Search Results for type:"Rule"

OSHA has finalized a revision to its personal protective equipment (PPE) standard for the construction industry, specifically requiring that all PPE must fit properly to ensure the safety and protection of workers. This new rule is set to take effect on January 13, 2025, and aligns the construction standards with current requirements for general industry and shipyards. The revision aims to address concerns that standard-sized PPE may not fit everyone, particularly women and workers with smaller or larger body sizes, thereby enhancing safety and reducing risks of injuries from improperly fitting equipment. Although it may result in some costs for employers who need to update their PPE supplies, the rule is expected to improve workplace safety and is not anticipated to create significant economic burdens for the industry.

The document is a correction notice from the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service, originally published as a rule in the Federal Register. The corrections involve changing the dates in a previous publication. Specifically, lines on page 1256 should now have the dates "December 30, 2021" instead of "December 31, 2021" and "December 30, 2020" instead of "December 31, 2020". These corrections help ensure that the rule's information is accurate.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is closing directed fishing for Pacific cod by certain American Fisheries Act catcher vessels in a specific area of the Gulf of Alaska. This closure is to prevent these vessels from catching more than the set limit of 55 metric tons for 2025. The decision is effective from February 12, 2025, to December 31, 2025, and was made quickly due to new data indicating that the limit would be reached soon. This action ensures sustainable fishing practices in the area.

The Department of Defense has issued a final rule to modernize how food benefits are provided under the WIC Overseas Program, a program for military personnel and their families stationed overseas. Previously, benefits were issued as paper vouchers, known as "drafts," which had to be used all at once. The new rule allows these drafts to also be in electronic forms, like benefit cards, which offer more flexibility and convenience for participants. The change is considered a minor update and was made without public notice or a comment period, due to its technical nature.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a new rule that updates airworthiness directives for Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This rule, taking effect on January 13, 2025, requires aircraft operators to update their maintenance or inspection programs with more restrictive safety measures as specified by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The updated requirements address the risks associated with aging aircraft systems to prevent possible failures of vital parts and ensure the structural integrity of the airplanes. The FAA estimates that these changes will cost about $7,650 per operator for implementation, based on 90 work-hours required per operator.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has issued an interim final rule to grant presumptive service connection for certain cancers, including acute and chronic leukemias, multiple myelomas, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myelofibrosis, for veterans exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in specific locations during their service. This rule applies to veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations, Somalia, or certain countries affected by the Gulf War after specified dates. This decision is based on scientific evidence suggesting a connection between PM2.5 exposure and these diseases, which often have severe outcomes. The rule aims to allow veterans to receive related benefits more quickly, given the typically high morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) have finalized a rule to enhance the exchange of health information across networks. This rule establishes the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which sets guidelines and standards for networks known as Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) to facilitate seamless and secure data sharing. The rule outlines specific requirements for becoming a QHIN, procedures for onboarding, and processes for dealing with suspensions and terminations. It also ensures that QHINs can voluntarily attest to adopting TEFCA and establishes a directory to list organizations that meet the standards for trusted health information exchange.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that the Northern Wasatch Front area in Utah failed to meet the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the set deadline. As a result, this area will be reclassified to "Serious" nonattainment status for ozone, requiring stricter controls to improve air quality. Utah must submit revised plans to meet these new requirements by August 3, 2027. This decision ensures that stricter measures will be put in place to reduce ozone pollution in the region.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has updated a part of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Air Regulations, which involve air pollution control requirements near state seaward boundaries. Specifically, this update affects the requirements for OCS sources near Massachusetts and involves removing two state provisions from the federal regulations as they are either redundant or irrelevant to air quality standards. This rule will ensure that the OCS regulations are in line with onshore regulations and will be effective from January 27, 2025.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General announced a temporary delay in the effective date of certain amendments to a rule about safe harbor protections for prescription drug rebates. This decision is in line with the "Regulatory Freeze Pending Review" memo from January 20, 2021, and is due to ongoing litigation challenging the rule. The effective date for these amendments, initially set for January 29, 2021, is postponed to March 22, 2021, to allow time for further review and consideration. Additionally, a correction was made to a technical error in the published amendatory instructions.