NRC announced and seeks comment on a draft report that revises and explains the formula for determining the minimum decommissioning fund requirements for nuclear power reactor licensees. 

The president issued a memorandum on October 31, 2020, declaring it the policy of the federal government to support innovation in hydraulic fracturing and other technologies, and calling for a report on the domestic, economic, and national security impacts of prohibiting or restricting the use of hydraulic fracturing and other technologies.

EPA finalized revisions to the agricultural worker protection standard to simplify pesticide application exclusion zone requirements.

FERC proposed to issue a policy statement to encourage efforts to incorporate a state-determined carbon price in organized wholesale electricity markets.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) proposed to streamline the evaluation criteria for determining whether oil, gas, and sulfur lessees, right-of-use and easement grant holders, and pipeline right-of-way grant holders may be required to provide bonds or other security above the prescribed amounts for base bonds to ensure compliance with their Outer Continental Shelf obligations; BOEM’s portion of the proposed rule also removes restrictive provisions for third-party guarantees and decommissioning accounts, and adds new criteria under which additional bonds and third-party guarantees may be cancelled.

EPA announced the availability of and seeks comment on a draft guidance document that provides information to pesticide registrants concerning the Agency’s consideration to expand the potential for data waivers for acute dermal toxicity studies to single technical active ingredients used to formulate end use products.

EPA announced the availability of the final TSCA risk evaluation of cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD); the evaluation determined that specific conditions of use of HBCD present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment that EPA must address through risk management measures enumerated in TSCA, and determined that other specific conditions of use do not present unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.

FERC proposed to amend its regulations governing the safety of hydropower projects licensed by the Commission under the Federal Power Act to promote the safe operation, effective maintenance, and efficient repair of licensed hydropower projects and project works to ensure the protection of life, health, and property in surrounding communities. 

EPA announced the availability of and seeks comment on the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Assessment Plan for Oral Exposure to Vanadium and Compounds, which outlines the objectives for the IRIS assessment and the type of evidence considered most pertinent to address the scoping needs.

FERC seeks comments on any or all topics discussed at its July 8-9, 2020, technical conference on the ongoing, serious impacts that emergency conditions caused by COVID-19 are having on various segments of the United States' energy industry.