2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State (the Department) is correcting a regulation that was amended by a final rule published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2023. This final rule made a typographical error in the immigrant visa classification symbols and incorrectly listed the IB1 classification for "Self-petition Spouse of U.S. Citizen" as "IBI" rather than "IB1." This mistake could cause confusion.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is reopening the comment period for the notification of petition, published in the Federal Register of April 26, 2024, announcing that we have filed a food additive petition, submitted by Environmental Defense Fund, et al., proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to remove fluorinated polyethylene. FDA is reopening the comment period to add the food additive petition to the docket. FDA is also making a correction to the filing notice.

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on June 18, 2024, that amended Jet Route J-89 and Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-161, and established Canadian Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-834 in United States (U.S.) airspace. In the Q-834 description in the final rule, the order of the listed route points was reversed in error. This action makes editorial corrections to list the Q-834 route points to match the route data forms and the FAA National Airspace System Resource (NASR) database information.

This action supplements the proposed amendments to the new source performance standards (NSPS) and emission guidelines (EG) for the Other Solid Waste Incineration (OSWI) units source category published in the Federal Register on August 31, 2020. In that action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed changes to OSWI subcategories and related maximum achievable control technology (MACT) floor redeterminations, applicability-related changes and testing and monitoring flexibilities for certain small OSWI units, among other proposed changes. Based on the EPA's analysis of comments received after proposal and discussions with the state of Alaska and tribes, we are proposing to add a definition for a rudimentary combustion device and are asking for specific comment on this definition. We are also proposing to postpone developing standards for such devices.

Under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the "Act"), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting a request from the States of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to reclassify the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-CT ozone nonattainment area from "Moderate" to "Serious" for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This action does not reclassify any areas of Indian country within the boundaries of this ozone nonattainment area.

In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) announces that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved, for a period of three years, the information collection associated with the Commission's revised pole attachment rules. This document is consistent with Accelerating Wireline Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment, Fourth Report and Order, Declaratory Ruling, FCC 23-109, which stated that the Bureau would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the revised rules.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a final rule to specify that employees who are detailed or temporarily promoted to higher-grade duties of a higher-graded position should be paid accordingly for the entire time spent performing the duties of the higher-graded position, as found pursuant to a final order by an appropriate authority.

We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review of seven species of giant clams (Hippopus hippopus, H. porcellanus, Tridacna derasa, T. gigas, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosa, and T. squamosina) in response to a petition to list these species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Based on the best scientific and commercial data available, including the Status Review Report, and after taking into account efforts being made to protect these species, we have determined that H. porcellanus, T. mbalavuana, and T. squamosina are in danger of extinction throughout the entirety of their respective ranges, T. derasa and T. gigas are in danger of extinction in a significant portion of their respective ranges, and H. hippopus is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout a significant portion of its range. Therefore, we propose to list H. porcellanus, T. mbalavuana, T. squamosina, T. derasa, and T. gigas as endangered species and H. hippopus as a threatened species under the ESA. We have determined that the fluted clam, T. squamosa, is not currently in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range and is not likely to become so within the foreseeable future. Therefore, we find that T. squamosa does not meet the definition of a threatened or an endangered species under section 4(a) of the ESA. Further, we propose to exercise the discretionary authority of section 4(d) to extend the prohibitions of section 9 of the ESA to the proposed threatened species, H. hippopus. At this time, we do not propose to designate critical habitat for the three species proposed to be listed that occur within U.S. jurisdiction (H. hippopus, T. derasa, and T. gigas) because critical habitat for these species is not yet determinable. Using the authority of section 4(e) of the ESA, we also propose to list T. crocea, T. maxima, T. noae, and T. squamosa as threatened species due to the similarity of appearance of products derived from these species (e.g., meat, worked shell products, and pearls) to those derived from the six aforementioned species proposed to be listed based on their extinction risk. We propose a special rule to define activities that would and would not be prohibited with respect to these four species in order to mitigate the substantial enforcement challenge associated with this similarity of appearance concern. We solicit information to inform the final listing determination and to inform a future proposal for any determinable critical habitat.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) proposes to amend its regulations governing the confidentiality and release of VA records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. VA proposes to exempt portions of the new "Law Enforcement Officer Evaluations (LEO Evals)VA" (216VA10) system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974 to prevent compromising the objectivity and fairness of the testing and evaluation process.

Pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965, as amended (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Pennsylvania or State). This action also codifies EPA's approval of Pennsylvania's State program and incorporates by reference (IBR) those provisions of Pennsylvania's regulations and statutes that EPA has 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.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-08-08, 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 2022-08-08 requires repetitive special detailed inspections of certain double joggle areas on the fuselage and applicable on-condition actions. This proposed AD continues to require the actions in AD 2022-08-08 and would add 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 FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-21-02, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A330-200 series, A330-200 Freighter series, A330-300 series, A330-800 series, and A330- 900 series airplanes. AD 2023-21-02 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-21-02, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2023-21-02 and would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, 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.

This document corrects a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG- 124593-23) published in the Federal Register on June 18, 2024, containing proposed regulations that would identify certain partnership related party basis adjustment transactions and substantially similar transactions as transactions of interest, a type of reportable transaction.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau or CFPB) is proposing a rule that would amend regulations originally issued in 2013 regarding the responsibilities of mortgage servicers. The proposed amendments would streamline existing requirements when borrowers seek payment assistance in times of distress, add safeguards when borrowers seek help, and revise existing requirements with respect to borrower assistance. The proposed rule would also require servicers to provide certain communications in languages other than English, such as when a borrower is seeking payment assistance with their mortgage. The proposed rule, if finalized, would increase the likelihood that investors and borrowers can avert the costs of avoidable foreclosure.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is issuing this document for a demonstration program that will establish a new loss mitigation retention option, referred to as the Payment Supplement Account (PSA). The Agency's intention of this demonstration program is to assist borrowers who have experienced a documented hardship that led to an involuntary inability to pay their mortgage obligation, require payment reduction to resume making a monthly payment, and currently have a below market interest rate. This document briefly discusses a special servicing option for servicers to utilize to continue assisting struggling borrowers who seek loss mitigation alternatives, regardless of the nature of their hardship.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Brenham, TX. The FAA is taking this action to support new public instrument procedures.

We, NMFS, announce a 90-day finding on a petition to list the Alabama shad (Alosa alabamae) as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The petitioners also request that we designate critical habitat. We find that the petition presents substantial scientific or commercial information indicating that the petitioned action may be warranted. Therefore, we are initiating a status review of the Alabama shad to determine whether listing under the ESA is warranted. To support a comprehensive status review, we are soliciting scientific and commercial information regarding this species from any interested party.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-8 and revoke RNAV Route Q-18 in Alaska. The FAA is proposing this action to resolve an issue involving rejected automated flight plans.

This document corrects a notice of proposed rulemaking (REG- 133850-13) published in the Federal Register on May 15, 2024, containing proposed regulations that would remove the associated property rule and similar rules from the existing regulations on the interest capitalization requirements for improvements to designated property.

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) submitted to NMFS Amendment 8 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the U.S. West Coast Highly Migratory Species (HMS) July 15, 2024. If approved by the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary), these Amendments would update essential fish habitat (EFH) provisions in the existing HMS FMP. This Amendment is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) which requires periodic review and revision of EFH components of FMPs as warranted based on available information.

The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is adopting rule and form amendments to provide a tailored form to register the offerings of registered index-linked annuities ("RILAs"). Specifically, the Commission is amending the form currently used by most variable annuity separate accounts, Form N-4, to require issuers of RILAs to register offerings on that form as well. To facilitate this amendment, the Commission is also amending certain filing rules and making other related amendments. These changes will implement the requirements relating to RILAs contained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023. The Commission is also extending the registration, filing, and disclosure requirements that the Commission is adopting for RILA offerings to the offerings of registered market value adjustment annuities. Further, the Commission is adopting other amendments to Form N-4 that will apply to all issuers that use that form. The Commission is applying to RILA and registered market value adjustment annuity advertisements and sales literature a current Commission rule that provides guidance as to when sales literature is materially misleading under the Federal securities laws. Finally, the Commission is adopting technical amendments to Forms N-6 and N-3 to correct errors from prior Commission rulemakings.

On July 28, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") published a notice of proposed rulemaking ("NOPR"), in which DOE proposed amended energy conservation standards for consumer water heaters ("July 2023 NOPR"). In this notification of data availability ("NODA"), DOE is updating portions of its analysis for gas instantaneous water heaters. DOE requests comments, data, and information regarding the updated analysis.

This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Trichoderma atroviride strain AT10 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. Agrotecnolog[iacute]as Naturales S.L., 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 Trichoderma atroviride strain AT10 under FFDCA when used in accordance with this exemption.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-07-13, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and - 1041 airplanes. AD 2023-07-13 requires repetitive detailed inspections of the lower attachment studs on the AFT galley complex and, depending on findings, replacement of the lower attachment studs. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-07-13, it has been determined that additional airplanes are affected, and that all affected parts must be replaced with serviceable parts. This proposed AD would continue to require the actions in AD 2023-07-13, add airplanes to the applicability, and require the replacement of all affected parts, as specified in 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A330- 300 series airplane. This airplane as modified by Aerocon Engineering Company (Aerocon) 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 an installation of a lower deck crew rest compartment (LDCRC) under the passenger cabin floor in the cargo compartment. 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.