Ann Howell Receives Her Bachelor's Degree
August 28, 2008
On a sunny day in June, family gathered to watch Ann Howell, VSRA Administrative Assistant, participate in the graduation of her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from St. Leo University. It was a proud day for her family, as it was for the VSRA staff. But there was one thing that had to be accomplished for the degree - a comprehensive exam that was scheduled for late July. After a bit of "angst" as the date grew near, Ann was fully prepared when the exam day arrived. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! She has finally learned that she successfully passed the comprehensive. She is now the elated recipient of a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Ann set her goal of completing her bachelor's degree while she was serving as a Religious Speicialist in the U.S. Navy. With a steady strain and dedication, she continued her quest after leaving the Navy and joining the VSRA Team in late 2006.
Congratulations go to Ann from all the VSRA member companies who have the fortune of being served by Ann. She is well known for her customer focus within the association. BRAVO, Ann!
EPA Announces Web-Based System to Self-Disclose Environmental Violations
August 14, 2008
(Washington, D.C. – August 07, 2008) EPA today announced a pilot project that allows regulated facilities nationwide to self-disclose environmental violations in a secure environment on EPA’s Website under the Agency's audit policy.
This electronic self-disclosure system, or eDisclosure, should reduce transaction costs for companies by ensuring that each disclosure contains complete information.
Under the pilot, regulated facilities nationwide will be able to use eDisclosure to disclose violations of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (for example, failure to submit toxic chemical release forms to EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory). Regulated facilities located in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas will be able to disclose violations of all environmental laws. Based on the results of the pilot, EPA will consider expanding eDisclosure to other states in the near future.
EPA’s audit policy provides incentives to companies that voluntarily discover, promptly disclose and correct and prevent future environmental violations. EPA may reduce or waive penalties for violations if the facility meets the conditions of the policy. EPA will not waive or reduce penalties for repeat violations, or violations that resulted in serious actual harm.
Since 1995, more than 3,500 companies have disclosed and resolved violations at nearly 10,000 facilities under the audit policy.
For more information on eDisclosure:
2008 SSRAC Change Proposals and Actions Posted
August 11, 2008
The
2008 SSRAC Change Proposals with Actions Taken as a result of the recent SSRAC meeting held in Jacksonville, Florida, is forwarded. The Preliminary FY-10 products (Standard Items and Appendix 4-E) will be made available by 28 August 2008, in accordance with the SSRAC Milestones.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Linda D. Mayle
Asst NAVSEA SSRAC Coordinator
SERMC Business Office Code 1220/Standards Coordinator
Ph: 904-270-5593
FAX: 904-270-5729
linda.mayle@navy.mil
Dwight Farmer Addresses VSRA on Transportation
July 22, 2008
On Tuesday, July 15th, Dwight Farmer, the newly apponted Executive Director of both the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) and the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) addressed members of the Virginia Ship Repair Association at their monthly membership meeting. The HRPDC is the regional planning organization with focus on transportation plan development.
With the recently concluded special session of the Virginia legislature called to address transportation funding shortfalls, his address was very timely. Mr. Farmer presented a sobering and clear assessment of the history of the Commonwealth;s transportation funding leading to the current crisis. It was clear from his remarks that the failure of the legislature to pass adequate transportation funding in the special session exacerbates the crisis by delaying future transportation improvements while inadequately funding repairs.
Mr Farmer's MPO Transportation Presentation will give the details.
Marine Debris Definition - Rulemaking Comments Requested
July 17, 2008
The Coast Guard has posted a proposed new rules under the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. The proposed rule can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocumentDetail&o=0900006480600f08.
Please note that the comment period ends on July 28th. The link will describe how comments can be submitted.
EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Document for Comment
July 17, 2008
Please take a look at the proposed rulemaking below. Of particular note, the new proposed standards address "Other Non-Road Transportation" in Section 6 - specifically boats and ships.
News for Release: Friday, July 11, 2008
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Document for Public Comment
Contact (news media only): Jonathan Shradar, (202) 564-4355 / shradar.jonathan@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. - July 11, 2008) Today EPA released an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) soliciting public input on the effects of climate change and the potential ramifications of the Clean Air Act in relation to greenhouse gas emissions.
"The ANPR reflects the complexity and the magnitude of the question of whether and how greenhouse gases could be effectively controlled under the Clean Air Act," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.
Today's action is in response to the April 2, 2007 Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, which found that greenhouse gas emissions could be regulated if EPA determines they cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. With the ANPR, EPA is evaluating the broader ramifications of the decision throughout the Clean Air Act, which covers air pollution from both stationary and mobile sources.
The ANPR solicits public input as EPA considers the specific effects of climate change and potential regulation of greenhouse gas emissions. In the advance notice, EPA presents and requests comment on the best-available science, requests relevant data, and asks questions about the advantages and disadvantages of using the Clean Air Act to potentially regulate stationary and mobile sources of greenhouse gases. The ANPR also reviews various petitions, lawsuits and court deadlines before the agency, and the profound effect regulating under the Clean Air Act could have on the economy.
The notice's publication in the Federal Register begins a 120-day public comment period.
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser. View all news releases related to air issues
Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355
Calling All VSRA NMD Experts - Help the Navy Improve It
July 08, 2008
VSRA Subject Matter Experts (SME's) in the Navy Maintenance Database (NMD) system take note. The below invitation is for you to help the Navy re-write NMD.
The NMD re-write core group is in the process of conducting three conferences across the country to gather user requirements for a new NMD. The first conference was scheduled in SWRMC (June 16-18) and has concluded, and the second is currently in process at SERMC (June 25-26). The MARMC conference is scheduled to occur July 15, 16 and 17 at LF-18, Granby Room, and I would like to extend an invite to the interested members of the Virginia Ship Repair Association to participate in the event scheduled at MARMC.
The conference will focus on two primary areas. First we will share with everyone the "Entitled Process" and how we have researched SHIPMAIN initiatives, the Fleet Desk Guide and the JFMM to establish the current state in which we perform our business in NMD. The users will be asked to validate what we have generally captured as our current processes. Next we will present to the user what the core team has discovered as related processes that are currently accomplished on a daily basis outside of NMD. If there is a significant task or process that is performed outside of our current NMD system, which if added to the new NMD would greatly speed things up then we want to know what it is.
Once we have shared our findings it will be the users turn to participate in a structured event to discuss what they think the new NMD should do and what opportunities exist for contractors to use the system. This will be your chance to be heard on the topic of opportunities to build a more User Friendly System.
Please extend this invitation to the Virginia Ship Repair Association members. If they would like to participate please have them forward their NMD Participant List to me as soon as possible. Once they have identified their participants, I will send more detailed information about starting and ending times along with any read aheads closer to the event. Planning, execution, contracts, financials and closeout are some of the topics that will be covered so I would expect a variety of subject matter experts to participate (advance planners, planners, project managers, etc.).
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me!
Thanks,
Roxanne Sutter
MARMC
757-374-2310
Video on Virginia's Transportation Crisis
June 19, 2008
The following was received from our friends at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. I encourage you to take action NOW! Our Maritime industry is dependent upon finding a permanent solution to our transportation needs.
The Hampton Roads Partnership, Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance and members of the Washington Airports Task Force have joined forces to help mobilize citizens to “Beat the Gridlock”. For an in depth look into Virginia’s transportation crisis, visit
www.beatthegridlock.com to watch the full-length video. The message of beat the Gridlock is simple. New transportation funding is needed to beat the gridlock and it is needed now.
The Virginia General Assembly special session will convene on Monday, June 23, 2008 and the time is now to convey our message regarding the importance of fixing our transportation infrastructure. Citizens are urged to visit the website, watch the full-length video, then:
(1) Contact members of the Hampton Roads Delegation immediately. Click here to do so.
(2) Download, print and display a Beat the Gridlock Banner in cars and office windows
Together we can make a difference!
OSHA Resources on Forklift Safety
June 19, 2008
Below is a a reminder about requirements and resources from OSHA and other U.S. Department of Labor agencies concerning powered industrial trucks (forklifts).
OSHA’s powered industrial truck standard (29 CFR 1910.178 http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9828) includes various requirements applicable to the use and maintenance of forklifts and other powered industrial trucks, including training requirements for operators. In addition, regulations issued under the Fair Labor Standards Act prohibit workers under 18 years of age from operating certain hazardous machines and equipment, including forklifts in non-agricultural operations. See Hazardous Order No. 7 - Power-Driven Hoisting Apparatus Occupations http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owaredirect.html?p_url=http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/14mar20010800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/julqtr/29cfr570.58.htm.
The following compliance assistance resources can help employers comply with the standard and keep employees safe on the job:
§ OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page: Powered Industrial Trucks http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/poweredindustrialtrucks/index.html
§ OSHA Training Materials: Powered Industrial Trucks Operator Training http://www.osha.gov/dcsp/ote/trng-materials/pit/pit.html
§ OSHA Booklet: Materials Handling and Storage http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA2236/osha2236.html (OSHA Publication 2236)
§ OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin: Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition Against Young Workers Operating Forklifts http://www.osha.gov/dts/shib/shib093003.html (2003)
§ Wage and Hour Division stickers http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/posters.htm#Sticker (to place on equipment to alert employees that nobody under 18 can operate the equipment)
The importance of forklift safety was highlighted by the recent death of a 16-year-old employee in Canada. The employee was reportedly hanging on to the side of a moving forklift when it tipped over and crushed him. This incident was reported in the June 8, 2008 issue of the Edmonton Journal <http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/local/story.html?id=32dde159-364b-4c52-b3b1-3137d3e7412e> .
Proposed Rule on E-Verify for Federal Contractors
June 17, 2008
Last week, President Bush issued an Executive Order requiring all contractors working with the federal government and agencies to use the E-Verify system (see description below). Subsequently, DoD, GSA, and NASA issued a joint proposed rule in the Federal Register late last week to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to comply with the Executive Order. The proposed rule requires federal contractors to enroll in and use E-Verify for all employees working on the contract and all new hires during the life of the contract. Written comments to the proposed rule are due by August 11, 2008.
E-Verify (formerly known as the Basic Pilot/Employment Eligibility Verification Program) is an Internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees.
E-Verify is advertised as the best means available for determining employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security Numbers.