Search Results for keywords:"Chicago Rock Island

American Services Rail, LLC (ASR), a noncarrier, has submitted a notice to lease and operate a small rail line in Mississippi currently operated by Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, LLC (CRIP). The arrangement allows ASR to function as a common carrier on a specific section and as a contract carrier on additional tracks. ASR affirms that no interchange commitments are involved and that the transaction will not lead to it becoming a larger rail carrier. The transaction is set to take effect on April 9, 2025, with legal precautions in place if any misleading information is found.

Land Rush Rail Corporation (LRRC), a non-carrier company, filed for an exemption to lease and operate a 37.26-mile rail line in Kansas and Oklahoma, previously under Blackwell Northern Gateway Railroad's control. This transition follows a Federal Railroad Administration emergency order that stopped BNGR's operations, granting a temporary license to Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad to manage the line. LRRC's annual revenue from this transaction is projected not to exceed $5 million, and the transaction may proceed on or after March 20, 2025, unless revoked. The exemption is categorized as environmentally and historically negligible, exempting it from broader regulatory reviews.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate critical habitats for four species of freshwater mussels: the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox, and spectaclecase. These designations spread across 17 states in the United States, covering approximately 3,974 river miles. The critical habitats are aimed at protecting key environmental features essential for the mussels' survival, such as suitable water flow, quality, and host fish presence. The agency is inviting comments on this proposal until February 11, 2025, and has also released an economic analysis regarding the designations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a rule to list several Caribbean skink species as endangered or threatened. The Puerto Rican skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink are proposed as endangered, while the Culebra skink is proposed as threatened. The proposal also includes designating critical habitats for these species to aid in their conservation. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until February 18, 2025.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a final rule to change how Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area boundaries are defined, making them more similar to those used for General Schedule (GS) locality pay areas. This rule, effective October 1, 2025, and impacting about 10% of FWS employees, aims to address pay disparities by reducing the number of FWS wage areas and aligning them more closely with GS locality pay areas. It is based on recommendations from the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) and is expected to result in pay increases for some workers while others may see little change or enter pay retention due to the restructuring.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary rule establishing a safety zone in waters near the Glen Island Approach Bridge in Long Island Sound, New Rochelle, NY, due to construction activities. This rule, effective from December 2, 2024, to May 27, 2027, is necessary to protect people and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the bridge's rehabilitation. During active construction periods, unauthorized persons and vessels are prohibited from entering the designated safety zone. The public is invited to comment on this rule by March 3, 2025, with the Coast Guard committed to maintaining transparent communication through platforms like Local Notice to Mariners.

The National Park Service (NPS) is suggesting changes to the rules about which motor vehicles can drive on the beaches and oversand routes of Assateague Island National Seashore. They want to remove outdated requirements about vehicle weight, ground clearance, and size, which were made in 1976 and are seen as no longer necessary. NPS believes these changes will not harm the environment and will make it easier for more people to visit while still keeping safety and conservation in mind. Public comments are invited on these changes until March 18, 2025.

The Coast Guard has established a new anchorage ground near Rice Island on the Lower Columbia River to enhance navigation safety by creating more space for commercial vessels to anchor. This rule, set to be effective from January 15, 2025, comes in response to increased commercial traffic in the area. During the review process, 42 comments were received, addressing concerns like the depth of the anchorage ground and potential environmental impacts on species such as the Green Sturgeon. The Coast Guard assessed regulatory requirements and determined that this new anchorage ground would not have significant economic or environmental impacts.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing a rule to establish annual catch limits (ACLs), annual catch targets (ACTs), and accountability measures (AMs) for bottomfish in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to promote sustainability. These measures, effective from 2020 to 2022 for Guam and 2020 to 2023 for the Northern Mariana Islands, aim to prevent overfishing and rebuild fish stocks if necessary. Public comments on this proposal are being requested, with a submission deadline of March 15, 2021. The NMFS plans to adjust catch limits in future years based on average catches to maintain healthy fish populations.

The Coast Guard has proposed changes to its regulations concerning special local regulations and safety zones in the Captain of the Port Zone Eastern Great Lakes, aiming to maintain safety on these waters. These changes involve updating event names, modifying existing regulations, and removing some obsolete entries. The rule would establish temporary zones during scheduled events, restricting access without permission from the Captain of the Port to protect vessels and the public. Public comments on the proposal are invited until February 20, 2025, via the Federal Decision-Making Portal.