New regs for Tuesday: School lunch nutrition, nuclear radiation, chemical substances

Tuesday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency for chemical substances and radiation from nuclear plants, as well as nutritional standards for school lunch workers. 

Here’s what is happening:

{mosads}Chemical control: The Environmental Protection Agency plans to issue a new rule for manufacturers of chemical substances. Under the rule, which comes form the Toxic Substances Control Act, manufacturers that intend to make significant new chemical substances will be required to notify the EPA at least three months before they begin the process, which would give the agency time to shut it down before it occurs. 

Radiation: The Environmental Protection Agency is considering a new rule that would update decades-old radiation standards for nuclear power plants. The standards limit how much radiation nuclear plants can emit.

Nutrition: The Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering a new rule that would establish nutritional standards for workers that manage school lunch and breakfast programs. The rule would also institute hiring standards and require all cafeteria workers to complete continuing education and training each year.

Rural environmental policies: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service is considering updating its environmental policies and procedures. The new rule would coordinate environmental policies across several USDA departments, including the Rural Housing Service, Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Rural Utilities Service and Farm Service Agency.

Checks: The Federal Reserve is looking to revise a rule it has been considering that would encourage banks to send and receive returned checks electronically. The Fed is asking the public for comment on two alternatives to the proposed rule.