Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Labor Secretary Perez’s statement on US Supreme Court ruling in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association - United States Department of Labor
Labor Secretary Perez’s statement on US Supreme Court ruling in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association - United States Department of Labor: WASHINGTON – U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement on today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association “Today’s Supreme Court ruling is an important victory for public employees, for their right to have a voice at work, for their right to stand together and speak up for the things that matter to them, their families and their communities.
PEST CONTROL COMPANY TO PAY $10 MILLION FOR APPLYING RESTRICTED-USE PESTICIDE TO RESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
TERMINIX Companies Agree to Pay $10 Million for Applying Restricted-Use Pesticide to Residences in the U.S. Virgin Islands
All TERMINIX Locations Have Ceased Using Pesticides Containing Methyl Bromide in the United States Employees Illegally Applied Pesticides Containing Methyl Bromide to Residences in St. John, St. Croix, and St. Thomas, U.S.V.I.
The pest control corporation Terminix International Company LP (TERMINIX LP) and its U.S. Virgin Islands operation Terminix International USVI LLC (TERMINIX, USVI), were charged today with multiple violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act for illegally applying fumigants containing methyl bromide in multiple residential locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the condominium resort complex in St. John where a family of four fell seriously ill last year after the unit below them was fumigated, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
In a plea agreement, TERMINIX LP and TERMINIX, USVI agreed to pay a total of $10 million in criminal fines, community service and restitution payments. Except for completing one government contract at the Port of Baltimore, TERMINIX LP has stopped using pesticides containing methyl bromide in the United States and U.S. Territories. Under the agreement TERMINIX, USVI will pay $5 million in fines and $1 million in restitution to the EPA for response and clean-up costs at the St. John resort. TERMINIX LP will pay a fine of $3 million and will fund a $1 million community service project in the U.S.V.I. The plea agreement is subject to approval by the district court.
“When misused, highly toxic pesticides can have catastrophic consequences, and that’s why those who are certified to apply them must do so responsibly and lawfully,” said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The facts in this case show the Terminix companies knowingly failed to properly manage their pest control operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, allowing pesticides containing methyl bromide to be applied illegally and exposing a family of four to profoundly debilitating injuries. While on probation the companies are required to demonstrate to the EPA changes to their internal management and systems to ensure this type of tragedy does not reoccur.”
“This prosecution demonstrates the importance of complying with environmental laws and regulations,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald W. Sharpe of the District of the Virgin Islands. “Tragically, the defendants' failure to do so resulted in catastrophic injuries to the victims and exposed many others to similar harm. The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to the enforcement of environmental laws and will take all necessary steps to hold those who violate these laws criminally accountable and to protect residents and visitors of the Virgin Islands.”
“When you break a law that protects public health, there are real victims and real consequences, as this case tragically shows,” said Assistant Administrator Cynthia Giles for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This incident illustrates how important it is for EPA to enforce environmental laws and hold anyone accountable for endangering our safety. Today’s charges should send a clear message to the industry, and directs important funds toward training programs to help ensure this can’t happen again.”
In 1984 EPA banned the indoor use of methyl bromide products. The few remaining uses are severely restricted. Pesticides containing methyl bromide in the U.S. are restricted-use due to their acute toxicity, meaning that they must only be applied by a certified applicator. Health effects of acute exposure to methyl bromide are serious and include central nervous system and respiratory system damage. Pesticides can be very toxic and it is critically important that they be used only as approved by EPA.
After the government began its investigation, TERMINIX LP voluntarily ceased its use of methyl bromide in the U.S. and in U.S. territories, except for one remaining supervised government contract.
According to the information filed in federal court in the U.S. District Court of the Virgin Islands today, the defendants knowingly applied restricted-use fumigants at the Sirenusa resort in St. John for the purpose of exterminating household pests on or about Oct. 20, 2014, and on or about March 18, 2015. The companies were also charged with applying the restricted-use pesticide in 12 residential units in St. Croix and one additional unit in St. Thomas between September 2012 and February 2015.
According to the factual basis of the plea agreement, TERMINIX, USVI provided pest control services in the Virgin Islands including fumigation treatments for Powder Post Beetles, a common problem in the islands. These fumigation treatments were referred to as “tape and seal” jobs, meaning that the affected area was to be sealed off from the rest of the structure with plastic sheeting and tape prior to the introduction of the fumigant. Customers were generally told that after a treatment persons could not enter the building for a two to three-day period.
On or about March 18, 2015, two employees of TERMINIX, USVI, performed a fumigation pesticide treatment at the lower rental unit of Building J at Sirenusa in St. John. The upper unit in Building J was occupied by a Delaware family of four. Via various means, methyl bromide from the lower unit migrated to the upper unit of Building J, causing serious injury to and hospitalization of the entire family.
EPA regional staff responded immediately to the incident in St. John, securing the scene, performing testing and addressing the contamination. Within days, the EPA sent out a pesticide use warning to pesticides applicators in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, followed by a broader pesticide notice to regulators in all states, the British Virgin Islands, and to other Caribbean and Latin American countries.
As a special condition of the companies’ three year probation, the defendants shall make good faith efforts to resolve past and future medical expenses for the family through separate civil proceedings. If they do not do so before the end of the probationary period, they would be subject to an order of restitution and the government may petition the District Court to reopen the sentencing proceedings to seek recovery of past and future medical and other expenses.
The $10 million penalty includes $8 million in criminal fines, $1 million in restitution to the EPA for response and clean-up costs, and a $1 million community service payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for the purpose of engaging a third party to provide training to pesticide applicators in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The case was investigated by EPA Criminal Investigation Division working cooperatively with the Virgins Islands government and, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Senior Litigation Counsel Howard P. Stewart of the Department of Justice, Environmental Crimes Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim L. Chisholm of the District of the Virgin Islands are prosecuting the case with assistance of Patricia Hick, EPA Region II Regional Criminal Enforcement Counsel.
The investigation is ongoing.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
US Labor Department announces final rule to improve U.S. workers’ protection from the dangers of ‘respirable’ silica dust - United States Department of Labor
US Labor Department announces final rule to improve U.S. workers’ protection from the dangers of ‘respirable’ silica dust - United States Department of Labor: WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration today announced a final rule to improve protections for workers exposed to respirable silica dust. The rule will curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica.
This Week @ NASA, March 25, 2016
This Week @ NASA, March 25, 2016: Earth Expeditions kickoff, Kepler captures the shockwave of an exploding star, cargo launches to the International Space Station, and more..
Monday, March 28, 2016
Remarks at the Silica Final Rule Announcement, International Masonry Institute Training Center, Bowie, MD, March 24, 2016 - United States Department of Labor
Remarks at the Silica Final Rule Announcement, International Masonry Institute Training Center, Bowie, MD, March 24, 2016 - United States Department of Labor: [as prepared for delivery] Good morning, and thanks to everyone for joining us today for an historic announcement. Tom, thank you for that kind introduction. Thank you for your courage in sharing the anguish of losing your dad so tragically and unnecessarily. I don’t blame you for being outraged, as you said in the video. Today, we’re taking a step that I hope honors your father’s memory as best we can. We can’t bring him back, but we can do everything in our power to make sure others don’t suffer the way he did.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Hubble Looks Into a Cosmic Kaleidoscope
Hubble Looks Into a Cosmic Kaleidoscope: This cosmic kaleidoscope of purple, blue and pink marks the site of two colliding galaxy clusters.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Monday, March 21, 2016
Sunday, March 20, 2016
NASA Targets Early April for Eighth SpaceX Cargo Launch
NASA Targets Early April for Eighth SpaceX Cargo Launch: Media accreditation now is open for the April launch of a cargo resupply service mission to the International Space Station. SpaceX’s Dragon cargo spacecraft is targeted for launch at 4:43 p.m. EDT Friday, April 8.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Science Papers Reveal New Aspects of Pluto and its Moons
Science Papers Reveal New Aspects of Pluto and its Moons: A year ago, Pluto was just a bright speck in the cameras of NASA’s approaching New Horizons spacecraft, not much different than its appearances in telescopes since Clyde Tombaugh discovered the then-ninth planet in 1930.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Tilted Terminator
Tilted Terminator: NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured this view of Saturn's moon Enceladus that shows wrinkled plains that are remarkably youthful in appearance, being generally free of large impact craters.
Monday, March 14, 2016
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO RECEIVE RESOURCES TO REFORM FINE AND FEE PRACTICES
FROM: U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
Monday, March 14, 2016
Justice Department Announces Resources to Assist State and Local Reform of Fine and Fee Practices
“The consequences of the criminalization of poverty are not only harmful – they are far-reaching,” said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “They not only affect an individual’s ability to support their family, but also contribute to an erosion of our faith in government. One of my top priorities as Attorney General is to help repair community trust where it has frayed, and a key part of that effort includes ensuring that our legal system serves every American faithfully and fairly, regardless of their economic status.”
The package, which was sent to state chief justices and state court administrators throughout the country, includes the following elements:
Dear Colleague Letter from the Civil Rights Division and the Office for Access to Justice to provide greater clarity to state and local courts regarding their legal obligations with respect to the enforcement of court fines and fees. The letter addresses some of the most common practices that run afoul of the U.S. Constitution and/or other federal laws, such as incarcerating individuals for nonpayment without determining their ability to pay. The letter also discusses the importance of due process protections such as notice and, in appropriate cases, the right to counsel; the need to avoid unconstitutional bail practices; and due process concerns raised by certain private probation arrangements.
$2.5 million in competitive grants through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to state, local or tribal jurisdictions that, together with community partners, want to test strategies to restructure the assessment and enforcement of fines and fees. The grant program, titled The Price of Justice: Rethinking the Consequences of Justice Fines and Fees, will provide four grants of $500,000 to agencies and their collaborative partners to develop strategies that promote appropriate justice system responses, including reducing unnecessary confinement, for individuals who are unable to pay fines and fees. BJA will award an additional grant of $500,000 to a technical assistance provider. For agencies interested in applying for this funding opportunity, BJA will host an informational webinar on March 28, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. EDT to describe the background, key concepts and requirements of the solicitation. To register, please follow this link [external link].
Support for the National Task Force on Fines, Fees and Bail Practices, which is led by the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators. The task force is being funded by BJA and is also supported by the State Justice Institute. It is comprised of leaders from the judiciary, state and local government, the advocacy community and the academy. The task force will draft model statutes, court rules and procedures, and will develop an online clearinghouse of best practices. Department officials will also serve as ex officio members of the task force.
Resource Guide [external link] that assembles issue studies and other publications related to the assessment and enforcement of court fines and fees. The resource guide, compiled by the Office of Justice Programs Diagnostic Center, helps leaders make informed policy decisions and pursue sound strategies at the state, local and tribal levels.
Today’s announcement follows a seminal two-day convening [external link] held by the Justice Department and the White House in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 2 and 3, 2015. Judges, court administrators, researchers, advocates, prosecutors, defense attorneys and impacted individuals came together to discuss challenges surrounding fines and fees. The convening made plain the existence of unlawful and harmful practices in some jurisdictions and highlighted a number of promising reform efforts already underway. At the meeting, participants and department officials also discussed ways in which the Justice Department could assist courts in their efforts to make needed changes. Participants specifically asked the department to provide legal guidance to state and local actors; to highlight and help develop model practices; and to provide resources for local reform efforts.
The Justice Department is committed to reforming justice-system practices that perpetuate poverty and result in unnecessary deprivations of liberty. The department discussed many of these practices in its March 2015 report on the investigation of the Ferguson, Missouri, police department and municipal court. As discussed at the December 2015 convening, however, these practices can be found throughout the nation. And their effects are particularly severe for the most vulnerable members of our communities, often with a disproportionate impact on racial minorities. The resources released today are aimed at reforming these practices and mitigating their harmful effects.
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Hubble Sees a Legion of Galaxies
Hubble Sees a Legion of Galaxies: Containing countless galaxies, this parallel field observation is nearly as deep as the Hubble Ultra-Deep Field. When compared to other deep fields, it will help astronomers understand how similar the universe looks in different directions.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Frontier Fields Galaxy Cluster MACS J0717
Frontier Fields Galaxy Cluster MACS J0717: 'Frontier Fields' galaxy cluster MACS J0717, one of the most complex and distorted galaxy clusters known, is the site of a collision between four clusters. It is located about 5.4 billion light years away from Earth.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Celebrating International Women's Day
Celebrating International Women's Day: On April 8, 2010, STS-131 mission specialists Stephanie Wilson of NASA, Naoko Yamazaki of JAXA, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger of NASA, and Expedition 23 flight engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson (top left) work at the robotics workstation on the International Space Station, in support of transfer operations using the station's Canadarm2 robotic arm .
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
This Week @ NASA, March 4, 2016
This Week @ NASA, March 4, 2016: Scott Kelly's return from a year in space, next space station crew heads to launch site, 'low boom' aircraft, and more...
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Friday, March 4, 2016
Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly Back in Texas after His Year in Space
Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly Back in Texas after His Year in Space: Expedition 46 Commander Scott Kelly of NASA is seen after returning to Ellington Field, Thursday, March 3, 2016 in Houston, Texas after his return to Earth the previous day.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
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