WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection has published a final rule extending import restrictions on archaeological material from Chile. This action amends the regulations and continues the restrictions through Sept. 30, 2030. The restrictions apply to archaeological material representing Chile's cultural heritage, covering items that are at least 250 years old and dating from the Paleoindian period (approximately 31,000-8000 B.C.) to   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration has published a proposed rule to designate the chemical 2-methyl-3-phenyloxirane-2-carboxylic acid, also known as P2P methyl glycidic acid and BMK glycidic acid, as a list I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The proposal includes control of its esters, isomers, salts and combinations. P2P methyl glycidic acid is a substance critical to the illicit manufacture of the schedule II control  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation issued an interim final rule (IFR) to amend its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) Programs. The rule is effective Oct. 3, 2025, and is designed to ensure that both Programs operate in a nondiscriminatory fashion, aligning with law and the U.S. Constitution. The IFR removes provisions that automatically presume social and economic disadvantage based on race o  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration is issuing an interim final rule to change the way it calculates the hourly Adverse Effect Wage Rates (AEWRs) for temporary foreign workers employed in agricultural labor under the H-2A nonimmigrant status. This action revises the methodology for determining these wages for non-range occupations. For the majority of H-2A job opportunities, the Employment and Training Administration will now use wag  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is granting approval for revisions to the Georgia State Implementation Plan, a move that affects air quality monitoring and permitting rules within the state. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division submitted the revisions on June 27, 2024, to EPA. The revisions involve changes to a source monitoring and reporting regulation and the permit by rule regulation. One primary change is the e  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing the approval of a state implementation plan revision submitted by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division on July 18, 2024. This action updates Georgia's Cross-State Air Pollution Rule emissions trading programs. The revision incorporates Federal amendments the Environmental Protection Agency made to its emissions trading programs for annual nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, along with nitrogen oxides o  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is approving a state implementation plan revision submitted by the North Carolina Division of Environmental Quality Division of Air Quality. This action updates state regulations that establish sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission limits and compliance rules for SO2-emitting combustion sources across North Carolina. The revision applies to Rule 15A North Carolina Administrative Code (NCAC) 02D .0516, titled Sulfur Dioxide Emissions  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is issuing a final rule to approve an update to the Alabama State Implementation Plan, which was submitted by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) on Dec. 20, 2023. This action incorporates modifications to various air permit regulations that ADEM has adjusted since EPA last approved them. This approval ensures the state plan continues to meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act. The revisions pertain  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is approving a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of West Virginia. This action finalizes the agency's June 2025 proposal to approve revisions to West Virginia's 45 Code of State Rules (CSR) 40, which sets ozone season limitations and requirements for nitrogen oxides (NOX) emissions. This NOX rule applies to a group of sources, including large industrial boilers, combustion turbines, stationary i  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 3 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized modifications to rules governing hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use, which were initially established under the Technology Transitions section of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. The final rule responds to requests from companies and trade associations across various subsectors that use HFCs. EPA modified deadlines and global warming potential (GWP) limits for refrigeration equipment in several sector  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a Clean Water Act (CWA) rule that would extend compliance deadlines established in the 2024 Supplemental Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category. The EPA aims to update transfer provisions to allow facilities to switch between compliance alternatives and would establish authority for alternative applicability dates and paperwork submission dates  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing a rule to redesignate the Muskingum River sulfur dioxide (SO2) nonattainment area in Ohio to attainment for the 2010 SO2 National Ambient Air Quality Standard. This area covers Center Township in Morgan County and Waterford Township in Washington County. The action follows a comprehensive review of air monitoring data from 2015 through 2024, which confirms the area now meets the federal air quality standard of 75  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting public information and comment to aid in the development of changes to the Regional Haze Rule (RHR), which aims to protect visibility in mandatory Class I Federal areas, such as certain national parks and wilderness areas. EPA's Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking indicates a priority is streamlining the RHR's requirements. These regulations dictate how states must submit state implementation plans (SIPs) to   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration is issuing a final rule to amend, suspend, or remove standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPs) along with associated takeoff minimums and obstacle departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at airports nationwide. This regulatory action is necessary due to the adoption of updated criteria and adjustments occurring within the National Airspace System. These changes include the commissioning   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration issued a final rule amending 14 CFR part 97 to establish, alter, suspend, or remove standard instrument approach procedures (SIAPS) and associated takeoff minimums and obstacle departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at various airports. These changes with specific compliance dates for each procedure, are necessary due to the adoption of updated criteria or shifts in the National Airspace Syste  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency is proposing a rule to establish the housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for the years 2026 through 2028. The proposed rule sets benchmark levels for these goals as required by the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992. This action would establish benchmark levels for various single-family and multifamily housing goals. For single-family mortgages, the proposed benchmarks are 21.0 percent   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Reserve System adopted amendments to its Regulation A to reflect a reduction in the rate for primary credit at each Reserve Bank. This action resulted in an automatic decrease in the secondary credit rate at each Reserve Bank, based on a predetermined formula. These changes were applicable on Sept. 18, 2025. Federal Reserve Banks offer primary and secondary credit to depository institutions, giving them a source of backup funding for short-term needs, t  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service has published a final rule that revises regulations concerning the interest capitalization requirements for improvements that qualify as the production of designated property. These revisions primarily affect taxpayers who make improvements to real or tangible personal property. The rulemaking finalizes a proposal from May 15, 2024, by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the IRS. The core of the rule   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is adopting a final rule to update its medical regulations governing VA health care professionals who provide care via telehealth. This action implements authorities from the VA Mission Act of 2018 and the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The update enables the VA to make the most of health care resources and deliver safe, accessible, national health care to veterans using telehea  more