⚖️EPA Requests Comments on Vinyl Chloride Risk Evaluation Under TSCA
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or Agency) is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on the draft scope of the risk evaluation to be conducted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for vinyl chloride (ethene, chloro-; CASRN 75-01-4). Under TSCA, the scope documents must include the conditions of use, hazards, exposures, and the potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations that EPA expects to consider in conducting the risk evaluation for this chemical substance. The purpose of risk evaluations under TSCA is to determine whether a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment under the conditions of use, including unreasonable risk to potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations identified as relevant to the risk evaluation by EPA, and without consideration of costs or non-risk factors.
Learn More🌊Business Implications of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Regulations
NOAA is designating Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary (sanctuary) to protect nationally significant biological, cultural, and historical resources and to manage this special place as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary consists of an area of approximately 582,570 square statute miles (439,910 square nautical miles) of Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the submerged lands thereunder. NOAA is establishing the terms of designation for the sanctuary and the regulations to implement the national marine sanctuary designation. NOAA has also published a final environmental impact statement (final EIS) in coordination with the State of Hawai[revaps]i, final management plan, and Record of Decision.
Learn More🚛FMCSA Renews Exemption for Camera Systems in Commercial Vehicles
FMCSA announces its final decision to renew the exemption granted to Vision Systems North America, Inc. (VSNA) to allow motor carriers to operate commercial motor vehicles (CMV) with the company's Smart-Vision high-definition camera monitoring system (Smart-Vision) installed as an alternative to the two rear-vision mirrors required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs).
Learn More⚡Final Rule on Continuity of Operations Plan Effective January 2025
In this final rule, the Commission revises its Continuity of Operations Plan regulations to include, in its hierarchy of delegation of Commission authority, the Director and other staff of the Office of Energy Infrastructure Security, who were not included when the regulations were earlier revised.
Learn More🐄USDA Withdraws Proposed Livestock and Poultry Market Rules
The United States Department of Agriculture's ("USDA" or "the Department") Agricultural Marketing Service ("AMS" or "the Agency") is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking, the "Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets" proposed rule.
Learn More🚬Proposed Nicotine Yield Regulations
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is proposing a tobacco product standard that would regulate nicotine yield by establishing a maximum nicotine level in cigarettes and certain other combusted tobacco products. FDA is proposing this action to reduce the addictiveness of these products, thus giving people who are addicted and wish to quit the ability to do so more easily. The proposed product standard is anticipated to benefit the population as a whole. For example, it would help to prevent people who experiment with cigarettes and cigars from developing addiction and using combusted tobacco products regularly.
Learn More⚓Withdrawal of Proposed Rule on IUU Fishing Enforcement Impacts Businesses
NMFS formally withdraws a proposed rule on the Implementation of Provisions of the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Enforcement Act of 2015 and the Ensuring Access to Pacific Fisheries Act, which was published in the Federal Register on July 8, 2022. This proposed rule would have implemented certain provisions of the two acts and amended the definition of illegal, unreported, or unregulated (IUU) fishing in the regulations that implement the High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Protection Act (Moratorium Protection Act). After the proposed rule was issued, Congress amended the Moratorium Protection Act by the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (NDAA). NMFS has been developing a revised proposed rule in light of the NDAA to conform to the statutory changes, but does not have sufficient time to finalize the rule in this Administration.
Learn More🎓Post-9/11 VA Educational Assistance Regulations Overview
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is amending its regulations that govern VA's administration of educational assistance programs to implement the provisions of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, which modified the manner in which payments of educational assistance are determined and expanded the types of programs students may pursue under the Post-9/11 GI Bill; section 1002 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009, which authorized the "Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship;" and a select number of provisions of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017.
Learn More📦USPS Notice
The Postal Service gives notice of filing a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add a domestic shipping services contract to the list of Negotiated Service Agreements in the Mail Classification Schedule's Competitive Products List.
Learn More💧EPA Approves Alternative Test Methods for Drinking Water Compliance
This action announces the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) approval of alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water to determine compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. The Safe Drinking Water Act authorizes EPA to approve the use of alternative testing methods through publication in the Federal Register. EPA is using this streamlined authority to make two additional methods available for analyzing drinking water samples. This expedited approach provides public water systems, laboratories, and primacy agencies with more timely access to new measurement techniques and greater flexibility in the selection of analytical methods, thereby reducing monitoring costs while maintaining public health protection.
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