August 11, 2010 ASTM International has approved F2853, Test Method for Determination of Lead in Paint Layers and Similar Coatings or in Substrates and Homogenous Materials by Energy Dispersive X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry Using Multiple Monochromatic Excitation Beams to help detect and quantify lead concentration in toys and other children's products. HDXRF test enables lead quantification separately for substrate and paint level in 5 minute measurement cycle.

August 11, 2010 According to NTSB, European Aviation Safety Agency Certification Specifications for Large Aeroplanes CS-25 should be modified to ensure safe handling qualities in yaw axis throughout flight envelope, including limits for rudder pedal sensitivity (A-10-119). If adequate protection does not exist, EASA should require modifications, as necessary, to provide airplanes with increased protection from adverse effects of potential Aircraft-Pilot Coupling after rudder inputs at high airspeeds (A-10-120).

August 11, 2010 ASA Education Foundation has scheduled Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© introductory workshops will take place in Philadelphia, PA on September 21; Syracuse, NY on September 22; Westborough, MA on September 23; and Oakland, CA on September 29. Each summarizes Essentials of Profitable Warehouse Operations© certificate course. In addition to full day's instruction, participants will receive course book and right to take final exam for Certificate of Completion.

August 11, 2010 Plains All American Pipeline and several of its operating subsidiaries have agreed to spend $41 million to upgrade 10,420 miles of crude oil pipeline operated in U.S. Settlement resolves Plains' Clean Water Act violations for 10 crude oil spills and requires company to pay $3.25 million civil penalty. As part of agreement, Plains must replace or install corrosion control equipment, perform pipeline inspections, assess integrity of newly acquired pipelines, and improve leak detection practices.

August 11, 2010 WirelessHART® Communication in Process Industries seminars will be held between September 13 and October 28 in Calgary, Edmonton, Dallas, Houston, as well as in Huntington Beach, CA, and Bakersfield, CA. Seminars describe how users' requirements for monitoring and control applications are implemented in WirelessHART, and will also incorporate live demonstrations. Registration is required for seminar attendance.

August 10, 2010 As first case concluded under EPA's National Enforcement Initiative for Mining and Mineral Processing, CF Industries, Inc. will spend ~$12 million to reduce and properly manage hazardous wastes generated at its Plant City, FL manufacturing facility. This settlement resolves Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) violations and requires civil penalty payment of over $700,000 as well as $163.5 million in financial assurances to guarantee appropriate closure and long-term care for facility.

August 10, 2010 Nominations are still being accepted for Resource magazine's 2010 AE50 competition, sponsored by American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. AE50 awards annually honor best in product innovation for agricultural, food, and biological systems. Winning entries receive write-up in Resource magazine, and some will be showcased at ASABE's Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference, held in conjunction with Ag Connect Expo, in January 2011.

August 10, 2010 To help executives understand new industry paradigms and manage change, industry leaders and experts will come together at Electronics Industry Executive Summit: Ideas for a Bright Future in the New Electronics Industry, October 13-14 in Palm Springs, CA. IPC-sponsored event will reveal trends in critical areas such as materials, end markets, and disruptive technologies. It will also feature forecasts and industry analyses from experts on industry markets, technologies, and management.

August 9, 2010 U.S. DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory seeks project proposals as part of DOE funding to accelerate commercialization of solar energy technologies. Photovoltaic (PV) Technology Incubator project fosters collaboration between US small businesses and NREL and other DOE laboratories and facilities. Funding is intended to focus attention on areas critical to scaling-up PV technology and meeting goals to reduce cost of PV-generated electricity and expand installed PV capacity by 2015.

August 9, 2010 November 17-19, 2010 in San Antonio, TX, Creep-Fatigue Interactions: Test Methods and Models symposium will address research concerning creep-fatigue crack formation and crack growth in high-temperature materials and structures. Papers on recent developments in experimental techniques, models for representing data, and applications of data will be presented in single session format. Presentations will include 6 plenary lectures, 4 invited keynote lectures, and contributed papers.

August 9, 2010 Program has been announced for BIO India International Partnering Conference, which will take place September 21-22 in Hyderabad, India. In addition to 4 scheduled sessions, conference program includes company presentations, dedicated BIO One-on-One Partnering timeslots, and various networking opportunities. Topics include deal structures between US/European and Indian companies, India's proposed Utilization of Public Funded Intellectual Property Bill, and funding of innovation.

August 9, 2010 According to NAM President and CEO, John Engler, NAM is pleased to see Administration move forward and announce 24 manufacturing leaders who will serve in an advisory capacity to Secretary Locke as part of Commerce Department's Manufacturing Council. With high unemployment and slow economic growth, NAM believes it is critical that the Administration and Congress adopt policies that will help manufacturers maintain their competitiveness and create good jobs.

August 9, 2010 The Commerce Department has published a Notice of Inquiry on "Cybersecurity, Innovation, and Internet Policy." The department seeks comments from all stakeholders on measures to improve cybersecurity while sustaining innovation. After analyzing comments on this notice, department intends to issue report that will contribute to Administration's domestic and international policies and activities in advancing both cybersecurity and the Internet economy.

August 9, 2010 NIST computer researcher Marianne Swanson is lead author of "Piloting Supply Chain Risk Management for Federal Information Systems," which explains how information systems and components are under attack throughout supply chain, from design phase to disposal. To help mitigate risk throughout life cycle, report provides practices based on security procedures found in NIST special publications as well as those from National Defense University and National Defense Industry Association.

August 9, 2010 AMCA International's Board of Directors reviewed current registration fee schedule for its 55th Annual Meeting, which will take place October 2010 in Adventura, FL, and have unanimously approved attendance of one complementary registration per full member and spouse or guest. Board acknowledges importance of member participation and recognizes that travel expenses may create additional hardship for some of its member companies.

August 9, 2010 AAMA FenestrationMasters(TM) program, geared towards professionals in window, door, skylight, curtain wall, storefront, and sloped glazing industries, offers training content based on consensus-based AAMA standards. To gain certification, coursework is accessed through MyWindowClass.com. Required coursework, which covers subjects such as performance standards, product and material types, and code requirements, can be done at individuals' own paces via any computer with Internet access.

August 9, 2010 NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) entered into joint program to explore Mars in coming decades and selected 5 instruments for first mission. These include Mars Atmosphere Trace Molecule Occultation Spectrometer, High Resolution Solar Occultation and Nadir Spectrometer, ExoMars Climate Sounder, High Resolution Color Stereo Imager, and Mars Atmospheric Global Imaging Experiment. ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, scheduled to launch in 2016, is first of 3 joint robotic missions to Mars.

August 9, 2010 To be held October 3-6 at Liaison Capitol Hill, 2010 Fall Meeting will revolve around theme "Taking Charge of Change" and will focus on change to both PMI and plumbing manufacturing world. It will feature Fair Trade Issue Committee Meeting with presentation on U.S. industrial challenges in China related to conformity assessment. Event will also include Member Services Committee Meeting, run by crisis communications expert Marty Boyer, and presentations by experts from Bathroom Manufacturers Association.

August 6, 2010 On October 7-8 at NTSB Training Center in Ashburn, VA, NTSB will offer guidance to aviation public affairs professionals on how to effectively manage emergency communications following major aircraft accident or incident. Representatives from the NTSB Office of Public Affairs, members of national news media, as well as airport and airline communications professionals will all be present to offer their specific insights on event and information handling.

August 6, 2010 NIST requests nominations of qualified individuals for its 9 existing Federal Advisory Committees. Ongoing nominations will be accepted and considered as and when vacancies arise. July 27, 2010 Federal Register notice details each committee, including number of members serving on committee, its objectives and duties, nomination procedure, and committee contacts. New to NIST advisory committees list this year is NIST Smart Grid Advisory Committee.