Search Results for type:"Rule"

The Coast Guard has established a temporary safety zone on the Lower Mississippi River, covering mile markers 364.4 to 365.5 near Natchez, MS, in response to a fireworks display scheduled for December 31, 2024. This one-hour safety zone, effective from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., is intended to minimize hazards to people, vessels, and the environment. Entry into the zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Coast Guard, and the public will be informed via marine broadcasts. This rule is deemed necessary to ensure safety and has been issued without prior notice due to time constraints related to public safety.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has finalized a rule that allows settlement agreements to include payments or loans to non-governmental third parties who are not part of the dispute, under certain conditions. This rule revokes a 2020 regulation that prohibited such payments. Despite some public concerns about fairness and legality, the DOJ maintains this new rule will enable more effective settlements by compensating victims and addressing harms. The rule also includes guidelines such as ensuring a strong connection between the payment and the violation and restricting government involvement after the settlement.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new rule that affects certain Bombardier BD-700-1A10 airplanes. This rule was prompted by a report of smoke and overheating from emergency light batteries due to corrosion, causing an electrical short. The rule mandates inspections to check the batteries' replacement dates and replacements if necessary, plus updates to the maintenance schedule. The goal is to prevent the risk of fire on these airplanes by ensuring battery-related safety.

DoD, GSA, and NASA have issued a final rule to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) in order to implement an Executive Order that promotes the use of American-made goods in government procurement. This rule increases domestic content requirements for products, especially focusing on iron and steel, and raises the price preference for domestic goods from 6% to 20% for large businesses and from 12% to 30% for small businesses. Additionally, certain aspects of the Buy American statute are retained, such as waivers for Commercially Available Off-The-Shelf (COTS) items, although exceptions apply for products predominantly made of iron or steel. The rule is intended to boost economic growth, job creation, and national security by encouraging the use of U.S.-manufactured products.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is adjusting the maximum civil monetary penalties (CMPs) according to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments ensure that penalties for violations of the Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act (PFCRA) and Restrictions on Lobbying continue to reflect inflation and maintain their deterrent effect. The new penalties are based on the Consumer Price Index and are effective for violations assessed after January 15, 2021. The inflation-adjusted penalties are now set at $11,802 for false claims under the PFCRA and range from $20,720 to $207,314 for lobbying restrictions violations.

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 Federal Reserve Board is updating its rules to adjust the fines known as civil money penalties for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This adjustment ensures that penalties retain their deterrent effect by accounting for changes in the economy. The new penalty amounts will apply starting January 13, 2025, for violations occurring after November 2, 2015. The rule is implemented without the usual notice and comment process because of specific provisions in the law.

The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is providing extra support to farmers impacted by COVID-19. This final rule offers more help to swine producers who applied for CFAP 1 and extends aid to some swine and poultry contract producers under CFAP 2. It also updates eligible commodities, changes payment calculations for some crops, and includes new rules based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Eligible producers don't have to reapply if they've applied before but must meet certain criteria to receive aid.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is making changes to the service standards for certain types of mail, including First-Class Mail, Periodicals, USPS Marketing Mail, and Package Services. These new standards aim to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance service reliability as part of the USPS's "Delivering for America" plan. The changes will be implemented in phases starting April 1, 2025, with a focus on better aligning mail processing and transportation to make the service more reliable and cost-effective. Despite some criticism, USPS asserts that the revisions will result in overall faster service for many mail types and improve the postal network's long-term sustainability.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is establishing a new system of records to maintain child abuse and neglect investigation records for the Office of Refugee Resettlement's Unaccompanied Children Bureau. The rule exempts this system from certain Privacy Act requirements, like disclosure and access rights, to protect the integrity of investigations and secure sensitive information. HHS explains that these exemptions are necessary to prevent interference with investigations, safeguard the identities of children and informants, and maintain the effectiveness of investigative techniques. The rule will be effective by February 6, 2025, unless adverse comments are received by January 22, 2025.