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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce, is collecting public comments on its information collection activities for the Aleutian Islands pollock fishery. This notice is part of a routine renewal request under the Paperwork Reduction Act, seeking to gauge the impact and necessity of the reporting requirements, which help in managing the fishery. Specifically, the collection involves selecting and approving vessels and processors by The Aleut Corporation, as specified by Federal regulations. Public comments are invited until February 3, 2025, and will be used to assess and possibly improve the collection process.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve West Virginia's plan to address visibility issues caused by air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas, known as Class I areas. This decision reverses a previous proposal to disapprove the state's plan. The approval is based on West Virginia's measures to control emissions and the conclusion that no further actions are needed to improve visibility during the specified period. The EPA's decision reflects a change in their policy, suggesting that if current air conditions are below a certain improvement mark, states are meeting progress requirements.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act to regulate the chemical 2,4,6-tris(tert-butyl)phenol (2,4,6-TTBP) due to its persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic nature. This rule prohibits the sale and distribution of products containing more than 0.3% of 2,4,6-TTBP in containers smaller than 35 gallons, effective January 6, 2026. The rule aims to reduce exposure to this chemical, particularly for consumers and small businesses using fuel and oil products. It requires that records of compliance be maintained for three years after the rule takes effect.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act to address health and environmental risks posed by decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), a persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemical. The rule prohibits the manufacture, processing, and distribution of decaBDE and products containing decaBDE, with some exceptions, aiming to significantly reduce exposure to the chemical. To comply, recordkeeping is required for those involved with decaBDE, except in cases involving recycling, where no new decaBDE is added. The restrictions will help to protect human health and the environment by decreasing the presence and exposure risks associated with decaBDE.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture is amending the list of biological agents and toxins under the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. This change involves removing pathogens like Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, Brucella melitensis, Peronosclerospora philippinensis, and African horse sickness virus from the list of select agents. These changes are due to the evaluation that these agents are unlikely to serve as bioterrorism threats and are expected to reduce costs and enhance research opportunities, benefiting producers and research institutions.

The United States Department of Agriculture announced the launch of the Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program, which provides financial support to specialty crop producers to help them expand or develop markets. Applications for this assistance will be accepted from December 10, 2024, to January 8, 2025. To qualify, producers must be actively engaged in farming specialty crops, such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and floriculture, among others. The program aims to boost domestic market growth and address the challenges specialty crop producers face due to high costs and lower cash receipts.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate the chemical known as Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)). This rule prohibits the processing and distribution of PIP (3:1) and products containing it, with certain exceptions for specific industries like aviation and automotive, where no safer alternatives exist. The rule also bans the release of this chemical into water and mandates that commercial users follow best practices to prevent such releases. The regulation aims to reduce the manufacture, use, and disposal of PIP (3:1), thereby lowering the risk of exposure to humans and the environment.

The final rule, published by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) within the Department of Agriculture, solidifies the interim rule from February 13, 2020, which was brought about by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule involves changes to the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), making the provisions of the interim rule permanent and addressing public comments received. It involves various amendments concerning partnerships, funding, land eligibility, and program expectations aimed at enhancing conservation efforts across agricultural and forest lands. The rule also aims to ensure effective participation and support for historically underserved producers and guarantees that conservation projects are efficiently implemented and monitored.

The National Park Service (NPS) has revised the rules for right-of-way (ROW) permits, which allow the use of lands and waters they manage for infrastructure like power lines and cell towers. These updates make the NPS's process more similar to other Department of the Interior bureaus, introduce pre-application meetings, and require standardized application forms. The new rules also broaden the ways to determine fair market value and highlight the need for construction permitting, address advances in technology, and align with recent laws. These changes aim to protect park resources while making the process clearer for applicants.

The National Park Service has finalized new regulations for motor vehicle use in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. These rules update the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs), including prohibiting certain vehicles from using specific roads to protect natural resources, cultural features, and improve visitor experiences. The regulations also address issues like lake access, by requiring closures of specific areas below certain water levels, and establish longer quiet hours in designated areas to reduce noise pollution. The rules result from settlements over previous legal challenges, aiming to balance recreation and conservation efforts in the park.