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The Coast Guard, under the Department of Homeland Security, issued a final rule to rename the "Gulf of Mexico" as the "Gulf of America" in its regulations. This change follows Executive Order 14172, titled "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," and aims to ensure consistency across federal government references. No notice of proposed rulemaking was required for this rule as it makes no substantive changes impacting public rights or obligations. The renaming is effective March 17, 2025, and involves technical amendments with no additional costs to the public.

The National Park Service proposes to update regulations for using personal watercraft at the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The proposal includes reducing flat wake speed zones in specific areas and officially closing certain parts of West Petit Bois Island and around the Fort Pickens ferry pier to watercraft. These changes aim to protect the natural and cultural resources of the seashore and enhance visitor safety. Public comments on this proposed rule must be submitted by March 16, 2021.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has published a notice detailing the standard prices and fee percentage for cost recovery under the Central Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Rockfish Program. The program's cost recovery fees cover management and enforcement costs and are capped at 3% of the ex-vessel value of harvested rockfish. For 2020, despite the actual costs being 3.66%, the fee percentage has been set at 3.0%, the same as in 2019, due to legal restrictions. The decrease in fishery value from the previous year resulted in a higher fee percentage calculation before adjustments.

The Coast Guard is proposing a new rule to change how often the Blackburn Point Bridge in Osprey, Florida, opens during busy weekday traffic. The goal is to reduce road congestion by limiting the bridge openings to three times an hour from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays while allowing on-demand openings at other times. The rule has received mixed feedback from the public, and the Coast Guard is inviting comments until February 7, 2025. This proposal aims to improve traffic flow while still allowing safe navigation for boats.

The National Marine Fisheries Service is announcing the standard prices and the fee percentage for cost recovery for the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program for the 2024 fishing year, which runs from May 1 to November 15. The fee percentage is set at 3.00 percent, which is the maximum allowable by law, even though the calculated cost recovery rate was higher. These fees are used to cover management and enforcement costs and must be paid by February 15, 2025. The significant increase in program costs and the decrease in fishery value led to the higher calculated recovery rate.

In Executive Order 14172, the President ordered the restoration of names to honor notable figures in American history. The order directs changes like reinstating the name "Mount McKinley" for North America's highest peak and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America." It also empowers the Secretary of the Interior and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to implement these changes and consider additional naming honors, particularly in light of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. The order emphasizes respecting past traditions while encouraging federal agencies to use the new names consistently in all official documents.

Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC has filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the Parks Line Upgrade and Sorrento Station Project (PLUSS Project) in Louisiana. This project involves replacing segments of an existing pipeline and constructing a new compressor station to enhance capacity and reliability. The public can participate in the review process by submitting comments, protests, or motions to intervene, with a deadline for intervention set for March 4, 2025. The project also requires a water quality certification from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, and Gulf South is responsible for providing updates on this certification to the Commission.

Gulf South Pipeline Company, LLC has filed a notice with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to abandon a portion of its natural gas pipeline in Louisiana. Gulf South plans to remove about 5.3 miles of the 16-inch pipeline, and this will not impact its existing customers. Interested parties have until March 23, 2021, to file protests, motions to intervene, or comments regarding this proposal. The public can view documents related to this project online and submit their input electronically or by mail.

The Deepwater Horizon natural resource Trustees in Texas have released a draft plan to restore wetlands, coastal, and nearshore habitats affected by the oil spill. They are focusing on using dredged materials for this purpose, with an estimated cost of $40 million for seven proposed projects. Public comments on this plan are welcome until February 18, 2025, and a public meeting is scheduled for January 28, 2025, to discuss the proposals. Details about the plan and the comment submission process are available online.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing an interim final rule to allow veterans who served in specific locations during and after the Gulf War to have a presumed service connection for urinary bladder, ureter, and related genitourinary cancers. This is related to exposure to fine particulate matter, particularly from burn pits, which can be hazardous to health and has been shown to have a connection to these types of cancers. This new rule is part of the effort to implement the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 (PACT Act), which aims to simplify the process for veterans to receive health care and benefits for conditions linked to toxic exposures during their military service. The rule is effective January 2, 2025, with comments open until March 3, 2025.