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The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) has issued a final rule that updates regulations on how oil, gas, and coal are valued for royalty purposes from Federal and Indian leases, and how civil penalties for certain violations are assessed. The rule reintroduces the option for gas lessees to use an index-based valuation method, removes some limitations on transportation and processing allowances, and clarifies definitions and procedures for valuation. It also explains that civil penalties for payment violations will be assessed more transparently, considering the monetary impact of the violation, and clarifies how ONRR considers mitigating and aggravating circumstances, aiming to increase transparency and fairness.

The Health and Human Services Department has issued a final rule updating the standards for electronic transactions in retail pharmacies under HIPAA. The rule adopts modifications to improve data exchange, enhance patient safety, and streamline processes, like replacing several free text fields with specific data fields. These changes include implementing the NCPDP Telecommunication Standard Implementation Guide, Version F6, and the NCPDP Batch Standard Subrogation Implementation Guide, Version 10, specifically for Medicaid agencies. The new standards are set to take effect beginning February 11, 2028, with compliance required 36 months after the final rule's publication, including an 8-month transition period to ease the changes.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has updated its regulations to improve the management of antidumping and countervailing duty (AD and CVD) laws. These changes aim to make the rules clearer and increase transparency by detailing how duties are applied and calculated. The amendments address issues like determining duty rates for nonmarket economies and handling subsidies from foreign governments. These new rules will take effect on January 15, 2025, to better enforce fair trade practices.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced new energy conservation standards for walk-in coolers and freezers. These revised standards aim to save energy, are feasible with current technology, and are economically justified. The updated rules will take effect on February 21, 2025, with compliance dates for specific components set for 2027 and 2028. The DOE's decision was based on a careful evaluation of the benefits and costs to consumers and the impact on manufacturers.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule to permanently extend the automatic extension period for work permits (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days for certain renewal applicants. This rule hopes to prevent disruptions in employment authorization, which can occur due to lengthy application processing times by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The change will help affected workers maintain their jobs while their renewal applications are being processed, set to take effect on January 13, 2025. This rule aims to provide long-term stability for employers and employees, reducing the risk of job loss and easing economic pressures.

The Treasury Department and IRS have issued final regulations that update the rules for classifying transactions involving digital content and cloud services. These updates help clarify how transactions like software downloads and streaming services are taxed, especially in international contexts. The new rules replace the previous "de minimis" standard with a "predominant character" rule to simplify determining the main purpose of such transactions. Examples in the regulations provide further guidance, and while the new rules are effective for tax years starting on or after January 14, 2025, businesses can also choose to apply them to earlier years.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized a rule for managing commercial and industrial solid waste incineration units (CISWI) that were built on or before June 4, 2010, and not updated since August 7, 2013. This rule applies to states without approved plans for reducing emissions from these units and entails adopting federal guidelines to decrease pollutants like lead, mercury, and sulfur dioxide. In addition, the rule introduces changes to testing, monitoring, and recording requirements, emphasizing reductions in emissions and the implementation of stricter operational practices to curb pollution. Units in Alaska that qualify as "small, remote incinerators" are exempt from certain standards until further regulations address this category.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a final interpretive rule regarding energy conservation standards for products like residential furnaces and commercial water heaters. The rule states that non-condensing technology and its associated venting is considered a "feature" that must be preserved under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA). This decision comes after public comments and aims to prevent eliminating this technology through energy-saving regulations. This interpretation may limit potential energy savings but allows consumers more choices and prevents unnecessary building modifications. The DOE also withdrew previous proposals on energy conservation standards that were inconsistent with this interpretation.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued an order addressing arguments from previous hearings about regional transmission planning and cost allocation. This order confirms the findings of Order No. 1920-A while modifying some discussions without changing the outcomes. The focus is on ensuring states have a significant role in long-term transmission planning, especially with cost allocation methods. Despite some objections, FERC maintains that its approach aligns with legal standards and enhances the involvement of states, aiming to improve the efficiency and fairness of the transmission planning process.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has updated its regulations to give asylum officers (AOs) the authority to apply certain mandatory bars against asylum and statutory withholding of removal during credible and reasonable fear screenings. This change aims to help DHS efficiently remove noncitizens who are deemed ineligible due to these bars, primarily focusing on those who might pose security risks or public safety concerns. The update is designed to enhance the processing of asylum claims by making decisions on these cases more quickly, reducing the burden on immigration courts. The rule also states that noncitizens who receive a negative determination due to these bars can still seek a review of the decision by an immigration judge.