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Grayson-Jockey Club to Offer Free Courses
In an effort to enhance equine welfare, health and safety and overall horsemanship skills, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation will offer free, online horsemanship courses.
In an effort to enhance equine welfare, health and safety and overall horsemanship skills, the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation will offer free, online horsemanship courses.
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said Feb. 20 it has begun its search for a replacement for chief executive officer Phil Hanrahan, who stepped down effective Feb. 15.
With no permanent funding source for the industry's Permanently Disabled Jockey's Fund, the Jockeys' Guild is working to rally more support for its "Dollar Start" effort.
Parent company Churchill Downs Inc., preparing to redevelop parts of Calder Race Course, has started on the backside by putting up a wire fence. Trainers are saying the fence is a safety hazard and hinders access to barns.
With its return to dirt racing this fall, Keeneland hopes to hear that greeting--cue Eric Clapton--from more horsemen interested in prepping their top starters for main-track races in this year's Breeders' Cup. blog
Some of North America's top trainers are backing a plan to eliminate the use of race-day medication in the U.S. beginning next season with 2-year-olds, and expanding to all horses in 2016.
A horseplayers group that organized a protest of Churchill Downs reports handle is down $19.3 million through the first 14 race days at the Louisville track.
Industry should address PETA allegations with tighter controls on meds, banning abusers, and promoting true horsemen. read blog
National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association affiliates in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have announced results of elections for their boards of directors.
In an announcement Sept. 28, Calder Casino & Race Course said that effective Dec. 1, 2012, it will charge a stabling fee of $10 per stall per day during its off-season months when it does not have live racing.
Talking out both sides of the mouth ... and trying to make sense of it all. read blog
Concept isn't new...but worth revisiting... read blog
Texas horsemen gear up for last, best run at video lottery terminals
The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said Nov. 23 the results of its 2009 election have been certified by a public accountant.
A New York horsemen's group will continue to get additional purse money to fund its operations, including health benefits for backstretch workers at New York Racing Association tracks, under final passage of legislation July 16 by the state Senate.
No ruling was issued July 8 after a hearing in the ongoing exclusion case involving horsemen at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia.
More than 100 people who make their living in the Kentucky horse industry made their case to three Northern Kentucky legislators Feb. 16, and the message was clear: The economics must change or the state will lose a valuable asset.
Ellis Park ended its annual racing meet Sept. 1 with a 3% drop in daily handle, despite broader signal distribution to advance deposit wagering outlets.
It began in 2006 with an anonymous flyer questioning the effectiveness of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and snowballed into allegations, a protest, litigation, and paper trail that led some to question the validity of the association's most recent election.
Churchill Downs' 52-day spring meet closed July 6 with steep declines in handle and purses, likely results of a well-publicized clash between track officials and horsemen over wagering revenue.
With two weeks left before Calder Race Course's July 12 Summit of Speed, Churchill Downs Inc. and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association remain deadlocked in contract talks for the Miami Gardens, Fla., track.
A leading executive of Churchill Downs Inc. told a gathering of shareholders June 19 that he didn't know when a nasty revenue-sharing dispute with horsemen would be resolved, but promised the company would do its part in reaching a satisfactory conclusion for all.
An official of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association said on May 14 that his organization will issue a proposal that would enable Calder Race Course to carry the simulcast signal of the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) -- with a condition.
Sam Gordon was elected to a fourth term as president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at the organization's regularly scheduled March 31 board meeting.
By Dan Liebman - The Breeders' Cup should be a win-win for the organization and the host track.
The Maryland Racing Commission remains committed to regulating anabolic steroids in racehorses, but will delay implementation of a model rule given questions about the rule itself and laboratory testing procedures.
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association released a statement Jan. 10 urging the state to address issues of importance to the 6,000 members of its group as negotiations continue on the long-term extension of the New York Racing Association franchise.
The Thoroughbred Owners of California and Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have joined the new Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group, launched Dec. 5 to facilitate simulcast activities and improve the economics of the pari-mutuel model.
Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced Dec. 10 they have extended their live racing contract at Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack for seven years, with Greenwood promising to make substantial improvements to the backstretch as well as revert most of the grandstand back to a venue for horseplayers.
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association will address rebates, computer-assisted wagering, equine drug testing, immigration, and other issues during its winter convention scheduled for Jan. 24-28, 2008, in New Orleans.
The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has hired racing industry veteran Lenny Hale as its new executive director, the organization announced Oct. 1.
Horsemen are calling for an end to the stalemate over account wagering; and even though providers say they want it to end as well, there doesn't appear to be a resolution in sight.
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is breaking its ties with Empire Racing Associates, a move that will further throw into confusion the process for naming a franchise holder to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.
Jim Gallagher, most recently a consultant for the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, has been named executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.
Trainers at Delaware Park are being offered a horsemen's group-sponsored workers' compensation program as well as a $1-million general liability insurance policy at no additional cost.
The horsemen's group at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack is fighting a petition by the track to add to its temporary slot-machine casino and delay construction of a permanent facility.
In what they said is an effort to promote unity, officials with the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have rescinded a resolution that banned the Kentucky HBPA president from serving in an official capacity with the organization.
National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Alex Waldrop said the organization continues to be relevant, but industry stakeholders must commit to its long-term health.
Horsemen's groups and other industry stakeholders must educate lawmakers on the importance of foreign workers to the racing industry and other agricultural businesses, panelists said during a Feb. 8 workshop.
Trainer Jami Poole, who lost the race for president of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association by only eight votes, has officially protested the organization's recent election.
The Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is conducting a special election to fill the office of president and each of 10 board seats. The election comes in response to dissention among the membership after four elected officials were removed last November for allegedly violating the organization's bylaws.
As part of an effort to address concerns raised by several Northern California members, the Thoroughbred Owners of California held an open forum July 28 at Golden Gate Fields and pledged to act on several recommendations.
A two-hour discussion on account wagering and secondary pari-mutuel operations July 14 again revealed horsemen have knowledge of situations that suck revenue from purse accounts, but no definitive national strategy to recoup the money.
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is moving ahead with plans to implement a lump-sum payment that would reduce its annual National Thoroughbred Racing Association membership dues by about 50% but almost triple the number of NTRA-member HBPA affiliates.
About 200 Northern California horsemen have signed a petition supporting the formation of a new trainer/owner organization to represent them in negotiations with racetrack associations and others, saying they believe their affiliation with the Thoroughbred Owners of California is no longer adequate.
Three ousted members of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association board of directors won a small battle Jan. 24 when the National HBPA executive committee ruled in their favor and recommended a new election. However, it appears the war between two Indiana HBPA factions is far from over.
An electronic commerce company hopes to introduce a Web-based program that would convert legal pari-mutuel Internet wagers into on-track bets, thus increasing the share of revenue to tracks and horsemen.
The president and vice president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have resigned, and a West Virginia owner/breeder who headed the organization when video lottery terminals were introduced in the mid-1990s has again taken over as president.
The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association again will tackle the issues of offshore simulcasts, pirating, and horsemen's rights during its winter convention scheduled for Jan. 21-25 in Tampa, Fla.
A dispute over an e-mail and alleged flyer posted at a southern Indiana training center has resulted in the dismissal of recently elected Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Jim Riddle and three board members. They have appealed the matter to the National HBPA.


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Book your room at Ocean Terrace Inn
Deluxe Room, 2 Queen BedsMax Occupancy: 5 guests (up to 3 children, 2 infants)
Luxury Suite, 1 Bedroom, Ocean ViewMax Occupancy: 4 guests (up to 3 children)
Standard RoomMax Occupancy: 2 guests (up to 1 child, 1 infant)
Superior RoomMax Occupancy: 3 guests (up to 2 children, 1 infant)
Get an overview of this hotelHillside resort on the Caribbean waterfront, surrounded by tropical gardens
Near Basseterre
This resort is a 1-km (half-mile) waterfront walk from the capital town of Basseterre and the ferry dock to Nevis.
Lagoon pool
Resort highlights include the locally popular Fisherman's Wharf restaurant, built over water, the Verandah Restaurant with sea views, and a lagoon-like pool with waterfalls and swim-up bar.
Ocean vistas
The 50 rooms are decorated Caribbean-style, with tile floors and wood ceilings. All provide furnished balconies or patios with ocean views. Free wireless Internet access, cable TV, and mini refrigerators are included.Information missing or incorrect? Tell us!
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
4 low-rise, green-and-white guestroom buildings are connected by pathways with stairways. Complimentary shuttle service is offered between the resort's upper and lower sections, by request.
The hotel, which offers a complimentary shuttle to the nearby beach, has an air-conditioned fitness center with cardiovascular and weight-training equipment. Guests may arrange massages at the fitness center or in their rooms (surcharge). The resort grounds are tropically landscaped, with flowering vegetation bordering 3 swimming pools and rocky waterfalls. The largest pool has a swim-up bar and children's section. The hotel also offers baby sitting at an additional charge (on request).
Wireless Internet access is complimentary throughout the hotel. On-site conference and business centers offer a flexible 2,500-square-foot (232-square-meter) meeting room, catering services, audiovisual equipment, fax, copier, and a computer station. Laundry services are available on site, and a roundtrip airport shuttle can be arranged on request (surcharge). Free street parking is available.
- Number of buildings/towers - 4
- Airport transportation (surcharge)
- Laundry facilities
- Terrace
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Free WiFi
- Computer station
- Free beach shuttle
- Conference space size (feet) - 2500
- Conference space size (meters) - 232
- Outdoor pool
- Poolside bar
- Children's pool
- Concierge services
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Fitness facilities
- Conference space
- Meeting rooms
- 24-hour front desk
- Porter/bellhop
- Total number of rooms - 50
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Number of floors - 2
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Breakfast available (surcharge)
- Bar/lounge
- Wedding services
- Airport transportation
- Garden
- Luggage storage
- Pool sun loungers
- Free parking nearby
- Year Built 1969
- Number of restaurants - 2
- Free self parking
Family Friendly Amenities
- Outdoor pool
- Children's pool
- Free Wi-Fi
- Laundry facilities
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Refrigerator
- Cribs/infant beds (complimentary)
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired high-speed Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi
Free self parking, Free parking nearby
Room Amenities
- Free WiFi
- Premium TV channels
- Room service (limited hours)
- Air conditioning
- Access via exterior corridors
- Climate control
- Ceiling fan
- Phone
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Daily housekeeping
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Cable TV service
- Iron/ironing board
- In-room safe
- Desk
- Flat-panel TV
- Free wired high-speed Internet
- Free cribs/infant beds
Where to Eat
Fisherman's Wharf - Located on a pier stretching out into the Caribbean, the Fisherman's Wharf combines spectacular views of Basseterre with a menu dominated by fresh seafood, regional flavors, and local ingredients. The chef delivers local favorites and seasonal specialties combined with friendly service in a lively, casual atmosphere. Recent renovations include an open display kitchen and a new bar and lounge. Open Monday to Saturday from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM, with live music and entertainment 3 nights per week. Happy hour is at 6 PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
The Verandah - The Verandah offers indoor or outdoor dining on the verandah which wraps around the restaurant providing magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea. American and West Indian breakfast and lunch are served. The Verandah is open for dinner on Tuesday-Sunday evenings, when the restaurant is transformed into a romantic sophisticated setting with delicious Asian-Fusion culinary delights and Caribbean dishes.
The Fantasy Bar - Located by the rockery pool, this casual open-air bar serves individually prepared cool drinks. Open 7 days a week from 10:30 AM-5:30 PM.
Terrace Bar - Bar under bleached-wood ceiling, with additional seating on a terracotta-tile terrace overlooking Basseterre harbor, St. Kitts' peninsula, and Nevis. This bar serves drinks from 5:30 PM on Friday.
Room service - Available from 7 AM until 9 PM.
Nearby Things to Do
The Ocean Terrace Inn has three swimming pools. The largest pool is a freeform "fantasy pool," which follows the contours of the landscape and features small islands with tropical gardens and cascading waterfalls. Scuba diving is available on-site. The hotel's air-conditioned fitness center contains a universal gym, cardio machines, free weights, and a massage room.
An on-site hospitality desk compiles weekly activity sheets with times and costs of various excursions, such as rain forest tours, shopping, and day sailing trips.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or near the hotel; fees may apply.
- Golfing nearby
- Snorkeling nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Golf lessons available nearby
- Scuba diving on site
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 18
Check-in time starts at 2 PM
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Kids stay free! Children under 12 years old stay free when using existing bedding.
- Rollaway/extra beds are available.
- Free cribs (infant beds)!
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
- Airport shuttle fee: USD 15 per vehicle (one way)
- Late check-out fee: USD 50
- Rollaway beds are available for an additional fee
We should mention
This property offers transfers from the airport (surcharges may apply). Guests must contact the property with arrival details 72 hours prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Children 12 years old and younger stay free when occupying the parent or guardian's room, using existing bedding.

subset: commoncrawl


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Photo source: The DEW Line Northrop Grumman delivered the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye to the US Navy Atlantic Fleet today at Norfolk naval base in Virginia. Chief of Naval Operations Adm Gary Roughead formally accepted the E-2D from Gary Ervin, Northrop Grumman's president of the aerospace systems sector. To read our recently published technical description on […]
Tag Archives | E-2D
PHOTO OP: US Navy accepts E-2D
By Stephen Trimble on 29 July, 2010 in Uncategorised
House approps: Today's winners and losers
By Stephen Trimble on 16 July, 2009 in Uncategorised
Here's a quick summary of the aerospace winners and losers from today's mark-up of the defense budget by the House appropriations subcommittee on defense. The press release above can also be downloaded at this site. The House appropriators mark-up follows previous votes by the authorizing committees of the House and Senate. The Senate appropriators have […]
Bizarre E-2D earmark request sends clear message
By Stephen Trimble on 15 April, 2009 in Uncategorised
The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye may have been victimized in last year's budget process. Whether the program was really in trouble was, at best, ambiguous. But Congress slashed the program's budget by one-third anyway for both Fiscal 2009 and 2010. Those seemingly arbitrary cuts not only halted the program's momentum, but also delayed the in-service date […]
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Matthew D. Woods
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I have many family members buried in many cemeteries in the south east Michigan/Metro-Detroit area including the following counties: Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland and Lenawee. I usually visit these cemeteries at least once a year. If your loved one is in one of my cemeteries or in the same county and you request a photo, I'll make an attempt to locate and photograph it.
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charles A jones
charles A jones
could you transfer me Charles A. Jones# 25448012 this is my great grandpa
thank-you,also he has a son name clarence Jones
Added by
on Aug 27, 2014 1:17 AM
Cathy O'Leary
Margaret Flanagan O'Leary
Hi Matthew,
I was googling my Great Grandfather and saw that you posted a photo of their grave. I'm not sure if you can update the info or not but though in case anyone was wanting it, Margaret Flanagan was born June 10, 1871 and died March 31, 1965
Added by
Cathy O'Leary
on Jul 23, 2014 7:15 PM
Kathy OBrien
Jeremiah Joseph Harrigan
Matthew – I attached the prayer card and obituary for Jeremiah Joseph Harrigan who is buried at St. Patrick's cemetery. Both indicate his death date is July 29, 1965 (which is a Thursday) rather than July 26, 1965. Thank you for all your contributons. Kathleen
Added by
Kathy OBrien
on May 27, 2014 4:18 PM
RE: Sr. Margaret Murphy
Matthew---I spent quite a long while looking for Margaret this afternoon and had no luck! She's buried in an area that has few headstones and I walked back and forth the entire area looking for a footstone, with no luck! I have a very detailed map of St. Peter's so I know I was in the exact place recorded. I took several shots of the area she is buried in at least---would you like me to add one to her memorial? So sorry I didn't have more luck for you.
Added by
on May 17, 2014 6:14 PM
RE: Sr. Margaret Murphy
Thanks Matthew! I'll try and get over there in the next few days and do the photo for you. Do you want me to email it to you or put it directly on her memorial?
Added by
on May 13, 2014 2:59 PM
Margaret Murphy
Hi---I'd be happy to fulfill your request for a photo of Margaret Murphy's headstone in St. Peter's Cemetery here in London, ON---could you please tell me where in the cemetery she is buried---section and plot would be great!
Added by
on May 11, 2014 8:37 PM
Pam Jansma
Arthur J Bushie
Are you related to Arthur Bushie?
Added by
Pam Jansma
on May 04, 2014 8:08 PM
Effie A, Jones
22712317 Effie A.Jones is my great-grandmother could i also have her thank-you
Added by
on Dec 15, 2013 6:44 PM
Theo knapp
25448191 Theo Knapp is my grandmother could i have her too thank-you
Added by
on Dec 15, 2013 6:34 PM
Theo knapp
25448191 Theo Knapp is my grandmother could i have her too thank-you
Added by
on Dec 15, 2013 6:34 PM
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Lignetics: Manufacturer of Premium Wood Pellets, Pres-to-Logs® Fire Logs, and Fire Starters
Welcome to Lignetics' blog where we will be posting current information about the wood pellet, fire log, and fire starter industry. We welcome your comments and additions as we develop what we hope will be an up-to-date information center on all developments concerning wood pellets and fire logs.
In 2011, we noticed a glaring omission in an annual U.S. government publication. The annual Winter Fuel Report failed to mention wood and pellets, one of the most common heating fuels in America. Members of Congress were also appalled. The next year, the report began covering wood and pellet heat, not just fossil fuel heat.
Now we find the same parent agency, the U.S. DOE, omitting any mention of wood and pellet heating in a major, consumer-oriented publication and inserting the word solar where wood and pellets should be. The publication, Energy Saver: Tips on Saving Money & Energy at Home, is one of the DOE's main consumer-oriented energy efficiency publications. The glossy, 41-page booklet is distributed free of charge and contains scores of excellent suggestions on how to save on your utility bills.
The section on renewable energy tells consumers they have many options for using renewable energy at home, including solar and small wind turbines. The booklet also discusses geothermal and solar thermal. It states: "Solar panels are the most popular form of renewable energy today."
There are not even half a million homes with solar panels and about 10 million homes with wood or pellet stoves. On an annual basis, wood and pellet stoves still outsell solar panels. By 2020, there still be less than one million homes with solar. Even if the high estimates are correct, the number of homes using solar is still less than half the number of those with installed stoves. So why does the DOE say solar panels are the most popular form of residential energy, and why does it not even mention wood or pellet stoves in the renewable energy section?
It's understandable that wood stoves aren't being endorsed as an energy pathway that should rapidly expand (particularly in western states where inversions often trap particulates). But pellet stoves and boilers provide an excellent option for homeowners in most of the country to reduce fossil fuels and affordably heat their homes without producing excessive emissions.
About 10 states offer rebates or tax incentives to install pellet stoves or boilers. There are liberal leading states that are trying to expand residential renewable energy deployment, such as Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Vermont. Then there are more conservative states, like Idaho, Maine, Montana and New Hampshire, which also see the benefits of helping households use a local renewable resource to affordably heat their homes. Why is the DOE so out of touch with what is happening around the country?
As the Obama administration and much of the country is increasingly focused on reducing fossil fuel use, the main federal agency in charge does not even see fit to mention a powerful HVAC device that drastically reduces or eliminates fossil heating fuels in more than 10 million U.S. homes.
A $2,000 or $3,000 dollar pellet stove can easily provide 40 to 100 percent of most homes' space heating needs. A typical 5-kW array of solar panels can provide about the same amount of energy in a year as a pellet stove can provide in four to five months.
The DOE should initiate more programmatic work on wood heat. Short of that, it should at least acknowledge the existence of wood and pellets in booklets like this and help educate homeowners about how they can best use them. For instance, this booklet could urge homeowners to upgrade from an old, uncertified wood stove to a cleaner, more efficient pellet stove. It could also explain how modern, automated pellet boilers, like the ones that are so popular now in Europe, can provide both space and water heating and are a great complement to solar panels.
Accuracy and honesty are above all important, and ignoring the efforts of more than 10 million homes does not advance our common efforts to reduce fossil fuel use. The DOE should be striving to reach diverse constituencies, not just the urban, affluent people who can afford more expensive energy upgrades like solar panels or wind turbines. The booklet even suggests small wind turbines are good to charge a sailboat battery. A sailboat battery? What audience is DOE trying to reach?
The demographic who could install small wind turbines is relatively small, and those who would use them to charge a sailboat battery is miniscule, but the demographic that could benefit from pellet stoves is huge.
It would help if there were an Energy Star label for wood and pellet stoves, so that federal and state agencies could better guide the deployment of these technologies as they do for all other major HVAC appliances. However, the development of such a label may be years away. For now, simply acknowledging the existence of wood and pellet stoves as a popular renewable energy option and educating the public about how and where to best use them is a good start.
Read the original here.
From Biomass Magazine
By Erin Voegele
The USDA has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to assess the potential environmental consequences associated with proposed discretionary changes to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. A public comment period on the matter is now open.
According to a notice posted in the Federal Register, the USDA's Farm Service Agency will prepare the PEIS on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corp. The notice informs the public of FSA's intent to seek public comment on potential changes being considered for BCAP and on environmental concerns related to the proposed changes. Preparation of the PEIS is required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The USDA indicated the input it receives as part of the notice will enable the development of alternatives for implementing the proposed changes to BCAP and begin to evaluate the impacts of those alternatives, as required by NEPA.
The notice explains that the purpose of the PEIS process is to provide FSA decision makers, other agencies, tribes and the public with an analysis of the potential beneficial, adverse, and cumulative environmental impacts associated with proposed discretionary changes to BCAP.
In 2010, a final PEIS for BCAP was published by the FSA. According to the notice, that PEIS evaluated environmental consequences of establishing and administering the BCAP as specified in the 2008 Farm Bill. Since 2010, environmental assessments have been prepared for various project areas and for specific feedstocks.
The 2014 Farm Bill amended and reauthorized BCAP through 2018. According to the notice, the 2014 Farm Bill included a number of non-discretionary changes to the program. Those changes are primarily administrative in nature, do not alter the general scope of the program, and have already been implemented through rulemaking.
The notice explains the FSA is currently considering discretionary changes to the way BCAP is implemented. Those discretionary changes define the scope for the new PEIS.
According to the notice, the proposed discretionary changes aim to improve the functionality and flexibility of the establishment and annual payments as part of BCAP. No discretionary changes are being proposed for the matching payments part of BCAP.
The proposed changes include consideration and review of additional crops, such as pongamia pinnata, giant miscanthus seeded and rhizome clones, giant reed, pennycress, energy cane, biomass sorghum, sweet sorghum, yellowhorned fruit tree, eastern cottonwood, kenaf, jatropha, eucalyptus (fast growing), castor beans, short-rotation pine, tropical maze, hybrid willow, sweetgum, black locust, loblolly pine, aspen, rubber rabbitbrush, and guayule.
A separate proposed change would add requirements or additional practices for conservation plans on expiring conservation reserve program (CRP) or agricultural conservation easement program (ACEP) land acres that would be enrolled in BCAP project areas.
In addition, the notice includes the potential for enrolling annual crops in BCAP project areas for contracts of less than five years.
Additional proposed changes would establish program management processes that could help offset the lack of crop insurance for biomass crops or provide sufficient information for the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program to establish coverage, and would address treatment of the required FSA annual rental reductions in the event of no bioenergy market and use for the harvested or collected biomass crops.
According to information published in the notice, the FSA plans to hold a series of scoping meetings to provide information on the proposed changes to BCAP and solicit input from program participants, the public and other stakeholders on the environmental impacts of the proposed changes and alternatives to the proposed changes. Meetings are scheduled to be held July 14 in Sacramento, California; July 15 in Honolulu; Aug. 3 in Raleigh, North Carolina; Aug. 4 in Orlando, Florida; and Aug. 5 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Comments on the proposed discretionary changes are due July 13. An additional opportunities for public comment will be available on the PEIS when it is developed.
Additional information is available in the Federal Register notice.
Read the original here.
From Biomass Magazine
By Katie Fletcher
Type and location define pellet fuel's quality and prospective markets. These realities differ for Western producers compared to their Eastern peers in the quest to run a successful plant.
Location, location, location, is real estate's greatest determining factor in value, and if that real estate is a pellet plant, it also determines the product it produces. A series of forested mountain ranges-the Sierra Nevada, the Rockies and the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest-span the Western United States. Many of these and other forested lands in the region are publically owned. The opposite is true for the other half of the country. Privately owned land occupies the Eastern seaboard, the largely forested highlands in the Northeast, including the Piedmont and the Appalachian Mountains, ranging down to the Southeastern coniferous forests that occupy the Gulf coastal plain to the south. Land ownership and forest type are two components that play into what sets pellet production and distribution in the West apart from that which occurs in the East.
Successful producers across the country have learned how to sustainably source the fiber their location provides and, in turn, tap the surrounding markets to distribute the pellets they produce. The markets currently gaining the most momentum are those accessed in the Southeast and Northeast. For example, in April, Portucel Sporcel Group broke ground on a pellet plant in South Carolina, and Northeast Wood Products is retrofitting its third pellet manufacturing plant in Tennessee. Another big player coming onboard in the South is Drax Biomass. The company recently spent 15 months building port infrastructure to handle and ship pellets to Europe from the company's two 450,000-metric-ton-per-year plants: Amite BioEnergy in Mississippi and Morehouse BioEnergy in Louisiana.
While many of these plants gear up for the expanding market in Europe, further up the East Coast, spikes in demand and supply disruptions have created periods of shortages. On the other hand, an oversupply is occurring in the West, with mild weather and competing inexpensive natural gas. Some Western producers have even funneled excess pellets to the Northeast when requested and customers willing to pay a higher premium for shipping.
As for new Western plants, Centennial Renewable Energy announced plans to build a 160,000-metric-ton wood pellet plant in northern Idaho. Other than this announcement, Western producers agree new production capacity is not likely with an oversupply on the domestic side, and a lack of lucrative export market opportunities. However, as in most energy markets, the volatility makes the future unclear. As the East Coast has had success in Europe, the West may hold promise with their neighbors across the pond. Three producers, from locations in the West, share their decades of experience running successful pellet operations to provide a glimpse at what makes the region's industry tick.
A Southwest Example
Rob Davis, president of Forest Energy Corp. with the help of Gary Moore, director of operations, and 33 employees, runs a 60,000-ton-per-year plant in Show Low, Arizona, serving primarily residential customers in the surrounding Southwestern region. Whereas most Western producers buy sawmill byproduct for their feedstock, Davis' mill obtains its feedstock differently. "We're a little unique in the Southwest," Davis says. "We bring a lot of our wood directly from the forest to the plant—small diameter trees that need to be removed for forest restoration and fire hazard mitigation."
FEC was the first mill to take material directly out of the forest and make pellets from it in the late '90s due to the lack of sawmill operations in the area. Even today, not many producers in the country do, because historically it's been more economical to purchase byproduct from a sawmill or similar operation when available. Over the past decade, the plant's feedstock had been guaranteed through the White Mountain Stewardship Project, a 10-year stewardship contract that ended in August. Davis is a founding partner of Future Forest LLC, the prime contractor for the project, which had the aim to thin 150,000 acres of forest to protect communities from wildfire and stimulate the wood industry. Although this helped Davis guarantee feedstock for the plant, stewardship contracts are not common in the West, and the high volume of public land ownership makes a huge difference when obtaining feedstock. "We're relying on forest management plans by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) or the U.S. Forest Service to be consistent and reliable so we can have some idea of what is going to happen in the future," Davis says. "Whereas in the East, you would probably buy a lot more from private land owners, it's harder to obtain longer term assurances on public lands."
Although FEC has been able to sustainably source feedstock to churn out pellets and restore forestland, growing the market for pellets has been a challenge in the Southwest. Davis says, in general, the market is spread out much more in the West than in the East. High consumption areas, paired with the region's population densities, are vastly distributed. FEC can only serve customers located within an economical transportation radius from the plant to make commerce work.
Another impact on market growth is competing heating fuels. "In the West, we have pockets of propane, but we also have, in the past several years, had very inexpensive natural gas, which has made it difficult for the Western markets to grow," Davis says. "If you look at New England, they've had pretty high-priced fuel oil, which has caused more stove sales because it's very competitive."
FEC primarily uses ponderosa pine, with a small amount of the Douglas fir species to make its Heat'rs, TerrAmigo and Green Tree product lines. Within the past year, the pellets are now qualified under the Pellet Fuels Institute standards program. When it comes to hardwood species versus softwood, Davis says they don't see it having a significant impact on the marketplace. He adds that for the most part pellets consumed in a region are produced there. "We shipped more to New England this year because they had a short-term demand and we had some extra product, but that's not typical," Davis says.
FEC went into business in 1992, and has experienced consistent, gradual market growth since. Ultimately though, "I don't see a huge change in the market, or demand for pellets in the West unless outside influences create an impact," Davis says.
Producing Coast To Coast
Ken Tucker, CEO of Lignetics Inc., agrees with Davis' outlook. "I think the West is going to be pretty flat and the growth is going to be in the East," he says.
Lignetics has plants on both sides of the country. The company's flagship plant, built in 1979, is located in Sandpoint, Idaho. Its East Coast plants are located in Linn, West Virginia, and Kenbridge, Virginia. This February, Lignetics merged with Western pellet producer Bear Mountain Forest Products, adding two facilities in Oregon to the mix, one in Brownsville and the other in Cascade Locks. "We wanted to expand our footprint in the West," Tucker says. "We wanted to expand our shipping corridors; freight has become a big part of our business lately. There is only so far you can truck our product and still be competitive."
Lignetics is also in the midst of some expansion projects and upgrades. "At our Cascade Locks plant in Oregon we're putting in a complete new dryer line, upgrading the pellet equipment and automating the bagging operation," Tucker says. "We're upgrading our Virginia facility right now to include additional production capability, and we have just finished an upgrade in our West Virginia plant allowing us to process chips more efficiently than we were before."
The recent merger and upgrades have increased Lignetics capacity. Its facility in Idaho is designed to produce about 80,000 tons per year with about 5,000 of the tonnage going into log production. The recent Cascade Locks acquisition has the capability now to produce between 30,000 and 40,000 tons of pellets per year, but will soon be raised to 60,000 or more. The company's Virginia plant will also be ramped up from its current operating capacity of 65,000 tons to 75,000 or more per year. Finally, both the Brownsville plant and the West Virginia facility are permitted at 125,000 tons per year.
Lignetics produces pellets qualified under the PFI standards program at its Idaho plant from premium quality Western conifer sawdust, and has changed the product's distribution pattern over the years. "We started out supplying 100 percent of our production as bulk pellets as a replacement for industrial and commercial users to displace coal," Tucker says. "The first pellet stoves became available in 1984, and the Lignetics Idaho plant was the first plant in the U.S. to bag fuel for residential use. We have gradually gone from 100 percent bulk to right now we're at about 2 percent bulk."
Now, although almost exclusively residential, Tucker sees tentative potential to export from the Cascade Locks plant located on the Columbia River. "At some point we'd like to be able to think we can export to Asia, but we're frankly not holding our breath on that happening anytime soon," Tucker says. "We're certainly in a good position to do that on the river, which leads us right out to the Pacific Ocean."
Overall domestically, Eastern and Western producers have access to a similar, diverse retail base. "Hearth product dealers are the people who really brought us to the dance 25 years ago," Tucker says.
He adds that it's a mix of the independent dealers who sell hearth products, hardware chains, big box retailers and farm supply stores amongst others. While the markets are similar across the country, pricing varies slightly. "One of the things that keeps the Western pricing down is, quite honestly, there is more supply of pellets in the West than there is demand, which is just the opposite in the East," he says.
Due to the oversupply, Tucker doesn't see a lot of expansion opportunity in the West, especially in the domestic market. He believes, "Before you are going to see too much growth it will have to come from offshore opportunities."
Exploring Any, All Markets
Chris Sharron, CEO of West Oregon Wood Products, echoes Davis' and Tucker's thoughts on the status of the current market. "We see pellet plants not running to capacity out here and/or trying to find some other markets," Sharron says. "The pie stays the same size, yet the slices are getting smaller and smaller."
WOWP creates pellets predominantly from Douglas fir at its two plants in Oregon; a 30,000-ton-per-year facility in Banks and a 50,000-ton-per-year facility in Columbia City. Like Davis, WOWP has shipped some pellets to the Northeast at a higher freight cost. Sharron attributes their success in selling across the country to the customer base they've built who prefer a Douglas fir pellet. "We hope to hang on to at least some of that market looking for a super high-quality pellet," he says.
Besides the Northeast, Sharron says they continue to look at any and every market. For now, the domestic, residential West Coast is the most suitable with the highest return. WOWP has also sold its bagged fuel into the residential market in Italy. However, over the past few months with the return of the dollar, the increased tax on pellets in Italy, along with port issues, and mild heating seasons in Europe that export business is no longer there. Recently, Sharron has also taken his business to Asia. "We've been getting excited because at least we're on the right beach to service that market," he says. "We shipped some pretty good tonnage into Asia in 2014, they don't have a very big thermal market as of yet, so a majority of the pellets are being used to make electricity."
One of the advantages of shipping to this market was that it helped keep the two Oregon plants running during the spring and summer offseason. Now, with oil prices down and the strength of the dollar back, Sharron says they are debating whether to continue with that business as well. There has been some talk about aggregating pellets together from other plants to get volume up, but the market potential in Asia remains uncertain.
As most Western producers, WOWP uses sawmill residuals as its feedstock. Sharron says in the Pacific Northwest there is a lot of biomass to be used for pellet production, but due to the terrain and often wet conditions it is expensive to harvest the material. "Unlike the Southeast U.S. where whole logs are being harvested in more of a plantation type scenario—flatter ground, large plots—that model just doesn't work out here in the Pacific Northwest," he says.
Sharron adds that with the market for the finished product and the pricing where it's at in the West, it just doesn't pencil out for his business to use anything but sawmill residuals. Currently, market pricing in the West for residential pellets freight on board (FOB) the mill is less than in the East. West Oregon is in the $150 to $160 per ton FOB mill range. Whereas in the Northeast, the plants there are in the upper 100s, some reaching over $200 per ton FOB the plant. "That's why you see some people chipping whole logs in the East to use for pellet production," Sharron says.
Running a successful Western pellet operation parallels in almost all aspects among these three producers. The tale is told of little market growth due in part to the West's ample natural gas infrastructure, consecutive mild heating seasons and widely distributed markets and population density. These realities differ from the other half of the country, with the Northeast's intermittently high fuel oil prices spiking pellet stove and boiler sales. The increasing demand for pellets in Europe gives way to increased pellet production along the Eastern seaboard. While, these three Western producers see potential opportunity on their opposing side of the beach, little can be said on how quickly the demand will come, and whether it might rival the growing volumes in Europe. Also, the current oversupply deters future plant construction, and with the exception of Centennial Renewable Energy, little talk of new capacity has occurred.
Sharron says you need all three legs of the stool when assessing whether to build: source of fiber, know-how to construct and operate a plant and a market for the product. "All three legs are an issue right now," he says. "Maybe not so much with the actual manufacturing, but the biggest issues are raw material supply and probably the biggest, lack of market, at least at the right price."
A few tough years following the recession slowed down Western sawmills, which drove the price up for the fiber, and pellet prices haven't followed. Even so, producers in the West have learned how to get creative to find market opportunity, and the variability in the marketplace could soon change the current landscape. In the meantime, with an occupation sometimes based on predicting the unpredictable, producers focus on the present. "I'm dealing with the day-to-day, keeping things running and keeping things going until hopefully some things do change in the future, which helps make things a little bit brighter," Sharron says. "We celebrated our 30-year anniversary this May, and we're looking forward to the next 30."
Read the original here.
From Biomass Magazine
By Tim Portz
Seven major European utilities, working to help producers satisfy a blend of varying sustainability requirements, establish the Sustainable Biomass Partnership.
European Union member states are united in their commitment to growing their share of renewable energy as a means of driving down carbon emissions across the continent. The Renewable Energy Directive, established by the European parliament in 2009, set a binding target of 20 percent of final energy consumption in aggregate coming from renewable sources by 2020. The levels of in-place renewable production varies from country to country so each received their own goal, which achieved, will deliver the EU to its total goal. The goals vary widely and Sweden's goal is the largest at 49 percent. This directive has been a boon for renewable energy producers and technologies in all categories, wood pellets included. The United Kingdom's goal is 15 percent by 2020, an ambitious undertaking considering the U.K. had among the lowest percentages of renewable energy deployments in Europe when the directive was established at 1.5 percent. It didn't take long for utilities, regulators and policy makers to realize that if those targets were to be met, transitioning large base load power stations from nonrenewable inputs to renewable inputs like wood pellets was going to have to be a part of the plan. The concept gained momentum, taking root in other countries, some with a well-established history of cofiring and global pellet production took off. As conversion plans began to take shape, regulators, NGOs and the general public began to ask for assurances that these conversions would, in fact, deliver the intended results and drive down overall carbon emissions. Sustainability requirements soon followed and it is here that the EU's unified approach ends. What emerged was a patchwork of varying certification requirements and schemes that utilities and producers alike say inhibit efficient trade.
Development Time Line
In 2013, seven of the leading utilities in Europe took action forming the Sustainable Biomass Partnership with the stated goal of working to "enable an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable solid biomass supply chain that contributes to a low-carbon economy." The end game for the SBP is to develop a certification scheme recognized within all pellet-buying countries in the EU, and potentially beyond, which reduces the drag the industry is already feeling, the multiple definitions of sustainability that have already emerged in the marketplace.
Working with a small group of stakeholders, the SBP developed a first draft of the scheme in March 2014 that it called the Biomass Assurance Framework Consultation Draft which was made public and open for public comment.
"We had a public consultation, a stakeholder consultation, which was open to all," says Peter Wilson, SBP executive director. "We had lots of responses, over 110 pages worth once we consolidated all of them. We did have a coordinated, combined response from the environmental NGOs and that was hugely valuable. So that has helped us get to where we are, which is this robust set of standards."
After closing the comment period, the SBP refined the consultation draft and in September of 2014 published the Biomass Assurance Frameworks Standards version 0.0, meant to be a working beta version that could be introduced to a wider group of stakeholders and solicit further comments. "In this first version of the SBP framework, we involved and engaged with a lot more stakeholders," Wilson says. "Most notably we included other supply chain operators like resource managers, forest owners and biomass producers. All of them have been invited to our development meetings to ensure that we are developing a standard which is practicable, which can be implemented while being as robust as possible."
This further refinement resulted in the first working framework, the SBP Framework version 1.0, which was released at an event in Brussels in late March. This version will serve as a working version which biomass producers will be encouraged to participate in and member state policy makers will be asked to accept as a means of satisfying their sustainability and carbon reduction requirements. At the event, SBP chairman and Drax Group CEO Dorothy Thompson said, "We are encouraged by the interest that representatives of the EU Institutions have shown in the SBP and its Framework, and we look forward to working with them and other interested parties to make this a truly multistakeholder approach."
How It Works
From its outset, the SBP has been clear that it is not seeking to replace existing forest certification schemes like the Forest Steward Council, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and others. In fact, the SBP has been built to leverage these existing certification schemes whenever possible. Still, these existing certification schemes fell short of the emerging requirements regulators in Europe were asking utilities, and by extension their biomass suppliers, to comply with.
Simply put the SBP Framework is a certification scheme that contains 38 indicators of sustainability that an independent third-party auditor will verify are being successfully met. Where the SBP differs from other schemes is in its ability to recognize that for producers within a given region, the risk of not meeting one or even many of the indicators is quite low. In these situations, the indicator is recognized as low-risk and the third-party verifier moves on. To illustrate, SBP technical director Simon Armstrong points to the indicator that prohibits child labor. "There is no risk of that in the United States or Canada because of existing employment laws, so you could just assess that as low risk on a regional scale," he says. "You can simply say there are extensive regulations around child labor. So for operators in Canada or the United States, there is no need to go and check their employment records." The risks that will be deemed low-risk are likely to vary from region to region. In early pilots conducted in the Baltics, 35 of 38 indicators were deemed low-risk. The SBP hopes this ability to hone in specifically on only those areas where there is a specified risk will result in the more efficient uptake of the scheme and reduced costs for producers.
The SBP is clear that one of the goals of the certification process is to provide producers with a platform to raise the transparency of what they do and how they do it with an occasionally wary and suspicious public. "Someone said recently that biomass doesn't have a sustainability problem, its got a transparency problem. That's quite an interesting concept," Armstrong says.
The SBP process concludes with producers making a summary of their third-party assessment publicly available. "One aspect of this is that when you've performed your risk assessment correctly, you've engaged enough stakeholders you should be confident you haven't missed any big risks," says Armstrong. "You want to be in a position that when you are making the summary publicly available, you don't have a stakeholder saying you never gave us an opportunity to comment on this process. Finally, you certainly don't want to be in a position where a stakeholder says we made you aware of a particular risk and you never did anything about it. This is about stakeholders having the opportunity to comment."
Recognizing that producers may see this as simply a means to give their biggest opponents a platform to interrupt their business, the SBP is quick to point out the framework has been built to deflect these criticisms and provide a pathway for producers to put unfounded allegations to rest. "You don't have to reach a consensus with these critics, you don't have to reach an agreement," says Armstrong. "But you have to demonstrate that you've taken aboard their comment and if it falls within the scope of the SBP requirements, the 38 indicators, that you've done something about it."
Getting Certified
To participate in the SBP Framework and get certified, producers will need to engage a third party verifier to conduct an audit. Thus far, the SBP has accepted nine third-party certifiers as applicants that are actively progressing towards SBP approval. Ann Arbor, Michigan-based NSF International was the first North American certification body to be granted applicant status by the SPB. NSF International will leverage deep experience in certifying both primary and secondary manufacturers in the forest sector and strong institutional experience with greenhouse gas verification to win certification contracts in the pellet sector.
"NSF International has completed its first SBP audit of a major biomass producer located in the southeast," reports Norman Boatwright, manager of NSF International's forestry programs. "The witness audit report is in the process of being completed and will be sent to SBP for approval. Once this is complete and SBP finds the audit and the audit report compliant with its standards and expectations, SBP will be able to approve NSF International as an official certification body."
It is the hope of the SBP that existing momentum and progress with certification schemes and certifiers can speed the rate of uptake and approvals throughout the industry. "The standards have been deliberately structured to align with FSC and PEFC and other certification schemes," says Wilson. "If an auditor is coming to do an audit for FSC, PEFC, SFI etc., they will come with their checklist and then there will be additional questions on top for SBP. So the intent is an auditing team can come and they can tick off multiple schemes at one time. It was deliberately designed like that not only for the biomass producer but also for the certification body."
This certainly aligns with NSF International's thinking and, Boatwright adds, "NSF International currently certifies several biomass producers, all of which will likely require SBP certification. We are in the planning stages with several other biomass producers to determine the best way for them to become certified. Ideally, SBP audits should be conducted in conjunction with the other Forestry Program audits to reduce disruption to their operations as well as save time and costs."
Finally, the SBP is quick to point out a major distinction between their program and other certification programs. The SBP certification does not bring with it a licensing fee or a production-based fee. Producers will have to pay third-party verifiers like NSF International, of course, and Armstrong allows that other nonsubscription costs should be expected but that the design of the SBP framework should keep those to a minimum. "The costs of certification schemes don't come from the audits so much as they do in the changes to their management system," he says. "I think that is the crux of why this scheme is quite smart. Because we don't go down the route of requiring the same level of effort for each indicator irrespective of risk.
Path Forward
The plan now is to let producers, certifiers and regulators get familiar and comfortable with SBP Framework version 1.0 over the course of the next 18 to 24 months, enabling all parties as the SBP website puts it "to learn by doing." The SBP is planning on robust engagement with a broad swath of stakeholders and anticipates releasing a more informed and refined version of the framework, version 2.0, in 2016.
The biggest question left to answer is whether SBP certification will satisfy European regulators. These efforts are ongoing and, by necessity, are happening at a country-by-country level. Knowing that without regulatory buy-in the Framework would fail, the SBP built it with an eye to the requirements already put forward by the regulatory bodies. "The standards have been built around the U.K. and the Dutch requirements," says Armstrong. "The U.K. are currently benchmarking SBP to determine if it meets the sustainability requirement." The SBP Framework may be experiencing the greatest regulatory approval momentum in Denmark. "The Danes have a voluntary agreement between industry and government which was negotiated with industry, government and NGOs and the conclusion that they came to was that if the generators in Denmark are using SBP certified material, then that means that they are meeting their sustainability requirements," says Armstrong.
Ultimately, if biomass feedstocks are going to make a lasting contribution to the renewable energy targets of not only European countries, but other industrialized nations just beginning their journeys towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a system that reduces drag on the market must emerge. Sustainability requirements continue to be a moving target throughout Europe with prospective pellet-buying nations still working to build requirements that satisfy their citizens and policy makers but are also practicable for utilities and their feedstock partners. A harmonized, singular set of requirements seems unlikely and this market reality gave rise to the SBP Framework. The hope now of the SBP, its utility founders and the pellet producers counting on the European market is that regulators will see the logic in one certification scheme with the flexibility to satisfy multiple notions of sustainability.
Read the original here.


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About the Author
Sandra Hill worked for more than 10 years as a features writer and education editor for publications in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Writing about serious issues taught her the merits of seeking the lighter side of even the darkest stories. She is the wife of a stockbroker and the mother of four sons. Visit her at SandraHill.net.


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Originally written on Fox Sports | Last updated 2/25/12
Mark Hunt (7-7) vs. Cheick Kongo (17-6-2) In an exciting heavyweight battle, former Pride star Hunt returns to Japan to take on fellow knockout specialist Kongo. Before his unlikely UFC debut in September 2010, Hunt's career appeared to be on its last legs after suffering a five-fight losing streak, all of which ended in the first round. Seeing a fighter on such a dramatic losing streak make his UFC debut is a rare occurrence, but Hunt insisted on completing the remaining fights on his Pride contract instead of collecting paychecks at home. After a first-round submission loss to Sean McCorkle in his UFC debut, Hunt bounced back with victories over Chris Tuchscherer and Ben Rothwell. With his career all but over in 2008, Hunt has enjoyed a recent resurgence, which has him in the main-card slot on a major UFC pay-per-view event in 2012. During his heyday in Japan, the former K-1 kickboxer earned wins over Wanderlei Silva and Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic. Now 37, the bulky New Zeal...
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Information is included on this page for proposed rules that are currently open for public comment as well as for issues or areas for which the FWC is actively considering the need to develop a rule. Follow this link for general information on manatee protection rules and how the rules are established.
Comments on proposed rules must be in writing and should be emailed or mailed to the agency representative whose name and address are listed in the Notice of Proposed Rule. No special form is required; a typed or handwritten letter is sufficient. Comments must be received by the agency within 21 days after the publication of the Notice of Proposed Rule, or on or before the date of the final public hearing, whichever is later. Notices of Proposed Rule can also be viewed online at the Department of State's site for the Florida Administrative Register (FAR).
Pinellas County (68C-22.016, FAC)
A Notice of Proposed Rule was published in the FAR on 12/22/14. FWC staff conducted two public hearings in Pinellas County in January 2015. The FWC commissioners are scheduled to conduct the final public hearing in June 2015. Information on the final public hearing is provided below. The rule notice contains information on how to submit written comments on the proposed rule. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to email@example.com (please reference Pinellas County in the subject line).
FWC staff began looking at data and information regarding manatee protection needs in western Pinellas County in 2011. This review did not include the eastern portion of the county, which was included in a 2003-2004 review of the Tampa Bay area. At the request of the FWC and as required by statute, Pinellas County formed a Local Rule Review Committee (LRRC) in March 2014 to consider and provide comment on potential zones. The LRRC met seven times between April and June 2014 and then submitted its report to the FWC. FWC staff prepared a written response to the LRRC report in August 2014 and held a public workshop in September 2014 in Treasure Island. At the November 2014 FWC meeting, the FWC Commissioners accepted staff recommendations and directed staff to move forward with a proposed rule.
Commission meetings and agendas
Public hearing on proposed amendments to the Pinellas County rule (68C-22.016, FAC)
June 23-25, 2015 (8:30 AM)Hyatt Regency of Sarasota1000 Boulevard of the ArtsSarasota, FL 34236
The above hearing is scheduled to be the final public hearing and will be conducted by the FWC commissioners as part of the regular 3-day Commission meeting. If the final hearing does not occur at this meeting, updated information will be posted as soon as it is available. The Commissioner's agenda for the meeting will indicate the specific day when the item is scheduled to be addressed.
See the FWC Manatee Management Plan (2MB) (Chapter 7) for more information on how the FWC chooses and prioritizes issues and areas to be reviewed. There is no formal comment period associated with this stage of rule development.
Collier County (68C-22.023, FAC)
Staff is currently evaluating information to determine whether rule changes may be warranted.
Permits Issued to Commercial Fishers and Professional Fishing Guides (68C-22.003, FAC)
FWC staff began looking at this issue in 2008. Information was provided to stakeholders, county commissions, and current permit holders in September 2009 and FWC staff conducted four public meetings in October. At the December 2009 FWC meeting, the FWC Commissioners accepted staff recommendations to postpone consideration of potential changes until economic conditions improve. Information from the December 2009 meeting is provided below.
FWC manatee protection zones do not supersede more restrictive zones established for other purposes and/or by other levels of government. In cases where multiple regulations have been established for the same area, the most restrictive regulation is the one that applies and is posted.
Flagler County manatee protection rule (68C-22.028, FAC): This rule was approved by the FWC Commissioners on May 3, 2012, and adopted on May 24, 2012. This rule action also amended the Volusia County rule (68C-22.012, FAC) to remove the zones in the extreme southern end of Flagler County that had been a part of the rule for Volusia County. Posting of regulatory markers was completed in March 2013.
Broward County manatee protection rule (68C-22.010, FAC): Amendments to this rule were approved by the FWC Commissioners on September 7, 2011 and adopted on October 25, 2011. Posting of revised regulatory markers was completed in August 2012.
Sarasota County manatee protection rule (68C-22.026, FAC): Amendments to this rule were approved by the FWC Commissioners on April 28, 2010, and adopted on June 4, 2010. Posting of revised regulatory markers was completed in July 2011.
FWC Facts:Green or brown algae and white barnacles contribute to the natural camouflage that thick, gray skin affords manatees in the water.
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Facebook Logo Launch
Music Director turned Director R P Patnaiks upcoming film Facebook produced by Dr Malla Vijay Prasad under Welfare Creations banner launched its logo at Prasad labs.The cast of the film includes Nischal, Uday, Surya, Gemini Suresh, Nisha, Archana, Suresh, Rao Ramesh, Chalapathi Rao, Bhimineni Srinivas Rao, Archana Sharma, Preethi, Nisha Shetty, etc. The event was graced by Director VV Vinayak , Dasaradh, Bheemaneni Srinivasa Rao,RP Patnaik, Mehar Ramesh, Gautham Patnaik (Keratam fame), producers KS Rama Rao, Dr Malla Vijay Prasad, Ramesh Puppala and actors Chalapathi Rao, Nischal, Gemini Suresh, Surya, Uday, Nisha, Archana.The logo was unveiled KS Rama Rao. Indiainteracts congratulates the whole cast and crew of Facebook and wish them all success.
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A&M-CC's Holland receives another All-America accolade
Outfielder starting his professional career with Philadelphia Phillies' farm team in Florida
CORPUS CHRISTI - Texas A&M-Corpus Christi outfielder Matt Holland, who just ended his senior season, was named a 2011 American Baseball Coaches Association third-team All-America. It is the second All-America recognition for Holland this year, as he was also honored as a third-team Louisville Slugger All-America.
Holland is the second Islanders player to have earned All-America honors from the ABCA, joining Humberto Aguilar, who was earned recognition in 2003.
The lefty slugged 10 home runs, the eighth different player in school history to do so, and matched the school record with 20 doubles. His 149 total bases set a new school mark as well.
A first-team All-Southland Conference honoree, Holland was second in the league with a .391 average, while his 53 RBI were sixth in the conference. His .626 slugging percentage was the second highest of all Southland players, and he finished seventh in the league with a .445 on-base percentage. He also scored 44 runs, stole seven bases, and posted a 16-game hitting streak at the end of the season.
The Watkins, Iowa, native was drafted in the 22nd round by Philadelphia, and began his professional career this week after signing with the Phillies. He reported to the Gulf Coast League, where he is on the roster with the GCL Phillies.
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Even fast-disappearing species such as yellowhammer and house sparrow are flourishing on the farms involved.
Results from the wildlife habitat scheme, WildCare, appear to show that widespread decline can be reversed if farmers take a few practical steps.
For the past two years WildCare has been encouraging and helping 68 dairy farmers, who supply top quality milk to Waitrose under its Select Farm project, to adopt practices that benefit wild creatures.
They are paid extra by Waitrose in return for adopting environmentally-friendly farming practices.
Measures have included leaving hedgerows to grow, blossom and fruit and leaving wide field margins to provide food and cover for birds, butterflies and insects.
Farmers taking part have to agree to set aside at least 10 per cent of their dairy-farmed area to improving natural habitats involving steps such as ponds, ditches, beetle banks, skylark scrapes, barn own boxes, wetland and overwintered stubble.
A stocktake of wildlife on the farms has revealed that in the past year alone habitat suitable for wildlife has increased by 19% and sightings of birdlife considered to be in decline are up 47 per cent.
Species in decline nationally but which have bucked the trend on the farms in 2008, include:
* Spotted flycatcher (still low in numbers but increased by 500 per cent)
* Reed bunting (still low in numbers but increased by 280 per cent)
* Starling (increased 163 per cent)
* House sparrow (increased 130 per cent)
* Yellowhammer (increased 102 per cent)
* Brown hare (increased 45 per cent)
Sightings of butterflies have also increased with the most often seen including: Meadow Brown (1,822) Gatekeeper (626) Ringlet (483) and Large White (460).
One of the farmers involved, Richard Butler, has 18 per cent of the 160 hectares he devotes to dairy farming managed to encourage and sustain wildlife.
"We were fortunate in that we had very good advice from WildCare and from the RSPB on how best to manage the land for different species and an annual audit is very useful because it tells us where we are being successful," he said.
"The bottom line is that conservation costs money and so it is a great thing that the retailer, in this case Waitrose, is encouraging us to do more for wildlife by paying us extra."
On his farm, and on land elsewhere which he manages, Richard has established wildlife margins, created buffer zones around field edges, and planted trees and flowers as well as planning 1000-metres of hedge each year.
"We take great pride in what we have already achieved on our land. This year we had stone curlews and two pairs of barn owls which nested successfully, " he said.
"If stewardship schemes are well thought out and farmers are given advice and encouragement there is every chance we can reverse this decline in species."
Tim Oliver, Business Services Manager for WildCare, said: "We find these figures very encouraging. The scheme has been going for just two years, but we have already seen a significant positive response by species known to be in decline nationally.
The results show that with some thought and effort, efficient farming businesses and wildlife can share the same space and thrive together. As 70 per cent of all UK land is farmer controlled, conservation schemes like this have the potential to make a real impact on our countryside."
John Cousins, head of agricultural policy for The Wildlife Trusts, said: "WildCare raises farmers' awareness of the important habitats they have on their farms and how careful management can improve them.
"The Wildlife Trusts know the challenges our wildlife faces, but the approach and attitude of these farmers gives us much confidence for the future."


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Sneak Peek - Wrath of the Lich King's "The Occulus" Instance
A Very Different New Instance
A Very Different New Instance
Blizzard discussed several of the instances that will be coming out in the Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK) this weekend at the Worldwide Invitational in Paris. Byron "Messiah" Mudry was there to cover the event, and is ready to pass on all about the very unique instance, The Occulus.
The Occulus will be a level 80 instance found in the Coldarra region of the Borean Tundra (one of the starting zones in WotLK). The instance is made up of a set of floating rings. It has a few very unique features such as being the first instance that you will be allowed to fly in.
You can find the complete details in our Sneak Peak - The Occulus.


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Originally written on nhl.com | Last updated 2/4/12
ANAHEIM, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Mark Eaton #7 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates against the Anaheim Ducks at the Honda Center on November 3, 2009 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Game 50 Isles 2, Senators 1 (OT) Mark Eaton celebrated his 600th NHL game by scoring the overtime winner as the Islanders came from behind to defeat the Ottawa Senators 2-1 in front of 18,252 at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario. The Isles ar...
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Final Score: Detroit 3, Tampa Bay 0
Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Jimmy Howard recorded his first career shutout, turning aside 30 shots in all as Detroit won its season-high fourth straight game, 3-0, over the Lightning.
Drew Miller, Todd Bertuzzi and Patrick Eaves each scored for the Red Wings, who added Henrik Zetterberg to their laundry list of injured players after their leading scorer exited early following a hard hit from Mattias Ohlund.
Mike Smith gave up three goals on just 22 shots for Tampa Bay, which has lost six straight on 10 of 11 overall.
"It's beyond embarrassing. Frustrations are setting in (and) it's affecting the way we're playing," Smith said of the losing streak.
The only goal of the first two periods came at the 8:24 mark of the first.
Brian Rafalski's long pass from the Wings' defensive to the offensive zone was knocked down at the blue line by Miller, who controlled the puck and chipped it over a sliding Smith while diving through the air.
It stayed 1-0 through a scoreless second, and a Tampa turnover in its own zone resulted in Bertuzzi's re-direction off a Tomas Holmstrom centering pass.
That goal came at 6:48 of the third, and less than four minutes later, Eaves' tally on a nice deke essentially sealed the game's outcome.
Howard improved to 11-6-1 on the season with 10 saves in each period.
"It's really special. I really can't describe it. I got to credit all the guys out in front of me tonight. They did a great job of clearing out in front and allowing me to see the puck. If there was a rebound, they were right there to clear it," Howard said.
Game Notes
Detroit forward Darren Helm missed the game due to a wrist injury...Tampa Bay is 0-9 with a tie in its last 10 trips to the Motor City....The Lightning did not score on five power-play chances...Rafalski ended with two assists...Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock recorded his 300th win as a head coach.


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Originally written on Fox Sports | Last updated 4/25/13
Tim Lincecum has shown signs of returning to his dominant form, and the San Francisco Giants hope the right-hander can help get them back on track. San Francisco will send the two-time Cy Young Award winner to the mound as it seeks its fifth straight win over the San Diego Padres on Friday night in the opener of a six-game road trip. After winning four straight - including a three-game sweep of San Diego at AT&T Park - the Giants (13-9) lost 3-2 in 10 innings to Arizona on Wednesday for their second straight extra-inning home defeat. Shortstop Brandon Crawford was one of the bright spots, ending a 2-for-17 slump by going 3 for 4 with a game-tying homer in the ninth and two RBIs to push his batting average back up to .320. "Here's a kid who keeps getting better and better," manager Bruce Bochy said. "The confidence has grown with him. I like the way he's using the whole field and driving the ball." Bochy's club looks to snap a three-game road skid behind Lincecum (2-0, 3.97 ...
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'The Real Housewives of D.C.': More than just Michaele Salahi, party crasher
Thanks to an alleged party crasher named Michaele Salahi, Andy Cohen knows, possibly better than anyone, how much more "The Real Housewives of D.C." has become than when it was hatched.
Cohen -- Bravo's senior vice president of programming and development, and also the host of the network's show "Watch What Happens Live" -- was in the thick of the controversy that exploded last November over the White House visit paid by Tareq Salahi and his wife Michaele, one of the Washington-based "Real Housewives"` in the franchise's latest unscripted series, premiering Thursday, Aug. 5.
"We want people to know about this show for the five women who are in it, not just one," Cohen tells Zap2it, emphasizing the White House incident "happens within the latter part of the series. So much more happens in the show -- outside of what happened with the Salahis -- that I think when people see the first episode, they'll say, 'Oh!'
"You certainly get a fuller picture of Michaele," Cohen adds. "I think the fact that she's known (fellow D.C. 'Housewives') Lynda [Erkiletian] and Mary [Amons] socially for 15 years, and that they have interesting points of entry to her, helps complete the story."
Having showcased "Real Housewives" of New York, New Jersey, Atlanta and Orange County (Calif.) already, with Beverly Hills to come later, Cohen says the idea of making the nation's capital one of the sites "popped up after the (2008 presidential) election.
"The casting was really good; we really responded to everyone who made it into the show. They seemed larger-than-life and independent, living aspirational lifestyles, and they all were really rooted in D.C. They had something to say about it. And I think D.C. looks more upscale and sexier in this than it has in a while."
Photo credit: Bravo