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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has denied Waymo LLC and Aurora Operations, Inc.'s application for an exemption from certain safety regulations related to Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs) operated by Level 4 Automated Driving Systems. The companies sought to use "Cab-Mounted Warning Beacons" as an alternative to the traditional warning devices required when a CMV is stopped on the highway. Although public comments showed some support, the FMCSA decided that the proposed beacons did not demonstrate an equivalent or greater level of safety. The application was too vague and lacked necessary details and data to justify a nationwide exemption for all autonomous CMV operators.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, as Co-Lead Agencies, have announced an extension of the scoping period for the Columbia River System Operations environmental review. This period will now end on May 9, 2025, instead of the original March date. In addition, virtual public meetings have been rescheduled for the week of April 7, 2025, to engage with federal and state agencies, Native American Tribes, local governments, and the public about the supplemental Environmental Impact Statement process. Comments and input can be submitted via mail or email and will be made publicly available.

Volkswagen Group of America Chattanooga Operations, LLC submitted a notification to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board about proposed production activities at their Chattanooga, Tennessee facility in September 2020. The board reviewed the notification and decided that no further examination was necessary. On January 19, 2021, Volkswagen was authorized to proceed with the production activities, following FTZ regulations and laws. The approval is subject to compliance with the FTZ Act and specific board regulations.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has requested the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew an information collection regarding onshore oil and gas operations. This collection, under OMB control number 1004-0137, involves oil and gas operators on public and some Indian lands, with an estimated 864 annual respondents providing 102,439 responses. The public is invited to comment on various aspects of the information collection, including its necessity and ways to reduce the burden on respondents, by January 9, 2025. There are no policy changes, but the BLM seeks to clarify burden estimates and extend the approval for three more years.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has submitted a request to extend an information collection activity to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This extension is aimed at gathering travel information to help wounded warriors, severely injured military personnel, and certain other travelers through airport security. The collection involves the use of TSA forms to facilitate and expedite passenger screening services, supporting the Travel Protocol Office and the Military Severely Injured Joint Support Operations Center (MSIJSOC) programs. TSA is inviting comments on this information collection, focusing on its necessity, burden, and ways to improve the collection process.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is asking the public for feedback on extending the approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for collecting information related to the safety standards for special dipping and coating operations. They are focused on ensuring that the data collection helps reduce work-related injuries and deaths while being easy for businesses to manage. Feedback must be submitted by May 12, 2025, and can be given through the Federal eRulemaking Portal. OSHA is particularly interested in insights on the necessity, accuracy, and impact of these information collection requirements.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the impacts of modifying the Silver Peak Lithium Mine operations in Esmeralda County, Nevada. This action is necessary to address unauthorized surface disturbances and potential expansion on private and public lands. The public is invited to comment on the scope of the EIS and potential alternatives by March 31, 2025, with virtual scoping meetings to be held. The analysis will consider various environmental factors like air quality, water resources, and cultural resources, and the outcome may lead to approval, conditional approval, or denial of the proposed amendments.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the request for public comments on the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for leather finishing operations. This rule applies to facilities that are major sources of hazardous air pollutants. As part of the Information Collection Request (ICR), which is approved through 2025, this extension allows an additional 30 days for public comments, beyond the initial 60-day period announced in May 2023. The EPA is collecting this information to ensure that leather finishing facilities comply with environmental regulations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has accepted a compliance method proposed by the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership (VT MAAP) for small unmanned aircraft (sUA) operations, specifically Category 2 and 3, over people. This acceptance means that the document "Operation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Over People", version 2.1, provides a way, but not the only way, to meet FAA safety regulations. Any future changes to this document will need further FAA approval. The decision was officially issued on December 20, 2024.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comments on a proposed extension of the information collection regarding the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Wood Furniture Manufacturing Operations. This request is part of the agency’s efforts to ensure compliance with existing emission standards and involves maintaining records of certain polluting materials. Comments can be submitted until March 31, 2025. The current standards apply to both major and minor sources within the wood furniture manufacturing sector, and EPA estimates that the cost of compliance is about $2,020,000 per year.