Electronic Vessel Manifest Confidentiality
Confidential Treatment of Vessel Manifest DataWhile U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) cannot guarantee that the identity of parties to importation and exportation will never be published, CBP strives to afford confidentiality based on the...
Top US Shippers: COVID-19 saps apparel, footwear supply chains
[caption caption="US clothing imports grew 3.5 percent to a record 1.74 million TEU in 2019, but volumes will likely erode this year due to depressed consumer demand. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption](The following story appears in the Top 100 US Importers and Exporters issue of the Journal of Commerce print magazine.)The onset...
ACE Enhancements
In February 2018, CBP deployed the last of the major scheduled core ACE deployments, marking a significant milestone for government and industry. All import manifest, cargo release, post release, export, and PGA integration functionality scheduled...
ACE Enhancements
In February 2018, CBP deployed the last of the major scheduled core ACE deployments, marking a significant milestone for government and industry. All import manifest, cargo release, post release, export, and PGA integration functionality scheduled...
ACE Enhancements
In February 2018, CBP deployed the last of the major scheduled core ACE deployments, marking a significant milestone for government and industry. All import manifest, cargo release, post release, export, and PGA integration functionality scheduled...
Top US Shippers: ‘Safe harbor’ tax credit boosts 2019 US solar imports
[caption caption="US imports of solar cells surged 129 percent to 165,366 TEU in 2019 as project developers rushed to beat a Dec. 31 tax credit deadline. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption](The following story appears in the Top 100 US Importers and Exporters issue of the Journal of Commerce print magazine.)US imports of...
EPA announces over $1.8 million for habitat restoration work at Rouge River Area of Concern
DETROIT (May 19, 2020) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) grant of $1,834,555 to the Alliance of Rouge Communities (ARC) for habitat restoration projects at Colonial Park and Venoy Dorsey Park along the Lower Rouge River in Wayne County, Michigan. The Rouge River has been identified as an Area of Concern (AOC), one of 43 areas experiencing severe environmental degradation identified by the United States and Canada in the Great Lakes basin.
“Thanks to GLRI funding, we can expect to see decreased flooding and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat in the Rouge River watershed,” said Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Kurt Thiede. “These projects will have a significant impact on the restoration of the Rouge River AOC.”
ARC will use GLRI funding to create and restore wetlands at Colonial Park and Venoy Dorsey Park in the highly urbanized Rouge River watershed. Both parks are used for recreation but are prone to frequent flooding. The new and enhanced wetlands will help manage floodwater and provide more habitat for fish and wildlife. Invasive plant species will also be treated and native species will be planted. Overall, the projects are expected to provide six acres of new wetlands, three acres of improved wetland habitat, five acres of native tree plantings and a half acre of new native meadow habitat.
“The ARC is excited to receive this GLRI grant from EPA to restore wetlands within the Wayne County Parks System at Colonial and Venoy Parks,” said Brandy Siedlaczek of the Alliance of Rouge Communities. “This project further expands and continues our partnership with EPA on restoring habitat in the Rouge River Watershed. The ARC also looks forward to working with Wayne County, an ARC member organization, on continuing their stewardship efforts.”
The Rouge River watershed contains the oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast Michigan. As a result, the river’s sediment and water have been contaminated by industrial discharges and combined and sanitary sewer overflows. Increased urbanization over the last century has resulted in declining water quality and exacerbated flood conditions.
These projects are part of the larger effort to restore and protect the Great Lakes through the GLRI. In October 2019, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the GLRI Action Plan III, an aggressive plan that will guide Great Lakes restoration and protection activities by EPA and its many partners over the next 5 years.
For more information: https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/rouge-river-aoc
“Thanks to GLRI funding, we can expect to see decreased flooding and enhanced fish and wildlife habitat in the Rouge River watershed,” said Regional Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Kurt Thiede. “These projects will have a significant impact on the restoration of the Rouge River AOC.”
ARC will use GLRI funding to create and restore wetlands at Colonial Park and Venoy Dorsey Park in the highly urbanized Rouge River watershed. Both parks are used for recreation but are prone to frequent flooding. The new and enhanced wetlands will help manage floodwater and provide more habitat for fish and wildlife. Invasive plant species will also be treated and native species will be planted. Overall, the projects are expected to provide six acres of new wetlands, three acres of improved wetland habitat, five acres of native tree plantings and a half acre of new native meadow habitat.
“The ARC is excited to receive this GLRI grant from EPA to restore wetlands within the Wayne County Parks System at Colonial and Venoy Parks,” said Brandy Siedlaczek of the Alliance of Rouge Communities. “This project further expands and continues our partnership with EPA on restoring habitat in the Rouge River Watershed. The ARC also looks forward to working with Wayne County, an ARC member organization, on continuing their stewardship efforts.”
The Rouge River watershed contains the oldest and most heavily populated and industrialized area in southeast Michigan. As a result, the river’s sediment and water have been contaminated by industrial discharges and combined and sanitary sewer overflows. Increased urbanization over the last century has resulted in declining water quality and exacerbated flood conditions.
These projects are part of the larger effort to restore and protect the Great Lakes through the GLRI. In October 2019, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the GLRI Action Plan III, an aggressive plan that will guide Great Lakes restoration and protection activities by EPA and its many partners over the next 5 years.
For more information: https://www.epa.gov/great-lakes-aocs/rouge-river-aoc
EPA Proposes First Ever Rule to Improve Transparency of Guidance
WASHINGTON (May 19, 2020) — Today, as directed by President Trump’s Executive Order to promote transparency through improved agency guidance, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing its first-ever proposed rule to establish consistent requirements and procedures for the issuance of guidance documents.
“For the first time ever, EPA is proposing a rule that codifies procedures to ensure the public can engage in the development and review of agency guidance,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Historically, EPA has issued many more guidance documents than most federal agencies. Today’s action is a major step toward increasing transparency in EPA processes and ensuring that EPA is not creating new regulatory obligations through guidance.”
This new rule will significantly increase the transparency of EPA’s practices around guidance and will improve the agency’s process for managing guidance documents. When final, the rule will:
Establish the first formal petition process for the public to request that EPA modify or withdraw a guidance document; and
Ensure that the agency’s guidance documents are developed with appropriate review and are accessible and transparent to the public; and
Provide for public participation in the development of significant guidance documents.
On October 9, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order 13891, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents, to promote transparency by ensuring that all active guidance documents are made available to the public. A central principle of EO 13891 is that guidance documents should only clarify existing obligations and that they should not be a vehicle for implementing new, binding requirements on the public. Guidance documents can significantly impact the public and EO 13891 recognizes that these documents warrant a thorough review prior to issuance. In addition to today’s action, on February 28, 2020, EPA launched a new guidance portal that provides public access to agency guidance documents.
The proposed rule will be open for public comment 30 days after it publishes in the Federal Register.
For additional information on the proposed rule: https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/proposed-rulemaking-epa-guidance-administrative-procedures-issuance-and-public
To access the guidance portal: https://www.epa.gov/guidance
“For the first time ever, EPA is proposing a rule that codifies procedures to ensure the public can engage in the development and review of agency guidance,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “Historically, EPA has issued many more guidance documents than most federal agencies. Today’s action is a major step toward increasing transparency in EPA processes and ensuring that EPA is not creating new regulatory obligations through guidance.”
This new rule will significantly increase the transparency of EPA’s practices around guidance and will improve the agency’s process for managing guidance documents. When final, the rule will:
Establish the first formal petition process for the public to request that EPA modify or withdraw a guidance document; and
Ensure that the agency’s guidance documents are developed with appropriate review and are accessible and transparent to the public; and
Provide for public participation in the development of significant guidance documents.
On October 9, 2019, President Trump issued Executive Order 13891, Promoting the Rule of Law Through Improved Agency Guidance Documents, to promote transparency by ensuring that all active guidance documents are made available to the public. A central principle of EO 13891 is that guidance documents should only clarify existing obligations and that they should not be a vehicle for implementing new, binding requirements on the public. Guidance documents can significantly impact the public and EO 13891 recognizes that these documents warrant a thorough review prior to issuance. In addition to today’s action, on February 28, 2020, EPA launched a new guidance portal that provides public access to agency guidance documents.
The proposed rule will be open for public comment 30 days after it publishes in the Federal Register.
For additional information on the proposed rule: https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/proposed-rulemaking-epa-guidance-administrative-procedures-issuance-and-public
To access the guidance portal: https://www.epa.gov/guidance