PDF versionBureau of Land Management
Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program and Announcement of Public Subsistence-Related Hearings
December 28, 2018 – BLM issued a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The agency is opening of a 45-day public comment period and holding public meetings on the draft EIS. [83 FR 67337]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Final National Occupational Research Agenda for Oil and Gas Extraction
December 4, 2018 – The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), released its final National Occupational Research Agenda for Oil and Gas Extraction. The document may be obtained at the following link: https://www.cdc.gov/nora/councils/oilgas/agenda.html. [83 FR 62577]
Department of Energy
Nuclear Classification and Declassification
December 21, 2018 – DOE published a final rule revising its regulations concerning the requirements for classification and declassification of Restricted Data (RD) and Formerly Restricted Data (FRD). The revisions address changes in legislation and DOE and national policies have rendered portions of the existing regulations outdated, in addition to clarifying requirements and providing for more flexibility in implementing RD/FRD programs. This final rule is effective January 22, 2019. [83 FR 66000]
Department of State
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline
December 3, 2018 – The U.S. Department of State announced that it will issue a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the potential environmental impacts of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Department intends to supplement the 2014 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL Pipeline analysis relating to greenhouse gas emissions, oil spills, cultural resources, and market analysis, in response to a November 2018 ruling by the Federal District Court for the District of Montana. [83 FR 62398]
Environmental Protection Agency
Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) Air and Energy Subcommittee Meeting-January 2019
December 10, 2018 – The EPA Office of Research and Development announced a meeting of the Board of Scientific Counselors Air and Energy Subcommittee. The meeting will be held via conference call on January 9, 2019, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST. Attendees should register by January 8, 2019. Comments can be submitted using Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-ORD-2015-0365 on www.regulations.gov. [83 FR 63499]
Notice of Meeting of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council
December 10, 2018 – EPA will hold a teleconference meeting of the National Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC), which advises the EPA Administrator on matters relating to activities, functions, and policies of EPA under the National Environmental Education Act. The meeting will be held January 23-24, 2019, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. CST. [83 FR 63502]
Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC): Request for Nominations
December 21, 2018 – EPA invites nominations from a diverse range of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment to its Clean Air Act Advisory Committee (CAAAC). CAAAC provides advice, information and recommendations on policy and technical issues associated with implementation of the Clean Air Act as requested by EPA. Vacancies are anticipated to be filled by May 2019. [83 FR 65673]
Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States”
December 28, 2018 – EPA and the Department of the Army released a proposed rule revising the definition of “waters of the United States” to clarify the scope of waters federally regulated under the Clean Water Act. The agencies will hold a public hearing in Kansas City, Kansas, on January 23, 2019, to provide interested parties the opportunity to present data, views, or information concerning the proposed rule. The pre-publication version of this proposal can be found at https://www.epa.gov/wotus-rule/step-two-revise. [83 FR 67174]
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Science Advisory Board
December 11, 2018 – The NOAA Science Advisory Board announced it will hold a meeting on February 27, 2019, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST at the Hugh Gregg Coastal Conservation Center in Greenland, New Hampshire. Discussion topics will include the Climate and Global Change Post-Doctoral Program, the draft NOAA Strategic Aquaculture Science Plan, and the NOAA Research and Development Plan. Members of the public may register to participate virtually. [83 FR 63632]
National Science Foundation
Request for Information on National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science
December 11, 2018 – The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS) is requesting information from the research and development community around quantum information science (QIS) to inform the subcommittee as the Government develops potential means of addressing specific policy recommendations. Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before 11:59 p.m. (ET) on January 25, 2019. [83 FR 63685]
United States Department of Agriculture
Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation
December 7, 2018 – USDA issued an interim rule for the Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation Compliance provisions of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended. This rule clarifies how USDA delineates, determines, and certifies wetlands located on subject land in a manner sufficient for making determinations of ineligibility for certain USDA program benefits. USDA is seeking comments from the public about these clarifications that will be considered prior to issuing a final rule. Comments must be received via the Federal eRulemaking Portal (http://www.regulations.gov) using Docket ID NRCS-2018-0010 by February 5, 2019. [83 FR 63046]