The U.S. Department of Energy is adopting new and amended energy conservation standards for commercial refrigeration equipment. DOE says the new and amended energy conservation standards would result "in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified." This final rule is effective March 18. Commercial refrigerators, freezers and refrigerator freezers must be compliant with the final rule starting on Jan. 22, 2029, DOE said in a Federal Register notice.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, in a Jan. 15 speech at the Detroit Auto Show, criticized President-elect Donald Trump's proposal to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian exports as one that would damage Michigan's auto sector, which employs, or leads to indirect employment of, more than a million people in the state -- a fifth of the workforce.

The International Trade Commission scheduled a public hearing on Feb. 20 to determine the economic impact of the Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 15. The deadline is Feb. 5 for filing requests to appear at the public hearing; Feb. 7 for filing prehearing briefs and statements; and Feb. 12 for filing electronic copies of public hearing oral statements.

The Federal Highway Administration will be following Buy America requirements for manufactured products used in highway projects that use federal aid, according to a final rule that will be effective on March 17.

The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has amended regulations governing some standards of fill of wine and distilled spirits as part of a broader effort to provide more flexibility and enable a wider range of container sizes, facilitate the movement of goods within domestic and international commence, and provide consumers with broader purchasing options, it said in a Federal Register notice.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is affirming as final a 2016 interim rule that would essentially ban the import of all species of salamanders because of a lethal fungus that the salamanders can carry and spread among the salamander population, it said in a Federal Register notice.

The Department of Homeland Security has released its "Playbook for Public Sector Generative Artificial Intelligence Deployment," which details at a high level how DHS is looking at AI via pilot programs. One pilot via Homeland Security Investigations is testing AI's ability in investigative processing. If the pilot is successful and deployed, it could "lead to increased detection of fentanyl-related networks," as well as aid in the prevention of child exploitation crimes, DHS said.

The International Trade Commission is requesting public input by Feb. 7 on how it can improve its presentation of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, it said in a notice to be published Jan. 8. Specifically, the ITC is looking for ways to improve navigability, usability and accessibility of the HTSUS information, as well as ways to compare changes made in the HTSUS.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list e 4-chloromethcathinone, a central nervous system stimulant, under Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 27. “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 4-chloromethcathinone.” Comments are due Jan. 29.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is extending for one more year the temporary listing of seven fentanyl-related substances -- para-chlorofentanyl, ortho-chlorofentanyl, metafluorofuranyl fentanyl, ortho-methylcyclopropyl fentanyl, beta-methylacetyl fentanyl, tetrahydrothiofuranyl fentanyl and para-fluoro valeryl fentanyl -- in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Dec. 27. The fentanyl-related substance, first temporarily listed in 2018 (see 1802070043), will now remain listed in Schedule I until Dec. 31, 2025. DEA also released a proposed rule to permanently list these fentanyl-related substances in Schedule I, with comments due Jan. 29.