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The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has issued a final rule to adjust the amounts of civil money penalties to account for inflation as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. These adjustments are based on the change in the Consumer Price Index and are applied to penalties assessed on or after January 13, 2021, for violations occurring on or after November 2, 2015. The rule bypasses the usual requirements for public notice and commentary due to provisions in the 2015 Act, and it does not involve any collection of information that would necessitate paperwork under the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) implemented new export control rules to manage the global distribution of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models and computing technologies. These rules introduce tighter controls on exporting certain AI model weights and advanced computing chips to protect national security. The measures include new licensing requirements, exceptions, and procedures for companies to follow when exporting these technologies. Additionally, BIS aims to balance securing these technologies with allowing their beneficial uses, ensuring that they are shared responsibly and securely.

The Federal Reserve Board has finalized a rule that expands the definition of "financial institution" in Regulation EE, which is part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Improvement Act of 1991. This change is meant to enhance the netting protections under FDICIA, reduce systemic risk, and increase market efficiency. The new rule adds a variety of entities to the definition, including swap dealers, security-based swap dealers, and foreign central banks, among others. It also clarifies the activities-based test used to determine if an entity qualifies as a financial institution.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a proposed settlement with William H. Trucking, LLC, concerning the Licking Chemical Spill Site in Licking County, Ohio. Under this settlement, the company will pay $300,000 for past cleanup costs related to the spill. The public is invited to submit comments on this settlement by January 16, 2025, through the online portal at regulations.gov. The EPA has reserved the right to alter or withdraw from the agreement if public comments reveal significant issues.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule under the Federal Clean Water Act to amend the California Toxics Rule by establishing a revised selenium water quality criterion for certain freshwater bodies in California. This new criterion aims to protect aquatic life and wildlife that depend on these aquatic ecosystems from high selenium levels, which can be toxic. The EPA incorporated public feedback and scientific evidence into the rule, and it includes measures to account for site-specific conditions. The rule will take effect on January 16, 2025, unless California develops its own compliant standards.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is proposing to approve new reliability standards related to frequency and voltage settings, known as PRC-024-4 and PRC-029-1. These standards, submitted by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), aim to ensure that electric generators and other inverter-based resources (IBRs) can handle changes in electrical disturbances without shutting down unexpectedly. FERC is seeking public comments on the proposal and plans to direct NERC to provide detailed information on any granted exemptions, especially for older equipment that can't easily meet the new requirements. Comments on this proposal are due by March 24, 2025.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) plans to ask the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to extend approval for collecting information to determine if a pension plan is covered under title IV of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). They are making changes to the Request for Coverage Determination form to improve clarity and remove outdated references. The PBGC invites public comments on the necessity and efficiency of the information collection and aims to reduce the burden on respondents. By May 9, 2025, comments can be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by email.

The Rural Utilities Service, a part of the USDA, is inviting applications for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grants for fiscal year 2025. This program aims to fund projects that enhance education and healthcare services through technology in rural areas, with an estimated $40 million available. Applications must be submitted online by March 6, 2024. The grants require a 15% funding match, and successful projects could receive between $50,000 to $1,000,000, provided they meet certain eligibility and criteria.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking public comments about its plan to revise an approved information collection on vehicle safety features. The goal is to provide consumers with safety info, including crash avoidance technologies and safety features of different vehicle models. This effort involves collecting data annually from about 21 vehicle manufacturers regarding 600 vehicle models, and the feedback will help improve consumer safety information on websites and labels. Public comments on the proposed information collection will be accepted until March 3, 2025.

The Department of Labor (DOL) is submitting an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection aims to gather data on an employee's average weekly wage to determine compensation benefits under the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act. The public is invited to comment on aspects like the necessity and utility of the information collection. Comments must be submitted by January 29, 2025, through the specified online portal.