2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This final rule amends the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 (Uniform Act) regulations. The revisions are prompted by enactment of the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21), which increased statutory relocation benefits and reduced length of occupancy requirements. This final rule updates existing regulations on the use of those provisions. The FHWA is also updating the Uniform Act regulations in response to comments received during this rulemaking's public comment period and to reflect the agency's experience with the Federal-aid highway program since the last comprehensive rulemaking for the part, which occurred in 2005. The updates include streamlining processes to better meet current Uniform Act implementation needs and eliminating duplicative and outdated regulatory language.

In this action, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing revisions to the preconstruction permitting regulations that apply to modifications at existing major stationary sources in the New Source Review (NSR) program under the Clean Air Act (CAA or Act). The proposed revisions include revising the definition of "project" in the NSR regulations, adding additional recordkeeping and reporting requirements applicable to minor modifications at existing major stationary sources, and proposing to require that decreases accounted for in the Step 1 significant emissions increase calculation be enforceable.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of the vessels Ugle Duckling and Streak. The safety zone is necessary to protect vessels while a HAUV/ROV survey is conducted of the Enbridge Line 5 pipelines. Entry of vessels into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Northern Great Lakes (COTP).

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to remove Denver County, CO, from the Arapahoe-Denver, CO, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. In addition, OPM proposes to change the name of the Arapahoe-Denver NAF FWS wage area to Arapahoe. These changes are necessary because no NAF FWS employment has been reported in Denver County since 2018.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register on July 14, 2023, which added a diisononyl phthalates (DINP) category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to the reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA). However, the amendment could not be incorporated into the regulation due to an inaccurate amendatory instruction. This document corrects the amendatory instructions.

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 of an electrical contactor that failed with contacts in the intermediate position, causing the airplane to lose power to multiple electrical systems. This AD requires repetitive operational tests of the affected part, and, depending on findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective action, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is amending its Microloan Program regulations to reflect statutory changes to the Microloan Program contained in the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act. The changes increase the total amount an Intermediary may borrow under the Microloan Program per year and in aggregate, expand eligibility for Intermediaries to receive a bonus grant and add the necessary definitions, and revise the eligible base grant award amount for Intermediaries under certain circumstances. This direct final rule conforms the regulations to the Act by adopting the new statutory requirements without change.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation for certain waters of the Bush River and Otter Point Creek, in Maryland. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters located at Edgewood, MD during a high-speed power boat race on May 11, 2024, and May 12, 2024. This regulation prohibits persons and vessels (other than those already at berth at the time the regulation takes effect) from being in the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region (COTP), or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within a 500-yard radius of Tug Nancy Anne, Tug Champion, Tug General, Tug WM. Boyd, Tug Shirley Ann, crew boat Timmy V., barges Koko II, Koko III, Koko IV, MM 141, MM 142, D Barge 2002, D Barge 2006, and D Barge 2007. The safety zone is needed to protect the vessels while laying stones to protect exposed sections of 138kV Submarine Power Cables in the Straits of Mackinac, MI. Entry of vessels into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Northern Great Lakes.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Miami Beach Air and Sea Show event from May 25 and 26, 2024, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Captain of the Port Miami identifies the regulated area for this event in Miami Beach, FL. During the enforcement periods, no person or vessel may enter, transit through, anchor in, or remain within the regulated area unless authorized by the Coast Guard Patrol Commander or a designated representative.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-20- 08, which applied to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, A321, A330-200, A330-200 Freighter, A330-300, A330-800, A330-900, A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, A340-600, and A380-800 series airplanes. AD 2021- 20-08 required replacing certain nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries with serviceable Ni-Cd batteries. This AD was prompted by a report that repetitive disconnection and reconnection of certain Ni-Cd batteries during airplane parking or storage could lead to a reduction in capacity of those batteries. This AD adds airplanes to the applicability and requires replacement of certain affected parts with serviceable parts as a precondition for return to service of airplanes from storage or parking, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 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 Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review that identified the fixed emergency locator transmitter (ELT) lithium batteries would not be sufficiently cooled by the outside air in the event of a thermal runaway event. This AD requires replacing the ELT with a new ELT with redesigned batteries, 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.

NMFS proposes to modify the regulations for Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) section 104 permits, including scientific research, enhancement, photography, and public display permits and Letters of Confirmation (LOCs). The modification would remove the 5- year regulatory limitation on the duration of section 104 permits and LOCs. This would give NMFS the discretion to issue these permits for longer than 5 years where such a duration would be appropriate. This proposed rule would apply only to permits and authorizations issued under section 104 of the MMPA.

Congress enacted the FOIA Improvement Act of 2016, which amends the Freedom of Information Act, as relevant here, to require Federal agencies to change how certain records and documents are made available for public inspection. The Commission is amending its regulations to implement this statutory mandate. The Commission is accepting comments on these revisions to its regulations, and any comments received may be addressed in a subsequent rulemaking document.

The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to clarify Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies (CMRA) notary responsibilities for the addressee's signature.

The Rural Business-Cooperative Service (RBCS), Rural Housing Service (RHS), and Rural Utilities Services (RUS), agencies in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) Mission area, are issuing a final rule to update RD program regulations by removing references to the Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) numbers and replacing them with the new Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) as the primary means of identifying entities registered for Federal awards government-wide in the System for Award Management (SAM).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) announces that we are extending the Kodiak Island Roaded Area experimental season for subsistence migratory bird hunting and egg gathering by registration permit for 1 year (through the spring-summer subsistence harvest season [hereafter, "season"] in 2024). As set forth in a 2021 final rule, this experimental season began in the 2021 season and was set to terminate at the end of the 2023 season. However, we are extending the experimental season to provide subsistence harvest opportunity for an additional year while an evaluation of harvest data from the first 3 years of the experimental season is completed and a long-term plan is developed. Extending the experimental season requires no revision of the regulations pertaining to subsistence harvest of migratory birds in Alaska; we are issuing this document solely for the purpose of public information.

The Department of State (the Department) proposes to amend the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to support the goals of the AUKUS partnership, the enhanced trilateral security partnership among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This exemption is designed to foster defense trade and cooperation between and among the United States and two of its closest allies. It is reflective of our nations' collective commitment to implement shared security standards on protecting defense technology and sensitive military know-how. To achieve this, the Department proposes to amend the ITAR to include an exemption to the requirement to obtain a license or other approval from the Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) prior to any export, reexport, retransfer, or temporary import of defense articles; the performance of defense services; or engagement in brokering activities between or among authorized users within Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Department also proposes to add a list of defense articles and defense services excluded from eligibility for transfer under the proposed new exemption; add to the scope of the exemption for intra-company, intra- organization, and intra-governmental transfers to allow for the transfer of classified defense articles to certain dual nationals who are authorized users or regular employees of an authorized user within the United Kingdom and Australia; and revise the section on expediting license review applications by referencing new processes for Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is finalizing its "Bipartisan Permitting Reform Implementation Rule" to revise its regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), including the recent amendments to NEPA in the Fiscal Responsibility Act. CEQ is making these revisions to provide for an effective environmental review process; ensure full and fair public engagement; enhance efficiency and regulatory certainty; and promote sound Federal agency decision making that is grounded in science, including consideration of relevant environmental, climate change, and environmental justice effects. These changes are grounded in NEPA's statutory text and purpose, including making decisions informed by science; CEQ's extensive experience implementing NEPA; CEQ's perspective on how NEPA can best inform agency decision making; longstanding Federal agency experience and practice; and case law interpreting NEPA's requirements.

The Department of Energy (DOE) is amending its regulations for the timely coordination of Federal authorizations for proposed interstate electric transmission facilities pursuant to the Federal Power Act (FPA). Specifically, DOE is establishing an integrated and comprehensive Coordinated Interagency Transmission Authorizations and Permits Program (CITAP Program); making participation in the Integrated Interagency Pre-Application (IIP) Process a pre-condition for assistance under the CITAP Program; re-establishing the IIP Process as an iterative and collaborative process between the proponent of a proposed electric transmission project and Federal and State agencies to develop information needed for Federal authorizations; requiring the project proponent to engage in robust engagement with the public, communities of interest, and Indian Tribes during the IIP Process; aligning and harmonizing the IIP Process and implementation of the FPA with the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act; and ensuring that DOE may carry out its statutory obligation to prepare a single environmental review document sufficient for the purposes of all Federal authorizations necessary to site a proposed project.

NMFS is opening directed fishing for sablefish by vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea and the Aleutian Islands subarea of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI). This action is necessary to fully use the 2024 sablefish total allowable catch (TAC) allocated to vessels using trawl gear in the Bering Sea subarea and the Aleutian Islands subarea of the BSAI.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain MHI RJ Aviation ULC Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701 & 702); CL-600-2C11 (Regional Jet Series 550); CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705); and CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that a potential crack of the tombstone fitting lug cannot be detected as the bushings remain in place during accomplishment of the special detailed inspection (SDI) required by a certain airworthiness limitation (ALI) task. This AD requires inspecting the tombstone fitting lug with a new SDI sub-surface ultrasound procedure when accomplishing the ALI task, as specified in a Transport Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD also requires corrective actions if necessary. 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 757-200, 757-200CB, and 757-300 airplanes. This AD was prompted by cracks on both sides of the airplane in the station (STA) 1640 frame web between S-14 and S-15. This AD requires an inspection or maintenance records check for existing liner holes in the STA 1640 frame web between S-14 and S-15, and applicable on-condition actions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The Selective Service System (SSS) is finalizing revisions to its Privacy Act regulations to ensure processes and procedures for requesting access and amendments to records by electronic means and appeals from denials of request for access to or amendments of records is clearly spelled out within the SSS regulations.

NMFS is revising regulations that implement the Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Council) Pacific Coast Salmon Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This final action removes the rebuilding plan for Snohomish River coho salmon from regulation, as this stock has been rebuilt and is no longer required to be managed under a rebuilding plan.