NewzIntel.com

Category: Environment

  • MIL-OSI USA: Michigan Receives Disaster Declaration from President Trump for Northern Michigan Ice Storm Recovery Efforts

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

    Today, Rep. Jack Bergman joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer announcing that President Donald Trump has approved Michigan’s request for a disaster declaration to help communities impacted by the historic ice storm in Northern Michigan earlier this year. The devastating storm knocked out power and communications and left hundreds of miles of roads blocked by fallen trees and debris. 

    “President Trump’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the counties impacted by March’s devastating ice storm is welcome news,” said U.S. Representative Jack Bergman. “I’m grateful to his Administration for working to get this done. This long-awaited decision unlocks critical resources to help our communities recover and rebuild as quickly as possible. It’s been a true team effort – from local agencies to state and federal partners. Northern Michigan is no stranger to tough times – but it’s in moments like these, when our communities rally and move forward together, that the true spirit of Northern Michigan shines brightest.”

    “Yesterday, I spoke to President Trump who confirmed that communities in Northern Michigan impacted by the historic ice storm damage earlier thisnyear will start to receive federal disaster funding,” said Governor Whitmer. “With this initial support, we can help communities recover costs associated with cleanup efforts. I want to thank the president and our congressional delegation for supporting our request, and I look forward to collaborating further on much-needed additional resources. Michiganders across the state stepped up to help our neighbors, and while other parts of our request remain under review, we will continue advocating together to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild.”

    “Many Northern Michigan individuals, families, and small businesses are still recovering from the historic ice storms that hit our state earlier this year,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “This federal emergency declaration will help local leaders, communities, and Northern Michigan families get back on their feet and move forward with their lives. While this storm was devastating, Michiganders are strong, and we will Stand Tall together.” 

    “I’m pleased that funding is coming to Northern Michigan to bolster the ongoing recovery efforts following the ice storm this March,” said U.S. Senator Gary Peters. “The State of Michigan and local emergency managers continue to work hard because this job is not finished, and I’ll keep fighting to help our communities get the resources they need to bounce back stronger.” 

    “The Michigan State Police has supported response efforts from the moment this storm began, coordinating statewide resources through the State Emergency Operations Center to assist local communities impacted by the storm,” said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the MSP. “This federal declaration is a crucial next step. It allows us to continue supporting our partners through long-term recovery.” 

    Federal Disaster Declaration

    The declaration opens the path to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Kalkaska, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle Counties and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. The administration continues to review the request for Individual Assistance and Public Assistance under Schedule F. 

    Advocating for Northern Michigan

      On June 25th, Rep. Jack Bergman led a letter with the entire Michigan Congressional Delegation, urging President Donald J. Trump in the strongest possible terms,to approve Governor Whitmer’s May 16 request for a Major Disaster Declaration.

    On May 30th, Rep. Jack Bergman joined Michigan USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Director Joel Johnson to announce that assistance through the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) and Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) is on the way for Northern Michigan. Both programs are designed to help landowners recover from severe storm damage and restore their operations.

    On May 19th, Rep. Jack Bergman expressed his full support for Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s request for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration in response to the ice storm that struck Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in March.

    On April 5th, Rep. Bergman visited the affected counties and met with local emergency leaders, linemen, and first responders to discuss the needs across the region.

    State Actions 

    On March 31, Governor Whitmer declared a state of emergency to respond to the storm’s impact. The declaration initially covered 10 counties and was expanded to include 12 counties: Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties. Governor Whitmer also deployed the Michigan National Guard to provide more personnel and specialized equipment to help with ice storm recovery efforts in northern Michigan. Lastly, the Governor Whitmer declared an energy emergency in the Upper Peninsula to help expedite delivery of fuel and other critical supplies to impacted areas. 

    On May 16, Governor Whitmer submitted a formal request for a major disaster declaration to help Northern Michigan recover and rebuild from the historic ice storms that hit the region hard in late March. The governor also traveled to the White House to meet with President Trump, advocating for federal assistance for Northern Michigan. The governor previously asked for an Emergency Declaration, which would authorize up to $5 million in immediate public assistance to support emergency efforts, including debris management needs.  

    She will continue working with the administration to pursue further relief from FEMA, and her request for individual assistance (IA) remains under review by the federal administration. IA can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster. She will also seek resources for hazard mitigation measures statewide.  

    Resources

    Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.  

    On June 11, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) separately granted an administrative disaster declaration for Cheboygan County and the contiguous counties of Charlevoix, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle. SBA established two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers for one-on-one assistance, open now through July 26 at 2:00pm:  

    229 Court St. 

    Cheboygan, MI 49721 

    8288 S. Pleasantview Rd. 

    Harbor Springs, MI 49740 

    Loan applications are also available online or by mail. For additional information on low-interest SBA loans or the application process, visit the MySBA Loan Portal or call 1-800-659-2955. The physical loan application deadline is Aug. 8. Small businesses and non-profits have until March 9, 2026, to apply for EIDLs (working capital loans). So far SBA has disbursed $572,322 in loans for this disaster. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to systematic review and meta-analysis of daily step count and risk of chronic diseases, cognitive decline and death

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A systematic review and meta analysis published in The Lancet Public Health looks at daily steps and health outcomes in adults.

    Prof Steven Harridge, Professor of Human & Applied Physiology at the Centre for Ageing Resilience in a Changing Environment (CARICE) at King’s College London, said:

    “This is a systematic review of a large number of studies looking at the relationship between increasing step count and multiple health outcomes – as opposed to just all-cause mortality.

    “The paper shows clear effects of increasing physical activity (through increasing step count) on reducing disease risk.  There has been debate about the amount of activity an individual should be doing with 10,000 steps as a generalised target, not well evidenced. This paper shows that 7,000 steps is sufficient for reducing the risk for most diseases covered, and 10 000 steps does not confer much additional benefit.  But further risk reduction might be possible for some diseases.

    “Simply put, the paper supports bodies of evidence that increasing levels of physical activity are associated with positive health outcomes.  Importantly, increasing to 10,000 streps seems to confer no negative effects!

    “Studies of this kind are helpful in the large number of studies and participants combined into the analysis but it lacks mechanistic insight as to how these benefits arise.  The likelihood is that increasing step count increases cardiorespiratory fitness, well known to be positively associated with better health and all-cause mortality outcomes.

    “There is also another interpretation of these data. Humans are designed to be physically active (our evolutionary heritage as hunter gatherers), so the question could be posed the other way.  Let’s say the default is to walk 10,000 or 7,000 steps, what are the negative health outcomes that might be expected of going below this level?  Clearly, they are not good.  Thus is all depends on the perspective of what should be considered “normal”.  

    “Whilst step count is a very basic measure of activity (e.g.it does not capture intensity), this study adds to the body of knowledge that shows physical activity is vitally important for health and anything that encourages people to be more active is a good thing for both physical and mental health.  This is in the context of most people not adhering to the guidelines for physical activity as set out by the Chief Medical Officer.”

      

    Dr Andrew Scott, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology, University of Portsmouth, University of Portsmouth, said:

    “The press release gives an accurate account of the study. The article is written by an excellent author team, leading to a coherent article summarising the evidence of daily step count and various health outcomes.

    “There’s been little research on steps per day, with most research focussing on characterising the exercise in frequency per week, time per day and intensity per minute of exercise. This research does fit the usual narrative of a logarithmic dose-response to exercise of a range of health conditions. This is not surprising; a dose-response is evident in many relationships between interventions/activities and health outcomes, including medications. This dose (amount of intervention) to outcome (health benefit) determines the dose required of particular medications to improve a particular health condition. In this case this information can be used to indicate the number of steps per day should be performed to reduce the risk of developing a health condition by a particular percentage. In most cases the 10,000 steps per day will still be better than 7,000 steps, just by decreasing margins of health benefit return.

    “More important than the exact number of steps, it demonstrates that overall more is always better and people should not focus too much on the numbers, particularly on days where activity is limited. The steps per day is useful when people’s exercise is weight-bearing, however cycling, swimming and rowing are not well-represented by the steps per day model.

    “This is a meta-analysis so it is representative of a range of studies, but there is a range of ways to be active for health benefit, beyond just steps per day. The team also analysed the rate or cadence of stepping, where faster rates of stepping per 30 minutes were further associated with health benefits, but not everybody can step at this rate to benefit with. There are other ways of exercise that are beneficial for older people, including balance exercise and higher intensity resistance training that can provide benefits beyond walking or jogging.

    “The compelling finding is that whilst such walking does not mitigate cancer incidence there is a decrease in cancer mortality, illustrating that enhanced physical activity levels leading to enhanced physical and psychological fitness enhances the resilience of people to deal with cancer and its associated treatments.

    “These findings are important for providing a public health message, where targeted exercise intervention, as opposed to discouraging inactivity is not as prevalent compared to medical intervention. So, while these findings have real world implications, the specific number should not receive too much reverence; it just means that 10,000 steps per day is not the only number to aim for, enhancing achievability.”

    Dr Daniel Bailey, Reader – Sedentary Behaviour and Health at Brunel University of London, said: 

    “The press release does accurately reflect the study, showing that walking 7000 steps per day is associated with significantly lower risk of a number of health outcomes like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, depression and falls. 

     “The researchers assessed the strength of evidence in their review of studies. The strength of evidence was moderate for most of the health outcomes, meaning that we can be confident the findings in this paper are true, but there is a possibility they may not be completely accurate. 

    “This study adds to existing evidence by showing that the more steps people do, the less their risk of developing different health conditions. The finding that doing 5000-7000 steps per day is an important addition to the literature which helps to debunk the myth that 10,000 steps per day should be the target for optimal health.  

     “This study suggested that 5000-7000 steps per day can significantly reduce the risk of many health outcomes, but that does not mean you cannot get benefits if you don’t meet this target. The study also found that health risks were reduced with each 1000 extra steps per day, up to a maximum of 12,000 steps per day. So just adding more steps from your starting point can have important benefits for health. 

     “An important limitation is that many of the findings from this review were based on a small number of studies, meaning that the results may not be accurate for some of the health outcomes measured. Also, the findings cannot be easily applied to people living with a chronic condition as the studies in this reviewer were in generally healthy people. 

    “The real-world implications are that people can get health benefits just from small increases in physical activity, such as doing an extra 1000 steps per day. To achieve the best reductions in risk, aiming for 5000-7000 per day can be recommended, which will be more achievable for many people than the unofficial target of 10,000 steps that has been around for many years.”  

    ‘Daily steps and health outcomes in adults: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis’ by Ding Ding et al. was published in The Lancet Public Health at 23:30 UK time on Wednesday 23rd July.

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(25)00164-1

    Declared interests

    Prof Steven Harridge: I am Professor of Human and Applied Physiology at King’s College London, with a research interest in healthy human ageing and have no funding from manufacturers of physical activity monitors.

    Dr Andrew Scott: I do not have any conflicts of interest.

    Dr Daniel Bailey: No interests

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Rites of fish passage

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Corbies Creek, Canterbury, showing the exclusion barrier (left) and a DOC team removing weeds to improve longjaw habitat. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC. 

    About this time last year, a group of DOC rangers and scientists set out from Twizel for a regular check of a population of threatened fish in nearby Corbies Creek. It was a beautiful day. Soon after getting their gear in the water, they realised something was very wrong. Where were all the fish? Only a year ago they’d found more than 100 in a 25m stretch, but there were hardly any there now.  

    Corbies Creek, along with just a few other small streams in Canterbury, is a refuge for native lowland longjaw galaxias. If we lost them from here, they’d be gone from everywhere. Sleek, pencil-thin and exquisitely camouflaged, their pale-yellow skin is dusted with brown and silver flecks. Adults rarely grow longer than 80 mm.  

    Lowland longjaw galaxias. Photo: P Ravenscroft/DOC.   

    Longjaws are one of New Zealand’s river-resident galaxiid species that live their entire lives in a single waterway. All river-resident galaxiids are vulnerable to being eaten or displaced by larger fish. Some, including longjaws, can’t share habitat with any bigger fish. To safeguard this population, an exclusion barrier has been built to stop predatory trout and kōaro from swimming up into their habitat. 

    So how had two brown trout – the cause of the drastic decline at Corbies Creek – got up there? Sjaan Bowie, DOC senior freshwater technical advisor, thinks the trout were carried across a paddock from a nearby waterway, in a particularly high flood event a few months earlier.  

    Rest assured the trout were quicky removed and the longjaws are bouncing back.  

    “We’re pleased to report that monitoring in March this year found numbers had risen from just 12 to more than 50 fish, and no more trout have been seen upstream of the barrier.”

    Limited tools available – innovations welcome 

    Sjaan says this near-miss extinction of longjaws in Corbies Creek shows that more management tools will be needed to protect our freshwater fish in the future.  

    “What we’re doing generally works fine for small streams under current climatic conditions. But with increasing temperatures, we’re seeing trout head further inland looking for cooler water. More severe weather is also causing bigger floods and longer droughts. This combination increases the risk of trout making it past barriers or accidentally getting into threatened fish habitat, as we saw in Corbies Creek.” 

    Flooding can overtop fish barriers and put native species at risk. Photo: Dean Nelson/DOC.

    She highlights the need for better technology – both for remote monitoring of populations and to protect larger areas.  

    “We’re looking at remote water level monitoring, so we’d get a warning ‘ping’ and could go and check if a barrier had been breached or there was an overland flow. There’s also a need to protect more and larger areas to prevent individual populations becoming genetically isolated. 

    “A fish exclusion barrier that works in larger rivers or low gradient streams without backing up the flow and creating a pool, would also make a big difference to the ongoing survival of these species. If anyone has bright ideas about how to build something like that, we’d really love to hear from you.” 

    Sjaan says the same issues are faced in fish conservation around the world, so any solutions we created here could be used internationally.  

    Regardless, future work to secure our river-resident galaxiids is likely to include building exclusion barriers in new streams and moving current barriers downstream. Other tools like captive breeding and translocations into protected areas are also likely to be necessary. 

    An exclusion barrier in Omarama Spring protects an important population of non-migratory galaxiids. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.

    Let them through – migratory fish need to move

    Managing the other group of New Zealand’s native fish couldn’t be more different. It’s vital for these species to be able to move up and down waterways and get to and from the sea to complete their lifecycles. In this group of migratory species are eels, bullies and the fish we collectively known as whitebait – the juveniles of īnanga, kōaro and banded, giant and shortjaw kōkopu.  

    The strongest swimmers of the group move the furthest inland. Kōaro stand out as best in class as they can climb near-vertical walls. Īnanga are the most challenged by inclines, jumps, rapids and fast flows, and tend to stay in flatter areas near the coast.   

    Human-built structures in waterways can present swimming challenges. Conservation work for migratory species therefore includes identifying, fixing or removing barriers like poorly designed or unmaintained culverts, fords, dams and weirs.  

    As part of her role, Sjaan advocates for better fish passage. She’s helped develop and update fish passage guidelines and resources, given dozens of seminars about best practice, offered advice and support to others, and coordinated the New Zealand Fish Passage Advisory Group.  

    “We can make a real difference for migratory fish by removing barriers. Yes, we can plant trees and improve habitat but if we can take out something that’s stopping migration, the benefit is immediate. It means the fish aren’t slowed down or stopped in their migration and allows them to get to natural habitat upstream to grow and mature.” 

    Researching ways to fix impassable culverts

    Sjaan Bowie setting up a net to capture and count fish that made it up a ramp and through the culvert. Photo: Nixie Boddy/DOC. 

    Culverts are a big issue. There are hundreds of thousands of them around the country and some hinder or block fish passage by creating overhangs or impassably fast flows.  

    Sjaan and her colleagues have been testing different retrofitted baffles and ramps to see how well they help fish move up and through culverts.  

    “We couldn’t find a lab that was big enough, so we chose some barriers in waterways on the South Island’s West Coast. It has high rainfall, lots of culverts and an abundance of fish.  

    “It looks like these fixes can be used to improve passage for some species under certain conditions, but not for all species. They may be best considered as a temporary solution. Final results will indicate when they improved passage, and allow us to offer better guidance on installation, monitoring and maintenance of these fixes.”  

    Brittany Earl, freshwater ranger (left) and Nixie Boddy measuring post-trial fish before releasing them back into Hodson Stream. Photo: Sjaan Bowie/DOC.

    Sjaan says if there’s a structure that’s restricting fish passage, the best option is always to remove it. “If that’s not possible we need to consider replacing or fixing it permanently.” 

    Spectacular success at Te Pouaruhe wetland, Wairarapa  

    Our work with the Wairarapa Moana Wetlands project restored fish passage to Te Pouaruhe wetland in early 2022 – using a large digger.  

    The area was drained for agriculture in the 1940s and separated from Lake Ōnoke by a stopbank and two culverts. One of the culverts had a flap gate that severely limited fish access to the wetland from the lake and the sea. The digger removed the culverts and made two breaks in the stopbank that now provide free passage up and downstream.  

    Before and after fish surveys in 2019 and 2023 found huge differences in the number and range of species present. Īnanga and common bullies were found at every sampling site in 2023 and in large numbers at most sites. At one site, the number of īnanga rose from 339 to 1563 after fish passage was restored.

    Challenges to fix ford in lower Waipoua River, Northland

    This ford across the Waipoua River was built to provide access for mana whenua (local residents) and commercial forestry vehicles.  

    It’s a significant barrier to fish passage because of a drop off downstream and culverts inside the ford that accelerate the flow. Installing four fish ramps has helped, but a permanent solution is still needed. 

    “Having a barrier 5 km from the sea restricts or prevents fish access to around 100 km of beautiful stream habitat in kauri forest”, says Sjaan. “Improving fish passage there would make a big difference for many species, including threatened shortjaw kōkopu.”  

    Fixing the ford is a priority for Te iwi o Te Roroa and DOC and options, including a fish bypass or replacement bridge, are being looked at.  

    This ford across Waipoua River hinders fish passage for several species despite the installation of floating fish ramps. Photo Sarah Wilcox/DOC. 

    Progress to celebrate and some lessons learned  

    Reflecting on progress in the last 10 years, Sjaan is pleased to have national guidelines, improved policy and new tools in place.  

    “The Fish Passage Assessment Tool is one way that anyone can record instream structures and assess the risk they pose to fish passage. The tool has contributed to a database of more than 150,000 structures nationwide that are being prioritised and ticked off.  

    “It’s been exciting to see councils such as Northland, Taranaki and West Coast, as well as other organisations, taking action to remove barriers and put in some good fixes to open up habitat for fish.” 

    Wairau Stream after work by New Plymouth District Council to remove a culvert that was hindering fish passage. Photo: New Plymouth District Council.

    Sjaan says instream structures always have at least a dual purpose – to transport water and allow fish to move – and both are important to consider.   

    “One stand-out lesson for me though is the benefit of oversizing and embedding culverts. They will be long-lasting, stand up to floods, and provide good fish passage.”  

    This article was first published in the New Zealand Water Review.  

    Read more about fish passage 

    Read more about our work to secure populations of migratory fish: Ngā Ika e Heke migratory fish workstream: Freshwater restoration

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Allen Introduces Bill Preserving Consumer Choice

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

    Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) introduced the Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act. Following the Biden-Harris Administration’s four-year assault on consumer choice, this legislation implements necessary reforms to the Energy Policy Conservation Act (EPCA) to prevent future administrations from prioritizing a radical rush-to-green agenda over the affordability and availability of reliable household appliances that Americans rely on every day.

    Following the bill’s introduction, Congressman Allen issued the statement below:

    “Under the guise of energy efficiency, the Biden-Harris Administration waged a four-year war on domestic energy and consumer choice, and it was American families that paid the price. From gas stoves, refrigerators, and freezers, to washers, dryers, dish washers, and air conditioners—no household appliance was off limits in their pursuit of a radical rush-to-green agenda. We cannot allow that to happen again,” said Congressman Allen.

    “The Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act is a necessary measure to prevent future administrations from issuing burdensome standards on household appliances that would drive up costs and reduce availability. I am grateful for Chairman Guthrie’s and Chairman Latta’s support as we preserve consumer choice and ensure the federal government does not tilt the scales on what appliances Americans should buy.” 

    “Families should have the freedom to choose what home appliances they buy and use. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, heavy-handed mandates created unworkable regulations that led to higher prices,” said Chairman Guthrie. “The Don’t Mess with My Home Appliances Act would reform the Department of Energy’s energy efficiency standards process to protect consumer choice and ensure American companies can continue to innovate. Thank you to Congressman Allen for leading this important legislation that stands up for working Americans.” 

    “American families should have the right to choose the appliances that work best for their homes and needs. This commonsense bill puts consumers first by restoring flexibility, encouraging innovation, and ensuring there are not one-size-fits-all federal regulations. I thank Congressman Allen for his leadership on this effort to protect American families and businesses,” said Rep. Bob Latta, Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

    BACKGROUND: Enacted in 1975, the EPCA provides specific criteria the Department of Energy (DOE) must follow in order to propose a new appliance efficiency standard. The DOE may only propose a new standard if it results in a significant conservation of energy, is technologically feasible, and economically justified. The Biden-Harris Administration consistently ignored these critical consumer protections by proposing and finalizing standards that violate the statute. The Don’t Mess with my Home Appliances Act would prevent future abuses by:

    • Eliminating unnecessary and duplicative rulemaking requirements 
    • Authorizing the Secretary of Energy to amend or revoke a standard if it increases costs for consumers, does not result in significant energy or water savings, is not technologically feasible, or results in the unavailability of product 
    • Protecting affordability by requiring the DOE to consider the cost to low-income households and the full-life cycle cost of appliances when determining if the new standard is economically justified 
    • Establishing minimum thresholds for energy or water savings that must be achieved before imposing new standards 
    • Prohibiting the Secretary of Energy from banning products based on the type of fuel that product uses (no natural gas bans) 

    Full bill text can be viewed HERE.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Greenpeace – World court’s climate ruling a legal warning shot for Luxon

    Source: Greenpeace

    Greenpeace Aotearoa says the world’s highest court has just delivered a wake-up call for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
    In a historic climate ruling, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has confirmed that governments have legal obligations to protect people – both now and in the future – from the worsening impacts of the climate crisis. That includes regulating big polluters like fossil fuel companies and intensive livestock operations.
    “This is a warning shot to Luxon that his Government’s war on nature and the climate comes with consequences,” says Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson.
    “The Court has made it clear: states must take action to prevent climate harm, no matter where it occurs. They must uphold people’s fundamental right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment – for today’s communities and future generations.”
    The ICJ ruling goes beyond the Paris Agreement, reinforcing that governments have a duty to regulate climate pollution, cooperate internationally, and prevent environmental harm. It strengthens the legal grounds for climate-impacted communities to hold governments accountable.
    Since taking office, the Luxon Government has scrapped or weakened numerous key climate policies. It has:
    • Overturned the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration
    • Pledged to fast-track coal mining
    • Shelved agricultural emissions pricing
    • Exempted the country’s worst climate polluter – intensive dairying – from meaningful accountability
    “Luxon is elevating the profits of polluters above people’s fundamental human rights,” says Larsson. “This ruling puts him – and governments like his – on notice.”
    The dairy industry, led by Fonterra, is New Zealand’s largest climate polluter. Yet under pressure from lobby groups, the Government has rolled back environmental safeguards and is now considering weakening methane targets – despite clear advice from the Climate Change Commission that action on methane must be strengthened.
    Earlier this year, Luxon received a letter authored by dozens of international climate scientists accusing him of ignoring scientific evidence on methane and urging him to follow the Climate Commission’s advice to strengthen New Zealand’s methane target. The letter was featured on the front page of the Financial Times.
    “New Zealand is the world’s largest dairy exporter and a major player in the global livestock industry,” says Larsson.
    “How New Zealand addresses livestock emissions sets an important precedent for the rest of the world. If Luxon guts the methane target, New Zealand risks breaching the Paris Agreement and, by extension, its trade agreements with partners like the UK and EU.”
    The historic ICJ ruling is a result of action taken in 2019 by 27 law students from The University of the South Pacific. As the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, they campaigned for the ICJ to issue an Advisory Opinion on the responsibilities of States in respect to climate change. The resolution, put forward by Vanuatu alongside a global alliance of States, passed the United Nations General Assembly unanimously in March 2023, co-sponsored by over 130 countries.
    “As this ruling shows, the courts are becoming an increasingly important venue for climate justice – because governments like ours are failing to protect people and the planet. And when that happens, people will step up to defend their future.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Track repair confirmed for Waimata Gemstone Bay

    Source: NZ Department of Conservation

    Date:  24 July 2025

    Tracks to Gemstone and Stingray bays were damaged in the same February 2023 extreme weather events which resulted in the extended closure of walking access to Mautohe Cathedral Cove.

    DOC’s Coromandel Operations Manager Nick Kelly says DOC has worked hard to assess the tracks and was pleased to find a good solution for Gemstone.

    “A repair project will see a reroute of the existing track and a new 40 metre section constructed in time for the summer visitor season, all going to plan.

    “We’ve explored a couple of options to reinstate access to Waimata Gemstone Bay and we’ve chosen what we consider to be the most cost-effective and simplest solution.”

    The new route will take visitors away from a slip risk area and will be much safer to construct. It will require some vegetation removal and the construction of box steps in places. The track will be gravel with wooden edging and connect with existing access stairs.

    The reinstatement option also means there’s no need for geotechnical stabilisation.

    Nick cautioned Waimata Gemstone Bay and the track are still prone to coastal erosion, but the choice of a low complexity option means future repairs are likely to be cheaper and quicker.

    “Reinstating the Waimata Gemstone Bay track will restore land access to a popular snorkelling destination within Te Whanganui-O-Hei Marine Reserve,” says Nick.

    “The bay’s rocky reef has long supported educational snorkelling trips by local schools and provides both visitors and the community the opportunity to experience marine life in a marine protected area.”

    Investigations into reinstating walking access to nearby Te Karaka Stingray Bay, have highlighted significant difficulties, costs and visitor risks, Nick says. Other considerations are the cost to maintain hard infrastructure at the site and the long-term sustainability of having a track to the site.

    “Unfortunately, this means walking access to Stingray Bay will not be reinstated.

    “The current steps are gradually being twisted by a slow-slip landslide which over time will require significant maintenance if access is reestablished. Nick acknowledges there will be disappointment about the Te Karaka Stingray Bay decision but says it’s a tough, but necessary, call.

    “Geotechnical advice confirms the cliffs surrounding the beach are highly unstable, with active rockfall areas and limited practical options for mitigation.

    “Visitors would be forced into hazardous zones by rising tides or walk near to unstable cliff – and we don’t think that’s sensible or safe considering the type of visitor who goes there.”

    Te Karaka Stingray Bay can still be reached from the sea. Anyone planning to do this is urged to check weather, sea and tide conditions.

    DOC is working with mana whenua and the community to identify the best options for the long-term management and protection of Cathedral Cove Recreation Reserve.

    With over 2000 tourism businesses operating in protected natural areas, nature tourism is worth $3.4 billion each year and is vital in supporting local communities like Hahei.

    Contact

    For media enquiries contact:

    Email: media@doc.govt.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: CVB Financial Corp. Reports Earnings for the Second Quarter 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Second Quarter 2025

    • Net Earnings of $50.6 million, or $0.36 per share
    • Return on Average Assets of 1.34%
    • Efficiency Ratio of 45.6%
    • Net Interest Margin of 3.31%

    Ontario, CA, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CVB Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:CVBF) and its subsidiary, Citizens Business Bank (the “Company”), announced earnings for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.

    CVB Financial Corp. reported net income of $50.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2025, compared with $51.1 million for the first quarter of 2025 and $50.0 million for the second quarter of 2024. Diluted earnings per share were $0.36 for the second quarter, compared to $0.36 for the prior quarter and $0.36 for the same period last year.

    For the second quarter of 2025, annualized return on average equity (“ROAE”) was 9.06%, annualized return on average tangible common equity (“ROATCE”) was 14.08%, and annualized return on average assets (“ROAA”) was 1.34%.

    David Brager, President and Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Business Bank, commented, “Citizens Business Bank’s performance in the second quarter demonstrates our continued financial strength and focus on our vision of serving the comprehensive financial needs of small to medium sized businesses and their owners. Our consistent financial performance is highlighted by our 193 consecutive quarters, or more than 48 years, of profitability, and our 143 consecutive quarters of paying cash dividends. I would like to thank our customers and associates for their continuing commitment and loyalty.”

    Additional Highlights for the Second Quarter of 2025

    • Pre-provision / pretax income increased from $67.5 million in the first quarter of 2025 to $68.8 million
    • Cost of funds decreased to 1.03% from 1.04% in the first quarter of 2025
    • Deposits and customer repos grew by $123 million from the end of the first quarter of 2025
    • Loans decreased by $5 million from the end of the first quarter 2025
    • TCE Ratio of 10.0% & CET1 Ratio of 16.5%

    INCOME STATEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

      Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
      June 30,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		  
      (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
    Net interest income $ 111,608     $ 110,444     $ 110,849     $ 222,052     $ 223,310  
    Recapture of (provision for) credit losses   –       2,000       –       2,000       –  
    Noninterest income   14,744       16,229       14,424       30,973       28,537  
    Noninterest expense   (57,557 )     (59,144 )     (56,497 )     (116,701 )     (116,268 )
    Income taxes   (18,231 )     (18,425 )     (18,741 )     (36,656 )     (36,945 )
    Net earnings $ 50,564     $ 51,104     $ 50,035     $ 101,668     $ 98,634  
    Earnings per common share:                            
    Basic $ 0.36     $ 0.37     $ 0.36     $ 0.72     $ 0.71  
    Diluted $ 0.36     $ 0.36     $ 0.36     $ 0.72     $ 0.71  
                                 
    NIM   3.31 %     3.31 %     3.05 %     3.31 %     3.07 %
    ROAA   1.34 %     1.37 %     1.24 %     1.35 %     1.22 %
    ROAE   9.06 %     9.31 %     9.57 %     9.18 %     9.44 %
    ROATCE   14.08 %     14.51 %     15.51 %     14.29 %     15.32 %
    Efficiency ratio   45.55 %     46.69 %     45.10 %     46.12 %     46.17 %
     

    Net Interest Income
    Net interest income was $111.6 million for the second quarter of 2025, representing a $1.2 million, or 1.1%, increase from the first quarter of 2025, and a $0.8 million, or 0.7%, increase from the second quarter of 2024. Interest income increased by $1.2 million, or 0.84%, from the first quarter, while interest expense remained the same at $32.6 million in the second quarter of 2025.

    The increase in net interest income of $0.8 million, or 0.7%, compared to the second quarter of 2024 was the net result of a $15.6 million decline in interest expense, that exceeded the $14.9 million decline in interest income. The decrease in interest expense was the result of a $1.19 billion decrease in average interest-bearing liabilities compared to the second quarter of 2024. The decline in interest-bearing liabilities was driven by a decrease in borrowings that resulted from the early redemptions of Bank Term Funding Program (“BTFP”) advances in the third quarter of 2024. The decrease in interest income was the result of a $1.11 billion decrease in average interest-earning assets, that coincided with the Company’s deleveraging strategy in the second half of 2024 resulting in the Company’s borrowings declining by $1.34 billion.

    Net Interest Margin
    Our tax equivalent net interest margin was 3.31% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 3.31% for the first quarter of 2025 and 3.05% for the second quarter of 2024. The yield on our interest-earning assets for the second quarter of 2025 remained unchanged, at 4.28%, compared to the prior quarter, while our cost of funds decreased slightly to 1.03% for the second quarter of 2025, from 1.04% in the prior quarter. Loan yields remained unchanged for the second quarter of 2025 at 5.22%. The slight decrease in our cost of funds was primarily due to a two-basis point decrease in our cost of deposits, from .86% to .84%. The decrease in cost of deposits was partially offset by an increase in the average balance and cost of customer repurchase agreements. For the second quarter of 2025 average customer repurchase agreements were $376.6 million at a cost of 1.66%, compared to $317.3 million and 1.24% for the prior quarter.

    Net interest margin for the second quarter of 2025 increased by 26-basis points compared to the second quarter of 2024, primarily as a result of 35-basis point decrease in cost of funds, to 1.03% for the second quarter of 2025, from 1.38% in the same quarter of last year. The decrease in cost of funds was primarily due to a $1.34 billion decline in average borrowings, which had an average cost of 4.79% in the second quarter of 2024. For the second quarter of 2025, the Company had average deposits and customer repurchase agreements of $12.18 billion, at an average cost of 0.87%, and average borrowings of $508.2 million, at an average cost of 4.61%, compared to the second quarter of 2024 in which borrowings averaged $1.85 billion, at an average cost of 4.79%, and average deposits and customer repurchase agreements of $12.17 billion had an average cost of 0.87%. The decrease in cost of funds, exceeded the modest decrease in interest earning asset yields from 4.37% for the second quarter of 2024 to 4.28% in the second quarter of 2025. The decrease in earning asset yields was impacted by a decrease in loan yields from 5.26% for the second quarter of 2024 to 5.22% for the second quarter of 2025, and a decrease in investment securities yields to 2.62% in the second quarter of 2025, from 2.71% for the second quarter of 2024. The decrease in investment yields was primarily the result of a $2.8 million decrease in the positive interest spread on pay-fixed swaps.

    Earning Assets and Deposits
    Average earning assets increased by $1.7 million compared to the first quarter of 2025 and declined by $1.12 billion when compared to the second quarter of 2024. The average balance in funds held at the Federal Reserve increased by $170.5 million in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2025, while average loans decreased by $112.6 million and average investment securities decreased by $61.3 for the same period. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, the decrease in average earning assets was due to decreases of $376.7 million in average loans, $359.5 million in average investment securities, and $372.1 million in funds held at the Federal Reserve. The average balance on noninterest-bearing deposits increased by $45.3 million, or 0.65%, from the first quarter of 2025 and the average balance on interest-bearing deposits and customer repurchase agreements decreased by $51.2 million from the same period. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, the average balance on total deposits and customer repurchase agreements increased by $14.9 million, or 0.12%. On average, noninterest-bearing deposits were 60.47% of total deposits during the most recent quarter, compared to 59.92% for the first quarter of 2025 and 60.13% for the second quarter of 2024.

    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Three Months Ended    
      June 30, 2025       March 31, 2025       June 30, 2024    
      (Dollars in thousands)  
    Yield on average investment securities (TE) 2.62%       2.63%       2.71%    
    Yield on average loans 5.22%       5.22%       5.26%    
    Yield on average earning assets (TE) 4.28%       4.28%       4.37%    
    Cost of deposits 0.84%       0.86%       0.88%    
    Cost of funds 1.03%       1.04%       1.38%    
    Net interest margin (TE) 3.31%       3.31%       3.05%    
                                             
    Average Earning Asset Mix Avg     % of Total       Avg     % of Total       Avg     % of Total    
    Total investment securities $ 4,847,415       35.75 %     $ 4,908,718       36.21 %     $ 5,206,959       35.49 %  
    Interest-earning deposits with other institutions   337,929       2.49 %       162,389       1.20 %       716,916       4.89 %  
    Loans   8,354,898       61.63 %       8,467,465       62.46 %       8,731,587       59.51 %  
    Total interest-earning assets   13,558,254               13,556,584               14,673,474          
                                                   

    Provision for Credit Losses
    There was no provision for credit losses in the second quarter of 2025, compared to a $2.0 million recapture of provision for credit losses in the first quarter of 2025 and no provision in the second quarter of 2024. Net charge-offs for the second quarter of 2025 were $249,000 compared to net recoveries of $130,000 in the prior quarter. Allowance for credit losses represented 0.93% of gross loans at June 30, 2025 compared to 0.94% at March 31, 2025.

    Noninterest Income
    Noninterest income was $14.7 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared with $16.2 million for the first quarter of 2025 and $14.4 million for the second quarter of 2024. Noninterest income decreased in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter primarily due to a $2.2 million gain recognized during the first quarter of 2025 on the sale of four OREO properties. Excluding gains, noninterest income grew by approximately $700,000, including a $397,000 increase of income from Bank Owned Life Insurance (“BOLI”). BOLI income also increased in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the second quarter of 2024 by $285,000. Compared to the first quarter of 2025, Trust and investment services income grew by $304,000, or 8.9%, while growing by $287,000, or 8.4% over the second quarter of 2024.

    Noninterest Expense
    Noninterest expense for the second quarter of 2025 was $57.6 million, compared to $59.1 million for the first quarter of 2025 and $56.5 million for the second quarter of 2024. Noninterest expense decreased in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the first quarter of 2025 primarily due to a $500,000 provision for unfunded loan commitments in the first quarter of 2025 and a $1.5 million decrease in salaries and benefits. The decrease in staff expense was primarily due to higher payroll taxes in the first quarter, resulting in a $1.2 million decrease in the second quarter of 2025.

    The year-over-year increase in noninterest expense of $1.1 million, includes the impact of a $500,000 expense reduction in the second quarter of 2024 related to a decrease in reserves for unfunded loan commitments and a $603,000 increase in regulatory assessment expenses. The increase in regulatory assessment expenses in the second quarter of 2025 was due to a $700,000 reduction of an FDIC special assessment accrual in the second quarter of 2024. As a percentage of average assets, noninterest expense was 1.52% for the second quarter of 2025, compared to 1.58% for the first quarter of 2025 and 1.40% for the second quarter of 2024. The efficiency ratio for the second quarter of 2025 was 45.6%, compared to 46.7% for the first quarter of 2025 and 45.1% for the second quarter of 2024.

    Income Taxes
    Our effective tax rate for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 was 26.50%, compared with 26.50% for the first quarter of 2025, and 27.25% for the same period of 2024. Our estimated annual effective tax rate can vary depending upon the level of tax-advantaged income from municipal securities and BOLI, as well as available tax credits.

    BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS

    Assets
    The Company reported total assets of $15.41 billion at June 30, 2025. This represented an increase of $157.5 million, or 1.03%, from total assets of $15.26 billion at March 31, 2025. The increase in assets included a $202.5 million increase in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve, offset by a $80.7 million decrease in investment securities, and a $5.1 million decrease in total loans.

    Total assets increased by $260.5 million, or 1.72%, from total assets of $15.15 billion at December 31, 2024. The increase in assets included a $492.8 million increase in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve, offset by a $108.2 million decrease in investment securities, and a $175.8 million decrease in net loans.

    Total assets at June 30, 2025 decreased by $737.4 million, or 4.57%, from total assets of $16.15 billion at June 30, 2024. The decrease in assets was primarily due to a decrease of $362.1 million in investment securities, a decrease of $318.6 million in net loans and a $126.2 million decrease in interest-earning balances due from the Federal Reserve.

    Investment Securities
    Total investment securities were $4.81 billion at June 30, 2025, a decrease of $80.7 million, or 1.65% from the prior quarter end, a decrease of $108.2 million, or 2.20% from $4.92 billion at December 31, 2024, and a decrease of $362.1 million, or 7.00%, from $5.18 billion at June 30, 2024.

    At June 30, 2025, investment securities held-to-maturity (“HTM”) totaled $2.33 billion, a decrease of $31.9 million, or 1.35% from prior quarter end, a decrease of $52.4 million, or 2.20% from December 31, 2024, and a decrease of $102.7 million, or 4.22%, from June 30, 2024.

    At June 30, 2025, investment securities available-for-sale (“AFS”) totaled $2.49 billion, inclusive of a pre-tax net unrealized loss of $363.7 million. AFS securities decreased by $48.8 million, or 1.92% from the prior quarter end, decreased by $55.8 million, or 2.20% from December 31, 2024, and decreased by $259.5 million, or 9.45%, from $2.75 billion at June 30, 2024. The pre-tax unrealized loss decreased by $24.7 million from the end of the prior quarter, while decreasing $84 million from December 31, 2024 and decreasing by $124.2 million from June 30, 2024.

    Loans
    Total loans and leases, at amortized cost, of $8.36 billion at June 30, 2025 decreased by $5.1 million, or 0.06%, from March 31, 2025. The quarter-over quarter decrease in loans included decreases of $29.9 million in commercial and industrial loans, and $18.1 million in dairy and livestock loans, partially offset by increases of $26.8 million in commercial real estate loans and $18.9 million in single-family residential (“SFR”) mortgage loans.

    Total loans and leases, at amortized cost, decreased by $177.9 million, or 2.08%, from December 31, 2024. The decrease includes decreases of $186.0 million in dairy and livestock loans and $12.8 million in commercial and industrial loans, offset by increases of $19.3 million in SFR mortgage loans and $10.0 million in commercial real estate loans.

    Total loans and leases, at amortized cost, decreased by $323.3 million, or 3.72%, from June 30, 2024. The decrease included decreases of $147.5 million in commercial real estate loans, $116.8 million in dairy & livestock loans and agribusiness loans, $43.8 million in commercial and industrial loans, and $34.6 million in construction loans, offset by an increase of $20.8 million in SFR mortgage loans.

    Asset Quality
    During the second quarter of 2025, we experienced credit charge-offs of $429,000 and total recoveries of $180,000, resulting in net charge-offs of $249,000. The allowance for credit losses (“ACL”) totaled $78.0 million at June 30, 2025, compared to $78.3 million at March 31, 2025 and $82.8 million at June 30, 2024. At June 30, 2025, ACL as a percentage of total loans and leases outstanding was 0.93%. This compares to 0.94% at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 and 0.95% at June 30, 2024.

    Nonperforming loans, defined as nonaccrual loans, including modified loans on nonaccrual, plus loans 90 days past due and accruing interest, and nonperforming assets, defined as nonperforming plus OREO, are highlighted below.

    Nonperforming Assets and Delinquency Trends   June 30,     March 31,     June 30,    
        2025     2025     2024    
    Nonperforming loans   (Dollars in thousands)
    Commercial real estate   $ 24,379     $ 24,379     $ 21,908    
    SBA     1,265       1,024       337    
    Commercial and industrial     265       173       2,712    
    Dairy & livestock and agribusiness     60       60       –    
    Total   $ 25,969     $ 25,636     $ 24,957    
    % of Total loans     0.31 %     0.31 %     0.29 %  
                               
    OREO                    
    Commercial real estate   $ 661     $ 495     $ –    
    SFR mortgage     –       –       647    
    Total   $ 661     $ 495     $ 647    
                         
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 26,630     $ 26,131     $ 25,604    
    % of Nonperforming assets to total assets     0.17 %     0.17 %     0.16 %  
                         
    Past due 30-89 days (accruing)                    
    Commercial real estate   $ –     $ –     $ 43    
    SBA     3,419       718       –    
    Commercial and industrial     –       –       103    
    Total   $ 3,419     $ 718     $ 146    
    % of Total loans     0.04 %     0.01 %     0.00 %  
    Total nonperforming, OREO, and past due   $ 30,049     $ 26,849     $ 25,750    
                         
    Classified Loans   $ 73,422     $ 94,169     $ 124,728    
                               

    The $499,000 increase in nonperforming assets from March 31, 2025 was primarily due to the addition of one nonperforming SBA loan in the amount of $620,000. Classified loans are loans that are graded “substandard” or worse. Classified loans decreased $20.7 million quarter-over-quarter, primarily due to a decrease of $19.9 million in classified commercial real estate loans.

    Deposits & Customer Repurchase Agreements
    Deposits of $11.98 billion and customer repurchase agreements of $404.2 million totaled $12.39 billion at June 30, 2025. This represented a net increase of $122.9 million compared to $12.27 billion at March 31, 2025. Total deposits and customer repurchase agreements increased by $179 million compared to December 31, 2024 and increased $329.8 million, or 2.74% when compared to $12.06 billion at June 30, 2024.

    Noninterest-bearing deposits were $7.25 billion at June 30, 2025, an increase of $62.9 million, or 0.87%, when compared to $7.18 billion at March 31, 2025. Noninterest-bearing deposits increased by $210.0 million, or 2.98%, when compared to $7.04 billion at December 31, 2024, and increased by $157.0 million, or 2.21% when compared to $7.09 billion at June 30, 2024. At June 30, 2025, noninterest-bearing deposits were 60.47% of total deposits, compared to 59.92% at March 31, 2025, 58.90% at December 31, 2024 and 60.13% at June 30, 2024.

    Borrowings
    As of June 30, 2025, total borrowings consisted of $500 million of FHLB advances. The FHLB advances include $300 million, at an average cost of approximately 4.73%, maturing in May of 2026, and $200 million, at a cost of 4.27% maturing in May of 2027. Total borrowings decreased by $1.3 billion from June 30, 2024. The $1.8 billion of borrowings at June 30, 2024 consisted of $500 million of FHLB advances and $1.3 billion from the Federal Reserve’s Bank Term Funding Program, at a cost of 4.76%, all of which were redeemed before the end of 2024.

    Capital
    The Company’s total equity was $2.24 billion at June 30, 2025. This represented an overall increase of $54.0 million from total equity of $2.19 billion at December 31, 2024. Increases to equity included $101.7 million in net earnings and a $43.9 million increase in other comprehensive income that were partially offset by $55.6 million in cash dividends. During the first half of 2025, we repurchased, under our stock repurchase plan, 2,063,564 shares of common stock, at an average repurchase price of $18.15, totaling $37.5 million. Our tangible book value per share at June 30, 2025 was $10.64.

    Our capital ratios under the revised capital framework referred to as Basel III remain well-above regulatory standards.

            CVB Financial Corp. Consolidated
    Capital Ratios   Minimum Required Plus
    Capital Conservation Buffer    		   June 30,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024
                     
    Tier 1 leverage capital ratio   4.0%   11.8%   11.5%   10.5%
    Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio   7.0%   16.5%   16.2%   15.3%
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   8.5%   16.5%   16.2%   15.3%
    Total risk-based capital ratio   10.5%   17.3%   17.1%   16.1%
                     
    Tangible common equity ratio       10.0%   9.8%   8.7%
                     

    CitizensTrust
    As of June 30, 2025 CitizensTrust had approximately $5.0 billion in assets under management and administration, including $3.54 billion in assets under management. Revenues were $3.7 million for the second quarter of 2025, compared to $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2025 and $3.4 million for the second quarter of 2024. CitizensTrust provides trust, investment and brokerage related services, as well as financial, estate and business succession planning.

    Corporate Overview
    CVB Financial Corp. (“CVBF”) is the holding company for Citizens Business Bank. CVBF is one of the 10 largest bank holding companies headquartered in California with more than $15 billion in total assets. Citizens Business Bank is consistently recognized as one of the top performing banks in the nation and offers a wide array of banking, lending and investing services with more than 60 banking centers and three trust office locations serving California.

    Shares of CVB Financial Corp. common stock are listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “CVBF”. For investor information on CVB Financial Corp., visit our Citizens Business Bank website at www.cbbank.com and click on the “Investors” tab.

    Conference Call
    Management will hold a conference call at 7:30 a.m. PDT/10:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 24, 2025, to discuss the Company’s second quarter 2025 financial results. The conference call can be accessed live by registering at: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BIe2ad85fddf3443dbacab8109594ab423

    The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast over the Internet; please visit our Citizens Business Bank website at www.cbbank.com and click on the “Investors” tab to access the call from the site. Please access the website 15 minutes prior to the call to download any necessary audio software. This webcast will be recorded and available for replay on the Company’s website approximately two hours after the conclusion of the conference call and will be available on the website for approximately 12 months.

    Safe Harbor
    Certain statements set forth herein constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will likely result”, “aims”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “hopes”, “intends”, “may”, “plans”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should”, “will,” “strategy”, “possibility”, and variations of these words and similar expressions help to identify these forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those projected. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the Company including, without limitation, plans, strategies, goals and statements about the Company’s outlook regarding revenue and asset growth, financial performance and profitability, capital and liquidity levels, loan and deposit levels, growth and retention, yields and returns, loan diversification and credit management, stockholder value creation, tax rates, the impact of business, economic, or political developments, the impact of monetary, fiscal and trade policies, and the impact of acquisitions we have made or may make. Such statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are generally beyond the control of the Company, and there can be no assurance that future developments affecting the Company will be the same as those anticipated by management. The Company cautions readers that a number of important factors, in addition to those set forth below, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, such forward-looking statements.

    General risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the strength of the United States economy in general and the strength of the local economies in which we conduct business; the effects of, and changes in, immigration, trade, tariff, monetary, and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; inflation/deflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; the effect of acquisitions we have made or may make, including, without limitation, the failure to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, the failure to achieve the expected revenue growth and/or expense savings from such acquisitions, and/or the failure to effectively integrate an acquisition target and key personnel into our operations; the timely development of competitive products and services and the acceptance of these products and services by new and existing customers; the impact of changes in financial services policies, laws, and regulations, including those concerning banking, taxes, securities, and insurance, and the application thereof by regulatory agencies; the effectiveness of our risk management framework and quantitative models; changes in the level of our nonperforming assets and charge-offs; the transition away from USD LIBOR and uncertainties regarding potential alternative reference rates, including SOFR; the effect of changes in accounting policies and practices or accounting standards, as may be adopted from time-to-time by bank regulatory agencies, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Accounting Standards Board or other accounting standards setters; possible credit related impairments or declines in the fair value of loans and securities held by us; possible impairment charges to goodwill on our balance sheet; changes in customer spending, borrowing, and savings habits; the effects of our lack of a diversified loan portfolio, including the risks of geographic and industry concentrations; periodic fluctuations in commercial or residential real estate prices or values; our ability to attract or retain deposits or to access government or private lending facilities and other sources of liquidity; the possibility that we may reduce or discontinue the payment of dividends on our common stock; changes in the financial performance and/or condition of our borrowers; changes in the competitive environment among financial and bank holding companies and other financial service providers; technological changes in banking and financial services; geopolitical conditions, including acts or threats of terrorism, actions taken by the United States or other governments in response to acts or threats of terrorism, and/or military conflicts, which could impact business and economic conditions in the United States and abroad; catastrophic events or natural disasters, including earthquakes, drought, climate change or extreme weather events that may affect our assets, communications or computer services, customers, employees or third party vendors; public health crises and pandemics, and their effects on the economic and business environments in which we operate, including on our asset credit quality, business operations, and employees, as well as the impact on general economic and financial market conditions; cybersecurity threats and fraud and the costs of defending against them, including the costs of compliance with legislation or regulations to combat fraud and cybersecurity threats; our ability to recruit and retain key executives, board members and other employees, and our ability to comply with federal and state in employment laws and regulations; ongoing or unanticipated regulatory or legal proceedings or outcomes; and our ability to manage the risks involved in the foregoing.

    Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at the SEC’s Internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

    The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect occurrences or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law. Any statements about future operating results, such as those concerning accretion and dilution to the Company’s earnings or shareholders, are for illustrative purposes only, are not forecasts, and actual results may differ.

    Non-GAAP Financial Measures — Certain financial information provided in this earnings release has not been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and is presented on a non-GAAP basis. Investors and analysts should refer to the reconciliations included in this earnings release and should consider the Company’s non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for or as superior to, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. These measures may or may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

    Contact: David A. Brager
    President and Chief
    Executive Officer
    (909) 980-4030

    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
                       
                       
        June 30,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		  
    Assets                  
    Cash and due from banks   $ 195,063     $ 153,875     $ 174,454  
    Interest-earning balances due from Federal Reserve     543,573       50,823       669,740  
    Total cash and cash equivalents     738,636       204,698       844,194  
    Interest-earning balances due from depository institutions     11,004       480       7,345  
    Investment securities available-for-sale     2,486,306       2,542,115       2,745,796  
    Investment securities held-to-maturity     2,327,230       2,379,668       2,429,886  
    Total investment securities     4,813,536       4,921,783       5,175,682  
    Investment in stock of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB)     18,012       18,012       18,012  
    Loans and lease finance receivables     8,358,501       8,536,432       8,681,846  
    Allowance for credit losses     (78,003 )     (80,122 )     (82,786 )
    Net loans and lease finance receivables     8,280,498       8,456,310       8,599,060  
    Premises and equipment, net     26,606       27,543       43,232  
    Bank owned life insurance (BOLI)     320,596       316,248       314,329  
    Intangibles     7,657       9,967       12,416  
    Goodwill     765,822       765,822       765,822  
    Other assets     431,763       432,792       371,403  
    Total assets   $ 15,414,130     $ 15,153,655     $ 16,151,495  
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                  
     Liabilities:                  
    Deposits:                  
    Noninterest-bearing   $ 7,247,128     $ 7,037,096     $ 7,090,095  
    Investment checking     483,793       551,305       515,930  
    Savings and money market     3,669,912       3,786,387       3,409,320  
    Time deposits     583,990       573,593       774,980  
    Total deposits     11,984,823       11,948,381       11,790,325  
    Customer repurchase agreements     404,154       261,887       268,826  
    Other borrowings     500,000       500,000       1,800,000  
    Other liabilities     284,831       257,071       179,917  
    Total liabilities     13,173,808       12,967,339       14,039,068  
    Stockholders’ Equity                  
    Stockholders’ equity     2,508,454       2,498,380       2,446,755  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (268,132 )     (312,064 )     (334,328 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     2,240,322       2,186,316       2,112,427  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 15,414,130     $ 15,153,655     $ 16,151,495  
                             
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AVERAGE BALANCE SHEETS  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
                                   
        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
        June 30,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		  
    Assets                              
    Cash and due from banks   $ 154,785     $ 154,328     $ 162,724     $ 154,557     $ 162,387  
    Interest-earning balances due from Federal Reserve     331,956       161,432       704,023       247,165       568,722  
    Total cash and cash equivalents     486,741       315,760       866,747       401,722       731,109  
    Interest-earning balances due from depository institutions     5,973       957       12,893       3,479       11,786  
    Investment securities available-for-sale     2,505,601       2,539,211       2,764,096       2,522,313       2,832,097  
    Investment securities held-to-maturity     2,341,814       2,369,507       2,442,863       2,355,584       2,450,237  
    Total investment securities     4,847,415       4,908,718       5,206,959       4,877,897       5,282,334  
    Investment in stock of FHLB     18,012       18,012       18,012       18,012       18,012  
    Loans and lease finance receivables     8,354,898       8,467,465       8,731,587       8,410,871       8,778,083  
    Allowance for credit losses     (78,259 )     (80,113 )     (82,815 )     (79,181 )     (84,283 )
    Net loans and lease finance receivables     8,276,639       8,387,352       8,648,772       8,331,690       8,693,800  
    Premises and equipment, net     26,982       27,408       43,624       27,194       44,002  
    Bank owned life insurance (BOLI)     319,582       316,643       312,645       318,121       311,127  
    Intangibles     8,232       9,518       13,258       8,872       13,922  
    Goodwill     765,822       765,822       765,822       765,822       765,822  
    Other assets     427,776       419,116       390,834       423,469       370,575  
    Total assets   $ 15,183,174     $ 15,169,306     $ 16,279,566     $ 15,176,278     $ 16,242,489  
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                              
    Liabilities:                              
    Deposits:                              
    Noninterest-bearing   $ 7,051,702     $ 7,006,357     $ 7,153,315     $ 7,029,156     $ 7,168,016  
    Interest-bearing     4,755,828       4,866,318       4,728,864       4,810,767       4,591,500  
    Total deposits     11,807,530       11,872,675       11,882,179       11,839,923       11,759,516  
    Customer repurchase agreements     376,629       317,322       287,128       347,140       298,200  
    Other borrowings     508,159       513,078       1,850,330       510,605       1,921,154  
    Other liabilities     252,908       239,283       157,463       246,132       162,953  
    Total liabilities     12,945,226       12,942,358       14,177,100       12,943,800       14,141,823  
    Stockholders’ Equity                              
    Stockholders’ equity     2,518,282       2,523,923       2,456,945       2,521,086       2,444,510  
    Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax     (280,334 )     (296,975 )     (354,479 )     (288,608 )     (343,844 )
    Total stockholders’ equity     2,237,948       2,226,948       2,102,466       2,232,478       2,100,666  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $ 15,183,174     $ 15,169,306     $ 16,279,566     $ 15,176,278     $ 16,242,489  
                                             
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
                                   
        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
        June 30,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		  
    Interest income:                              
    Loans and leases, including fees   $ 108,845     $ 109,071     $ 114,200     $ 217,916     $ 230,549  
    Investment securities:                              
    Investment securities available-for-sale     18,299       18,734       21,225       37,033       42,671  
    Investment securities held-to-maturity     12,886       13,021       13,445       25,907       26,847  
    Total investment income     31,185       31,755       34,670       62,940       69,518  
    Dividends from FHLB stock     411       379       377       790       796  
    Interest-earning deposits with other institutions     3,768       1,797       9,825       5,565       15,898  
    Total interest income     144,209       143,002       159,072       287,211       316,761  
    Interest expense:                              
    Deposits     24,829       25,322       25,979       50,151       47,345  
    Borrowings and customer repurchase agreements     7,401       6,800       22,244       14,201       46,106  
    Other     371       436       –       807       –  
    Total interest expense     32,601       32,558       48,223       65,159       93,451  
    Net interest income before (recapture of) provision for credit losses     111,608       110,444       110,849       222,052       223,310  
    (Recapture of) provision for credit losses     –       (2,000 )     –       (2,000 )     –  
    Net interest income after (recapture of) provision for credit losses     111,608       112,444       110,849       224,052       223,310  
    Noninterest income:                              
    Service charges on deposit accounts     4,959       4,908       5,117       9,867       10,153  
    Trust and investment services     3,716       3,411       3,428       7,127       6,652  
    Gain on OREO, net     6       2,183       –       2,189       –  
    Other     6,063       5,727       5,879       11,790       11,732  
    Total noninterest income     14,744       16,229       14,424       30,973       28,537  
    Noninterest expense:                              
    Salaries and employee benefits     34,999       36,477       35,426       71,476       71,827  
    Occupancy and equipment     6,106       5,998       5,772       12,104       11,337  
    Professional services     2,191       2,081       2,726       4,272       4,981  
    Computer software expense     4,410       4,221       3,949       8,631       7,474  
    Marketing and promotion     1,817       1,988       1,956       3,805       3,586  
    Amortization of intangible assets     1,155       1,155       1,437       2,310       2,875  
    Provision for (recapture of) unfunded loan commitments     –       500       (500 )     500       (500 )
    Other     6,879       6,724       5,731       13,603       14,688  
    Total noninterest expense     57,557       59,144       56,497       116,701       116,268  
    Earnings before income taxes     68,795       69,529       68,776       138,324       135,579  
    Income taxes     18,231       18,425       18,741       36,656       36,945  
    Net earnings   $ 50,564     $ 51,104     $ 50,035     $ 101,668     $ 98,634  
                                   
    Basic earnings per common share   $ 0.36     $ 0.37     $ 0.36     $ 0.72     $ 0.71  
    Diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.36     $ 0.36     $ 0.36     $ 0.72     $ 0.71  
    Cash dividends declared per common share   $ 0.20     $ 0.20     $ 0.20     $ 0.20     $ 0.40  
                                             
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
                                 
      Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
      June 30,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		  
    Interest income – tax equivalent (TE) $ 144,729     $ 143,525     $ 159,607     $ 288,253     $ 317,835  
    Interest expense   32,601       32,558       48,223       65,159       93,451  
    Net interest income – (TE) $ 112,128     $ 110,967     $ 111,384     $ 223,094     $ 224,384  
                                 
    Return on average assets, annualized   1.34 %     1.37 %     1.24 %     1.35 %     1.22 %
    Return on average equity, annualized   9.06 %     9.31 %     9.57 %     9.18 %     9.44 %
    Efficiency ratio [1]   45.55 %     46.69 %     45.10 %     46.12 %     46.17 %
    Noninterest expense to average assets, annualized   1.52 %     1.58 %     1.40 %     1.55 %     1.44 %
    Yield on average loans   5.22 %     5.22 %     5.26 %     5.22 %     5.28 %
    Yield on average earning assets (TE)   4.28 %     4.28 %     4.37 %     4.28 %     4.36 %
    Cost of deposits   0.84 %     0.86 %     0.88 %     0.85 %     0.81 %
    Cost of deposits and customer repurchase agreements   0.87 %     0.87 %     0.87 %     0.87 %     0.80 %
    Cost of funds   1.03 %     1.04 %     1.38 %     1.03 %     1.34 %
    Net interest margin (TE)   3.31 %     3.31 %     3.05 %     3.31 %     3.07 %
    [1] Noninterest expense divided by net interest income before provision for credit losses plus noninterest income.              
                                 
    Tangible Common Equity Ratio (TCE) [2]                            
    CVB Financial Corp. Consolidated   10.02 %     10.04 %     8.68 %            
    Citizens Business Bank   9.86 %     9.92 %     8.57 %            
    [2] (Capital – [GW+Intangibles])/(Total Assets – [GW+Intangibles])              
                                 
    Weighted average shares outstanding                            
    Basic   139,297,604       138,973,996       138,583,510       139,824,075       138,419,379  
    Diluted   139,471,147       139,294,401       138,669,058       140,098,174       138,561,481  
    Dividends declared $ 27,703     $ 27,853     $ 28,018     $ 55,556     $ 55,904  
    Dividend payout ratio [3]   54.79 %     54.50 %     56.00 %     54.64 %     56.68 %
    [3] Dividends declared on common stock divided by net earnings.              
                                 
    Number of shares outstanding – (end of period)   137,825,465       139,089,612       139,677,162              
    Book value per share $ 16.25     $ 16.02     $ 15.12              
    Tangible book value per share $ 10.64     $ 10.45     $ 9.55              
                                       
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)  
                                   
        Three Months Ended        
        June 30,
    2025    		     December 31,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2024    		              
    Nonperforming assets:                              
    Nonaccrual loans   $ 25,969     $ 27,795     $ 24,957                
    Other real estate owned (OREO), net     661       19,303       647                
    Total nonperforming assets   $ 26,630     $ 47,098     $ 25,604                
    Loan modifications to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty   $ 9,529     $ 6,467     $ 26,363                
                                   
    Percentage of nonperforming assets to total loans outstanding and OREO     0.32 %     0.55 %     0.29 %               
    Percentage of nonperforming assets to total assets     0.17 %     0.31 %     0.16 %              
    Allowance for credit losses to nonperforming assets     292.91 %     170.12 %     323.33 %              
                                   
        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
        June 30,
    2025    		     March 31,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		     June 30,
    2025    		     June 30,
    2024    		  
    Allowance for credit losses:                              
    Beginning balance   $ 78,252     $ 80,122     $ 82,817       $ 80,122     $ 86,842  
    Total charge-offs     (429 )     (40 )     (51 )       (469 )     (4,318 )
    Total recoveries on loans previously charged-off     180       170       20         350       262  
    Net recoveries (charge-offs)     (249 )     130       (31 )       (119 )     (4,056 )
    (Recapture of) provision for credit losses     –       (2,000 )     –         (2,000 )     –  
    Allowance for credit losses at end of period   $ 78,003     $ 78,252     $ 82,786       $ 78,003     $ 82,786  
                                   
    Net recoveries (charge-offs) to average loans     -0.003 %     0.002 %   -0.000 %       -0.001 %     -0.046 %
                                             
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in millions)
                                               
    Allowance for Credit Losses by Loan Type                                      
        June 30, 2025   December 31, 2024   June 30, 2024
        Allowance
    For Credit
    Losses    		     Allowance
    as a % of
    Total Loans
    by Respective
    Loan Type    		   Allowance
    For Credit
    Losses    		     Allowance
    as a % of
    Total Loans
    by Respective
    Loan Type    		   Allowance
    For Credit
    Losses    		     Allowance
    as a % of
    Total Loans
    by Respective
    Loan Type
                                               
    Commercial real estate   $ 64.5       0.99%     $ 66.2       1.02%     $ 69.4       1.04%  
    Construction     0.2       1.36%       0.3       1.94%       0.8       1.51%  
    SBA     3.1       1.13%       2.6       0.96%       2.5       0.93%  
    Commercial and industrial     6.4       0.70%       6.1       0.66%       5.1       0.53%  
    Dairy & livestock and agribusiness     2.6       1.09%       3.6       0.86%       3.8       1.08%  
    Municipal lease finance receivables     0.2       0.35%       0.2       0.31%       0.2       0.26%  
    SFR mortgage     0.5       0.17%       0.5       0.16%       0.5       0.19%  
    Consumer and other loans     0.5       1.03%       0.6       1.04%       0.5       1.07%  
                                               
    Total   $ 78.0       0.93%     $ 80.1       0.94%     $ 82.8       0.95%  
                                                     
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES            
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS            
    (Unaudited)            
    (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)            
                                                   
    Quarterly Common Stock Price            
        2025     2024     2023  
    Quarter End   High     Low       High       Low       High       Low    
    March 31,   $ 21.71     $ 18.22       $ 20.45       $ 15.95       $ 25.98       $ 16.34    
    June 30,   $ 20.15     $ 16.01       $ 17.91       $ 15.71       $ 16.89       $ 10.66    
    September 30,   $ –     $ –       $ 20.29       $ 16.08       $ 19.66       $ 12.89    
    December 31,   $ –     $ –       $ 24.58       $ 17.20       $ 21.77       $ 14.62    
                                                   
    Quarterly Consolidated Statements of Earnings            
              Q2       Q1       Q4       Q3       Q2    
              2025       2025       2024       2024       2024    
    Interest income                                              
    Loans and leases, including fees         $ 108,845       $ 109,071       $ 110,277       $ 114,929       $ 114,200    
    Investment securities and other           35,364         33,931         37,322         50,823         44,872    
    Total interest income           144,209         143,002         147,599         165,752         159,072    
    Interest expense                                              
    Deposits           24,829         25,322         28,317         29,821         25,979    
    Borrowings and customer repurchase agreements       7,401         6,800         8,291         22,312         22,244    
    Other           371         436         573         –         –    
    Total interest expense           32,601         32,558         37,181         52,133         48,223    
                                                   
    Net interest income before (recapture of) provision for credit losses       111,608         110,444         110,418         113,619         110,849    
    (Recapture of) provision for credit losses       –         (2,000 )       (3,000 )       –         –    
    Net interest income after (recapture of) provision for credit losses       111,608         112,444         113,418         113,619         110,849    
                                                   
    Noninterest income           14,744         16,229         13,103         12,834         14,424    
    Noninterest expense           57,557         59,144         58,480         58,835         56,497    
    Earnings before income taxes           68,795         69,529         68,041         67,618         68,776    
    Income taxes           18,231         18,425         17,183         16,394         18,741    
    Net earnings         $ 50,564       $ 51,104       $ 50,858       $ 51,224       $ 50,035    
                                                   
    Effective tax rate           26.50 %       26.50 %        25.25 %        24.25 %       27.25 %  
                                                   
    Basic earnings per common share         $ 0.36       $ 0.37       $ 0.36       $ 0.37       $ 0.36    
    Diluted earnings per common share         $ 0.36       $ 0.36       $ 0.36       $ 0.37       $ 0.36    
                                                   
    Cash dividends declared per common share         $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20       $ 0.20    
                                                   
    Cash dividends declared         $ 27,703       $ 27,853       $ 27,978       $ 27,977       $ 28,018    
                                                             
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES  
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS  
    (Unaudited)  
    (Dollars in thousands)  
                                   
    Loan Portfolio by Type  
        June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,  
        2025     2025     2024     2024     2024  
                                   
    Commercial real estate   $ 6,517,415       $ 6,490,604       $ 6,507,452       $ 6,618,637       $ 6,664,925    
    Construction     17,658         15,706         16,082         14,755         52,227    
    SBA     271,735         271,844         273,013         272,001         267,938    
    SBA – PPP     85         179         774         1,255         1,757    
    Commercial and industrial     912,427         942,301         925,178         936,489         956,184    
    Dairy & livestock and agribusiness     233,772         252,532         419,904         342,445         350,562    
    Municipal lease finance receivables     63,652         65,203         66,114         67,585         70,889    
    SFR mortgage     288,435         269,493         269,172         267,181         267,593    
    Consumer and other loans     53,322         55,770         58,743         52,217         49,771    
    Gross loans, at amortized cost     8,358,501         8,363,632         8,536,432         8,572,565         8,681,846    
    Allowance for credit losses     (78,003 )       (78,252 )       (80,122 )       (82,942 )       (82,786 )  
    Net loans   $ 8,280,498       $ 8,285,380       $ 8,456,310       $ 8,489,623       $ 8,599,060    
                                   
                                   
    Deposit Composition by Type and Customer Repurchase Agreements  
        June 30,     March 31,     December 31,     September 30,     June 30,  
        2025     2025     2024     2024     2024  
                                   
    Noninterest-bearing   $ 7,247,128       $ 7,184,267       $ 7,037,096       $ 7,136,824       $ 7,090,095    
    Investment checking     483,793         533,220         551,305         504,028         515,930    
    Savings and money market     3,669,912         3,710,612         3,786,387         3,745,707         3,409,320    
    Time deposits     583,990         561,822         573,593         685,930         774,980    
    Total deposits     11,984,823         11,989,921         11,948,381         12,072,489         11,790,325    
                                   
    Customer repurchase agreements     404,154         276,163         261,887         394,515         268,826    
    Total deposits and customer repurchase agreements   $ 12,388,977       $ 12,266,084       $ 12,210,268       $ 12,467,004       $ 12,059,151    
                                                       
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (Unaudited)
    (Dollars in thousands)
    Nonperforming Assets and Delinquency Trends
        June 30,       March 31,       December 31,       September 30,       June 30,    
        2025       2025       2024       2024       2024    
    Nonperforming loans                                        
    Commercial real estate   $ 24,379       $ 24,379       $ 25,866       $ 18,794       $ 21,908    
    SBA     1,265         1,024         1,529         151         337    
    Commercial and industrial     265         173         340         2,825         2,712    
    Dairy & livestock and agribusiness     60         60         60         143         –    
    Total   $ 25,969       $ 25,636       $ 27,795       $ 21,913       $ 24,957    
    % of Total loans     0.31 %       0.31 %       0.33 %       0.26 %       0.29 %  
                                             
    Past due 30-89 days (accruing)                                        
    Commercial real estate   $ –       $ –       $ –       $ 30,701       $ 43    
    SBA     3,419         718         88         –         –    
    Commercial and industrial     –         –         399         64         103    
    Total   $ 3,419       $ 718       $ 487       $ 30,765       $ 146    
    % of Total loans     0.04 %       0.01 %       0.01 %       0.36 %       0.00 %  
                                             
    OREO                                        
    Commercial real estate   $ 661       $ 495       $ 18,656       $ –       $ –    
    SFR mortgage     –         –         647         647         647    
    Total   $ 661       $ 495       $ 19,303       $ 647       $ 647    
    Total nonperforming, past due, and OREO   $ 30,049       $ 26,849       $ 47,585       $ 53,325       $ 25,750    
    % of Total loans     0.36 %       0.32 %       0.56 %       0.62 %       0.30 %  
                                                       
    CVB FINANCIAL CORP. AND SUBSIDIARIES
    SELECTED FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
    (Unaudited)
                     
    Regulatory Capital Ratios
        Minimum Required   CVB Financial Corp. Consolidated
    Capital Ratios   Plus Capital
    Conservation Buffer    		   June 30,
    2025    		   December 31,
    2024    		   June 30,
    2024
                     
    Tier 1 leverage capital ratio   4.0%   11.8%   11.5%   10.5%
    Common equity Tier 1 capital ratio   7.0%   16.5%   16.2%   15.3%
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   8.5%   16.5%   16.2%   15.3%
    Total risk-based capital ratio   10.5%   17.3%   17.1%   16.1%
                     
    Tangible common equity ratio       10.0%   9.8%   8.7%
                     

    Tangible Book Value Reconciliations (Non-GAAP)

    The tangible book value per share is a Non-GAAP disclosure. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide supplemental information regarding the Company’s performance. The following is a reconciliation of tangible book value to the Company stockholders’ equity computed in accordance with GAAP, as well as a calculation of tangible book value per share.

        June 30,
    2025    		       December 31,
    2024    		       June 30,
    2024    		    
        (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)      
                             
    Stockholders’ equity   $ 2,240,322       $ 2,186,316       $ 2,112,427    
    Less: Goodwill     (765,822 )       (765,822 )       (765,822 )  
    Less: Intangible assets     (7,657 )       (9,967 )       (12,416 )  
    Tangible book value   $ 1,466,843       $ 1,410,527       $ 1,334,189    
    Common shares issued and outstanding     137,825,465         139,689,686         139,677,162    
    Tangible book value per share   $ 10.64       $ 10.10       $ 9.55    
                                   

    Return on Average Tangible Common Equity Reconciliations (Non-GAAP)

    The return on average tangible common equity is a non-GAAP disclosure. The Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures to provide supplemental information regarding the Company’s performance. The following is a reconciliation of net income, adjusted for tax-effected amortization of intangibles, to net income computed in accordance with GAAP; a reconciliation of average tangible common equity to the Company’s average stockholders’ equity computed in accordance with GAAP; as well as a calculation of return on average tangible common equity.

        Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
        June 30,     March 31,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,  
        2025     2025     2024     2025     2024  
        (Dollars in thousands)  
                                   
    Net Income   $ 50,564     $ 51,104     $ 50,035     $ 101,668     $ 98,634  
    Add: Amortization of intangible assets     1,155       1,155       1,437       2,310       2,875  
    Less: Tax effect of amortization of intangible assets (1)     (341 )     (341 )     (425 )     (683 )     (850 )
    Tangible net income   $ 51,378     $ 51,918     $ 51,047     $ 103,295     $ 100,659  
                                   
    Average stockholders’ equity   $ 2,237,948     $ 2,226,948     $ 2,102,466     $ 2,232,478     $ 2,100,666  
    Less: Average goodwill     (765,822 )     (765,822 )     (765,822 )     (765,822 )     (765,822 )
    Less: Average intangible assets     (8,232 )     (9,518 )     (13,258 )     (8,872 )     (13,922 )
    Average tangible common equity   $ 1,463,894     $ 1,451,608     $ 1,323,386     $ 1,457,784     $ 1,320,922  
                                   
    Return on average equity, annualized (2)     9.06 %     9.31 %     9.57 %     9.18 %     9.44 %
    Return on average tangible common equity, annualized (2)     14.08 %     14.51 %     15.51 %     14.29 %     15.32 %
                                   
    (1) Tax effected at respective statutory rates.                              
    (2) Annualized where applicable.                              
     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Smoke and Wildfires Impacting Road Safety Across Oregon

    Source: US State of Oregon

    strong>SALEM, Ore. – As wildfires continue to impact parts of Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek has declared a State of Emergency, effective July 16, 2025, through December 31, 2025. Travelers are urged to use extra caution on the roads and know the conditions in the areas they are traveling to. Smoke can severely reduce visibility and create dangerous driving conditions. In some areas, wildfire activity has led to road closures or detours. The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) are working together to keep Oregonians safe—and they’re asking the public to do their part before hitting the road.

    “If you’re planning a road trip this summer, make sure your car is ready,” OEM spokesperson, Erin Zysett said. “Start your trip with a full tank of gas or electric charge, check your tires and air conditioner, and know your route. Conditions can change quickly during wildfire season.”

    OEM urges travelers to carry a well-stocked emergency car kit in case they become stranded or delayed. Your kit should include:

    • Jumper cables
    • Flares or a reflective triangle
    • Flashlight and extra batteries
    • First aid kit
    • Blanket
    • Map or printed directions
    • Cell phone and car charger
    • Backup power supply
    • Hand-crank Weather Radio
    • N95 mask (to help filter smoky air)
    • Plastic sheeting and duct tape (to shelter in place if needed)
    • Wet wipes, garbage bags, and toilet paper for sanitation
    • Whistle to signal for help
    • Water and non-perishable snacks
    • Cash or traveler’s checks
    • Portable shovel

    “Smoke affects visibility as well as air quality and can lead to sudden changes in driving conditions,” said Chris Varley, DEQ Spokesperson. “If visibility is poor or the air is hazardous, consider delaying your trip. Your safety comes first. If you must drive in smokey conditions, close all the windows and direct the car’s air system to recirculate to help reduce the amount of smoke entering the car.”

    Before You Go:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: From grasslands to killing fields: why trees are bad news for one of Australia’s most stunning birds

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gabriel Crowley, Adjunct Associate Professor in Geography, University of Adelaide

    JJ Harrison/Wikimedia, CC BY

    Picture this. A small, rainbow-coloured chick emerges from its nest for the first time. It stretches its wings and prepares to take flight. But before the fledgling’s life in the wild has begun, a sharp-beaked predator swoops in, leaving nothing but a tiny skeleton.

    This is the sad scenario playing out on Cape York Peninsula, new analysis shows. There, trees are invading the open, grassy habitat of the endangered golden-shouldered parrot (Psephotellus chrysopterygius). The trees give cover to predators – meaning they can lie in wait, before striking the adult birds and their young.

    The golden-shouldered parrot is endangered, now found in just 5% of its original range. The new findings suggest more work is needed to restore grassland habitat to its former open state, to ensure the parrots’ survival.

    A vanishing species

    The initial decline of the golden-shouldered parrot was likely caused by a loss of food plants and degradation of the termite mounds in which it nests. Birds that remained in two small areas in central Cape York Peninsula faced other issues.

    In the 1990s, researchers began studying the parrot on Artemis Station, to better understand why numbers were declining. A new suspect was identified: native woody plants, such as the broad-leaved tea-tree (Melaleuca viridiflora), which had crept into the birds’ grassy habitat.

    The change was largely due to overgrazing, which reduced fuel loads and led to fewer fires. This allowed the woodland trees to overtake the grasslands. But exactly how were these trees affecting the survival of the golden-shouldered parrot? New research by my colleagues and I set out to answer this question.

    The above image shows the three phases of woodland invading the parrots’ habitat. Left, a few scattered trees establish around the nesting mound. Centre, tea trees emerge from the grass layer. Right, dense thickets of tea trees shade out the termite mounds.
    Gabriel Crowley

    Counting eggs, nest by nest

    We monitored 108 termite-mound nests over three years, tracking the success of 555 eggs. We visited each nest every few days to record whether chicks successfully fledged (grew strong enough to leave the nest) or died.

    We also counted the number of trees around the nests, and recorded signs of interference from predators.

    So what did we find? The proportion of nests that produced a fledgling from every egg decreased in proportion to the number of trees around the nest. The percentage of eggs, chicks and adults that were killed or disappeared from a nest also increased in line with tree numbers.

    That’s because the trees bring different predators – and places for them to hide.

    We suspected reptiles were the main predators. This was due to scratches on the nests and disappearance of eggs without any other signs of damage. While the exact species of reptile predator was hard to pinpoint, we know tree snake numbers increase as woodlands encroach.

    However, of all predators, we found butcherbird numbers increased most strongly as trees crept in. Butcherbirds tear prey apart with their strong, hooked beaks. Trees close to the nests give butcherbirds cover, enabling them to wait for adults or their young to emerge.

    Tragically, we found skulls of chicks pierced by the butcherbirds’ sharp bills. In one case, the shredded flesh of a bird was wedged atop a termite mound.

    Butcherbirds have strong, hooked beaks, which they use to tear apart prey.
    Conservation Partners

    Parrots successfully fledged from just over half of the 555 eggs we monitored.

    In the most dense woodlands, the number of birds that successfully fledged was just one-third of the rate needed to maintain the golden-shouldered parrot’s population.

    Adult birds were lost from one-third of the nests we studied. This is especially troubling. Modelling from similar tropical birds shows this rate of adult deaths can push a species towards extinction.

    Unusually, golden-shouldered parrots nest in termite mounds.
    Peter Valentine

    Restoring the parrots’ grassland home

    The world’s grassland habitats are under threat. This has devastating consequences for species that depend on them – including the golden-shouldered parrot.

    Our findings show Cape York’s grasslands should be maintained and restored to ensure the survival of the golden-shouldered parrot. Much work is needed to ensure the species avoids the fate of its closest relative, the paradise parrot, which is presumed extinct.

    Work is already underway. Golden-shouldered parrot habitat in national parks and on Indigenous-owned land has been destocked, and more traditional Indigenous fire regimes reinstated. This will help maintain open grasslands and reverse early woodland encroachment. Such work is also being undertaken at the study site on Artemis Station.

    Where woody plant invasion is more advanced, more intensive methods have been deployed. At the study site, this includes using chainsaws and brush-cutters to clear trees, before the stump is poisoned.

    Where woody vegetation is well established, trees must be felled to help restore grassland habitat.
    Conservation Partners

    Other measures include installing electric fences to keep out reptiles, reseeding grasslands with food plants and providing feeding stations in seasons when food is scarce.

    Land managers across Cape York have also been provided guidelines for managing woodland encroachment.

    These efforts must be sustained in the long-term, to ensure the golden-shouldered parrot can return to its former range.

    Gabriel Crowley undertook the work cited in this article with Susan Shephard (Artemis Station), Stephen Garnett (Charles Darwin University and Conservation Partners) and Stephen Murphy (Conservation Partners). Funding was provided by the Queensland and federal governments, Gulf Savannah NRM and WWF Australia. Gabriel has provided advice on golden-shouldered parrots and their habitat to the Olkola Aboriginal Corporation, Conservation Partners and Bush Heritage Australia as a volunteer and/or consultant. She is a volunteer for Helen Haines MP (Member for Indi).

    – ref. From grasslands to killing fields: why trees are bad news for one of Australia’s most stunning birds – https://theconversation.com/from-grasslands-to-killing-fields-why-trees-are-bad-news-for-one-of-australias-most-stunning-birds-259898

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Birds use hidden black and white feathers to make themselves more colourful

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Griffith, Professor of Avian Behavioural Ecology, Macquarie University

    The green-headed tanager (_Tangara seledon_) has a hidden layer of plumage that is white underneath the orange feathers and black underneath the blue and green feathers. Daniel Field

    Birds are perhaps the most colourful group of animals, bringing a splash of colour to the natural world around us every day. Indeed, exclusively black and white birds – such as magpies – are in the minority.

    However, new research by a team from Princeton University in the United States has revealed a surprising trick in which birds use those boring black and white feathers to make their colours even more vivid.

    Male golden tanagers (Tangara arthus) have hidden layers of white which make their plumage brighter, while females have hidden layers of black which make their plumage darker.
    Daniel Field

    In the study, published today in Science Advances, Rosalyn Price-Waldman and her colleagues discovered that if coloured feathers are placed over a layer of either white or black underlying feathers, their colours are enhanced.

    A particularly striking discovery was that in some species the different colour of males and females wasn’t due to the colour the two sexes put into the feathers, but rather in the amount of white or black in the layer underneath.

    Why birds are so bright – and how they do it

    Typically, male birds have more vivid colours than females. As Charles Darwin first explained, the most colourful males are more likely to attract mates and produce more offspring than those that aren’t as vivid. This process of “sexual selection” is the evolutionary force that has resulted in most of the colours we see in birds today.

    Evolution is a process that rewards clever solutions in the competition among males to stand out in the crowd. Depositing a layer of black underneath patches of bright blue feathers has enabled males to produce that extra vibrancy that helps them in the competition for mates.

    The blue feathers of a red-necked tanager (Tangara cyanocephala) stand out against a black underlayer.
    Rosalyn Price-Waldman

    The reason the black layer works so well is that it absorbs all the light that passes through the top layer of coloured feathers. The colour we see is blue because those top feathers have a fine structure that scatters light in a particular way, and reflects light in the blue part of the spectrum.

    The feathers appear particularly vivid blue because the light in other wavelengths is absorbed by the under-layer. If the under-layer was paler, some of the light in the other parts of the light spectrum would bounce back and the blue would not “pop out” as much.

    Different tricks for different colours

    Interestingly, in the new study, the researchers found that for yellow feathers the opposite trick works. Yellow feathers contain yellow pigments – carotenoids – and in this case they are enhanced if they have a white under-layer.

    The white layer reflects light that passes through the yellow feathers, and this increases the brightness of these yellow patches, making them more striking in contrast to surrounding patches of colour.

    The red feather tips of a scarlet-rumped tanager (Ramphocelus passerinii) are enhanced by the white feathers beneath them.
    Rosalyn Price-Waldman

    A surprisingly common technique

    The authors focused most of their work on species of tanager, typically very colourful fruit-eating birds that are native to Central and South America.

    However, once they had discovered what was happening in tanagers, they checked to see if it was occurring in other birds.

    The vivid blue colouring of the Australian splendid fairy wren (Malurus splendens) is enhanced by an underlayer of colourless feathers.
    Robbie Goodall / Getty Images

    This additional work revealed that the use of black and white underlying feathers to enhance colour is found in many other bird families, including the Australian fairy wrens which have such vivid blue colouration.

    This widespread use of black and white across so many different species suggests birds have been enhancing the production of colour in this clever way for tens of millions of years, and that it is widely used across birds.

    The color of the vibrant red crown of this red-capped manakin (Ceratopipra mentalis) is magnified by a hidden layer of white plumage.
    Daniel Field

    The study is important because it helps us to understand how complex traits such as colour can evolve in nature. It may also help us to improve the production of vibrant colours in our own architecture, art and fashion.

    Simon Griffith receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Birds use hidden black and white feathers to make themselves more colourful – https://theconversation.com/birds-use-hidden-black-and-white-feathers-to-make-themselves-more-colourful-261567

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: United Nations Board of Auditors Holds Seventy-Ninth Regular Session, 22-23 July at UN Headquarters, New York

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    The General Assembly established the United Nations Board of Auditors in 1946 as an important mechanism to promote accountability and transparency in the United Nations.  The Board audits the accounts of the United Nations Organization and its funds and programmes and reports its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly, through the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), and other governing bodies.  The Board has three members, who are jointly responsible for the audit.

    The Board held its seventy-ninth regular session in New York on 22 and 23 July.  The session was chaired by Pierre Moscovici, First President of the French Cour des comptes.  Together with Mr. Moscovici, Hou Kai, Auditor-General of the National Audit Office of China, and Vital do Rêgo Filho, President of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts, collectively discussed findings and audit opinions.

    During the session the Board met with the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General to exchange on cross-cutting issues.

    Through its work, the Board provides independent assurance to Member States and other stakeholders regarding proper use of the resources of the United Nations entities.  It reports on financial matters, as well as on regularity and performance issues.  It plays a significant role in assisting the United Nations to improve its operations and internal control systems.  The findings and recommendations of the Board have led to continuous systematic improvements in the functioning of the United Nations.

    This year the Board audited the financial statements and reviewed the operations of 18 organizations and submitted the reports to the General Assembly.  All the audited entities received unqualified opinions.  Key trends and cross-entity issues have been gathered in the Board’s Concise Summary report, which focused specifically on inter-agency cooperation as a way to improve cost effectiveness.  The Board further produced three reports for submission to other governing bodies.  More detailed information about the Board’s findings can be found in the individual reports published on the Board’s website (http://www.un.org/en/auditors/board/).

    ANNEX

    List of Board Reports

    Reports Submitted to General Assembly

    France

    1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
    2. United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF)
    3. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – (UNHCR)
    4. Concise summary of findings and conclusions

    China

    5. United Nations, Vol.1
    6. International Trade Centre (ITC)
    7. United Nations Office for Projects Services (UNOPS)
    8. United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
    9. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
    10. United Nations Human Settlement Fund (UN-Habitat)

    Brazil

    11. United Nations University (UNU)
    12. United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)
    13. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
    14. United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNODC)
    15. United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN-Women)
    16. International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT)
    17. United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
    18. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

    Reports Submitted to Other Governing Bodies

    France

    19. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
    20. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification

    China

    21. UNRWA Staff Provident Fund

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics has hurt the famous women traders

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Fidele B. Ebia, Postdoctoral fellow, Duke Africa Initiative, Duke University

    The manufacturing of African print textiles has shifted to China in the 21st century. While they are widely consumed in African countries – and symbolic of the continent – the rise of “made in China” has undermined the African women traders who have long shaped the retail and distribution of this cloth.

    For many decades Vlisco, the Dutch textile group which traces its origins to 1846 and whose products had been supplied to west Africa by European trading houses since the late 19th century, dominated manufacture of the cloth. But in the last 25 years dozens of factories in China have begun to supply African print textiles to west African markets. Qingdao Phoenix Hitarget Ltd, Sanhe Linqing Textile Group and Waxhaux Ltd are among the best known.

    We conducted research to establish how the rise of Chinese-made cloth has affected the African print textiles trade. We focused on Togo. Though it’s a tiny country with a population of only 9.7 million, the capital city, Lomé, is the trading hub in west Africa for the textiles.

    We conducted over 100 interviews with traders, street sellers, port agents or brokers, government officials and representatives of manufacturing companies to learn about how their activities have changed.

    “Made in China” African print textiles are substantially cheaper and more accessible to a wider population than Vlisco fabric. Our market observations in Lomé’s famous Assigamé market found that Chinese African print textiles cost about 9,000 CFA (US$16) for six yards – one complete outfit. Wax Hollandais (50,000 CFA or US$87) cost over five times more.

    Data is hard to come by, but our estimates suggest that 90% of imports of these textiles to Lomé port in 2019 came from China.

    One Togolese trader summed up the attraction:

    Who could resist a cloth that looked similar, but that cost much less than real Vlisco?

    Our research shows how the rise of China manufactured cloth has undermined Vlisco’s once dominant market share as well as the monopoly on the trade of Dutch African print textiles that Togolese traders once enjoyed.

    The traders, known as Nana-Benz because of the expensive cars they drove, once enjoyed an economic and political significance disproportionate to their small numbers. Their political influence was such that they were key backers of Togo’s first president, Sylvanus Olympio – himself a former director of the United Africa Company, which distributed Dutch cloth.

    In turn, Olympio and long-term leader General Gnassingbé Eyadéma provided policy favours – such as low taxes – to support trading activity. In the 1970s, African print textile trade was considered as significant as the phosphate industry – the country’s primary export.

    Nana-Benz have since been displaced – their numbers falling from 50 to about 20. Newer Togolese traders – known as Nanettes or “little Nanas” – have taken their place. While they have carved out a niche in mediating the textiles trade with China, they have lower economic and political stature. In turn, they too are increasingly threatened by Chinese competition, more recently within trading and distribution as well.

    China displaces the Dutch

    Dating back to the colonial period, African women traders have played essential roles in the wholesale and distribution of Dutch cloth in west African markets. As many countries in the region attained independence from the 1950s onwards, Grand Marché – or Assigamé – in Lomé became the hub for African print textile trade.

    While neighbouring countries such as Ghana limited imports as part of efforts to promote domestic industrialisation, Togolese traders secured favourable conditions. These included low taxes and use of the port.

    Togolese women traders knew the taste of predominantly female, west African customers better than their mostly male, Dutch designers. The Nana-Benz were brought into the African print textile production and design process, selecting patterns and giving names to designs they knew would sell.

    They acquired such wealth from this trade that they earned the Nana-Benz nickname from the cars they purchased and which they used to collect and move merchandise.

    Nana-Benz exclusivity of trading and retailing of African print textiles cloth in west African markets has been disrupted. As Vlisco has responded to falling revenues – over 30% in the first five years of the 21st century – due to its Chinese competition, Togolese traders’ role in the supply chain of Dutch cloth has been downgraded.

    In response to the flood of Chinese imports, the Dutch manufacturer re-positioned itself as a luxury fashion brand and placed greater focus on the marketing and distribution of the textiles.

    Vlisco has opened several boutique stores in west and central Africa, starting with Cotonou (2008), Lomé (2008) and Abidjan (2009). The surviving Nana-Benz – an estimated 20 of the original 50 – operate under contract as retailers rather than traders and must follow strict rules of sale and pricing.

    While newer Togolese traders known as Nanettes are involved in the sourcing of textiles from China, they have lower economic and political stature. Up to 60 are involved in the trade.

    Former street sellers of textiles and other petty commodities, Nanettes began travelling to China in the early to mid-2000s to source African print textiles. They are involved in commissioning and advising on the manufacturing of African print textiles in China and the distribution in Africa.

    While many Nanettes order the common Chinese brands, some own and market their own. These include what are now well-known designs in Lomé and west Africa such as “Femme de Caractère”, “Binta”, “Prestige”, “Rebecca Wax”, “GMG” and “Homeland”.

    Compared to their Nana-Benz predecessors, the Nanettes carve out their business from the smaller pie available from the sale of cheaper Chinese cloth. Though the volumes traded are large, the margins are smaller due to the much lower final retail price compared to Dutch cloth.

    After procuring African print textiles from China, Nanettes sell wholesale to independent local traders or “sellers” as well as traders from neighbouring countries. These sellers in turn break down the bulk they have purchased and sell it in smaller quantities to independent street vendors.

    All African print textiles from China arrive in west Africa as an incomplete product – as six-yard or 12-yard segments of cloth, not as finished garments. Local tailors and seamstresses then make clothes according to consumer taste. Some fashion designers have also opened shops where they sell prêt-à-porter (ready-to-wear) garments made from bolts of African print and tailored to local taste. Thus, even though the monopoly of the Nana-Benz has been eroded, value is still added and captured locally.

    Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinese actors have become more involved in trading activity – and not just manufacturing. The further evolution of Chinese presence risks an even greater marginalisation of locals, already excluded from manufacturing, from the trading and distribution end of the value chain. Maintaining their role – tailoring products to local culture and trends and linking the formal and informal economy – is vital not just for Togolese traders, but also the wider economy.

    Rory Horner receives funding from the British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship. He is also a Research Associate at the Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

    Fidele B. Ebia does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Togo’s ‘Nana-Benz’: how cheap Chinese imports of African fabrics has hurt the famous women traders – https://theconversation.com/togos-nana-benz-how-cheap-chinese-imports-of-african-fabrics-has-hurt-the-famous-women-traders-260924

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: GRUVE Lab

    Source: NASA

    The GRUVE (Glenn Reconfigurable User-Interface and Virtual Reality Exploration) Lab is located within the GVIS Lab. It is home to the CAVE, which is predominantly used for mission scenarios and to tour virtual environments of NASA facilities.

    GRUVE allows multiple people to view a visualization in 3D together. These visualizations include 3D models of NASA facilities and intricate images created from collected data. 
    Powerful projectors and mirrors, in combination with an infrared motion tracking system and active-shutter glasses, allow viewers to view 3D models and data in perfect perspective. 3D models effectively pop off the screen and remain proportional no matter where the user with the pair of tracking glasses moves in the environment. 
    The CAVE can be driven by either a Windows or Linux computer system, enabling the team to use the best environment for a given problem and software tool. 

    The CAVE’s technology provides a unique advantage for researchers, scientists, engineers, and others. Seeing and analyzing forces and data that would otherwise not be viewable to the human eye allows the observer to understand their subject matter in more detail. 
    Benefits of GRUVE to research include: 

    Providing an immersive environment: with large screens to fill peripheral vision and stereoscopic projection for a real sense of three-dimensional space, more parts of the brain are engaged, and the user is better able to understand problems and solve them faster 

    More effective collaboration: the ability to see each other in the virtual reality environment makes GRUVE better for collaboration than traditional VR technology 

    Seeing complex data and flows in 3D: this makes it easier for both experts and non-experts to understand the data 

    Providing greater resolution and larger display size: this allows details to be displayed without losing their context 

    Delivering faster and more accurate manipulation and viewing of models, including CAD data, with fewer errors: this results in a faster time to market and less re-work 

    All members of NASA Glenn may use GRUVE for their projects.

    Fluid dynamics analysis (CFD) 

    Point cloud data, e.g., LiDAR 

    Virtual design reviews 

    Virtual manufacturing testing 

    Computer Aided Design (CAD) 

    3D imaging data 

    Training and education 

    Virtual procedures 

    Biomedical research 

    Molecular dynamics 

    Virtual building walkthroughs 

    Showroom “theater” 

    Education and outreach 

    Building Information Management (BIM) 

    Big data and data mining 

    Cybersecurity data analysis 

    Safety systems analysis 

    Microfocus CT scan data 

    Electron microscopy 

    3D photos and videos 

    Point cloud data 

    Volume data 

    Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) 

    Computer Aided Design (CAD) 

    Molecular dynamics 

    Linux CAVE node 

    Windows 10 CAVE node 

    CAVE wall 

    Stereo glasses 

    Audio system 

    Tracking system 

    The Windows node attached to the GRUVE Lab runs middleware software, which enables Unity-developed applications to run in the CAVE. This greatly expands the number of VR applications that can be run. 

    Vrui VR Toolkit-based applications such as LiDAR viewer and 3D visualizer 

    VMD – Visual Molecular Dynamics 

    ParaView 

    COVISE– Collaborative Visualization and Simulation Environment

    The GVIS Lab maintains a large collection of computing, visualization, and user interaction devices including: 

    Virtual reality display devices 

    Head-mounted displays 

    Room-scale CAVE 

    Augmented reality head-mounted displays 

    3D displays 

    Psuedo-3D displays 

    Pepper’s Ghost display 

    Persistence of Vision (POV) LED display 

    Light field technology- based displays 

    Projection devices for projected AR 

    Natural user interface devices 

    Hand gesture recognition devices 

    Motion capture devices 

    Cameras for mixed reality 

    Computing hardware 

    High-end laptops 

    High-end desktops 

    High-end tablets and smartphones 

    Stereo 3D camera 

    180/360 camera 

    Flight simulators 

    3D printers 

    All these devices are available for employees to try and test for possible application to their work. 

    Contact Us 
    Need to reach us? You can send an email directly to the GVIS Team (GRC-DL-GVIS@mail.nasa.gov) or to the team leader, Herb Schilling (hschilling@nasa.gov). 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release – Enforcement Measures Increasing as Sacred Falls Remains Closed, July 22, 2025

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release – Enforcement Measures Increasing as Sacred Falls Remains Closed, July 22, 2025

    Posted on Jul 23, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

         JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI ‘ĀINA

     

    DAWN N.S. CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

     

    ENFORCEMENT MEASURES INCREASING AS SACRED FALLS REMAINS CLOSED

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    July 22, 2025

      

    HONOLULU –Despite clearly posted park closure and hazardous conditions signs, people are continuing to ignore the risks and enter Sacred Falls State Park. The DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) recently received information and video of numerous young adults exiting the closed area by climbing over a locked gate.

     

    A tragic rockslide claimed eight lives on Mother’s Day 1999 and the site has been off limits ever since. Even with numerous past press releases, clearly posted signs warning of dangerous conditions and numerous past incidents involving injuries, some people continue to gamble with their safety and their lives by entering Sacred Falls. 

     

    “How many times do we have to tell people to stop going into Sacred Falls?” asked DOCARE Chief Jason Redulla.  “I have directed the Oahu Branch to take strong enforcement action on any closed area violations at Sacred Falls, including arresting violators,”  he said. DOCARE is increasing patrols of the area.

     

    “People who enter Sacred Falls are not only endangering themselves, they also endanger the safety of first responders if they get into trouble”, Redulla added. “This risk to our responders, including DOCARE officers is intolerable and violators who are found entering or exiting the closed area will be dealt with accordingly.” 

     

    Violations of the State Park administrative rule pertaining to entering a closed area is a petty misdemeanor. Potential penalties include a $1,000 fine or up to 30 days in jail.

     

     

    # # # 

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    Video – Sacred Falls – Please Turn Back (May 17, 2020): https://vimeo.com/419650794

     

    Video – Sacred Falls Enforcement (May 9, 2020): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/li2qo1ld0ahqsl3txmunv/Sacred-Falls-Enforcement-May-9-2020.mov?rlkey=2i27lvmxbbm6h3hc2cenlw7t7&st=fiqrykir&dl=0

     

    Photographs – Sacred Falls (May 9, 2020): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/srxuqy3jbkiaxbo30lvhs/ALAdBu3h5abme5DIybkf5LE?rlkey=mafu00gary7g727d8bsn8rz6r&st=maarbiiw&dl=0

     

     

     

    Media Contact: 

    Patti Jette                                                                                         

    Communications Specialist                                                          

    Hawai‘i Dept. of Land and Natural Resources                           

    808-587-0396                                                                                  

    [email protected]                                                           

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider Scarlett, Hall Nominations

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on the nominations of Katherine Scarlett to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Jeffrey Hall to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

    “At this hearing, we will consider the President’s nominations of Katherine Scarlett to serve as Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality and Jeffrey Hall to serve as Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at the Environmental Protection Agency. So, thank you both for your willingness to serve. I want to give a special welcome to Katherine’s family…her husband Brian and her parents are here today, so thank you for joining us. And I know Jeffery has his parents and his wife here with him today, so thank you all for coming and being supportive.

    “Established by the National Environmental Policy Act, also known as NEPA, the Council on Environmental Quality or CEQ as we call it, is part of the Executive Office of the President. The agency is primarily responsible for advising federal agencies on the implementation of NEPA, as well as developing and recommending environmental policies to the President.

    “Katherine is very well-qualified to lead CEQ. In her current role as CEQ’s chief of staff, Katherine has supported the efforts of federal agencies to implement the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act and ensure compliance with recent court decisions as agencies update their individual NEPA regulations and procedures.

    “She also led efforts to modernize environmental review and permitting processes through President Trump’s Permitting Technology Action Plan, recently launching the ‘CE Explorer’ which allows for easy identification of the more than 2,000 categorical exclusions established by federal agencies.

    “During the time of the first Trump Administration, Katherine served in senior roles at CEQ and also at the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council. In the four years between her service in the executive branch, Katherine served on my staff here at EPW, playing a key role in shaping bipartisan provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Economic Development Reauthorization Act, and the America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act, so thank you for that.

    “As my colleagues know, Ranking Member Whitehouse and I are diligently working on bipartisan legislation to reform the environmental review and permitting processes for all projects. I am hopeful that we can get a bill to the President’s desk for his signature. And when we do, I am confident that it will be implemented faithfully under Katherine’s leadership of CEQ.

    “Today, we will also hear from Jeffrey Hall, thank you Jeffery for being here, President Trump’s nominee to lead the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. OECA works with EPA regional offices, in partnership with state governments, tribal governments, and other federal agencies to promote regulatory compliance and enforce the nation’s environmental laws and regulations.

    “The office targets the most serious water, air, and chemical pollution violations under laws such as the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, CERCLA, and the Toxic Substances Control Act. In carrying out the EPA’s statutory authority, OECA must operate within the confines of our federal environmental laws, not invent novel violations to penalize regulated entities.

    “The previous administration placed an outsized emphasis on penalizing regulated entities, rather than working with good faith actors in the regulated community to ensure compliance. Mr. Hall will be tasked with striking the right balance between the agency’s efforts to encourage compliance with our environmental laws, and targeting the entities flaunting those laws to ensure Americans have clean air, clean water, and clean land.

    “Mr. Hall’s professional experience gives him the expertise to effectively lead this office. He has worked as a litigator, prosecutor, and legal advisor representing federal agencies, corporations, and individuals in a wide variety of litigation and in both civil and criminal enforcement procedures.

    “I look forward to hearing how Mr. Hall will navigate the Agency’s enforcement and compliance priorities today.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Asks Nominees About Implementation of NEPA, Superfund Site Cleanups

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    [embedded content]

    To watch Chairman Capito’s questions, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led a hearing on the nominations of Katherine Scarlett to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and Jeffrey Hall to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In her questioning, Chairman Capito highlighted the qualifications of the nominees, and asked about implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and prioritizing the cleanup of Superfund sites.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    NOMINEE EXPERIENCE:

    Chairman Capito:

    “You’ve held significant positions in the federal government relating to NEPA, so you know this well and permitting processes. In each of these roles, you’ve developed experience of what’s working and what isn’t. So, given your expertise, what has motivated you to take on this role, and how has your past experience prepared you for this?”

    Katherine Scarlett, nominee to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality:

    “Thank you for that question, Chairman Capito. I was excited to take on this role, mainly because all three branches of the federal government recently have indicated that the NEPA process is broken and needs to be reformed. As I stated my opening statement, I have spent nearly the last decade working on the interagency process and trying to get the environmental review process more efficient and more timely. So, given the directive of Congress, I wanted to return to CEQ so that I could faithfully implement those amendments to National Environmental Policy Act.”

    NEPA IMPLEMENTATION:

    Chairman Capito:

    “Will you commit to faithfully implementing, this is important, I think, to everybody, both sides of the dais here, any additional permitting and environmental review reforms passed into law, consistent with the statutory language and the intent of Congress?”

    Katherine Scarlett, nominee to be a Member of the Council on Environmental Quality:

    “Yes, Chairman, I do commit to faithfully implementing any new provisions passed by Congress.”

    SUPERFUND CLEANUPS:

    Chairman Capito:

    “Let me ask you about the Superfund cleanups, because you mentioned this in your opening statement, and how to improve. We’ve spent a lot of time trying to improve the CERCLA implementation. We have some Superfund sites…you mentioned they’re on the books for years, and never quite seem to get there. Will you have a direct role in negotiating these agreements, and how would you approach the use of these tools to accelerate our cleanups?”

    Jeffery Hall, nominee to be to be an Assistant Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency:

    “Yes, thank you, Chairman. So, Superfund enforcement is a priority of this administration, of the administrator, of the deputy administrator, on down to me when I was the acting assistant administrator, and if confirmed would continue to be a major priority of my tenure. So, I think that we would use all the tools available. I know that this committee had a hearing not too long ago on Superfund and Superfund enforcement, where some of those tools were discussed, including various agreements, like mixed funding agreements. So, I think that we would continue to use all the tools available and push it forward.”

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement.

    Click HERE to watch Chairman Capito’s questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Merkley and Hoyle Introduce Columbia River Clean-Up Act to Reauthorize Columbia River Basin Restoration Program

    Source: US Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04)

    July 23, 2025

    For Immediate Release: July 23, 2025 

    WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, Oregon’s U.S.Senator Jeff Merkleyand U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) introduced the Columbia River Clean-Up Act to reauthorize the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program. Sen. Merkley created the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program in 2016 to focus federal attention on reducing toxics and pollution through voluntary efforts in the Columbia River Basin. However, funding for the program is set to expire next year. The Columbia River Clean-Up Act would ensure the program can be funded for another five years, through 2030.

    “Our rivers and waterways are the lifeblood of communities across Oregon and the rest of the Pacific Northwest,” said Sen. Merkley. “The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program—which I created in 2016—is vital to preventing toxic pollutants from accumulating in our environment. Our bill reauthorizes this critical program, ensuring federal dollars will continue to support a cleaner, healthier Columbia River for Tribal communities, wildlife, ecosystems, and the economy.”

    “The Columbia River Basin is one of our most important watersheds — supporting communities, economies, and ecosystems across the Pacific Northwest,” said Rep. Hoyle. “Reauthorizing the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program is critical to continuing the progress we’ve made in cleaning up toxic pollution and protecting public health. This voluntary program is a proven, bipartisan success, and I’m proud to join Senator Merkley in leading the effort to ensure it continues delivering results for Oregonians, Tribal Nations, and future generations.”

    The Columbia River Basin is the second-largest watershed in the United States, stretching across parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and beyond. Home to 8 million people and more than 15 Tribal Nations, the Basin is central to the cultural, economic, and ecological identity of the Pacific Northwest. 

    For decades, industrial pollution, toxic runoff, and habitat degradation have threatened the health of the river and the communities that depend on it. The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program, first authorized in 2016, was the first federal initiative specifically designed to address toxic contamination in this critical watershed. Since its inception, the program has helped fund on-the-ground restoration projects, empowered Tribal and community-led efforts, and strengthened the scientific foundation for long-term recovery. 

    The Columbia River Clean-Up Act is endorsed by the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, The Freshwater Trust, Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies, Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, and Trout Unlimited. 

    The Freshwater Trust – Joe Witworth, President & CEO:

    “The Columbia River Basin Restoration program incentivizes effective and collaborative conservation effort with public and private partners across Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. We strongly support the reauthorization of this funding.”

    Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership – Elaine Placido, Executive Director:

    “The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program unites Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington to reduce toxic pollution in the Columbia River Basin through coordinated, community-driven solutions. This program is a transformative resource for the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership. With its support, we are implementing locally designed stormwater projects at schools and community centers. We’ve also leveraged program funding to secure over $1 million in additional investments, significantly amplifying the program’s reach and impact.”

    The National Wildlife Federation – Alicia Marrs, Director of Wester Water:

    “The health and resilience of the Columbia River Basin is critical to the more than 8 million people that depend on it for their drinking water. Reducing contaminants is essential to maintaining a healthy water supply so that fish, wildlife, and communities and economies in the Basin can thrive.?With the future of EPA funding uncertain, reauthorizing the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program ensures previous investments are not wasted and we continue to leverage collaborative, voluntary efforts with tribes and states that protect communities and ecosystems from toxic pollution. We are grateful for Representative Hoyle’s sustained leadership on this critical issue and look forward to continued collaborations to build resilience for the entire region.”

    The Nature Conservancy – Sammy Mastaw Jr., Columbia Basin Program Director:

    “Salmon are facing a myriad of threats, including pollution and contamination of vital habitat. The introduction of the Columbia River Clean-Up Act — reauthorizing the Columbia River Basin Restoration Program — is a practical, science-based investment in the resilience of the Basin, and an important step toward healing for salmon and people.” Said Sammy Matsaw Jr, Columbia Basin Program Director with The Nature Conservancy.

    Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies – Jerry Linder, Executive Director:

    “Columbia Basin Restoration Funds enabled EPA to provide grant funds to the Oregon Association of Clean Water Agencies to complete work aimed at toxics reduction, specifically reducing PFAS and Phthalates through public education, low toxicity institutional purchasing guidelines, assessment of PFAS and Phthalate sources, and industrial pollution prevention information and assistance. The products of this effort are on the Oregon ACWA website and there have been 5111 downloads, so the information is making a difference to reduce toxics in the Columbia Basin and elsewhere. There is still much work to be done and the Columbia River Basin Clean-Up Act is essential to continuing the progress that has been made so far.”

    Pacific Northwest Waterways Association – Neil Maunu, Executive Director:

    “The Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA) was proud to support the?original?legislation that created this voluntary program to aid in the clean up and prevention of toxins that are harmful to the Columbia River ecosystem, listed species, and people. PNWA supports the reauthorization of?the?program?under the Columbia River Clean Up Act?to continue the?valuable?collaborative work being done by local communities, organizations, and Tribes to improve water quality and the environment on the Columbia River,”?said Neil Maunu, Executive Director of the PNWA.

    Trout Unlimited – Chrysten Rivard, Oregon Director:

    “For nearly a decade, the successful Columbia River Basin Restoration Program has made key investments across the Columbia River Basin to reduce toxins and improve water quality. Trout Unlimited applauds Congresswoman Hoyle’s leadership to ensure that this program continues to support Tribal, state and local governments, and non-profit groups throughout the basin who are working to make a difference for our waters and communities.”

    This bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Wyden (D-Ore) and Murray (D-Wash.)

    The text of the Columbia River Clean-Up Act is available here.

    Background

    The Columbia River Basin Restoration Program

    • Officially designates the national importance of the Columbia River Basin, which includes Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. 

    • Authorized the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Columbia River Basin Restoration Working Group to understand and reduce toxics across the basin. It includes representatives of states, local governments, Tribal governments, ports, and non-profit organizations.

    • Directed the EPA to develop the Columbia River Basin Restoration Funding Assistance Program, which is a voluntary, competitive grants program for environmental protection and restoration programs throughout the Basin.

    • In 2021, the EPA awarded more than $79 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding through this program to reduce toxics in fish and water throughout the Basin. Awardees in past years have included:

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Adding Capacity to Sainte-Marguerite-3 Generating Station Project – Government of Canada Provides Early Decision on the Adding Capacity to Sainte-Marguerite-3 Generating Station Project in Quebec

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 18, 2025 – Ottawa – Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

    The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) has conducted an assessment of the Adding Capacity to Sainte-Marguerite-3 Generating Station Project located in on the Sainte-Marguerite River near Sept-Îles, Quebec, and determined that its potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through other means.

    The proponent, Hydro-Québec, may now move forward with obtaining any necessary authorizations and permits from federal authorities.

    To arrive at its section 16 decision under the Impact Assessment Act, IAAC engaged other jurisdictions, federal experts, stakeholders, the public, and Indigenous Peoples to review the project description and identify potential impacts to federal jurisdiction and ensure they can be addressed. 

    IAAC is of the view that the potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through existing federal and provincial laws and regulations. These include but are not limited to the Fisheries Act, the Species at Risk Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, as well as Quebec’s Environment Quality Act.

    As a result, a more comprehensive federal impact assessment is not required.

    The documents and list of factors considered can be found in IAAC’s decision with reasons.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada advances initiatives to protect the right to a healthy environment and enhance chemicals management

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    July 23, 2025 – Gatineau, Quebec

    To protect human health and the environment for future generations, the federal government is taking decisive action. Recognizing the deep interconnection between Canadian health and the environment, these sustainable efforts will create a clean and safe environment for all.

    The Government of Canada is now releasing:

    • the Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA)
    • the Plan of Priorities for chemicals management
    • the Strategy to Replace, Reduce or Refine Vertebrate Animal Testing under CEPA

    These publications are key requirements under the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA).

    The Implementation Framework sets out the meaning of the right to a healthy environment and provides guidance on how the Government of Canada considers this right in the administration of CEPA. The Framework provides a new lens for decision-making to support and encourage strong protection of both the environment and people who may be disproportionally impacted by pollution, now and in the future.

    The Plan of Priorities outlines upcoming initiatives to address chemical substances in Canada. It includes a list of substances to be assessed and elaborates on activities that support the assessment, control, and management of risks posed by substances. This Plan builds on Canada’s existing strong foundation for chemicals management.

    Linked to the Plan of Priorities, the Strategy to Replace, Reduce or Refine Vertebrate Animal Testing will help guide continued efforts toward the replacement, reduction, or refinement of vertebrate animal testing under CEPA.

    These initiatives work together to help protect the environment and the health of all people in Canada.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Protecting the right to a healthy environment under the modernized Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 and enhancing chemicals management

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Recent amendments of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA) required the Government of Canada to develop a framework for the right to a healthy environment under CEPA. They also required the Government to publish a plan to address chemical substances and to guide efforts to replace, reduce, or refine vertebrate animal testing. The Government delivered on these commitments by publishing the Implementation Framework for the Right to a Healthy Environment under CEPA; the Plan of Priorities; and the Strategy to Replace, Reduce, or Refine Vertebrate Animal Testing.

    The Right to a Healthy Environment under CEPA

    The Implementation Framework elaborates on the meaning of the Right to a Healthy Environment (the Right) under CEPA. It provides guidance for CEPA decision-makers on how to consider the Right in the administration of CEPA.

    As per the Framework, the Right to a Healthy Environment under CEPA includes substantive and procedural elements. The substantive elements build on the definition of a healthy environment and include the right of every individual in Canada to live in an environment that is protected from harmful substances, pollutants, and waste; and where actions under CEPA contribute to clean and healthy air and water, a sustainable climate, and healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. The procedural elements of the Right include access to information and participation in decision-making.

    The Framework elaborates on three new principles, namely environmental justice, intergenerational equity, and non-regression and describes how they will be considered in the administration of the Act to fulfil the duty to uphold these principles.

    Additionally, the framework elaborates on how respect for Indigenous rights informs CEPA decision-making and recognizes the role of Indigenous knowledge in informing decisions about protecting the environment and human health. In collaboration with Indigenous peoples, guidance on bridging, braiding, and weaving Indigenous knowledge with western science will be developed to support CEPA decision-makers.

    The Framework also describes five of the relevant factors—environmental, scientific, social, health, and economic—that can be considered in interpreting and applying the Right and in determining the reasonable limits to which it is subject.

    In the administration of CEPA, the Government of Canada will aim to fulfill its duty of protecting the right to a healthy environment, as it relates to the substantive elements, through consideration of the procedural elements, CEPA principles, and relevant factors described above, recognizing the Right is subject to reasonable limits.

    The Government of Canada engaged with the public, Indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, and industry stakeholders during consultations in the spring and fall of 2024 to help inform the development of the Implementation Framework.

    A new web portal offers more information on actions and decisions made under CEPA and gives the public an opportunity to provide input.

    A transition period for the implementation of the Framework is in place to continue to advance timely CEPA decisions and actions. This will prevent negative impacts on the environment and human health while the Right to a Healthy Environment is being fully integrated into the administration of the Act.

    Plan of Priorities

    The Plan of Priorities outlines upcoming priorities to address substances to protect the health of people in Canada and the environment. It includes a list of more than 30 substances and substance groups (comprising approximately 500 chemicals) prioritized for assessment and includes new or expanded activities to help assess, control, and manage risks posed by substances.

    In selecting and prioritizing these substances, the Plan took into account key considerations, including:

    • substances that are hazardous to human health and/or the environment, including carcinogens, mutagens, and reproductive toxicants, as well as endocrine disrupting substances
    • substances that are impacting populations or environments that may be at increased risk, due to either greater exposure or greater susceptibility
    • substances with the potential to contribute to cumulative risks
    • very hazardous substances that are capable of long-range transport
    • substances with known hazardous properties that are used in products available to consumers
    • potential substitutes for substances with known toxicity

    The input and feedback received during the public consultation on the Proposed Plan of Priorities in the fall of 2024 was used to help refine the current Plan.

    Moving forward, the Plan must be reviewed every eight years. The list of substances prioritized for assessment may also be amended from time to time, based on, for example, the emergence of new science, or through the new public request for assessment mechanism. Amendments to the Plan will be publicly communicated and consulted on.

    Through implementation of the Plan of Priorities and the administration of chemicals management, the Government commits to upholding the principle of environmental justice and protecting the right to a healthy environment provided for in CEPA. Stakeholders and the public will be invited to participate in public consultations as the Plan is implemented.

    Reducing reliance on vertebrate animal testing

    The modernized CEPA recognizes the need to replace, reduce, or refine the use of vertebrate animal testing when assessing the potential harms that substances may pose to human health and the environment.

    As part of the Plan of Priorities, Health Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada have developed a strategy to guide efforts to replace, reduce, or refine vertebrate animal toxicity testing. This strategy builds on:

    • the major milestone announced by Health Canada in June 2023 regarding the end of cosmetic animal testing in Canada under the Food and Drugs Act
    • the work underway to amend the New Substances Notification Regulations (NSNR) under CEPA to integrate greater flexibility to include alternative methods to vertebrate animal toxicity testing

    This strategy considers input and feedback received during the public consultations on the related notice of intent, which closed in January 2024, and the draft strategy, which closed in November 2024.

    The strategy is intended to be flexible. Its implementation will reflect and keep pace with emerging science and technology, including ongoing engagement with people living in Canada, Indigenous partners, stakeholders, and collaborations with national and international partners.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Freshwater fishing licence sales streamlined to B.C.’s WILD system

    Recreational freshwater anglers will soon be able to buy B.C. freshwater fishing licences through the Wildlife Information and Licensing Data system (WILD), bringing fishing and hunting licensing into one convenient online platform.

    Starting in fall 2025, people who are not already registered in the WILD system can create a profile and obtain a free Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) in preparation for the 2026–27 licence year. An FWID will be needed to purchase a freshwater fishing licence when sales open in WILD in spring 2026.

    Currently, people access WILD using a Basic BCeID. This fall, B.C. residents and people who reside in Canada outside of B.C. will also have the option to log in using their BC Services Card account. This secure and convenient new method automates identity and residency verification, helping reduce administrative workload, reduce wait times and enhance the user experience. People who do not reside in Canada will need to use or create a Basic BCeID to access and obtain an FWID online in WILD.

    Since its launch in 2016, WILD has improved public access to hunting applications and authorizations and helped government process applications faster. Over the past five years, roughly 93% of all limited entry hunting applications and 30% of all hunting licences were purchased online through WILD.

    B.C. is home to some of the world’s most renowned freshwater fishing destinations, attracting residents and visitors alike. Recreational fishing also supports local economies, particularly in rural and tourism-dependent communities.

    Expanding WILD to include freshwater fishing licence sales will further streamline the licensing process for stakeholders and government, improve data collection, and support informed decision-making for fish and wildlife management.

    Quick Facts:

    • Licence fees for freshwater fishing licences help fund research, conservation and education programs, improve angler access and the provincial stocking program through the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. (https://www.gofishbc.com/).
    • Conservation surcharge fees provide grants for fish conservation projects through the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (https://hctf.ca/).
    • A Fish and Wildlife ID (FWID) is mandatory and will provide access to licences for approximately 350,000 anglers who fish in B.C. each year.
    • Anglers can register for their FWID online through WILD or in person at retailers.

    Learn More:

    To read details about WILD System Quick Reference Guides, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/sports-culture/recreation/fishing-hunting/hunting/wild-system/quick-reference-guides

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Nick Langworthy Introduces Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act to Cut Costs and Modernize Construction Standards

    Source: US Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) introduced the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, legislation to eliminate outdated and burdensome federal building mandates that no longer align with modern construction realities.

     

    “Taxpayers should not be on the hook for radical policies that only drive up the cost of constructing federal infrastructure while harming reliability. This bill would ensure Federal agencies to tailor building design and construction to their specific needs, rather than aiming to hit arbitrary efficiency targets,” said Congressman Langworthy. “It will help rein in inflated construction costs, accelerate project timelines, and foster innovation by removing rigid, top-down mandates. The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act is a part of my broader effort to inject common-sense back into government.”

     

    Currently, federal agencies must comply with strict energy efficiency standards set forth in Section 305(a)(3)(D) of the Energy Conservation and Production Act and reinforced in theEnergy Independence and Security Act of 2007. These one-size-fits-all mandates—enacted during an aggressive federal climate policy push—create unnecessary cost burdens, slow down construction timelines, and limit design flexibility for new federal buildings.

     

    The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act would repeal these outdated requirements, allowing agencies to pursue energy-efficient solutions where appropriate, while also prioritizing practicality, cost-effectiveness, and mission-readiness.

     

    The full text can be found here.

     

    Original cosponsors of this legislation include Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH), Rep. Michael Rulli (R-OH), Rep. Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), and Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC).  

     

    Groups that support this legislation include the American Gas Association, American Public Gas Association, GPA Midstream Energy Equipment and Infrastructure Alliance, Independent Petroleum Association of America, American Petroleum Institute, National Gas Supply Association, MEA Energy Association, GO-WV, Northwest Gas Association, Tennessee Gas Association, Energy Association of Pennsylvania, Natural Gas Association of Georgia, Northeast Gas Association, Carolinas Natural Gas Coalition. 

     

    “We commend Congressman Langworthy and all of the cosponsors who recognize natural gas is the most reliable and affordable form of energy in the United States today – it’s our nation’s strategic advantage,” said AGA President and CEO Karen Harbert. “The Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act would preserve vital resiliency in our national infrastructure to ensure operability in high-stakes moments, protect our national security and deliver life essential energy to mission critical federal and military facilities across our nation.”

     

    “GPA Midstream applauds Rep. Nick Langworthy (NY-23) for introducing the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act, which aims to allow federal buildings in America the ability to use the appropriate energy source, which often is natural gas or propane,” said Stuart Saulters, VP, Federal Affairs, GPA Midstream. “Unfortunately, previous legislation imposed prescriptive federal building energy performance standards, which often disallow the use of natural gas or propane. These one-size-fits-all requirements on the design, construction, and operation of new federal buildings often result in unnecessary cost increases, inflexible compliance burdens, and construction delays. The federal government, just like American citizens, should be able to use the most reliable and affordable energy source. GPA Midstream hopes the House of Representatives will pass the Reliable Federal Infrastructure Act soon.”

     

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: 3rd Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors Meeting

    Source: Government of Canada News

    Statement

    July 18, 2025

    We, the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG), met on 17 and 18 July 2025, in Durban, South Africa. Under the G20 South African Presidency’s “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability” theme, we committed to international policy cooperation to further promote global prosperity and address key shared challenges.

    Global Economy

    The global economy is facing heightened uncertainty and complex challenges, including ongoing wars and conflicts, geopolitical and trade tensions, disruptions to global supply chains, high debt levels, and frequent extreme weather events and natural disasters, which impact economic growth, financial and price stability. 

    In light of high public debt and fiscal pressures, we recognise the need to raise long-term growth potential by pursuing growth-oriented macroeconomic policies, while building fiscal buffers, ensuring fiscal sustainability, encouraging public and private investments and undertaking productivity-enhancing reforms. Structural reforms are essential for generating strong economic growth and creating more and better jobs. All excessive imbalances should be further analysed by the IMF and, if necessary and, without discrimination, addressed through country-specific reforms and multilateral coordination, in a way that contributes to an open global economy and without compromising sustainable global growth. We reaffirm our April 2021 exchange rate commitment.

    Central banks are strongly committed to ensuring price stability, consistent with their respective mandates, and will continue to adjust their policies in a data-dependent manner. Central bank independence is crucial to achieving this goal. 
     
    We emphasise the importance of strengthening multilateral cooperation to address existing and emerging risks to the global economy. We will continue to pursue efforts that advance prosperity and recognise the importance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to advance trade issues, and acknowledge the agreed upon rules in the WTO as an integral part of the global trading system. We recognise the WTO has challenges and needs meaningful, necessary, and comprehensive reform to improve all its functions, through innovative approaches, to be more relevant and responsive in light of today’s realities.

    We note the progress on the priorities of the Framework Working Group and look forward to the respective outcomes.  

    International Financial Architecture

    The Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are implementing the G20 MDB Roadmap and the recommendations from the Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) Report. We acknowledge the progress of MDBs and the IFA Working Group in developing the Monitoring and Reporting Framework, and expect to receive the inaugural report in October. We further acknowledge CAF’s potential to help MDBs more efficiently utilise existing resources, share more risk with the private sector and utilise new instruments to increase lending capacity over the next decade. We also welcome the collaboration on blended finance among the International Finance Corporation and other MDBs. We look forward to the outcome of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s 2025 Shareholding Review, in line with the Lima Shareholding principles.

    We support the 17th replenishment of the African Development Fund. We acknowledge the strategic importance of an enhanced G20 partnership with African economies, including through strengthening the G20 Compact with Africa, and welcome the Presidency’s side event on Mobilising G20 Investment for Sustainable Growth in Africa. We welcome the work initiated by the Presidency on the impediments to growth and development in Africa.

    We are committed to addressing debt vulnerabilities in low- and middle-income countries in an effective, comprehensive and systematic manner. To this end, we reaffirm our commitment to further strengthen the implementation of the G20 Common Framework (CF) in a predictable, timely, orderly, and coordinated manner. We endorse the G20 note on lessons learned from initial CF cases and the document outlining debt treatment steps. We welcome that the fact sheets on CF cases are now available on the G20 and Paris Club websites to enhance information sharing. We welcome the agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding on a debt treatment between Ethiopia and its Official Creditors Committee. We furthermore call for enhanced debt transparency from all stakeholders, including private creditors.

    We urge the international community to support vulnerable countries whose debt is sustainable but are facing liquidity challenges, and encourage the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank to continue their work on feasible options to support these countries, which should be country-specific and voluntary.

    We acknowledge the G20 note on Special Drawing Rights (SDR) channelling. We note the achievement of exceeding USD 100 billion in voluntary channelling of SDRs or equivalent contributions for countries in need, and the transfer to the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust and the Resilience and Sustainability Trust. We urge the swift delivery of pending pledges and encourage countries that are willing and legally able to explore channelling SDRs to MDBs while respecting the reserve asset status of the resulting SDR-denominated claims and ensuring their liquidity.

    We reaffirm our commitment to a strong, quota-based, and adequately resourced IMF at the centre of the Global Financial Safety Net. We have advanced the domestic approvals for our consent to the quota increase under the 16th General Review of Quotas, and we look forward to finalising this process with no further delay.  We acknowledge the importance of realignment in quota shares to better reflect members’ relative positions in the world economy while protecting the quota shares of the poorest members. We acknowledge, however, that building consensus among members on quota and governance reforms will require progress in stages.   We support the call for the IMF Executive Board to develop a set of principles guiding future discussions on IMF quotas and governance by the 2026 Spring meetings in line with the Diriyah Declaration.

    We underscore the need for enhancing the representation and voice of developing countries in decision-making in MDBs and other international economic and financial institutions. In that context, we welcome the creation of a 25th chair at the IMF Executive Board to enhance the voice and representation of Sub-Saharan Africa.

    We remain committed to promoting sustainable capital flows to EMDEs and fostering sound policy frameworks, notably central bank independence. We note the growing role of non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs) and ongoing work to understand the impact on capital flows.

    Sustainable Finance

    We note a commitment to strengthen the global sustainable finance architecture by helping to ensure robust, resilient and effective coordination among stakeholders to foster interoperability among MDBs, Vertical Climate and Environment Funds, and National Development Banks, in support of sustainability goals and national priorities, as appropriate. Scaling up co-financing and mobilising private sector resources by improving efficiency and promoting the use of innovative financial instruments is essential for developing countries’ risk-sharing in country-led climate investments.

    We acknowledge progress on tailoring key considerations that integrate adaptation and resilience into the voluntary transition plans of financial institutions and corporations. These efforts may support vulnerable sectors in moving towards sustainable and climate-resilient economies. We look forward to continued work related to more effective funding mechanisms for adaptation and promote flexible country-tailored solutions that address natural catastrophe insurance protection gaps by developing practical guidance and tools.

    We take note of the potential of high-integrity, voluntary, private-sector led carbon markets, including by promoting interoperability, accessibility, transparency and scalability. We note the efforts by the Climate Data Steering Committee to develop principles aimed towards building a Common Carbon Credit Data Model, as a voluntary tool.

    We note the progress made thus far on the multi-year G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap which is flexible and voluntary in nature.

    Infrastructure

    Recognising that increasing quality infrastructure investment is critical to support faster and sustainable economic growth and development, we note the progress made in the development of a framework for effective planning and preparation practices, a report on scaling up blended finance de-risking measures, and a toolkit on advancing cross-border infrastructure projects. We also endorse the Practice Guide on Leveraging Project-Level Data and Digitising the Pipeline, and a Note on Improving the Accessibility and Availability of Key Market Data, which are voluntary and non-binding.

    Financial Sector Issues and Financial Inclusion

    We reaffirm our commitment to addressing vulnerabilities and promoting an open, resilient, and stable financial system, which supports economic growth, and is based on the consistent, full and timely implementation of all agreed upon reforms and international standards, including Basel III. We note the growing role of NBFIs in both EMDEs and AEs, and support the Financial Stability Board’s (FSB) work to address NBFI data availability and reporting, quality, use, and information sharing. We endorse the recently finalised FSB recommendations for addressing systemic risks from NBFI leverage and encourage implementation by jurisdictions. We welcome the appointment of the new FSB Chair, Andrew Bailey, Governor of the Bank of England.

    We reaffirm our commitment to the effective implementation of the G20 Roadmap for Enhancing Cross-border Payments (the Roadmap) as well as appropriate further actions as necessary to deliver on the Roadmap’s goals.  We welcome the initiatives undertaken by the FSB, the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and other international organisations to advance progress in its implementation. We welcome the launch of the BIS Innovation Hub-G20 TechSprint 2025, which aims to promote innovative solutions that improve trust and integrity in open and scalable finance. We note the update on the FSB Roadmap for addressing climate-related financial risks and the upcoming FSB thematic peer review on the implementation of the high-level crypto assets and stablecoin recommendations.

    We reaffirm our commitment to support the FATF and FATF-Style Regional Bodies in overseeing the implementation of the FATF Standards to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing across the Global Network. In particular, we reiterate the importance of stepping up global efforts to combat the misuse of legal entities, to foster increased asset recovery, to enhance payments transparency, and to promote innovation in the virtual assets sector, while mitigating illicit finance involving virtual assets. We also support FATFs ongoing work on emerging technologies and associated risks including from DeFi arrangements, stablecoins, and peer-to-peer transactions.

    We reaffirm our commitment to financial inclusion and to promoting access to financial services for individuals and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). We welcome insights from the Presidency’s Priority Paper on “Moving from Access to Usage,” which offers innovative approaches to enhance the use of financial services across payments, savings, credit, insurance, and remittances. We support the ongoing implementation of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion Action Plan for MSME Financing. We also welcome the deliverable to explore the role of new and innovative technologies in enhancing the quality of financial inclusion for individuals and MSMEs.

    International Taxation

    We will continue engaging constructively to address concerns regarding Pillar Two global minimum taxes, with the shared goal of finding a balanced and practical solution that is acceptable for all. Delivery of a solution will  need to include a commitment to ensure any substantial risks that may be identified with respect to the level playing field, including a discussion of the fair treatment of substance-based tax incentives, and risks of base erosion and profit shifting, are addressed and will facilitate further progress to stabilise the international tax system, including a constructive dialogue on the tax challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy. These efforts will be advanced in close cooperation across the membership of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework (IF), preserving the tax sovereignty of all countries. We look forward to the OECD and Global Forum stock take report on tax transparency; the IF stock take report on BEPS; the OECD report on the exchange of real estate information on a voluntary basis to combat tax evasion and avoidance; the Platform for Collaboration on Tax (PCT) report on the progress in strengthening capacity-building frameworks to enhance technical assistance; and the IMF report on strengthening revenue administrations to improve domestic revenue mobilisation (DRM). We welcome the announcement of the PCT to hold the Tax and Development Conference, with a focus on DRM, in Tokyo next year.

    Recalling the G20 Rio de Janeiro Ministerial declaration on International Tax Cooperation, we welcome the IF’s decision to adopt a phased, evidence-based approach to explore global mobility and understand the interaction between tax policy, inequality and growth. We also welcome discussions to enhance the effectiveness and inclusivity of the IF. We note the ongoing negotiations to establish a United Nations Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and the participating G20 members reaffirm the objectives to reach broad consensus and build on existing achievements, processes and on the ongoing work of other international organisations, while seeking to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts.

    Joint Finance Health Task Force

    The Joint Finance-Health Task Force (JFHTF) remains committed to strengthened finance and health co-ordination in relation to pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR). We emphasise the importance of efficient and effective health spending and domestic resource mobilisation, given the current reductions in donor assistance, as well as the need for better coordination and alignment of external and domestic funding flows. We note the preliminary insights of the updated versions of the Global Report on the Framework for Economic Vulnerabilities and Risks (FEVR) and of the Operational Playbook for response financing. We also note the Simulation exercises on pandemic response financing undertaken by finance and health officials and look forward to further exercises. We note the independent Joint Finance Health Task Force stocktake report, note the focused reconvening of the High-Level Independent Panel, and will continue to work with the Pandemic Fund and other global health funds that catalyse international and domestic investment actions to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and responses.

    We note the outcome of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, held from June 30 to July 3, 2025, in Seville, Spain, and the renewed commitment by participating countries to support developing countries in achieving their development objectives.

    We acknowledge the upcoming COP30 in Belém and note participating countries’ engagement within the COP30 Circle of Finance Ministers.

    We concluded our first cycle of G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meetings on the vibrant continent of Africa, joining the people of South Africa in celebrating Nelson Mandela Day. Our discussions over the past two days centred on creating a better world, embodying the spirit of Mandela’s values. We look forward to our next meeting in October 2025 in Washington, D.C.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: World’s highest court delivers historic protections for climate-impacted communities

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    The Hague, Netherlands – The world’s highest court has just delivered a landmark Advisory Opinion on the obligations of States in the face of the climate emergency.[1] The International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision delivers historic protections that strengthen the responsibilities of States under international law beyond the Paris Agreement, with several key additional obligations including the duty of all countries to prevent significant harm to the environment and the duty to cooperate.

    The Court’s decision obligates States to regulate businesses on the harm caused by their emissions regardless of where the harm takes place. Significantly, the Court found that the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is fundamental for all other human rights, and that intergenerational equity should guide the interpretation of all climate obligations.

    Danilo Garrido, Legal Counsel at Greenpeace International, said:

    “This is the start of a new era of climate accountability at a global level. The ICJ advisory opinion marks a turning point for climate justice, as it has clarified, once and for all, the international climate obligations of States, and most importantly, the consequences for breaches of these obligations. This will open the door for new cases, and hopefully bring justice to those, who despite having contributed the least to climate change, are already suffering its most severe consequences. The message of the Court is clear: the production, consumption and granting of licenses and subsidies for fossil fuels could be breaches of International Law. Polluters must stop emitting and must pay for the harms they have caused.”

    The decision also clarifies that breaches of climate obligations give rise to full reparations: including stopping harmful actions, and giving financial compensation for any related losses and damages. These can include compensation for climate harm and even the need for an immediate cessation of GHG emissions above a science-based safety threshold. Most significantly, the Court made important findings that will ensure climate justice for future generations in the most climate-impacted communities, offering a historic level of protection.

    Flora Vano, Vanuatu Women-Led Community Leader, said:

    “Tonight I’ll sleep easier. For the first time, it feels like Justice is not just a dream but a direction. The ICJ has recognised what we have lived through – our suffering, our resilience and our right to our future. This is a victory not just for us but for every frontline community fighting to be heard. Now, the world must act.”

    Earlier this month, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights delivered another historic decision on the obligations of States in the face of the climate emergency.[2] The Court established that governments must take “urgent and effective actions” to safeguard the right to a healthy climate, and that companies have obligations with regard to climate change and its impacts on human rights. This decision unequivocally puts the rights of people and nature above the interests of polluters.

    In 2023, Greenpeace International’s iconic ship, the Rainbow Warrior, sailed through the Pacific and gathered testimonies from communities affected by climate change. These were submitted to the ICJ, along with testimonies from other communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis.[3] Subsequently, the Court held a two-week-long public hearing on the obligations of States with respect to climate change, featuring testimonies of impacts and resistance of frontline communities across the world, and with unprecedented participation from States and international organisations, following written comments submitted to the Court last year.[4][5]

    Today’s decision adds to the global momentum towards climate accountability and to the Polluters Pay Pact, a global alliance of over 200,000 people on the frontlines of climate disasters, concerned citizens, first responders like firefighters, humanitarian groups, political leaders, and more than 60 NGOs, including Greenpeace International. It demands that governments worldwide make oil, coal and gas corporations pay their fair share for the damages they cause.

    ENDS

    High resolution images for media use can be found in the Greenpeace Media Library

    Notes:

    [1] Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change Request for Advisory Opinion

    [2] The Inter-American Court of Human Rights, one of three regional human rights courts in the world, has the role to interpret and clarify the obligations of States. Its decisions inform national governments and courts. Read the full decision, Opinión Consultiva (in Spanish)

    [3] Greenpeace submits brief to the International Court of Justice on the Obligations of States Regarding Climate Change

    [4] Major milestone reached in historic climate judgement as States submit arguments to world’s highest court

    [5] In 2019, 27 law students from The University of the South Pacific united in forming Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, with a campaign for the International Court of Justice to issue an Advisory Opinion on the responsibilities of States in respect to climate change. The resolution, put forward by Vanuatu alongside a global alliance of States, passed the United Nations General Assembly unanimously in March 2023, co-sponsored by over 130 countries. 

    Contacts:

    Marie Bout, Strategic Comms Manager, Greenpeace International Climate & Energy Programme, +33 (0) 6 05 98 70 42, [email protected]

    Greenpeace International Press Desk, +31 (0) 20 718 2470 (available 24 hours), [email protected]

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Orlando Bloom tried to ‘clean’ his blood to get rid of microplastics – here’s what the science says

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rosa Busquets, Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University

    Tinseltown/Shutterstock

    When actor Orlando Bloom revealed recently that he’d undergone a procedure to have his blood “cleaned”, many people raised eyebrows. The Pirates of the Caribbean star had turned to a treatment known as apheresis – a medical process in which blood is removed from the body, centrifuged or filtered to extract certain components, then returned in an attempt to flush out microplastics and other toxins.

    Apheresis is typically used to treat conditions such as autoimmune diseases or abnormally high levels of blood cells or proteins. Its use as a detox for microplastics, however, is scientifically unproven.

    Still, Bloom said he suspected his body had absorbed plastic through daily exposure, and wanted it out of his system.

    He’s probably right about the exposure. Scientists have found microplastics – tiny plastic fragments less than 5mm in size – in our air, water, soil, food and even inside human tissue. But when it comes to removing them from the bloodstream, that’s where the science gets murky.

    As researchers studying microplastic contamination, we’ve examined this issue in the context of dialysis – a life-saving treatment for patients with kidney failure. Dialysis filters waste products like urea and creatinine from the blood, regulates electrolytes, removes excess fluid and helps maintain blood pressure.

    But our study found that while dialysis is a medical marvel, it can also have an ironic downside: it could be introducing microplastics into the bloodstream. In some cases, we found that patients undergoing dialysis were being exposed to microplastics during treatment due to the breakdown of plastic components in the equipment – a troubling contradiction for a procedure designed to cleanse the blood.

    Apheresis is closely related to dialysis: both involve drawing blood from the body, circulating it through plastic tubing and filters, then returning it – so both procedures carry a similar risk of introducing microplastics from the equipment into the bloodstream.

    What are microplastics?

    Microplastics are plastic particles that range in size from about 5mm (roughly the length of a grain of rice) down to 0.1 microns – smaller than a red blood cell.

    Some microplastics are manufactured deliberately, like the plastic microbeads once common in facial scrubs. Others form when larger plastic objects degrade over time due to sunlight, friction, or physical stress.

    They’re everywhere: in the food we eat, air we breathe and water we drink. Plastic packaging, synthetic clothing such as polyester, and even artificial lawns contribute to the spread. Car tyres shed plastic particles as they wear down, and food heated or stored in plastic containers may leach microplastics.

    One estimate suggests the average adult may ingest around 883 microplastic particles – over half a microgramme – per day.

    So far, large-scale epidemiological studies have not established an association between microplastic exposure and specific diseases. Such studies are needed, but yet to be completed.

    However, early research suggests that microplastics may be associated with inflammation, cardiovascular conditions, and DNA damage – a potential pathway to cancer.

    What remains unclear is how microplastics behave inside the body: whether they accumulate, how they interact with tissues, and how (or if) the body clears them.

    The irony of filtration

    It’s tempting to believe, as Bloom seems to, that we can simply “clean” the blood, like draining pasta or purifying drinking water. Just as a sieve filters water from pasta, dialysis machines do filter blood – but using far more complex and delicate systems.

    These machines rely on plastic components, including tubes, membranes and filters, which are exposed to sustained pressure and repeated use. Unlike stainless steel, these materials can degrade over time, potentially shedding microplastics directly into the bloodstream.

    Currently, there is no published scientific evidence that microplastics can be effectively filtered from human blood. So, claims that dialysis or other treatments can remove them should be viewed with scepticism, especially when the filtration systems themselves are made of plastic.

    While it’s tempting to chase quick fixes or celebrity-endorsed cleanses, we are still in the early stages of understanding what microplastics are doing to our bodies – and how to get rid of them. Rather than focusing solely on ways to flush plastics from the bloodstream, the more effective long-term strategy may be reducing our exposure in the first place.

    Bloom’s story taps into a growing public unease: we all know we’re carrying the burden of plastic. But addressing it requires more than wellness trends: it calls for rigorous science, tougher regulation, and a shift away from our reliance on plastic in daily life.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    Rosa Busquets receives funding from UKRI, in a UKRI/ Horizons Staff exchanges Clean Water project (101131182). She is honorary Associate Professor at UCL and Honorary Professor at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. She is panel member of the UNEP EEAP, where is work group lead in a field that includes microplastics. She is also funded by DASA.

    Luiza C Campos is a Professor of Environmental Engineering at University College London.

    – ref. Orlando Bloom tried to ‘clean’ his blood to get rid of microplastics – here’s what the science says – https://theconversation.com/orlando-bloom-tried-to-clean-his-blood-to-get-rid-of-microplastics-heres-what-the-science-says-261203

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  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Canadian wetlands are treasures that deserve protection

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Maria Strack, Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo

    The Grande Plée Bleue bog, near Québec City in June 2023. This peatland with pools is one of the largest wetlands in eastern Québec. (Maria Strack)

    Though Canada is often known as a land of lakes, it is also a country of wetlands. Stretching like a necklace of emeralds, sapphires and rubies across the Canadian landscape, wetlands cover 14 per cent of the Canadian land mass, accounting for almost twice as much area as lakes.

    Canada is home to a quarter of the world’s remaining wetlands, yet they remain like hidden treasures that most Canadians rarely pay a second thought.

    The importance of wetlands to a sustainable future has been recognized internationally. Signed in 1971 in the Iranian city of Ramsar, the Convention on Wetlands — often called the Ramsar Convention — supports international collaboration and national action for the conservation of wetlands.

    This week, delegations from contracting parties to the convention, including Canada, have come together in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, for the 15th Conference of the Parties.

    Despite decades of efforts, wetlands continue to be under threat around the world. Delegates will work this week to chart a path forward that further elevates wetlands in the global consciousness, highlighting the need to protect these ecosystems and meet international goals to safeguard biodiversity and slow climate warming.

    Canada currently has 37 Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention, covering more than 13 million hectares. Yet many of Canada’s wetlands remain unprotected.

    Canada’s wetlands

    The term “wetland” usually conjures an image of a shallow pond bordered by cattails. In fact, Canadian wetlands come in a range of shapes and sizes, all of which provide valuable services. Those reedy marshes provide critically important habitat and water storage, particularly in the Prairies, southern Ontario and Québec.

    The vast majority of Canada’s wetlands are made up of swamps, fens and bogs, most of which also hold deep deposits of organic soils called peat. Bogs and fens can resemble vast mossy carpets. But they can also look a lot like forests, hiding their soggy soils beneath a canopy of trees.

    This wetland diversity contributes to their value. At the interface of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, wetlands are often biodiversity hotspots.

    They are home to weird and wonderful species, including carnivorous plants like sundews, pitcher plants and bladderworts. And if you’re hungry, peatlands are a great place for berry picking.

    Interwoven in our boreal landscape, wetlands also support iconic Canadian species like beavers, moose and woodland caribou and are key habitats for waterfowl and other migratory birds.

    Preserving wetlands is also a key flood mitigation strategy. Storm water can fill up pore spaces in mossy peat soils, or spread out across the flat expanse of swamps and marshes, reducing peak flows and helping to protect downstream infrastructure. As the water slows, water quality can also be improved. Sediments have time to settle, while plants and microbes can remove excess nutrients.

    Carbon storage

    In recent decades, wetlands have gained international attention for their role in carbon storage. Waterlogged sediment and soil lead to slow rates of decomposition. When plant litter falls in a wetland, it builds up over time, creating a bank of carbon that can be stored for millennia.

    Peatlands are particularly good at accumulating carbon, as they are home to plants that inherently decompose slowly. Because of this, peatlands store twice the carbon of the world’s forests. Keeping this carbon stored in wetland soils, and out of the atmosphere, is important to climate change mitigation.

    Yet, the buildup of carbon in wetlands is slow. Many of these ecosystems have been adding to this carbon bank since the last ice age; digging through metres of peat is like travelling back through time, with the deposits at the bottom often thousands of years old.

    This means that the carbon stored in wetlands is irrecoverable within human lifetimes. Once lost, it will be many generations before the full value of this treasure can be returned.

    The economic value of the water-filtering and carbon storage that Canadian wetlands provide has been estimated at $225 billion per year. It’s clear: healthy wetlands contribute to our society’s well-being.

    But just as important, they are an integral component of the Canadian landscape. Wetlands are interwoven with our forests, fields, lakes and now even our cities. They link us to the land and water. They are places of wonder and spiritual connection.

    Impact of climate change

    Despite their value, wetlands in Canada face many threats. In southern regions of Canada, most wetlands have already been lost to drainage for agriculture and urban development. Further north, up to 98 per cent of Canadian peatlands remain intact.

    However, climate change and resource development are already exacerbating wetland disturbance and loss. Warming temperatures have contributed to larger and more severe wildfire that also impact peatlands and lead to large carbon emissions.

    Thawing permafrost is further changing wetland landscapes and how they function. Warming also allows for northward expansion of agriculture with the potential for loss of even more wetland area to drainage.

    Natural resource extraction further contributes to wetland disturbance, often with unexpected consequences. Geologic exploration used to map oil and gas reserves has left a network of over one million kilometres of linear forest clearing across the boreal forest, much of which crosses peatlands.



    Read more:
    How climate change is impacting the Hudson Bay Lowlands — Canada’s largest wetland

    This has contributed to declines in woodland caribou populations and led to increases in methane emissions from these ecosystems.

    Mining often involves regional drainage or excavation of peatlands, resulting in the loss of their services. The recent push to fast-track production of critical minerals in Canada is putting vast areas of our wetlands at risk.

    Wetland restoration research is ongoing, with some promising results. However, given the long time-scale of wetland development, avoiding disturbances in the first place is the best way to safeguard wetlands.

    As stewards of a quarter of world’s wetland treasures, policymakers and everyday Canadians need to ensure wetlands are safeguarded and preserved for a prosperous future.

    Maria Strack receives funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Imperial Oil Ltd., Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Cenovus Energy, Canadian Natural Resources Limited, ConocoPhillips Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute.

    – ref. Canadian wetlands are treasures that deserve protection – https://theconversation.com/canadian-wetlands-are-treasures-that-deserve-protection-261433

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  • MIL-OSI USA: McClellan and Tonko Send Letter to Administrator Zeldin Urging EPA to Retract Proposal to Weaken Pollution Standards

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

    Today, Representatives Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) and Paul Tonko (NY-20) led 73 House Members in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin urging EPA to immediately retract its harmful proposal to weaken the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS). 

    “It is the mission of EPA to protect human health and the environment,” wrote the Members. “To achieve these goals, Congress gave EPA authority under the Clean Air Act to regulate hazardous air pollutants, like mercury and arsenic from power plants. Rolling back the MATS rule is a cruel abandonment of the agency’s statutory obligations that will endanger children’s health, harm communities, and let the worst industrial polluters off the hook.”

    Coal-fired power plants emit mercury and other toxic pollutants that poison the air and water. This pollution impacts those living on the fenceline and downwind of these facilities, particularly communities of color and low-income communities, who are more likely to live near coal-fired power plants and be exposed to dangerous pollution. 

    “The standards set by the 2024 rule for mercury and air toxics pollution are not only achievable, but the majority of power plants were either already meeting them or only required small changes to comply,” the Members continued. “Weakening these commonsense standards would allow for the worst of the worst industrial polluters to ratchet up their hazardous emissions. The Trump Administration is already giving out free passes for power plants to pollute and concealing the process for granting exemptions from the public, allowing some of the biggest corporate polluters to increase toxic air pollution into nearby communities without accountability.”

    Strong standards have successfully limited mercury pollution by 90% and decreased other dangerous air pollutants. A recent study estimated that eliminating more than 30 EPA protections that protect our air, water, and climate would cost $275 billion dollars and more than 30,000 lives lost each year.

    “By rolling back the MATS rule, the Trump Administration is choosing corporate polluters over the health and lives of everyday Americans across the country,” the Members concluded. “We implore you to keep our communities and the environment safe from health-harming pollution by stopping this reckless rollback, extending the comment period to 75 days to allow for meaningful public engagement, and committing to holding multiple public hearings to allow affected fenceline communities ample opportunities to be heard in this process.”

    Read the full letter here.

    ###

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: Brown goshawk released from illegal captivity

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 23 Jul 2025

    Open larger image

    The brown goshawk was released into bushland after being rescued from the enclosure.

    Photo credit: © Shari Griinke

    Open larger image

    The person received two fines for illegally capturing the brown goshawk.

    Photo credit: © Shari Griinke

    A brown goshawk has been released from a private property on Brisbane’s south side after it was unlawfully captured and placed into an enclosure without approval.

    In June, the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation received information from a member of the public about a wild bird that had been illegally captured at Marsden.

    Wildlife Rangers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service attended the address and found a brown goshawk that been illegally held in the enclosure for up to three days.

    Senior Wildlife Ranger Shari Griinke said rangers seized the bird and released it within 2.5km of the address.

    “The person who lives at the address admitted to capturing raptors at least three times because he believed they had been harassing his homing pigeons and chickens,” Ms Griinke said.

    “The person was planning on taking the captured goshawk to bushland west of Brisbane where it would be released it into the wild.

    “It is illegal to take or keep native animals from the wild without an appropriate permit, and people needing protection for their poultry or other pets should contact a licenced bird catcher.”

    Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 it is an offence to take and or keep native animals in Queensland without the appropriate permits.

    The person has been issued with two Penalty Infringement Notices to the value of $1,612 for illegally taking the bird from the wild and for keeping it in an enclosure.

    View information about permits required to keep native animals and removal of native animals.

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  • MIL-OSI Australia: From Epping to Powrunna – fourth translocation successful

    Source: Tasmania Police

    Issued: 23 Jul 2025

    Open larger image

    Eleven wombats were taken from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to Powrunna State Forest.

    An additional 11 northern hairy-nosed wombats have been transported from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) in Queensland’s central west to Powrunna State Forest in the state’s southwest.

    This translocation project is an integral component of the Queensland Government’s northern hairy-nosed wombat recovery program which aims to establish a third population of the endangered marsupial.

    The project began in May 2024 after extensive preparation of the site at Powrunna and 37 wombats have already successfully been translocated.

    In June 2025, rangers from across Queensland gathered at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to carefully trap six females and five males for relocation to their new home.

    Principal Conservation Officer Samantha Ryan said there were now 21 females and 16 males at Powrunna, which had been specifically chosen for the third population of wombats.

    “Monitoring by the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation shows the wombats have embraced their new home with plenty of new burrows,” Ms Ryan said.

    “We have already seen some young-at-foot on trail cameras, and our ultimate goal is to create another self-sustaining population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

    “Transportation takes around ten hours during the day when the wombats are usually sleeping, and they’re released early in the evening into artificial burrows.

    “Our goal is to translocate up to sixty wombats to Powrunna by 2026, and there is much hope that the population there will grow as it has at Epping.”

    Senior Program Officer David Field had never seen a northern hairy-nosed wombat prior to the translocation, and said it was wonderful to be involved.

    “It was great to be involved in the planning, trapping, relocation and release of this endangered species and it’s an experience I’ll never forget,” Mr Field said.

    “I’ve learnt so much by working alongside experts, and the wombats were in excellent condition and were bigger and softer than you’d expect.”

    Rangers from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service have used radio trackers and remote cameras to monitor wombats at Powrunna, and site inspections show they have moved on from starter burrows and have dug multiple burrows of their own.

    Northern hairy-nosed wombats previously ranged from New South Wales and into Queensland. In the eighties, the population of wombats at Epping Forest National Park was estimated to be around 35 and is now estimated to be at least 400.

    Richard Underwood Nature Refuge near Wycombe is managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and is home to a small population of northern hairy-nosed wombats.

    The Gunggari Native Title Aboriginal Corporation (GNTAC) and Gunggari Native Title Holders, Glencore, The Wombat Foundation and Australian Wildlife Conservancy have provided ongoing support for this project.

    In Queensland, some national parks are designated as “scientific” and are either fully or partially closed to the public to protect their natural values.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Safeguarding Lake Champlain with Wastewater Upgrades

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Hochul today announced the completion of a critical $3.1 million wastewater infrastructure improvement project in the Town of Westport, Essex County. The improvements not only protect public health and the environment but also help preserve Lake Champlain’s role as a vital driver of the local tourism economy. State, federal, and local investments are minimizing the financial impact of this critical project on local ratepayers.

    “Every New Yorker deserves access to affordable clean water and reliable infrastructure,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment in Westport is a win for families, local businesses, and the millions who visit Lake Champlain each year. By making critical upgrades affordable for small communities, we’re protecting public health, supporting a vital tourism economy and building a more sustainable future for the Adirondacks, North Country and beyond.”

    Project Overview

    The project focused on rehabilitating Sewer District No. 1 to address critical infrastructure needs. Deteriorated pipes and manholes had allowed excessive stormwater and groundwater to infiltrate the wastewater collection system. This excess flow strained the wastewater treatment plant and threatened the local watershed.

    By lining and replacing deteriorated gravity sewers and manholes, the town achieved a substantial reduction in key areas of the district; the town has substantially reduced inflow and infiltration. This crucial improvement significantly enhances the reliability and resiliency of its wastewater treatment operations, ensuring long-term compliance with state environmental regulations, and directly contributing to improved water quality in Lake Champlain, a vital regional resource.

    Funding Breakdown

    To help Westport affordably undertake this project, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provided a grant, and the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation provided a grant and interest-free financing package:

    • $1.9 million Water Quality Improvement Project grant
    • $100,000 Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant to jumpstart the project. Planning grants set the framework to advance fiscally sound and well-designed projects to construction by supporting completion of an approvable engineering report for the project
    • $309,000 Water Infrastructure Improvement grant
    • $928,000 interest-free hardship financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund

    The financial assistance provided to Westport through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund is projected to save local ratepayers over $1.3 million in debt service compared to traditional financing. In the short-term, loans subsidized through the State Revolving Funds can save communities as much as 75 percent in interest payments compared to borrowing in the municipal bond market.

    In the long-term, State Revolving Fund loan repayments to EFC create a self-sustaining source of recurring revenue to meet the never-ending need to rehabilitate, replace and modernize aging infrastructure in the State. The State Revolving Funds are New York’s primary financial mechanism for advancing its clean water goals, delivering over $1 billion annually to communities statewide. Combined with targeted State grants, the State Revolving Funds are part of New York’s broader strategy to maximize the impact of infrastructure dollars, ensuring every region benefits from cleaner water, safer systems, and long-term sustainability.

    Fully funded State Revolving Funds are necessary for New York to be prepared to meet the never-ending need for communities to repair, rehabilitate and modernize aging infrastructure in the future. Access to affordable financing increases investment in water infrastructure, which can prevent costly catastrophic system failures and alleviate pressure on utilities to raise rates, providing relief to many families already struggling to pay their water bills.

    Investing in the Adirondacks

    This project is part of Governor Kathy Hochul’s comprehensive affordability and clean water agenda to help ensure communities statewide have access to safe and sustainable water systems. The State allocated 22 percent of its financial assistance through the State Revolving Funds to Adirondack communities this year, totaling $263 million. In the past decade, EFC has awarded $623 million in financing and State and federal grants to projects in the Blue Line. This amount includes $316 million in State Water Infrastructure Improvement grants, reinforcing the State’s commitment to helping small, rural communities affordably invest in water infrastructure. These strategic investments are helping to modernize aging systems, safeguard natural resources, and reduce the financial burden on rural ratepayers.

    In the last 10 years, DEC funded 76 projects in the Adirondacks through WQIP alone, totaling more than $71 million to upgrade critical water and sewer infrastructure and protect water quality and the environment. At least $75 million is currently available through DEC’s WQIP program and up to $3 million is available through DEC’s Non-Agriculture Nonpoint Source Planning and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Mapping Grant (NPG) program.

    Applications for these grants are available through the New York State’s Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) through July 31, 2025, at 4 p.m.

    Supporting Small and Rural Communities

    Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, EFC is currently accepting applications for $325 million in grants, including enhanced awards for sewer projects in small and rural communities. Even with substantial state support for water infrastructure, many small municipalities still face financial barriers. To address this, Governor Hochul once again directed EFC to double grants from 25 percent to 50 percent of the net eligible project costs for small struggling communities. This enhanced funding will significantly reduce the financial impact on local ratepayers.

    EFC’s Community Assistance Teams are available to help local governments complete funding applications and encourage communities to reach out to receive help in addressing their local water infrastructure needs. This targeted outreach helps ensure that small, rural communities can successfully compete for funding and implement urgently needed projects.

    EFC President and CEO Maureen A. Coleman said, “Modern, reliable wastewater systems are essential to community health and environmental protection. EFC is pleased to support the Town of Westport’s strategic investments in its water infrastructure, making this project affordable for ratepayers and ensuring that Lake Champlain continues to thrive as both an ecological asset and a cornerstone of the local tourism economy.”

    DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York is making record investments to enhance water quality in Lake Champlain and in communities throughout the state. Overhauling Westport’s aging infrastructure and updating wastewater treatment operations reduce pollution and phosphorus that impairs Lake Champlain, threatens drinking water, and contributes to harmful algal blooms. DEC looks forward to continuing to make these essential investments to reduce the financial burden on New Yorkers, safeguard drinking water, and ensure our natural resources are well protected.”

    Senator Charlies Schumer said, “Lake Champlain is a crown jewel of the North Country and boosts our local tourism economy. I’m proud to have delivered nearly $1 million in federal funding to modernize the Town of Westport’s wastewater system. This upgrade will help keep Lake Champlain clean by cleaning up the gravity sewers and manholes, preserving the lake’s crucial role for tourism in the North Country – all while creating good-paying jobs, jobs, jobs. I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s partnership in the fight to turn the tide on our state’s aging water sewer infrastructure to keep our communities economically safe, healthy and vibrant.”

    Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “The health and safety of our communities is dependent on access to safe and reliable water infrastructure. Far too many across the country lack access to the functional and efficient water systems they need, and I am proud that this project will help protect the welfare of Westport families and the millions who visit Lake Champlain every year. I will continue fighting in the Senate to bring home more funding to modernize our aging infrastructure so that all New Yorkers have access to the clean and efficient water systems they deserve.

    Town of Westport Supervisor Michael “Ike” Tyler said, “This project was essential for our community. With State support, we were able to take on a critical infrastructure challenge in a way that was financially responsible for our residents. These upgrades will protect our residents, our environment, and the lake we all depend on.”

    Essex County Chairman Shaun Gillilland said, “This project is a showcase example of teamwork at all levels of New York and local government to combat and alleviate the most challenging stresses on rural infrastructure; namely modernizing and improving older public wastewater systems to ensure they improve and not deteriorate our natural water resources and drinking water.”

    New York’s Commitment to Water Quality
    New York State continues to increase its nation-leading investments in water infrastructure. The next round of EFC’s Water Infrastructure Improvement and Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grants is now open at www.efc.ny.gov. This round reflects New York’s continued leadership in investing in affordable, community-driven clean water solutions.

    With $500 million allocated for clean water infrastructure in the FY26 Enacted Budget announced by Governor Hochul, New York will have invested a total of $6 billion in water infrastructure since 2017. Any community needing assistance with water infrastructure projects is encouraged to contact EFC. New Yorkers can track projects benefiting from EFC’s investments using the interactive project impact dashboard.

    MIL OSI USA News –