Search Results for keywords:"Murray Lock

The final regulations from the Internal Revenue Service under the Treasury Department focus on implementing credits for producing clean hydrogen as part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. These regulations cover how to assess greenhouse gas emissions, verify clean hydrogen production, and apply energy credits for hydrogen production facilities. They impact all taxpayers who either produce qualified clean hydrogen or use renewable energy sources to make it, aiming to encourage cleaner hydrogen production processes. The rules are effective from January 10, 2025.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted Green Impact Exchange, LLC (GIX) approval to register as a national securities exchange. GIX will be responsible for its trading system's regulations and oversight, although some regulatory functions will be outsourced to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) through a regulatory services agreement. The exchange will operate as an electronic trading platform without a physical trading floor, and its corporate governance and ownership structures align with industry standards to maintain independence and meet SEC requirements. Additionally, GIX plans to utilize technology provided by MEMX Technologies to facilitate trading operations while ensuring compliance with federal securities laws.

The United States Sentencing Commission is proposing changes to the federal sentencing guidelines. They aim to simplify the sentencing process by eliminating certain departure provisions and combining the three-step sentencing process into two steps, focusing more on the factors courts consider under the law. The Commission is also addressing circuit court conflicts regarding specific sentencing enhancements, such as those involving firearms and robbery offenses. They are seeking public comments and may hold a hearing on these proposed amendments.

The Department of Education has issued final regulations aimed at improving program integrity and institutional quality for programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. These regulations focus on two key areas: distance education and the return of Title IV funds. They introduce new requirements for institutions to report the enrollment status of students in distance and correspondence courses and streamline the process for returning unearned Title IV funds when a student withdraws. These changes, effective July 1, 2026, seek to enhance data collection and oversight while simplifying administrative procedures for educational institutions.

In a new interim final rule, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced changes to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) regarding advanced computing and semiconductor manufacturing items. These changes include new controls on semiconductor equipment, high bandwidth memory, and software keys. The rule aims to limit specific exports to countries of concern, such as China, due to national security risks. The refinements include foreign direct product rules, license requirements, and clarifications to assist compliance.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board), and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) have finalized a rule concerning the treatment of certain debt investments by advanced banking organizations. The rule requires these organizations to deduct from their regulatory capital any investments in unsecured debt instruments issued by systemically important banks, known as GSIBs, to meet specific capacity requirements. This rule aims to reduce interconnectedness and systemic risks within the financial system and includes adjustments following public comments on the proposal. Additionally, the rule incorporates several technical amendments and new definitions to its regulatory framework.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new rules to reduce hazardous air pollutants from chemical manufacturing processes, particularly focusing on ethylene oxide (EtO) emissions. Under this proposal, the EPA aims to introduce stricter monitoring, reporting, and emission reduction standards for facilities using, producing, or emitting EtO. The proposed changes are expected to impact 280 facilities, reducing overall hazardous emissions by about 158 tons annually and EtO emissions by approximately 4.6 tons per year. These measures are intended to mitigate health risks, including cancer, for those living near these facilities.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has introduced new energy conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers. These changes aim to significantly reduce energy consumption, are technologically feasible, and economically justified. Starting March 24, 2025, the new standards will be in effect, requiring compliance by January 22, 2029. The department predicts considerable energy savings and reduced emissions resulting from these updated standards.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is implementing a new rule, titled Rule 2a-5, under the Investment Company Act of 1940. This rule sets requirements for how investment companies should determine the fair value of their investments. Key elements include the management of valuation risks, specification of suitable fair value methodologies, and supervision of pricing services used to assess investment value. Additionally, the rule allows investment companies to designate a valuation expert to handle these assessments, provided they remain under the company's board's oversight. Furthermore, a new accompanying Rule 31a-4 mandates recordkeeping requirements to support these fair value determinations.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule aiming to make payments to poultry growers fairer. This rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act prohibits certain unfair practices used by live poultry dealers, especially in the competitive systems that determine how much growers are paid. It also requires dealers to provide more information to growers before asking them to invest in expensive farm updates, helping to reduce confusion and unfair advantage. Overall, the rule strengthens transparency, fairness, and accountability in the industry.