The Consumer Product Safety Commission has posted information on participating in the third biennial U.S.-China Consumer Product Safety Summit to take place October 21-26, 2009 in China.
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review is in the midst of its second National Dialogue. The review is a congressionally mandated, top-to-bottom review of homeland security. There are six study groups, focusing on: Counterterrorism and Domestic Security Management; Securing Our Borders; Smart and Tough Enforcement of Immigration Laws; Preparing for, Responding to, and Recovering from Disasters;
The DOT's Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that trade using surface transportation between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners Canada and Mexico was 31.5 percent lower in June 2009 than in June 2008, dropping to $50.8 billion in the sixth consecutive month with a year-to-year decline of greater than 27 percent. (Press Release, dated 08/31/09, available at http://www.bts.gov/press_releases/2009/bts041_09/html/bts041_09.html)
The Department of Homeland Security has issued a final rule which amends its regulations effective August 31, 2009 to exempt portions of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection system of record entitled the ''Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection-010 Persons Engaged in International Trade in Customs and Border Protection Licensed/Regulated Activities System of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act due to civil, criminal, and administrative enforcement requirements. Similar notices have been issued for new record systems for DHS/ICE,regulatory audit, and ACS among others. (D/N DHS-2009-0059, FR Pub 08/31/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20745.pdf)
The Transportation Security Administration's Aviation Security Advisory Committee will hold a meeting on September 10, 2009 in Arlington, VA to discuss, among other things, a Transportation System Sector Specific Plan update; Secure Flight Program update; Air Cargo Security-Update on 100% screening of air cargo; and other aviation security topics. (FR Pub 08/28/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20846.pdf)
The National Foreign Trade Council has announced the launch of a new Trade and Climate Working Group which will focus on trade and competitiveness-related aspects of U.S. and global climate policies. (News release, dated 08/03/09, available at http://www.nftc.org/newsflash/newsflash.asp?Mode=View&id=236&articleid=2875&category=All.)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is issuing a final rule, effective August 26, 2009, on its determinations that certain materials (such as certain paper, wood, ink, textiles) do not exceed the lead content limits specified in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. (See ITT's Online Archives or 08/21/09 news, 09082110, for BP summary detailing the final rule.)(FR Pub 08/26/09, available at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-20589.pdf)
The Port of Miami has issued an Information Bulletin reminding interested parties about CBP's policy on wood packing materials inspection procedures for the offloading of marked and unmarked vessel dunnage. (See ITT's Online Archives or 06/30/06 news, 06063000, for CBP's operating procedures for full enforcement of WPM regulations, including dunnage. See 07/14/06 news, 06071410, for CBP update to procedures.) (Information Bulletin, dated 08/20/09, No. 09-030 is available via email by sending a request to documents@brokerpower.com)
California's Energy Commission has proposed amendments to its Appliance Efficiency Regulations. Among other things, the amendments concern the efficiency of general service fluorescent lamps and general service incandescent lamps. (Amendments, dated November 2008, available at http://www.energy.ca.gov/2008publications/CEC-400-2008-020/CEC-400-2008-020-15DAY.PDF)
The Commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission have approved an interim final rule containing the CPSC's interpretation of the statutory and other civil penalty and mitigation factors that may be considered for "knowing" violations of the prohibited acts listed in the Consumer Product Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, as amended by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Commissioner statements are availablehere. In addition, CPSC has approved a notice withdrawing its related July 2006 proposed rule on civil penalty factors. (Interim Final Rule, dated 08/19/09, available at http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr09/civilpenaltyfactors-draft.pdf)