WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that suggests rescinding the 2022 regulations concerning the public charge ground of inadmissibility. The Homeland Security asserts that the existing 2022 rules are inconsistent with congressional intent, are unduly restrictive, and impair the agency's ability to make accurate determinations on whether aliens are likely to become a public  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration has amended its regulations regarding federal grant rates. This action is taken to reflect changes implemented by the Economic Development Reauthorization Act of 2024, which became law on Jan. 4, 2025. The immediate change prevents public confusion between the agency's existing regulations and the updates contained in the Act. The Economic Development Reauthorization Act of 2024, included in Title  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the redesignation of nonattainment areas in Salt Lake City and Provo in Utah to attainment for the 2006 24-hour fine particulate matter standard. This action also approves multiple related state implementation plan (SIP) submissions from the State of Utah. The EPA determined that the Utah Division of Air Quality (UDAQ) successfully addressed all requirements of the Clean Air Act for the SIP revisions and the re  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued has approved amendments to air quality programs submitted by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP). This action updates two previous program approvals and ensures Connecticut's air pollution regulations align with federal requirements under the Clean Air Act. A central element of this decision is the revision of the definition of "hazardous air pollutant" (HAP) within the Reg  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a direct final rule to approve an element of Michigan's state implementation plan (SIP) for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This action pertains to the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA), specifically addressing the provisions for State boards under CAA section 110(a)(2)(E)(ii) and the associated requirements of CAA section 128. Infrastructure requirements ensur  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved the state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of South Carolina. The revision is the state's plan for ensuring the maintenance of the 2008 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) through the year 2036. This plan focuses on the South Carolina portion of the bi-state Charlotte-Rock Hill, North Carolina-South Carolina nonattainment area, which is known as the York County Area. The  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is finalizing the approval of a state implementation plan (SIP) revision for Rhode Island, an action that removes the requirement for Stage II vapor recovery equipment at gasoline dispensing facilities (GDFs). This final rule also includes accompanying updates to the state's Stage I vapor recovery regulations. The revision was submitted by the state to amend its rules for controlling air pollution from volatile organic comp  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a revision to the Minnesota state implementation plan (SIP) that incorporates updates to Minnesota's air program rules. This final rule aligns the state's air quality requirements with requirements at the Federal level, providing consistency in air pollution control. The revision was submitted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) on Oct. 1, 2021, and includes changes that have occurred in the state  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved an alteration to the Arizona state implementation plan (SIP). This revision involves a rule from the Maricopa County Air Quality Department (MCAQD) concerning emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from petroleum solvents utilized in dry cleaning. This final rule follows a proposal on Aug. 21, 2025, to include MCAQD Rule 333, titled "Petroleum Solvent Dry Cleaning," into the Arizona SIP. The rule was re  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended the public comment period for a proposed rulemaking concerning Alaska's air quality plan. The extension relates to the proposed rule entitled "Air Plan Approval; AK; Regional Haze Plan for the Second Implementation Period". This action is intended to give interested persons more time to prepare and submit their comments on the matter. The initial rulemaking proposed to approve Alaska's regional haze plan for   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve a state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by the state of Connecticut. This action concerns updates to state regulations governing ambient air quality standards (AAQS) for ozone, bringing them into alignment with EPA's national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Additionally, the revision clarifies the calculation methods for volatile organic compounds (VOC) pertaining to adhesive and   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed to approve a portion of a state implementation plan (SIP) submission from Michigan concerning the infrastructure requirements of the Clean Air Act (CAA) for the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This proposal addresses the structural components of Michigan's air quality management program, ensuring its ability to meet responsibilities under the CAA. This proposed rule focuses specifica  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to approve a regional haze state implementation plan (SIP) revision submitted by Rhode Island. This proposal aims to satisfy requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the EPA's Regional Haze Rule (RHR) for the program's second implementation period. Rhode Island's submission addresses the requirement that states must periodically update their long-term strategies for making progress toward the national goa  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a revision to the California state implementation plan (SIP) concerning the Eastern Kern Air Pollution Control District (EKAPCD). This revision addresses emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOX) from stationary gas turbines within the District. The EPA is approving a local rule, designated as Rule 425, that regulates these emission sources under the Clean Air Act (CAA or "Act"). The rule, which was amended on Nov  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a rule to determine that the Phoenix-Mesa nonattainment area would have met the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by the Aug. 3, 2024, but for emissions originating from outside the U.S. This proposed action fulfills the EPA's statutory obligation under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to assess whether the area attained the standards by the deadline. If the EPA finalizes this proposal, the Phoenix-M  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security published a notice to communicate the ratification of the rule entitled "Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal; Credible Fear and Reasonable Fear Review." This rule governs the standards and processes for asylum, withholding of removal, and credible fear and reasonable fear determinations. The ratification was signed on Oct. 29, 2025, and applies retroactively to the rule's original action date. The ratificatio  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration has announced the completion of a panel review concerning anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber products from Canada. The panel granted a joint motion for voluntary dismissal, which requested the termination of the dispute. The motion was filed by the Canadian Parties, which included the Government of Canada; Canfor Corp., Canadian Forest Products Ltd. and Canfor Wood Products Marketing Ltd., all   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration announced the completion of a panel review concerning anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber products from Canada. The panel review was terminated after the panel granted a joint motion for voluntary dismissal. This motion was filed by numerous interested parties, effectively ending the appeal of the 2019 Final Results of the Antidumping Duty Administrative Review for Certain Softwood Lumber Produc  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a proposed rule to revise the regulations that define the scope of waters federally covered under the Clean Water Act. This action is being taken to implement the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. The agencies aim to increase Clean Water Act program predictability and consistency by clarifying the definition of "waters of the U.S.  more