Short Takes – 4-27-26 - Federal Register Edition

 Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures. Federal Register, DOT, PHMSA, and FMCSA final rule. Summary: “This final rule reinstates and expounds upon procedural reforms for the Department's rulemakings, guidance documents, and enforcement actions rescinded by a final rule published by the Department on April 2, 2021, “Administrative Rulemaking, Guidance, and Enforcement Procedures.” Accordingly, this final rule revises and updates the Department's internal policies and procedures relating to the issuance of rulemaking documents. In addition, this final rule updates the Department's procedural requirements governing the review and clearance of guidance documents, and the initiation and conduct of enforcement actions, including administrative enforcement proceedings and judicial enforcement actions brought in Federal court.” 

Energy Conservation Program: Notification of Petition for Rulemaking. Federal Register DOE notice of proposed rulemaking. Summary: “On February 19, 2026, the Department of Energy (DOE) received a petition from the American Gas Association (AGA), the American Public Gas Association (APGA), and the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA) asking DOE to amend the compliance dates for two energy conservation standards final rules for commercial water heating equipment and consumer furnaces. Through this notification, DOE is seeking comment on whether it should grant the petition and undertake a rulemaking to consider the proposal contained in the petition, as well as any data or information that may be relevant to DOE's consideration of the petition.” 

Name of Information Collection: Automated Technology Licensing Application System (ATLAS). Federal Register NASA 60-day ICR renewal notice. Summary: “The information submitted by the public is a license application for those companies and individuals who wish to obtain a patent license for NASA patented technology. Information needed for the license application in ATLAS may include supporting documentation such as a certificate of incorporation, a financial statement, a business and/or commercialization plan, a project revenue/royalty spreadsheet, and a company balance sheet. At a minimum, all license applicants must submit a satisfactory plan for the development and/or marketing of an invention. The collected information is used by NASA to ensure that companies that see to commercialize NASA technologies have a solid business plan for bringing the technology to market.”