Posts for February 26, 2011

UMA ON THE HILL:

SENATE COMMITTEE PUTS POLICE FEE DEAL ON HOLD
Salt Lake County officials this week presented what was characterized as an agreed deal to phase out the controversial police fee. The problem with the negotiated “deal” is it came as a surprise to both the House and Senate sponsors of the bill. Reacting to the surprise the Senate Committee moved on to the next item on the agenda, leaving the bill sitting in committee until the chairman puts it back on the agenda. Parties to the negotiated deal were admonished to go back the drawing board and this time keep sponsors informed. The bill HB-224 is expected to be heard again next week. UMA supports repeal of the police fee.

ENVIRONMENTAL LITIGATION BOND BILL MODIFIED
At the request of UMA and other business and industry leaders the sponsor of HB-399, Environmental Litigation Bonds, announced he would remove the Department of Environmental Quality from the purview of his bill to require filing a bond when suing in environmental areas. Bill sponsor, Rep. Noel was persuaded that the threat from EPA that primacy for environmental programs in Utah may be in jeopardy would be a negative thing for permitting in Utah. With the amendment removing DEQ from the bill, UMA can remove its opposition.

DURABLE GOODS ORDERS DROP

Today in Manufacturing
Orders for long-lasting manufactured goods outside of transportation fell in January by the largest amount in two years ... continue

FEWER PEOPLE SOUGHT UNEMPLOYMENT AID LAST WEEK

Today in Manufacturing
Applications dropped by 22,000 last week, pushing the average number over the past four weeks to the lowest level in more than two and a half years ... continue

U.S.-BOUND SHIPMENTS REBOUND

Quick Manufacturing News
The number of global manufacturers shipping to the U.S. increased 6% versus December. Click to continue

BUDGET CUTS COULD THREATEN WORKER HEALTH AND SAFETY

Quick Manufacturing News
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine expressed strong concerns about the effect of proposed funding cuts to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health saying that it will devastate the nation's supply of new physicians trained to treat injured and ill workers. Click to continue

EPA SETS UNACHIEVABLE STANDARD WITH FINAL BOILER MACT RULE

NAM Capital Briefing
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its final rule for emissions from industrial and commercial boilers and process heaters on Wednesday, February 23. The “Maximum Achievable Control Technology” (Boiler MACT) standard will have a harmful impact on manufacturers of all sizes and could result in the loss of hundreds of thousands of high-wage U.S. manufacturing jobs. Industrial boilers are found in nearly all manufacturing sectors, including chemical, auto, metalworking, petroleum refining and paper companies.
Unfortunately, the stricter emissions standard is not actually “achievable” or “achieved in practice” by any existing or new sources, as expressly required by the Clean Air Act.
The EPA first published the new air emissions standard to reduce mercury emissions, among other pollutants, in June 2010. The NAM filed formal comments with the EPA on August 23 to outline manufacturers’ concerns with the MACT standards. The new rule also caught the attention of lawmakers. In a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, more than 100 members of Congress expressed their opposition to the new standards. They noted that the new regulations “could impose tens of billions of dollars in capital costs at thousands of facilities across the country.”
After receiving extensive public comments, the EPA requested a 15-month extension to consider new information about the achievability of the regulations and re-propose the rule. The NAM welcomed the EPA's decision to delay the final rule and carefully consider the potential negative impact on manufacturing jobs and the economy. However, in January, a U.S. District Court rejected the request and granted the EPA only a one-month extension to issue its final rule. The deadline was February 21.
While the EPA made some changes to the rule, the NAM believes these changes will not significantly mitigate the compliance costs for manufacturers.
According to NAM Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Relations Aric Newhouse, “The new Boiler MACT rule will have an immediate, negative impact on manufacturers’ bottom lines at a time when they are trying to rebound economically and create jobs. This is a harsh, inflexible rule that will cost jobs, hurt global competiveness and may discourage projects that could otherwise lead to environmental improvements.”
The Boiler MACT rule is one in a long line of burdensome regulations imposed by the EPA on industry. Last month, NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons testified before the House Oversight Committee and outlined the costly and unnecessary burdens placed on the manufacturing economy, including aggressive regulations on greenhouse gas emissions and industrial boilers and proposals for stricter ozone standards.
The NAM believes the EPA needs more time to re-propose the standards and seek additional public comment. We will be exploring our options to address our concerns in Congress, the Administration and the courts. The EPA’s final rule is available here.

NAM RESPONDS TO NLRB’S REGULATORY OVERREACH

NAM Capital Briefing
On Tuesday, February 22, the NAM filed comments with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in response to proposed new regulations that would require all employers covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to physically post a notice in the workplace of employees’ rights under the NLRA. The proposal also would require some employers to distribute the notice electronically to certain employees. The NAM’s comments make it clear that we feel the Board lacks the necessary authority to require employers to post such a notice without a union election petition or labor violation being filed.

UTAH ONLY STATE TO DOUBLE EXPORTS OVER LAST FIVE YEARS

State percentage of export growth the best in the nation
World Trade Center Gobal
With both Governor Gary Herbert and President Barack Obama calling for a doubling of exports in the next five years, it is especially significant that Utah was the only state where exports doubled in the past five years. In 2010 Utah shipped $13.57 Billion in merchandise exports to international markets.

Some states will have to double exports just to return to where they were before the recession started. Utah, however, does not have that problem. The State is positioned to grow exports significantly.
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BOEING WINS $35B TANKER CONTRACT

Today in Manufacturing
The $35 billion contract to build nearly 200 airborne refueling tankers is one of the biggest defense contracts ever and will add tens of thousands of jobs ... continue

OBAMA ASKS BUSINESS LEADERS TO CREATE JOBS

Today in Manufacturing
President Obama is pressing American business leaders to create more jobs and find ways for struggling middle-class families to share in the nation's economic recovery ... continue

SPENDING CUTS SLOW U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH

Today in Manufacturing
Deeper spending cuts by state and local governments weighed down U.S. economic growth in the final three months of last year ... continue

DURABLE GOODS UP 2.7% IN JANUARY

Quick Manufacturing News
Transportation equipment had the largest increase, $10.9 billion or 27.6% to $50.5 billion Click to continue