2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a correction to a final rule published in the Federal Register of Monday, April 22, 2024, which will be effective June 21, 2024. The final rule established new emission standards for heavy-duty highway vehicles, along with several amendments for a wide range of highway and nonroad engines and vehicles. This document corrects inadvertent errors introduced in preparing the amendatory regulatory text for publication. These corrections do not include any substantives change to the final rule.

FMCSA amends the regulations governing the annual registration fees that participating States collect from motor carriers, motor private carriers of property, brokers, freight forwarders, and leasing companies for the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) Plan and Agreement for the 2025 registration year and subsequent registration years. Following a reduction in fees of an average of 37.3 percent over the two prior years, the fees for the 2025 registration year will be increased above the fees for the 2024 registration year by an average of 25 percent overall, with varying increases between $9 and $9,000 per entity, depending on the applicable fee bracket. The final rule is based upon a recommendation from the UCR Plan.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones, a moving safety zone and a fixed safety zone, around the M/V HAPPY DIAMOND in the navigable waters of the Houston Ship Channel and its vicinity. The temporary safety zones are necessary to protect persons, property, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the transfer of rubber tire gantry cranes. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zones unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston or a designated representative.

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in an abbreviated framework action under the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP) as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council). This proposed rule would modify the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) lane snapper catch limits. The purpose of this proposed rule is to modify the Gulf lane snapper catch limits based on the best scientific information available. This proposed rule would also revise reporting and compliance requirements for Gulf reef fish commercial permit holders using vessel monitoring systems (VMS).

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the Annual Swim Around Key West, Key West, Florida to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waterways during this event. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of event participants and spectators. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area without approval from the Captain of the Port Key West or a designated representative.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is proposing to grant an exemption for certain cottage cheese products from the requirements of the Requirements for Additional Traceability Records for Certain Foods rule (the Food Traceability Rule). The Agency is taking this action in accordance with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and FDA's implementing regulations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary, moving safety zone for all navigable waters of the La Quinta and Corpus Christi Shipping Channel between gated pair lights 11 and 12 to the sea buoy. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards arising from the towing of the rig Valaris 144. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi, or a designated representative.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published in the Federal Register on March 20, 2024, a final rule to strengthen its Section 184 Indian Loan Guarantee Program by, among other things, clarifying rules for Tribes, lenders, servicers, and other participants. The final rule established an effective date of June 18, 2024. To provide time for HUD to develop and implement a comprehensive handbook for the Section 184 Program and to allow Tribes, lenders, servicers, and other participants time to conform their policies, procedures, and systems to comply with HUD's March 20, 2024, final rule, this rulemaking delays that effective date to December 31, 2024, and establishes a compliance date of March 1, 2025.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is correcting an amendatory instruction in a final rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024. The document amended the Agency's existing standards to better protect miners against occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica, a significant health hazard, and to improve respiratory protection for miners from exposure to airborne contaminants.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that a more restrictive airworthiness limitation is necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate a more restrictive airworthiness limitation, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of operators finding frequent and severe damage to the blowout vent grilles throughout the lower lobe cargo compartment. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of certain decompression panels and pressure equalization valves, as applicable, in the forward and aft lower lobe cargo compartments for damage, and applicable on- condition actions. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires installation of decompression panels with billet grilles. For other certain airplanes, this AD also requires replacement of a certain soft bulkhead with a rigid bulkhead. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires installation of doublers to a certain bulkhead assembly panel. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-68, V-76, V-212, V-222, and V-558, and United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-220. The FAA is proposing this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Industry, TX (IDU), VOR/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Industry VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from the surface for Boire Field Airport, Nashua, NH, by replacing the reference to Manchester Very High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME). This action does not change the airspace boundaries or operating requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the "Agency") is proposing to address the unreasonable risk of injury to human health presented by n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) under its conditions of use as documented in EPA's risk evaluation and risk determination for NMP pursuant to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). NMP is a widely used solvent in a variety of industrial, commercial, and consumer applications including the manufacture and production of electronics such as semiconductors, polymers, petrochemical products, paints and coatings, and paint and coating removers. EPA determined that NMP presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health due to the significant adverse health effects associated with exposure to NMP, including developmental post-implantation fetal loss from short-term exposure and reduced fertility and fecundity from long-term exposure. Additional adverse effects associated with exposure to NMP include liver toxicity, kidney toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, skin irritation, and sensitization. To address the identified unreasonable risk, EPA is proposing to: prohibit the manufacture (including import), processing, and distribution in commerce and use of NMP in several occupational conditions of use; require worker protections through an NMP workplace chemical protection program (WCPP) or prescriptive controls (including concentration limits) for most of the occupational conditions of use; require concentration limits on a consumer product; regulate certain consumer products to prevent commercial use; and establish recordkeeping, labeling, and downstream notification requirements.

This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulation on Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for plans with valuation dates of July 1-July 30, 2024. These interest assumptions are used for valuing benefits under terminating single-employer plans and for other purposes.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Matinicus Island Airport, Matinicus Island, ME, to accommodate new area navigation (RNAV) global positioning system (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures serving this airport. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This final rule corrects the regulations published in the Federal Register (FR) on April 11, 2024, which entered into effect on May 13, 2024. These amendments reinstate introductory text, which was inadvertently removed, and recodify introductory text to a new paragraph. One additional amendment also removes a gender pronoun from the text.

HUD will host three, two-part virtual public listening sessions to allow interested persons an opportunity to learn about and provide comments on the "HOME Investment Partnerships Program: Program Updates and Streamlining" proposed rule. The Part 1 listening sessions will address the topics of community housing development organizations, maximum subsidy amounts, green building incentives, homebuyer housing, and community land trusts. The Part 2 listening sessions will address the topics of rental housing, tenant-based rental assistance, and tenant protections.

This document amends the Table of FM Allotments, of the Federal Communications Commission's (Commission) rules, by substituting Channel 245B1 for vacant Channel 245B at Mattoon, Illinois to resolve the distance spacing conflict with Station WHMS-FM and maintain a second local FM service. A staff engineering analysis determines that Channel 245B1 can be allotted to Mattoon, Illinois consistent with the minimum distance separation requirements of the Commission's rules with a site restriction of 12.2 kilometers (7.6 miles) southeast of the community at reference coordinates 39-23-17 NL and 88-17-21 WL. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The FAA invites public comment on the agency's draft policy statement that establishes a safety continuum for the certification of powered-lift.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving state implementation plan (SIP) revisions submitted by the State of West Virginia through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP). The revisions pertain to second 10-year limited maintenance plans (LMPs) for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). The LMPs address the Charleston, West Virginia area (Charleston Area) and the West Virginia portion of the Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-West Virginia area (West Virginia portion of the Steubenville-Weirton Area). EPA is approving the Charleston Area LMP and the West Virginia portion of the Steubenville-Weirton Area LMP because they provide for the maintenance of the 2006 24-hour PM2.5 NAAQS through the end of their respective second 10-year maintenance periods. In addition, EPA is finalizing the process to find the LMPs adequate for transportation conformity purposes. EPA is approving these revisions to the West Virginia SIP in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA).

This action amends Alaskan Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airway V-508 in the vicinity of Aniak, AK. The FAA is taking this action due to the pending decommissioning of the Aniak, AK, Nondirectional Radio Beacon (NDB).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary regulation for waters of the Elizabeth River, in Norfolk, Virginia to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a boat parade that is scheduled for the afternoon of June 15, 2024. Parade participants operating within the regulated area must comply with all instructions given by the on-scene Patrol Commander (PATCOM). Vessels or persons entering the regulated area during the enforcement period are subject to the direction and control of the on- scene PATCOM as designated and specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Virginia.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove a revision to the Arizona state implementation plan (SIP) as meeting the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of the 2012 fine particulate matter (PM2.5) national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or "standards"). As part of this action, the EPA is proposing to approve regulatory provisions into the Arizona SIP. The EPA is seeking public comment on this proposed action and will accept comments from the public on this proposal for the next 30 days.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-02-08, which applies to certain ATR-GIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42-500 airplanes. AD 2023-02-08 requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. Since the FAA issued AD 2023-02-08, the FAA has determined that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would continue to require certain actions in AD 2023-02-08 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.