"An interagency panel created to weigh new chemical safety regulations in response to last April’s deadly explosion in Texas is considering a major overhaul of the way volatile substances are handled and stored, a new federal document shows."

"The Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, a task force made up of top-level officials from a variety of federal agencies, is asking for feedback on an array of potential new rules that could help avert future disasters.

The agencies offer nine sets of options across several categories, including mandatory — rather than voluntary — new safeguards. The regulations could include a shift to inherently safer technologies and the creation of a third-party audit system."

Ben Goad reports for The Hill's RegWatch blog January 6, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Federal Agencies Aim To Prevent The Next Deadly Chemical Plant Explosion" (Huffington Post) [3]

"U.S. Farmers to Drillers May Need to Report Chemicals" (Bloomberg) [4]

"Executive Order 13650, Section 6(a) – Solicitation of Public Input on Options for Policy, Regulation, and Standards Modernization" (OSHA) [5]