New regs for Monday: Coal dust, fire safety standards on airplanes, malaria drugs

Monday’s edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for coal miners who are exposed to harmful dust, fire safety standards on airplanes, and the development of pharmaceutical drugs to treat tropic diseases such as malaria.

Here’s what is happening:

Coal: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is moving forward with new rules intended to lower miners’ exposure to coal mine dust, the agency said Thursday.

{mosads}The MSHA announced a plan to require coal miners to wear continuous personal dust monitors in May, so the agency could collect information on their exposure rates as it considers how to best address the problem.

On Thursday, the White House’s Office of Management and Budget approved the information collection request from MSHA, which goes into effect on Aug. 1.

Fire! The Federal Aviation Administration is looking to upgrade its fire safety standards on some airplanes, the agency announced Thursday.

The rules would establish new fire safety standards for the cargo compartments on airplanes, which would bring the U.S. standards in line with those of European regulators.

The public has 90 days to comment.

Pharmaceuticals: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking to encourage the development of drugs to treat or prevent neglected tropical diseases in the developing world, the agency said Thursday.

The FDA is issuing new guidance, detailing the procedures pharmaceutical companies should undertake when developing these drugs, including rules for clinical trial designs and internal review standards.

Some well-recognized tropical diseases include leprosy, malaria, and tuberculosis.

Sanctions: The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning government officials from the Central African Republican, including two of the country’s former presidents and the leader of a rebel group. 

The sanctions go into effect immediately and block U.S. banks from doing business with these people.

IRS: The Internal Revenue Service is correcting errors made in a rule it published in May regarding the tax treatment of health insurance payments from qualified retirement plans, the agency announced Thursday.