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Browse 363 rules and proposed rules from the Federal Register.
363
Total Regulations
Showing 61–90 of 363
Page 3 / 13
The Department of Commerce ("Commerce") is proposing to amend its regulations governing restrictions on lobbying. Specifically, Commerce is proposing to remove two redundant and unnecessary compliance provisions and remove two reporting requirements that are obsolete and unwarranted. This action is necessary to reduce regulatory complexity and streamline the regulations governing restrictions on lobbying. The intended effects of this action are to eliminate redundancy, promote administrative efficiency, and update Commerce's lobbying regulations to properly reflect and implement the underlying statutory authority in its current form.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce (the "Department") eliminates regulations that relate to the responsibilities and conduct of the Department's employees. None of the regulations at Part 0 is required by statute and, as a whole, Part 0 has been supplanted and rendered obsolete by various Executive branch-wide regulations in Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations and Department Administrative Orders ("DAOs"). The removal of Part 0 is necessary to streamline the Department's regulations and to eliminate unnecessary regulatory complexity and clutter. The intended effect of this action is to reduce the potential for confusion regarding employee conduct and to promote administrative efficiency.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce ("Department") removes unnecessary regulations related to the Department's official seal. The intended effect is to reduce regulatory complexity and eliminate clutter from the Code of Federal Regulations.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) is eliminating its regulations establishing the procedures for a Voluntary Consumer Product Information Labeling Program (CPILP), as that program is now inactive, outdated, and unnecessary. This action is necessary to eliminate obsolete and unwarranted regulatory language from the Code of Federal Regulations and to ensure that Commerce's regulations remain accurate and up-to-date. The intended effect of this action is to improve and streamline Commerce's regulations and to reduce the risk of public confusion.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce ("Department") is amending its regulations governing the use of penalty mail to assist in the location and recovery of missing children to remove several sections that are outdated, contain expired reporting requirements, or detail overly prescriptive internal administrative procedures. This action is necessary to streamline the Department's regulations, remove obsolete provisions, and allow for more efficient internal management of this program. The intended effect of this rule is to enhance the clarity of these regulations and provide the Department with greater administrative flexibility, thereby strengthening the Department's ability to implement this important national program.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce is removing its regulations establishing a voluntary labeling program for household appliances and equipment designed to promote energy conservation. This action is necessary because the voluntary program is obsolete and has been superseded by the comprehensive Appliance Labeling Rule, administered by the Department of Energy and the Federal Trade Commission, which mandates manufacturers attach EnergyGuide labels to their products to help consumers compare different products and make informed purchasing decisions. The intended effect of this removal is to streamline the regulatory code, eliminate a duplicative and unnecessary program, and reduce the potential for public confusion.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce is amending its regulations governing the collection of data on international trade in services and direct investment by removing certain provisions that merely restate what is clearly provided by the underlying statute and serve no meaningful purpose. The intended effect is to streamline such regulations, reduce regulatory clutter and complexity, and improve clarity for the public.
By this rule, the Department of Commerce ("Department") is amending its regulations governing the administrative handling and settlement of claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act ("FTCA"). This rule updates outdated references to a position that no longer exists within the Department, eliminates redundant restatements of sections of the FTCA and other applicable authorities, consolidates and simplifies the framework governing the issuance of supplementary regulations, and removes some unnecessary and inconsequential language. This action is necessary to update and streamline the Department's regulations governing the handling and settlement of FTCA claims and to ensure that such regulations conform with the underlying statutory text. The intended effect is to promote accuracy and clarity for the public and to ensure that the Department's regulations are both statutorily proper and efficient.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is revising its license review policy for exports of certain semiconductors to China and Macau--changing it from a presumption of denial to a case-by-case review. The semiconductors covered by this rule are the Nvidia H200 and its equivalents, as well as less advanced chips--provided that (1) the semiconductors are commercially available in the United States at the time of publication of this rule and (2) the exporter certifies that: there is sufficient supply of this product in the United States; production of this product for exports to China will not divert global foundry capacity for similar or more advanced products for end users in the United States; the recipient has demonstrated sufficient security procedures; and the item undergoes independent, third-party testing in the United States to verify its performance specifications.
We, NMFS, have completed a comprehensive status review for the Olympic Peninsula (OP) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of steelhead, Oncorhynchus mykiss, in response to a petition to list this species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have determined that OP steelhead is a DPS under the ESA and that listing is not warranted at this time. Accordingly, NMFS will continue to monitor the OP steelhead DPS status, including working closely with Tribal and State co-managers.
NMFS closes the Angling category southern area fishery for large medium and giant ("trophy" (i.e., measuring 73 inches (185 centimeters (cm)) curved fork length or greater)) Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). This action applies to Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Angling and HMS Charter/Headboat permitted vessels when fishing recreationally.
NMFS announces that the New England Fishery Management Council (Council) has transmitted Amendment 25 (Revised) to the Northeast Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, Amendment 25 would revise the stocks of Atlantic cod managed in the FMP and include measures in the FMP necessary to manage four stocks of Atlantic cod in U.S. waters. The Council has deemed this action necessary to incorporate the best scientific information available from the most recent Research Track Assessment of Atlantic Cod and establish associated management measures under the FMP. This notice is intended to alert the public to this action and provide an opportunity for comment.
NMFS announces that the quotas for the Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog fisheries for 2026 will remain status quo. NMFS also suspends the minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams for the 2026 fishing year. Regulations for these fisheries require NMFS to notify the public of the allowable harvest levels for Atlantic surfclams and ocean quahogs from the Exclusive Economic Zone even if the previous year's quota specifications remain unchanged. The 2026 quotas were previously announced as projected values. This action confirms the final quotas are unchanged from those projections. This action continues to provide sustainable fishing opportunities to these fisheries.
NMFS is implementing a 2,000 pound (lb) (907.2 kilogram (kg)) possession limit for Atlantic herring in Management Area 1B. This is required because NMFS projects that herring catch from Area 1B will reach 92 percent of the Area's sub-annual catch limit before the end of the fishing year. This action is intended to prevent overharvest of herring in Area 1B, which would result in additional catch limit reductions in a subsequent year.
NMFS is transferring 26.0 metric tons (mt) of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT) quota from the General category December 2026 subquota to the January through March 2026 subquota period. The adjusted General category January through March 2026 subquota is 63.7 mt and the adjusted December 2026 subquota is 11.0 mt. This action is intended to provide further harvest opportunities for General category fishermen, based on consideration of the regulatory determination criteria regarding inseason adjustments and applies to Atlantic Tunas General category (commercial) permitted vessels and Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Charter/Headboat permitted vessels with a commercial sale endorsement when fishing commercially for BFT. Note that NMFS intends to take separate rulemaking action as soon as possible in 2026 to consider modifying the baseline BFT quota consistent with the quota adopted at the 2025 International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) annual meeting.
NMFS is proposing several changes for commercial and recreational Atlantic shark fisheries. Specifically, NMFS is considering options to remove the blacknose shark management boundary in the Atlantic region, modify the commercial retention limit for blacknose sharks in the Atlantic region, revise the recreational minimum size limits for Atlantic shark species, and revise the recreational retention limits for Atlantic shark species. In this action, NMFS would also remove commercial management group quota linkages, consistent with Amendment 14 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fishery Management Plan (FMP), and make technical changes to clarify certain HMS regulations. This action is responsive to the framework for implementing management measures established in Amendment 14, findings from the Atlantic Shark Fishery Review (SHARE) document, public comments from scoping for Amendment 16 to the HMS FMP, and recent domestic laws and international agreements that are having direct and indirect impacts on shark fisheries. The goal of this action is to increase management flexibility to react to changes in the Atlantic shark fisheries and optimize the ability of the commercial and recreational shark fisheries to harvest quota to the extent practicable.
NMFS is taking a deregulatory action to revise the regulations implementing the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan (HPTRP) to ensure the HPTRP is consistent with a gillnet gear requirement previously put in place under the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan to reduce bycatch of Atlantic sturgeon. This action is necessary to inform the public about an amendment to the Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Plan altering the minimum twine size requirement to ensure that fishermen may use the low-profile gillnet gear required by the Monkfish Fishery Management Plan and also be in compliance with the Marine Mammal Protection Act while fishing in the New Jersey Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area.
NMFS announces that the State of New Jersey is transferring a portion of their 2025 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2025 commercial bluefish quotas for New Jersey and North Carolina.
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of New Jersey. This adjustment to the 2025 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2025 commercial quotas for North Carolina and New Jersey.
NMFS implements an accountability measure (AM) for king mackerel using run-around gillnet gear in the southern zone of the Gulf of America (Gulf) exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for the 2025-2026 fishing year. NMFS has determined that commercial landings of king mackerel harvested by run-around gillnet gear in the Gulf southern zone in the 2024-2025 fishing year have exceeded the component's annual catch limit (ACL). Therefore, NMFS implements the AM to reduce the commercial gillnet component ACL for king mackerel in the Gulf southern zone for the 2025-2026 fishing year.
NMFS is reallocating the projected unused amount of Pacific cod total allowable catch (TAC) from vessels using jig gear, to catcher vessels less than 60 feet (18.3 meters (m)) length overall (LOA) using hook-and-line or pot gear in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) management area. This action is necessary to allow the A season allowance of the 2026 TAC of Pacific cod to be harvested.
NMFS announces that the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council has submitted Amendment 21 to the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan for review and approval by the Secretary of Commerce. We are requesting comments from the public on the amendment. Amendment 21, also known as the Species Separation Requirements Amendment, would allow both surfclams and ocean quahogs to be landed on the same fishing trip. To ensure accurate accounting for the catch, the amendment would also implement additional monitoring and reporting requirements, both at sea and at the dealer where the mixed catch would be sorted.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is proposing to amend the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases to require patent applicants and patent owners whose domicile is not located within the United States (U.S.) or its territories (hereinafter foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners) to be represented by a registered patent practitioner. A requirement that foreign applicants/ inventors and patent owners be represented by a registered patent practitioner would bring the United States in line with most other countries that require that such parties be represented by a licensed or registered person of that country. Additionally, this requirement would increase efficiency and enable the USPTO to more effectively use available mechanisms to enforce compliance by all foreign applicants/ inventors and patent owners with U.S. statutory and regulatory requirements in patent matters, and enhance the USPTO's ability to respond to false certifications, misrepresentations, and fraud.
NMFS is adjusting the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) amounts for the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) Pacific cod fisheries. This action is necessary because NMFS has determined that these TACs are incorrectly specified and that the adjustments are necessary to ensure that harvest of Pacific cod does not exceed biological limits for the stock, as established by the best scientific information available for Pacific cod in the GOA. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (FMP).
NMFS is finalizing the 2026 Atlantic herring specifications and river herring and shad catch caps for the Atlantic herring fishery. This action is necessary to implement previously projected 2026 Atlantic herring specifications, including the river herring and shad catch caps. This action is intended to achieve the objectives of the Atlantic Herring Fishery Management Plan, including preventing overfishing, helping rebuild an overfished stock, and achieving optimum yield on a continuing basis.
NMFS is adjusting the 2026 total allowable catch (TAC) amount for Aleutian Islands (AI) Pacific cod and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) Pacific cod sector allocations and seasonal apportionments. NMFS has determined the AI Pacific cod TAC is incorrectly specified and these adjustments will address the underharvest of BSAI Pacific cod TACs that would result if the TACs were not adjusted. This action is consistent with the goals and objectives of the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the BSAI Management Area (FMP).
NMFS announces that the State of New York is transferring a portion of their 2025 commercial bluefish quota to the State of North Carolina. This quota adjustment is necessary to comply with the Atlantic Bluefish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2025 commercial bluefish quotas for New York and North Carolina.
NMFS announces that the State of North Carolina is transferring a portion of its 2025 commercial summer flounder quota to the State of New York. This adjustment to the 2025 fishing year quota is necessary to comply with the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP) quota transfer provisions. This announcement informs the public of the revised 2025 commercial quotas for North Carolina and New York.
NMFS adjusts the 2025 baseline quotas for U.S. North Atlantic albacore tuna (northern albacore) and North and South Atlantic swordfish quotas based on 2024 underharvest and applicable international quota transfers. NMFS also adjusts the 2025 Atlantic bluefin tuna category subquotas based on 2024 overharvest. These temporary adjustments apply throughout the 2025 fishing year and are effective through December 31, 2025 (for portions of the 2025 fishing year that are already completed, they are considered to apply retrospectively). These actions are necessary to implement the 2025 quotas consistent with the recommendations of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) as required by the Atlantic Tunas Convention Act (ATCA), and to achieve domestic management objectives under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act). Full annual baseline allocations will be available to U.S. harvesters starting January 1, 2026. Note that NMFS intends to take separate action as soon as possible in 2026 to modify the baseline Atlantic bluefin tuna quota consistent with the quota agreed to at the 2025 ICCAT annual meeting.