New regs for Thursday: Mussels, electrical fires, coal

Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules to protect mussels species, peak heat release from electrical enclosures during fires, and emissions from coal plants.

Here’s what is happening:

Endangered: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is moving forward with new protections for two species of mussels.

The agency is designating a critical habitat for the Neosho mucket and rabbitsfoot.

The Neosho mucket’s critical habitat spans 483 miles across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. While the rabbitsfoot’s critical habitat spans 1,437 miles across Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

The changes go into effect in 30 days.

Electrical: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering changes for the peak heat release from electrical enclosures.

The agency is issuing a draft NUREG for refining heat release rates from electrical enclosures during fires.

The public has until June 15 to comment.

Emissions: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is denying requests for reconsideration of the agency’s national emissions standards for hazardous air pollution from coal plants.

The EPA received 23 petitions for reconsideration, but said Wednesday it is denying those requests in letters to the petitioners.

The letters go into effect immediately.