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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has made an interim final decision to pause and delay imposing sanctions on the Sacramento Metro area under the Clean Air Act. This decision is based on a preliminary finding that the area has met the 2008 standard for ozone levels by the specified deadline of December 31, 2024. The public can submit comments on this decision until April 21, 2025. If the final decision confirms the area's attainment of air quality standards, previous sanctions will be lifted.

The Susquehanna River Basin Commission has announced approvals for projects regarding the consumptive use of water that were granted in March 2025. These approvals allow various companies to use specific amounts of water for their operations under certain regulations. The announcement includes the names of companies, the locations of their projects, and the maximum amounts of water they are authorized to use per day. This process is part of the Commission's regulatory oversight to manage water resources responsibly.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a notice of petitions received under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. This notice is required by the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, and it lists various petitions filed for compensation due to injuries allegedly caused by vaccines. The petitions are reviewed by the United States Court of Federal Claims, which involves special masters assessing evidence and making initial decisions on compensation eligibility. Individuals can submit relevant information regarding the petitions, and this list includes details such as petitioner's name, location, and case number.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing a rule to exempt certain confidential information in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) record system from parts of the Privacy Act. This proposal aims to protect the identities of reviewers who evaluate applicants for NIH's Loan Repayment Programs. By doing so, the rule seeks to ensure that reviewers can provide honest and unbiased feedback without fear of revealing their identities, which is crucial for the integrity of the review process. The public is invited to submit comments on this proposal by March 15, 2021.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has released a draft plan for the National Multimodal Freight Network (NMFN), which includes 175,000 miles of infrastructure like highways, railways, and waterways. This draft is based on feedback from stakeholders and aims to improve freight movement efficiency and connectivity. The department is seeking public comments on this draft, especially from state and local governments, community groups, and industry stakeholders, before the network is officially finalized. The plan also encourages states to propose further additions to the network, focusing on economic and environmental goals.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new guidelines for the transplantation of organs from donors with HIV under the HOPE Act. These updated rules state that kidney and liver transplants from HIV-positive donors no longer need to follow specific research criteria if both donor and recipient have HIV. However, transplants involving other organs from HIV-positive donors still require an IRB-approved research protocol. The changes aim to enhance the understanding of organ transplants from HIV-positive donors while ensuring recipient safety and increasing organ access for patients with HIV.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has proposed a rule to designate critical habitat for the Beringia distinct population segment of the bearded seal under the Endangered Species Act. The proposed critical habitat includes marine areas in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas, and focuses on sea ice habitat essential for the species' survival, such as areas for whelping, nursing, molting, and breeding communication. Public comments on this proposal are being requested, and considerations include potential impacts on existing activities and economic factors. The ultimate goal is to protect the areas critical for the conservation of these seals.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved Massachusetts' State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission, which meets most infrastructure requirements for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) under the Clean Air Act. However, EPA issued a finding of failure for certain parts related to the prevention of significant deterioration (PSD) program requirements. Despite this, the finding will not lead to sanctions or new federal requirements, as Massachusetts is already under a Federal Implementation Plan for PSD. The decision was based on Massachusetts demonstrating they have adequate resources and authority for SIP enforcement, even considering potential impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate critical habitats for four species of freshwater mussels: the rayed bean, sheepnose, snuffbox, and spectaclecase. These designations spread across 17 states in the United States, covering approximately 3,974 river miles. The critical habitats are aimed at protecting key environmental features essential for the mussels' survival, such as suitable water flow, quality, and host fish presence. The agency is inviting comments on this proposal until February 11, 2025, and has also released an economic analysis regarding the designations.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has issued a final rule that permits mortgage companies to disburse up to 1% of a mortgage amount before using all of the funds provided by the borrower. This rule is meant to simplify the process of combining mortgages into mortgage-backed securities and help ensure interest rates for FHA-insured mortgages remain competitive. Public comments suggested more flexibility in disbursement limits, but HUD maintained the 1% limit to manage risks effectively. This final rule also makes minor organizational changes to existing regulations.