The Federal Register (the daily newspaper of the Federal government) is a legal newspaper published every business day by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).  The Federal Register contains:

• Federal Agency Regulations
• Proposed Rules and Public Notices
• Executive Orders
• Proclamations
• Other Presidential Documents

NARA’s Office of the Federal Register prepares the Federal Register for publication in partnership with the Government Printing Office (GPO). GPO distributes the Federal Register in paper, on microfiche, and on their website:  GPO’s Federal Digital System – Federal Register.

Basically, the Federal Register is “Heads up!” shout-out from all of the Federal regulatory agencies (USEPA, USDOT/PHMSA, USDOT/FRA, USDOT/FAA, USDOT/FMCSA, and others) about what they’re planning, what rules they’ve created – or intend to create, if they are requesting feed-back from interested parties, if they’ve changed their mind, whatever.  The Federal Register is a communication tool – and sometimes the only communication tool – used by the Federal government to inform those in a regulated industry of what they have in the works.  As a member of a regulated community – which I assume you are since you’ve read this far – you must stay on top of the Federal Register announcements from those agencies whose regulations impact your business.

I can help you to do this.

One way that I do this is by scanning the Federal Register each month for announcement I feel my customers may be interested in.  These I tabulate and include in an article format with links to the Federal Register itself.  Here are few recent examples:

• September 2014 Federal Register Announcements
• August 2014 Federal Register Announcements
• July 2014 Federal Register Announcements

To see articles for other months I suggest you perform a search on my blog:  Daniels Training Services Blog

I don’t have the resources to review the Federal Register for every announcement from every agency, here is what I focus on:

• The Hazardous Material Regulations (HMR) of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) pertaining to the transportation of hazardous materials in commerce.  PHMSA is just one of many administrations and bureaus within the US Department of Transportation.
• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – another administration within the USDOT – and any announcements pertaining to the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials.
• The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) – yet another administration within the USDOT – and any announcements pertaining to the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials.
• The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) – you guessed it:  still another administration within the USDOT – and any announcements pertaining to the transportation in commerce of hazardous materials.

And…

• Announcements from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) pertaining to the management of solid waste, hazardous waste, universal waste, or used oil.

Depending on the immediacy, importance, and relevance of a Federal Register announcement I may dig into more deeply and research it myself.  Usually this research will result in a thoroughly researched article that appears on my blog.  But if I don’t have the time or resources for a full blown article, I will summarize the key information in an article on my blog and then direct interested parties to the Federal Register with a hyperlink.  You can see some examples of that below:

• USEPA (Region VII) Seeks Comments on its Proposed Exclusion of John Deere’s Listed Hazardous Waste
• PHMSA to Prohibit the Operations of a HazMat Shipper or Carrier Until Civil Penalties are Paid
• FAA Announces Notice of Public Meeting
• PHMSA Proposes New Rule for Return Shipments of Certain HazMat by Motor Vehicle [Hazardous Materials:  Reverse Logistics (RRR)]
  • And Then PHMSA Extends the Comment Period

If you are interested in others topics I suggest you perform a search on my blog.

If you do not find what you are looking for or have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.