Category Archives: regulation

Just another week in the world of regulation:

•  68 new final rules were published last week, down from 85 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation every 2 hours and 28 minutes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• All in all, 2,366 final rules have been published in the Federal Register this year.
• If this keeps up, the total tally for 2012 will be 3,883 new rules.
• 1,443 new pages were added to the 2012 Federal Register last week, for a total of 47,967 pages.
• At its current pace, the 2012 Federal Register will run 77,367 pages.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. The 27 such rules published so far in 2012 have compliance costs of at least $16.2 billion. Two of the rules do not have cost estimates, and a third cost estimate does not give a total annual cost. We assume that rules lacking this basic transparency measure cost the bare minimum of $100 million per year. The true cost is almost certainly higher.
• One economically significant rule was published last week.
• So far, 246 final rules that meet the broader definition of “significant” have been published in 2012.
• So far this year, 447 final rules affect small business. 63 of them are significant rules.

Highlights from final rules published last week:

• Last week’s economically significant rule was part of the health care bill. It sets “Operating Rules for Health Care Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT) and Remittance Advice Transactions.” Its estimated cost is $1.2 billion to $2.7 billion. I have used the lower figure for this year’s running cost tally for economically significant rules.
• If you deal in highly migratory Atlantic fish, you are now required to electronically submit weekly reports to the federal govermment.
• If you enjoy flying Glasflugel Gliders, you should be aware of new airworthiness directives from the FAA.

For more data, go to TenThousandCommandments.com.

Just another week in the world of regulation:

• 85 new final rules were published last week, down from 86 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation precisely every hour and 59 minutes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• All in all, 2,298 final rules have been published in the Federal Register this year.
• If this keeps up, the total tally for 2012 will be 3,894 new rules.
• 3,645 new pages were added to the 2012 Federal Register last week, for a total of 46,524 pages.
• At its current pace, the 2012 Federal Register will run 77,540 pages.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. The 26 such rules published so far in 2012 have compliance costs of at least $14.5 billion. Two of the rules do not have cost estimates, and a third cost estimate does not give a total annual cost. We assume that rules lacking this basic transparency measure cost the bare minimum of $100 million per year. The true cost is almost certainly higher.
• One economically significant rule was published last week.
• So far, 240 final rules that meet the broader definition of “significant” have been published in 2012.
• So far this year, 431 final rules affect small business. 63 of them are significant rules.

Highlights from final rules published last week:

• Last week’s economically significant rule was an increase in payments the federal government makes to skilled nursing facilities, to the tune of $670 million in FY 2013. Since this cost is in government spending and not compliance costs, I am scoring it as costing zero in this year’s tally of compliance costs.
• The Federal Reserve System is revising its debit card swipe fee price controls to account for “fraud-prevention costs incurred by merchants.”
• Organic food enthusiasts might be interested in new changes to the national list of allowed and prohibited substances.
• The federal government places limits on hunting for the Utah prairie dog.
• If you use a corporate jet for entertainment purposes, the related expenses are no longer tax deductible.
• Attention, pro athletes: prostanozol (17β-hydroxy-5α-androstano[3,2-c]pyrazole) and methasterone (2α,17α-dimethyl-5α-androstan-17β-ol-3-one) are now considered anabolic steroids by the DEA and are subject to the Controlled Substances Act.

For more data, go to TenThousandCommandments.com.

Just another week in the world of regulation:

•  86 new final rules were published last week, up from 81 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation precisely every hour and 53 minutes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• All in all, 2,213 final rules have been published in the Federal Register this year.
• If this keeps up, the total tally for 2012 will be 3,875 new rules.
• 1,549 new pages were added to the 2012 Federal Register last week, for a total of 42,879 pages.
• At its current pace, the 2012 Federal Register will run 76,600 pages.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. The 25 such rules published so far in 2012 have compliance costs of at least $14.5 billion. Two of the rules do not have cost estimates, and a third cost estimate does not give a total annual cost. We assume that rules lacking this basic transparency measure cost the bare minimum of $100 million per year. The true cost is almost certainly higher.
• No economically significant rules were published last week.
• So far, 235 final rules that meet the broader definition of “significant” have been published in 2012.
• So far this year, 421 final rules affect small business. 60 of them are significant rules.

Highlights from final rules published last week:

• The federal government has a Florida Tomato Committee. It is increasing its assessment rates for tomato growers.
• On September 2, a tug boat race will be held near Olympia, Washington. The Coast Guard passed a related regulation.
• Correction issued for the new federal tanning tax.
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued regulations to protect 6 bird species that do not live in the United States.
• The EPA regulates offset lithographic printing.

For more data, go to TenThousandCommandments.com.

Just another week in the world of regulation:

•  81 new final rules were published last week, down from 84 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation precisely every 2 hours and 4 minutes — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• All in all, 2,127 final rules have been published in the Federal Register this year.
• If this keeps up, the total tally for 2012 will be 3,854 new rules.
• 1,283 new pages were added to the 2012 Federal Register last week, for a total of 42,879 pages.
• At its current pace, the 2012 Federal Register will run 75,570 pages.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. The 25 such rules published so far in 2012 have compliance costs of at least $14.5 billion. Two of the rules do not have cost estimates, and a third cost estimate does not give a total annual cost. We assume that rules lacking this basic transparency measure cost the bare minimum of $100 million per year. The true cost is almost certainly higher.
• No economically significant rules were published last week.
• So far, 224 final rules that meet the broader definition of “significant” have been published in 2012.
• So far this year, 402 final rules affect small businesses. 59 of them are significant rules.

Highlights from final rules published last week:

• Despite no proof of harm, the FDA is banning the use of BPA in plastic feeding bottles and sippy cups. CEI’s Angela Logomasini has written on this issue before.
• As directed by the health care bill, HHS is ramping up its data collection on what benefits different insurers offer.
• If you are planning on fishing for Pacific Ocean Perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska (who isn’t?), you should read this new regulation.
• Just in time for the Olympics, the federal government is establishing relay services for deaf-blind individuals.

For more data, go to TenThousandCommandments.com.

Just another week in the world of regulation:

•  84 new final rules were published last week, down from 71 the previous week.
• That’s the equivalent of a new regulation precisely every 2 hours — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• All in all, 2,144 final rules have been published in the Federal Register this year.
• If this keeps up, the total tally for 2012 will be 4,024 new rules.
• 1,412 new pages were added to the 2012 Federal Register last week, for a total of 40,596 pages.
• At its current pace, the 2012 Federal Register will run 75,178 pages.
• Rules are called “economically significant” if they have costs of $100 million or more in a given year. The 25 such rules published so far in 2012 have compliance costs of at least $14.5 billion. Two of the rules do not have cost estimates, and a third cost estimate does not give a total annual cost. We assume that rules lacking this basic transparency measure cost the bare minimum of $100 million per year. The true cost is almost certainly higher.
• No economically significant rule was published last week.
• So far, 216 final rules that meet the broader definition of “significant” have been published in 2012.
• So far this year, 386 final rules affect small businesses. 59 of them are significant rules.

Highlights from final rules published last week:

• If you were planning on importing archaeological artifacts from Cyprus this week, we have some bad news for you. Import restrictions, due to expire today, have been extended.
• The FBI’s anti-piracy warning seal may now be pirated by any copyright holder, “subject to specific conditions of use.”
• The Chupadera springsnail is the unwitting recipient of 1.9 acres of critical habitat in Socorro County, New Mexico.
• Pilots and other flightcrew members are now required to report their working hours to the federal government.

For more data, go to TenThousandCommandments.com