WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- A coalition of six environmental and consumer advocacy groups, including the Appliance Standards Awareness Project, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Ceres, Consumer Federation of America, Earthjustice and Natural Resources Defense Council, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy challenging its proposal to withdraw energy efficiency standards for compressors. The groups argue t more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has made a formal request to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to withdraw its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) regarding safety standards for residential gas furnaces and boilers. The request was detailed in a recent public comment letter submitted to the commission in response to the CPSC's Request for Information on reducing regulatory burdens. AHRI, which represents over 330 manufact more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Aklaq Co. Alaska Inc., Anchorage, submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management on behalf of Borealis Alaska Oil Inc., Anchorage, and itself in support of the proposal to rescind a rule concerning the management of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. The companies state that the current rule makes oil and gas development nearly impossible. The letter states that the current rule, issued in May 2024, creates a "hig more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) addressing significant updates needed for the National Freight Strategic Plan 2025. The letter emphasizes the importance of developing robust freight infrastructure to support seamless goods movement across various transportation modes. AASHTO, a nonprofit organization representing state transportation departmen more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The American Public Works Association (APWA) has submitted a public comment letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy outlining critical priorities for the upcoming surface transportation reauthorization. The input comes as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act approaches its expiration date on September 30, 2026. Representing 32,000 public works professionals across North America, APWA emphasizes the need for enhanced safety measures and support for the t more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Anesthesiologist Maria Sanchez issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education expressing her concerns about the implementation of artificial intelligence in children's education. The anesthesiologist, who has a sub specialty attained at Boston Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, stated that her concerns are informed by her professional experience in academic training and her role as a parent of two toddlers. The letter submitted to the departme more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Bering Straits Native Corp., Anchorage, Alaska, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) emphasizing the need for significant reforms in federal procurement processes to enhance participation from small businesses, particularly those owned by Alaska Natives. The letter was in response to the DoD's Notice of Request for Comments on Executive Order 14265, which aims to modernize defense acquisitions and spur innovation. Founded under the more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen has filed a public comment letter in opposition to a petition submitted by BNSF Railway to discontinue or modify its signal system. The letter was sent to the U.S. Department of Transportation and expresses concern regarding BNSF's request to eliminate the automatic train stop (ATS) systems in critical sections of its rail network. BNSF Railway seeks to discontinue these safety systems on the Glorieta Subdivision from milepost 770.1 t more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- A public comment letter addressed to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has urged for a robust and thorough cleanup of the Lower Neponset River, advocating for the implementation of Option #RAA-4 from the recently published Engineering Evaluation Cost Analysis (EE/CA). The letter emphasizes the critical need for this cleanup to safeguard the health of local communities and wildlife along the river. The letter comes from elected officials representing various  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Central Indiana Cycling has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) urging the need for enhanced safety measures in upcoming transportation infrastructure policies. Emphasizing that safer roads are paramount, the organization has outlined several recommendations aimed at improving road safety for all users. In the letter, Central Indiana Cycling indicates that design and construction of roads should prioritize safety, not just for  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) has submitted a public comment letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), advocating for proposals aimed at reducing burdens and costs associated with compliance while ensuring consumer safety remains uncompromised. As North America's largest technology trade association, CTA represents leading innovators across the technology landscape, supporting over 18 million jobs. In its letter, CTA proposed several strategies  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Current Clinic, Minneapolis, Minnesota, submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) advocating for the inclusion of cardiac electrophysiology (EP) procedures in the proposed Covered Procedure List (CPL) for Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) in the upcoming 2026 payment system. The clinic argues that adding these procedures, particularly cardiac ablation, will enhance patient care accessibility and reduce healthcare costs. The l more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Evertrak, a manufacturer of advanced composite railroad ties based in St. Louis, Missouri, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) emphasizing the need for the adoption of modern composite materials in the upcoming National Freight Strategic Plan for 2025. The company asserts that these innovative ties present a sustainable alternative to traditional wooden ties, contributing to greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the n more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The University of Rochester Medicine Jones Memorial Hospital submitted a public comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services opposing key proposals related to the Medicare and Medicaid programs. In the correspondence, the hospital raised concerns over CMS' plan to expedite the clawback of funds and conduct a drug acquisition survey, deeming both initiatives ill-advised. The hospital firmly opposes the agency's suggestion to accelerate the payment clawb more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expressing his strong support for an initiative to expand offshore and federal land oil and gas lease sales. The governor argues that this action is crucial for American energy independence and economic growth. In his correspondence to Secretary Doug Burgum, the governor states that more drilling will lead to job creation for American worke more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Lindsey Gulden, carbon capture and storage researcher at Leg Up Data, Newton, Massachusetts, issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The submission urged the agency to rescind its preliminary approval of carbon dioxide injection wells for the ExxonMobil Rose Carbon Capture and Storage project in Jefferson County, Texas, citing that CCS poses risks to local communities. The letter to the agency asserts that CCS infrastructure, including  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Marriage and family therapist Julie Frumin issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Education asserting that artificial intelligence tools present a pressing risk to the safety and development of young people. The therapist, with over a decade of experience, described the current digital world as a toxic environment for children, a reality that is increasingly straining family relationships across the country. The letter from the therapist to the departmen more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- New Jersey State Sen. Latham Tiver and Assemblyman Michael Torrissi submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency urging fundamental reforms to the federal renewable fuel standard. The lawmakers state that the current program is causing severe economic hardship for independent refiners in their region. In their letter to Administrator Lee Zeldin, the lawmakers explain that the RFS's blending requirement has been particularly harmful to inde more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Arlington, Virginia, has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) expressing support for Executive Order 14265 which aims to modernize defense acquisition and stimulate innovation within the defense industrial base. The organization highlights the importance of effectively addressing the needs of small businesses as part of this reform effort. In its correspondence, NDIA emphasizes that smal more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The National Retail Federation (NRF) has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urging regulatory reforms aimed at reducing burdens and costs associated with compliance, while maintaining consumer safety. NRF, which represents the world's largest retail trade association, seeks to streamline existing regulations to improve the industry's operational efficiency. In its correspondence to the commission, NRF highlighted the im more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Neponset River Watershed Association, Canton, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urging for greater community engagement and transparency regarding the cleanup of the Lower Neponset River Superfund Site. This letter discusses the association's strong support for the proposed removal action, specifically RAA-4, and provides a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing the overall efficiency and effica more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), Carson, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) in response to the Request for Information regarding the update of the National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP) for 2025. NDOT's letter underscores Nevada's significant geographic advantage as a vital connection between West Coast ports and inland markets, which enhances the state's importance in both national and global supply chains.  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior expressing strong opposition to an interim final rule that rescinds existing National Environmental Policy Act regulations and replaces them with non-codified procedures. The tribe argues that the rule was issued without prior, formal tribal consultation, thereby sidestepping the department's obligations and undermining the federal government's trust responsibility. The tr more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA) and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA) submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urging the agency to eliminate what they describe as unnecessary regulatory burdens affecting recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs) and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The associations represent major manufacturers within the powersports sector and argue that existing voluntary more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Retired sales engineer Rex Brown issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voicing his opposition to a petition filed by the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration. Brown, a professional engineer with a career spanning decades in the refrigeration industry, believes the IIAR's current position is unreasonable and will hinder the development of improved technology. In his letter to the agency, Brown described his history with the  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium, California, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the proposed designation of the Health Center Program as a "Federal Public Benefit" under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). This interpretation, as outlined in the Federal Register on July 14, 2025, could impact the provision of primary and preventive health care se more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District, California, has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to consider the unique challenges the region faces in achieving the 1997 8-hour ozone standard. This appeal came in a public comment letter submitted to the agency, highlighting a combination of geographical and atmospheric factors that complicate air quality improvements. In the letter, the Valley's air quality officials outlined persistent difficulties  more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Seattle City (Washington state) Mayor Bruce Harrell submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Congress emphasizing crucial funding priorities as legislators prepare for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. The letter stresses the city's commitment to enhancing safety and mobility within its transportation infrastructure while fostering cooperation with federal agencies. The letter highlights the Safe Streets and Roads for All grant program, noting its more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Sustainable Milton, Massachusetts, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expressing strong support for Option 4 of the Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA) addressing the Lower Neponset River Superfund Site. This option promises the most thorough cleanup of the river, which has suffered from decades of industrial contamination. The organization's letter highlights that Option 4 will provide the greatest long-term p more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Toy Association has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advocating for the reduction of regulatory burdens that lawmakers believe hinder safe play for children and the operational efficiency of businesses. The association's concerns are centered on various current and proposed regulations that they argue create unnecessary complexities and costs without enhancing safety. In their letter, TA highlighted the critical i more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Nutrition Policy Institute submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service expressing concerns about a proposed "National Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Information Database." The institute has concerns regarding both the proposed database and its accompanying notice. The institute emphasizes that SNAP is an indispensable resource in combating hunge more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- Viatris Inc., Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, has submitted a public comment letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advocating for improvements in the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (GDUFA) reauthorization for the fiscal years 2028 to 2032. The company emphasizes the need for enhanced communication practices and more predictable assessment processes as the industry tackles increasingly complex generic drug products. Viatris, which operates globally, aims to deliver more ST

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 -- The Wyoming Outdoor Council has issued a public comment letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) expressing serious concerns regarding the agency's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Construction Permit Application for the Kemmerer Power Station Unit 1. WOC, as Wyoming's oldest independent conservation organization, emphasizes the importance of thorough project review to ensure environmental protection in the state. In the letter, WOC calls  more ST