🌫️EPA Proposes Redesignation of Detroit for Sulfur Dioxide Attainment
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to find that the Detroit, Michigan area is attaining the 2010 sulfur dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) and to act in accordance with a request from Michigan to redesignate the area to attainment for the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS, because the request meets the statutory requirements for redesignation under the Clean Air Act (CAA). EPA is also proposing to approve Michigan's maintenance plan for the Detroit area. Michigan submitted the request for approval of the Detroit nonattainment area's redesignation and maintenance plan on May 5, 2025. EPA approved Michigan's attainment plan for the Detroit area on May 19, 2025.
Learn More🌬️EPA Finds Huntington County Failed Sulfur Dioxide Air Quality Standards
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is determining that the Huntington County, Indiana nonattainment area failed to attain the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO<INF>2</INF>) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) by the applicable attainment date of April 9, 2023. EPA is also approving revisions into the Indiana State Implementation Plan (SIP) intended to provide for attainment of the 2010 SO<INF>2</INF> NAAQS for the Huntington County nonattainment area. These SIP revisions include Indiana's attainment demonstration and other planning elements required under the Clean Air Act (CAA), and an order issued by the Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management containing enforceable emission limits. Further, EPA is determining that the provisions of Indiana's SIP submittal adequately provide for attainment of the NAAQS and that the plan meets all other applicable CAA requirements. EPA proposed to approve this action on June 18, 2025, and received no adverse comments.
Learn More🌍EPA Approves New York Emission Statement Certification
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving portions of the comprehensive State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions submitted by New York State that certify that the State has satisfied the requirements for an emission statement program for both the Serious and Moderate classifications of the 2008 and 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), respectively. These actions are being taken in accordance with the requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA). The EPA proposed to approve this SIP revision on May 8, 2025, and received no comments.
Learn More⚖️Eliminating Expedited Examination of Design Applications
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) previously suspended expedited examination of design applications effective April 17, 2025. Further to the suspension, the USPTO hereby amends the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases by removing the provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations that provide for expedited examination of design applications. The removal of those regulations supports the USPTO's efforts to reduce the pendency of unexamined design applications, which will benefit all design patent applicants. The removal also facilitates the USPTO's efforts to address the problem of erroneous micro entity certifications, as well as the USPTO's broader efforts to mitigate and protect against threats to the intellectual property system.
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🌊Rescission of Expired Data Release Grace Period by BOEM
The Department of the Interior (the Department or DOI), acting through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), is amending the Department's regulations to rescind the portion of a section, describing a grace period for release of geophysical data, that expired in 2010. This portion of the section is not necessary because it has expired. DOI is also making minor modifications effecting this rescission to another portion of the section.
Learn More🚤Proposed Local Regulation for Galveston Channel Boat Parade
The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation for the safety of life on certain waters of the Galveston Channel in Galveston County, TX. These regulations would be enforced during a boat parade which will be held annually, on the 3rd Saturday in September. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit entry of non- participants into the regulated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Houston-Galveston (COTP) or designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.
Learn More📶FCC Rule Amendments Affecting Telecommunications Compliance
In this document, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) of the Federal Communication Commission (Commission) conforms certain rule parts in the Code of Federal Regulations to reflect the rules that are actually in effect as a result of the Ohio Telecom and Iowa Utilities Board II decisions.
Learn More🚢New Security Zone Established at Electric Boat Shipyard in RI
The Coast Guard is establishing a security zone in the waters adjacent to the General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation Quonset Point facility in Narragansett Bay, North Kingstown, RI. This is necessary to protect the facility, material, and adjacent areas from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents or incidents of a similar nature. This rulemaking prohibits all persons and vessels from operating within the prescribed security zone without prior authorization by the Captain of the Port, Sector Southeastern New England or designated representative.
Learn More⚖️Business Implications of Dipentylone as a Controlled Substance
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is establishing a specific listing and DEA Controlled Substances Code Number (drug code) for 1-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-(dimethylamino)pentan-1-one (dipentylone; N,N-dimethylpentylone) in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Although dipentylone is not specifically listed in schedule I of the CSA with its own unique drug code, it is a schedule I controlled substances in the United States because it is a positional isomer of N-ethylpenthylone (controlled August 31, 2018), which is a schedule I hallucinogen. Therefore, DEA is simply amending the schedule I hallucinogenic substances list in its regulations to separately include dipentylone.
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