Agencies and Commissions December 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In 1990, Congress enacted statutory amendments to adjust the maximum civil penalty amounts authorized under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA), and the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA). On August 14, 2008, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) increased the maximum civil penalty amounts to $100,000 for each violation and $15,000,000 for any related series of violations. The CPSIA tied the effective date of the new amounts to the earlier of the date on which final regulations are issued or 1 year after August 14, 2008. The new amounts became effective on August 14, 2009. The CPSIA also revised the starting date, from December 1, 1994 to December 1, 2011, and December 1 of each fifth calendar year, thereafter, on which the Commission must prescribe and publish in the Federal Register, the schedule of maximum authorized penalties. On November 23, 2016, the CPSC published increased maximum authorized civil penalty amounts of $110,000 for each violation and $16,025,000 for any related series of violations. As calculated in accordance with the amendments, the new amounts are $120,000 for each violation and $17,150,000 for any related series of violations.

The Commission hereby gives notice that it has instituted reviews pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act''), as amended, to determine whether revocation of the countervailing duty order on heavy iron construction castings from Brazil, the antidumping duty order on heavy iron construction castings from Canada, and the antidumping duty orders on iron construction castings from Brazil and China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury. Pursuant to the Act, interested parties are requested to respond to this notice by submitting the information specified below to the Commission.

The Commission hereby gives notice that it has instituted reviews pursuant to the Tariff Act of 1930 (``the Act''), as amended, to determine whether revocation of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on certain coated paper suitable for high-quality print graphics using sheet-fed presses from China and Indonesia would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury. Pursuant to the Act, interested parties are requested to respond to this notice by submitting the information specified below to the Commission.

The Commission is proposing to add rules which describe instances when letters may be carried out of the mail, or when the letter monopoly does not apply to a mailpiece. The Commission invites public comment on the proposed rule.

The Office of Economics and Analytics and the Media Bureau seek comment on the procedures to be used for Auction 112, an auction of construction permits for full power television (FPTV) stations. OEA and MB expect the bidding for Auction 112 to commence in June 2022.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is amending the Federal proxy rules to enhance the ability of shareholders to elect directors though the proxy process in a manner consistent with their ability to vote in person at a shareholder meeting. Specifically, the Commission is requiring the use of a universal proxy card in all non-exempt solicitations involving director election contests, except those involving registered investment companies and business development companies. To facilitate the use of a universal proxy card, the Commission is also amending the Federal proxy rules to establish certain notice, minimum solicitation, filing, formatting and presentation requirements, along with other related rule changes consistent with the adoption of a universal proxy requirement. In addition, the Commission is adopting new disclosure requirements relating to voting standards and further requiring certain voting options for all director elections, whether or not contested.