Commerce Dept Dusts Off Privacy Act Wordings
Published Date: 2/17/2026
Rule
Summary
The Department of Commerce is cleaning up its Privacy Act rules to make them clearer and easier to follow. They’re updating job titles, removing confusing legal language, and fixing some outdated references—all without changing your privacy rights. These changes take effect on February 17, 2026, and help everyone understand the rules better without costing extra time or money.
No Economic Impacts Identified for this Document
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-14204, Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary; Delay of Effective Date
NOAA is giving everyone more time before the rule that bans grappling or anchoring on Lake Ontario shipwrecks kicks in. Instead of starting in July 2026, this rule is now delayed until September 2028 to let NOAA set up mooring buoys and work with divers and boaters. This means boaters and commercial vessels can keep anchoring safely while NOAA gets everything ready without rushing.
2026-14195, Rescinding the Definition of “Harm” Under the Endangered Species Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are wiping away the official definition of “harm” under the Endangered Species Act starting September 14, 2026. This change affects anyone involved in protecting endangered plants and animals by shifting how “harm” is understood and enforced. It’s a big move that could change how projects and protections are handled, but no new costs or deadlines are added right now.
2026-05599, Deep Seabed Mining: Notice of Receipt of Applications for Deep Seabed Mining Exploration Licenses and Announcement of Public Comment Period and Virtual Public Hearings
NOAA got two applications from companies wanting to explore mining deep under the ocean floor. They’re holding virtual public meetings in April and want your thoughts by May 22, 2026. This affects anyone interested in ocean mining and how we protect our seas while exploring new resources.
2026-04256, Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Spatial Fisheries Management; Amendment 15 to the 2006 Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
Starting April 3, 2026, new rules change shark fishing zones and times in the Atlantic to better protect sharks and manage fishing risks. Fishermen using bottom and pelagic longline gear will see updated area boundaries and must pay for electronic monitoring if fishing in certain safer zones. These changes help keep shark populations healthy while supporting responsible fishing.
2026-14868, Initiation of Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Administrative Reviews; Correction
The U.S. Department of Commerce fixed a mistake by adding Ferrosilicon from Kazakhstan and Epoxy Resins from Korea to their review list. This means certain companies from these countries are now officially under review for possible trade duties from September 2024 to December 2025. If you’re involved, keep an eye on deadlines and potential money impacts as these reviews move forward.
2026-14939, Grant of Interim Extension of the Term of U.S. Patent No. 8,877,798; Centanafadine Hydrochloride
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical got a one-year extra patent life for their drug centanafadine hydrochloride because the FDA review is still going on. This means their patent, which was set to expire on July 25, 2026, now lasts until July 25, 2027. This extension helps Otsuka keep exclusive rights to their drug a bit longer while waiting for final FDA approval.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-03069, Implementation of the Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2015) (WRC-15), Other Allocation Issues, and Related Rule Updates; Correction
The FCC fixed some small but important errors in their January 2026 rules about radio frequency use from the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference. These corrections update the official frequency tables to keep things clear and fair for everyone using the airwaves, like broadcasters and tech companies. The changes take effect on February 13, 2026, with no extra costs involved—just smoother radio rules!
Next: C1-2025-20399, Glufosinate; Pesticide Tolerances
The EPA fixed a date typo in the rules about how much glufosinate pesticide residue is allowed on food. This change affects farmers, food producers, and anyone tracking pesticide safety by pushing a key deadline from May 20, 2025, to May 20, 2026. No new costs or big changes—just a simple date update to keep things on track!