Search Results for keywords:"Pacific Gas

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has finalized amendments to improve financial disclosure requirements under Regulation S-K. These changes remove the need for companies to provide Selected Financial Data and streamline the need to disclose Supplementary Financial Information. Additionally, they update the Management's Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) rules to make financial statements more transparent and less repetitive. The goal is to help investors by making disclosures clearer and to reduce compliance difficulties for companies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), a chemical deemed persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. This rule prohibits almost all manufacturing, processing, and distribution of HCBD and products containing it, except when HCBD is unintentionally produced as a byproduct in the creation of chlorinated solvents and when distributed for incineration as waste fuel. The rule aims to significantly reduce exposure to HCBD to protect human health and the environment, and it becomes effective on March 8, 2021.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, issued an interim final rule implementing amendments from the Economic Aid Act to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The rule extends the PPP, a program designed to provide financial aid to small businesses impacted by COVID-19, allowing them to apply for loans through March 31, 2021. It also includes updated guidelines for loan forgiveness, borrower and lender eligibility, and how loans can be used, with new rules for calculating maximum loan amounts and requirements for loan forgiveness applications. The Economic Aid Act amendments aim to streamline the application process and ensure fair access to the program for all eligible borrowers.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is proposing a new voluntary plan to use the 900 MHz band for broadband purposes. This plan seeks input on changing current rules and procedures to allow the entire ten megahertz of the band to be used for broadband, if applicants reach private agreements. The proposal includes ways to protect existing narrowband operations while supporting new broadband developments and involves substantial changes to application and eligibility criteria. The FCC invites comments on these proposals, with an aim to boost the availability and efficiency of broadband services, especially in critical areas like utilities and infrastructure.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has issued an interim final rule implementing the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Second Draw Loans under section 311 of the Economic Aid Act. This program is designed to provide financial support to small businesses impacted by COVID-19 that already received a first PPP loan. Eligibility criteria include having 300 or fewer employees and experiencing a revenue decline of at least 25% compared to 2019. Second Draw PPP Loans have terms similar to the first draw loans and are eligible for loan forgiveness if conditions are met. Comments are invited until February 16, 2021.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to update the classification of the West Indian manatee by distinguishing between its two subspecies, listing the Florida manatee as a threatened species and the Antillean manatee as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. This proposal involves removing the West Indian manatee from the list and replacing it with the two subspecies to provide them with distinct protections. The Florida manatee faces threats like habitat loss, watercraft collisions, and climate change, whereas the Antillean manatee is endangered by factors like poaching, low genetic diversity, and ineffective regulatory enforcement in some areas. Public comments are invited on this proposed rule until March 17, 2025.

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued final regulations to update the rules for corporations that file consolidated federal income tax returns. These new regulations aim to bring the language up to date, clarify the existing rules, and reflect recent legal changes. They also remove outdated regulations and adjust tax rules, such as how losses are carried back or forward, considering a corporation's at-risk amount. These changes will mainly affect larger corporations that often file these types of consolidated returns.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized revisions to streamline fuel quality regulations. These updates clarify testing and sampling standards while preserving existing fuel quality levels. The changes, effective July 1, 2025, aim to enhance clarity and compliance for stakeholders involved with fuels, fuel additives, and blendstocks, like producers and distributors. These modifications do not alter the current fuel quality standards but provide technical amendments and clarifications to help stakeholders comply with the EPA’s requirements.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing a new rule to update its regulations by incorporating revisions to three regulatory guides related to Code Cases published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). These changes would provide new and updated engineering standards for nuclear power plant components, allowing licensees and applicants to use these standards as voluntary alternatives. The NRC is seeking public comments on this proposal, and if implemented, it is expected to reduce costs for both the NRC and the nuclear industry by simplifying compliance requirements. The aim is to ensure safety while aligning with contemporary engineering practices and international standards.

In response to a Congressional requirement from the SUPPORT Act, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is proposing a new rule to include mechanical (MECH) employees, who test or inspect railroad equipment, under its alcohol and drug regulations. This proposed rule aims to extend current regulations, initially designed for maintenance-of-way and covered service employees, to MECH employees. FRA believes that enforcing random and pre-employment drug tests could deter substance misuse among MECH employees, thereby enhancing safety. The proposed changes would also include guidelines for small railroads and contractors to ensure compliance and minimize burdens.