[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 222 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 81233]
[FR Doc No: 2016-27781]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

Sunshine Act Meetings; Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of
Directors

AGENCY: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Unified Carrier Registration Plan Board of Directors
Meeting.

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DATES: The meeting will be held on December 15, 2016, from 12:00 Noon
to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: This meeting will be open to the public via conference call.
Any interested person may call 1-877-422-1931, passcode<PHONE_NUMBER>, to
listen and participate in this meeting.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Avelino Gutierrez, Chair, Unified
Carrier Registration Board of Directors at<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Status: Open to the public.
    Matters to be Considered: The Unified Carrier Registration Plan
Board of Directors (the Board) will continue its work in developing and
implementing the Unified Carrier Registration Plan and Agreement and to
that end, may consider matters properly before the Board.

     Issued on: November 11, 2016.
Larry W. Minor,
Associate Administrator, Office of Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-27781 Filed 11-15-16; 11:15 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-EX-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22835-22837]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8977]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

Notice of Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Approvals and
Disapprovals

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Monthly Notice of PFC Approvals and Disapprovals. In March
2012, there were four applications approved. This notice also includes
information on three applications, approved in February 2012,
inadvertently left off the February 2012 notice. Additionally, four
approved amendments to previously approved applications are listed.

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SUMMARY: The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC
approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety
and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the
Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR Part 158). This notice is
published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec.  158.29.

PFC Applications Approved

    Public Agency: Pitt County--City of Greenville Airport Authority,
Greenville, North Carolina.
    Application Number: 12-05-U-00-PGV.
    Application Type: Use PFC revenue.
    PFC Level: $4.50.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved for Use in this Decision: $36,538.
    Charge Effective Date: February 1, 2009.
    Charge Expiration Date: September 1, 2010.
    Class of Air Carriers Not Required To Collect PFC's: No change from
previous decision.
    Brief Description of Project Approved for Use: Jetway loading
bridge.
    Decision Date: February 7, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Rau, Atlanta Airports District
Office,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Public Agency: City of Bangor, Maine.
    Kevin Application Number: 12-03-C-00-BGR.
    Application Type: Impose and use a PFC.
    PFC Level: $4.50.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved in this Decision: $2,576,497.
    Earliest Charge Effective Date: May 1, 2012.
    Estimated Charge Expiration Date: June 1, 2015.
    Class of Air Carriers Not Required to Collect PFC's: On demand air
taxi commercial operators.
    Determination: Approved. Based on information contained in the
public agency's application, the FAA has determined that the approved
class accounts for less than 1 percent of the total annual enplanements
at Bangor International Airport.
    Brief Description of Projects Approved for Collection and USE:

Electrical improvement.
Terminal building renovations, phase I.
PFC application costs.

    Decision Date: February 27, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Priscilla Scott, New England Region
Airports Division,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Public Agency: City of Rock Springs/County of Sweetwater, Rock
Springs, Wyoming.
    Application Number: 12-04-C-00-RKS.
    Application Type: Impose and use a PFC.
    PFC Level: $4.50.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved in this Decision: $461,933.
    Earliest Charge Effective Date: September 1, 2012.
    Estimated Charge Expiration Date: December 1, 2017.

    Class of Air Carriers Not Required to Collect PFC's: None.
    Brief Description of Projects Approved for Collection and Use:
Rehabilitate terminal access road.

Acquire aircraft rescue and firefighting equipment.
Rehabilitate non-revenue parking lot.
Rehabilitate runway 3/21.
Acquire snow removal equipment.
Design snow removal equipment building.
Seal coat airfield.
Install terminal fire alarm system.
Construct snow removal equipment building.
Construct service road.
Conduct new taxiway environmental assessment.
Acquire snow removal equipment.
Renovate terminal building.

    Decision Date: February 27, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Lyman, Denver Airports District
Office,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Public Agency: County of Beaufort, Beaufort, South Carolina.
    Application Number: 12-04-C-00-HXD.
    Application Type: Impose and use a PFC.
    PFC Level: $4.50.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved in this Decision: $2,619,447.
    Earliest Charge Effective Date: May 1, 2012.
    Estimated Charge Expiration Date: July 1, 2022.
    Class of Air Carriers Not Required to Collect PFC's: Air taxi/
commercial operators filing FAA Form 1800-31.
    Determination: Approved. Based on information contained in the
public agency's application, the FAA has determined that the approved
class accounts for less than 1 percent of the total annual enplanements
at Hilton Head Island Airport.
    Brief Description of Projects Approved for Collection:

Land acquisition for airfield deficiency correction.
Airfield deficiency correction.
Runway 3 engineered materials arresting system.
Land acquisition for runway extension and road relocation.
700-foot runway extension (design and construction).
Runway safety area (east-west) drainage.
Transitional surface obstruction removal (trees).

    Brief Description of Projects Approved for Collection and Use:

Air traffic control tower land acquisition.
Air traffic control tower construction.
Runway 03/21 widening.
New aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.
New aircraft rescue and firefighting building.
Update airport master plan.
Runway 03 tree removal.
Runway 21 tree obstruction removal (on and off airport).
Commercial service terminal expansion.
Runway extension benefit cost analysis/environmental documentation.
Runway 03 obstruction removal (trees).
PFC preparation.

    Brief Description of Disapproved Projects:

400-foot runway extension (design and construction).
Runway 21 engineered materials arresting system.
Relocation of Beach City Road (design and construction).
    Determination: These projects do not meet the requirements of
Sec. Sec.  158.15(c) and 158.30(b)(3)(iii). The public agency did not
provide adequate justification information.
    Decision Date: March 7, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Lynch, Atlanta Airports District
Office,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Public Agency: City of Manhattan, Kansas.
    Application Number: 12-03-C-00-MHK.
    Application Type: Impose and use a PFC.
    PFC Level: $4.50.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved in this Decision: $524,222.
    Earliest Charge Effective Date: June 1, 2018.
    Estimated Charge Expiration Date: June 1, 2020.
    Class of Air Carriers Not Required to Collect PFC's: Non-scheduled/
on-demand air taxi operators filing FAA Form 1800-31.
    Determination: Approved. Based on information contained in the
public agency's application, the FAA has determined that the approved
class accounts for less than 1 percent of the total annual enplanements
at Manhattan Regional Airport.
    Brief Description of Projects Approved for Collection and Use:

Runway 3/21 remarking.
Master plan update.
Part 150 noise study.
2007 land acquisition.
Runway 3/21 and taxiway A extension; runway 13/31 reconstruction and
extension.
Navigational aid relocation.
Shift runway 3/21, phase 3.
Shift runway 3/21, phase 4.
Perimeter fencing.
Airport passenger terminal study.
    Decision Date: March 8, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Schenkelberg, Central Region
Airports Division,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Public Agency: City of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
    Application Number: 12-19-C-00-COS.
    Application Type: Impose and use a PFC.
    PFC Level: $3.00.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved in this Decision: $728,878.
    Earliest Charge Effective Date: April 1, 2015.
    Estimated Charge Expiration Date: December 1, 2015.
    Class of Air Carriers Not Required to Collect PFC's: None.
    Brief Description of Projects Approved for Collection and Use:
Install primary crash network.
Security enhancements--access control 1.
Acquire computer based interactive training system.
Security enhancements--access control 2.

    Brief Description of Project Partially Approved for Collection and
Use: Construct integrated operations command center.
    Determination: The FAA finds that the space for a training room and
records retention are not required for emergency response purposes and
so those componenets are not PFC-eligible.
    Decision Date: March 15, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jesse Lyman, Denver Airports District
Office,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Public Agency: Massachusetts Port Authority, Boston, Massachusetts.
    Application Number: 12-07-U-00-BO5.
    Application Type: Use PFC revenue.
    PFC Level: $4.50.
    Total PFC Revenue Approved for Use in this Decision: $18,278,000.
    Earliest Charge Effective Date: August 1, 2016.
    Estimated Charge Expiration Date: December 1, 2023.
    Class of Air Carriers Not Required to Collect PFC's: No change from
previous decision.
    Brief Description of Project Approved for Use: Development of
runway safety area for runway 33L.
    Decision Date: March 20, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Priscilla Scott, New England Region
Airports Division,<PHONE_NUMBER>.

                                                               Amendments to PFC Approvals
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Original                            Original           Amended
                   Amendment No. city, state                        Amendment     approved net PFC  Amended approved  estimated charge  estimated charge
                                                                  approved date        revenue       net PFC revenue      exp. date         exp. date
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08-06-C-01-LAW Lawton, OK.....................................          03/13/12          $917,000        $1,075,784          11/01/13          11/01/13
09-07-C-01-GRK Killeen, TX....................................          03/13/12         2,300,000         2,565,711          12/01/12          01/01/13
09-08-C-01-ALO Waterloo, IA...................................          03/23/12           201,930           262,180          02/01/13          11/01/13
11-10-C-01-ALO Waterloo, IA...................................          03/23/12            97,420           133,685          06/01/14          08/01/15
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    Issued in Washington, DC on April 6, 2012.
Joe Hebert,
Manager, Financial Analysis and Passenger Facility Charge Branch.
[FR Doc. 2012-8977 Filed 4-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M


[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 124 (Thursday, June 29, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29539-29541]
[FR Doc No: 2017-13598]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP16-10-000; Docket No. CP16-13-000]

Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact
Statement for the Proposed Mountain Valley Project and Equitrans
Expansion Project: Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC, Equitrans LP

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) has prepared a final environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the projects proposed by Mountain Valley Pipeline LLC (Mountain
Valley) and Equitrans LP (Equitrans) in the above-referenced dockets.
Mountain Valley requests authorization to construct and operate certain
interstate natural gas facilities in West Virginia and Virginia, known
as the Mountain Valley Project (MVP) in Docket Number CP16-10-000. The
MVP is designed to transport about 2 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d)
of natural gas from production areas in the Appalachian Basin to
markets in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Equitrans
requests authorization to construct and operate certain natural gas
facilities in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, known as the Equitrans
Expansion Project (EEP) in Docket No. CP16-13-000. The EEP is designed
to transport about 0.4 Bcf/d of natural gas, to improve system
flexibility and reliability, and serve markets in the Northeast, Mid-
Atlantic, and Southeast, through interconnections with various other
interstate systems, including the proposed MVP.
    The final EIS assesses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the MVP and EEP in accordance with the
requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
The FERC staff concludes that construction and operation of the
projects would result in some adverse environmental impacts. In the
case of the clearing of forest, effects may be long-term and
significant. However, for most other environmental resources, effects
should be temporary or short-term, and impacts would be reduced to
less-than-significant levels with the implementation of the applicants'
proposed mitigation measures and the additional measures recommended in
the final EIS.
    The United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture Forest Service
(FS); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE); U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA); U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management
(BLM); the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), West Virginia Field
Office; U.S. Department of Transportation; West Virginia Department of
Environmental Protection; and West Virginia Division of Natural
Resources participated as cooperating agencies in the preparation of
the final EIS. Cooperating agencies have jurisdiction by law or special
expertise with respect to resources potentially affected by the
proposals and participated in the NEPA analysis.

Proposed Facilities

    The final EIS addresses the potential environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the proposed facilities. For the MVP,
facilities include:
     About 304 miles of new 42-inch-diameter pipeline extending
from the new Mobley Interconnect in Wetzel County, West Virginia to the
existing Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company LLC (Transco) Station
165 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia;
     3 new compressor stations (Bradshaw, Harris, Stallworth)
in West Virginia, totaling about 171,600 horsepower (hp);
     4 new meter and regulation stations and interconnections
(Mobley, Sherwood, WB, and Transco);
     3 new taps (Webster, Roanoke Gas Lafayette, and Roanoke
Gas Franklin);
     8 pig \1\ launchers and receivers at 5 locations; and
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    \1\ A pig is a device used to clean or inspect the interior of a
pipeline.
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     36 mainline block valves.
    For the EEP, facilities include:
     About 7 miles total of new various diameter pipelines in
six segments;
     new Redhook Compressor Station, in Greene County,
Pennsylvania, with 31,300 hp of compression;
     4 new taps (Mobley, H-148, H-302, H-306) and 1 new
interconnection (Webster);
     4 pig launchers and receivers; and
     decommissioning and abandonment of the existing 4,800 hp
Pratt Compressor Station in Greene County, Pennsylvania.

Actions of the Federal Agencies Informed by the Environmental Impact
Statement

    Under Section 7 of the Natural Gas Act, the Commission determines
whether interstate natural gas transportation facilities are in the
public convenience and necessity and, if so, grants a Certificate to
construct and operate them. The Commission bases its decisions on
technical competence, financing, rates, market demand, gas supply,
environmental impact, long-term feasibility, and other issues
concerning a proposed project. The final EIS summarizes the
environmental impacts and includes recommended conditions to the
prospective Commission orders that would further reduce the impacts of
the proposed actions.
    The BLM's purpose and need for the proposed action is to respond to
a Right-of-Way Grant application submitted by Mountain Valley. Under
the Mineral Leasing Act, the Secretary of the Interior has delegated
authority to the BLM to grant a right-of-way on federal lands under the
jurisdiction of two or more federal agencies. Before issuing the Right-
of-Way Grant, the BLM must receive the written concurrence of the other
surface managing federal agencies (i.e., FS and COE) in accordance with
43 CFR 2882.3(i).
    The FS's purpose and need for the proposed action is to consider
issuing a concurrence to the BLM for the Right-of-Way Grant and to
evaluate an amendment to the Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP)
for the Jefferson National Forest that would make provision for the MVP
pipeline's construction and operation. The FS amendment to the
Jefferson National Forest LRMP is analyzed in the EIS.
    The BLM may adopt and use the final EIS when considering the
issuance of a Right-of-Way Grant to Mountain Valley for the portion of
the MVP that would cross federal lands; with the concurrence of the FS
and COE. Further, the FS may use the final EIS when it considers
amending its LRMP for the proposed MVP crossing of the Jefferson
National Forest. Although the cooperating agencies provided input to
the conclusions and recommendations presented in the final EIS, the
agencies will present their own conclusions and recommendations in
their respective Records of Decision (ROD) for the projects.

Forest Service's Draft Record of Decision

    The MVP may be implemented across National Forest System (NFS) land
if the BLM grants the rights-of-way for the MVP pipeline to cross the
Jefferson National Forest and the FS amends the Jefferson National
Forest LRMP (Forest Plan). The Forest Supervisor of the George
Washington and Jefferson National Forests has adopted the environmental
analysis conducted by FERC (in accordance with 40 CFR 1506.3(a) and
(c)) to support his decision to amend the Jefferson National Forest
LRMP. He has determined that five parts of the Jefferson National
Forest LRMP, where 11 standards would be modified by a Forest Plan
amendment (section 4.8 of the final EIS), meet the substantive
requirements of the FS planning regulations (36 CFR part 219); and can
be implemented without impairing the long-term productivity of NFS
lands. With the amended LRMP, the MVP would be consistent with the
Forest Plan. The draft decision is based on a review of the
environmental analysis disclosed in the final EIS, the project record,
Mountain Valley's proposed Plan of Development, comments from the
public, partners, and other agencies, and a consideration of the 36 CFR
part 219 requirements for amending a Forest Plan.
    The FS decision is subject to objection pursuant to the provisions
available at 36 CFR part 218, subparts A and B (published in the
Federal Register Vol. 78, No. 59 at 18481 [March 27, 2013]). Objections
to the FS decision must be filed within 45 calendar days from the
publication date of the legal notice of the opportunity to object in
the Roanoke Times, which is the newspaper of record for the George
Washington and Jefferson National Forests. The legal notice contains
the details of the objection process. The FS must respond to all
objections received before it makes a final decision on the proposed
Forest Plan amendments. The final decision on the Forest Plan
amendments and the final EIS analysis will inform the FS concurrence to
the BLM for its Right-of-Way Grant.
    A copy of the FS draft ROD and of the legal notice for objections
can be obtained by any of the following methods: Internet Web site:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/gwj; email: kovercash<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or
regular mail: Karen Overcash, George Washington-Jefferson Environmental
Coordinator, 5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24019; telephone:
(540) 265-5100.

Comments on the Bureau of Land Management Record of Decision

    The BLM is soliciting comments specific to MVP impacts on federal
lands managed by the COE and FS for consideration in its ROD. If you
wish to submit written comments to the BLM, they must be submitted
within thirty (30) calendar days from the date that the EPA publishes
the Notice of Availability of the Environmental Impact Statement for
the Proposed Mountain Valley Project and Equitrans Expansion Project in
the Federal Register. You may use any of the following methods to
submit comments to the BLM: E-planning MVP Comment Submission Web page
at http://bit.ly/2qByLlw; or mail to: Vicki Craft, U.S. Bureau of Land
Management, Southeastern State District Office, 273 Market Street,
Flowood, MS 39232.

Distribution of the Final Environmental Impact Statement

    The FERC staff mailed copies of the final EIS to federal, state,
and local government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American tribes;
potentially affected landowners and other interested individuals and
groups; and newspapers and libraries in the project area. Paper copy
versions of this EIS were mailed to those specifically requesting them;
all others received a compact-disc version. In addition, the EIS is
available for public viewing on the FERC's Web site (www.ferc.gov)
using the eLibrary link. A limited number of copies are available for
distribution and public inspection at: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Public Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Room 2A,
Washington, DC 20426,<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    Additional information about the project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search,'' and enter the docket number
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP16-
10 or CP16-13). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range.
For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll free at<PHONE_NUMBER>; for TTY,
contact<PHONE_NUMBER>. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the

documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.

    Dated: June 23, 2017.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-13598 Filed 6-28-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 198 (Tuesday, October 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64556-64559]
[FR Doc No: 2020-22633]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-90114; File No. SR-NYSECHX-2020-28]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; NYSE Chicago, Inc.; Notice of
Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt
Temporary Interpretation and Policy .10 Under NYSE Chicago Article 6,
Rule 13

October 7, 2020.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) \1\ of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the ``Act'') \2\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\3\ notice is hereby
given that on September 25, 2020, NYSE Chicago, Inc. (``NYSE Chicago''
or the ``Exchange'') filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the ``Commission'') the proposed rule change as described in Items I
and II below, which Items have been prepared by the self-regulatory
organization. The Commission is publishing this notice to solicit
comments on the proposed rule change from interested persons.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78a.
    \3\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Terms of Substance
of the Proposed Rule Change

    The Exchange proposes a rule change to adopt temporary
Interpretation and Policy .10 (Temporary Extension of the Limited
Period for Registered Persons to Function as Principals) under NYSE
Chicago Article 6, Rule 13 (Registration Requirements) applicable to
Participants. The proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's
website at www.nyse.com, at the principal office of the Exchange, and
at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, the self-regulatory organization
included statements concerning the purpose of, and basis for, the
proposed rule change and discussed any comments it received on the
proposed rule change. The text of those statements may be examined at
the places specified in Item IV below. The Exchange has prepared
summaries, set forth in sections A, B, and C below, of the most
significant parts of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of the Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

1. Purpose
    The Exchange proposes to adopt temporary Interpretation and Policy
.10 (Temporary Extension of the Limited Period for Registered Persons
to Function as Principals) under NYSE Chicago Article 6, Rule 13
(Registration Requirements) applicable to Participants.\4\ The proposed
rule change would extend the 120-day period that certain individuals
can function as a principal without having successfully passed an
appropriate qualification examination through December 31, 2020,\5\ and
would apply only to those individuals who were designated to function
as a principal prior to September 3, 2020. This proposed rule change is
based on a filing recently

submitted by the Financial Regulatory Authority, Inc. (``FINRA'') \6\
and is intended to harmonize the Exchange's registration rules with
those of FINRA so as to promote uniform standards across the securities
industry.
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    \4\ The term ``Participant'' means any Participant Firm that
holds a valid Trading Permit and any person associated with a
Participant Firm who is registered with the Exchange. A Participant
shall be considered a ``member'' of the Exchange for purposes of the
Exchange Act. See Article 1, Rule 1(s).
    \5\ If NYSE Chicago seeks to provide additional temporary relief
from the rule requirements identified in this proposed rule change
beyond December 31, 2020, NYSE Chicago will submit a separate rule
filing to further extend the temporary extension of time.
    \6\ See Securities Exchange Act Release No. 89732 (September 1,
2020), 85 FR 55535 (September 8, 2020) (SR-FINRA-2020-026) (the
``FINRA Filing''). The Exchange notes that the FINRA Filing also
provides temporary relief to individuals registered with FINRA as
Operations Professionals under FINRA Rule 1220. The Exchange does
not have a registration category for Operations Professionals and
therefore, the Exchange is not proposing to adopt that aspect of the
FINRA Filing.
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    In response to COVID-19, earlier this year FINRA began providing
temporary relief by way of frequently asked questions (``FAQs'') \7\ to
address disruptions to the administration of FINRA qualification
examinations caused by the pandemic that have significantly limited the
ability of individuals to sit for examinations due to Prometric test
center capacity issues.\8\
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    \7\ See https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/key-topics/covid-19/faq#qe.
    \8\ At the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, all FINRA
qualification examinations were administered at test centers
operated by Prometric. Based on the health and welfare concerns
resulting from COVID-19, in March Prometric closed all of its test
centers in the United States and Canada and began to slowly reopen
some of them at limited capacity in May. At this time, not all of
these Prometric test centers have reopened at full capacity.
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    FINRA published the first FAQ on March 20, 2020, providing that
individuals who were designated to function as principals under FINRA
Rule 1210.04 \9\ prior to February 2, 2020, would be given until May
31, 2020, to pass the appropriate principal qualification
examination.\10\ On May 19, 2020, FINRA extended the relief to pass the
appropriate examination until June 30, 2020. Most recently, on June 29,
2020, FINRA again extended the temporary relief providing that
individuals who were designated to function as principals under FINRA
Rule 1210.04 prior to May 4, 2020, would be given until August 31,
2020, to pass the appropriate principal qualification examination.
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    \9\ Interpretation and Policy .03 under NYSE Chicago Article 6,
Rule 13 is the corresponding rule to FINRA Rule 1210.04.
    \10\ FINRA Rule 1210.04 (Requirements for Registered Persons
Functioning as Principals for a Limited Period) allows a member firm
to designate certain individuals to function in a principal capacity
for 120 calendar days before having to pass an appropriate principal
qualification examination. Interpretation and Policy .03 under NYSE
Chicago Article 6, Rule 13 provides the same allowance to
Participants.
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    One of the impacts of COVID-19 continues to be serious
interruptions in the administration of FINRA qualification examinations
at Prometric test centers and the limited ability of individuals to sit
for the examinations.\11\ Although Prometric has begun reopening test
centers, Prometric's safety practices mean that currently not all test
centers are open, some of the open test centers are at limited
capacity, and some open test centers are delivering only certain
examinations that have been deemed essential by the local
government.\12\ Furthermore, Prometric has had to close some reopened
test centers due to incidents of COVID-19 cases. The initial nationwide
closure in March along with the inability to fully reopen all Prometric
test centers due to COVID-19 have led to a significant backlog of
individuals who are waiting to sit for FINRA examinations.\13\
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    \11\ Information about the continued impact of COVID-19 on
FINRA-administered examinations is available at https://www.finra.org/rules-guidance/keytopics/covid-19/exams.
    \12\ Information from Prometric about its safety practices and
the impact of COVID-19 on its operations is available at https://www.prometric.com/corona-virus-update. See also supra note 11.
    \13\ Although an online test delivery service has been launched
to help address the backlog, the General Securities Principal
Examination (Series 24) is not available online. See supra note 11.
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    In addition, firms are continuing to experience operational
challenges with much of their personnel working from home due to
shelter-in-place orders, restrictions on businesses and social activity
imposed in various states, and adherence to other social distancing
guidelines consistent with the recommendations of public health
officials.\14\ As a result, firms continue to face potentially
significant disruptions to their normal business operations that may
include a limitation of in-person activities and staff absenteeism as a
result of the health and welfare concerns stemming from COVID-19. Such
potential disruptions may be further exacerbated and may even affect
client services if firms cannot continue to keep principal positions
filled as they may have difficulty finding other qualified individuals
to transition into these roles or may need to reallocate employee time
and resources away from other critical responsibilities at the firm.
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    \14\ See, e.g., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, How
to Protect Yourself & Others, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-gettingsick/prevention.html.
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    These ongoing, extenuating circumstances make it impracticable for
Participants to ensure that the individuals whom they have designated
to function in a principal capacity, as set forth in Interpretation and
Policy .03 under Article 6, Rule 13, are able to successfully sit for
and pass an appropriate qualification examination within the 120-
calendar day period required under the rule, or to find other qualified
staff to fill this position. The ongoing circumstances also require
individuals to be exposed to the health risks associated with taking an
in-person examination, because the General Securities Principal
examination is not available online. Therefore, NYSE Chicago is
proposing to continue the temporary relief provided through the FINRA
FAQs by adopting Interpretation and Policy .10 under Article 6, Rule 13
to extend the 120-day period during which an individual can function as
a principal before having to pass an applicable qualification
examination until December 31, 2020.\15\ The proposed rule change would
apply only to those individuals who were designated to function as a
principal prior to September 3, 2020. Any individuals designated to
function as a principal on or after September 3, 2020, would need to
successfully pass an appropriate qualification examination within 120
days.
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    \15\ See supra note 5.
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    NYSE Chicago believes that this proposed continued extension of
time is tailored to address the needs and constraints on a
Participant's operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, without
significantly compromising critical investor protection. The proposed
extension of time will help to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on
Participants by providing continued flexibility so that Participants
can ensure that principal positions remain filled. The potential risks
from the proposed extension of the 120-day period are mitigated by the
Participant's continued requirement to supervise the activities of
these designated individuals and ensure compliance with federal
securities laws and regulations, as well as NYSE Chicago rules.
2. Statutory Basis
    The proposed rule change is consistent with Section 6(b) of the
Act,\16\ in general, and furthers the objectives of Section
6(b)(5),\17\ in particular, because it is designed to prevent
fraudulent and manipulative acts and practices, to promote just and
equitable principles of trade, to foster cooperation and coordination
with persons engaged in facilitating transactions in securities, to
remove impediments to, and perfect the mechanism of, a free and open
market and a national market system and, in

general, to protect investors and the public interest.
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    \16\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b).
    \17\ 15 U.S.C. 78f(b)(5).
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    The proposed rule change is intended to minimize the impact of
COVID-19 on Participant operations by extending the 120-day period
certain individuals may function as a principal without having
successfully passed an appropriate qualification examination pursuant
to Interpretation and Policy .03 under Article 6, Rule 13 until
December 31, 2020. The proposed rule change does not relieve
Participants from maintaining, under the circumstances, a reasonably
designed system to supervise the activities of their associated persons
to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations,
and with applicable NYSE Chicago rules that directly serve investor
protection. In a time when faced with unique challenges resulting from
the COVID-19 pandemic, NYSE Chicago believes that the proposed rule
change is a sensible accommodation that will continue to afford
Participants the ability to ensure that critical positions are filled
and client services maintained, while continuing to serve and promote
the protection of investors and the public interest in this unique
environment.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    The Exchange does not believe that the proposed rule change will
impose any burden on competition that is not necessary or appropriate
in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. The proposed rule change is
intended to provide temporary relief given the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic crisis and to also maintain consistency with the rules of
other self-regulatory organizations (``SROs'') with respect to the
registration requirements applicable to Participants and their
registered personnel. In that regard, the Exchange believes that any
burden on competition would be clearly outweighed by providing
Participants with temporary relief in this unique environment while
also ensuring clear and consistent requirements applicable across SROs
and mitigating any risk of SROs implementing different standards in
these important areas. In its filing, FINRA provides an abbreviated
economic impact assessment maintaining that the changes are necessary
to temporarily rebalance the attendant benefits and costs of the
obligations under FINRA Rule 1210 in response to the impacts of the
COVID-19 pandemic that is equally applicable to the changes the
Exchange proposes.\18\ The Exchange accordingly incorporates FINRA's
abbreviated economic impact assessment by reference.
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    \18\ FINRA Filing, 85 FR at 55537.
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C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    Written comments were neither solicited nor received.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

    Because the foregoing proposed rule change does not: (i)
Significantly affect the protection of investors or the public
interest; (ii) impose any significant burden on competition; and (iii)
become operative for 30 days from the date on which it was filed, or
such shorter time as the Commission may designate, it has become
effective pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) of the Act \19\ and Rule 19b-
4(f)(6) \20\ thereunder.
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    \19\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \20\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(6). In addition, Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii)
requires a self-regulatory organization to give the Commission
written notice of its intent to file the proposed rule change, along
with a brief description and text of the proposed rule change, at
least five business days prior to the date of filing of the proposed
rule change, or such shorter time as designated by the Commission.
NYSE Chicago has satisfied this requirement.
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    A proposed rule change filed under Rule 19b-4(f)(6) normally does
not become operative for 30 days after the date of filing. However,
pursuant to Rule 19b-4(f)(6)(iii), the Commission may designate a
shorter time if such action is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest. NYSE Chicago has asked the
Commission to waive the 30-day operative delay so that the proposed
rule change may become operative immediately upon filing. As noted
above, NYSE Chicago stated that the temporary proposed rule change is
based on a recent rule change by FINRA and is intended to harmonize
NYSE Chicago's registration rules with those of FINRA to promote
uniform standards across the securities industry.\21\ NYSE Chicago
states that it will also help minimize the impact of the COVID-19
outbreak on NYSE Chicago Participants' operations by allowing them to
keep principal positions filled and minimizing disruptions to client
services and other critical responsibilities. The ongoing extenuating
circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic make it impractical to ensure
that individuals designated to act in principal capacities are able to
take and pass the appropriate qualification examination during the 120-
calendar day period required under the rules. Shelter-in-place orders,
quarantining, restrictions on business and social activity and
adherence to other social distancing guidelines consistent with the
recommendation of public officials remain in place in various
states.\22\ Further, NYSE Chicago states that Prometric test centers
have experienced serious interruptions in the administration of FINRA
qualification examinations, resulting in a backlog of individuals
waiting to take these examinations. Following a nationwide closure of
all test centers earlier in the year, some test centers have re-opened,
but are operating at limited capacity or are only delivering certain
examinations that have been deemed essential by the local
government.\23\ FINRA has launched an online test delivery service to
help address this backlog. However, the General Securities Principal
(Series 24) Examination is not available online. NYSE Chicago states
that the temporary proposed rule change will provide needed flexibility
to ensure that these positions remain filled and is tailored to address
the constraints on Participants' operations during the COVID-19
pandemic without significantly compromising critical investor
protection.\24\
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    \21\ See supra note 6.
    \22\ See supra note 14.
    \23\ See supra notes 11 and 12. NYSE Chicago states that
Prometric has also had to close some reopened test centers due to
incidents of COVID-19 cases.
    \24\ NYSE Chicago states that Participants remain subject to the
continued requirement to supervise the activities of these
designated individuals and ensure compliance with federal securities
laws and regulations, as well as NYSE Chicago rules.
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    The Commission also notes that the proposal provides only temporary
relief from the requirement to pass certain qualification examinations
within the 120-day period in the rules. As proposed, this relief would
extend the 120-day period that certain individuals can function as
principals through December 31, 2020. NYSE Chicago has also stated that
if it requires temporary relief from the rule requirements identified
in this proposal beyond December 31, 2020, it may submit a separate
rule filing to extend the effectiveness of the temporary relief under
these rules.\25\ For these reasons, the Commission believes that waiver
of the 30-day operative delay is consistent with the protection of
investors and the public interest.\26\ Accordingly, the Commission
hereby waives the 30-day

operative delay and designates the proposal operative upon filing.\27\
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    \25\ See supra note 5.
    \26\ As noted above by the Exchange, this proposed temporary
change is based on a recent filing by FINRA that the Commission
approved with a waiver of the 30-day operative delay. See supra note
6, 85 FR at 55538.
    \27\ For purposes only of waiving the 30-day operative delay,
the Commission has considered the proposed rule change's impact on
efficiency, competition, and capital formation. See 15 U.S.C.
78c(f).
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    At any time within 60 days of the filing of the proposed rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act. If the Commission
takes such action, the Commission shall institute proceedings to
determine whether the proposed rule should be approved or disapproved.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:

Electronic Comments

     Use the Commission's internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml); or
     Send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please include
File Number SR-NYSECHX-2020-28 on the subject line.

Paper Comments

     Send paper comments in triplicate to Secretary, Securities
and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSECHX-2020-28. This
file number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To
help the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's internet website (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml).
Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all written
statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are filed with
the Commission, and all written communications relating to the proposed
rule change between the Commission and any person, other than those
that may be withheld from the public in accordance with the provisions
of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be available for website viewing and printing in
the Commission's Public Reference Room, on business days between the
hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., located at 100 F Street NE,
Washington, DC 20549. Copies of such filing also will be available for
inspection and copying at the principal office of NYSE Chicago. All
comments received will be posted without change. Persons submitting
comments are cautioned that we do not redact or edit personal
identifying information from comment submissions. You should submit
only information that you wish to make available publicly.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-NYSECHX-2020-28 and
should be submitted on or before November 3, 2020.

    For the Commission, by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\28\
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    \28\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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J. Matthew DeLesDernier,
Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-22633 Filed 10-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P