Customer Service Advisory: POLA and POLB Marine Terminal Gate Schedule for Monday Nov. 11 (Veterans Day)
PierPass Inc. / http://pierpass.org/2013/11/06/customer-service-advisory-pola-and-polb-marine-terminal-gate-schedule-for-monday-nov-11-veterans-day/
Marine terminal gates at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will operate on a holiday schedule on Monday, Nov. 11, for the observance of Veterans Day.
Please click here to view the terminal gate schedule.
Maher Terminal Closed Veteran's Day 11-11-13
Maher Terminals / http://www.maherterminals.com/index.cfm/do/page.info/show/news/which/218
Please be advised that due to a change in the vessel schedule and projected terminal volume all Maher Terminals facilities will be closed on Monday, November 11, 2013 (Veteran’s Day)
CBP at the Pharr International Bridge Seize $45 Million in Narcotics
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/11042013_7.xml
Pharr, Texas — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized $45,397,000 worth of narcotics that were concealed within a commercial shipment of fresh tomatoes.
“This was an outstanding seizure of hard narcotics that was accomplished this weekend by our frontline officers and one that most certainly ranks high as far as value in the black market,” said Efrain Solis Jr., Port Director, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas. “This interception will most definitely put a ding in the drug smuggling organization’s pocket book.”
On Saturday afternoon, November 2, CBP officers working at the Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge cargo facility came in contact with a red 1995 Freightliner tractor pulling a white 1994 Great Dane utility trailer. The conveyance contained a commercial shipment of fresh tomatoes as described on the shipment manifest. A CBP officer referred the tractor/trailer to secondary for further inspection and with the use of all available tools and resources, officers were able to locate packages of suspected narcotics hidden within the boxes of the fresh tomatoes.
CBP removed 380 packages weighing approximately 497 kilograms (1095.69 lbs.) of alleged cocaine with an estimated street value of $35,062,000, 106 packages of alleged heroin weighing approximately 132.12 kilograms (294.31 lbs.) with an estimated street value of $9,418,000 and 11 packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing approximately 13 kilograms (28.66 lbs.) valued at $917,000. CBP seized all the narcotics, the shipment commodity and the tractor/ trailer.
USITC Makes Determinations in Five-Year (Sunset) Reviews Concerning Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from China
International Trade Adminisration / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2013/er1107ll1.htm
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) today determined that revoking the existing antidumping and countervailing duty orders on circular welded carbon-quality steel pipe from China would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time.
As a result of the Commission's affirmative determinations, the existing orders on imports of this product from China will remain in place.
Chairman Irving A. Williamson and Commissioners Shara L. Aranoff, Dean A. Pinkert, David S. Johanson, and Meredith M. Broadbent voted in the affirmative. Commissioner F. Scott Kieff did not participate in this investigation.
Today's action comes under the five-year (sunset) review process required by the Uruguay Round Agreements Act. See the attached page for background on this five-year (sunset) review.
The Commission's public report Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from China (Inv. Nos. 701-TA-447 and 731-TA-1116 (Review), USITC Publication 4435, November 2013) will contain the views of the Commission and information developed during the reviews.
____________________________
BACKGROUND
The Uruguay Round Agreements Act requires the Department of Commerce to revoke an antidumping or countervailing duty order, or terminate a suspension agreement, after five years unless the Department of Commerce and the USITC determine that revoking the order or terminating the suspension agreement would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping or subsidies (Commerce) and of material injury (USITC) within a reasonably foreseeable time.
The Commission's institution notice in five-year reviews requests that interested parties file responses with the Commission concerning the likely effects of revoking the order under review as well as other information. Generally within 95 days from institution, the Commission will determine whether the responses it has received reflect an adequate or inadequate level of interest in a full review. If responses to the USITC's notice of institution are adequate, or if other circumstances warrant a full review, the Commission conducts a full review, which includes a public hearing and issuance of questionnaires.
The Commission generally does not hold a hearing or conduct further investigative activities in expedited reviews. Commissioners base their injury determination in expedited reviews on the facts available, including the Commission's prior injury and review determinations, responses received to its notice of institution, data collected by staff in connection with the review, and information provided by the Department of Commerce.
The five-year (sunset) review concerning Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipe from China was instituted on June 3, 2013.
On September 6, 2013, the Commission voted to conduct expedited reviews. All six Commissioners concluded that the domestic group response for these reviews was adequate and the respondent group response was inadequate and voted for expedited reviews.
A record of the Commission's vote to conduct expedited reviews is available from the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. Requests may be made by telephone by calling 202-205-1802.
Press Release – FAA to Allow Airlines to Expand Use of Personal Electronics
Federal Aviation Assocation / http://www.faa.gov/news/press_releases/news_story.cfm?newsId=15254
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta today announced that the FAA has determined that airlines can safely expand passenger use of Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) during all phases of flight, and is immediately providing the airlines with implementation guidance.
Due to differences among fleets and operations, the implementation will vary among airlines, but the agency expects many carriers will prove to the FAA that their planes allow passengers to safely use their devices in airplane mode, gate-to-gate, by the end of the year.
The FAA based its decision on input from a group of experts that included representatives from the airlines, aviation manufacturers, passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and the mobile technology industry.
Passengers will eventually be able to read e-books, play games, and watch videos on their devices during all phases of flight, with very limited exceptions. Electronic items, books and magazines, must be held or put in the seat back pocket during the actual takeoff and landing roll. Cell phones should be in airplane mode or with cellular service disabled – i.e., no signal bars displayed—and cannot be used for voice communications based on FCC regulations that prohibit any airborne calls using cell phones. If your air carrier provides Wi-Fi service during flight, you may use those services. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.
“We believe today’s decision honors both our commitment to safety and consumer’s increasing desire to use their electronic devices during all phases of their flights,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “These guidelines reflect input from passengers, pilots, manufacturers, and flight attendants, and I look forward to seeing airlines implement these much anticipated guidelines in the near future.”
“I commend the dedication and excellent work of all the experts who spent the past year working together to give us a solid report so we can now move forward with a safety-based decision on when passengers can use PEDs on airplanes,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta.
The PED Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) concluded most commercial airplanes can tolerate radio interference signals from PEDs. In a recent report, they recommended that the FAA provide airlines with new procedures to assess if their airplanes can tolerate radio interference from PEDs. Once an airline verifies the tolerance of its fleet, it can allow passengers to use handheld, lightweight electronic devices – such as tablets, e-readers, and smartphones—at all altitudes. In rare instances of low-visibility, the crew will instruct passengers to turn off their devices during landing. The group also recommended that heavier devices should be safely stowed under seats or in overhead bins during takeoff and landing.
The FAA is streamlining the approval of expanded PED use by giving airlines updated, clear guidance. This FAA tool will help airlines assess the risks of potential PED-induced avionics problems for their airplanes and specific operations. Airlines will evaluate avionics as well as changes to stowage rules and passenger announcements. Each airline will also need to revise manuals, checklists for crewmember training materials, carry-on baggage programs and passenger briefings before expanding use of PEDs. Each airline will determine how and when they will allow passengers broader use of PEDs.
The FAA did not consider changing the regulations regarding the use of cell phones for voice communications during flight because the issue is under the jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The ARC did recommend that the FAA consult with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review its current rules. Cell phones differ from most PEDs in that they are designed to send out signals strong enough to be received at great distances
Top Things Passengers Should Know about Expanded Use of PEDs on Airplanes:
1. Make safety your first priority.
2. Changes to PED policies will not happen immediately and will vary by airline. Check with your airline to see if and when you can use your PED.
3. Current PED policies remain in effect until an airline completes a safety assessment, gets FAA approval, and changes its PED policy.
4. Cell phones may not be used for voice communications.
5. Devices must be used in airplane mode or with the cellular connection disabled. You may use the WiFi connection on your device if the plane has an installed WiFi system and the airline allows its use. You can also continue to use short-range Bluetooth accessories, like wireless keyboards.
6. Properly stow heavier devices under seats or in the overhead bins during takeoff and landing. These items could impede evacuation of an aircraft or may injure you or someone else in the event of turbulence or an accident.
7. During the safety briefing, put down electronic devices, books and newspapers and listen to the crewmember’s instructions.
8. It only takes a few minutes to secure items according to the crew’s instructions during takeoff and landing.
9. In some instances of low visibility – about one percent of flights – some landing systems may not be proved PED tolerant, so you may be asked to turn off your device.
10. Always follow crew instructions and immediately turn off your device if asked.
Current FAA regulations require an aircraft operator to determine that radio frequency interference from PEDs is not a flight safety risk before the operator authorizes them for use during certain phases of flight. Even PEDs that do not intentionally transmit signals can emit unintentional radio energy. This energy may affect aircraft safety because the signals can occur at the same frequencies used by the plane’s highly sensitive communications, navigation, flight control and electronic equipment. An airline must show it can prevent potential interference that could pose a safety hazard. The PED ARC report helps the FAA to guide airlines through determining that they can safely allow widespread use of PEDs.
The PED ARC began work in January, at the request of Administrator Huerta, to determine if it is safe to allow more widespread use of electronic devices in today’s aircraft. The group also reviewed the public’s comments in response to an August 2012 FAA notice on current policy, guidance, and procedures that aircraft operators use when determining if passengers can use PEDs. The group did not consider the use of electronic devices for voice communications. A fact sheet on the report is now available.
The FAA is immediately giving airlines a clear path to safely expand PED use by passengers, and the Administrator will evaluate the rest of the ARC’s longer-term recommendations and respond at a later date.
A Portable Electronic Device is any piece of lightweight, electrically-powered equipment. These devices are typically consumer electronic devices capable of communications, data processing and/or utility. Examples range from handheld, lightweight electronic devices such as tablets, e-readers, and smartphones to small devices such as MP3 players and electronic toys.
The PED ARC report and FAA guidance materials are available on our website.
Interest Rates
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/trade_programs/reconciliation/technical_information/interest_rates.xml
Interest rates for additional duty payments are updated quarterly per published IRS interest rate.
When a reconciliation results in additional monies owed Customs, the payment must be made with interest. Instructions for calculating interest were given via ABI Administrative message #99-0777 on September 14, 1999. These instructions are also available at Customs Reconciliation.
Refund interest is calculated by customs. Interest on additional payments is calculated by the reconciliation filer, using the rates below for the time periods indicated.
Interest Rates
FDA: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Plead Guilty and Pay Over $1.6 Billion to Resolve Allegations of Misbranding and Filing False Claims for its Schizophrenia Drug Risperdal
Food & Drug Administration / http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm373499.htm
On behalf of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a guilty plea agreement with Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (JPI) of Titusville, N.J., and a $400 million criminal fine for introducing a misbranded drug, Risperdal (risperidone), into interstate commerce. A Johnson & Johnson Company, JPI must also pay $1.25 billion under a separate civil settlement concerning the same drug. The combined criminal plea and civil settlement agreement related to Risperdal totals $1,673,024 billion.
Additional charges related to JPI’s healthcare fraud and other Federal agencies can be found at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/November/13-ag-1170.html1. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania oversaw the agreement.
“When pharmaceutical companies ignore the FDA’s requirements, they not only risk endangering the public’s health but also damaging the trust that patients have in their doctors and their medications,” said FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D. “The FDA relies on data from rigorous scientific research to define and approve the uses for which a drug has been shown to be safe and effective. Today’s announcement demonstrates that pharmaceutical manufacturers that ignore the FDA’s regulatory authority do so at their own peril.”
The FDA approved Risperdal in 2002 for the treatment of schizophrenia and in 2003 for the short-term treatment of acute mania and for mixed episodes associated with Bipolar 1 Disorder. But JPI began in March 2002 to market the drug for the treatment of agitation associated with dementia in the elderly, representing that Risperdal was safe and effective for this unapproved indication and subpopulation.
The FDA maintains that physicians may, within the practice of medicine, use a drug to treat patients for symptoms or diseases even when the drug is not FDA-approved for such uses. However, if a pharmaceutical manufacturer intends its drug to be used for a new use, not approved by the FDA, and introduces the drug into interstate commerce for that use, the drug is misbranded, and introduction of that misbranded drug into interstate commerce is a violation of the law.
The U.S. Department of Justice action also alleges that JPI and Johnson & Johnson were aware that Risperdal posed serious health risks for the elderly, including increased risk of stroke, but that the companies downplayed those risks by combining negative data with other studies in order to support a perception of decreased risk from using the drug.
JPI had received repeated warnings from the FDA regarding its misleading marketing messages targeted to physicians. After a whistle blower complaint was filed, the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations initiated a criminal investigation into JPI’s conduct.
“Our investigators devoted considerable time and resources to this case, to help ensure that pharmaceutical companies do not mislead healthcare providers and the general public about the safety and efficacy of their medicines,” said John Roth, director of the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations. “We stand ready to take similar action in the future, if warranted, to protect public health.”
JPI also marketed Risperdal for use in children with behavior challenges, despite known health risks to children and adolescents. Until late in 2006, Risperdal was not approved for use in children for any purpose, and the FDA repeatedly advised the company that promoting its use in children was problematic and could be evidence of a violation of the law.
JPI and Johnson & Johnson will also submit to stringent requirements under a corporate integrity agreement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General. The agreement is designed to increase accountability and transparency and prevent future fraud and abuse.
S. C. Ports Announces Clean Truck Certification Program
South Carolina Port of Authority / http://www.port-of-charleston.com/about/news/pressroom/pressroom.asp?PressRelease=396
Truck program supports air emission reduction efforts at SCPA terminals
The SC Ports Authority has announced a new Clean Truck Certification Program to take effect on January 1, 2014, ensuring that a reliable, cleaner trucking fleet will serve SCPA container terminals in order to continue reducing port-related air emissions.
Launched as a result of the Navy Base Terminal permit process, the program requires trucks serving the container terminals to have engines manufactured in 1994 or later. Based on engine year rather than truck model year, the certification is designed with maximum flexibility for the trucking industry. Truck owners must enroll in the program using the website below between November 1st, 2013 and January 1, 2014.
“The Port is committed to operating in a way that is mindful of the environment and good for business,” said Jim Newsome, SCPA President and CEO. “By implementing this program, we achieve a reduction in the air quality impacts resulting from an older truck fleet, and modernize the over-the-road equipment just as we are doing on terminal with newer equipment. The Clean Truck Certification program is the next step in our well-established, common sense port-related emissions reductions strategy.”
During the month of November, the SCPA will continue offer an incentive of $5,000 plus scrap value to truck owners who use this opportunity to upgrade their truck engines. Over the last two years the SCPA has offered the only truck replacement incentive program in the Southeast, with 84 trucks replaced to date. Together the SCPA and SCDHEC have spent in excess of $1,000,000 on promotion and implementation of the truck replacement program.
"I didn't realize how much of a difference this program would make,” said truck driver Donald MacKinnon. “My 1992 International was still working fine, but with the help of the Truck Replacement Program, I was able to replace it with a 2007 Freightliner. With my new truck, I don't feel as tired at the end of the day, and I'm less worried about mechanical issues. I would recommend this to other drivers."
A limited number of hardship registrations will be available on a first come, first serve basis for trucks who have called on terminals at least 52 times in the previous 52 weeks. Hardship registrations will be accepted beginning on November 1, 2013 and will expire on June 30, 2014. Trucks calling on the terminals that do not have a hardship registration and have not been certified will be allowed to enter one time. They will be informed of the new certification program and directed to driver’s assistance.
“As truckers and residents of the Lowcountry, we seek to provide motor carrier service using the most fuel efficient and cleanest burning trucks possible,” said Keith Johnson, President of the Charleston Motor Carriers Association. “We support the Clean Truck Program and the opportunity it gives our members to upgrade their truck engines. This is a positive initiative both for our industry and for the environment.”
SCPA will conduct on-terminal spot checks to confirm engine year, and the program pertains to all container facilities including the SC Inland Port.