed AD would require inspecting the electrical grounding receptacles for cracks and corrosion, performing applicable on-condition actions, and sealing over the grounding receptacles on the top of the wings to permanently disable the receptacle. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to conditionally approve a revision to the Maricopa County Air Quality Department's (MCAQD or "Department") portion of the Arizona State Implementation Plan (SIP). This rule revision establishes a program allowing fleet owners/operators to generate emission reduction credits (ERCs) by either retrofitting or replacing existing fleet vehicles with lower emitting vehicles and meeting other ongoing requirements. These ERCs are intended for use as offsets under the Department's nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) program. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.

This action establishes Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at White Sulphur Springs Airport, White Sulphur Springs, MT, to support the airport's transition from visual flight rules (VFR) operations to instrument flight rules (IFR) operations.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing two general licenses (GLs) issued pursuant to the Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions Regulations: GLs 13J and 55B, each of which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to revise the agency's rules of practice and procedure to improve access to documents and make e-filing rules technology neutral, to delete an obsolete regulation, to clarify the applicability of Subpart L and Subpart N procedures, to enhance internal consistency for page limit requirements, to enhance consistency with the Federal Rules of Evidence for "true copies," and to better reflect current Atomic Safety and Licensing Board Panel practice regarding admission of evidence.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to abolish the Frederick, Maryland, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and define Frederick County, MD, to the Anne Arundel, MD, NAF FWS wage area, and Berkeley County, West Virginia, to the Washington, DC, NAF FWS wage area. These changes are necessary because NAF FWS employment in the survey area is now below the minimum criterion of 26 wage employees to maintain a wage area, and the local activities no longer have the capability to conduct local wage surveys.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters within a 300 yard radius of the Grosse Tete passenger ferry at MM 46 of the Port Allen Route, Iberville, LA. The safety zone is needed to protect ferry operations for crossing school students during morning and afternoon commutes as a result of the Grosse Tete bridge closure. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) New Orleans. This rule is effective without actual notice from August 22, 2024 through noon on October 9, 2024. For the purposes of enforcement, actual notice will be used from noon on August 9, 2024, through August 22, 2024.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of uncommanded movement of the Captain's seat in the forward direction that caused a rapid descent. This AD requires inspections of affected Captain's and First Officer's seats for missing or cracked rocker switch caps and for cracked or nonfunctional switch cover assemblies, a rocker switch cap pull test, marking of the seats, and applicable on-condition actions. This AD also limits the installation of affected seats. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is adopting a final rule to add a general license, update language and authorities, and correct a cross-reference in existing regulations.