🚬Deregulatory Action on Tobacco Product Floor Stocks Tax Regulations
In this final rule, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) is removing regulations related to the 2009 tobacco product floor stocks tax. These regulations are no longer necessary because they implement a tax that applied only to specified articles held for sale on April 1, 2009, and was required to be paid on or before August 1, 2009. This deregulatory action removes 42 regulatory sections from TTB regulations.
Learn More⚛️NRC Updates Regulatory Guide on ASME Code Cases for Nuclear Plants
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to incorporate by reference a regulatory guide that approves unconditioned code cases published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This action allows nuclear power plant applicants and licensees to use the code cases as voluntary alternatives to engineering standards for nuclear power plant components. These standards are set forth in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and ASME Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants, which are currently incorporated by reference into the NRC's regulations.
Learn More⚛️NRC Proposes Approval of ASME Unconditioned Code Cases
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend its regulations to incorporate by reference a regulatory guide that approves unconditioned code cases published by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). This action would allow nuclear power plant applicants and licensees to use the code cases as voluntary alternatives to engineering standards for nuclear power plant components. These standards are set forth in the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and ASME Operation and Maintenance of Nuclear Power Plants, which are currently incorporated by reference into the NRC's regulations. The NRC is requesting comments on this proposed rule.
Learn More🥦Update on SNAP Staple Food Requirements for Retailers
In response to section 765 of the Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2017 and subsequently enacted appropriations, this rule proposes to codify a new framework for determining distinct staple food varieties and accessory foods (such as snacks, desserts, and foods meant to complement or supplement meals, which do not themselves count as staple foods) for purposes of meeting the staple food requirements for retailer participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The rulemaking is necessary to implement the codified stocking requirements of the Agricultural Act of 2014, which increased the minimum number of staple food varieties and perishables SNAP retailers must carry. A summary of this notice of proposed rulemaking is posted on regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/FNS- 2025-0018.
Learn More🏛️New Amendments to Syria-Related Sanctions Regulations and Their Impact
The Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is changing the heading of the Syria-Related Sanctions Regulations to the Promoting Accountability for Assad and Regional Stabilization Sanctions Regulations and amending the renamed regulations to implement a January 15, 2025 Syria-related Executive order and a June 30, 2025 Syria-related Executive order.
Learn More🏥Medicare Advantage Regulations
This final rule implements Medicare Advantage disclosure requirement changes.
Learn More🌊Gulf of America Renaming
This final rule will, throughout the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's regulations, rename the area formerly known as the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) as the Gulf of America (GOA). The Gulf of America is the U.S. Continental Shelf area bounded on the northeast, north, and northwest by the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida and extending to the seaward boundary with Mexico and Cuba.
Learn More⚖️New Civil Penalties for Oil and Gas Operations Effective 2025
This final rule adjusts the maximum daily civil monetary penalty amount contained in the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), in accordance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. The civil penalty inflation adjustment, using a 1.02598 multiplier, accounts for 1 year of inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) from October 2023 to October 2024.
Learn More⛽Maryland Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions Approved by EPA
Pursuant to the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965, as amended (commonly known as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking direct final action to approve revisions to the State of Maryland's Underground Storage Tank (UST) program submitted by Maryland (Maryland or State). This action also codifies EPA's approval of Maryland's state program and incorporates by reference (IBR) those provisions of Maryland's regulations and statutes that EPA has determined meet the requirements for approval. The provisions will be subject to EPA's inspection and enforcement authorities under sections 9005 and 9006 of RCRA Subtitle I and other applicable statutory and regulatory provisions.
Learn More🏞️EPA's Proposed Deletion of Corozal Well From National Priorities List
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Notice of Intent to delete one site, Corozal Well, from the National Priorities List (NPL) and requests public comments on this proposed action. The NPL, promulgated pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980, as amended, is an appendix of the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). The EPA and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, through the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PRDNER), have determined that all appropriate response actions under CERCLA have been completed. However, this deletion does not preclude future actions under Superfund.
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