Short Takes – 7-24-26 - Federal Register Edition

OSHA Comment Extensions  

OSHA published comment extension notices on following notices of proposed rule makings making changes to existing chemical safety standards: 

1, 3-Butadiene, 

1,2-Dibromo-3-Chloropropane, 

13 Carcinogens (4-Nitrobiphenyl, etc.), 

Acrylonitrile, 

Asbestos,  

Cadmium, 

Ethylene Oxide,  

Formaldehyde, 

Inorganic Arsenic (1),  

Inorganic Arsenic (2), 

Lead,  

Methylene Chloride,  

Methylenedianiline,  

Vinyl Chloride. 

Space Geek Notice  

Agency Advisory Circular: AC 413.13-1A Guidance on Submitting an Application for a Part 450 Vehicle Operator License. FAA notice of availability. Summary: “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is seeking public comments on its revised draft advisory circular (AC) for the Guidance on Submitting an Application for a Part 450 Vehicle Operator License. This revised AC provides guidance on demonstrating compliance with the requirements of a license application in accordance with §§ 413.11 and 413.13 of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). It details the criteria for submitting an application and the FAA's evaluation of the application for a license determination under 14 CFR part 450.” 

Chemical Transportation Incidents – Week of 6-20-26

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 – 572 (531 highway, 36 air, 5 rail, 0 water) 

• Serious incidents – 2 (2 Bulk release, 1 evacuation, 0 injury, 0 death, 0 major artery closed, 0 fire/explosion, 45 no release)  

• Largest container involved – 30,110-gal DOT 111A100W1 Railcar {Flammable Liquids, N.O.S.} Loose bolt on manway resulting in fume leak from residual material in tank. 

• Largest amount spilled – 2,500-gal DOT-407 Trailer {Hydrogen, Peroxide, Aqueous Solutions with Not Less Than 8 Percent but Less Than 20 Percent Hydrogen Peroxide (Stabilized as Necessary)} Venting through PRV due to overpressurization. 

• Total amount reported spilled in all incidents – 4444.7-gal 

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

Most Interesting Chemical: Cresols: Colorless to yellow liquids with a tarry odor. Flash point 178°F. Insoluble in water. Density 8.7 lb / gal. Poisonous by ingestion and skin absorption and corrosive to skin. (Source: CameoChemicals.NOAA.gov).  

INSERT UN 2076 Placard 

Review – Bills Introduced – 7-23-26

Yesterday, with both the House and Senate in session (and the House leaving for summer break), there were 111 bills introduced. One of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:  

HR 9908 To require the development of a comprehensive rural hospital cybersecurity workforce development strategy, and for other purposes. Houchin, Erin [Rep.-R-IN-9]    

For more information on these bills, including legislative history for similar bills in the 118th Congress, as well as a mention-in-passing of two additional cybersecurity bills, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-7-23-26 - subscription required. 

OMB Approves BIS Drone Export Final Rule

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had approved a final rule from the DOC’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) on “Streamlining Export Controls for Drone Exports”. The final rule was sent to OIRA on June 11th, 2026. The interim final rule for this rulemaking was published on January 21st, 2026. 

According to the 2026 Unified Agenda entry for this rulemaking:  

“The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) is easing export controls on certain civil Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies, which currently need a license to be exported to most countries. In particular, this interim final rule (IFR): a) allows less sensitive UAVs namely, commercial UAVs with a maximum endurance of less than one hour, for which there is broad foreign availability to be exported to most Wassenaar Arrangement Participating States (Country Group A:1) without a license; and b) allows more capable non-military UAVs namely, certain long-range cargo delivery and agricultural spraying drones to be exported to certain U.S. partners and allies (Country Group A:5) under License Exception Strategic Trade Authorization (STA). Exports pursuant to License Exception STA are subject to notification and reporting requirements to ensure the security of the exports. BIS is making these changes pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14307 [link added], Unleashing American Drone Dominance.”” 

I will not be covering this rulemaking in any detail, but I do expect that notification of its publication in the Federal Register will be reported in the appropriate Short Takes post.