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Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline, Inc. has filed a notice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to abandon three injection/withdrawal wells at its storage fields in Kansas. The proposed abandonment is expected to cost around $150,000 and will not impact current customers. The Commission has opened the project for public comment, allowing individuals to file protests, motions to intervene, and comments by a specified deadline. All necessary submission procedures and contact information for assistance are provided to ensure public participation.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to regulations for West Coast salmon fisheries. They plan to remove rebuilding plans for the Queets River and Strait of Juan de Fuca coho salmon from the rules because these fish stocks have been successfully rebuilt. This action aims to prevent confusion by eliminating outdated plans that are no longer necessary under the Pacific Fishery Management Council's guidelines. Additionally, this proposed rule is considered a deregulatory action, meaning it simplifies existing regulations without significant economic impacts on small fishing businesses.

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a final rule that updates civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. The increase applies to penalties within the DOE's jurisdiction, ensuring that CMPs retain their deterrent effect. The adjustment, calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, becomes effective on January 14, 2021. This rule complies with federal regulations and has been reviewed to ensure it does not impose new information collection requirements or significant adverse effects on energy supply.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board is proposing a rule change that would allow federally insured credit unions to request exemptions from certain requirements for filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). This rule is aimed at providing relief to credit unions that develop innovative ways to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act while ensuring safe and sound practices. The proposal includes a 30-day comment period for public feedback and outlines that exemptions may be granted conditionally or unconditionally after consulting with relevant agencies. This change aims to support financial institutions in using new technologies and approaches for monitoring and reporting financial crimes.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This adjustment ensures the penalties remain effective deterrents by increasing them to the maximum level prescribed by the law. The updated penalties use a multiplier, based on the Consumer Price Index, to calculate the rise for the year 2025. These changes will apply to violations assessed after the rule's effective date of December 27, 2024.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a notice listing regulatory waivers granted between July 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024. These waivers are part of efforts to help areas and groups affected by disasters and housing challenges, providing more flexibility in meeting regulatory requirements. The document outlines various waivers, such as easing certain requirements for housing programs, including helping homeless individuals secure housing, adjusting utility allowances, and extending deadlines for housing grant applications. Each waiver is tailored to address specific issues faced by local governments and organizations within the declared disaster areas.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has accepted a proposed consent agreement to address anticompetitive practices by Guardian Service Industries, Inc. The company was found to have used "No-Hire Agreements" that prevented other businesses from hiring its employees, which the FTC claims are unfair methods of competition under federal law. The proposed consent order will make these agreements void and includes measures to inform affected parties. Some FTC commissioners have expressed dissent, arguing that there was insufficient evidence of antitrust violations. The public can submit comments on this proposed agreement until January 6, 2025.

The Bureau of the Fiscal Service, part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, is implementing new regulations under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022. These regulations require the Treasury to provide states with information about unredeemed U.S. savings bonds to help locate their owners. However, the information can only be used for locating bond owners, not for claiming ownership through state escheatment laws, which attempt to take control of unclaimed property. The regulations also include privacy protections and prevent states from publicly sharing the information without Treasury's consent to avoid fraud and misuse.

The Department of Education is inviting applications for the Charter Schools Program's Charter Management Organization (CMO) Grants for fiscal year 2025. These grants aim to help charter management organizations replicate or expand high-quality charter schools that can support a diverse student body, including underserved students. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with traditional public schools and offer programs that promote multilingualism. Applications are due by April 21, 2025, and further details are available on the Department's website. Applications will be evaluated based on criteria like the quality of the applicant, the project design, evaluation plan, and management plan.

The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has proposed new rules requiring audit firms to disclose more information to improve transparency and oversight. These rules include reporting on financial and governance details, special events, and cybersecurity issues. The changes aim to enhance investor confidence and the PCAOB's regulatory functions. To ease the transition, the new requirements will be implemented in phases, with larger firms required to comply first.