🚦NHTSA's 2025 National Roadside Survey on Alcohol and Drug Use
In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) intends to conduct a new information collection for a National Roadside Survey (NRS) of alcohol and other drug prevalence among drivers and other road users (ORUs; e.g., pedestrians, bicyclists, electric scooter riders, and those with mobility aids). NHTSA will conduct two studies. Study 1 will focus on drivers but include convenience sampling of ORUs passing by the driver data collection locations. Study 2 is a pilot test assessing the feasibility of an NRS specific to ORUs. Both will collect breath and oral fluid specimens, demographic information, and self-report questionnaire data on roads across the country. Participation will be voluntary and anonymous. A Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following information collection was published on November 20, 2024. NHTSA received 6 comments, which we address below.
Learn More🧪CDC Requests Comments on Drug Susceptibility Testing Program
The CDC has submitted an information collection request for the Model Performance Evaluation Program related to Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing. This initiative aims to enhance the quality of testing practices among U.S. laboratories. The program is designed to provide evaluations that help optimize laboratory capabilities in identifying drug-resistant tuberculosis strains, thereby informing continuous program improvement.
Learn More✈️Summary of FAA's New Falsification Regulations for Aviation
FAA is amending, restructuring, and consolidating the falsification regulations presently located throughout title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Regarding 14 CFR chapter I, this rule eliminates inconsistencies among the various falsification regulations and associated sanctions; consolidates all existing falsification regulations into one part under 14 CFR chapter I to standardize the existing falsification regulations; and ensures that falsification-related conduct not addressed by pertinent current regulations is covered. This rule also creates a falsification prohibition applicable to the regulations governing commercial space transportation.
Learn More🧪HHS-Certified Laboratories and Drug Testing Compliance Requirements
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides notice of the laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITFs) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines) using Urine and the laboratories currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines using Oral Fluid.
Learn More⚖️New Drug Testing Regulations for Transportation Workers
The U.S. Department of Transportation (Department or DOT) proposes to amend its drug-testing program regulation, 49 CFR part 40 (part 40), to add fentanyl (a synthetic opioid) and norfentanyl (a metabolite of fentanyl) to its drug testing panels. The proposed rulemaking would harmonize part 40 with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines), which DOT must follow for the minimum list of drugs for which DOT requires testing, and the comprehensive standards for laboratory drug testing per the Omnibus Employee Testing Act of 1991. Adding fentanyl and norfentanyl is also in the interest of transportation safety, given compelling information regarding the number of overdose deaths in the United States involving fentanyl. The Department also proposes to amend certain provisions of part 40 to harmonize, as appropriate, with the current HHS Mandatory Guidelines using urine (UrMG) and oral fluid (OFMG). This NPRM also proposes to clarify certain existing part 40 drug testing program provisions and to make technical amendments.
Learn More🚂Update on the Definition of "Person" in Railroad Regulations
This final rule updates the definition of "person" in FRA's regulations to provide for regulatory consistency. FRA is making these clarifying changes to better align with FRA's safety jurisdiction and to conform definitions in FRA's older regulations with the definition of "person" that FRA has used in its most recent rulemakings. In one section where "person" is defined, FRA is also replacing references to specific penalty amounts with general references to FRA's minimum civil monetary penalty, ordinary maximum civil monetary penalty, and aggravated maximum civil monetary penalty amounts, consistent with FRA's current practice.
Learn More⚖️HHS Certifies Laboratories for Federal Drug Testing Compliance
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notifies Federal agencies of the laboratories and Instrumented Initial Testing Facilities (IITFs) currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing Programs (Mandatory Guidelines) using Urine and the laboratories currently certified to meet the standards of the Mandatory Guidelines using Oral Fluid.
Learn More🚆Proposed Removal of Redundant Regulations in Railroad Industry
FRA intends to remove thirteen sections throughout its regulations that unnecessarily recite the approval of information collection requirements by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), state the assigned OMB control number associated with the entire CFR part, and list the sections in that part with information collection requirements.
Learn More🚆Updates to Railroad Alcohol and Drug Use Regulations
This rule makes administrative updates to FRA's control of alcohol and drug use regulations, including updating addresses.
Learn More🦠CDC Seeks Public Comment on Tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on a proposed information collection project titled, CDC Model Performance Evaluation Program (MPEP) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Drug Susceptibility Testing. CDC is requesting a three-year approval for extension of the currently approved project used to monitor and evaluate performances and practices among national laboratories' M. tuberculosis susceptibility testing.
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