WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Secretary has announced a final rule to amend its civil monetary penalty regulations, implementing inflation adjustments as mandated by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. This rule, effective May 29, 2025, ensures that civil penalties keep pace with economic changes. These adjustments impact various penalties, including those related to improper record keeping. For instanc  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service is streamlining its regulations by removing outdated provisions related to tobacco marketing quotas and price support programs. This action aligns with a broader executive order to eliminate regulations with expired authorizing statutes or that govern non-operational programs. The national marketing quota system for tobacco, established under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938, was designed to   more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service is removing the Dairy Donation Program from its regulations. This move comes as Congress no longer provides funding for the program, rendering its implementing regulations obsolete. The Agricultural Marketing Service stated that rescinding these regulations will improve transparency and reduce confusion for dairy processors and other interested parties across the United States. The Dairy Donation Pr  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service has withdrawn a proposed rule that would have established a new national promotion, research, and information program for natural grass sod. The proposed program, submitted by Turfgrass Producers International, will not move forward after a referendum showed that a majority of eligible producers did not favor its establishment. The proposed rule for the Natural Grass Sod Promotion, Research, and Inf  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The Council on Environmental Quality has announced the withdrawal of its interim guidance concerning the consideration of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change under the National Environmental Policy Act. The action, effective May 28, 2025, reverses the guidance initially published in the Federal Register on January 9, 2023, which aimed to assist federal agencies in their environmental reviews by incorporating climate change impacts. The withdrawal aligns wi  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has proposed delaying the enforcement of certain test procedure provisions for central air conditioners and heat pumps. This proposal specifically targets the controls verification procedure, which was established in a recent final rule. The agency is seeking public comment on this proposed delay. The original final rule, published on January 7, 2025, amended the test procedures for the  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve revisions to the regional haze State Implementation Plans for Texas and Oklahoma. These approvals address requirements under the Clean Air Act and the Environmental Protection Agency's Regional Haze Rule, aiming to improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas by reducing man-made air pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve State Implementation Plans revisio  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency has announced the implementation of the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for the 2023 and 2024 calendar years, offering crucial financial assistance to livestock producers who have suffered losses from severe drought and devastating wildfires. This program aims to alleviate some of the economic burdens faced by farmers and ranchers in affected areas, providing a much-needed lifeline during challenging times.   more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The Food and Drug Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued a final order classifying the Zika virus serological reagents into class II with special controls. This action, effective May 29, 2025, aims to provide a reasonable assurance of the device's safety and effectiveness, while also enhancing patient access to beneficial innovative medical devices by reducing regulatory burdens. The classification was original  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has announced the termination of a complaint proceeding involving Elwood Energy LLC and ANR Pipeline Company. The sole complainant, Elwood Energy LLC, filed an unopposed notice of withdrawal of its complaint on April 10, 2025. ANR Pipeline Company subsequently filed comments on April 25, 2025, supporting the withdrawal. As there was no motion in opposition or a Commission order disallowing the withdrawal, the withdrawal bec  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the removal of the Colorado hookless cactus from the federal list of endangered and threatened plants. This significant decision reflects successful conservation efforts and a thorough review of the species' status. According to the Service, the threats that once imperiled the Colorado hookless cactus have been effectively eliminated or reduced. This positive development means the plant no  more

WASHINGTON, May 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a correction to its final rule concerning policy and technical changes for the 2026 contract year across several key programs. These include the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. The correcting document addresses technical and typographical errors   more