New regs for Friday: Pilot training rules published

Regulations will be published on Friday laying out training requirements for new pilots and explaining how companies will need to disclose injuries that their workers suffer.

Here’s what’s coming:

Pilot training:

The Federal Aviation Administration is finalizing new rules for pilot training.

The regulations had long been a priority for relatives of victims of a 2009 plane crash in Buffalo, N.Y., and will require pilots to conduct flight similar tests that mirror the engine problems experienced in that crash.

In its rule, the agency said that it “expects these changes to contribute to a reduction in aviation accidents.” 

Worker safety:

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is planning to publish draft regulations requiring large businesses to make their worker injury and illness records public. 

The standard would make companies with 250 or more workers make the records about their workers, which they already track, available through electronic reports.

Business groups are already attacking the requirement, which they see as unnecessary and potentially harmful to companies where data is misinterpreted. 

Communications:

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is finalizing its procedures for responding to requests for materials that it distributes abroad. 

Separately, the Federal Communications Commission is clarifying its data collection rules to “reduce burden” on regulated companies. 

Finance:

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission wants to require that all brokers, commodity pool operators and commodity trading advisors that register with it are members of at least one registered futures association.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is also changing safety and soundness regulations for the federal home loan banks that it regulates. 

Information:

The Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, which is a new body designed to protect Americans from overly aggressive government surveillance, is finalizing rules to implement the Freedom of Information Act. 

“This rule describes the procedures for members of the public to request access to records,” it said.

Ships:

The Coast Guard’s information collection plans to enforce new rules on some vessels’ oil spill response plans have been approved by the White House’s budget office.

Nuclear power:

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to change its control and accounting rules for some nuclear materials. 

In its proposal, the commission said that it is trying to “update, clarify and strengthen” its existing regulations.

Chemicals:

The Environmental Protection Agency is saying that it doesn’t need to set a limit for a green dye that is used on processing equipment and utensils.

The agency is also setting tolerance limits for residues of the pesticides boscalid on multiple foods and prothioconazole on strawberries.

Federal workers:

The Merit Systems Protection Board, which protects pay systems for federal employees, is considering changing the way it treats appeals.