Posts for May 11, 2010

ATK RECEIVES $52 MILLION TRAINING TANK AMMUNITION ORDER FROM U.S. ARMY

May 11, 2010 – Utah Business Daily

Alliant Techsystems (ATK) has received a $52 million order for 120mm training tank ammunition from the U.S. Army.
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FIRST QUARTER UTAH HOME CONSTRUCTION ON THE RISE

May 11, 2010 – Utah Business Daily

The Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) at the David Eccles School of Business reports that the number of single-family home permits issued in Utah for the first-quarter is up 110 percent over the first quarter of 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, the State of Utah has issued 1,522 new home building permits. "The first quarter data show strong improvement in the home building sector,” said Jim Wood, director of BEBR.
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UTAH GEAR MAKER MERGING WITH CALIF. BACKPACK FIRM

May 11, 2010 – LateWire at Manufacturing.net
Outdoor gear maker Black Diamond Equipment -- will join publicly traded company and buy Calif.-based Gregory Mountain Products, a manufacturer of specialized backpacks ... continue

WHOLESALE INVENTORIES, SALES UP IN MARCH

May 11, 2010 – Latewire from Manufacturing.net
Inventories held by wholesalers rose 0.4 percent in March, and sales shot up by 2.4 percent, more than double the 1.1 percent increase economists had forecast ... continue

JOB OPENINGS, HIRINGS RISE IN MARCH

May 11, 2010 – LateWire from Manufacturing.net
New hiring rose in March to its highest level in more than a year while job openings moved up slightly, fresh evidence the job market is slowly improving ... continue

DRAFT STAFF SUMMARY OF KERRY-LIEBERMAN BILL RELEASED

May 11, 2010 - James A. Holtkamp, Holland and Hart

Earlier today, the attached draft staff summary of the Kerry-Lieberman draft climate change bill (the "American Power Act") was released. The bill itself will be released tomorrow.
Notably, the summary states that the bill will provide that "two-thirds of revenues not dedicated to reducing our deficit are rebated back to consumers." The bill will also preempt state cap-and-trade programs, and implies preemption of some or all of the Clean Air Act provisions being invoked by EPA or others to regulate greenhouse gas emissions ("It insures predictability for American businesses by articulating a single set of rules for achieving its goals.")

The bill will call for a 17 percent reduction in "carbon pollution" from 2005 levels by 2020 and more than an 80 percent reduction by 2050. The bill will include "separate, targeted mechanisms" for the power, heavy manufacturing and transportation sectors, and will include a price collar on carbon allowances. The reduction targets will apply to sources producing more than 25,000 tons per year of carbon emissions.

There will be provisions for both energy-intensive and trade-exposed industries and increased incentives for clean manufacturing technology.

Although the bill contains incentives for offshore drilling, it will provide that coastal states may opt out of drilling within 75 miles from their coastlines.

Farmers will be exempt from the reduction obligations of the bill, although the USDA will oversee an agricultural and forestry offset program to incentivize carbon reductions from agricultural operations.

The bill will include provisions to increase investment in clean coal technology and in carbon capture and sequestration, along with incentives to increase development of nuclear power generation.

After the bill is released, we will provide a more detailed analysis.

CHILD LABOR LAWS: SAFETY & WELFARE

May 11, 2010 – Employers Council

Minors are searching for summer jobs. If you hire minors, be familiar with the restrictions on hours and types of work. See our publication, Employment of Minors (Age 14 Through 17), attached to this week’s newsletter. The Department of Labor takes a strict enforcement posture in this area of the law. Civil penalties are up to $11,000 per violation or $50,000 if the violation causes death or serious injury. Safety is one of the critical factors when employing minors, yet they still suffer injuries. Assess and eliminate hazards where minors will be working, and train them to use safe work practices, recognize hazards, and prepare for emergencies. Supervisors need to understand all the potential safety and welfare risks involving minors.