The Environmental Protection Agency is amending its regulations on hazardous waste export and import notices to conform codes for 12 import-export recovery and disposal operations to their Canadian equivalents, EPA said. The final rule is necessary because of changes to the relevant Canadian regulations in March that take effect Oct. 31. The changes “will ensure that the disposal and recovery operation codes listed in U.S export notices proposing exports to Canada facilities and subsequent movement documents will continue to reflect the accurate Canadian code numbers and description of the operations, enabling matching to the information listed in the Canadian import notices and movement documents,” EPA said. “These revised codes and descriptions will be automatically available for exporters and importers to use in EPA’s [Waste Import Export Tracking System (WIETS)] on October 31, 2021 when they create export or import notices to submit to EPA.”

Exporters of certain used vehicles from the U.S. to Puerto Rico don’t have to electronically file or provide the vehicle’s certificate of title prior to the shipment, CBP said in a July 21 ruling that was released Sept. 24. The agency ruled that shipments of used, self-propelled vehicles from the continental U.S. to Puerto Rico don’t constitute an export under U.S. regulations because the regulations define “export” as the “transportation of merchandise out of the U.S. for the purpose of being entered into the commerce of a foreign country,” CBP said in the ruling. “It is clear, however, that Puerto Rico is not a foreign country, as it is an unincorporated territory of the United States.”

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Sept. 7 released a final rule listing the slenderclaw crayfish (Cambarus cracens), a freshwater crustacean from Alabama, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Oct. 8.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing to list methiopropamine, a central nervous stimulant that is structurally related to the schedule II stimulants methamphetamine and amphetamine, under schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, it said in a notice released Sept. 1. “If finalized, this action would impose the regulatory controls and administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions applicable to schedule I controlled substances on persons who handle (manufacture, distribute, reverse distribute, import, export, engage in research, conduct instructional activities or chemical analysis with, or possess), or propose to handle, methiopropamine.” Comments are due by Oct. 4.

The Fish and Wildlife Service on Aug. 23 released a final rule listing the Franklin’s bumble bee (Bombus franklini), an insect species from Oregon and California, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. New import and export restrictions set by the agency’s final rule take effect Sept. 23.

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act for 56 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices, it said in an Aug. 18 final rule. As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect Oct. 18. The SNURs cover the following:

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the Cumberland sandwort (Arenaria cumberlandensis), a perennial plant of the pink family found in southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule published Aug. 16. An FWS review indicates that “threats to the species identified at the time of listing (i.e., timber harvesting, trampling from recreational uses, and digging for archaeological artifacts) have been reduced to the point that they no longer pose a threat to the species, and the known range and abundance of Cumberland sandwort have increased,” FWS said. “Our review also indicates that potential effects of projected climate change are not expected to cause the species to become endangered in the foreseeable future,” the agency said. The delisting takes effect Sept. 15.

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting new significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 23 chemical substances subject to Premanufacture Notices (PMNs), it said in a final rule Aug. 18. As a result of the SNURs, persons planning to manufacture, import or process any of the chemical substances for an activity designated as a significant new use by this rule are required to notify EPA at least 90 days in advance. Importers of chemicals subject to these SNURs will need to certify their compliance with the SNUR requirements, and exporters of these chemical substances will now become subject to export notification requirements. The final rule takes effect Oct. 18. The SNURs cover the following:

The Census Bureau Aug. 18 emailed tips on how to address the most frequent messages generated this month in the Automated Export System. Response code 166 is a fatal error for when the mode of transportation is reported as “vessel” and the transportation reference number is missing. The filer should verify the transportation reference number, correct the shipment and resubmit.

The Fish and Wildlife Service is removing the running buffalo clover (Trifolium stoloniferum), a member of the pea family found in the lower Midwest, from the Endangered Species List, it said in a final rule published Aug. 6. An FWS review indicates that “the threats to running buffalo clover have been eliminated or reduced to the point that the species no longer meets the definition of an endangered species or a threatened species,” the agency said. The delisting takes effect Sept. 7.