QB 24-105 CAFTA Textile Cumulation Goods
Commodities:
Apparel goods of chapter 62, cut or knit-to-shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled in a CAFTA-DR country, utilizing materials from Mexico, as provided for in chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21
Quota Period:
January 1, 2023,…
Apparel goods of chapter 62, cut or knit-to-shape, and sewn or otherwise assembled in a CAFTA-DR country, utilizing materials from Mexico, as provided for in chapter 98, subchapter XXII, U.S. Note 21
Quota Period:
January 1, 2023,…
QB 24-217 Chocolate Crumb
Commodity:
Chocolate and Chocolate Crumb provided for in Chapter 18, additional U.S. Note 3 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The aggregate quantity of chocolate and low-fat chocolate crumb containing 5.5 percent or less by weight of butterfat (…
Chocolate and Chocolate Crumb provided for in Chapter 18, additional U.S. Note 3 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule. The aggregate quantity of chocolate and low-fat chocolate crumb containing 5.5 percent or less by weight of butterfat (…
QB 24-216 Chocolate
Commodity:
Chocolate provided for in Chapter 18, additional U.S. Note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule The aggregate quantity of chocolate containing over 5.5 percent by weight of butterfat (excluding articles for consumption at retail as…
Chocolate provided for in Chapter 18, additional U.S. Note 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule The aggregate quantity of chocolate containing over 5.5 percent by weight of butterfat (excluding articles for consumption at retail as…
EAPA Action: Notice of Determination as to Evasion for EAPA Cons Case 7785 – Cast Iron Soil Pipe and Cast Iron Soil Pipe Fittings
WASHINGTON— On October 30, 2023, CBP issued the notice of determination as to evasion for EAPA consolidated case 7785 filed by the Cast Iron Soil Pipe Institute against U.S. importer LDL Trading Company (LDL) for evasion of the applicable AD/CVD…
India-US contract rates hit fresh lows despite lower capacity from sailing cuts
Given the persistent downward pressure on demand, it remains to be seen if India-US carriers will be able to push through a new round of modest rate hikes planned for December.
EPA Announces Final Cleanup Plan for Radio Materials Corp. Site in Attica, Indiana
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the final cleanup plan for the remaining groundwater and soil contamination at the former Radio Materials Corp. site at 1095 East Summit St., Attica, Indiana. The plan includes permeable reactive barriers to contain and treat contaminated materials.
EPA’s final decision document also includes a plan for long-term monitoring of the area and completing soil and groundwater testing as needed. Long-term maintenance will include the implementation of institutional controls for building use restrictions at the site, as well as legal mechanisms to restrict use of soil and groundwater.
Through soil and groundwater investigations at the property, EPA determined that chlorinated volatile organic compounds had been released into the soil and groundwater. This contamination had the potential to vaporize into the air and enter nearby homes, creating a vapor intrusion risk to residents in neighborhoods west of the facility. Since 2008, EPA has overseen implementation of short-term interim measures at and near the facility, including installation of a city drinking water treatment system, a hydraulic containment and treatment system for contaminated groundwater, and vapor intrusion mitigation systems in homes west of the facility. The hydraulic containment and treatment system was retired on October 31, 2022, following the construction of a permeable reactive barrier system, which is now incorporated into the final cleanup plan.
EPA’s final decision and response to comments details the final cleanup plan for the Radio Materials Corp. property. Before finalizing the cleanup plan, EPA held a 30-day public comment period. All comments received during that period are addressed in the final decision document.
Please visit the EPA RMC website for more information and to review the cleanup plan.
EPA’s final decision document also includes a plan for long-term monitoring of the area and completing soil and groundwater testing as needed. Long-term maintenance will include the implementation of institutional controls for building use restrictions at the site, as well as legal mechanisms to restrict use of soil and groundwater.
Through soil and groundwater investigations at the property, EPA determined that chlorinated volatile organic compounds had been released into the soil and groundwater. This contamination had the potential to vaporize into the air and enter nearby homes, creating a vapor intrusion risk to residents in neighborhoods west of the facility. Since 2008, EPA has overseen implementation of short-term interim measures at and near the facility, including installation of a city drinking water treatment system, a hydraulic containment and treatment system for contaminated groundwater, and vapor intrusion mitigation systems in homes west of the facility. The hydraulic containment and treatment system was retired on October 31, 2022, following the construction of a permeable reactive barrier system, which is now incorporated into the final cleanup plan.
EPA’s final decision and response to comments details the final cleanup plan for the Radio Materials Corp. property. Before finalizing the cleanup plan, EPA held a 30-day public comment period. All comments received during that period are addressed in the final decision document.
Please visit the EPA RMC website for more information and to review the cleanup plan.
EPA ensuring community's right to know through two Rhode Island settlements
BOSTON (Nov. 28, 2023) – Under recently proposed settlements with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, two Rhode Island companies will be required to pay penalties and comply with EPA's Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) reporting requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the process hazard review (PHR) requirement of the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act at their respective facilities for their uses of anhydrous ammonia and metals. These settlements further protect communities, employees, first responders, and the environment from accidental hazardous exposure through raised awareness.
"The safety and wellbeing of New England communities is our top priority. EPA oversight practices are designed to protect and inform local stakeholders, making it important that companies are following and operating in line with environmental laws and regulations," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This settlement, which will strengthen public safety, highlights accident prevention and the community's right to know about chemicals in their environment. We take these responsibilities seriously, especially to protect local populations that face disproportionate environmental risks in New England."
W.R. Cobb, a jewelry component manufacturer located in East Providence, Rhode Island, has agreed to pay a penalty of $108,900 for alleged violations of EPCRA TRI reporting requirements and the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act. The company, which uses anhydrous ammonia in its manufacturing processes, failed to file TRI reports for the facility's use of anhydrous ammonia during the calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Additionally, W.R. Cobb failed to conduct a PHR for the facility's use of anhydrous ammonia as required by the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act. Though an efficient and effective refrigerant, anhydrous ammonia has toxic properties than can be corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs when exposed. Further, nearly 10,000 people live within a one-mile radius of the facility. After EPA provided notice in August of 2021, the company filed all three missing TRI reports and completed a PHR.
Separately, EPA settled an action with Millard Wire, a Warwick, Rhode Island- based custom metal wire and metal strip manufacturing facility, for violations of EPCRA reporting requirements and the process hazard review requirement of the Clean Air Act. These violations stem from Millard Wire's storage and use of anhydrous ammonia and its processing of copper and nickel metals. The company was required to submit TRI forms for the facility's use and processing of ammonia, copper, and nickel at the facility. The company also failed to submit "Tier II" forms to the local emergency planning committee, the state emergency response commission, and the local fire department, as required under EPCRA. These requirements are important for transparency and for the safety of first responders. Additionally, the company failed to conduct a PHR, as required under the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act, for its use of anhydrous ammonia. Millard Wire corrected these violations based on EPA's notification, providing the required PHR, submitting Tier II forms, and filing its missing TRI forms for ammonia, copper, and nickel. Millard Wire agreed to pay a penalty of $170,261 and comply with EPCRA and the Clean Air Act.
Background
Under federal TRI regulations, companies that use certain listed chemicals must report their chemical releases each year to EPA. This information serves as the basis for the Toxic Release Inventory, which is a collection of data that can be readily reviewed by communities, government, and industry. With the information being publicly available, companies have an incentive to reduce harmful chemical use and improve their environmental performance. TRI reporting informs surrounding communities about a facility's toxic chemicals that could potentially harm public health and the environment and offers transparency.
EPCRA Tier II submissions are required to adequately inform local officials and responders of the presence of hazardous chemicals in the case of an emergency. This information is also available to the public, upon request, so that members of the public can be informed of the presence of hazardous chemicals in their communities.
The General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act aims to prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous chemicals and minimize the consequences of any such releases. Under this provision, owners and operators of facilities that store or use extremely hazardous chemicals have the duty, among others, to identify hazards that may result from a release and document this analysis in a PHR.
More information:
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Toxic Release Inventory
General Duty Clause
"The safety and wellbeing of New England communities is our top priority. EPA oversight practices are designed to protect and inform local stakeholders, making it important that companies are following and operating in line with environmental laws and regulations," said EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash. "This settlement, which will strengthen public safety, highlights accident prevention and the community's right to know about chemicals in their environment. We take these responsibilities seriously, especially to protect local populations that face disproportionate environmental risks in New England."
W.R. Cobb, a jewelry component manufacturer located in East Providence, Rhode Island, has agreed to pay a penalty of $108,900 for alleged violations of EPCRA TRI reporting requirements and the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act. The company, which uses anhydrous ammonia in its manufacturing processes, failed to file TRI reports for the facility's use of anhydrous ammonia during the calendar years 2018, 2019, and 2020. Additionally, W.R. Cobb failed to conduct a PHR for the facility's use of anhydrous ammonia as required by the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act. Though an efficient and effective refrigerant, anhydrous ammonia has toxic properties than can be corrosive to the skin, eyes and lungs when exposed. Further, nearly 10,000 people live within a one-mile radius of the facility. After EPA provided notice in August of 2021, the company filed all three missing TRI reports and completed a PHR.
Separately, EPA settled an action with Millard Wire, a Warwick, Rhode Island- based custom metal wire and metal strip manufacturing facility, for violations of EPCRA reporting requirements and the process hazard review requirement of the Clean Air Act. These violations stem from Millard Wire's storage and use of anhydrous ammonia and its processing of copper and nickel metals. The company was required to submit TRI forms for the facility's use and processing of ammonia, copper, and nickel at the facility. The company also failed to submit "Tier II" forms to the local emergency planning committee, the state emergency response commission, and the local fire department, as required under EPCRA. These requirements are important for transparency and for the safety of first responders. Additionally, the company failed to conduct a PHR, as required under the General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act, for its use of anhydrous ammonia. Millard Wire corrected these violations based on EPA's notification, providing the required PHR, submitting Tier II forms, and filing its missing TRI forms for ammonia, copper, and nickel. Millard Wire agreed to pay a penalty of $170,261 and comply with EPCRA and the Clean Air Act.
Background
Under federal TRI regulations, companies that use certain listed chemicals must report their chemical releases each year to EPA. This information serves as the basis for the Toxic Release Inventory, which is a collection of data that can be readily reviewed by communities, government, and industry. With the information being publicly available, companies have an incentive to reduce harmful chemical use and improve their environmental performance. TRI reporting informs surrounding communities about a facility's toxic chemicals that could potentially harm public health and the environment and offers transparency.
EPCRA Tier II submissions are required to adequately inform local officials and responders of the presence of hazardous chemicals in the case of an emergency. This information is also available to the public, upon request, so that members of the public can be informed of the presence of hazardous chemicals in their communities.
The General Duty Clause of the Clean Air Act aims to prevent the accidental release of extremely hazardous chemicals and minimize the consequences of any such releases. Under this provision, owners and operators of facilities that store or use extremely hazardous chemicals have the duty, among others, to identify hazards that may result from a release and document this analysis in a PHR.
More information:
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
Toxic Release Inventory
General Duty Clause
ONE readies India-US East Coast service as part of 2024 network rollout
The carrier is looking to expand beyond its two current services jointly offered with other liners with a standalone service meant to take advantage of the growing shift in sourcing from India.