Short Takes – 1-31-26 – Federal Register Edition

Hazardous Materials: Request for Feedback on Hazmat Transportation Risks: Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles Versus Internal Combustion Engine Motor Carriers. Federal Register PHMSA request for information. Summary: “The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) seeks public input on the safety risks, operational challenges, and regulatory considerations associated with transporting hazardous materials (hazmat) using heavy-duty electric vehicles (EVs) compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) motor carriers (i.e., gas or diesel). PHMSA aims to understand what impact the transition from ICE to EV motor carriers may have on hazmat packaging integrity, transportation safety, emergency response protocols, regulatory compliance, and overall vehicle risk. PHMSA may use the information gathered to develop a statement of work for further research into the safety of transporting hazardous materials in EVs.”

Categorical Exclusion for Advanced Nuclear Reactors. Federal Register DOE categorical exception notice. Summary: “The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is establishing a categorical exclusion for authorization, siting, construction, operation, reauthorization, and decommissioning of advanced nuclear reactors for inclusion in its National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) implementing procedures. DOE is including the categorical exclusion in the component of its NEPA implementing procedures that it maintains outside of the Code of Federal Regulations. The new categorical exclusion is based on the experience of DOE and other Federal agencies, current technologies, regulatory requirements, and accepted industry practice.”

Best Practices Webinar Series Presented by the National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety. Federal Register PHMSA webinar notice. Summary: “The National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety (National LNG Center) will host a series of informational webinars on best practices for LNG safety, titled “Prioritizing Safety: Best Practices in LNG.” The webinars are free, will be hosted virtually, and will require advance registration. The series will be held monthly using Zoom. Each webinar will be one hour in length and will be recorded. The National LNG Center will provide electronic access to all materials, including recordings, transcripts, and presentations, after conclusion of each webinar. The webinars will cover a different best practice each session.”

Clearance of Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Small Unmanned Aircraft Registration System. Federal Register FAA 30-day ICR renewal notice. Summary: “In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 23, 2025. The collection involves inputting minimal information into a database to register small, unmanned aircraft. Aircraft registration is necessary to ensure personal accountability among all users of the National Airspace System (NAS). Aircraft registration also allows the FAA and law enforcement agencies to address non-compliance by providing the means for identifying an aircraft's owner and operator. This collection also permits individuals to de-register or update their record in the registration database.”

EO 14377 - Addressing State and Local Failures to Rebuild Los Angeles After Wildfire Disasters. Federal Register.

EO 14378 - Continuance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council. Federal Register.