The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency adopted the Department of the Navy’s categorical exclusion under NEPA for the installation and operation of passive scientific measurement devices. 

EPA released a decision framework for use by the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics New Chemicals Division for identification of eye irritation or corrosion hazards for new chemical substances based on prioritization of reproducible, human-relevant data. 

EPA announced the establishment of the Vector Expedited Review Voucher program, which will incentivize the development of new insecticides to control and prevent the spread of vector-borne disease. 

EPA announced the initiation of and seeks comment on the prioritization process for five chemical substances as candidates for designation as high-priority substances for risk evaluation under TSCA and related implementing regulations.

OSM approved, with two deferrals, an amendment to the Virginia regulatory program under SMCRA.

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement proposed to incorporate certain documents by reference—Production Measurement Industry Standards and Safety Industry Standards, including one International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission standard—into the regulations governing oil, gas, and sulfur operations on the outer continental shelf.

EPA proposed revisions to the regulations for decabromodiphenyl ether and phenol, isopropylated phosphate (3:1), two of the five persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals addressed in final rules issued under TSCA in January 2021.

EPA published statements of findings after its review of certain TSCA submissions from September 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023, that certain new chemical substances or significant new uses are not likely to present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.

EPA adopted a Bureau of Indian Affairs’ categorical exclusion for waste management activities involving remediation of hazardous waste sites under NEPA for use by EPA’s Contaminated Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Lands Assistance Program. 

EPA announced the availability of and seeks comment on a white paper describing the benefits of the creation, submission, review, approval, and distribution of structured content and digital pesticide labels.