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FEMA Encourages Residents to Follow Directions from State, Local, and Tribal Officials and Prepare for Hurricane Harvey - Department of Homeland Security
WASHINGTON – As Hurricane Harvey heads toward Texas and Louisiana, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) remains in close coordination with state, local and tribal officials, and is encouraging residents and visitors in the storm’s path to follow directions from those officials.
FEMA, through its national headquarters in Washington, D.C., regional office in Denton, Texas, and liaisons at the National Hurricane Center in Florida, is monitoring the track of the storm, and anticipated changes to its severity.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Harvey brings the potential for prolonged heavy rains, flooding and storm surge along the Gulf Coast. Additional strengthening is forecast, and the National Hurricane Center has issued watches and warnings for parts of Texas.
“FEMA stands ready to support state, local and tribal officials as they prepare for Hurricane Harvey,” said Administrator Brock Long. “I encourage residents who will be affected to follow directions from their local officials. Know your threats, heed the warnings, and if you’re in the path of the storm, ensure your family is prepared for possible prolonged disruptions to normal services.”
FEMA established an Incident Support Base at Randolph Auxiliary Airfield near Seguin, Texas, to pre-position supplies including water, meals, blankets and other resources closer to the potentially affected areas, should they be needed and requested by the state. State, local, and tribal officials would then be responsible for distributing any supplies to their communities.
Additionally, FEMA Regional Incident Management Assistance Teams (IMAT) are in place at Emergency Operations Centers in Austin, Texas, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to support any requests for federal assistance.
While no requests for support have been received, FEMA stands ready to assist states, localities and tribes as needed. At all times, FEMA maintains commodities, including millions of liters of water, millions of meals and hundreds of thousands of blankets, strategically located at distribution centers throughout the United States and its territories.
Safety and Preparedness Tips
FEMA recommends visitors and residents in areas potentially affected by Hurricane Harvey take the following actions:
If the storm is expected to affect your area, know your evacuation zone and follow the direction of state, local or tribal officials if an evacuation is ordered for your area. Storm surge poses a significant threat for drowning and can sometimes cut off evacuation routes, so do not delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered for your area.
Monitor local radio or TV stations for updated emergency information, and follow the instructions of state, local, and tribal officials.
There is the potential for flooding and storm surge with Hurricane Harvey. Driving through a flooded area can be extremely hazardous. Nearly half of all flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. Stay safe when in your car by watching for flooding in low lying areas, at bridges and highway dips. As little as six inches of water may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. If you encounter floodwaters, remember – turn around, don’t drown.
Download the FEMA mobile app (available in English and Spanish), which provides a customizable checklist of emergency supplies, directions to open shelters and recovery centers, disaster survival tips, and weather alerts from the National Weather Service. The app also enables users to receive push notifications reminding them to take important steps to prepare their homes and families for disasters.
Businesses of all sizes should prepare in advance for the approaching storm to prevent loss of life, property, or disruption to operations. Businesses can review and update their business continuity plans and ensure their workforce knows what to do before and during the storm. Resources are available on web sites such as Ready.gov/business and the SBA.gov/disaster-planning.
Visit www.ready.gov or www.listo.gov to learn more about preparing for hurricanes and severe weather.
CBP Trade Enforcement Bulletin - Quarter 3, FY 2017
- Import Safety (page 1)
- Miami Seaport Trade Enforcement Team Working with the U.S. Department of Transportation to Make Us Safe
- Revenue (page 3)
- Peeling Back the Layers of Luan Plywood Reveals Loss Of Revenue of $1.5 Million
LAREDO, Texas - Effective Monday August 21, World Trade Bridge will process all commodity lines. Hours of operation for both World Trade Bridge and Colombia Solidarity Bridge remain status quo.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Exercises EAPA Authority, Launches Multiple Investigations on Illegal Imports From China - U.S. Customs & Border Protection
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued ten (10) decisions this week in Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) investigations, concerning the evasion of the antidumping duty orders for wire hangers and wooden bedroom furniture. Of note is that CBP issued its first final determination in an EAPA investigation on Monday August 14th, finding substantial evidence that wire hangers were imported through evasion. Specifically, the hangers were transshipped from China through Thailand to evade the antidumping duties.
As a result of the successful impact from the enforcement effort in this first investigation, M&B Metal Products Company, the sole remaining U.S. producer of wire hangers, filed an additional eight (8) allegations of evasion concerning the transshipment of wire hangers through Malaysia. Today, CBP issued a consolidated notice for the decision on interim measures in those investigations, finding a reasonable suspicion of the importation wire hangers through evasion. This was a complex and coordinated scheme, attempting to evade the antidumping duty order by transshipping wire hangers through Malaysia to the United States.
“Combined, these EAPA investigations on wire hangers have resulted in CBP preventing evasion of over $33 million dollars in unpaid antidumping duties annually,” said Acting CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. “CBP continues to make trade enforcement one of our top priorities, fully utilizing all tools that Congress has provided us, such as EAPA investigative authorities provided for in the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. This is a tremendous example of how a strong allegation from the trade enabled CBP to stop evasion and protect American jobs.”
The authority for investigating under EAPA began last August 2016, and the allegation on transshipment of hangers through Thailand was filed shortly thereafter, in September. After conducting an on-site visit of the manufacturer in Thailand, and reviewing trade data gathered during the course of this investigation, CBP determined that the importer, Eastern Trading, had imported wire hangers that had been transshipped from China through Thailand.
CBP also conducted eight (8) on-site visits in Malaysia to investigate the subsequent allegations on transshipment of wire hangers through that route. CBP found no production of wire hangers at any of those locations in Malaysia and therefore, concluded that there was a reasonable suspicion that these wire hangers had been imported through evasion as they were not produced in Malaysia as claimed upon entry. The notice of the final determination for these investigations is due March 15, 2018, if the investigations are not extended.
On the same day as the final determination in the Thailand hangers investigation, CBP also issued a notice of interim measures on its investigation into evasion by an importer of wooden bedroom furniture. CBP determined that there was a reasonable suspicion that a wooden bedroom furniture importer had failed to report imported furniture as subject to the antidumping order and had therefore, entered wooden bedroom furniture through evasion. The notice of the final determination for this investigation is due March 12, 2018, if the investigation is not extended.
Since EAPA has come into force last August, CBP has initiated 14 investigations and begun collaboration with other government agencies and foreign governments to strengthen our enforcement through the course of these investigations. EAPA investigations present CBP with new tools to investigate evasion and protect the revenue, while also providing an opportunity to partner with other governments and government agencies to expand CBP’s investigative capabilities. For additional information on CBP and the Enforce and Protect Act, please visit CBP.gov.
Treasury Targets Chinese and Russian Entities and Individuals Supporting the North Korean Regime - U.S. Department of Treasury
OFAC Designates 16 for Activities Related to Support of North Korea’s Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs, Energy Trade, Labor Exports, and Sanctions Evasion
Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated 10 entities and six individuals in response to North Korea’s ongoing development of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), violations of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolutions, and attempted evasion of U.S. sanctions. Today’s sanctions target third-country companies and individuals that (1) assist already-designated persons who support North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs, (2) deal in the North Korean energy trade, (3) facilitate its exportation of workers, and (4) enable sanctioned North Korean entities to access the U.S. and international financial systems. As a result of today’s action, any property or interests in property of the designated persons in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within the United States must be blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
These actions taken by the Treasury Department complement United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2371, enacted on August 5, 2017, and hold the Government of North Korea responsible for its continued testing of ballistic missiles and WMD development.
“Treasury will continue to increase pressure on North Korea by targeting those who support the advancement of nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and isolating them from the American financial system,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin. “It is unacceptable for individuals and companies in China, Russia, and elsewhere to enable North Korea to generate income used to develop weapons of mass destruction and destabilize the region. We are taking actions consistent with UN sanctions to show that there are consequences for defying sanctions and providing support to North Korea, and to deter this activity in the future.”
Today’s designations were made pursuant to E.O. 13382, which targets WMD proliferators and their supporters, and E.O. 13722, which targets, in part, North Korea’s revenue from coal, as well as its energy and financial services industries. Details of these actions are described below.
North Korean WMD Programs
OFAC designated China-based Dandong Rich Earth Trading Co., Ltd. for its support to UN- and U.S.-designated Korea Kumsan Trading Corporation, an entity OFAC previously designated for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the UN- and U.S.-designated General Bureau of Atomic Energy, which is responsible for North Korea’s nuclear program. Dandong Rich Earth Trading Co., Ltd. has purchased vanadium ore from Korea Kumsan Trading Corporation. UNSCR 2270 prohibits North Korea’s exports of vanadium ore, and requires member states like China to prohibit the procurement of vanadium ore from North Korea.
OFAC designated Gefest-M LLC and its director, Russian national Ruben Kirakosyan, for support to the UN- and U.S.-designated Korea Tangun Trading Corporation, also known as Korea Kuryonggang Trading Corporation, which is subordinate to the UN- and U.S.-designated Second Academy of Natural Sciences, an entity involved in North Korea’s WMD and missile programs. Gefest-M LLC, a company based in Moscow, has been involved in the procurement of metals for Korea Tangun Trading Corporation’s Moscow office.
OFAC also designated China- and Hong Kong-based Mingzheng International Trading Limited (“Mingzheng”). Mingzheng acts as a front company for UN- and U.S.-designated Foreign Trade Bank (FTB), and it has provided financial services to FTB by, among other things, conducting U.S.-dollar denominated transactions on behalf of FTB. FTB is North Korea’s primary foreign exchange bank; it was designated by the United Nations on August 5, 2017 as part of UNSCR 2371. OFAC designated FTB in 2013 for facilitating transactions on behalf of North Korea’s proliferation network, including for UN- and U.S.-designated Korea Mining Development Corporation and Korea Kwangson Banking Corporation. On June 29, 2017, OFAC designated Mingzheng’s owner, Sun Wei.
North Korean Coal and Oil Trade
North Korea generates a significant share of the money it uses to fuel its nuclear and ballistic missile programs by mining natural resources and selling those resources abroad. In particular, coal trade has generated over $1 billion in revenue per year for North Korea, activity which prompted the UN Security Council to seek to sharply curtail such exports in UNSCR 2321 of November 30, 2016, and to fully ban them in UNSCR 2371 of August 5, 2017. Today OFAC designated three Chinese coal companies collectively responsible for importing nearly half a billion dollars’ worth of North Korean coal between 2013 and 2016. Dandong Zhicheng Metallic Materials Co., Ltd. (“Zhicheng”), JinHou International Holding Co., Ltd., and Dandong Tianfu Trade Co., Ltd. have sold, supplied, transferred, or purchased coal or metal, directly or indirectly, from North Korea, and the revenue may have benefitted the nuclear or ballistic missile programs of the Government of North Korea or the Workers’ Party of Korea. JinHou International Holding Co., Ltd. and Dandong Tianfu Trade Co., Ltd. also were designated for operating in the mining industry in the North Korean economy.
Zhicheng specializes in the import, export, and transport of steel and anthracite coal, and it has worked with a number of U.S.-designated entities, including the UN-designated Koryo Credit Development Bank and Korea Ocean Shipping Agency. Zhicheng allegedly used the foreign exchange received from the end users of North Korean coal to purchase other items for North Korea, including nuclear and missile components. Zhicheng’s director and majority owner, Chi Yupeng, was also designated today pursuant to E.O. 13722. Chi Yupeng has used a network of companies to engage in bulk purchases, wire transfers, and other transactions on behalf of North Korean interests. UNSCR 1718 prohibits direct and indirect support for North Korea’s WMD program.
OFAC designated three Russian individuals and two Singapore-based companies involved in providing oil to North Korea. Transatlantic Partners Pte. Ltd. (“Transatlantic”), Mikhail Pisklin, and Andrey Serbin were designated pursuant to E.O. 13722 for operating in the energy industry in the North Korean economy. Pisklin, through Transatlantic, concluded a contract to purchase fuel oil with Daesong Credit Development Bank, a North Korean bank designated in 2016. Serbin is a representative of Transatlantic who worked with Irina Huish of Velmur Management Pte. Ltd. (“Velmur”) to purchase gasoil for delivery to North Korea. Velmur was designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Transatlantic. Velmur also sold gasoil to North Korea. OFAC also designated Velmur’s executive director, Irina Huish, for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Velmur, and she has also worked with Transatlantic to circumvent sanctions. Both of these companies have attempted to use the U.S. financial system to send millions of dollars in payments on behalf of North Korea-related transactions.
Overseas Labor Revenue
OFAC designated Mansudae Overseas Projects Architectural and Technical Services (Proprietary) Limited for being owned or controlled by, or acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, and having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Mansudae Overseas Projects Group of Companies (MOP). MOP was designated by the United Nations on August 5, 2017 as part of UNSCR 2371. OFAC designated MOP in December 2016 for having engaged in, facilitated, or been responsible for the exportation of workers from North Korea, including exportation to generate revenue for the Government of North Korea or the Workers’ Party of Korea. MOP is known to have used these workers to build statues abroad to raise revenue, a practice prohibited by UNSCR 2321, which led to MOP also being designated by the UN through UNSCR 2371. Some of the revenue generated by overseas laborers has been used by the UN- and U.S.-designated Munitions Industry Department, which is responsible for overseeing North Korea’s ballistic missiles program and was designated by the U.S. Department of State in 2010 pursuant to E.O. 13382.
OFAC also designated Kim Tong-Chol and Qingdao Construction (Namibia) CC (“Qingdao”) pursuant to E.O. 13722. Kim Tong-Chol was designated for acting or purporting to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, and having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, MOP, Mansudae Overseas Projects Architectural and Technical Services (Proprietary) Limited, and Qingdao. Qingdao, a Namibia-based subsidiary of a Chinese company, was designated for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, MOP and Mansudae Overseas Projects Architectural and Technical Services (Proprietary) Limited. Kim Tong-Chol entered into an agreement with Qingdao wherein Qingdao would take over four Namibian government-sponsored construction projects, as well as MOP employees and materials associated with the projects.
Statement from FDA Commission Scott Gottlieb, M.D. - FDA is Carefully Evaluating Prescription Opioid Medications Approved to Treat Cough in Children - Food & Drug Administration
There’s perhaps no more important mandate that we have at the FDA than safeguarding the health and safety of children. For that reason, I believe it’s important that parents and health care providers have the best information available to inform the decisions they make about a child’s health. There are few more common decisions that parents and providers are asked to make than the question of how to appropriately treat a child’s cough and cold symptoms. Sometimes symptoms can be severe enough that prescription medication is needed, but some of these medications pose their own risks – especially for younger children – because they may contain opioids. Other times medication might not be necessary at all.
At a roundtable earlier this year, the FDA heard from professional groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Family Physicians, about the use of cough suppressants, and in particular opioid cough suppressants, in children. Some of the key points focused on determining the right treatment based on the length and severity of the symptoms, as well as treating what’s causing the symptoms, rather than just quieting the cough. And depending on the situation, representatives suggested that other medications or non-drug therapies may be more appropriate.
To more carefully consider this complex issue, the FDA today announced an upcoming meeting of the Pediatric Advisory Committee that will focus on the use of prescription opioid products containing hydrocodone or codeine for the treatment of cough in pediatric patients, including current treatment practices and benefit-risk considerations. The panel of independent experts will provide valuable input to help inform the agency’s decision-making processes related to these medications.
It is vital we understand the potential complications that can occur when using opioid-containing medications in children, even according to labeled instructions. This is an area that the agency is continuing to evaluate. As part of these efforts, the FDA announced required changes in April 2017 to the labeling of prescription codeine products in order to help better protect children from serious risks associated with these opioid medications, including life-threatening respiratory depression and death. Those changes include adding a contraindication to drug labels alerting that codeine should not be used for any reason, including treatment of cough, in children younger than 12 years.
The FDA has also provided tips for consumers on how to safely treat a child’s cold as most young children do not need medicines to treat a cough or cold. Caregivers should read labels on non-prescription cough and cold products that may be sold over the counter as these products may contain codeine or may not be appropriate for young children. The FDA is also funding research to develop comprehensive, consumer-centered approaches on best practices for the safe use of pediatric cough and cold medications generally – not just those that contain an opioid.
All of this work is essential to reducing preventable harm from opioid-containing medications and keeping children safe. We look forward to a robust discussion at the meeting this fall and will continue to share updates with the public on the steps the agency is taking to address this important issue.
The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, promotes and protects the public health by, among other things, 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.
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