Search Results for keywords:"rulemaking"

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.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System has proposed a rule to change how Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are filed by certain financial institutions, like state member banks and bank holding companies. The rule aims to allow for exemptions from these requirements to help banks more effectively meet Bank Secrecy Act requirements, potentially leading to innovative ways to tackle financial crime. The Board will coordinate with FinCEN on exemption requests and is seeking public comments on the proposal until February 22, 2021. The proposal emphasizes that these exemptions won't relieve institutions from complying with FinCEN’s SAR regulations.

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 Coast Guard is proposing a new rule to update the list of recurring safety zone regulations for events like fireworks displays and air shows in the Ohio Valley area. This update aims to reduce administrative efforts by eliminating the need for separate rule proposals for each event. The rule would enhance safety by restricting vessel movement in these zones and informing the community in advance, while allowing for public comments to ensure effective implementation. It also considers impacts on small businesses, regulatory costs, and environmental effects, but is expected to have minimal economic impact.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), part of the Department of Transportation, has issued a final rule updating the specifications for the Hybrid III 5th Percentile Female Test Dummy. These changes address issues with the chest jacket and spine box components, which are used in crash testing to ensure vehicle safety. The new specifications aim to resolve inconsistencies in jacket designs by adopting a standardized design and eliminating signal noise issues from the spine box. The rule is effective February 18, 2025, and is not expected to impose additional costs on vehicle manufacturers, as the replacement parts are already part of routine maintenance.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule to update regulations for temporary agricultural (H-2A) and nonagricultural (H-2B) workers. The rule aims to enhance the integrity of these programs and improve protections for workers. Key changes include strengthening rules against charging workers certain fees, providing increased flexibility and grace periods for H-2 workers, and enhancing whistleblower protections. The rule becomes effective on January 17, 2025.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has updated its rules for the Veterans Legacy Grants Program (VLGP) to align with new federal award regulations and to improve the grant administration process. These updates include changes to terms and timelines for reporting by grant recipients, without significantly impacting small entities receiving grants. The rule ensures that there are no new information collections required beyond those already approved and incorporates executive orders to maximize regulatory benefits. It will be effective from January 30, 2025, and does not impose significant economic impacts or unfunded mandates.