WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (TNSFR) -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued guidance for its staff on when to refer cases to the Department of Justice for potential criminal enforcement. The action follows a presidential order aimed at "Fighting Overcriminalization in Federal Regulations." The EPA notice describes a general policy that its officers and employees should consider a set of factors when deciding whether to refer alleged violations of criminal offenses to the DOJ. These facto  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a new rule to establish the Helena (HLN), Montana, Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range/Tactical Air Navigation (VORTAC) as a Domestic Low Altitude Reporting Point. The proposed rule would require pilots under Helena Approach Control to report their position over the Helena VORTAC, which will be charted as a formal reporting point. Helena Approach Control is a non-radar facility, so controllers depend on p  more

WASHINGTON, July 29 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement has issued a rule (Docket ID: OSM-2021-0005) entitled "Pennsylvania Regulatory Program Amendments." This rule partially approves amendments to Pennsylvania's surface coal mining program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 focusing on water supply replacement requirements. The amendments, submitted by Pennsylvania on August 5, 2021, address inconsistenc  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (TNSFR) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has put forward a proposed rule to update regulations concerning overpayments of education benefits. This measure would implement a section of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, which went into effect on January 5, 2021. The proposal aims to clarify who is responsible for financial overpayments, particularly when benefits are paid directly to an educational institut  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (TNSFR) -- The Department of Veterans Affairs has issued a final rule that aligns its regulations with a 2012 law, increasing the total time a beneficiary can receive education assistance from multiple programs. This measure updates the regulation concerning Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (Chapter 35) benefits. The rule, effective on July 31, 2025, implements a change enacted by Congress in August 2012. It authorizes an 81-month aggregate period for individ  more