⚡Updates on Energy Conservation Standards and Compliance Requirements
The U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") is publishing a final rule to amend and correct certain energy conservation standards and test procedures of consumer products and commercial and industrial equipment, as described in sections I and II of this document. The changes addressed in this document are technical in nature, and neither the errors nor the corrections in this document affect the substance of any rulemaking or any conclusions reached in support of any final rule.
Learn More🦆Proposed Hunting Regulations and Economic Impact for 2025-26
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service or we) proposes to establish hunting regulations for certain migratory game birds for the 2025-26 hunting season. Through an annual rulemaking process, we prescribe outside limits (which we refer to as frameworks) within which States may select hunting seasons. This proposed rule provides the regulatory schedule, describes the proposed regulatory alternatives for the 2025-26 general duck seasons, and provides preliminary proposals that vary from the 2024-25 hunting season regulations. Migratory bird hunting seasons provide opportunities for recreation and sustenance; aid Federal, State, and Tribal governments in the management of migratory game birds; and permit harvests at levels compatible with migratory game bird population status and habitat conditions.
Learn More🌱Proposed Rule for Endangered Status of Big Red Sage نبات
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the big red sage (Salvia pentstemonoides), a plant species from central Texas, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). This determination also serves as our 12-month finding on a petition to list the big red sage. After a review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that listing the species is warranted. If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Plants and extend the Act's protections to the species. We have determined that designating critical habitat for the big red sage is not prudent.
Learn More📜Compliance and Trade Implications for USMCA Textile and Automotive Industries
This interim final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to add implementing regulations for the preferential tariff treatment and related customs provisions of the Agreement Between the United States of America, the United Mexican States, and Canada (USMCA) with respect to general definitions, drawback and duty-deferral programs, textile and apparel goods, and automotive goods. This document also amends the regulations to implement the temporary admission of goods, to delineate recordkeeping and protest requirements, to clarify the fee provisions, and to make conforming amendments, including technical corrections to other laws as required by statute.
Learn More💊New DEA Regulations on Telemedicine and Special Registration
The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 (the "Ryan Haight Act") generally requires an in-person medical evaluation prior to the issuance of a prescription of controlled substances but provides an exception to this in-person medical evaluation requirement where the practitioner is engaged in the "practice of telemedicine" within the meaning of the Ryan Haight Act. These proposed regulatory changes would establish a Special Registration framework and authorize three types of Special Registration. This proposed rulemaking also provides for heightened prescription, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. DEA believes such changes are necessary to effectively expand patient access to controlled substance medications via telemedicine while mitigating the risks of diversion associated with such expansion. A summary of this rule may be found at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/DEA-2023-0029.
Learn More🍷New Alcohol Facts Labeling Regulation
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to require disclosure of per-serving alcohol, calorie, and nutrient content information in an "Alcohol Facts" statement on all alcohol beverage labels subject to TTB's regulatory authority under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (FAA Act). This rulemaking responds to the Department of the Treasury's February 2022 report on "Competition in the Markets for Beer, Wine, and Spirits," which recommended that TTB revive or initiate rulemaking on alcohol content, nutritional content, and appropriate serving sizes for alcohol beverage labels. Pursuant to its authorities under both the FAA Act and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, TTB is also proposing mandatory alcohol content statements for certain types of malt beverages, beer, and wine that are not currently required to be labeled with an alcohol content statement. TTB proposes a compliance date of 5 years from the date that a final rule resulting from this proposal is published in the Federal Register.
Learn More🍷New TTB Proposal for Major Food Allergen Labeling in Alcohol Beverages
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) proposes to require a labeling disclosure of all major food allergens used in the production of alcohol beverages subject to TTB's regulatory authority under the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. Under the proposed regulations, unless an exception applies, labels must declare milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, and sesame, as well as ingredients that contain protein derived from these foods, if used in the production of the alcohol beverage. TTB proposes a compliance date of 5 years from the date that a final rule resulting from this proposal is published in the Federal Register.
Learn More📜EPA Extends Comment Period on 6PPD Regulatory Investigation
In the Federal Register of November 19, 2024, EPA issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking soliciting public comment on and any additional information relevant to the potential risks associated with N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) (CASRN 793-24-8, DTXSID 9025114) and its transformation product, 6PPD-quinone (CASRN 2754428-18-5, DTXSID 301034849). EPA is soliciting that information, along with information about potential alternatives and regulatory options, to help inform the Agency's consideration of potential future regulatory actions under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). With this document, EPA is extending the comment period by 60 days, from January 21, 2025, to March 24, 2025.
Learn More🚗New Compliance Requirements for Hydrogen Vehicle Safety Standards
This final rule establishes two new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) specifying performance requirements for all motor vehicles that use hydrogen as a fuel source. The final rule is based on Global Technical Regulation (GTR) No. 13, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Vehicles. FMVSS No. 307, "Fuel system integrity of hydrogen vehicles," specifies requirements for the integrity of the fuel system in hydrogen vehicles during normal vehicle operations and after crashes. FMVSS No. 308, "Compressed hydrogen storage system integrity," specifies requirements for the compressed hydrogen storage system to ensure the safe storage of hydrogen onboard vehicles. These two standards will reduce deaths and injuries from fires due to hydrogen fuel leakages and/or explosion of the hydrogen storage system.
Learn More⚖️New Compliance Rules for Clothes Washer and Dryer Testing 2024
In this final rule, the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") is amending the test procedures for residential and commercial clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers to update the test cloth specifications. DOE is also reorganizing the test procedures for improved readability. DOE is conducting this rulemaking to address specific issues and to make minor corrections to the current test procedures. This rulemaking does not satisfy the statutory requirement that, at least once every 7 years, DOE review the test procedures for clothes washers and consumer clothes dryers.
Learn More