In a victory for industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in January eliminated the “once in, always in” policy under the Clean Air Act.

The policy required “major sources” -- facilities that release at least 10 tons per year of a single hazardous air pollutant or 25 tons of any combination of HAPs each year –- to comply with applicable maximum achievable control technology (MACT) standards in perpetuity, even when they reduced emissions below major-source thresholds.

Jean Bye, president and CEO, Dotson Iron Castings, will share a keynote speech at the AFS 2018 Metalcasting Congress on the challenging story of how the Dotson foundry and its employees responded to a disastrous fire.

The U.S. House and Senate approved the final conference report on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on Wednesday, December 20, representing the most sweeping changes to the U.S. tax code in more than 30 years. The package lowers both individual income and corporate income taxes and moves the United States to a territorial system of business taxation.

Now is your opportunity to register for next April’s event at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Stephen Moore to provide economic & political update

OSHA has announced a delay in the compliance date for establishments, including foundries, to electronically submit their injury and illness data from Dec. 1, 2017 to Dec. 15, 2017.

Industry veteran Frank Headington joined AFS as interim technical director on Oct. 3, bringing high-level expertise and knowledge to the endeavor. He is the staff liaison to the following divisions:

The first Spanish-language AFS e-Learning training module is now available, AFS and the Institute announced today. The first module, Prácticas Básicas de Fusión para Hierro, is available at the AFS Store right now. It explains the different melting and pouring processes of cast iron, inspection methods, and quality testing entirely in Spanish. It is available for immediate use and training of foundry personnel.

AFS, in conjunction with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), petitioned for review OSHA’s respirable crystalline silica rule. That lawsuit was consolidated with other challenges to the rule in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The case has been fully briefed and oral argument was held before a three-judge panel on September 26, 2017. The case is now awaiting a decision of the court which could be days or months away.

The American Foundry Society (AFS) brought home the message of careers in metalcasting to students, teaches, and public officials during its open house Manufacturing Day event on October 6, 2017.