Search Results for type:"Rule"

The Department of Agriculture has finalized a rule superseding the interim rule to establish the Domestic Hemp Production Program, as required by the 2018 Farm Bill. This rule outlines regulations for State and Tribal plans and a Federal plan for hemp production where State or Tribal plans are not USDA-approved. The program details requirements for record-keeping, THC level testing, disposal of non-compliant plants, producer licensing, and overall compliance. The rule also specifies procedures for land use data collection and cooperation with law enforcement and other agricultural agencies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a revision to New Jersey's State Implementation Plan (SIP) for meeting air quality standards related to ozone. This revision specifically targets the CMC Steel New Jersey facility and focuses on controlling emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) from its electric arc furnace. The EPA concluded that the facility can continue to operate under its existing emission limits as it satisfies the reasonably available control technology (RACT) requirements set by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). This decision involves no new public comments, affirming that the facility complies with both state and federal air quality regulations.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), via the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has amended a regulation regarding clinical trials. This change updates the web address in the regulation concerning where to find information about submitting trial data to ClinicalTrials.gov. The new rule removes the old URL https://prsinfo.clinicaltrials.gov and replaces it with https://clinicaltrials.gov or a future site, modernizing and centralizing information access. This amendment is technical and does not add new requirements for affected parties.

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has adopted a final rule to clarify the role of supervisory guidance in regulating credit unions. This rule makes clear that supervisory guidance, unlike laws or regulations, doesn't have the force of law and does not create binding obligations. The NCUA won't take enforcement actions based on supervisory guidance but will use it to communicate expectations and provide examples of best practices. The rule is intended to ensure that guidance remains a helpful tool for both examiners and credit unions without creating legal obligations.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a final rule revising the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). This rule mandates that state Title IV-E agencies collect and report more detailed data related to the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) for children in foster care. The aim is to better understand the experiences and outcomes for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) children and to improve culturally responsive care. States are given a three-year timeframe to implement these changes, which will take effect on October 1, 2028.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has designated a large area in the Pacific Ocean, called the Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary, to protect its unique marine environment around the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The sanctuary spans about 582,570 square miles and is intended to preserve its invaluable biological, cultural, and historical resources. The rules for this sanctuary involve regulating activities like fishing and anchoring, following existing management frameworks and international guidelines to ensure protection while allowing for some scientific and cultural activities. This designation is in collaboration with various partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of Hawaii, to enhance the protection and management of this significant marine area.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has made a final rule that changes how butterfat testing records are handled for the Dairy Grading and Inspection Program. The rule allows plants to do butterfat tests in-house or at approved third-party labs and obligates them to keep these records available for inspection by the USDA. This change aims to streamline processes by aligning with current industry practices and providing a more accurate picture of the butter's quality over time. The rule is expected to help butter plants save between $4,560 and $31,560 annually by eliminating the need for duplicate USDA inspections.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is making corrections to a rule originally published on December 17, 2024, which aimed to update the HUBZone Program and other small business programs. The corrections fix errors related to size recertifications, financial statement thresholds, and terminology changes. Specifically, they address the incorrect addition of size protest rules, rectify missing regulation amendments, increase the financial statement threshold from $10 million to $20 million, and update definitions in the HUBZone Program. These changes are intended to improve consistency and reduce burdens for small businesses.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established tolerances for the pesticide streptomycin on specific citrus fruits and their dried pulp. These new limits are set for residues of the fungicide in the citrus group 10-10 at 0.8 ppm and in dried pulp at 3 ppm, based on a petition by Geo Logic Corporation. The EPA has reviewed data and determined that the new tolerances are safe for consumption by the general population, including infants and children, with no expected harmful effects. Additionally, the tolerances for some other commodities related to streptomycin have been updated or removed, reflecting changes due to expired protections or data updates.

In a final rule published on November 18, 2024, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made corrections to its regulations by addressing two specific errors. The first correction involves handling a wrongly stayed section, with the agency providing new instructions to revise and stay that section until January 16, 2026. The second correction fixes a typographical error involving an incorrect reference in a section definition. These changes aim to improve clarity and consistency within the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.