Search Results for keywords:"Japan Electrical Safety

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a final rule to amend safety standards for child restraint systems in vehicles. The goal is to improve the ease of use and effectiveness of lower and tether anchorages in cars, fulfilling the MAP-21 mandate. The new regulations include clearer labeling, standardized anchorage configurations, and improved testing tools to ensure child safety systems are more user-friendly. The rule includes a phased implementation starting in September 2028 to allow manufacturers time to incorporate these changes into vehicle designs.

The Coast Guard has extended the timeframe for a temporary safety zone around the Kernwood Avenue Bridge, located between Salem and Beverly, Massachusetts, due to ongoing repair work. The zone will now be in effect until November 30, 2025. This safety zone is designed to protect people, boats, and the surrounding environment from possible risks during the bridge repairs. Generally, individuals or vessels cannot enter this zone unless they have special permission from the Captain of the Port Boston. The public is encouraged to comment on this rule by March 31, 2025.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced a waiver of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act's requirements for certain natural gas products like gas service risers, meters, and regulators because these are not available in large enough quantities domestically. This waiver, which applies to projects funded by the Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization (NGDISM) Grant Program, aims to ensure timely project completion while maintaining safety. It is based on public feedback indicating supply issues and will last for three years starting January 22, 2025. PHMSA has emphasized the importance of having enough compliant products to avoid delaying critical safety construction projects.

In a recent notice, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved new standards and a definition related to inverter-based resources (IBRs), following petitions from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). These new standards, named PRC-028-1, PRC-002-5, and PRC-030-1, aim to enhance the monitoring and analysis of disturbances in the Bulk-Power System, especially those involving solar and wind resources connected through inverters. These rules require generator owners to install equipment to track disturbances and ensure data is shared correctly to maintain system reliability. The document also details the expected reporting burdens for compliance with these new standards.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) determined that more stringent energy conservation standards for small electric motors (SEMs) are not cost-effective, so existing standards will remain unchanged. The analysis by DOE found that while technically feasible improvements exist for SEMs, the costs of implementing them would outweigh the energy savings benefits for consumers. As a result, the standards set by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) will not be amended because they would not be economically justified. This decision concludes that the potential energy conservation from new standards would not meet significant conservation thresholds under the current criteria.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule clarifying the test procedures for general service lamps (GSLs). These clarifications emphasize that GSLs shouldn't be tested as colored lamps, and if a lamp includes extra components not affecting light output, those components should be turned off during tests. For non-integrated lamps, the rule specifies testing with a ballast or driver that's compatible and commercially available, where possible. The final rule is designed to ensure consistent testing without imposing additional costs or burdens on manufacturers.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is requesting public comments on an information collection known as FERC-725F, which involves the coordination of nuclear plant interface requirements. This request is in line with the Paperwork Reduction Act, and comments are due by April 19, 2021. The collection ensures safe operation and shutdown of nuclear power plants by maintaining agreements between nuclear operators and transmission entities. FERC is seeking feedback on several aspects, including the necessity of the information, accuracy of burden estimates, and potential improvements to the data collection process.

The document details final regulations that implement clean electricity production and investment credits established by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. These regulations provide guidelines for determining greenhouse gas emissions from electricity production, setting provisional emissions rates, and determining eligibility for the tax credits. The rules impact taxpayers who claim these credits for qualified facilities or energy storage technology activated after 2024. The IRS and Treasury Department consulted with experts across government agencies to address public comments and ensure comprehensive regulations.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has proposed regulations to implement the Section 45W credit for qualified commercial clean vehicles as introduced by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. These proposals explain how taxpayers can calculate and claim the credit when they place such vehicles in service, with specific details on determining vehicle eligibility, calculating the credit amount, and fulfilling reporting requirements. The regulations also address interactions with other credits, recapture rules, and special provisions for tax-exempt entities. Public comments are invited, and a hearing is scheduled for April 28, 2025.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is issuing a waiver from the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act requirements for certain products that the Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) needs for its safety and modernization grant project. The waiver applies because these products are not readily available in the U.S., or they are too costly to obtain domestically. The waiver covers products like electro-fusion tapping tees, anodeless risers, and lockwing valves, among others, and enables PGW to proceed with updating their gas distribution system in Philadelphia's disadvantaged neighborhoods. This waiver is only applicable to PGW's project and is effective until June 30, 2029.