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The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has completed its five-year review of the oil pipeline index, which is used to adjust annual oil pipeline rate ceilings. The new index, effective July 1, 2021, will be the Producer Price Index for Finished Goods plus 0.78%. This decision follows a Notice of Inquiry issued in 2020 and includes considerations like trimming data to the middle 80% of cost changes and removing the effects of an income tax policy change from calculations. The Commission's decision aims to ensure rates reflect typical industry-wide cost trends, but it has faced criticism from Commissioner Richard Glick, who argues that the new methodology unduly favors pipeline companies at the expense of consumers.

The Department of the Treasury has issued a notice through the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to request public comments on the forms used by tax-exempt organizations. This request is part of an ongoing effort to minimize paperwork and reduce the burden on respondents, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS has reported changes in regulatory guidance over the past year and is looking to renew the approval package for these forms. Individuals and agencies can submit their feedback on the proposed information collections by January 21, 2025.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has amended Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act, to introduce a new exemption so certain depository institutions and credit unions no longer need to create escrow accounts for higher-priced mortgage loans. To qualify for this exemption, institutions must have assets of $10 billion or less and fewer than 1,000 such loans from the previous year, and meet other criteria like operating in rural or underserved areas. The final rule, effective February 17, 2021, aims to reduce regulatory burdens on smaller institutions while maintaining consumer protection standards.

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the USDA has issued a final rule suspending the reporting and assessment requirements for the marketing order regulating Irish potatoes grown in Washington. This suspension is in place as the USDA processes the State of Washington Potato Committee's request to terminate the marketing order. The Committee found that the suspension of these requirements has not negatively impacted the industry and determined that continuing the order is unnecessary. This action is expected to reduce the regulatory burden on handlers and producers of Washington potatoes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to renew an information collection request related to the National Study of Nutrient Removal and Secondary Technologies at publicly owned treatment works (POTW). They aim to gather comments from the public on specific aspects of this process. The screener questionnaire will help collect data on the performance of secondary treatment plants in nutrient removal, which is important for improving water quality. The study's ultimate goal is to establish a comprehensive database that will guide future policies and actions, with findings shared with the public, while ensuring confidentiality where necessary.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced an application fee of $730 for the calendar year 2025. This fee applies to institutional providers who are enrolling in or revalidating their enrollment in Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and adding a new Medicare practice location. The fee is effective from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. The increase in cost was determined by adjusting the previous year's fee of $709 by 3% based on inflation data.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a final rule to change how Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area boundaries are defined, making them more similar to those used for General Schedule (GS) locality pay areas. This rule, effective October 1, 2025, and impacting about 10% of FWS employees, aims to address pay disparities by reducing the number of FWS wage areas and aligning them more closely with GS locality pay areas. It is based on recommendations from the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) and is expected to result in pay increases for some workers while others may see little change or enter pay retention due to the restructuring.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a notice inviting public comments on proposed revisions to the information collection process associated with the "Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety." This proposal seeks to extend and revise the currently approved collection, which helps entities demonstrate their safety practices concerning automated driving systems (ADS) through Voluntary Safety Self-Assessments (VSSA). NHTSA plans to keep the current framework, which allows entities flexibility in how they communicate safety information, without requiring changes to the existing information collection structure. They estimate approximately 2,400 total annual burden hours for four responses from entities developing and deploying ADS technology.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a proposed rule change by NYSE Texas to adopt NYSE Rule 4530 with minor modifications. This rule requires detailed reporting on events like statutory disqualifications and customer complaints for better regulatory oversight. The new rule aligns NYSE Texas with the NYSE and FINRA's requirements, improving consistency and easing compliance for firms already following similar protocols. The SEC is seeking public comments on this proposal, emphasizing the importance of transparency and effective market regulation.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has announced changes to its Risk Rating System, an internal tool used to evaluate the risk of its loan operations and portfolios of 7(a) Lenders and Certified Development Companies. These updates involve improving the model that determines the loan risk ratings and updating the Lender Portal to ensure it reflects current data and economic conditions. The changes aim to enhance prediction accuracy and transparency while allowing the SBA to efficiently manage lender oversight and performance assessment. The public is invited to comment on these updates.