🌊Flood Hazard Determinations Impacting Business Compliance and Risk
New or modified Base (1-percent annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations) as shown on the indicated Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for each of the communities listed in the table below are finalized. Each LOMR revises the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, currently in effect for the listed communities.
Learn More🌊Impact of Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations on Businesses
Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Learn More⚖️Amendments to Sentencing Guidelines
The United States Sentencing Commission hereby gives notice that the Commission has promulgated amendments to the sentencing guidelines, policy statements, and commentary; and the Commission requests comment regarding whether it should include in the Guidelines Manual as changes that may be applied retroactively to previously sentenced defendants any or all of the following amendments: Parts A and B of Amendment 1; and Subparts 1 and 2 of Part A of Amendment 2. This notice sets forth the text of the amendments and the reason for each amendment, and the request for comment regarding possible retroactive application of the amendments listed above.
Learn More⚖️DEA Decision on Svetlana Burtman
The Department of Justice's ruling on Svetlana Burtman highlights numerous violations of the Controlled Substances Act, including operating an unregistered practice and failing to maintain adequate records. This decision underscores the rigorous compliance requirements for healthcare providers regarding controlled substances. The ramifications may extend beyond individual practitioners, influencing broader regulatory practices in the healthcare industry.
Learn More🌊Impact of Final Flood Hazard Determinations on Businesses
Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having an effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Learn More🚫Foreign Terrorist Organization Designation of Ansarallah by State Department
The Department of State has designated Ansarallah as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, citing sufficient factual basis per the Immigration and Nationality Act. This designation, effective upon publication, includes various aliases of the group, which may affect entities engaging with these organizations or their territories.
Learn More🌱EPA Seeks Rule Change on Pesticide Labeling Requirements
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of and seeking public comment on a petition received from the Attorneys General of the States of Nebraska, Iowa, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina, and South Dakota requesting the Agency initiate rulemaking to amend the existing regulations under the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act (FIFRA). The Attorneys General believe the Agency should modify its requirements such that any state labeling requirements inconsistent with EPA's findings and conclusions from its human health risk assessment on human health effects, such as a pesticide's likelihood to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm, constitute misbranding.
Learn More⚖️FCC Announces 2025 Civil Penalties Adjustments for Businesses
The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act) requires the Federal Communications Commission to revise its forfeiture penalty rules to reflect annual adjustments for inflation in order to improve their effectiveness and maintain their deterrent effect. The Inflation Adjustment Act provides that the new penalty levels shall apply to penalties assessed after the effective date of the increase, including when the penalties whose associated violation predate the increase.
Learn More📜NIST Requests Comments on AI Misuse Risk Management Guidelines
The U.S. Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (AISI), housed within NIST at the Department of Commerce, requests comments on an updated draft document responsive to Section 4.1(a)(ii) and Section 4.1(a)(ii)(A) of Executive Order 14110 on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) issued on October 30, 2023 (E.O. 14110). This draft document, NIST AI 800-1, Managing Misuse Risk for Dual-Use Foundation Models, can be found at https:// nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/ai/NIST.AI.800-1.ipd2.pdf. This document is an update to an initial public draft and includes changes based on the previous round of public comment, as well as two new appendices that apply these guidelines to (1) chemical and biological misuse risk and (2) cyber misuse risk.
Learn More⚖️SEC Announces Adjustments to Civil Monetary Penalty Amounts for 2025
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") is publishing this notice ("Notice") pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 ("2015 Act"). This Act requires all agencies to annually adjust for inflation the civil monetary penalties that can be imposed under the statutes administered by the agency and publish the adjusted amounts in the Federal Register. This Notice sets forth the annual inflation adjustment of the maximum amount of civil monetary penalties ("CMPs") administered by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act"), the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), the Investment Company Act of 1940, and certain penalties under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These amounts are effective beginning on January 15, 2025, and will apply to all penalties imposed after that date for violations of the aforementioned statutes that occurred after November 2, 2015.
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