Search Results for keywords:"regulations update"

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing updates to regulations governing Federal financial assistance programs under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. The changes aim to align regulations with recent legislation, ensure consistency across the nation, and respond to prior feedback on rulemaking. The proposal includes clarifications on eligible activities, agency responsibilities, and administrative processes to improve program clarity and efficiency. Public comments will be accepted until early 2025, and the updates are meant to enhance management of wildlife and sport fish restoration and related activities.

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has updated the regulations for its Office of Environmental Quality Management Fund. These updates are intended to clarify the regulations' meanings, modernize them to align with CEQ's current practices, and remove outdated provisions. The regulations now include new definitions for key terms and improve the explanation of policies and procedures related to environmental projects and study contracts. CEQ has determined that these changes will not have a significant impact on small entities or require an environmental impact statement.

The Coast Guard has issued a final rule to update its regulations for the National Vessel Documentation Center to better handle electronic submissions and align with reporting timelines. This rule allows vessel owners to submit documentation electronically, eliminating the need to send in original documents like the Builder's Certificate or existing Certificates of Documentation (CODs). It also extends the time for vessel owners to report changes to their COD information from 10 to 30 days. These changes simplify the filing process and reduce the need for paper submissions, making it easier and more efficient for both vessel owners and the Coast Guard.

On December 11, 2020, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published a final rule aimed at updating regulations for national banks and Federal savings associations to improve clarity, safety, and efficiency, while eliminating unnecessary requirements. A subsequent correcting amendment, effective January 11, 2021, addresses missing information and corrects three typographical errors within the final rule. These technical changes do not alter the substance of the regulations and were implemented without requiring the usual public notice and comment process, based on the OCC's determination that such steps were unnecessary. The OCC also ensured that the rule would take effect promptly, waiving typical delays because the changes increase compliance flexibility and reduce burdens for regulated institutions.

The Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has issued a final rule updating the regulations for the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Research Endowment Programs. This rule expands eligibility for research endowment awards to include certain Health Resources and Services Administration and NIMHD centers of excellence, following the enactment of Public Law 117-104. It also changes the program's name to honor John Lewis and revises outdated regulatory references. The changes aim to improve research capacity in minority health and address health disparities while adhering to current laws and guidelines.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued final regulations to update the rules for corporations that file consolidated federal income tax returns. These new regulations aim to bring the language up to date, clarify the existing rules, and reflect recent legal changes. They also remove outdated regulations and adjust tax rules, such as how losses are carried back or forward, considering a corporation's at-risk amount. These changes will mainly affect larger corporations that often file these types of consolidated returns.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has updated its regulations to include the latest version (Version 4.0) of business practice standards for interstate natural gas pipelines, created by the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). This update aims to improve efficiency and reliability in the natural gas industry and enhance cybersecurity protections. The new rules go into effect on February 7, 2025, with compliance required by August 1, 2025. FERC continues to exclude certain standards, like optional model contracts, from being incorporated by reference.