2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of Queensway Bay. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Los Angeles-Long Beach.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that for airplanes converted from passenger to cargo configuration using certain supplemental type certificates, no height limitation for the cargo, when loaded in the cargo compartment, is defined, and that as a consequence, cargo might be loaded up to the ceiling of the cargo compartment. This AD requires modification of the cargo compartment and implementation of updated cargo loading procedures. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-18- 09, which applied to all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes; and certain Model C- 295 airplanes. AD 2018-18-09 required a detailed inspection of the upper and lower lugs of each horizontal stabilizer-to-fuselage rear attachment fitting, repair if necessary, and a report of findings. This AD was prompted by reports of new occurrences of cracking. This AD requires repetitive inspections, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also revises the applicability. 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 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple occurrences of pilot and co-pilot seats locking in a fore-aft position due to the seat fore- aft adjustment mechanism disconnecting, caused by a broken cotter pin in the seat base egress linkage. This AD requires modifying the pilot and co-pilot seats by replacing the hardware of the seat base egress linkage, 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 767-300F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain cargo compartment insulation blankets do not adequately fit some locations and allow smoke to migrate past the cargo compartment sidewall liners and upward into the main cabin. This AD requires replacing cargo compartment insulation blankets. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) proposes to revise its drug testing procedures rule, which became effective on June 1, 2023, to provide interim provisions to require the conduct of directly observed urine tests in situations where oral fluid tests are currently required, but oral fluid testing is not yet available.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is amending its regulation governing clinical trials registration and results information submission to update throughout the regulation the internet web address or uniform resource locator (URL) of the site that provides information about formatting of information for submission, procedures, and tools as specified in the regulation.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

Pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA or Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the State of Nebraska's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by the Nebraska State Fire Marshal (NSFM). This action is based on the EPA's determination that these revisions satisfy all requirements needed for program approval. This action also proposes to codify EPA's approval of Nebraska's State program and incorporate by reference those provisions of the State regulations that we have determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under the RCRA and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.

On September 30, 2024, Rural Development's Rural Business- Cooperative Service, Rural Housing Service, and Rural Utilities Service, agencies of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a final rule with comment for the OneRD Guarantee Loan Program (OneRD). The final rule made necessary revisions to the policy and procedures that strengthened the oversight and management of the growing Community Facilities, Water and Waste Disposal, Business and Industry, and Rural Energy for America guarantee portfolios. The final rule had a misspelled subject heading in the preamble. The final rule also contained information in an instruction that was not ultimately in the final rule, an incomplete definition of affiliate, and a misstatement regarding protective advances. This document corrects the final regulation.

This final rule addresses: changes to the physician fee schedule (PFS); other changes to Medicare Part B payment policies to ensure that payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice, relative value of services, and changes in the statute; codification of establishment of new policies for, the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022; updates to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model; payment for dental services inextricably linked to specific covered medical services; updates to drugs and biological products paid under Part B including immunosuppressive drugs and clotting factors; Medicare Shared Savings Program requirements; updates to the Quality Payment Program; Medicare coverage of opioid use disorder services furnished by opioid treatment programs; updates to policies for Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers; electronic prescribing for controlled substances for a covered Part D drug under a prescription drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MA-PD) plan under the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act); update to the Ambulance Fee Schedule regulations; codification of the Inflation Reduction Act and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 provisions; updates to Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule regulations; updates to the diabetes payment structure and PHE flexibilities; expansion of colorectal cancer screening and Hepatitis B vaccine coverage and payment; establishing payment for drugs covered as additional preventive services; Medicare Parts A and B Overpayment Provisions of the Affordable Care Act and Medicare Parts C and D Overpayment Provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

This final rule adopts without change the interim final rule issued by the Department of Justice ("Department" or "DOJ") on May 10, 2022, that revoked a prohibition on the inclusion of provisions in settlement agreements directing or providing for a payment or loan to a non-governmental person or entity not a party to the dispute, subject to limited exceptions.

This document announces the Agency's receipt of an initial filing of a pesticide petition requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.

This action amends Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal Airways V-519 and Area Navigation (RNAV) Route T-426; and revokes Jet Routes J-213 and J-526, and VOR Federal Airways V-59 and V- 258. The FAA is taking this action due to the planned decommissioning of the VOR portion of the Beckley, WV (BKW), VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). The Beckley VOR is being decommissioned in support of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) Route Q-8 and revokes RNAV Route Q-18 in Alaska. The FAA is taking these actions to resolve an issue involving rejected automated flight plans.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of Sandusky Bay in vicinity of the Jackson Street Pier in Sandusky, OH. The safety zone is necessary and intended to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with firework displays created by the City of Sandusky. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Detroit, or his designated representative.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) recently published a final rule in the Federal Register of November 6, 2024, making technical corrections to certain of its regulations. This document corrects two minor, non-substantive errors in the amendatory instructions in that final rule.

NMFS is closing the commercial Atlantic mackerel fishery through December 31, 2024. This closure is required by regulation because NMFS projects that 80 percent of the mackerel domestic annual harvest is harvested. This action is necessary to comply with the regulations implementing the Mackerel, Squid, and Butterfish Fishery Management Plan and is intended to prevent overharvest of Atlantic mackerel.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or Agency), an agency in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Mission area, is issuing a final rule to update the Multi-Family Housing (MFH) and Community Facility (CF) regulations by updating the audit and financial statement language to align with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 2024 revisions.

In this order, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission addresses arguments raised on rehearing, sets aside, in part, and clarifies Order No. 1920, which required transmission providers to conduct Long-Term Regional Transmission Planning to ensure the identification, evaluation, and selection, as well as the allocation of the costs, of more efficient or cost-effective regional transmission solutions to address Long-Term Transmission Needs. Order No. 1920 also directed other reforms to improve coordination of regional transmission planning and generator interconnection processes, require consideration of certain alternative transmission technologies in regional transmission planning processes, and improve transparency of local transmission planning processes and coordination between regional and local transmission planning processes.

The Copyright Royalty Judges announce a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in the royalty rates that commercial and noncommercial noninteractive webcasters pay for eligible transmissions pursuant to the statutory licenses for the public performance of and for the making of ephemeral reproductions of sound recordings.

The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is publishing a general license issued pursuant to the Western Balkans Stabilization Regulations: GL 5A, which was previously made available on OFAC's website.

This rule adopts the 2020 Core Based Statistical Area (CBSA) standards as determined by the Office of Management and Budget's July 16, 2021, Federal Register notice for all HUD use of CBSAs. HUD uses CBSAs throughout its programs and is updating the standards to ensure accuracy of data and program administration.

The Rural Housing Service (RHS or the Agency), a Rural Development (RD) agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is announcing the extension of a pilot program with updates for simple transfers of USDA Section 514 Farm Labor Housing & 515 Rural Rental Housing properties through December 9, 2025. The Agency's intention is to evaluate the existing regulations and remove regulatory barriers to reduce application requirements for certain types of transfers, resulting in lower transaction-related costs for applicants and improved processing times.

This action amends 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 also replaces 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.