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OSHA has announced that Ballard Marine Construction has applied for a Permanent Variance and Interim Order to work under compressed air in constructing the Suffolk County Outfall Tunnel in New York. The variance would allow Ballard to use different decompression methods than those specified by OSHA's existing standards, relying instead on the 1992 French Decompression Tables and other safety measures like the use of a hyperbaric operations manual and a detailed training program for workers. OSHA has granted an Interim Order allowing the use of these methods temporarily and is seeking public comments before deciding whether to grant a permanent variance. The agency emphasizes that these measures aim to ensure worker safety and are backed by past successful variances for similar projects.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has issued a notice regarding the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This program provides compensation to individuals who suffered injuries from certain childhood vaccines. Petitions for compensation must be filed with the United States Court of Federal Claims, which then appoints special masters to evaluate these cases. The notice lists petitions received by HRSA in January 2021, providing details about each case, including the names of the petitioners and the cities where vaccines were administered.

The Department of Commerce is planning to create a new system of records called "COMMERCE/DEPT-30, Public Affairs Records." This system aims to help the Department's Office of Public Affairs maintain communication with the media, civil society organizations, and the public based on regional and policy interests. The records will include data such as contact information, travel records, and press releases, and will support functions like research, storm documentation, and public communication. Safeguards will be in place to ensure that the handling of these records complies with legal and privacy standards.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), part of the Department of Transportation, has decided to renew vision requirement exemptions for 53 commercial motor vehicle drivers. These exemptions allow the drivers to operate their vehicles despite not meeting vision requirements in one eye. This decision is based on evidence showing they can drive safely under these conditions. The exemptions are valid for two years, and each driver must continue to meet specific health and safety conditions to keep their exemption.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board is proposing a rule change that would allow federally insured credit unions to request exemptions from certain requirements for filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). This rule is aimed at providing relief to credit unions that develop innovative ways to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act while ensuring safe and sound practices. The proposal includes a 30-day comment period for public feedback and outlines that exemptions may be granted conditionally or unconditionally after consulting with relevant agencies. This change aims to support financial institutions in using new technologies and approaches for monitoring and reporting financial crimes.

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a final rule that updates civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. The increase applies to penalties within the DOE's jurisdiction, ensuring that CMPs retain their deterrent effect. The adjustment, calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, becomes effective on January 14, 2021. This rule complies with federal regulations and has been reviewed to ensure it does not impose new information collection requirements or significant adverse effects on energy supply.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued a final rule to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, following the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 and its 2015 amendments. This adjustment ensures the penalties remain effective deterrents by increasing them to the maximum level prescribed by the law. The updated penalties use a multiplier, based on the Consumer Price Index, to calculate the rise for the year 2025. These changes will apply to violations assessed after the rule's effective date of December 27, 2024.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has made a decision to move forward with a plan that involves obtaining High-Assay Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) from commercial sources to help support advanced nuclear reactors. This decision follows the completion of an Environmental Impact Statement, and DOE has chosen the Proposed Action as the preferred option. The goal is to produce HALEU fuel domestically to support these reactors, following instructions from the Energy Act of 2020. While implementing the plan, DOE acknowledges potential environmental impacts and will ensure these are evaluated by the relevant regulatory authority.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering granting permission for activities that may unintentionally disturb small numbers of polar bears in Alaska's North Slope. The authorization would cover nonlethal disturbances, like noise from oil well cleanup and helicopter flights, but not allow any activities that would harm or kill the bears. They have proposed specific rules to minimize the disturbance, such as keeping aircraft at certain altitudes and avoiding known bear dens. There is also a public comment period until February 12, 2025, where individuals can express their concerns or support for this proposal.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a notice listing regulatory waivers granted between July 1, 2024, and September 30, 2024. These waivers are part of efforts to help areas and groups affected by disasters and housing challenges, providing more flexibility in meeting regulatory requirements. The document outlines various waivers, such as easing certain requirements for housing programs, including helping homeless individuals secure housing, adjusting utility allowances, and extending deadlines for housing grant applications. Each waiver is tailored to address specific issues faced by local governments and organizations within the declared disaster areas.