Veneman Announces Availability of Electronic "Customer Service" Statement
by United States Department of Agriculture

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman recently announced the availability of an electronic Customer Statement, as part of USDA's electronic government (eGovernment) initiative.

[VA] Governor Warner Approves Nation’s Most Sweeping Public/Private Partnership in Technology
by Virginia Governor's Office

[VA]Governor Mark R. Warner today [Nov. 15, 2005] approved an interim agreement with Northrop Grumman Corporation to modernize the state’s information technology infrastructure that will result in a $269.6 million capital investment in the Commonwealth.

10th Case of BSE Reported in Japan
by Various Sources

On February 22, Japanese authorities confirmed the nation’s 10th case of mad cow disease since the first sick animal was discovered in September, 2001.

2006 National Environmental Partnership Summit to be Held in Atlanta
by EPA

The National Environmental Partnership Summit, which focuses on environmental stewardship, improving environmental quality and achieving sustainable outcomes, will be held in Atlanta from May 8 through 11, 2006 and locally hosted by EPA Region 4. The Summit encourages companies, local, state and federal government agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and individuals to attend and share ideas on environmental stewardship activities.

7000+ Chemical Plants to Spend Hundreds of Millions on Regulatory Compliance
by PRWEB

Homeland Security's new Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) demand widespread hardening of chemical facilities. In April 2007, experts projected only about 10,000 chemical plants would need to submit to the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Top Screen in 2007. As of October 1, 2007, a staggering 40,000+ plants have submitted Top Screens for review.

A Human Fungicide . . . for Plants?
by USDA-ARS

A naturally occurring compound called sampangine, patented in 1990 to treat human fungal infections, has been patented again for another use.

A River Runs Through It - ADR Supports the Success of River Sediment Cleanups
by David Batson

Stretching for miles through once, and sometimes still, heavily industrialized areas, our nation's rivers are the final resting places for all varieties of hazardous substances and debris. This stark reality of modern life has created an increasing front in the effort to address areas of contamination – the cleanup of river sediment sites. Covering huge areas, affected by the continuous addition and movement of new contamination from sources potentially spread over an entire river's watershed, and requiring the efforts of multiple federal and state agencies, the cleanup of these sites creates a level of complexity for Agency staff and PRPs unprecedented in the history of Superfund.

Activists Must Prove Harm to Species, Not Just Allege It, to Invoke Endangered Species Act
by Pacific Legal Foundation

In an important victory for western property owners, the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled for Pacific Legal Foundation, and Idaho rancher Verl Jones’ family, in a closely watched case that addresses the standard by which injunctions can be issued under the Endangered Species Act. The Ninth Circuit’s ruling clarifies—for the first time—that environmental plaintiffs must present actual evidence that a species is likely to be harmed before an injunction can be issued against a property owner, and that a lack of evidence of past harm is indicative of the likelihood of future harm.

Adoption High for Online Product Renewal Service
by Tom Johnson

E-Renewals, the online pesticide product renewal service from Kelly Registration Systems, Inc., is expected to break records again this year as more companies experience the convenience and ease of electronic product renewal.

Agencies Team Up to Protect Food Supply
by FDA News

The Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have launched a new joint effort to protect the nation's food supply. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in December 2003, thousands of Customs agents are now authorized to inspect foods imported into the United States.