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The Department of Labor is seeking public comments on an Information Collection Request (ICR) related to the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which is submitted to the Office of Management and Budget for approval. This request is in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The public can comment on various aspects of the information collection, including its necessity and how it can be improved. The request also notes that the Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to implement improved methods for estimating data when employer reports are missing, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on data accuracy. The deadline for submitting comments is March 15, 2021.

The Federal Maritime Commission has issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties for inflation. This adjustment is required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. The new penalty amounts are calculated using a formula based on changes in the consumer price index. This rule takes effect on January 15, 2025, and does not require a public comment period due to exemptions from certain rulemaking procedures.

The Executive Order 14223, issued by the President, directs an investigation into whether imports of timber, lumber, and related products pose a threat to national security. The Secretary of Commerce is tasked with examining factors such as domestic production capacity, foreign competition, and the impact of subsidies and trade practices on the U.S. industry. The order aims to secure domestic supply chains of these products crucial for both military and civilian uses. Findings and recommendations for protective actions are to be reported to the President within 270 days.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule to reduce the dust-lead clearance levels in order to lower childhood lead exposure. These levels indicate the acceptable amount of lead residue following lead abatement activities. The new standards lower the clearance levels from 40 micrograms per square foot to 10 micrograms for floors, and from 250 to 100 micrograms for window sills. This change is made to align with updated science and aims to improve children's health by minimizing lead exposure. This rule is effective from March 8, 2021.

The Federal Maritime Commission issued a final rule to adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties they assess, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This rule requires agencies to announce these adjustments by January 15 every year and is based on changes in the consumer price index. The adjustment process is not required to follow certain procedural steps like public notice or comment, and the rule will not have significant economic impacts. Additionally, the rule doesn’t involve any new collection of information from the public.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is asking the public for comments on its request to extend the use of a specific form, known as Form NWPA-830G, for three more years. This form is used by those who handle spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste to determine the fees they must pay into the Nuclear Waste Fund, based on their electricity production. The DOE has reduced the number of reactors required to submit this form from 95 to 94, following the permanent shutdown of one reactor. Comments on this proposed collection must be submitted by January 17, 2025.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), part of the Department of Energy, has issued a final rule to update its filing fees based on costs for Fiscal Year 2024. These changes, effective March 3, 2025, adjust fees arising from specific services and benefits provided to identifiable beneficiaries. The rule is classified as procedural and, therefore, exempt from public comment and additional information collection requirements. It includes changes in several fee sections, like increasing the fees for specific services as detailed in the amendments to part 381 of the Commission's regulations.

The Department of the Treasury is seeking feedback on proposed information collections related to community financial programs, as part of its effort to lessen paperwork and reporting burdens. This includes the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF), which supports affordable housing, and the Small Dollar Loan Program (SDL), which provides financial assistance to improve access to financial services. Public comments are invited until May 19, 2025. Additional details can be found on reginfo.gov.

The U.S. Department of Energy has decided to update energy conservation standards for gas-fired instantaneous water heaters. These changes aim to make the heaters more energy-efficient, leading to significant energy savings while being both technologically feasible and economically justified. Starting December 26, 2029, manufacturers will need to comply with these new standards, which are calculated to save energy and money over the lifetime of the heaters and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, despite potential minor increases in electricity use. The overall benefits include costs savings for consumers and emissions reductions, though there will be conversion costs for manufacturers to meet these standards.

The Department of Justice has implemented a final rule to define the functions of the Office of the Executive Secretariat as a distinct part of the department. This Office, created in August 2023, will manage the review and approval of important documents and correspondence within the department and ensure they are processed efficiently. The rule is categorized as a change in agency organization and management, exempting it from typical procedures like prior notice or public comment. It does not have significant regulatory or economic impacts on small entities, states, or federalism.