The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates the risks associated with the importation into the continental U.S. of fresh strawberries from Jordan. Based on this analysis, APHIS believes that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary measures will be sufficient to mitigate the risks of introducing or disseminating plant pests or noxious weeds. Comments are due by December 13, 2010.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is correcting its September 21, 2010 final rule that revised the list of vehicles not originally manufactured to conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) that NHTSA has decided to be eligible for importation.
Various U.S. government agencies are seeking comments on the following information collections for which they have requested or intend to request Office of Management and Budget approval or extension of approval (see notices for specific details):
The Small Business Administration has issued a final rule, effective February 4, 2011, to provide a sheltered market for competition among small women-owned businesses competing for federal contracts (valued under $5 or $3 million). Industries benefiting from this change include specialized and general freight trucking, support activities for road transportation, freight transportation arrangement, warehousing and storage, cut and sew apparel manufacturing, apparel accessories and apparel manufacturing, software publishers, legal services, etc.
The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget a final rule for approval entitled: Toxics Release Inventory; Addition of National Toxicology Program Carcinogens.
The State Department, World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recently issued the following travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information sheets, and disease outbreak-related information:
The Foreign Agricultural Service has posted the following September 2010 reports:
The Foreign Agriculture Service issued the following GAIN reports:
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is seeking comments on the establishment of a World Trade Organization compliance panel, as requested by Mexico, concerning U.S. compliance with Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) rulings in the dispute U.S. - Final Antidumping Measures on Stainless Steel from Mexico (DS344), which involved the U.S.’ use of AD “zeroing.”
Building off his earlier announcement of a new plan for modernizing and rebuilding U.S. roads, railways, and runways, President Obama recently held a meeting on the economic impact of infrastructure investment on states and local communities at the White House.