Search Results for keywords:"CNMI Economic Vitality

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a final rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to regulate hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD), a chemical deemed persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. This rule prohibits almost all manufacturing, processing, and distribution of HCBD and products containing it, except when HCBD is unintentionally produced as a byproduct in the creation of chlorinated solvents and when distributed for incineration as waste fuel. The rule aims to significantly reduce exposure to HCBD to protect human health and the environment, and it becomes effective on March 8, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is proposing changes to regulations for West Coast salmon fisheries. They plan to remove rebuilding plans for the Queets River and Strait of Juan de Fuca coho salmon from the rules because these fish stocks have been successfully rebuilt. This action aims to prevent confusion by eliminating outdated plans that are no longer necessary under the Pacific Fishery Management Council's guidelines. Additionally, this proposed rule is considered a deregulatory action, meaning it simplifies existing regulations without significant economic impacts on small fishing businesses.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Development (RD) division is changing its funding opportunities to remove references to the previous Administration's key priorities and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) criteria. This update follows an Executive Order titled "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing," issued in January 2025. Programs affected by this change will no longer consider these previous criteria for application scoring. Additionally, the Rural Energy for America Program's funding notice is corrected to include $50 million from the 2018 Farm Bill that was previously omitted.

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) has announced the funding for the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP), as part of the 2025 American Relief Act. This program will provide financial aid to eligible producers of specific crops affected by natural disasters in the 2024 crop year. Eligible commodities include wheat, corn, soybeans, and several other crops, and financial limits apply depending on the income of the producer from farming. Applications are open until August 15, 2025, and the necessary steps and documentation for applying have been outlined by the FSA.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the Department of Agriculture is amending the list of biological agents and toxins under the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. This change involves removing pathogens like Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, Brucella melitensis, Peronosclerospora philippinensis, and African horse sickness virus from the list of select agents. These changes are due to the evaluation that these agents are unlikely to serve as bioterrorism threats and are expected to reduce costs and enhance research opportunities, benefiting producers and research institutions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the Department of Commerce, is collecting public comments on its information collection activities for the Aleutian Islands pollock fishery. This notice is part of a routine renewal request under the Paperwork Reduction Act, seeking to gauge the impact and necessity of the reporting requirements, which help in managing the fishery. Specifically, the collection involves selecting and approving vessels and processors by The Aleut Corporation, as specified by Federal regulations. Public comments are invited until February 3, 2025, and will be used to assess and possibly improve the collection process.

The Department of Commerce, through the Census Bureau, is seeking public feedback on its plan to continue the Quarterly Financial Report (QFR) program. This program collects data on the financial status of U.S. corporations, targeting those in manufacturing, mining, and several other sectors. The collected information is crucial for economic analysis and requires the involvement of businesses with significant assets. Comments on the proposed information collection, which aims to minimize the burden on respondents, can be submitted until March 26, 2021.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes to its existing information collection process related to special use permits for activities on national wildlife refuges. They plan to introduce a new, simplified application form (Form 3-1383-EZ) to reduce the burden on applicants involved in non-economic activities. In addition, they are updating other forms to include more relevant activity options and improve the wording for clarity. Public comments on these changes are invited until February 18, 2025.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a revision to New York's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for ozone air quality standards, specifically for the Lehigh Cement Company in Glens Falls, New York. This revision involves implementing controls for nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions from a cement kiln, requiring them to use Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT). The proposed regulations are part of efforts to meet ozone standards and follow a nationwide consent decree. The EPA determined that this plan would not interfere with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) or other requirements of the Clean Air Act.

The Rural Housing Service, part of the US Department of Agriculture, is accepting applications for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) Grant Program for fiscal year 2021. These grants are awarded to intermediary organizations, which then provide financial and technical support to other groups working on housing, community facilities, or economic development in rural areas. Applicants must match the federal funds they receive, and the grants range from $50,000 to $250,000. The deadlines for application submissions are March 22, 2021, for electronic applications and March 29, 2021, for paper submissions.