📈Proposed Changes to Small Business Size Standards by SBA
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA or the Agency) proposes to increase its monetary based small business size definitions (commonly referred to as "size standards") for 263 industries (259 receipts based and four assets based). SBA proposes to retain receipts based size standards for 237 industries and 12 subindustries ("exceptions") and remove one exception. SBA's proposal relied on its recently revised "Size Standards Methodology" (Revised Methodology). SBA seeks comments on its proposed changes to size standards and data sources it evaluated to develop the proposed size standards. SBA also invites comments on its proposed policy of not lowering any size standards, except for excluding dominant firms from qualifying as small. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(4), a summary of this rule may be found at www.regulations.gov.
Learn More🌊Offshore Downhole Commingling Regulatory Updates Overview
The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), through the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), is revising the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) downhole commingling regulations consistent with the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBB). These administrative revisions update the regulations to ensure consistency with the OBBB when BSEE reviews a request for downhole commingling.
Learn More💰Civil Monetary Penalty Inflation Adjustment Impacts For Businesses
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) is issuing this final rule to adjust its civil monetary penalties (CMP) under the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1922 (RHA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), and the National Fishing Enhancement Act (NFEA) to account for inflation.
Learn More⚒️BSEE Removes Outdated Sulphur Operations Regulations
The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), through the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), is rescinding the majority of the provisions in its sulphur operations subpart and revising the subpart by applying other available regulatory requirements for similar operations to sulphur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The existing regulations are outdated, duplicative of, or inconsistent with, other Department regulations. This direct final rule provides consistency and clarity to industry regarding regulatory requirements for sulphur operations by aligning the requirements with the Department's other BSEE-administered regulations.
Learn More⚖️Updated Bonding Requirements for Civil Penalty Appeals
On November 14, 2024, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) published final rules that amended appeal rights. Some of the language from the appeal rights section was inadvertently erased. This document corrects the final regulations.
Learn More☀️Investigations on Antidumping Duties for Photovoltaic Cells
The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping and countervailing duty investigation Nos. 701-TA-772-774 and 731-TA-1756- 1758 (Preliminary) pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells, whether or not assembled into modules, from India, Indonesia, and Laos, provided for in subheadings 8541.42.00 and 8541.43.00 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value and alleged to be subsidized by the governments of India, Indonesia, and Laos. Unless the Department of Commerce ("Commerce") extends the time for initiation, the Commission must reach preliminary determinations in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations in 45 days, or in this case by September 2, 2025. The Commission's views must be transmitted to Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by September 9, 2025.
Learn More🚆FRA Withdraws Accident Investigation Regulation, Affects Compliance Costs
FRA is withdrawing the direct final rule titled "Federal Railroad Administration Accident/Incident Investigation Policy for Gathering Information and Consulting with Stakeholders," (the Rule) which was published on October 1, 2024.
Learn More⚖️Investigation Notice on Hexamine Imports from Multiple Countries
The U.S. International Trade Commission announced revised schedules for ongoing investigations into the importation of hexamine (hexamethylenetetramine) from China, Germany, India, and Saudi Arabia. This notice details a timetable for final comments and information releases, crucial for stakeholders in the affected industries.
Learn More✈️NTSB Investigative Hearing on Midair Collision Safety
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is conducting an investigative hearing following a tragic midair collision involving a US Army helicopter and a commercial aircraft. The hearing will examine various safety and procedural aspects related to the incident, aiming to improve aviation safety and avoid future accidents. Participants include representatives from relevant aviation organizations.
Learn More🏥Medicare and Medicaid Proposed Rule on Home Health Payment Updates
This proposed rule would set forth routine updates to the Medicare home health payment rates in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. In addition, this proposed rule proposes permanent and temporary behavior adjustments and proposes to recalibrate the case-mix weights and update the functional impairment levels; comorbidity subgroups; and low-utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) thresholds for CY 2026. Lastly, this proposed rule proposes policy changes to the face-to-face encounter policy. It also proposes changes to the Home Health Quality Reporting Program (HH QRP) and the expanded Health Value-Based Purchasing (HHVBP) Model requirements. In addition, it would update the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (CBP). Lastly it proposes: a technical change to the HH conditions of participation; updates to DMEPOS supplier conditions of payment; updates to provider and supplier enrollment requirements; and changes to DMEPOS accreditation requirements.
Learn More