Short Takes – 11-8-23

Lucy continues to surprise astronomers with its first flyby. ArsTechnica.com article. Pull quote: “A few days ago, the Daily Telescope reported that the Lucy spacecraft had found not one but two asteroids during its flyby of the small main-belt asteroid Dinkinesh. It turns out that was not the whole story. Subsequent data downlinked from the spacecraft revealed that the smaller of the two asteroids is a contact binary—two smaller asteroids in contact with one another.”

Underground petroleum storage tank violations result in fines for several businesses. HazardExOnTheNet.net article. Pull quote: “When not properly operated and maintained, underground storage tanks (USTs) can leak petroleum and other hazardous substances, threatening soil and water quality. These regulations prevent and detect fuel releases that could contaminate groundwater and pose risks to people’s health and the environment.”

House Republicans don't want a government shutdown, but there's still no plan. NBCNews.com article. Pull quote: “House Republicans are all over the map when it comes to how a short-term stopgap bill, known as a continuing resolution, or CR, should be structured. Most of them, however, agree that shutting the government down on Nov. 17 would be a bad idea and would cause more internal GOP strife. Further, a shutdown would be a huge distraction as the party tries to pass its remaining funding bills to set up a negotiation with the Senate on longer-term spending.”

CSB Reactive Hazard Study Survey of Industry Practices. Federal Register CSB 30-day ICR Notice. Pull quote: “This information collection request will assist the CSB in updating its 2002 study, “Hazard Investigation: Improving Reactive Hazard Management.” On behalf of the CSB, the Federal Research Division (FRD) within the Library of Congress is conducting the study to compile current research, data, and company safety policies concerning reactive chemical incidents.” Comment deadline: December 8, 2023. I discussed 60-day ICR notice.

Incorporation by Reference; North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria; Hazardous Materials Safety Permits. Federal Register FMCSA final rule. Summary: “FMCSA amends its Hazardous Materials Safety Permit (HMSP) regulations to incorporate by reference the updated Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) handbook containing inspection procedures and out-of-service criteria (OOSC) for inspections of shipments of transuranic waste and highway route-controlled quantities (HRCQs) of radioactive material (RAM). The OOSC provide enforcement personnel nationwide, including FMCSA's State partners, with uniform enforcement tolerances for inspections. Currently, the regulations reference the April 1, 2022, edition of the handbook. Through this rule, FMCSA incorporates by reference the April 1, 2023, edition.”