🐍Proposed Regulation for Southern Hognose Snake Listing
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), propose to list the southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus), a small, fossorial snake species from the coastal plains and sandhills across the southeastern United States, as a threatened 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 southern hognose snake. After a review of the best scientific and commercial data available, we find that listing the species is warranted. Accordingly, we propose to list the southern hognose snake as a threatened species with protective regulations under section 4(d) of the Act ("4(d) rule"). If we finalize this rule as proposed, it would add this species to the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and extend the Act's protections to the species. We find that designating critical habitat for this species is prudent but not determinable at this time.
Learn More🚢Temporary Safety Zones Established for M/V ZHEN HUA 29 in Freeport
The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones, a moving safety zone and a fixed safety zone, around the M/V ZHEN HUA 29 in the navigable waters of the Freeport Ship Channel and its vicinity. The temporary safety zones are necessary to protect persons, property, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the transit and delivery of large gantry cranes. People and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the safety zones unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Houston-Galveston or a designated representative.
Learn More📞FCC Updates to Telemarketing Consent Rules Impacting Businesses
In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) conforms the Commission's rules to a court decision nullifying the first full paragraph of the revised prior express written consent rule adopted in the Second Text Blocking Report and Order. The court issued its mandate on April 30, 2025, which vacated, as of that date, the rule change for the first full paragraph of the Prior Express Written Consent Requirements section that the Commission adopted in 2023 in Targeting and Eliminating Unlawful Text Messages; Rules and Regulations Implementing of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991; Advanced Methods to Target and Eliminate Unlawful Robocalls, and Second Report and Order, Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, and Waiver Order.
Learn More🎓Proposed Changes to Nonimmigrant Admissions Impacting Businesses
Unlike most nonimmigrant classifications, which are admitted for a fixed time period, aliens in the F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and most I (representatives of foreign information media) classifications, with limited exceptions, are currently admitted into the United States for the period of time that they are complying with the terms and conditions of their nonimmigrant classification ("duration of status"). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to amend its regulations by changing the admission period in the F, J, and I classifications from duration of status to an admission for a fixed time period.
Learn More🌫️EPA Approves South Dakota’s Regional Haze State Implementation Plan
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of South Dakota on July 29, 2022 (South Dakota's 2022 SIP submission), as satisfying applicable requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. The EPA is taking this action pursuant to CAA.
Learn More🎣2025-2026 Hunting & Fishing Regulations for Wildlife Refuges
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), open or expand hunting or sport fishing opportunities on 16 National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS) stations and 1 National Fish Hatchery System (NFHS) station. This includes inaugural hunting opportunities at Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the newest addition to the NWRS, and the formal opening of hunting opportunities at Grasslands Wildlife Management Area (WMA), as well as inaugural sport fishing at North Attleboro National Fish Hatchery (NFH). These actions open or expand 42 opportunities for hunting and fishing across more than 87,000 acres of Service-managed lands and waters. We also make administrative changes to existing station-specific regulations to improve the clarity and accuracy of regulations, reduce the regulatory burden on the public, and comply with a Presidential mandate for plain- language standards.
Learn More⚖️Regulation Changes for Temporary Immigration Judges
This final rule aligns the regulatory requirements for candidates for Temporary Immigration Judge ("TIJ") appointments to mirror the regulatory requirements for permanent Immigration Judge ("IJ") appointments, thus allowing the Attorney General and Director of EOIR to select TIJs from a larger pool of well-qualified candidates. Additionally, the Department of Justice ("the Department" or "DOJ") is making various technical and non-substantive changes to its regulations.
Learn More🚗Proposed Rule for Pennsylvania Vehicle Emission Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This SIP revision addresses Clean Air Act (CAA) requirements for the enactment of a Basic vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance (I/M) program for the five counties comprising the Pennsylvania portion of the Philadelphia-Wilmington- Atlantic City, PA-NJ-MD-DE Moderate nonattainment area (Philadelphia nonattainment area) for the 2015 8-hour ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS).
Learn More🌬️Proposed Revisions to Arkansas Air Quality Implementation Plan
Pursuant to the Federal Clean Air Act (CAA or the Act), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve revisions to the Arkansas State Implementation Plan (SIP) submitted to the EPA on February 4, 2025. The revisions address the codification of the Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission (APC & EC) Rule 19 and Regulations 9, 26, and 31 into the Code of Arkansas Rules (CAR). The revisions are non-substantive and administrative in nature, and do not add or relax any provisions in the approved SIP.
Learn More🚤Temporary Safety Zone Established for Tampa Bay Boat Race
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters for a high-speed boat race. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by high-speed boat racing. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector St. Petersburg.
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