The Federal Maritime Commission announced the 24 members of its newly formed Shipper Advisory Committee, which will advise FMC on issues in the ocean freight delivery system (see 2106080005). The group -- which includes representatives from Walmart, Target, Ikea, Tyson Foods and Brenntag -- is composed evenly of importers and exporters, the commission said Sept. 9. Members will serve until Dec. 31, 2024. FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei said the shipper committee will give the FMC “rapid access to the perspectives of importers and exporters on the ground dealing with the realities of ocean shipping every day,” adding that their perspective will be “invaluable.”

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Sept. 7 released a final rule listing the slenderclaw crayfish (Cambarus cracens), a freshwater crustacean from Alabama, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Oct. 8.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list methiopropamine, a central nervous stimulant that is structurally related to the schedule II stimulants methamphetamine and amphetamine, under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Sept. 1. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle, methiopropamine.” Comments are due by Oct. 4.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau is proposing a new standard of identity for the Bolivian spirit Singani, it said. If the rule is finalized, TTB would add Singani as a type of brandy derived from grapes that is manufactured in Bolivia in compliance with the laws and regulations of Bolivia governing the manufacture of Singani for consumption in that country. In a departure from its usual practice, TTB is proposing to allow Singani to have an alcohol content as low as 35% (70 proof), despite the broader class of brandies having a minimum alcohol content of 40% (80 proof).

The Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii), a fish species from the Amur River basin in Russia and China, as an endangered species under the Endangered Species Act, it said in a proposed rule released Aug. 24. The species is already listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species Appendix II. If the rule is finalized, it will result in prohibitions on the import and export of the Amur sturgeon without obtaining FWS permits. Comments are due Oct. 25.

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Aug. 23 released a final rule listing the Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini), an insect species from Oregon and California, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Sept. 23.

The State Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control recently announced a series of sanctions against Russia, including import restrictions on firearms and the designation of entities and individuals connected the poisoning of Russian opposition figure Aleksey Navalny. Coming on the one-year anniversary of Navalny’s poisoning with Novichok nerve agent, the new sanctions are being carried out “in concert” with the United Kingdom, State said.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis), a perennial plant of the pink family found in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule published Aug. 16. An FWS review indicates that “threats to the species identified at the time of listing (i.e., timber harvesting, trampling from recreational uses, and digging for archaeological artifacts) have been reduced to the point that they no longer pose a threat to the species, and the known range and abundance of Cumberland sandwort have increased,” FWS said. “Our review also indicates that potential effects of projected climate change are not expected to cause the species to become endangered in the foreseeable future,” the agency said. The delisting takes effect Sept. 15.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), a member of the pea family found in the lower Midwest, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule published Aug. 6. An FWS review indicates that “the threats to running buffalo clover have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species,” the agency said. The delisting takes effect Sept. 7.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list mesocarb, a substance with stimulating properties marketed in Russia for treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder that has no approved medical use and no known therapeutic application in the U.S., under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice published Aug. 11. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle, mesocarb.” Comments are due by Oct. 12.