⚖️New Civil Penalty Inflation Adjustments for Surface Mining Operations
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) adjusts for inflation its civil monetary penalties assessed under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) and its implementing regulations. OSMRE takes this regulatory action pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (2015 Act), which further amended the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 (1990 Act), and Office of Management and Budget guidance.
Learn More🏢Business Implications of Rescinding Affirmative Fair Housing Regulations
This proposed rule would rescind the Department's Affirmative Fair Housing Marketing regulations, which require a participant in an FHA insurance or Multifamily Housing rental assistance program to complete and submit a form supplied by HUD that describes its affirmative fair housing marketing plan.
Learn More⚗️Proposed Regulation on Propionyl Chloride
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the control of propionyl chloride as a list I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The Drug Enforcement Administration finds that propionyl chloride is used in the illicit manufacture of the controlled substances fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and fentanyl-related substances, and is important to the manufacture of these substances. In the respective synthetic pathways in which it is used to manufacture those substances, it is a replacement for propionic anhydride, which is currently a list I chemical. If finalized, the proposed rule would subject handlers of propionyl chloride to the chemical regulatory provisions of the CSA and its implementing regulations. This proposed rulemaking does not establish a threshold for domestic and international transactions of propionyl chloride. As such, all transactions of propionyl chloride, regardless of size, shall be regulated. In addition, chemical mixtures containing propionyl chloride are not exempt from regulatory requirements at any concentration. Therefore, all transactions of chemical mixtures containing any quantity of propionyl chloride shall be regulated pursuant to the CSA. Although no automatic exemption is available, manufacturers may submit an application for exemption.
Learn More🌫️EPA Proposes Rule for Mariposa County Air Quality Standards Compliance
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the Mariposa County nonattainment area in California ("Mariposa area"), classified as "Moderate" for the 2015 ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS or "standard"), attained the 2015 ozone NAAQS by the August 3, 2024 attainment date. Our proposed determination of attainment is based upon the exclusion of exceedances of the 2015 ozone NAAQS that occurred on multiple days in 2021 and 2022, because the exceedances are due to exceptional events. This action, if finalized as proposed, will fulfill the EPA's statutory obligation to determine whether the Mariposa area attained the NAAQS by the August 3, 2024 attainment date.
Learn More⚖️Correction on 2-Methyl AP-237 Placement in Schedule I by DEA
On March 15, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration published a final order placing 1-(2-methyl-4-(3-phenylprop-2-en-1- yl)piperazin-1-yl)butan-1-one (commonly known as 2-methyl AP-237), including its optical and geometric isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers whenever the existence of such isomers, esters, ethers, and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The effective date of that final order was 30 days after publication in the Federal Register. Before the effective date, DEA published another final order that made the instructions for 2-methyl AP-237 in the March 15 final order invalid. This document corrects that error, adding 2- methyl AP-237 and its drug code 9664 for regulatory purposes.
Learn More💰Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties by SBA for 2025
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is amending its regulations to adjust for inflation the amount of certain civil monetary penalties that are within the jurisdiction of the agency. These adjustments comply with the requirement in the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, as amended by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015, to make annual adjustments to the penalties.
Learn More⚖️Proposed Scheduling of 4-Fluoroamphetamine as a Schedule I Substance
The Drug Enforcement Administration proposes placing the substance 4-fluoroamphetamine (4-FA; 1-(4-fluorophenyl)propan-2-amine), including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. This action is being taken, in part, to enable the United States to meet its obligations under the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess) or propose to handle 4-fluoroamphetamine.
Learn More💵Proposed Changes to Hennepin NAF Wage Area and Business Impacts
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a rule to abolish the Hennepin, Minnesota, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and define most of its counties to the nearest NAF FWS wage areas. Those counties without NAF FWS employment would no longer be defined to a NAF wage area. These changes are necessary because NAF FWS employment in the survey area has been declining, and the local activities no longer have the capability to conduct local wage surveys.
Learn More🚤Temporary Safety Zone Established in Gulf of America
The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone one nautical mile in all directions around well #59 at approximate position 29[deg]04'28.919" N, 089[deg]10'48.720" W, near the Pass A Loutre State Wildlife Management Area. The safety zone is needed to protect persons and critical infrastructure from the potential contamination due to an oil spill in the Gulf of America. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone, or movement of vessels within this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.
Learn More🛣️Impact of Rescinding Geodetic Marker Regulations on Businesses
FHWA is proposing to rescind the rule and regulations issued on July 19, 1974, Geodetic Markers.
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