Assistant Secretary David G. Zatezalo writes that MSHA will increase its efforts to collect unpaid fines. Since the Scofflaw Program began in 2007, about $67 million in delinquent penalties have accrued, yet MSHA has issued only 16 citations since 2007 for failure to pay final penalties and only five orders requiring a mine to shut down operations while continuing to pay miners their wages.
Phase one focused on ice rinks and recreational facilities. Of the 223 sites inspected, 181 were using ammonia refrigeration systems. Inspecting officers issued 1,134 orders, three compliance agreements were created, and one stop use order was issued.
They and two reappointed members joined the panel's 10 current members in February, according to the NOAA announcement, which said the panel still is seeking five new members for a four-year term that starts Jan. 1, 2019, and runs through 2022.
"The presence of rabid animals in densely populated areas is troubling," said Jennifer House, public health veterinarian at the department. "Last year, two dogs in Colorado got rabies, so it's essential to make sure your pets are up to date on their shots. This will keep them and the public safe."
For drone operators, using LAANC can get them near real-time airspace authorizations, far less time that the manual authorization process requires. Also, air traffic controllers can see where planned drone operations will take place.
Sixteen free on-site visits last month caused those employers to correct 123 serious violations that could have affected up to 4,873 employees and resulted in enforcement penalties of as much as $861,000.
"We continue to urge that funding be provided for up-front mental health and substance abuse treatment, diversion programs, specialty courts, and other focused interventions that help an offender get their life back on track and avoid further criminal activity," said District 11 District Attorney Kevin Buchanan, president of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association.
The Concourse E facility opened Feb. 27 after a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Since launching a facial recognition pilot program in November, the facility has been screening as many as 10 passengers per minute.
Daylight Saving Time starts Sunday, March 11, and fire authorities are issuing reminders to change the batteries in your smoke alarms when setting your clocks forward.
A new Vital Signs report from the agency, based on emergency department data, shows in the nine months through September 2017, overdoses increased across all regions, in most states, for both men and women, and for most age groups. They were up about 30 percent overall, with the largest increases mainly in western states.
GOES-S is the second satellite in a series of next-generation weather satellites. It will allow NOAA to track in near-real time storm systems, lightning, wildfires, and coastal fog and other hazards that affect the western United States.
Laurie Berman is the transportation department's new director and Ryan Chamberlain its new chief deputy director. Gov. Jerry Brown, who appointed both, said they are a strong leadership team for the department, which is an $8.5 billion organization with nearly 20,000 employees.
The new intercity trains, which are being built in South Korea, will be about 3.1 meters across, making them too wide to travel on the Blue Mountains Line to Katoomba and Lithgow without a rail line upgrade.
During the next three years, this rapid innovation program will see Boeing develop next-generation autonomous systems capability in Australia to increase the independent operation of air and sea vehicles.
OSHA said it also will begin enforcing on May 11, 2018, the new, lower 8-hour permissible exposure limit and short-term (15-minute) exposure limit for construction and shipyard industries.