WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- Eighteen State Attorneys General and a county attorney submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) opposing its Interim Final Rule, which aims to rescind numerous regulations associated with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This public comment letter argues that the DOI's recent actions, referred to as the Rescission Rule, could severely undermine environmental protections and public participation in federal decision-making.   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- A coalition of 194 environmental and conservation organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the White House Council on Environmental Quality expressing concerns regarding sweeping changes to the National Environmental Policy Act procedures implemented across numerous federal agencies. The letter highlights potential erosion of transparency and public participation in federal project decision-making processes that are vital to ensuring a healthy environment. S  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- A coalition of 228 tribes, environmental and conservation organizations submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, and U.S. Department of Transportation expressing deep concern over recent modifications to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementation procedures. The coalition argues that the changes, introduced by several key federal departments, undermine the core principles of environmental pro  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 -- ALS United Greater New York, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in support of the Biotech Consortium to Accelerate Innovation's proposal for a workshop series aimed at enhancing the development of therapies for rare diseases. The letter emphasizes the urgency for innovation in drug development, particularly   more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44975) on Aug. 7, 2025, entitled "The Blue Slip Process for U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations (1917-Present)" by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The blue slip process used by the Senate Judiciary Committee for U.S. circuit and district court nominations is of ongoing interest to Congress. Since at least 1917, the committee's  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- Catskill Mountainkeeper, Livingston Manor, New York, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation urging the agency to maintain its prohibition on the transport of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by rail car. The organization, known for advocating for the Catskill Region, emphasizes the dangers associated with LNG transport and the need to protect both public safety and the environment. In the communication, Catskill Mountainkeeper stated tha  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47656) on Aug. 8, 2025, entitled "Copyright in Standards Incorporated by Reference into Law and the Pro Codes Act:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Takings Clause Issues If a government's incorporation by reference diminishes or eliminates copyright protection, it arguably raises questions under the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The Takings Clause states that "private property [s  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47623) on July 29, 2025, entitled "Frequently Asked Questions - Mapping of U.S. Ocean and Coastal Waters:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * How Are U.S. Bathymetric Data Compiled and Made Available? Congress, through the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, directed a group of federal agencies and departments to 'establish standardized collection and d  more

WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Gloucester, Massachusetts, has submitted a comprehensive public comment letter addressing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) Notice of Intent concerning the Vineyard Mid-Atlantic Offshore Wind Project. This proposed project aims to establish an offshore wind energy facility off the coast of New York, but NMFS has raised concerns about its potential impacts on the region's ma  more