New regs for Tuesday: Firearms, public transportation, breast cancer

Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for suspending or revoking firearms licenses, rebuilding public transportation systems following natural disasters, and expedited approval of breast cancer drugs.

Here’s what is happening:

Guns: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is considering changes to its firearms regulations.

The new rules would include procedures for denying, suspending, or revoking a firearms license.

The public has 90 days to comment.

Housing: The Department of Housing and Urban Develop (HUD) is considering new rules for government-assisted housing programs that help the elderly and people with disabilities. 

The rules are intended to make sure supportive housing is available to low-income elderly and disabled people with special housing needs.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Public transportation: The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is moving forward with new rules for the emergency relief program that helps communities rebuild their public transportation systems following a natural disaster like an earthquake or hurricane.

The new rules clarify which public transportation projects would be eligible for federal funds to protect, repair, reconstruct, or replace public transportation systems.

The rules goes into effect in 30 days.

Nuclear: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering new rules for the use of spent fuel.

In response to a petition, NRC is reviewing its accident evaluation models to make sure that will stand up in emergency situations.

Mortgages: The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is delaying new rules for government-sponsored financial institutions that are part of the Federal Home Loan Bank system.

The FHFA proposed new rules in September that would require these banks to offer more home mortgage loans and residential mortgage loans, but the agency said Monday it is extending the comment period through Jan. 12, 2015.

Snakes: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is moving to protect the black pinesnake found in the southeastern United States.

The FWS proposed Monday to list the black pinesnake as a threatened species. The black pinesnake is a harmless snake indigenous to Alabama and Mississippi.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Cancer: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to speed up the approval process for early-stage breast cancer drugs.

The FDA is issuing new guidelines intended to expedite and encourage the development of innovative breast cancer drugs.