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The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council is organizing a meeting of the Dolphin Wahoo Advisory Panel on April 22-23, 2025. The meeting will occur at the Town and Country Inn in Charleston, SC, and will also be accessible via a webinar. Topics to be discussed include regulatory amendments, electronic reporting improvements, and updates on various fishery management strategies and programs. The public can register for the webinar and submit comments online two weeks before the meeting.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule changing the Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS), Takeoff Minimums, and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) at specific airports. These updates are due to new or revised criteria and changes in the National Airspace System, like new navigational facilities and obstacles. The goal is to ensure safe and efficient airspace use and flight operations under instrument rules. The rule becomes effective on December 10, 2024, and some updates may take effect in less than 30 days due to urgent safety needs.

The Department of Commerce has issued a correction to a final rule that was published on December 6, 2024, concerning the review of transactions related to information and communications technology and services linked to foreign adversaries that might pose risks to the U.S. The original rule failed to include necessary updates to certain regulatory language. This correction addresses those omissions by instructing updates to specific paragraphs in the regulations. The corrected rule will be effective from February 4, 2025.

The United States Department of Justice has proposed new rules to allow certain firearm dealers to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for conducting background checks on employees who handle firearms, as part of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. This proposal aims to prevent firearms from reaching individuals prohibited by law from possessing them, by enabling checks on employees who might access or use firearms through their work. The rules clarify how these checks, known as Firearm Handler Background Checks (FHCs), will be conducted, including what information can trigger a "Pass" or "Did Not Pass" notice and how individuals can appeal a "Did Not Pass" result. Comments on the proposal can be submitted until January 13, 2025.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a final rule that modifies, suspends, or removes certain Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs), Takeoff Minimums, and Obstacle Departure Procedures at various airports. These adjustments are in response to new criteria and changes in the National Airspace System, such as the addition of new navigational facilities or changes in air traffic needs. The rule aims to ensure safe and efficient use of airspace and is effective as of December 10, 2024. The procedures can be accessed online free of charge through the National Flight Data Center.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has amended regulations to add 13 new standards of fill for wine and 15 for distilled spirits, aiming to offer more flexibility in container sizes. The TTB considered eliminating standards of fill altogether but decided against it to prevent consumer confusion and market disruption. Instead, the additional sizes are expected to support domestic and international trade and provide more options for consumers. Moreover, the TTB has removed the distinction between canned and other containers for distilled spirits, allowing the same standards to apply across all types. These changes take effect on January 10, 2025.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule to update the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) by adding certain chemical families and an individual chemical to “Schedule 1” of the CWC Annex on Chemicals. These changes reflect decisions made during an international conference and clarify the definition of "production" under the CWCR. The updates ensure the U.S. complies with international obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention, but are not expected to significantly impact U.S. industry due to limited commercial applications of the newly added chemicals.

The Department of Transportation has introduced a new rule that clarifies rules around denied boarding compensation (DBC) and domestic baggage liability for airlines. Under the new rule, airlines are prohibited from involuntarily removing passengers from flights once their boarding passes are collected or scanned. It also raises the liability limits for denied boarding compensation from $675 to $775 and from $1,350 to $1,550, reflecting changes in the Consumer Price Index. Additionally, the rule adjusts the maximum compensation for mishandled baggage from $3,500 to $3,800. These changes aim to enhance consumer protection without significantly impacting airlines' operations.

The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has issued a final rule amending the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) to clarify the scope of export controls on certain vaccines and medical products. These changes are based on decisions from the Australia Group's June 2019 Plenary meeting. The aim is to ensure greater consistency and harmonization of international export controls, enhancing national security by preventing dual-use items from contributing to the development of chemical or biological weapons. The rule modifies controls on vaccines containing specific biological agents to only require licenses for export to a limited number of countries of concern.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has updated its regulations to improve the management of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD and CVD) laws. These changes aim to make the rules clearer and increase transparency by detailing how duties are applied and calculated. The amendments address issues like determining duty rates for nonmarket economies and handling subsidies from foreign governments. These new rules will take effect on January 15, 2025, to better enforce fair trade practices.