Search Results for keywords:"regulatory amendments"

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.

In a final rule published on November 18, 2024, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made corrections to its regulations by addressing two specific errors. The first correction involves handling a wrongly stayed section, with the agency providing new instructions to revise and stay that section until January 16, 2026. The second correction fixes a typographical error involving an incorrect reference in a section definition. These changes aim to improve clarity and consistency within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.

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 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 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 document is a proposed rule by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), under the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of the Treasury, which seeks to amend the regulations for low-value shipments valued at $800 or less. CBP aims to create a new process for these shipments to better target high-risk consignments, including those possibly containing illicit substances like fentanyl. This new "enhanced entry process" involves electronic data submission for a more efficient screening and clearance, while also offering a modified version of the current "release from manifest" process, now called the "basic entry process." Comments on the proposed changes are invited from the public until March 17, 2025.

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.

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 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a monthly notice in accordance with the Atomic Energy Act, outlining proposed amendments to facility operating licenses and combined licenses. These amendments are considered to involve no significant hazards consideration (NSHC) and are effective immediately if determined appropriate by the NRC. Interested parties can submit comments or request hearings by the specified deadlines of April 17, 2025, and May 19, 2025, respectively. Information on obtaining documents and submitting comments is available through various methods, including the NRC's electronic systems.