New regs for Monday: Cuba, military, efficiency

Monday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for defense contractors to avoid purchasing counterfeit electronic parts, energy conservation standards for air conditioners, and fewer restrictions on Cuba.

Here’s what is happening:

Cuba: The Obama administration is continuing to relax regulations against Cuba.

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced Friday it is taking further steps to ease travel restrictions and expand banking, telecommunications and Internet services in Cuba.

{mosads}Meanwhile, the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security is easing the export regulations to Cuba.

This follows President Obama’s announced last December to pursue diplomatic relations with Cuba.

The rules go into effect immediately.

Military: The Department of Defense is proposing new acquisitions regulations that will help the military detect and avoid purchasing counterfeit electronic parts.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Air conditioners: The Department of Energy is correcting a mistake made in a rule establishing energy conservation standards for packaged terminal air conditioners and heat pumps.

The Energy Department’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy published the rule in July, but is revisiting it to correct the error.

The changes go into effect on Sept. 21.