October 6, 2010 To satisfy federal and California standards, US DOT National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and US EPA will begin developing stricter greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for passenger cars and trucks built in model years 2017-2025. Effects include saving consumers money by cutting down on fuel costs, improving national energy security by reducing dependence on petroleum, and protecting environment by reducing greenhouse gas pollution.

October 6, 2010 Subcommittee F08.28 on Equestrian Services asks for input from equestrian trackmen and horsemen interested in improving performance, uniformity, and safety of equestrian surfaces. Specifically, call applies to 3 proposed standards that address use of impact analyzer to evaluate turfgrass tracks (ASTM WK29881), standardizes laboratory evaluation of dirt track soil material (ASTM WK29879), and terminology for communicating track surfaces/components on consistent basis (ASTM WK27877).

October 6, 2010 Developed by task group within Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents, ASTM E2755 will be used to evaluate antibacterial activity of hand sanitizers on hands of human subjects. Until recently, hand sanitizers have been evaluated using ASTM standard ASTM E1174, Test Method for Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Health Care Personnel Handwash Formulations. Test method of ASTM E2755 is simpler to perform than ASTM E1174 and more accurately reflects typical use pattern for hand sanitizers.

October 6, 2010 EPA proposes to cut emissions of mercury, particle pollution, and other harmful pollutants from sewage sludge incinerators. Proposed standards, applicable to both multiple hearth and fluidized bed incinerators, would cut mercury emissions from these units by over 75%. By EPA estimates, proposal would yield health benefits ranging from $130-$320 million in 2015. Estimated annualized cost to comply with proposal standards for all currently operating units is estimated at $105 million.

October 5, 2010 To protect human health and environment, EPA is issuing Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Sustainability Policy, which focuses on working with states and water systems to employ planning processes that result in cost-effective, resource-efficient projects that are consistent with sustainability goals. Policy encourages effective utility management practices to build and maintain level of technical, financial, and managerial capacity necessary to ensure long-term sustainability.

October 5, 2010 According to "More Projects and Paychecks: Transportation's Summer of Recovery," US DOT reports that work is underway on 4,200 mass transit projects totaling $5.4 billion and 11,978 highway and bridge projects totaling $24.1 billion as of August 31, 2010. Total of 13,000 highway projects, worth $26.4 billion, have been approved for construction and are forecasted to improve 35,399 miles of highways and 1,200 bridges when complete.

October 5, 2010 House of Representatives has passed AMERICA Works Act (H.R. 4072), which prioritizes existing funding for education and training programs towards those that include industry-recognized credentials. Legislation also aligns with NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System developed by Manufacturing Institute. "The NAM has long advocated this smart approach to education and training and we urge the Senate to act quickly on this bill," said NAM's John Engler.

October 5, 2010 ASTM Standard D5456 specifies procedures necessary for engineered wood composite products to be evaluated for structural design properties that would allow them to be used as substitutes for solid sawn lumber and glue laminated timbers in residential and commercial building construction. Proposed revision includes addition of definition for laminated veneer bamboo and direction on how LVB would be evaluated to develop structural design values.

October 5, 2010 ASTM subcommittee B08.16 on Nanostructured Coatings is developing its first proposed standard ASTM WK29468, Specification for Galvanic Protection of Steel Using a Nanostructured Coating of 95% Zinc. Standard targets steel companies that make galvanized products, including sheet metal, wire, and structural products, as well as industry users who face challenges of corrosion. Participation in development is encouraged from suppliers and end users who benefit from nanostructured coatings.

October 5, 2010 IPC has released E revisions to its desk reference manuals for IPC-DRM-PTH, Through-Hole Solder Joint Evaluation Training & Reference Guide and IPC-DRM-SMT, Surface Mount Solder Joint Evaluation Training & Reference Guide. Compact, spiral-bound booklets illustrate critical acceptance criteria for evaluating through-hole and surface mount solder connections. Color illustrations, photographs, cross references to appropriate specification/paragraph, and notations of changes are included.

October 5, 2010 On September 28, U.S. EPA's independent Science Advisory Board SAB released first draft review of EPA's research into water quality impacts of valley fills associated with mountaintop mining. In review, SAB supports EPA's scientific research and agrees with conclusion that valley fills are associated with increased levels of conductivity (measure of water pollution for mining practices) in downstream waters, and that these increased levels of conductivity threaten stream life in surface waters.

October 5, 2010 U.S. EPA and Mexico's Ministry of Environment along with 36 other countries, European Commission, Asian Development Bank, and Inter-American Development Bank launched Global Methane Initiative that urges stronger international action to address near-term climate change. United States is pledging $50 million over next 5 years to Initiative and is seeking similar pledges from other developed countries to support implementing methane emissions reduction projects and technologies.

October 5, 2010 Offered as 3-day course, Transportation Disaster Response - A Course for Emergency Responders will be held at NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, VA on November 16-18, 2010. Course is being facilitated with full participation of NJ State Police and will feature NTSB specialists as well as other speakers discussing operational and organizational challenges encountered in responding to large-scale, high-profile transportation accidents.

October 5, 2010 IPC invites accredited colleges and universities with strong focus on electronics industry to submit poster abstracts for academic poster competition at IPC APEX EXPO(TM). This competition presents research departments with opportunity to gain international visibility and recognition of their research and academic institution. Submissions for posters are sought in areas such as design, embedded passive and active devices, lead-free issues, rework and repair, RFID circuitry, and SMT assembly.

October 4, 2010 AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey said passage of NASA Authorization Act of 2010 "is crucial to maintaining a robust U.S. human spaceflight program." Citing job losses in private sector due to uncertainty felt over NASA's future and mixed signals on direction of its programs, Blakey insisted "Enacting NASA's authorization begins the process of putting our spaceflight endeavors on a stable course." She strongly recommends President Obama sign NASA Authorization Act of 2010 into law.

October 4, 2010 According to statement made by AIA President and CEO Marion C. Blakey, AIA welcomes passage of U.S.-UK and U.S.-Australia Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties by full Senate. Treaties will streamline licensing system for defense exports to UK and Australia. Aerospace industry strongly supports efforts to adjust outdated restrictions on American companies as they work to equip allies with technology that allows militaries to defend mutual interests.

October 4, 2010 Solar panels are being installed on roof of Research Support Facility to help building generate as much electricity as it uses. While RSF adds 222,000 square feet of office space to NREL campus, building's energy use only increases NREL's overall consumption by 6%. The 1.6 MW photovoltaic system comprises more than 1,800 panels soaking in 240 W of sun each. Additional PV will be installed on RSF expansion and on nearby garage and parking lot to help zero out energy equation.

October 4, 2010 SME Education Foundation has selected its 2011 Board of Directors based on individuals' involvement and commitment to issues critical to preparing next generation for tech-based careers in global economy. In addition to 8 directors and 4 new members, selected officers include President Khalil S. Taraman, Vice President/Secretary Brian A. Ruestow, Treasurer/Chair of Finance Peter F. Mackie, and Assistant Treasurer/Vice Chair of Finance Edward Swallow.

October 4, 2010 The Manufacturing Institute has been awarded $800,000 grant from Lumina Foundation for Education to remodel manufacturing education in 12 states and position individuals for high-quality jobs in Advanced Manufacturing. It will deploy NAM-Endorsed Manufacturing Skills Certification System, creating applied science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) educational pathways aligned to manufacturing career pathways, which span from high school to 4-year college programs of study.

October 4, 2010 NIST awarded total of $50 million in grants to 5 institutions to support construction of scientific research facilities that will explore everything from nanometer-scale electronics and green buildings to ocean microbe ecosystems. Projects receiving funding under NIST Construction Grant Program will contribute to almost $133 million in new laboratory construction projects, according to grantees. Grants will go to research institutions in California, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, and New York.