New regs for Thursday: Pool heaters, radioactive waste, military construction

Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for military construction contracts, radioactive waste disposal facilities, and energy conservation standards for pool heaters.

Here’s what is happening:

Pool heaters: The Department of Energy (DOE) is considering new energy conservation standards for pool heaters and direct heating equipment.

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is issuing a request for information on these heaters as it determines whether to move forward with new regulations.

The public has 30 days to comment.

Radioactive materials: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing new regulations for low-level radioactive waste disposal facilities.

These radioactive waste disposal facilities would be subject to new site-specific technical analyses, site-specific acceptance criteria based on the analysis, and implementation standards. 

The public has 120 days to comment on the proposed rule.

Military contracts: The Department of Defense is moving forward with new acquisition regulations for military construction contracts.

The DOD’s new military construction standards requires the Defense Acquisition Regulations System to give preference to American manufacturers over those in foreign countries, particularly manufacturers near the Arabian Gulf.

The rule goes into effect immediately.

Crashes: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is loosening the accident reporting requirements for certain highway safety vehicles.

Attenuator trucks struck by motorists while they are inside a construction work zone will not be required to report the incident as an accident under the FMCSA’s new guidance.

“Attenuator trucks are highway safety vehicles equipped with an impact attenuating crash cushion intended to reduce the risks of injuries and fatalities resulting from crashes in construction work zones,” the agency wrote. 

The guidance goes into effect in 60 days.