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EPA Seeks Small Businesses Input on Risk Management Rulemaking for HBCD
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses, governments, and not-for-profits to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) to provide advice and recommendations to a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel for the cyclic aliphatic bromide cluster (HBCD). The panel will focus on the agency’s development of a proposed rule to address unreasonable risks identified in EPA’s recently completed Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) risk evaluation for HBCD.
Under TSCA, EPA is required to evaluate the risks associated with exposure to existing chemicals in commerce using the best available science then take action to reduce or eliminate any unreasonable risks identified. The agency issued a final risk evaluation for HBCD in September 2020 showing unreasonable risks to the environment, workers, and occupational non-users under certain conditions of use. EPA is now moving to the risk management step in the TSCA process by working to draft regulations to protect public health and the environment from the unreasonable risks identified in the final risk evaluation.
The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to establish a SBAR Panel for rules that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The SBAR Panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA.
SERs will be selected by the SBAR Panel to provide comments on behalf of their company, community, or organization and advise the Panel on the potential impacts of the proposed rule on small entities. EPA is seeking self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be subject to the rule’s requirements. Other representatives, such as trade associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs.
SERs provide advice and recommendations to the Panel. The SERs participate in consultations with the SBAR Panel via telephone, webinar, or in person in one or two meetings and are given an opportunity to submit written comments to the Panel. Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be received by November 23.
In addition to engaging with small businesses, EPA is executing a robust outreach effort on risk management that includes one-on-one meetings with stakeholders and formal consultations with state and local governments, tribes, and environmental justice communities. There will also be an open public comment period on any draft risk management regulation.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPDATES STATEWIDE COVID-19 CASE COUNTS
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Members of the new Indiana 211 Advisory Board named
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Jennifer Sullivan, M.D., M.P.H., announced today the 30 individuals who will serve on the new Indiana 211 Advisory Board. These 30 Hoosiers will advise Dr. Sullivan and her team through the continuing integration of IN211 as it becomes the newest division of FSSA.
Indiana 211 became a part of FSSA in July, following the unanimous passage of State Enrolled Act 267 by the Indiana General Assembly. The integration of IN211 into the state’s health and human services agency was also part of Gov. Eric J. Holcomb’s 2020 Next Level agenda. Already, IN211 and FSSA have collaborated to launch the Be Well Crisis Helpline.
“We have sought to bring a group of courageous, thoughtful, diverse and disruptive thinkers together to make IN211 the best human services resource referral system in the nation,†said Dr. Sullivan. “This advisory board will help set the stage for Hoosiers to find equity and improved well-being at every turn.â€
The advisory board, as specified by legislation, must include at least two members representing different Indiana United Way entities, members who have experience working for or with the Indiana 211 Partnership or the Indiana 211 board of directors, members representing local service agencies that receives referrals from IN211, and members representing the types of human services provided.
“This exemplary group not only represents the needs of their communities all across Indiana, but will provide insight into unmet social needs and gaps in resources, review data, identify and drive opportunities for innovation and help build and maintain connections with community partners,†added Dr. Sullivan.
Members named to the board include:
- Kayla Bledsoe, Resource Coordinator, Immigrant Welcome Center
- Julio Alonso, Executive Director, Hoosier Hills Food Bank
- Gisele Brown, Associate Director, Ivy Tech IvyCares Central Indiana
- Michael Budd, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Greater Lafayette
- Amy Canterbury, President and CEO, United Way of Southwestern Indiana
- Jay Chaudhary, Director, Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction
- Morella Dominguez, Director of Community Relations, Shalom Health Care Center
- Carl Ellison, President/CEO, Indiana Minority Health Coalition
- Shannon Garrity, Children’s Program Director, Indiana State Department of Health
- Leah Giorgini, Senior Director, Domestic Violence & Prevention Program, YWCA Greater Lafayette
- Kimberly Green Reeves, Director, Beacon Community Impact, Beacon Health System
- John Guingrich, President/CEO, The League
- Julie Halbig, Vice President of Legislative Relations, Indiana Hospital Association (current IN211 board vice chair/treasurer)
- Brian Harvey, Behavioral Health Advisor, Franciscan Health, Dyer
- Ben Harvey, Executive Director, Indiana Primary Health Care Association
- Steve Hoffman, President/CEO, Brightpoint
- Kristen LaEace, Chief Executive Officer, Indiana Association of Area Agencies on Aging
- Zenebia Law, Director of Southern Indiana Programs at The Center for Women and Families
- Velshonna Luckey, Director of Outreach and Partnership Development, United Way of St. Joseph County
- Ann Murtlow, President/CEO, United Way of Central Indiana
- Tara Nelson, Project Coordinator, Indiana Parenting Institute
- Janice Nichols, Regional Director, Bowen Center
- Lucinda Nord, Executive Director, Indiana Library Federation
- Gary Olund, President/CEO, Northwest Indiana Community Action
- Christian Rust, Township Trustee, Washington Township in Decatur County
- David Siler, Executive Director, Families First
- Tracy Skaggs, Former social service recipient
- Joe Sutherland, Director, Government and External Affairs at Citizens Energy Group (current IN211 board chair)
- Debi Wallick, Executive Director, United Way of Miami County
- Bert Williams, Indiana Salvation Army, Emergency Disaster Services
Dr. Sullivan also recently named FSSA’s Tara Morse as the new director of Indiana 211, and Jaimie Ferren, a veteran of the Indiana 211 leadership team, as deputy director. She plans to schedule the first convening of the new advisory board in December.
Haubstadt Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography
Monday morning, November 9, Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and Cyber Crimes Unit (CCU) arrested Phillip Brundage, 41, of Haubstadt, for Possession of Child Pornography, a Level 5 Felony.
Indiana State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Unit initiated a criminal investigation after receiving a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A search warrant was executed yesterday morning at Brundage’s residence located on Hirsch Woods Lane in Haubstadt. During the search of Brundage’s property, officers located child pornography. Brundage was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where he is currently being held on bond.
This is an on-going investigation
All criminal defendants are to be presumed innocent until, and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
EPA, Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy Enter into First-Time MOU to Advance Engagement with Agriculture Community
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a first-time Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy (Innovation Center), furthering the Trump Administration’s focus on engaging with agriculture communities to support better environmental outcomes.
“The EPA is proud of the work it’s done to rebuild relationships with the agricultural community during the Trump Administration, and this MOU will help boost cooperation and environmental outcomes for the U.S. dairy industry,â€Â said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. Â
“The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy is founded on collaboration, and we appreciate EPA’s recognition of U.S. dairy’s leadership toward building an environmentally sustainable and economically viable future for our industry,â€Â said Innovation Center President Barbara O’Brien. “We welcome the voluntary opportunities highlighted in the MOU and look forward to EPA participation as a member of the Dairy Sustainability Alliance®.â€
The MOU between EPA and the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy signals a commitment to collaborate and coordinate in areas of mutual interest related to environmental stewardship in the dairy industry. Highlights in the MOU include:
- Outreach and education tied to dairy community access to technical, financial and educational support related to adoption of environmentally beneficial practices and technologies across farms of all sizes, regions and designs.
- Contribution of EPA expert input and feedback on Innovation Center initiatives to help advance environmental stewardship.
- EPA membership in the Innovation Center’s Dairy Sustainability Alliance.
Lawyers Can’t Find The Parents Of 666 Migrant Kids
Lawyers Can’t Find The Parents Of 666 Migrant Kids, A Higher Number Than Previously Reported
Last month lawyers ordered to find migrant families separated by the Trump administration said they couldn’t find parents for 545 kids. Now they say it’s 666.
WASHINGTON — Lawyers working to reunite migrant families separated by the Trump administration before and during its “zero tolerance” policy at the border now believe the number of separated children for whom they have not been able to find parents is 666, higher than they told a federal judge last month, according to an email obtained by NBC News.
Nearly 20 percent of those children were under 5 at the time of the separation, according to a source familiar with the data.
In the email, Steven Herzog, the attorney leading efforts to reunite the families, explains that the number is higher because the new group includes those “for whom the government did not provide any phone number.” Previously, the lawyers said they could not find the parents of 545 children after they had tried to make contact but had been unsuccessful.
Herzog said in the email to Justice Department attorneys representing the Trump administration, “we would appreciate the government providing any available updated contact information or other information that may be helpful in establishing contact for all 666 of these parents.”
Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, explained to NBC News that the new number “includes individuals in addition to 545 for whom we got no information from the government that would allow meaningful searches but are hopeful the government will now provide with that information.”
The Trump administration imposed a “zero tolerance” policy on the U.S./Mexico border between April and June 2018 under which undocumented migrant parents and children were separated. Prior to the border wide “zero tolerance” policy, the Trump administration tested family separation in a pilot program in the El Paso sector. The vast majority of the children referenced in the email obtained by NBC News were separated during this pilot program, but the total also includes some children who were separated under zero tolerance.
President-elect Joe Biden has committed to establishing a government task force that would work to reunite all migrant families separated by Trump administration policies. But, according to two sources familiar with the incoming administration’s planning on immigration, Biden has so far not decided whether separated parents will be given the opportunity to come to the U.S. to reunite with their children and pursue claims to asylum.
Herzog, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Virtual Open House Planned Nov. 12 to Announce Newest Program at Ivy Tech Tell City
A Virtual Open House is planned to announce Ivy Tech’s newest career pathway in Tell City – Qualified Medication Aide (QMA). It will be presented live on Thursday, Nov. 12 from noon to 1 p.m. on the Ivy Tech Tell City Career & Technology Center Facebook page (@TCIvyTech) and through Zoom for those who do not have access.
To access the Zoom meeting, go to link.ivytech.edu/TellCityQMA at noon on Nov. 12.
Tours of the QMA lab and course discussions will take place. This coursework fills a need for workforce training in Perry and surrounding counties and allows employees to complete the next step in training for a rewarding career in healthcare.
A Qualified Medication Aide is a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) who has completed additional training, annual in-service training, and demonstrated competency in dispensing and passing medications and or applying/administering treatments under the direct supervision of a registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse.
“The QMA Program would not have been possible at this location without the generous support of our community partners,†said Katie King, site director. “Those partners include the Community Foundation and the Perry County Development Corporation.â€
Enrollment is now taking place for classes starting January 19, 2021.
“This is a high-demand field in our area and throughout Indiana, and there is an 8% growth rate projected in the next 10 years,†she added.
For additional information, please call 812-547-7915.