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Monthly Archives: May 2008

EPA amending the F019 hazardous waste listing to facilitate the use of aluminum in automobiles

News release: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is amending the F019 hazardous waste listing to facilitate the use of aluminum in automobiles, light trucks and utility vehicles. This action will encourage motor vehicle manufacturers to use more aluminum parts, producing vehicles that are lighter. Lighter vehicles are capable of increased gas mileage and decreased exhaust air emissions, including greenhouse gas emissions.

F019 is one of EPA’s F-code Resource Conservation and Recovery Act hazardous waste listings, which include waste that is generated from common industrial and manufacturing processes. The amendment excludes from hazardous waste regulation F019 waste generated in the auto manufacturing industry provided the waste: 1) is not placed outside on the land prior to shipment to a landfill for disposal; and 2) is disposed of at an appropriately lined landfill. EPA has determined that these changes to the F019 listing are protective of human health and the environment. The final rule should be published in the Federal Register in about two weeks.”

Quarterly Agricultural Export Forecast – May 2008

“FAS [Foreign Agricultural Service] provides summaries of the latest USDA quarterly forecasts for U.S. trade in agricultural products and a link to the joint FAS/ERS publication Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade. These outlook materials are updated in February, May, August and November.” Download the charts in PowerPoint View the charts with Adobe Acrobat Reader Continue Reading

WSJ: Cancer Scientists Lament Funding

Cancer Scientists Lament Funding, by Marilyn Chase: “Leading U.S. cancer scientists say that five years of flat federal funding of cancer research is threatening to undo major strides made against the disease. Nancy Davidson, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, said researchers had experienced a $500 million decline in real spending during “the… Continue Reading

GAO Reports: Aboveground Oil Storage Tanks, DOD Health Care, Federal User Fees, Military Readiness

Aboveground Oil Storage Tanks: More Complete Facility Data Could Improve Implementation of EPA’s Spill Prevention Program, GAO-08-482, April 30, 2008 DOD Health Care: Mental Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Screening Efforts Implemented, but Consistent Pre-Deployment Medical Record Review Policies Needed, GAO-08-615, May 30, 2008 Federal User Fees: A Design Guide, GAO-08-386SP, May 29, 2008 Information… Continue Reading

CDT Issues Privacy Principles for Digital Watermarking

News release: “CDT today released a paper offering a set of principles for addressing potential privacy considerations when deploying digital watermarking technology. This technology embeds information within the content of digital media files in a form that is machine readable but often imperceptible to humans. Digital watermarking has a variety of applications and is increasingly… Continue Reading

NSTC & CCSP Release Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Climate Change on the United States

News release: “The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), together with the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), today announced the release of a scientific assessment of the effects of global change on the United States, with special emphasis on climate change…Accompanying the scientific assessment is an updated research plan for the U.S. Climate Change… Continue Reading

CBO: Federal Spending on Medicare and Medicaid, Health Care and Behavioral Economics

Accounting for Sources of Projected Growth in Federal Spending on Medicare and Medicaid, May 29, 2008. “Economic and Budget Issue Brief: “According to projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal spending on Medicare and Medicaid will grow from 4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2007 to 9 percent in 2032 and 19… Continue Reading

CFTC Announces Multiple Energy Market Initiatives

News release: “The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC or Commission) today announced a number of initiatives to increase transparency of the energy futures markets. The measures will expand the amount and quality of information received from energy traders to further the integrity and oversight of our nation’s futures markets. The recent dramatic increases in… Continue Reading