Search Results for keywords:"public comments"

The Department of Justice has lodged a proposed consent decree with a North Carolina court involving a lawsuit against Pilkington North America, Inc. for violating the Clean Air Act. The company reportedly failed to secure necessary permits and use technology to control pollutants from its glass manufacturing plant. Under the decree, Pilkington will install equipment to control and monitor emissions and will conduct annual tests. Public comments on this proposal are welcome for 30 days following the notice's publication.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, plans to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Odessa Subarea Special Study Project in Washington State. This project aims to evaluate changes to a proposed irrigation system, which will involve installing a buried pipeline not previously considered and requiring blasting. The goal is to replace declining groundwater used for irrigation with surface water from the Columbia Basin Project to maintain the economic viability of local agriculture. NRCS seeks public comments on the proposed actions and potential alternatives by February 21, 2025.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has received a proposal from Nasdaq PHLX LLC to allow FLEX Trading in options for the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). This would enable these options to trade as both cash-settled and physically settled, with a consolidated limit of 25,000 contracts, which aims to prevent market manipulation and protect investors. The proposal is intended to broaden the range of available trading products and better manage investment risks in bitcoin-related products. Public comments are invited on whether this proposal aligns with the Securities Exchange Act's standards.

The Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and NASA are seeking public feedback on extending certain requirements of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), specifically part 9. This relates to the collection of information needed for determining whether companies are eligible for government contracts, including issues of debarment, tax violations, and corporate responsibility. The Office of Management and Budget has approved this information collection until April 30, 2025, and the agencies propose extending it for another three years. The goal is to improve the quality and reduce the burden of this information collection process.

The Department of Education is asking the public for comments on a new information collection related to the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF). This is needed because over 700 institutions have incorrectly used more than $202 million meant for student aid and institutional costs during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department wants to ensure these funds are returned quickly and properly to prevent any further financial issues. Public comments help assess the necessity and efficiency of this information collection while aiming to reduce the burden on respondents.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking comments from the public and other federal agencies as part of its effort to minimize paperwork burdens, a requirement under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on the necessity and utility of the FCC's information collection, the accuracy of the burden estimates, and suggestions for improving the clarity and reducing the burden on respondents, particularly small businesses. The FCC's current information collection, known as FCC Form 602, involves gathering data regarding ownership interests in wireless telecommunications services, with an annual burden of 5,217 hours and an annual cost of $762,300. Comments are due by July 7, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted a request to extend their existing information collection mandate under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(b) for TSCA Inventory Notifications. This extension is under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), as the current approval is valid until January 31, 2025. The request seeks public comments by February 3, 2025. The extension aims to continue recording chemicals manufactured or processed in the U.S., and the EPA must label these substances as “active” or “inactive” in commerce. The process involves minimal changes, resulting in a reduced time burden for respondents.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), part of the Department of Energy (DOE), has requested a three-year extension for its Uranium Data Program (UDP), without any changes, under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program includes three surveys that gather important information on uranium production, marketing, and reserves in the United States. Public comments on this request must be submitted by June 5, 2025. According to EIA estimates, the annual reporting burden includes responses from 99 respondents, totaling 1,775 burden hours and costing approximately $168,607.25, but does not involve any capital or start-up costs.

The Department of Labor is seeking public comments on an information collection request regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) web-based hotline. This hotline collects confidential information on labor issues from interested parties, including Mexican workers. The public can submit comments until January 13, 2025, about the necessity and effects of this information collection. The Department aims to ensure that the data collection is effective, minimizes burdens, and uses appropriate technology, with the collection having no cost to respondents and requiring 550 annual burden hours.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit a request to extend an existing information collection related to vehicle emission inspection and maintenance programs run by state and local governments. The EPA wants public feedback on different aspects of this collection, which helps evaluate and improve these programs, ensuring they meet set emission reduction standards. The current approval for this data collection is valid only till October 31, 2021, and such projects require displaying a valid approval number to legally collect information from the public. Comments must be submitted by April 30, 2021, through the federal regulations website.