🐋Final Rule on Marine Mammal Takes for Port of Alaska Modernization
NMFS, upon request from the Don Young Port of Alaska (POA), hereby promulgates regulations to govern the taking of marine mammals incidental to the Cargo Terminals Replacement (CTR) project at the existing port facility in Anchorage, Alaska over the course of 5 years. These regulations, which allow for the issuance of a Letter of Authorization (LOA) for the incidental take of marine mammals during the specified activities in the specified geographical region (see Description of the Specified Activities section) during the effective dates of the regulations, prescribe the permissible methods of taking and other means of effecting the least practicable adverse impact on marine mammal species or stocks and their habitat, as well as requirements pertaining to the monitoring and reporting of such taking.
Learn More🧑🌾CCC Final Rule on Removal of Obsolete Regulations
CCC is in the process of reviewing all regulations within its purview to reduce regulatory burdens and costs. Pursuant to this review, CCC has identified the following obsolete, unnecessary, and outdated provisions in title 7 of the Code of Federal Regulation (CFR). CCC is removing these provisions to streamline and clarify the dictates of title 7.
Learn More🚦Technical Amendments to Highway Safety Grant Procedures
This final rule makes technical amendments to the Uniform Procedures for State Highway Safety Grant Programs to remove references to rescinded Executive Orders.
Learn More📉IRS Disapproval of Digital Asset Reporting Regulation Impacts Businesses
Pursuant to its authority under the Congressional Review Act (CRA), Congress passed a joint resolution disapproving the final rule titled "Gross Proceeds Reporting by Brokers that Regularly Provide Services Effectuating Digital Asset Sales," and the President signed the resolution. Under the joint resolution and by operation of the CRA, this final rule has no legal force or effect. The Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the IRS hereby remove this final rule from the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and revert the relevant text of the CFR back to the text that was in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this final rule.
Learn More🌍Approval of Air Quality Plans for Oklahoma Incinerators
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is notifying the public that we have received CAA section 111(d)/129 negative declarations from Oklahoma for existing incinerators subject to the Other Solid Waste Incineration units (OSWI), Hospital/Medical/ Infectious Waste Incinerator units (HMIWI), and Commercial and Industrial Solid Waste Incineration Units (CISWI) Emission Guidelines (EG). These negative declarations certify that existing incinerators subject to the OSWI, HMIWI, and CISWI EG and the requirements of sections 111(d) and 129 of the CAA do not exist within specified jurisdictions in Oklahoma. The EPA is proposing to accept the negative declarations and amend the agency regulations in accordance with the requirements of the CAA. In addition, EPA is withdrawing its prior proposed approval of the Oklahoma CISWI plan revision due to Oklahoma's submission of its negative declaration for incinerators subject to the CISWI EG and its withdrawal of the CISWI plan revision.
Learn More🌍EPA Proposes Delegation of NESHAP Authority to Oklahoma DEQ
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) has submitted updated regulations for receiving delegation and approval of its program for the implementation and enforcement of certain National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for all sources, as provided for under previously approved delegation mechanisms. The updated State regulations incorporate by reference certain NESHAP promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as they existed through June 30, 2023. The EPA is proposing to approve ODEQ's requested delegation update. The proposed delegation of authority under this action applies to sources located in certain areas of Indian country as discussed herein.
Learn More🌬️Mojave Desert Air Quality Regulation and Its Business Implications
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD or "the District") portion of the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). These revisions concern definitions that are necessary to implement and enforce local rules that regulate air pollution. We are proposing to approve a definitions rule under the Clean Air Act (CAA or the "Act"). We are also proposing to approve the rescission of earlier versions of this rule from the California SIP as they are no longer needed to under the CAA. We are taking comments on this proposal and plan to follow with a final action.
Learn More🌾Supplemental Disaster Relief Program Offers $30.78 Billion Assistance
The Farm Service Agency (FSA) is issuing this final rule announcing SDRP, which provides assistance to eligible producers for losses to crops, trees, bushes, and vines due to wildfires, hurricanes, floods, derechos, excessive heat, tornadoes, winter storms, freeze (including a polar vortex), smoke exposure, excessive moisture, qualifying drought, and related conditions occurring in calendar years 2023 and 2024. SDRP assistance will be provided in two stages, referred to as Stage 1 and Stage 2. This document provides the eligibility requirements, application process, and payment calculations for SDRP Stage 1 only, which will provide payments for eligible crop, tree, and vine losses calculated using data already on file with USDA from previously issued Federal crop insurance indemnities and Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) payments. FSA anticipates announcing SDRP Stage 2 in a later rule.
Learn More🌾USDA Ends Race and Sex-Based Preferences in Assistance Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has independently determined that it will no longer employ the race- and sex-based "socially disadvantaged" designation to provide increased benefits based on race and sex in the programs at issue in this regulation. The USDA has faced a long history of litigation stemming from allegations of discrimination in the administration of its farm loan and benefit programs. However, over the past several decades, USDA has undertaken substantial efforts to redress past injustices, culminating in comprehensive settlements, institutional reforms, and compensatory frameworks. These actions collectively support the conclusion that past discrimination has been sufficiently addressed and that further race- and sex-based remedies are no longer necessary or legally justified under current circumstances.
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes Ozone Standards Failure for San Joaquin Valley
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the San Joaquin Valley, California area failed to attain the 1997 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standard by its June 15, 2024 "Extreme" area attainment date. This proposed determination is based on quality-assured and certified ambient air quality monitoring data from 2021 through 2023.
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