Short Takes – 2-10-26 – Federal Register Edition

Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations; Reopening of Comment Period; Denial of Extension. Federal Register FAA extension denial. Summary: “This action denies requests for extension of the reopening [link added] of the comment period for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Normalizing Unmanned Aircraft Systems Beyond Visual Line of Sight Operations” that was published in the Federal Register on January 28, 2026.”

Agency Information Collection Activities; Notice and Request for Comment; Distraction: Modern Voice Command Interfaces. Federal Register NHTSA 60-day ICR notice for new ICR. Summary: “This document describes a collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval to conduct research on safety-related aspects of voice command interfaces (VCIs), specifically how VCIs affect distracted driving behavior and cognitive workload.”

Reduction in Force Appeals. Federal Register OPM notice of proposed rulemaking. Summary: “The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to revise its regulations governing appeals of reduction-in-force (RIF) actions. OPM proposes to transfer appeal rights for employees who have been furloughed more than 30 days, separated, or demoted by a RIF action from the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) to OPM. OPM expects this change will promote greater efficiency and reduce costs to agencies in effectuating RIF actions, which may be necessary in a variety of circumstances, such as to eliminate duplicative or unnecessary functions or align agency workforces with new technology, changing mission needs, or budgetary constraints.”

Hazardous Materials: Preemption Application From Exxon Mobil Corporation; Extension of Comment Period. Federal Register PHMSA extension of comment period. Summary: “PHMSA is extending the period for comments on Exxon Mobil Corporation's application for an administrative determination as to whether the Federal hazardous material transportation law (HMTA) preempts certain state common law tort claims against it regarding the marking, employee training, loading and unloading, and hazardous material classification for gasoline transported by cargo tank motor vehicle.”