2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are amending the user fee regulations associated with the agricultural quarantine and inspection (AQI) program. Specifically, we are adjusting the fees for certain AQI services that are provided in connection with certain commercial vessels, commercial trucks, commercial railroad cars, commercial aircraft, and international passengers arriving at ports in the customs territory of the United States or precleared or preinspected at a site outside the customs territory of the United States; adjusting the caps on prepaid fees associated with commercial trucks and commercial railroad cars; and removing certain fee exemptions that are no longer justifiable based upon pathway analyses of risk. We are also revising requirements pertaining to remittances and statements. Specifically, we will require monthly rather than quarterly remittances for the commercial aircraft fee, international air passenger fee, and international cruise passenger fee, clarify our requirements, and provide for electronic payments and statements. We are also including in the regulations information on agents responsible for ensuring compliance with paying the user fees and the requirement for entities to notify the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in the event they have a change in personnel responsible for fee payments. These changes are necessary to recover the costs of the current level of AQI activity, to account for actual and projected increases in the cost of doing business, to increase fee payer accountability, and to more accurately align fees with the costs associated with each fee service.

This action finalizes amendments to the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAP) for the Coal- and Oil- Fired Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs) source category. These final amendments are the result of the EPA's review of the 2020 Residual Risk and Technology Review (RTR). The changes, which were proposed under the technology review in April 2023, include amending the filterable particulate matter (fPM) surrogate emission standard for non-mercury metal hazardous air pollutants (HAP) for existing coal- fired EGUs, the fPM emission standard compliance demonstration requirements, and the mercury (Hg) emission standard for lignite-fired EGUs. Additionally, the EPA is finalizing a change to the definition of "startup." The EPA did not propose, and is not finalizing, any changes to the 2020 Residual Risk Review.

This rule governs the management of surface resources and Special Areas in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (Reserve or NPR-A). The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the NPR-A consistent with its duties under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act, as amended (NPRPA), Federal Land Policy and Management Act, as amended, (FLPMA), and other authorities. The rule revises the framework for designating and assuring maximum protection of Special Areas' significant resource values and protects and enhances access for subsistence activities throughout the NPR-A. It also incorporates aspects of the NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan (IAP) approved in April 2022.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including miscellaneous refrigeration products. In this direct final rule, the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") is adopting amended energy conservation standards for miscellaneous refrigeration products. DOE has determined that the amended energy conservation standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on the current state of the marketplace for diverse and independent programming and on the obstacles faced by independent programmers seeking carriage on multichannel video programming distributors (MVPDs) and online platforms. In order to alleviate such obstacles, the Commission proposes to prohibit two types of contractual provisions in program carriage agreements between independent programmers and MVPDs: most favored nation (MFN) provisions, and unreasonable alternative distribution method (ADM) provisions. The Commission also seeks comment on current program bundling practices.

This rulemaking amends Marketing Order No. 981, which regulates the handling of almonds grown in California. This final rule modifies the definition of almonds and shelled almonds, establishes a definition for "almond biomass," and changes dates when the Almond Board of California (Board) conducts elections to coincide with assessment collections and when the Board submits volume regulation recommendations to USDA. The amendments modify certain marketing order provisions to facilitate orderly administration of the program. Additionally, the amendments modernize, simplify, or align language with current industry practices and definitions.

The Board adopts new regulations that provide for the prescription of reciprocal switching agreements as a means to promote adequate rail service through access to an additional line haul carrier. Under the new regulations, eligibility for prescription of a reciprocal switching agreement will be determined in part using objective performance standards that address reliability in time of arrival, consistency in transit time, and reliability in providing first-mile and last-mile service. The Board will also consider, in determining whether to prescribe a reciprocal switching agreement, certain affirmative defenses and the practicability of a reciprocal switching agreement. To help implement the new regulations, the Board will require all Class I railroads to submit certain service data on an ongoing and standardized basis, which will be generalized and publicly accessible. Railroads will also be required to provide individualized, machine-readable service data to a customer upon a written request from that customer.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International, S.A. (CFM) Model LEAP-1A23, LEAP-1A24, LEAP-1A24E1, LEAP-1A26, LEAP-1A26CJ, LEAP-1A26E1, LEAP-1A29, LEAP-1A29CJ, LEAP-1A30, LEAP-1A32, LEAP-1A33, LEAP-1A33B2, and LEAP-1A35A engines. This AD was prompted by detection of melt-related freckles in the billet, which may reduce the life of certain high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor interstage seals. This AD requires removing the affected HPT rotor interstage seals from service and replacing with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-243, -302, -343, and -941 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a certain aft bulkhead cover panel may have been made with a non-conforming material. This proposed AD would require replacing the aft bulkhead cover panel and prohibit the installation of affected parts, 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.

On April 4, 2024, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act of 2022 (CIRCIA), which proposes regulations implementing the statute's covered cyber incident and ransom payment reporting requirements for covered entities. CISA is extending the public comment period for the proposed rulemaking for an additional 30 days through July 3, 2024, in response to comments received from the public requesting additional time.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) issuing a final rule amending USAID Acquisition Regulation (AIDAR) that implements USAID requirements for managing digital information as a strategic asset to inform the planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the Agency's foreign assistance programs. This final rule incorporates a new policy on Digital Information Planning, Collection, and Submission Requirements and the corresponding clause as well as a new clause entitled "Activity Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan Requirements" into the (AIDAR). This final rule is intended to reduce the burden on contractors, increase efficiency, and improve the use of data and other forms of digital information across the Agency's programs and operations.

This document contains final regulations that provide guidance describing the circumstances and procedures under which an extension of time will be granted to make certain allocations and elections related to the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. The statutory provision underlying these rules was enacted as part of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA). The guidance affects individuals (or their estates) who failed to make a timely allocation of GST exemption, a timely election out of the GST automatic allocation rules, or certain other timely GST elections.

The Department of Defense (DoD or Department) is giving concurrent notice of a new system of records titled "All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) Report System," AARO-0001, and this rulemaking, which exempts portions of this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, because of national security. This rule is being published as a direct final rule as the Department does not expect to receive any adverse comments. If such comments are received, this direct final rule will be withdrawn and a proposed rule for comments will be published.

The Coast Guard is establishing 16 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 May 1, 2024, to May 31, 2024. When enforced, only attending vessels and vessels with authorization are permitted to enter or remain in the temporary safety zones.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Windermere Cup on May 4, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Thirteenth Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event on the Montlake Cut and Union Bay Reach between Portage Bay and Webster Point on Lake Washington in Seattle, WA. During the enforcement period, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended ("EPCA"), prescribes energy conservation standards for various consumer products and certain commercial and industrial equipment, including consumer water heaters. EPCA also requires the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE" or "the Department") to periodically determine whether more stringent standards would be technologically feasible and economically justified, and would result in significant energy savings. In this final rule, DOE is adopting amended energy conservation standards for consumer water heaters. It has determined that the new and amended energy conservation standards for these products would result in significant conservation of energy, and are technologically feasible and economically justified.

This document contains final regulations regarding Federal income tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) for the purchase of qualifying new and previously-owned clean vehicles, including new and previously-owned plug-in electric vehicles powered by an electric battery meeting certain requirements and new qualified fuel cell motor vehicles. In addition, the final regulations provide guidance for taxpayers who purchase qualifying vehicles and intend to transfer the amount of any previously-owned clean vehicle credit or new clean vehicle credit to dealers that are entities eligible to receive advance payments of either credit. The final regulations also provide guidance for dealers to become eligible entities to receive advance payments of previously-owned clean vehicle credits or new clean vehicle credits, and rules regarding recapture of the credits. Finally, the final regulations provide guidance on the meaning of three new definitions added to the exclusive list of mathematical or clerical errors relating to certain assessments of tax without a notice of deficiency.

The Food and Drug Administration is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to make explicit that in vitro diagnostic products (IVDs) are devices under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) including when the manufacturer of the IVD is a laboratory. In conjunction with this amendment, the Food and Drug Administration is phasing out its general enforcement discretion approach for laboratory developed tests (LDTs) so that IVDs manufactured by a laboratory will generally fall under the same enforcement approach as other IVDs. This phaseout policy includes enforcement discretion policies for specific categories of IVDs manufactured by a laboratory, including currently marketed IVDs offered as LDTs and LDTs for unmet needs. This phaseout policy is intended to better protect the public health by helping to assure the safety and effectiveness of IVDs offered as LDTs, while also accounting for other important public health considerations such as patient access and reliance.

On December 4, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) published in the Federal Register for public comment a proposed interpretive rule on DOE's interpretation of the statutory definition of "foreign entity of concern" (FEOC) in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which applies to multiple programs related to the battery supply chain. This statutory definition provides that, among other criteria, a foreign entity is a FEOC if it is "owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of a government of a foreign country that is a covered nation." In this final interpretive rule, DOE responds to public comments, clarifying the term "foreign entity of concern" by providing interpretations of the following key terms: "government of a foreign country;" "foreign entity;" "subject to the jurisdiction;" and "owned by, controlled by, or subject to the direction."

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the waters of Seddon Channel in Tampa Bay, Tampa, Florida during the US Special Operations Command capabilities demonstration (CAPE DEMO). The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by airborne and waterborne activities occurring during the exercise. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

The Video Division, Media Bureau (Bureau), has before it a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking issued in response to a Petition for Rulemaking filed by Sinclair Media Licensee, LLC (Petitioner or Sinclair), the licensee of KECI-TV (Station or KECI-TV), channel 13, Missoula, Montana (Missoula). The Station is currently operating on channel 13, and in 2021, the Bureau granted Sinclair's request to substitute UHF channel 20 for VHF channel 13 at Missoula in the Table of TV Allotments (Table). Sinclair currently holds a construction permit to modify its facility to operate on channel 20 and has petitioned for the substitution of channel 21 for channel 20 at Missoula in the Table. Sinclair filed comments in support of the petition, as required by the Commission's rules (rules), reaffirming its present intention to apply for a construction permit to build the Station's facilities on channel 21 and to promptly construct such facilities.

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) adopted a Fourth Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration that reinstitutes the collection of workforce composition data for television and radio broadcasters on FCC Form 395- B, as statutorily required.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is finalizing amendments to the procedural framework rule for conducting risk evaluations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or non-risk factors, including unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA, under the conditions of use. EPA reconsidered the procedural framework rule for conducting such risk evaluations and is revising certain aspects of that framework to better align with the statutory text and applicable court decisions, to reflect the Agency's experience implementing the risk evaluation program following enactment of the 2016 TSCA amendments, and to allow for consideration of future scientific advances in the risk evaluation process without need to further amend the Agency's procedural rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is making an interim final determination that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has submitted a revised rule and has also submitted revised rules on behalf of the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District (SJVUAPCD), Ventura County Air Pollution Control District (VCAPCD), and South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) that correct deficiencies in its Clean Air Act (CAA or Act) state implementation plan (SIP) provisions concerning ozone nonattainment requirements for controlling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at crude oil and natural gas facilities. This determination is based on a proposed approval and conditional approval, published elsewhere in this Federal Register, of a California statewide rule, six California air districts rules, and associated reasonably available control technology (RACT) determinations for that source category. The effect of this interim final determination is to defer the imposition of sanctions that was triggered by EPA's previous disapproval. If the EPA finalizes its proposed approval of CARB's submission, relief from these sanctions will become permanent.

This rule proposes to remove existing general information about the professional responsibility requirements of attorneys practicing under the cognizance and supervision of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) and includes a new requirement for all non-U.S. Government attorneys to file a notice of appearance before appearing in any matter for which the JAG is charged with supervising the provision of legal services. It also proposes to remove existing content relating to the Rules of Professional Conduct and replaces it with complaint processing procedures.