Source: International Association of Drilling Contractors – IADC
Headline: IADC Proudly Supports & Participates in SPE’s International Health, Safety, Environment, & Sustainability Conference
IADC is proud to support the SPE International Health, Safety, Environment, & Sustainability (IHSES) Conference & Exhibition, which took place 10-12 September in Abu Dhabi. Hisham Zebian, IADC VP – Eastern Hemisphere, participated in a panel on “Developing a Culture of Care and WellBeing in the Energy Sector.”
During the session, Hisham spoke about the Mental Health in Energy initiative, originally launched by the IADC North Sea Chapter. As part of this initiative, the North Sea Chapter published a 15-page white paper titled “Changing Minds: Saving Lives – An urgent new approach to mental health in the North Sea.” The Chapter also hosted an interactive Mental Health in Energy Workshop in 2023. More recently, a task group has been formed and a Mental Health in Energy Charter has been established, with many companies pledging their support.
IADC appreciates the opportunity to support and participate in important conversations about the wellbeing of our workforce, such as those that took place at the SPE IHSES Conference.
Governor Shapiro Encourages Travelers to Visit Pennsylvania’s State Parks and Experience Peak Fall Foliage, Unveils New Color-Correcting Viewfinders at Black Moshannon State Park
Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro joined Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn at Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County to encourage travelers to visit Pennsylvania’s state parks this fall as trees reach peak color, showing once again that Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway. While at Black Moshannon State Park, Governor Shapiro and First Lady unveiled new viewfinders installed at nine state parks that help visitors who are colorblind see the vibrant colors of Pennsylvania’s spectacular fall foliage.
“Pennsylvania is the place to be in the fall, with more than two million acres of state park forests and woodlands offering visitors one of the most colorful, brilliant displays of foliage anywhere in the world,” said Governor Shapiro. “Within a few hours’ drive for over 70 million Americans, Pennsylvania is the Great American Getaway – and we want everyone to be able to enjoy everything we have to offer. That’s why our team at DCNR has installed new viewfinders at nine state parks to help people with red-green colorblindness experience the full splendor of fall in Pennsylvania.”
This summer, Governor Shapiro launched Pennsylvania’s state tourism brand – The Great American Getaway – showcasing all the Commonwealth has to offer as a premier weekend getaway destination with thousands of attractions. Outdoor recreation adds $17 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy annually, supporting 164,000 jobs. Two weeks ago, the Shapiro Administration launched a new fall travel campaign to lean into Pennsylvania’s premier position as the place to experience the very best of autumn – from unrivaled fall foliage and the nation’s most historical haunts to the season’s best scents and treats.
Speakers Include: Mathias Weinzen, Black Moshannon State Park Manager Cindy Adams Dunn, DCNR Secretary Ta Enos, President and CEO, PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship Representative Paul Takac Scott Kolesar, Park Visitor Living with Colorblindness Governor Josh Shapiro
Headline: Floridians Must Listen to Local Authorities as Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall; FEMA Administrator Traveling to Florida Tonight Ahead of Landfall
Floridians Must Listen to Local Authorities as Hurricane Milton Makes Landfall; FEMA Administrator Traveling to Florida Tonight Ahead of Landfall
Hurricane Milton will be catastrophic; FEMA is working in close coordination with state and local officials
WASHINGTON – Ahead of Hurricane Milton’s landfall, FEMA Administrator Criswell will travel to Florida tonight to work alongside state and local officials as they prepare for the impacts of this catastrophic storm. Floridians in the storm’s path must continue following the instructions of local officials, as the storm is expected to bring destructive storm surge along portions of Florida’s west coast as well as devastating hurricane-force winds, heavy rainfall and life-threatening flooding across the Florida Peninsula.
Floridians in Milton’s path in vulnerable parts of the state have been ordered to evacuate. Those who have stayed behind are urged to go immediately. Many residents outside of mandatory evacuation zones will experience significant rain and hurricane force winds.
FEMA has over 1,000 responders on the ground in Florida supporting Milton and previous disasters. There are over 1,400 search and rescue personnel pre-staged to support Milton response efforts.
FEMA and its federal partners are leaning forward and already pre-positioned resources to support local and state response efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton. FEMA pre-staged seven FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, eight federal Urban Search & Rescue and swift water rescue teams, three U.S. Coast Guard Swift Water Rescue teams, 10HealthCare System Assessment Teams, two U.S Army Corps of Engineers temporary power teams, debris experts, Environmental Protection Agency wastewater experts, over 400 ambulances, 20 helicopters prepared to support media requirements following landfall, and 60 High Water Vehicles with ladders from the Department of Defense.
Additionally, FEMA has five incident staging bases with commodities including food and water. Right now, FEMA has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water ready to deploy to address ongoing Helene and Milton response efforts with capacity to expand as needed.
President Biden granted emergency declarations for the state of Florida and the Seminole Tribe of Florida for Hurricane Milton, enabling FEMA to provide direct assistance to the state, local and tribal response, preposition supplies and response assets and mobilize hundreds of personnel in the state, many of whom were already in place supporting the Hurricane Helene response.
Stay Safe in the Storm
Those in the path of Hurricane Milton should take every precaution as the storm passes through.
Move to higher ground: Free shuttles are operating this morning in Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties. To locate shuttle locations, visit www.FloridaDisaster.org/updates. Residents may also use Uber code MILTONRELIEF to receive free Uber ride to a shelter.
Shelter in place: Do not attempt to travel during the storm. Hurricane winds are expected to impact a significant portion of the state, far away from the eye of the storm. Flash flooding, tornadoes, high-velocity debris, fallen trees and power lines will pose a significant danger.
If you do not feel safe in your home: A list of emergency shelters, including those that can accommodate people who need assistance and those who have pets can be found at Shelter Status | Florida Disaster. If you plan to go to a shelter, do so before the storm arrives.
Stay out of floodwater: Walking or driving through flood waters is extremely dangerous. Standing water may be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines or contain hazards such as wild or stray animals, human and livestock waste, and chemicals that can lead to illness.
Be prepared for service outages:
Fill and freeze empty water bottles to help keep food cool in the event of a power outage. Fill your bathtub so you have a clean water supply in the event of water service disruption.
Charge all electronic devices, then put them in low power or battery saver mode. While cell service and power may be disrupted during the storm, your phone is a lifeline to family, friends, emergency assistance and alerts. Preserve your batteries so your devices are ready if you need them. Text messages or social network sites may be the best way to get in touch with family and friends as Hurricane Milton moves through the state.
Use only flashlights or battery-powered lanterns for emergency lighting. Never use candles during a blackout or power outage due to extreme risk of fire.
When using generators, always use them outdoors and at least 20 feet from windows, doors and attached garages. Make sure to keep the generator dry and protected from rain or flooding.
The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, will be participating in a fireside chat with the Toronto Regional Board of Trade.
TORONTO — The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, will be participating in a fireside chat with the Toronto Regional Board of Trade.
Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
Later that day, Minister Wilkinson and Julie Dabrusin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, will make a clean energy announcement. A media availability will follow.
Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. ET
All accredited media are asked to pre-register for the afternoon announcement by emailing media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca. A dial-in line is available for media and will be provided upon registration.
Headline: How AI is poised to transform air travel, from reservations and check-in to baggage handling
Introducing a new industry reference architecture for airlines and airports
The aviation industry is entering a new era: airlines and airports worldwide are on the brink of transformation, driven by the power of generative AI. This powerful technology is creating new value at every stage of the aviation ecosystem, revolutionizing the way we fly and operate. From personalized travel offers to instant responses for customer service requests, AI is enhancing every step of your journey, making travel smoother and more personalized than ever before.
Generative AI is also transforming the core operations of airlines and airports. Research shows that up to 35% of flight delays can be reduced through AI-powered decision-making—saving time, reducing stress, and increasing safety for both travelers and staff.1
AI is also reshaping the workforce. With streamlined tasks and smarter tools, staff can dedicate more time to enhancing the passenger experience—both on the ground and in the air. AI-powered personalization can increase revenue per passenger by 10 to 15%. At the same time, intelligent AI chatbots can reduce customer service costs by up to 30%, creating significant value for both airlines and airports.2
This is the future of aviation. AI is not just a tool—it’s a revolution, creating value across the entire industry. Microsoft has developed a new industry reference architecture enabling AI for a seamless traveler journey, efficient airline operations, and enhanced airport operations.
Create connected mobility experiences with AI-powered solutions >
Seamless traveler journey
The experience begins the moment a traveler considers a trip. They can interact with an AI-powered mobile app to explore options, book flights, and receive personalized recommendations. Throughout their journey, the app serves as a digital assistant, providing real-time updates on flight status, gate changes, and the weather at the destination. At the airport, travelers can navigate through a touchless experience, from check-in to security, using biometric identification and e-boarding passes on their mobile devices. The app continues to assist by guiding them to their gate, offering lounge access, and updating any travel alerts.
Once on board, the digital assistant ensures a comfortable experience by allowing travelers to control in-flight entertainment, order food and items from the onboard shop, and adjust seating preferences through their mobile device. The journey concludes with the app facilitating a smooth arrival process, including customs and baggage claim guidance, and arranging for ground transportation. Throughout this journey, AI and machine learning algorithms work behind the scenes to anticipate needs, offer timely assistance, and personalize the travel experience.
Air India passengers, for example, now get answers to all their questions from planning to arrival at their fingertips. Their AI.g virtual assistant, powered by Microsoft AI services, quickly proposes a travel itinerary for passengers, finds answers about check-in options and flight status, recommends the best food options, finds the next business lounge or helps with lost luggage. Another example is Saudia Airlines. The flag carrier of Saudi Arabia developed an AI-powered travel companion for their passengers using Microsoft technology to enable travel-related services like: planning and booking, refund management, and exploring new destinations.
Efficient airline operations
AI working on data platforms enhances efficiency and customer experience across various segments of the airline value chain.
In aircraft handling, AI-powered predictive maintenance can forecast potential issues before they occur, minimizing downtime and ensuring timely operations. Ground support equipment can be optimized using AI algorithms to streamline processes and reduce delays.
In ground operations, AI can manage complex logistics, from baggage handling to fuel management, by analyzing vast amounts of data to optimize workflows and resource allocation. This leads to smoother operations and can significantly reduce turnaround times for aircraft.
Flight operations benefit from AI through advanced analytics that can assist in route planning, weather forecasting, and fuel consumption optimization. By leveraging historical data and real-time inputs, AI can provide pilots and flight planners with insights that lead to safer and more cost-effective flights.
For marketing and sales, AI enables personalized customer experiences by analyzing customer data to tailor offerings and promotions. This can lead to increased customer loyalty and revenue as airlines can offer the right product to the right customer at the right time.
In customer support, AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants provide around the clock support, handling inquiries and resolving issues promptly. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also frees up human agents to deal with more complex queries, enhancing overall service quality.
Lufthansa, for example, developed the one data platform built on Microsoft Azure to provide self-service applications and leverage cognitive AI services like image and speech recognition.
“Leveraging Microsoft Azure’s robust cloud capabilities, we’ve transformed Lufthansa’s operations with a unified data platform. This innovation empowers us to optimize every aspect of our service, from ground operations to in-flight experiences, ensuring punctuality and safety across our global network—continuing to use AI will help us advance to the level.”
Ganesh Swaminathan, Head of Platforms, Lufthansa Group Digital Hangar
American Airlines, the world’s largest airline, is using Azure as its preferred cloud platform. Their team members now use the ConnectMe app for the latest crew information while the airline is using AI to reduce taxi time and turn times at gates.
Microsoft AI
Enhanced airport operations
Generative AI and data platforms also play a pivotal role in enhancing airport operations, catering to the needs of tens of thousands of passengers daily. Airports can optimize their critical infrastructure management, such as energy, water, and climate control. The integration of AI into security and emergency services significantly enhances their capabilities, providing a safer and more secure environment for travelers. Connected transportation systems such as buses and trains benefit from predictive analytics and real-time data processing capabilities, leading to improved scheduling and passenger flow management.
In the realm of commerce, which encompasses retail stores and restaurants within the airport, generative AI and data platforms offer valuable insights into consumer behavior, enabling businesses to tailor their services and inventory to meet the dynamic needs of passengers.
The logistics and supply chains for cargo, fuel, and baggage are also transformed by these technologies, with AI-powered systems facilitating better tracking, forecasting, and management of resources. This results in a more streamlined and cost-effective operation, reducing delays and enhancing the overall passenger experience. Fraport has introduced FraportGPT, an example of an employee-facing app powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to streamline internal processes.
“Fraport’s company GPT app, powered by Generative AI, has been a resounding success, swiftly adopted by our team. It’s not just streamlined our processes; it’s accelerated skill acquisition, empowering our employees to master new competencies with unprecedented speed.”
Christian Wrobel, Chief Data Architect, Fraport AG
Together with Microsoft, Miami International Airport (MIA) has developed a centralized data hub environment, known as the Common Data Environment (CDE), to store, manage, and share business data, apps, and business process flows. This is crucial for breaking down data silos and ensuring data accessibility for analysis and helps unlocking additional value from generative AI.
“By integrating various data sources, including on-premises, cloud, and edge environments, we provide a unified and scalable platform for data management. This is the basis, and together with our partner Microsoft we will now be able to leverage advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and IoT to gain insights, make data-driven decisions, and drive innovation.”
Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer, Miami International Airport
The overarching reference architecture and partners
Our common architecture for airports and airlines is built among core elements with the ultimate goal to create AI-enhanced experiences for everyone, from passengers to ground personnel: the creation of user-facing applications, data storage and analytics, and data ingestion and integration of existing data systems.
Figure 1: Industry reference architecture for airlinesFigure 2: Industry reference architecture for airports
The AI-enhanced experiences are tailored to each user group.
For passengers, it is all about a smooth journey from origin to destination, with plenty of time to enjoy travel with retail, entertainment, and restaurant offers.
Ground staff and customer service focus on making the passenger experience smooth, even when something goes wrong.
Pilots and crew members require support for coordination, communication, and the reduction of their management overload.
For technicians, it is about knowing where to go next, reducing cognitive workload for maintenance and repair tasks, and automating documentation.
Terminal managers require support to manage traffic, ensure security, and provide travel comfort.
For airside operators, it is about managing baggage, refueling, and safety.
Different user groups require different backend applications and data sources. The user-facing applications layer describes some of the common front-end experiences that can be built using Microsoft services.
End users require mobile and web applications built using services such as Azure API Management, Azure App Service and Azure Functions. Developers create AI-powered user experiences leveraging services such as Azure OpenAI Service. These applications can be deployed in Azure tenants and can scale to millions of users.
Business users leverage Dynamics 365 (Customer Service, Finance, Project Operations, and Customer Insights) to manage business operations, such as claims, promotions, and ticketing. Dynamics 365 has built-in custom agents for many common business use cases such as customer service, sales, finance, field service, and customer insights.
Front line workers are fully integrated in the business with customized workflows and automated operations with custom AI, tailored to their needs and the ergonomics of their workplaces—wherever fixed terminals, mobile devices, or augmented reality. Microsoft Copilot Studio facilitates the creation of custom AI agents to support their work. Power Apps enables the creation of custom user interfaces, while Power Automate enables the creation of business workflows.
With Microsoft 365 Copilot, employees can collaborate and communicate using Microsoft products such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook.
The operation of airports and airlines generates large amounts of data. The data storage and analytics layer describes how to securely store business data to support operations and create insights.
Microsoft Dataverse is a scalable data platform that securely stores and manage business data. The data model is a structure framework that organizes data in tables with relationships. It is possible to use industry models to harmonize and integrate business data across multiple applications.
Microsoft Fabric is an end-to-end data and analytics platform that includes real-time analytics capabilities. OneLake is a unified logical data lake that centralizes and simplifies data management, with multiple analytical engines and workspaces. Fabric enables organizations to process and analyze data for timely insights and decision making.
Airports and airlines are established businesses. It is important to integrate existing data systems, such as connected assets as well as existing systems. Messaging services on Azure enables connectivity to assets and devices using standardized communication protocols such as Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) with Azure Event Grid, or data streams like Apache Kafka using Azure Event Hubs. Serverless solutions like Azure Functions provide compute to process messages.
We’re also proud to collaborate with leading partners driving innovation in aviation.
Amadeus and Microsoft have formed a global strategic partnership that harnesses cloud technology to innovate and explore new products and solutions and create smoother travel experiences.
SAP deployments on Azure provide robust cloud solutions tailored to customer needs.
Our partnership with SITA, and their SITA Mission Control solution, helps duty personnel anticipate and respond to real-time changes during flight operations.
We also integrate independent software vendors (ISVs), such as SmartKargo, PROS, and Satavia, to contribute to a smarter, more connected aviation ecosystem.
Creating frontline worker experiences
Frontline worker experiences are highly customized to the task and require constant adaptation. The power of low-code platforms like Power Apps and Copilot Studio significantly reduce the time to value, allowing for rapid development and deployment of tailored solutions. These platforms enable the integration of multiple data sources, such as location-based services, logistical information from Dynamics 365, and documentation search. Additionally, task support is enhanced through the use of knowledge graphs and manuals, while collaboration and information regarding connected assets are seamlessly incorporated.
Figure 3: Terminal maintenance experience
Overcoming the challenges of using AI in aviation
While the potential of AI in aviation is immense, there are key challenges: defining the most valuable AI use cases, setting up cloud infrastructure, organizing the data estate, and minimizing costs during development, testing, and deployment phases.
Microsoft addresses the challenges of AI in aviation by working closely with partners, establishing a framework for responsible and trusted AI principles, and leveraging its comprehensive suite of tools and services. It helps define valuable AI use cases through collaborative workshops and industry-specific solutions. Azure provides scalable cloud infrastructure, while Microsoft Dataverse and OneLake streamline data management. Cost efficiency is achieved through optimized development, testing, and deployment processes. Additionally, Microsoft provides extensive training programs to equip employees with necessary AI skills and collaborates with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with legal frameworks governing AI usage.
Moving forward with generative AI in aviation
Taking advantage of generative AI requires a pragmatic approach, where existing solutions are combined with new capabilities and partner solutions. Correctly identifying the use cases with the highest priority and impact is critical for success.
Visit Microsoft for travel and transportation or contact our team to learn more and take the next step in your AI journey.
“We’re excited to introduce our new reference architecture for the aviation industry, built on Azure’s cloud capabilities and advanced AI tools. What truly makes this effort stand out is our collaboration with leading aviation partners. Together with our partners, we’re shaping the future of the aviation industry.”
Julie Shainock, Managing Director Travel & Transportation Industry, Microsoft
“Microsoft’s Industry Solutions team is ready to help you deliver and implement AI-driven solutions across your organization: From a first [proof of concept] POC to full-scale rollouts, we are dedicated to providing the expertise you need to ensure a smooth and successful deployment.”
Eric Chaniot, General Manager of AI Industry Solutions, Microsoft
“At Microsoft Cloud for Industries, we are committed to empowering our partners with proven patterns and comprehensive enablement resources. By leveraging our industry-specific solutions and collaborative approach, we help partners accelerate innovation, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional value so that their customers can achieve more.”
Monica Ugwi, General Manager Cloud for Industries, Manufacturing & Mobility, Microsoft
1Worldmetrics: AI in the Airline Industry, 2024.
2The economic potential of generative AI, McKinsey & Co., 2023.
The Commission was not aware of the alleged problematic functioning of the coal mine in Achlada.
Industrial installations for the extraction of coal are listed in Annex II (point 2.e) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive[1].
According to Article 4 of the EIA Directive , prior to granting a consent for such projects, Member States are required to determine whether an environmental impact assessment is necessary, based on a case-by-case analysis or by setting specific criteria (such as the location, size or type of a project). Should such an assessment be required it would examine the impacts of the project on various elements, including on air quality.
Member States are primarily responsible to ensure compliance with EU law, including verifying individual cases of potential breach of the relevant rules, and taking the necessary steps for enforcement and the appropriate measures to address any matter that has arisen.
In the present case, the competent Greek authorities should verify whether the private company operating the mine complies with the permit that was granted to it, and in particular with any environmental conditions imposed.
It should be stressed that human health protection aspects shall be fully taken into account in the permitting phase, including at the stages of granting, reviewing and updating of permits.
[1] Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 2011 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, OJ L 26, 28.1.2012, p. 1-21, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014, OJ L 124, 25.4.2014, p. 1-18.
The 9th Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations were held in Prague. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the head of the Czech government, Petr Fiala. We have many common interests and we look at issues in a similar way, such as the role of Europe, assistance to Ukraine, security and actions related to crisis situations. Polska and Chequia also have a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied by 14 members of the Council of Ministers. Joint action of Poland and Checo. Cooperation between Warsaw and Prague is very good. This was especially visible during the tragic flood that hit both of our countries in September. “With a rare partner we have relationships so intense, so good and so characterized by mutual understanding,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk during the opening of Polish-Czech intergovernmental consultations. Special thanks go to to the pilots of Checo Mi-17 helicopters, who actively helped in rescue operations on the Polish side of the border. “This is just an illustration of our very good cooperation in the broadly understood field of security. What we are trying to do together – both bilaterally and in Europe – is the best example of how to build security policy in relations between nations and states,” noted the Prime Minister. At the same time, Donald Tusk recalled the Polish initiative to organize a meeting in Wrocław regarding the rapid and flexible aid from the European Union, which will concern flood-affected areas. “The idea is to use European funds as effectively as possible and in some situations also jointly […] so that we can jointly and effectively counteract this type of disasters in the future,” explained the head. Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who was one of the participants of the meeting in Wrocław, thanked the Polish initiative in the EU. “I thanked the Prime Minister for his actions. It was a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the Prime Ministers of Central European countries in Wrocław,” emphasized the head of the Czech government. Countries struggling with the effects of the September flood will be able to benefit from aid in the amount of EUR 10 billion for reconstruction from the Cohesion Fund. For our country, it will be half of this amount – 5 million de euros, i.e. approximately PLN 20 billion. Together in the international arena, Poland and the Czech Republic cooperate very well in the European Union forum, as well as in the matter of helping the struggling Ukraine. “I would like to thank the Czech Republic very much for their initiatives regarding Ukraine. We will cooperate even closer. We do it in a responsible, rational and very solidary way – both when it comes to helping refugees from Ukraine and helping to defend Ukraine against Russian aggression,” explained the head of the Polish government. El primer ministro checo, Petr Fiala added that both our countries are perfectly they know that the defense of Ukraine is an issue directly related to our security. “We know from our own experiences that we cannot allow Russia to make any expansion […]. Poland and the Czech Republic also have in common the fact that we have accepted a huge number of Ukrainian refugees in both countries. This shows that for us, words about solidarity are not just platitudes,” noted Petr Fiala. Poland and the Czech Republic, as one of the first countries in the EU, have been helping fighting Ukraine from the very beginning of the war. Poland and Chequia together on the issue of illegal immigration in the EUWarsaw and Prague also has a common position on illegal immigration in the European Union. El primer ministro Donald Tusk explained that during the Polish presidency in 2025, our governments will cooperate on a profound correction of some traditional European policies on illegal migration. “We present a common, firm and rational position, without any obsessions. We are definitely in favor of defending Europe against the wave of illegal migration,” emphasized the Prime Minister. As he explained during the press conference after the consultations, Poland and the Czech Republic must convince other partners in the European Union that the EU’s task is to protect the external border, not to create internal borders and searching in, which only consist in moving groups of illegal immigrants within Europe. “We will cooperate here in all aspects. Poland can count on Chequia and Chequia can count on Poland. We will give examples of this at the next meeting of the European Council,” announced the head of the Polish government. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the need for decisive action in the fight against illegal migration. “A change of perspective is necessary on migration. We need to be more active and more assertive towards third countries. I am convinced that both our countries have similar positions and views here,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, organized pseudo-terrorist groups are particularly active in the matter of illegal migration. Polish-Czech energy cooperation One of the topics of intergovernmental consultations in Prague was energy cooperation .“Cooperation in the field of energy is important to us. We are starting nuclear energy practically from scratch. You already have a very long experience […]. Therefore, I am very glad that we have decided to cooperate closely and exchange information so that our activities in this field are effective and as cheap and effective as possible,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Prime Minister Petr Fiala also drew attention to the aspect of developing energy cooperation. “In both Our countries are preparing to build new nuclear blocks […]. The nuclear alliance is a form of cooperation that makes sense,” said the head of the Czech government. As he added, both countries see the benefits of the development of nuclear energy. By train from Prague to the Polish seaThis year’s tourist season on the Baltic Sea was exceptional – over half a million Czechs visited Poland beaches. “I am an eyewitness to the most friendly and expected invasion of ours, which were tourists from the Czech Republic at our seaside. You broke all Historical Records. We are very proud of it […]. Czech women and men are the most welcomed tourists on Polish soil,” emphasized Donald Tusk. Soon, tourists will have a new opportunity to reach the Baltic Sea. A direct railway connection between Prague and Tricity will be opened. Trains will run 4 times a day. Prime Minister Donald Tusk was accompanied in Prague by 14 members of the Council of Ministers: Vice-President of the Council of Ministers, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Minister of State Assets Jakub Jaworowski, Minister of EU Affairs Adam Szłapka, Minister de Infraestructura Dariusz Klimczak, Minister de Cultura y National Heritage Hanna WróblewskaMinister of Climate and Environment Paulina Henning-Kloska,Minister of Science Dariusz Wieczorek,Minister of Interior and Administration Tomasz Siemoniak,Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski,Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Paszyk,Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka,Minister of Health Izabela Leszczyna ,Minister of Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz,Minister – Member of the Council of Ministers, Head of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister Jan Grabiec.
Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs Kirt Vardhan Singh inspected Delhi Zoological Park on Wednesday. The main objective of the inspection was to take stock of the health and maintenance arrangements of the African elephant Shankar. He also inquired about the facilities available for tourists, animals and birds.
“As part of #WildlifeWeek, visited Delhi Zoo today. Reviewed well-being of African Elephant ‘Shankar’ and held a productive meeting with senior officers of Ministry of Environment & Forest, the Vantara team from Jamnagar, and Adrian, the South African elephant expert. Glad to… pic.twitter.com/uW6azofKYY
MoS Shri Singh inspected the enclosure of the African elephant ‘Shankar’ and had detailed discussions with ‘mahouts’ and veterinary doctors. He also fed fruits to elephant Shankar. During the inspection, Dr. Adrian, an expert from Vantara, Jamnagar, Gujarat and an elephant expert from South Africa was also present. There was also a detailed discussion on measures to further improve Shankar’s health and an action plan has been prepared in this regard. To further improve the health of Shankar, he advised the experts from Vantara, Jamnagar to train the mahouts, make requisite diet plan for the elephant and bring about radical changes in the enclosure.
During this, upgradation and modernization of the zoo to global standards was also discussed. Minister of State Shri Singh said that due to the wildlife related policies of the Central Government, people’s connection with nature and wildlife has increased. At the same time, awareness among people about the importance of conservation is also continuously increasing. During this, they also became aware of the activities of Wildlife Week.
He briefed the forest officials about letters written to the South African countries South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana for a companion for the African elephant Shankar. In a positive move, Botswana and Zimbabwe have pledged to donate the elephant and formalities related to the same are being completed.
ADG Wildlife of the ministry Sh. Sushil Awasthi and Director of Delhi Zoological Park, Sh. Sanjeet Kumar were present in the meeting.
The Northland Regional Council has won a national award for Local Authority Outstanding Contribution to Plant Conservation in New Zealand.
The award was presented yesterday (subs: Tuesday 08 October) as part of the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network’s (NZPCN) four-day biennial conference which is being attended by 165 people from around the country in Whangārei.
Councillor Jack Craw, who chairs the council’s Biosecurity and Biodiversity Working Party, says the council-wide award is a particular recognition of NRC’s Biodiversity and Biosecurity teams for their efforts across pest control, planting, monitoring and protection of dune lakes and duneland areas.
“The role of the NZPCN is to facilitate and advocate for plant conservation as well as providing information and support to plant conservation practitioners, landowners, and managers which makes this award even more special as it is effectively recognition from colleagues who are experts within their field.”
In nominating the council for the award Rotorua ecological consultant Sarah Beadel said the council undertakes many work programmes which contribute to the conservation of native plants either directly or indirectly.
“In the main NRC’s role involves fostering enduring partnerships with mana whenua, community groups and landowners to give them the understanding and skills to take positive action and pass on their knowledge to others.”
The NRC monitors lake ecology including submerged and marginal wetland communities in over 100 lakes and supports or undertakes in-lake and catchment actions which protect or improve water quality, thereby safeguarding critically rare plant species such as Trithuria inconspicua, Utricularia australis and Isolepis lenticularis.
Council also monitors more than 30 wetlands on a five yearly cycle which feeds back into recommendations for landowners helping to improve wetland scores.
“On the coast, NRC led weed control, dune building, replanting, monitoring and advocacy helps restore precious foredune and backdune communities.”
The nomination said in the past year NRC had enabled the planting of around 15,000 dune plants and supported 30 CoastCare community groups.
“As one of the weediest places on earth, NRC Biosecurity Plant team has been busy over the last 10 years delivering weed workshops to upskill the public in weed recognition and control and supporting weed action co-ordinators and volunteers in Whangārei and High Value Areas.”
The nomination says the council’s terrestrial biodiversity team supports community events, bioblitzes and surveys which help people understand habitat values, rare species and how to look after them.
Monthly botanical rambles are run by NRC staff in their own time for keen staff and others to explore the plant biodiversity in the region, giving ramblers access to botanists and mana whenua plant experts and helping to develop their botanical literacy in the company of like-minded people.
The NRC Land Management team has contributed to plant conservation by fencing off stands of native forest within highly erodible land as well as providing fencing and planting grants for native forest, wetlands and riparian margins protecting plants from grazing and reducing sediment input into sensitive freshwater and marine habitats.
Meanwhile, Cr Craw – who received the award on behalf of the council at the conference – says the conferences, held every two years, are highly regarded as the best place to meet people who are passionate about plant conservation and to network and collaborate on shared issues and challenges.
Keynote speakers at the event included:
Northland Regional Council Biodiversity Manager Lisa Forester talking about some of the incredible work done in Te Taitokerau to protect its unique dune lake plant communities.
Geoff Davidson, speaking about the Native Forest Restoration Trust’s legacy of protecting forests across the motu for more than 40 years.
Northland Forest and Bird advocate Dean Baigent-Mercer speaking about work being done to protect Northland’s special native ecosystems.
Taoho Patuawa, Science Advisor for Te Iwi o Te Roroa, speaking about threatened native plant conservation.
Northland Regional Councillor Jack Craw receives the award for Local Authority Outstanding Contribution to Plant Conservation in New Zealand in Whangārei last night. With him is Sarah Beadel, NZPCN committee member and director of conference co-sponsor Wildland Consultants.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of the City of Newburgh’s North Interceptor Sewer Improvement Project, crucial to protecting the water quality of the Hudson River and increasing storm resiliency. It’s the first clean water infrastructure construction project in New York State completed with funding in part from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The more than $31 million project was funded by State and federal investments, including $28 million in grants and $3 million in interest-free financing. Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State continues to get the federal funding out the door equitably and efficiently to help communities undertake and complete critical wastewater and drinking water projects, minimizing the financial impact on local ratepayers.
“Combined with our state’s unprecedented clean water investments, funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides a crucial opportunity to make significant environmental improvements that will protect public health across the state for generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. “These upgrades are vital to protecting the environment and enhancing quality of life in Newburgh, and my administration will continue to work hard to get funding out the door to help communities undertake and complete critical projects, and to do so as affordably as possible.”
In addition to $6 million in federal grants and interest-free financing from the BIL, the project received $15 million in state grants from the Water Quality Improvement Project and Water Infrastructure Improvement programs, a $5 million grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, a $3 million federal Community Grant, and a $2 million grant from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.
The significant state and federal investments supported construction of 8,700 linear feet of new, larger sewer pipes and other crucial upgrades to strengthen the city’s ability to withstand high water events and reduce pollution in the Hudson River. Innovative microtunneling techniques were used to install over 2,000 linear feet of underground sewer pipeline, reducing disruption for community residents and expediting construction. The new, larger pipes are increasing system capacity and reducing pollution discharged to the Hudson River by diverting more flows to the city’s treatment plant during wet weather events.
The federal funding is administered through the State Revolving Funds by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC) in coordination with the Departments of Environmental Conservation and Health. EFC closed on $96 million in federal funding for eight projects as part of a record $2.2 billion investment in clean water infrastructure in State Fiscal Year 2024.
EFC President & CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, EFC is committed to working with local communities to safeguard water quality throughout New York State, making record investments to protect public health and the environment while ensuring these projects are affordable. EFC’s ongoing partnership with the City of Newburgh to complete critical wastewater upgrades is helping to make marked improvements in the water quality of the Hudson River, saving an estimated $24 million for local ratepayers.
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Completion of the city of Newburgh’s $31 million sewer improvement project will have a lasting positive impact for local residents and the health of the Hudson River. Thanks to Governor Hochul’s sustained and generational investments in water quality bolstered by funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the major upgrades to clean water infrastructure completed today will enhance community storm resiliency while reducing pollution, benefitting the entire region.”
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “I fought hard to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs law to help fund projects like the vital North Interceptor Sewer Improvement Project in Newburgh, which will install modern sewer pipes to increase protection against storms and help keep the Hudson River clean. For years, I’ve worked with the City of Newburgh, Riverkeeper, the Newburgh Clean Water Project, and other local advocates to improve Newburgh’s water infrastructure to make our beloved Newburgh neighborhoods healthier and safer places to live and work. I thank Governor Hochul for her work using federal funds to complete the first clean water infrastructure project in New York with support from the Bipartisan Infrastructure & Jobs Law, and will continue fighting to deliver funding to support our Hudson Valley communities.”
EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia said, “Right here in Newburgh, the Biden- Harris Administration has delivered on its promise to invest in the health, equity and resilience of communities across the nation to address the generational challenge of combined sewer overflows. When we invest in wastewater infrastructure, we not only invest in the health of a beloved natural resource like the Hudson River but also in the community members who live along its banks. Congratulations to Newburgh for being the first in New York State to complete a clean water project funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This is an exciting milestone and just the first of many success stories here in New York.”
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Clean water should be accessible to all Americans regardless of where they live. High-quality wastewater systems are vital to protect the environment and public health, and I am grateful to see federal funding being used to upgrade this critical infrastructure. I worked hard to help pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I am proud that funding from this historic legislation is already making a difference for communities in New York.”
Representative Pat Ryan said, “Clean water is vital for our families’ health and for our environment to thrive. I’m proud that this project, fueled by landmark investments from the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, marks a new chapter for Newburgh families by delivering cleaner water today and for generations to come. I’ll keep working to bring more of these monumental federal investments home and keep fighting for the clean water every Hudson Valley family deserves.”
Assemblymember Jonathan Jacobson said, “Congratulations to the City of Newburgh for completing this monumental environmental project in record time — 2 ½ years. This project has stopped 56 MILLION gallons of raw sewage from being dumped into the Hudson River. Newburgh took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through funding from the Federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the American Rescue Plan, and the State. More than half of the funding came from New York State — $15 million. This vital project was completed at minimal cost to Newburgh taxpayers. Thank you to the hard-working union members and my partners in State government, including Governor Kathy Hochul, as well as Federal government and local officials, for getting this project over the finish line.”
Mayor of Newburgh Torrance R. Harvey said, “Governor Hochul understands the policy imperative of hardening municipal infrastructure to combat the effects of climate change, and the moral obligation of stewardship for our vital natural resources. Governor Hochul’s administration efficiently and effectively delivered state and federal funding from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law directly to the City of Newburgh for this transformative clean water project that will benefit all Hudson River communities. The City of Newburgh is forever grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to the health of our residents, and to all residents of the Hudson Valley.”
Riverkeeper Senior Director of Advocacy, Policy, and Planning Dan Shapley said, “Riverkeeper has advocated for more than 50 years to stop pollution in the Hudson. As communities up and down the river make investments to eliminate overflows from water treatment infrastructure that combines sewage and stormwater, this project means we’ll get to enjoy cleaner water. That’s good for all the life that relies on the Hudson, including us humans. Already most of the river is safe for swimming, most of the time – and this project will help open more opportunities for safe recreation in the future. We want to thank Newburgh, as well as the state and federal leaders who have made funding available for projects like these. As we move toward the next legislative session in Albany, Riverkeeper will be advocating for continued commitments to the Clean Water Infrastructure Act and Environmental Protection Fund so that communities can continue to make these kinds of improvements.”
New York’s Commitment to Water Quality New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure, including more than $2.2 billion in financial assistance from EFC for local water infrastructure projects in State Fiscal Year 2024 alone. With $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in the FY25 Enacted Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $5.5 billion in water infrastructure between 2017 and this year. Governor Hochul’s State of the State initiatives are helping to ensure ongoing coordination with local governments and ensure communities can leverage these investments. The Governor increased WIIA grants for wastewater projects from 25 to 50 percent of net eligible project costs for smaller, disadvantaged communities. The Governor also expanded EFC’s Community Assistance Teams to help small, rural and disadvantaged communities leverage this funding and address their clean water infrastructure needs. Any community that needs help with its water infrastructure is encouraged to contact EFC.
The funding, in addition to other substantial water quality investments, includes the voter-approved $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 which is advancing historic levels of funding to update aging water infrastructure and protect water quality, strengthen communities’ ability to withstand severe storms and flooding, reduce air pollution and lower climate-altering emissions, restore habitats; and preserve outdoor spaces and local farms. The first round of funding under the Environmental Bond Act was awarded through the WIIA/IMG programs in December, when Governor Hochul announced $479 million in grants to 156 projects across New York State, including $309 million made available to disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged Communities will receive at least 35 percent of the benefits of Bond Act funding, with a goal of 40 percent.
Ko Awa Ika o Wairewa is an innovative take on a conventional fish pass; an apparatus designed principally by Wayne Alexander to connect the lake to the Pacific Ocean 24/7. Effectively a long box anchored to the seabed, this highly engineered equipment represents several years of meticulous planning.
With designs now completed, the next major steps will be consenting and securing funding for construction. The apparatus can be turned off and on and could be replicated in other areas with similar problems.
“We’ve already lost 80-90 per cent of the tuna population in the northern hemisphere,” Robin said.
A tuna/eel from Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth
“In Aotearoa, we could be facing the same situation. Losing these taonga species is not something we’re willing to accept.
“We’re extremely grateful for the commitment of Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) and Christchurch City Council for their support and for considering unique and innovative solutions to crucial issues.”
History of success in iwi-led innovation
Civil engineering innovation is no stranger to Wairewa, with the Rūnanga already investing significantly in the development of an outlet canal, bridge and groyne as a more effective method of lake-level management and to prevent widescale flooding.
Compared to the traditional method of a direct cut opening the lake to the ocean, the infrastructure enables control over the lake levels and prevents saltwater from entering the lake when it is open, mitigating issues like algal blooms.
Since it was put in place 15 years ago, water quality continues to track in a positive direction. Cyno-toxic algal blooms have decreased by 99.6 per cent and macrophyte beds (aquatic plants) are flourishing, providing habitat, oxygen and food sources for fish, invertebrates and wildlife.
“We’re always trying to be on the front of the waka in terms of our lake knowledge,” Robin said. “We believe Te Roto o Wairewa is the only low-land lake in the country that has been able to reverse this level of decline.”
Funding support available for fish passage initiatives
The Fish Habitat Fund is an initiative to address site-specific issues that threaten native fish populations and provide financial support towards remediating these issues. Up to $100,000 per year is available for projects that support general fish passage, any threatened/at risk freshwater fish species, increasing resilience of native fish strongholds in the face of climate change.
Source: The White House
The Biden-Harris Administration continues to mobilize a whole-of-government effort to prepare for the impacts of Hurricane Milton, including pre-positioning resources and personnel and expediting debris removal efforts in Florida. These actions supplement the ongoing response and recovery efforts to the impacts of Hurricane Helene across the Southeast and Appalachia.
Today, President Biden was briefed by members of his Administration who are driving preparations for Hurricane Milton and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene. The President directed his team to do everything possible to save lives and help communities before, during, and after these extreme weather events.
The President urges everyone to be aware of the evacuation orders that are in effect in multiple Florida counties. Shelters are open, and evacuation assistance is available. If you are told to evacuate, do so immediately for your safety and that of your loved ones. If you need a safe place to go nearby, text SHELTER & your zip code to 43362 to get a list of open shelters near you.
Yesterday, President Biden had calls with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to get firsthand reports on recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene and to discuss preparations for Hurricane Milton. The President also spoke with National Weather Service Director Ken Graham, who briefed the President in detail on the forecast and expected impacts of Hurricane Milton for the State of Florida.
At the direction of President Biden, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was on the ground in Tampa, Florida, yesterday, where she met with local leaders to coordinate preparations ahead of Milton’s landfall.
Yesterday, President Biden quickly approved the Governor of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration. Under an emergency declaration, FEMA provides direct Federal support to states for life-saving activities and other emergency protective measures, such as evacuation, sheltering, and search and rescue. Earlier today, the President also approved an emergency declaration request from the Chairman of the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
The Administration has been in touch with officials from the State of Florida, as well as more than 60 local officials in cities and counties along the likely path of impact, to ensure needs are met in advance of the storm. The Administration has also been in touch with officials from the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes. The Administration has also reached out to state officials in South Carolina and Georgia and will continue outreach efforts based on Hurricane Milton’s latest trajectory.
FEMA has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the ongoing response to and recovery from Hurricane Helene– including funding to support first responders and provide immediate assistance to disaster survivors.
Additional updates include:
Pre-Staging Personnel and Resources
FEMA is pre-staging a full slate of response capabilities in Florida and the region, including seven FEMA Incident Management Assistance Teams, eight FEMA Urban Search & Rescue and swift water rescue teams, three U.S. Coast Guard Swift Water Rescue teams, four Health Care System Assessment Teams, five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams and an Incident Management Team from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Additional pre-staged capabilities include U.S Army Corps of Engineers temporary power teams, debris experts and a roofing team, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency debris removal and wastewater experts, and 300 ambulances. In addition, the U.S. Department of Defense is posturing and staging forces to support FEMA and state partners including helicopters for search-and-rescue operations and to enable movement of personnel, equipment and commodities; and High Water Vehicles.
FEMA has five incident staging bases with commodities including food and water. Right now, FEMA currently has 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water in the pipeline to deploy as needed to address ongoing Helene and Milton response efforts and can expand as needed.
Protecting Public Health and Health Care Systems
Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency for Florida to address the health impacts of Hurricane Milton, the second public health emergency declaration for the state to aid in a hurricane response within the past two weeks.
The Department’s Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) pre-positioned approximately 100 responders in Atlanta along with medical equipment and supplies to support the delivery of health care services in Florida following the landfall of Hurricane Milton. The deployed personnel include ASPR Health Care Situational Assessment Teams who stand ready to work with state officials to assess the storm’s impacts on hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis centers, and other health care facilities and a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT) from ASPR’s National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) for rapid response following health care assessments. A second DMAT is being pre-positioned in Atlanta to support additional response to either Hurricane Helene or Hurricane Milton, as needed.
In addition to the assessment teams and disaster medical system personnel, ASPR deployed personnel from an Incident Management Team and Regional Emergency Coordinators who integrate with FEMA, state health authorities, and emergency response officials to anticipate and assist Florida in meeting public health and medical needs in the wake of the storm. Logisticians and security personnel are also pre-positioned to provide support. ASPR is prepared to facilitate Public Health Emergencies for Hurricane Milton upon request. ASPR has also supported the HHS emPOWER program, which is available to identify the number of Medicare beneficiaries in affected zips codes who rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment and certain healthcare services, such as dialysis, oxygen tank, or home health, to help anticipate, plan for, and respond to the needs of at-risk citizens in potentially impacted areas.
Preparing for Impacts to Infrastructure
The Department of Transportation is deploying a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Field Incident Response (FIR) team to Florida and pre-staging operations in Jacksonville to prepare support for any impacted towers and airports. The team will work with the state and local authorities and the Department of Defense within the established Emergency Operations Center. The Department of Transportation is also deploying the FAA Communication Support Team (CST), which plays a critical role in supporting communication restoration at impacted airports. Specifically, the CST will set up Starlink and Mobile Phone Bonding kits, which increase signal stability and data throughout the region. The FAA is placing aircraft on standby to transport personnel from various agencies, mobilize resources, and support damage assessments to infrastructure.
In addition, similar to the approach on Hurricane Helene, the FAA will continue to closely coordinate with the Department of Defense, the Armed Services, including Active Duty and National Guard units, and State Emergency Operations Centers to support their use of drones to support response and recovery. Drones can play a critical role in supporting search and rescue operations and damage assessments by providing real time video, imagery, and sensor capabilities in hard-to-reach places. The Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration is coordinating with the Florida Department of Transportation and monitoring the situation to be prepared to support.
The Environmental Protection Agency is working closely with Federal, state, local, and Tribal partners to support water systems, prepare for debris management, and ensure facilities, including Superfund sites, maintain critical public health and environmental protections while they recover from Hurricane Helene and prepare for Hurricane Milton. The agency has personnel on the ground in regional and national operations centers who are continuing to respond to Hurricane Helene and are preparing to offer support, guidance, and assistance to the State of Florida and everyone in the new storm’s path.
Additional Pre-Landfall Preparations
The Department of the Interior’s U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is deploying wave sensors at eight locations in Florida between Naples and Crystal River to measure the coastal waves caused by the storm. USGS Field crews are also installing one rapid-deployment gauge on the Sunshine Skyway bridge in St. Petersburg, Florida. This specialized piece of equipment is a fully-functional streamgage designed to be deployed quickly and temporarily to measure and transmit real-time water level data in emergency situations. This data can be used by decision makers and emergency managers to monitor water levels as they work to save lives and property.
The Department of Energy’s Energy Response Organization remains activated to respond to storm impacts. Via the Electricity Sub-Sector Coordinating Council and Oil and Natural Gas Sub-Sector Coordinating Council, the Department of Energy has been coordinating continuously with energy sector partners on both the ongoing Hurricane Helene response and potential impacts from Hurricane Milton.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has notified local public housing authorities and owners of its assisted multifamily and heath care properties within the State of Florida to immediately implement all appropriate safety protocols for residents and workers. HUD is committed to ensuring that residents of its assisted homes and properties receive critical information that can save lives during extreme weather events. HUD is also conducting outreach and communications on the programmatic flexibilities and waivers that can be utilized to assist communities and survivors.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) announced it is extending measures to assist customers, U.S. exporters, and financial institutions impacted by Hurricane Helene and forecasted to be impacted by Hurricane Milton. EXIM is offering assistance to allow businesses and financial institutions that participate in EXIM’s programs to return to their business concerns when appropriate and without penalty due to missed deadlines or other timeliness issues.
The latest report from the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ,Our air 2024, reveals that overall air quality in New Zealand is improving, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Statistics Minister Andrew Bayly say.
“Air pollution levels have decreased in many parts of the country. New Zealand is making measurable progress towards achieving the Government’s air quality targets,” Ms Simmonds says.
“While there is still work to be done, the overall trend is positive. We are committed to continuing this progress to enhance the wellbeing of our communities.”
The independent report, released as part of a regular three-yearly review, brings together recently updated Stats NZ indicator data, as well as insights from research literature.
The six refreshed air quality indicators, released by Stats NZ in September, reveal that pollutant concentrations decreased at most monitoring sites between 2016 and 2023. In some areas where air quality has improved, the data shows that pollutant levels still occasionally exceed the World Health Organization’s recommended guidelines.
“The report shows that human activities, as well as environmental factors, such as temperature and winds, can impact air quality in some areas at certain times,” Ms Simmonds says.
Key pollutants include fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which have significant health effects. Burning wood for home heating is a major source of PM2.5, while the main source of NO2 is motor vehicles. Breathing these pollutants can cause a range of health issues.
“Continued action to improve air quality is needed. Thesefindings will help shape future decisions on air quality management, ensuring cleaner air for all New Zealanders” Ms Simmonds says.
Mr Bayly emphasised the importance of the robust data gathering processes.
“Our air 2024is supported by independent experts, based on environmental data that have been quality assured and analysed. Access to high-quality data like this is crucial for informing targeted policy decisions that will enable us to meet our environmental targets,” Mr Bayly says.
“The report provides important evidence which helps broaden our environmental data reporting system.”
New Zealanders are encouraged to read and engage with the findings ofOur air 2024to gain a deeper understanding of the relationship between human activities, natural pressures, air quality andhealth.
Further information:
Review Stats NZ’s updated air quality indicators here
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), co-chairs of the Get the Lead Out Caucus in the House, alongside Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), co-founders of the Senate Lead Task Force, lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI). The LCRI would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, the EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.
“Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration is a win-win for our communities because it delivers on our shared commitment to replace all lead pipes across the country within 10 years and protect public health,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester, co-lead of the congressional Get the Lead Out Caucus. “I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements with my colleagues in Congress. Thanks to our advocacy, and with the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future.”
“As the founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I know that clean drinking water is a human right,” said Rep. Tlaib. “We must move urgently to replace all lead pipes in our country within the next 10 years, and I’m glad to see the EPA announce the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to continue the critical work toward this objective. Congress must continue to work to appropriate the funding necessary to help all of our communities identify, remove, and replace every lead pipe over this next decade.”
“Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead is safe. There are millions of people across the country who don’t even know if they are drinking lead, and I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of lead in the water at school,” said Rep. Dingell. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families.”
“Today, EPA estimates that nearly 9 million homes are served through lead pipes across the country – and disproportionally, many of these homes are located in low-income communities and communities of color,” said Rep. Lee. “Clean and safe drinking water is a human right, and we must treat it that way. I am proud of the work of my colleagues and I in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in the United States over the next ten years and thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their work in fighting to ensure that communities across our country have access to lead-free water.”
“Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth. “We’ve been working hard in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and billions in new funding will help us make it a reality while preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect. This is a win-win for all Americans.”
“The EPA’s bold leadership in finalizing this critical rule will help us eliminate lead pipes within a decade and put a stop to lead exposure that continues to threaten the health of far too many families and children in our nation today,” said Senator Booker. “Every American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water, and by modernizing our aging water infrastructure we are investing in a future where every family can turn on the tap and know their water is clean. I am proud to have helped lead the call in Congress for a strong final rule, and I thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to environmental justice and public health.”
The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
Last month, Blunt Rochester called on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of LCRI. In May, Blunt Rochester, alongside Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons (both D-Del.) announced over $28 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund to identify and replace lead pipes and help prevent lead poisoning among Delaware’s children and families. The funding came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation Blunt Rochester, Carper, and Coons championed in Congress.
Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Cory Booker
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Co-founders of the U.S. Senate Lead Task Force Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and co-chairs of the U.S. House Get the Lead Out Caucus Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-AL), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-12) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), along with U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), today lauded the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to finalize the Biden Administration’s proposed Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), which would lower the lead action level to better protect human health and require water systems to replace old and deteriorating lead pipes within a decade. In addition to the LCRI, the EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to support lead-related activities, including lead pipe replacement projects. The finalized rule comes ahead of the October 16th finalization deadline to not only help ensure these important improvements are implemented as quickly as possible, but also prevent water systems from being forced to temporarily comply with the prior rule proposed by the Trump Administration—also known as the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR)—which would put public health at risk.
“The EPA’s bold leadership in finalizing this critical rule will help us eliminate lead pipes within a decade and put a stop to lead exposure that continues to threaten the health of far too many families and children in our nation today,” said Senator Booker. “Every American deserves access to clean and safe drinking water, and by modernizing our aging water infrastructure we are investing in a future where every family can turn on the tap and know their water is clean. I am proud to have helped lead the call in Congress for a strong final rule, and I thank the Biden-Harris administration for their commitment to environmental justice and public health.”
“Every American, no matter their zip-code, deserves access to safe drinking water,” said Senator Duckworth. “We’ve been working hard in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in America over the next decade, and this historic rule from the Biden Administration and billions in new funding will help us make it a reality while preventing Trump-era policies that would harm human health from going into effect. This is a win-win for all Americans.”
“Today’s announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration is a win-win for our communities because it delivers on our shared commitment to replace all lead pipes across the country within 10 years and protect public health,” said Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester, co-lead of the congressional Get the Lead Out Caucus. “I am proud to have helped push for the swift finalization of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements with my colleagues in Congress. Thanks to our advocacy, and with the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, we are closer than ever to actualizing a 100% lead-free future.”
“As the founder of the Get the Lead Out Caucus, I know that clean drinking water is a human right,” said Congresswoman Tlaib. “We must move urgently to replace all lead pipes in our country within the next 10 years, and I’m glad to see the EPA announce the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements to continue the critical work toward this objective. Congress must continue to work to appropriate the funding necessary to help all of our communities identify, remove, and replace every lead pipe over this next decade.”
“Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right, and the science is clear – no amount of lead is safe. There are millions of people across the country who don’t even know if they are drinking lead, and I’ve had parents come up to me with tears in their eyes, worried for the wellbeing of their children because of lead in the water at school,” Congresswoman Dingell said. “I thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to replacing every lead service line in our country to guarantee access to safe water for every community and finally give peace of mind to families.”
“Today, EPA estimates that nearly 9 million homes are served through lead pipes across the country – and disproportionally, many of these homes are located in low-income communities and communities of color,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “Clean and safe drinking water is a human right, and we must treat it that way. I am proud of the work of my colleagues and I in Congress to achieve our goal of removing every lead pipe in the United States over the next ten years and thank the Biden-Harris Administration for their work in fighting to ensure that communities across our country have access to lead-free water.”
The finalized rule also improves communication within communities so that families are better informed about the risk of lead in drinking water, the location of lead pipes and plans for replacing them. Exposure to lead is harmful to health, especially for young children. In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing and impaired formation and function of blood cells.
Last month, Booker called on the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to expedite its review of LCRI.
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
$42.7 million project increases the Port’s economic competitiveness
Left: Sen. Markey, Sen. Warren, Rep. Keating, Mayor Mitchell and other officials cutting the ribbon at the North Terminal expansion project
Right: Senator Markey speaking at the ribbon-cutting
Boston (October 8, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today joined Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Representative Bill Keating (MA-09), New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, and local administrators and elected officials at a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the successful completion of the North Terminal expansion project, a maritime facility that will strengthen the Port’s competitiveness in fishing, offshore wind, and other industries. The expansion, which has created 630 linear feet of new bulkhead and 5.05 additional acres of terminal area, will support growing infrastructure needs of port users and ensure long-term economic growth for New Bedford and the South Coast region. With upgraded bulkheads, new berthing facilities, enhanced dredging, and expanded laydown space, North Terminal is designed to streamline logistics for businesses and facilitate future Port expansions.
The expansion of North Terminal is the latest piece of the modernization of the Port of New Bedford. Over the past ten years, the Port has seen the largest set of infrastructure upgrades in generations, which will top $1 billion upon completion.
“The Port of New Bedford is a triple threat: the number one fishing port by value in the nation, an innovator on offshore wind development, and a regional leader in maritime technology industries,” said Senator Markey. “This expanded infrastructure will be a game changer for New Bedford and beyond. I look forward to working with the City as they continue to put historic investments into their port infrastructure.”
Funding for the $42.7 million project came from a mix of local, state and federal sources, including:
FY18 Department of Transportation BUILD Grant
$ 15.6M
FY19 MassWorks Dredging Grant
$ 11.4M
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$ 1.0M
$ 11.8M
City of New Bedford (through the American Rescue Plan Act)
$ 2.3M
New Bedford Port Authority
$ 0.6M
Total Infrastructure Investments
$ 42.7M
“The Port of New Bedford is the primary driver of economic activity in Southeastern Massachusetts. The North Terminal expansion project was a critical step to advancing the Port’s ability to meet the emerging demands of New Bedford’s offshore wind and maritime technology industries. I thank Senators Markey and Warren, Rep. Keating and the rest of the federal delegation, Gov. Healey and our state delegation, and everyone at the New Bedford Port Authority and on the local level for helping us overcome various legal, financial and engineering challenges to get this project to the finish line,” said Jon Mitchell, Mayor of New Bedford.
“This project came to fruition because of the continuing commitment our federal, state, and local leaders make to position the Port of New Bedford for the future. The North Terminal project exemplifies our obligation to provide first-rate infrastructure that supports the thriving maritime industries of New Bedford. This development will allow us to meet the needs of our fishing fleet, welcome new offshore wind ventures, and foster regional economic growth,” said Gordon Carr, Executive Director of the New Bedford Port Authority.
Senator Markey has secured funding for various projects for the Port of New Bedford. In 2018, Senator Markey led a letter of support for the Port of New Bedford and helped secured $15 million from the “Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development” (BUILD) grant to improve the infrastructure and environment.
In 2023, Senator Markey, Senator Warren, and Congressman Keating helped secure $24.4 million in Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development Program funding for the Leonard’s Wharf Extension project. Senators Markey and Warren also secured $4 million in FY24 Congressionally Directed Spending for New Bedford and Fairhaven Harbor for the US Army Corps of Engineers to dredge and repair damaged areas of the steel sector gates.
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
New York, N.Y. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer released the following statement on the removal of the Rochester Embayment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of the Great Lakes’ most environmentally degraded areas:
“I was thrilled to lead the charge and secure $9.5 million in federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding to finally rebuild the Braddock Bay barrier beach that Hurricane Agnes washed away in 1972 in the Town of Greece,” said Senator Charles Schumer. “In the four years since its reconstruction, Braddock Bay has been transformed from a pollution hotspot into a thriving area with healthy restored habitats for wildlife and improvements that returned tourism, boating, and recreation to the waterfront. The Braddock Bay restoration was the last of 14 major pollution- and ecologically-impaired hotspots along Rochester’s Lake Ontario and Genesee River embayment coastline – from Webster to Parma – that have now been cleaned up and restored thanks to federal GLRI funding. The water is cleaner, birds and fish are more abundant, beach closures are down, and the Rochester coastline can now be removed from the EPA’s list of ‘Areas of Concern.’ I fought to secure a historic $1 billion for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with moments like this in mind. Investing in the Great Lakes means investing in the future of New York, and I will always fight for funding so our community can enjoy the full natural beauty and economic energy of the wonderful communities along the Great Lakes.”
Schumer has helped deliver nearly $14 million in federal funding through the federal Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to fund eight habitat restoration projects, including $9.5 million for the Braddock Bay restoration project. Thanks to those projects, 275 acres of habitat and 30,000 linear feet of wetland channeling have been restored to improve connectivity and biodiversity in the bay.
Schumer has been a relentless champion for the Great Lakes, including securing a historic $1 billion – the largest ever single investment – in the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) as a part of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Law. Since its inception in 2010, Schumer noted, the GLRI has had a significant impact on Upstate New York. Schumer has long been a champion for the Great Lakes, fighting off budget cuts to the GLRI in 2019 and working to secure a multimillion-dollar increase in authorization levels for the program in 2018.
Motor vehicle improvements are helping to reduce air pollutant emissions–9 October 2024 –Improvements to the motor vehicle fleet are helping to reduce air pollutant emissions in Aotearoa New Zealand.
That is one of the findings of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ’s latest three-yearly update about air quality in Aotearoa.Our air 2024 brings together recently updated Stats NZ indicator data, as well as insights from research literature. The report shows that air pollutant levels have decreased at most monitoring sites over the last eight years. However, some sites showed worsening air quality, while pollutant levels at sites where air quality improved were at times above levels in World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
MfE’s Deputy Secretary – Strategy, Stewardship and Performance, Natasha Lewis, says emissions from motor vehicles (as well as aviation, shipping and rail) were lower in 2019 than in 2012 for all monitored pollutants, except sulphur dioxide. “Air pollutants from motor vehicle exhaust emissions are reducing per kilometre as a result of vehicle emissions standards, lower-emissions vehicles and improvements in engine technology and fuel quality,” she says.
Visit our website to read this news story and information release:
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)
LAS CRUCES, N.M.– U.S. Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) announced the introduction of his bill, the Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act, that supports farmers by creating mentorship programs where experienced farmers can provide hands-on training and guidance to new producers.
In New Mexico, farming is a way of life that has been passed down through generations. However, many new farmers often face challenges in accessing vital information from federal agencies. The Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act ensures that new farmers have access to local, on-the-ground knowledge from experienced farmers who have been cultivating their land for generations.
“My Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act will ensure young, upstart farmers can run productive, sustainable farms by directly connecting them to seasoned growers who understand their challenges,” said Vasquez. “Our farming population is aging, and we are facing a significant shortage of skilled new farmers. This program ensures the quick and efficient exchange of local knowledge — providing beginning farmers with ways to overcome many of their existing barriers.”
“There are no better or more trusted voices for farmers looking to adopt conservation practices than other farmers,” said Samantha Levy, Conservation and Climate Policy Manager for the American Farmland Trust. “We applaud Rep. Vasquez for introducing a bill that would build the capacity for farmer-to-farmer networksto provide the very support farmers and ranchers — including young and farmers of color — need to implement practices critical to the resilience and viability of their operations.”
The Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act will promote regional knowledge exchange by encouraging farmers to share their farming practices and experiences that have worked in the area with new farmers and will improve communication between federal agencies and local farming communities to ensure that all farmers have access to essential information and support. By having someone with firsthand experience address the difficulties that can prevent farmers from trying a new practice, the next generation of farmers will be better equipped to succeed and ensure the longevity of farming in New Mexico.
“The majority of young and beginning farmers are motivated by stewarding and protecting the land and natural resources. In fact, 83% of young farmers who took the National Young Farmer Survey stated that one of their farm’s primary purposes for existing is to ‘engage in conservation or regeneration,’” said Lotanna Obodozie, Climate Policy Director of National Young Farmers Coalition. “However, they are starting their farm businesses in an increasingly uncertain climate. When looking for information on how to adapt to a changing climate, many farming communities already hold deep knowledge on how to build resilience and mitigate climate change in their region. Young farmers just need these connections and resources. The Farmer-to-Farmer Education Act will provide critical investments in farmer-led education, particularly for young farmers and farmers of color, who are already leaders in building resilience and enhancing conservation on their farms.”
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, Vasquez is committed to supporting agricultural producers and ensuring that the rich tradition of farming continues to flourish in New Mexico and every corner of the United States.
The bill is endorsed by the American Farmland Trust, National Young Farmers Coalition, National Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, La Semilla, The Nature Conservancy, Kiss the Ground, New Mexico Healthy Soils Working Group and more. The full list of endorsements is available HERE.
Motor vehicle improvements are helping to reduce air pollutant emissions – 9 October 2024 – Improvements to the motor vehicle fleet are helping to reduce air pollutant emissions in Aotearoa New Zealand.
That is one of the findings of the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and Stats NZ’s latest three-yearly update about air quality in Aotearoa. Our air 2024 brings together recently updated Stats NZ indicator data, as well as insights from research literature. The report shows that air pollutant levels have decreased at most monitoring sites over the last eight years. However, some sites showed worsening air quality, while pollutant levels at sites where air quality improved were at times above levels in World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
MfE’s Deputy Secretary – Strategy, Stewardship and Performance, Natasha Lewis, says emissions from motor vehicles (as well as aviation, shipping and rail) were lower in 2019 than in 2012 for all monitored pollutants, except sulphur dioxide. “Air pollutants from motor vehicle exhaust emissions are reducing per kilometre as a result of vehicle emissions standards, lower-emissions vehicles and improvements in engine technology and fuel quality,” she says.
Visit Statistics NZ’s website to read this news story and information release:
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Gwen Moore (WI-04)
Congresswomen Gwen Moore Applauds Biden-Harris Administration Continuing Work to Address Lead as a Public Health Hazard
Today, President Biden visited Milwaukee touting $2.6 billion in bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) funds to address water infrastructure needs, including the removal of lead pipes. This year alone, Milwaukee received $30 million in federal funds to replace 3,400 lead service lines. During his visit, President Bidenannounced an Environmental Protect Agency (EPA) update to the Lead and Copper rulewhich would call for affected entities to replace all lead pipes in 10 years. In addition, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announcedmore than $416 million in grantsto protect children from lead exposure through paint and other home hazards, including $7.5 million for Milwaukee County to address lead and other hazards in 142 housing units. In response, she released the following statement:
“Every child should have access to clean drinking water and a safe lead-free home in which to grow and thrive. Unfortunately for too many children in Milwaukee and elsewhere nationwide, that is not the case and too many remain exposed to lead which can lead to lifelong adverse impacts.
I thank the Administration for its focus since Day One on the threat lead poses to our children, including fighting to secure the first pool of funding to address lead pipes in the BIL. President Biden helped make sure that funding for state and local governments in the American Rescue Plan Act could explicitly be used for lead pipe replacement. At its current pace, it would take the city of Milwaukee an estimated 70 years to remove every lead pipe. With additional federal resources, we can accelerate these efforts.
I also applaud the Biden-Harris administration’s new Lead and Copper rule, which calls for municipalities to identify and remove every lead pipe in the next decade, a request that my Congressional colleagues and I have been pushing for. This rule includes stricter standards which will help keep babies and young children from experiencing the harmful effects of lead exposure on their health and neurological development. No baby should experience inequities before they have a chance to grow. This rule will make important federal interventions for the future of some of our most vulnerable children.
I also remain focused on removing all sources of lead from our communities, including lead paint, the primary source of lead exposure for many children. That’s why I have and continue to advocate for additional funding for HUD’s Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes program, which supports efforts to remove and remediate lead paint. I am so pleased that HUD is devoting hundreds of millions of dollars toward addressing lead paint exposure. These resources will especially help low-income and communities of color in cities like Milwaukee that have older housing stock, who face a high risk of exposure and who often lack the means to address this hazard on their own.
I have long made addressing the lead crisis a priority, and I thank the Biden-Harris for sharing the same urgency. All our children should have the chance the reach their full potential. And today’s announcements help get us closer to the day that we all dream about—where lead pipes will truly be a relic of the past rather than a public health threat to our children.”
The Coalition Government is restoring confidence to the rural sector by pausing the rollout of freshwater farm plans while changes are made to ensure the system is affordable and more practical for farmers and growers, Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced today.
“Freshwater farm plans support farmers and growers in managing freshwater risks and the environmental effects of farming, but the current system has not been cost effective or fit for purpose,” said Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard.
“Last month, we advised the sector of the Coalition Government’s intention to make a minor change to the Resource Management Act (RMA) to implement this pause,” says Mr Hoggard.
“We intend to table an amendment paper to the Resource Management (Freshwater and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to pause the rollout of freshwater farm plans in the regions where freshwater farm plan regulations have taken effect.
“This change would come into effect on the passing of the Bill, which is expected before the end of the year.
“Thousands of farmers around the country have been facing a ticking clock to get farm plans drawn up and certified. Pausing the requirement will provide certainty for farmers and growers, particularly for those in the areas where the first freshwater farm plans were going to be due in February 2025, in Southland and Waikato.”
The Coalition Government is also working with Environment Southland and Waikato Regional Council to ensure farmers in these areas who are subject to regional farm planning requirements do not have to double up on any of their compliance requirements.
Minister McClay says, “We want freshwater farm plans to help farmers meet international market demands and acknowledge the good work many farmers are already doing, not hold them back. Removing obstacles is a key focus in our work to support the primary sector, and we will continue to help and celebrate the industries – not hinder them.”
“The Government has moved swiftly to improve resource management laws and reduce costs for farmers.
“This is just one part of our plan to get Wellington out of farming and free up farmers to do what they do best – sustainably produce the safe, high-quality, food and fiber that demanded by international markets.”
Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
Rule places one-size-fits-all requirements on cities and states
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) in a bicameral amicus brief requesting the Appeals Court uphold the U.S. District Court decision that ruled the Biden-Harris administration’s final rule as illegal. The dysfunctional rule would impose one-size-fits-all requirements on how state departments of transportations (DOT) and cities report and measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the highway system. This rule requires cities and state DOTs to set declining targets for GHG emissions, which is a huge burden for rural states, like Alabama. However, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) appealed the decision, and it remains under further consideration.
“Congress considered, and ultimately rejected, providing [FHWA] with the authority to issue a GHG performance measure regulation, but [FHWA] contorted ancillary existing authorities to impose one anyway,” the members argued. “In doing so, [FHWA] impermissibly usurped the Legislative Branch’s authority and promulgated the GHG performance measure without statutory authority delegated by Congress.
“Put simply, when [FHWA] established a GHG performance measure regulation, it exceeded the powers Congress authorized. And it did so both at the expense of separation of powers and in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act,” continued the members.
The brief argues Congress debated and rejected granting FHWA the authority to issue GHG performance measure rules and the FHWA then intentionally misconstrued Congressional intent to justify its improper exercise of authority. It also argues the rulemaking is not consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions paring back Executive Branch overreach, and FHWA is bypassing principles of federalism to further its own policy agenda.
Joining U.S. Senators Tuberville and Cramer are U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Boozman (R-AR), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), John Hoeven (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).
U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-MO-6) and Rick Crawford (R-AR-1) introduced the brief in the House of Representatives.
Read full text of the amicus brief here.
BACKGROUND:
In November 2023, the FHWA adopted a final rule that would impose burdensome GHG emissions performance measures on state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations. This unnecessary rule will require state DOTs and metropolitan planning organizations to set declining targets for greenhouse gas emissions on the National Highway System. Many states, particularly rural states like Alabama, have criticized the proposal as an undue burden and impractical in areas where traffic congestion and emissions are already scarce. Furthermore, Congress has not provided the Department of Transportation (DOT) with any statutory authority to implement this proposal as the authority was intentionally struck from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) before enactment by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee.
In 2018, the Trump administration repealed an Obama administration 2017 FHWA rule after reconsidering the legal authority under which it was publicized. Unsurprisingly, the new FHWA rule resembles the 2017 Obama administration rule. A majority of state DOTs and attorneys general, including Alabama’s Attorney General, have raised concerns about the feasibility of the rule, which is another example of the Biden administration’s overreach that imposes unlawful burdens on the American people.
Earlier this year, Senator Tuberville joined his colleagues in introducing a bicameral, bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution to nullify the rule. Following this effort, the Senate passed the CRA by a vote of 53-47 in April.
MORE:
Tuberville, Colleagues Call to Overturn Radical EPA Emissions Standards
Tuberville, Colleagues Demand Answers Regarding Proposed Biden ESG Rule for Federal Contractors
Tuberville, Cruz Fight Biden-Harris Woke EV Standards
Tuberville Continues to Fight Biden Administration Overreach
Tuberville Demands EPA Rescind Job-Killing Air Quality Standards
Tuberville Sponsors Bill to Protect Farmers from Burdensome Biden Climate Rule
Tuberville, Colleagues Work to Halt DoD’s Wasteful Green New Deal Mandates
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ranking Member of the EPW Committee’s Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, led 28 of their colleagues in filing a bicameral amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The focus of the brief is a final rule from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) that requires state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the highway system and set declining targets for those GHG emissions. The brief requests that the Court uphold the April 2024, U.S. District Court decision finding that Congress did not grant the FHWA the authority to issue the rule.
The brief argues that Congress explicitly debated providing the FHWA the necessary authority to issue this rule, but decided against doing so in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The FHWA then intentionally misconstrued congressional intent and used unrelated statutory authorities to attempt to justify issuing its GHG performance measure rule. The brief also argues the rulemaking is not consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions paring back Executive Branch overreach, and that FHWA is ignoring principles of federalism at the expense of state governments to further its own policy agenda.
“Congress considered, and ultimately rejected, providing [FHWA] with the authority to issue a GHG performance measure regulation, but [FHWA] contorted ancillary existing authorities to impose one anyway,” the members argued. “In doing so, [FHWA] impermissibly usurped the Legislative Branch’s authority and promulgated the GHG performance measure without statutory authority delegated by Congress.”
“Put simply, when [FHWA] established a GHG performance measure regulation, it exceeded the powers Congress authorized. And it did so both at the expense of separation of powers and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act,” the members continued.
In addition to Ranking Member Capito and Senator Cramer, the amicus brief is cosigned by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Ind.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Jim Risch (R-Ind.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-Mo.-6), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rick Crawford (R-Ark.-1), Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.
Full text of the amicus brief is available here.
BACKGROUND:
In April of this year, the U.S. Senate approved a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval overturning the rule by a vote of 53-47. The measure was co-sponsored by Ranking Member Capito and sponsored by Senator Cramer.
Federated Farmers are slamming a recent court decision that would require more than 3000 Southland farmers to apply for a resource consent just to continue farming.
“This impractical decision is a total disaster for Southland farmers and lacks any common sense,” Southland Federated Farmers spokesperson Bernadette Hunt says.
“If 3000 local farmers were to all apply to Environment Southland for a consent at the same time it would completely overload the system.
“It would become an expensive and bureaucratic box-ticking exercise that adds nothing but cost and complexity for farmers, for no environmental gain.”
Hunt says decisions like this show just how deeply broken New Zealand’s resource management laws have become.
“The Resource Management Act has gotten so far away from its original purpose and intent. It was supposed to be enabling, but it’s become overly complex and restrictive.
“The entire process has been hijacked by environmental activist groups like Fish & Game and it’s now almost impossible to do anything productive.”
Hunt says piecemeal, one-off changes drip-fed from the courts over the last 30 years, rather than systematic improvements, have just added cost and complexity.
“The Government are currently in the process of replacing the Resource Management Act, which is welcome news and long overdue, but that’s a longer-term solution.
“In the short-term, farmers are still stuck farming under the current rules that have become completely unworkable and unaffordable.
“We need a practical, commonsense solution to bridge the gap between today and whenever our new resource management laws arrive.”
Federated Farmers is working closely with both the Government and Environment Southland to make sure that happens.
Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations and Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committees, made several stops in Bluefield, W.Va. to highlight funding projects she has supported, receive updates from community and local leaders, and present the Amelia Earhart Award to a local resident.
To begin the day, Senator Capito met with community leaders to receive a briefing on the city’s funding awards and the regional impact of the recent storm. Following the briefing, Senator Capito toured the U.S. Route 52 modernization project – which she supported and made funding available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
“As I was worked to craft the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I saw a generational opportunity to improve West Virginia’s surface transportation infrastructure. U.S. Route 52 is a crucial thoroughfare for Bluefield and these improvements will increase road safety and continue expanding economic opportunities in and around the city. I was proud to advocate for this project and I’m thrilled to see work underway,” Senator Capito said.
“The funding Senator Capito helped secure for infrastructure projects in Bluefield represents generational change for not only our city, but all of Southern West Virginia. We are very appreciative of Senator Capito for visiting today to see how her support for these projects will modernize downtown Bluefield, create a gateway to Bluefield State University, and improve the safety and quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” Cecil Marson, Bluefield City Manager, said.
The tour concluded at Bluefield State University (BSU) where Senator Capito met with leaders to discuss ongoing expansion projects at the university. In September, Senator Capito secured a Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) award for BSU to expand its healthcare education facilities and curriculum. The funding, which is part of a broader investment in health care infrastructure and education across West Virginia, will bolster the university’s efforts to train the next generation of health care professionals in the region.
“This new center at Bluefield State University will provide students with the tools and training they need to succeed in the medical field, while also helping to alleviate the healthcare workforce shortages we are seeing across the state and the country,” Senator Capito said. “Investing in medical education is one of the most important steps we can take to ensure that West Virginians have access to high-quality healthcare.”
“This investment is a game-changer for our students and the communities they will serve. It will allow us to expand our medical programs and offer hands-on training opportunities in a modern, state-of-the-art facility. We are deeply appreciative of Senator Capito’s commitment to the future of healthcare in West Virginia,” BSU Interim President Darrin Martin said. “By offering students more pathways to pursue careers in high-demand health fields, we are helping to address workforce shortages while providing top-tier education and holding to our mission of serving our community and providing an affordable, accessible opportunity for public higher education.”
In the afternoon, Senator Capito traveled to the Mercer County Airport’s Civil Air Patrol West Virginia Composite Squadron where she presented the Amelia Earhart Award to Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Cadet Peyton Bogel. The award is presented to only 3% of the nearly 22,000 CAP cadets nationally each year. Learn more about the award here.
Photos from today’s visits are included below:
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) with local leaders after touring ongoing improvements to U.S. Route 52 in Bluefield, W.Va. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Darrin Martin, Interim President at Bluefield State University, following a briefing on university expansion projects and economic development opportunities in Bluefield, W.Va. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) presents the Amelia Earhart Award to Civil Air Patrol Cadet Peyton Bogle in Bluefield, W.Va. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Federation University Australia’s reputation as a world-class regional university has been further enhanced following a significant improvement in the latest World University Rankings.
The 2025 edition of the influential Times Higher Education World University Rankings has revealed that Federation University is now ranked in the top 401 – 500 universities in the world, an improvement on its position last year when it was within the top 601 – 800 universities globally. Federation was one of four Australian universities that improved its position in the World University Rankings this year.
The improvement in Federation University’s global ranking, which has campuses in Ballarat, Berwick, Gippsland and the Wimmera, was driven by improved performance in the Research Environment, Research Quality, International Outlook and Industry fields – the latter underpinned by Federation’s Co-operative Education Model, which gets students work and world ready, through direct connection to employers, paid placements, career preparation and workplace skill development.
Federation’s rise in the World University Rankings follows strong results in the latest Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey released earlier this year, which revealed that Federation University is the highest-ranking Victorian university – and second in Australia – for full-time postgraduate employment, while ranking second among Victorian universities for full-time undergraduate employment rate.
Quotes attributable to Federation University Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Duncan Bentley
“Federation University’s improved ranking in the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings is the result of our University’s ongoing commitment to research excellence, industry partnership and our unique approach to education through our Co-operative Education Model.”
“We are proud that Federation University is now in the top 401 – 500 universities globally, and this significant improvement in our ranking will help boost our reputation while supporting our commitment to transforming lives and enhancing communities.”
Last year, we introduced a long-term action plan and willow management strategy to focus our existing efforts stamping out the small population of invasive crack willow on the lake’s edge, before they take root and negatively impact the overall condition of the catchment.
While some non-invasive willow varieties are used for erosion and sediment control, other species like crack willow can become invasive and outcompete native species.
Crack willow can spread quickly—even the smallest of stem fragments can travel downstream and take root.
Once established, their dense canopy shades out low-lying natives provides habitat for pests like possums and rats, and alters water flow.
Crack willow can displace native species and alter waterways
Starting at the top of Scamander Stream, we’re targeting the problematic willows with proven techniques like the “drill and fill” method. This involves drilling downward sloping holes around the trunk of the tree and filling them with a weed control solution.
To tackle regenerating and immature willows, we use the “frilling” technique by cutting notches around the base of the tree and applying herbicide gel/paste to the cut area.
Working from the top of the waterway means a better chance of preventing any further encroachment of the willow via fragments traveling downstream.
“Scamander Wetland is a great opportunity to take a proactive approach to conservation,” says Ewan Bakker, Biodiversity Advisor.
“We have a wetland ecosystem here that’s largely intact with huge ecological, cultural and aesthetic values but with a burgeoning issue of invasive woody weeds.
“By getting control work in there early, we’re preventing invasive crack willow from dominating and outcompeting native species and thus significantly impacting the health of the wetland.”
Preserving a wetland environment
Wetlands are internationally recognised as some of Earth’s most biodiverse environments.
In Aotearoa, our wetlands support the greatest concentration of wildlife out of any other habitat in the country.
Connected to our region’s lakes, streams, rivers, and estuaries, wetlands perform many valuable functions and are crucial to the health of our environment. Acting like a natural aquatic filtration system, wetlands clean the water that flows into them. They screen out nasty contaminants, add oxygen to our freshwater, remove excess nutrients, trap sediment and soils and return nitrogen to the atmosphere.
Wetlands are also considered taonga by mana whenua as they provide habitat for a variety of indigenous plants, fish, animals, and freshwater invertebrates.
Scamander is a largely healthy and thriving wetland ecosystem that supports a diverse array of native bird and aquatic animals, including the nationally vulnerable Australian crested grebe/pūtekeke, critically threatened Australasian bittern/matuku-hūrerpo, the eel/tuna and various species small freshwater fish.
However, like all wetland environments, invasive pest plants pose a serious risk to this habitat.
“Weed control is a long-term game and it requires continued efforts to maintain the gains we’ve made in this catchment, but it’s been encouraging to see what can be achieved when we take a proactive approach to protecting biodiversity,” says Bakker.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) announced today (October 9) that stalls at the 2025 Lunar New Year (LNY) fairs will be put up for open auction in batches starting from October 22 (Tuesday).
The LNY fairs are to be held at 15 locations and will be open for seven days from January 23 to 29, 2025. A total of 910 wet goods stalls, 633 dry goods stalls and 27 fast food stalls will be provided.
The upset prices range from $380 to $6,530 for wet goods stalls, $450 to $8,540 for dry goods stalls (regular size), $680 to $12,810 for dry goods stalls (large size) and $2,290 to $120,470 for fast food stalls.
The six fairs on Hong Kong Island, in Islands District and in Kowloon will be located at Victoria Park in Causeway Bay, Tat Tung Road Garden in Tung Chung, Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong. A total of 812 stalls will be put up for auction.
The auction for stalls of the LNY fair in Victoria Park will be held for three days from October 22 to 24 (Tuesday to Thursday) at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, 19 Lai Wan Road, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon. The first auction day (October 22) is scheduled for fast food stalls and wet goods stalls, while the second auction day (October 23) and the third auction day (October 24) are scheduled for dry goods stalls. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session). Due to the limited number of seats, those who are interested in bidding for a specific type of stalls at the Victoria Park LNY fair are invited to participate in the respective auction at the Lai Chi Kok Government Offices on the designated date.
The auction for stalls of Tat Tung Road Garden LNY Fair in Tung Chung will be held at the above-mentioned venue on October 25 (Friday). The auction session is scheduled from 9.30am until completion of the auction.
The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Cheung Sha Wan Playground and Fa Hui Park in Sham Shui Po, Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground in Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong Recreation Ground in Kwun Tong will be held at the above-mentioned venue from October 28 to 31. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am or 9.30am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session).
Details of the auctions are as follows:
Victoria Park (Causeway Bay) ——————————————– Number of stalls: 395
Auction date: October 22 (Tuesday) AM session: Fast food (Stall Nos. A to D) and wet goods (Stall Nos. 217 to 276) PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 277 to 391) Opening prices: Fast food: $120,470 Wet goods: $6,530
Auction date: October 23 (Wednesday) AM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 20 and 51 to 76) PM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 21 to 40 and 77 to 109) Opening prices: Dry goods (regular size): $8,540 Dry goods (large size): $12,810
Auction date: October 24 (Thursday) AM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 41 to 50 and 110 to 168) PM session: Dry goods (Stall Nos. 169 to 216) Opening price: Dry goods (regular size): $8,540 Dry goods (large size): $12,810
Tat Tung Road Garden (Tung Chung) ——————————————– Auction date: October 25 (Friday) Number of stalls: 27 Stall types: Wet goods and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $380 Dry goods (regular size): $450 Dry goods (large size): $680
Cheung Sha Wan Playground (Sham Shui Po) ——————————————– Auction date: October 28 (Monday) Number of stalls: 89 AM session: Wet goods PM session: Fast food and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $500 Fast food: $2,290 Dry goods (regular size): $550 Dry goods (large size): $830
Fa Hui Park (Sham Shui Po) ——————————————– Auction date: October 29 (Tuesday) Number of stalls: 136 AM session: Wet goods PM session: Fast food and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $3,540 Fast food: $17,480 Dry goods (regular size): $7,800 Dry goods (large size): $11,700
Tsz Wan Shan Estate Central Playground (Wong Tai Sin) ——————————————– Auction date: October 30 (Wednesday) Number of stalls: 76 AM session: Wet goods PM session: Fast food and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $1,500 Fast food: $5,000 Dry goods (regular size): $1,370 Dry goods (large size): $2,060
Kwun Tong Recreation Ground (Kwun Tong) ——————————————– Auction date: October 31 (Thursday) Number of stalls: 89 AM session: Wet goods PM session: Fast food and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $2,180 Fast food: $3,030 Dry goods (regular size): $2,130 Dry goods (large size): $3,200
In the New Territories, 521 wet goods stalls, 230 dry goods stalls and seven fast food stalls will be set up at nine fairs. They are located at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan, Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square in Tai Po, Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground in Yuen Long, Tin Hau Temple Plaza in Tuen Mun, Man Yee Playground in Sai Kung, Po Hong Park in Tseung Kwan O, Shek Wu Hui Playground in North District, Kwai Chung Sports Ground in Kwai Tsing and Yuen Wo Playground in Sha Tin.
The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Tsuen Wan, Yuen Long and Kwai Tsing will be held at the Assembly Hall, 2/F, Lai Chi Kok Government Offices, on November 1, 5 and 11. The auction sessions are scheduled from 9am to 12.30pm (AM session) and 2pm until completion of the auction (PM session).
The auctions for stalls of the LNY fairs in Tai Po, Sai Kung and Tseung Kwan O, North District and Sha Tin will be held at the above-mentioned venue on November 4, 7, 8 and 12. The auction session is scheduled from 9am or 9.30am until completion of the auction.
The auction for stalls of Tin Hau Temple Plaza LNY fair in Tuen Mun will be held at Tseng Choi Street Community Hall, 27 Tseng Choi Street, Tuen Mun, on November 6. The auction session is scheduled from 9.30am until completion of the auction.
Details of the auctions are as follows:
Sha Tsui Road Playground (Tsuen Wan) ——————————————– Auction date: November 1 (Friday) Number of stalls: 126 AM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 64) PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 65 to 96) and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $1,770 Dry goods (regular size): $8,480 Dry goods (large size): $12,720
Tin Hau Temple Fung Shui Square (Tai Po) ——————————————– Auction date: November 4 (Monday) Number of stalls: 61 Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food Opening prices: Dry goods: $1,450 Wet goods: $2,270 Fast food: $5,480
Tung Tau Industrial Area Playground (Yuen Long) ——————————————– Auction date: November 5 (Tuesday) Number of stalls: 158 AM session: Dry goods and wet goods (Stall Nos. 57 to 72) PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 77 to 156) and fast food Opening prices: Dry goods (regular size): $1,350 Dry goods (large size): $2,030 Wet goods: $700 Fast food: $5,480
Tin Hau Temple Plaza (Tuen Mun) ——————————————– Auction date: November 6 (Wednesday) Number of stalls: 57 Stall types: Wet goods, dry goods and fast food Opening prices: Wet goods: $1,490 Dry goods: $2,140 Fast food: $2,740
Man Yee Playground (Sai Kung) ——————————————– Auction date: November 7 (Thursday) Number of stalls: 20 Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods Opening prices: Dry goods: $450 Wet goods: $380
Po Hong Park (Tseung Kwan O) ——————————————– Auction date: November 7 (Thursday) Number of stalls: 90 Stall types: Dry goods, wet goods and fast food Opening prices: Dry goods (regular size): $1,540 Dry goods (large size): $2,310 Wet goods: $830 Fast food: $4,570
Shek Wu Hui Playground (North District) ——————————————– Auction date: November 8 (Friday) Number of stalls: 73 Stall types: Wet goods and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $710 Dry goods (regular size): $1,540 Dry goods (large size): $2,310
Kwai Chung Sports Ground (Kwai Tsing) ——————————————– Auction date: November 11 (Monday) Number of stalls: 98 AM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 1 to 56) PM session: Wet goods (Stall Nos. 57 to 76) and dry goods Opening prices: Wet goods: $490 Dry goods (regular size): $2,250 Dry goods (large size): $3,380
Yuen Wo Playground (Sha Tin) ——————————————– Auction date: November 12 (Tuesday) Number of stalls: 75 Stall types: Dry goods and wet goods Opening prices: Dry goods (regular size): $4,570 Dry goods (large size): $6,860 Wet goods: $3,580
Bidders for LNY fair stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong.
Anyone can bid for more than one stall. A bidder must pay the bid price and register in person with his or her own name as the licensee of the stall immediately after successfully bidding for a stall. The bidder is also required to sign at once a licence agreement with the FEHD, or he/she will forfeit the rights to operate the stall.
All fair sites will be made available to the licensees three days in advance of the fairs (from January 20 to 22, 2025) for the setting up of stalls. In the event of any unforeseeable incident that will cause reduction of the whole licence period (including the duration for setting up stalls and the business period of the fair), the Government has the right to postpone the commencement date and shorten the duration of the period. The bidding price (licence fee) paid will be refunded to the successful bidder on a pro-rata basis without interest.
Stall licensees must completely remove the stall structure and all paraphernalia, together with all refuse, debris and unsold commodities (whether damaged or otherwise), from the licensed area before 7am on January 29, 2025 (9am for the Victoria Park LNY Fair).
The FEHD reminded licensees that the stalls are solely for the purpose of selling and promoting the sale of the permitted commodities, and no other activities are allowed in the licensed area. If the FEHD considers that any activity conducted by the licensee to publicise, promote, display, show or sell any permitted commodities in the venue is unlawful, contrary to the interest of national security, immoral or incompatible with the object of the LNY fair, the FEHD is entitled to direct the licensee to stop conducting such activities, and the licensee must immediately comply with the direction.
Stall licensees should not destroy, damage or abandon any unsold commodities at or in the vicinity of the stall. They may surrender unsold flowers and plants left behind at the stall to the FEHD at no charge, cost or compensation whatsoever, before 7am on January 29, 2025 (9am for the Victoria Park LNY Fair).
According to the licence agreement, except inside designated stalls, licensees must not keep, store or use any compressed helium cylinder in the licensed area. Whereas licensees of the designated stalls may keep, store or use helium cylinders in the licensed area, the quantity of helium should be such that a licence is not required pursuant to the Dangerous Goods (Application and Exemption) Regulation 2012 (Cap. 295E), i.e. equivalent to 150 litres of helium. Sales of floating LED glowing balloons and aquarium fish by stall licensees are prohibited at the LNY fairs.
In addition, as stated in the licence agreement, the height of dry goods stalls must not exceed three metres from ground level. The height of wet goods stalls and fast food stalls must not exceed 4.5m from ground level. For wet goods stalls and fast food stalls with a height of more than 3m from ground level, the licensee must, at his own costs, provide the FEHD with the original certificate issued by an authorised person, a registered structural engineer, or a competent person under the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations (Cap. 59I) to certify the structural safety of the structure in the licensed area before the fair is opened to the public. The licensee must also affix a copy of the aforesaid certificate on the structure of the stall.
Successful bidders shall comply with all the stipulations and provisions as set out in the licence agreement. Otherwise, the department is entitled to terminate the agreement and the licensee shall immediately vacate the stall.
Details of the 2025 LNY fairs, such as the public notice, the locations and layouts of the fair venues, commodities allowed for sale at the fair stalls, open auction arrangements and related rules, and a sample of the licence agreement, are available on the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk). For enquiries, please call the FEHD hotline 2868 0000.
Te Tapatoru ā Toi Joint Management Committee Chair Vince Copeland says the plan has been under development by Te Tapatoru ā Toi (TTāT), with the support of DOC, to put taiao at the centre of all decision making for the reserves – Moutohorā/Whale Island Wildlife Management Reserve, Ōhope Scenic Reserve and Tauwhare Pā Scenic Reserve – known collectively as Te Tāpui Tokotoru.
“The Committee worked closely with hapū, technical experts and stakeholders to develop a plan of how we expect to care for, protect, and relate to Te Tāpui Tokotoru over the next 10 years.”
TTāT was established through the Ngāti Awa Settlement Act in 2005 and has representatives from Ngāti Awa, the community, and the Bay of Plenty Conservation Board.
The floor is now open for the community to have their say on whether the plan meets the needs and interests of all who enjoy Te Tāpui Tokotoru (the three reserves).
“We invite you to share your feedback with us, and to be part of bringing the vision to life over the next 10 years,” says Vince.
Submissions will be open from 9 October to 1 December, with public hearings on 15/16 November at Te Whare o Toroa Marae.
The draft plan can be viewed on the DOC website copies can be viewed at DOC Whakatāne or Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Awa reception.
Submissions may be emailed to ttat@doc.govt.nz, or posted to 9 Louvain Street, Whakatāne, 3120.
Background information
The Te Tapatoru ā Toi Conservation Management Plan (TTāT CMP or CMP), is a statutory planning document describing how public conservation lands and waters will be cared for, protected and managed into the future.
The CMP sets the strategic direction for the management of Moutohorā (Whale Island) Wildlife Management Reserve, Ōhope Scenic Reserve, and Tauwhare Pā Scenic Reserve, known collectively as Te Tāpui Tokotoru.
The name Tapatoru-ā-Toi symbolises the connection between, and the shared responsibility to care for, these treasured reserves. The name draws upon the symbolism of the triangle (tapatoru) to:
bring together the three reserves, Moutohorā (Whale Island) Wildlife Management Reserve, Ōhope Scenic Reserve and Tauwhare Pā Scenic Reserve
reference the relationship between the three groupings of Ngāti Awa, Department of Conservation, and the community
recognise the three articles of Te Tīriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa.
Toi-te-huatahi is the esteemed ancestor of Ngāti Awa who dwelled within the bounds of the land and sea of these three significant places.
