New regs for Friday: Pesticide labeling, synthetic marijuana, efficiency rules

Friday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for roads on Indian reservations, energy conservation standards for residential dishwashers, federal financial assistance programs, pesticide labeling and a crackdown on synthetic marijuana.

Here’s what is happening:

Roads: The Bureau of Indian Affairs is considering new rules for a federal government program that funds safe and adequate transportation on Indian reservations. 

Tribal governments will face new requirements when proposing to build cultural access roads, airport access roads, toll roads, tourism roads and trails under the tribal transportation program.

{mosads}“A primary access route is the shortest practicable route connecting two points, including roads between villages, roads to landfills, roads to drinking water sources, roads to natural resources identified for economic development, and roads that provide access to intermodal termini, such as airports, harbors, or boat landings,” the agency wrote.

The public has until March 20, 2015, to comment.

Financial assistance: The White House’s Office of Management and Budget is moving forward with major reforms for federal financial assistance programs.

The new rules are intended to cut down on waste and fraud that plagues the $600 billion in financial assistance programs provided by the federal government each year, the agency said.

The new rules will apply to dozens of federal agencies that offer some form of financial assistance to the public. 

“The result will be more federal dollars reprogrammed to support the mission, new entities able to compete and win awards, and ultimately a stronger framework to provide key services to American citizens and support the basic research that underpins the United States economy,” the agency wrote.

The changes go into effect on Dec. 26.

Marijuana: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is taking action against new strains of synthetic marijuana.

The DEA announced Thursday it is placing three new synthetic cannabinoids into its list of Schedule I controlled substances, which will make it illegal to manufacture, distribute or possess these substances.

“The placement of these synthetic cannabinoids into schedule 1 of the (Controlled Substances Act) is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety.”

The new rules go into effect immediately.

Efficiency: The Department of Energy is considering new energy conservation standards for residential dishwashers.

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy proposed Thursday new efficiency rules for residential dishwashers that could save consumers more than $2 billion, but would cost industry more than $200 million to comply with, according to agency estimates.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Pesticides: The Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward with new labeling requirements for exported pesticide products.

The rule goes into effect in 60 days.