Search Results for type:"Rule"

The Coast Guard is making changes to a temporary safety zone in West Passage, Narragansett Bay, Jamestown, RI. These changes include extending the safety zone's effective period to January 31, 2025, and updating the name of the cable laying vessel involved in operations. This safety zone ensures the safety of personnel and vessels from hazards associated with cable laying. Unauthorized entry into the safety zone is prohibited during active cable operations unless specifically allowed by the Captain of the Port, Sector Southeastern New England.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) adopted a final rule to codify the Interagency Statement Clarifying the Role of Supervisory Guidance issued in 2018 along with the Federal Reserve, FDIC, NCUA, and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. This rule emphasizes that supervisory guidance, unlike laws or regulations, does not have legal force and doesn't create legally binding obligations for the public. The rule aims to ensure that the OCC will follow the principles of administrative law and use guidance to support transparency and consistency in the supervision of banks. The final rule takes effect on March 15, 2021, and assures that supervisory guidance will continue to be a valuable tool without being enforceable like laws.

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 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to limit the use of pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP), a chemical identified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. The rule prohibits manufacturing, processing, and distributing PCTP and PCTP-containing products if the concentration exceeds 1% by weight. This restriction aims to lower the availability and exposure of PCTP, thereby reducing the potential risks to human health and the environment. By enforcing these limits, the EPA encourages the use of safer alternatives and reduces environmental and human exposure to PCTP.

The Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has issued a final rule regarding the Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) and the authorization of coal mine operators as self-insurers. This rule updates the process for operators to apply for self-insurance, sets new standards for the amount of security required to self-insure, and clarifies the appeals process. The rule aims to better secure the Trust Fund that pays benefits when operators default, by requiring all self-insured operators to provide security equal to 100% of their projected black lung liabilities. These changes are intended to protect the Trust Fund from financial strain caused by bankruptcies and reduce administrative burdens.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has updated regulations for overdraft credit offered by very large financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions with more than $10 billion in assets. This new rule ensures that these institutions adhere to consumer protection laws that apply to other credit products, unless the overdraft fee is only meant to cover the costs incurred. By doing this, consumers will have better information to compare different credit options, making it easier for them to make informed decisions. The rule takes effect on October 1, 2025, and does not yet apply to smaller institutions, as the impact on the market will be assessed first.

The Treasury Department and IRS have issued final regulations that update the rules for classifying transactions involving digital content and cloud services. These updates help clarify how transactions like software downloads and streaming services are taxed, especially in international contexts. The new rules replace the previous "de minimis" standard with a "predominant character" rule to simplify determining the main purpose of such transactions. Examples in the regulations provide further guidance, and while the new rules are effective for tax years starting on or after January 14, 2025, businesses can also choose to apply them to earlier years.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued an interim final rule to update and relocate regulations regarding other transaction (OT) agreements, which allow for flexible partnerships beyond traditional contracts. This action simplifies existing regulations by removing outdated provisions and clarifying policies, aiming to enhance the use of OT agreements for research, development, and demonstration projects. The changes seek to make it easier for nontraditional government partners, like small businesses, to participate in DOE projects. Public comments on these regulatory adjustments are invited until March 4, 2025.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has introduced a final rule called the Rule on Unfair or Deceptive Fees. This rule aims to prevent businesses from misleading consumers about the prices of live-event tickets and short-term lodging. It requires businesses to clearly disclose the total price that includes all mandatory fees, to avoid bait-and-switch tactics that hide the real cost. The rule also prohibits businesses from lying about the nature, purpose, amount, or refundability of these fees, ensuring that consumers have a true understanding of the cost before making a purchase.

The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) has issued a final rule to adjust its maximum civil monetary penalties for inflation experienced from October 2019 to October 2020. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and affects penalties related to violations under the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act. The new rates are based on the Consumer Price Index and are effective immediately as of February 2, 2021. The rulemaking complies with various executive orders and acts, including the Regulatory Flexibility Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act.