Congress Must Act to Fully Fund WIC in 2024, Or Risk Nutrition Security for Millions of Women, Infants and Children
WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2023 – The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provided vital nutrition assistance to nearly 6.7 million pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young children across the country in September of this year (see table). For the past 25 years, Congress, on a bipartisan basis, has committed to fully funding WIC to serve every eligible pregnant woman, infant, mother, and child who applies. But this year, despite repeated Administration requests, Congress has yet to fully fund this vital program.
Truckers fighting ILWU, LA-LB terminal operators over chassis paperwork proposal
Truckers say implementing the measure would push average truck turn times in Los Angeles and Long Beach, already among the highest in the US, even higher.
QB 24-106 2024 Peru TPA
Commodity:
Agricultural Products described in Chapter 98, Subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 28; and Chapter 99, Subchapter XVII, U.S. Notes 1 through 5 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
Quota Period:
January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024…
Agricultural Products described in Chapter 98, Subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 28; and Chapter 99, Subchapter XVII, U.S. Notes 1 through 5 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
Quota Period:
January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024…
QB 24-111 USMCA TPL Mexico
Commodity:
Certain Cotton, Wool and Man-made Fiber textile products, as provided for in Chapter 98, Sub-chapter XXIII, of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
Quota Period:
January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
Opening…
Certain Cotton, Wool and Man-made Fiber textile products, as provided for in Chapter 98, Sub-chapter XXIII, of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States.
Quota Period:
January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024
Opening…
EPA Mid-Atlantic Administrator Offers Tips for an Environmentally-Friendly Holiday
EPA’s Mid-Atlantic Administrator Adam Ortiz is offering reminders and tips on how to reduce waste and keep holiday celebrations as sustainable as possible.
“This is the best time of year to get back to the basics: reduce, reuse, and recycle,“ said Ortiz. “Regardless of what – or how – you may celebrate, a few simple things can help keep your holiday season a little greener, cleaner, and safer.”
With more people traveling for the holidays, fossil fuel powered transportation can create harmful emissions and poor air quality across the region. Ortiz encourages those traveling on busy roads or highways to try to plan outdoor activities for off-peak travel hours or non-holiday travel days. Whenever possible, try to use mass transit or carpool with relatives or friends.
Gift Giving and Wrapping
Whether shopping in person or online, there are several ways to reduce impact. Bringing reusable bags on shopping trips, opting out of gift boxes, and choosing wrapping paper that’s easily recycled are all ways to make smart shopping choices this time of year. Consider gifting experiences or activities over tangible items. Choose gift bags or wrap in fabric or recycled newspaper when possible. And lastly, if shopping online, combine mailings to reduce shipping resources when able.
“There are plenty of ways we can each do our part, not only during the holiday season, but all year,” reminds Ortiz. “Like all good habits, these little actions certainly add up over time for a bigger impact on the environment.”
Healthy Air Quality During the Holidays
Smoke from wood stoves and outdoor fire pits can create poor air quality that can hurt your health. Before roasting chestnuts over an open fire, Ortiz recommends that people ensure there is plenty of fresh air or adequate ventilation in indoor or outdoor cooking areas. “If you’re hosting large gatherings or overnight visitors, be sure to check and replace your indoor air filters or consider purchasing an indoor air purifier for rooms used for sleeping or gathering,” said Ortiz. “You can always check your local air quality at https://www.airnow.gov/.”
Reducing Holiday Waste
Store food leftovers in reusable containers or freeze them if you don’t think they’ll get eaten right away. Use gift wrapping paper or bags that can be recycled. Swap paper for reusable cloth or decorate with old newspaper as giftwrap instead. Avoid wrapping papers with plastic coatings, ribbons, or glitter – these materials use more resource to manufacture and are not typically recyclable.
Check out other helpful tips on preventing food waste.
“This is the best time of year to get back to the basics: reduce, reuse, and recycle,“ said Ortiz. “Regardless of what – or how – you may celebrate, a few simple things can help keep your holiday season a little greener, cleaner, and safer.”
With more people traveling for the holidays, fossil fuel powered transportation can create harmful emissions and poor air quality across the region. Ortiz encourages those traveling on busy roads or highways to try to plan outdoor activities for off-peak travel hours or non-holiday travel days. Whenever possible, try to use mass transit or carpool with relatives or friends.
Gift Giving and Wrapping
Whether shopping in person or online, there are several ways to reduce impact. Bringing reusable bags on shopping trips, opting out of gift boxes, and choosing wrapping paper that’s easily recycled are all ways to make smart shopping choices this time of year. Consider gifting experiences or activities over tangible items. Choose gift bags or wrap in fabric or recycled newspaper when possible. And lastly, if shopping online, combine mailings to reduce shipping resources when able.
“There are plenty of ways we can each do our part, not only during the holiday season, but all year,” reminds Ortiz. “Like all good habits, these little actions certainly add up over time for a bigger impact on the environment.”
Healthy Air Quality During the Holidays
Smoke from wood stoves and outdoor fire pits can create poor air quality that can hurt your health. Before roasting chestnuts over an open fire, Ortiz recommends that people ensure there is plenty of fresh air or adequate ventilation in indoor or outdoor cooking areas. “If you’re hosting large gatherings or overnight visitors, be sure to check and replace your indoor air filters or consider purchasing an indoor air purifier for rooms used for sleeping or gathering,” said Ortiz. “You can always check your local air quality at https://www.airnow.gov/.”
Reducing Holiday Waste
Store food leftovers in reusable containers or freeze them if you don’t think they’ll get eaten right away. Use gift wrapping paper or bags that can be recycled. Swap paper for reusable cloth or decorate with old newspaper as giftwrap instead. Avoid wrapping papers with plastic coatings, ribbons, or glitter – these materials use more resource to manufacture and are not typically recyclable.
Check out other helpful tips on preventing food waste.
EPA Finalizes $585,000 Settlement with Lakeshore Railcar & Tanker Services in East Chicago, Indiana, for Alleged Violations of the Clean Water Act
Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, or IDEM, announced a $585,000 settlement with Lakeshore Railcar & Tanker Services LLC, a railcar cleaning and servicing facility in East Chicago, Indiana, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.
EPA and IDEM alleged that Lakeshore Railcar failed to comply with the discharge limitations and monitoring requirements of both its industrial wastewater discharge permit and the EPA-approved pretreatment program for the city. Until recently, Lakeshore Railcar was an industrial user of the publicly owned wastewater treatment plant in East Chicago. As an industrial user, the company was required to pretreat its wastewater to reduce pollutants—including cyanide—below certain limits prior to discharging the wastewater to the public sewer system. Between April 2017 and May 2023, Lakeshore violated the discharge limit for cyanide 31 times. Lakeshore Railcar also failed to follow EPA-approved methods for measuring the amount of cyanide in its wastewater discharge. Lakeshore Railcar’s violations posed a potential risk to the Grand Calumet River, as well as Lake Michigan seven miles downstream.
Prior to signing the settlement, Lakeshore Railcar stopped generating and discharging industrial wastewater to the East Chicago plant and dismantled its wastewater pretreatment operation. The settlement requires Lakeshore Railcar to pay a $585,000 penalty to the federal and state governments to resolve the alleged violations.
For more information on the Clean Water Act, click here.
EPA and IDEM alleged that Lakeshore Railcar failed to comply with the discharge limitations and monitoring requirements of both its industrial wastewater discharge permit and the EPA-approved pretreatment program for the city. Until recently, Lakeshore Railcar was an industrial user of the publicly owned wastewater treatment plant in East Chicago. As an industrial user, the company was required to pretreat its wastewater to reduce pollutants—including cyanide—below certain limits prior to discharging the wastewater to the public sewer system. Between April 2017 and May 2023, Lakeshore violated the discharge limit for cyanide 31 times. Lakeshore Railcar also failed to follow EPA-approved methods for measuring the amount of cyanide in its wastewater discharge. Lakeshore Railcar’s violations posed a potential risk to the Grand Calumet River, as well as Lake Michigan seven miles downstream.
Prior to signing the settlement, Lakeshore Railcar stopped generating and discharging industrial wastewater to the East Chicago plant and dismantled its wastewater pretreatment operation. The settlement requires Lakeshore Railcar to pay a $585,000 penalty to the federal and state governments to resolve the alleged violations.
For more information on the Clean Water Act, click here.
North Carolina port expands reefer operations with cold treatment facility
The facility sets up the Port of Wilmington to become a key point of entry for importers of refrigerated blueberries, grapes, apples, pears, citrus and a broad variety of organics.
Shifting geopolitics, climate and labor rachet up risk for container shipping
Container shipping is hardly the only industry to feel the impact of organized labor’s bargaining power, nor is it unique in dealing with heightened geopolitical flashpoints or regulatory pressures tied to decarbonization, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.