New regs for Tuesday: Trucks, tuna, plants

Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for truck drivers, as well as protections for tuna fish and certain plants.

Here’s what is happening:

Tuna: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is considering new protections for Pacific bluefin tuna.

Following a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, the NMFS will launch a status review to determine whether the tuna is endangered or threatened. The agency will also look into establishing a critical habitat.

The public has 60 days to comment.

Plants: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is weakening the protections for certain plants.

The white-haired goldenrod will be removed from a list of endangered species, the agency said Friday, because “the threats to this species have been eliminated or reduced.”

The FWS will also establish a post-delisting monitoring plans for the plant.

The changes go into effect in 30 days.

Trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is considering allowing dozens of truck drivers with poor vision to get behind the wheel.

These truck drivers are prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicles between states, because they do not pass federal vision requirements in one eye. But the FMCSA is determining whether they see well enough in their other eye to drive safely.

If granted, the exemptions would apply to 50 truck drivers. The requests were made separately, here, here, and here.

The public has 30 days to comment.