New regs for Tuesday: Nuclear security, beef, money laundering

Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for nuclear facilities, delis that grind beef, water on National Forest System lands, pollution, and money laundering.

Here’s what is happening:

Nuclear: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is delaying a rule that would upgrade security at nuclear facilities and while nuclear materials are in transit, the agency said Monday.

The NRC proposed security upgrades at certain nuclear plants last month, including new fitness requirements for the security guards who patrol these facilities, but the agency has decided to extend the comment period through Oct. 17 to give the public more time to consider the rule and discuss it with the agency.

Beef: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is considering new rules for delis at grocery stores and farmers markets that grind beef for customers.

The USDA’s Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) proposed Monday new recordkeeping requirements for stores and grind raw beef products. These stores would be required to disclose the identity and contact information of the supplier of their meat and any other ingredients they use in the process.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Water: The Forest Service is delaying new water quality regulations within the National Forest System (NFS). 

The agency had proposed best management practices for National Forest System waters, but announced Monday it is extending the comment period for an additional 30 days to give the public more time to discuss the rule.

Pollution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is easing the rules at a hazardous waste site in Maine, because the agency believes it no longer poses a substantial risk of pollution.

The EPA said Monday the O’Connor Superfund Site in August, Maine no longer requires special oversight and is removing it from the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan. 

The O’Connor site was added to the list in 1983, but the EPA believes it no longer posed a danger to the nearby environment.

The rule goes into effect immediately.

Money laundering: The Treasury Department is looking to take action against a Middle Eastern bank that it believes is being used to launder money for terrorists and other criminals. 

The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on Monday proposed new rules that would forbid U.S. banks for doing business with FBME, formerly known as the Federal Bank of the Middle East, in an effort to cut off the bank from the U.S. financial system.

“The exclusion of FBME from the U.S. financial system … would enhance national security by making it more difficult for money launderers, transnational organized crime, other criminals, sanctions evaders, and terrorists to access the U.S. financial system,” FinCEN wrote.

The public has 60 days to comment.