EPA added Trichoderma reesei strain QM6a and its derivatives and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens amyloliquefaciens to the list of recipient microorganisms that may be used to qualify for the Tier I and Tier II exemptions from full notification and reporting procedures under TSCA for new microorganisms that are being manufactured for introduction into commerce.

EPA finalized requirements for regulated entities to substantiate certain confidential business information (CBI) claims made under TSCA to protect the specific chemical identities of chemical substances on the confidential portion of the TSCA inventory and the Agency’s plan for reviewing certain CBI claims for specific chemical identities.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the availability of and seeks comment on its draft interim staff guidance, Environmental Considerations Associated with Micro-Reactors, which modifies existing guidance and provides supplemental guidance to assist Commission staff in determining the scope and scale of environmental reviews of micro-reactor applications.

EPA designated 20 chemical substances as low-priority substances for which risk evaluation is not warranted under TSCA at this time.

BLM adjusted for inflation the level of civil monetary penalties governing onshore oil and gas operations as required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015. 

The U.S. International Trade Commission, following a request from the Committee on Ways and Means of the U.S. House of Representatives under §332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930, instituted Investigation No. 332-574, Renewable Electricity: Potential Economic Effects of Increased Commitments in Massachusetts, for the purpose of providing a report regarding the potential economic effects of increased renewable energy commitments in Massachusetts and the role of renewable energy imports in meeting these commitments. 

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration amended its minimum safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities under the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act of 2016. 

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management implemented the 2020 inflation adjustments to the maximum daily civil monetary penalties contained in regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and OPA. 

FERC issued its annual update to the fee schedule that lists per-acre rental fees for use of government lands by hydropower licensees.