Search Results for agency_names:"Justice Department"

The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice have announced a further delay in the implementation of the "Security Bars" final rule until December 31, 2025. This rule was originally intended to define certain public health concerns as threats to U.S. security, affecting asylum eligibility. The delay is due to potential conflicts with other existing regulations and the absence of current public health conditions that would activate the rule. The departments are seeking public comments on the postponement, but not on the potential modification or cancellation of the rule.

The Department of Justice has lodged a proposed Consent Decree in a lawsuit concerning natural resource damages caused by Vigor Industrial, LLC and Exxon Mobil Corp. The lawsuit involves claims under environmental laws for damages in Seattle's Lower Duwamish River. The proposed settlement requires the defendants to carry out and maintain habitat restoration projects and pay $815,816.59 for assessment costs. Public comments on the proposed Consent Decree and the Draft Restoration Plan will be accepted for 30 days following the notice's publication.

The Department of Justice has proposed changes to the regulations of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) to comply with the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022. The proposal includes adding new definitions and procedures to incorporate local and Tribal firearms prohibitions alongside existing federal and state laws. It also covers enhanced background checks for firearm buyers under 21, introduces denial notifications to law enforcement when a gun sale is denied, and suggests improvements like identifying agencies that can't share certain records due to state laws. The Department seeks public comments on these proposed changes to refine and ensure their effectiveness in preventing prohibited individuals from acquiring firearms.

The Department of Justice announced a proposed legal agreement, or consent decree, in a lawsuit against The Dow Chemical Company, Union Carbide Corp, and Performance Materials, NA, Inc. The lawsuit, filed under the Clean Air Act, accuses these companies of violating environmental regulations at their plants in Louisiana and Texas. The proposed consent decree outlines a requirement for the companies to carry out corrective actions, pay a $3 million fine, and complete environmental projects in Louisiana. The public is invited to comment on this proposal until 30 days after the announcement.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to place the substance 4-chloromethcathinone (4-CMC) in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This move aims to impose strict regulations similar to other highly controlled drugs, as 4-CMC is known to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use in the U.S. The decision also helps the United States comply with international agreements on psychotropic substances. Public comments on this proposal are accepted until January 29, 2025.

The United States, on behalf of the Department of the Interior and the State of Iowa, is seeking public comments on a proposed settlement with Canadian Pacific Railway (CP). This settlement addresses the damage to natural resources caused by an ethanol spill from a derailed CP train near the Mississippi River in 2015. CP has agreed to pay $282,391 for restoration efforts, and in return, will not face legal action from the trustees for these claims. The public has 30 days from the notice's publication date to submit comments, which can be sent via email or mail.

The Justice Department has lodged a proposed consent decree with a federal court in Illinois to resolve claims related to the cleanup of the Bautsch Gray Mine Superfund site in Galena, Illinois. The proposed settlement involves two defendants, Thomas Wienen and Chains and Links, Inc., who have agreed to pay $1,292,000 to cover the EPA's response costs. They must also try to get cooperation from another party to execute an environmental covenant and pay 75% of net proceeds if a jointly owned property is sold after remediation. The public can comment on this proposal within 30 days via email or mail.

The FBI's Cyber Division plans to submit an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for the continuation of a previously approved information collection, specifically the 2013 Private Industry Feedback Survey. This survey aims to gather feedback from their private sector partners on cyber trend reports to enhance future communications. The survey will be voluntary, targeting approximately 5,000 respondents, each expected to complete it within 3 minutes annually. Comments and suggestions on the proposed collection are encouraged and will be accepted until February 21, 2025.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily placed a substance called brorphine in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act due to its high potential for abuse, lack of accepted medical use, and potential danger to public safety. This action means strict regulatory controls are now in place regarding the manufacturing, distribution, and possession of brorphine. The DEA found brorphine on the illicit market in several countries and associated it with several fatalities in the U.S. Brorphine is a synthetic opioid with effects similar to fentanyl, which poses significant health risks and has been linked to the ongoing opioid epidemic. This temporary scheduling will last for two years and can be extended for an additional year.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is revising its information collection process for applicants to the Attorney General's Honors Program and the Summer Law Intern Program. The proposed changes include altering demographic questions to comply with a recent executive order, adding questions about communication skills, and updating questions on public service experience. The revised application process is estimated to affect 2,428 candidates annually, with an estimated total burden of 4,349 hours and a cost of $39,885 to the federal government. Public comments on this proposal are encouraged and will be accepted until May 23, 2025.