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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided not to create a rule to regulate lead in wheel-balancing weights under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). This decision follows a citizen petition from 2009 asking for such regulation and a subsequent mandamus petition in 2023. After reviewing data and conducting analyses, the EPA found the potential risks to human health and the environment from lead wheel weights to be low. Instead, the agency will consider these materials as part of a broader evaluation of lead and lead compounds, which are identified for future prioritization actions.

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 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 Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a correction to a proposed rule involving the NAC International, Inc. MAGNASTOR Storage System. This rule, originally published in the Federal Register, adds Amendment No. 15 to the Certificate of Compliance No. 1031 for the system. The correction changes the phrase "head load" to "heat load" in the summary section of the document. The correction ensures the document accurately reflects the intended information.

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 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.