Short Takes – 9-25-26 - Federal Register Edition

HSAR  

Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation, Make Personal Protective Equipment in America Act Restrictions on Foreign Acquisition (HSAR Case 2024-003). DHS final rule. Summary: “DHS is issuing a final rule to amend the Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) codifying how DHS complies with the requirements of the Make Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in America Act. These changes are intended to ensure the sustainment and expansion of domestic manufacturing for certain types of PPE critical to the United States' national response to a public health crisis.” 

Public Health  

Amendments To Import Requirements for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. APHIS notice of proposed rulemaking. Summary: “Current APHIS regulations specify that live birds and other avian commodities may not be exposed to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or sourced from premises quarantined for HPAI within the 90 days immediately preceding export to the United States. We are proposing to reduce this timeframe to 28 days preceding export to the United States. This action is necessary to align APHIS regulations with international standards regarding HPAI transmission. This action would allow foreign regions to resume the export of live birds and other avian commodities to the United States sooner following an outbreak of HPAI, while still providing adequate safeguards that the importation of the birds or other avian commodities does not present a risk of disseminating HPAI within the United States.” 

Explosives Safety  

Rule Annual Notices on Explosive Materials Storage Facilities to Local Fire Authority. BATFE final rule. Summary: “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) is amending Department of Justice (“Department”) regulations on reporting explosive materials storage. Currently, any person who stores explosive materials subject to ATF's explosives regulations must notify the authority having jurisdiction for fire safety in that locality when they begin storing explosives at that site. This rule adds a requirement to also submit written notices every 12 months thereafter and when the person ceases storing explosives at that location and to retain copies of the notices for five years. These changes are intended to increase public safety, particularly for first responders.” 

Implementing the Safe Explosives Act. BATFE final rule. Summary: “The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) is finalizing two Department of Justice (“Department”) interim final rules (“IFRs”) implementing the Safe Explosives Act. This rule formally ends those rules' interim status, responds to public comments from 2003 on the IFRs, rescinds ATF Ruling 2003-5 issued in response to IFR comments, and makes certain revisions to IFR provisions in response to the comments. They clarify when federal licensees/permittees must report changes in responsible persons and authorized employees; eliminate verifying identity of persons accepting delivery on behalf of distributees; and amend regulatory exemption language governing aspects of transporting explosive materials.” 

Chemical Transportation Incidents – Week of 8-22-26

Reporting Background 

See this post for explanation, with the most recent update here (removed from paywall). 

Data from PHMSA’s online database of transportation related chemical incidents that have been reported to the agency. 

Incidents Summary  

• Number of incidents – 511 (487 highway, 22 air, 2 rail, 0 water) 
• Serious incidents – 1 (0 Bulk release, 2 evacuation, 0 injury, 0 death, 0 major artery closed, 2 fire/explosion, 22 no release)  
• Largest container involved – 9,300-gal DOT 406 Trailer {Gasoline Includes Gasoline Mixed with Ethyl Alcohol, with not more than 10% Alcohol}  Vehicle accident. 
• Largest amount spilled – 100-gal IBC {Environmentally Hazardous Substances, Liquid, N.O.S.} Inadequate blocking and bracing. 
• Total amount reported spilled in all incidents – 1545.8-gal 

NOTE: Links above are to Form 5800.1 for the incident described. 

Most Interesting Chemical: Ethanolamine: A clear colorless liquid with an odor resembling that of ammonia. Flash point 185°F. May attack copper, brass, and rubber. Corrosive to tissue. Moderately toxic. Produces toxic oxides of nitrogen during combustion. (Source: CameoChemicals.NOAA.gov).  

Review – 2 Advisories and 2 Update Published – 9-24-26

Today CISA’s NCCIC-ICS published two control system security advisories for products from Eufy and Botslab. They also updated advisories for products from Wärtsilä and Siemens. 

Advisories  

Eufy Advisory - This advisory describes three vulnerabilities in the Eufy Omni C20 and Omni X10 Pro robot vacuums. The vulnerabilities were reported to CISA by Jared of Somerset Recon. 

Botslab Advisory - This advisory describes 14 vulnerabilities in the Botslab G980H Dashcams. The vulnerabilities were reported to CISA by Julian of Software Secured. CISA notes that: “Botslab has not responded to requests to work with CISA to mitigate this vulnerability.” 

Updates  

Wärtsilä Update  

This update provides additional information on the FOS-Onboard advisory that was originally published on September 15th, 2026. The new information includes fixed version information. 

Siemens Update  This update provides additional information on the Mendix Runtime advisory that was originally published on July 28th, 2026. The advisory is revoked. 

NOTE: CISA does not typically publish updates for Siemens advisories. 

For more information on these advisories, as well as a DTRH look at a disappearing vulnerability, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/2-advisories-and-2-update-published - subscription required. 

Review – CSB Updates Accidental Release Reporting Data – 9-23-26

Yesterday, the CSB updated their published list of reported chemical release incidents. They added 63 new incidents that occurred since the previous version was published in June 2026. These are not incidents that the CSB is investigating; these are incidents that were reported to the CSB under their Accidental Release Reporting rules (40 CFR 1604) through September 1st, 2026. 

The table below shows the top five states based upon the number of reported incidents since the December update was published.  

For more information on the updated incident reporting data, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/csb-updates-accidental-release-reporting-90c - subscription required.