Low rates, poor service to mark trans-Pacific trade amid capacity boom
Although importers can look forward to paying low freight rates at least into 2024 due to weak volumes and significant over-capacity in the trans-Pacific, aggressive capacity reductions through blank sailings will disrupt service levels, this week’s IANA conference was told.
QB 23-407 2024 AGOA Limits
Commodity:
Qualifying goods from designated sub-Saharan African countries that have satisfied the requirements under the provisions of AGOA.
October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
Opening Date:
Monday, October 2, 2023.
Restraint Level:…
Qualifying goods from designated sub-Saharan African countries that have satisfied the requirements under the provisions of AGOA.
October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.
Opening Date:
Monday, October 2, 2023.
Restraint Level:…
Ocean carriers on India-US trade cut sailings to keep rates afloat
The Indamex 2, the weekly loop touted as the fastest connection between West India and the US East Coast, is set to see a 50% capacity reduction for loads out of India in this month.
EPA Region 3 Celebrates Electric School Bus Delivery in Wirt County, West Virginia
On Thursday September 14, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 3 celebrated the first electric school bus delivered to Wirt County Schools through the Agency’s 2022 Clean School Bus Rebate Program. The District (in partnership with Matheny Motor) was one of three (3) West Virginia schools benefitting from the 2022 EPA Clean School Bus Rebate competition under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Attendees included EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz, officials from Wirt County Schools, Matheny Motors (rebate recipient), the Town of Elizabeth, Moms Clean Air Force, WV Department of Education, Thomas Built Bus, WV Department of Environmental Protection, and representatives from the offices of Senators Manchin and Capito. Hundreds of Wirt County School District students, including the school marching band and cheerleading squad, also attended the celebration.
EPA Regional Admin. Adam Ortiz with Wirt High School cheerleaders, Mayor Bobbi Moore, and representatives from Senator Shelley Capito's office & Senator Joe Manchin's office.“EPA’s job is to help give communities a boost. Our grant making budget has grown in just the two years that I’ve been here, from $400 million to $1.2 billion. That’s money that we invest back into communities and places that are trying to be cleaner and greener, like Wirt County,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “I’m so pleased to honor West Virginia and to honor Wirt County Schools, who are the tip of the spear in the state for getting an electric school bus.”
In total, West Virginia school districts received nearly $2 million in funding to purchase five (5) electric school buses. Additionally, 30 school districts throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. will benefit from the over $92 million in funding to replace 247 older diesel buses with new cleaner school buses through the Clean School Bus Rebate program.
“The nearly $400,000 investment we celebrate today signifies a major step towards cleaner, more reliable transportation for our schools,” said Brian Aluise, Outreach Manager, on behalf of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). “The implementation of new, reduced emissions vehicles solidifies that our state education system is well on its way to providing better, cutting-edge resources for our children,”
“The Clean School Bus program was funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and I was proud to witness the signing into law this important piece of legislation,” said Jessicah Cross, Field Representative, on behalf of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV.). “This historic bipartisan legislation is delivering transformative wins for West Virginia, which we are seeing here today.”
Grid infrastructure to support electric school buses is critical to the ongoing success of electric vehicle programs and infrastructure is currently being built out across the region. In addition to the $375,000 awarded for the procurement of the electric bus, EPA also awarded Matheny Motors/Wirt County School District $20,000 directed towards investments in charging infrastructure.
“When Matheny Motors started 101 years ago, we started by selling farm equipment and then, 100 years later, now it’s an electric bus that we’re selling. It’s just a great product,” said Tim Matheny, President of Matheny Motor Truck Company.
“In spite of the considerable benefits of electric school buses, some school districts are still hesitant about making the switch from diesel to electric, so we are so proud to see Wirt County Schools embracing new technology that can involve growing pains and questions, like how to pay for new buses,” said Lucia Valentine, Field Organizer at Moms Clean Air Force. “Electric school buses cost 60% less to operate and maintain as there are fewer moving parts in electric buses, so there are fewer repairs needed. Plus, there are government and utility plans to continue to help fund these new buses across the state.”
The first phase of the funding, the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, opened on May 20, 2022, and closed on August 19, 2022. Given overwhelming demand from school districts across the country, including in low-income communities, tribal nations, and territories, EPA nearly doubled the amount of funding that was awarded to $965 million. The Clean School Bus Rebate Award Winners were announced October 28, 2022.
“This addition to our fleet will provide a unique opportunity for education and new experiences for all of our transportation staff, while directly contributing to healthy air for school bus passengers,” said Bobbi Moore, Mayor of the Town of Elizabeth.
“With our current traditional school buses, students can unknowingly be exposed to toxic pollutants. These same pollutants can add to climate change and create a polluted environment for students, bus drivers, and community residents. Thanks to EPA’s Clean School Bus program, we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and even create more job opportunities for students who will be entering the workforce,” said Sophie Owan, ninth grade student at Wirt County High School.
“Our goal within the Department of Transportation is to provide safe and efficient transportation for our students and this is the next step,” said Dave Baber, Director of School Transportation for WV Department of Education.
“It’s not often that little Wirt County finds itself at the focus of this much attention,” said John McKown, Superintendent of the Wirt County School District. “Today is the culmination of the work of many individuals that have made this grant and today’s commissioning of our new Thomas electric school bus possible. We’re excited to add this bus to our fleet.”
EPA Regional Admin. Adam Ortiz with John McKown, Superintendent of the Wirt County School District.EPA anticipates announcing the next round of Clean School Bus Rebates this fall. The second phase of the funding, EPA’s Clean School Bus Grant Competition, recently closed on August 22, 2023, and the Agency expects to announce the competition selectees from the $400 million Clean School Bus Grant Competition later this year.
For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
EPA Regional Admin. Adam Ortiz with student Shyanne.
Attendees included EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz, officials from Wirt County Schools, Matheny Motors (rebate recipient), the Town of Elizabeth, Moms Clean Air Force, WV Department of Education, Thomas Built Bus, WV Department of Environmental Protection, and representatives from the offices of Senators Manchin and Capito. Hundreds of Wirt County School District students, including the school marching band and cheerleading squad, also attended the celebration.
EPA Regional Admin. Adam Ortiz with Wirt High School cheerleaders, Mayor Bobbi Moore, and representatives from Senator Shelley Capito's office & Senator Joe Manchin's office.“EPA’s job is to help give communities a boost. Our grant making budget has grown in just the two years that I’ve been here, from $400 million to $1.2 billion. That’s money that we invest back into communities and places that are trying to be cleaner and greener, like Wirt County,” said Adam Ortiz, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator. “I’m so pleased to honor West Virginia and to honor Wirt County Schools, who are the tip of the spear in the state for getting an electric school bus.”
In total, West Virginia school districts received nearly $2 million in funding to purchase five (5) electric school buses. Additionally, 30 school districts throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. will benefit from the over $92 million in funding to replace 247 older diesel buses with new cleaner school buses through the Clean School Bus Rebate program.
“The nearly $400,000 investment we celebrate today signifies a major step towards cleaner, more reliable transportation for our schools,” said Brian Aluise, Outreach Manager, on behalf of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). “The implementation of new, reduced emissions vehicles solidifies that our state education system is well on its way to providing better, cutting-edge resources for our children,”
“The Clean School Bus program was funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and I was proud to witness the signing into law this important piece of legislation,” said Jessicah Cross, Field Representative, on behalf of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV.). “This historic bipartisan legislation is delivering transformative wins for West Virginia, which we are seeing here today.”
Grid infrastructure to support electric school buses is critical to the ongoing success of electric vehicle programs and infrastructure is currently being built out across the region. In addition to the $375,000 awarded for the procurement of the electric bus, EPA also awarded Matheny Motors/Wirt County School District $20,000 directed towards investments in charging infrastructure.
“When Matheny Motors started 101 years ago, we started by selling farm equipment and then, 100 years later, now it’s an electric bus that we’re selling. It’s just a great product,” said Tim Matheny, President of Matheny Motor Truck Company.
“In spite of the considerable benefits of electric school buses, some school districts are still hesitant about making the switch from diesel to electric, so we are so proud to see Wirt County Schools embracing new technology that can involve growing pains and questions, like how to pay for new buses,” said Lucia Valentine, Field Organizer at Moms Clean Air Force. “Electric school buses cost 60% less to operate and maintain as there are fewer moving parts in electric buses, so there are fewer repairs needed. Plus, there are government and utility plans to continue to help fund these new buses across the state.”
The first phase of the funding, the Clean School Bus Rebate Program, opened on May 20, 2022, and closed on August 19, 2022. Given overwhelming demand from school districts across the country, including in low-income communities, tribal nations, and territories, EPA nearly doubled the amount of funding that was awarded to $965 million. The Clean School Bus Rebate Award Winners were announced October 28, 2022.
“This addition to our fleet will provide a unique opportunity for education and new experiences for all of our transportation staff, while directly contributing to healthy air for school bus passengers,” said Bobbi Moore, Mayor of the Town of Elizabeth.
“With our current traditional school buses, students can unknowingly be exposed to toxic pollutants. These same pollutants can add to climate change and create a polluted environment for students, bus drivers, and community residents. Thanks to EPA’s Clean School Bus program, we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and even create more job opportunities for students who will be entering the workforce,” said Sophie Owan, ninth grade student at Wirt County High School.
“Our goal within the Department of Transportation is to provide safe and efficient transportation for our students and this is the next step,” said Dave Baber, Director of School Transportation for WV Department of Education.
“It’s not often that little Wirt County finds itself at the focus of this much attention,” said John McKown, Superintendent of the Wirt County School District. “Today is the culmination of the work of many individuals that have made this grant and today’s commissioning of our new Thomas electric school bus possible. We’re excited to add this bus to our fleet.”
EPA Regional Admin. Adam Ortiz with John McKown, Superintendent of the Wirt County School District.EPA anticipates announcing the next round of Clean School Bus Rebates this fall. The second phase of the funding, EPA’s Clean School Bus Grant Competition, recently closed on August 22, 2023, and the Agency expects to announce the competition selectees from the $400 million Clean School Bus Grant Competition later this year.
For more information, visit: https://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus
EPA Regional Admin. Adam Ortiz with student Shyanne.
EPA Announces Student Winners of Make a Market Tech Challenge
WASHINGTON- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced five winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge. The five student teams received a combined total of $15,000 for their innovative market assessments for new technologies developed by EPA researchers.
“The Challenge encouraged the next generation of entrepreneurs to develop new ideas for putting EPA research into the hands of our partners and community members,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The winning strategies for moving EPA technologies to the marketplace are thoughtful and creative ways to provide these products to the right users and ultimately help protect human health and the environment.”When EPA researchers invent new technologies, EPA’s Federal Technology Transfer Act program assists with patenting these new technologies and finding companies that are interested in licensing EPA’s products to put federally funded technology to use in real-word applications. EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of patented and unlicensed EPA-developed technologies.Through this Challenge, students expanded their scientific and marketing skills by working with EPA-developed technologies in a hands-on business environment to scope the best partnering strategy. EPA will use results from the students’ research to find partnerships for each of its technologies, which will lead to practical application of these technologies for environmental and public health protection.The 2023 winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge are:First Place ($6,000)
Esther Soon, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Second Place ($3,000 each)
Rasheevan Nair, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Nathan Sojourner, Nash Benton, Kolin Dhamelia, Serena Bauer, Daniel Powers, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, Selected Technology to Market: Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants
Third Place ($1,500 each)
Miguel Granados, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Sena Hordoffa, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies
Learn more about the Challenge.
Learn more about EPA Challenges and Prizes.
“The Challenge encouraged the next generation of entrepreneurs to develop new ideas for putting EPA research into the hands of our partners and community members,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The winning strategies for moving EPA technologies to the marketplace are thoughtful and creative ways to provide these products to the right users and ultimately help protect human health and the environment.”When EPA researchers invent new technologies, EPA’s Federal Technology Transfer Act program assists with patenting these new technologies and finding companies that are interested in licensing EPA’s products to put federally funded technology to use in real-word applications. EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of patented and unlicensed EPA-developed technologies.Through this Challenge, students expanded their scientific and marketing skills by working with EPA-developed technologies in a hands-on business environment to scope the best partnering strategy. EPA will use results from the students’ research to find partnerships for each of its technologies, which will lead to practical application of these technologies for environmental and public health protection.The 2023 winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge are:First Place ($6,000)
Esther Soon, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Second Place ($3,000 each)
Rasheevan Nair, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Nathan Sojourner, Nash Benton, Kolin Dhamelia, Serena Bauer, Daniel Powers, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, Selected Technology to Market: Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants
Third Place ($1,500 each)
Miguel Granados, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Sena Hordoffa, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies
Learn more about the Challenge.
Learn more about EPA Challenges and Prizes.
EPA Announces Student Winners of Make a Market Tech Challenge
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced five winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge. The five student teams received a combined total of $15,000 for their innovative market assessments for new technologies developed by EPA researchers.
“The Challenge encouraged the next generation of entrepreneurs to develop new ideas for putting EPA research into the hands of our partners and community members,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The winning strategies for moving EPA technologies to the marketplace are thoughtful and creative ways to provide these products to the right users and ultimately help protect human health and the environment.”When EPA researchers invent new technologies, EPA’s Federal Technology Transfer Act program assists with patenting these new technologies and finding companies that are interested in licensing EPA’s products to put federally funded technology to use in real-word applications. EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of patented and unlicensed EPA-developed technologies.Through this Challenge, students expanded their scientific and marketing skills by working with EPA-developed technologies in a hands-on business environment to scope the best partnering strategy. EPA will use results from the students’ research to find partnerships for each of its technologies, which will lead to practical application of these technologies for environmental and public health protection.The 2023 winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge are:First Place ($6,000)
Esther Soon, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Second Place ($3,000 each)
Rasheevan Nair, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Nathan Sojourner, Nash Benton, Kolin Dhamelia, Serena Bauer, Daniel Powers, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, Selected Technology to Market: Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants
Third Place ($1,500 each)
Miguel Granados, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Sena Hordoffa, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies
Learn more about the Challenge.
Learn more about EPA Challenges and Prizes.
“The Challenge encouraged the next generation of entrepreneurs to develop new ideas for putting EPA research into the hands of our partners and community members,” said Chris Frey, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “The winning strategies for moving EPA technologies to the marketplace are thoughtful and creative ways to provide these products to the right users and ultimately help protect human health and the environment.”When EPA researchers invent new technologies, EPA’s Federal Technology Transfer Act program assists with patenting these new technologies and finding companies that are interested in licensing EPA’s products to put federally funded technology to use in real-word applications. EPA launched the Make a Market Tech Challenge to solicit innovative strategies for market assessments of patented and unlicensed EPA-developed technologies.Through this Challenge, students expanded their scientific and marketing skills by working with EPA-developed technologies in a hands-on business environment to scope the best partnering strategy. EPA will use results from the students’ research to find partnerships for each of its technologies, which will lead to practical application of these technologies for environmental and public health protection.The 2023 winners of the Make a Market Tech Challenge are:First Place ($6,000)
Esther Soon, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Second Place ($3,000 each)
Rasheevan Nair, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Nathan Sojourner, Nash Benton, Kolin Dhamelia, Serena Bauer, Daniel Powers, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, Selected Technology to Market: Carbon Traps to Deactivate Halogen Containing Pollutants
Third Place ($1,500 each)
Miguel Granados, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Water Contamination Detection Kit
Sena Hordoffa, Montgomery College, Rockville, Md., Selected Technology to Market: Portable Cyanobacteria Detection Kit for Recreation and Drinking Water Supplies
Learn more about the Challenge.
Learn more about EPA Challenges and Prizes.
USDA Announces Approval of D-SNAP for Hawaii Disaster Areas
WASHINGTON, September 14, 2023 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that low-income Hawaii residents recovering from the devastating wildfires beginning August 8, 2023, could be eligible for assistance from the USDA’s Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP.
EPA Seeks Applicants for 2023 Environmental Education Grants
WASHINGTON (Sept. 14, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that up to $3.6 million in funding for locally-focused environmental education grants is now available under the 2023 Environmental Education (EE) Local Grant Program. EPA will award grants in each of EPA’s 10 Regions, between $50,000-$100,000 each, for a total of 30-40 grants nationwide. The program includes support for projects that reflect the intersection of environmental issues with climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies, preventing future water quality and human health issues, in addition to other environmental topics.
“It is more important now than ever that we understand the environmental changes happening around us,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Investing in environmental education is investing in America’s future, and these grants will ensure that communities have access to quality tools to get involved – and stay involved – at a local level.”
Funded projects will increase public awareness of those topics and help participants to develop the skills needed to make informed decisions. Each of the 10 EPA Regions published a solicitation notice with their respective regional details. Applicants must apply to the Regional NOFO that corresponds with the location of their proposed project. Through this grant program, EPA intends to provide financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, that will serve to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior that will benefit the environment in local communities, especially underserved communities. This grant program recognizes underserved communities as high-poverty areas, persistent poverty counties, communities the Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool identifies as disadvantaged communities, and Title I schools.
Since 1992, EPA has distributed between $2 and $3.5 million in grant funding per year under this program, supporting more than 3,920 grants and making the grant program one of the most utilized in the agency.
Visit the new EPA Grants Community Library of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and the EE grant FAQ webpages to learn more about the current competition and the federal grant process. Find out background information on the EE Grants Program and resources for applicants on EPA’s EE Grant Homepage.
Applications are due on November 8, 2023, and the Notice of Funding Opportunities are now posted on www.grants.gov and the EE Grant Solicitation Notice webpage.
The Office of Environmental Education will also host at least one webinar during the open solicitation period on how to write a competitive application and to address commonly asked questions. Once confirmed, webinar registration details will be available on https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#webinar. Stay up to date on all EE grant information, including announcements related to upcoming webinar registration, by subscribing to the EE Grants Listserv.
“It is more important now than ever that we understand the environmental changes happening around us,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Investing in environmental education is investing in America’s future, and these grants will ensure that communities have access to quality tools to get involved – and stay involved – at a local level.”
Funded projects will increase public awareness of those topics and help participants to develop the skills needed to make informed decisions. Each of the 10 EPA Regions published a solicitation notice with their respective regional details. Applicants must apply to the Regional NOFO that corresponds with the location of their proposed project. Through this grant program, EPA intends to provide financial support for projects that design, demonstrate, and/or disseminate environmental education practices, methods, or techniques, that will serve to increase environmental literacy and encourage behavior that will benefit the environment in local communities, especially underserved communities. This grant program recognizes underserved communities as high-poverty areas, persistent poverty counties, communities the Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool identifies as disadvantaged communities, and Title I schools.
Since 1992, EPA has distributed between $2 and $3.5 million in grant funding per year under this program, supporting more than 3,920 grants and making the grant program one of the most utilized in the agency.
Visit the new EPA Grants Community Library of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and the EE grant FAQ webpages to learn more about the current competition and the federal grant process. Find out background information on the EE Grants Program and resources for applicants on EPA’s EE Grant Homepage.
Applications are due on November 8, 2023, and the Notice of Funding Opportunities are now posted on www.grants.gov and the EE Grant Solicitation Notice webpage.
The Office of Environmental Education will also host at least one webinar during the open solicitation period on how to write a competitive application and to address commonly asked questions. Once confirmed, webinar registration details will be available on https://www.epa.gov/education/grants#webinar. Stay up to date on all EE grant information, including announcements related to upcoming webinar registration, by subscribing to the EE Grants Listserv.