New regs for Thursday: Pipelines, trucks, environment

Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for telecommunications, truck drivers, pipelines and the environment.

Here’s what is happening:

Pipelines: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is raising the fines for safety violations.

The new penalties go into effect immediately.

Telecommunications: The Federal Communications Commission is moving forward with new rules for telecommunications relay services.

The rules would “improve the interoperability and portability of services, equipment, and software used for video relay services,” the agency said.

The rules go into effect in 30 days.

Trucks: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will allow truck drivers with poor vision in one eye to get behind the wheel.

The FMCSA on Wednesday renewed the vision requirement exemptions for 62 truck drivers who would otherwise be prohibited from driving commercial motor vehicles between states.

The FMCSA determined they can see well enough in their other eye to drive safely.

Environment: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is correcting mistakes in the agency’s environmental policies.

The corrections go into effect immediately.