Search Results for keywords:"Federal Regulations"

The Surface Transportation Board received a request from the Association of American Railroads for permission to access data from the Board's 2019 Masked Carload Waybill Sample. This data includes confidential railroad and shipper information, and the Surface Transportation Board is seeking input from those who might object to this request within 14 days from the notice date. The process for releasing this data is governed by federal regulations. Interested parties can contact Alexander Dusenberry for more information.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a weekly summary of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) filed from December 16 to December 20, 2024. This includes final EISs for projects like the Interstate 39/90/94 Corridor in Wisconsin, an expansion of childcare services in Florida, and the Ridgeline Expansion Project in Tennessee. The document also notes an amended notice for a potential land exchange involving the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, clarifying the extension of the comment period. Mark Austin, Acting Director of the NEPA Compliance Division, signed off on the notice.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation has announced the receipt of applications for special permits. These permits relate to the handling and transportation of hazardous materials according to federal regulations. Members of the public can submit comments on these applications by February 18, 2025. The applications can be viewed at the Records Center, and further inquiries can be directed to Donald Burger, the Chief of the Office of Hazardous Materials Safety.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking public comments on the renewal of an information collection related to patent petitions and reexamination processing fees. This collection is crucial for the USPTO to manage the impact of its information requirements and lessen the burden on the public. On average, individuals may spend between five minutes to 12 hours completing each response, depending on complexity, which generates a total annual burden of about 72,958 hours. Interested parties can review or comment on this collection through specified online resources within 30 days of the notice's publication.

The U.S. Department of Energy has issued a final rule that updates civil monetary penalties (CMPs) for inflation, as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act. The increase applies to penalties within the DOE's jurisdiction, ensuring that CMPs retain their deterrent effect. The adjustment, calculated based on changes in the Consumer Price Index, becomes effective on January 14, 2021. This rule complies with federal regulations and has been reviewed to ensure it does not impose new information collection requirements or significant adverse effects on energy supply.

The Executive Order titled "Ensuring Lawful Governance and Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' Deregulatory Initiative" seeks to review and potentially rescind federal regulations that are unconstitutional, poorly justified by laws, or hinder the national interest. It mandates federal agencies to assess their regulations for legality and alignment with administration goals, especially focusing on reducing unnecessary burdens and promoting innovation. Agencies will then report these assessments and potentially modify regulations. This order does not affect national security, foreign affairs, or employee management and does not create legal rights against the government.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a petition from ACNR Holdings, Inc. to modify current safety standards, allowing the use of 3M Versaflo TR-800 Powered Air Purifying Respirators in specific mines. This proposal seeks to replace the discontinued 3M airstream helmets and introduces an alternative method to ensure miner safety in hazardous locations, compatible with methane potential. The petition includes guidelines for equipment examination, battery handling, and miner training to maintain safety and compliance with federal regulations. Comments on this petition can be submitted until May 19, 2025.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a notice regarding the Northern States Power Company's intent to file a license application for the Gile Flowage Storage Reservoir Project in Wisconsin. The notice begins the pre-filing process and requests public comments on the Pre-Application Document (PAD) and Scoping Document 1, with a deadline for submissions set for March 17, 2021. The commission encourages electronic filing of comments and study requests, as part of the planning process for the project, without holding a public scoping meeting due to COVID-19 restrictions. The notice also discusses collaborations with various agencies and the Northern States as FERC’s non-federal representative for specific consultations.

The United States Small Business Administration (SBA) has declared the licenses of Plexus Fund III, L.P. and Plexus Fund QP III, L.P. to operate as small business investment companies to be null and void. This decision was made under the authority of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 and relevant federal regulations. Thomas Morris, the Director of Patient Capital Investments, is the official who announced this action on behalf of the SBA.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a final rule to include Saratoga County, New York, in the Jefferson, NY, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. This change is due to one employee working in Saratoga County and aims to address the employee's pay-setting considerations. The rule is set to take effect on January 13, 2025, and OPM anticipates minimal economic impact given the small number of employees affected. The regulation was subject to review and found to have no significant economic or federalism impact and does not impose additional record-keeping requirements.