2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final action updates the prospective payment rates for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2025. As required by statute, this final action includes the classification and weighting factors for the IRF prospective payment system's case-mix groups and a description of the methodologies and data used in computing the prospective payment rates for FY 2025. We are updating the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) market area delineations for the IRF prospective payment system (PPS) wage index and applying a 3-year phase-out of the rural adjustment. This rule also includes updates for the IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP).

This final rule finalizes changes and updates to the policies and payment rates used under the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2025. First, we are rebasing and revising the SNF market basket to reflect a 2022 base year. Next, we update the wage index used under the SNF PPS to reflect data collected during the most recent decennial census. Additionally, we finalize several technical revisions to the code mappings used to classify patients under the Patient Driven Payment Model (PDPM) to improve payment and coding accuracy. This final rule also updates the requirements for the SNF Quality Reporting Program and the SNF Value- Based Purchasing Program. Finally, we also are revising CMS' enforcement authority for imposing civil money penalties (CMPs) and including revisions to strengthen nursing home enforcement regulations.

Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to disapprove a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by Missouri (the State) on November 1, 2022 regarding interstate transport for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). The "good neighbor" or "interstate transport" provision requires that each State's SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit emissions from within the State from significantly contributing to nonattainment or interfering with maintenance of the NAAQS in other States. This requirement is part of the broader set of "infrastructure" requirements designed to ensure that the structural components of each State's air quality management program are adequate to meet the State's responsibilities under the CAA. Missouri previously submitted a SIP revision regarding ozone transport for the 2015 8-hour ozone NAAQS (2015 ozone NAAQS) on June 10, 2019, which the EPA previously disapproved. Missouri submitted a second SIP submission, reanalyzing its good neighbor obligations and making revisions to its SIP, on November 1, 2022. In this document, the EPA proposes to disapprove the November 1, 2022, submission as inadequate to address Missouri's obligations. This disapproval, if finalized, will establish a 2-year deadline for the EPA to promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address the relevant interstate transport requirements, unless the EPA approves a subsequent SIP submission that meets these requirements. Disapproval does not start a mandatory sanctions clock.

The Department of the Interior (DOI) is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt certain records in the INTERIOR/DOI- 10, DOI Law Enforcement Records Management System (LE RMS), system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 because of criminal, civil, and administrative law enforcement requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the comment period for a proposed rule that published July 19, 2024. The current comment period for the proposed rule was set to end on August 19, 2024. Due to a technical issue, some of the background materials for the proposed rule were not made available to www.regulations.gov until July 24, 2024. The EPA is therefore extending the comment period for the proposed action to August 26, 2024.

This action proposes special conditions for Boeing Model 787-9 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by NAT, will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is the installation of high wall suites in the passenger cabin. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing that we have filed a petition, submitted by GNT USA, LLC, proposing that the color additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of spirulina extract in foods generally in amounts consistent with good manufacturing practice.

In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is proposing new pilotage rates for 2025. The Coast Guard estimates that this proposed rule would result in approximately a 7 percent increase in operating costs compared to the 2024 season. The proposed new pilotage rates are the result of increases in both the number of Pilots and revenue needed for the working capital fund.

The General Services Administration is amending the General Services Administration Acquisition Regulations (GSAR) to standardize and simplify the Multiple Award Schedule clauses for economic price adjustments. This rule removes certain economic price adjustment requirements within these clauses to better align with commercial standards and practices.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopts a new secondary allocation in the 2025-2110 MHz band for non-Federal space operations, removes the restriction on use of the 2200-2290 MHz secondary non-Federal space operation allocation to four specific sub-channels to make the entire 2200-2290 MHz band available, adds a non-Federal secondary mobile allocation to the 2200- 2290 MHz band, and adopts licensing and technical rules for space launch operations. Additionally, the Commission amends the allocation for the 399.9-400.05 MHz band to permit the deployment of Federal space stations.

The Coast Guard will enforce various safety zones in August 2024 for marine events taking place in Captain of the Port Northern Great Lakes. Enforcement of these safety zones is necessary to protect the safety of life and property on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after events. During the period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after events. During each enforcement period, vessels must stay out of the established safety zone and may only enter with permission from the Captain of the Port Northern Great Lakes or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for certain waters of Santa Monica Bay. This action is necessary to provide for the security of life on these navigable waters near Will Rogers State Beach, Pacific Palisades, CA, during a beachfront event on August 11, 2024. This security zone would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the St. Clair River in the vicinity of Port Huron, MI. This zone is intended to restrict and control movement of vessels in a portion of the St. Clair River. Though this is an unsanctioned, non-permitted marine event, this zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during a float down event near Port Huron, MI.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Gainesville Regional Airport, Gainesville, FL, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Shands Cair Heliport and Shands Helistop Heliport, Gainesville, FL. This action would also replace the terms Notice to Airmen with Notice to Air Missions and Airport/Facility Directory with Chart Supplement in the Class D and Class E descriptions.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Mission Hospitals, Asheville, NC, as new instrument approach procedures have been designed for Mission Hospitals. This action would also update the coordinates for Mission Hospitals.

NMFS closes the Harpoon category fishery for large medium and giant (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 cm) curved fork length (CFL) or greater) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) for the remainder of the 2024 fishing year. This closure applies to Atlantic Tunas Harpoon category permitted vessels.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing two actions in this notice. First, EPA is proposing to determine that the Rusk-Panola Counties, Texas nonattainment area failed to attain the 2010 1-hour primary sulfur dioxide (SO2) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date of January 12, 2022. Second, EPA is proposing a limited approval and limited disapproval of the State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision for the Rusk-Panola 2010 1-hour SO2 Primary NAAQS nonattainment area. EPA is proposing a limited disapproval because the SIP contains a force majeure clause that, if triggered, is such that the emissions limitations are not continuously applicable or enforceable. EPA is proposing limited approval because the SIP revision strengthens the SIP but does not fully meet the Act's requirements and provides for attainment, albeit not by the required deadline and with the exception of the force majeure clause. Under this limited approval action, if finalized, all provisions will be fully incorporated into the SIP. The limited disapproval, if finalized, will start sanctions clocks until the deficiency is corrected by the State and approved by EPA. EPA plans to address the deficiency in the SIP through a separate action promulgating a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP).

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council submitted amendment 33 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, amendment 33 would implement a rebuilding plan for California quillback rockfish and modify the allocation framework for shortspine thornyhead. Amendment 33 is necessary to rebuild overfished stocks, achieve optimum yield, and ensure management measures are based on the best scientific information available. It is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan.

Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Massachusetts' Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). This action also codifies EPA's approval of Massachusetts' state program and incorporates by reference those provisions of the State statutes and regulations that we have determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under sections 9005 and 9006 of RCRA Subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.

HUD's regulations require mortgagees of Federal Housing Administration insured single family mortgages to meet in person, or make a reasonable effort to meet in person, with mortgagors who are in default on their mortgage payments. This rule modernizes those requirements by amending HUD's regulations to better align with advances in electronic communication technology and mortgagor engagement preferences, while preserving consumer protections. Specifically, this rule revises HUD's in-person, face-to-face meeting requirements by permitting mortgagees to utilize methods of communication most likely to receive a response from the mortgagor, including remote communication methods, to meet with mortgagors who are in default on their mortgage payments. This rule also expands the meeting requirement to all mortgagors in default, including mortgagors who do not reside in the mortgaged property and those with a mortgaged property not within 200 miles of their mortgagee. This final rule adopts HUD's July 31, 2023, proposed rule with only minor, non- substantive revisions.

A final rule was published in the Federal Register on June 4, 2024, establishing Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Rockingham County NC Shiloh Airport, Reidsville, NC, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures serving the airport. The FAA has determined that withdrawal of the final rule is warranted since this action should be considered an amendment.

This action proposes to amend Special Conditions No. 25-791-SC for The Boeing Company (Boeing) Model 777-9 series airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is electrical and electronic systems that perform critical functions, the loss of which could be catastrophic to the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions, as amended, 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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving the State of Idaho's request to implement and enforce the Federal Plan Requirements for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators (HMIWI) Constructed on or before December 1, 2008 (the Federal Plan). The Federal Plan establishes emission limits, monitoring, and other requirements for certain existing HMIWI units. The EPA and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ) entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), effective November 7, 2014, documenting the policies, responsibilities, and procedures the IDEQ will follow, as well as the authorities retained by the EPA.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is issuing this final rule revising the Agency for International Development Assistance Regulation to maintain consistency with Federal and agency regulations and guidance, make editorial amendments to clarify the regulation, and implement the Office of Management and Budget's April 2024 revisions.