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June 2008 Asheville Field Office press releases, story ideas, and media advisories
June 30, 2008
On the bank of the Little Tennessee River, downstream from the town of Franklin, biologists squeeze tiny yellow eggs from a fish into a plastic bag. Unlike caviar, these eggs won’t be eaten, but rather trucked to a high-tech aquatic lab in Knoxville, Tenn., to join an effort to keep a rare fish off the endangered species list.
The fish is a sicklefin redhorse, a recently discovered species found only in the western tip of North Carolina and a small bit of North Georgia. The extremely limited range of the animal and the precarious state of the streams where it lives raise questions about its long-term well-being, and whether it needs protection under the Endangered Species Act.
These eggs are part of a project to conserve the fish and expand its range, undertaken by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Conservation Fisheries, Inc., a Knoxville-based non-profit specializing in the captive propagation and rearing of the region’s most imperiled fish.
“With the sicklefin redhorse, we have a chance to take some early conservation action and hopefully increase the size and number of spawning populations,” said Mark Cantrell of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Biologists collected 27,000 eggs from seven different fish in this, the second year of the project. The eggs were taken to CFI’s Knoxville laboratory where they’ll be fertilized, hatch, and grow for about three months.
“No one has done this type of work with the sicklefin redhorse, so there is a steep learning curve,” said CFI’s Pat Rakes, commenting on the fact these fish have never been reared in captivity.
In the Tuckasegee River, spawning sicklefins swim from as far away as Fontana Reservoir. But instead of swimming well up the Tuckasegee River, they turn and swim up the Oconaluftee River, spawning below Ela Dam, and fueling a lot of speculation.
There is some thought the fish might imprint on a river, returning to that spot for spawning. With that in mind, Steve Fraley, a biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, hypothesizes that decades of pollution may have wiped out sicklefin that spawned in the Tuckasegee River, while those spawning in the cleaner Oconaluftee River would have survived, though the construction of Ela Dam cut short their migration.
Once the fish in CFI’s aquaria are about 1.5 inches long, about half will be moved to a hatchery operated by Cherokee Fisheries and Wildlife Management, in the Oconaluftee River watershed. From there, they’ll be released above Ela Dam, where biologists hope they’ll expand their range up into the Oconaluftee River. The remainder of the fish will be put in the Tuckasegee River, above Dillsboro Dam. The fish hatched this year will return to spawn in about 5 to 7 years, well after the scheduled removal of Dillsboro Dam.
CFI’s captive rearing has been supported with money from the Service, and next year a grant from the Cherokee Preservation Foundation will allow the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to hatch and rear eggs at their hatchery, an expanded role of a facility that has always produced trout.
The sicklefin is one of 15 redhorse species and was favored by native Americans who built extensive fish traps and weirs for this important source of protein. The sicklefin, which derives its name from its long, sickle-shaped dorsal fin, was first recognized as a distinct fish species by Roanoke College professor Robert Jenkins in 1992. Looking at various redhorse specimens, he noticed some specimens from the Little Tennessee River basin were different, and it became clear that instead of being an odd fit for other species, this was a new species, the sicklefin redhorse, which is also found in the Hiwassee River basin.
Growing to about a foot and a half long, sicklefins are bottom feeders, eating aquatic insects, though they will forage along downed logs, even turning upside down and eating along the log all the way to the water’s surface where one biologist has even heard them slurp.
June 16, 2008
Dennis Desmond, Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, 828/524-2711
In late May, a team of biologists canoeing the Little Tennessee River discovered two new patches of the federally-protected Virginia spiraea plant growing on the river’s banks.
The search was part of an effort to catalog where the rare plant is found along the river, and it also confirmed the plant’s continued presence at four spots where it was previously known to occur.
“Knowing where these plants are means we know where to focus our time and energy in conserving the species,” said Dennis Desmond, search organizer and land stewardship coordinator for the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee. “Of course, the ultimate goal is to recover them so they no longer need protection, and this was a tiny step toward that goal.”
The search brought together a host of organizations interested in both the conservation of the Little Tennessee River and Virginia spiraea, as biologists from the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, Little Tennessee Watershed Association, Wilderness Society, Western North Carolina Alliance, Friends of the Greenway, USDA Forest Service, N.C. Natural Heritage Program, and two private citizens paddled canoes down the river, eyeing the banks for the flower’s tell-tale white flowers. The effort also garnered the support of a local business, as Jerry Anselmo of Great Smoky Mountain Fish Camp & Safari provided boats and shuttle services for the search.
The search was coordinated by the Land Trust for the Little Tennessee, a Franklin-based non-profit focusing on the conservation of the Little Tennessee River basin. This was one of two searches planned for this year, the next coming June 25th – both timed to take advantage of the plant’s showy, early-summer white blooms. This first float trip concentrated on the stretch of river below Emory Dam, while the second effort will concentrate on the stretch of river through the Needmore tract.
Virginia spiraea was listed as threatened by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service in 1990, and today it’s found in seven states across Appalachia from West Virginia to Georgia, including seven counties in North Carolina. The plant is typically found along stream banks where it’s able to take advantage of the stream-bank scouring that comes with periodic flooding and makes these areas inhospitable to many other plants. The plant’s decline can be linked to the widespread building of dams across its range, which temper the rise and fall of river floodwaters, allowing other plants species to become established; and the increasing preponderance of invasive exotic plant species, like Japanese knotweed, Japanese honeysuckle, and kudzu, that take over sites where Virginia spiraea is found.
If you can't reach Gary Peeples, please contact: | June 2008 Asheville Field Office press releases, story ideas, and media advisories
June 30, 2008
On the bank of the Little Tennessee River, downstream from the town of Franklin, biologists squeeze tiny yellow eggs from a fish into a plastic bag. Unlike caviar, these eggs won’t be eaten, but rather trucked to a high-tech aquatic lab in Knoxville, Tenn., to join an effort to keep a rare fish off the | {
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Refuge conservation plans are called “comprehensive conservation plans” (CCPs). The purpose of a CCP is to specify a management direction for the refuge for the next 15 years. The goals, objectives, and strategies for improving refuge conditions—including the types of habitat we will provide, partnership opportunities, and management actions needed to achieve desired conditions – are described in the CCP. The Service’s preferred alternative for managing the refuge and its effects on the human environment, are described in the CCP as well.
Read San Pablo Bay NWR's CCP.
When developing the conservation and management goals for the refuge, the refuge referred to several conservation and restoration plans already set in place for the San Francisco Bay Area. These plans are Southern Pacific Shorebird Conservation Plan, San Francisco Bay Joint Venture, Tidal Marsh Recovery Plan, 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan, Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals, Subtidal Habitat Goals Project, and San Francisco Bay Plan.
An important component in conservation is to acquire land for protection. This is accomplished through a variety of methods including purchasing the land, working with willing landowners and local and state agencies to manage the land as part of the national wildlife refuge, and obtaining conservation easements with the existing land owners. San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge uses all these methods to achieve conservations goals.
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 defines a unifying mission for all refuges, including a process for determining compatible uses on refuges, and requiring that each refuge be managed according to a CCP. The NWRS Improvement Act expressly states that wildlife conservation is the priority of System lands and that the Secretary shall ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of refuge lands are maintained. Each refuge must be managed to fulfill the specific purposes for which the refuge was established and the System mission. The first priority of each refuge is to conserve, manage, and if needed, restore fish and wildlife populations and habitats according to its purpose. | Refuge conservation plans are called “comprehensive conservation plans” (CCPs). The purpose of a CCP is to specify a management direction for the refuge for the next 15 years. The goals, objectives, and strategies for improving refuge conditions—including the types of habitat we will provide, partnership opportunities, and management actions needed to achieve desired conditions – are described in | {
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Breast Cancer Resources
The resources listed here are only a sample of the cancer information that can be found online. Whenever visiting a website, make sure you know who is sponsoring the site so you can judge the material presented for its objectivity and reliability.
- American Cancer Society
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program NBCCEDP
- National Cancer Institute
- National Cancer Institute – General Information about Male Breast Cancer
- United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) breast cancer screening guidelines | Breast Cancer Resources
The resources listed here are only a sample of the cancer information that can be found online. Whenever visiting a website, make sure you know who is sponsoring the site so you can judge the material presented for its objectivity and reliability.
- American Cancer Society
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detecti | {
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History of registration
A brief history of registration services within the British
Isles, leading up to the present day service.
When did registration begin?
The need to record the important
events in someone's life can be traced back to the reign of Henry
In 1538 a local system of registration
based on christenings, marriages and burials was introduced by
Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's lord chancellor.
The clergy of each parish were ordered
to keep a book which recorded all baptisms, marriages and
In 1597 special registers were bought
by each parish and for the first time annual returns were to be
sent to a Diocesan Registrar.
An Act of 1666 complicated the job of
registering burials in that all corpses had to be buried "in a
woollen shroud" (for the sake of the duty on wool). After each
burial an oath was made which confirmed this.
Then in 1753 an act was passed which
made it illegal for marriages to take place unless
banns (summons) had been read or a licence issued in the
parish where the bride or groom lived.
This meant that runaway marriages in
England became almost impossible, however, it did lead to the rise
in fame of Gretna Green, as it was just over the border
Except for a brief time during the
commonwealth (1653 - 1660), registration was carried out by the
Why did it change?
Only the registers of the established church were accepted as a
legal record and, as the number of non-conformist churches began to
grow, the parish registers became more and more incomplete.
In the early nineteenth century a House of Commons committee
recommended that the local system should be replaced by a national
system of registration and that a civil marriage ceremony should be
On 1 July 1837, in the first year of Queen Victoria's reign, the
new modern registration service began.
On that day 2193 newly appointed Registrars of Births and Deaths
and 619 Superintendent Registrars took up their pens throughout
England and Wales and commenced entry number 1 in their first civil
In the first full year of the service, 11,826 births and 7,871
deaths were registered in Kent.
During 1987, the 150th anniversary year, that number had grown
to 20,885 births and 17,773 deaths.
From 1837 until 1929 the local service was run by the Poor Law
Board of Guardians.
How did the modern service develop?
In 1929 the service was transferred to local government and in
Kent today it is run by the county council.
The Medway towns area is run by Medway Council.
Kent has a range of Kent and Bexley
Approved Premises for the celebration of civil marriages.
These are usually register
offices. Kent libraries offer facilities for
the registration of
births and deaths and a number of
options are available.
In 1995 the county council was allowed to licence other venues
for civil marriage ceremonies.
Couples now have the choice of taking their marriage vows in
castles, stately homes, hotels, animal parks, gazebos and many
other unique and interesting places.
In the early years of the service very few marriages took place
in Register Offices, but now over 60% of all marriages celebrated
in Kent take place in licensed venues and Register Offices.
Whilst the service still retains many of its Victorian roots,
computers have now replaced pen and ink as the best way to record
these important personal events. | History of registration
A brief history of registration services within the British
Isles, leading up to the present day service.
When did registration begin?
The need to record the important
events in someone's life can be traced back to the reign of Henry
In 1538 a local system of registration
based on christenings, marriages and burials was introduced by
Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII's lord chanc | {
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8 October 2009
Our climate science has been used as part of a major new book, highlighting the impacts of climate change on our health.
The Health Practitioner's Guide to Climate Change focuses on the health benefits that can be realised by facing the challenges of, and adapting to, a warming world. It is hoped that the publication will be a particularly useful reference for anyone involved in the health sector.
Joining forces with other leading organisations in the field, the Met Office Hadley Centre has authored the first chapter, which concentrates on the science behind climate change - a theme that runs through the rest of the book.
Climate scientist Felicity Liggins, who wrote the chapter, said: "Our understanding of the relationship between the weather and health has developed greatly over recent years. This book brings together that work, but goes one step further to outline the practical measures that health professionals can take."
Met Office Press Office: +44 (0)1392 886655
E-mail: Press Office
Met Office Customer Centre: 0870 900 0100
If you're outside the UK: +44 1392 885680 | 8 October 2009
Our climate science has been used as part of a major new book, highlighting the impacts of climate change on our health.
The Health Practitioner's Guide to Climate Change focuses on the health benefits that can be realised by facing the challenges of, and adapting to, a warming world. It is hoped that the publication will be a particularly useful reference for anyone involved in the | {
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Land Use Planning
Community-based land use planning is a joint process in which Ontario and First Nations work together to make decisions on where land use activities may take place in the Far North. The legislative foundation for land use planning in the Far North is the Far North Act, 2010, which requires that a community-based land use plan is in place for most major development, such as the opening of a mine, or constructing or expanding all-weather transportation.
Through the land use planning process, Ontario and First Nations will determine which areas to protect and which areas are suitable for sustainable economic development.
Land use decisions made through community-based land use planning will give First Nations, industry and businesses greater certainty about appropriate land use and potential development and lead to more opportunities in the Far North. It also ensures the protection of areas of cultural and ecological value.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is supporting First Nations community-based land use planning in the Ring of Fire, including collecting background information, documenting traditional knowledge, and building capacity in the community to prepare land use plans.
Community-based land use planning is proceeding concurrently with planning for the potential mineral development in the Ring of Fire. Other requirements, such as environmental assessments are also ongoing. | Land Use Planning
Community-based land use planning is a joint process in which Ontario and First Nations work together to make decisions on where land use activities may take place in the Far North. The legislative foundation for land use planning in the Far North is the Far North Act, 2010, which requires that a community-based land use plan is in place for most major development, such as the op | {
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For Immediate Release: September 12, 2012
For Immediate Release: September 12, 2012
Researchers have demonstrated for the first time that a refined gene therapy approach safely restores the immune systems of some children with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The rare condition blocks the normal development of a newborn's immune system, leaving the child susceptible to every passing microbe. Children with SCID experience chronic infections, which usually triggers the diagnosis. Their lifespan is two years if doctors cannot restore their immunity.
The findings from facilities including the National Institutes of Health, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and the Children's Hospital Los Angeles, are reported in the Aug. 30, 2012, advanced online issue of the journal Blood.
In the 11-year study, the researchers tested a combination of techniques for gene therapy, arriving at one that produced normal levels of immune function for three patients.
"Doctors who treat patients with SCID have had limited treatment options for too long," said Dan Kastner, M.D., Ph.D., scientific director of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), part of the NIH. "The research teams and the patients who have participated in the studies have together achieved an impressive advance toward a cure that is welcome news for both the scientific and patient communities."
Gene therapy is an experimental method for treating patients with genetic diseases. It is intended to integrate functioning genes among those naturally existing in the cells of the body to make up for faulty genes. Researchers in the current study tested a set of methods to improve outcomes for children with a particular form of SCID.
"This is a highly rewarding study for those of us in the clinic and lab," said Fabio Candotti, M.D., a senior author and a senior investigator in NHGRI's Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch. "Not only have we realized an important advancement in gene therapy, but we have seen a renewal of health in our patients."
While rare, SCID became widely known because of the remarkable boy-in-the-bubble story of the 1970s. The story was based in part on a boy named David Vetter, who lived for 13 years in a plastic isolation unit to protect him from infections. He died following an unsuccessful bone marrow transplant that doctors had hoped would repair his immune system.
SCID has many causes. In one type, a gene that produces the adenosine deaminase (ADA) enzyme becomes mutated and fails to produce the normal enzyme. Without ADA, a chemically altered form of adenosine, one of DNA's building blocks, accumulates in rapidly dividing bone marrow cells, killing them and destroying the immune system in the process. Normal bone marrow makes healthy white blood cells, or lymphocytes, which are the key players in the immune response that reacts against harmful bacteria and destroys cells infected by viruses. ADA deficiency accounts for some 15 percent of SCID cases.
If there is a sibling available whose blood is compatible with the patient's blood, doctors can perform a bone marrow transplant. If not, a form of the enzyme has to be administered by injection regularly to maintain the child's immune system.
Researchers seek to cure the disease by inserting a healthy copy of the ADA gene into continuously dividing bone marrow cells called stem cells. Bone marrow stem cells give rise to all other blood cells, including oxygen-carrying red cells and the white cells of the immune system. The healthy ADA gene would then produce enough enzyme to prevent immune-destroying toxicity.
Getting a healthy, working ADA gene into bone marrow stem cells has proved difficult. Until now, the success of gene therapy for ADA-deficient SCID has been limited to about 10 children in Europe. Now, after 11 years of research, three children who received an optimized form of gene therapy in this U.S. clinical trial have remained well for up to five years and have not required the enzyme-replacement injections.
Together with a research group at UCLA led by Donald B. Kohn, M.D., a senior co-author and professor at UCLA's Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Dr. Candotti's team conducted a gene-therapy trial in 10 patients with ADA-deficient SCID. They used two slightly different DNA insertion vehicles, called retroviral vectors, to deliver the healthy ADA gene into the bone marrow cells of the patients. Retroviruses have the specialized ability to become a permanent part of host cells. Their genome consists of RNA that can be transcribed into DNA, delivering the corrected genetic material to the host cell. The researchers reported the favorable performance of one of the vectors, which will be used from now on.
Four of the patients remained on enzyme-replacement therapy throughout the procedure. The patients experienced no adverse effects, but did not experience a gain of ADA function. The authors suggest that enzyme replacement therapy may dilute the numbers of corrected lymphocytes in the patients' immune systems, diminishing the treatment's effect.
For six additional patients, the doctors modified their gene therapy approach, stopping enzyme-replacement therapy beforehand and treating patients with a low dose of a chemotherapy that depletes stem cells in the bone marrow, making space for the gene-corrected stem cells that had been given the new gene in the laboratory and then returned to the patient's body.
"This step proved to be important," Dr. Candotti said. "By adjusting the chemotherapy dosage, we found its optimal level for enhancing the efficacy of the corrected stem cells."
An additional eight children, most of whom are 1 year old or younger, have been added to a second phase of the study. The younger patients are showing even more favorable response rates to the therapy. "We are encouraged by the outcome of our gene therapy trial," said Dr. Candotti. "We will continue to follow the progress of our patients and to enroll those who can benefit from this promising gene therapy strategy."
NIH support for this study, in addition to funding from the NHGRI Intramural Research Program, was provided in part by the National Cancer Institute; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders. | For Immediate Release: September 12, 2012
For Immediate Release: September 12, 2012
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Trainees Assembly (NTA)
The NIEHS Trainees Assembly (NTA) is an organization coordinated and governed by NIEHS scientists-in-training and was created through the support of the NIEHS Office of the Scientific Director in order to foster the professional development of NIEHS trainees. The membership is comprised of all non-tenured/non-tenure track, non-permanent scientists training at the Institute. Due to the diversity of scientists in training at the NIEHS and the broad range of training needs, the NTA organizes and sponsors a variety of activities.
- To organize and promote educational activities including training courses and seminars.
- To identify future employment opportunities in both traditional and non-traditional career paths.
- To assist in the orientation of new trainees.
- To provide an atmosphere of intercommunication among members.
- To act as official trainees' liaison to the NIEHS administration.
An important goal of the NTA is to make sure that you are aware of all of these events. The NTA maintains a bulletin board located in the C Mall Area (across from the mailroom) and a Web site which provides information about the current activities organized by the NTA.
These activities include:
- Distinguished Lecturer Luncheon:
Each month, the NIEHS sponsors a seminar by a renowned scientist. Following the presentation, the NTA hosts a lunch with the speaker to discuss issues relevant to science and career development.
- NIEHS/NTA Biomedical Career Fair:
This annual event is one of the largest assemblies of biomedical organizations and young scientists in Research Triangle Park, NC. Targeting postdoctoral fellows and advanced graduate students, the Career Fair provides these young scientists an opportunity to explore a myriad of fields and create a contact network as they plan for their future careers in the biomedical sciences.
- NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00):
The award provides up to five years of support consisting of two phases. The initial award (K99) provides one to two years of mentored, postdoctoral support. The second phase (R00) provides up to three years of independent research support and is activated when the awardee accepts a full time tenure track (or equivalent) faculty position. Applicants must be in postdoctoral positions and may be at nonprofit, for-profit, or governmental agencies, including intramural NIH laboratories. Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens are eligible.
The NTA also holds general assembly meetings twice a year, and all trainees are encouraged to attend. These meetings allow us to update you on current activities, as well as to receive your comments on the training environment at the NIEHS. Our NTA Steering Committee meets every month to discuss NTA issues.
Stories about NTA Activities:
- NIEHS fellow begins career in clinical research (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/5/science-darshini/index.htm) - May 2013
- Brown bag lunch highlights careers in intellectual property and patent law (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/5/science-law/index.htm) - May 2013
- NIEHS fellow transitions to career in biopharmaceuticals (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/5/science-rajesh/index.htm) - May 2013
- Family-friendly pilot project offers options for IRTA trainees (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/4/spotlight-family/index.htm) - April 2013
- Former NIEHS fellow pursues a career in mentoring postdocs (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/1/spotlight-mentoring/index.htm) - January 2013
- Faculty position takes postdoc to remote Arctic community (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2013/1/spotlight-faculty/index.htm) - January 2013
- Fellows and scientists stand out at NIH Research Festival (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/science-festival/index.htm) - November 2012
- Genomics Day showcases array and sequencing resources (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2011/november/science-genomicsday/index.cfm) - November 2012
- Hardworking postdoc receives prestigious Pathway to Independence Award (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/news/newsletter/2012/11/spotlight-hardworking/index.htm) - November 2012 | Trainees Assembly (NTA)
The NIEHS Trainees Assembly (NTA) is an organization coordinated and governed by NIEHS scientists-in-training and was created through the support of the NIEHS Office of the Scientific Director in order to foster the professional development of NIEHS trainees. The membership is comprised of all non-tenured/non-tenure track, non-permanent scientists training at the Institute. | {
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All parents need support. It can come from your family and friends, health and childcare professionals, and information and community resources. Often the first steps in getting support are asking for it, and accepting it when it's offered. A range of support services are available by agencies listed in this section.
The Child, Youth and Family Gateway is a service for children, young people and families who are looking for help with the tough stuff, but are not sure where to go. We have links to all kinds of programs and services that can support people to have the best chance to stay on track in their lives.
The Gateway is a partnership between Barnardos, Belconnen Community Services, Woden Community Services, YWCA of Canberra and the ACT Government, which provides a point of contact for information, initial support and engagement for children, young people and their families. It is also for children, young people and families who might be (or are) involved with Care and Protection Services or Community Youth Justice, and who would like support to work through what’s happening.
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (CoPMI)
A directory of different types of services available to CoPMI families. Parents and children require extra support to help them better manage family life, parenting and mental health problems. | All parents need support. It can come from your family and friends, health and childcare professionals, and information and community resources. Often the first steps in getting support are asking for it, and accepting it when it's offered. A range of support services are available by agencies listed in this section.
The Child, Youth and Family Gateway is a service for children, young people and f | {
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Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER at Ihla de San Miguel, Azores.
Image ID: ship0677, NOAA's Fleet Then and Now - Sailing for Science Collection
Location: Azores Islands, Atlantic Ocean
Photographer: Archival Photograph by Mr. Steve Nicklas, NGS/RSD
Credit: Collection of Captain Marvin Paulsen, USC&GS
• High Resolution Photo Available | Coast and Geodetic Survey Ship EXPLORER at Ihla de San Miguel, Azores.
Image ID: ship0677, NOAA's Fleet Then and Now - Sailing for Science Collection
Location: Azores Islands, Atlantic Ocean
Photographer: Archival Photograph by Mr. Steve Nicklas, NGS/RSD
Credit: Collection of Captain Marvin Paulsen, USC&GS
• High Resolution Photo Available | {
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Over the last few years, Port Augusta has made a strong recovery from a sustained period of economic hardship caused by the significant downsizing of Australian National Rail and ETSA operations in the town. This recovery has been based on substantial improvements in the resource, service and tourism sectors supported by the newly completed Adelaide to Darwin Railway and the extension of the Pichi Richi line into the town centre.
Evidence of this economic upturn includes the foreshore redevelopment and the attraction of major new developments in the city centre. In addition, it appears that the residential population of Port Augusta is growing at a much faster rate than anticipated when the previous Section 30 Review was being prepared.
For these reasons, it is now time to review the planning policies, which were prepared in a time of economic downturn, to ensure that Council has a Development Plan which is able to encourage appropriate development within and outside the city.
It will be particularly important for the Development Plan to acknowledge and respond to emerging tourism, transport and resource industry sectors while also ensuring that new residential areas are developed in a coordinated and environmentally sustainable manner. | Over the last few years, Port Augusta has made a strong recovery from a sustained period of economic hardship caused by the significant downsizing of Australian National Rail and ETSA operations in the town. This recovery has been based on substantial improvements in the resource, service and tourism sectors supported by the newly completed Adelaide to Darwin Railway and the extension of the Pichi | {
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Gamma and beta radiation
We monitor the background levels of both gamma and beta radiation. In conjunction with other London authorities, we also operate a continuous gamma radiation alarm and submit data to the government's national database.
If you have any complaints and enquiries, contact Pollution Monitoring.
If you suspect a dangerous radiation problem that requires immediate action, telephone the emergency number on 020 8854 8888. | Gamma and beta radiation
We monitor the background levels of both gamma and beta radiation. In conjunction with other London authorities, we also operate a continuous gamma radiation alarm and submit data to the government's national database.
If you have any complaints and enquiries, contact Pollution Monitoring.
If you suspect a dangerous radiation problem that requires immediate action, telepho | {
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23rd Ave Corridor
The scope of work for the 23rd Ave Corridor, which originally began as a repaving project between E John Street and S Jackson Street, has recently been expanded through the acquisition of several grants for signals, paving, transit and pedestrian improvements.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is completing the Complete Streets Checklist and going through a comprehensive re-evaluation of the corridor, including a traffic analysis, as well as evaluating elements from the Bike Master Plan, Pedestrian Master Plan, street lighting needs, sidewalk and transit improvements.
Design Elements/Objectives for the Corridor
*Note: This schedule is preliminary and based on the existing scope of work provided in the grants and within existing funding. Further changes to the scope could modify this schedule.
We plan to work closely throughout the project with local government, institutions, community groups and businesses, as well as transportation agencies and nearby neighbors, to gather information and help shape the final design of the corridor. SDOT plans to engage the public early on in this project to determine an equitable design solution for all modes of transportation. During design we plan to continue to provide information about the project to the public and keep neighbors engaged through regular e-mail updates. To join our e-mail list, send an e-mail to [email protected].
Questions or comments?
Although the project team is still scoping the extent of this project we want to hear from you! Please contact us:
The project is being funded by a number of sources – both local and federal. | 23rd Ave Corridor
The scope of work for the 23rd Ave Corridor, which originally began as a repaving project between E John Street and S Jackson Street, has recently been expanded through the acquisition of several grants for signals, paving, transit and pedestrian improvements.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is completing the Complete Streets Checklist and going through a comprehe | {
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OverDrive: How To Transfer
Before you begin using OverDrive, we recommend that you download the OverDrive Media Console (OMC). You will need the OMC to download files to your computer and to transfer files to your portable devices.
OverDrive help on transferring files to your device
OverDrive has an excellent, self-guided video tutorial system available.
You may access the main video tutorial page ...
... or go to the video specifically for how to transfer to a portable device.
Steps for transferring files to your device
Transfer a title to a supported portable device using the Transfer Wizard in OverDrive Media Console v3.0 (or newer) as follows…
- If you have not already done so, verify that the permissions on the title allow you to transfer the title to your supported portable device (publishers may opt to disable this functionality for certain devices). For instructions on verifying device compatibility, click here.
- Connect your portable player to your computer.
- In OverDrive Media Console, highlight a title and click the 'Transfer' button.
The Transfer Wizard is displayed.
- Verify that the correct title is displayed on the first screen of the Transfer Wizard and click 'Next'.
The Transfer Wizard searches for a connected portable device.
If your device is not detected, the Transfer Wizard will display a message stating that 'no portable players could be found.' Click here for more information about why your portable player could not be found.
If your device is detected the 'Confirm' screen is displayed.
- In the 'Confirm' dialog box, select the Part(s) you want to transfer by checking the box(es) next to the Part name(s).
- Click 'Next' to begin transferring the file(s) to your device.
When the transfer is complete, the Transfer Wizard displays a 'success' message.
- Click 'Finish' to exit the Transfer Wizard.
Disconnect your portable device.
We encourage your feedback. If you have comments or suggestions, please use our feedback form
Funded in part by the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). | OverDrive: How To Transfer
Before you begin using OverDrive, we recommend that you download the OverDrive Media Console (OMC). You will need the OMC to download files to your computer and to transfer files to your portable devices.
OverDrive help on transferring files to your device
OverDrive has an excellent, self-guided video tutorial system available.
You may access the main video tutorial page | {
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18.104.22.168 Incident Response Features
The incident response features have been developed to provide a logical process that allows an operator to locate, confirm, move and record data associated with each incident. Particularly powerful is the incident response scenario process that suggests TAR and VMS messages to the operator dynamically. The rules for these incident response suggestions follow the functional requirements document. Incident response features in the prototype include:
- Incidents may be added to system by clicking on the correct location on the map.
- Incidents may be relocated by moving the map symbol, or by editing the incident properties and selecting the appropriate link.
- A user may enter lane blockage information through graphical representation of the link, see figure 4-40 for an illustration.
Figure 4-40. Entering Incident Information
CSC/PBFI Advantage: The number of lanes blocked by an incident is entered by highlighting the appropriate area on the screen.
- When a user adds an incident to the system, the closest camera within two miles is activated.
- When incident is confirmed, the user is presented with a response scenario, see figure 4-41 for an example.
Figure 4-41. Choosing Incident Responses
CSC/PBFI Advantage: The system provides the operator with suggested incident responses.
- Scenarios are updated as conditions change. VMS and TAR objects automatically suggest correct messages according to MDSHA rules.
- Scenarios can be set to auto-execute. In this case, the devices will always be automatically updated to show the currently suggested message. The system periodically checks all devices and verifies they are showing the suggested message. Those that are not are re-sent the suggested message.
- Response scenarios use symbols to inform the user if the VMS or TAR device is currently playing the suggested message. A red symbol indicates that the device is not showing the system suggested message, green symbol indicates that it is.
- Response scenarios allow users to edit each element. User edited elements are not overwritten when information changes. Red symbols indicate a message will not be overwritten by a system suggestion.
- Users may select messages and request a suggestion. This will overwrite the current suggestion and/or current user locked response messages.
- All messages that are sent to devices as part of a response scenario would be rolled back when the incident goes away.
- As shown in figure 4-42, incident report keeps track of all VMS and TAR devices utilized during incident response.
Figure 4-42. Using Incident Response Resources
CSC/PBFI Advantage: The system tracks all devices used during incident response. | 18.104.22.168 Incident Response Features
The incident response features have been developed to provide a logical process that allows an operator to locate, confirm, move and record data associated with each incident. Particularly powerful is the incident response scenario process that suggests TAR and VMS messages to the operator dynamically. The rules for these incident response suggestions follo | {
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Evaluation of the Public Charter Schools Program: Year One Evaluation Report
Appendix B: FUTURE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
This appendix presents information on data collection activities scheduled for future rounds of SRI International?s evaluation of the Public Charter Schools Program. Exhibit B-1 shows the remaining data collection activities and other sources of information for the SRI evaluation. It also shows a basic timeline for these activities. Below the exhibit, the remaining data sources are described in full. Sampling for future data collection activities is described in the second section. The appendix concludes with an table that shows where each research question was addressed in the Year 1 report and how future data collection activities will address them.
Telephone Survey of State Charter School Coordinators. The charter coordinators (or equivalent) of all 36 states with charter school legislation (plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico) were surveyed by phone in the summer and fall of 1999. What is likely to be a larger number of charter school coordinators will be surveyed again in the winter of 2002. As with the original administration, the survey instrument will consist of a combination of open- and closed-ended items on charter school-related operations, requirements, and flexibility, and the state?s PCSP grant. Members of the SRI team will administer the survey to all states with charter school legislation as of the end of 2001.
Telephone Survey of Charter School Authorizers. A revised version of the Year 1 survey instrument will be administered to a representative sample of 150 charter school authorizers in the winter and spring of 2001. A version of the same survey will also be administered in winter 2002. The revised survey is similar to the exploratory survey administered in Year 1, with several adjustments. First, the number of items specifically focused on PCSP have been reduced to reflect the year 1 finding that charter school authorizers are not involved with the program except in minimal ways (e.g., fiscal agents). Second, because this instrument will be administered to a larger sample in years 2 and 3 than the sample surveyed in year 1, SRI International will use a telephone survey subcontractor (using a computer-assisted telephone interview system) for the administration of this survey. The Year 1 telephone survey was administered by SRI researchers. This change compels the SRI team to reduce the number of open-ended items. Third, in many cases, the closed-ended items in the revised survey were shaped by the responses to open-ended questions on the Year 1 survey.
Telephone Survey of Charter Schools. One of the key sources of data for the remainder of this evaluation is the telephone survey of charter schools, which will be conducted in the winter and spring of 2001. Based on SRI?s review and update of RPP?s list of charter schools (current as of September 30, 1999), a representative sample of 600 charter schools will be drawn for this survey. A telephone survey subcontractor will conduct the data collection. The survey instrument will consist mostly of closed-ended items.The charter school survey will include items on all the school-level research questions for this evaluation and will document the basic characteristics of charter schools nationwide as of the 2000-2001 school year. The survey will also gather information about the use of PCSP funds at the school level, charter school experiences with flexibility and accountability, charter schools? relationships with their charter authorizers and states, and the ways charter schools assess student performance and other school outcomes.
Site Visits. One round of exploratory site visits will be conducted in fall and winter 2000. Two additional rounds are currently planned for the second and third rounds of data collection (Spring 2001 and the 2001-2002 school year). Data collection will focus on student performance in charter schools and the accountability relationships between charter schools, parents, charter school authorizers, states, and other audiences. Members of the study team are currently responding to requests from ED to add a large-scale analysis of student performance in some or all of the six states selected for the charter school site visits. These analyses will include comparisons between charter schools and noncharter schools that serve similar populations.
Parent Surveys. Written surveys will be administered to parents in conjunction with the Year 2 and Year 3 site visits.
Extraction of Information from Federal PCSP Files and State Charter Laws. SRI?s access to the federal files on PCSP applicants and grantees and its review of state charter laws were very helpful activities for orienting team members to the charter operations, policies, and PCSP details in individual states and charter schools that received PCSP grants directly from ED. It also reduced the data collection burden imposed by this evaluation on telephone survey respondents and federal interviewees. Because the team will not be collecting data directly from PCSP grantees until the winter of 2002, the annual review of federal files and continued review of state laws will keep members of the study team up-to-date with the activities in their assigned states.
In theory, the grantee files could be used to create an ongoing database to which queries could be addressed at any time. The evaluation team has been asked to create this database, which could then be transferred to ED for continued updating and maintenance. However, SRI's review of the files in 1998-99 found considerable inconsistency among them in terms of the material included. In the remaining years of the evaluation, team members will work with the PCSP staff to identify the most important and consistently available data fields for inclusion in a database that is likely to focus on very basic information, such as grantee contact information, annual grant amounts, dates and sources of correspondence, and presence or absence of grant applications and annual performance reports.
Federal Interviews. Interviews with PCSP and Planning and Evaluation Service (PES) staff members at ED, and with congressional staff, will continue as needed.
Charter School Data from RPP International and SASS. The SRI evaluation team has been granted access to data from the RPP study (based on four rounds of telephone surveys with the universe of charter schools). SRI will use these data to address the PCSP evaluation?s research questions. ED is also committed to having descriptive data from the universe of charter schools in every year of the evaluation while simultaneously minimizing the data collection burden faced by these schools. Hence, between RPP?s data collection in the 1995-1996 through 1998-1999 school years, the Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) in 1999-2000, and SRI?s survey of charter schools in 2000-2001, the goal of annual school-level data collection will be met by coordinating federal data collection efforts and not unduly burdening charter schools with these requests.
Mapping Research Questions To The Year 1 Report And Future Activities Exhibit B-2 displays a summary table of where each of the study?s research questions is addressed in the Year 1 report and notes that indicate how they will be addressed by future data collection activities.
Note: Future data collection and analysis activities are marked with bullets. | Evaluation of the Public Charter Schools Program: Year One Evaluation Report
Appendix B: FUTURE DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS
This appendix presents information on data collection activities scheduled for future rounds of SRI International?s evaluation of the Public Charter Schools Program. Exhibit B-1 shows the remaining data collection activities and other sources of information for the SRI evalu | {
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The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is used to determine your eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid.
The best way to complete the FAFSA is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. An online FAFSA is processed faster and and you have less of a chance of making an error on the application that could result in delays.
To receive maximum consideration for all available aid it is recommended that you have your FAFSA completed as early as possible. Check with your college or university to learn of any FAFSA deadlines at the school.
Apply for State Aid online at the Arizona State Student Financial Aid Web Portal www.azgrants.gov.
Speak with your high school guidance counselor (if still in high school) to learn of any scholarship opportunities available through the high school.
Speak with the financial aid/scholarship office at your college/university (or those that you are interested in attending) to learn of any aid offered by the school.
Search for scholarships (information found in the Scholarships 411 section) | The first step in applying for financial aid is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is used to determine your eligibility for federal, state and institutional aid.
The best way to complete the FAFSA is online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. An online FAFSA is processed faster and and you have less of a chance of making an error on the application that could resu | {
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If you live in an area that’s likely to flood, you should:
- Listen to the radio or television for local information.
- Be aware of flash floods. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
- Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly.
If you have to leave your home, do not walk through moving water or drive into flooded areas.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has more information about what to do during a flood and after a flood. | If you live in an area that’s likely to flood, you should:
- Listen to the radio or television for local information.
- Be aware of flash floods. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Do not wait for instructions to move.
- Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly.
If you have to leave your home, do not walk | {
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In Cancer Research Today, Success Breeds Success
Advances in cancer research and treatment are truly gratifying things to witness, which is why I'm extremely excited about the prospects for important new advances heralded by a study published recently in Science. The study gets to the heart of a problem that has vexed many cancer researchers: drug resistance. In the past, when drugs, especially chemotherapy drugs, did not work in some patients, we had limited success in quickly determining why. But today, we have the tools and knowledge at our disposal to "reverse engineer" developmental therapeutics and determine the genetic or molecular basis for success or failure of a targeted therapy. And that is exactly what has now been done for the targeted therapy imatinib (Gleevec), and in a staggeringly short amount of time.
Imatinib has been one of the most dramatic success stories in cancer therapy over the past few years. This targeted agent has produced impressive results in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), achieving remission in many patients. Unfortunately, imatinib has its shortcomings: 15-20 percent of CML patients are either resistant to it or develop resistance to it. But insights from research conducted over just the past few years have laid the groundwork for efforts to test agents that could overcome imatinib resistance. The results of the first such studies were published in the July 16 issue of Science, by researchers from the UCLA School of Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The research team, led by Dr. Charles Sawyer, showed that an "off-the-shelf" oral agent initially developed for use against solid tumors could significantly prolong survival in a CML mouse model and demonstrated promising activity in laboratory tests on bone marrow cells from CML patients. Based on these results, the drug, BMS-354825, is now being tested in phase I human trials.
This seminal study followed from earlier structural biology research that made several important findings about how imatinib binds to its target enzyme and the mutations that lead to imatinib resistance. Those findings led the researchers to investigate an agent that was less selective and could bind to these mutated targets. Relying on technologies such as small molecule screens, crystallography, and bioluminescence imaging, the team was able to show that BMS-354825 was effective against 14 of the 15 imatinib-resistant CML mutations they tested. They suggest in their paper that other such kinase inhibitors might also be effective at combating imatinib resistance.
The excellent work of these investigators provides tremendous promise. Based on these results, similar agents are now being further investigated and there is great potential to use them alone or as part of a treatment cocktail, as is typically done with HIV. It's often said that it takes 10-15 years to bring a new drug to market, but we have entered a remarkable era where this is no longer the case. We are reaping the fruits of the knowledge that we have amassed about the genetic, biochemical, and structural underpinnings of cancer and are refining our ability to apply that knowledge with the use of advanced technologies. And, most importantly, we can do this quickly and more accurately. In a short time, researchers were able to identify the cause of clinical resistance to imatinib and identify drugs that can overcome that resistance. This is just another example of the exponential progress that we will see over the next few years, with rapid development of first- and second-generation therapies that are swiftly moved through the appropriate clinical trials and into clinicians' treatment arsenals.
Today, the process of cancer discovery, development, and delivery is drastically different than it was yesterday. We are witnessing success that was unimaginable 5 to 10 years ago and, as a result, we are a step closer to our goal of ending suffering and death from cancer.
Dr. Andrew C. von Eschenbach | In Cancer Research Today, Success Breeds Success
Advances in cancer research and treatment are truly gratifying things to witness, which is why I'm extremely excited about the prospects for important new advances heralded by a study published recently in Science. The study gets to the heart of a problem that has vexed many cancer researchers: drug resistance. In the past, when drugs, especially ch | {
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Search America's historic newspapers pages from - or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
title: 'Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, April 11, 1919, Image 8',
meta: 'News about Chronicling America - RSS Feed',
Image provided by: State Historical Society of Missouri; Columbia, MO
All ways to connect
Inspector General |
External Link Disclaimer |
HERE IS GLORIOUS
EUROPE'S IP IS
TO GET INTEREST
THOUGHT R THIS
IN AMERICAN HOMES IT 18 NO
LONGER NECESSARY TO READ
WE ARE CALLED TO ARMS
We Muit Furnish Our Dollar As a
Measure of Gratitude For
"Why seek ye the living among the
dead?" was asked of the disciples on
memorable Kaster morn some nine
teen hundred years ago and the sound
of the questioner's voice brought Joy
Co the hearts of the dixciples.
In thousands- of American homes to
day there is no longer need of seek
ing news of the living In the dally
casualty lists. The strain and. worry
of uncertainty has been removed from
the hearts of thousands of American
parents and in its place has welled
Jte spring of gratitude which must seek
v XJmtltade not only for the son's re
turn In good health and with broad
ened outlook, but for the return of the
millions of other sons who shared the
Clorioua work of making the world a
better place In which to live.
Hostilities have ceased over there,
but the call to arms is sounding over
here. The Victory Liberty Loan, the
thanksgiving loan, the loan that is to
pay for the great victory and wipe the
late clean is to be offered the people
of the United States on April 21.
Uncle Sam needs this money to pay
for the vast military preparations nec
essary to defeat the Hun. Our war
' preparations were at the high mark
of production when the Germans gave
op. To pay for the war supplies con
tracted for, to bring the boys home
and to finance the period of readjust
ment of business conditions will re
quire billions of dollars. We must
furnish them as a measure of our
gratitude that the war is to be paid
for in American dollars instead of in
valued American Uvea.
MUST ABSORB LOAN
OB HUBT BUSINESS
If Banks Were Forced to Take Vic-
tory leeue They Would Exhaust
, ''' ! '!'" Money. i ,.,
' ' , ...
That the Victory Loan, like its four
predecessors, must be a "people's
loan" is especially stressed by Carter
Glass, secretary of the treasury, in a
statement to the public, it is not to
he a "bankers' loan." The nation's
business situation depends upon as
wide a distribution as possible of "the
Vicjory Notes (short-term bonds).
"The banks, it iu pointed out, must
be left free to advance money tot busi
ness purposes; to the merchants and
manufacturers and the farmers. If all
the banks' money is tied up in loans
to the government, it btands to rea
son that there will be none left to
lend on crops. It would mean "tight
money," which means high interest
latcs and refusal to extend notes and
a general hardship upon the men who
depend upon the banks to assist them
in carrying on business and agricul
ture. The need for the billions the Vic
tory Loan will bring is plain to any
man who stops to think. The war is
HOt OVer, thOUEh th nnn
has ceased. The Mil m .
up. Millions of men are still in uni-
lorm, drawing pay and food and cloth
ing. The secretary of the treasury
VOI-IU4 CO .
"Government contracts cannot
repudiated. The eooda mw v,o
for in full. Our shipbuilding activities
uiuai curriea ouu
So. it can easilv b flPAM that
job is not finished. What would you
think of a farmer who built him a
tiouae, laying the foundation, putting
up me waus, ceumg the rooms and
orgeiung ine roori
' The roof will not hn nut' nn mm nn.
tkmal houee until the Job is finished
and the bills paid.
The campaign for Victory bonds will
feegtn on April SI. The exact details
- of the issue have not as yet been an
nounced, but it is considered certain
that the notes (short-term bonds) will
fee made an unusually attractive in--vestment
TOU ORDERED VICTORY. PAY
!THE PRICE NOT IN TAXES, BUT
IN LENDING TO UNCLE SAM.
TIVTH LIBERTY LOAN.
THE NATION OWE8 BILLIONS FOR
WINNING THI8 WAR AN3
MUST PAY IT.
IT IS A DEBT OF HONOR
The Victory Liberty Loan, the Last of
a Historic Series, Should Enlist
Your Individual Aid.
This country Is thinking harder
about taxes right now than it has in
many years. It is pretty generally un
derstood that when the Government
wants money that it has but two Im
portant ways of getting the needed
funds. It can raise the tax rates, or
it can issue bonds. Of the two meth
ods It is a great deal easier on the
taxpayers of the present to issue
boids. Also when the taxes are about
as high, ii caa be levied it is almost
necessary to float & bond issue rather
thai to file taxes upon taxect.
The income taxes are not raising
the money that was expected in some
quarters. For instance Jt Is the gen
eral beflef In the cities that the farm
ers are wonderfully prosperous and
yet but 14,000 filed income tax returns.
And there are more than 6,000,000
farmers in America!
Others who are not swelling the in
come tax lists to any great extent are
the men in the mechanical trades, an
industry that has been receiving the
highest wages ever paid.
The failure of the Income tax
scheme to raise the amounts expected
has forced the Government to. look
further for the necessary money. The
extraordinary demands that will be
made on the nation's resources for the
reconstruction period have made it
necessary to float a Fifth or Victory
Liberty Loan. The ordinary ways of
money raising will not give the sums
required even should their results
$ of money raising by
means of popular loans will mean the
placing of consumption taxes on tea,
coffee, hides, wool and other house
hold necessities. Raising this money
by means of subscriptions to a Liberty
Loan 1b by far the easier way both
for the Government and for the tax
payer. He lets the country have his
money, he gets the bond and the in
terest that accrues. As the years pass
the strain of the war will lessen and
a reserve of funds will be built up to
take care of the Liberty Notes (short
term bonds) as they fall due.
We have all been profiting by the
Junds raised. In the earlier Liberty
Lioans. raid out in wages in war
plants, for foodstuffs from the farms
or for materials used in war industry,
mosi oi me money has remained in
the United States. What Is true of
these loans will be true of the Fifth.
It will aid every man and every busi
ness in America during the difficult
after the war days.
NOTHING TO FEW IN
Readjustment Period Wilt Be Passed
When Victory Loan Is
Mr. Business Man. do not be afraid
when the fifth and final Libertv Loan
campaign begins on April 21. Do your
patriotic duty and your business duty
to yourself. Support the loan with
your money and your work. Back
up the boys who have made peace a
leallty Instead of a possibility.
We are beginning to pass through
the brief period of readjustment. Do
not let temporary conditions influence
your participation in the Victory Lib
erty Loan. The nation, by April 21,
will have passed the crisis in the
great readjustment necessary to put
the country back on a peace basis.
Instead of going into the Victory
Liberty Loan as you have done la the
previous loans with the prospect of
higher prloes and greater difficulty in
doing business confronting you, you
will be doing your share to pay for the
victory won, with the prospect of bet
ter business conditions. No one need
fear to make a large initial payment
on bond purchases. .
By helping the government take
care of our wounded, bring home our
boys from across the water, maintain
what forces we must keep overseas,
and pay our national war debt, you
help yourself. The Victory Liberty
Notes (short-term notes) probably will
be' the best of all. They will bear an
attractive rate of interest and will
, Lo lor a short term of years.
KING8 DETHRONED AND EMPER
OR8 ABDICATE, MAKING WAY
FOR RULE BY PEOPLE.
VICTORY LOAN'S PART
Previous Loans Had Important Part
In Winning the War, But This
, Loan Muot Be Floated.
If you will take a look at the map
of Europe and recall the things that
have been happening in the last four;
years you will see at a glance that twd
thlrds of the European Old World has
been overturned in a governmental
There are many vacancies in the old
lists of kings. The Russian nobility
has been wiped out. It has disap
peared from the Almanac da Gotha,
the Red Book of Royalty. .
A Kaiser is gone in Germany, a
dozen kings in the German states, the
rulers of Rumania, of Bulgaria and of
Greece. There may be others who
will follow for. there is a strange and ;
new spirit abroad in the world, a new '
and yet a very old sririt.
in Europe there are some hundreds
of millions of people, freedom crazed. ;
Every man ef them is, Individually, I
wanting a personal hand in the mak-i
lng of new laws. A million sound and
crazy theories of government are be-1
lng Jumbled together.
There is not the slightest objection :
to their forming such governments as '
they want They can reorganize along
their own lines. There are no fetters '.
on them. They are free to set up such
democratic governments as they want.
Doubtless there would be little objec
tion to certain slates going back to
the monarchlal Jform if the people
thought that best?
Right now the Allied nations have a
slow and wearisome Job. The tedious
task of impressing the points of this
new deal on the people who are com
ing into control in the chaotic em
pires. In brief, the Germanic idea
must be stamped out and uprooted.
If it is not done we may have to
fight Ois war all over again in fifty
years. Therefore we Americans are
staying till the end and doing our
best to see that there is a new and a
fair and square deal. All of which Is
costing us money, but it is a mighty
good way to pay our peace insurance
Therefore there is a call for an
other Liberty Loan subscription. Do
not get the idea that it is not as im
portant as the others were. Our sol
are stiH standing along the
line of clvflizatTbou
picKci une oi civilization,
Those other Liberty loans were
training loans, and transportation
loans and fighting loans, but this one
Is the reorganization, the rehabilita
tion and reconstruction, the reclama
tion, peace and ' rescue loan. And
don't let any one te'l you that it is
the least important of all the loans
that have been offered.
We want the world to start out
again with a fair chance. ' We hope
to see a good many time honored
abuses wiped out forever. We want
to see the Prussian spirit tamed and
the German spirit in general weak
ened till it will never again menace
the earth. And because of these
wishes and hopes we are not turning
our back on Europe. We want to feel
safe when it is all over and the treaty
signed, sealed and delivered.
This last is the Peace Loan as well
; as the "Victory loan. And we want
to make it an enduring peace.
BONDS ARE LISTED AT PAR
National Convention of Insurance Men
Recognize Liberty Security
The national convention of Insur
ance commissioners recently decided
that in the auditing of all insurance
companies for the year endfhg Decem
ber 31, 1918,' par would be allowed for
all Liberty Bonds. .
Financiers see in this action of the
always careful and always conserva
tive insurance . commissioners a cer
tain indication that the present low
prices of Liberty Bonds cf the first
four issues are only temporary and
that the bonds are soon to go above
The action should be an incentive
to the private owner of Liberty Bonds
to hang on. '
A Vote cf Thanks.
The people of the United States will
cast their vote of thanks to their
brave sons who" whipped the Germans
when they buy Victory Liberty Notes
(short-term bonds) in tho Victory Lib
erty Loan. . " ' 1 .
521 Maine Street.
Are arriving daily. A most extraordinary show
ing of distinctive spring fashjons, replete with
exclusive innovations that are delightfully char
acteristic of the world's foremost designers.
You not only protect your savings, but you get paid
for doing so when you have a savings account at this
bank. Money that's idle means money wasted. Put
your savings to work and watch the interest grow.
We watch both the principal and interest for you and
relieve you of all the banking worries.
CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $100,000.00
J. S. Scott, President M. B. Proctor, Cashier
J. J. Brown, Vice President J. S. Rutledge, Asst. Cashier ,
J. S. Scott, Wm. Buckman, P. W. Huston, R. S. McClintic, J.
J. Brown, J. V. Proctor, Leo. Bell, D. R. Davenport, M. B.
MONROE CITY BANK.
Among the curious things dis
posed of by the will of Mrs. Minnie
Westpheling, says' The Paris Mer
cury, was a German cook book writ
ten in long band over a century
ago. Another item was four tons
of old . newspapers and nearly a
wagonload of spools. The family,
according to The Mercury, seems to
have destroyed nothing, and among
Mrs. WestpheliDg's possession was
an old hair brush which bad belong
ed to her mother, and which she
kept with the strands of hair in it
that were left when her mother
combed her hair the last time.
Mies Grace Quick, who underwent
an operation for appendicitis in
Quincy about two weeks ago was
able to return to her home in this
city Saturday, . .
Russell Newman, perhaps the old
est man in Idado, and reported to be
the oldest Odd Fellow in the United
States, is dead at the home of his-
son in Midvale. Newman had been
a resident of Weiser. Idaho, for a
years, and until within two weeks--of
his death enjoyed good health.
He was an active member of both
the Odd Fellow and Rebekah lodges
Newman was born in Kentucky
March 20. 1811, and was a pioneer
in Missouri, Colorado and Idaho. -.
"Riders of the Purple Sage" is the
class of Western that v outclasses
all others. From Zane Grey's
novel by the same name. Gem
Saturday, April 12, at 8 o'clock.
. Miss Sue Hardcastle, of Moberly
spent Sunday in this city with her
uncle, C M. Smith. | Search America's historic newspapers pages from - or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities external link and the Library of Congress. Learn more
title: 'Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, April 11, 1919, Image 8',
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Do you want to give us your opinion on EU policies and influence their direction? Take part in shaping European policy by responding to our consultations - we are very interested in hearing your views and learning from your experience.
Consultation on "Opening up Education – a proposal for a European Initiative to enhance education and skills development through new technologies"
The objective of the consultation is to explore the perceived need - mainly but not exclusively among education and training stakeholders – for EU action to promote the use of Open Educational Resources (OER) and of ICT in education.
New technologies, in particular the internet, together with globalisation and the emergence of new education providers, are radically changing the way people learn and teach. Open access to education resources offers an unprecedented opportunity to enhance both excellence and equity in education. The EU aims to help both individual learners and education and training institutions in Member States to benefit from these opportunities and to increase their contribution to society.
In the last quarter of 2012, the Commission will present a Communication on Rethinking Skills aiming to increase the quantity, quality and relevance of skills supply for higher economic and social outcomes. This will, among other actions, announce a new EU Initiative on "Opening up Education": a proposal to exploit the potential contribution of ICTs and Open Educational Resources (OER) to education and skills development. This new EU initiative on "Opening up Education" will be the topic of a subsequent Communication in mid-2013.
Towards a more innovative Europe: public consultation on the future strategy for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
The European Commission is seeking your views on the future strategy of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Following the success of the EIT's initial phase, the results of this consultation will feed into a 'Strategic Innovation Agenda' (SIA) for the EIT which the Commission is due to propose by the end of this year. The agenda will outline the Institute's main priorities until 2020, focusing on the EIT's mission and objectives, funding and future priority themes for its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).
The consultation will remain open until 30 June 2011. The results will be analysed and summarised in a report that will be published on this website in the second semester of 2011.
All citizens and organisations are welcome to contribute to this consultation. Contributions are particularly sought from stakeholders at European, national and regional level involved in the knowledge triangle, i.e. higher education, research and business/innovation as well as public authorities.
Towards the Youth on the Move card: What is needed to increase the mobility and participation of young people in Europe?
We would like to hear your opinion on youth cards in light of preparations for one of the top 10 targeted actions of the Youth on the Move flagship initiative: the Youth on the Move card. The Youth on the Move card should facilitate both the mobility and participation for all young people.
There are already several cards that currently support young people in different ways, in the field of, for example, mobility or culture, offering discounts, access to information and networking opportunities. The idea behind the YoM card is not to replace these cards, but rather to build on and cooperate with these cards, possibly in the form of a label. This label could add real European value by offering more discounts, access to information and online networks, and new features such as smartcard technology. Hereby giving the cards a practical, social, and legal value for its users (anyone between 13 and 30 years old in Europe).
This consultation is intended to collate input from all stakeholders, in order to get feedback on the use of existing youth cards, to hear about users' experiences with current cards and to learn about expectations for possible new features and challenges for the future Youth on the Move card. The consultation, only 18 questions in English, will take you less than 5 minutes and will be online until 3 June 2011!
Public consultation on the future EU MEDIA Mundus Programme
Commission seeks your view on future MEDIA Mundus programme - A broad international cooperation programme for the audiovisual industries. Give your views on the future EU MEDIA Mundus Programme by taking part in the online public consultation – now open!
The European Commission launched the public consultation on the future EU MEDIA Mundus Programme on this website on 7 March 2011. This consultation, which is part of a wider consultation aimed at gathering views to be taken into account in the Commission's proposal for a new MEDIA Programme, will be open until 29 May 2011.
The results of this consultation will be analysed and summarised in a report that will be published on this website in the second half of 2011.
Consultation on priorities for modernisation of higher education in Europe: education, research and innovation
Europe 2020 - the EU's strategic agenda for growth - stresses the vital role of the
European higher education sector in developing human capital and driving research and innovation in the knowledge economy. As part of its efforts to help develop higher education in Europe, the European Commission plans to adopt a new
Communication on the modernisation of higher education in the third quarter of 2011. This will provide strategic direction for the development of European higher education in the next ten years, including in the areas of education, research and innovation. This new Communication will review progress towards the objectives set out in the 2006 Communication on modernisation higher education and propose action to respond to the challenges of the new decade.
To help prepare the new Communication, the European Commission is currently undertaking a wide-ranging consultation with stakeholders in European higher education. As part of this, we would like to invite you to complete a
short online questionnaire, asking for your views on priorities for higher education, including its research and innovation dimensions, in the period up to 2020.
The questionnaire will take around 10 minutes to complete.
The questionnaire will be open until 15 March 2011. You can complete it in English, French or German.
Public consultation on the promotion and validation of non-formal and informal learning
The Commission has launched a public consultation on possible future action to support the promotion and validation of non-formal and informal learning (more details). The aim is to collect views on whether further action is needed, if so, what type of action is required and which policy priorities should be given attention.
The consultation will remain open until 9 February 2011. The results will be analysed and summarised in a report that will be published on this website in the first semester of 2011.
All citizens and organisations are welcome to contribute to this consultation. Contributions are particularly sought from stakeholders at European, national and regional level involved in the delivery and/or validation of non-formal and informal learning
Public consultation on the future of the European Capitals of Culture
The Commission launched a public consultation on the future of the European Capitals of Culture, for which the current scheme lasts until 2019. The online consultation will remain open until 12 January 2011. The results will be analysed and summarised in a report that will be published on this website in the first semester of 2011.
In addition to the online consultation, a public meeting open to all interested individuals and organisations will be held in Brussels on 2 March 2011. Further information on the meeting will be published on this website in early December.
Public consultation on next-generation EU programmes – education, training and youth policy
The European Commission is launching public
consultations on 3 planned programmes, due to replace 3 existing
programmes from the beginning of 2014:
The consultations will be open until 30 November 2010.
Results of the consultations will be published on DG EAC's
website. The results reports will give a consolidated and
anonymous analysis of inputs received and indicate how the
Commission will take them into account in preparing its
proposals for the new programmes.
The new programmes should support the Europe 2020 strategy,
which promotes an economy based on knowledge, research and
innovation, high levels of education and skills, adaptability
and creativity, inclusive labour markets and the active
involvement of young people in society.
In line with Europe 2020, the programmes should help Europeans:
adapt to a labour market where a great majority of jobs require a high or medium level of skills, and there are fewer and fewer jobs for people without solid professional training
operate in society where more and more people go online to access services and perform everyday tasks
acquire certain key skills – languages, entrepreneurship and intercultural understanding – that are increasingly relevant for both work and life.
The consultations are also part of the Commission’s coordinated review of its programmes – with a view to the next Financial Framework (medium-term spending priorities ), due to start in 2014.
Commission seeks your view on future MEDIA programme of support for the European audiovisual sector
Give your views on the future EU MEDIA Programme by taking part in the online public consultation – now open!
The European Commission launched the public consultation on the future EU MEDIA Programme on this website on 24 September 2010.
This consultation, which is part of a wider consultation aimed at gathering views to be taken into account in the Commission's proposal for a new MEDIA Programme, will be open until 30 November 2010.
The results of this consultation will be analysed and summarised in a report that will be published on this website in the first quarter of 2011.
Consultation on a future European Union Culture Programme
The consultation is open to individual citizens, public and private bodies, local/regional authorities, ministries and relevant stakeholders in the field of culture both inside and outside the EU and in the European institutions and associations.
Period of consultation: from 15.09.2010 to 15.12.2010
Objective of the consultation: to gather input on the next round of the culture programme after 2013, especially its objectives, activities and types of support.
This online consultation is just one part of the wider public consultation, responses to which will be taken into account in the Commission's proposal for a new culture programme (to be adopted by the European Parliament and Council), following an assessment of possible social, economic and environmental impacts.
Consultation on the Green Paper on Promoting the Learning Mobility of Young People
With this Green Paper the Commission raises a wide number of
issues linked to the opportunities for young Europeans to go
abroad for learning, studying, volunteering or work experiences.
All interested parties are welcome to contribute to this
debate and put forward their options for the future.
Responses to this Green Paper will be collected at two
First, the Commission invites stakeholders to provide
responses to the open questions raised in the text, as well as
further reflections and examples of good practice. You can send
your contributions via e-mail to
[email protected] or to:
Second, there is an on-line
multiple-choice questionnaire, tailored to the wider public.
Please note that the public consultation period ended on 15
December 2009 (more information). The feedback to the public
consultation will allow the Commission to prepare a proposal for
the practical follow-up on the issue.
Consultation on EU plans for a European heritage label
The European Heritage Label was launched as an intergovernmental initiative by several European states in 2007. It aims to "strengthen the support of European citizens for a shared European identity and to foster a sense of belonging to a common cultural space". To date, 60 sites located in 18 European states have obtained the European Heritage Label. Seventeen of these states are Member States of the European Union.
At its meeting on 20 November 2008, the Council of Ministers adopted conclusions inviting the European Commission to submit to it an appropriate proposal to transform the current intergovernmental European Heritage Label into a formal European Union initiative. The aim of "europeanising" the Label in this way is to improve its operational efficiency, enhance its impact and also enable it to take on a new dimension.
In line with its procedures, the European Commission has launched an impact assessment, which includes a public consultation.
An on-line consultation was open from 20 March to 15 May 2009. To view the results, please click here.
An EU-wide public consultation on the future of youth policy
Europe's present and future lie with its young people, and government policies meant to serve them must stay tuned to their ever-changing needs.
That also goes for action by the European Union. The aim of this consultation is to help us evaluate what European cooperation on youth policy has achieved since 2000 and propose fresh objectives for the decade to come.
Opening of the public consultation on selection criteria for the EIT Governing Board
The ad-hoc Identification Committee, set up by the Commission in January, launched on Monday 10th March 2008 an open consultation on the main criteria to be taken into account in identifying potential members for the EIT Governing Board.
This first stage will consist of a public consultation where EIT stakeholders and the general public will be invited to comment and / or expand on the proposed criteria for the selection of the EIT's initial Governing Board. lease note that the closing date for submissions is Friday 28th March 2008.
In autumn 2008, the Commission will adopt a
Communication on multilingualism, with proposals for
actions that further promote language learning and
linguistic diversity, and address citizens' needs as
efficiently as possible. To this end, an online
consultation was launched in autumn 2007 (15 September –
15 November), inviting organisations and individuals to
write their views and expectations concerning language
The 2,419 contributions received were analysed and
the outcomes are presented in the form of a report.
Public hearing with stakeholders about
As a further step in the consultation process, the
Commission organised a public hearing, in Brussels on 15
April 2008, to discuss the main themes that emerged from
the online survey with experts and organizations
involved in language learning and promoting linguistic
diversity. The outcomes of the discussions as well those
of the online consultation will be reflected in the
Commission Communication on Multilingualism, to be
published in September 2008.
The public hearing gathered together 167 stakeholders
representing mainly education and cultural institutions and
organisations as well as various regional and national
authorities and non-governmental organisations. For consulting
the full list of participants, please click here.
Participants were free to raise questions during the open
discussion on any aspects regarding the treatment of languages
within the EU. The workshop sessions focussed on the following
three main themes: the role of languages in intercultural
dialogue and social inclusion; languages for employability and
competitiveness and the new challenges in language learning
within and outside formal education systems.
The summary and the conclusions of the discussions can be
Commissioner Leonard Orban: Making the most of Europe's
Mr Jacques De Decker: A rewarding challenge - How the
multiplicity of languages could strengthen Europe
Attention: deadline for sending
contributions extended until 15 December!
This public consultation addresses all those interested in the development of school education in Europe. The Commission's consultation document raises a series of issues that are deemed to be crucial for schools in Europe (such as schools and key competences, schools and social inclusion and the role of teachers, among others) on which contributions are sought. The deadline for the consultation is 15 October 2007.
This public consultation is addressed to all
those involved and with an interest in the Erasmus Mundus
programme. It is one of the steps towards preparing the future
of the programme. The consultation addresses the issues of needs
and programme objectives, programme design as well as programme
funding and implementation.
The Commission wants to gain a full picture of
the needs, ambitions and preferences of everyone concerned. The
consultation will inform the Commission's position regarding the
shape of the new Erasmus Mundus programme, which it will put
forward in summer 2007.
In the preparation of the Communication the Commission intends to take the views of stakeholders fully into account .
Therefore, we invited stakeholders (in particular organisations and individuals active in the cultural sector, including cultural industries) to express their views and opinions on the questions to be raised in the Communication. We would like to thank all participants in the online consultation.
The objective of the planned ECVET is to
create a European device which will facilitate the transfer,
validation and recognition of learning outcomes acquired by
individuals moving from one learning context to another or from
one qualification system to another, in particular during a
mobility period, and who wish to obtain a qualification. ECVET
will be used on a voluntary basis
'Your Voice in Europe' is the European Commission's 'single access point' to a wide variety of consultations, discussions and other tools which enable you to play an active role in the European policy-making process. | Do you want to give us your opinion on EU policies and influence their direction? Take part in shaping European policy by responding to our consultations - we are very interested in hearing your views and learning from your experience.
Consultation on "Opening up Education – a proposal for a European Initiative to enhance education and skills development through new technologies"
The objective of | {
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Wall Street Journal: Robert Johnston and Leslie Palti-Guzman: The Foreign Policy Uses of an Energy Bounty
In today’s Wall Street Journal, global energy analysts Robert Johnston and Leslie Palti-Guzman present a case for the White House to approve additional exports of U.S. natural gas. Johnston and Palti-Guzman argue that allowing increased LNG exports is good for the U.S. economy and our foreign policy. Introducing more U.S. gas into the world market could help restore America’s trade balance, improve our relationships with foreign allies, increase global competition, and ultimately help lower energy prices. The piece comes on the heels of a December 2012 Department of Energy analysis that the U.S. economy will experience "net economic benefits" from allowing increased LNG exports.
The Wall Street Journal
The Foreign Policy Uses of an Energy Bounty
The White House will effectively decide whether the U.S. becomes a global gas superpower.
By ROBERT JOHNSTON And LESLIE PALTI-GUZMAN
The United States is poised to become a global gas superpower. Thanks to innovation and investment in shale-gas technology, the production of natural gas in America has surged by 20% since 2006. But this story is about to enter a new phase—one in which success will depend on whether and how well the White House prepares the way for exports of America's energy bounty.
American gas production has grown so much that the global market is now intently focused on the "U.S. LNG export play," or shipments of liquefied natural gas overseas. The export demand is a win for U.S. gas producers, who are struggling with weak prices at home due to a domestic glut. Yet the surge of U.S. natural gas into global gas markets will have major implications for U.S. policy abroad, too. As the Obama administration considers energy-policy priorities for its second term, LNG exports could also be an attractive new tool in the State Department foreign-policy box.
A boom in U.S. gas exports would help rebalance relationships between producers and consumers, largely to the advantage of America's allies. The current market consensus is that the U.S. will export about six billion cubic feet per day of natural gas (also measurable as 45 million tons of LNG) by 2020. That's the equivalent of about 8% of current U.S. gas production or 16% of global LNG production. Globally, that would place America just behind the world's largest current LNG exporters, Australia and Qatar. …
Furthermore, the rise of American LNG exports makes it easier for Washington to convince allies not to do business with rogue states, particularly Iran. With the prospect of American LNG imports, India, for example, now has more attractive alternatives to the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline. Pipelines are like a marriage, where the partners may be locked into supply and pricing arrangements that can last decades. A reliable and stable supplier of LNG such as the U.S. eliminates the need for risky long-term infrastructure projects and contracts. …
In Asia, Japan and India are enthusiastic about the potential of U.S. LNG. News reports that say diplomats of both countries have urged the Department of Energy and the State Department to authorize enough production and export projects to satisfy their goals of importing cheaper gas from the U.S. In post-Fukushima Japan, American LNG is part of a new acquisition strategy designed to yield a more diversified supply portfolio, both in terms of sources and pricing.
Another appeal of new U.S. LNG supply is that American gas prices are linked to Henry Hub futures, a benchmark system (named after a major distribution hub in Louisiana) where prices reflect supply and demand. In the rest of the world, however, most gas sales until now have been contracted at a price calculated as a certain percentage of the oil price. As a result, buyers are currently paying a premium for oil-market risks that have little to do with global gas supply and demand. Exports of LNG from the U.S. could further encourage the decoupling of international gas prices from oil prices, and push down gas-market prices. …
Unlike in many other major gas-producing nations, the U.S. government does not dictate investment decisions or contractual arrangements by American oil and gas companies. Yet through its power to permit exports of U.S. gas and set the regulatory and environmental framework for domestic production, the White House will effectively say yea or nay to the emergence of the U.S. as a global gas superpower. The world is waiting for its answer.
Read the full article online HERE. | Wall Street Journal: Robert Johnston and Leslie Palti-Guzman: The Foreign Policy Uses of an Energy Bounty
In today’s Wall Street Journal, global energy analysts Robert Johnston and Leslie Palti-Guzman present a case for the White House to approve additional exports of U.S. natural gas. Johnston and Palti-Guzman argue that allowing increased LNG exports is good for the U.S. economy and our foreign | {
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Hugh Pickens writes "Lawrence Lessig — author, Harvard law professor, co-founder of Creative Commons — reviews The Social Network in The New Republic. Although Lessig says the movie is an 'intelligent, beautiful, and compelling film,' he adds that as a story about Facebook, it is deeply, deeply flawed because the movie fails to even mention the real magic behind the Facebook story, and while everyone walking out out of the movie will think they understand the genius of the internet, almost none of them will have seen the real ethic of internet creativity that makes success stories like Facebook possible. 'Because the platform of the Internet is open and free, or in the language of the day, because it is a "neutral network," a billion Mark Zuckerbergs have the opportunity to invent for the platform,' writes Lessig. 'And that is tragedy because just at the moment when we celebrate the product of these two wonders — Zuckerberg and the Internet — working together, policymakers are conspiring ferociously with old world powers to remove the conditions for this success. As "network neutrality" gets bargained away — to add insult to injury, by an administration that was elected with the promise to defend it — the opportunities for the Zuckerbergs of tomorrow will shrink.' Lessig laments that the creators of the movie didn't understand the ethic of Internet creativity and thought that the real story was the invention of Facebook not the platform that made such democratic innovation possible. 'Zuckerberg is a rightful hero of our time,' concludes Lessig. 'As I looked around at the packed theater of teens and twenty-somethings, there was no doubt who was in the right, however geeky and clumsy and sad. That generation will judge this new world. If, that is, we allow that new world to continue to flourish.'" | Hugh Pickens writes "Lawrence Lessig — author, Harvard law professor, co-founder of Creative Commons — reviews The Social Network in The New Republic. Although Lessig says the movie is an 'intelligent, beautiful, and compelling film,' he adds that as a story about Facebook, it is deeply, deeply flawed because the movie fails to even mention the real magic behind the Facebook story, and while every | {
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Federal Trade Commission*
Bureau of Consumer Protection Division of Financial Practices
Table of Contents
On June 13, 2000, the Federal Trade Commission (hereinafter "FTC" or "Commission") issued Online Profiling: A Report to Congress.(1) The report described the nature of online profiling, consumer privacy concerns about these practices, and the Commission's efforts to address these concerns. The Commission did not make recommendations at that time, because a dialogue with the network advertising industry regarding self-regulatory principles was still ongoing. The Commission promised, however, to supplement its report with specific recommendations to Congress after it had an opportunity to fully consider the industry's self-regulatory proposals and how they interrelate with the Commission's previous views and recommendations on online privacy generally. This report presents the Commission's recommendations.
II. FAIR INFORMATION PRACTICES AND THE NETWORK ADVERTISING INITIATIVE PRINCIPLES
As noted in Part 1 of this report, there are a set of core fair information practice principles that have guided the Commission with respect to online privacy issues.(2) First summarized in the Commission's 1998 report, Privacy Online: A Report to Congress ("1998 Report"),(3) these fair information practice principles predate the online medium; indeed, agencies in the United States, Canada, and Europe have recognized them in government reports, guidelines, and model codes since 1973.(4) The core principles are:
The Commission also identified Enforcement - the use of a reliable mechanism to identify and impose sanctions for noncompliance with these fair information practices - as a critical ingredient in any governmental or self-regulatory program to ensure privacy online.(9)
As Part 1 of this report also explained, many of the banner ads displayed on Web pages are not selected and delivered by the Web site visited by a consumer, but by network advertising companies that manage and provide advertising for numerous unrelated Web sites. In general, these network advertising companies do not merely supply banner ads; they also gather data about the consumers who view their ads. Although the information gathered by network advertisers is often anonymous (i.e., the profiles are linked to the identification number of the advertising network's cookie on the consumer's computer rather than the name of a specific person), in some cases, the profiles derived from tracking consumers' activities on the Web are linked or merged with personally identifiable information. This consumer data can also be combined with data on the consumer's offline purchases, or information collected directly from consumers through surveys and registration forms.
The purpose of collecting and analyzing this data is to allow the advertising networks to make a variety of inferences about each consumer's interests and preferences. The result is a detailed profile that attempts to predict the individual consumer's tastes, needs, and purchasing habits and enables the advertising companies' computers to make split-second decisions about how to deliver ads directly targeted to the consumer's specific interests. Nonetheless, network advertising companies are most often invisible to consumers. All that consumers see are the Web sites they visit. Unless the Web sites visited by consumers provide notice of the ad network's presence and data collection, consumers may be totally unaware that their activities online are being monitored.
Implementing fair information practices in the context of profiling by network advertisers presents numerous challenges. Some of these challenges stem from the invisible, third-party relationship of network advertisers to consumers. Other challenges result from the presence of multiple network advertisers on particular Web sites. Yet more challenges arise from the variations between the practices and business models of the individual network advertising companies and the many different categories of information that can be used for profiling purposes. Despite these challenges, the Commission believes that it is essential to implement the fair information practice principles in this context.
At the Online Profiling Workshop in November 1999,(10) industry members announced the formation of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), an organization comprised of the leading Internet Network Advertisers - 24/7 Media, AdForce, AdKnowledge, Avenue A, Burst! Media, DoubleClick, Engage, and MatchLogic - to develop a framework for self-regulation of the online profiling industry. Following the workshop, the NAI companies submitted working drafts of self-regulatory principles for consideration by FTC and Department of Commerce staff. After lengthy discussions, a set of principles has emerged that the Commission finds reasonably implement the fair information practice principles. A copy of the principles is attached as an appendix to this report.
The threshold issue in applying fair information practices to online profiling is how to achieve transparency when consumers are largely unaware they are being profiled.(11) Consumers cannot make informed decisions about whether to permit the collection of their information unless they know it is being collected and they understand how the information will be used. As noted at the Public Workshop, transparency is an issue concerning both the collection and use of non-personally identifiable information ("non-PII") and personally identifiable information ("PII").(12) The greatest transparency is achieved by providing disclosure of notice and choice options to consumers on the Web site they are visiting (the so-called "host" or "publisher" Web site) on which the network advertiser is placing cookies or otherwise collecting information. Consumers who may not even be aware of network advertisers are unlikely to visit the network advertiser's site to obtain notice and choice.
Once informed about the network advertiser's information collection practices, consumers should be able to decide whether to participate in profiling. Under the NAI Principles, the choice method depends on the type of information being collected and the consumer's knowledge about, and level of control over, the original collection of information.(16) They provide that:
The third prong of fair information practices, access, is also addressed by the NAI Principles, which promise that consumers will be given reasonable access to personally identifiable information and other information that is associated with personally identifiable information retained by a network advertiser for profiling.(22) As the Commission's 2000 Report stated, "[w]hile Access is widely recognized as an important fair information practice, the Commission believes that Access presents unique implementation issues that require consideration before its parameters can be defined."(23)
Consistent with the principle of Security, under the NAI proposal, network advertisers will make reasonable efforts to protect the data they collect for profiling purposes from loss, misuse, alteration, destruction, or improper access.(24) In the context of security, network advertisers should be subject to the same standards as all businesses that operate on the Internet. Therefore, if, in the future, legislative standards are developed they should apply to network advertisers and other Internet businesses equally.(25)
The bedrock of any effective self-regulatory or legislative scheme is enforcement. In a self-regulatory context, this means that nearly all industry members subject themselves to monitoring for compliance by an independent third party and to sanctions for non-compliance, which may include public reporting of violations or referral to the FTC. Enforcement may be provided by a seal organization, such as BBBOnline or TRUSTe.
Under the NAI Principles, network advertisers have committed to working with an independent third party enforcement program (e.g., a seal program) to ensure compliance with the Principles.(26) If no such program is available within six months, the NAI companies will submit to independent compliance audits the results of which will be made publicly available.(27)
Finally, the NAI Principles provide additional protections for consumers beyond those required by the traditional fair information practices. For example, NAI companies will not use personally identifiable information about sensitive medical or financial data, sexual behavior or sexual orientation, or social security numbers for profiling.(28) In addition, NAI companies have committed to ensure that they obtain data for profiling from reliable sources.(29)
The Commission commends the NAI companies for the innovative aspects of their proposal and for their willingness to adopt and follow these self-regulatory principles. Their principles address the privacy concerns consumers have about online profiling and are consistent with fair information practices. As the Commission has previously recognized, self-regulation is an important and powerful mechanism for protecting consumers, and the NAI principles present a solid self-regulatory scheme. Moreover, NAI members have agreed to begin to put their principles into effect immediately while Congress considers the Commission's recommendations concerning online profiling.
Nonetheless, backstop legislation addressing online profiling is still required to fully ensure that consumers' privacy is protected online. For while NAI's current membership constitutes over 90% of the network advertising industry in terms of revenue and ads served, only legislation can compel the remaining 10% of the industry to comply with fair information practice principles. Self-regulation cannot address recalcitrant and bad actors, new entrants to the market, and drop-outs from the self-regulatory program. In addition, there are unavoidable gaps in the network advertising companies' ability to require host Web sites to post notices about profiling, namely Web sites that do not directly contract with the network advertisers; only legislation can guarantee that notice and choice are always provided in the place and at the time consumers need them.(30)
Accordingly, the Commission recommends legislation that would set forth a basic level of privacy protection for all visitors to consumer-oriented commercial Web sites with respect to profiling. Such legislation would set out the basic standards of practice governing the collection and use of information online for profiling, and provide an implementing agency with the authority to promulgate more detailed standards pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act,(31) including authority to enforce those standards. In the context of profiling, determining the contours of the fair information practice of "choice," in particular, presents special challenges in framing a legislative mandate and in promulgating the required standards, which would require close attention.
The proposed legislation would also provide the implementing agency with the authority to grant safe harbors to self-regulatory principles which effectively implement the standards of fair information practices articulated in the legislation and subsequent rulemaking. The Commission presently believes that there is a good case the NAI Principles would qualify for such a safe harbor, but other industry groups or individual firms would be free to apply for safe harbor approval as well.(32) Under the proposed legislation, all network advertising companies and all consumer-oriented commercial Web sites that permit the collection of information from or about consumers by network advertising companies would be required to comply with the four widely-accepted fair information practices.(33)
The Commission recognizes that the implementation of these practices may vary with the nature of the information collected and the uses to which it is put, as well as with technological developments. For this reason, the Commission recommends that any legislation be phrased in general terms and be technologically neutral. Thus, the definitions of fair information practices set forth in the statute should be broad enough to provide flexibility to the implementing agency in promulgating its rules or regulations.
The Commission is committed to the goal of ensuring privacy online for consumers and will continue working to address the unique issues presented by online profiling.
Statement of Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson
Online Profiling: A Report to Congress (Part 2) Recommendations
The Internet is generally recognized as an empowering technology that makes vast quantities of information readily available to consumers and businesses alike. The Internet's growth, as well as the concurrent emergence of related technologies, has led to the creation of a vigorous new electronic marketplace based upon direct personal connections between merchants and consumers. Benefits from this new marketplace include increased choices, efficiencies and other advantages for both business and consumers.
Information accessibility does, however, raise important concerns about personal privacy and the information that is collected from consumers by online businesses. Nowhere is this more clear than in the case of online "profilers"- - a new industry that uses technology to gather information from Internet consumers. In connection with our work in the area of electronic commerce and the protection of consumers' personal data, the FTC has reviewed the actions of these online profilers.
The self regulatory program presented here provides the profiling industry with an opportunity to come out from the shadows and include consumers in its value proposition. More specifically, the program will require the Network Advertising Initiative ("NAI") companies to tell consumers what they are doing with consumers' personal information and give consumers a choice about whether to participate. But this program alone will not provide all that consumers need and want in this area.
Members of the profiling industry need to do more than derive self-benefit from gathering information from consumers that they follow around the World Wide Web. They must incorporate their self-regulatory program into a plan to demonstrate how consumers will benefit from information gathering and profiling. This undertaking is important both to consumers and to the future of the industry.
In addition, the Commission's work with the NAI and consumers shows that although the principles behind the NAI's self-regulatory program are sound, legislation is needed to address certain gaps in the program's reach. Accordingly, our report is also making legislative recommendations that I support because they are fully consistent with our view that well-drafted legislation in this area will bolster consumer confidence by allowing us to address areas that industry is unwilling or unable to address itself.
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER THOMAS B. LEARY CONCURRING IN PART AND DISSENTING IN PART
Online Profiling: A Report to Congress (Part 2): Recommendations
I agree with the Report's recommendations relating to Online Profiling insofar as they endorse the NAI self-regulatory principles, advocate safe-harbor protections for these principles and others of a similar kind, and recommend some "backstop legislation." However, for the reasons expressed in my separate statement relating to online privacy generally,(34) I believe that legislation should focus on adequate "Notice" and not mandate across-the-board standards for other elements of the so-called "fair information practices."
There is a need for clear and concise disclosure of individual privacy policies in both the online and offline worlds, and this need is particularly compelling in the area of online profiling.(35) The technological capabilities for profiling are unfamiliar to many people and the practice may be perceived as particularly intrusive. However, if people are adequately informed about profiling, as well as other practices that raise privacy concerns, the marketplace should provide the appropriate mix of substantive privacy protections.
An appropriate marketplace response obviously depends on communication of consumer choices, which might initially suggest that some legislative attention to the element of "Choice" is also appropriate. However, I have been reluctant to endorse this legislative option because, up to now, there has not been sufficient attention to what "Choice" means.
If mandated "Choice" simply refers to some mechanism whereby a consumer can either grant or refuse permission for online profiling, I would have no problem with it. A consumer should have the ability to exit the site before the fact of the visit becomes part of a profile. If, however, "Choice" means that a consumer can exercise this choice (either by opting out or failing to opt in) and still obtain the same benefits as a consumer less solicitous of privacy, it could be unfair. Consumers who object should not have a legally guaranteed right to "free-ride" on possible value and corresponding benefits made possible by the cooperation of those who do not object. Put another way, it should not be illegal to reward consumers who are willing to be profiled. The question of appropriate rewards or penalties attendant upon the exercise of various options can be extremely complicated.
Because there does not seem to be adequate discussion of this issue in the Report's recommendations or in any of the numerous privacy bills thus far introduced, - - and because the "free-riding" issue may or may not be significant, depending on the individual business - - I am reluctant to endorse a legislative mandate for "Choice," at this time. Similar concerns about unaddressed complexities apply to proposals for mandated "Access" and "Security." It is not appropriate to defer all the tough issues for future rule-making.
Notwithstanding these reservations, I have voted for this Report. Unlike the earlier, more general Commission Report on Privacy Online, this Report contains more points with which I concur than points from which I dissent. This Report focuses on a particularly serious issue that applies uniquely to the online world and it gives appropriate recognition to a comprehensive self-regulatory scheme. In these circumstances, the particular legislative proposals that I consider overbroad have a relatively limited impact. I am optimistic that further dialogue will continue to narrow our remaining points of disagreement.
DISSENTING STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER SWINDLE
I applaud the member companies of the National Advertising Initiative (NAI) for their agreement on self-regulatory principles concerning online profiling, Self-Regulatory Principles For Online Preference Marketing By Network Advertisers. The agreement provides transparency to consumers by furnishing notice of network advertisers' profiling on host Web sites and enabling consumers to choose not to participate in profiling.
I wholeheartedly endorse the language in the Commission's report commending NAI
for the innovative aspects of its proposal and for its willingness to adopt and follow these self-regulatory principles. I recognize that there may well have been instances of unacceptable practices related to profiling, which has unique attributes. The NAI has recognized this concern and has put forward a commendable scheme of self-regulation. As the Commission has generally recognized,(36) self-regulation is an important and powerful mechanism for protecting consumers, and the NAI principles present a solid self-regulatory scheme.
My dissent here is not directed to the NAI principles. Rather, it is directed to the majority's recommendation that, despite NAI's laudable self-regulatory efforts, legislation is needed as a "backstop."(37) Such legislation would have the same characteristics as the legislation recommended by a majority of the Commission in its 2000 Privacy Report, which I strenuously opposed.(38) Again, the devil is in the details. I consider legislation that mandates the four fair information practice principles to be overly burdensome and unwarranted, for the reasons discussed at length in my dissent from the 2000 Privacy Report.(39) Simply stated, we do not have a market failure here that requires legislative solution.
I oppose imposing burdensome regulation on an entire industry to address the 10% of advertisers who are not members of NAI - that is, those engaged in profiling to which the NAI self-regulatory principles would not apply. The majority can neither define nor identify who these advertisers are. We should not recommend legislation and regulation if we cannot demonstrate that the problems they are intended to resolve are real and significant. My colleagues, unwilling to accept a self-regulatory approach, find it necessary to support a highly regulatory scheme for an entire industry. I fear that the legislative recommendation will create an incentive for industry to discontinue seeking self-regulatory solutions.
The majority has been hasty in calling for legislation and regulation governing online profiling. NAI just announced its self-regulatory principles to address concerns that have been raised about online profiling, including a notice requirement that we all agree is paramount. Technology also has just been introduced into the marketplace that will empower consumers to address online profiling without the need for government action.(40) With each passing week, we learn more about industry initiatives and technological changes that can alleviate concerns about online profiling. Why not give these promising developments a chance before resorting to the heavy hand of government intervention?
Appendix: NAI Principles 1. Available at <http://www.ftc.gov/os/2000/06/onlineprofilingreportjune2000.pdf>. ("Profiling Report (Part 1)").
2. Profiling Report (Part 1) at 19-20.
3. 1998 Report at 7-14, available at <http://www.ftc.gov/reports/privacy3/index.htm>.
4. 1998 Report at 7-11. In addition to the HEW Report, the major reports setting forth the core fair information practice principles are: The U.S. Privacy Protection Study Commission, Personal Privacy in an Information Society (1977); Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, OECD Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data (1980); U.S. Information Infrastructure Task Force, Information Policy Committee, Privacy Working Group, Privacy and the National Information Infrastructure: Principles for Providing and Using Personal Information (1995); U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Privacy and the NII: Safeguarding Telecommunications-Related Personal Information (1995); The European Union Directive on the Protection of Personal Data (1995); and the Canadian Standards Association, Model Code for the Protection of Personal Information: A National Standard of Canada (1996).
5. 1998 Report at 7-8; see also Federal Trade Commission, Self-Regulation and Online Privacy: A Report to Congress (1999) [hereinafter "1999 Report"] at 3-4; Privacy Online: Fair Information Practices in the Electronic Marketplace (May 2000) ("2000 Report") at 4.
6. 1998 Report at 8-9; see also 1999 Report at 3-4; 2000 Report at 4.
7. 1998 Report at 9; see also 1999 Report at 3-4; 2000 Report at 4.
8. 1998 Report at 10; see also 1999 Report at 3-4; 2000 Report at 4.
9. 1998 Report at 10-11; see also 1999 Report at 3-4; 2000 Report at 4.
10. On November 8, 1999, the FTC and the United States Department of Commerce jointly sponsored a Public Workshop on Online Profiling. A transcript of the Workshop is available at <http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/profiling/index.htm> and public comments received in connection with the Workshop can be viewed on the Federal Trade Commission's Web site at <http://www.ftc.gov/ bcp/profiling/comments/index.html>.
11. The NAI members use the term "online preference marketing"or "OPM" rather than "profiling" because the process involves "collecting data over time and across Web pages to determine or predict consumer characteristics or preferences for use in ad delivery on the Web." NAI Principles at 2.
12. See Profiling Report (Part 1) at 12-13.
13. See NAI Principles at 8-10. A sample Robust Notice is attached as a "mock up" to Appendix D of the NAI Principles.
14. See NAI Principles at 5. An Internet Protocol ("IP") address, the address that allows a network advertiser to deliver an ad, is treated as non-PII under the NAI Principles. At present, IP addresses are generally considered non-personally identifiable information. Many IP addresses are "dynamic," changing each time a consumer connects to the Internet, as opposed to "static," or unique to that consumer's computer. It is extremely difficult to link dynamic IP addresses to an individual, although using Internet service provider log files, it is technically possible. As technology evolves, however, there may be a trend toward use of static IP addresses, including the increased use of DSL and cable modems. Static IP addresses are more likely to become personally identifiable because they are linked in an individual's computer. If IP addresses become individual identifiers, an IP address may be considered "data used to identify, contact, or locate an individual," i.e., personally identifiable information. See NAI Principles at 7.
15. Personally identifiable information will always be collected pursuant to a contract between an individual NAI company and a host Web site under the Principles. However, NAI companies do not always have a direct contractual relationship with the host sites on which they collect non-personally identifiable information. In the absence of a direct contractual relationship, NAI has no ability to require a host Web site to post a notice about data collection by network advertisers, although it has agreed to make reasonable efforts to ensure that publishers post such notices. See NAI Principles at 5.
16. There are traditionally two models for choice - "opt-in" and "opt-out." Opt-in regimes require affirmative steps by the consumer to allow the collection and/or use of information. Opt-out models require affirmative steps to prevent the collection and/or use of information.
The Commission believes that both regimes have a role to play in online privacy. Opt-in procedures may be more appropriate where the information at issue is particularly sensitive - for example, the collection and use of children's personal information or sensitive medical information. See, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 6501-06 (COPPA). As noted below, hybrids may also have a role, combining elements of both opt-in and opt-out.
The guiding principle for these consent mechanisms is to ensure that consumers are able to make informed choices about their privacy preferences and can exercise those choices in a reasonable manner. As the Commission's experience with these mechanisms evolves, it will continue to evaluate their effectiveness.
17. See NAI Principles at 6.
20. See NAI Principles at 4-6.
21. See NAI Principles at 5.
22. See NAI Principles at 8.
23. 2000 Report at 17; see generally Final Report of the Federal Trade Commission Advisory Committee on Online Access and Security (May 15, 2000) ("ACOAS Report").
24. See NAI Principles at 3.
25. ACOAS Report at 19-26.
26. On March 7, 2000, TRUSTe announced the formation of an Advisory Committee on Third Party Ad Servers and Licensee Practices. The mission of the Advisory Committee was to provide TRUSTe with options for "how its licensees can effectively implement fair information practices of notice and choice while addressing the consumer's need for full and understandable disclosure, technological capabilities and constraints, and the nature of contractual relationships between third party ad servers and TRUSTe licensees." The term of the Advisory Committee ended June 1, 2000, and its final product was proposed options for inclusion in the next version of TRUSTe's license agreement. TRUSTe Forms Advisory Committee on Third Party Ad Servers and Licensee Practices (available at <http://www.truste.org/about/about_tpas.html>).
27. See NAI Principles at 12.
28. See NAI Principles at 3.
29. See NAI Principles at 3.
30. The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has indicated that, even in the absence of a contractual requirement, host Web sites that are members of DMA will commit to posting the notices required by the NAI Principles. The Commission commends DMA and its members for their commitment, but nonetheless believes that legislation is necessary to ensure that such notice is provided at all Web sites, not merely at DMA member sites.
31. 5 U.S.C. § 553. Rulemaking authority also would enable the implementing agency to take into account relevant technological advances that address online profiling issues.
32. Under the legislative framework recommended by the Commission, the final decision as to whether any self-regulatory guidelines qualify for safe harbor status will be made by the implementing agency, following any rulemaking, and after it has the opportunity to consider the guidelines and their effectiveness at the time the application for safe harbor treatment is made, and consider any relevant experience with comparable self-regulatory schemes.
34. Federal Trade Commission, "Privacy Online: Fair Information Practices in the Electronic Marketplace: A Report to Congress" (Statement of Commissioner Thomas B. Leary, Concurring in Part and Dissenting in Part) (May 2000).
35. My previous Statement emphasized that the practice was "uniquely invasive" and that it is necessary to "ensure that consumers are adequately informed about these Internet capabilities." Id. at 8.
36. Federal Trade Commission, Online Profiling: A Report to Congress (Part 2), Recommendations at 9 (July 2000).
37. Id. at 10.
38. Federal Trade Commission, Report to Congress on Privacy Online: Fair Information Practices in the Electronic Marketplace (May 2000) (Dissenting Statement of Commissioner Orson Swindle).
39. See generally id.
40. Microsoft Announces New Cookie Management Features for Internet Explorer 5.5 (July 20, 2000) (company press release). | Federal Trade Commission*
Bureau of Consumer Protection Division of Financial Practices
Table of Contents
On June 13, 2000, the Federal Trade Commission (hereinafter "FTC" or "Commission") issued Online Profiling: A Report to Congress.(1) The report described the nature of online profiling, consumer privacy concerns about these practices, and the Commission's efforts to address these concerns. The | {
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September 28, 2003
I went to Postmasters in New York yesterday with Rachel and saw a very nice exhibit of new media art. The pieces were by Eddo Stern, an artist who was born in Tel Aviv and now lives and works in Los Angeles. He’s the founder of c-level and seems to be rather steeped in hacker and gaming culture.
War, religion, and the American military were themes that ran through the five pieces on exhibit. Formally and in terms of genre and technique, there were two sorts of pieces. The first sort, pictured above (full size image) were large objects that integrated desktop computers, flat panel screens, moving parts, and hexagonal tiling to make computer hardware itself into a video game structure. The second sort was represented by Vietnam Romance, a piece of video art created entirely from recordings of video games (often first-person shooters), with a soundtrack made from MIDI files that people have offered online.
Which is to say, the artworks consisted of case mods and machinima!
I was quite impressed by the exhibit. Vietnam Romance (2003, running time 19:30) began with a clip from Grand Theft Auto: Vice City that featured a military-like dock setting filled with dark-haired prostitutes who could be viewed as Asian. The soundtrack was Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots are Made For Walking,” famously used by Kubrick in Full Metal Jacket. First-person shooters provided much of the footage, but other scenes also used helicopter simulators and appropriate soundtracks to refer to M.A.S.H. and Apocalypse Now.
The case mods, conflating medieval weaponry and modern technologies, were also quite clever and eesome. Fort Paladin [America's Army] mechanically typed on a keyboard, playing the videogame is available free from the US Army’s recruiting website. Omnivore’s Cathedral [Whose Child Is this?] riffed on the karaoke machine. These aren’t interactive pieces. While many interesting new media works aren’t, in this case these room-dominating objects seemed oddly mute, or at least repetitive, particularly since they refer to computer case mods that allow a general-purpose computer to look like something else. But perhaps there’s an interesting point there, related to the military re-appropriation of computer technologies for a single fixed purpose.
The text of this blog entry is licensed under a Creative Commons License. | September 28, 2003
I went to Postmasters in New York yesterday with Rachel and saw a very nice exhibit of new media art. The pieces were by Eddo Stern, an artist who was born in Tel Aviv and now lives and works in Los Angeles. He’s the founder of c-level and seems to be rather steeped in hacker and gaming culture.
War, religion, and the American military were themes that ran through the five piece | {
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This observation shows gullies in a semi-circular trough in Noachis Terra. The gullies are observed to face all directions.
It is interesting to note that the gully morphology seen here depends on the orientation of the gullies. The morphology differences are most pronounced on the sunlit slope, with the gullies facing south (down) being more deeply incised than those facing the west. It is unknown what caused the different gully morphologies, but there are several possibilities.
Gullies are proposed to form at locations determined by the availability of a forming liquid (thought to be water) and/or the amount of insolation the slope receives, among other factors. It is possible that the deeper gullies experienced more erosional events or that their erosional events were more effective for undetermined reasons. It is also possible that the gullies formed at different times such that they did not have the same amount of water -- either for an individual flow or total -- available to them. Also, the underlying topography could make the gullies appear relatively more incised without this actually being the case.
The majority of the gullies on both sides of the trough appear to originate at a boulder-rich layer visible in the subimage. The layer appears dark on the sunlit slope because the boulders sticking out from the slopes cast shadows. If these gullies formed by water from the subsurface, then it is possible that this layer is a permeable layer that conducted water to the surface. The layer is deteriorating and traveling down slope in the form of boulders. These boulders can clearly be seen in the alcoves of the gullies on both sides of the trough.
The University of Arizona, Tucson, operates the HiRISE camera, which was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the spacecraft development and integration contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. | This observation shows gullies in a semi-circular trough in Noachis Terra. The gullies are observed to face all directions.
It is interesting to note that the gully morphology seen here depends on the orientation of the gullies. The morphology differences are most pronounced on the sunlit slope, with the gullies facing south (down) being more deeply incised than those facing the west. It is unknow | {
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Cobb County Police Department
Domestic Violence and Stalking
This information is provided courtesy of the Cobb County District Attorney and Superior Court
Domestic Violence Pamphlet - Download Here
What Constitutes "Stalking"?
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 16-5-90, "A person commits the offense of stalking when he or she follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place or places without the consent of the other person for the purpose of harassing, and intimidating the other person."
NOTE: It is not necessary for the parties to have lived together to obtain a TPO for stalking.
What Constitutes "Family Violence"?
Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (O.C.G.A.) 19-13-1, "Family Violence" means the occurrence of one or more of the following acts between past or present spouses, persons who are parents of the same child, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children, or other persons living or formerly living in the same household: (1) Any felony: or (2) Commission of offenses of battery, simple battery, simple assault, assault, stalking, criminal damage to property, unlawful restraint, or criminal trespass.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 19-13-3, "Upon the filing of a verified petition in which the petitioner alleges with specific facts that probable cause exists to establish that family violence has occurred in the past and may occur in the future, the court may order such temporary relief ex parte as it deems necessary to protect the petitioner or a minor of the household from violence."
What is a Temporary Protective Order (TPO)?
A Temporary Protective Order (TPO) is a civil order issued by a Superior Court Judge for the protection of victims of Family Violence or Stalking.
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 19-13-4, a temporary protective order can:
- Direct a party to refrain from committing acts of family violence or stalking;
- Grant to a spouse possession of the residence or household of the parties and exclude the other spouse from the residence or household;
- Require a party to provide suitable alternative housing for a spouse, former spouse, or parent and the parties’ child or children;
- Award temporary custody of minor children and establish temporary visitation rights;
- Order the eviction of a party from the residence or household and order assistance to the victim in returning to it, or order assistance in retrieving personal property of the victim if the respondent’s eviction has not been ordered;
- Order either party to make payment for the support of minor children as required by law;
- Order either party to make payments for the support of a spouse as required by law;
- Provide for possession of personal property of the parties;
- Order a party to refrain from harassing or interfering with the other;
- Award costs and attorney’s fees to either party;
- Order the respondent to receive appropriate psychiatric or psychological services as a further measure to prevent the recurrence of family violence.
Who is Eligible to Apply for a TPO?
Before an application for a TPO can be made, an act of family violence or stalking must have occurred. The following parties are eligible to apply:
- Spouses (present or past)
- Parents of the same children
- Parents and children
- Step-parents and step-children
- Foster parents and foster children
- Persons living or formerly living in the same household
How is a TPO Obtained?
The first step in obtaining a TPO is the application process. A representative (advocate) of the YWCA will assist you with the required paperwork. The advocate is located in the Cobb County Superior Court Building, 3 Waddell Street, 4th Floor, Suite 402, Marietta, Georgia 30090.
This advocate is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to assist in this process. (NOTE: Persons seeking protective orders should allow at least one hour for the screening process. Late arrival may delay the petition being heard until the following business day.)
The advocate will provide the required paperwork for parties seeking temporary protective orders. Additional duties of the advocate include, entering information into the state computer system and screening cases before bringing said matters before the presiding judge.
Petitions are heard twice daily (Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) in the Cobb County Superior Court by an assisting Superior Court Judge. Hearings are held at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. (NOTE: All required paperwork must be completed and entered into the state system prior to a case being presented to a judge.) In order to complete the process in one day you must arrive no later than 1:30 p.m.
If there is a finding by the judge that there is probable cause to believe that an act of family violence has occurred in the past and may occur in the future, the Court may order such relief as is deemed appropriate.
After the responding party has been served with a copy of the order by the Sheriff’s Office, a hearing will be held within 30 days. Both parties will have the opportunity to be present at the hearing. An assisting Superior Court Judge will determine by a preponderance of the evidence if it is warranted to continue the protective order for a period of up to 12 months. These hearings are held on Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Where Does the TPO Apply?
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 19-13-4 “A protective order issued shall apply and shall be effective throughout this state.” | Cobb County Police Department
Domestic Violence and Stalking
This information is provided courtesy of the Cobb County District Attorney and Superior Court
Domestic Violence Pamphlet - Download Here
What Constitutes "Stalking"?
Pursuant to O.C.G.A. 16-5-90, "A person commits the offense of stalking when he or she follows, places under surveillance, or contacts another person at or about a place or | {
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Homeless Assistance Programs
HUD's Homeless Assistance Web Page is available to help you learn more about HUD's homeless assistance programs, and to keep you informed about available funding. HUD's homeless assistance programs are broken down into two main categories, formula (non-competitive), and competitive. Competitive programs are under the umbrella of Continuum of Care.
In accordance with the HEARTH Act, HUD has published final regulations that revise the definition of "homeless". This definition of homeless applies to projects funded under the Emergency Solutions Grants program (24 CFR part 576) and projects funded under the Continuum of Care programs – the Shelter Plus Care program (24 CFR part 582) and the Supportive Housing Program (24 CFR part 583) – funded in the FY 2011 Continuum of Care competition. The definition of homeless will apply to projects funded under the Continuum of Care program and the Rural Housing Stability Assistance program when they are implemented.
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act programs administered by HUD that award funds competitively require the development of a Continuum of Care system in the community where assistance is being sought. A continuum of care system is designed to address the critical problem of homelessness through a coordinated community-based process of identifying needs and building a system to address those needs. The approach is predicated on the understanding that homelessness is not caused merely by a lack of shelter, but involves a variety of underlying, unmet needs - physical, economic, and social. Funds are granted based on the competition following the Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs include:
- Supportive Housing Program
Provides housing, including housing units and group quarters, that has a supportive environment and includes a planned service component.
- Shelter Plus Care Program
Provides grants for rental assistance for homeless persons with disabilities through four component programs: Tenant, Sponsor, Project, and Single Room Occupancy Rental Assistance.
- Single Room Occupancy Program
Provides rental assistance on behalf of homeless individuals in connection with moderate rehabilitation of SRO dwellings.
Formula Program (Non-Competitive)
Formula grants are awarded on the basis of the Consolidated Plan that states and local jurisdictions may fill out.
- Emergency Solutions Grant Program
The Emergency Solutions Grants program (ESG) is a federal grant program designed to assist individuals and families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis of homelessness. It provides essential street outreach and emergency shelter services as well as emphasizes homelessness prevention and rapid re-housing assistance. The program requirements facilitate coordination at the state and local levels to utilize all available services, consult closely with the jurisdiction’s Continuums of Care, and evaluate progress in accordance with a comprehensive homeless strategy and annual action plan.
In accordance with the HEARTH Act, HUD has issued interim regulations for the Emergency Solutions Grant program and the Consolidated Plan.
- Title V program
HUD collects and publishes information about surplus federal property that can be used to help homeless persons. Eligible grantees include states, local governments, and nonprofit organizations.
- Base Realignment and Closure
The congressionally authorized process the US Department of Defense has previously used to reorganize its base structure to more efficiently and effectively support our military forces, increase operational readiness and facilitate new ways of doing business.
If you would like to locate the HUD office closest to you, please select your Local HUD Office which will connect you with the Web Page of each Field Office. The Annual Progress Report is available now in a Word format. | Homeless Assistance Programs
HUD's Homeless Assistance Web Page is available to help you learn more about HUD's homeless assistance programs, and to keep you informed about available funding. HUD's homeless assistance programs are broken down into two main categories, formula (non-competitive), and competitive. Competitive programs are under the umbrella of Continuum of Care.
In accordance with th | {
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| || Design Considerations for Laser Based Underwater Optical Systems
Author : Varijghese, K. 0. G.
Source : Defence Science Journal ; Vol:34(1) ; 1984 ; pp 29-34
Subject : 535 Optics
Keywords : Underwater operations;Underwater receiver optical systems;Laser applications;Underwater receiver optics;Submarine communication
Abstract : Certain typical design requirements of laser based underwater receiver optical systems are dealt with. Some of their special features which are to be considered while designing these systems are highlighted. Optical schemes, which can be used as underwater receiver optics, are also explained. | | || Design Considerations for Laser Based Underwater Optical Systems
Author : Varijghese, K. 0. G.
Source : Defence Science Journal ; Vol:34(1) ; 1984 ; pp 29-34
Subject : 535 Optics
Keywords : Underwater operations;Underwater receiver optical systems;Laser applications;Underwater receiver optics;Submarine communication
Abstract : Certain typical design requirements of laser based underwater rece | {
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Data Series 729
This publication is the User's Guide for software developed to estimate wildlife fatalities at wind-power facilities, although the software is applicable to a variety of circumstances in which the objective is to estimate the size of a superpopulation and the probability of detection of the individuals is less than one. Simple counts of carcasses do not accurately reflect fatality and do not allow comparison among locations because carcasses may be detected at different rates. This software uses data collected during carcass searches and knowledge of detection rates to accurately estimate the number of fatalities and to provide a measure of precision associated with the estimate. These estimates are fundamental to understanding acute and cumulative effects of wind power on wildlife populations.
First posted December 11, 2012
For additional information contact:
Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.
Huso, Manuela, Som, Nicholas, and Ladd, Lew, 2012, Fatality estimator user’s guide: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 729, 22 p.
Appendix A. Flow Chart of Estimation Process and Bootstrap Variance | Data Series 729
This publication is the User's Guide for software developed to estimate wildlife fatalities at wind-power facilities, although the software is applicable to a variety of circumstances in which the objective is to estimate the size of a superpopulation and the probability of detection of the individuals is less than one. Simple counts of carcasses do not accurately reflect fatality | {
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Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties
[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]
1) Aims & Objectives of the Organization:
i) Veterinary Health Careii) Curative Treatmentiii) Preventive Treatmentiv) Surveillance Unitv) Control of emerging diseasesvi) Animal Breeding for Animal Productionvii) Animal Welfare Measuresviii) Training & Education
2) Mission/ Vision:
i) Up-gradation of local Livestock by ensuring availability of Good breeding male to the small animal rearers.ii) Maintenance of proper health to reduce the mortality.iii) Artificial Insemination in goats for quick genetic in off spring.
3) Brief History & Background of its Establishment:
Re-organised as office of the Chief District Veterinary Officer, Balangir established on 1.8.1983. Before that this office was functioning as Office of the District Veterinary Oficer, Balangir.
4) Duties Performed:
i) Poultry Developmentii) Dairy Developmentiii) Goatery Developmentiv) Various Training Programme to aware farmers & SHGs.
5) Main Activities/ Functions:
i) Animal Health Careii) Animal Welfare Measures
6) Details of Services Rendered:
i) Door-Step Artificial Inseminationii) Animal Treatmentiii) Animal Vaccination
7) Arrangements for Citizens Interaction/ Public Participation:
By various Training Programme.
8) Grievance Redress Mechanism:
According to the merit of Grievances, the matter is decided at District Level or forwarded to the higher quarters for finalization/ Decision.
While all efforts have been made to make this website as authentic as possible, I & PR deptt. and Luminous Infoways will not be responsible for authentication of proactive disclosure and annual report. Respective department and Public Authority is responsible for their information. Users are advised to verify/check any information with the relevant department(s) and/or other source(s), before acting on the information provided in the Portal. | Particulars of Organization, Functions & Duties
[Section-4 (1) (b) (i)]
1) Aims & Objectives of the Organization:
i) Veterinary Health Careii) Curative Treatmentiii) Preventive Treatmentiv) Surveillance Unitv) Control of emerging diseasesvi) Animal Breeding for Animal Productionvii) Animal Welfare Measuresviii) Training & Education
2) Mission/ Vision:
i) Up-gradation of local Livestock by ensuring | {
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The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is seeking input for a newly initiated investigation into the probable economic effects of reducing or eliminating U.S. import tariffs.
The investigation, Probable Economic Effects of the Reduction or Elimination of U.S. Tariffs (Investigation No. 332-405), was requested by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
In her request letter, the USTR stated that a new round of multilateral negotiations will be launched at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Third Ministerial Conference. The letter noted that the WTO Agreements mandate further negotiations on agriculture and that many WTO members are advocating new negotiations on industrial tariffs. The letter also noted that President Clinton and other leaders at the Miami and Santiago Summits of the Americas have called for the completion of a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) no later than the year 2005, and that agricultural and industrial tariffs will be one area addressed in the FTAA negotiations.
As requested, the ITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will provide advice as to the probable economic effects on U.S. industries producing like or directly competitive articles, and on consumers, of modifying tariffs under three scenarios:
(2) the effects resulting from changes in the levels of dutiable imports from all U.S. trading partners if tariffs were eliminated; and
(3) the effects resulting from tariff elimination on dutiable imports from FTAA trading partners alone.
The USTR requested the advice for each article for which tariffs will remain after full implementation of the staged duty reductions resulting from the Uruguay Round or subsequent WTO agreements (e.g., the Information Technology Agreement). Thus, the ITC will provide the advice at an 8-digit subheading level of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). There are a total of 6,424 current HTS subheadings whose goods will be dutiable after full implementation of the Uruguay Round or WTO staged duty reductions. A list of these HTS subheadings will be posted on the ITC Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/invfrn.htm#332. A printed copy of the list is also available for inspection in the docket section of the Secretary's office.
In her letter, the USTR noted that "[T]his request by no means implies that we intend to take action on these tariff measures. It merely indicates our interest in obtaining factual advice from the Commission on the probable economic effects of their reduction or elimination."
The ITC will submit its confidential report to the USTR by November 17, 1999.
The ITC is seeking input for this investigation from all interested parties and requests that the information focus on the issues for which the ITC is requested to provide information and advice.
The ITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the investigation on Tuesday, June 15, 1999, continuing on Wednesday, June 16, 1999, if necessary. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 1, 1999, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Any prehearing briefs (original and 14 copies) should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 3, 1999; the deadline for filing post-hearing briefs or statements is 5:15 p.m. on August 10, 1999. To allow sufficient time for full consideration, the Commission encourages all persons who appear at the public hearing to submit any prepared statements and accompanying material to the Secretary by 5:15 p.m. on June 10, 1999. For further information, call 202-205-1816.
The ITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions (original and 14 copies) should be addressed to the Secretary to the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date but no later than 5:15 p.m. on August 10, 1999.
Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the ITC's notice of investigation dated April 14, 1999, which is available on the ITC Internet server (www.usitc.gov) or may be obtained by contacting the Office of the Secretary at the above address or at 202-205-1816. | The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is seeking input for a newly initiated investigation into the probable economic effects of reducing or eliminating U.S. import tariffs.
The investigation, Probable Economic Effects of the Reduction or Elimination of U.S. Tariffs (Investigation No. 332-405), was requested by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
In her request letter, the USTR | {
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|Count of Persons Temporarily Absent from Family (CPAF)This variable counts the total number of people who were reported as temporarily absent from the family on Census Night.|
Data used to produce Count of Persons Temporarily Absent from Family (CPAF) is captured automatically from responses of those reported as being temporarily absent in question 53 on the Census Household Form, and then subject to a further process so that only persons forming a family nucleus (that is partners, children and grandchildren) are included in CPAF. Family members who are not identified as members of the family nucleus are deleted.
Count of Persons Temporarily Absent from Family (CPAF) is only applicable to families residing in private dwellings as family households. Of all families, 8.0% reported that a family member was absent from the dwelling on Census Night.
CPAF, like all other 'persons absent' Census variables, should be used with caution. Previous studies on Census data have shown that people can be omitted from the persons temporarily absent section of the form simply because they are not present when the form is being filled out (for both family and group households), and also due to there being space for only three persons to be listed as temporarily absent when there may in fact be four or more people absent.
For general information on the quality of Census data on relationships see the quality statement for Relationship in Household (RLHP).
More information on CPAF is available in the 2011 Census Dictionary (cat. no. 2901.0).
Question 53 as it appeared on the 2011 Census Household Form
A text only version of this question is also available
Back to Family classification | |Count of Persons Temporarily Absent from Family (CPAF)This variable counts the total number of people who were reported as temporarily absent from the family on Census Night.|
Data used to produce Count of Persons Temporarily Absent from Family (CPAF) is captured automatically from responses of those reported as being temporarily absent in question 53 on the Census Household Form, and then subjec | {
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MS. NAYAR: I am Jani Nayar, and I represent SATH, Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. In the book that you have, it's written with our old name, which is Society for Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped. In 2000, we changed the name to be more politically correct, and so we changed to Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality.
I just wanted to bring to the notice that one of the issues that has not been touched at all is to accommodate the service animals on cruise ships because that has become a very important issue because, most of the time, the cruise ships, for the relief areas, they provide closets which are not in the area where passengers are allowed. So, if one of the staff finds them there, it creates a lot of problems for people who are taking the animals.
And since it's a closet, it's a very small area. And the cleaning is done with ammonia, which really upsets the dogs' sensitivities of smell, and that issue has to be taken into consideration because just leaving it that people with disabilities cannot be discriminated and their service animals should be allowed on cruise ships. We need to look into it in more detail. And especially when the newer ships are being built, then they can really find a place in the design itself, the drawing board, to put that in. Thank you.
MS. [Jan] TUCK [BOARD CHAIR]: Thank you.
Anybody have any questions?
MR. [JIM] ELEKES [BOARD MEMBER]: Question. Jim Elekes, public member. Is your organization recommending a minimum size for the area in which to air either a guide dog or service animal?
MS. NAYAR: Not really. We don't have a minimum size, but the size should be enough for a dog because, usually, service animals are dogs, so they need space to move around a little bit. But you don't need a larger space. And the material that they use cannot be -- it should be they use grass or something similar to that because these animals are trained to use that kind of material.
So I know of instances when the dogs will not relieve themselves in that area because they are not used to it, and then they hold it as much as they can, and then they go wherever they are. When you've got to go, you've got to go.
MS. TUCK: Okay. Anything else?
MR. ELEKES: Thank you.
MS. TUCK: Thank you very much.
MS. NAYAR: Thank you. | MS. NAYAR: I am Jani Nayar, and I represent SATH, Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality. In the book that you have, it's written with our old name, which is Society for Advancement of Travel for the Handicapped. In 2000, we changed the name to be more politically correct, and so we changed to Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality.
I just wanted to bring to the notice that one of th | {
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This page last reviewed December 14, 2011
Voluntary Renewable Electricity Program
The Voluntary Renewable Electricity program within the cap-and-trade program allows for entities that are not covered by the cap-and-trade program to apply to ARB to retire allowances on their behalf for using eligible voluntary renewable electricity. ARB will begin to retire allowances in 2014 for voluntary renewable electricity contributions in 2013. The regulation provides one half percent of the annual budget for the budget years in the first compliance period, and then a quarter of a percent for the budget years in the subsequent compliance periods, to be dedicated to a voluntary renewable electricity account from which allowances will be retired.
We will be developing program details and the application process in the coming year. Please check back soon for additional information. | This page last reviewed December 14, 2011
Voluntary Renewable Electricity Program
The Voluntary Renewable Electricity program within the cap-and-trade program allows for entities that are not covered by the cap-and-trade program to apply to ARB to retire allowances on their behalf for using eligible voluntary renewable electricity. ARB will begin to retire allowances in 2014 for voluntary renewabl | {
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Submitted to: Facts Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: September 30, 1997
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: Over two years of monitoring groundwater nitrate at five sites across the Florida peninsula has shown that nitrate levels are highly site specific. With essentially the same fertilizer application, there is a great difference in the amount of nitrate in groundwater under the groves. Detailed examination of the soils under these groves has shown that depth to water table appears to be the key factor, with higher nitrate levels in areas with deep (> 15 ft) water tables. Most of the drainage water leaving the groves has no or little nitrate in it, and even if there is nitrate in the seepage water, it immediately disappears after it enters the drainage ditches. The effect of changing the amount of fertilizer applied varies with location; in some locations there is a response after three to six months, in others there is no response after more than two years. Sharply decreasing fertilization lowers fruit production after one year and leaf sprays with urea don't seem to compensate for the lack of ground-applied nitrogen. Nowhere in this project were there nitrate levels approaching the 10 ppm NO3-N standard in deep wells (> 100 ft) or in adjoining bodies of water, such as creeks and ponds.
Over two years of monitoring groundwater nitrate, fertilizer application, and fruit production has shown that the response of groundwater nitrate levels to fertilizer application varied from location to location, very little nitrate left the groves in drainage water, and deep-aquifer water was essentially nitrate free. Groundwater nitrate was lowered in some locations by reducing N applications to 100 or 150 lbs per acre per year, but this seemed to reduce fruit production even after one year of reduced N application. Multiple, light N applications did not reduce groundwater nitrate levels; the main factor coinciding with high, persistent NO3-N levels seemed to be a deep water table. | Submitted to: Facts Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: September 30, 1997
Publication Date: N/A
Interpretive Summary: Over two years of monitoring groundwater nitrate at five sites across the Florida peninsula has shown that nitrate levels are highly site specific. With essentially the same fertilizer application, there is a great difference in the am | {
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|Cisplatin and Etoposide Phosphate With or Without GDC-0449 or Cixutumumab in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
This randomized phase II trial is studying cisplatin and etoposide phosphate to see how well they work when given with or without GDC-0449 or cixutumumab in treating patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin and etoposide phosphate, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. GDC-0449 may slow the growth of tumor cells. Monoclonal antibodies, such as cixutumumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. It is not yet known whether giving cisplatin and etoposide are more effective when given together with GDC-0449 or cixutumumab in treating small cell lung cancer
Further Study Information
I. To evaluate the progression-free survival of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer treated with cisplatin and etoposide with or without Hedgehog antagonist GDC-0449 or cixutumumab.
I. To evaluate the response rate in patients treated with these regimens. II. To evaluate the overall survival of patients treated with these regimens. III. To evaluate the toxicity of these regimens in these patients.
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to gender. Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms.
ARM I: Patients receive cisplatin IV over 1-2 hours on day 1 and etoposide phosphate IV over 1-2 hours on days 1-3. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM II: Patients receive cisplatin and etoposide phosphate as in arm I and oral Hedgehog antagonist GDC-0449 once daily on days 1-21. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive Hedgehog antagonist GDC-0449 alone once daily in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
ARM III: Patients receive cisplatin and etoposide phosphate as in arm I and cixutumumab IV over 1 hour on days 1, 8, and 15. Treatment repeats every 21 days for 4 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive cixutumumab alone once weekly in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 1 year.
Trial Lead Organizations/Sponsors
National Cancer Institute
Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record.
Note: Information about this trial is from the ClinicalTrials.gov database. The versions designated for health professionals and patients contain the same text. Minor changes may be made to the ClinicalTrials.gov record to standardize the names of study sponsors, sites, and contacts. Cancer.gov only lists sites that are recruiting patients for active trials, whereas ClinicalTrials.gov lists all sites for all trials. Questions and comments regarding the presented information should be directed to ClinicalTrials.gov. | |Cisplatin and Etoposide Phosphate With or Without GDC-0449 or Cixutumumab in Treating Patients With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
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However, in 1898 many elements incited Britain to reconsider its policy towards Kuwait. Such as the Ottoman military activities near Basra, and the Russian and German plans that were threatening British interests in the region of the Arabian Gulf. Thus, on the basis of a decision from Lord Curzon, the British viceroy in India, British Political Resident Mead concluded a protectorate agreement with the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah on January 23, 1899, which defined Kuwait as:
"An independent Country Under British Protection"
Britain promised to protect Sheikh Mubarak and his heirs, and in turn the latter agreed to conclude no treaties with other powers, to admit no foreign agents and to cede no part of Kuwait's territory without British consent.
This agreement limited the rights of Kuwait to deal conclusively with its lands without British approval. However, the agreement did not give Britain the right to intervene in the internal affairs of Kuwait.
In November 1914, Britain recognized Kuwait as an independent emirate that enjoyed British protection.
Since 1934, Kuwaiti-British relations went beyond the Arab domain, They were influenced by other greater international influence due to the competition of American companies in drilling for oil in Kuwait and other emirates of the Arabian Gulf.
On the internal scene, Kuwait witnessed advances both related to the rule and the local administration. In 1921, the State Consultative Council was formed by appointment. The second national regular school was established and called Al-Ahmadiya School. It was given the name of the ruler of Kuwait at that time, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The first national regular school had been inaugurated in December 1911. It was called Al-Mubarakiya School after the name of the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Mubarak Al-Sabah. The municipality was founded in 1930. The members of the city council were elected in 1932, when Kuwait witnessed the first election in its history.
Life was difficult in this period. This was due to the fact that the traditional economy of Kuwait, like any other country or emirate in the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, was closely based on the sea. Diving for pearls, fishing, shipbuilding and nets as well as other activities related to the desert, such as herding were the professions prevailing at that time. Kuwaiti society showed its sympathy for the cases of the Arab Nation, with the Palestinian case at the top. In 1936, Kuwait witnessed a donation campaign carried out by the Kuwaiti people for Palestine.
In December 1934, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait at that time, signed an agreement for oil drilling with the Kuwait Oil Company (Anglo-American Company). In 1936-1938, the primary drilling operations proved that Kuwaiti lands were rich in oil, a matter that dramatically increased the importance of the country.
Concerning the government, in June 1938, Kuwait witnessed the election of the first legislative council that was held from July to December 1938.
In June 1946 the first shipment of Kuwaiti oil was exported. In the late forties (1949) a construction movement started in Kuwait with the building of some public utilities, a new hospital and roads.
Simultaneously with this economic, cultural and population development, Kuwait proceeded towards progress and independence since the beginning of the fifties. The economic, intellectual and cultural movement flourished in Kuwait and the number of the literate people and the schools increased. In addition, more educational missions were sent to the universities all over the world.
In this period, Kuwaiti society had to face many internal and external challenges as Kuwait evolved from a poor country to a rich one enjoying great financial potentiality. At many different levels, oil production was a turning point for Kuwait, a matter which intensified British interest in Kuwait, as its international importance increased.
At the beginning of the fifties, Kuwait witnessed development and reformation in the local administration. The High Executive Committee was formed in 1954; then the Supreme Council and the Organizational Authority in 1956; in addition to governmental local councils such as the Education Councill, City Council and Health Council.
Kuwait was heading for independence. National political awareness was increasing. The activities of Kuwaiti youth increased and they started to criticize the administrative conditions.
At that time, the ruler of Kuwait was Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, who had been the chairman of the first parliament in Kuwait in 1938. He welcomed constructive criticism and was keen to achieve fully considered steps on the way to independence and constitutional government.
In 1959 Kuwait took steps to enact laws and establish systems such as the Naturalization Law in 1959, the Kuwaiti Currency Law in 1960, the Passports Law and the Organization of Government Departments. These were all steps along the way to full independence which Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah had resolved to see to the end. In fact, Kuwait was not apart from interaction and participation in many Arab social and cultural activities as well as those of the Arab League.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah realized that the protectorate agreement was no longer appropriate after the changes that had taken place in the conditions of Kuwait. At that time, Kuwait was heading for independence and had already taken large strides on its way. The Kuwaiti people no longer accepted the restrictions imposed by the protectorate agreement, though they realized very well that this protectorate had many advantages in this period. Yet, circumstances had changed, which necessitated cancellation of the agreement. Thus, the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, expressed his desire to replace the old agreement with a new friendship agreement that went along with the development and changes that had taken place.
The British government accepted the Kuwaiti demand. Diplomatic notes were exchanged between Sir William Luce, the British Political Resident in the Arabian Gulf at that time, and Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, the ruler of Kuwait, on June 19, 1961. According to this agreement the following terms were carried out:
- The agreement of January 23, 1899 was terminated as being inconsistent with the independence and sovereignty of Kuwait.
- Relations between the two countries should continue to be governed by a spirit of close friendship.
- When appropriate the two governments would consult together on matters which concerned them both.
- Nothing in these conclusions would affect the readiness of Her Majesty's Government to assist the Government of Kuwait if the latter requested such assistance.
In so doing, Kuwait declared its independence on June 19, 1961.
A draft constitution was approved on November 11, 1961, outlining Kuwait's system of governance as a "fully independent Arab State with a democratic style of government, where sovereignty rests with the nation, which is the source of power".
A few months after independence, the ruler of Kuwait, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem, gave instructions for the formation of a popular committee to draft a modern constitution for independent Kuwait.
Two months after the formation of the committee, public elections were held to elect members for the first national assembly in the country. Government departments were reorganized so as to be able to implement the overall development movement and its plans. Most of the cabinet members were chosen from among the elected members of the national assembly which comprised fifty members.
According to the constitution, the national assembly has absolute power to draw the legislative policies and control over the executive authority. A few weeks later Kuwait joined the Arab League.
Following the Declaration of Independence, a newly-born state would normally seek to join the international community as a first step towards the recognition of its independence. This aspiration can be materialized by becoming a member of the United Nations.
On 6 July 1961, Kuwait applied formally for membership in the United Nations. Also on that day, the United Kingdom submitted a draft resolution by which the Security Council would call upon all States to respect the independence and territorial integrity of Kuwait and urge that all concerned work for peace and tranquility in the area.
Assembly act favorably on Kuwait's request. The Assembly, at its fourth special session, endorsed the recommendation by acclamation on 14 May 1963, thereby admitting Kuwait as the Organization's 111th Member State.
Kuwait also became an important player in the international family of nations, and with its wealth it became a major foreign aid donor. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development is active throughout the Arab world and beyond. Kuwait independently supports projects in non-Arab, non-Muslim nations as well, and has given as much as eight per cent of its annual gross national product in foreign aid.
The country was instrumental in the formation of the Gulf Cooperation Council in 1981, through which the states of the Gulf maintain regional security, stability, and progress.
Abdullah’s reign was so central to the evolution of modern Kuwait that when he died in 1965, the date on which he had ascended the throne in 1950 (February 25) was designated National Day. Previously, Kuwaitis had celebrated their national holiday on the date of the dissolution of the Anglo-Kuwaiti agreement. | However, in 1898 many elements incited Britain to reconsider its policy towards Kuwait. Such as the Ottoman military activities near Basra, and the Russian and German plans that were threatening British interests in the region of the Arabian Gulf. Thus, on the basis of a decision from Lord Curzon, the British viceroy in India, British Political Resident Mead concluded a protectorate agreement with | {
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- Victim Assistance
- Consumer Protection
- Media Center
- Topical Index
MADISON - A commercial sawmill operator has been ordered to pay a financial penalty for improperly burning wood wastes from his Vernon County sawmill operation, a violation of Wisconsin environmental enforcement laws. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said today that under the terms of the agreement settled in Vernon County, Emanuel Miller must pay a total of $10,000 in penalties and costs. Miller must also pay stipulated forfeitures of $4,000 if he burns commercial waste at any time during the next ten years.
The civil lawsuit filed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that over the past four years, Vernon County and the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have been working with county sawmill operators to find ways to dispose of waste wood and sawdust other than by open burning. The complaint alleges that Miller continued to burn waste unlawfully, even though he was advised open burning was illegal and was presented with legal disposal options and cost-sharing opportunities.
According to DNR, open burning of wood wastes, especially unseasoned wood such as that burned by Miller, causes large quantities of visible smoke emissions near ground level where the emissions are readily breathed by people. This smoke contains many hazardous chemicals and particulate matter that can be harmful to people breathing the smoke, especially those who suffer from asthma or other lung diseases.
Wisconsin law prohibits the open burning of wood wastes generated from a commercial operation unless the burning process is approved by DNR through a wood burning site license. State law also prohibits the incineration of solid waste without a license. Miller possessed no licenses to dispose of his wastes through open burning.
"The protection of Wisconsin's air quality is a critical responsibility of the Department of Natural Resources," Van Hollen said. "DOJ will continue to work with DNR to enforce air pollution and solid waste disposal laws."
The Department of Justice filed the lawsuit at the request of the Department of Natural Resources. Assistant Attorney General Diane L. Milligan prosecuted the case. Vernon County Circuit Judge Michael J. Rosborough approved the settlement. | - Victim Assistance
- Consumer Protection
- Media Center
- Topical Index
MADISON - A commercial sawmill operator has been ordered to pay a financial penalty for improperly burning wood wastes from his Vernon County sawmill operation, a violation of Wisconsin environmental enforcement laws. Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said today that under the terms of the agreement settled in Vernon County, E | {
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Science >> Peer Review>>Checklist
This checklist describes information that will be posted on the Web when we conduct a peer review.
About the document
- short description of the document
- estimated dissemination date of the final version of the document
About the peer review process
- kind of peer review that will be conducted
- individual letters, National Academy of Sciences review, or
- other procedure approved by OMB
- anticipated number of reviewers
- reviewer selection method
- reviewers selected by the Service or
- reviewers selected by a designated outside organization
- primary disciplines or expertise needed in the review (describe).
- estimated start date of peer review
About public participation
- opportunities for the public to comment on the work product to be peer reviewed (Indicate whether such public comments will be sought and describe how comments are to be submitted.)
- Indicate whether the public, including scientific or professional organizations, will be asked to nominate potential peer reviewers.
- contact information for one or more staff regarding this peer review. | Science >> Peer Review>>Checklist
This checklist describes information that will be posted on the Web when we conduct a peer review.
About the document
- short description of the document
- estimated dissemination date of the final version of the document
About the peer review process
- kind of peer review that will be conducted
- individual letters, National Academy of Sciences review, or
- other | {
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by Rep. Ed Royce (CA)
A silent march; a unifying color; displays of portraits. These are some of the compelling images being broadcast from Iran as supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi protest a very flawed election. Brave Iranians, peaceful so far, no doubt have a fan watching from afar in Boston.
Much has been made about the role of technology - particularly Twitter and other social networking sites - in organizing these protests. But old school tools and tactics are at play too. The upheaval brings to mind a fascinating article I read last fall about the writings of Gene Sharp, who is unknown to Americans, but despised by despots worldwide (Wall Street Journal: "American Revolutionary - Quiet Boston Scholar Inspires Rebels Around the World").
Sharp's handbook - "From Dictatorship to Democracy" - has been translated into over 25 languages. Hugo Chavez has denounced Sharp, Vietnamese activists have been arrested for possessing his writings, and suspicious fires have destroyed bookstores in Russia selling his work. Earlier this year, Iranian state television warned against Sharp - an 80-year old lifelong scholar of peaceful protest who works alongside his dog Caesar. One practitioner of Sharp's methods notes that "You cannot import social change. But the knowledge [of how to foment it] can be transferred."
The methods Sharp recommends are collected from the lessons of the American civil rights movement, Gandhi, and elsewhere in history. He offers nearly 200 methods of nonviolent protest - everything from wearing symbols, petitions and sit-ins, to less conventional mock funerals, skywriting and protest disrobings. When the disrobings start in the streets of Tehran, then the Mullahs will know it's over!
If history is any guide, there will come a tipping point for the theocracy in Tehran. Whether now is that time remains to be seen. But one thing is sure, Tehran and dictatorial regimes around the world will continue to fear Sharp's tactics. | by Rep. Ed Royce (CA)
A silent march; a unifying color; displays of portraits. These are some of the compelling images being broadcast from Iran as supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi protest a very flawed election. Brave Iranians, peaceful so far, no doubt have a fan watching from afar in Boston.
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Student Health Plans and the Affordable Care Act
Over a million students are covered through student health plans offered by colleges, universities, or other institutions of higher education. However, not all student health plans are the same. Some plans are comprehensive but others offer limited benefits, which can put students and their families at risk for catastrophic medical bills. In addition, these plans are currently regulated by a patchwork system that makes it difficult for students and their families to understand what their plans cover and their rights as consumers.
In February 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a proposed regulation to ensure students enrolled in these plans benefit from important consumer protections in the Affordable Care Act.
In the proposed rule, HHS requested comment on how selected Affordable Care Act requirements should apply to student health insurance coverage. We received approximately one hundred comments in response to the proposed rule.
Today, HHS is issuing a final student health coverage rule to ensure that students have access to coverage and benefit from the Affordable Care Act’s Patient’s Bill of Rights, preventive services coverage, and other consumer protections. The final rule extends all of the protections provided to enrollees in individual market plans with several adjustments in light of the unique nature of these plans:
- Annual limits. The proposed rule included a phase in period for compliance with restricted annual limits. To ensure the continued availability of coverage for students, the final rule modifies the phase in schedule so that student health plans cannot have annual limits of less than $100,000 on essential health benefits for policy years beginning on or after July 1, 2012 but before September 23, 2012, and $500,000 for policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2012, but before January 1, 2014. For policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2014, annual limits on essential benefits are prohibited.
- Medical Loss Ratio (MLR). To ensure that students receive value for their premium dollar, this final rule makes student health plans subject to the reporting and rebate requirements of the medical loss ratio rule starting in 2013. The Affordable Care Act stipulates that the reporting requirements and methodologies for calculating the medical loss ratio “be designed to take into account the special circumstances of small plans, different types of plans, and new plans.” To address the special circumstances of Student Health Plans, HHS will apply a methodological adjustment to the way the medical loss ratio is calculated for those plans. Similar to mini-med and expatriate plans, the adjustment will address the unusual expense and premium structures of student health plans. These changes to the methodology for reporting and rebates apply only in calendar year 2013, after which time no adjustment is provided.
In addition, we added to the MLR rule a provision that requires student coverage to be aggregated nationally as its own pool rather than on a State by State basis, and to report experience separate from other policies.
- Notice Requirement. The regulation requires a health insurance issuer to disclose to the student in the insurance policy and other plan materials that the policy being issued does not meet the minimum annual limits requirements. Students must also be notified that they may be eligible for health coverage as a dependent under their parents’ employer plan or individual market coverage if they are under the age of 26. The regulation contains model language to satisfy this requirement, using terms easily understood by students and their dependents. HHS will require insurers that sell student health plans to provide this notice prominently in order to improve transparency and ensure consumers are aware of the product they are purchasing. The notice requirement sunsets in 2014 when annual limits are prohibited.
The final rule, like the proposed rule, notes that self-funded student health plans cannot be included in this regulation without a change in law. Additionally, the final rule clarifies that the student health plans of non-profit religious institutions of higher education qualify for a one-year transition from the new contraceptive coverage requirement, similar to non-profit employers.
The Affordable Care Act gives all Americans greater freedom and control over their health care decisions through new benefits and consumer protections. The final rule released today makes clear that students who purchase health insurance through their college or university will also benefit from the new consumer protections in the law.
Read the final rule on Student Health Insurance Coverage here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=CMS-2011-0016-0108
Posted on: March 16, 2012
Last updated: April 5, 2012 | Student Health Plans and the Affordable Care Act
Over a million students are covered through student health plans offered by colleges, universities, or other institutions of higher education. However, not all student health plans are the same. Some plans are comprehensive but others offer limited benefits, which can put students and their families at risk for catastrophic medical bills. In additio | {
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WIC in Vermont
Care of your baby's teeth
Good dental care begins at birth. By one year of age most babies will have several teeth. It is important to take care of these, because babies can get tooth decay. Let your health care provider know if your baby does not have any teeth at age 1 year.
Preventing Tooth Decay:
- Clean teeth and gums after feeding with a soft toothbrush or soft cloth. You can lift the baby’s lip to check and see if teeth and gums are clean. If you see white or black spots on your baby’s teeth, consult a dentist immediately.
- It is recommended to not share the same utensil as your baby. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria causing tooth decay.
- Don’t put your baby to sleep with a bottle or allow your child to crawl or walk around the house with a bottle or sippy cup. Juice, milk, formula or other beverages containing sugar cause tooth decay.
- Babies six months and older need flouride everyday. If you live in an area that does not have flouridated water, a supplement may be necessary. Ask your physician or dentist. | WIC in Vermont
Care of your baby's teeth
Good dental care begins at birth. By one year of age most babies will have several teeth. It is important to take care of these, because babies can get tooth decay. Let your health care provider know if your baby does not have any teeth at age 1 year.
Preventing Tooth Decay:
- Clean teeth and gums after feeding with a soft toothbrush or soft cloth. You can | {
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Sarah Gudger, Age 121
I 'membahs de time when mah mammy wah alive, I wah a small chile, afoah dey tuck huh t' Rims Crick. All us chillens wah playin' in de ya'd one night. Jes' arunnin' an' aplayin' lak chillun will. All a sudden mammy cum to de do' all a'sited. "Cum in heah dis minnit," she say. "Jes look up at what is ahappenin'," and bless yo' life, honey, da sta's wah fallin' jes' lak rain.* Mammy wah tebble skeered, but we chillen wa'nt afeard, no, we wa'nt afeard. But mammy she say evah time a sta' fall, somebuddy gonna die. Look lak lotta folks gonna die f'om de looks ob dem sta's. Ebbathin' wah jes' as bright as day. Yo' cudda pick a pin up. Yo' know de sta's don' shine as bright as dey did back den. I wondah wy dey don'. Dey jes' don' shine as bright. Wa'nt long afoah dey took mah mammy away, and I wah lef' alone.
*(One of the most spectacular meteoric showers on record, visible all over North America, occurred in 1833.)
Read the rest of this narrative.
NEXT: Charley Williams, Age 94
|Slave Narratives:||Voices and Faces from the Collection| | Sarah Gudger, Age 121
I 'membahs de time when mah mammy wah alive, I wah a small chile, afoah dey tuck huh t' Rims Crick. All us chillens wah playin' in de ya'd one night. Jes' arunnin' an' aplayin' lak chillun will. All a sudden mammy cum to de do' all a'sited. "Cum in heah dis minnit," she say. "Jes look up at what is ahappenin'," and bless yo' life, honey, da sta's wah fallin' jes' lak rain.* M | {
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October 18, 2002
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
NOTE TO EDITORS: #J02-107 -- Public Invited to Welcome Home Astronauts Following Successful Mission
With a successful mission to continue expansion of the International Space Station behind them, the six-member crew of Atlantis will return to a heroes welcome at Houston's Ellington Field about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The public is invited to join Johnson Space Center employees and families in welcoming back the STS-112 crew - Commander Jeff Ashby, Pilot Pam Melroy, and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Sandy Magnus, Piers Sellers and Fyodor Yurchikin. The ceremony will take place at Hangar 990 at Ellington Field. Gates will open at 4:30 p.m.
Joining the astronauts' coworkers, friends and family in welcoming them home and congratulating them on a job well done will be NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe and Johnson Space Center director General Jefferson D. Howell Jr.
Atlantis and its crew landed at 10:44 a.m. Friday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, concluding a voyage of 4.5 million miles. During the 11-day mission, the astronauts transferred more than 3,500 pounds of supplies and materials between the shuttle and space station and installed a 45-foot-long, 15-ton structural truss that will provide additional cooling capability and support the station's mobile transporter railcar. Wolf and Sellers conducted three spacewalks to complete outfitting of the truss, spending 19 hours 41 minutes working in the vacuum of space.
For updates on crew arrival time call 281-483-8600.
text-only version of this release | October 18, 2002
Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas
NOTE TO EDITORS: #J02-107 -- Public Invited to Welcome Home Astronauts Following Successful Mission
With a successful mission to continue expansion of the International Space Station behind them, the six-member crew of Atlantis will return to a heroes welcome at Houston's Ellington Field about 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The public is invited to join J | {
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Local Student Interns At NASA's Kennedy Space Center
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Abigail Rodriguez of Anasco, Puerto Rico, is spending almost four months providing technical support to the contracting officer that manages the day-to-day activities of construction and inspection services at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Rodríguez, a member of NASA's Kennedy Intern Program is assigned to the construction management branch of the center operations department. Her work involves coordinating various architectural and engineering firm designs, participating in submittal reviews and site investigations in support of the management of multimillion dollar construction contracts.
The program offers internships to high school, undergraduate and graduate students. The objective of the program is to inform students about NASA's mission while providing a valuable work experience directly related to their academic course of study.
Rodriguez is a 2003 graduate of Luis Munoz Marin High School in Anasco. She attends the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, where she is pursuing a degree in civil engineering.
For more information on NASA's student education programs, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/education
For more information about NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/kennedy
- end -
text-only version of this release
To receive status reports and news releases issued from the Kennedy Space Center Newsroom electronically, send a blank e-mail
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a blank e-mail message to [email protected].
The system will confirm your request via e-mail. | Local Student Interns At NASA's Kennedy Space Center
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Abigail Rodriguez of Anasco, Puerto Rico, is spending almost four months providing technical support to the contracting officer that manages the day-to-day activities of construction and inspection services at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
Rodríguez, a member of NASA's Kennedy Intern Program is assigned to the constru | {
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757-864-9886, 344-8511 (mobile)
NASA Langley To Keep An Eye On Space Shuttle Discovery
HAMPTON, Va. -- Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center will be back on the job watching over the space shuttle Discovery during its last mission, scheduled Feb. 24 to March 7. Some are part of the impact assessment and aerothermodynamic heating teams, and others will be watching during the orbiter's return to Earth.
Discovery's STS-133 mission is set to launch shortly before five in the afternoon, Thursday, Feb. 24, and return 11 days later. The shuttle is rocketing to the International Space Station to deliver a multi-purpose module and spare parts and storage capacity to the orbiting complex. Discovery also will transport Robonaut 2 -- the first humanoid robot in space.
During the mission NASA Langley researchers participate on damage assessment and impact dynamics team. Those teams identify and evaluate if there's any risk to the shuttle if the orbiter's wing leading edges, nosecone and fragile tiles get hit from debris.
Engineers also play a lead role in managing the Boundary Layer Transition Experiment, which records temperature changes from a small "speed bump" installed on Discovery's lower left wing. The idea of the bump, which is about the size of a piece of gap filler that might shake loose in flight, is to "trip the boundary layer" or disrupt airflow across the shuttle's belly, turning it from smooth to turbulent. Turbulence creates extra heat. How much heat is something engineers need to know to design safe spacecraft.
Another group from Langley, the Hypersonic Thermodynamic Infrared Measurements or HYTHIRM team, is keeping an eye specifically on the heat of the shuttle's re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. They're working to improve computer models and designs for future spacecraft thermal protection systems. "We're hoping to successfully capture thermal images of the shuttle for the sixth time," said aerospace engineer and principal investigator Tom Horvath in the Aerothermodynamics Branch at Langley. "We plan to once again place a Navy aircraft under the shuttle flying 18 times faster than a bullet so the crew can use a special infrared optical system to record Discovery's heat signature during re-entry."
The HYTHIRM team has been successful in acquiring thermal images of re-entry during previous shuttle missions including STS-119, STS-125, STS-128, STS-131 and STS-132. So far they have captured calibrated thermal imagery ranging from Mach 8.5 to Mach 15.5.
The US Navy NP-3D Orion aircraft and the long-range infrared optical system are called "Cast Glance" and are operated by the NAVAIR Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, Calif. The Orion, which can stay aloft for about 11 hours, stays over international waters until it's time for the shuttle to re-enter.
At closest approach, the aircraft and its crew will be approximately 25-40 miles from the shuttle. Because the orbiter is banking on descent the plane will not be directly under it. Mission planners say the aircraft location and flight maneuvers proposed for the observation have been carefully planned to ensure safety to the orbiter and the respective crews.
A team from NASA Langley will be in mission control during re-entry to collect the most up-to-date shuttle re-entry information and make recommendations to the P-3 flight crew regarding adjustments to the camera settings and aircraft position for optimal viewing. The data will be recorded and downloaded post-mission once the P-3 Orion returns to its base of operations.
In a first for the HYTHIRM team, infrared optical systems on the ground will simultaneously join the aircraft in snapping thermal pictures. Crews using technology called the Mobile Aerospace Reconnaissance System will also try to capture an image of Discovery as it returns to Earth. They will be stationed on the west coast of Florida to capture infrared measurements after the shuttle has slowed down to approximately six times the speed of sound.
The HYTHIRM team plans to take a thermal snapshot of the space shuttle Endeavour, which is scheduled to launch for the last time April 19. It is also working with other military and DOD and commercial space organizations to expand capability and to apply imaging technologies to other hypersonic flight test programs.
For additional information about NASA Langley, please go to:
NASA news releases are available automatically by sending an e-mail message to [email protected] with the word "subscribe" in the subject line. You will receive an e-mail asking you to visit a link to confirm the action. To unsubscribe, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
- end -
text-only version of this release | 757-864-9886, 344-8511 (mobile)
NASA Langley To Keep An Eye On Space Shuttle Discovery
HAMPTON, Va. -- Researchers at NASA's Langley Research Center will be back on the job watching over the space shuttle Discovery during its last mission, scheduled Feb. 24 to March 7. Some are part of the impact assessment and aerothermodynamic heating teams, and others will be watching during the orbiter's retur | {
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Test Setup for Effort to Free Spirit
With a slope of about 10 degrees and a pointy rock under the test rover's belly, this sandbox setup at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., is ready for engineers to use the test rover to assess possible moves for getting Mars rover Spirit out of a patch of loose Martian soil. The rock beneath the test rover was put in place on July 1, 2009, to resemble a rock underneath Spirit on Mars.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
› Full resolution jpeg (2.42 Mb) | Test Setup for Effort to Free Spirit
With a slope of about 10 degrees and a pointy rock under the test rover's belly, this sandbox setup at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., is ready for engineers to use the test rover to assess possible moves for getting Mars rover Spirit out of a patch of loose Martian soil. The rock beneath the test rover was put in place on July 1, 2009, to r | {
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Understanding Critical Protein Structures May Speed Drug Development
Identifying new compounds to treat heart disease, cancer, or other inflammatory
and immune-related disorders may get easier using a precisely tailored application
of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy–which can reveal
a protein’s entire 3-D structure within its natural surroundings. Researchers
funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB),
part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), who developed the solid state NMR
techniques describe their use of this technology to determine the structure of a
receptor commonly targeted by breast cancer medications in the October 21 online
issue of Nature.
“The major advantage of solid state NMR over other methods of structural analysis
is knowing that the structure reflects what’s actually there, rather than
artifacts created while extracting the protein for study,” said Alan McLaughlin,
Ph.D., Director of the NIBIB Division of Applied Science and Technology. “Having
such reliable and high resolution structures may lead to more precise compounds
that bind tightly to their intended receptors. This is a very significant advance.”
Over half of all currently available medications target G-protein-coupled receptors
(GPCRs), a large family of proteins that span the membrane of a cell, with receptors
outside the cell and G protein binding sites inside. This feature allows specific
substances outside the cell to affect functions inside the cell, making GPCRs key
treatment targets. However, this same membrane-spanning feature makes their structure
hard to study.
Understanding the structure of a particular binding site allows researchers to work
backwards and design a compound that can interact with that site. Standard approaches
such as x-ray crystallography can determine the structure of proteins, but only
after they have been crystallized. In some cases these crystallographic approaches
can greatly shorten the treatment development timelines, for example with HIV. But
in the case of GPCRs the process of creating crystals, which involves adding chemical
detergents or extra proteins, could change the GPCR structure.
To address these issues, Stan Opella, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
at the University of California at San Diego, and colleagues combined and adapted
a number of NMR techniques, collectively referred to as solid state NMR spectroscopy,
to obtain high resolution structural data of an intact, large membrane protein in
its native environment. Solid state NMR approaches thus complement recent x-ray
crystallography studies of GCPRs.
Specifically, the researchers were able to determine the structure of a GPCR called
CXCR1, which is one of two major receptors for the CXC cytokine called interleukin-8
(IL 8). Cytokines are secreted by immune cells that carry important functional signals
to other immune cells.
When attached to the CXCR1 receptor, IL-8 influences immune and inflammatory responses.
CXCR1 and IL-8 have been associated with tumor growth, heart disease, and many other
inflammatory and immune-related disorders.
Dr. Opella’s solid state NMR approach could be used to determine the structure
of other GPCRs as well as many other proteins in the membranes of cells.
“The support we got from NIBIB allowed us to do the basic fundamental NMR
research and focus our efforts on the purification and refolding of a single GPCR
to get an active receptor. It was essential for the ultimate success of this project,”
The significance of this area of research was recently acknowledged when the Nobel
Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Robert Lefkowitz and Brian Kobilka for their initial
work with GPCRs, principally using x-ray crystallography. “Dr. Opella’s
work extends the early observations of GPCR structure to the next level,”
said Dr. Roderic Pettigrew, Director of NIBIB. “It will be exciting to see
where the development of this process that allows the study on unaltered proteins
In addition to NIBIB, this study was supported by the National Institute of General
Medical Sciences and National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both
part of NIH, as well as the Cambridge Isotope Laboratories, Swiss National Science
Foundation, and Novartis Foundation.
-- Jessica Meade and Karin Lee
on Health articles
Last Updated On 11/13/2012 | Understanding Critical Protein Structures May Speed Drug Development
Identifying new compounds to treat heart disease, cancer, or other inflammatory
and immune-related disorders may get easier using a precisely tailored application
of solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy–which can reveal
a protein’s entire 3-D structure within its natural surroundings. Researchers
funded by th | {
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Executive summary of Auditability Working Group report
The Auditability Working Group found no alternative that does not have as a
likely consequence either an effective requirement for paper records or
the possibility of undetectable errors in the recording of votes. If
undetectable errors can be introduced at any point in the process, then the
argument for the correctness of the process as a whole inevitably has a missing
link. Optimism that approaching the problem from the auditability
perspective would make the "paper or plastic" question go away was based on
- Premise: The risk of undetected error in elections can be handled as
a form of audit risk. Fault: Ground truth regarding the
correctness of cast vote records comes from the voters alone. After the
voters have left the building, votes that were recorded consistently but
incorrectly are not detectable by election officials. It is not a matter
of detection risk—the errors are not detectable by any
audit. This motivates the creation of cast vote records that are
directly verified and independently valid.
- Premise: In the absence of directly verified cast vote records, the
practice of dual control can be used to manage the risk of misrecording of
votes via independent electronic records. Fault: Dual control is
effective at managing risks involving error or fraud by human beings;
unfortunately, it is not entirely valid when applied to complex
software. Unlike human beings, separately developed pieces of software
can share common components, thereby compromising their independence from one
Thus, a choice among five mutually exclusive alternatives is presented:
- Software Independence—robustly mitigates the risk of undetectable error at
the cost of effectively requiring paper records with all of the difficulties
thereunto appertaining, unless and until a paperless design that satisfies the
same requirements is demonstrated.
- Independent Verification—improves auditability without requiring paper,
but certain plausible classes of error remain undetectable.
- Lossy SI—requires a marginal increase in auditability, but with most of
the same costs as Software Independence. Undetectable errors remain
- VVSG 1.0—no change. Undetectable errors remain plausible.
- Hybrid systems—explicitly requires a combination of different kinds of
vote-capture devices, where some robustly mitigate the risk of undetectable
error while others sacrifice this capability in exchange for providing the
best available accessibility.
Once a choice among these alternatives has been made, a set of testable
requirements can be derived. | Executive summary of Auditability Working Group report
The Auditability Working Group found no alternative that does not have as a
likely consequence either an effective requirement for paper records or
the possibility of undetectable errors in the recording of votes. If
undetectable errors can be introduced at any point in the process, then the
argument for the correctness of the process as a who | {
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forms below are in PDF format.
Registration and License Applications
or Registration Violations
a cooperative agreement with the USDA, the Bureau of Commodity Inspection
and Grading offers a voluntary grading program for fresh fruits
and vegetables, shell eggs, egg products, poultry, seafood and red
meat. This effort is critical to the interstate and international
shipment of these products and helps to insure a constant supply
of high quality, properly labeled fruits, vegetables, eggs, red
meat, poultry, fish and seafood products for consumers. The program
is supported by user fees. In FY01, the service will continue and,
if necessary and feasible, expand in order to provide New Jersey
growers and shippers with access to all possible domestic and international
marketing channels for their products.
division also administers the Jersey Fresh Quality Grading Program
which is a voluntary program that helps Garden State farmers increase
the sales of more than 80 New Jersey fruits, vegetables, salad mixes,
shell eggs, milk and cut flowers, not just within New Jersey but
across state and international boundaries as well. The program helps
New Jersey growers stand out in an increasingly competitive regional
and national marketplace.
registering with the Quality Grading Program, growers are licensed
to use the Jersey Fresh logo on their packages. The logo indicates
that the contents have been inspected and meet quality standards
equal to or better than U.S. No. 1. This inspection standard adds
a quality assurance note to the overall Jersey Fresh marketing program
that is welcomed by wholesale produce buyers and consumers who want
high quality products that are uniformly sized and consistently
food safety and quality uppermost in consumers' minds, the commodity
inspection and grading service offered by the department is particularly
important. Inspections and certifications at packing houses and
processing facilities help guarantee that the products being shipped
or processed meet all grade standards so that the commodities can
be shipped domestically and internationally.
inspection services provided by the department are paid for by those
for whom the inspections are done. Inspected products include shell
eggs and liquid, dried and frozen egg products; turkey and chicken;
fresh produce, including most fruits and vegetables grown commercially
in New Jersey as well as fresh fruits and vegetables received from
other growing areas at terminal markets.
fish and fisheries products inspection program, begun in 1986 and
operated in cooperation with the United States Department of Commerce,
enables the department to provide a broad range of inspection and
grading services to New Jersey's commercial fishing industry, including
plant sanitation surveys, product quality grading and export certification.
Under its commodity licensing and bonding program, the Division
of Dairy Industry and Commodity Regulation offers economic protection
for New Jersey farmers who sell perishable agricultural commodities
or hay, grain and straw to dealers and brokers on credit basis.
division also provides field inspection, sampling and laboratory
analysis of animal feed, fertilizers and liming material sold in
New Jersey. These analyses, coupled with enforcement actions against
producers of mislabeled or substandard products, enable the division
to protect crop yields and promote animal growth. Label or registration
violations (2000, 1999)
found during field inspections and analyses result in those items
being removed from sale and, in some cases, fines levied against
manufacturers and refunds to buyers.
addition, the division collects and submits samples of biosolids
to test for contaminants such as heavy metals to ensure that the
United States Department of Environmental Protection Agency's tolerance
levels established for such materials are not exceeded. | forms below are in PDF format.
Registration and License Applications
or Registration Violations
a cooperative agreement with the USDA, the Bureau of Commodity Inspection
and Grading offers a voluntary grading program for fresh fruits
and vegetables, shell eggs, egg products, poultry, seafood and red
meat. This effort is critical to the interstate and international
shipment of these products and he | {
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NLM Training Program Changes & New PubMed Training Class Announcement
The National Network of Libraries of Medicine® (NN/LM®) 2011-2016 Contract means big changes for the NLM® Training Program (see NN/LM Regional Medical Library Contracts Awarded ).
The training center is now named the National Library of Medicine® Training Center or the NTC. The University of Utah was awarded the NTC contract. Please check out their Web site at http://nnlm.gov/ntc/.
We will ultimately replace the one-day PubMed class with a hybrid PubMed for Trainers class. This hands-on course consists of lectures, individual exercises, group work and discussions in four sessions, with independent work before or after each session. The course will consist of three 1½ hour online sessions and a six-hour in-person session. NLM or NTC trainers will deliver the lectures and facilitate discussions.
The objectives of the class are for current and future PubMed trainers to discover and develop:
- functional knowledge of the MEDLINE® database,
- understanding of the structure and use of the Medical Subject Heading (MeSH®) vocabulary in MEDLINE/PubMed,
- expertise in the use of features and functions of the PubMed system, and
- techniques and best practices in MEDLINE/PubMed instruction with fellow trainers.
The class is intended specifically for those who train, or will train, others to use PubMed. This class could be for you if you teach PubMed to large groups, small groups, or one-on-one training. We look forward to lively discussions on PubMed instruction and adult education best practices.
The first PubMed for Trainers class will be in Bethesda, MD in October. The NTC will begin offering these classes in 2012. Until that time, the NTC will continue to teach the one-day PubMed training course as described on the NTC Web site.
TOXNET® and Beyond class
We will continue to offer the one-day TOXNET and Beyond class. This course is designed to convey the basics of searching TOXNET, a Web-based system of databases in the areas of toxicology, environmental health, and related fields. The course also teaches students how to use the NLM Environmental Health and Toxicology portal which provides resources beyond the TOXNET® databases. Students learn the content and structure of files covering toxicology data, toxicology literature, toxic releases, and chemical nomenclature. The databases highlighted are TOXLINE®, the Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB®), the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI), and ChemIDplus®. The course includes lectures, online demonstrations, and hands-on exercises.
NLM Gateway & ClinicalTrials.gov class
We will no longer offer the ½ day NLM Gateway & ClinicalTrials.gov class. We will retire the NLM Gateway on December 1 (see NLM Gateway Transitioning to New Pilot Project Site). For ClinicalTrials.gov training please use the seven animated Quick Tour tutorials (2-4 minutes in length). From the ClinicalTrials.gov homepage, click on Background Information, then click on the Online Training link.
Wait, there’s more...
Stay tuned for more training opportunities as they are developed. Web-based PubMed training is also available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/bsd/disted/pubmed.html or from the PubMed Tutorials link from the PubMed homepage.
Once again, please visit the NTC Web site for more information, to register for classes and to follow the NTC on Twitter.
Zipser J. NLM Training Program Changes & New PubMed Training Class Announcement. NLM Tech Bull. 2011 Sep-Oct;(382):e4. | NLM Training Program Changes & New PubMed Training Class Announcement
The National Network of Libraries of Medicine® (NN/LM®) 2011-2016 Contract means big changes for the NLM® Training Program (see NN/LM Regional Medical Library Contracts Awarded ).
The training center is now named the National Library of Medicine® Training Center or the NTC. The University of Utah was awarded the NTC contract. Pl | {
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- About Us
- Media Products
- Programs & Services
- Contractor Information
- Maps of National Parks
- Historic Photos Collection
Visitor Accessibility for Wayside Exhibits
- Plan a Wayside
- Why Use Waysides?
- Develop a Wayside Team
- Cost Estimating
- Download Wayside Planning App
Harpers Ferry Center is committed to providing outdoor interpretive exhibits that are accessible to all potential users. Wayside exhibits will be planned, designed, fabricated, and installed in a manner consistent with the following goals. Standards and specifications used to ensure that these goals are met include:
- HFC Guidelines for Media Accessibility
- Director’s Order #42
- NPS Wayside Exhibit Map Standards (21 pages - 1.7 MB)
- NPS Wayside Exhibit Typographic Standards
- Americans with Disabilities Act and Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Guidelines (same as Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards – ABAAS); federal facilities must use Chapters F1 and F2/Chapters 3-10
For Visitors with Mobility Impairments
- Wayside exhibits will be installed at accessible locations wherever possible.
- Wayside exhibit panels will be installed at heights and angles favorable for viewing by all visitors, including wheelchair users. For standard NPS low-profile exhibits the recommended height is 30" from the bottom of the exhibit frame to finished grade; for upright exhibits and bulletin boards the height is 24-28” from the bottom of the exhibit frame to finished grade, depending on panel size.
- Trailhead exhibits will include accessibility advisory information.
- Wayside exhibits will have level, hard-surfaced exhibit pads.
- Exhibit sites will offer clear, unrestricted views of park features referred to in the exhibits.
- In addition, the park should consider posting wayside content (excluding copyright material) on the park's website.
For Visitors with Visual Impairments
- Exhibit typography will be legible and readable, according with the NPS Wayside Exhibit Typographic Standards .
- Panel colors will be selected to reduce eyestrain and glare and to provide excellent readability under field conditions. Because of its reflectivity, white will not be used as a background color.
- Selected wayside exhibits will incorporate tactile elements such as models, texture blocks, and relief maps.
- Selected wayside exhibits will incorporate audio stations.
- For all major features interpreted by graphic wayside exhibits, the park will offer non-visual interpretation (i.e. audio description) covering the same subject matter. Examples include audio tours such as digital audio players, radio systems or dial-up messages for cellular phone users, and ranger talks. In the spirit of Universal Design, we strongly encourage audio descriptions designed for the benefit of all visitors rather than a separate program.
- In addition, parks should consider posting wayside content on the park's website.
For Visitors with Hearing Impairments
- Wayside exhibit panels will communicate visually and will rely heavily on graphics to interpret park resources.
- Essential information included in audio station messages will be duplicated in written form, either as part of the exhibit text or in a publication.
For Visitors with Learning Impairments
- Topics for wayside exhibits will be specific and of general interest. Unnecessary complexity will be avoided. Information will be presented in a clear hierarchical manner.
- Easy-to-understand graphics will be used to convey ideas, rather than text alone.
- Unfamiliar expressions, technical terms, and jargon will be avoided. Pronunciation aids and definitions will be provided where needed.
- Text will be concise and free of long paragraphs and wordy language.
- Wayside exhibit planning begins with comprehensive park wide interpretive planning. Early recognition of, and sensitivity to, accessibility issues will result in the most successful waysides. | - About Us
- Media Products
- Programs & Services
- Contractor Information
- Maps of National Parks
- Historic Photos Collection
Visitor Accessibility for Wayside Exhibits
- Plan a Wayside
- Why Use Waysides?
- Develop a Wayside Team
- Cost Estimating
- Download Wayside Planning App
Harpers Ferry Center is committed to providing outdoor interpretive exhibits that are accessible to all potential us | {
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Region 7The Eastern Region
Region 9The North-Central Region
The current Eastern Region, Region 9, was originally divided into two USDA Forest Service regions, Eastern Region 7 and North Central Region 9. At the time of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the regions were separate, and they are discussed separately here.
From 1933 until 1942, Region 7 contained the following States: Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia. The District of Columbia was also included in this region. Of these States, only seven had national forest lands:
It is estimated that Region 7 had 16 percent of the country's forested area and 1 percent of its national forest area. Three percent of the region's forested area was under Federal ownership. State and privately owned forests were more prevalent here than in the West.
States with national forests in Region 7 were under the jurisdiction of the Army I, II, III, and V Corps Areas. On April 22, 1933, Acting Adjutant General James McKinley announced the enrollment quota for the entire Eastern Region as 66,850 men. Quotas covering all technical services in the seven States with national forests were: Kentucky, 4,450; Maine, 1,100; New Hampshire, 800; Pennsylvania, 19,500; Vermont, 650; Virginia, 1,600; and West Virginia, 1,700.
When the enrollment quotas were compared with proposed work projects in each State, it became necessary to redistribute men. Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont had too few recruits to accomplish the work in their States; Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia had too many enrollees. Pennsylvania was the only State that theoretically had the right number of men to carry out its planned work. As project demands changed seasonally, enrollees were shifted to meet each State's needs. Extra enrollees were redistributed within the region or sent to work in western corps areas.
Training and distribution centers for CCC recruits were scattered throughout Region 7. Among the various Army installations used were Harbor Defenses, Portland, ME; Fort Devens, MA; Fort Ethan Allen, VT; Forts Slocum and Plattsburgh, NY; Fort Hancock and Camp Dix, NJ; Fort H.G. Wright, CT; Fort Adams, RI; and Fort Knox, KY. Virginia enrollees were sent to a number of Army facilities in southern Virginia or in the Washington, DC, area.
In the first enrollment period, 43 camps began operating in the region's national forests. One camp opened in Kentucky, 2 in Maine, 7 each in New Hampshire and Pennsylvania, 3 in Vermont, 13 in Virginia, and 10 in West Virginia. Forty-four camps operated during the second period, and 38 during the third period of spring and summer 1934. By the winter of 1935-36, the number of camps had nearly doubled, with 67 operating. Significant increases occurred in Kentucky, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. By 1941, only 32 camps were operating.
Kenneth Hendrickson, Jr., has effectively described CCC operations in Pennsylvania, particularly the interactions of key people and agencies in the program. For example, a report of the strained relations between selection officer J. Fred Kurtz and Army personnel forms a large part of Hendrickson's discussion. Administration problems, internal differences of philosophy, enrollee complaints, racial inequalities, safety hazards, and enrollment difficulties are presented, revealing an infrequently discussed, yet undoubtedly typical, side of the CCC program. However, Hendrickson indicates that despite its problems the CCC was greatly successful in contributing to Pennsylvania's forestry work progress.
The first CCC camp in the country, Camp Roosevelt, F-1, operated in Virginia's George Washington National Forest from April 17, 1933, until May 25, 1942. It averaged 200 enrollees, drawn primarily from Virginia and the Washington, DC, area. Work projects included a variety of achievements: road building and maintenance, fish and wildlife management, forest culture and improvement, fire hazard reduction, and recreational improvements.
In 1937, R. Shields, acting for Regional Forester R.M. Evans, estimated the CCC had potentially saved Region 7's national forests $12 million in timber conserved by fire protection. The true value, he said, could not be calculated for another 50 years. Timber conservation was not the only benefit of the region's use of the CCC. According to Forest Service figures, the greatest amount of CCC effort was spent making transportation improvements on the national forests. Next in importance were forest culture, recreation, and structural improvements.
Approximately 20 percent of the CCC's work in the region was performed on its national forests. About 7 percent of the country's CCC work on national forests was done in Region 7.
CCC camps in the Eastern Region were often confronted with insect and disease problems in their forestry work. Dutch elm disease, white pine blister rust, and gypsy moths required immediate treatment. Spread by European beetles, the Dutch elm fungus could be controlled only by cutting and burning infested trees. By 1935, the CCC had eliminated 60,000 diseased trees. White pines in the Appalachian Mountains were examined by CCC crews who attempted to save the timber and end the blister rust spread. Gypsy moths were equally difficult to conquer. A three-pronged attack kept enrollees busily removing infested trees, hunting moth larvae, and clearing tree and plant species that were particularly attractive to hungry larvae.
Emergency work in Region 7 included flood and hurricane cleanup and forest fire alerts. After a September 1938 hurricane destroyed large areas of New England forest, CCC camps were assigned to salvage usable timber and clear away flammable materials. Although done predominantly on State forest and private land camps, the work was supervised by the USDA Forest Service. Increased fire risk meant extra hours of fire training for all enrollees and clearing private lands adjacent to the national forests, reducing fire risk on both sides. The CCC also repaired destroyed communications systems for the benefit of forest and public safety.
As a result of repeated flooding, the CCC was put to work cleaning up damaged areas and constructing control devices to prevent future destruction. Heavy flooding occurred in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC, in 1936; and in Vermont and New York in 1938. Writing to President Roosevelt after the 1936 floods, ECW Director Fechner said:
Four dams were built by the CCC under the Army Corps of Engineers for flood control purposes in Vermont's Winooski Valley. It took 3,000 enrollees 3 years to build the dams. Forestry camps helped clear the wooded sites before construction started.
Because of their proximity to the Nation's Capitol and large urban populations, national forests in Virginia received more public attention than forests elsewhere in the region. Roads and recreation areas needed to be adequately designed to handle large numbers of people and yet preserve the forests' integrity for other uses. As one camp superintendent described the situation, the work program in his area of the George Washington Forest changed over a 15-month period. At first it involved the "usual" construction of telephone lines, roads, trails, and fire tool boxes, along with boundary renewal and survey work. Later, recreation development became increasingly more important.
From 1933 to 1938, ECW funds were used to purchase additional national forest lands in Virginia. Executive order 7466 on October 7, 1936, put aside $60,000 to buy 673 acres of land for the Jefferson National Forest for conservation work. Virginia gained nearly 700,000 acres of new national forest lands during the CCC period.
In the Jefferson Forest, district rangers arranged a cooperative project with the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries. Enrollees cleared brushy areas to enhance natural feeding habitats and to attract wildlife. Leftover brush was piled as shelter for game birds. Enrollees in both Jefferson and George Washington National Forests helped trap white-tailed deer and release them in protected areas that had no deer population. Feeding stations were constructed and maintained to keep the animals in the nearby country side.
Structural improvements in Region 7 were similar to those made by national forest camps throughout the country. Bridges, lookouts, and Forest Service administrative and service buildings were among the structures built. Proximity to urban centers meant ranger districts were often located in towns and did not require compounds of their own, as was the case in western areas. Camps in nearly all of the States helped clear trails and build bridges and shelters for hikers and forest maintenance work (fig. 15). Most notable was the work done on the Appalachian Trail, which passed through national forests in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Enrollees in Vermont did similar work on the Long Trail, which runs the length of that State.
Northern sections of the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont were not officially annexed until 1937. Most CCC camps in Vermont were thus located on what is now the southern part of the forest. The Danby Camp, actually situated in Mt. Tabor, did some trail work as well as other projects typical of the CCC's contributions to the Eastern Region's national forests. In building the Mt. Tabor Road from Danby to Weston, enrollees constructed intricately laid stone culverts and retaining walls. Buildings from the Danby Camp now serve as the central supply depot for the Green Mountain Forest (figs. 16-19).
Relatively close to the Danby Camp were the West River Camp and Peru Camp. These camps also did road and trail work, as well as surveying and mapping forest lands. As in the Danby Camp, enrollees worked through the winters, relying on wool clothes and snowshoes. They were responsible for laying out ski trails on Bromley Mountain and for building recreation areas at White Rocks, Texas Falls, Greendale, and Hapgood Pond. At Hapgood, the CCC cleared away remnants of Marshall J. Hapgood's 19th-century lumbering village and replaced it with a manmade pond, bathhouse, and picnic facilities. Many of the original CCC buildings are still in use, although the stone and cement dam was replaced in 1980, and a larger bathhouse was built to accommodate more people (figs. 20, 21).
Percy Moffitt, who worked in the CCC as a Local Experienced Man (LEM) and a barracks leader, remembers working at Hapgood and "running shovel" on road construction. Digging a 65-foot well at the Hapgood site was rough work in the winter, he says, but once the digging went below the ground's surface, it got much warmer and was actually a preferred job.
Moffitt says that most of the enrollees stayed and did well in the CCC, but there were some who could not handle the hard work and left after a short time.
Region 9 was originally composed of eight States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin (table 7). Only Iowa had no national forest lands. Forest and purchase unit boundaries fluctuated considerably during the 9-year period of the CCC. A 1937 estimate shows Region 9 with 14 per cent of the total forest area in the United States and 2 percent of the national forests. Three percent of the region's forested land was national forest land or administered as national forests.
Table 7North Central Region national forests and purchase units, 1933-42
As of April 22, 1933, the total enrollment quota for Region 9 was about 55,200 men. Quotas for the individual States were: Illinois, 14,900; Indiana, 5,900; Iowa, 4,600; Michigan, 6,750; Minnesota, 850; Missouri, 6,500; Ohio, 12,300; and Wisconsin, 3,400. During the initial enrollment period it was determined that Minnesota was the only State in the region without enough enrollees to work on proposed CCC projects. The rest of the States had quotas larger than needed to accomplish their work.
Nearly all the States provided recruits to the West. By 1937, Region 9 was operating with 24 percent of the country's CCC work load and 28 percent of the work force on all national forests. Sixty-four percent of the enrollees in the region were working on national forest lands.
In the summer of 1933, 59 camps opened in 3 States of the North Central Region: 24 in Minnesota, 21 in Wisconsin, and 14 in Michigan. By January 1934, 81 camps were operating, including 6 in Illinois and 4 in Missouri. Camp numbers continued to increase, reaching 167 in the winter of 1935-36. Camps were distributed as follows: Illinois, 11; Indiana, 4; Michigan, 49; Minnesota, 37; Missouri, 15; Ohio, 9; and Wisconsin, 42. Five years later there were only 67 camps operating as the CCC slowly began to reduce its programs.
Camps in Region 9 were administered by the V, VI, and VII Corps Areas. Primary training and distribution centers for enrollees were Fort Sheridan, IL; Camp Custer, MI; Fort Snelling, MN; Fort Des Moines, IA; and Jefferson Barracks, MO.
In 1935, 22 national forest camps in Region 9 were reported to be racially integrated. Only two were predominantly black, one in Illinois and one in Michigan. The remaining camps had small numbers of black enrollees, averaging about 3 in each 200-man camp. The men were recruited primarily within their home States or from within the region.
Regional Forester E. W. Tinker informed Chief Forester Stuart in July 1933 that he had established seven side camps in an attempt to learn more about their effectiveness. The side camps were detached from 7 base camps and ranged in size from 4 to 48 men. Their work varied from truck trail location and road construction to tree pruning and lookout tower building. Tinker listed numerous advantages to using side camps. Work could be accomplished in areas otherwise inaccessible to crews, and more hours could be worked because of decreased transportation time. Tinker said enrollees appeared to like life in side camp better than life in the main camps.
Given full authority by CCC officials to continue operating the side camp system, the regional forester projected the use of 55 to 60 camps. Under those conditions, he would also expand the work program to include tree planting, ribes eradication, campground improvement, and portage construction. Different forests required varying amounts of side camp activity. The Chippewa could use side camps for about 5 percent of its work, while the Superior Forest would require side camps for 20 percent of its projects.
In November 1937, CCC Director Fechner granted Region 9 special permission to go beyond regular side camp use and to establish side camps for nursery work at 10 Forest Service nurseries. This was an unusual deviation from the established policy and was limited to Region 9.
Forest culture, transportation improvements, forest fire protection, and recreation were the four primary areas of work in the North Central Region. The major emergency work was flood cleanup in Illinois and Ohio in 1936, and in Ohio in 1938. In the Ohio and Mississippi River Valleys, all available men were employed in rescue and relief work under the supervision of the American Red Cross. Tornado and other storm damage in 1940 necessitated use of CCC crews in the Chippewa Forest in Minnesota. Crews were put to work salvaging timber and clearing debris-strewn areas.
Reforestation and timber stand improvement occupied much of the CCC's efforts. H. Basil Wales, chief of the region's timber management division in 1949, recalled the type of work done by the CCC in the Chippewa Forest. In addition to timber stand improvements, one CCC crew helped build the Lydick Nursery in 1934, so that adequate seedlings would be available for reforestation. After the addition of two purchase units to the Chippewa in 1935, the CCC had even more work to do. The newly acquired land was in poor condition and required all aspects of forest improvement.
In 1937, CCC Director Robert Fechner was encouraged to write about successful reforestation work in Michigan. Fechner described how the lumber industry and fires had destroyed much of western Michigan's forests in the late 1800's. Since the establishment of the CCC, large areas had been reforested and restored to productivity. In the Manistee National Forest tree planting occurred at the rate of 1,000 to 1,500 trees per day. By 1941, foresters in the region calculated that tree planting had been moved ahead 50 years by the CCC.
Civilian Conservation Corps crews also worked to help control harmful forest insects. Spruce budworm and grasshoppers were two of the insects requiring control. Spruce budworms were discovered infesting overmature jack pines in Minnesota during the summer of 1940. Grasshoppers were a threat to young seedlings in Michigan. Enrollees reduced their numbers in controlled areas by as much as 90 percent.
Region 9 Forester Tinker commented on the value of the CCC:
Fish and wildlife projects were a part of the overall CCC program in the North Central Region. Plans were made in 1937 to raise deer and wild turkeys on a special tract of land in Missouri. After successful breeding programs, enrollees dispersed the animals in national forests whose populations were low. The Cut Foot Sioux CCC Camp in the Chippewa National Forest constructed two earthen dams to flood marshlands and provide a breeding and feeding habitat for waterfowl and animals. Enrollees took soundings on lakes to determine the fish populations. Where numbers were small, the lakes were stocked. Wildlife census and winter feeding projects were undertaken as well.
Among the notable structural achievements in Region 9 was the building of the Chippewa National Forest headquarters in 1935. Supervised by Ike Boekenoogen, CCC and WPA men helped Finnish craftsmen construct the Finnish style notch-and-groove log building (figs. 22-24). Considered to be among the largest log buildings of its kind, it was made of native red pine and finished with other local materials. The 50-foot stone fireplace was constructed with glacial boulders collected from the nearby area. The building has been occupied since 1936 by the Forest Service, and on June 16, 1976, was entered on the National Register of Historic Places.
The CCC camp that assisted in constructing the headquarters building was the Rabideau Camp, F-50. Company 708 was among the first organized at Fort Snelling in 1933 and then sent to the Chippewa. For 2-1/2 years the men lived in a "temporary" tent camp near Bena, MN, before moving into permanent barracks south of Blackduck on January 5, 1936. The new 25-building camp remained occupied until July 1, 1941.
Since 1941, the camp has been used by the University of Illinois for educational purposes and by former Camp Rabideau enrollees as a reunion spot. According to Chippewa Forest Historian Stanley Johnson, Rabideau is the only camp in Minnesota with most of its original buildings intact (figs. 25, 26). The camp was also placed on the National Register of Historical Places on June 16, 1976.
3. ECW relation of work in prospect to State enrollment quotas (map). April 22, 1933. Located at: Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Hyde Park, NY; Official File 268, 1. Also: James F. McKinley. Letter to Corps Area I-IX announcing State quotas for CCC. April 18, 1933: p. 2. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 35-6, 907, vol. 1, item 41. Quotas vary considerably according to source. Figures used are primarily (all except Pennsylvania) from the April 22, 1933, map, which adds up to the first enrollment total of 250,000 men.
7. Camp Roosevelt, F-11, Virginia. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 35-6, 908, no. 786. Also: Camp Roosevelt inspection reports, 1935-40. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 35-115, 1157.
13. Federal Security Agency. Memorandum for the press concerning the CCC and the New England forest emergency project. October 26, 1940: p. 5. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 95-144, 5. Also: James J. McEntee, Annual report of the director of the CCC. (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1941) pp. 34-35. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 35-3, 899. Also: Harold K. Steen, The U.S. Forest Service: A history (Seattle: University of Washington Press; 1976) p. 220.
18. "Civilian Conservation Corps activities in Virginia under U.S. Department of Agriculture since April 1933." April 26, 1940. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 35-64, 8.
19. "CCC aiding wildlife program in Jefferson National Forest," Richmond (VA) Times-Dispatch. November 14, 1938. Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 95-144, 5.
23. Alison Otis. Personal reconnaissance, plus information supplied by Frederick Rieben, of the Manchester District, Green Mountain National Forest, VT. September 1982. Located at: Pacific Crest Research and Services Corporation, Corvallis, OR.
27. Percy Moffitt, CCC enrollee. Interviewed by Alison Otis at Peru, VT, for Pacific Crest Research and Services Corporation, Corvallis, OR. September 16, 1982. Located at: History Section, USDA Forest Service, Washington, DC.
38. Robert Fechner, Annual report of the director of the CCC (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1937). Located at: National Archives and Record Service, Washington, DC; Record Group 35-3, 899. Also: See reference note 14.
51. Stanley A. Johnson, historian, Chippewa National Forest. Personal communication with the authors. September 8, 1982. Located at: Pacific Crest Research and Services Corporation, Corvallis, OR. Special events in 1983 at the Chippewa headquarters building and Camp Rabideau commemorated the 50th anniversary of the CCC and the 75th anniversary of the forest.
Last Updated: 07-Jan-2008 | Region 7The Eastern Region
Region 9The North-Central Region
The current Eastern Region, Region 9, was originally divided into two USDA Forest Service regions, Eastern Region 7 and North Central Region 9. At the time of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the regions were separate, and they are discussed separately here.
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NTSB Identification: DCA82IA031
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of WESTERN AIRLINES, INC.
Incident occurred Thursday, September 02, 1982 in WASHINGTON, DC
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/02/1983
Aircraft: BOEING 727, registration: N288WA
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor,128 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various sources and may not have traveled in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft incident report.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE POSSIBILITY OF TURBULENCE DURING THE DESCENT AND APPROACH WAS MADE. DURING THE LULLS IN THE TURBULENCE THE CABIN ATTENDANTS WERE ATTENDING THEIR DUTIES AND WERE HURT WHEN INTERMITTENT JOLTS OF ROUGH AIR WERE ENCOUNTERED WHILE TWO OF ATTENDANTS WERE NOT BUCKLED IN THEIR SEATS. THE LANDING AT DCA WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this incident to be:WEATHER CONDITION..TURBULENCE
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this incident to be:INTERPRETATION OF INSTRUCTIONS..CONFLICTING..FLIGHT ATTENDANT
LIGHT CONDITION..DARK NIGHT
Index for Sep1982 | Index of months | NTSB Identification: DCA82IA031
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of WESTERN AIRLINES, INC.
Incident occurred Thursday, September 02, 1982 in WASHINGTON, DC
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/02/1983
Aircraft: BOEING 727, registration: N288WA
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor,128 Uninjured.
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|Evaluation of Fuel Usage Factors in Highway Construction in Oregon |
Prices for different construction materials change frequently. In recent years, the price for these different materials has dramatically increased. This result leads contractors to inflate the bid price for a construction project in order to cover the potential increased cost. In an attempt to modify the inflation inserted into bid prices, the Oregon Department of Transportation allows for adjustments in the monthly payment to the contractor for various inputs. One major input that receives an adjustment is fuel. The contractor is eligible to receive adjustments in the monthly payments for fuel when the project is of a certain magnitude. After the project qualifies for the adjustment, when the price of fuel varies by more than twenty-five percent positive or negative from the previous month, the ODOT will make a fuel price adjustment to the monthly payment. The fuel price adjustment is a function of a fuel usage factor. The value for the fuel usage factor for different bid items is based on an over thirty five year old 1974 national survey titled, “Fuel Usage Factors for Highway Construction.”
From that original survey the fuel usage factor for each bid item was recommended to be multiplied by the distance, weight, or volume built of the respective bid item, but not for structures. The fuel usage factor for structures was to be multiplied by the gallons of fuel used per $1,000 worth of work. The research presented in this report determines from a national survey whether other states, and their DOTs, use this same procedure to calculate a fuel price adjustment, and if so, whether the values for the fuel usage factors are the same. In addition, the report examines how the price of structural construction has changed over time to ascertain whether the current fuel usage factor for structures is still applicable. A new index is developed in a national model and one for the state of Oregon.
|Freight Performance Measures|
|Freight Performance Measures: Approach Analysis |
This report reviews the existing state of the art and also the state of the practice of freight performance measurement. Most performance measures at the state level have aimed at evaluating highway or transit infrastructure performance with an emphasis on passenger transportation. Freight performance measurement ultimately requires evaluation of performance of the entire freight transportation system, which includes highways, waterways, rail, air, and modal connections. This requires considerable expansion of thinking beyond the traditional focus of state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) on highway performance.
This project builds upon past and current work in the area of freight performance measurement and incorporates recent literature on the development of these measures. A thorough review of state practices is conducted by surveying state DOT web sites and reporting on the measures most frequently recommended and used by individual states for planning purposes. The emphasis is on the application of performance measures to freight transportation, and the usefulness and limitations of these measures, is discussed.
Recommendations are made for potential freight performance measures for each freight mode (air, rail, trucking, and water/marine), including initial information on data availability, validity, and feasibility given existing data for Oregon.
Future research needs discussed include additional data collection and development required to support performance measures, what is needed to track system performance changes over time, and testing of measures for their sensitivity and usefulness for policy and decision-making.
|Photo Radar Speed Enforcement in a State Highway Work Zone: Demonstration Project Yeon Avenue |
The 2007 Oregon legislative assembly passed House Bill 2466, allowing the Oregon Department of Transportation to use photo radar in ODOT work zones on non-interstate state highways and required ODOT to report back to them on the safety impacts of this enforcement action. This research project examined the impact of photo radar speed enforcement on traffic speed through an active highway work zone. The project also examined the speed data in an attempt to find speed impacts that persisted following the photo radar enforcement periods. During photo radar enforcement periods, speeding was reduced by an average 23.7% at the traffic sensor site within the work zone. The observed speeding reduction was temporary and did not persist beyond the departure of the photo radar enforcement van.
|Work Zone Design|
|Work Zone Design and Operation Enhancements |
Oregon Department of Transportation contractors are required to implement Traffic Control Plans (TCPs) to protect and direct traffic through work zones. The design and implementation of TCPs have shown variation from project-to-project across the State. The impact of this lack of consistency is magnified as a result of an increase in the number of work zones, higher traffic volumes, more work being conducted at night to minimize traffic interruptions, a greater number of parties (consultants) involved, and the pressure to complete projects faster. The primary purpose of this research study was to enable improved safety performance through work zones on state roadways. To fulfill this goal, the research aimed to identify ways to modify TCPs to improve their quality and consistency and develop suggested guidelines to follow to design, review, implement, and inspect TCPs. Implementation of the research results is expected to improve consistency of TCPs and decrease the number of work zone fatalities and injuries. Auxiliary benefits resulting from improvements in traffic flow through work zones and the elimination of work zone crashes will include greater mobility, smoother operations, and increased efficiency across the State’s roadway network.
|Evaluating Safety and Operation of High-Speed Intersections |
This Final Report reviews a research effort to evaluate the safety and operations of high-speed intersections in the State of Oregon. In particular, this research effort focuses on four-leg, signalized intersections with speed limits of 45 mph or greater where the intersections are not in the immediate vicinity of other signalized intersections. This report includes a literature review of high-speed intersection safety treatment strategies, a description of the research methodology used in this project, and a summary of final results. The final results include crash conditions at these high-speed intersections, a format for evaluating safety at these and similar intersections, a hierarchy of safety treatment options, and a demonstration of the use of these tools through example analyses of eight Oregon intersections.
|Financing Mechanisms for Capital Improvements: Interchanges |
This report examines the use of alternative local financing mechanisms for interchange and interchange area infrastructure improvements. The financing mechanisms covered include transportation impact fees, tax increment financing, value capture financing, local improvement districts, transportation corporations, state infrastructure banks, local option transportation taxes, fair share mitigation, and transportation concurrency. The financing alternatives are assessed in the context of Interchange Area Management Plans, which are required by the Oregon Transportation Commission, as well as in the context of the Oregon Department of Transportation’s responsibilities under the state’s Transportation Planning Rule.
|Bridge Replacement Project|
|State and County Delivered Bridge Replacement Project Analysis: Phase I and Phase II |
The purpose of the study was to compare the cost of state delivered bridge projects and county delivered bridge projects. A total of 190 different bridge replacement projects were analyzed. The first phase of the project focused on whether or not the project delivery type (state or county) was a significant predictor of project cost or project duration. The greatest variability in the cost of bridge replacement projects (79%), was found to be explained by project duration and bridge length, with length being the most influential. Overall, it was found that the duration of state-delivered projects was longer than the duration of county-delivered projects.
In the second phase, analysis was completed to determine if a predictive model could be developed for project costs and project duration. Variables included bridge closure type (on-site detour, off-site detour, and staged build), clearance type (over water, over railroad, over canal/irrigation), number of bids received, and project location. Clearance type was found to impact construction costs, but not be a significant predictor. It was also found that projects built in stages had higher construction costs than projects using onsite or offsite detours. Using the results from Phase I and analysis from Phase II, a model was developed. The model was found to account for 86% of variation in project costs.
|RAP and RAS|
|Preliminary Investigation of RAP and RAS in HMAC |
A laboratory study was undertaken to investigate how various proportions of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) and reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS) added to hot mixed asphalt concrete (HMAC) mixtures affect the Superpave performance grade of the blended binder. Only tear-off shingles (those obtained from re-roofing projects of residential structures) were included in the study. Critical temperatures of the blended asphalt binders from mixtures with 5% RAS and 0% to 50% RAP were compared with the critical temperatures of the virgin binder. Results indicated that the mixture with 5% RAS but no RAP resulted in an increase of the performance grade of the blended binder. Binders recovered from the mixtures with both RAP and RAS indicated an increase in both the high temperature and low temperature performance grades of the blended binder with increasing RAP contents up to about 30%. RAP contents above 30% did not result in any further increases in the low temperature performance grade and only slightly impacted the high temperature performance grade of the blended binders (the high temperature performance grade of the blended binder asymptotically approached that of the high temperature performance grade of the RAP binder).
A secondary objective was to develop recommendations for changes to the mix design method and specifications for HMAC, incorporating RAS and RAP for use in special provisions for a pilot study. Specifications and special provisions of several agencies that allow tear-off RAS, and particularly those that allow tear-off RAS and RAP together, were reviewed to determine restrictions, criteria, test methods, mix design procedures, etc. applicable to inclusion of RAS and RAP in HMAC paving mixtures. Proposed modifications to ODOT specification SP745 were developed from this review.
|Localized Anode Condition|
|Determining Localized Anode Condition to Maintain Effective Corrosion Protection |
Thermal sprayed zinc anodes used for impressed current cathodic protection of reinforced concrete deteriorate over time. Two different technologies, ultrasound and electrical circuit resistance combined with water permeability, were investigated in the laboratory to determine whether they were feasible methods for estimating anode condition. The ultrasonic method was unable to detect a reflected acoustic signal from zinc-on-concrete specimens due to scattering of the signal within the samples. Circuit resistance was shown to increase with the electrochemical age of the specimens, but the resistance trend did not correlate with the bond strength trend at later ages. The aged specimens were fairly impermeable to water infiltration presumably due to build up of reaction products in the porosity. Consequently, a method of using resistance measurements combined with water infiltration to determine anode condition was not successful. It was shown that the permeability improved if the surface was mechanically perturbed such as creating a pin hole. Improving permeability by penetrating the surface could have ramifications for improving anode performance.
|Cracked Bridge Repair|
|Shear Repair Methods for Conventionally Reinforced Concrete Girders and Bent Caps |
Thirteen large-scale girders and two bent caps that replicated as close as possible bridge components from the 1950s were cast and loaded to cause initial cracking similar to that observed in the field. The girders were repaired with epoxy crack injection, internal steel bars, external steel bars, surface bonded CFRP, and near-surface mount CFRP. The bent caps were repaired with surface-bonded CFRP and post-tensioning. The beams were loaded to failure while sensors recorded how the beams deformed. In addition, two bridges, one with surface-bonded CFRP strengthening and one with internal steel strengthening, were instrumented before and after strengthening to assess changes in behavior. The test results were used in conjunction with previous research to compare the repair methods based on ten attributes such as shear capacity improvement, aesthetics, durability, and installation requirements.
Surface bonded CFRP, external stirrups, and internal stirrups were all effective in increasing shear capacity of girders. Epoxy injection had minimal impact on capacity, and there were not enough data to make a conclusion for near-surface mounted CFRP. Considering surface bonded CFRP, external bars, and internal bars, no method was clearly superior, but internal stirrups did offer many advantages across the attributes considered.
The surface bonded CFRP and post-tensioning repairs for the bent caps did not provide as much capacity improvement as expected. However, there was only one bent cap specimen for each of the two repair methods tested; therefore, the results from these tests are considered a basis for further investigation.
|2009 Needs and Issues|
|FY 2009 Oregon Transportation Needs and Issues Survey |
The Oregon Transportation Needs and Issues Survey was first conducted in 1993 and has been done roughly every two years. The latest survey was completed in the fall of 2008 (State fiscal year (FY) 2009). This report summarizes the results of the FY 2009 survey. For some reoccurring questions, results are also compared to past surveys.
|Seimic Vulnerability of Oregon State Highway Bridges: Mitigation Strategies to Reduce Major Mobility |
The Oregon Department of Transportation and Portland State University evaluated the seismic vulnerability of state highway bridges in western Oregon. The study used a computer program called REDARS2 that simulated the damage to bridges within a transportation network. It predicted ground motions for a specific location and magnitude of earthquake, resulting bridge damage and the cost of the damage, as well as the cost to the public for traffic delays due to detours around damaged bridges. Estimated damage and delay costs were presented for major highways in the region.
|Safety Investment Program|
|Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Safety Investment Program (SIP) Policies for Oregon |
The Safety Investment Program (SIP) was originally called the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program - Safety Investment Program (STIP-SIP). The concept of the program was first discussed in October 1997 and the program was adopted by the Oregon Transportation Commission in August 1998. The concept for the program grew out of a cost-effective approach to pavement preservation projects that set out to maximize the impact of money spent on highway safety, based on crash reduction factors. Safety projects were to be selected based on high crash locations as identified by the Safety Priority Index System (SPIS) and SIP Category ratings of five-mile sections. This research evaluated the SIP Policy from the perspective of: 1) an overall program for safety improvement projects, 2) a guiding policy when safety improvements are planned as part of other project work, and 3) a component integrated with the highway design procedures for resurfacing, restoration, or rehabilitation (3R) projects. The research included two levels of evaluation; the first evaluation was done as part of the systemic evaluation, while the second was a project-level evaluation. The systematic evaluation revealed that, in general, projects where safety funds were used resulted in a net decrease in total crashes as well as severe and fatal crashes; however, these benefits were not realized for all locations or all work types. The detailed review of the 24 mixed safety-preservation projects highlighted some of the challenges of successfully implementing the SIP Policy. It was clear that the SIP Policy has not been applied consistently to mixed projects. In particular, the variety of design and, to a lesser extent, the funding eligibility scores, highlight the variety of policy interpretations. The project-level evaluation concluded that the most important project element to improve safety performance was the specific identification of a safety problem. Recommendations were made on improved documentation procedures at the project level as well as strategies to improve overall policy compliance.
|Truck Travel Time|
|Developing Corridor-Level Truck Travel Time Estimates and Other Freight Performance Measures |
The objectives of this research were to retrospectively study the feasibility for using truck transponder data to produce freight corridor performance measures (travel times) and real-time traveler information. To support this analysis, weigh-in-motion data from each of the twenty-two stations in Oregon were assembled, processed, and uploaded in the WIM data archive is housed under the Portland Transportation Archive Listing (PORTAL) umbrella at Portland State University’s Intelligent Transportation Systems Lab. Nearly 42,000,000 truck records were successful uploaded to the archive dating back to July 2005. Two separate algorithms necessary for this research were scripted, tested, and validated. The closest stations are 38.3 miles apart; the greatest are 258 miles apart. The first algorithm matched transponders between of all vehicles in a time window between the upstream and downstream stations. The second algorithm filtered these matches for through trucks. The filter was validated by comparing estimated travel times during a winter weather-induced delay. The analysis showed that corridor-level travel times for trucks for 2007 and 2008 could be generated from the archived data. To explore the feasibility using these same data for real-time traveler information, ground truth probe vehicle data were collected. Travel time estimates from the WIM data and the probes were used to establish a simple linear relationship between passenger car and truck performance. It was concluded that the long distances between stations was a primary challenge to directly adapting the WIM data to real-time use. Recommendations were given on increased sensor spacing and filter improvement. Finally, potential performance metrics for station level, matched trucks, and filtered matched truck data were shown
|Monitoring of Bioengineering Stabilization Projects |
Four sites with bioengineered stream banks were monitored for four years. Observations included quantitative measurements of stream discharge, stage and velocity. No bank erosion was observed to have affected the stream banks at any of the monitoring sites.
|HCRH Oral History|
|Historic Columbia River Highway Oral History |
The Historic Columbia River Highway: Oral History Project compliments a larger effort in Oregon to reconnect abandoned sections of the Historic Columbia River Highway. The goals of the larger reconnection project, “Milepost 2016 Reconnection Project” (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/HCRH/), are to ‘remember,’ ‘restore,’ and ‘reconnect’ sections of the old historic highway. One of theses sections includes the area between Cascade Locks and Hood River, which was abandoned or destroyed as part of construction of Interstate 84 (I-84).
The objective of the Oral History Project was to capture oral histories surrounding the areas of Cascade Locks to Hood River. As part of the project, 19 people were interviewed who had either lived in the area, helped to build sections of highway or interstate, or who have helped to preserve the historic area. Much of the cultural history of this section of highway has been lost since its abandonment over 50 years ago. This research project was aimed at culturally reconnecting the highway and providing information useful to the overall restoration of the highway as a trail.
Included in this final report are recollections of the towns of Dodson, Bonneville, Cascade Locks, Viento, Sonny and Hood River, as well as memories of destinations along the Historic Columbia River Highway such as Crown Point, Multnomah Falls Lodge, Mitchell Point Tunnel, and others. Experiences from the highway builders and preservationists are also shared.
|Analysis of the ConnectOregon Program Through Two Project Selection Cycles |
The Oregon Legislature passed a law establishing the Multimodal Transportation Fund in 2005. The fund was part of what became known as the ConnectOregon program, with the purpose of making public and private investments in aviation, marine, rail, and transit. The legislation provided $100 million in state lottery bond revenues to fund the program. In 2007, the legislature provided another $100 million. For the $200 million available through ConnectOregon, a total of 181 project applications were received, and 73 were selected for funding. By June 30, 2009, 27 projects had been completed, and most of the others were under construction or in design. This report is intended to help inform other states considering a collaborative approach to multimodal transportation funding programs. The report is comprised of the following sections:
a discussion of participant feedback and lessons learned.
- an overview of ConnectOregon legislation and administration;
- procedures for submitting, reviewing, evaluating, and prioritizing ConnectOregon applications and for making final funding recommendations;
- a comparison of ConnectOregon I and ConnectOregon II results by region, mode, and size of funding request; and
|Investigating Premature Pavement Failure Due to Moisture |
This report details the forensic investigations conducted to identify the causes of pavement failures shortly after a rehabilitation activity on five interstate highway projects in Oregon, and the research efforts conducted to develop guidelines to minimize the risk of premature failures on future projects. One of the principal objectives of this research effort was to identify sources of moisture and other conditions that let to the early rutting problems observed along the five projects. Overall, improper tack coat or failure, permeable dense-graded layers, inadequate drainage, and, possible, inadequate compaction of dense-graded material, were all identified as the likely root causes of the observed moisture damage and consequential rutting problems. The other principal objective was to evaluate design, construction, and materials requirements that will minimize the risk of such failures for future rehabilitation projects so that guidelines could be developed for these processes. In this respect, this report contains guidelines for the following:
- Pre-construction site investigations to identify the potential for moisture-related problems.
- Pavement structural design techniques that have been effective in reducing the risk of failures related to moisture damage.
- Construction techniques that can reduce the risk of failure due to moisture damage.
- Materials selection and testing to assist in reducing the risk of failure due to moisture damage. | |Evaluation of Fuel Usage Factors in Highway Construction in Oregon |
Prices for different construction materials change frequently. In recent years, the price for these different materials has dramatically increased. This result leads contractors to inflate the bid price for a construction project in order to cover the potential increased cost. In an attempt to modify the inflation inserted into | {
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Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA)
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
GLOBAL COLD CHAIN ALLIANCE
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful American workplaces. To that end, OSHA and GCCA hereby form an Alliance to provide GCCA members and others with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help them protect the health and safety of workers, particularly by reducing and preventing exposure to hazards related to chemical releases from ammonia refrigeration systems and improving the Process Safety Management (PSM) programs for these systems, and understand the rights of workers and the responsibilities of employers under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSH Act). In developing this Alliance, OSHA and GCCA recognize that OSHA’s State Plan and On-site Consultation Project partners are an integral part of the OSHA national effort.
Raising Awareness of OSHA’s Rulemaking and Enforcement Initiatives
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following goals related to raising awareness of OSHA’s rulemaking and enforcement initiatives:
The Participants intend to work together to achieve the following outreach and communication goals:
An implementation team made up of representatives of each organization will meet to develop a plan of action, determine working procedures, and identify the roles and responsibilities of the participants. In addition, they will meet at least three times per year to track and share information on activities and results in achieving the goals of the Alliance. OSHA team members will include representatives of the Directorate of Cooperative and State Programs and any other appropriate offices. OSHA will encourage State Plan States’ and OSHA On-site Consultation Projects’ participation on the team.
This agreement will remain in effect for two years. Either signatory may terminate it for any reason at any time, provided they give 30 days written notice. This agreement may be modified at any time with the written concurrence of both signatories.
Signed this 30th day of July, 2010. | Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA)
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING AN ALLIANCE
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
GLOBAL COLD CHAIN ALLIANCE
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) recognize the value of establishing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful Ame | {
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News Releases 2004
NOAA Home Page
NOAA Public Affairs
The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Law Enforcement Field Office in Petersburg, Alaska, has received complaints of marine mammals having been illegally shot or shot at over the past several months.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972 is a federal law established to protect seals, sea lions, dolphins, whales and all other species of marine mammals. Under the MMPA and its corresponding regulations, it is illegal to harass, shoot, pursue or feed marine mammals in the wild. A violation of the act is considered a “take” and can result in civil penalties of up to $12,000 and criminal fines of up to $20,000 and jail time.
NOAA’s Office for Law Enforcement is asking anyone who has any information about these crimes to contact the field office in Petersburg at (907) 772-2285 or the national hotline at (800) 853-1964. Any person who provides information that results in a conviction may be eligible for a $2,500 reward.
NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s living marine resources through scientific research, management, enforcement and the conservation of marine mammals and other protected marine species and their habitat.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources.
On the Web: | News Releases 2004
NOAA Home Page
NOAA Public Affairs
The Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Law Enforcement Field Office in Petersburg, Alaska, has received complaints of marine mammals having been illegally shot or shot at over the past several months.
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A Fully Coupled Multi-Aircraft DI Simulation Model
Agency / Branch:
DOD / NAVY
Attempts to simulate the dynamic interface (DI) environment of landing aircraft onto Navy ships typically incorporate extensive approximations in both the component aerodynamic models and their interaction. These lower fidelity models are employed in orderto achieve real-time throughput speeds required in manned simulation, or may simply result from lack of data orsufficient analytical tools in the models themselves. A novel fully-coupled aerodynamic simulation that includes multiple aircraft simultaneously operating from a ship is proposed for development, that will represent time-accurate couplings betweenaircraft wakes, ship superstructure, and ship airwake emanating from a moving platform. Various modeling simplifications will then be applied to this simulation and their effects evaluated in order to quantify the level of detail necessary to use thissoftware as a DI testing predictive tool. These simplifications should also enable the development of a networked version of this simulation environment that may ultimately achieve real-time throughput speeds through parallel computation. Extensive usewill be made of past and current efforts at CDI in real-time aircraft wake simulation, bluff-body aerodynamic analysis, and hybrid CFD approaches that all address the DI aerodynamic environment. The software end product resulting from Phase I/Phase II research would provide a tool for pre-test prediction of the operational environment anticipated for flight near maritime or ground structures subject to external disturbances and prevailing windeffects. These conditions include landing and launching aircraft from ships, operations from off-shore oil platforms, and use of heliports on top of and adjacent to large buildings. An additional benefit of the software would be an enhanced representationof flight operations in structure-generated turbulence to facilitate pilot training.
Small Business Information at Submission:
CONTINUUM DYNAMICS, INC.
34 Lexington Avenue Ewing, NJ 08618
Number of Employees: | A Fully Coupled Multi-Aircraft DI Simulation Model
Agency / Branch:
DOD / NAVY
Attempts to simulate the dynamic interface (DI) environment of landing aircraft onto Navy ships typically incorporate extensive approximations in both the component aerodynamic models and their interaction. These lower fidelity models are employed in orderto achieve real-time throughput speeds required in manned simulat | {
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LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND ACT 2003
Elected Member Leadership in Best Value Advisory Note
This document is also available in pdf format (43k)
COSLA has produced this advice note on behalf of the Best Value Task Force to help elected members with their roles, responsibilities and duties in relation to the duty of Best Value and to provide an elected members' commentary on the statutory framework (see Annex A). Elected members have a key role to play to ensure their council meets each of the ten core Best Value characteristics that form the basis of the framework. Therefore this advisory note sits alongside and follows the structure of the Scottish Executive's statutory guidance. It should also complement any guidance issued by individual councils.
For councillors who already have a firm grasp of, and are involved in, their Council's Best Value policy and procedures this advice note provides a useful check list or reference point against which to judge how the council is meeting its obligations under the 2003 Act and its guidance. For councillors who are relatively new to Best Value this advice note provides a starting point for understanding their duties and responsibilities.
Councillors have a role to ensure that their council fulfils its statutory responsibilities but they also have to fulfil individual responsibilities.
Best Value as an approach has been in place, albeit on a 'voluntary' basis, since 1997. Councils, and elected members in particular, have developed considerable expertise and experience on Best Value. Elected members in many councils have been closely involved in the development of Best Value in their Council both at a strategic and service level. In addition, as local government has been increasingly subject to external scrutiny and accountability, there is also a high level of awareness of fundamental issues such as leadership, scrutiny and accountability - key elements of Best Value.
The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 makes Best Value a statutory duty by placing on councils a duty to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in performance. The Scottish Executive has issued statutory guidance on the arrangements that councils should put in place to support Best Value. Further guidance produced by the Best Value Task Force and published by the Scottish Executive alongside the statutory guidance refers specifically to the role of elected members on around 20 occasions.
There are a growing number of examples of 'good practice' involving elected members in all aspects of Best Value. However, elected member experience or involvement in Best Value will vary from council to council. Although most, if not all, councils provide training for members on Best Value, almost 50% of councillors who responded to the COSLA/Scottish Executive 2003 Councillors' Survey stated that they have only some, little or no understanding of Best Value. A core role of the new Improvement Service for local government and partners is to share good practice and should be a valuable resource for elected members.
A key feature of the 2003 Act and the associated guidance is the close relationship between Best Value and Community Planning and the Power to Advance Well-being. Whilst this advisory note concentrates on Best Value it is relevant also to the roles and responsibilities that elected members have in respect of the new duty of Community Planning and the Power to Advance Well-being. (For a summary of the Act, see COSLA's Guide to the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 - www.cosla.gov.uk .)
ELECTED MEMBERS - YOUR ROLE IN BEST VALUE
Commitment and Leadership
The most important role for elected members is to provide the commitment and leadership required to drive Best Value forward.
You must be involved in setting the strategic direction for Best Value by agreeing and taking ownership of the Best Value process within your authority. This should outline how the key elements of Best Value will contribute to meeting the continuous improvement in services, which will be required to meet your council's vision and expectations.
You should ensure that your council's approach to Best Value is reflected clearly in all mission statements, strategies, and plans at a corporate and service level. These in turn should help to integrate priorities identified through Community Planning and show clearly how the council is working with partner organisations to provide services that meet community needs at council and local community levels.
The setting of priorities and assessment of performance against relevant targets must be undertaken transparently so that communities can understand, comment on and influence the process and decision-making. This will contribute to ensuring that you are accountable to your electorate and that the council is accountable to its communities.
Councils will be expected to demonstrate political ownership of material submitted by the council to Audit Scotland during its Best Value Audit. Each council will have to decide how, at what level and when its submission to the Best Value Audit is given political approval.
Responsiveness and Consultation
Elected members have a unique role in providing a focus for community engagement and empowering local communities. Best Value gives you the opportunity to develop and fulfil your role as champions of your local community.
Meeting the needs of various stakeholders in the community is a difficult balancing act and you are well placed to meet this challenge.
You can ensure that the council is responsive to the needs of its communities, citizens, customers, employees and other stakeholders. You must ensure that the council recognises the diversity and diverse needs of its communities; and that the council's plans, priorities and actions are informed by an understanding of these needs.
You also have an important role to play to oversee and contribute to the necessary ongoing dialogue with other public sector partners and the local business, voluntary and community sectors. Constructive engagement with the whole range of stakeholders must be open, fair and inclusive. The public should have access to the information they need and want about council performance.
Elected members should be at the heart of the decision-making process in their council.
This means that you should determine and agree the shared vision which provides the framework for planning and budgeting at both corporate and service delivery levels; ensuring these respond to the needs of local communities and help to achieve the council's goals.
Influencing political priorities and setting standards against which performance improvement can be measured are crucial tasks for elected members. You should be satisfied that effective performance management and reporting systems are in place (e.g. Scrutiny Panels) through which performance issues can be identified, monitored and addressed.
Performance in all areas of activity should be systematically measured and reported to elected members. You should ensure that performance reports are relevant and clearly show whether strategic and operational objectives and targets are being met. Reports should include information which allows you to make informed decisions about how to improve performance.
Sound Management of Resources
A fundamental aim of Best Value is to assist councils to make the best use of their resources - including employees, financial resources, ICT and other systems, land and property and contractual arrangements - "keeping a considered and appropriate balance between cost, quality and price".
Elected members have ultimate responsibility for making sure that appropriate policies and processes are in place to ensure the council's resources are used efficiently and effectively, the council's procurement process and contracts comply with all legal obligations and that sound financial stewardship is maintained.
You have to be aware, particularly at budget time, of the risks that might be facing the council (e.g. in relation to health and safety and child protection matters), and base your budget decisions on sound judgement and mature consideration of all factors.
Whilst you should not be involved in operational day-to-day decisions about these matters and the use of resources you must ensure that there are processes in place to allow you to regularly review the management of resources across all services and across the council as a whole. Also you must be sure that you have the opportunity to review budget statements and approve spending decisions as a result of Best Value reviews and option appraisals, in order to make the strategic decisions that may be required to alter policies or to re-prioritise the use of resources.
Review and Options Appraisal (Scrutiny)
The review and options appraisal aspect of Best Value should be seen as part of the scrutiny process in councils to ensure that services remain competitive and that the quality of provision is maintained for the benefit of service users.
A key feature of Best Value is that no areas of work should be 'protected' from consideration for review. Reviews can encompass process based and service reviews as well as strategic reviews such as appraisal of PPP schemes and housing stock transfer schemes. Strategic or thematic reviews, possibly cutting across service departments or involving other public sector or community partners, may have a greater impact than more narrowly focussed service reviews.
Elected members should approve the overall process and policies governing the review and option appraisal process and they should be involved at key stages in the process. You will be well placed to ensure that reviews focus on achieving real improvements in service delivery for your council's communities.
You should use the review and scrutiny process to challenge service performance. The reporting of reviews and scrutiny process should enable you to question and challenge the outcomes of reviews. You should keep an 'open mind' in respect of preferred service providers and base decisions on evidence and performance.
Competitiveness and Trading
The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 gives local authorities greater freedoms to structure services under a range of possibilities that previously were not available to them. They can form partnerships and trading relationships with other local authorities, Community Planning partners, the voluntary sector and (to a more limited extent) with the private sector.
Elected members must ensure that their council's business in any potentially competitive situation is conducted in a manner which demonstrates appropriate competitive practice and conforms to the duties and guidance relating to trading accounts and the supply of goods and services.
You can play an important part in ensuring the council is responsive to the interests of stakeholders and suppliers such as the business community and the voluntary and not for profit sectors. You must be prepared to award contracts to external providers after competition where that represents Best Value and is evidently in the interests of your communities with regards to an "appropriate balance between cost, quality and price". Staff working to provide council services must be fairly treated, whether they are employed directly by the council or by a private or voluntary sector provider.
Councils have a statutory duty under Best Value to ensure that they make a contribution to the achievement of sustainable development in all their activities.
The Best Value guidance defines sustainable development as being "development which secures a balance of social, economic and environmental well-being in the impact of activities and decisions; and which seeks to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Elected members need to ensure that the achievement of sustainable development is reflected in the council's objectives and highlighted in all appropriate strategies and plans at corporate and service levels. You have to demonstrate a high level of commitment to achieving sustainable development and to promote an integrated approach to improving economic, social and environmental well-being. You should ensure that sustainable development is taken into account in all elements of the Best Value process.
Also you have a role to play to ensure that sustainable development is reflected in the council's inter-relationships with its Community Planning partners.
Councils are required to encourage equal opportunities when discharging their duty of Best Value. Elected members can play a significant role in promoting a culture which encourages both equal opportunities and the observance of the equal opportunities requirements.
You must ensure that equal opportunities are reflected in the council's objectives and are highlighted in all plans at corporate and service level. Also equal opportunities must be mainstreamed/
embedded within your council's Best Value framework. All elements of the Best Value process must take account of equal opportunities legislation such as the Race Relations Amendment Act 2000.
Joint Working (with other councils and public bodies)
Elected members should actively encourage opportunities for formal and informal joint working, joint use of resources and joint funding options, where this will offer scope for better services and customer focused outcomes. You should ensure procedures are in place, possibly through Community Planning, to allow the council to address impediments and barriers which might inhibit approaches to joint working with internal and external partners.
As the council's representatives on Joint Boards, other public sector agencies and community and voluntary sector organisations, elected members are well placed to facilitate joint working. You are also well placed to assist other public sector organisations embrace the principles and practices enshrined in Best Value and could also benefit from learning from the experiences of other bodies.
Elected members have a key role to play in ensuring that the council reports on its performance so that all stakeholders are told what quality of service is being delivered and what they can expect in the future.
Effective internal and external performance reporting can provide accountability and transparency. Therefore you must ensure there is a mechanism for internal scrutiny by members of performance and service outcomes. You should ensure that your council's decision-making processes are open and transparent, with council business managed in a manner that supports accountability.
Ultimately you are responsible and accountable to the electorate for the overall performance of the council.
"Best Value must be led politically by elected members; it needs clear political direction and the staff need to see this. All members will need to understand, own and promote Best Value in their work to make the council a Best Value authority. Best Value may also require new roles for members and above all, for members to act as champions of the public's interests - true representatives." (Geoffrey Filkin; November 1997; LGIU, Political Leadership of Best Value.)
Although this quote was written within the context of the English approach to Best Value it still clearly summaries the key issues that elected members in Scotland should bear in mind with regards to their role in Best Value - political leadership, ownership and understanding of the process and community leadership.
- All elected members have a duty not only to ensure that their council is fulfilling all its duties under the legislation and accompanying guidance but also that they fulfil their roles and responsibilities as identified in the statutory guidance. Every councillor should support their council's objective to strive towards continuous improvement through the Best Value framework as detailed in the statutory guidance and any formal policy adopted by their council.
- Elected member leadership in Best Value should not be restricted to Council Leaders, Executive members or Chairs/Convenors of committees, but should include a role for all elected members. Only by providing political leadership in the process can they ensure that Best Value is driven politically from the heart of the council. As community leaders elected members have a key role to play to ensure that Best Value provides real benefits for the communities they represent and serve.
- All elected members are responsible to their communities and will be held accountable by their electorate. However, the Accounts Commission also has a role to play as an independent scrutineer of how councils and their elected members respond to and fulfil their Best Value statutory duty. The new Best Value Audit, which is being rolled out to all councils over the next three years by Audit Scotland, will examine the role that you play in this respect.
- Elected members must ensure that Best Value is a process that helps their council translate its goals into reality; therefore leadership, ownership and understanding of the Best Value process in their council is crucial. Best Value can assist elected members to make key decisions on which priorities the council should fund and how scarce resources will be spent. It can also assist in ensuring that sustainable development and equal opportunities are mainstreamed into all elements of policy planning and service delivery.
BEST VALUE FRAMEWORK
The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 places specific duties on councils by which they are expected to demonstrate fulfilment of the statutory duties which make up the Best Value 'regime' provided. These statutory duties are:
- the duty of Best Value, being to make arrangements to secure continuous improvement in performance (while maintaining an appropriate balance between quality and cost); and in making those arrangements and securing that balance, to have regard to economy, efficiency, effectiveness, the equal opportunities requirements and to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development;
- the duty to achieve break-even in trading accounts subject to mandatory disclosure;
- the duty to observe proper accounting practices;
- the duty to make arrangements for the reporting to the public of the outcome of the performance of functions.
An authority which secures Best Value will be able to demonstrate commitment to ten core characteristics:
- Commitment and Leadership
- Responsiveness and Consultation
- Sound Governance at a Strategic, Financial and Operational Level
- Sound Management of Resources
- Use of Review and Options Appraisal
- Competitiveness, Trading and the Discharge of Authority Functions
- Sustainable Development
- Equal Opportunities Arrangements
- Joint Working | LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SCOTLAND ACT 2003
Elected Member Leadership in Best Value Advisory Note
This document is also available in pdf format (43k)
COSLA has produced this advice note on behalf of the Best Value Task Force to help elected members with their roles, responsibilities and duties in relation to the duty of Best Value and to provide an elected members' commentary on the statutory framework | {
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National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
35th and 89th Division World War I Unit Histories
The founders of the National World War I Museum, originally known as the Liberty Memorial Museum, began collecting in 1920. The Museum collections cover the entire war from the first shots in 1914 to the last attempts at peace in 1919. All the nations involved, reflecting both the battlefield and the home front, are represented.
Over 156,000 Missourians served in World War I, and many of them served in either the 35th or 89th Divisions. The 89th Division, called the "Middle West Division," formed and began its training at Camp Funston, Fort Riley, Kansas, in August 1917. Its members came from Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, and South Dakota. In France, the Division participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. The 35th Infantry Division was organized at Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma, in August 1917. Its members came from the National Guards of Missouri and Kansas. In France, the 35th Division participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, the Meuse-Argonne, Vauquois and Sommedieue.
The 35th and 89th Division World War I Unit Histories is comprised of rosters and divisional histories related to the service of Missourians during World War I.
Rights and Reproductions
Copyright is in the public domain. Items reproduced for publication should carry the credit line: Courtesy of the National World I Museum, Kansas City, Missouri. To order a reproduction or inquire about permissions, contact the archivist at: (816) 888-8121 or email [[email protected]]
How to Use This Collection
This collection consists of scanned pages of books and pamphlets. They can be viewed by browsing the collection or searching for specific names or keywords using the search feature below. Individual Divisions or Regiments can be browsed using the drop-down menu below.
For further research requests, please visit www.theworldwar.org for information on the National World War I Museum and its collection. | National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial
35th and 89th Division World War I Unit Histories
The founders of the National World War I Museum, originally known as the Liberty Memorial Museum, began collecting in 1920. The Museum collections cover the entire war from the first shots in 1914 to the last attempts at peace in 1919. All the nations involved, reflecting both the battlefield and the | {
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The American Nicaraguan School is a private, nonsectarian coeducational school, founded in 1944, which offers an educational program from Nursery (3 years) through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The school year is comprised of 2 semesters extending from August to December and from January to June.
Organization: The School is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors, with 6 members elected by the American Nicaraguan School parents, and one member appointed. Membership in the Association is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the School. The School is incorporated and has tax-exempt status in Nicaragua. The American Nicaraguan School Foundation is incorporated in the U.S. and operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Secion 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Curriculum: The curriculum is comparable to that offered in college-preparatory schools in the United States and also includes the Nicaraguan Bachillerato program. English is the language of instruction at all levels. Spanish is the required subject of study throughout the system and English-Spanish bilingualism is a major curricular objective. Most graduates enter colleges and universities in the United States. The School offers a wide variety of sports in its extracurricular athletics program. Approximately 40% of the student population participates in this program. The School also offers a 16-step English Language Institute program in English-as-a-Foreign-Language on Saturday mornings and evenings. The School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement, a division of AdvancED, and the Nicaraguan Ministry of Education. Its standards based curriculum includes 18 Advanced Placement offerings.
Faculty: In the 2011-2012 school year, there are 106 full-time faculty members and administrators. Most are licensed to teach in the United States, Nicaragua or their native country.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, enrollment was 946 (Elementary School: 466; Middle School: 221; and High School: 259).
Facilities: Located on a 26 acre campus in Managua, Nicaragua, ANS is preparing its students for today’s world, as well as the one they will encounter in the future. A new high school building was constructed using many new features that will enable technology integration and skills for the 21st century. The school offers internet-ready classrooms in addition to wireless access; a library/media center; a technology center; video conferencing facilities; science laboratories; a fine arts, drama and music department; and extensive athletic facilities including a multi-purpose covered athletic area with a capacity for 3,000 people. There are also 8 apartments for recruited teachers on campus.
Finances: In the 2011-2012 school year, about 90% of the School's income derives from tuition, registration and a technology fee. Annual tuition rates, including annual registration and technology fee, are as follows: K3: $2,250; K4: $3,450; K5: $5,070; grades 1-5: $6,090; grades 6-8: $6,870; and grades 9-12: $7,230. (All fees are quoted in U.S. dollars.) | The American Nicaraguan School is a private, nonsectarian coeducational school, founded in 1944, which offers an educational program from Nursery (3 years) through grade 12 for students of all nationalities. The school year is comprised of 2 semesters extending from August to December and from January to June.
Organization: The School is governed by a 7-member Board of Directors, with 6 members el | {
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Privacy is more than a core value of the SAVE Program; it’s the law. Privacy principles and security measures are incorporated into all of our processes and procedures to guard your information and civil liberties. Our goal is to earn your T.R.U.S.T. through Transparency, Responsibility, Use, Security, and Training.
SAVE makes a concerted effort to be transparent to the public by publishing a Privacy Impact Assessmentand a detailed System of Records Notice (SORN) that outlines how SAVE collects, uses and protects information.
At all times, federal employees and contractors are held responsible for appropriately handling personal information while pursuing their official duties. Similarly, SAVE registered agencies must adhere to a Memorandum of Agreement or Computer Matching Agreement which binds them to responsibilities regarding proper information use and handling.
SAVE only uses the data required to confirm an individual’s immigration status when applying for benefits and licenses issued by a federal, state or local government agency, or for other lawful purposes. Similarly, limited information is returned in response to queries.
Because of the sensitivity of the information collected and used by SAVE, an extensive set of technical, operational and physical security controls are in place to ensure the integrity, confidentiality and availability of an individual’s information used by SAVE. Examples include:
User-specific accounts and complex passwords that must be changed often
User accounts that lock after several failed attempts to logon
Active session timeouts within the SAVE interface
Data encryption used both at rest and during all data transmissions
Procedures for reporting and responding to breaches of information
The SAVE Program offers training opportunities to prospective, new and current customer agencies including webinars and other customized training to meet an agency’s specific needs. Additionally, all Department of Homeland Security employees are required to pass annual Computer Security and Privacy training regarding the appropriate handling of personal information. | Privacy is more than a core value of the SAVE Program; it’s the law. Privacy principles and security measures are incorporated into all of our processes and procedures to guard your information and civil liberties. Our goal is to earn your T.R.U.S.T. through Transparency, Responsibility, Use, Security, and Training.
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WHO Gender Mainstreaming Manual - Facilitator Corner
Want to facilitate a gender and health workshop?
The Facilitators' guide includes a template agenda, preparation checklist and general logistic guidance to help run a smooth workshop. Throughout the Modules, "tips for facilitators" are included based on issues and questions that emerged during pilot phases of developing the Manual. These tips are meant to alert and assist future facilitators. Send additional "facilitator tips" to [email protected] for inclusion in future updates of the Manual.
Selected facilitation tips for the WHO Gender Mainstreaming Manual
- Co-facilitation works best.
- Facilitators need experience in gender and health to respond to questions and stimulate the kind of dialogue needed to bring about changes in attitudes and actions to reduce gender-based health inequities.
- Prepare and adapt materials to audience and context.
- Encourage participants to share experiences and reflections. This helps counter scepticism to working on gender.
- Engage participants through interactive activities; adults learn best by doing and often have expectations for practical exercises that will benefit their daily tasks.
- Gender learning can be challenging as it confronts individual, professional and community norms. Address this by creating a learning environment where participants are comfortable to express themselves freely without judgement. | WHO Gender Mainstreaming Manual - Facilitator Corner
Want to facilitate a gender and health workshop?
The Facilitators' guide includes a template agenda, preparation checklist and general logistic guidance to help run a smooth workshop. Throughout the Modules, "tips for facilitators" are included based on issues and questions that emerged during pilot phases of developing the Manual. These tips ar | {
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Research profile of moxidectin at TDR
Research on moxidectin was initiated by TDR in the late 1990s with support of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) and the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), which work with TDR on research required to advance their objectives. Data from TDR sponsored research in in vitro and animal models of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis showed that it was more effective than ivermectin against the parasites. Experimental data from research conducted by Fort Dodge Animal Health for moxidectin's use against animal parasites suggested that moxidectin might be safe enough for mass treatment. Based on these data, the clinical development was initiated in collaboration with the pharmaceutical company Wyeth, the owner of moxidectin at the time, and with support of OCP and APOC.
Recent APOC surveys of onchocerciasis prevalence in areas with more than 10 years of CDTI suggest that the impact of ivermectin on onchocerciasis transmission may be larger than originally anticipated and that 10-25 years of annual community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) (depending on the proportion of population treated and endemicity) may permanently interrupt transmission of the parasite in a given endemic zone. Should this be confirmed, these areas could discontinue CDTI - provided that there is no risk of 're-importing' the parasite through infected flies or people from surrounding areas.
Moxidectin may interrupt parasite transmission faster than ivermectin, thus reducing the number of years mass treatment programmes have to be sustained, allowing community, health system and donor efforts to be redirected towards other health priorities.
Studies completed to date
All pre-clinical studies and studies in healthy volunteers (Phase 1 studies) as well as the first study in humans infected with O. volvulus (Phase 2 study) have been completed.
The external expert committee (Special Project Team, SPT) which advises TDR on the development of moxidectin, met in December 2010 to review data from the Phase 1 studies and the Phase 2 study data, and recommended continuing development of moxidectin. The Phase 2 study data were discussed in March 2011 by the Technical Consultative Committee (TCC) of APOC which also recommended continuation of moxidectin development. In September 2011, TDR and APOC convened another external advisory committee (EAC) to review the Phase 2 data in light of the new data on the effect of CDTI on onchocerciasis transmission and resulting onchocerciasis control needs, taking into account other events impacting the development of moxidectin. The EAC recommended that WHO continue moxidectin development while the search for a license holder and donor is being conducted. The recommendations of the EAC were presented in September 2011 to the APOC TCC, which endorsed them.
Ongoing and planned studies
A large Phase 3 study is currently ongoing in Ghana, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In Ghana, the study is conducted at the Onchocerciasis Chemotherapy Research Centre which has conducted clinical research in onchocerciasis since 1977. In Liberia and DRC, three new clinical research centres were created as part of the moxidectin project:
- Liberia Institute for Biomedical Research - Clinical Research Center Bolahun
- Centre de Recherche Clinique Université Catholique de Graben in Butembo, Nord-Kivu, DRC
- Centre de Recherche en Maladies Tropicales de l'Ituri, C.R.M.T- ITURI, Hôpital Général de Référence de Rethy, Province Orientale, DRC.
A summary of the clinical research infrastructure capacity at these sites is available. The teams have completed enrolment and treatment of all subjects (1472). It is planned to complete follow up in December 2011.
Additional studies planned to obtain all data required to determine whether use of moxidectin could advance control programme objectives are: (1) a paediatric study to determine a safe dose for children; (2) a community study on the safety and efficacy of moxidectin under conditions of mass treatment; (3) evaluation of safety in case of Loa-loa co-infection as per recent advice from the EAC and APOC TCC. | Research profile of moxidectin at TDR
Research on moxidectin was initiated by TDR in the late 1990s with support of the Onchocerciasis Control Programme (OCP) and the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), which work with TDR on research required to advance their objectives. Data from TDR sponsored research in in vitro and animal models of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis show | {
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| Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL) |
Map this site in Cleanups in My Community
| North Pownal, Vermont|
| Bennington County
| Street Address: ||ROUTE 346 |
| Zip Code: || 05261 |
| Congressional |
| EPA ID #: ||VTD069910354 |
| Site ID #: ||0101463 |
| Site Aliases: |
| Site Responsibility: ||Federal, State |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date ||09/29/1998|
| Final Date ||01/19/1999 |
The Pownal Tannery site is located between Route 346 and the Hoosic River in the Village of North Pownal, in Bennington County, Vermont. The site was a former hide tanning and finishing facility owned by the Pownal Tanning Company, Inc.. It has been inactive since 1988 when the company declared bankruptcy. The site consists of three contamination sources: the tannery building complex, a lagoon system, and the tannery's sludge landfill. In total, the Pownal Tannery site encompasses approximately 28 acres. From approximately 1937 until 1962, untreated tanning process wastewater was directly discharged into the Hoosic River. A lagoon system comprising six lagoons, was constructed in several stages between 1962 and 1971 to receive the tannery's wastewater. In 1982, a state permitted lined landfill was constructed on site which received sludge dredged from a portion of the lagoons. The tannery landfill is situated on a parcel of land across from the Hoosic River and southwest of the tannery building complex. In 1987, two-thirds of the landfill was covered and closed. The remaining portion remained uncovered until 2001. The area is a rural and residential community with approximately 3,500 residents. The nearest residences are approximately 200 feet from the site and rely upon groundwater from private wells for their water supply. While some site related contaminants have been detected in residential wells in the past, current sampling data indicates that safe drinking water standards are not being exceeded.
Threats and Contaminants
The groundwater, soil and lagoon/landfill sludge are contaminated primarily with metals, semi-VOCs, and dioxin. Metals, semi-VOCs and dioxin have been found in site soil/sludge and on building materials at levels that pose an unacceptable direct contact threat. River sediments associated with the Hoosic River are contaminated with several metals, with some exceeding federal benchmark criteria indicating a potential adverse impact to aquatic organisms. However the data indicate that there are unknown sources other than the Pownal site associated with this contamination. Access to the site is partially restricted. While sampling data indicates that the site has not adversely affected the nearest residential wells, continued migration of contaminated groundwater could present a future human health threat and long-term groundwater monitoring will be performed.
The site is being addressed in three stages: two initial actions and a final long-term remedial phase which will address contamination at the entire site.
Response Action Status
|Initial Action ||Following an initial EPA site evaluation in 1993, a time-critical removal action was taken in 1993 and 1994 to remove 13,000 pounds of contaminated material left behind in drums and tanks within the tannery buildings. Additionally, site access restrictions were put in place but were subsequently compromised by trespassers. This action mitigated the immediate threats to the community. |
|Seconday Action ||Between 1995 and 1998, EPA completed an additional preliminary investigation of the source areas at the site, which included the collection of samples at the lagoons, the landfill and tannery building. In March of 1999 EPA made a determination to address two of the three source area's of contamination at the site. Beginning in the summer of 1999 EPA began a cleanup which included decontamination and demolition of tannery buildings, removal of all underground tanks, removal of contaminated soil under tannery buildings to the on-site landfill, capping the landfill and repairing the leachate collection system at the landfill, and excavation of a small quantity of tannery waste that had been deposited adjacent to the Hoosic River. This action was completed in the Spring of 2001. The former tannery building area was restored and is currently being used recreationally. The state of Vermont is performing the operation and maintenance at the former tannery building location and at the landfill. |
|Final Action ||In 2002 EPA completed a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study (RI/FS) to further determine the nature and extent of contamination at the third source area at the site; the sludge lagoon area. This study also addressed potential contamination in the surface water/sediments of the Hoosic River, as well as potential contamination in the groundwater. The RI/FS and proposed cleanup plan was released to the public in 2002. |
On September 30, 2002 EPA signed the Record of Decision outlining EPA's final decision regarding how the remaining site contaminants would be addressed. The cleanup plan for the site will address contaminated lagoon sludge where elevated concentrations of hazardous substances were detected. Among the contaminants detected at elevated levels are dioxin, chromium, lead, arsenic and benzo(a)pyrene. This remedy entails the excavation and consolidation of tannery lagoon waste, construction of a low permeability cap over the consolidated wastes on site, long-term monitoring of river sediments and ground water, and institutional controls to protect the cap from disturbance and to prevent ground water consumption and excavation of waste in the lagoon area.
The selected remedy is a comprehensive approach for the tannery site that will address all current and potential future risks caused by site wastes. At the former tannery lagoons the cleanup will prevent direct contact risks with contaminated lagoon waste and will significantly decrease further off-site migration that the lagoon sludge could cause through leaching to the ground water or erosion to the adjacent river through flooding events. As a result of the previous removal actions, the soil and sludge contamination in the lagoon area was the only remaining area needing further cleanup measures. Cleanup activities began in July of 2003 and were completed in September 2004. The State of Vermont is currently performing Operation and Maintenance activities at the former lagoon area/new landfill.
On September 28, 2007 EPA signed an Explanation of Significant Differences to document a modification to the 2002 Record of Decision. Specifically, 1) the extent of the Institutional Controls required for the site have been further characterized and defined, 2) the monitoring requirements for the Operation and Maintenance component of the remedy have been detailed, and 3) a determination that a limited portion of a protective earthen berm adjacent to the Hoosic River and the new landfill is an integral component of the remedy. The State of Vermont has concurred with this determination.
|Enforcement Highlights||There are no Potentially Responsible Parties at this site. |
The initial actions to remove liquid and bulk hazardous materials remaining in the tannery buildings reduced the potential for accidental exposure to hazardous wastes at the site. The secondary measures to completely address building contamination and to close the landfill addressed potential exposures to two of the three source areas at the former tannery. The RI/FS identified the risks and issues relating to the remaining contamination at the site. The final action taken in 2003 and 2004 addressed the remaining concerns at the site.
Current Site Status
EPA has completed the Remedial Action at the site to consolidate and cap the lagoon sludge. Initiation of construction activities began in July 2003. Cleanup of the Lagoon Area was completed in September of 2004. Operation and Maintenance activities are currently being conducted by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
In 1999, the town of Pownal was awarded a site re-development grant by EPA . The purpose of this grant was to aid the town in their identification of potential reuse options at the site. With the involvement of the community, a reuse assessment report was completed in February 2001. The town of Pownal's identified future land use objectives served as part of EPA's basis for future remedial action objectives. Construction of a waste water treatment facility at the former lagoon area was completed in 2006 and recreational development in the lagoon area is currently being evaluated by the Town of Pownal in the adjacent area. Groundwater and river sediments are sampled annually.
Links to Other Site Information
Maps and Photos:
Newsletters & Press Releases:
Federal Register Notices:
Reports and Studies:
|Administrative Record Index, OU1 Record of Decision (ROD), October 1, 2002 (292 KB) |
|Administrative Record Index, OU1 Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD), October 1, 2007 (277 KB) |
|Non-Time Critical Removal Action (NTCRA) Administrative Record (AR) Index, May 25, 2010 (112 KB) |
|Administrative Record Index, Explanation of Significant Differences (ESD), October 1, 2010 (81.9 KB) |
|Non-Time-Critical Removal Action Report, November 2001 (1.3MB) |
|Preliminary Reuse Assessment, September 2002 |
|Remedial Investigation, July 2002 (1.9MB) |
|Feasibility Study, July 2002 (2.9MB) |
|Lagoon Area Remediation, Final Basis of Design Report, December 2003 |
|Community Relations Plan for the Remedial Investigation, March 2004 (11 MB) |
|Lagoon Area Remediation Remedial Action Completion Report, February 2005 (48,665KB) |
|Site Reuse Profile, August 2005 |
|Remedial Action Report, September 30, 2005 (1.85 MB) |
|Five Year Review Report, September 1, 2009 (7.89 MB) |
Solomon Wright Public Library, Pownal Vermont, 05261
OSRR Records and Information Center, 1st Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Suite 100 (HSC), Boston, MA 02109-3912 (617) 918-1440
|EPA Remedial Project Manager: ||Leslie McVickar |
|Address: ||US Environmental Protection Agency|
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code OSRR07-4
Boston, MA 02109-3912
|Phone #: ||617-918-1374 |
|E-Mail Address: ||[email protected] |
|EPA Community Involvement Coordinator: ||Sarah White |
|Address: ||US Environmental Protection Agency|
5 Post Office Square, Suite 100
Mail Code ORA20-1
Boston, MA 02109-3912
|Phone #: ||617-918-1026 |
|E-Mail Address: ||[email protected] |
|State Agency Contact: ||Ash Desmond |
|Address: ||Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation|
One National Life Drive
Montpelier, VT 05602-3704
|Phone #: || 802-249-5307 |
|E-Mail Address: || | | | Site Type: Long Term/National Priorities List (NPL) |
Map this site in Cleanups in My Community
| North Pownal, Vermont|
| Bennington County
| Street Address: ||ROUTE 346 |
| Zip Code: || 05261 |
| Congressional |
| EPA ID #: ||VTD069910354 |
| Site ID #: ||0101463 |
| Site Aliases: |
| Site Responsibility: ||Federal, State |
| NPL LISTING HISTORY |
| Proposed Date ||09/29/1998|
| Final Date || | {
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The group reviewed the usefulness and relevance of the two methods for cross national comparison.
Cross national comparison: the NDP indicators
The strengths of the indicators for a cross national analysis include:
• A high percentage of the indicators is relevant and useful in low and middle income countries: 80-90% of the indicators have been adopted by all countries included in the research.
• The indicators can be applied in national contexts and measure trends when collected over time.
• Data can be obtained at relatively low cost, compared to the amount of resources - public and private - which are spent on drugs.
• The logical framework (ST/PR/OT) is helpful for the interpretation of findings.
These strengths, associated with the fact that the method provides standardized results, make it possible to identify common problems and solutions and to learn through the comparison of the findings. The structural, background and outcome indicators are more useful for international comparison; for the process indicators, targets should normally be set at national level. To facilitate comparison, the group tried to introduce a rating system for all types of indicators. The same kind of system was used for developing Annex 5. However, additional efforts are needed to find optimal ways to relate indicators results to the overall scores and to weigh indicators, as all have not the same importance.
The group reviewed also some of the limitations of the indicators for cross national comparison, which include:
• the indicators are less easy to apply in countries with poor infrastructure and lack of reliable data;
• it is sometimes difficult to draw causal conclusions as outcomes are often multifactoral; in addition, multiple changes can occur over a single time, which makes it difficult to draw strong conclusions about a single factor.
Cross national comparison: the political mapping
The strengths of political mapping for cross national comparison include:
• the development of systematic political analyses, which can be compared across countries, to help in assessing the effectiveness of different political strategies for the promotion of national drug policies;
• the in-depth analysis of the policy process, which helps in assessing the feasibility of adopting different policy innovations, and the problems of implementation for national drug policies. | The group reviewed the usefulness and relevance of the two methods for cross national comparison.
Cross national comparison: the NDP indicators
The strengths of the indicators for a cross national analysis include:
• A high percentage of the indicators is relevant and useful in low and middle income countries: 80-90% of the indicators have been adopted by all countries included in the research.
• | {
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The annual ritual dance by the chicken-sized male Greater sage grouse attracts potential mates and perpetuates the species. However, this important mating ritual is a rare experience in the Devil’s Garden, a region in northeastern California where the greater sage grouse populations are in serious decline.
Western junipers here consume water that would typically be available to other species. A silent invasion of western juniper trees has slowly displaced a connected landscape that was once dominated by sagebrush. This slow degradation of habitat has resulted in the loss of over 85 percent of sage grouse habitat in California.
Over the past three decades, sage grouse populations have diminished from over 40 active leks (areas where males and females gather to mate) to one lek on the Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge. In this area, sage grouse nearly disappeared in 2005.
The dramatic loss of sage grouse in northern California and the prospect of listing the bird as an endangered species prompted biologists at Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex to team-up with the U.S. Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and local cattle ranchers to develop and implement strategies to conserve sage grouse in the Devil’s Garden.
In late September, U.S. Forest Service Recovery Act funded workers began treating 1,000 acres on the Modoc National Forest of western juniper to improve the habitat which borders the Clear Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
Contractors are conducting mechanical and hand thinning to reduce vegetation that is displacing native grasses, forbs, and shrubs.
Project work will continue into early 2013.
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Recreational activities on our lands contribute $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. | The annual ritual dance by the chicken-sized male Greater sage grouse attracts potential mates and perpetuates the species. However, this important mating ritual is a rare experience in the Devil’s Garden, a region in northeastern California where the greater sage grouse populations are in serious decline.
Western junipers here consume water that would typically be available to other species. A si | {
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Congressional Research Service. January 23, 2013.
Total federal debt can increase in two ways. First, debt increases when the government sells debt to the public to finance budget deficits and acquire the financial resources needed to meet its obligations. This increases debt held by the public. Second, debt increases when the federal government issues debt to certain government accounts, such as the Social Security, Medicare, and Transportation trust funds, in exchange for their reported surpluses. This increases debt held by government accounts. The sum of debt held by the public and debt held by government accounts is the total federal debt. Surpluses reduce debt held by the public, while deficits raise it. The recent economic slowdown led to sharply higher deficits in recent years, which led to a series of debt limit increases.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL31967.pdf [PDF format, 37 pages].
Congressional Research Service. May 31, 2012.
The gross federal debt, which represents the federal government’s total outstanding debt, consists of two types of debt: (1) debt held by the public and (2) debt held in government accounts, also known as intragovernmental debt. Federal government borrowing increases for two primary reasons: (1) budget deficits and (2) investments of any federal government account surpluses in Treasury securities, as required by law. Nearly all of this debt is subject to the statutory limit. The federal debt limit currently stands at $16,394 billion.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41633.pdf [PDF format, 26 pages].
Congressional Research Service. March 2, 2012.
An array of budget process reform proposals are put forth each year seeking to refine or modify the existing constitutional requirements, laws, and rules that make up the federal budget process. This report identifies, tracks, and explains current budget process reform proposals reported from committee, or considered on the floor during 2012. The proposals are organized into categories related to the existing budget process. When appropriate, a brief description of the current process is provided.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42383.pdf [PDF format, 11 pages].
Office of Management and Budget, The White House. February 13, 2012.
The Budget of the United States Government is a collection of documents that contains the budget message of the President, information about the President’s budget proposals for a given fiscal year, and other budgetary publications that have been issued throughout the fiscal year. Other related and supporting budget publications are included, which may vary from year to year. The totals for the current and upcoming fiscal years are only projected amounts. Annual budget documents provide Congress, State and local governments, and the public with a complete description of the president’s budget plans for the coming fiscal year.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/Overview [HTML format with links to sections].
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/budget/fy2013/assets/budget.pdf [PDF format, 256 pages]. | Congressional Research Service. January 23, 2013.
Total federal debt can increase in two ways. First, debt increases when the government sells debt to the public to finance budget deficits and acquire the financial resources needed to meet its obligations. This increases debt held by the public. Second, debt increases when the federal government issues debt to certain government accounts, such as | {
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On September 29, 2012 the Governor's Office signed Assembly Bill 2322 into law affecting the California Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program which took effect immediately.
For more information, please read Regulatory Alert 2012-01.
Sign-up to receive important notices regarding the California WIC Program
The WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide (WAFL SG) is the official document that outlines the foods authorized by the California WIC Program. The WAFL SG will be reviewed and revised as needed on an annual basis. The WAFL SG will not be updated this year and the current July 5, 2011 WAFL SG will remain in effect until further notice. All Food Instruments (FIs) include a statement on the "What to Buy" line that states "Use July 5, 2011 WAFL Shopping Guide."
Do you have input regarding the new food packages? Email your comments to [email protected]
| Conditions of Use | On September 29, 2012 the Governor's Office signed Assembly Bill 2322 into law affecting the California Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program which took effect immediately.
For more information, please read Regulatory Alert 2012-01.
Sign-up to receive important notices regarding the California WIC Program
The WIC Authorized Food List Shopping Guide (WAFL SG) | {
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Vaccine Treatment for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
This 2-phase study will determine the safety of treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer with the genetically engineered HyperAcute-Lung cancer vaccine. It will establish the proper vaccine dose and will examine side effects and potential benefits of the treatment. The vaccine contains killed lung cancer cells containing a mouse gene that causes the production of a foreign pattern of protein-sugars on the cell surface. It is hoped that the immune response to the foreign substance will stimulate the immune system to attack the patient's own cancer cells that have similar proteins without this sugar pattern, causing the tumor to remain stable or shrink.
Patients 18 years of age or older with non-small cell lung cancer that has recurred or no longer responds to standard treatment may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination, blood tests, urinalysis, chest x-rays, and lung function testing. CT, MRI, PET, and ultrasound scans of the chest may be obtained if needed.
Participants will receive four vaccinations a month apart from each other. The vaccines will be injected under the skin, similar to the way a tuberculosis skin test is given. Phase I of the study will treat successive groups of patients with increasing numbers of the vaccine cells to evaluate side effects of the treatment and determine the optimum dose. Phase II will look for any beneficial effects of the vaccine given at the highest dose found to be safe in Phase I. Weekly blood samples will be drawn during the 4 months of vaccine treatment. In addition, patient follow-up visits will be scheduled every 2 months for the first year after vaccination and then every 3 months for the next 2 years for the following tests and procedures to evaluate treatment response and side effects:
- Medical history and physical examination
- Blood tests
- X-rays and various scans (nuclear medicine/CT/MRI)
- FACT-L Assessment questionnaire to measure the impact of treatment on the patient's general well-being. The questionnaire is administered before beginning treatment, before each vaccination, and during follow-up visits after completing the treatment. It includes questions on the severity of lung cancer symptoms and the ability to perform normal activities of daily life.
In addition to the above procedures, 3 skin punch biopsies will be done at the vaccination site to look for a local immune response. For this procedure, an area of skin is numbed with an anesthetic and a 4 mm (about 1/4-inch) circular area is removed, using a sharp cookie cutter-type instrument. Also, one blood sample per year will be collected for the next 15 years to monitor the safety of the gene transfer. Patients whose lung cancer spreads to the skin, superficial soft tissues, or a superficial lymph node may be asked to undergo a biopsy of the lesion to see what effect the treatment may be having on the tumor.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Drug: Hyperacute Lung Cancer Cell Vaccine
|Study Design:||Primary Purpose: Treatment|
|Official Title:||A Phase I/II Study of an Antitumor Vaccination Using Alpha (1,3) Galactosyltransferase Expressing Allogeneic Tumor Cells in Patients With Refractory or Recurrent Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer|
|Study Start Date:||November 2003|
|Study Completion Date:||March 2013|
Drug: Hyperacute Lung Cancer Cell Vaccine
- Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death with an estimated 174,400 new cases and 162,400 deaths each year in the U.S.
- Despite attempts at early diagnosis and the development of new therapeutic agents, there has been only limited improvement in the outcome for patients with advanced lung cancer.
- A enzyme called alpha(1,3)galactosyltranferase (alphaGT) that is not found in humans can transfer sugars on to proteins in human cells that can make them highly immunogenic and cause them to be rejected by the body.
- Antitumor vaccination using killed donor human lung cancer cells expressing alphaGT may stimulate immune responses in patients against their own lung cancer because their lung cancer may share antigens with the vaccine cells that have been made more immunogenic by expression of alphaGT.
Phase I has been completed.
- To assess the tumor response rate of anti-tumor vaccination using irradiated allogeneic lung cancer cell lines genetically engineered to express the murine alpha(1,3)galactosyltransferase enzyme in patients with advanced, recurrent or refractory non-small cell lung cancer.
- To assess the immunological response of patients with lung cancer undergoing antitumor vaccination with irradiated allogeneic lung cancer cell lines genetically engineered to express murine alpha(1,3)galactosyltransferase.
- Assess the survival distribution as well as the duration of response.
- Non-small cell lung cancer (Adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, large cell anaplastic carcinoma and bronchoalveolar carcinoma).
- Stage IV, recurrent or treatment refractory disease.
- No exclusion for prior therapy. Prior therapy may include surgery, radiation, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy regimens. EGFR inhibitors or monoclonal antibodies are included as chemotherapy.
- Patients must have a granulocyte count of greater than or equal to 1000/microL, platelets greater than or equal to 100,000/microL, hemoglobin greater than 10.0 gm/dL, albumin greater than or equal to 3.0 gm/dL and acceptable hepatic and renal function.
- No systemic corticosteroids.
Design (Phase II):
- Patients will be intradermally vaccinated with 300 million alpha(1,3)galactosyltranferase-expressing vaccine cells every 2-weeks to complete a total of eight vaccinations.
- Patients will be monitored for tumor and immunological responses and safety.
|United States, Maryland|
|National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike|
|Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892|
|Principal Investigator:||Arun Rajan, M.D.||National Cancer Institute (NCI)| | Vaccine Treatment for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
This 2-phase study will determine the safety of treating patients with non-small cell lung cancer with the genetically engineered HyperAcute-Lung cancer vaccine. It will establish the proper vaccine dose and will examine side effects and potential benefits of the treatment. The vaccine contains killed lung cancer cells containing a mouse ge | {
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This publication may be purchased from the U.S. Government Printing Office and its bookstores. An order form is included in this publication. The report is also available, with testimony and other supporting materials, on the Internet at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/pcscb.
Numerical detail in this document may not add to the totals because of rounding.
Jon S. Corzine
Willard W. Brittain
Stanley E. Collender
Orin S. Kramer
Richard C. Leone
David A. Levy
James T. Lynn
Cynthia A. Metzler
Rudolph G. Penner
Steven L. Rattner
Robert M. Rubin
| February 1, 1999
Honorable William J. Clinton
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500-0001
Dear Mr. President:
We are hereby submitting the final report of the Commission to Study Capital Budgeting.
As you requested, we have concentrated on capital spending by the federal government. However, we have concluded that capital spending by all levels of government, as well as by the private sector, provides the nation with important long-term benefits.
Our research shows that the current budget process does not permit decision-makers in the executive branch and Congress to pay sufficient attention to the long-run consequences of their decisions. This results in inefficient allocation among capital expenditures and shortchanges the maintenance of existing assets.
In this report, we propose a series of recommendations that we believe would improve each of the component parts of the budget process: setting priorities currently and for the long run, making budget decisions in the current year, reporting on those decisions, and subsequently evaluating them in order to make improvements in future years. We do not propose, however, the current adoption of a formal capital budget, as defined and discussed in the report.
To implement the proposed recommendations, the executive branch and Congress must ensure that the appropriate information is made available to decision-makers and the public throughout the budget process. As a result, policy makers will be both properly informed when deciding how to spend taxpayers' money, and held accountable by the public for those decisions.
This report reflects the views of commissioners from many different backgrounds. We reached our conclusions after conducting nine hearings, at which more than thirty experts from the private and public sectors presented their views. While the members of the commission endorse the recommendations presented herein, individual members do not necessarily agree with all of the analysis or with each and every word of the report.
The commission worked diligently to carry out your directions. We hope that our recommendations will help the Administration, future presidents, and the Congress in improving the budget process, especially as it relates to decisions about capital spending.
Kathleen Brown, Co-Chair Jon S. Corzine, Co-Chair
The commission operated under the auspices of the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Assisting the commission were staff members of the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of the Treasury, as well as individuals from organizations with which some of the commissioners are affiliated. The commission is grateful for all this support, and wants to acknowledge the following people who made contributions to the overall effort and to this report:Dick Emery, Executive Director to the commission (OMB)
The budget of any organization, private or public, is a statement of both the resources to be made available to the organization and the priorities of those who manage it. The budget that the President submits to the Congress, which in fiscal year 1999 covered expenditures of nearly $2 trillion, tells the American people how the administration proposes to spend their taxes and, until recently, the proceeds of federal debt issued to finance the shortfall between total expenditures and revenues. The budget is thus inherently a political document, but in the best sense of the term. This is because it reflects the collective judgment of the individuals in a democracy about how much public funds are to be raised and how they are to be used.
This commission has devoted its attention to one particular kind of expenditure in the federal budget: spending on "capital." Although this term has been defined in various ways for different purposes, a common element among all of the definitions is that capital spending--whether undertaken by the private or public sector--is intended to generate benefits over the long run.
In this report, we have concentrated on capital spending by the federal government because it is our charge. But we cannot emphasize too strongly that capital spending at all levels of government, as well as by the private sector, provides important benefits to the nation as a whole in significant part because those benefits are delivered over the long run. It is easy in the day-to-day battles over budget policy to forget that such spending helps determine the kind of society that we and our children will live in--not just this year but many years from now as well. We therefore encourage this president and future presidents to help educate American citizens about the importance of devoting current resources toward future needs--in the form of spending on capital by both the private and public sectors.
Most firms in the private sector, as well as many state and local governments, recognize the importance of capital expenditures by making decisions about them separately from decisions about how much to spend on annual operating expenses. By contrast, the federal government has never done this.
This commission has been directed to examine whether this practice ought to be changed--that is, whether the federal government should adopt a "capital budget"--and, if not, what other steps, if any, should be taken to improve the federal decision-making process as it relates to spending on capital or "investment" expenditures.
Capital budgeting is a process that takes explicit account of capital spending levels. In this report, we primarily examine versions of a capital budget in which either: (1) the size of the deficit or surplus is made to depend, in part or in whole, on the amount of expenditures defined as "capital," or (2) a single decision is made about how much to spend on "capital," under some definition. A variation of the first definition is what we label the "simplistic" version of the capital budget, one in which capital spending may be financed, in part or in total, by borrowing. We treat the second definition as the equivalent of imposing a separate "cap" on expenditures defined to be capital, or in the alternative, a process whereby the depreciation of capital is explicitly taken into account in the budget process. We briefly note in a concluding section that there are other, perhaps less formal, variations of a capital budget that we do not extensively analyze here.
The commission had its origins during the Congressional debate about whether to amend the Constitution to require the federal government to have a balanced budget every year. Nothing in this report should be construed as support for the balanced budget amendment considered by the Senate in 1996. (a) Nor does the commission endorse the adoption of the simplistic version of the capital budget. Furthermore, a majority of the members of the commission does not support, at this time, adopting a budget procedure that would impose a separate cap on capital spending.(b) The reasons for reaching these conclusions are spelled out in the body of the report.
At the same time, we have concluded from our study of existing practices and after gathering evidence from a wide range of experts, that the existing federal budget process--as it affects decision-making about capital expenditures as well as other types of spending--has significant weaknesses. Insufficient attention is paid to the long-run consequences of budget decisions. Capital spending in particular is inefficiently allocated among projects. Moreover, the current process shortchanges the maintenance of existing assets. (c)
Accordingly, the commission urges the Congress and the executive branch to undertake a thorough examination of how the budget process may be improved beyond addressing capital-related needs. Toward this end, it may be productive for both branches to create a new Commission on Budget Concepts to aid them with this task. (d)
In the meantime, we believe there are a series of constructive responses to the shortcomings we have identified, though they do not include adopting any particular form of a capital budget as we have just defined the term. These responses are aimed at improving each of the component parts of the budget process: setting priorities currently and for the long run, making budget decisions in the current year, reporting on those decisions, and subsequently evaluating them in order to make improvements in future years. Key to achieving these improvements is ensuring that the appropriate information is made available to decision-makers and the public throughout the process so that policy makers (1) are properly informed when deciding how to spend taxpayers' money and (2) can be held accountable by the public for those decisions.
The recommendations we summarize below take account of two important features of federal budgeting.
First, many government efforts have objectives, such as the management of foreign affairs or the defense of the nation, that cannot be readily measured in monetary terms. In stark contrast, it is relatively easy to keep score in the private sector, where firms are often judged by a single metric, such as current profitability, return on equity, or the dollar value of their shareholders' equity.
Second, borrowing is subject to less discipline at the federal level than it is at lower levels of government. States and localities cannot "print money" to cover the debts they issue, whereas one arm of the federal government--the Federal Reserve--has the ability to "monetize" debt issued by the Treasury. A related difference is that federal debt is viewed by the marketplace as practically free of default risk, whereas states and localities have a strong interest in maintaining high credit ratings, which constrains borrowing at the state and local level.(e)
These considerations necessarily imply that federal budgeting rules should not simply replicate rules that may be used in the private sector or at the state and local levels of government. But at the same time, because the existing federal budget process has the weaknesses we have noted, certain improvements are appropriate. We have concentrated on suggestions for the executive branch; however, as will become evident below, certain of these require the cooperation of and concurrence by the Congress.
We also recognize the essential role of the American people as monitors, advocates, and parties whose interests ultimately are at stake during the budget process. For this reason it is important to increase the transparency of that process--not only to enhance the quality of inputs to the Congress from the private sector and other levels of government, but also to increase the federal government's accountability to the American people.
To facilitate the setting of priorities among all programs, not just those involving capital expenditures, the commission recommends:
Recommendation 1: Five-Year Strategic Plans.--Although federal agencies are now required (under the Government Performance and Results Act) to prepare strategic plans every three years and performance plans annually, this process should be improved in several respects:
Recommendation 2: Benefit-Cost Assessments.--There should be an ongoing effort within the federal government to analyze the benefits and costs of all major government programs (whether or not related to capital spending), so that they can be adjusted, refashioned, or eliminated, as appropriate. OMB, the agencies, and the Congress (through GAO and CBO in particular) should be given the resources to carry out this important function.
To improve the process by which annual budget decisions are made, the commission recommends:
Recommendation 3: Capital Acquisition Funds.--To promote better planning and budgeting of capital expenditures for federally owned facilities, Congress and the executive branch should experiment by adopting for one or more agencies separate appropriations for "capital acquisition funds" (CAFs). Budget authority would be lodged in the CAFs for federally owned capital assets. The CAFs would "rent out" their facilities to the various programs within each agency, charging them the equivalent of debt service.
Recommendation 4: Full Funding for Capital Projects.--All capital projects, or usable segments thereof, should be fully funded before the work begins. In this way, Congress can fully evaluate their likely costs and benefits before appropriating funds for them.
Recommendation 5: Adhering to the Scoring Rules for Leasing.--Existing rules that govern the scoring of leases should be strictly followed by both agencies and the Congress. This will discourage the signing of short-term leases when it is cheaper over the long run to construct or purchase a facility.(f)
Recommendation 6: Trust Fund Reforms.--Although trust funds for highways, airports, and other uses insulate certain types of spending from the balancing process that is inherent in the rest of the budget, they can be useful if the funds going into them truly represent charges or fees for the use of the government services they support. But this purpose is fulfilled only if the monies raised by earmarked taxes or fees to support infrastructure or other types of capital--averaged over some reasonable period, such as three years--are actually spent on the dedicated uses.
Recommendation 7: Incentives for Asset Management.--The executive branch and the Congress should experiment with incentives to encourage agencies to manage their assets efficiently. One possibility might be to allow, on an experimental basis, one or more agencies to keep a limited portion of the revenues they raise from selling or renting out existing assets.
Steps must be taken to improve the methods that are used to give the results of those decisions (and the programs they support) to the public and policy makers. In particular:
Recommendation 8: Clarification of the Federal Budget Presentation.--The President's annual budget should contain a breakdown of proposed current and projected federal spending over the budget year and the subsequent four years among the following categories: investment, operating expenditures, transfers to individuals, and interest. Such a breakdown would make available to policy makers and the wider public the President's long-run vision for federal spending. This information might also encourage Congress to find ways of taking a longer-run view in its annual budget deliberations.(g)
Recommendation 9: Financial Statement Reporting.--Reporting on financial activities and asset positions of the federal government should be enhanced in a number of ways to better inform the Congress and the public about the ways in which the federal government's assets are being used and maintained:
With more comprehensive, objective information on how the federal government as a whole, as well as individual agencies and programs, have used resources, increased or depleted assets, and undertaken new investments, debates over critical national policies would be better informed. Private corporations report audited financial results and asset and liability positions to investors. By the same token, the federal government should make available to the American people audited financial statements and underlying detail that go well beyond the information shown annually in the unified budget. Just as corporate decision-makers have accurate accounting data to help them assess past performance and make decisions about the future, Congress and the public should also have accurate accounting on federal assets and investments.
Recommendation 10: Condition of Existing Assets.--Work is planned at the federal level for agencies to begin developing standardized methods for estimating deferred maintenance. The commission strongly supports these efforts and encourages OMB to work with the agencies to complete this task promptly and to implement its results. In addition, the federal government, working with states and localities, should endeavor to report on the condition of assets owned at these lower levels of government, or at least those that have received federal support. In combination with the rest of the information provided in the audited financial statements, data on deferred maintenance will enable policy makers to develop sound plans for maintaining existing assets and spending on new ones where that is advisable.
Finally, steps should be taken to improve the process used in evaluating the impact of past budgetary decisions, so that policy makers can be in a position to make improvements, if warranted.
Recommendation 11: Federal "Report Card."--Under OMB guidance, agencies should assess the extent to which major investment projects have produced returns in excess of some benchmark cost of capital, such as the prevailing interest rate on long-term federal debt, the average cost of capital expected by private market investors, or some other threshold that OMB believes the public would find useful. This federal "Report Card" could be included in the President's annual budget. The commission recognizes that the projects for which it might be feasible to provide a monetary analysis may account for a relatively small fraction of total spending; nonetheless, it believes that over time advances in estimating techniques may permit a larger fraction of total spending to be evaluated in this manner. Where benefits and costs cannot be expressed in monetary terms, the evaluations should identify project objectives and assess outcomes qualitatively.
The foregoing recommendations are summarized in the table on the following page. The columns in the table refer to three different classes of capital, which are discussed in the body of the report: the federal government's own assets (such as buildings in which federal agencies are located), the federal government's investment in assets owned by state and local governments (such as highways), and the federal government's investment in what we have labeled intangible national assets that are financed but not owned by the government (such as benefits accruing from federal expenditures on research and development and or on education). Our recommendations are then classified both by the stage of the budget process at which they are directed and by the types of capital that they are likely to affect. Because a number of our recommendations are designed to improve decision-making with respect to one or more categories of capital, they are listed in multiple columns.
While the primary responsibility for initiating most of the foregoing recommendations rests with the executive branch, in certain cases Congress also has an important role. Indeed, virtually all of the recommendations require active Congressional cooperation if they are to have a positive effect on the budget process and budget decisions.
Although the commission as a whole does not endorse setting a separate cap on capital spending, it nonetheless discussed the technical details of such a change in budget procedure. The concluding section of this report contains our findings on these issues, outlines the key pros and cons of subjecting capital spending to its own limit, analyzes proposals to reflect depreciation of capital assets in the budget process, and briefly describes some alternative versions of a capital budget.
In sum, the federal budget process can be and should be improved. The commission believes the recommendations outlined in this report would help accomplish this objective.
| Summary of Recommendations
by Stage of the Budget Process
and Type of Capital Affected
|Federal Assets||State/Local Assets||Intangible Assets|
|Strategy and Planning.....|| Five-Year Plans
| Five-Year Plans
| Five-Year Plans
Proper Lease Scoring
Trust Fund Reforms
Investment Life-Cycle Plan-
Incentives for Better Asset
Trust Fund Reforms
|Reporting.....|| Improved Financial Report-
| Improved Financial Report-
| Improved Financial Report-
|Evaluation.....||Report Card||Report Card||Report Card|
This commission has been charged with examining capital budgeting in other countries, states and local governments, and the private sector, and, in the process, with addressing a number of questions about capital budgeting. It is only appropriate, therefore, to begin with the threshold issue: what is "capital" (or its annualized counterpart, "investment")?
The commission has not settled on, nor does it endorse, a single definition of capital.(1) Instead, a series of distinctions between different types of capital or "investment" spending, both by governments and by firms in the private sector, seem warranted for different purposes (and different commissioners place varying amounts of emphasis on alternative definitions of capital).
One distinction relates to the functions of capital. At its broadest level, any spending that yields benefits beyond the typical reporting period (such as a year) should be considered to be investment, and "capital" refers to the assets created by this spending. Such a definition would encompass spending not only on physical or fixed assets, such as structures and equipment, but also on human and a variety of intangible assets. "Human capital" consists of the skills imparted to individuals through training and education that enable them to increase their earnings not just in a single year, but potentially throughout their lives. Intangible assets can cover a very broad class of items. In private sector financial accounting, for example, intangibles are often measured by the expenditures required to gain patents, copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property protection. Certain types of public spending--including research and development (R&D), defense, nutrition, disease prevention, police protection, and drug treatment and prevention programs--may also produce intangible assets that deliver, or are at least designed to deliver, benefits over years, if not lifetimes.
Broad definitions of investment or capital could be useful for several purposes. For example, to the extent citizens and policy makers are interested in enhancing economic growth, the definition should count both private and public sector spending on buildings, equipment, research and development (including some defense-related R&D), and education and training. An even broader definition would be justified if the goal were to measure capital aimed at improving social welfare--one that included expenditures on national defense and police to enhance security as well as spending on childhood immunization, maternal health, nutrition, and substance abuse, to improve the health and well-being of citizens over many years. (h)
The accounting standards used in the private sector do not take such an expansive approach to the definition of capital. Generally speaking, they limit capital to physical and certain intangible assets (such as investments in intellectual property). Similarly, the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA)--the federal government's statistical system for collecting and reporting data on overall economic activity--define capital to be spending only on physical assets.(2) It is important to keep in mind, however, that while these accounting standards may be conservative, they do not necessarily constrain the way managers think about spending that provides longer-run benefits. For example, although private sector accounting standards define employee training expenditures as an expense, this spending typically generates longer-term benefits to the firm (and to the employees). The fact that these expenditures are written off during the course of a year does not stop managers or investors from considering them as investments in the future well-being of the firm.
A second distinction relates to who owns capital: specifically, whether it is owned privately or publicly (and if publicly, by federal, state, or local governments). Individuals and firms reap most of the benefits from the spending on capital they undertake; however, the public benefits when government is making the expenditures. For example, government spending to educate each generation of citizens benefits the entire public by ensuring that the population continues to be literate, cognizant of the benefits of our system of government, and able to work in an ever-changing economic environment. Similarly, when the government spends money on the nation's defense or finances basic scientific research, the benefits accrue to all citizens. Appropriately enough, economists call investments that confer benefits on a wide class of parties "public goods," because no private person or firm can capture all of their benefits. Identifying and funding those programs that produce returns to society well above the cost of capital is especially important for enhancing economic growth.
These points highlight the different criteria that are used to decide whether to add to private and public capital. In the private sector, capital spending decisions are made based primarily on how they affect shareholders, and are evaluated predominantly in monetary terms. In the public sector, decisions about capital take into account the impact on the public at large and rest on both monetary and non-monetary considerations.
A third distinction is between federal government capital and national capital. Federal government capital, as we use the term, refers only to those assets the government owns, such as federal buildings or federal military hardware. National capital is a broader term, including all government spending aimed at delivering long-term benefits to any portion of the nation, whether or not it is owned by the federal government. So, for example, using the broad functional definition of capital discussed above, national capital would include spending at all levels of government on roads and other physical assets, research and development, and education and training, among other items. At the federal level, what OMB labels as "federal investment outlays," illustrated in Table 1, represents federally financed national capital regardless of who owns it.(3) As the table shows, nearly half of the federal government's investment outlays in fiscal year 1997 were devoted to physical capital, about one-third to research and development, and the balance to education and training--roughly the same proportions that were prevalent during the earlier part of the decade.(4)
Federal government capital, in contrast, can be defined as including only assets owned by the federal government, so it can be accounted for in a fashion similar to the way capital is measured in the private sector. For example, OMB's Capital Programming Guide, which provides guidance to federal agencies on capital planning, procurement, and management, defines "federal capital" to include land, structures, equipment, and intellectual property (including software) belonging to the federal government that has an estimated useful life of at least two years. Consistent with this definition, Table 2 illustrates how the federal government provided almost $66 billion of budget authority for fiscal year 1997 on "major capital acquisitions": government buildings, information technology, and "other items" (weapons systems in the case of the Department of Defense, and facilities and equipment for other agencies). The table shows that the major part of the federally owned investment was for defense-related purposes.
This distinction between "national" and "government" capital is of more than academic interest. As discussed below, the government of New Zealand has adopted a separate capital budget but only for government capital. In contrast, the General Accounting Office has suggested defining a budget target that is a variation of national capital: public investments that promise "to raise the private sector's long-run productivity," which would include spending on infrastructure, non-defense R&D, education and training, and some defense activities, but would specifically exclude what GAO calls "federal capital," such as government-owned buildings, weapon systems, and land [GAO, 1993].
| Table 1. FEDERAL
FISCAL YEAR 1997
(billions of dollars)
|Direct federal defense..........||$52.4||23%|
|Direct federal nondefense..........||19.7||9%|
|Grants to state and local governments..........||41.5||18%|
|Subtotal, physical capital..........||113.6||50%|
|Research and development:|
|Subtotal, research and development..........||71.1||31%|
|Education and training:|
|Grants to state and local governments..........||25.0||11%|
|Subtotal, education and training..........||44.0||19%|
|Total federal investment outlays..........||228.8||100%|
|Source: OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Fiscal Year 1999, p. 125.|
| Table 2. MAJOR FEDERAL
ACQUISITIONS, FISCAL YEAR 1997
(budget authority, in billions of dollars)
|Construction and rehabilitation:|
|Defense military construction and family housing.....||4.2|
|Corps of Engineers.....||1.6|
|General Services Administration.....||1.4|
|Department of Energy.....||1.2|
|Department of the Interior.....||1.0|
|Subtotal, construction and rehabilitation.....||15.1|
|Department of Defense.....||42.8|
|Department of Transportation.....||2.2|
|Department of the Treasury.....||0.3|
|Subtotal, major equipment.....||50.3|
|Purchases of land and structures.....||0.3|
|Total, major acquisitions.....||65.7|
|Source: OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Fiscal Year 1999, p. 135.|
A fourth definitional distinction is between capital created by (1) direct government spending and (2) public and private capital spending induced by government policies. The advantage of confining any definition to direct spending is that measurement is relatively easy. Nonetheless, if the objective is to measure the impact of overall government policy on national capital (narrowly or broadly defined), then a definition based only on the government's direct expenditures is too limited. A full accounting would also require inclusion of capital spending at the state and local levels and by the private sector that may be brought about by such policies as federal deficit reduction (through lower interest rates), and targeted tax incentives, as well as regulatory mandates such as those requiring or inducing expenditures on pollution control or occupational safety.(5) Granted, such induced spending may be very important; however, the operational problem with adding induced expenditures is that they cannot be directly measured, but instead must be estimated, using economic models or survey responses.
The different definitions underscore the proposition that "capital" is not a single, uniform concept, but one that varies according to why the term is being used. Indeed, this is one reason that most members of the commission are opposed to recommending that a separate capital budget using one single definition of capital be adopted for decision-making purposes. Nonetheless, definitional issues should not stand in the way of illuminating the consequences of choosing among different government programs, whether or not they are labeled as capital. Nor should debate over definitions distract attention from (1) the need to improve planning and evaluation for whatever expenditures policy makers may choose to label as capital, or, (2) in the case of federal capital in particular, the need to identify the assets the government has and report them in a coherent way.
Finally, one important characteristic of much (but not all) capital spending is that its value declines over time. Buildings and machines wear out. Patents and copyrights have limited lives. Even the value of basic education and training may decline in a world of continuing technological change, which requires many workers to upgrade their skills constantly to maintain their earnings.
Accounting standards in the private sector, as well as the concepts reflected in the National Income and Product Accounts, take account of the declining value of capital items by requiring property and plant and equipment (but not land) to be "depreciated" or "amortized" over their "useful lives." The annual amounts of depreciation or amortization represent expenses that, along with salaries, supplies, rent, taxes, and other expense items, are deducted from annual revenue to determine profits each year.(6) A number of different methods for depreciation and amortization are in use, ranging from the "straight-line" method (that computes the annual deduction simply by dividing the original capital investment by the years of useful life) to various forms of "accelerated depreciation" (that deduct more in the early years of an asset's useful life and less in later years). Businesses may also use depreciation methods for financial accounting purposes that are different from those they use to compute their income tax liability.
Some state and local governments account for the declining value of their debt-financed capital assets by including in their annual budgets the annual debt service on the bonds they issued to finance the investments. Debt service includes interest and the annual amount of the principal of the bond that is paid off (similar to amortization of principal on a mortgage that individuals may take out to finance their homes) or put into a "sinking fund" that is eventually used to pay off the bonds when they mature. The amortization component of the debt service charge is analogous to depreciation, but with a time profile that is the opposite of accelerated depreciation--much larger deductions in the later years than in the earlier years.
Two important distinctions are useful to keep in mind when considering trends in capital spending:
Figure 1 depicts trends in net spending on physical assets alone, as a share of GDP, by the private sector, state and local governments, and the federal government. (7) Since World War II, the shares of such net spending in GDP have been reasonably stable--more so in the public sector than the private sector--with private investment substantially exceeding public investment. Meanwhile, within the government sector, since 1950 net investment at the state and local level has consistently outpaced federal spending. It is important to note, however, that about one-quarter of state and local infrastructure spending is financed by federal grants, and much of the rest has been subsidized by the federal tax exemption on municipal and state debt.
One reason that public investment has been of special interest to economists, business, and policy makers is its impact on economic output. In particular, some economists have argued that the decline in the public investment-to-GDP ratio shown in Figure 1 has contributed significantly to the slowdown in long-term growth from the first half of the post-World War II era to the second.(8) As shown in Figure 2, although it has picked up in recent years, over the past 25 years the annual rate of productivity growth in the United States, which determines the growth in average living standards, has been substantially below that of the 1948-73 period, which some have characterized as a "golden age." Figure 3 suggests that the slowdowns in public spending and productivity growth have occurred more or less around the same time.
The claim that the first slowdown (in infrastructure spending) "caused" the other one (in productivity growth) has proven to be highly controversial, however. Among other things, various economists have claimed that the causation runs the other way: that is, (1) public capital spending has slowed because economic growth has slowed; (2) the public capital buildup in the 1950s and 1960s was largely associated with once-in-a-generation events--the construction of the interstate highway system and the construction of schools for the baby boom generation--that could not have been expected to be repeated after they were completed; and (3) the statistical estimates used to prove that the slower growth in capital spending caused the slowdown in productivity growth are highly sensitive to the time period examined.(9) Moreover, as already shown in Figure 1, public sector investment in physical assets is considerably smaller in magnitude than private sector investment, which has also decreased relative to GDP during the same period in which public investment has declined. Both of these facts raise the question of whether and why public capital spending in particular should be singled out as being primarily responsible for the trends in productivity growth.
There's no need to resolve the debate over what has caused the slowdown in measured productivity growth over the past 25 years to conclude that all types of capital (fixed assets, human capital, and intangibles), whether owned by the private or public sectors, remain important to economic growth. Economic theory has long pointed to that conclusion. The challenge for decision-makers in both the private and public sectors is to undertake those investments that realistically promise returns that exceed the cost of financing the investments; otherwise, scarce resources will be wasted.
Some observers have attempted to draw policy implications for the United States by comparing the intensity of investment activity here (both public and private), as well as rates of return on investment, with similar figures for other industrialized countries. Such comparisons, however, do not provide a standard for judging the appropriateness of the amount of total investment in this country, and still less for judging the amount of investment spending by the federal government.
In any event, several points should be made about those comparisons. First, though by conventional measurements the United States invests a smaller share of its GDP than other advanced countries do, that is not true (1) if investment is defined more broadly to include expenditures on education, research and development, consumer durables and defense capital, and (2) if the relative price of investment goods and other output is correctly calculated [Kirova and Lipsey, 1998]. Second, comparing investment/GDP ratios may not be as illuminating as comparing rates of return on capital. When this is done, the United States typically comes out on top of other countries. Third, significant differences in definitions and demographic conditions make comparisons of public investment particularly complicated across countries.(10)
The executive order directs the commission to report specifically on capital budgeting practices used in the private sector, by state and local governments and in other countries, and then to explain the relevance of those practices for budget decisions made by the federal government.
By definition, a budget is a constraint because it implies the existence of a finite amount of resources that can be allocated among alternative uses. But what is it that limits the amount of available money? The vastly different answers to this question for private firms, state and local governments, and the federal government help shed light on the extent to which capital budgeting practices followed elsewhere are suitable for the federal budget.
Capital Budgeting in the Private Sector
The American economy is populated by over twenty million businesses, large and small, which surely have different ways of budgeting capital expenditures. Nonetheless, certain conventions have become standardized through custom and repetition, as well as through formal professional practice. As a result, it is possible to describe a stylized process that many firms, typically larger publicly held corporations, use to analyze their capital spending options, to choose among them, and then to account for those choices. To help understand these conventions, it is useful to refer to three basic financial statements that are found in the annual reports of publicly held companies: the balance sheet, the income statement, and the statement of cash flows.
The balance sheet provides a financial snapshot at a single point in time, usually at the end of a reporting year, of the firm's assets (on one side) and liabilities and net worth (on the other). The two sides add to the same total. Assets are "financed," as it were, by borrowing (liabilities) and shareholders' contributions (paid-in capital and retained earnings). Broadly speaking, three categories of assets are reported on the balance sheet: short-term assets (such as cash, marketable securities, receivables, and inventories), fixed assets (structures and equipment) minus any cumulative depreciation, and intangible assets minus any cumulative amortization. Using the nomenclature of this report, capital for private firms consists of fixed assets and, under some definitions, intangible assets as well.(11) It is worth noting that private sector accounting has been standardized in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which are used to prepare financial statements.(12) The Financial Accounting Standards Board, an independent body of experts, is responsible for seeing that the principles embodied in GAAP are maintained, updated, and applied in a fair and reasonable manner.(13)
The income statement is an accounting of revenues and expenses over a certain time frame, typically a year, with the difference representing the firm's profit or loss. Because businesses exist to generate profits, spending decisions by private companies--including whether and how much to invest in capital projects--are judged predominantly by their likely impact on profitability. Investments in capital projects by definition are designed to deliver benefits over the long run, so capital spending does not appear on the income statement. Instead, the depreciation or amortization of existing capital recorded on the balance sheet shows up on the income statement as an expense that reduces reported profits.
Where, then, might spending on capital show up? The typical place is on the statement of cash flows. This statement combines information on where a firm gets its money and where it spends it during the course of a year: on operating activities, interest on any outstanding debt, and the full cost of capital projects.
How do firms decide how much capital spending to undertake, and of their many possible options, which projects to pursue? Here, again, practices surely vary. But certain facts and conventions are widely understood.
First, most firms cannot spend without limits: they are constrained by their cash on hand, revenue likely to be realized in the short run, and how much additional cash they might be able to raise by selling existing assets, borrowing, or selling new equity.(14) In turn, creditors and investors decide whether to provide funds, if they are requested, and on what terms based on the firm's ability to repay its debts (in the case of borrowings) and generate profits (in the case of equity sales). In short, firms in the private sector are subject to market discipline.
Second, it is standard practice in private industry for firms to assess their capital projects by estimating their "net present value." Net present value (NPV) is calculated by projecting the future cash flows the investment is likely to generate (such as rentals from a building or cost savings from invesing in new equipment or machinery), "discounting" the future cash flows by the "time value of money," taking appropriate account of the risk of investment, and then subtracting the initial cost of the endeavor. Future cash flows are discounted because a dollar today is worth more than a dollar to be received in two, three, or several years hence (since the dollar today can be invested in a financial instrument and earn a rate of interest).
According to standard practice, it makes economic sense to undertake a capital project only if its NPV is positive (the discounted returns are greater than the project's cost), and even then a firm may decide not to proceed.(15) For example, if the discount rate is 10 percent, a project costing $1 million but projected to generate net revenues of $200,000 annually for ten years, would have a NPV of $229,000. But if annual net revenues are projected to be only $100,000 over the same time period, the project should not be pursued because its NPV is a negative $386,000 (which doesn't even cover the project's cost).
Passing the NPV test, however, does not mean that a project will be authorized. A firm may have many potential projects that look promising when judged by their NPVs; however, it might not pursue all of them because it may have strategic objectives that cannot be readily quantified which limit the range of investments it can undertake. The firm may also be reluctant for other reasons to seek outside financing (preferring to undertake only those projects that can be financed with cash on hand), or to limit its borrowing or sale of equity.
Third, regardless of which of these approaches (or others) private firms may employ to decide how much capital investment to undertake and which projects to pursue, all of them ultimately measure the probable success of the projects by a single metric--the likely effect on future financial performance. Moreover, the process of evaluating these undertakings is different from that of deciding whether to make certain expenditures for operating purposes (the expenses necessary to keep the business running on a day-to-day basis). These decisions do not require long-run projections of impacts or discounting into the future, although techniques such as calculating NPVs are often used to decide whether to terminate existing lines of activity. Accordingly, operating budgets are often prepared and overseen in the private sector through a process that is separate from the capital budget (although both processes are often linked by an overall management plan). (16)
Finally, a firm's decision to undertake one or more capital projects is not necessarily linked with a decision about how to finance those projects. Some firms, averse or unable to take on additional debt, may finance all, most, or part of their capital projects with cash on hand; others may borrow; and still others may sell equity. But just because capital spending may require a separate decision and budget, it need not be financed to any degree with additional debt.
Capital Budgeting by State and Local Governments
Just as there is no single capital budgeting practice prevalent in the private sector, the approach to capital budgets also varies among state and local governments. Nonetheless, some general tendencies are worth noting.(17)
First, most state governments maintain a capital budget separate from the operating budget. However, states differ substantially in how they define capital, the degree to which capital is separate in the governor's proposed budget and in the legislature's budget, and the means by which they finance capital expenditures. (18)
Second, whether or not states budget capital spending separately from other expenditures, most states have long-range capital plans, ranging from three to ten years, with five years being the most frequent planning horizon. The spending figures in these plans tend not to be as detailed as the figures included in the annual budgets.
Third, available survey evidence indicates that the states most satisfied with their capital budgeting process use some method of keeping their legislatures regularly informed about capital needs. Some state legislatures also have a separate committee charged with overseeing all or most capital projects and their financing.
Fourth, unlike the private sector, where different capital projects can be judged by the common standard of impact on profitability, governments are responsible for a variety of functions, including police protection, health care, and education, whose benefits generally cannot be reduced to dollars and cents. This is a common situation shared by all levels of government. Nonetheless, governments must set priorities in deciding how to spend tax revenues and any borrowed funds.
How do state governments set priorities in deciding on their capital expenditures? Although some do it project-by-project, or case-by-case, most states have formal mechanisms, either in statute or by practice, for setting priorities. Many states that take this approach set priorities on a functional basis, allocating expenditures for higher education, transportation, aiding local governments, or protecting natural resources. Others have statutes that give priorities to certain activities, such as health and safety.
Fifth, contrary to popular belief, state governments do not always finance their capital projects by borrowing. To the contrary, states often dip into general revenues to pay for capital items, although the extent to which they are allowed or choose to do so varies. Other major sources of revenue for state capital spending include excise taxes (such as taxes on gasoline) or grants from the federal government. In addition, while debt service--interest and repayment of principal--typically shows up in state operating budgets, no state budget includes charges for depreciation.(19) Many states impose user fees on intended beneficiaries of capital projects in order to help service the debt issued to finance them.
Finally, most states have either constitutional or statutory limits (often with referendum requirements) on the amount of debt they may issue. State borrowing is also disciplined by the market. Rating agencies determine the ratings they give to a state's bonds, which strongly influence the interest rate at which those bonds can be marketed. These ratings are set in significant part by measuring the amount of state debt outstanding against the economic output generated in the state. Higher interest rates due to adverse ratings can force states to limit their borrowing.
As a broad generalization, local governments follow procedures and conventions similar to those outlined for state governments.
Current Budgeting by the Federal Government
It may be surprising to some that throughout much of American history, the federal government had no central budget. Until the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921, which created the Bureau of the Budget, each individual agency submitted a budget to Congress. Since 1921, the Bureau of the Budget (now OMB) has coordinated the preparation and submission of a Presidential budget for the entire executive branch. The President is required to submit the budget for the coming fiscal year by the first Monday in February. This gives Congress eight months to enact the legislation that will continue the operation of most government operations and programs. If the necessary appropriations laws have not been enacted by October 1, temporary "continuing resolutions" usually provide funds until full-year appropriations are enacted.
Although the Congress considers the President's budget proposals, it usually does not actually pass a law setting forth a budget (although, as discussed below, the "budget resolution" passed by Congress establishes a framework for later Congressional consideration of different pieces of the budget). Instead, it enacts thirteen separate appropriations bills for the approximately one-third of all federal spending that is deemed to be "discretionary." The thirteen appropriations bills are developed for full Congressional consideration by the same number of subcommittees of the Appropriations Committees of each chamber.
The other two-thirds of the budget covers so-called "mandatory spending," which is mainly for entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance. Mandatory spending continues at levels regulated by standing laws unless Congress enacts legislation to change them (for example, by changing a benefit formula). The same is true of tax receipts. Congress assigns responsibility for legislation governing mandatory spending and receipts to the authorizing (rather than appropriations) committees.
Until the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, Congress had no procedures for coordinating legislation governing appropriations, mandatory spending, and revenues into an overall fiscal policy. Instead, a fiscal policy simply emerged as the sum of all of the enacted bills. The 1974 Act aimed at bringing more order to the budget process by creating separate budget committees in both the House and the Senate, and the Congressional Budget Office (the congressional counterpart to OMB), which provides information to Congress about the costs and effects of legislation. In addition, the Act requires Congress first to decide what the projected budget surplus or deficit should be and then to be guided by that decision in enacting spending and revenue bills.
More specifically, the 1974 Act calls for Congress to adopt each year a "budget resolution" that sets a ceiling on total outlays and a floor on total receipts. The resolution, which is not presented to the President because it is technically not a law, also allocates "budget authority" and "outlays," by functional categories, to the appropriations committees (for discretionary spending) and the authorizing committees (for mandatory spending). The appropriations committees, in turn, further allocate budget authority among their thirteen subcommittees, which must report bills back to the full committee consistent with those allocations. The resolution may also direct authorizing committees to achieve a specified amount of savings by reducing mandatory spending or increasing receipts. Finally, the 1974 Act established parliamentary rules ("super-majority" voting requirements in the Senate) to stop bills that violate the budget resolution.
The distinction between "budget authority" and "outlays" is fundamental to understanding the way budget decisions are actually made. Congress grants budget authority (BA), enabling agencies to incur obligations. Those obligations, in turn, require outlays (actual cash payments). Capital expenditures and operating expenses typically have very different "outlay rates." Capital projects are often completed over several years, so the outlays for them are spread out over some period of time. In contrast, the outlays for such things as salaries of government workers, repairs, and maintenance, along with payments under the various entitlement programs, typically coincide with the amount of BA for the same year.
The Budget Enforcement Act of 1990 added further requirements to the budget process for fiscal years 1991-95. The BEA has been extended twice so that its requirements now apply (with amendments) through fiscal year 2002:
The federal budget contains several types of funds. The "general fund" is the broadest and includes income and some excise tax receipts. It also includes proceeds of general borrowing, on the revenue side of the budget; on the expense side, it includes national defense, interest on the federal debt, operating expenses of most federal agencies, and some capital expenditures (broadly defined) on R&D, education, and infrastructure and other physical capital spending. "Special funds" are earmarked for specific purposes; while they are not designated by law as "trust funds," they do not differ from them in substance.(20) Most special funds are financed by user fees. "Trust funds" also have dedicated uses, and are financed by user fees or taxes; when their surpluses are borrowed, the funds receive interest. A few of the best-known trust funds are those for Social Security, Medicare, and highways (although there are about 150 such trust funds in total).(21)
Although each of the trust funds is technically distinct, they are reported on a combined basis in a "unified budget," a concept adopted in January 1968 (for the FY 1969 Budget). The unified budget provides the bottom-line impact of all federal spending and taxing on the economy by indicating--through the cash deficit or surplus--the impact on credit markets.
The unified budget also consolidates both operating and capital expenditures, which means that the federal government does not have a separate budget for capital expenditures. The receipts and outlays shown in the unified budget are similar to a cash flow statement in the private sector, which also provides a comprehensive accounting of income and spending.
There have been several efforts since World War II to address the question of whether budget procedures should be changed to provide for separate consideration of capital and operating expenditures.(22) For example, a capital budget was incorporated in the Taft-Radcliffe amendment to the Employment Act of 1945, which was passed by the Senate but rejected in the House. The 1949 Hoover Commission did not recommend a separate capital budget, but it did suggest that the government publish budget estimates for current operating expenditures and capital outlays separately under each major function or activity in the budget.
There were periodic attempts in Congress during the subsequent two decades to adopt a capital budget, but these were often opposed by the executive branch and never resulted in legislation. The capital budget was firmly rejected in 1967 by the President's Commission on Budget Concepts, as it was in previous studies by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Interest in the idea returned in the 1980s with the apparent approval of Comptroller General Charles Bowsher and the suggestion by President Reagan in 1986 that the idea be studied. Interest in capital budgeting surfaced again during Congressional deliberations in 1995-96 over the proposed Balanced Budget Amendment (BBA) to the Constitution. Some of the proponents of the BBA wanted the amendment applied only to operating expenses of the federal government, excluding some defined capital that could be financed by government debt.
The federal budget process today continues to budget operating and capital expenditures together.(23) During the course of its deliberations, the commission heard several explanations of why this is the case (although not all commissioners agree with each of them).
First, for reasons already discussed, federal policy makers have not been able to agree on a single definition of capital or investment in the public sector. While a technical analysis that accompanies the budget (today it is known as Analytical Perspectives) has used a stable definition of investment for many years, the use of the term investment in the budget to describe policy proposals has changed with the political priorities of different administrations.(24) Given the changing priorities of the Congress and different administrations through time, it is not surprising that no single definition of public capital has emerged.
Second, capital is one of a number of inputs (along with materials and labor) that the federal government uses to deliver its services (directly or through state and local levels of government) to the public. The public, in turn, judges the government not by the inputs it uses, but by the amount and perceived quality of the output it delivers. On this view, budget decisions should focus on the goals to be achieved (such as providing education or securing the national defense), and not on the mix between capital and other inputs judged necessary to achieve them.
Third, although there is no necessary connection between capital spending and its financing--indeed, many states, localities, and other authorities have clearly defined capital budgets without financing all capital through borrowing--there have been fears that a "capital budget" would allow what is called capital to be debt-financed (in large part or in the entirety). Those who believe these concerns are justified also fear that adoption of a capital budget could create a strong temptation for policy makers to classify a wide range of expenditures as capital or investment (1) to avoid having to pay for them out of tax receipts or (2) to avoid having them subject to caps on discretionary spending. This is especially true for high visibility projects for which there are clear, short-term political benefits to elected officials in both branches of government who advocate them.
The fears about excessive spending are of special concern: while it is true that the federal government cannot borrow without limit, federal borrowing is far less constrained by financial markets than is the case for borrowing by private firms and state and local governments. Investors understand that people and capital can easily move to other locales if state or local taxes are considered to be too high. This limits the ability of states and localities to borrow. Simply put, the added taxes that are required to service their debts could cause individuals or companies to move to other areas if they believe that the additional services are not worth the higher taxes.(25) By contrast, individuals and corporations in this country are far less likely to move to other countries in response to changes in taxes here. Furthermore, investors also understand that there is a buyer of last resort for federal debt--the Federal Reserve, which regularly adds to the money supply by buying Treasury securities.
Capital Budgeting in Other Countries
The national governments of very few other industrialized countries currently have a capital budget. At one time, Sweden, Denmark, and the Netherlands engaged in the practice, but all have since abandoned it. However, New Zealand and more recently the United Kingdom have adopted different versions of a capital budget for decision-making purposes.
In 1988, New Zealand's national government introduced a capital budget for government-owned fixed assets. Spending on these items is separately budgeted and not shown on the government's operating budget, which is compiled under the accrual method of accounting. Depreciation of government capital is reflected on the operating statement, analogous to the way it would be accounted for in a private business in the income statement. Nonetheless, the full cost of capital assets must be appropriated in advance.(26)
In June 1998, the United Kingdom announced an even bolder capital budgeting initiative. Under this approach, the British government has established for a three-year period a budget for all physical investment and grants in support of capital spending. A two-part financing rule has been announced to accompany the budget: (1) the "golden rule" under which the government will borrow only to invest (and not to support current spending), averaged over the economic cycle; and (2) a limitation on borrowing to ensure that the public debt-to-national income ratio is stable over the economic cycle. The new system was adopted with the explicit intention of encouraging more spending on public capital, raising net public investment as a share of GDP from 0.75 percent to 1.5 percent [Brown, 1998, p. 6].
It is too early to judge the results from either of these initiatives. Still, at least three features of the governmental systems in both countries are noteworthy. First, neither government counts expenditures on education and R&D--part of what we have labeled "national capital"--as capital for budgeting purposes. Second, the governments in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom operate within a parliamentary system under which the party controlling the executive branch also controls the majority in the Parliament. Accordingly, the proposed budget of the executive branch is expected to be adopted into law, unlike in this country. Third, agency heads in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom have greater authority to manage their operations, with incentive-based pay, than do their counterparts in the United States.
A central question the commission has addressed is to what extent, if any, does the current federal budget process lead to less-than-ideal decision-making about capital spending? We answer this question in two parts: whether and to what extent the current process leads to a bias one way or another in (1) capital spending in the aggregate, and thus relative to other types of spending (the possible "macro" bias), and (2) the allocation of capital spending among different projects and activities, including maintenance of existing capital assets (possible "micro" biases).
Is There a Macro Bias?
The commission reviewed evidence and heard testimony suggesting that the current budget system has important biases in both directions with respect to capital spending--no matter how the term is defined. It is impossible to know which biases predominate, however, without first having an objective standard of what level of aggregate spending is optimal.
It is difficult enough for a private firm to calculate its ideal level of capital spending, taking account of expected future profitability and the riskiness of the investments. But calculating an ideal level of capital spending for the government is far more complicated. Since the government is not a private firm, its activities cannot be judged by the profitability standard often used in the private sector. Instead, government has many different objectives that are not easily compared, such as influencing the distribution of resources among different geographic regions and income groups, ensuring national security, protecting the environment, and facilitating economic growth. In principle, it might be possible to calculate and even budget an ideal amount of capital spending for one of these purposes; but the commission has found nothing that provides a supportable and objective way of specifying an ideal level of all capital spending under any definition. For this reason, the commission does not believe that anyone can say authoritatively whether the existing budget process has a "macro" bias toward too much or too little total spending on capital.
Even so, it may be interesting to know whether recent changes in budget conventions have caused capital spending totals to move either up or down without specifying whether such changes may be desirable. For example, what effect, if any, have the caps on discretionary spending that have been in place since fiscal year 1991 had on capital spending? In particular, have caps crowded out capital projects?
To investigate this question, the commission examined multi-year averages for spending of different types as a share of GDP, both before and after 1990. Table 3 presents the results.
The table shows essentially no difference in spending-to-GDP ratios in each of the four categories displayed, including overall discretionary spending, between the five years preceding the introduction of the caps and the succeeding years. It is true that the spending ratios for both periods are substantially below the levels in years before 1985, especially the 1970s; but with the exception of direct physical capital (whose spending as a share of GDP dropped in the 1970s), the declines in the spending ratios occurred in the 1980s during the Reagan Administration, before the caps were enacted.
It is impossible to know what capital spending (or, for that matter, overall discretionary spending) would have been in the absence of the caps, so we cannot state with certainty that the caps had no constraining impact on capital spending. But Table 3 demonstrates that if the caps have suppressed capital spending they probably have done so to no greater extent than they have for discretionary spending in the aggregate.
| Table 3. FEDERAL
NONDEFENSE INVESTMENT AND|
DISCRETIONARY OUTLAYS AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP
|Nondefense Investment||Nondefense Discretionary|
One feature of the current federal budget process--the general practice of having the full cost of all capital acquisitions appropriated by Congress before any portion of the acquisition can be made or the project started--has been alleged to act as a bias against public capital investment, specifically government-owned capital.(27) The commission believes, however, that full funding is important because it ensures that policy makers consider the total costs of an initiative before authorizing and appropriating the funds for it. Otherwise, policy makers would be tempted to fund only a portion of a capital project in the initial years, which means it would be too far along to stop later. We discuss below how failure to fully fund projects in the past has produced substantial waste.
Nonetheless, it is possible that decision-makers defer some necessary, but large, capital projects because funding them requires authorized spending to "spike" in a given year. To the extent this occurs, aggregate public investment may fall short of some ideal figure.
How serious a problem this actually turns out to be, however, depends to a significant degree on whether spending is more constrained in any year by the caps on budget authority or on outlays. As it turns out, the caps on budget authority (BA) seldom have constrained spending. Instead, in most years since the BEA was enacted, the outlay caps have been reached first. As already noted, capital projects also tend to have low outlay rates--that is, they spend out their budget authority over several years. When the outlay caps under the BEA are the binding constraint, the slower outlay rates for capital projects could induce Congress to spend more than it otherwise would on public capital. This is because operating expenses, including maintenance, tend to spend out quickly, and thus get scored as outlays in the forthcoming budget year.(i) Of course, there are projects so large that even if the outlays are spread over several years, the annual outlay is still a "spike" and spending could be constrained if the outlay caps are binding.(j)
Efforts to get around budget spikes, meanwhile, produce distortions of their own. As just noted, agencies can be tempted to use "camel's nose under the tent" budget tactics that have led to inefficient outcomes. Another, potentially wasteful budget maneuver for avoiding spikes is for agencies (sometimes with Congressional blessing) to enter into short-term leases rather than to construct or purchase property at the outset--even when the life-cycle cost of the purchase would be lower than the cost of stringing together a series of short-term leases. Both of these "tricks" demonstrate that seemingly arcane scoring rules can have a real impact on budget decisions.
Are There Micro Biases?
Although it may not be possible to determine whether current budgeting procedures have caused a sub-optimal amount of total capital spending, there is much greater reason to believe that the current system generates biases at the micro level: that is, capital spending is allocated among capital projects and initiatives, including the maintenance of existing capital assets, in a less-than-ideal fashion.
The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed the available studies of the measured economic returns from different activities, finding a very large variation--from programs that have produced estimated social returns well in excess of the cost of capital, to those that are producing almost no positive returns.(28) Significantly, the CBO cites evidence indicating that maintenance can pay social dividends well in excess of the returns realized on some large new projects [CBO].
The commission recognizes that budgeting is not a mechanistic exercise solely in search of initiatives with the highest economic returns.(29) But in deciding how much attention to pay to efficiency and how much to distributional objectives, policy makers must work within a structured framework that (1) confronts them with the implications of the relevant tradeoffs and (2) provides maximum incentives for producing cost-effective decisions. Of particular interest to the commission is the need for federal decision-makers to take adequate account of the interests of American society over the long run. The commission has concluded, however, that in several respects, the current budget process impedes the ability of decision-makers to achieve these important objectives.
To understand the basis for this conclusion, we first briefly review the key phases of the current federal budget cycle, and then discuss its shortcomings.
Phases of the Current Budget Cycle
The "budget process" of any organization is usefully understood as the combination of four important, separate functions: planning and analysis, which leads to budget recommendations; the making of budget decisions; accounting and reporting of the results; and evaluation of the outcomes of budget decisions and subsequent readjustment in programs, where appropriate. We have already described the legal process by which budget decisions are made. At the risk of some over-simplification, here are some key features that explain how the federal government carries out the other three functions.
The process begins generally 18 months in advance of each fiscal year at the agency level, when individual departments and agencies develop internally the budget requests they will make to the President (initially through OMB) for that fiscal year. Until relatively recently, with few exceptions, agencies focused their budget plans only on a single year and generally paid little attention to their long-run plans. This changed to some extent with the enactment of the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), which requires agencies to submit five-year strategic plans to OMB every three years. The first such plan was submitted in 1997, the next one is due in 2000.
For the most part, the strategic plans are descriptive in nature and do not contain out-year spending/revenue projections. Nonetheless, the agencies separately provide to OMB their spending and revenue projections five years out under presidential policy. OMB uses these projections to present in the President's annual budget five-year projections of revenue, by major source, and outlays in aggregated form and at the function and program level (OMB's data base includes projections at the "account"level beyond the budget year, but these are not shown in the budget).
The GPRA requires agencies to submit performance plans to OMB and the Congress each year. The Act also requires OMB to prepare a government-wide plan. These plans, the first of which was submitted with the President's budget for FY 1999, are supposed to lay out the agencies' goals in objective, quantifiable terms (such as the airplane accident rate for the Federal Aviation Administration) for that budget year.
With respect to capital projects in particular, OMB's Capital Programming Guide requires agencies to analyze their life-cycle costs and benefits as part of any request for funding of planned projects. Once budget decisions are made, the results are reflected in annual reports issued by both OMB and CBO displaying the agencies' current and historical spending patterns.
Agencies also prepare balance sheets that report their assets and liabilities. The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 required all cabinet departments, major independent agencies and the government as a whole to have audited financial statements. These financial statements are prepared in accordance with federal accounting standards developed by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB).(30) Of particular interest to this commission, these standards require the financial statements to disclose in footnote form estimates of deferred maintenance, effective with the statements for fiscal 1998. In his fiscal year 1999 budget, the President set a goal of having an unqualified opinion on the consolidated (government-wide) financial statements for that year. Furthermore, twenty of the twenty-four agencies under this Act are committed to obtaining unqualified opinions on their own statements in the same time frame [OMB and CFO Council, 1998].
Various mechanisms are in place for evaluating the outcomes and ongoing progress of federal programs. The agencies typically have evaluation efforts under way. Congress periodically asks the General Accounting Office to prepare independent evaluations. Nonetheless, no ongoing systematic, government-wide evaluation process is in place, whether for capital spending (however defined) or other types of spending.
Shortcomings of the Current Process
As reflected in the foregoing summary, a number of significant improvements have been made in recent years in certain stages of the federal budget process. Even so, the commission has concluded that the existing process, at each of its various stages, still contains a number of important shortcomings. A broad theme that ties the various flaws together is that the federal government--both the executive and legislative branches considered together--is so heavily focused on each current budget year that too little attention is paid to longer-run matters. Furthermore, policy makers are not held sufficiently accountable for the longer-run implications of their current decisions. This shows up in part in wasteful spending on some capital projects, a shortchanging of maintenance of existing assets, and perhaps some missed opportunities (which are inherently difficult to measure, but nonetheless real).
The tendency toward surplus in some trust funds has become a problem under current scoring rules. Specifically, these rules treat revenues going into the trust funds on the mandatory side of the budget, but classify the spending out of the trust funds as discretionary spending and thus subject to caps. Congress and the administration took a major step toward rectifying the imbalance in the highway trust fund generated by this difference in scoring with the enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century in 1998. This legislation creates separate BEA caps for highway and mass transit spending, and it sets the caps equal to the receipts from motor fuels taxes collected the previous year.(31) The commission does not endorse the specific spending formula in this act as a model for other trust funds; however, it does believe that the principle of tying spending out of the capital-related trust funds to the tax and fee revenue that flows into them, averaged over some reasonable time period, is a good one to follow.
The current budget decision-making process also exerts biases against both routine and major maintenance, such as rehabilitation and remodeling (which represents a different type of capital expenditure). As already noted, the presence of the outlay caps feeds such a bias because the budget authority for both types of maintenance has associated with it a more rapid outlay rate than budget authority for new construction. In addition, there currently is no mechanism assuring that state and local governments receiving federal support for new capital projects adequately maintain those assets, once they have been constructed or acquired (nor do rating agencies generally allow maintenance to be bonded). This can defer maintenance, in turn leading to excessive funding for new assets when it may be more cost-effective to maintain existing assets.
The shortchanging of maintenance is aggravated by the lack of accurate and timely information on the condition of federal and federally funded assets. Granted, recently adopted federal financial accounting standards require the audited financial statements of the agencies to be accompanied by footnotes disclosing the extent of deferred maintenance; yet footnote disclosure is not a substitute for a more complete and detailed report on the actual condition of federally owned assets. In addition, the federal government's financial statements do not contain information on the condition of assets at the state and local levels, some of which the federal government has funded.(32) Information about the current condition and even obsolescence of assets is critical if policy makers are to design effective maintenance and capital spending programs.
The commission cannot stress too strongly the importance of having reliable estimates of deferred maintenance. Currently, there is no generally accepted method for agencies to use in estimating deferred maintenance. This is a significant shortcoming since sound policy making requires having accurate information of deferred maintenance in setting spending priorities and in deciding whether to purchase new assets or fix existing ones. This shortcoming has led the FASAB to propose an amendment to its current standards that would relax the audit requirement for the information reported on deferred maintenance. In conjunction with this change, OMB is planning to organize a task force to develop methods for making consistent, government-wide estimates of deferred maintenance, which should enable these estimates to be fully audited. Still, until better and more-consistent information about the condition of federally owned and financed assets is routinely made available, policy makers will be unable to make fully informed decisions about whether to fund new projects or put more money toward maintaining existing assets.
Though efforts have been made to evaluate the effectiveness of government programs, we believe there is still little systematic retrospective analysis within either branch of the federal government to determine whether capital projects generated the benefits and came within the cost projections that were originally promised.
In sum, we recognize that it is difficult to determine whether the existing budget process produces insufficient or excessive amounts of capital spending in the aggregate; however, there are several reasons for believing that aspects of the process contribute to a sub-optimal allocation of capital spending among various projects while shortchanging maintenance.
The commission considered a range of proposals to address the problems that have just been identified. We believe the appropriate response is to make improvements in each of the component parts of the budget process. Many of the recommendations we outline below relate to improvements in information, but others also entail changes in the ways that budget decisions are actually considered and made.
Better Planning and Analysis
Long-range planning for all kinds of expenditures and operations of the federal government is essential (1) to ensure that services are delivered to the public in the most-effective manner and (2) to allow policy makers to judge how much and what kinds of capital are needed to provide public services.(33) Given the difficulty of terminating programs and initiatives once begun, the preparation and publication of long-run plans can help ensure that resources are wisely committed to new programs before they are launched, while facilitating ongoing readjustment in priorities when appropriate. The commission advances the following recommendations to help improve this process.
Recommendation 1: Five-Year Strategic Plans
Although the GPRA made major strides in requiring agencies to prepare five-year plans, we have pointed to a number of gaps in the existing planning process that should be filled.
First, the five-year plans should be prepared annually (not just every three years) and should be integrated with the annual performance plans. Furthermore, the plans should be an integral part of the budget justifications sent to Congress.
Second, the plans should be reconciled with the longer-run budget projections that the agencies already submit to OMB. In particular, the plans need to state results-oriented objectives--not just for the current budget year under current budget policy, but ideally with respect to future projected changes in policy.
Third, the plans and annual budgets should be tied to the life-cycles of the agencies' capital assets. The following elements of capital planning are common in the private sector and among state and local governments, and should be standard practice for the federal government: a needs assessment for such additional capital assets; a realistic maintenance schedule, funded appropriately; and recognized replacement cycles.
Fourth, OMB should develop standardized formats for the plans (in consultation with GAO and CBO) so that policy makers in both the executive and legislative branches can more easily compare the plans of one agency to another. Among other things, the plans should be less voluminous than many currently are, should record past successes in achieving defined results-oriented objectives, should identify shortcomings that need to be addressed, and should spot challenges that remain to be tackled. The plans should also identify major future outlays for physical assets (segregated in a separate "capital acquisition fund," as discussed below) in a level of detail that OMB should specify.
Fifth, OMB should expand its efforts to evaluate the plans (together with benefit-cost analyses of major projects, as discussed below) and to consider them in connection with government-wide planning. Among other things, the plans should help identify programs and efforts that are no longer needed, programs that might be better carried out by other federal agencies or other levels of government, and new programs that may be truly necessary. The results of this exercise should be considered in the preparation of the President's annual budget.
Sixth, in considering agency appropriation requests, the Congress should take account of the agencies' five-year plans and of OMB's annual evaluations of those plans, as reflected in the President's budget. Congressional authorization, appropriations, budget resolution, and oversight hearings should focus on these plans and evaluations. Congress should also study ways in which it might improve its own procedures to give more weight to the longer-run implications of its current year decisions and to issues with longer-run consequences. In undertaking this task, Congress might find it useful to take advantage of the wide range of institutional expertise available to it, including resources within the Congressional Budget Office, the General Accounting Office, and the Congressional Research Service.
Recommendation 2: Benefit-Cost Assessments
The benefits and costs (both expressed in monetary terms to the extent practical) of alternative options should be considered before decisions are made. This principle has been part of executive branch regulatory rulemaking (for "major" rules) for over two decades. It has recently been required of federal capital projects as well through OMB's Capital Programming Guide.
The commission believes that several extensions beyond existing practice are warranted. First, the benefit-cost requirement should be extended beyond federally owned capital assets to the broader array of undertakings associated with a definition of national capital. To some extent, this is already done, although not in a systematic fashion. Most agencies fund evaluations of their programs. We are suggesting that the evaluation process become more systematic and institutionalized. Policy makers should not wait for sporadic economic studies of individual programs prepared by academic scholars to appear in the professional literature. Instead, there should be an ongoing effort within the government to analyze the benefits and costs of all major programs--whether or not related to capital expenditures--so that they can be adjusted, refashioned, or eliminated, as appropriate. As a practical matter, it may be useful to begin by requiring benefit-cost analyses only for "major" initiatives, such as those over a certain dollar threshold; later on, smaller capital projects and government programs could be analyzed in the same fashion.
Second, more resources within the agencies, OMB, CBO, and GAO, should be devoted to carrying out this mission. Those resources should also support OMB in its effort to become a clearinghouse for "best practices" in evaluation techniques that the agencies can and should draw upon in preparing their own analyses. Given the many billions of dollars at stake each year, it would be penny-wise and pound-foolish not to spend millions of dollars for analysis to help produce better information for decision-makers in both branches of government and for the public. (A related need is for the government to provide a stronger commitment to improving its base of statistical data on the entire economy. Some of this information is important in preparing benefit-cost and other analyses of various existing and proposed government programs.)
Third, working with the agencies, OMB should periodically review the evaluation techniques they use and, where appropriate, provide guidance to improve them.
Improving the Decision-Making Process
The commission believes that several measures short of adopting a separate "capital" budget could improve the quality of budget policy decisions. These recommendations are set forth below.
Recommendation 3: Capital Acquisition Funds
As an experiment, the commission believes it would be useful for Congress and the executive branch to have one or more agencies with capital-intensive operations establish a separate "capital acquisition fund" (CAF) within their budgets that would receive appropriations for the construction and acquisition of large capital projects. The CAFs would use that authority to borrow from the Treasury's general fund and then charge operating units within the agency rents equal to the debt service (interest and amortization) on those projects.(34) In addition, the CAFs would acquire all existing capital assets of the agency so that all the costs of all such capital could be allocated within the agency.
To ensure uniform implementation of the proposal, OMB should issue guidance about what capital items belong in the CAFs, such as federal buildings and other large capital purchases by the agencies.(35)
The main advantage of CAFs is that they should improve the process of planning and budgeting within agencies. If units or divisions within agencies are charged the true costs of their space and other large capital items, they are likely to make more efficient use of those assets. CAFs could also help address the spike problem by smoothing out the budget authority required for any large capital projects proposed by units within agencies. In principle, Congress could take this smoothing function one level higher by either formally or informally budgeting CAFs across all of the agencies within the jurisdictions of each of the thirteen appropriations subcommittees. However, there is still merit in having CAFs managed at the agency level to promote accountability.(36)
If the CAF experiments realize the foregoing benefits, the commission would urge that CAFs be used for all agencies.
Clearly, the CAFs would not replace the General Services Administration, which manages the Federal Buildings Fund (FBF), a government-wide revolving fund established in 1972. The FBF acquires office buildings and rents space in them to federal agencies. The GSA can and does delegate its authority to agencies to acquire their own office space under some circumstances. In such cases, an agency would acquire its office space through its CAF. Greater use of this delegation authority would be appropriate if agencies could demonstrate that the CAFs led them to improve their capital asset management practices. In addition, GSA would negotiate the acquisition of space for multiple agencies that seek to co-locate in a single facility.
Recommendation 4: Full Funding for Capital Projects
Full funding of capital projects encourages decision-makers to consider the life-cycle costs and benefits of projects before they are undertaken and to compare the funding required with other governmental priorities. This practice should be continued.
Nonetheless, large projects in particular may produce funding spikes that may cause the postponement of such initiatives in favor of smaller, less cost-effective projects, or even their cancellation. This problem can be addressed, without sacrificing the principle of full funding, by providing advance appropriations for all useful and programmatically separate segments of particular projects. A useful segment is one in which the benefits exceed the costs even if no further funding is appropriated. For example, if the full project envisions acquisition of multiple aircraft, a useful segment would be the number of aircraft for which benefits exceed costs even if no additional aircraft are ever authorized.
The preparation of five-year plans by the agencies should also help remedy the spike problem by alerting OMB and the Congress to potential future funding needs for large projects. If policy makers become aware of these requirements, they might be able to better adjust their annual appropriations accordingly.
Recommendation 5: Adhering to the Scoring Rules for Leasing
In principle, the scoring rules in the BEA are designed to eliminate any bias that policy makers might have in deciding whether to acquire or lease capital assets used in the delivery of government services. They do this by requiring the present value of so-called capital leases--those that are the functional equivalent of a purchase--to be scored up front, as if they were purchases; in this way, policy makers can make accurate comparisons between the two options and decide which is the least expensive. Under the current BEA rules, which are modeled after private sector accounting standards, a capital lease is one in which (1) the lease transfers ownership of the property by the end of the lease term, (2) the net present value of the lease payments is at least 90 percent of the fair value of the property, or (3) the term of the lease is at least 75 percent of the expected life of the asset.
The current rules give the agencies and Congress an incentive to be creative. Specifically, they can enter into a succession of shorter-term leases that do not meet the quantitative criteria for defining a capital lease precisely, which means the full cost of the lease does not need to be scored up front. Although this is legal under the current rules, it can result in wasteful spending when, computed appropriately on a present value basis, the less expensive alternative is to buy the asset.
In principle, this problem could be remedied by a rule that required the capitalization of all short-term lease payments expected in the future. To be effective, however, this rule would require strict scrutiny of estimates of future lease payments--something that may be difficult and expensive to do in its own right.(k) In addition, there is a risk that any rule requiring the capitalization of all leases could discourage the use of short-term leases that are highly cost-effective, such as when agencies are downsizing or between moves to different locations.
Though the commission believes that the best course for now is to retain the existing BEA rule, both the agencies and the Congress should strictly adhere to it. This should be easier to do when agencies are preparing strategic plans every year. These plans could expose the intentions of the agencies with respect to capital assets in particular. In turn, OMB and Congress would be able to identify programs where purchase is more suitable than leasing, as well as become alert to possible spending spikes that could be smoothed by the other recommendations already outlined (CAFs and advance funding for useful, separate project segments).(l)
Recommendation 6: Trust Fund Reforms
Various trust funds--for highways, airports, the air traffic control system, water projects, and certain other purposes--have been created with the ostensible purpose of assuring the funding of capital projects. The funds have been financed with fees or taxes assessed on those who use the facilities (such as the gasoline tax to help support highway construction and the airline passenger ticket tax to help fund airport equipment and construction).
The commission believes two important reforms of current trust funds are necessary to make them more cost-effective.
First, averaged over some reasonable period such as three years, the revenues from taxes and fees dedicated to the trust funds supporting infrastructure or capital spending should be spent for designated purposes: capital spending and maintenance. OMB should highlight in either the budget or accompanying documents the extent to which trust fund monies are being spent for such purposes. If spending on the earmarked uses is not sufficient to exhaust the revenues over some reasonable period, then Congress should lower the specific taxes or fees so that the revenue they raise is more in line with the spending they are intended to finance.
Second, state and local governments that receive federal support for capital items (such as highways)--whether or not such support is provided through a trust fund--should be required to maintain assets financed by the federal government as a condition of receiving any additional federal support. The one possible exception to this general rule is where state and local governments can demonstrate that the assets the federal government initially funded are no longer needed (as could be the case with roads in rural areas where the population has dwindled). Otherwise, the federal government risks financing new infrastructure that may be unnecessary. States and localities seeking federal aid for capital projects should be required to certify that they have met the maintenance requirement, and the relevant federal agencies should check these certifications. To the extent that this maintenance requirement represents an "unfunded mandate," the commission believes it is one that could readily be justified as a mechanism to help ensure the efficiency of spending at all levels of government on federally supported capital projects.(37)
Recommendation 7: Incentives for Asset Management
In addition to improving the information available to decision-makers and changing the scoring rules, it is important that agencies have financial incentives to manage their assets efficiently. In the private sector, firms clearly have such incentives; the better they manage, the more money they are likely to make.
Federal agencies operate under much tighter constraints in managing their assets than is the case in the private sector. With few exceptions, agencies cannot sell, exchange, or lease assets on their own. Instead, if they no longer have a use for certain property, they must report it as "excess" to the General Services Administration. In turn, the GSA must first offer it to other federal agencies; if no agency claims it, the property can then be offered to state and local governments and various non-profit organizations.
The commission encourages the administration and the Congress to expand the freedom of agencies to manage their assets and to consider ways to give the agencies incentives to do so efficiently. One possibility would be to allow, on an experimental basis, one or more agencies to keep a limited portion of the revenues they raise from selling or renting out existing assets.
The third stage in the budget process is the reporting of the results. The commission recommends two key improvements in this area.
Recommendation 8: Clarification of the Federal Budget Presentation
Policy makers must be cognizant of the cumulative impact of their many micro budget decisions when planning how much to spend on individual government programs or deciding to alter the tax code. In short, they shouldn't lose sight of the forest when planting individual trees. The forest should be plainly visible for the American people to see, in user-friendly form.
One set of forest level figures, of course, includes the aggregate totals of spending and revenue, and the resulting projected deficit or surplus in the unified budget. In recent years, the goal of a balanced budget has been the guiding principle for decision-making about the budget. In addition, given the strictures of the caps, policy makers necessarily pay attention to the broad spending breakdowns defined by the Budget Enforcement Act--namely the distinction between mandatory and discretionary spending and within the latter, the distinction between defense and non-defense spending.
The commission believes policy makers also should pay attention to another set of broad categories of spending: operating expenditures (defense and non-defense), investment spending, transfer payments made to individuals, and interest on the federal debt. Apart from the fact that federal policy makers do not budget depreciation, the separation of operating and investment spending would be analogous to a similar division used in the private sector and in most state and local governments. The breakout of transfer payments to individuals is useful because of the federal government's deep involvement in this area, protecting individuals against financial losses due to unemployment, retirement, disability, and illness. Interest on the federal debt should be reported separately because it is a financing expense rather than an operating expenditure.
Table 4 below is illustrative of the type of information that should be highlighted in future budget presentations, with the notes below explaining how the figures displayed were calculated.(m) The definition of investment, in particular, is a broad one, as it includes not only spending on federal assets, but also federal spending on education and R&D, as well as federal capital grants to states and localities. Since the definitions of investment spending in particular may vary from administration to administration, it would be useful if something like Table 4 were constructed using alternative definitions of investment. Also of use would be a chart showing historical trends in spending in the different categories, especially as a percentage of GDP, as well as projected future spending in the various categories. This should be supplemented with charts or tables showing expected changes in the net capital stock for major categories of physical assets.
| Table 4. BREAKDOWN OF
FEDERAL SPENDING BY BROAD |
FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES, FISCAL YEAR 1997
(outlays in billions of dollars)
|Outlays||Percent of Total Outlays||Percent of GDP|
|Transfer payments to individuals....................||935||58||12|
|Undistributed offsetting receipts....................||-50||-3||-1|
| Notes: For purposes of
this table, "Investment"
includes all investments in physical capital
(whether or not owned by the federal government), in research and development, and in
education and training. "Operating expenditures" are calculated by subtracting from total outlays
all of the other categories shown in Table 4. "Transfer payments to individuals" includes
spending on such items as unemployment insurance and food stamps, Social Security (retirement
and disability payments), Medicaid, and Medicare, but does not count student aid payments
(which are included in Investment). "Net interest" primarily includes interest paid on federal debt
held by the public. "Undistributed offsetting receipts" counts receipts from other parts of the
budget for the employer share of employee retirement; rents and royalties on the Outer
Continental Shelf; and the sale of major assets.
Source: OMB, from Historical Tables, Fiscal Year 1999 Budget.
For policy makers, the kind of information just described would highlight to what extent the President proposes to invest for the future, to operate the federal government's various functions (excluding depreciation, which is not counted as spending under current budget accounting concepts), and to arrange for transfers to qualifying individuals. It would also explain how spending for all these activities may be constrained by the obligation to pay interest on the cumulative amount of federal debt.
Recommendation 9: Financial Statement Reporting
No sensible private firm would decide whether to undertake a new investment, such as a new building or plant, without detailed knowledge of the composition, condition, and value of its existing facilities. Yet for decades the federal government operated this way, without having an updated and accurate inventory and report of the condition of its own assets--let alone those of the other levels of government to which it routinely makes grants. Moreover, public policy debates about national priorities have not been as well informed as they should have been. Specifically there has been no easy way for the public, the media, or even expert analysts to evaluate such questions as whether there is an "infrastructure deficit," or whether budget cuts to reduce the unified federal budget deficit were achieved through sensible economies or by neglecting improvements or additions to the preexisting public capital stock.
As discussed earlier, the CFO Act of 1990 makes major strides in rectifying this situation by requiring individual federal agencies and the government as a whole to issue audited financial statements. Furthermore, work is planned for developing standardized methods for estimating deferred maintenance. The commission strongly supports these efforts and encourages OMB to work with the agencies to complete this task promptly.
One important consequence of the CFO Act is that the federal government now publishes consolidated financial statements. These share two important principles with private financial accounting practices that are essential to objective, consistent, and trusted reporting: (1) the use of definitions based on independently determined accounting standards (determined by FASAB), which are designed to be insulated from the political process; and (2) the independent auditing of the financial data, which helps assure the public that the information is not manipulated to achieve political ends.
Still, more should be done.
First, the calculation of depreciation in various government reports should be standardized. Currently, depreciation of capital items reported in the Analytical Perspectives volume of the President's budget is computed with reference to the replacement cost of the assets, whereas depreciation reported on financial statements is based on historical costs of assets. This kind of inconsistency should be eliminated so that depreciation is reported consistently in all government financial reports.
Second, the agencies should make their audited financial statements, together with detailed breakdowns of assets and their condition, widely available in printed form and through publication on their websites. The financial statements should continue to be prepared on the basis of independently developed accounting standards.
Third, this information should also be consolidated at the government-wide level, either by OMB or GAO. The resulting aggregate report, with appropriate detailed breakdowns by agency and type of investment, should also be audited and published in written and electronic form.
The annual audited statements, together with the detailed breakdowns on the condition of federally owned assets, will be valuable tools for the agencies in preparing their longer-term strategies, for preparation of the President's annual budget, and for Congress in both assessing the agencies' out-year plans and deciding on current year appropriations. Policy makers and analysts would also be able to use the consolidated report, in conjunction with the information on the condition of federally owned assets, to judge the setting of priorities across the government and to assess whether the government has unmet needs that are likely to show up in future budgets. Furthermore, the report would enhance the public's ability to understand how and to what extent their tax dollars are being spent on current activities or used to increase the public capital stock. It would also reveal, for example, whether the capital stock was growing at an unreasonably rapid rate, or at the other extreme, contracting.
Fourth, the consolidated reports should provide information based on multiple concepts of investment, including the current FASAB definition of government investment as well as alternative concepts the public and the Congress might find useful. Toward this end, FASAB should examine the feasibility of developing alternative definitions--especially those that take account of investments in human capital and other intangible assets. Multiple views of investment would promote better understanding of the federal government's past use of resources and its current needs.
Recommendation 10: Condition of Existing Assets
The commission believes there should be better information on the condition of existing assets. As previously noted, work is planned at the federal level for agencies to begin developing standardized methods for estimating deferred maintenance. The commission strongly supports these efforts and encourages OMB to work with the agencies to complete this task promptly and implement its results. In combination with the rest of the information provided in the audited financial statements, data on deferred maintenance will enable policy makers to develop sound plans for maintaining existing assets and spending on new ones, where that is advisable.
OMB should also work with the agencies to compile an annual report on the condition of state and local infrastructure, or at least on that portion that has been federally assisted. The commission recognizes that this is a major, long-term undertaking and requires the cooperation of state and local governments to help identify what data are available and additional information that needs to be collected. This endeavor may also call for federal legislation requiring the states and localities to report information about their assets to the federal government. But in this "information age," there is no reason for citizens and policy makers throughout the country--and especially those at the federal level--to remain unaware of the condition of assets that have been financed or supported with federal tax dollars.
Improving the Evaluation of Budget Decisions
Recommendation 11: Federal "Report Card"
Finally, it is critical that the federal government have mechanisms in place for constantly evaluating the outcomes of budget decisions. Many agencies already do this (although with varying degrees of success). Still, there is room for improvement.
In particular, a natural companion to the recommendation that the benefits and costs of major capital projects be assessed before they are undertaken, is that the agencies, under OMB's guidance and review, should (1) regularly conduct benefit-cost analyses of existing major capital spending initiatives and (2) report the results in a manner useful for decision-makers and the public. Such a "Report Card," which could be included in the annual Analytical Perspectives that accompanies the budget, could identify which investment projects have produced returns to society in excess of some benchmark "cost of capital"--such as the prevailing interest rate on long-term federal debt, the average cost of capital expected by private investors, or other thresholds that OMB determines useful to the public. Furthermore, it is important that the agencies and OMB use such existing mechanisms as the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA), and the Clinger-Cohen Act to evaluate public investment programs. In this way, policy makers can make mid-course alterations, if feasible, and learn from the successes and weaknesses of past efforts to help produce wise spending decisions in the future.
To be sure, not all programs have benefits that can be easily quantified, let alone expressed in monetary terms. Indeed, the commission recognizes that the projects in which it may be feasible to provide a monetary analysis may account for a relatively small fraction of total spending; nonetheless, over time, advances in estimating techniques may permit a larger fraction of total spending to be evaluated in this manner. Furthermore, as in the regulatory sphere, OMB and the agencies should do the best they can with the available data. Where the benefits of projects cannot be measured in monetary terms, the evaluations should identify the objectives of the projects and assess their benefits qualitatively. Meanwhile, OMB should take the lead in identifying ways to improve both the collection of information useful to such analyses and analytic techniques.
There is no inherent reason that a capital budgeting process used for decision-making must be linked with any particular financing rule. In principle, capital spending could be subject to an appropriations process separate from the one used for operating expenditures. To ensure spending restraint, a separate cap on capital spending could also be imposed.
Most members of the commission do not support a capital spending cap. Several commissioners, however, believe that moving in this direction might be appropriate, but with the understanding that it would require a change in the way both the executive and legislative branches do business (which might be facilitated by a study involving representatives of both branches).
In this section, we discuss issues that would have to be resolved if Congress and the administration were to agree on including a separate cap on capital spending (under some definition) as part of the budget process, as well as some implications of taking such a step. In the process, we outline arguments in favor of and against making this change in budget procedures. This discussion assumes the continuation of the spending caps that are now part of the Budget Enforcement Act.
A cap on capital spending could not be implemented for decision-making until at least the following three issues are resolved:
First, how would capital be defined? A key argument against adopting a capital cap is that there is currently no consensus on what definition would be most useful--or even whether any form of capital spending should be broken out and treated differently for budget purposes. Furthermore, if on the one hand, capital spending eventually is financed at least in part by borrowing, the temptation to expand the definition will grow. On the other hand, if a separate cap is imposed without a financing rule, it could impart a bias against any investment expenditures left out of the definition of capital.
Those favoring a separate capital cap argue that as long as policy makers identify a specific objective, a definition of capital would follow more easily. Indeed, if Congress were inclined to adopt the idea of a cap, it could ask FASAB, CBO, or some other body to provide it with recommended definitions of capital and then decide to use one of them.
Second, on what basis should any capital spending cap or target be set? Critics of the idea argue that there is no objective method for answering this question, especially if capital is broadly defined to include, say, all national assets. Indeed, as mentioned earlier in this report, there is no way to know whether or not the current budget process has a macro bias precisely because it is impossible to make an objective statement about the optimal level of broadly defined public capital.
Supporters of a capital budget cap have several responses to this. One is that policy makers already routinely make tradeoffs of programs with diverse objectives in the current budget process, and it would be no different if they were asked to do so specifically for all capital spending; indeed, having a national discussion on that issue would be helpful. Another response is that setting a limit on capital spending would become conceptually more manageable if capital were more narrowly defined to be consistent with a single objective.
Third, How exactly would Congress implement a capital cap? One answer is that Congress could simply set a non-binding target for capital spending in the annual budget resolution. A more ambitious step would be to impose a statutory cap that would actually constrain total appropriations for capital spending. Presumably, the appropriations committees would divide up the capital total among each of the thirteen appropriations subcommittees, as they do now with the so-called section "302(b)" discretionary spending allocations.(38)
Critics of the idea would argue that there is no way to guarantee that spending within any capital allocation is truly for capital rather than just labeled as such. Supporters would respond that as long as Congress agreed upon a definition of capital, an independent scorekeeper like CBO would ensure faithful implementation of the cap.
We turn next to the implications of setting a cap on capital expenditures (under some definition) that both proponents and opponents of the idea have claimed.
Impact on Budgetary Choices
Advocates of such a cap argue that it would have at least two salutary effects: it would focus greater attention on the total amount of resources devoted to achieving longer-run objectives, and it would improve the allocation of limited resources toward the most cost-effective initiatives.
Opponents of a separate cap on capital spending have several responses, apart from those already outlined in the rest of this report. Arguably, the claimed macro and micro benefits of a cap could be attained through the improved reporting requirements and longer-term agency spending plans we recommend, without running the risks of several potential adverse consequences. Also, as already discussed, any definition of capital could create a bias in favor of those items included within the definition while disadvantaging any capital or other items that might fall outside it. This problem might be mitigated, of course, to the extent that policy makers defined capital broadly--if not initially, then in later years. But a more expansive definition might weaken budget discipline, which could lead to excessive public borrowing.
Impact on Budget Discipline
In principle, budget discipline would not be weakened if a capital budget were adopted without any rule that capital--gross or net--be financed by borrowing. Indeed, advocates of a capital budget might argue that a separate cap on public capital spending would promote budget discipline at the micro level, where limited resources are allocated among alternative uses. If policy makers were explicitly required to trade off different types of capital spending, they might be more careful about which capital projects they authorize.
Critics of a separate cap on capital spending argue that it would tempt policy makers to adopt a borrowing-for-investment rule precisely because capital is identified with the long run. Future generations, after all, will reap the benefits of such spending, so why not have them incur the cost of financing it as well? To the extent public investment becomes debt-financed as a matter of course, policy makers would then have incentives to move expenditures within the definition of capital so that they could be debt-financed. This could lead to excessive government borrowing, which would lower economic growth by diverting national saving away from potentially more productive uses in the private sector.(n) In addition, future generations might not appreciate the benefits of programs or projects authorized many years before, nor might the programs be suitable for the intended beneficiaries.
More broadly, with present expenditure programs and taxes, the federal government will apparently run surpluses in the unified budget, under current budget conventions, for some years to come--although these projections (which have often proved to be incorrect in the past) could miss the mark in the future. The country needs, and does not have, policies and procedures for deciding how big those surpluses should be, assuming the projections of surplus prove to be reasonably accurate.
Deciding how much of a surplus (in the unified budget) to achieve is difficult. Federal surpluses add to the national saving, the source from which private investment can be financed, and thus contribute to economic growth. Logically, the proper size of the surplus should depend on the rate of private saving, on expected technological advance, and on expected change in the size and composition of the population. It should also represent a social choice between the consumption of the present generation and the consumption of future generations. To recommend how these and probably other relevant variables should be taken into account in deciding on the proper size of the budget surplus is beyond the charge, as well as the competence, of this commission. We do, however, want to recognize that in such a process, some weight might be given to the amount of federal investment as a factor influencing the proper size of the surplus. In rejecting both the Balanced Budget Amendment as well as a simplistic capital budget that would finance all capital with debt, we do not mean to reject consideration of the total amount of federal capital (however it is defined) in developing a more sophisticated fiscal policy in the future.
Impact on Macroeconomic Stability
It is difficult to reach firm conclusions, in the abstract, concerning the impact a cap on capital spending would have on fiscal policy and hence on macroeconomic stability. The effect of federal fiscal policy on the rest of the economy in any given year is typically measured by the change in the structural budget balance (the surplus or deficit assuming some given level of economic activity, typically full employment). Each year, in the course of agreeing on a budget, Congress and the administration together decide how large or small that change in the structural fiscal balance should be. The commission cannot say with any degree of certainty whether the adoption of a separate capital cap would systematically move fiscal policy in the direction of stimulus or contraction.
No government currently budgets depreciation of infrastructure [GAO, 1995]. Nonetheless, one variation of a capital budget that we consider here would attempt to mimic the income statement of a private firm by having depreciation recognized as an expense in the annual operating budget.
In principle, Congress could provide a permanent appropriation for depreciation; however, such a step would not be a meaningful exercise of control because depreciation represents an expense that in effect has been obligated in the past--the portion of the original cost of an asset that is being used or consumed in a given year.(39)
Nevertheless, recognizing depreciation should be part of any decision rule linking the amount of capital spending to the amount of federal borrowing. If this were done, however, it would be important to recognize the difference between net and gross investment. If the government borrows to finance gross investment, without taking account of depreciation of existing capital, it will be placing an undue burden on future generations. Only net additions to capital--gross investment minus depreciation--generate future benefits and thus could appropriately justify additional borrowing.
For this reason, any borrowing-for-investment rule would have to include depreciation of all capital assets. But if this becomes the rule--borrowing for net investment--it turns out that the level of additional borrowing that might be justified is considerably below what some proponents of a borrowing-for-investment rule might anticipate (assuming current levels of gross investment by the federal government).(o) This is illustrated in Table 5, which shows that in fiscal year 1999, the Clinton administration intended to spend $130 billion on national capital, defined by both OMB and GAO to include all federal spending that contributes directly to economic growth (most federally owned assets, federally financed infrastructure, R&D aimed at enhancing growth, and federal expenditures on education and training). In the same year, OMB estimated that the existing stock of these assets would depreciate by $72 billion, leaving net investment of $58 billion. (40) In addition, OMB also estimated receipts of $46 billion in FY 1999 from special taxes earmarked for trust funds (such as the Highway Trust Fund) dedicated to support capital spending. Subtracting these receipts from the net investment figure would yield borrowing of just $12 billion.
| Table 5. BORROWING TO
NET INVESTMENT, FISCAL YEAR 1999
(billions of dollars)
|Less: Trust fund revenue earmarked for capital projects...............||-46|
|Total investment purportedly requiring debt-financing...............||12|
|Projected FY 1999 surplus in the unified budget...............||10|
Depreciation is not included for capital projects financed by earmarked trust fund receipts. OMB
estimated depreciation on these assets in FY 1999 to be $11 billion.
Source: OMB, Analytical Perspectives, Fiscal Year 1999, p. 156.
An issue related to depreciation is the following proposal offered by certain individuals who testified before the commission: that the budgeting for capital be switched from the current convention, under which the full cost of capital projects is appropriated up front, to a system of accrual accounting, in which the costs of such projects (and therefore their appropriations) would be spread out over their useful lives. Such a change in scoring would have the following objective: to remove the alleged bias under the current system against capital spending that arises because large capital expenditures can cause spending to bump up against, and even exceed, the caps on discretionary spending.
Earlier, however, we suggested that there was no clear evidence as to whether or not this was occurring. But even if it were, proper accrual accounting requires depreciation of existing as well as new capital. Table 5 suggests that investment net of depreciation is substantially below the level of gross investment spending (although both could be very different under a system of accrual budgeting).
Realizing this, some have argued that the scoring of capital items should be changed only for future projects. Depreciation on existing assets would be ignored. But this would mean that new capital projects would not have to compete for resources with previously approved projects. The commission strongly rejects this approach, which clearly would be inconsistent with standard accrual accounting practices. Moreover, if the federal government were to adopt accrual-based budgeting, it would be inappropriate to confine it to the scoring of capital. Other programs, including federal insurance and pensions, would deserve accrual budgeting as well. In fact, these programs, which now appear to be well financed when scored on a cash basis, also have large liabilities; consequently, when scored on an accrual basis, they would imply a much larger level of total federal spending than the amount now being reported. Decision-makers could then decide to curtail rather than expand capital spending (which is not the objective of some of those who have urged the adoption of accrual budgeting).
So far, we have considered alternative versions of a capital budget: one linked to a financing rule, a capital spending cap, and incorporation of depreciation into the consideration of capital (including a switch to accrual-based accounting). These are not the only ways to define or implement a "capital budget."
It may be possible to think of a capital budget process that is much more informal than any of the versions just outlined. For example, federal policy makers might find ways to use or publicize multiple financial statements--not just the unified budget, but separate "operating" and "capital" budgets or statements. Discipline might come from a specific constraint on the growth of debt--much like that recently adopted in the United Kingdom--rather than from any balanced budget rule. There surely are other variations, many of which would require a major overhaul of the current budget process (which constrains spending through spending caps and PAYGO rules relating to taxes and mandatory spending). However, the commission has not considered all of these alternatives in depth.
No matter how it is defined, capital spending by the federal government is important because it delivers long-run benefits to the nation. The challenge for federal policy makers is to ensure that an appropriate amount of resources is devoted to such spending in the aggregate as well as among the various projects and initiatives that appear to fit within the definition of public capital or investment.
Clearly, there is no objective way to assess whether the current federal budget process leads to a bias, one way or the other, in the amount of total capital spending by the federal government. The commission has concluded, however, that the process has a number of flaws. These shortcomings have led and continue to lead to a less-than-ideal allocation of capital spending among individual programs, as well as between new investments and maintenance of existing capital assets. In our view, the combination of recommendations outlined here would help remedy these flaws.
1. The full text of the initial order and subsequent amendments are shown in Appendix A. Other materials the commission examined in carrying out its duties, including summaries and full versions of the testimony the commission heard from a variety of experts and interested parties, are posted on the website of the commission at: www.whitehouse.gov/pcscb.
2. The staff from the various organizations who provided assistance to the commission are listed in the Acknowledgements.
a. Comment of
Commissioners Corzine, Kramer,
Leone, Levy, O'Cleireacain, Rattner, and Rubin: We wish to
register our strong opposition to any amendment to the
Constitution that would mandate balanced federal budgets. The
macroeconomic straightjacket implied by such a change in the
Constitution would cost the nation dearly in lost growth,
unnecessary unemployment, and slow recovery from recessions.
Indeed, were such an amendment to pass, it would be essential
that many spending items be exempted routinely, while others be
exempted under clearly defined circumstances. Rather than
simplify the budget process, it would then become more confused
and opaque. In addition, democratic governance would suffer since
the ability of Congress and the president to respond to public
priorities would be unduly constrained.
Specifically, in a recession tax receipts fall and spending for such items as unemployment insurance rises. This imbalance offsets recessionary forces, thus speeding recovery. It is one of the reasons economic downturns have been less severe since World War II than before. Indeed, the insistence on trying to balance the budget in the early 1930s is generally considered to have deepened the Great Depression. The counter-cyclical advantages of the current system are not trivial. Giving them up may lead to real costs, particularly among working men and women: income lost when government cannot fight a recession is lost forever.
b. Comment of Commissioners Lynn, Penner, and Stein: We do not favor adopting at this time a capital budget of any kind, whether of the kind here labeled "simplistic" or any other known to us. We endorse the qualification "at this time" to allow for the possibility that future developments in information, sophistication, and discipline in the budgetary process might recommend a different course.
c. Comment of Commissioners Corzine and Levy: These weaknesses in the budget process may have macro as well as micro consequences. One of the aggregate effects of sub-optimal choices may, at times, be either an inadequate or an excessive level of capital spending.
Leone, and O'Cleireacain: We believe it is both possible and
desirable to move toward classifying the federal budget in two
parts: as "capital," in the sense of investment with long-term
effects: and as "operating," such as consumption expenditures and
transfer payments for the current year. This approach, which is
consistent with private sector organizations' practices, would
enable the U.S. government to better understand, manage, and
finance its commitments.
As is the custom at the state and local levels of government, a capital budget classification does not mean that the government would lose its flexibility to manage during periods of fiscal constraint/plenty. Nor does it mean that all capital expenditures must be financed from borrowed funds. Moreover, the definition of capital, like other aspects of the current budget structure, could be refined and updated over time.
e. Comment of Commissioners Kramer, Leone, and O'Cleireacain: We believe the text over-emphasizes "theoretical" market discipline when it comes to borrowing for capital by the states. Most states, as a simple matter of "capacity to pay," could borrow much more than they do. In fact, almost always, in the real world the actual constraints are political (including referendum requirements) and practical--demands for current revenues limit the amounts available for debt service.
f. Comment of Commissioner Levy: I urge the Congress to address the lease-purchase problem as part of a special or comprehensive amendment to the current budget process. I discuss this issue in greater detail in a subsequent footnote (l).
g. Comment of Commissioners Lynn, Penner, and Stein: We do not believe that this four-way classification of expenditures would be helpful in making good budgetary decisions.
h. Comment of Commissioner Levy: A distinction must be made between practical and theoretical definitions. Defining investment based on its benefits (such as "increasing social welfare" or "increasing long-term growth") is useful in theoretical discussions, but no accounting is possible since we can never be sure which outlays qualify. At the same time, practical definitions--such as those embodied in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)--always have shortcomings, but still can be very useful. If we are to consider using investment or capital in federal accounting and budgeting, then we must resign ourselves to the use of practical definitions. The definitions of the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) are a functioning example.
i. Comment of Commissioner Stein: I believe the critical issue here is whether the outlay rate is slower than the benefit rate--to the decision-maker or to the country.
j. Comment of Commissioner Levy: A multi-year outlay period for capital can at best lessen the bias against capital spending, but I cannot see how it could exert a bias in favor of capital spending, as seems to be implied by the text. When the outlay caps are the binding constraint, Congress may indeed "spend more than it otherwise would if budget authority were binding. However, that does not imply that Congress would spend as much as it would with a clear, long-term perspective. As long as the life of the purchased capital is longer than the period over which its purchase outlays are scored, then the scoring system is biased against the purchase of such an asset. I have great difficulty imagining many examples of government capital for which the length of the outlay period is as long as--not to mention longer than--the life of that capital.
k. Comment of Commissioner Penner: I believe that a rule requiring the capitalization of all short-term lease payments should be adopted and that the estimation problems associated with such a rule are no more severe than those encountered in estimating the cost of many credit programs.
l. Comment of Commissioner Levy: The scoring of leases versus purchases of capital assets should be addressed by Congress, either in isolation or as part of a comprehensive overhaul of the budget process. For example, Congress might require any short-term lease or building to be certified as the superior choice in the long run. I agree with Commissioner Penner that short-term leases should be capitalized for purposes of comparing them with the cost of purchasing a capital asset, but I would like to emphasize that a capitalized five-year lease cannot be compared with the price of a building that will last at least 30 years. Analysts should consider the cost of leasing over 30 years, or else compare the options over five years with the estimated market value of the purchased building added back at the end of five years.
m. Comment of Commissioners Lynn, Penner, and Stein: We do not believe that this four-way classification of expenditures would be helpful in making good budgetary decisions.
n. Comment of Commissioner Levy: Although there are reasons to limit the size of federal debt and deficits, I cannot agree that deficits divert national saving away from other uses. I and other economists argue that investment generally determines saving, not the other way around. Certainly saving equals investment is a fact, an accounting identity. However, the notion that government actions to increase or decrease public saving will similarly increase or decrease investment is a theoretical proposition that is neither universally accepted nor empirically proven. Notably, it ignores the offsetting impact of changes in fiscal policy on business saving (profits).
o. Comment of Commissioner Levy: Under some types of a capital budget, there might be more gross and net investment, which under a borrowing-for-investment rule, would justify more borrowing.
1. This should not be surprising. One thoughtful economist writing in 1965 noted that "he number of different definitions of "capital"' employed in the writings of economists defy enumeration'' [Dewey, p. 4].
2. The Bureau of Economic Analysis, which is responsible for the National Income and Product Accounts (NIPA), has developed an experimental account for research and development capital, however.
3. The outlays shown in the table include the subsidy component of federal credit programs aimed at supporting or stimulating capital spending.
4. It is important in reading Table 1 to bear in mind that the different categories of capital spending may have very different economic (and non-economic) effects. For example, it is highly likely that all, or close to all, federal expenditures on defense capital and R&D createcapital that would otherwise not exist. Some federal spending on non-defense capital_such ashighways and other capital grants to the states_may displace spending that would otherwise occur at the state and local levels. Similarly, some portion of the subsidies on student loans probably gets translated into higher tuition rather than more education. At the same time, it is also possible that federal matching grants for infrastructure may encourage states and localities to invest more than they otherwise would. In addition, it may be fairer or more efficient for the federal government to finance certain infrastructure than for local residents to bear all of the cost. The key point is that different types of federal capital spending have different impacts on the nation's overall stock of capital (as do federal surpluses, deficits, and taxes).
5. The federal tax code contains a variety of incentives designed to enhance various types of capital spending, including (but not limited to): tax-exemption of interest on state and local bonds used to finance infrastructure and other physical investment; tax incentives for private research and development expenditures; and various tax incentives that support investment in education.
6. In the National Income and Product Accounts, depreciation is also deducted to determine the federal government's "current surplus or deficit."
7. The GDP data have been adjusted for inflation using the chain-weighted GDP deflator, while investment expenditures have been deflated using a chain-weighted investment deflator.
8. Aschauer, 1989; see also Munnell, 1992. The Boskin Commission report recently argued that the inflation data are overstated for various reasons, which if true, would also mean that real output and productivity are understated. This report has been the subject of considerable controversy, however, among economists.
9. For a summary of such studies, see Gramlich, 1994 and CBO, 1998.
10. There are differences in ownership of certain key sectors of the economy where investment in physical assets is especially important. For example, transportation and utility services that are publicly provided in other countries are not provided by governments here (utility services being a prime example, with the exception of some federal hydroelectric projects and municipally owned power companies). In addition, in countries where the government provides hospital care services (such as the United Kingdom), investments in hospitals show up as government capital spending, whereas in the United States most health care is delivered privately (with the exception of military and veterans' hospitals and some municipally owned hospitals). Similarly, in the United States, much higher education is provided privately, whereas in many countries higher education is more likely to be provided publicly. While these differences in ownership patterns between countries do not affect comparisons of total national investment, they do distort comparisons of capital spending by governments.
11. The use of the word "capital" in the financial accounting context can be confusing, since the term is often interpreted as the shareholder's contribution to the company, and not a category of assets, which is the way the term is often defined by economists and government policy makers.
12. Under GAAP, capital assets are recorded, with some exceptions, at their original costs (minus any cumulative depreciation in the case of fixed assets), and not at their current market values.
13. There is a GAAP for state/local governments, and the body responsible for its principles is the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
14. For mature firms with access to credit, equity is typically the last means of financing (other than through stock options to employees) because new equity dilutes the ownership percentages of existing shareholders. For new or young firms without a track record of profitability, equity may be the only means of financing, whether by selling new shares or granting stock options or shares to employees in lieu of cash.
15. An alternative way of evaluating capital projects that is sometimes used is to compute their internal rates of return, or IRR, and to compare the result with the discount rate.The IRR is that discount rate that theoretically equates the discounted future cash flows to thecost of the project or that produces a zero NPV. If the IRR exceeds the discount rate, thenproceeding with the project is justified. In practice, however, the IRR can be difficult to computeand yields different results from NPV when cash flows are very uneven.
16. This need not always be the case, however. Firms that manage their spending through something analogous to the "statement of cash flow" in effect combine their budgeting for operating expenses and capital items.
17. The material in this subsection is drawn from National Association of State Budget Officers, 1997; OMB, 1998, p. 154; Hush and Peroff; and GAO, 1986.
18. Typically, states include in their definitions of capital expenditures major maintenance, although dollar thresholds for defining what maintenance is ``major'' also vary across states.
19. States do record depreciation expense in their proprietary (or commercial-type) funds and in trust funds where net income, expense, or capital maintenance is measured.
20. Examples of special funds include the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the National Wildlife Refuge Fund.
21. Two other types of government funds are ``public enterprise funds'' (revolving funds that conduct business-type operations with the public) and ``intragovernmental funds'' (that do the same within and between government agencies).
22. The historical material summarized in this and the subsequent two paragraphs draws on Nuzzo.
23. It should be noted that although the budget does not distinguish between capital and operating expenditures, the Analytical Perspectives volume of the budget contains information that makes that distinction at an aggregate level and for major programs.
24. The Reagan administration defined investment primarily to cover defense expenditures. The Bush administration broadened the term to include federal expenditures on R&D, infrastructure, child immunization, drugs, the environment and energy, and programs aimed at preserving America's heritage (such as those for the arts, humanities, and museums). The Clinton administration has used a similar definition, but has concentrated on transportation, environment, rural development, energy, community development and defense conversion, housing, education, justice, health care, and investments in information technology to improve the delivery of government services.
25. For an elaboration of this point, see Eichengreen, p. 84. Indeed, there is empirical evidence indicating that state governments have been effectively rationed out of the market when the ratio of their outstanding debt rises above 9 percent of state economic output [Bayoumi, Goldstein, and Woglom].
26. New Zealand also imposes a ``capital charge'' on each agency, which is paid to the Treasury twice a year. Although the capital charges of the various agencies are washed out on the overall government's budget, they were adopted as a means of encouraging departments to manage their capital assets wisely [Troup Testimony]. Below, we suggest that the federal government experiment with a similar procedure, the establishment of ``capital acquisition funds.''
27. The Adequacy of Appropriations Act and the Antideficiency Act require allagencies to have budget authority for all obligations, including capital acquisitions.
28. The ``social'' rate of return of a project measures the benefit of the project to the nation as a whole, taking into account both economic and non-economic considerations (such as equity and freedom). Social returns exceed the returns earned by the private sector alone where the projects generate benefits beyond those reaped only by those who undertake them. For example, it is widely acknowledged that much basic R&D undertaken by the government generates benefits for many firms and industries, as well as society as a whole. The same is true for education, which confers benefits not just on the individuals who receive it, but also on the entire society to the extent that a more educated work force is likely to come up with new ideas that make businesses more productive.
29. As former CBO Director Robert Reischauer pointed out in his testimony, the federal government also pays attention to distributional concerns: ``On the basis of economic considerations alone, the federal government would allocate far less to roads and bridges and public buildings in North Dakota than it now does. But there is agreement that all areas of the country should enjoy the advantages of a modern highway system, even where the economic payoff is minimal.'' [Reischauer, p. 3].
30. The FASAB consists of nine members: one representative each from OMB, Treasury, GAO, and CBO; two representatives from other executive branch agencies; and three representatives from the private sector or state and local government. FASAB has developed two statements of accounting concepts and ten statements of standards applicable to accounting by the federal government.
31. The Act significantly increased total funding for highways to $217 billion for FY1998-2003, a substantial increase over the $155 billion authorized for the preceding five years. The commission as a whole takes no position on the merits of this funding level, but notes only that the linkage between future spending and revenue dedicated to the trust fund addresses the problem that, in prior years, motor fuels tax revenues were not being fully used for their intended purpose.
32. Nor do the aggregate investment and capital stock data currently reported in the Analytical Perspectives and in the National Income and Product Accounts reveal the physical condition of those assets (which are reported at current cost minus an adjustment for accumulated depreciation).
33. As Paul Posner from the GAO told the commission: ``Prudent capital planning can help agencies to make the most of limited resources, while failure to make timely and effective capital acquisitions can result in increased long-term costs'' [Posner at 14]. As an example, Posner pointed to planning failures that have led to cost overruns, schedule delays, and performance shortfalls in the Federal Aviation Administration's modernization program. Similar problems appear to have plagued the computer modernization program at the Internal Revenue Service. Inits recent Capital Programming Guide, OMB encourages agencies to develop long-term capital plans as part of their planning process and to use these plans to develop their annual budget justifications.
34. Debt service is an appropriate rental charge whether or not the federal government must borrow to finance a certain project. In particular, even if the government is running an overall surplus, there is an opportunity cost associated with the acquisition of a capitalism--measured by the cost of borrowing--associated with not having an even larger surplus.
35. It would not be appropriate or useful to include in the CAFs grants to states or localities for what, in other contexts, may be deemed to be capital expenditures, such as those for highways. The grant itself is the program; highways and other federally assisted capital assets are not being used to provide federal services, so there are no federal programs to which the cost of using this capital should be allocated for budget decision-making. Moreover, spending ``spikes''tend to be associated with the construction or acquisition of federally owned facilities; spending on highways and other ``capital'' items tends to be relatively smooth from year to year.
36. Some agencies have portions of their budgets considered by more than one appropriations subcommittee. For example, while most of the budget of the Department of the Interior is considered by the Interior subcommittee, the Energy and Water Development subcommittee has jurisdiction specifically over the budget of the Bureau of Reclamation (an agency within Interior). Similarly, the Labor/HHS subcommittee oversees most of the budget of the Department of Health and Human Services, but the Agriculture subcommittee has jurisdiction over the budget of the Food and Drug Administration. In these cases, it may be necessary to establish multiple CAFs that fit jurisdictional boundaries of the appropriations subcommittees.
37. Moreover, a federal mandate linking federal funding to state and local support of maintenance might encourage rating agencies to allow bonding for maintenance.
38. The number refers to the section of the BEA that provides for allocating spending totals within the cap among the appropriations subcommittees.
39. Note that one virtue of a CAF is that the rental rate that would be charged implicitly on the use of capital assets would include a charge for depreciation.
40. The depreciation total reported by OMB and shown in the table includes depreciation of education and R&D expenditures.
Aschauer, David Alan. "Is Public Expenditure Productive?", Journal of Monetary Economics, 1989, Vol. 23, pp. 177-200.
Bayoumi, Tamim; Morris Goldstein; and Geoffrey Woglom. "Do Credit Markets Discipline Sovereign Borrowers? Evidence from U.S. States" (International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C., 1994).
Brown, Gordon. "Statement By The Chancellor of the Exchequor on the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report," House of Commons, June 11, 1998.
Congressional Budget Office. CBO papers: The Economic Effects of Federal Spending on Infra-structure and Other Investments, June 1998.
Dewey, Donald, Modern Capital Theory (Columbia University Press, New York, 1965).
Eichengreen, Barry. International Monetary Arrangements for the 21st Century (The Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., 1994).
General Accounting Office. Department of Energy: Opportunity to Improve Management of Major System Acquisitions (GAO/RCED-97-17, November 26, 1996).
______________________. The Role of Depreciation in Budgeting for Certain Federal Investments (GAO/AIMB-95-34, February 1995).
______________________. Budget Issues: Incorporating an Investment Component in the Budget. (GAO/AIMD-94-40, November 1993).
______________________. Budget Issues: Capital Budgeting Practices in the States. (GAO/AFMD-86-63FS, July 1986).
Gramlich, Edward M. "Infrastructure Investment: A Review Essay," Journal of Economic Literature. September 1994, Vol. 32, No. 3, pp. 1176-1196.
Hush, Lawrence W., and Kathleen Peroff. "The Variety of State Capital Budgets: A Survey," Public Budgeting and Finance. Vol. 8, Summer 1988.
Kirova, Milka S., and Robert E. Lipsey. "Measuring Real Investment: Trends in the United States and International Comparison," Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Review. January/February 1998, 3-18.
Munnell, Alicia H. "Infrastructure Investment and Investment Growth," Journal of Economic Perspectives, Fall 1992, Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 189-98.
National Association of State Budget Officers. Capital Budgeting in the States (September 1997).
Nuzzo, James L.J. "Whither a Federal Capital Budget." (Harvard Law School, unpublished manuscript, May 1994).
Office of Management and Budget. Analytical Perspectives, FY 1999 Budget (February 1998).
____________________________ and Chief Financial Officers Council. Federal Financial Management Status Report & Five Year Plan (June 1998).
Posner, Paul L. "Budgeting for Capital," Testimony before the Commission. March 6, 1998.
Reischauer, Robert. Testimony before the Commission. April 24, 1998.
Schick, Allen. The Federal Budget Process: Politics, Policy, Process. (Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution, 1995).
Tillet, Ronald L. "Capital Planning and Budgeting in the Commonwealth of Virginia." Presentation to the Commission. May 8, 1998.
Troup, George. "Capital Budgeting in the New Zealand Government." Testimony before the Commission. May 8, 1998.
Executive Order 13037: Commission to Study Capital Budgeting, and the Amendments
Vol. 62, No. 44 Thursday, March 6, 1997
Executive Order 13037 of March 3, 1997
Commission To Study Capital Budgeting
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment. There is established the Commission to Study Capital Budgeting ("Commission"). The Commission shall be bipartisan and shall be composed of 11 members appointed by the President. The members of the Commission shall be chosen from among individuals with expertise in public and private finance, government officials, and leaders in the labor and business communities. The President shall designate two co-chairs from among the members of the Commission.
Sec. 2. Functions.The Commission shall report on the following:
(a) Capital budgeting practices in other countries, in State and local governments in this country, and in the private sector; the differences and similarities in their capital budgeting concepts and processes; and the pertinence of their capital budgeting practices for budget decisionmaking and accounting for actual budget outcomes by the Federal Government;
(b) The appropriate definition of capital for Federal budgeting, including: use of capital for the Federal Government itself or the economy at large; ownership by the Federal Government or some other entity; defense and nondefense capital; physical capital and intangible or human capital; distinctions among investments in and for current, future, and retired workers; distinctions between capital to increase productivity and capital to enhance the quality of life; and existing definitions of capital for budgeting;
(c) The role of depreciation in capital budgeting, and the concept and measurement of depreciation for purposes of a Federal capital budget; and
(d) The effect of a Federal capital budget on budgetary choices between capital and noncapital means of achieving public objectives; implications for macroeconomic stability; and potential mechanisms for budgetary discipline.
Sec. 3. Report.The Commission shall adopt its report through majority vote of its full membership. The Commission shall report to the National Economic Council by March 15, 1998, or within 1 year from its first meeting.
Sec. 4. Administration. (a) Members of the Commission shall serve without compensation for their work on the Commission. While engaged in the work of the Commission, members appointed from among private citizens of the United States may be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by law for persons serving intermittently in the Government service (5 U.S.C. 5701095707).
(b) The Department of the Treasury shall provide the Commission with funding and administrative support. The Commission may have a paid staff, including detailees from Federal agencies. The Secretary of the Treasury shall perform the functions of the President under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C. App.), except that of reporting to the Congress, in accordance with the guidelines and procedures established by the Administrator of General Services.
Sec. 5. General Provisions. The Commission shall terminate 30 days after submitting its report.
William J. Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 3, 1997
Vol. 62, No. 211 Friday, October 31, 1997
Executive Order 13066 of October 29, 1997
Amendment to Executive Order 13037, Commission To Study Capital Budgeting
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to increase the membership of the Commission to Study Capital Budgeting, it is hereby ordered that the second sentence of section 1 of Executive Order 13037 is amended by deleting "11" and inserting "no more than 20" in lieu thereof. It is further ordered that section 3 of Executive Order 13037 is amended by deleting the words "by March 15, 1998, or".
William J. Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE
October 29, 1997
Vol. 63, No. 240 Tuesday, December 15, 1998
Executive Order 13108 of December 11, 1998
Further Amendment to Executive Order 13037, Commission To Study Capital Budgeting
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to extend the reporting deadline for, and the expiration date of, the Commission to Study Capital Budgeting, it is hereby ordered that Executive Order 13037, as amended, is further amended by deleting in section 3 of that order "within 1 year from its first meeting" and inserting in lieu thereof "by February 1, 1999" and by deleting in section 5 of that order "30 days after submitting its report" and inserting in lieu thereof "on September 30, 1999".
William J. Clinton
THE WHITE HOUSE
December 11, 1998
Kathleen Brown is President of Bank of America's Private Bank West. She has been with Bank of America since 1994. From 1991 until 1994, she served as California's 28th Treasurer, responsible for managing the state's investment portfolio, and administering bond sales to finance schools, parks, prisons, housing, health facilities, and environmental programs. Ms. Brown was the Democratic nominee for Governor of California in 1994.
Jon S. Corzine is Co-Chairman and Senior Partner of the investment banking firm Goldman, Sachs & Co. Since joining the firm in 1975, he has held a variety of positions including partner-in-charge of government, mortgage and money markets trading, co-head of the Fixed Income Division and of the firm's treasury and finance functions, and Chief Executive Officer.
Willard W. Brittain, of New York, New York, is Global Managing Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Stanley E. Collender, of Washington, D.C., is a Senior Vice President and Managing Director of the Federal Budget Consulting Group at Fleishman-Hillard.
Orin S. Kramer, of Englewood, New Jersey, is a general partner of Kramer Spellman, L.P., which manages investment vehicles focusing on the financial services industry.
Richard C. Leone, of Princeton, New Jersey, is the President of The Century Foundation, formerly the Twentieth Century Fund, Inc., a public policy research institution in New York. He was New Jersey State Treasurer and Chief Financial and Budget Officer for 1973-1977.
David Levy, of Pound Ridge, New York, is the Vice Chairman of the Jerome Levy Economics Institute of Bard College and Director of the Levy Institute Forecasting Center.
James T. Lynn, of Bethesda, Maryland, is retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aetna Life& Casualty. During the Ford Administration, he served as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Cynthia A. Metzler, of Washington DC, is a Partner with the law firm of Pepper Hamilton LLP. She was formerly Acting Secretary of Labor during the Clinton Administration.
Luis Nogales, of Beverly Hills, California, is President of Nogales Partners, and was Chairman and CEO of Embarcadero Media and United Press International and President of Univision.
Carol O'Cleireacain, of New York, New York, is a Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution and former Finance Commissioner and Budget Director of New York City.
Rudolph G. Penner, of Washington, D.C., holds the Arjay and Frances Miller Chair in Public Policy at the Urban Institute. He is a former Director of the Congressional Budget Office.
Steven L. Rattner, of New York, New York, is Deputy Chief Executive of the investment banking firm Lazard Freres & Co. LLC.
Robert M. Rubin, of Southampton, New York, is Executive Vice President and Director of AIG Trading Group, an international currency and commodity dealer.
Herbert Stein, of Washington, D.C., is a senior fellow of the
American Enterprise Institute. He served as Chairman of the Council of
Economic Advisers under Presidents Nixon and Ford.
List of Witnesses and Written Statements
The following persons have appeared before the Commission to testify, have presented a written statement, or both. The individuals are identified below in alphabetical order. The Commission's website (at http://www.whitehouse.gov/pcscb) has a one-page staff summary for the statement of each individual and the full written testimony if written testimony was submitted. An asterisk (*) beside the name indicates a written statement was submitted to the Commission.
OUTLINE OF MATERIAL ON THE WEBSITE
Letter of Transmittal
What is "Capital"?
Trends in Capital Spending
Do Current Budget Conventions Distort Decisions About Federal Capital Spending?
Pros and Cons of a "Cap" on Capital Spending
A Capital Budget and Depreciation
Other Versions of a Capital Budget
Selected References and Bibliography
Appendix A: Executive Order 13037: Commission to Study Capital Budgeting, and the Amendments
Appendix B: Commission Membership
Appendix C: List of Witnesses and Written Statements
Appendix D: Outline of Material on the Website | This publication may be purchased from the U.S. Government Printing Office and its bookstores. An order form is included in this publication. The report is also available, with testimony and other supporting materials, on the Internet at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/pcscb.
Numerical detail in this document may not add to the totals because of rounding.
Jon S. Corzine
Willard W. Brittain
Stanley E. C | {
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First recovery plan approved 12/7/1981. First revision approved June 1987. Second revision approved: 3/13/1995. The Florida panther is the last subspecies of Puma still surviving in the eastern United States. Historically occurring throughout the...
Endangered species; Habitat conservation; Policies; Work of the Service; Human impacts;
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“ Instead of hearing, ‘ I don’t have that butterfly on
my property,’ I hear, ‘ How can I get some of that wild
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I have going!’ or...
Species Status categories:
at- risk species — species of plants and animals that are
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threat( s) and are potential... | First recovery plan approved 12/7/1981. First revision approved June 1987. Second revision approved: 3/13/1995. The Florida panther is the last subspecies of Puma still surviving in the eastern United States. Historically occurring throughout the...
Endangered species; Habitat conservation; Policies; Work of the Service; Human impacts;
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Windswept Grant Eases Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the Eastern Shore
Seeking a less carbon-intensive way to power his Worcester County home, Michael Jenkins researched renewable energy options. He realized he had a great resource at his Stockton property: Wind.
Pittsville-based Communications & Energy Services, an Eastern Shore energy system installer, provided Jenkins with an estimate for a Skystream wind turbine from Southwest Windpower. Jenkins applied to the Maryland Energy Administration’s Windswept Grant Program in November of 2010, and was approved for a grant of $6,160, made possible through funds provided by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant covered about one third of the total project cost.
The 45’-tall tower and 2.4 kilowatt turbine was installed in March, and provides Jenkins with significant energy savings. “I probably wouldn’t have been able to install this unit without the MEA grant,” he said. “I always disliked the wind at our house, and now I love it.”
Jenkins believes the turbine installation was a good investment. “I’m so happy to see it turning all the time,” he said. “If I can get savings on it off my bill, that’s more money than I’m getting in the bank.”
Jenkins is also enthusiastic about his new turbine’s environmental benefits. “We’ve already saved about 160 pounds of CO2 from going up in the atmosphere, and I’m tickled pink about that,” he said. “It’s helping to save the planet.”
The Windswept Grant Program is part of the Clean Energy Grant Program, which provides home and business owners, non-profits, and government entities with financial assistance to install solar photovoltaic, solar water heating, geothermal heat pump, and wind turbine systems. The program is designed to help satisfy Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) requirements and EmPOWER Maryland goals.
Read more MEA success stories.
Do You Have an Energy Success Story You'd Like to Share?
If you or your company have benefited from MEA programs or incentives, you could be featured in our newsletter. Please submit your story for consideration to [email protected] or call our office for more details: 410-260-7655. | Windswept Grant Eases Greenhouse Gas Emissions on the Eastern Shore
Seeking a less carbon-intensive way to power his Worcester County home, Michael Jenkins researched renewable energy options. He realized he had a great resource at his Stockton property: Wind.
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2007/118/EC: Commission Decision of 16 February 2007 laying down detailed rules in relation to an alternative identification mark pursuant to Council Directive 2002/99/EC (notified under document number C(2007) 422) (Text with EEA relevance )
OJ L 51, 20.2.2007, p. 19–21 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
OJ L 219M , 24.8.2007, p. 263–265 (MT)
BG CS DA DE EL EN ES ET FI FR HU IT LT LV NL PL PT RO SK SL SV
|Bilingual display: CS DA DE EL EN ES ET FI FR HU IT LT LV NL PL PT SK SL SV|
of 16 February 2007
laying down detailed rules in relation to an alternative identification mark pursuant to Council Directive 2002/99/EC
(notified under document number C(2007) 422)
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treay establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Directive 2002/99/EC of 16 December 2002 laying down the animal health rules governing the production, processing, distribution and introduction of products of animal origin for human consumption , and in particular the second subparagraph of Article 4(1) thereof,
Having regard to Council Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC , and in particular Article 23(1)(g) thereof,
(1) Directive 2002/99/EC lays down conditions to ensure that at all stages of the production, processing and distribution of products of animal origin within the Community do not cause any spread of diseases transmissible to animals. To this end it does not only list various disease-related treatments to inactivate the causative pathogen but first of all provides for the specific marking of such restricted products.
(2) The Directive, however, also provides for the possibility to lay down specific rules for its application, including the establishment of a special identification mark required for meat not authorised for placing on the market for animal health reasons.
(3) Directive 2005/94/EC of 20 December 2005 on Community measures for the control of avian influenza and repealing Directive 92/40/EEC, and in particular Article 23(1)(g) thereof, provides that poultry meat originating from holdings located in protection zones must not enter into intra-Community or international trade. For that reason such meat must, unless decided otherwise, bear the mark provided for in Annex II of Directive 2002/99/EC.
(4) Council Directive 92/66/EEC of 14 July 1992 introducing Community measures for the control of Newcastle disease and in particular Article 9(2)(f)(i) and paragraph 4(c) requires that meat derived from poultry originating from protection or surveillance zones does not enter intra-Community and that it bears a mark which corresponds to the special identification mark provided for in Annex II of Directive 2002/99/EC.
(5) Certain Member States have informed the Commission that that identification mark has been poorly accepted by operators and customers in the industry. Accordingly, it is appropriate to provide for an alternative identification mark that Member States may decide to apply, instead of the mark provided for in Annex II to Directive 2002/99/EC. However, in the interests of controls, it is important that Member States inform the Commission beforehand, if they decide to apply the alternative identification mark in case of an outbreak of avian influenza or Newcastle disease.
(6) Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin , provides for an identification mark to be applied to certain meat of animal origin intended for placing on the market.
(7) Commission Regulation (EC) No 2076/2005 of 5 December 2005 laying down transitional arrangements for the implementation of Regulations (EC) No 853/2004, (EC) No 854/2004 and (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Regulations (EC) No 853/2004 and (EC) No 854/2004 , provides for the temporary use of national identification marks for products of animal origin intended for human consumption which may only be marketed in the territory of the Member State where they are produced.
(8) The alternative identification mark provided for in this Decision should be clearly distinguishable from other identification marks to be applied to poultry meat in accordance with Regulations (EC) No 853/2004 or (EC) No 2076/2005.
(9) The measures provided for in this Decision are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Alternative identification mark
1. For the purpose of Article 2 of this Decision, Member States may decide to use the identification mark set out in the Annex to this Decision ("the alternative identification mark") instead of the special identification mark set out in Annex II to Directive 2002/99/EC.
2. Member States that decide to use the alternative identification mark shall inform the Commission thereof in the framework of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.
Marking of meat of poultry and farmed feathered game restricted to the national market
Meat from poultry or farmed feathered game, including minced meat, mechanically separated meat and meat preparations and or meat products, which do not satisfy the requirements laid down in Article 3 of Directive 2002/99/EC and are therefore restricted to the national market of the affected Member State in accordance with paragraph (1)(g) of Article 23 of Directive 2005/94/EC or paragraphs 2(f)(i) and (4)(c) of Article 9 of Directive 92/66/EEC, may be marked with:
(a) the alternative identification mark, or
(b) the national mark, if such those products have been produced in establishments in accordance with Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 2076/2005.
This Decision is addressed to the Member States.
Done at Brussels, 16 February 2007.
For the Commission
Member of the Commission
OJ L 18, 23.1.2003, p. 11.
OJ L 10, 14.1.2006, p. 16.
OJ L 260, 5.9.1992, p. 1. Directive as last amended by Directive 2006/104/EC (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 352).
OJ L 139, 30.4.2004, p. 55; corrected by OJ L 226, 25.6.2004, p. 22. Regulation as last amended by Council Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).
OJ L 338, 22.12.2005, p. 83. Regulation as amended by Regulation (EC) No 1666/2006 (OJ L 320, 18.11.2006, p. 47).
The identification mark provided for in Article 1(1) of the Decision must be applied in accordance with the following dimensions, or any appropriate proportion thereof maintaining legibility of the information.
XY = 8 mm
1234 = 11 mm
Width outer diameter = not less than 30 mm
Line thickness of square = 3 mm
+++++ TIFF +++++
Means the relevant country code provided for in point 6 of Part B of Section I of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004.
Means the approval number of the establishment referred to in point 7 of Part B of Section I of Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004. | 2007/118/EC: Commission Decision of 16 February 2007 laying down detailed rules in relation to an alternative identification mark pursuant to Council Directive 2002/99/EC (notified under document number C(2007) 422) (Text with EEA relevance )
OJ L 51, 20.2.2007, p. 19–21 (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)
OJ L 219M , 24.8.2007, p. 263–265 (MT)
BG C | {
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, which was first observed in 1987 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in order to raise awareness and education efforts for domestic violence, as well as connect victims to resources.
Teen dating violence is an often-unrecognized subcategory of domestic violence. Adult intimate-partner violence and marital abuse have gained more recognition, as seen, especially in the past three decades, in policy, program, and legal responses, and in an extensive research literature base devoted to the problem. Adolescents, by comparison, have been long overlooked as a population that suffers from relationship abuse. Although there is research on rates of crime and victimization related to teen dating violence, research that examines the problem from a longitudinal perspective and considers the dynamics and perceptions of teen romantic relationships is lacking. Consequently, those in the field have to rely on an adult framework to examine the problem of teen dating violence.
New Media Impact on Teen Dating Violence
While dating violence can include physical, emotional, and psychological harm, a new theme is now emerging in the literature on dating violence with respect to psychological abuse using electronic technologies, including cell phones and social media, i.e. sexting. While most of the literature on the use of these technologies for interpersonal abuse among teens still focuses on peer abuse and bullying, attention is growing to their specific uses in dating-related emotional abuse.
Federal Interagency Workgroup on Teen Dating Violence
Beginning in 2006, the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Teen Dating Violence was established as a result of the 2006 Workshop on Teen Dating Violence, which was coordinated and led by the National Institute of Justice. The Federal Interagency Working Group on Teen Dating Violence is comprised of 18 agencies representing the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, Education, and Defense. Since its inception, the Workgroup has coordinated teen dating violence programming, policy, and research activities to combat violence from a public health perspective.
In order to fill the gaps in previous research on teen dating violence, The National Institute of Justice and the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Teen Dating Violence is currently funding the development of concept maps on adolescent relationship abuse. The concept maps will bridge adolescent and adult viewpoints on the definition of relationship abuse. By working with and engaging youth, the project will be able to gain a better understanding of adolescent relationships, as well as gender, race, ethnic, geographic, sexual orientation, and disability differences. The Working Group hopes the concept maps will help to determine differences or similarities in how adolescents and adults view relationship abuse, as well as the value that adolescents place on relationship characteristics.
The results of the project will help to ensure that prevention and intervention efforts can incorporate language and conceptualizations of relationships that youth can relate. Further, the findings will educate youth about dangerous behaviors that they may not have previously considered negative or abusive. Finally, they will include recommendations for how to incorporate the findings into planning of programmatic activities and research agendas in the area of teen dating violence that will help to encourage future programs and efforts in the prevention of teen dating violence.
There are many ways to help prevent dating violence among teens in the community, including:
For more information and resources on teen dating violence, visit:
For more information on youth engagement, please visit:
If you know a teen who is in an abusive relationship and needs immediate help or information about local resources, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233); TTY 1-800-787-3224 for the hearing impaired.
Subscribe to our newsletter for information on funding, events, publications, and more.
Map My Community is a tool designed specifically to assist you in locating resources in your community to help you build and strengthen your youth program. Get ideas for new partnerships, identify gaps in your community, and learn about resources to avoid duplication of effort.
FindYouthInfo.gov is the U.S. government Web site that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. Included are youth facts, funding information, and tools to help you assess community assets, generate maps of local and federal resources, search for evidence-based youth programs, and keep up-to-date on the latest, youth-related news. | October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month, which was first observed in 1987 by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence in order to raise awareness and education efforts for domestic violence, as well as connect victims to resources.
Teen dating violence is an often-unrecognized subcategory of domestic violence. Adult intimate-partner violence and marital abuse have gained more | {
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Red Flag Warnings Issued For Parts Of The Western U.S On Wednesday; Severe Weather Threat In The Northern Plains and Northern Rockies
Parts of the Western United States is under a Red Flag Warning for Wednesday with another day of hot, dry and windy conditions expected. In the Northern Plains and Northern Rocky Mountains severe weather is expected. The area of greatest concern is Montana which could see very large hail and damaging winds.
- Wind SpeedE 6 mph
- Barometer29.84 in (1010.4 mb)
- Dewpoint62°F (17°C)
- Visibility8.00 mi
Current conditions at
Atlantic City International Airport (KACY)
Lat: 39.46 Lon: -74.57 Elev: 60ft.
Atlantic City NJ
7 Day Forecast
- Overnight A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 60. North wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
- Wednesday A slight chance of showers before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 74. North wind 14 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
- Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 55. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming light south after midnight.
- Thursday Sunny, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the afternoon.
- Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 62. South wind 8 to 13 mph.
- Friday Sunny, with a high near 74.
- Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 64.
- Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 74.
- Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
- Sunday Mostly sunny, with a high near 77.
- Sunday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
- Monday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
- Monday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 68.
- Tuesday Mostly sunny, with a high near 78.
Additional Forecasts and Information
Zone Area Forecast for Coastal Atlantic, NJ
HOURLY WEATHER GRAPH
NATIONAL DIGITAL FORECAST DATABASE | Red Flag Warnings Issued For Parts Of The Western U.S On Wednesday; Severe Weather Threat In The Northern Plains and Northern Rockies
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Friday, 25 May 2012 Edited by: Bert Jansen
Dear NFP colleagues, Again this year, I would like to invite you to join the provision of seasonal bathing water quality data (BWQ) to the European Environment Agency (EEA). As you may know, this is the fourth season in which we provide seasonal and yearly BWQ data through “Eye on Earth” a service that is, given the amount of feedback, very much appreciated by the general public.
Member Countries are invited to join in the provision of seasonal data during 2012 by transmitting bathing water quality (BWQ) data to the European Environment Agency (EEA). We offer three alternatives.
1. Direct electronic exchange format
(machine to machine)
This is the most efficient, SEIS conformant, and versatile option since your data can be used by many sites, not just Eye on Earth. You need to create a GeoRSS channel. GeoRSS is an extension of RSS 2.0 (Really Simple Syndication): a popular format for sharing and exchanging data in line with SEIS principles. Instructions to conform to this format are available at: http://observatory.ew.eea.europa.eu/data/georss/BWQ_data_sharing_using_GeoRSS.doc
2. Near real time data in electronic formats
Your data can be transmitted by email - as you did the years before - to our European Topic Centre on Inland, Coastal and Marine Waters (ETC-ICM). The address is: [email protected]
3. URLs to national or regional providers
As a temporary solution, you can inform us ([email protected]) about your website/s where regional seasonal data are available so that our ETC-ICM can retrieve them from there.
We would appreciate it if you could contact the EEA or our ETC-ICM at your earliest convenience to confirm your data contribution for the upcoming bathing season. If you have any questions to the above, please contact:
Peter Kjeld [email protected] for
· Marko Kovačič [email protected] for alternative 1, 2 and 3, or;
· Jesse Goodman [email protected] for questions on the “Eye on Earth” website.
We look forward to working with you.
Head of Eye on Earth group
SEIS support programme | Friday, 25 May 2012 Edited by: Bert Jansen
Dear NFP colleagues, Again this year, I would like to invite you to join the provision of seasonal bathing water quality data (BWQ) to the European Environment Agency (EEA). As you may know, this is the fourth season in which we provide seasonal and yearly BWQ data through “Eye on Earth” a service that is, given the amount of feedback, very much appreciat | {
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Welcome to the home of the MCNPX code!
MCNPX is a general-purpose Monte Carlo radiation transport code for modeling
the interaction of radiation with everything. MCNPX stands for Monte Carlo
N-Particle eXtended. It extends the capabilities of MCNP4C3 to nearly all
particles, nearly all energies, and to nearly all applications without
an additional computational time penalty. MCNPX
is fully three-dimensional and time dependent. It utilizes the latest nuclear
cross section libraries and uses physics models for particle types and energies
where tabular data are not available. Applications range from outer space
(the discovery of water on Mars) to deep underground (where radiation is used
to search for oil.) MCNPX is used for nuclear medicine, nuclear safeguards,
accelerator applications, homeland security, nuclear criticality, and much more.
MCNPX is written in Fortran 90, runs on PC Windows, Linux, and unix platforms,
and is fully parallel (PVM and MPI). As a superset of MCNP4C3, MCNPX does everything
MCNP4C3 does and much more: see the 3-page MCNPX Features Summary:
MCNPX Beta Release
MCNPX (source code, executables, data) is available from this WWW site to
"beta testers" who have access to intermediate code versions. Beta versions of
MCNPX are available from "The Code" tab at the left of this web site. Beta Testers are sponsors,
collaborators, and those who take MCNPX workshops (see "Classes tab on the left.) For further
information on the Beta Test program, contact
The latest beta test version is MCNPX 2.7.E (March 3, 2011).
The principal new capabilities added since the latest RSICC release
(MCNPX 2.6.0, April 2008) are described in: "MCNPX 2.7.E Extensions"
LA-UR-11-1502.pdf, LA-UR-11-1502.doc (March, 2011).
MCNPX RSICC International Release
MCNPX is available (source code, executables, data) to nearly everyone (subject to export
controls on sensitive countries) from the Radiation Safety Information
Computational Center (RSICC)
in Oak Ridge, TN. MCNPX is packaged with MCNP5 and
the nuclear data common to both codes. Be sure to specify that you want the whole package,
MCNPX, MCNP5, and data.
The current RSICC release contains MCNPX 2.7.0 (April 2011).
The new capabilities added since MCNP4C3 (2000) and MCNPX 2.3.0 are
described in detail in the following documents:
"MCNPX 2.7.0 Extensions"
LA-UR-11-2295.pdf (.9 MB),
LA-UR-11-2295.doc (1.1 MB),
"MCNPX 2.6.0 Extensions"
LA-UR-08-2216.pdf (.9 MB),
LA-UR-08-2216.doc (1.1 MB),
and "MCNPX Extensions," (Version 2.5.0, April 2005)
LA-UR-05-2675.pdf (.6 MB),
LA-UR-05-2675.doc (1.0 MB).
We are so confident in the quality of MCNPX that we pay cash awards to the first person identifying any bug or error in the code. See the list of cash awards (4 pages):
Considering all the new MCNPX capabilities relatively few bugs have been identified. It is far easier to find an error in the predecessor codes to MCNPX than in the new capabilities added.
Last modified: July 26, 2011
To report errors on the web page, or make other comments, contact
Gregg W. McKinney / 505-665-8367 | Welcome to the home of the MCNPX code!
MCNPX is a general-purpose Monte Carlo radiation transport code for modeling
the interaction of radiation with everything. MCNPX stands for Monte Carlo
N-Particle eXtended. It extends the capabilities of MCNP4C3 to nearly all
particles, nearly all energies, and to nearly all applications without
an additional computational time penalty. MCNPX
is fully three-d | {
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Oil & Natural Gas Projects
Exploration and Production Technologies
Advanced Reservoir Imaging Using Frequency-Dependent Seismic Attributes
The project goal is to develop seismic-based technology that quantifies a reservoir’s fluid-saturation and fluid-mobility properties. The research work will provide a mechanism and frequency-dependent amplitude-versus-offset (AVO&F) techniques to recognize, delineate, and validate new hydrocarbon reserves and assist in the development of producing fields.
University of Houston, Houston, TX
University of California, Berkeley, CA
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA
The project has developed an asymptotic model and governing equations describing seismic wave propagation in dual-permeability media and reflectivity of such media at different incident angles and frequencies. The project has developed algorithms for preserving the wavelet frequency content and applied a low-frequency asymptotic approach to deriving algorithms for reflection/transmission coefficients and attenuation that are dependent on frequency and fluid mobility.
Physical modeling is one technique employed to investigate wave propagation in dual-porosity media. Several diagnostic methodologies for evaluating fractures were identified. The methodologies involved head waves, reflections, and coda.
The project has formulated and developed rock-property transforms that allow conventional seismic horizon maps to be converted into reflectivity maps. With these transforms and the AVO gathers at the prospect and at the downdip water-equivalent reservoir, a pore fluid saturation can be estimated without a calibration well that ties the seismic unless the bed thickness is desired.
A spectrum cross-plot technique was developed based on AVO&F analysis and applied this technique to separate wet- and gas-saturated zones.
During 2006, the results of the project performers’ activity related to this project were presented to representatives of 32 oil industry companies.
The project expects to develop technologies that will assist in the recognition of hydrocarbon accumulations from 3-D seismic data and that will predict reservoir rock type, pore-fluid properties, and the delineation of hydrocarbon distribution. These technologies will assist in the more complete and economic recovery of the reservoir’s hydrocarbons.
The results will help to find new hydrocarbon prospects in areas that have subtle to no seismic expression, those being deeper and more costly to find and drill. The analysis of frequency-dependent AVO attributes and frequency-dependent imaging will lead to accurate predictions of pore-fluid production by mapping fluid contacts and mobility. This will represent a major step in the goal of developing a seismic-based method of mapping reservoir permeability. Thus the research work will provide a mechanism to recognize, delineate, and validate new hydrocarbon reserves and assist in the development of producing fields.
The DHI (direct hydrocarbon indicator) based on “bright-spot” recognition of hydrocarbons became routine during the 1970s. Shortly after, 3-D acquisition more accurately delineated the structure of bright-spot reservoirs. However, most large bright-spot reservoirs have been drilled. Energy companies are now drilling prospects in areas that have subtle to no seismic expression of hydrocarbons. During the last 5 years, spectral decomposition of 3-D data has renewed interest in frequency-dependent analysis for recognition of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Most of these frequency studies are done with normal-incident post-stack seismic data. In the mid-1990s, the birth of anisotropic seismic imaging allowed data with source-receiver offsets greater than twice the depth of investigation to be routine. The results from far-offset data provided detailed images of hydrocarbon reservoirs not seen on conventional data. Many results were not explained by elastic wave theory. Thus simultaneous research began, using long-offset seismic data in the areas of non-elastic wave propagation with fluid flow, target-oriented processing, and the development of geologic workflows for multi-trace seismic attributes. This multi-discipline study was the reason for the research collaboration between the universities of Houston and California (Berkeley).
The project is developing innovative seismic-based technology that correlates with and quantifies a reservoir’s fluid saturation and fluid mobility properties and their spatial distribution to frequency and angle-dependent reflectivity. The project involves theory and processing algorithms development, numerical and physical modeling, laboratory experiments, and field verification using seismic, well logs, and engineering data.
During the second year period, from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006, the project focused on the following tasks:
- Develop an asymptotic model and governing equations describing seismic wave propagation in dual-permeability media,
- Formulate reflectivity equations and develop algorithms and computer codes for numerical modeling of frequency-dependent seismic imaging for porous permeable layered medium,
- Develop frequency-preserved target-oriented seismic migration and algorithms for extracting low-frequency signal from seismic data,
- Undertake 3-D anisotropic fractured physical modeling for investigation of azimuth- and frequency-dependent reflectivity of the porous model surfaces.
- Build the geologic models of reservoirs and calibrate the seismic attributes against the geologic models and reservoir parameters determined from petrophysical and engineering data.
The result of the research provides a new mechanism to discover and validate new hydrocarbon reserve.
Current Status (July 2007)
The project has finished the second year of a 3-year term successfully. The project is not been funded for the third year by the DOE. The project ended and produced the Final Report.
The project was selected in response to DOE’s Oil and Gas Master Solicitation DE-PS-04NT15450, focus area Advanced Diagnostics and Imaging Technology.
Project Start: January 1, 2005
Project End: May 31, 2007
Anticipated DOE Contribution: $472,532
Performer Contribution: $252,000
NETL - Purna Halder ([email protected] or 918-699-2083)
U. of Houston - Fred Hilterman ([email protected] or 713-743-5802)
G. Goloshubin, C. VanSchuyver, V. Korneev, D. Silin, and V. Vingalov, “Reservoir imaging using low frequencies of seismic reflections,” The Leading Edge, Vol. 25, No 5, pp. 527-531, 2006.
D. Silin, V. Korneev, G. Goloshubin, and T. Patzek, “Low-Frequency Asymptotic Analysis of Seismic Reflection From a Fluid-Saturated Media,” Transport in Porous Media, Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 283-305, 2006.
Silin, D., Goloshubin, G., “Asymptotic analysis of seismic reflection from a fractured reservoir: Part I. Biot-Barenblatt dual-porosity medium,” presented for publication, 2006.
Silin, D., Goloshubin, G., “Asymptotic analysis of seismic reflection from a fractured reservoir: Part II. Transmission and reflection coefficients,” presented for publication, 2006.
Gennady Goloshubin and Dmitriy Silin, “Frequency-dependent reflection from a permeable boundary in a fractured reservoir,” 76th SEG Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2006.
G. Goloshubin, D. Silin, “Dual porosity Biot-Barenblatt model,” 68th EAGE Meeting, Vienna, Austria, 2006.
Zhengyun Zhou, Fred Hilterman, and Haitao Ren, “Stringent assumptions necessary for pore-fluid estimation,” 76th SEG Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2006.
Haitao Ren, Fred Hilterman, Zhengyun Zhou, and Mike Dunn, “AVO Equation without velocity and density,“ 76th SEG Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2006.
Mingya Chen, Fred Hilterman, and Julius Doruelo, “3-D common-offset migration on a vertically aligned fracturing model,” 76th SEG Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2006.
Julius Doruelo, Fred Hilterman, and Gennady Goloshubin, “Head waves as mechanism for azimuthal PP AVO magnitude anomalies,” 76th SEG Meeting, New Orleans, LA, 2006.
Modeling data: AVO&F responses from water-saturated reservoir (left) and gas-saturated reservoir (right).
Modeling data: Spectral amplitudes cross-plot (left) and illuminated gas reservoir on the seismic section (right).
Field data: Frequency decomposition of near-offset data (left) and far-offset data (right).
Field data: Spectral amplitudes cross-plot (left) and illuminated gas reservoir on the seismic section (right).
Time slice through the Most-Positive curvature volume within the Devonian interval
of the West Texas 3-D seismic data.
The common-mid-point gather in the left panel has common-offset migration and
normal moveout (NMO) corrections. The panel on the right started with the same
input data but was target-oriented migrated and NMO corrected. The amplitude
of the event at 2.250 s on the left panel contains useful amplitude information
past the 14,000-ft source-to-receiver offset trace. | Oil & Natural Gas Projects
Exploration and Production Technologies
Advanced Reservoir Imaging Using Frequency-Dependent Seismic Attributes
The project goal is to develop seismic-based technology that quantifies a reservoir’s fluid-saturation and fluid-mobility properties. The research work will provide a mechanism and frequency-dependent amplitude-versus-offset (AVO&F) techniques to recognize, del | {
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Individual differences |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Acoustic phonetics is a subfield of phonetics which deals with acoustic aspects of speech sounds. Acoustic phonetics investigates properties like the mean squared amplitude of a waveform, its duration, its fundamental frequency, or other properties of its frequency spectrum, and the relationship of these properties to other branches of phonetics (e.g. articulatory or auditory phonetics), and to abstract linguistic concepts like phones, phrases, or utterances.
The study of acoustic phonetics was greatly enhanced in the late 19th century by the invention of the Edison phonograph. The phonograph allowed the speech signal to be recorded and then later processed and analyzed. By replaying the same speech signal from the phonograph several times, filtering it each time with a different band-pass filter, a spectrogram of the speech utterance could be built up. A series of papers by L. Hermann published in Pflüger's Archiv in the last two decades of the 19th century investigated the spectral properties of vowels and consonants using the Edison phonograph, and it was in these papers that the term formant was first introduced.
Further advances in acoustic phonetics were made possible by the development of the telephone industry. (Incidentally, Alexander Graham Bell's father, Alexander Melville Bell, was a phonetician.) During World War II, work at the Bell Telephone Laboratories (which invented the spectrograph) greatly facilitated the systematic study of the spectral properties of periodic and aperiodic speech sounds, vocal tract resonances and vowel formants, voice quality, prosody, etc.
On a theoretical level, acoustic phonetics really took off when it became clear that speech acoustic could be modeled in a way analogous to electrical circuits. Lord Rayleigh was among the first to recognize that the new electric theory could be used in acoustics, but it was not until 1941 that the circuit model was effectively used, in a book by Chiba and Kajiyama called "The Vowel: Its Nature and Structure". (Interestingly, this book by Japanese authors working in Japan was published in English at the height of World War II.) In 1952, Roman Jakobson, Gunnar Fant, and Morris Halle wrote "Preliminaries to Speech Analysis", a seminal work tying acoustic phonetics and phonological theory together. This little book was followed in 1960 by Fant "Acoustic Theory of Speech Production", which has remained the major theoretical foundation for speech acoustic research in both the academy and industry. (Fant was himself very involved in the telephone industry.)
References & BibliographyEdit
- Clark, John; & Yallop, Colin. (1995). An introduction to phonetics and phonology (2nd ed.). Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-19452-5.
- Fant, Gunnar. (1960). Acoustic theory of speech production, with calculations based on X-ray studies of Russian articulations. Description and analysis of contemporary standard Russian (No. 2). s'Gravenhage: Mouton. (2nd ed. published in 1970).
- Hardcastle, William J.; & Laver, John (Eds.). (1997). The handbook of phonetic sciences. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. ISBN 0-6311-8848-7.
- Jakobson, Roman; Fant, Gunnar; & Halle, Morris. (1952). Preliminaries to speech analysis: The distinctive features and their correlates. MIT acoustics laboratory technical report (No. 13). Cambridge, MA: MIT.
- Flanagan, James L. (1972). Speech analysis, synthesis, and perception (2nd ed.). Berlin: Springer-Verlag. ISBN 0-3870-5561-4.
- Kent, Raymond D.; & Read, Charles. (1992). The acoustic analysis of speech. San Diego: Singular Publishing Group. ISBN 1-8791-0543-8.
- Pisoni, David B.; & Remez, Robert E. (Eds.). (2004). The handbook of speech perception. Oxford: Blackwell. ISBN 0-6312-2927-2.
- Stevens, Kenneth N. (1998). Acoustic phonetics. Current studies in linguistics (No. 30). Cambridge, MA: MIT. ISBN 0-2621-9404-X.
- Stevens, Kenneth N. (2000). Toward a model for lexical access based on acoustic landmarks and distinctive features. The Journal of the Acoustical Society of American, 111 (4), 1872-1891.
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).| | Individual differences |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Acoustic phonetics is a subfield of phonetics which deals with acoustic aspects of speech sounds. Acoustic phonetics investigates properties like the mean squared amplitude of a waveform, its duration, its fundamental frequency, or other properties of its frequency spectrum | {
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012
By Charis Palmer, The Conversation
The Great Barrier Reef has lost half its coral cover in the last 27 years, and it could halve again by 2022 say researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
A study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found storm damage drove 48% of the loss, the crown of thorns starfish 42%, and bleaching 10%.
“This finding is based on the most comprehensive reef monitoring program in the world,” said Peter Doherty, research fellow at AIMS.
Dr Doherty said the monitoring included surveillance of more than 100 reefs since 1985 and from 1993 had incorporated more detailed annual surveys of 47 reefs.
The data show that reefs can regain their coral cover after severe events such as tropical cyclones, coral bleaching or crown of thorns starfish population explosions, but recovery takes 10-20 years.
“At present, the intervals between the disturbances are generally too short for full recovery and that’s causing the long-term losses,” said study author Hugh Sweatman.
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, director of the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland, agreed that the frequency of events was the key issue, and said action to address CO2 emissions was the only sensible remedy.
“What these results tell us is that the small change in the frequency of extreme events has a big impact on complex systems like the Great Barrier Reef, “ Dr Hoegh-Guldberg said.
He added that there was a climate component to all of the events, with warmer seas driving more intense storms, flood inundation events triggering crown of thorns starfish outbreaks, and mass coral bleaching driven by extreme heat events.
“We can’t stop the storms, and ocean warming (the primary cause of coral bleaching) is one of the critical impacts of the global climate change,” said John Gunn, AIMS CEO.
“However, we can act to reduce the impact of crown of thorns,” he said. “The study shows that in the absence of crown of thorns, coral cover would increase at 0.89% per year, so even with losses due to cyclones and bleaching there should be slow recovery.”
Dr Hoegh-Guldberg said the only sensible and economic remedy was to reduce global CO2 emissions to zero within the next 10-20 years.
He said the connection between flood inundation and coastal run-off and the crown of thorns problem was very compelling.
“This makes an extremely large smoking gun: Warming of the planet increasing episodic flood volume which then impacts the food supply of larval crown of thorns starfish, which then leads to an increased frequency of outbreaks.”
Related report from Al Jazeera:
* Lead Photo from Wikimedia Commons by Richard Ling - "The coral Turbinaria mesenterina. Tracey's Wonderland, Ribbon Reefs, Great Barrier Reef". Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.0 | Tuesday, October 2, 2012
By Charis Palmer, The Conversation
The Great Barrier Reef has lost half its coral cover in the last 27 years, and it could halve again by 2022 say researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
A study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found storm damage drove 48% of the loss, the crown of thorns starfish 42%, and bleachi | {
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Public transportation can play an important role in the economic, social and environmental outcomes of a city (BITRE 2009, Dodson et al 2011).
At an economic level, growing cities like Melbourne experience the 'positive' benefits of agglomeration economies. Businesses can access a more extensive customer base and labour market, leading to increased workforce specialisation, better matching of jobs with worker preferences and increased economic performance. These benefits are balanced against the 'negative' outcomes of a growing city: crowding, congestion, higher operating costs, and pollution. These 'negative' outcomes are known as agglomeration dis-economies (DoT 2012).
A public transportation network can play a substantial role in maximising the positive benefits of agglomeration while mitigating against the negatives by allowing a greater number of people to access geographically distant labour markets and reducing transportation costs (DoT 2012).
Public transport can positively influence the social outcomes in a city for people most at risk of social isolation — low-income earners, the unemployed, the elderly and people with a disability by providing easier access to employment, education, and health and community services (TTF 2010).
In terms of environmental outcomes, the public transport network can help mitigate against carbon emissions to the atmosphere by allowing people to make use of more sustainable forms of transport (DoT 2012a).
In response to these economic, environmental and social issues, Infrastructure Australia has identified public transport networks as critical to the long-term success of Australian cities (IA 2011). The Victorian Department of Transport recognises that understanding the trends and pressures facing the transport system is key to the effective delivery of services.
This survey presents demographic data on public transport users in Melbourne, and information on their frequency of use and the main reasons for using (or not using) public transport.
Melbourne’s public transport network is divided into two main zones1. Melbourne Metropolitan Public Transport Zone 1 (Zone 1) cover the city centre and most of the inner suburbs or Melbourne, while Melbourne Metropolitan Public Transport Zone 2 (Zone 2) covers most of the outer suburbs (Figure 4.1).
PERSONS WHO USED PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN THE LAST MONTH
Of the 3.1 million people living in Zones 1 and 2, 1.2 million (38%) used public transport in the last month. Just under half (585,300) of these public transport patrons lived in Zone 1, representing 57% of the total Zone 1 population (1.0 million). The remaining 609,100 public transport patrons lived in Zone 2, representing 29% of the total Zone 2 population— proportionally less than in Zone 1.
In 2009, 55% (567,000) of the Zone 1 population and 28% (557,800) of the Zone 2 population used public transport in the last month.
In 2011, persons in the two younger age groups in Zone 1 were more likely than persons in the three older age groups to have used public transport in the last month (Figure 4.2). A third of persons aged 18 to 24 years (68% or 95,600), and 25 to 34 years (67% or 184,600) used public transport in the last month.
Half the persons aged 35 to 44 years (50% or 98,600), 45 to 54 years (48% or 80,800), 55 to 64 years (48% or 57,200), and 65 years and over (52% or 68,400) used public transport.
Similarly in Zone 2, users in the two younger age groups were more likely than their older counterparts to have used public transport in the last month (Figure 4.2). Under half the persons aged 18 to 24 years (44% or 126,000), and a third of persons aged 25 to 34 years (37% or 144,700) used public transport.
A quarter of persons aged 35 to 44 years (24% or 98,300), one in five persons aged 45 to 54 years (22% or 79,900), and a quarter of persons 23% aged 55 to 64 years (23% or 70,500) and 65 years and over (26% or 89,600) used public transport.
In Zones 1 and 2, 37% (544,200) of persons employed full time and 40% (221,600) of persons employed part time used public transport in the last month, significantly less than the proportion of persons who were unemployed (55% or 69,300). Of those who were not in the labour force, 38% (359,200) used public transport in the last month.
FREQUENCY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT USE
Zone 1 patrons were more likely than Zone 2 patrons to use public transport one to two days a week (28% and 16% respectively). Zone 2 patrons (21%) were more likely to be low frequency patrons (less than once a month) than Zone 1 patrons (7%).
While a similar number of persons in Zone 1 (44% or 254,600) and Zone 2 (37% or 227,300) were high frequency patrons (three to seven days per week), nearly a third (30% or 77,700) of high frequency patrons in Zone 1 were in the highest equivalised household income quintile, compared with just over one in ten (12% or 26,600) in Zone 2.
MAIN REASON FOR USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Over half of public transport patrons in the total of Zones 1 and 2 (55% or 657,100) cited “More convenient than own transport/Less stress/Reduced travel time” as the main reason that public transport was used. “Cheaper than own transport" was cited by less than one in ten (9% or 111,800) public transport patrons.
Employed patrons in Zones 1 and 2 were more likely to respond that public transport was more convenient than their own transport, it was less stressful or it reduced travel time (64%) than those who responded they have no private form of transport or their own transport was unavailable (16%).
A quarter (25%) of unemployed patrons cited “More convenient than own transport/Less stress/Reduced travel time”, compared to a third (35%) who cited "Have no private form of transport/Own transport unavailable".
For patrons not in the labour force, 43% cited “More convenient than own transport/Less stress/Reduced travel time” and 31% cited "Have no private form of transport/Own transport unavailable".
Patrons in both Zones 1 and 2 who cited “More convenient than own transport/Less stress/Reduced travel time” were more likely to be high frequency patrons (34% or 226,300) than all other frequencies of use (Figure 4.4).
Furthermore, over a quarter (26% or 82,000) of patrons in Zone 2 who cited “More convenient than own transport/Less stress/Reduced travel time” used public transport less than once a month, significantly higher than the proportion of Zone 1 patrons (7% or 24,500).
In Zone 1, 66% of patrons who cited “Cheaper than own transport” as the main reason for using public transport were high frequency users, significantly higher than the proportion of high frequency users in Zone 2 who cited the same reason (42%).
MAIN REASON FOR NOT USING PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Of the 1.9 million people in Zones 1 and 2 who did not use public transport in the last month, 75% (1.4 million) cited "Use own car for convenience/comfort/privacy" as the main reason for not using public transport, and 19% (352,600) who cited "Public transport services are inadequate, inconvenient or unavailable".
|1. The scope of the public transport chapter includes only people aged 18 years and over usually residing in Metropolitan Public Transport Zones 1 and 2 within Melbourne MSR. Metropolitan Public Transport Zones 1 and 2 had a population of 3.1 million people aged over 18 at the time of enumeration. In the year ending 30 June 2011, the total population (all ages included) for the Melbourne MSR was 4.1 million (ABS 2012). For more information, refer to the Glossary.|
ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) 2012, Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2011,
cat. no. 3218.0, ABS, Canberra
BITRE (Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics) 2009, Australian Strategic Transportation Agenda for Research and Technology
Australian Transport Council
> last viewed on 15 May 2012.
DoT (Department of Transport) 2012, Victoria’s Productivity: contexts, trends, and implications for the transport portfolio
, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne
DoT (Department of Transport) 2012a, Efficiency and environmental sustainability
, State Government of Victoria, Melbourne
> last viewed on 15 May 2012
Dodson, J, Mees, P, Stone, J & Burke, M 2011, The Principles of Public Transport Network Planning: A review of the emerging literature with selected examples
, Urban Research Program Issues Paper 15, Griffith University, Brisbane.
IA (Infrastructure Australia) 2011, Cities
, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra
> last viewed on 15 May 2012
TTF (Tourism and Transport Forum) 2010, Tourism & Transport Forum Position Paper: The benefits of public transport
> last viewed 5 May 2012
This page last updated 5 September 2012 | Public transportation can play an important role in the economic, social and environmental outcomes of a city (BITRE 2009, Dodson et al 2011).
At an economic level, growing cities like Melbourne experience the 'positive' benefits of agglomeration economies. Businesses can access a more extensive customer base and labour market, leading to increased workforce specialisation, better matching of jobs | {
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Australian Bureau of Statistics
4240.0.55.002 - National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Data Collection Guide, 2011
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/03/2012 First Issue
|Page tools: Print Page Print All RSS Search this Product|
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF ORGANISATION - ASGC 2010 (COLLECTION DISTRICT)
Concept: Geographic location of organisation - ASGC 2010 (CD).
Nominal definition: The geographic location of the service provider within a state or territory of Australia as represented by a geographical area code (CD).
Operational definition: Consistent with nominal definition.
Supporting data elements: CD is derived using the following data elements:
Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC)
Collection District (CD)
Standard Jurisdictional Output Categories
Classification Scheme: ASGC 2010
Representation class: Code
Data type: Number
Format: NNNNNNN, for example: 1129001
Maximum character length: 7
2999899 - Victoria: undefined CD
3999899 - Queensland: undefined CD
4999899 - South Australia: undefined CD
5999899 - Western Australia: undefined CD
6999899 - Tasmania: undefined CD
7999899 - Northern Territory: undefined CD
8999899 - Australian Capital Territory: undefined CD
9999899 - Other Territories: undefined CD
2.4.6 LEGAL VALUE CHECKS
Guide for Use
Unknown CD codes
For use when the address of the service provider is not known or incomplete and unable to be coded to CD, or where the jurisdiction is unable to accurately code to CD. Where address information is unknown, the ABS requests that jurisdictions identify the reason for the unknown response and document any follow-up processes undertaken.
Related URL data element: Geographic location of organisation - ASGC 2010 (Collection District).
This page last updated 12 March 2013
Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us. | Australian Bureau of Statistics
4240.0.55.002 - National Early Childhood Education and Care Collection: Data Collection Guide, 2011
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 07/03/2012 First Issue
|Page tools: Print Page Print All RSS Search this Product|
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF ORGANISATION - ASGC 2010 (COLLECTION DISTRICT)
Concept: Geographic location of organisation - ASGC 2010 (CD).
N | {
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Announced in April 2011, the Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy program is a joint initiative of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills and the Department of Education. The incentive will provide apprentices with the opportunity to gain work experience to successfully progress through their training to become journeyperson certified. The program will help address the difficulties apprentices have had in gaining employment experience, especially those in their first and second year blocks of training.
Newfoundland and Labrador's education and apprenticeship system can help you get the training and experience you need to become a professional, skilled tradesperson.
If you are looking for more information on apprenticeship in Newfoundland and Labrador, please visit the Apprenticeship and Certification site.
Note: all links below are PDFs and will open in a new window. | Announced in April 2011, the Apprenticeship Wage Subsidy program is a joint initiative of the Department of Advanced Education and Skills and the Department of Education. The incentive will provide apprentices with the opportunity to gain work experience to successfully progress through their training to become journeyperson certified. The program will help address the difficulties apprentices hav | {
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Subject line removed by order of the
In order to assist
the Committee’s deliberations on the above matter the following comments are
provided in relation to the specific questions posed by the Committee.
How the Commonwealth Prosecution Policy is
applied to Criminal Charges brought under the Corporations Act 2001
The Corporations Act 2001 is a Commonwealth
Act. The Prosecutions Policy of the
Commonwealth is applied to prosecutions under this Act in the same way that is
applied to prosecutions under any other Commonwealth Act.
In practical terms
the Prosecution Policy requires that for a prosecution to be instituted:
- there is admissible, substantial and
reliable evidence that a criminal offence known to the law has been
committed by the alleged offender;
- there is a reasonable prospect of
- it is in the public interest to
requires an evaluation of how strong the case is likely to be when presented in
court. It requires the prosecutor to
take into account matters such as the availability, competence and credibility
of witnesses and their likely impression on the court as well as the
admissibility of other evidence such as any confession by the offender. The prosecutor must have regard to any likely
defences open to the offender.
Under what circumstances, if any, the DPP
would be prepared to rely on the evidence of potentially hostile witnesses
The DPP has a duty
to call all witnesses who are credible and can give relevant evidence. This is the case even though the witness’s
evidence may not assist the prosecution case.
However, if the DPP forms the view that the witness is not telling the
truth or will not give truthful evidence when called the DPP may decline to
call that person to give evidence. In
some cases as a matter of fairness and, if requested by the defence, the DPP
may call that witness to be made available for cross examination by the
In other cases a
potential witness may not be willing to cooperate with the investigatory agency
and provide a statement which sets out truthfully and accurately the evidence
that the person is able to give in court if called as a witness. In these cases an inquiry must be made as to
the reason why the person is not willing to cooperate. In some cases it may be clear that the
witness is concerned as to their own position and is fearful of being
prosecuted for an offence. In these
cases the witness may be invited to provide to the investigators an induced
statement which sets out the evidence the person can give in the matter which
will be used for the purpose of assessing whether that witness is suitable to
receive an indemnity from the DPP. The
induced statement cannot be used against the witness in court. There is close liaison between the
investigatory agency and the DPP prior to inviting a witness to give an induced
statement to ensure that it is appropriate.
Under the Prosecution Policy an indemnity, or more correctly an
undertaking under section 9(6) or section 9(6D) of the DPP Act, is given as a
last resort to secure a witness’s testimony and only where the witness can be
regarded as significantly less culpable than the defendant. Generally the Prosecution Policy requires
that the witness be dealt with in relation to their criminality and that their
cooperation be taken into account as a mitigatory factor in their sentencing.
In other cases the
witness may not be willing to cooperate for a reason other than self
incrimination. Examples of this might be
professional advisers who may regard such cooperation as a potential breach of
their duty of confidentiality. Generally
where there is sufficient evidence to justify a prosecution even without that
witness’s evidence, and the DPP is confident that if called the witness will
give truthful and relevant evidence, the DPP may subpoena the person to give
evidence even if that person has failed to cooperate with the investigation.
Whether evidence obtained in accordance with
notices issued under section 19 of the ASIC Act assist the DPP to undertake
Section 19 is a
powerful investigatory tool that is of great utility in ASIC
investigations. In the context of
investigations with a view to establishing a criminal offence section 19 can be
used to examine potential defendants with a view to establishing what those
persons would say in relation to the allegations. It provides an insight into likely defences
and may assist in avoiding unwarranted prosecutions.
Section 19 is also a
useful tool in establishing what a potential witness might be able to say. However, because it is an investigatory tool
section 19 examinations may not have the required degree of focus to always be
of use in a prosecution. For example a
section 19 examination may be wide ranging and be at an early stage in the
investigation, it may not explore areas of criminality as fully as required to
bring criminal charges and if the examiners are not precise in their questions
may give rise to ambiguities and uncertainties.
Further because such examinations are conducted in a relatively formal
atmosphere some witnesses may not be at ease and ready to volunteer information
as distinct from a willing cooperation with the investigation.
will still be a need for investigators to focus a witness’s attention to the
specific matters required to be proved to establish the elements of an
offence. Practical experience has shown
that if a person is approached as a potential witness with a view to taking a
statement they may be more willing to cooperate than if required to attend a compulsory
examination under section 19.
Where a professional
witness is unwilling to provide a statement but otherwise willing to tell the
truth in a section 19 examination the process may be useful in determining what
the witness will say when called to give evidence in court. In this case the DPP would be confident that
even though the witness has not cooperated in providing a statement, that
witness would give relevant and truthful evidence in court.
Whether the MOU between the DPP and ASIC
remains an appropriate instrument to facilitate successful criminal
The MOU between the
DPP and ASIC was first agreed in September 1992. Understandably some of the procedural
concepts in the MOU are now dated. For
example ASIC’s investigatory techniques have changed and developed. However, many of the fundamental concepts
contained in the MOU are still relevant to the relationship between ASIC and
the DPP. The DPP regards it as important
that there be full and early consultation between the regulator and the
prosecutor as to potential criminal cases.
We recognise that ASIC is the investigator and the decision to
investigate and carriage of the investigation are matters for ASIC. However, where the DPP can assist ASIC by
advising as to potential evidentiary difficulties or areas of potential criminality,
we feel that we can add value to the process to assist in focussing the
investigation and assist ASIC in producing a brief of evidence that is able to
be successfully prosecuted.
The DPP and ASIC
have recognised that the MOU requires updating and have commenced work on a
project to produce a new MOU that both recognises the roles and
responsibilities of each organisation as well as the principles of cooperation
to be employed in achieving a proper and appropriate outcome in the area of
corporate criminal enforcement.
Whether the DPP would recommend any
amendments to the Corporations Act in order to remove obstacles to just
There are 3 areas of
law reform that the DPP has suggested or supported in the past.
The DPP has for some
time suggested that consideration be given to inserting a general fraud
provision in the Corporations Act. In
our 2000 – 2001 Annual Report we noted that if a case that has been
investigated by ASIC involves a fraud on a company, or a fraud using a company
structure, it is often necessary for the DPP to lay charges under the fraud or
theft provisions of State Acts. In some
case the DPP has laid only State offences and this has led to challenges to the
DPP’s power to prosecute or appeal inadequate sentences imposed in those
cases. Further Commonwealth criminal law
has developed over the years and now differs in marked respect to State
law. The introduction of the
Commonwealth Criminal Code has meant that different principles of criminal
responsibility apply to Commonwealth offences than State offences. In some case it may not be possible to
prosecute State offences on the same indictment. All these developments have created the need
to consider the enactment of more general fraud offences in the Corporations
The second area of
reform concerns section 184(1) of the Corporations Act 2001 and was referred to
in the DPP’s 2001 – 2002 Annual Report.
This provision relates to conduct which involves a breach by a director
or officer of a corporation of duties they owe to that corporation. Section 184(1) makes it an offence if a
director is reckless and fails to exercise his or her powers in good faith in
the best interests of the corporation for a proper purpose.
principles of criminal responsibility in Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code now
apply to offences against the Corporations Act, including offences against
section 184. However, the effect of
applying these general principles to section 184 is that there is uncertainty
as to how the concept of recklessness can apply as drafted. The DPP has suggested it would be appropriate
to amend the law to provide some certainty.
The final area of
law reform that the DPP supported was a proposal put by ASIC to enable ASIC to
require a person who is examined under section 19 and who can give relevant
evidence in a prosecution to provide ASIC with a statement of the evidence for
the purposes of a criminal prosecution.
As currently framed it is not certain that the power in section 49 of
the ASIC Act will enable ASIC to require a person to give such a statement.
Damian Bugg AM QC
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page
Back to top | Subject line removed by order of the
In order to assist
the Committee’s deliberations on the above matter the following comments are
provided in relation to the specific questions posed by the Committee.
How the Commonwealth Prosecution Policy is
applied to Criminal Charges brought under the Corporations Act 2001
The Corporations Act 2001 is a Commonwealth
Act. The Prosecutions Policy of the
Commo | {
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Study Reveals New Method for Managing Cheatgrass Fires;
Targeted Herbicides Cited as Solution for Reducing Future Damage
Tuesday February 25, 2003
CASPER, Wyo., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Joe Vollmer, a senior market development specialist at BASF Corporation, today presented the results of a joint study completed by BASF and Synergy Resource Solutions Inc. identifying a new method for managing cheatgrass and reducing the severity of rangeland wildfires. Vollmer presented the findings at the Cheatgrass Awareness Conference sponsored by the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in Casper, Wyoming.
According to the study, the application of Plateau®, a targeted herbicide, to cheatgrass infested areas eliminates this fine fuel, effectively creating "fuel breaks," or buffer zones that help control wildfires. Incorporating the herbicide into a land management plan can decrease fuel loads, which can reduce the risk of loss of life, structures, and vegetation in areas of concern.
The results, conducted on test plots in Boise, Idaho, show a significant impact on fire intensity in areas where the herbicide was applied. Findings indicate flame height can be reduced by 68 percent to 88 percent and fire spread can be minimized by 78 percent to 95 percent. Reducing fires to this level allows for control with hand tools.
According to the Federal Interagency Committee for the Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds (FICMNEW), cheatgrass is one of the most dominant invasive vegetation species, infesting more than 100 million acres of land in the Western United States alone and causing over $138 billion in damages from resulting wildfires. Cheatgrass has altered the frequency and occurrence of major wildfires from every 60 years to every three years. Cheatgrass is a recognized problem in the Great Basin states (Nevada, Utah, Idaho and Oregon) and is quickly becoming problematic in Wyoming and Colorado.
"Wildfire prevention and control was a key theme over the summer, as millions of acres were devastated by forest fires in the West and the Bush Administration called for action," says Vollmer. "Unfortunately, the role of cheatgrass as an ignition source and the need for control was left out of the dialogue -- immediate education and action in this area are crucial to reducing future catastrophic fires."
In addition to increasing and intensifying wildfires, cheatgrass inhibits the growth of indigenous plant life and threatens the overall health of grasslands, forests and animal life. Mechanical removal and prescribed burns have been used to control cheatgrass in the past; however, these methods are costly and generally not effective.
"Our past restoration efforts indicate that effective cheatgrass control is essential before these degraded areas can be successfully seeded back to diverse plant communities. Herbicides such as Plateau that target annual plants have proven to be a highly effective method for controlling cheatgrass," said Steve Jirik, fuels management specialist with the Bureau of Land Management, who worked with BASF in the Boise test plot study. "We hope the lessons from the Boise study can be applied to private and public lands in an effort to restore rangelands dominated by invasive grasses throughout the Western United States."
According to Vollmer, fall is the ideal season for preventive cheatgrass measures, as vegetation begins to emerge during this time and a pre-emergence application of Plateau herbicide is most effective.
BASF and Synergy plan to release additional research from test plots throughout the Western United States. | Study Reveals New Method for Managing Cheatgrass Fires;
Targeted Herbicides Cited as Solution for Reducing Future Damage
Tuesday February 25, 2003
CASPER, Wyo., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Joe Vollmer, a senior market development specialist at BASF Corporation, today presented the results of a joint study completed by BASF and Synergy Resource Solutions Inc. identifying a new method for managing c | {
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DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2012-119
How to Prevent Latex Allergies
Latex products are made from natural rubber, and sensitivity can develop after repeated exposure. Limiting exposure to latex can help prevent allergic reactions for both home healthcare workers and their clients.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
TTY: (888) 232-6348
- New Hours of Operation
- Contact CDC-INFO | DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number 2012-119
How to Prevent Latex Allergies
Latex products are made from natural rubber, and sensitivity can develop after repeated exposure. Limiting exposure to latex can help prevent allergic reactions for both home healthcare workers and their clients.
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
TTY: ( | {
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Fire Fighter Dies as a Result of a Cardiac Arrest While Working at the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash - Alabama
On June 27, 1998, a 43-year-old male Captain lost consciousness enroute to the hospital after serving as Incident Commander at the scene of a motor vehicle crash. The Captain was assisting injured civilians and assisting with clean-up operations when he complained of heartburn and stomach pain. Witnesses noted his excessive sweating during these activities and attributed this to the high temperature and high humidity. Approximately 50 minutes into the response, the victim began completing response paperwork inside the Engines air conditioned cab. While sitting in the officers seat (passenger side), he activated the Engines manual siren to signal for help. As two fire fighters approached the Engine, he said "I need to go to the doctor," without mentioning any particular symptoms. Approximately 1 minute into the 4 minute ride to the hospital, he lost consciousness, but maintained a pulse and respirations. Approximately 45 seconds from the hospital, he went into full cardiac arrest.
Upon arrival at the emergency room, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), followed by advanced life support (ALS), was performed in the hospital emergency department. After approximately 45 minutes, resuscitation measures were discontinued. The death certificate listed cardiopulmonary arrest as the immediate cause of death, as a consequence of acute coronary insufficiency due to myocardial infarction. The autopsy report listed the final diagnosis as acute myocardial infarction secondary to thrombosis of severely compromised coronary arteries.
The following recommendations address health and safety issues in general. These recommendations rely on a three-pronged strategy for reducing the risk of on-duty heart attacks and cardiac arrests among fire fighters, as proposed by other agencies. This strategy consists of 1) minimizing physical stress on fire fighters 2) screening to identify and subsequently rehabilitate high risk individuals and 3) encouraging increased individual physical capacity. Steps that could be taken to accomplish these include:
Provide adequate fire fighter staffing to ensure safe operating conditions
Provide fire fighter medical evaluations that are consistent with the content and frequency as those required by OSHA and recommended by NFPA, and the International Association of Fire Fighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs
- Reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease and improve cardiovascular capacity by phasing in a mandatory wellness/fitness program for fire fighters.
INTRODUCTION & METHODS
On June 27, 1997, a 43-year-old male Captain lost consciousness enroute to the hospital after serving as Incident Commander at the scene of a motor vehicle crash. Despite CPR and ALS administered by the emergency room personnel, the victim died. NIOSH was notified of this fatality on June 30, 1998, by the United States Fire Administration. On September 21, 1998, Tommy Baldwin, a Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, Thomas Hales, Senior Medical Officer, and Sally Brown, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer from the NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, traveled to Alabama to conduct an onsite investigation of the incident.
During the investigation NIOSH personnel met with and interviewed the
Local President of the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
The Citys Loss Prevention Director
Fire Department personnel involved in this incident
During the site visit NIOSH personnel also reviewed:
Existing Fire Department investigative records, including incident reports, co-worker
statements, dispatch records, police investigation report, the victims medical evaluations conducted for the Fire Department, and photographs of the crash scene
Fire Department policies and operating procedures
Fire Department training records
Fire Department annual report for 1997
Past medical records of the deceased
The emergency departments records of the resuscitation effort
Autopsy results and death certificate of the deceased.
NIOSH personnel also
Contacted the medical group conducting the Fire Departments medical evaluations
Contacted the pathologist who performed the autopsy.
Crash Scene Response.On June 27, 1998, at 0716 hours, Central Dispatch notified the Fire Department of a motor vehicle crash with two people ejected and a fuel spill. Engine 515, staffed by three department personnel (Captain [the victim], engineer [driver/operator], and fire fighter), responded at 0717 hours. The crew, which had been on duty just 16 minutes prior to the dispatchers call, arrived at the crash scene at approximately 0720 hours.
At the scene, two persons had been injured in a three-vehicle crash. Injuries sustained to the civilians were not critical, but they required ambulance transport to the local hospitals emergency department. The Captain and fire fighter assisted the crash victims, while the Engineer began clean-up operations. At 0727 hours, the Captain, serving as Incident Commander, requested an additional Engine to bring "oil dry" to the scene to absorb the diesel fuel leaking from the disabled vehicles. At 0729 hours, Engine 510 (Captain, Engineer, and fire fighter) responded with the "oil dry" to the crash scene. Engine 510 arrived on scene at 0735 hours. The victim and other crew members lifted the 40- to 50- pound bags of "oil dry" off the Engine and spread it onto the roadway. Shortly thereafter, additional crew members began sweeping the "oil dry" off the road. At that time the victim related to the fire fighter from Engine 515 that he had heartburn and needed a "Rolaid." The victim was sweating excessively, although no one considered this noteworthy, considering the weather conditions (approx 85° F with high humidity).
At 0742 hours, Engine 510 departed the scene for Station 2 to retrieve more "oil dry." The victim spoke to the Engineer of Engine 515 about the incident. The Engineer, noting the victims excessive sweating, suggested that he complete the incident report inside the air-conditioned cab of Engine 515. The victim entered the cab of Engine 515, occupying the officers (front passenger) seat, to complete the report. At approximately 0818 hours, the victim activated the Engines manual siren. Two fire fighters went to the Engine to determine if another emergency response call had been received. The victim leaned out the window and said, "I need to go to the doctor." A fire fighter asked him what was wrong, and he repeated, "I need to go to the doctor."
The crew (Engineer and fire fighter) immediately loaded their shovels into Engine 515, and at 0820 hours, were enroute to the hospital. The victim lost consciousness about 1 minute into the 4-minute ride to the hospital. At 0821 hours, Engine 515 notified Central Dispatch to alert the hospital that they were responding with a possible heart attack victim. The fire fighter, riding in the enclosed crew compartment behind the officers seat, reached forward, slapped the victim on the arm and shouted his name. The victim regained consciousness with a weak carotid pulse and shallow respirations.
At 0822 hours, Engine 515 notified Central Dispatch of their estimated arrival time at the hospital in 2 minutes. At this time the victim lost consciousness a second time. Again, the fire fighter struck the victim in the arm/chest area and again the victim responded by regaining consciousness with a weak carotid pulse and slow respirations. At 0823 hours, the victim lost consciousness a third time. The fire fighter tried to arouse the victim, with no success. At this time the Engine was approximately 45 seconds from the hospital.
Engine 515 arrived at the hospital at 0824 hours. The victim was placed onto a hospital cot, where initial evaluation revealed the victim to be unconscious, pulseless, and without respiration. CPR was initiated, and he was wheeled into the emergency department where an intravenous line, an endotracheal tube, and heart monitor leads were placed. Initially, he had pulseless, slow (approximately 60 beats/minute) ventricular activity which degenerated into ventricular fibrillation. ALS administered by the hospitals emergency department for over 25 minutes was unable to generate a pulse or spontaneous respirations. He was pronounced dead at 0850 hours.
Medical Findings.The death certificate was completed by the emergency departments physician. The immediate cause of death was listed as "cardiopulmonary arrest" due to "acute coronary insufficiency" due to "myocardial infarction" due to "exertional activity to be confirmed by post mortem." Blood tests in the emergency department revealed a carboxyhemoglobin level of 2.0%, indicating that the deceased was not exposed to excessive concentrations of carbon monoxide prior to his death. Blood alcohol and drug screens were negative.
Medical records indicated that the victim had several risk factors for coronary artery disease. He had two episodes of chest pain thought to be potentially related to coronary artery disease, the most recent episode being 2 years prior to his death. During that most recent episode, he was hospitalized, but blood tests for cardiac enzymes "ruled out" a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Three weeks later he underwent a graded exercise stress test (thallium and electrocardiogram [EKG]). His exercise test only lasted 7 minutes due to fatigue and leg pains. During those 7 minutes, no ischemic changes or arrhythmias were noted on his EKG. The thallium scan showed an anterior and inferior wall defect possibly "on the basis of diaphragm and soft tissue overlay attenuation." He maintained a moderate amount of work activity without chest pain, both on the job and off-the-job, right up to this event. He frequently experienced "heartburn," described as a burning epigastric pain occurring after meals and relieved by antacids. Pertinent findings from the autopsy, performed by a private pathologist at the familys request on June 27, 1998 are listed below:
Acute myocardial infarction (2.2 cm) of the left lateral ventricle;
Left atrial rupture (2.5 cm) with hemorrhage into the pericardial fat, but no hemopericardium present;
Severe calcific coronary artery disease with circumflex artery thrombosis;
Remote, global subendocardial myocardial infarct of the left ventricle;
Moderate to severe chronic ischemic heart disease;
Moderate biventricular hypertrophy;
No evidence of significant valvular problems.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
At the time of the NIOSH investigation, the Fire Department was comprised of 33 uniformed personnel and served a population of 18,000 in a geographic area of 16.4 square miles. There were two fire stations where fire fighters worked 24 hours on duty (0700 hours to 0700 hours) and were off 48 hours. Each shift of an engine company was staffed with five fire fighters; however, due to vacation and/or sick days, the engine company was frequently staffed with less than four fire fighters.
In 1997, the department responded to 582 calls: 167 motor vehicle accidents, 76 false runs, 59 fire alarm systems responses, 42 spills; 42 canceled runs, 36 structure fires, 35 vehicle fires, 30 outdoor fires, 23 smoke calls, 16 electrical calls, 16 agency assistance, 12 ruptures/explosions; 10 good intent, 7 controlled burns, 6 EMS, 3 bomb threats, and 2 search and rescues.
Training.The Fire Department provides all new fire fighters with the basic 320-hour recruit training required by the State of Alabama. The department also recommends 20 hours of additional on-the-job training each month. The training is provided primarily during in-service days by the company officers of each engine company. The victim had 22 years of fire fighting experience, was a certified Fire Fighter Level II, and was promoted to Captain in March 1998.
Medical Clearance and Physical Fitness.All fire fighters in this department receive a pre-employment evaluation. The evaluation consists of a medical history, height, weight, blood pressure, visual acuity, audiometry, physical examination, spirometry, blood and urine tests, chest X-ray, and EKG. Other tests can be ordered at the discretion of the examining physician. Fire fighters with HazMat training (about half of the department) received annual evaluations consisting of medical history update, job exposure history, height, weight, visual acuity, and blood pressure. Other tests can be ordered at the discretion of the examining physician. In 1997, the department required this annual evaluation for all fire fighters in the department. The department does not have a specific medical clearance evaluation for respirator use. The victim had passed his annual medical evaluation approximately 9 months prior to his cardiac arrest. This department does not have a physical agility/fitness requirement for new or current fire fighters. In 1995, the department began a fitness training program to enhance the physical condition of fire fighters. The program has been administered by a local physical fitness coordinator. Fire fighters are required to spend at least 1 hour per shift at the gymnasium, but participation is not enforced.
In the United States, coronary artery disease (atherosclerosis) is the most common risk factor for cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death.1 Risk factors for its development include increasing age, male gender, family history of coronary artery disease, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, obesity, physical inactivity, and diabetes.2 The victim had many of these risk factors, and, on autopsy, had severe atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in the three main coronary arteries.
The narrowing of the coronary arteries by atherosclerotic plaques occurs over many years, typically decades.3 However, the growth of these plaques probably occurs in a nonlinear, often abrupt fashion.4 Heart attacks typically occur with the sudden development of complete blockage (occlusion) in one or more coronary arteries that have not developed a collateral blood supply.5 This sudden blockage is primarily due to blood clots (thrombosis) forming on the top of atherosclerotic plaques. On autopsy, the victim was found to have a blood clot (thrombosis) superimposed on an atherosclerotic plaque, completing blocking one of his coronary arteries (the circumflex artery). This blockage was responsible for his fatal heart attack (2.2-cm by 2.1-cm infarct in the left ventricle).
Blood clots, or thrombus formation, in coronary arteries are initiated by disruption of atherosclerotic plaques. Certain characteristics of the plaques (size, composition of the cap and core, presence of a local inflammatory process) predispose the plaque to disruption. Disruption then occurs from biomechanical and hemodynamic forces, such as increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased catecholamines, and shear forces, which occur during heavy exercise.6,7 Epidemiologic studies have found that heavy physical exertion sometimes immediately proceeds and triggers the onset of acute heart attacks.8-11
Firefighting activities are strenuous and often require fire fighters to work at near maximal heart rates for long periods. The increase in heart rate has been shown to begin with response to the initial alarm and persist through the course of fire suppression activities.12-14 The mental and physical stress of responding to the Fire Department alarm, assisting the injured civilians and assisting with clean-up activities in hot and humid weather, and the victims underlying coronary artery disease all probably contributed to his heart attack, cardiac arrest, and sudden cardiac death. The autopsy also documented evidence of another heart attack that occurred at least 1 year prior to his death (1-cm subendocardial lesion in the left ventricle). According to our interviews and review of his medical records, the patient only complained of two episodes of chest pain. The first episode was noted in his chart 7 years ago, but no medical work-up was undertaken at that time. The most recent episode of chest pain occurred 2 years ago and he was admitted to the hospital for a "rule-out MI." During that hospitalization he was found, by EKG and blood tests (cardiac isoenzymes), NOT to have had a heart attack. As mentioned earlier in this report, 3 weeks after hospital discharge the victim did have a graded exercise stress test (thallium and EKG). The thallium scan showed an anterior and inferior wall defect thought to be "diaphragm and soft tissue overlay attenuation." This defect, however, may well have represented this mans previous heart attack. On the other hand, up to 40% of all heart attacks are previously unrecognized for reasons that are unknown.15
This remote heart attack was not identified by several resting EKGs conducted over the past 7 years. This is not surprising given the location (subendocardial) and small size (1 cm) of his prior heart attack. In either case, why this victim did not have frequent episodes of angina (heart pain) during the moderate amount of physical activity he performed around the house is puzzling. During the NIOSH investigation, the possibility of toxic fumes from the "oil dry" used to clean up the leaking diesel fuel was mentioned as a possible contributing factor to the heart attack. Material safety data sheets of "oil dry" reveal that it is a 100% silica-based product. Silica is not known to cause acute or chronic cardiac problems; therefore, it is extremely unlikely that "oil dry" could have produced cardiac toxicity precipitating this mans sudden cardiac death. Another possibility is that this mans chronic "heartburn" was actually heart pain (angina). While plausible, we consider this unlikely given the discomforts onset, type, location, and relief via antacids. It is more likely that he suffered a "silent" or "painless" heart attack several years ago. Silent MIs (painless heart attacks) are not unusual events, representing up to 20% of all heart attacks.15
One final issue raised several times during the investigation was the rescuing fire fighters decision to take the victim directly to the hospital, rather than requesting an ambulance. Given that the victim was initially conscious and that the hospital was only 4 minutes away, we believe this was a logical choice. Once the victim lost consciousness, 45 seconds from the hospital, a correct decision was made to continue onto the hospital rather than stopping the Engine to transfer the victim to the bed of the Engine and perform CPR while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
RECOMMENDATIONS and DISCUSSION
The following recommendations address general health and safety measures. This list includes some preventive measures that have been recommended by other agencies to reduce the risk of on-the-job heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest among fire fighters. These recommendations have not been evaluated by NIOSH, but represent research presented in the literature or of consensus votes of Technical Committees of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)or labor/management groups within the fire service. In addition, they are presented in a logical programmatic order, and are not listed in a priority manner.
Recommendation #1: Provide adequate fire fighter staffing to ensure safe operating conditions.
Discussion: On the day of the incident, there were 3 crew members offduty (sick leave or vacation), leaving each Engine company with 3 "on-duty" personnel. Interviews conducted during this investigation suggested this is a common occurrence. OSHAs revised respiratory protection standard requires employees working in "Atmospheres that are Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health," which includes structural firefighting, to work in a double buddy system.16 This double buddy system, or "2-in/2-out" rule, is designed to protect fire fighters while conducting interior structural fire fighting operations. Because municipal Fire Departments are public agencies with public employees, and because Alabama does not operate an OSHA-approved State plan, the employer is NOT REQUIRED to comply with this or other OSHA standards. Nonetheless, we recommend voluntary compliance with this OSHA standard to ensure fire fighter safety. This could be accomplished by any of the following: (1) increasing the number of fire fighters assigned to a company, (2) hiring fire fighters to act as "floaters" to fill in positions vacated by employees who are sick or who are on vacation, (3) staggering vacation days in conjunction with hiring floating fire fighters. The basis for this standard is improvement of worker safety while fighting interior structural fires.
Recommendation #2: Provide fire fighter medical evaluations that are consistent with the content and frequency as those required by OSHA and recommended by NFPA, and the International Association of Fire Fighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs.
Discussion: Guidance regarding the content and scheduling of periodic medical examinations for fire fighters can be found in the OSHA Repiratory Protection Standard, NFPA 1582, Standard on Medical Requirements for Fire Fighters,17 and in the report of the International Association of Fire Fighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs wellness/fitness initiative.18 As discussed previously, the department is not legally required to follow these standards. The department has contracted with a single medical group to provide fire fighter medical evaluations. This medical group has tried to follow NFPA 1582 Standard, but varying levels of funding for the departments medical evaluations have hampered compliance. For example, 1997-1998 was the first year that all fire fighters received an annual evaluation. In addition, NFPA 1582 suggests exercise stress tests for those with at least one coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factor beginning at age 35. This department has not conducted any exercise stress tests.
In addition to providing guidance on the frequency and content of the medical evaluation, NFPA 1582 provides guidance on medical requirements for persons performing fire fighting tasks. Applying NFPA 1582 involves legal and economic issues, so it should be carried out in a nondiscriminatory manner. Appendix D of NFPA 1582 provides guidance for Fire Department Administrators regarding legal considerations in applying the standard. Economic issues go beyond the costs of administering the medical program. Department administrators, unions, and fire fighters must also deal with the personal and economic costs of the medical testing results. NFPA 1500 addresses these issues in Chapter 8-7.1 and 8-7.2.19 The success of medical programs may hinge on protecting the affected fire fighter. The department should provide alternate duty positions, if possible, for fire fighters in rehabilitation programs. If the fire fighter is not medically qualified to return to duty after repeat testing, supportive and/or compensated alternatives for the fire fighter should be pursued by the Department.
Recommendation #3: Reduce risk factors for cardiovascular disease and improve cardiovascular capacity by phasing in a mandatory wellness/fitness program for fire fighters.
Discussion: NFPA 1500 requires a wellness program that provides health promotion activities for preventing health problems and enhancing overall well-being.19 In 1997, the International Association of Fire Fighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs joined in a comprehensive Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative to improve fire fighter quality of life and maintain physical and mental capabilities of fire fighters. Ten fire departments across the United States joined this effort to pool information about their physical fitness programs and to create a practical fire service program. They produced a manual with a video detailing elements of such a program.18 Fire departments should review these materials to identify applicable elements for their department.
1. Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al . Harrisons principles of internal medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill 222-225.
2. American Heart Association (AHA). AHA scientific position, risk factors for coronary artery disease. Dallas, Texas,1998.
3. Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al . Harrisons principles of internal medicine. 14th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill p. 1348.
4. Shah PK . Plaque disruption and coronary thrombosis: new insight into pathogenesis and prevention. Clin Cardiol 20 (11) (Suppl2): II-38-44.
5. Fuster V, Badimon JJ, Badimon JH . The pathogenesis of coronary artery disease and the acute coronary syndromes. N Eng J Med 326:242-50.
6. Kondo NI, Muller JE . Triggering of acute myocardial infarction. J Cardiovasc Risk 2(6):499-504.
7. Opie LH . New concepts regarding events that lead to myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Drug Ther 9 (Suppl 3):479-487.
8. Willich SN, Lewis M, Lowel H, et al . Physical exertion as a trigger of acute myocardial infarction. N Eng J Med 329:1684-90.
9. Mittleman MA, Maclure M, Tofler GH, et al . Triggering of acute myocardial infarction by heavy physical exertion. N Eng J Med 329:1677-83.
10. Siscovick DS, Weiss NS, Fletcher RH, Lasky T . N Eng J Med 311:874-7.
11. Tofler GH, Muller JE, Stone PH, et al. . Modifiers of timing and possible triggers of acute myocardial infarction in the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction Phase II (TIMI II) Study Group. J Am Coll Cardiol; 20:1049-55.
12. Barnard RJ, Duncan HW . Heart rate and ECG responses of fire fighters. J Occup Med;17:247-250.
13. Manning JE, Griggs TR . Heart rate in fire fighters using light and heavy breathing equipment: Simulated near maximal exertion in response to multiple work load conditions. J Occup Med; 25:215-218.
14. Lemon PW, Hermiston RT . The human energy cost of fire fighting. J Occup Med;19:558-562.
15. Bertolet BD, Hill JA . Unrecognized myocardial infarction. Cardiovasc Clin 20(1):173-82.
16. 29 CFR 1910.134. Code of Federal Regulations. Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Respiratory Protection. Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, Office of the Federal Register.
17. National Fire Protection Association . NFPA 1582, Standard on Medical Requirements for Fire Fighters. NFPA, Quincy MA.
18. International Association of Fire Fighters . The fire service joint labor management wellness/fitness initiative. International Association of Fire Fighters, Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Washington DC.
19. National Fire Protection Association . NFPA 1500, Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. NFPA, Quincy, MA.
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This page was last updated on 11/21/05 | Fire Fighter Dies as a Result of a Cardiac Arrest While Working at the Scene of a Motor Vehicle Crash - Alabama
On June 27, 1998, a 43-year-old male Captain lost consciousness enroute to the hospital after serving as Incident Commander at the scene of a motor vehicle crash. The Captain was assisting injured civilians and assisting with clean-up operations when he complained of heartburn and stomac | {
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Earth from Space: Northern Sweden
The vast and widely varied landscape of northern Sweden, just below the Arctic Circle, is shown in this SPOT-4 image. Mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, valleys, rocks, boulders and barren cliffs make up this area that is often called ‘Europe’s last wilderness’.
This area is commonly referred to as Lapland, which constitutes the western parts of Norrbotten (upper right) and Västerbotten (lower right) counties.
Norrbotten houses eight of Sweden’s 28 national parks, including the oldest and largest ones. All of Sweden's mountains above 1800 m are located here. Europe’s largest nature reserve, Vindelfjällen, is located in the northwestern part of Västerbotten.
The area above the Arctic Circle is often referred to as the ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’ because of a natural occurring phenomenon that allows the sun to shine for at least 24 hours from May until mid-July. The opposite phenomenon, called polar night, occurs in winter when the sun sits below the horizon, producing very little or no sunlight.
These phenomena occur in latitudes north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle. As Earth orbits the sun, its tilt places the North Pole towards the sun in the summer and away from the sun in the winter.
The Aurora Borealis, also called Northern Lights, can also be seen in this area from September to October and from March to April. The aurora is a result of high-speed electrons and protons from the sun entering into the atmosphere and colliding with air molecules, causing them to emit light.
To the north of this image is the famous Jukkasjärvi Ice Hotel, the world’s largest igloo. As Arctic temperatures drop each fall, the local inhabitants rebuild this hotel from 1000 to 2000 tons of snow.
SPOT-4 acquired this image on 9 May 2006. SPOT-4 is supported by ESA as a 'Third Party Mission', which means ESA utilises its multi-mission European ground infrastructure and expertise to acquire, process and distribute data from the satellite to its wide user community. | Earth from Space: Northern Sweden
The vast and widely varied landscape of northern Sweden, just below the Arctic Circle, is shown in this SPOT-4 image. Mountains, lakes, rivers, streams, valleys, rocks, boulders and barren cliffs make up this area that is often called ‘Europe’s last wilderness’.
This area is commonly referred to as Lapland, which constitutes the western parts of Norrbotten (upper | {
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Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) was established in 1973 as a national network of hostels providing affordable and culturally appropriate accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Today, AHL still fulfils that role, but with an increased emphasis on supporting Indigenous people to achieve better economic and social outcomes for themselves and their families, working in partnership with other organisations.
AHL is a company wholly owned by the Australian Government. It operates within the Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) portfolio. AHL has an independent non-executive Board of nine directors.
AHL’s vision is to work with government, business and communities to help close the gap between Indigenous and other Australians in education, health, employment, accommodation and quality of life. Its key purpose is to improve Indigenous quality of life through the delivery of hostel accommodation to enable access to education, employment, health and other services.
To meet the diverse needs of Indigenous people, AHL provides a range of hostel services in the following categories:
- Transitional / homeless - caters for homeless young people and adults, helping people develop life skills to enable them to live independently
- Homeless - caters for Indigenous people who are without any accommodation
- Indigenous Youth Mobility Program – supports young Indigenous people aged 16 to 24 to do trade apprenticeships, traineeships and tertiary studies by providing a place for them to stay if they need to move away from home to access these
- Tertiary education and training - provides subsidised accommodation to facilitate the opportunity for students to pursue further education and qualifications by relocating to larger centres
- Secondary education – supports Indigenous young people of school age who may need to live away from home in order to access education facilities
- Employment and training - provides accommodation for Indigenous young people or adults to access jobs or training
- Aged care - provides residential care for older Indigenous people particularly to those suffering from disabilities and chronic health problems, enabling residents to live in a supportive environment while continuing to live in the company of other Indigenous people
- Substance use rehabilitation - caters for Indigenous people participating in rehabilitation programs from the effects of substance use
- Medical - caters for Indigenous people who require accommodation while accessing medical treatment
- Renal - caters specifically for people who require access to treatment at local renal centres
AHL operates many hostels directly and also funds other community organisations to operate hostels through its Community Hostels Grants Program. In 2009–10, AHL operated 53 hostels and 14 Indigenous Youth Mobility Program houses and funded a further 51 hostels. Together, these services provided 2,900 beds every night across Australia and served around 8,500 meals each day.
AHL provides a culturally supportive network where most staff and all residents are Indigenous people. AHL is one of the largest providers of employment and training for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In June 2010, AHL had 559 employees, 78 per cent of whom were Indigenous.
For more information see the website of Aboriginal Hostels Limited. | Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) was established in 1973 as a national network of hostels providing affordable and culturally appropriate accommodation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Today, AHL still fulfils that role, but with an increased emphasis on supporting Indigenous people to achieve better economic and social outcomes for themselves and their families, working in partne | {
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You and Your Watershed
From your backyard to the Chesapeake Bay, what occurs in your neighborhood affects the water quality downstream. When it rains, stormwater runoff washes over the land, picking up contaminants including oil and grease from roads and parking lots; fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides from lawns and gardens; pet waste that was not picked up; and litter. This water flows into stormdrains, which discharge directly to our local streams and lakes, which flow into the Potomac River and then to the Chesapeake Bay.
Why Your Watershed is Important
Your watershed should be important to you for many reasons, but mostly because the quality of our drinking water supply and the water we enjoy during recreational activities is related to the health of our streams. Most of the public drinking water in Fairfax County comes from the Potomac River or the Occoquan Reservoir. Pollution in streams and lakes may keep us from using them for recreation. In fact, the Fairfax County Health Department discourages the use of streams for contact recreational purposes because of potential health risks.
Help Your Watershed
Environmental stewardship is everyone’s responsibility. By making small changes to your lifestyle, you can help protect and improve the quality of your watershed.
- Absorb or use rainwater on-site: Create a rain garden, install a rain barrel or help absorb more water by reducing lawn area and add more plants and trees.
- Fertilize in the fall, if at all: Excess fertilizers are washed off the land into streams by stormwater, polluting county streams and lakes and the Chesapeake Bay.
- Clean up after pets: Pet waste should be put in the trash or flushed down the toilet. Waste left on the ground washes into streams and contributes to high levels of bacteria in our water.
- Properly dispose of household chemicals: Stormdrains are not the place to dump household waste. The Fairfax County Household Hazardous Waste Program accepts and disposes hazardous chemicals from residents free of charge.
- Join a stream cleanup: Trash is not only unsightly; it is a hazard to the animals that make streams their homes. There are several regional cleanups throughout the area every year.
- Participate in watershed planning: Learn in which watershed you live and find the status of planning efforts in your watershed.
Additional information and other ideas can be found at Stormwater and Stream Health Action Steps.
For additional information, please contact the Stormwater Planning Division, 703-324-5500, TTY 711. | You and Your Watershed
From your backyard to the Chesapeake Bay, what occurs in your neighborhood affects the water quality downstream. When it rains, stormwater runoff washes over the land, picking up contaminants including oil and grease from roads and parking lots; fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides from lawns and gardens; pet waste that was not picked up; and litter. This water flows into | {
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Memorandum of Understanding
The Agricultural Marketing Service
United States Department of Agriculture
The Food and Drug Administration
United States Department of Health and Human Services
NAME OF PROJECT: Determination of the Reactivity of New Animal Drugs in Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Antimicrobial Detection Tests
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to ensure that sponsors of new antimicrobial animal drugs have access to an effective means for evaluating the effects of their drugs on current FSIS detection tests.
FSIS conducts screening and confirmation assays, based on microbial growth inhibition, to detect antimicrobial drug residues in animal tissue used for human food. These assays must be sufficiently reliable because they are important for ensuring food safety. However, new antimicrobial drugs have the potential to interfere with the current assays and FSIS's ability to correctly interpret the results. In addition to FSIS and CVM, manufacturers of antimicrobial animal drugs have an interest in avoiding such interference, particularly when interference causes a test to indicate a false positive. For these reasons, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requests that sponsors evaluate the effect of the antimicrobial new animal drugs on the residue detection tests FSIS commonly uses. This information is used in creating strategies to assure the continued reliability of the tests used to monitor food safety.
In FDA's experience, companies that sponsor new animal drugs often do not have ready access to laboratories that can properly evaluate the effects of their drugs on current FSIS detection tests. The Science and Technology Programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), has the ability to perform the necessary evaluation on a fee for service basis. Therefore, FDA and AMS, through this MOU, are agreeing to make that service available to drug sponsors.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Date of final signature.
ORGANIZATION: For AMS, members of the Microbiology Laboratory, USDA, AMS, Eastern Laboratory will perform the analyses, and the Laboratory Director will supervise them. The laboratory analysis will be performed at:
USDA, AMS, Science & Technology
National Science Laboratory
801 Summit Crossing Place, Suite B
Gastonia, North Carolina 28054
AMS contact: Laboratory Director
The FDA office responsible for reviewing the human food safety aspects of new animal drugs is the Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, Division of Human Food Safety. This office is located at:
Center for Veterinary Medicine
Division of Human Food Safety (HFV-150)
7500 Standish Place
Rockville, MD 20855
FDA contact: Director, Division of Human Food Safety (HFV-150)
Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation
Center for Veterinary Medicine
Phone: (301) 827-5282
FAX: (301) 827-2298
A. FDA agrees to:
1. Inform sponsors of new antimicrobial animal drugs that the AMS laboratory is capable of evaluating the effects of those drugs on the FSIS detection tests, and that AMS's role is limited to its evaluation of the effects of new antimicrobial drugs on FSIS detection tests.
2. Inform sponsors of AMS's requirement for:
a. drug free tissues from control and fortification purposes;
b. tissues that contain the incurred drug;
c. sufficient chemically characterized drug standard of the same grade as that used in the manufacture of the drug article; and
d. the following information about the drug product: chemical name, trade name, active ingredients, dosage form, dose(s) for use in the animal, manufacturing site, lot number or batch number if relevant, drug storage information, packaging information, storage stability and conditions affecting stability, and material safety data sheets.
3. Consider AMS's expertise in evaluating the effects of new antimicrobial animal drugs on FSIS detection tests.
4. If requested by the sponsor, review and comment on the tissues and drug levels proposed to be tested.
B. AMS agrees to:
1. Provide an analytical laboratory capable of performing the analysis specified in the FDA/FSIS protocol "Determination of the Reactivity of New Animal Drugs in FSIS Antimicrobial Detection Tests" and described in the Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (MLG) 3rd edition, 1998, Chapter 33, Sections 33.26 – 33.27; 33.36 – 33.363; 33.55 – 33.57; and Chapter 34.
2. Conform its basic protocol outline for testing to the specifications in the FDA/FSIS protocol "Determination of the Reactivity of New Animal Drugs in FSIS Antimicrobial Detection Test."
3. Send the final report of its analytical work to the drug's sponsor.
4. Include in its final report to the drug sponsor the following information:
a. drug concentrations tested;
b. buffers used for testing;
c. tissues tested, specific controls, and fortified and incurred samples;
d. tissue preparation or extraction procedure;
e. screening tests used; and
f. screening test and 7-plate bioassay results for buffer, fortified, and incurred samples, organized by tissue and screening test.
5. Communicate directly with sponsors in regard to the testing of the sponsors' drugs and refer other communications regarding the drug approval process to FDA.
C. It is mutually agreed that:
1. This MOU provides sponsors with one means of evaluating the effects of new antimicrobial animal drugs on the FSIS detection tests, and sponsors retain their discretion in providing this requested information.
2. FDA is not bound by any positions AMS may take as a result of its analysis of a new animal drug pursuant to this MOU. FDA will consider the information provided by AMS as specified in this MOU, but its decisions are independent.
3. Except as otherwise required by law, AMS is not bound by any positions FDA
may take as a result of FDA's evaluation of a new animal drug.
4. FDA and AMS will continue to cooperate on improvement of testing protocols as necessary.
BASIS OF COOPERATION/FUNDING
This MOU defines in general terms the basis on which the parties concerned will cooperate, and does not constitute a financial obligation to serve as a basis for expenditures. Each party will handle and expend its own funds.
Any and all expenditures from Federal funds in the Department of Agriculture made in conformity with the plans outlined in the MOU must be in accord with Department rules and regulations and in each instance based upon appropriate finance papers. Expenditures made by any other cooperator will be in accord with its rules and regulations.
The responsibilities assumed by the cooperating parties under this Memorandum of Understanding are contingent upon funds being available from which expenditures legally may be met.
This agreement shall continue in force indefinitely. It may be amended or terminated by mutual consent of the parties in writing. It may be terminated by either party upon 30 days' notice in writing to the other party.
Approved and Accepted
Signed by: Kenneth C. Clayton
Date: January 23, 2003
Approved and Accepted
Signed by: Stephen Sundlof, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Date: January 13, 2003 | Memorandum of Understanding
The Agricultural Marketing Service
United States Department of Agriculture
The Food and Drug Administration
United States Department of Health and Human Services
NAME OF PROJECT: Determination of the Reactivity of New Animal Drugs in Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Antimicrobial Detection Tests
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Lugar Presses Obama Administration on America POW/MIA
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called on the Obama Administration to “forcefully” press North Korea and China on the more than 8,000 Americans still listed as missing from the Korean Conflict more than 50 years ago.
“Until May of 2005, the U.S. and North Korea cooperated on a recovery program of the remains of U.S. servicemen,” Lugar reported in his opening statement at a committee hearing on North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons. “More recently, the U.S. and China signed a memorandum of understanding so that the United States could receive information on Americans held in China during the Korean War.”
Lugar has worked for many years to bring home the remains of a number of Hoosiers who were killed or held captive during the Korean War. He urged the Obama Administration to establish negotiations with the North Koreans and Chinese again to indentify the whereabouts or remains of the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action. | Lugar Presses Obama Administration on America POW/MIA
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar, the Ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today called on the Obama Administration to “forcefully” press North Korea and China on the more than 8,000 Americans still listed as missing from the Korean Conflict more than 50 years ago.
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The Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health firmly believes and is fully convinced that in order to provide quality environmental health service to the community the following are indispensable:
- An open system of communication and collaboration within the Environmental Health Unit, the remainder of the health sector, the private sector, government departments and the community.
- Good leadership in the application of current environmental standards.
- An interdisciplinary holistic and integrated approach to solving environmental health problems.
- The consistent use of data in decision-making.
- Positive attitude and behavioural change among staff.
Main activities of the program include:
- Inspection of foods, meats and poultry.
- Inspection of food establishments (grocery stores, restaurants, meat shops, liquor establishments, fast foods outlets, panades shops etc.).
- Monitoring of water quality (collection of water samples for bacteriological and chemical analysis and free residual chlorine titleing of public water supplies).
- Monitoring of solid waste, liquid waste and sewage management.
- Vaccination of domestic animals (dogs and cats) against rabies, investigation of all animal bites/exposures to suspect and confirmed rabid animals.
- Investigation of communicable diseases and pesticide intoxications
- Management of disasters | The Environmental Health Unit of the Ministry of Health firmly believes and is fully convinced that in order to provide quality environmental health service to the community the following are indispensable:
- An open system of communication and collaboration within the Environmental Health Unit, the remainder of the health sector, the private sector, government departments and the community.
- Goo | {
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What is Cowboy Poetry?
According to cowboy poetry website cowboypoetry.com,
"Former Montana State Folklorist Mike Korn wrote the [National Cowboy Poetry] Gathering's working Definition:
Cowboy poetry is rhymed, metered verse written by someone who has lived a significant portion of his or her life in Western North American cattle culture. The verse reflects an intimate knowledge of that way of life, and the community from which it maintains itself in tradition. Cowboy poetry may or may not in fact be anonymous in authorship but must have qualities, content, and style that permit it to be accepted into the repertoire of the cultural community as reflecting that community's aesthetics in style, form, and content. The structural style of cowboy poetry has its antecedents in the ballad style of England and the Appalachian South. It is similar to popular works of authors such as Robert W. Service and Rudyard Kipling."
Cowboy Poetry in Arizona
As a Western state where the cattle industry has been historically significant, Arizona has a strong tradition of cowboy poetry. In 2005, TIME Magazine published a feature on cowboy poets in Arizona, focusing on the tradition’s past and present. Arizonans celebrate cowboy poetry at the following national and regional events.
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering
According to the The Western Folklife Center, which organizes the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, “Every winter for the last 27 years, cowboys, ranchers, rural and urban people have traveled en masse to this small high desert community, to join with friends, family and others who care about the rural West. Together, they listen to poetry and music, learn about cowboy culture in the U.S. and around the world, experience great art, watch western films, learn a craft, and gather to eat, drink and swap stories.”
Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering
For over two decades, this annual event “is now and always has been about gathering a group of poets and musicians who are doing their part to preserve the culture and heritage of the American West and providing them an opportunity to share their talent.” Originally located in Prescott, AZ with the help of the Sharlot Hall Museum, the Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering has now relocated to Yavapai College.
Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering
This event has been occurring annually in Cochise County since 1993, and features both musicians and poets. The Gathering notes that “[t]he Cochise Cowboy Poetry And Music Gathering found its beginning in the vision of one man, John Shaver. While serving with the Sierra Vista, AZ Chamber of Commerce and the Sierra Vista Arts and Humanities Committee, John joined others to look for an event that would foster an interest in Western Heritage as well as promote the community and increase tourism. In the spring of 1992, he brought a proposal to the City to sponsor a Cowboy Gathering. He gathered a team of dedicated volunteers and proceeded to produce the first Gathering.”
"In Arizona: Cowboy Poets - TIME." Breaking News, Analysis, Politics, Blogs, News Photos, Video, Tech Reviews - TIME.com. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050616,00.html (accessed February 24, 2012).
"Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering." Cochise Cowboy Poetry and Music Gathering. http://cowboypoets.com/ (accessed February 24, 2012).
"National Cowboy Poetry Gathering | General Information on the Gathering." The Western Folklife Center. http://www.westernfolklife.org/National-Cowboy-Poetry-Gathering-General-Info/national-cowboy-poetry-gathering-home-page.html (accessed February 24, 2012). | What is Cowboy Poetry?
According to cowboy poetry website cowboypoetry.com,
"Former Montana State Folklorist Mike Korn wrote the [National Cowboy Poetry] Gathering's working Definition:
Cowboy poetry is rhymed, metered verse written by someone who has lived a significant portion of his or her life in Western North American cattle culture. The verse reflects an intimate knowledge of that way of li | {
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Value-Added Opportunities for Small Farmers
Alan E. Ware
The Kerr Center
Value-added agriculture is the processing of raw materials in both food and nonfood areas to add further value to a product. Value can be added to products in a variety of ways such as packaging, drying, canning, handcrafting, or juicing. Some incentives associated with value-added agriculture include:
- increasing the monetary value of raw materials
- accessing niche markets
- prolonging product shelf life
- creating a profitable use for seconds or culls
- extending the season
- making handling easier for mid and end users
- providing more convenience for mid and end users
Value-added processing helps farmers receive a larger portion of each food dollar. As seen in the accompanying chart, a farmer receives 22.2 cents of each dollar spent for food in the United States. The labor in the chart represents the processing sector, which converts raw materials into a final product. The goal of value-added agriculture is to move part of the 36.1 cents that currently ends up in the processing sector to the farmer.
Let's look at two examples. In this example, a farmer found a way to drastically increase the value of his compost. Crappy Critters target home-owners who are looking for an attractive and convenient way to fertilize house-plants. Each critter is made of 7 ounces of compost and is shaped like an animal. The product retails for $1.29. Estimated return to the farmer is 39 cents/critter. One ton of compost creates 4560 critters. Estimated return to the farmer is $1,778.40/ton of compost. As a raw product, compost normally sells for about $75/ton.
The other example is less dramatic but still shows how a farmer can increase his returns. A nurseryman was selling flowers for $11/flat. His cost of production was $3.75/flat, leaving a return of $7.25/flat. He now sells flower boxes already planted for $18/box. His cost of production is $7/box, leaving him a return of $11/box.
These farmers found a way to successfully add value to their products. They began by selecting a product that was marketable and complemented their existing farm operation. Producers interested in value-added processing should begin by writing out a plan. Include a budget, a timeframe, and attainable goals. Research available markets and processing requirements and contact local, state, and federal agencies and institutions for information and assistance. Several states have marketing programs that benefit small farmers. Begin on a small scale with plans for future expansion if the venture is a success.
The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group recently published a book, Making it on the Farm: Increasing Sustainability Through Value-added Processing and Marketing, that profiles successful farmers. It also includes some keys to success that were identified by the farmers.
- Choose something you love to do.
- Create a high-quality product.
- Start small and grow naturally.
- Make decisions based on good records.
- Follow demand-driven production.
- Establish a loyal customer base, preferably local.
- Provide more than just food or a product.
- Get the entire family or partners involved.
- Keep informed.
- Plan for the future.
Value-added agriculture does have pitfalls. You must evaluate the cost and returns for developing a value-added product just as you would for producing the raw material. Avoid high overhead through capital investment.
Value-added agriculture can be a benefit to more than just the farmer. David Henneberry of Oklahoma State University believes that value-added food processing means adding an entirely new layer of industry dealing with our own native agricultural commodities. He foresees positive effects at the producer level, but thinks the bigger effects would be on the general level of state employment and the level of the value of exports that leave the state.
NOTE:Making it on the Farm: Increasing Sustainability Through Value-added Processing and Marketing by K. Richards and D. S. Wechsler can be ordered by sending $12.00 to SSAWG, P.O. Box 324, Elkins, AR 72727.
Return to Table of Contents
Return to Title Page | Value-Added Opportunities for Small Farmers
Alan E. Ware
The Kerr Center
Value-added agriculture is the processing of raw materials in both food and nonfood areas to add further value to a product. Value can be added to products in a variety of ways such as packaging, drying, canning, handcrafting, or juicing. Some incentives associated with value-added agriculture include:
- increasing the moneta | {
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Experiment: The Growth Rate of Lactobacillus acidophilus
The community of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School is proud of our students, whose achievement in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program gives credence to the benefits of a vocational school education. Earning recognition and respect in the area of academics is definitely a challenge for a vocational school, but our students' hard work has paid off as we embark on this historic event for both Monty Tech and the entire United States.
Monty Tech prepares its students to be successful both vocationally and academically. An opportunity of this magnitude further supports the idea that academic and vocational education can go hand-in-hand. Participation in SSEP has given us the opportunity to prove this. "I have no doubt at all that the education I have received at Monty has prepared me for participation in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, and I am very proud to call myself a student of Monty Tech," said Miguel, who is in the house carpentry program.
If not for the opportunity to participate in SSEP, Monty Tech would not have been able to showcase its students' academic accomplishments. SSEP has provided an outlet for overwhelming community support in the area of science education. While academic education at Monty Tech always has been important to parents and the community at large, SSEP has pushed the students to go that extra mile. With the help of SSEP, Monty Tech has proven that for students who attend a vocational school, the sky really is the limit.
Holly Gerry: Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School
Rebecca Dorfmueller: NASA Educational Technology Services | Experiment: The Growth Rate of Lactobacillus acidophilus
The community of Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical High School is proud of our students, whose achievement in the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program gives credence to the benefits of a vocational school education. Earning recognition and respect in the area of academics is definitely a challenge for a vocational school, but our | {
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NERSC Initiative for Scientific Exploration (NISE) 2011 Awards
Tall Tower Wind Energy Monitoring and Numerical Model Validation in Southern Nevada
Michael Kaplan, Desert Research Institute
NISE project m965
|NISE Award:||750,000 Hours|
|Award Date:||January 2011|
In order to further assess the wind energy potential for Nevada, a new wind energy monitoring tower platform will be established in southern Nevada and the accuracy of several computational numerical models used to estimate the wind resource will be evaluated using data collected from the modeling platform. This project will concentrate on establishing the platform and the preliminary evaluations of the numerical models.
The 120 meter tower will provide continuous wind monitoring data at wind turbine hub and blade heights. Data from the platform and the evaluation numerical models' accuracy will improve wind resource maps, and identify the wind shear and turbulence regimes at the wind turbine hub and blade heights. The results of this project will be transferable to other Southwestern areas whose climates are similar to southern Nevada and the surrounding region.
The Operational Multiscale Environment Model with Grid Adaptivity (OMEGA) will be used for static adaptive grid simulations in the geographic region of the wind measurement platform. Preliminary evaluations of the accuracy of OMEGA will be made by comparing model estimates of wind speed and direction to speeds and measured by available meteorological instruments and towers in the region.
The present research evaluates the ability of OMEGA to reproduce point winds as compared to the observational data from the Stone Cabin Tower (near Tonopah, NV) at 40 m, 60 m, and 80 m. Model sensitivity to horizontal grid resolution, initial conditions, and terrain dataset resolution will also be tested. OMEGA will be run over five different horizontal grid resolutions with minimum horizontal edge lengths of: 18 km, 6 km, 2 km, 666 m, and 222 m. For each resolution, the model will be initialized using both the Global Forecasting System (GFS) and North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) at both 00 and 12 GMT to determine model sensitivity to the resolution and time of the initial conditions. Additionally, the 666m and 222m minimum grid resolution runs will be run with both a 90m and 1km resolution terrain database to determine the sensitivity to terrain features. Each group of model runs over the 30- day period of interest will then be analyzed using statistical techniques to determine how the model-generated winds compare with the observed winds. The statistical results will then be compared with results from MM5 and WRF simulations to determine the most appropriate model for wind energy potential studies in complex terrain. | NERSC Initiative for Scientific Exploration (NISE) 2011 Awards
Tall Tower Wind Energy Monitoring and Numerical Model Validation in Southern Nevada
Michael Kaplan, Desert Research Institute
NISE project m965
|NISE Award:||750,000 Hours|
|Award Date:||January 2011|
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Abraham Bloodgood was born in Flushing, Long Island in 1742. He was the son of Francis and Mary Doughty Bloodgood. By the late 1760s, he had relocated to Albany - probably living with his older brother James Bloodgood.
By 1770, he was running a sloop on the Hudson River between Albany and New York and was carrying cargoes for Sir William Johnson and others. He was one of a few Albany skippers who ventured beyond the inland waterways. A cargo manifest for his sloop, the Olive Branch, which he sailed to the West Indies (Antigua) in November 1770, described the variety of exports he carried for a number of Albany-based businessmen.
These Bloodgoods made their home along the Albany waterfront. Abraham contributed money to the crusade for American liberties, served as bailsman for several individuals during the war, and later was awarded a land bounty right in conjunction with the Albany County militia. His first ward property began appearing on city assessment rolls in 1779. In 1781, he was identified as an innkeeper. By 1790, his substantial brick home along lower State street was an Albany landmark!
After the war, he served in Albany fire companies, stood with other Albany residents in opposition to the Federal constitution, and was appointed "clerk" in Albany in 1797. Additionally, he owned a portion of the tract of land that later became the city of Ithaca. He was a slaveowner but began freeing them in 1794. In 1800, his Albany household still housed three slaves.
Abraham Bloodgood filed a will in May 1797. It left Elizabeth to administer his estate and provided for its partition after her death. He died in February 1807 and was buried from the Presbyterian church.
He may have been married previously for in December 1760 a New York marriage license was granted for Abraham Bloodgood and Priscilla Ellis.
first posted: 4/15/03 | Abraham Bloodgood was born in Flushing, Long Island in 1742. He was the son of Francis and Mary Doughty Bloodgood. By the late 1760s, he had relocated to Albany - probably living with his older brother James Bloodgood.
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Subsets and Splits