New regs for Wednesday: Human subjects, air pollution and wind generators

In Wednesday’s edition of the Federal Regiser, several agencies give notice that the public has been given more time to comment on a proposal to strengthen rules for human research subjects, the Environmental Protection Agency announces a public hearing on a proposal to update its air pollution rule and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission proposes a new requirement for wind generators.

Here’s what to look for:

Human subjects: The Department of Health and Human Services and the other federal agencies and departments, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, are extending a public comment period on its proposal to modernize and strengthen the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.

The policy is the current U.S. system that protects human research subjects. Comments were originally due Sept. 8. The public now has until Jan. 6 to comment.

Public hearing: The Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing on its proposal to update the “good neighbor” rule made final in 2011. The public hearing will be held on Thursday, December 17 in Washington, D.C.

The proposed rule would affect 23 Eastern states whose nitrogen oxide emissions blow into other states. The emissions cause increases ozone levels, which are linked to respiratory ailments, and affect the downwind state’s ability to attain and maintain compliance with the 2008 ozone national ambient air quality standard.

The update, taken with other measures, means a drop of about 30 percent of nitrogen oxides levels in 2017 compared with 2014.

Wind generators: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission wants to eliminate a provision in the Standard Generator Interconnection Agreements that exempts wind generators from having to provide reactive power.  

As a result of the proposed rule, the agency said all newly interconnecting generators, including both synchronous and non-synchronous generators, will be required to provide reactive power.

Transmission providers require reactive power to control system voltage for efficient and reliable operation of an alternating current transmission system. At times, the agency said transmission providers need generators to either supply or consume reactive power.

Recognizing that wind wind generators had to install costly equipment to maintain reactive power capability, the commission provided an exemption when it drafted its requirements for generators in 2005. Since then, the agency said the equipment needed appears to have become more commercially available and less costly.

The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed rule.