Search Results for type:"Rule"

The National Park Service (NPS) issued a final rule under the Visitor Experience Improvements Authority (VEIA) to enhance visitor services in National Park System units. This rule allows the NPS to use new contracting models like management and percentage lease agreements to improve facilities and services such as lodging, food services, and recreational activities. The VEIA grants flexibility in contract solicitation and selection processes, aiming to attract more businesses and improve visitor experiences while ensuring the preservation of park resources. The rule outlines criteria for awarding contracts, prohibits certain types of commercial services, and includes provisions for record-keeping and access to information.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has finalized a rule requiring electronic filing (eFiling) of certificates for imported consumer goods that need to comply with safety regulations. This rule aims to improve the efficiency of inspections and reduce port delays by using certificate data to better identify potentially harmful products. Companies will need to upload product details using the CPSC's Product Registry or similar systems, and they will have an 18- to 24-month window to implement these changes, depending on the type of import. The rule will impact both domestic and import businesses, but the CPSC estimates limited financial burden on small firms due to the structured roll-out period and digital solutions available.

The final regulations in the Federal Register address the rules around Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs) and the conditions under which a foreign corporation can be considered a Qualified Insurance Corporation (QIC). These regulations, which provide clarity on the treatment of income and assets for PFICs, introduce specific tests such as the 25% test for qualifying as a QIC. They emphasize that a corporation's insurance liabilities must exceed a certain percentage of its total assets to qualify for certain exceptions. The regulations also aim to prevent tax avoidance strategies and increase compliance by setting out guidelines for how passive income and insurance assets should be evaluated.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has issued a new rule aimed at improving succession planning for federally insured credit unions. This rule mandates that these credit unions create a written succession plan covering key positions and specifies that the plan must be regularly updated at least every 24 months. Responding to public comments, the NCUA has made several adjustments, such as reducing the frequency of required plan reviews and removing certain officials from the mandatory coverage list. The rule will take effect on January 1, 2026, giving credit unions time to prepare.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule regarding the "NIH Police Records" system, which contains law enforcement records maintained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Police Division. This rule establishes exemptions from certain requirements of the Privacy Act, allowing the NIH to withhold access to specific investigatory records to protect law enforcement procedures and sources. The exemptions apply to both criminal and non-criminal investigatory materials to prevent interference with ongoing investigations and safeguard the integrity of investigatory techniques. The rule is set to become effective on February 18, 2025, and it has been determined that it will not have significant economic impacts on small entities or impose significant expenses on state or local governments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to partially approve and partially disapprove parts of North Dakota's regional haze plan (SIP) for its second implementation period. This decision was made because certain aspects of the plan, such as its long-term strategy and goals for reasonable progress, did not meet the necessary requirements under the Clean Air Act. Specifically, North Dakota relied on visibility thresholds that the EPA found unreasonable, which led to rejecting feasible and cost-effective controls on pollution sources like Coyote Station and Antelope Valley. However, other elements of the plan, such as calculations of visibility conditions and monitoring strategies, were approved.

The Department of State has issued a new rule updating the eligibility for Special Immigrant Visas (SIVs). This change, effective December 10, 2024, now includes the surviving spouses and children of U.S. Government employees who have served faithfully for 15 years or were killed in the line of duty abroad. The rule aims to support recruitment and retention of local employees by ensuring their families can receive visas if the employee dies. These updates are in response to the Emergency Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (ESSAA) and reflect the Department's efforts to enhance diplomatic staff's conditions globally.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced it will delay enforcement of a rule that increases compensation limits for passengers denied boarding and mishandled baggage by airlines. Originally effective January 22, 2025, enforcement is postponed until March 20, 2025. This delay allows time for officials appointed by the President to ensure the rule aligns with legal and policy guidelines. The rule involves changes to increase denied boarding compensation to $1,075 and $2,150, and mishandled baggage compensation to $4,700.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has introduced a new rule requiring futures commission merchants (FCMs) to ensure customers maintain enough funds to meet initial margin requirements before allowing withdrawals. This rule also allows FCMs to treat separate customer accounts as if they belong to separate entities, under certain conditions, to manage risks effectively. The new rule aims to protect customer funds, prevent systemic risks, and ensure the integrity of financial markets. It extends existing requirements for margin management currently applicable through DCOs to FCMs who are not clearing members.

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) issued a final rule to adjust civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for 2021. This adjustment follows the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, which mandates annual inflation-based updates to penalties. For 2021, the penalties for certain violations are increased to a maximum of $1,125, rounded from a calculated amount based on an inflation multiplier. The adjustments ensure penalties maintain their deterrent effect and will be applied starting February 2, 2021.