Search Results for keywords:"economic impact"

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is proposing a change to better reflect the cost of food in Hawaii, impacting the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). Currently, SNAP benefit calculations for Hawaii are based solely on food prices in Honolulu, but the proposed rule seeks to include prices from across the entire state. This change aims to provide a fairer and more accurate distribution of SNAP benefits to residents in all parts of Hawaii, acknowledging that food costs can be higher in areas outside of Honolulu. The public is invited to comment on this proposed rule until February 3, 2025.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is considering changes to regulations concerning charter services provided by recipients of federal financial assistance. This proposed rule aims to remove specific outdated programs and guidance listed in appendices, update citations, and clarify regulations without making substantive changes. Key revisions include relocating certain information to the FTA website, removing the outdated appendix A list of Federal programs, and clarifying which human service organizations need to register to receive charter services. The proposed changes are intended to streamline processes and reduce administrative burdens without significantly affecting current requirements or imposing economic impacts.

The Coast Guard is proposing to remove a security zone regulation for Rattlesnake, Tampa, FL, because the Chemical Formulators Chlorine Facility there is no longer operating. This change would lift existing restrictions on vessel movement in the area. The public is invited to share their comments on the proposal by April 14, 2025, through the Federal Decision-Making Portal. The proposal aims to update the security measures to reflect current needs, with no significant economic impact expected on small entities.

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has finalized a rule that allows the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) record keeper to calculate gains and losses on small contributions and loan payments, even if they are less than $1.00. This change updates a previous rule that did not account for these small amounts due to past limitations, which are now considered obsolete. The rule affects federal employees and members of the uniformed services involved in the TSP and ensures accurate financial records for all contributions, regardless of size. No significant economic impact on small entities is expected, and no additional reporting requirements are introduced.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a proposed permit, the 2026 Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP), which regulates stormwater discharges from certain industrial activities. The new permit, once finalized, will replace the existing permit set to expire on February 28, 2026, and will be valid for five years. The permit will cover specific types of industrial facilities in areas where the EPA has authority, with comments due by February 11, 2025. Notable changes in the new permit include updates to stormwater control measures, monitoring requirements, and the introduction of certain effluent limitations to address environmental concerns like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

The Department of Commerce is seeking public feedback on a new plan to collect emergency economic information from businesses and organizations during unexpected events like pandemics or natural disasters. This initiative aims to quickly gather important data to understand the economic impact of such emergencies and to help decision-makers respond effectively. The Census Bureau will use a set of pre-approved questions and provide this information to relevant authorities, business leaders, and the public. Comments on this proposal are invited to ensure it meets its purpose efficiently and minimizes the burden on those responding.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposes to partially waive the 2024 cellulosic biofuel volume requirement in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program due to a shortfall in its production. The plan suggests reducing the requirement to 0.88 billion Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) from the initial 1.09 billion. Additionally, the proposal requests feedback on whether to consider this reduction using both the general and cellulosic waiver authorities. The EPA also aims to extend the compliance deadline to accommodate refiners and blenders adjusting to revised requirements and proposes minor revisions to regulations regarding biogas in the RFS program.

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has amended the Mango Promotion, Research, and Information Order to remove frozen mangos as a covered commodity, following a referendum where the majority of first handlers and importers voted against their inclusion. This change discontinues the collection of assessments for frozen mangos and reduces the National Mango Board's membership from 21 to 18 members. These changes are intended to relieve regulatory burdens on frozen mango importers and streamline the Order's provisions, including clarifying definitions and updating voting procedures. The rule became effective on February 25, 2021, and stakeholders are invited to submit comments by April 26, 2021.

In this final rule, the Department of Labor revises the way it calculates prevailing wage levels for alien workers in the U.S. to ensure wages align more accurately with those of U.S. workers with similar skills. This change applies to H1-B, H1-B1, and E-3 visa programs as well as certain immigrant visa categories. The rule lowers the previous wage level estimates, transitioning over a phased implementation period, to better protect U.S. worker job opportunities by eliminating financial incentives for using lower-paid foreign labor over similarly capable American workers. The rule also provides steps to ensure a smooth transition to these new wage levels.

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued a final rule to revise civil penalty amounts for violations of various transportation regulations, effective December 30, 2024. These adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act and are meant to ensure that penalties maintain their deterrent effect by accounting for inflation. The rule covers a wide array of areas including aviation, hazardous materials, and vehicle safety, among others. The adjustments apply prospectively, meaning they will only affect violations occurring after the rule takes effect.