Customer Service Advisory: Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1 Gate Schedules for POLA and POLB Marine Terminal Gates
PierPASS/ http://pierpass.org/2013/12/17/customer-service-advisory-dec-24-25-31-and-jan-1-gate-schedules-for-pola-and-polb-marine-terminal-gates/
Beach will operate on a holiday schedule on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and Tuesday, Dec. 31. Some terminals will be closed all day, and those that are open will end operations at 3:00 p.m.
All terminal gates will be closed on Wednesday Dec. 25 and Wednesday Jan. 1.
Please click here to view the terminal gate schedule.
Check for These Winter Products Recalled Last Summer
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission / http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Newsroom/News-Releases/2014/Check-for-These-Winter-Products-Recalled-Last-Summer/
WASHINGTON, D.C. - When you pull out your winter gear, check for these items recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission last summer.
CBP Signs Partnership Agreements for Expanded Services
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/national/12192013.xml
Washington — U.S. Customs and Border Protection today finalized the agreements for five public-private partnerships during an official signing ceremony. Under authority from the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, CBP created a reimbursable fee agreement program to increase CBP’s ability to provide new or enhanced services on a reimbursable basis to support growth in cross-border trade and travel.
The entities selected for these partnerships are Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport; The City of El Paso, Texas; South Texas Assets Consortium; The City of Houston Airport System; and Miami-Dade County. These locations will cover the entirety of CBP air, land and sea operations
“The utilization of public-private partnerships is an important component of CBP’s strategy to optimize resources,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski. “Together with our private sector partners, we can better facilitate trade and travel to continue to grow our local and national economies.”
The reimbursable services proposals were reviewed and ranked based on criteria including: impact on current CBP operations, health and safety issues, community and economic benefits, and the feasibility of instituting the agreements in a timely manner. The deadline to complete the negotiations with the five applicants is December 31, 2013. These agreements will not replace existing services, and new services can include all customs and immigration inspection-related matters.
The reimbursable services authority is a key component of CBP’s Resource Optimization Strategy, and will allow CBP to provide new or expanded services at domestic ports of entry reimbursed by the partner entity. This will have a positive impact on the Nation’s economy – particularly through a reduction in wait times.
Import and Export Container Cargo Climbs
Port of Long Beach / http://www.polb.com/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1234&TargetID=1
Post-peak season shipments point to optimism
Cargo volume climbed a modest 2.5 percent at the Port of Long Beach in November compared to the same month one year ago, as a sharp decline in shipments of empty boxes nearly offset solid gains in both imports and exports of containerized goods.
A total of 569,599 TEUs (or twenty-foot equivalent container units) moved through Long Beach in November. Imports increased 6.5 percent to 296,638 TEUs. Exports rose 9.9 percent to 151,950 TEUs – the Port’s second best total for exports in 2013.
Empties dropped 12.7 percent to 121,011 TEUs. With imports exceeding exports, nearly all of the empties are sent overseas to be refilled with goods. Most months, the total of exports plus empties is nearly equal to imports. So in November, when exports rose sharply, empties declined.
For the first 11 months of calendar 2013, cargo container volume is up 12.1 percent – including 14.4 percent more imports, 10.8 percent more exports and 8.6 percent more empties.
Traditionally, August through October is the “peak season” for ocean-borne imports, as retailers prepare for a rise in buying as the end-of-the-year holidays approach. The November imports are among the first products that are destined for store shelves in the New Year.
For the latest monthly cargo numbers, click here.
For more details on the cargo numbers, visit www.polb.com/stats.
ITA - Press Release
International Trade Administration / http://www.trade.gov/press/press-releases/
12/17/2013 Commerce Preliminarily Finds Countervailable Subsidization of Imports of Oil Country Tubular Goods from India and Preliminarily Finds No Countervailable Subsidization of Imports of Oil Country Tubular Goods from the Republic of Turkey
FDA Allows Marketing of First Device to Relieve Migraine Headache Pain
Food & Drug Administration / http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm378608.htm
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today allowed marketing of the Cerena Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator (TMS), the first device to relieve pain caused by migraine headaches that are preceded by an aura: a visual, sensory or motor disturbance immediately preceding the onset of a migraine attack.
Migraine headaches are characterized by intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area of the head accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound. A migraine can last anywhere between four and 72 hours when untreated. These debilitating headaches affect approximately 10 percent of people worldwide and are three times more common in women than in men. About one third of people with migraines experience an aura.
“Millions of people suffer from migraines and this new device represents a new treatment option for some patients,” said Christy Foreman, director of the Office of Device Evaluation in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
The Cerena TMS is a prescription device used after the onset of pain associated with migraine headaches preceded by an aura. Using both hands to hold the device against the back of the head, the user presses a button to release a pulse of magnetic energy to stimulate the occipital cortex in the brain, which may stop or lessen the pain associated with migraine headaches preceded by an aura.
The FDA reviewed the data for the Cerena TMS through the de novo premarket review pathway, a regulatory pathway for some low- to moderate-risk medical devices that are not substantially equivalent to an already legally marketed device.
The FDA reviewed a randomized control clinical trial of 201 patients who had mostly moderate to strong migraine headaches and who had auras preceding at least 30 percent of their migraines. Of the study subjects, 113 recorded treating a migraine at least once when pain was present. Analysis of these 113 subjects was used to support marketing authorization of the Cerena TMS for the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache with aura.
The study showed that nearly 38 percent of subjects who used the Cerena TMS when they had migraine pain were pain-free two hours after using the device compared to about 17 percent of patients in the control group. After 24 hours, nearly 34 percent of the Cerena TMS users were pain-free compared to 10 percent in the control group.
The study did not show that the Cerena TMS is effective in relieving the associated symptoms of migraine, such as sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and nausea. The device is for use in people 18 years of age and older. The study did not evaluate the device’s performance when treating types of headaches other than migraine headaches preceded by an aura.
Adverse events reported during the study were rare for both the device and the control groups but included single reports of sinusitis, aphasia (inability to speak or understand language) and vertigo (sensation of spinning). Dizziness may be associated with the use of the device.
Patients must not use the Cerena TMS device if they have metals in the head, neck, or upper body that are attracted by a magnet, or if they have an active implanted medical device such as a pacemaker or deep brain stimulator. The Cerena TMS device should not be used in patients with suspected or diagnosed epilepsy or a personal or family history of seizures. The recommended daily usage of the device is not to exceed one treatment in 24 hours.
The Cerena TMS is manufactured by eNeura Therapeutics of Sunnyvale, Calif.
For more information:
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.
Proposed Modifications to the NAFTA Rules of Origin Would Have Little Effect on U.S. Production but could significantly Affect Trade in Certain Products, Says USITC
U.S. International Trade Commission / http://www.usitc.gov/press_room/news_release/2013/er1219ll2.htm?source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Proposed modifications to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rules of origin are likely to have a negligible effect on U.S. industry, but they could result in a significant increase in U.S. trade for products covered by some of the proposed modifications, reports the U.S. International Trade Commissoin (USITC) in its publication Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin.
The USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, produced the report at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).
As requested, the report provides advice on the probable economic effect of 212 proposed modifications to the NAFTA rules of origin on U.S. imports and exports under NAFTA, total U.S. imports and exports, and domestic industries producing the affected articles. Highlights of the report follow.
- U.S. imports from NAFTA partners would likely increase significantly or substantially for certain products covered by eight of the proposed rules, including certain chemical products; diesel engines for marine propulsion; and smoking pipes. However, the likely effect on total U.S. imports for products covered by all of the proposed rules is expected to be negligible.
- U.S. exports to NAFTA partners could potentially increase significantly or substantially for products covered by 12 of the proposed rules, including sauces derived from fish and non-alcoholic preparations of yeast extract; certain chemical products; plastics; articles of rubber; certain articles of copper; certain electronic products; sunglasses; and various toys and games. In addition, total U.S. exports could increase significantly for sauces derived from fish and non-alcoholic preparations of yeast extract. Any increase in total U.S. exports of all other products is expected to be negligible.
- For each of the 212 proposed modifications, the effect on U.S. industries producing the affected articles is expected to be negligible.
Probable Economic Effect of Certain Modifications to the North American Free Trade Agreement Rules of Origin (Inv. No. NAFTA-103-027, USITC publication 4438, November 2013) is available on the USITC's Internet site at http://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub4438.pdf.
The report may be requested by emailing pubrequest@usitc.gov, by calling 202-205-2000, or by writing the Office of the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436.
USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the USTR, the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigations reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.
Customs and Border Protection Officers Seize Over $323,000 in Heroin at Brownsville Port of Entry
U.S. Customs & Border Protection / http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/local/12182013_2.xml
Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Gateway International Bridge seized over 10 pounds of alleged heroin in a northbound enforcement action. CBP officers discovered alleged heroin valued at approximately $323,200 hidden within canned food items.
“Inspectional knowledge, attentiveness and alertness by our CBP officers contributed to the detection and interception of these dangerous drugs and the arrest of the alleged smuggler. I congratulate our officers for this interception and arrest,” said Michael Freeman, CBP Port Director, Brownsville Port of Entry.
On Monday December 16, at Gateway International Bridge a CBP officer conducting vehicular inspections intercepted a male driver of a black 2000 Ford Escort. The man and his vehicle were referred to CBP secondary for further examination after the primary officer noted discrepancies within the vehicle. In secondary the man was identified as a 26-year old Mexico citizen who resides in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico, The CBP officers’ examination of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of six cans, each holding one package of alleged heroin. CBP officers removed the six packages which held a combined total weight of 10.1 pounds of alleged heroin.
The alleged heroin from this seizure has an estimated street value of approximately $323,200.
CBP officers seized the narcotics and the vehicle and turned the man over to U.S. Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.
US Forest Service Waives Fees in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
U.S. Department of Agriculture / http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/12/0246.xml&navid=NEWS_RELEASE&navtype=RT&parentnav=LATEST_RELEASES&edeployment_action=retrievecontent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2013 - The U.S. Forest Service will waive fees at most of its day-use recreation sites on Jan. 20, 2014, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The fee waiver day is the first of four such days and one full weekend offered by the agency during 2014.
"Our public lands are open to everyone, and we hope these free days offer an incentive to all people to visit any of the 193 million acres of land held in trust for their enjoyment and use," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.
No fees are charged at any time on 98 percent of national forests and grasslands, and approximately two-thirds of developed recreation sites in national forests and grasslands can be used for free. Check with your local forest or grassland or on Recreation.gov to see if your destination charges a fee. Go online to find a national forest or grassland near you.
The other scheduled fee-free days observed by the Forest Service are President's Day weekend Feb. 15-17; National Get Outdoors DayThis is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website. on June 14; National Public Lands DayThis is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website. on Sept. 27; and Veterans Day weekend from Nov. 8 to 11.
Get Outdoors Days helps to raise awareness that nature encourages healthy, active outdoor fun. In addition to waiving fees, various Forest Service units participate in a variety of public events on agency lands and in nearby cities and towns. Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer effort in support of public lands. Agency units plan their own events, which range from educational programs to trash pick-up to building trails.
Encouraging use of public lands supports the goals of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors initiative, which encourages all Americans to connect with the outdoors, and First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Outside initiative that encourages children to get out and get active to be healthy.
The health benefits visitors receive from national forests and grasslands are found when exploring the more than 150,000 miles of trails, which include hiking, biking, equestrian and motorized trails, and more than 10,000 developed recreation sites. Visitors also have a wide choice of recreational activities with 57,000 miles of streams, 122 alpine ski areas, 338,000 heritage sites, 9,100 miles of National Scenic Byways, 22 National Recreation Areas, 11 National Scenic Areas, seven National Monuments, one national preserve and one national heritage area.
The program is in cooperation with other federal land management agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Fees are waived generally for day-use areas, such as picnic grounds, developed trailheads and destination visitor centers. Concessionaire operated sites may be included in the waiver if the permit holder wishes to participate. Contact your local national forest or grassland to learn if your destination requires a fee and if that fee is waived.
View a list of fee-free days for 2014 and the public land agencies that honor them: http://www.usda.gov/documents/2014-fee-free-chart.pdf
The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
