Short Takes – 3-4-23

MSIB: Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) reader rule delayed. Mariners.CoastGuard.blog post. Pull quote: “On December 23, 2022, the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) was signed into law, which includes section 11804(c) that delays implementation of Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Reader Requirements for covered facilities until at least May 8, 2026.”

Federal cyber grant funding for locals won’t last forever, state officials know. StateScoop.com article. Pull quote: “While cybersecurity officials hope the funding to be provided to state and local governments through the 2021 infrastructure law over the next several years will help them establish more cohesive, statewide strategies, state chief information security officers said Thursday they have limited time to improve their cyber maturity before those funds dry up.”

Notice of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Meeting. Federal Register DHS meeting notice. Summary: “CISA is publishing this notice to announce the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee (CSAC) Quarterly Meeting will meet virtually on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. This meeting will be partially closed to the public. Members of the public may join the public portion of the meeting by teleconference.” POC: CISA_CybersecurityAdvisoryCommittee@cisa.dhs.gov

Hazardous Materials: Adoption of Miscellaneous Petitions and Updating Regulatory Requirements. Federal Register PHMSA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Summary: “PHMSA proposes amendments to the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) to update, clarify, improve the safety of, or streamline various regulatory requirements. Specifically, this rulemaking responds to 18 petitions for rulemaking submitted by the regulated community between May 2018 and October 2020 that requests PHMSA address a variety of provisions, including but not limited to those addressing packaging, hazard communication, and the incorporation by reference of certain documents. These proposed revisions maintain or enhance the existing high level of safety under the HMR while providing clarity and appropriate regulatory flexibility in the transport of hazardous materials.” Comments due May 2^nd, 2023.

Preparing a Future Workforce in Quantum Information Science. Federal Register DOE Request for Information. Summary: “The rapidly emerging field of Quantum Information Science (QIS) has the potential to produce innovations in quantum computing, simulation, communication, sensing and other technologies which are critical to our nation's future economic and national security. As a new and strongly technology-oriented field, QIS requires a well-trained workforce to fill positions ranging from research and development to design and manufacturing. The Office of Science in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) invites input from higher education institutions on approaches needed to prepare students for careers related to QIS, including identification of opportunities where DOE's network of national laboratories could assist in training the future scientific and technological QIS workforce.” Comments due April 20^th, 2023.

EPA issues water cybersecurity mandates, concerning industry and experts. CyberScoop.com article. Pull quote: “The mandate is “a significant step forward to increase the cybersecurity Americans routinely rely on,” Anne Nueberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technology, said during a media briefing on Thursday. Furthermore, she said, it represents the ongoing work the administration is doing with the private sector “to share with them where we see gaps in cybersecurity, and how we can close those gaps.””

Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions. CBSNews.com article. Pull quote: “Video surveillance reviewed by investigators and officers showed a person, later identified as Karasev, approaching the area on a bicycle while wearing a backpack. The footage showed Karasev place the backpack at the bottom of the transformer box, appear to use an "ignition source," and then get back on the bicycle and ride off. Moments later, the backpack and transformer exploded. The transformer appeared to burn for several minutes before causing a large explosion.”