The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration proposed to revise the federal pipeline safety regulations to add an alternative set of requirements operators could use, based on implementing integrity management principles and pipe eligibility criteria, to manage certain pipeline segments where the class location has changed from Class 1 to Class 3.
The president issued Executive Order 13953, declaring a national emergency to address threats caused by the United States' reliance on critical minerals supplied by foreign countries, and calling for the United States to broadly enhance its mining and processing capacity.
The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) seeks comment on measures to amend portions of ONRR's regulations for valuing oil and gas produced from federal leases for royalty purposes, valuing coal produced from federal and Indian leases, and assessing civil penalties for violations of certain statutes, regulations, leases, and orders associated with mineral leases.
The Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) reissued certain regulations associated with the valuation of federal oil and gas and federal and Indian coal to implement a March 29, 2019 court order that vacated ONRR’s 2017 repeal of those regulations.
CEQ issued guidance to assist agencies with NEPA compliance during emergencies; the guidance addresses compliance when the action is unlikely to have significant effects and might require preparation of an environmental assessment or application of a categorical exclusion.
FEMA proposed to amend its Hazard Mitigation Assistance program regulations to reflect current statutory authority and agency practice.
FWS announced the availability of and seeks comment on a final EIS and final habitat conservation plan for the endangered northern and California spotted owl.
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in coordination with the Federal Railroads Administration, amended the hazardous materials regulations to allow for the bulk transport of liquefied natural gas in rail tank cars.
In response to a decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Mine Safety and Health Administration notified the mining community and other interested parties of the agency's determination that the existing standards addressing the frequency of miners' training on refuge alternatives for underground coal mines effectively protect miners' safety and will remain in effect without change.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) announced that it had received, reviewed, and determined to be complete a renewal package from the Ohio Department of Transportation requesting participation in the Surface Transportation Project Delivery Program, which allows for FHwA to assign, and states to assume, responsibilities under NEPA and all or part of FHwA's responsibilities for environmental review, consultation, or other actions required under any federal environmental law with respect to one or more federal highway projects within the state; FHwA developed and seeks comment on a draft renewal memorandum of understanding outlining how Ohio will implement the program with FHwA oversight.