Governor Herbert Announces Key Appointments to Senior Staff Positions
Utah BusinessGovernor Gary R. Herbert has made appointments to key positions within his administration that will further his commitments to economic development and fiscal responsibility within the State of Utah. Derek Miller will serve as Governor Herbert’s Chief of Staff, replacing outgoing chief Jason Perry.
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Payroll Tax Cut will Boost Employees' Take-Home Pay
Utah BusinessMillions of workers will see their take-home pay rise during 2011 because the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 provides a two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, reducing their Social Security tax withholding rate from 6.2% to 4.2% of wages paid.
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Today in Manufacturing
Beijing defended subsidies for wind and solar power against U.S. complaint that such support is unfair, saying its policies are best for fighting climate change ... continue
Today in Manufacturing
Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods outside of the volatile transportation category rose by the largest amount in eight months in November ... continue
Today in Manufacturing
Commerce Department reported Thursday that consumers increased their spending 0.4 percent in November, giving the economy a boost ahead of the holidays ... continue
Today in Manufacturing
Slightly fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, making it the second drop in three weeks ... continue
EPA TO SET MODEST PACE FOR GREENHOUSE GAS STANDARDS
James A. Holtkamp - Holland & Hart LLP
Agency stresses flexibility and public input in developing cost-effective and protective GHG standards for largest emitters
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued its plan for establishing greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution standards under the Clean Air Act in 2011. The agency looked at a number of sectors and is moving forward on GHG standards for fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries—two of the largest industrial sources, representing nearly 40 percent of the GHG pollution in the United States. The schedule issued in today’s agreements provides a clear path forward for these sectors and is part of EPA’s common-sense approach to addressing GHGs from the largest industrial pollution sources.
“We are following through on our commitment to proceed in a measured and careful way to reduce GHG pollution that threatens the health and welfare of Americans, and contributes to climate change,” Administrator Lisa Jackson said. “These standards will help American companies attract private investment to the clean energy upgrades that make our companies more competitive and create good jobs here at home.”
Several states, local governments and environmental organizations sued EPA over the agency’s failure to update the pollution standards for fossil fuel power plants and petroleum refineries, two of the largest source categories of GHG pollution in the United States. Under today’s agreement, EPA will propose standards for power plants in July 2011 and for refineries in December 2011 and will issue final standards in May 2012 and November 2012, respectively.
This schedule will allow the agency to host listening sessions with the business community, states and other stakeholders in early 2011, well before the rulemaking process begins, as well as to solicit additional feedback during the routine notice and comment period. Together this feedback will lead to smart, cost-effective and protective standards that reflect the latest and best information.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set industry-specific standards for new sources that emit significant quantities of harmful pollutants. These standards, called New Source Performance Standards (NSPS), set the level of pollution new facilities may emit and address air pollution from existing facilities. The Act allows flexible and innovative approaches that take into account cost, health and environmental impacts, and energy requirements. EPA must also periodically update these standards to reflect improvements in control technologies.
Earlier this year, EPA issued a common-sense approach to GHG permitting for the largest industrial sources. This approach, the GHG permitting guidelines issued in November, and these standards will give power plants and refineries a clear and sensible path for addressing GHG pollution.
EPA will accept public comment on these two agreements for 30 days following publication of notice in the Federal Register. More information: http://www.epa.gov/airquality/ghgsettlement.html R427
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AMBASSADOR HUNTSMAN ENCOURAGES U.S.-CHINA EXCHANGES
Global Utah WeeklyJon Huntsman, U.S. Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, called the 30 per cent increase in Chinese students studying at American universities "good news" for the American education system and economy, as well as the U.S.-China bilateral relationship. In an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal on December 1, Huntsman also noted that "this is a two-way street, and while we welcome the continued rise in the number of Chinese students in the United States, it is equally important that we also grow the number of American students studying in China."
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GOED Brown Bag Series on Exporting Continues in 2011
Global Utah WeeklyThe Governor's Office of Economic Development Brown Bag lunch series on international and trade topics kicks off 2011 with a presentation on Exporting to Mexico.
Each month a specific country will be highlighted with the presentations to be held at the GOED office at 324 South State from 12-1 p.m. Presentations will be led by regional directors from the International Trade and Diplomacy Office Miguel Rovira, Franz Kolb, and Brett Heimburger. Miguel Rovira will be kicking off the 2011 series with Mexico in January.
January 26: "Exporting to Mexico" seminar flyer »
Bring your lunch and join us! These seminars are free but space is limited so RSVP is required. Contact Diana Franca at dfranca@utah.gov to reserve your spot!
UPDATED KORUS FACT SHEETS BY COALITION, DOC, AND USDA
Global Utah WeeklyUpdated Coalition fact sheets on the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement that were distributed to all new members of Congress in early December are now available. There will be periodic updates to these fact sheets, so please check back on the website for the most updated versions.
In addition, there are updated fact sheets on the U.S.-Korea FTA from the International Trade Administration (U.S. Department of Commerce) and Foreign Agricultural Service (U.S. Department of Agriculture).
Fact Sheets »
Quick Manufacturing News
Demand for heating fuel and growth in U.S. GDP spur trading frenzy. Click to continue
AVIATION AND SURFACE TRANSPORTATION AUTHORIZATIONS EXTENDED
NAM Capital BriefingLast week, the House and Senate abandoned long-term FY 2011 federal funding packages that contained nine-month extensions for federal highway and transit programs as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and its key aviation programs. This week, Congress separately passed a shorter three-month FAA extension that will expire on March 31, 2011. Incoming House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-FL) recently highlighted the FAA reauthorization as one of his top early priorities in the 112th Congress. The federal government’s Continuing Resolution that passed the House and Senate this week contains an extension of federal highway and transit programs that will keep them funded through March 4, 2011. The incoming chairman will likely need more time to draft a multi-year surface transportation authorization, and we expect the need for an additional extension following this sixth short-term SAFETEA-LU extension, which is in the larger federal stop-gap funding measure.
NLRB PROPOSES NEW RULEMAKING
NAM Capital BriefingThis week, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) released a new notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that would require employers to post a notice to employees of their rights to unionize under the National Labor Relations Act. This notice must be posted like other required employee rights posters (like the FMLA, Fair Labor Standard Act, etc.) but also posted electronically (either on the web or via e-mail) if employers customarily communicate with employees through electronic communications. Congress
REAUTHORIZES AMERICA COMPETES ACT
NAM Capital BriefingThe House and Senate have reauthorized the America COMPETES Act, which authorizes basic research, STEM programs and other measures aimed at promoting U.S. innovation. Its programs are working to strengthen innovation in the U.S. manufacturing sector and to build a stronger workforce. Our economic future relies more than ever on our ability to innovate, and the reauthorization of the COMPETES Act will help manufacturers prosper in a globally integrated and highly competitive marketplace. The legislation is now headed to the President’s desk for signature.
IMMIGRATION UPDATE
NAM Capital BriefingWrapping up the lame-duck session of the 111th Congress, the House and Senate passed a 9/11 responders bill. As a "pay-for" for the bill, certain firms will have significantly increased fees for H-1B and L visas until 2015. The fees were originally increased this past summer for three years to pay for a border security measure. The fee increase was supposed to target only firms that employ 50 or more employees in the United States and have more than 50 percent of its employees in the United States on an H-1B visa. However, the fees are now being required by subsidiaries of larger companies, if the subsidiary meets the definition.
EPA PROPOSES TO DELAY GHG REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ON EMISSION INPUT DATA
NAM Capital BriefingThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week proposed several updates to the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Reporting Program to address concerns about potential public availability of certain data elements that industry considers Confidential Business Information (CBI). Specifically, the EPA is seeking public comment on its proposal to delay reporting of data elements that are “inputs to emission equations” for calendar years 2010, 2011 and 2012 until March 31, 2014. This input data constitutes detailed facility process and operational data, including information about fuel supplies (quantity and origin), unit throughput and production volumes. The NAM argued in previous comments that these data elements divulge sensitive business information and must be protected. Working in conjunction with the Air Quality Task Force, the NAM will submit comments on the proposed delay. Details: Alicia Oman, (202) 637-3174.
DOE RELEASES RARE EARTH MINERAL REPORT
NAM Capital BriefingThe Department of Energy (DOE) released its report on rare earth minerals last week. In the report, the DOE identifies five rare earth minerals as critical: dysprosium, neodymium, terbium, europium and yttrium. Furthermore, the report lays out the DOE’s plan to address this issue, which includes: 1) conducting comprehensive research that builds on three workshops that the DOE held in November and December of this year; 2) strengthening the manner by which the DOE gathers information; and 3) working globally, specifically with Japan and the European Union, to decrease exposure to any interference with the supply of these minerals. A copy of the 170-page report can be found here. The NAM continues to closely monitor developments both at the DOE and on Capitol Hill. Details: Mahta Mahdavi, (202) 637-3176.
Today in Manufacturing
Even companies that are adept at running their supply chains efficiently tend not to see the supply chain as an area which might enable them to achieve actual company growth ... continue
Today in Manufacturing
Congress passed temporary trade bill that extends, for six weeks, assistance to workers who were laid off due to cheap imports and jobs that moved abroad ... continue
Today in Manufacturing
The FDA is being pressed to complete their long-delayed safety review of an antibacterial chemical found in thousands of hand sanitizers, soaps and other products ... continue
Today in Manufacturing
Innovation and sustainability are important when it comes to staying competitive in manufacturing, but these are especially crucial during economic downturns ... continue
Quick Manufacturing News
OSHA’s fall semi-annual regulatory agenda was published in the Federal Register Dec. 20, featuring updates on regulatory actions including the Injury and Illness Prevention Program, modernizing recording and reporting requirements, infectious diseases, hazard communication, combustible dust and more. Click to continue
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