Agencies and Commissions April 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.'' The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Pursuant to the Small Business Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, the FCC seeks specific comment on how it might ``further reduce the information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees.'' The Commission may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid OMB control number.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NCUA Board (Board) is issuing this interim final rule to provide credit unions with greater access to liquidity to help ensure they remain operational throughout the crisis. This rule will make it easier and more attractive for credit unions to join the NCUA's Central Liquidity Facility (Facility). In addition, this rule makes several amendments to conform to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

On April 2, 2020, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) posted an interim final rule (the First PPP Interim Final Rule) announcing the implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act or the Act). The Act temporarily adds a new program, titled the ``Paycheck Protection Program,'' to the SBA's 7(a) Loan Program. The Act also provides for forgiveness of up to the full principal amount of qualifying loans guaranteed under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The PPP is intended to provide economic relief to small businesses nationwide adversely impacted by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SBA posted additional interim final rules on April 3, 2020, and April 14, 2020. This interim final rule supplements the previously posted interim final rules with additional guidance. SBA requests public comment on this additional guidance.

Due to the extraordinary disruptions from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is announcing temporary actions aimed at encouraging healthy depository institutions to utilize intraday credit extended by Federal Reserve Banks (Reserve Banks). The Board recognizes that the Federal Reserve has an important role in providing intraday balances and credit to foster the smooth operation of the payment system. These temporary actions are intended to support the provision of liquidity to households and businesses and the general smooth functioning of payment systems.

Notice is hereby given of the following hearing of the U.S.- China Economic and Security Review Commission. The Commission is mandated by Congress to investigate, assess, and report to Congress annually on ``the national security implications of the economic relationship between the United States and the People's Republic of China.'' Pursuant to this mandate, the Commission will hold a virtual public hearing in Washington, DC on May 8, 2020 on ``China's Strategic Aims in Africa.''

On April 3, 2020, the National Science Foundation, on behalf of the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee (IARPC), announced a request for information regarding development of the next 5-year Arctic Research Plan: 2022-2026, originally open for a 90-day public comment period. In response to the challenges of providing input on the next 5-year Arctic Research Plan: 2022-2026 during the current global pandemic, IARPC is extending the public comment period for an additional 30 days.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), as part of a continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the following extensions of currently approved collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued an exemption in response to an April 13, 2020, request from Entergy Nuclear Operations, Inc. (the licensee), as supplemented by letter dated April 16, 2020. The exemption grants the licensee's request for a temporary exemption for Indian Point Nuclear Generating Unit Nos. 2 and 3 (Indian Point 2 and 3) from the requirements with respect to extending the completion time for annual fire brigade physical examinations by 90 days for 15 fire brigade members.

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Regulatory and Policy Committee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Committee reports to the NAC.

This document summarizes the public notice that announces the indefinite postponement of Auction 106, an auction of construction permits in the FM broadcast service, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federal Maritime Commission is revising its procedures for exemptions from the regulatory requirements for service contracts to allow such exemptions to be granted without providing an opportunity for a hearing.

The NCUA Board (Board) is issuing this interim final rule to make a conforming amendment to its capital adequacy regulation following the enactment of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The CARES Act authorizes the Small Business Administration to create a loan guarantee program, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), to help certain businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act requires that PPP loans receive a zero percent risk weighting under the NCUA's risk-based capital requirements. To reflect the statutory requirement, the interim final rule amends the NCUA's capital adequacy regulation to provide that covered PPP loans receive a zero percent risk weight. The interim final rule also provides that if the covered loan is pledged as collateral for a non-recourse loan that is provided as part of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System's (FRB) PPP Lending Facility, the covered loan can be excluded from a credit union's calculation of total assets for the purposes of calculating its net worth ratio. The interim final rule also makes a conforming amendment to the definition of commercial loan in the NCUA's member business loans and commercial lending rule. The Board has found good cause to issue the interim final rule without advance notice-and-comment procedures and with an effective date upon publication.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has issued an exemption in response to an April 6, 2020, request from the Virginia Electric and Power Company to temporarily suspend the requirement for on-the-job training to allow certain security training personnel to re- qualify for assigned duties and responsibilities as an Armed Responder for the Surry Power Station, Units 1 and 2.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined to review in part the Administrative Law Judge's (``ALJ'') final initial determination (``ID''), issued on January 10, 2020, affirm the ID's finding of no violation of section 337 in the above-referenced investigation, and vacate in part the ID. The investigation is terminated.