Federal Register: March 2018

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Arctic Research Commission: The Arctic Research Commission issued a notice of their 109th meeting in Seattle, WA, on April 21, 2018. The meeting is open to the public and will focus on reports and updates relating to programs and research projects affecting Alaska and the greater Arctic. [83 FR 11499 (March 15, 2018)]

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM): BOEM issued a final rule that implements the 2018 inflation adjustment of the level of maximum civil monetary penalties pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (FCPIA of 2015), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. This rule is effective on March 2, 2018. [83 FR 8930 (March 2, 2018)]

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM): Following BOEM’s announcement on January 4, 2018 of a proposed lease sale in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area in late 2019, as included in the 2019-2024 National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program, the agency is issuing a call to solicit industry nominations for areas of leasing interest and to gather comments and information on the area. All nominations and comments must be received no later than April 30, 2018. BOEM will consider submissions sent by mail so long as they are postmarked by the last day of the comment period. [83 FR 13778 (March 30, 2018)]

Bureau of Land Management (BLM): BLM issued a notice seeking public comment on the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzes an application from ConocoPhillips for the oil and gas development of the Greater Mooses Tooth 2 (GMT2) production pad in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). The draft plan is available at the BLM GMT2 Draft Supplemental EIS ePlanning website. Comments must be received no later than May 7, 2018. [83 FR 13508 (March 29, 2018)]

Department of the Interior (DOI): The DOI Office of the Secretary issued a notice announcing a public teleconference meeting of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Public Advisory Committee on April 2, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. AKST. The EVOS Public Advisory Committee meeting agenda will include discussion of outreach proposals and habitat parcels. An opportunity for public comments will be provided. [83 FR 11783 (March 16, 2018)]

Department of Energy (DOE): DOE issued a notice of an open meeting of the National Coal Council (NCC), which provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Energy on general policy matters relating to coal and the coal industry, on Wednesday, April 12, 2018. Agenda topics include the new technology in coal mining and enhancing the success rate of technology deployment from an ecosystem perspective. [83 FR 12180 (March 20, 2018)]

Department of Energy (DOE): The DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) seeks information from the public to understand the key technical and other barriers that may prevent long-term access to low-cost water supplies that could be best addressed through challenges and prize competitions. For the purposes of this request, challenges and prize competitions are tools and approaches the federal government and others can use to engage a broad range of stakeholders to develop solutions to difficult problems. Responses must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. (ET) on May 14, 2018. [83 FR 11997 (March 19, 2018)]

Department of Energy (DOE): The DOE Office of Science announced an open meeting of the DOE/Biological and Environmental Research Advisory Committee (BERAC) on April 25 and 26, 2018. Agenda topics include updates from from the Office of Science, the Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER), the Biological Systems Science and Climate and Environmental Sciences Divisions, and data science programs. [83 FR 13269 (March 28, 2018)]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA announced the renewal of its charter for the Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) for an additional two-year period. The purpose of EFAB is to provide advice and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on issues associated with environmental financing. [83 FR 9852 (March 8, 2018)]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA is requesting public comment on a potential withdrawal of the Control Techniques Guidelines (CTG) for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry. The final CTG published in 2016 provided recommendations for reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from certain existing oil and natural gas industry emission sources. Comments must be received on or before April 23, 2018, and may be submitted online, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2015-0216. [83 FR 10478 (March 9, 2018)]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA is proposing a rule to amend the regulations for the disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) in landfills and surface impoundments, which will address four provisions of the 2015 final CCR rule that were remanded back to the Agency on June 14, 2016 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.  Written comments must be received on or before April 30, 2018. EPA will hold a hearing on this proposed rule on April 24, 2018. [83 FR 11584 (March 15, 2018)]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA is requesting nominations of scientific experts to be considered for appointment to the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC), which provides information and recommendations to the EPA Administrator on the scientific and technical aspects of air quality criteria and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). EPA is seeking candidates with expertise in: air quality, biostatistics, ecology, environmental economics, environmental engineering, epidemiology, exposure assessment, medicine, risk assessment, and toxicology. Nominations should be submitted no later than April 20, 2018. [83 FR 12383 (March 21, 2018)]

Executive Office of the President: The President issued Proclamation 9710, “Adjusting Imports of Aluminum into the United States,” introducing a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports from all countries except Canada and Mexico. [83 FR 13355 (March 28, 2018)]

Executive Office of the President: The President issued Proclamation 9711, “Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States,” introducing a 25 percent tariff on steel imports from all countries except Canada and Mexico. [83 FR 13361 (March 28, 2018)]

Executive Office of the President: The President issued a notice continuing for 1 year the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13694, as amended by Executive Order 13757, to take additional steps to address significant malicious cyber-enabled activities that continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. [83 FR 13371 (March 28, 2018)]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA issued a request for applicants for appointment to the Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy. The Board annually reviews the programs of the Academy and advises FEMA regarding operation of the Academy and any improvements the Board deems appropriate. Resumes will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST April 4, 2018. [83 FR 9329 (March 5, 2018)]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA withdraws a proposed rule published on August 22, 2016 (81 FR 57402) that included changes to FEMA's Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands regulations to implement Executive Order 13690, which established the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS). FEMA also withdraws the proposed supplementary policy (FEMA Policy: 078-3), which clarified how FEMA would apply the FFRMS. The proposed rule and supplementary policy are withdrawn as on March 6, 2018, in accordance with the President’s Executive Order 13807, which revoked Executive Order 13690, issued on August 15, 2017. [83 FR 9473 (March 6, 2018)]

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): FEMA announced the Technical Mapping Advisory Council (TMAC) will hold an in-person meeting on May 15 and 16 in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting will discuss improving quality, ease of use, and distribution of flood insurance rate maps, and flood mapping standards and guidelines. [83 FR 13139 (March 27, 2018)]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): FERC issued a final rule amending its regulations under the Federal Power Act (FPA) to remove barriers to the participation of electric storage resources in the capacity, energy, and ancillary service markets operated by Regional Transmission Organizations (RTO) and Independent System Operators (ISO). This rule will become effective June 4, 2018. [83 FR 9580 (March 6, 2018)]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): FERC issued a final action that is modifying the Large Generator Interconnection Agreement (LGIA) and the Generator Interconnection Agreement (SGIA) to require newly interconnecting large and small generating facilities to install, maintain, and operate equipment capable of providing primary frequency response as a condition of interconnection. These changes are designed to address the potential reliability impact of the evolving generation resource mix and to ensure the relevant provisions are are just, reasonable, and not unduly discriminatory or preferential. This final action will become effective May 15, 2018. [83 FR 9636 (March 6, 2018)]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): FERC issued a notice that it will hold the fifth biannual Electric Quarterly Report (EQR) Users Group meeting on June 5, 2018 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST). All interested persons are invited to attend. For those unable to attend in person, access to the meeting will be available via webcast. [83 FR 10717 (March 12, 2018)]

Federal Energy Regulatory Commision (FERC): FERC is proposing a process that will allow the agency to determine which jurisdictional natural gas pipelines may be collecting unjust and unreasonable rates, in light of the recent reduction in the corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and changes to FERC’s income tax allowance policies following the United Airlines, Inc. v. FERC decision. Comments are due no later than April 25, 2018. [83 FR 12888 (March 26, 2018)]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): NOAA issued a notice and a request for comment regarding the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) periodic review of regulations that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, such as small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. Comments must be received on or before April 2, 2018. [83 FR 8812 (March 1, 2018)]

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): NOAA announced it will hold an open meeting of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) on April 9 and 10, 2018 at The Westin DC City Center. [83 FR 11184 (March 14, 2018)]

National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF issued a notice for an open meeting of the Advisory Committee for Biological Sciences to discuss potential future activities, partnership opportunities, and other matters relevant to the Directorate for the Biological Sciences (BIO) on April 2 and 3, 2018 at NSF headquarters in Alexandria, VA. [83 FR 9874 (March 8, 2018)]

National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF is extending the public comment period for input on establishing space weather research priorities to address Action 5.5.1 in the National Space Weather Action Plan (SWAP). SWAP specifies actions to develop and continually improve predictive models through enhanced fundamental understanding of space weather, its drivers, and national forecasting capabilities. Comments on this notice will now be accepted through April 6, 2018. [83 FR 10753 (March 12, 2018)]

National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF announced a meeting of the Advisory Committee for Geosciences to provide advice, recommendations, and oversight on support for geoscience research and education, including atmospheric, geo-space, earth, ocean and polar sciences. The meeting will be held on April 25 and 26, 2018 at NSF headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. [83 FR 12034 (March 19, 2018)]

National Science Foundation (NSF): NSF announced a meeting of the Advisory Committee for Polar Programs on April 18 and 19, 2018 from at the NSF building in Alexandria, Virginia. The purpose of the meeting is to  provide advice and recommendations to NSF concerning support for polar research, education, infrastructure and logistics, and related activities. [83 FR 12612 (March 22, 2018)]

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA): PHMSA announced a public meeting of the Gas Pipeline Advisory Committee (GPAC) to discuss the proposed rule titled “Safety of Gas Transmission and Gathering Pipelines.” The meeting will be held on March 26 to 28, 2018. The location, agenda, and any additional information will be published on the GPAC meeting and registration page. [83 FR 9574 (March 6, 2018]

Rural Business-Cooperative Service: The Rural Business Cooperative Service is accepting applications for financial assistance for fiscal year (FY) 2018 under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), which helps agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy costs and consumption and meet the Nation's critical energy needs. [83 FR 10829 (March 13, 2018)]

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): USGS announced that it will hold a public meeting of the National Geospatial Advisory Committee (NGAC). The meeting will be held on April 3 and 4, 2018 at the Department of the Interior in Washington, DC. The NGAC provides advice and recommendations related to the management of federal and national geospatial programs and the development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure. [83 FR 11243 (March 14, 2018)]