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NACD News - Table of Contents
Legislative and Regulatory Updates
Responsible Distribution Process
Networking and Education
Chemical Education Foundation
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Hotel Deadline for InteChem07 This Week
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The hotel reservation deadline for InteChem07, the chemical security conference that is a partnership among NACD, the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), and other organizations, is this coming Saturday, September 1. To reserve a room at the event hotel, the Sheraton City Center – Downtown Baltimore, MD, at the group rate of $185/night, call 410/752-1100 before Saturday and reference SOCMA’s InteChem07. The conference begins at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 2 and concludes at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, October 3. InteChem07 provides a perfect opportunity to learn more about the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials, including Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection Bob Stephan and Director of the Chemical Security Compliance Division Larry Stanton, will provide participants with the latest updates on CFATS, the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT), Security Vulnerability Assessments, and Risk-Based Performance Standards Guidelines for Site Security Plans. Other key topics will include Emergency Response in a Security Environment and Crisis Communications. InteChem07 is likely to sell out, so register today. The deadline for the “early bird” member rate of $175 is September 10. After that date, it will be $250. For more information, or to register for the conference, go to http://www.InteChem.org. For detailed information about the program, speakers, and venue, please see the conference brochure.
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Chemical Industry Terrorist Awareness Training This and Next Week
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DHS is hosting a free three-hour course, “Understanding Terrorism History and Prevention Strategies” for chemical facility personnel in three cities. Morning and afternoon sessions will be held in Los Angeles on August 31, Detroit on September 5, and Houston on September 7. The course provides participants with a history of terrorism in the United States and an understanding of militant Islam. It also provides information on authenticating foreign nationals’ identities to deter name disguising techniques used to conceal identities. The course instructor is Sam Kharoba, President of the Counter Terrorism Operations Center. If you would like detailed information on this course, including how to register, please contact NACD Vice President of Government & Public Affairs Jennifer Gibson at jgibson@nacd.com or 703/527-6223, ext. 103.
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NACD Still Awaiting Final Appendix A Publication
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NACD continues to await publication of the final Appendix A list of chemicals and quantities that will trigger the requirement to complete the Top Screen Consequence Assessment. The final Appendix A is now undergoing review by the Office of Management and Budget. Upon its publication, NACD will notify the membership through a special Regulatory Alert, so please watch for an e-mail from Jennifer Gibson. Also, be sure to visit http://www.DHS.gov/chemicalsecurity for new information and updates, or to register for the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) if you have not already done so. CSAT registration is necessary for completion of the Top Screen, which will be due 60 days after publication of the final Appendix A.
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State Legislature Group Votes Against Preemption
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Earlier this month, the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) adopted a resolution calling on Congress to enact legislation to preserve state authority to establish and enforce chemical security laws more stringent than the federal standards. The resolution says that in Section 27.405 of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), DHS “creates a process that may lead to the preemption of state law.” The resolution goes on to urge DHS to rescind Section 27.405. This NCSL resolution is being sent to Congress, which will provide more support for the language in the House and Senate versions of the fiscal year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bills to explicitly allow states and localities to adopt chemical security requirements more stringent than the federal standards.
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2008 NACD Washington Fly-In Set for April 8-9
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The date and location for the 2008 NACD Washington Fly-In have been set for Tuesday, April 8 and Wednesday, April 9 at the brand new Hotel Palomar, Arlington, VA, just down the street from the NACD office. The Fly-In provides an excellent opportunity to discuss issues that are impacting your business with your legislators and key federal regulators; so mark your calendar and plan to attend this worthwhile event next spring.
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North American Nations Agree to Chemicals Management Partnership
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Last week, the governments of the United States, Canada, and Mexico announced a cooperative agreement on chemicals management. Under the agreement, the three nations’ top environmental officials will coordinate efforts to assess and take action, as necessary, on industrial chemicals. By 2012, the United States will complete risk characterizations on more than 9000 chemicals produced or imported above 25,000 pounds per year. By 2020, several goals are to be met including creating and updating chemical inventories in all three countries. The agreement builds upon the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) High Production Volume program under the Toxic Substances Control Act and on Canada’s Chemical Management Program. The agreement has drawn praise from chemical manufacturing organizations and criticism from environmental organizations, who would prefer North America to adopt a REACH-type system. For more information on the agreement, go to http://www.epa.gov/chemrtk/index.htm.
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FMCSA Releases Guidance on Accident Definition
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recently released regulatory guidance on its definition of “accident.” The regulatory guidance is presented in a question-and-answer form and is applicable to drivers, commercial motor vehicles, and motor carrier operations subject to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. This guidance supersedes all prior interpretations and regulatory guidance concerning the term “accident” if they are inconsistent with this clarification. The purpose of the new guidance is to provide the motor carrier industry and federal, state, and local law enforcement officials with uniform information for use in determining whether certain vehicle fires must be recorded on the motor carrier's accident register and considered in applying the Agency's safety fitness procedures. The new guidance is now in effect. To access the guidance, go to http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html, type “page 40250” into the top box, and hit the submit key. FMCSA has issued a subsequent correction that the contact phone number for more information is 202/366-4325.
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EPA Region 3 Announces Conference for December 2-5 in Pittsburgh
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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 has announced the 2007 Emergency Preparedness and Prevention & HazMat Spills Conference to be held December 2-5, in Pittsburgh, PA. The conference, “Partnerships: Bridging the Gap Between Preparedness & Response” is designed for environmental, health, and safety and operations personnel, local emergency planning committee representatives, first responders, HazMat response teams, and law enforcement representatives. Registration fees are $200 before September 21 and $250 after that date. The conference will be held at the Hilton Pittsburgh, where the group rate is $100/night. To register for the conference, and for detailed information on the program and venue, visit the conference Web site at http://www.2007conference.org.
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NAW Publishes Timely Article on Risks of Privately Labeled Products
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The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) Institute for Distribution Excellence has published a timely article on the risks involved with distributors selling products manufactured by others, particularly overseas suppliers, under their own company’s brand name. The article discusses the potential risks of product liability exposure, intellectual property rights, quality control issues, and product recall responsibilities and outlines ways distributors can protect themselves from problems in these areas. To view the article, go to http://www.naw.org/Content/ContentGroups/Government_Relations1/privlabel.htm.
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RDP Orientation & Workshop -- September 17-18, 2007
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Register today and receive the new Code Coordinator Manual at the workshop! Go to /docs/events/opsem/2007/pdf/07Registration.pdf. If you are attending this meeting in Nashville, please make your room reservations now. Go to http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/bnash?groupCode=chechea&app=resvlink. FYI -- Monday and Tuesday, September 17-18, are sold out at the Renaissance! If you need a room for the 17th and 18th, please go to /events/opsem/travel.aspx for more details on hotel reservations and alternative hotel accommodations.
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RDP Overview Webinar
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You can now play back the Webinar that was conducted earlier this month. Log in at /login.aspx?url=%2fdist_process%2fdocuments.aspx, then go to the "Presentations" section, and click on "RDP Overview Webinar".
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Reduce Your Supplier Audits
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If you are interested in reducing your supplier audits, encourage your suppliers (this includes other NACD distributor member companies that act as suppliers to you as well) to participate in the supplier-nominated RDP Verification process. Visit /dist_process/srdpv.aspx to learn more and to view a list of current Supplier Funders.
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Northeast Region Meeting - October 11-12, 2007
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The Millennium Boston Hotel, Boston, MA
NACD Group Rate: $349
Reservations: 617/523-3600
For more information on NACD Regional meetings, visit /about/regions/.
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NACD OPSEM2007, Nashville, TN, September 19-21
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Registration Deadline has passed, however, we willl take registrations until August 31. After this date, please register on-site at the Nashville Convention Center. Please note NACD registration desk times on our program schedule at /events/opsem/events.aspx.
To register for the meeting and the golf outing, please go to /events/opsem/registration.aspx.
Note that the golf outing coincides with the RDP Workshop that same day. To download a registration form, go to /docs/events/opsem/2007/pdf/07Registration.pdf.
It’s not too late to register for a booth at /events/opsem/exhibit.aspx.
For hotel reservations, please go to /events/opsem/travel.aspx. Please note Monday, September 17 and Tuesday, September 18 is sold out at the hotel!
For current OPSEM program schedule and sessions descriptions, visit www.nacd.com/events/opsem/events.aspx.
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2007 Annual Meeting
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El Conquistador Golf Resort & Casino, Las Croabas, Puerto Rico
November 26-30, 2007
The meeting registration form is now available on-line -- /events/annual_meeting/registration.aspx.
If you have not booked your rooms for the Annual Meeting yet, please view important updates on the room situation at: /events/annual_meeting/home.aspx.
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New Look, New Name, New Experiments!
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CEF's You Be The Chemist kit has a new look and format, a new name, and exciting new experiments! In late September, the CEF staff will unveil the You Be The Chemist (YBTC) Activity Guides: Lesson Plans for Making Chemistry Fun. Two booklets, one for grades K-4, another for grades 5-8 will be available for purchase, separately ($12 and $15, respectively) or together ($20). Each of the Activity Guides will include the following grade appropriate material:
- More than 25 educator-reviewed lesson plans
- More in-depth activity sheets that can serve as classroom assessments or homework assignments
- Project extensions and vocabulary lists
- An expanded resource guide that includes important chemists, tips for non-chemistry educators to better teach the subject, and safety information
- A media guide that will help industry representatives approach members of their community, as well as suggested ways to implement and promote the use of the Activity Guides in the community
In addition, animated chemists Newton and Kelvin are back again to help walk grade K-4 students through some of the basic chemistry concepts. New review game material will be included in the 5-8 grade kits to provide students with a fun, interactive review of chemistry concepts.
For more information about the YBTC Activity Guides or to reserve your copy, please visit www.chemed.org, call CEF staff at 703/527-6223, or e-mail comments@chemed.org.
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Nominate a Colleague for the Vanguard Award!
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CEF is now accepting nominations for the Vanguard Award. Each year, the Vanguard Award is presented to a member of the chemical industry whose leadership and outreach initiatives help advance the Foundation's mission of fostering a greater understanding of the science and value of chemistry and chemicals. Nominate a colleague today! For more details and to view the submission form, please visit http://www.chemedorg/Vanguard_Award.htm or call CEF staff at 703/527-6223 or e-mail at comments@chemed.org. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2008.
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Who Is NACD?
