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Home  EHS/Govt Affairs
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EHS/Govt Affairs
A World Trade Organization (WTO) appellate body has upheld a ban on Chinese export duties for certain raw materials, including a variety of resources used in the metalcasting process.
The raw materials subject to the export restraints are various forms of bauxite, coke, fluorspar, magnesium, manganese, silicon carbide, silicon metal, yellow phosphorus and zinc. China is a leading producer of each of the raw materials.
The ruling is in response to a complaint regarding China’s export practices initially lodged almost three years ago. During the summer of 2009, the U.S. and several other countries argued the use of export restraints by China creates scarcity and causes higher raw materials prices in global markets. The complainants said the restraints also provide Chinese domestic industry with an advantage by way of a sufficient supply and lower and more stable prices.
According to a summary report of its decision, WTO sided with the complainant countries and China must bring its export duty and export quota measures into conformity with its obligations to the organization.
“Upon its accession to the WTO, China undertook to eliminate all export duties, except for a number of products listed in an Annex to its Protocol of Accession,” WTO said in its report. “In this protocol, China also committed not to apply export quotas (restrictions on the amount that can be exported).”
Conflicting reports have been released in the wake of the ruling regarding the effect the decision will have on other Chinese export materials, such as rare earth elements.
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The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Oct. 13 to scrap a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air toxics rule for industrial boilers and incinerators and replace it several years from now with a less-stringent standard. Metalcasting industry lobbyists were concerned the Boiler MACT rules as proposed would significantly raise energy prices and impact the reliability of America’s electricity supply.
The measure would prevent EPA from proposing a new standard for at least 15 months and give manufacturers at least five years to comply with the standard after it is finalized, rather than the three provided for under the Clean Air Act.
The House-passed boiler bill, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250), was approved 275-142, with 41 Democrats breaking ranks to vote for it.
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Environmental, Health & Safety
AFS has the technical personnel to help you be in compliance with governmental regulations OSHA and EPA. Whether you need an on-site consultation or just some answers, contact us for:
- Confidentiality - All correspondence is strictly between client and our staff. No federal or state agencies have access to our records without the client’s permission.
- Experience - AFS staff has the experience in all pertinent EPA or OSHA regulations and how they apply to metalcasting operations.
- Service - Our expert staff will provide you with professional service. Please contact the EHS department at 800-537-4237.
- In-plant Environmental, Health and Safety Assistance - AFS staff can visit your facility to conduct Industrial Hygiene
Sampling, Safety Audits (mock OSHA inspections) or Environmental Assessments. Reasonably priced for our AFS Corporate members at $650 for each day of in-plant service, plus a one time $275 preparatory charge per visit plus travel expenses. Our non-corporate rate is $1200 per day plus travel expenses.
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AFS-FIRST
In an effort to further promote beneficial reuse of sand in the metalcasting industry, AFS is announcing a new consortium with Foundry Industry Recycling Starts Today (FIRST). The new organization, which is now called AFS-FIRST, is currently developing a plan to aid the metalcasting industry in recycling 50% of sand used in its facilities by 2015.
Beyond that goal, other organizational purposes include:
- promotion of the reduction, reuse and recycling of metalcasting industry by-products through education, research and information dissemination;
- development of educational partnerships with governmental agencies, universities, industry associations and other corporations;
- conducting and sponsoring research in cooperation with governmental agencies, universities, industry associations and other corporations.
Metalcasting Facility Sand Locator
Beneficial Reuse Directory
Metalcasting facilities that are considering recycling their spent metalcasting sand can search through the Benefical Reuse Directory to find applications and customers for the sand.
*NEW* 2012 AFS Regulatory Compliance Calendar
Import AFS’s electronic Regulatory Compliance Calendar into your Microsoft Outlook calendar. Environmental regulations can be uploaded with alerts already programmed. Here are the directions to get started.
Upcoming Events
AFS Environmental 101 Seminar
August 12-13 2012
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.
AFS 24th Annual EHS Conference
August 14-15, 2012
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel, Nashville, Tenn.
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