⛏️2025 Draft List of Critical Minerals and Its Business Impact
The United States remains heavily dependent on imports of certain mineral commodities that are vital to the Nation's economic and national security interests. This dependency has the potential to create strategic vulnerabilities arising from adverse foreign actions, pandemics, natural disasters, or other events that can disrupt the supply of critical minerals. The Department of the Interior (DOI) published Lists of Critical Minerals in 2018 \1\ and 2022.\2\ Section 7002 of the Energy Act of 2020 requires the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on behalf of the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to update the List of Critical Minerals every three years. This is a Notice of an opportunity to comment on the 2025 draft List of Critical Minerals.
Learn More⚡Rate Order SWPA-88 Increases Power Rates by 28.6%
The Acting Administrator of the Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) has confirmed, approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA-88 (Rate Order), which provides the rate schedule Wholesale Rates for Hydro Power and Energy at Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project (RDW-23). This new rate schedule for the Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project (Robert D. Willis) replaces the existing power rate under Rate Schedule RDW-15 which expires on September 30, 2025. Rate Schedule RDW-23 increases the annual wholesale power rate for Willis by 28.6 percent.
Learn More🏦SEC Notice on Co-Investment for Business Development Companies
The SEC has issued a notice regarding the application from ISQ OpenInfra Income Fund and associated firms, seeking an order that would allow certain business development companies to co-invest in portfolio companies. This application aims to address joint transactions that are currently prohibited under the Investment Company Act of 1940, requiring potential authorization from the SEC.
Learn More⚡Combined Notice of Natural Gas Pipeline Rate Filings and Requirements
The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issues a combined notice regarding natural gas pipeline rate and refund report filings. It includes important details about compliance filings, comment deadlines, and procedures for public participation in regulatory processes surrounding natural gas pricing.
Learn More🎣Notice on Control Date for Northeastern Recreational Fisheries
This advance notice of proposed rulemaking seeks comment on the benefits or disadvantages of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council) potentially recommending future restrictions for the federally permitted recreational for-hire fisheries for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. The Council requested NMFS establish a control date while managers consider if, and how, participation may be affected through the ongoing Recreational Sector Separation and Data Collection Amendment. NMFS is informing the public of the new control date to promote awareness of the potential changes to eligibility criteria for future access and to discourage speculative entry into the Federal for-hire fisheries.
Learn More🎣Correction to 2025-2026 Fisheries Harvest Specifications in Alaska
On March 18, 2025, NMFS published the final rule to implement the 2025 and 2026 harvest specifications, apportionments, and prohibited species catch (PSC) allowances for the groundfish fishery of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area (BSAI). Following publication, errors were identified in table 21, which provides notice of allocations of groundfish and apportionments of PSC limits for the Community Development Quota (CDQ) groups. This rule corrects the errors in table 21.
Learn More🍺Yuhaaviatam Nation Liquor Act Amendment Overview
This notice publishes an amendment to the Liquor Act of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation. The Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Liquor Act, as amended, regulates and controls the possession, sale, manufacture, and distribution of alcohol in conformity with the laws of the State of California.
Learn More🍻Amendments to Osage Nation Liquor Control Ordinance and Business Impact
This notice publishes an amendment to the Osage Nation Liquor Control Ordinance, which comprehensively amends and supersedes the existing Osage Nation Liquor Control Ordinance enacted by the Osage Tribal Council on August 4, 2004.
Learn More⚡Combined Notice of Natural Gas Pipeline Rate and Refund Reports
The Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a notice regarding natural gas pipeline rate filings, detailing Docket Numbers, applicants, descriptions of rate filings, and commenting procedures. Businesses are invited to intervene or protest these proceedings in compliance with established regulations.
Learn More📈Proposed Rule Change Boosts IBIT Options Position Limits
The Securities and Exchange Commission has published a notice regarding the proposed amendment of position limits for options on the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF. This change would enhance trading flexibility and liquidity, enabling market participants to more effectively engage in trading and hedging activities. The proposal aims to align IBIT options with other ETFs, promoting a more competitive financial market environment.
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