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The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has proposed a new order for promoting natural grass sod products. This initiative, called the Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Information Order, aims to support the natural grass sod industry by funding market expansion and research activities through fees collected from sod producers. A key aspect of the proposal is a referendum where natural grass sod producers can vote on whether to adopt this program. If approved, the program will be financed by a small assessment on the sale of sod, with the goal of supporting industry education, promotion, and research efforts.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized a rule specifying the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA). The rule clarifies that the MBTA's prohibitions on actions like pursuing, hunting, capturing, or killing migratory birds apply only to deliberate actions directed at these birds, their nests, or their eggs. It explains that the incidental harm or death of birds resulting from activities not aimed at them is not covered under this law. This decision aims to provide legal clarity and reduce regulatory uncertainty for industries and individuals.

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 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a final rule updating the policies and procedures for loan guarantees and direct loans under the Title XVII Program and the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Program. The rule aligns with an Executive Order aimed at reducing reliance on foreign critical minerals and includes refined definitions of "Eligible Projects," as well as guidelines for preliminary term sheets, conditional commitments, and third-party payments of costs and fees. The changes are intended to make loan guarantees more accessible for projects involving critical minerals and innovative technologies. Additionally, the rule clarifies that payment of costs and fees by non-Federal third parties is permissible to support applicants.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule that partially approves and partially disapproves Arizona's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for addressing regional haze, a form of air pollution. Arizona's plan aimed to tackle haze by revising strategies to improve visibility in protected natural areas. The EPA found that while some parts of the plan meet federal requirements, others do not because they lack adequate analysis or justification. The EPA's decision starts a process that could lead to federal intervention unless Arizona submits an improved plan that meets all necessary criteria.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued a notice about the Universal Notice, which details rules for managing disaster recovery funds through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. This notice explains how these funds will be allocated, including any waivers or alternatives to standard requirements, to ensure quicker and more consistent disaster recovery efforts after presidentially declared disasters. The notice sets procedures for the execution of grant awards, outlines measures to streamline recovery processes, and ensures that fair housing and civil rights are respected during implementation. HUD aims to offer better transparency and access to recovery funds to help communities recover effectively and equitably.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is implementing changes to the Biobased Markets Program, also known as the BioPreferred Program, following updates from the 2018 Farm Bill. The updated rule merges two previous sets of guidelines into one, streamlining the regulatory process for designating and labeling biobased products that qualify for federal procurement preferences. This final rule aims to make it easier for these products to qualify for federal use and merges federal guidelines for procurement and labeling into a single, simplified regulation effective January 8, 2025.

The final rule permanently adopts changes to the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) made by the interim rule published in January 2020. It responds to public comments and adjusts several program aspects, including clarifying definitions, addressing eligibility requirements for agricultural and wetland easements, and enhancing conservation and land management practices. The changes, based on the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, are intended to improve the program's efficiency, allowing for more flexible non-Federal cost-sharing and incorporating additional conservation planning. The rule emphasizes voluntary participation by landowners and seeks to enhance the conservation value of public investments.

The proposed regulations aim to amend the rules for practicing before the IRS, eliminating outdated provisions and updating standards for practitioners like tax return preparers, appraisers, and CPAs. Key changes include removing unenforceable rules related to registered tax return preparers, redefining the use of contingent fees as disreputable, and updating appraisal standards to align with modern practices. The new regulations also set forth procedures for appraiser disqualification and clarify the disciplinary process for practitioners who violate IRS guidelines. The draft regulations invite public comments and set the dates for submission and hearing.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed a rule to list several Caribbean skink species as endangered or threatened. The Puerto Rican skink, Lesser Virgin Islands skink, and Virgin Islands bronze skink are proposed as endangered, while the Culebra skink is proposed as threatened. The proposal also includes designating critical habitats for these species to aid in their conservation. Public comments on the proposal will be accepted until February 18, 2025.