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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has finalized a rule that amends the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan to introduce Amendment 8. This rule establishes a new Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) control rule that considers the role of herring in the ecosystem and prohibits midwater trawling within federal waters inshore from the U.S./Canada border to the Rhode Island/Connecticut border. The aim is to sustainably manage herring resources, addressing both overfishing risks and potential conflicts between different user groups such as commercial fishermen and ecotourism operators, while ensuring herring is available as essential forage for other marine species. These measures respond to the declining herring biomass and are expected to provide both ecological and long-term economic benefits, despite potential short-term economic impacts on the fishing industry.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced a proposed rule change submitted by The Options Clearing Corporation (OCC) to manage risks from intraday and overnight trading activity. This amendment, known as Amendment No. 3, introduces a new Intraday Risk Charge aimed at mitigating risks associated with rapidly fluctuating intraday trading volumes, particularly "zero-days-to-expiration" options. The rule aims to ensure that OCC's current risk management practices cover such trading activities and includes monitoring thresholds for issuing margin calls. The changes are designed to align with recent SEC rules and industry feedback, with implementation planned for September 2025. The SEC is seeking public comments on these proposed changes.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is proposing a rule that would require alcohol beverage labels to disclose the presence of major food allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame. This initiative aims to give consumers who are allergic to these foods essential information to make informed choices about alcohol consumption. The proposal is part of a broader push to standardize labeling with other food products, and TTB is considering an extended compliance period to reduce the impact on the industry, particularly small businesses. Comments on the proposal are being sought until April 17, 2025.

The Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management of the Department of Energy (DOE) has released a study evaluating the effects of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports on the economy, environment, and energy security. This study includes detailed analyses of potential impacts on domestic energy prices, greenhouse gas emissions, and effects on local communities where gas production occurs. DOE encourages public comments on the study but does not plan to make revisions based on these comments, aiming instead to use them to guide decisions on LNG exports in countries without free trade agreements with the U.S. Those interested can provide their feedback electronically by February 18, 2025.

OSHA has finalized a revision to its personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for the construction industry, specifically requiring that all PPE must fit properly to ensure the safety and protection of workers. This new rule is set to take effect on January 13, 2025, and aligns the construction standards with current requirements for general industry and shipyards. The revision aims to address concerns that standard-sized PPE may not fit everyone, particularly women and workers with smaller or larger body sizes, thereby enhancing safety and reducing risks of injuries from improperly fitting equipment. Although it may result in some costs for employers who need to update their PPE supplies, the rule is expected to improve workplace safety and is not anticipated to create significant economic burdens for the industry.

The Health and Human Services Department has issued a final rule updating the standards for electronic transactions in retail pharmacies under HIPAA. The rule adopts modifications to improve data exchange, enhance patient safety, and streamline processes, like replacing several free text fields with specific data fields. These changes include implementing the NCPDP Telecommunication Standard Implementation Guide, Version F6, and the NCPDP Batch Standard Subrogation Implementation Guide, Version 10, specifically for Medicaid agencies. The new standards are set to take effect beginning February 11, 2028, with compliance required 36 months after the final rule's publication, including an 8-month transition period to ease the changes.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has updated its regulations under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978. This final rule expands the definition of qualifying cogeneration facilities to include fuel cell systems that use waste heat in a process to produce hydrogen, covering systems beyond just solid oxide fuel cells. The aim is to recognize technological advancements and promote efficient energy generation using fuel cells with integrated steam hydrocarbon reformation processes. This change encourages more efficient energy production and supports the evolving energy landscape while complying with existing environmental and energy conservation laws.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking public comments on its plan to extend and modify a currently approved information collection related to crash data studies. These studies include the Crash Investigation Sampling System (CISS) and Special Crash Investigation (SCI), aimed at enhancing motor vehicle and highway safety data collection. NHTSA intends to increase the number of data collection sites and expand its focus to include more types of crashes, such as those involving non-motorists and large vehicles. The agency estimates the total annual burden for respondents to be 17,521 hours, with no associated costs beyond labor.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a direct final rule to correct and clarify errors in a previous rule regarding the management of coal combustion residuals (CCR) from electric utilities. Published on January 16, 2025, this rule focuses on legacy CCR surface impoundments and CCR management units, updating several regulatory sections to address inconsistencies and unclear language. Key changes include revised deadlines, more unified compliance guidelines, and enhanced definitions. These amendments ensure the rule aligns with existing standards and the EPA's original intent.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has announced a rule change proposed by The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC. This change involves modifying the Options Regulatory Fee (ORF) by decreasing it from $0.0016 to $0.0014 per contract side, starting from November 1, 2024, until December 31, 2024, to ensure that the revenue from this fee does not exceed the costs associated with regulatory responsibilities. From January 1, 2025, Nasdaq plans to introduce a new method of assessing ORF, which will exclude proprietary product transactions and focus on clearing transactions across various participant types, while adopting different rates for trades executed on Nasdaq and non-Nasdaq exchanges. This new approach aims to cover a material portion of regulatory costs without generating excessive revenue and is set to conclude on July 1, 2025, when the original rates and structure will be reinstated unless further reviewed.