Search Results for type:"Rule"

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued a new rule to enhance safety standards for electric vehicles. This rule creates a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 305a to replace the existing standard, expanding requirements to cover both light and heavy vehicles while focusing on the safety of the propulsion battery systems. NHTSA requires manufacturers to submit standardized emergency response documents to assist responders in handling electric vehicles safely. This regulation aligns U.S. standards with the Global Technical Regulation No. 20 on electric vehicle safety and includes documentation requirements for risk mitigation in diverse conditions.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain models of Airbus helicopters due to a reported issue with the tail rotor pitch control. This AD mandates inspections and potential replacements of specific parts in the tail rotor head assembly to prevent structural failures and loss of control. The rule is effective from April 25, 2025, and comments are invited until May 27, 2025. The FAA considered this action urgent due to safety concerns and bypassed the usual public commenting period to ensure timely compliance.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has temporarily banned fishing for Pacific cod with jig gear in a specific area of the Gulf of Alaska. This decision aims to ensure that the amount of fish caught does not exceed the allowed limit for the A season of 2025. The restriction is active from April 14, 2025, to June 10, 2025, and is based on regulations established to protect fish populations. The agency expedited the rule's implementation due to urgent, recent data indicating the catch limit was nearly reached.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an airworthiness directive (AD) affecting specific General Electric turbofan engines. This directive was prompted by incidents leading to significant fuel loss and engine shutdowns during flights. To address these issues, the AD mandates initial and repetitive shim checks of specific components and performs tests if necessary, to ensure safety. This measure aims to prevent engine failures and potential hazards to aircraft and passengers.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of NOAA and the Commerce Department, has announced a temporary rule to stop directed fishing for Pacific cod by catcher vessels using trawl gear in a specific part of the Gulf of Alaska. This decision is to ensure the 2025 total allowable catch for this area is not exceeded and will be in effect from February 28, 2025, to June 10, 2025. The rule was enacted quickly without prior public notice or comment due to the urgent nature of the situation, based on data that became available in January 2025.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Daher Aerospace Model TBM 700 airplanes due to reports of wear in the inner flap actuator drive nut. This directive requires operators to clean and lubricate the internal actuator rods, and measure and replace the drive nuts if necessary, to maintain the airplane's safety and control. The AD is effective March 11, 2025, and aims to prevent potential loss of flap control, which could lead to reduced or loss of control of the airplane.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving changes to Colorado's State Implementation Plan (SIP) concerning air quality control, specifically targeting ozone levels in certain areas. This involves updates to Regulation Number 7 for better management of emissions like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) following the 2008 ozone standards. The action also corrects an oversight from a 2018 rule. This decision is made under the Clean Air Act and does not impose any extra requirements beyond those set by state law.

The Postal Service has issued a final rule to modify the way bundles of flat mail items, like brochures or magazines, should be secured, as noted in the updated Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®). Starting July 1, 2025, mailers can avoid bundling small batches of up to 500 flat items, while larger bundles must be secured with multiple bands or shrink-wrap to prevent damage in transit. Exceptions are made for First-Class Mail flats, which can still use rubber bands or string, and special provisions apply to newspapers. This change aims to reduce damage and handling costs associated with broken bundles.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service has issued a final rule aiming to make payments to poultry growers fairer. This rule under the Packers and Stockyards Act prohibits certain unfair practices used by live poultry dealers, especially in the competitive systems that determine how much growers are paid. It also requires dealers to provide more information to growers before asking them to invest in expensive farm updates, helping to reduce confusion and unfair advantage. Overall, the rule strengthens transparency, fairness, and accountability in the industry.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued special conditions for Canard Aerospace Corporation's modification of the DeHavilland Model DHC-8-400 series airplane. This modification involves installing a digital systems architecture that increases the airplane's connectivity to external networks, like the internet and wireless devices. The FAA determined that existing safety regulations do not fully address this novel design feature, so additional safety standards are being proposed to secure the airplane's electronic systems from unauthorized access and potential security threats. These conditions aim to ensure that the airplane remains safe and functional despite these new connectivity features.