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Backgrounder #2743 on Asia and the Pacific
November 14, 2012
November 14, 2012 | Backgrounder on Asia and the Pacific
Abstract: On December 16, the Japanese people will once again have an opportunity to reshape their nation's political landscape. To many, such reform seemed imminent three years ago, when the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) swept into power. Yet the DPJ was unable to turn campaign promises into concrete reforms, and as a result, the Japanese public's desire for political transformation remains unsatisfied. Polls indicate that the conservative LDP will gain a plurality and choose LDP President and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Japan's next prime minister. Abe's conservative foreign policy views and the Japanese public's growing concern over China provide an excellent opportunity for Washington to achieve several policy objectives critical to the health of the U.S.–Japan alliance.
Three years ago, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) swept into power, riding a wave of public anger over the political stagnation created by 50 years of uninterrupted rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The euphoria was fleeting, however. Fiscal realities forced the DPJ to abandon its unrealistic economic promises, and growing threats from China and North Korea promoted the party to reverse its naïve foreign policy. Plagued by amateurism and wracked with scandals, the DPJ proved to be as politically inept as the LDP and suffered a similarly rapid turnover of prime ministers. Indeed, within a year, the DPJ's first prime minister had resigned (the second prime minister lasted only 15 months), and voters turned on the party, returning control of the upper house to the previously discredited LDP.
As a result of its failed agenda, the DPJ will almost certainly lose the lower house and prime ministership during the next lower-house election. Though the exact date of the election remains uncertain, it must be held before the end of August 2013. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda will avoid setting a date as long as possible, hoping to—somehow—resurrect his moribund party. In response to such delay, the LDP will threaten legislative stalemate to force an earlier election.
Polls indicate that the conservative LDP will gain a plurality and choose LDP President and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as Japan's next prime minister. Abe's conservative foreign policy views and the Japanese public's growing concern over China provide an excellent opportunity for Washington to achieve several policy objectives critical to the health of the U.S.–Japan alliance.
Washington has long pressed Japan to assume a greater role in its own defense while adopting overseas security responsibilities commensurate with its military and economic strength. It would be beneficial for the United States if Japan were to increase its defense spending, enable collective self-defense, adopt less restrictive rules of engagement for forces involved in overseas peacekeeping operations, and press forward on building a replacement U.S. Marine Corps airbase on Okinawa.
Although the 2009 elections may have changed Japan's political leadership, the DPJ was unable to turn campaign promises into concrete reforms. Consequently, the Japanese public's desire for political transformation persists, and there is little public confidence in any political party: The most popular candidate remains "none of the above." This disenchantment has created a political vacuum that Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto is seeking to exploit with his Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party—JRP).
Democratic Party of Japan. Like Wile E. Coyote standing in mid-air, blissfully unaware of his impending plummet, Prime Minister Noda is ruling over a party teetering on the brink of disaster. The DPJ will survive, but the party, like Wile E., will be hobbled with its master plan, which has proven to be a colossal failure.
By the time of Japan's confrontation with China over the Senkaku Islands in 2010, the DPJ had jettisoned the foreign and security policies on which it had campaigned. For instance, the party no longer criticized Japan's alliance with the United States, nor did it advocate embracing China, creating an East Asian Community without Washington, or moving the U.S. Marine Corps airbase at Futenma off of Okinawa. The DPJ, for all intents and purposes, had embraced the foreign policy of its LDP rival.
The DPJ's economic promises would meet a similar fate: During the 2009 campaign, for example, the DPJ pledged that it would increase pension and medical benefits for the elderly and avoid any tax increases for four years. Yet after winning the election, the DPJ abandoned its benefits pledge, and by 2011, Prime Minister Noda was proposing to double the consumption tax from 5 percent to 10 percent. He also promised that all of the additional revenue would be devoted to stabilizing the troubled social security system and not to increasing the size of the government.[1]
By pushing the unpopular tax, Noda dug the DPJ's political grave. As DPJ Diet Member Hiroshi Kawauchi stated, "the public's distrust of pensions and health care [under the LDP] and our proposals were what brought us to power [but now] the DPJ has turned into the LDP."[2] Aside from its continued loss of public support, the DPJ is also suffering from defections in its ranks: Over 70 lawmakers have fled the party, citing differences with Noda over raising the consumption tax or resuming operations at the Oi nuclear power plant.[3]
Noda: Surprisingly Bold and Effective. Noda's plummeting approval rating is ironic since he has proved to be an anomaly: a Japanese leader with the courage to actually lead. He has been far more effective than any of his five predecessors from either major party.
Noda's accomplishments are even more impressive considering that he assumed office shortly after the March 2011 disaster trifecta of earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear catastrophe. Public fear of additional nuclear disasters led to the shuttering of all Japan's nuclear reactors, which had supplied 30 percent of the country's electricity.
Noda also proved to be far more politically adept than expected. In early 2012, for instance, the Japanese media predicted his imminent political demise, yet he was able to outmaneuver his political opponents and push through controversial legislation. Furthermore, despite fierce opposition from within his own party as well as an obstructionist opposition party, Noda won approval for the consumption tax increase. He also implemented Japan's long-promised relaxation of arms export principles and convinced Washington to alter a bilateral defense agreement by delinking required progress on construction of the Marine Corps' Futenma Replacement Facility prior to the United States returning five military bases on Okinawa.
Ozawa: The Unpopular Populist. One political name that is surprisingly absent from discussion of Japan's political future is former DPJ leader and kingmaker Ichiro Ozawa. Known as "the destroyer," Ozawa has a long history of abandoning parties or policies he once championed if doing so increased his electability. In fact, Ozawa's only consistent ideology has been to believe strongly in whatever is most popular with the voters at the moment.
But Ozawa's popularity, along with his ability to influence elections, is dwindling. Although he still boasts the support of 49 Diet members, many of these allies are first-term lightweights expected to lose their seats in the coming election. Consequently, Ozawa is now scrambling for money—and relevance. His newly formed People's Life First Party may end up with only 10 seats after the next election.
Liberal Democratic Party. During last month's party elections, the LDP selected Shinzo Abe as its new president. Abe was a surprise victor since he had been third in the polls behind former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and LDP Secretary-General Nobuteru Ishihara. Abe came in second in the first round of voting behind Ishiba, who was far more popular among local party officials and members. During the run-off election—in which only Diet members could vote—Abe won due to a combination of factional politics and personal chemistry.
Had the party chosen Ishiba as its president, the LDP might have bolstered its prospects in the forthcoming general election. Abe remains very unpopular with the public; voters remain angry about his abrupt and perceived irresponsible resignation as prime minister after only one year in office[4] Indeed, many blame Abe for the party's poor showing in both the 2007 upper-house and 2010 lower-house elections.
After his 2012 selection as party president, Abe pledged to stand up to China over the Senkakus, to strengthen the alliance with the United States, and to have Japan assume a larger security role. Abe's positions on these issues are attuned to a growing Japanese nationalism. However, some voters are concerned that Abe could go too far in pushing confrontation with China, which is Japan's largest trading partner.
Such fears are hardly irrational: During his tenure as prime minister, Abe strained relations with China and South Korea by denying that during World War II, Asian women were forced into sexual slavery by Japanese imperial forces and by pushing legislation that enabled school textbooks to downplay Japan's wartime actions. Yet Abe showed restraint by not going to the controversial Yasukuni Shrin[5] as his predecessor, Junichiro Koizumi, had and by making his first official visit to China.
Following his victory in the September 2012 LDP elections, Abe sought to allay such concerns, remarking:
We must show our will to firmly protect our territorial waters and the Senkaku islands in the face of China's actions. That said, when I took office as prime minister six years ago, I visited China first because the Japan–China relationship is very important. Even if our national interests clash, we should acknowledge that we need each other and control the situation while thinking about things strategically. My stance on this has not changed.[6]
Japan Reformation Party. Driven by public rage against a stagnant and ineffective government, Mayor Horu Hashimoto's upstart party is rattling Japan's political system. The charismatic mayor is decisive and capable of implementing genuine change, albeit at the local level. Hashimoto's record is impressive: As mayor, he reduced deficit-burdened budgets and overcame labor union resistance to impose teacher performance requirements. Now, with his sights set on the national political stage, Hashimoto is promising a radical overhaul of Japan's political system.
In many respects, Hashimoto's initiative is akin to a one-man Tea Party. Like the U.S. Tea Party movement, Hashimoto is riding a wave of popular disenchantment, if not disgust, with the established political parties. But whereas the American Tea Party was driven by a bottom-up amalgamation of informal organizations, Hashimoto is offering a top-down plan that is gaining converts that are due, for the most part, to the personal appeal of one man. In fact, pundits have referred to Hashimoto as the "Japanese Ross Perot."
By disrupting the stagnant Japanese political system—a system in which parties do not provide ideological or policy differences—Hashimoto could be a welcome change, but how will Hashimoto be regarded once he is forced to articulate more detailed foreign and domestic policies? As one pundit opined, "he may be the popular new flavor of the month, but how will people react once they taste it?"[8]
A major test for Hashimoto will be how strong a roster of candidates he can field for the election. He cannot include too many established politicians defecting from the LDP or DPJ, lest he risk his "outsider" image, but he could be hard-pressed to find 300 viable "outsider" candidates, particularly as he is requiring all candidates to provide their own funding.
Hashimoto's decentralization theme—shifting political power from Tokyo to the prefectures— though popular in Osaka, has not resonated with the rest of the country. Though there is little public support for either the DPJ or the LDP, few voters see problems being remedied by transferring governmental responsibilities to the countryside. Moreover, some of Hashimoto's proposals—notably, changing the constitution—are seen as unrealistic.
Fading Enthusiasm. Some mid-year polls had the JRP surging ahead of both the LDP and the DPJ. Since the summer, however, polls have indicated that an increasing number of voters harbor doubts about the JRP's near-term ability to become a major player on the national stage. Furthermore, there has been friction between Hashimoto and some of the Diet members who defected to the JRP. Kenta Matsunami, who left the LDP to join the JRP, advocated that Diet members should take the lead in setting the party's foreign and security policies, declaring that Hashimoto's "dictatorship won't be tolerated." Hashimoto fired back that he retained sole control over the party's platform.[9]
Several of Hashimoto's recent diplomatic positions have drawn public criticism. Such disapproval, however, is hardly surprising, as several proposals are out of step with popular Japanese sentiment. For example, Hashimoto advocated taking joint control, along with South Korea, of the disputed Dokdo/Takeshima Islands; Japan currently claims sole sovereignty over this territory. Hashimoto's view regarding the Senkaku Islands is equally unpopular: The mayor has argued that the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands should be declared a territorial dispute with China and taken to the International Court of Justice for resolution
As a result of both intra-party friction and Hashimoto's controversial positions, the party's initial momentum and popularity first slowed and is now declining slightly. Most recent surveys put the JRP roughly even with the DPJ; however, both parties trail significantly behind the LDP. Similarly, election predictions have fallen dramatically: Initial estimates predicted that the JRP would win 100–130 Diet seats, numbers that were subsequently revised downward, first to 70–100 seats and most recently to only 40–70 seats.
Although the JRP could have a major impact on Japan's lower-house election, Chinese assertiveness is likely to be an even greater factor. Specifically, high bilateral Japanese–Chinese tensions could benefit the Liberal Democratic Party, as the electorate regards the LDP, and Abe in particular, as more likely to stand up to Beijing. Therefore, Noda will attempt to delay calling the general election as long as possible, in part to calm Japan's confrontations with China and South Korea.
The Senkakus dispute has also hurt Hashimoto, as it took media attention away from his campaign and highlighted his lack of foreign policy experience. A growing Japanese nationalism puts Hashimoto at a disadvantage since he cannot "out-Abe Abe." Nor does Hashimoto appear to be interested in drawing in elder statesmen as advisers to define a more detailed foreign policy.
Rising Nationalism. China's continued geopolitical aggression is fueling a rising nationalism throughout Japan, reshaping the Japanese political landscape and, potentially, the coming election. It is important to note, however, that this shift is occurring almost exclusively with regard to China; it does not signal a broader return of Japanese militarism. Indeed, China's bellicose actions have snapped Japan out of its usual complacency and triggered a greater willingness among voters to abandon the nation's post-war extreme pacifism. This shift is also the product of generational change, as the wartime generation that knew first-hand the ravages of war and first rejected militarism is passing away.
Consequently, Tokyo is now more willing to confront Chinese expansionism and strengthen its military. Beijing's assertiveness and perceived arrogance during the 2010 Senkakus incident led Japan to adopt a new defense strategy. Polls show that 70 percent–80 percent of Japanese now have a negative view of China. Since assuming power, the DPJ has adopted more conservative foreign and security policies, and all major parties now support a strong alliance with the United States.
As part of its nationalistic awakening, public concerns about Japan's military vulnerability are increasing, and the voters now favor a strong leader willing to push back against China. Polls show that 25 percent of respondents support increasing Japan's military strength, up from 14 percent in 2009 and 8 percent in 1991.[10] The populace may also be more amenable to long-overdue changes such as increasing defense spending, and adopting a less constrictive interpretation of collective self-defense and military rules of engagement.
Those changes, however, would merely enable Japan to defend its allies if they were attacked; despite breathless warnings from regional media, such reforms would not constitute a green light for resurgent militarism. The public's shift to the Right, though unprecedented by Japanese standards, is less significant and dangerous than widely perceived. Though "nationalism" conjures up negative images of Imperial Japan, the country is simply adopting more of the standard nationalism of other countries—and certainly a far less aggressive strain than was exhibited by China during recent widespread violent anti-Japanese protests.
Fringe elements aside, no domestic party is advocating for the creation of a militaristic Japan that severs its ties with the United States. Abe will instead seek modest changes in the rules governing Japan's security policy while remaining committed to the alliance with the United States. Abe favors standing up to China, but he also understands the importance of maintaining good relations with Beijing.
Furthermore, it is important to decouple Abe's prior political history from any discussion of Japanese nationalism. Abe's revisionist historical statements on Japan's wartime actions are indeed troubling and would needlessly exacerbate regional tensions—if he acts on them or restates them as prime minister. If Japan is to become a more effective leader in the Asia–Pacific, some political crockery needs to be broken, but Abe should refrain from acting like a bull in the geopolitical china shop.
During his term as prime minister, however, Abe did largely refrain from provocative actions, and the United States would do well to counsel him privately not to expend his political capital on needlessly rewriting history.
Likely Election Results. The ruling DPJ is poised to lose big in the next election—a defeat that will knock the party out of power. The LDP, discredited in 2009, will become the largest of Japan's political parties. The LDP's dramatic reversal of electoral fortune is due less to anything positive the party has accomplished during its time in opposition than it is to what the DPJ has failed to do during its time in office.
Though the LDP will have a plurality, it will not win enough seats to secure a majority, thereby forcing it to scramble for coalition partners. Consequently, minor parties could secure disproportionate influence on policymaking—a scenario similar to the one that unfolded during Hatoyama's stewardship, where the Social Democratic Party was able to wield considerable influence over the DPJ. The LDP will certainly retain its partnership with the Komeito Party. One major question, however, remains unclear: Will the LDP join with the DPJ—either disaffected defectors or a slimmed-down centrist party that jettisoned its leftist elements—or with Hashimoto's JRP?
Earlier this year, an LDP–JRP coalition had seemed assured because Abe had highlighted his special relationship with Hashimoto. In July, Hashimoto said, "If Mr. Abe is elected party president, [the JRP] would join a coalition with the Abe LDP."[11] But in late September, Hashimoto told reporters that due to policy disagreements with the LDP, "when elections come, we will do battle with [Abe and the LDP.]"[12] Whether he was signaling no potential future alliance with the LDP or simply raising the price for an eventual coalition remains another mystery.
If Hashimoto joined a coalition with the LDP, he would have to do so in a way that does not compromise his image as an outsider advocating reform. The LDP and JRP have policy differences: The LDP favors nuclear power and the consumption tax, while JRP opposes both. Therefore, the final composition of the coalition will depend on the number of legislative seats that each party wins.
Potentially Improved Policy Implementation. The next Japanese leader faces several daunting challenges: a stagnant economy, staggering public debt, deteriorating demographics, growing security threats from China and North Korea, and fading international influence.
If the LDP wins the general election as expected, it could have authority in both houses of parliament, eliminating the "twisted Diet" of the past several years where control was split between the LDP and DPJ. This scenario improves the potential for the new prime minister to implement policies without being hindered by political gamesmanship. The degree of success, however, depends on Abe's choosing capable people (and not a "cabinet of cronies" as he did during his first term) and defining a clear policy vision.
Once in office, Abe would not alter the direction of Japanese policies, since the DPJ already reversed its original plans and adopted LDP policies. Rather than a change in policy, the new leadership could bring about an acceleration in policy—an important distinction.
The United States should reinforce Japan's new national security pragmatism by:
Ironically, China and North Korea have inadvertently altered the geostrategic landscape to their disadvantage: By allowing the façade of a "peaceful rising" to slip and by rejecting President Barack Obama's extended open hand of dialogue, Beijing and Pyongyang, respectively, have soured the Japanese public on the DPJ's naïve foreign policies. As a result, both the Japanese government and the Japanese people perceive a greater national vulnerability to these regional threats.
The first step in addressing this vulnerability seems already to be underway in the form of renewed appreciation for the U.S.–Japan alliance. The next step would be a greater willingness by Japan to assume greater responsibility for its own defense as well as addressing international security concerns. The United States should encourage this new trend, as it is consistent with America's own national security objectives.
Whether the next prime minister can weather the storms facing Japan is a question of critical importance to America's interests in the Asia–Pacific. In recent years, Japan has been hamstrung by a series of weak leaders. Japan's next leader must take charge and institute bold reforms, lest the land of the rising sun fade into the sunset.
—Bruce Klingner is Senior Research Fellow for Northeast Asia in the Asian Studies Center at The Heritage Foundation.
Show references in this report
[1] "Noda Aims for Decisive Political Action," NHK, January 24, 2012, http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/2012024_19.html (accessed October 23, 2012).
[2] Jake Schlesinger and Toko Sekiguchi, "Japan Tax Debate May Undermine Deeper Reforms," The Wall Street Journal, June 18, 2012 (accessed October 23, 2012).
[3] The Japanese public has become overwhelming anti-nuclear following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011.
[4] "71% Seek Early Election as Promised: Mainichi Poll," Mainichi Shimbun, October 1, 2012, http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121001p2a00m0na016000c.html (accessed October 23, 2012).
[5] Yasukuni is a Shinto shrine that commemorates Japan's 2.5 million war dead, including 14 convicted Class A war criminals. Visits by Japanese political leaders to the shrine anger Japan's neighbors who were victims of the country's military aggression for which they believe Tokyo has not fully apologized or atoned.
[6] Gavin Blair, "Would Japanese Nationalist Abe's Return to Premiership Fuel Row with China?" The Christian Science Monitor, September 26, 2012, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2012/0926/Would-Japanese-nationalist-Abe-s-return-to-premiership-fuel-row-with-China (accessed October 23, 2012).
[7] Stephen Harner, "Osaka Mayor Hashimoto's 'Eight Measures for Restoration,'" Forbes, August 7, 2012, http://www.forbes.com/sites/stephenharner/2012/08/07/osaka-mayor-hashimotos-eight-measures-for-restoration (accessed October 24, 2012).
[8] Author interview with Japanese journalist, September 25, 2012.
[9] Yuka Hayashi, "The Bursting of the Hashimoto Bubble?" The Wall Street Journal, October 4, 2012, http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2012/10/04/the-bursting-of-the-hashimoto-bubble/ (accessed October 23, 2012).
[10] Chico Harlan, "With China's Rise, Japan Makes a Shift to the Right," The Washington Post, September 21, 2012, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/with-chinas-rise-japan-shifts-to-the-right/2012/09/20/2d5db3fe-ffe9-11e1-b257-e1c2b3548a4a_story.html (accessed October 24, 2012).
[11] Takao Toshikawa, "LDP Fight Over Next Ally," The Oriental Economist, September 2012, p. 4 (subscription on file with author).
[12] Eric Johnston, "Hashimoto Now Wary of Abe Alliance," The Japan Times, September 28, 2012, http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120928a7.html (accessed October 24, 2012).


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Most people know Randy Smithpeters as a basketball coach.
Some might not know that Smithpeters is also a Harrisburg High School administrator and a parent.
Tragedies like the one that occurred Friday in Connecticut remind Smithpeters, that above everything, he's a human being.
Usually never at a loss for words, especially when it comes to the events that transpire on the basketball court, the events that transpired on the East Coast early Friday morning had Smithpeters - at times - struggling to find the right thing to say.
Perhaps it's because there just isn't the right thing to say.
Cornered in the Massac County High School cafeteria, Smithpeters gave his testimony on his thoughts following Harrisburg's 76-42 victory over the Patriots.
Then, when asked to give his thoughts on what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary, nearly 12 hours earlier, Smithpeters searched for words.
Biting his lip, the proud father of six and the high school's assistant principal, had the same natural reaction that any other person across America had Friday: Why?
"That's … I don't know … It's a tough thing," Smithpeters said.
Massac County High School did the appropriate thing prior to Friday night's tip off between both schools, holding a moment of silence for those who's lives were lost in the school shooting.
"It's a very scary time," Smithpeters added. "You have to just feel horrible for those people in Connecticut. It's very sad for everybody and just uncalled for. It's hard to understand and just very scary. I'm glad Massac County had a moment of silence."
Smithpeters said working in education, the news hit the Harrisburg High School offices as soon as it came on TV.
"Being in education and of course the first thing you think of is the issues, the safety issues and the things we need to be prepared for."
Smithpeters knows that there could always be more preventative measures taken to ensure students' safety, but also knows as a parent, that school is the one place where children are supposed to feel secure and protected.
"We've got kids, we've all got kids and you think how awful it would be to send your kid to school and find out … It's a tough thing, a very though thing."
It's a moment in time when we realize that we're not just human beings, we're also just being human.
Follow Michael Dann on Twitter @spydieshooter. Email at email@example.com
Location, ST | website.com

subset: commoncrawl


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13406 E. Philadelphia St. Whittier, CA 90608
At Whittier, Physics and Astronomy is a small department, attracting some of the College's best students to a friendly atmosphere, small classes, opportunities to participate in research, and close interactions with faculty. Courses are rigorous - designed to prepare students for entry into Ph.D. programs in Physics, yet flexible enough to offer students options that can help prepare them for careers in teaching and employment in industry after graduation. Many physics majors also complete a second major or minor in mathematics.
Physics courses are often taught in a non-traditional, workshop format that emphasizes learning by investigation and extensive use of the department's excellent computing facilities. Majors enjoy access to a Physics/Math Study Lounge where students can work together on homework or simply put their feet up.
Whittier College's student-run Physics Club is at the core of the intellectual and social life of the department. The club sponsors lectures by physicists from other colleges, universities, national labs, and industrial labs who discuss their research, as well as astronomy parties in the desert, trips to research facilities off-campus, pizza and movie nights, and other activities.
The physics department offers all of our majors the opportunity to participate in research with faculty and even publish papers together. These research experiences have helped our students gain admission to top graduate programs and secure positions of responsibility in industry. Moreover, participation in research is just plain fun.
We invite you to learn more about our major and minor in Physics, as well as our major in Physics with an emphasis in Astronomy. The Physics Department also participates in Whittier's 3-2 Engineering Program and Scientific Computing minor.


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Construction Work
Join us for the 2015 Safety Stand-Down to prevent Falls in construction.
Falls cost. Safety pays. Choose to promote fall prevention on your job site during Safety Stand Down weeks.
General Rules
- Construction, Safety Standards for (Chapter 296-155, WAC)
- Cone Setting Requirements (WRD 6.55)
- Asbestos Project Notification (WRD 23.25)
- Tag Line Use (WRD 29.72)
- Washington Administrative Code 296-155-176, Lead Exposure in Construction, Inspection and Compliance Guidelines (WRD 95-1 )
- Focused Inspections in Construction (WRD 2.25)
- Enforcement Policy for Construction Crane Certification and Crane Operator Qualifications and Certification Under WAC 296-155-529 through 53300. (WRD 8.60)
- Crane Safety Inter-program Coordination (WRD 8.70)
- Bathroom and Toilet Facility Access (WRD 5.98)
Hazard Alerts, Bulletins & Notices
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Death After the Use of Explosives in a Sewer Construction Project
- WISHA Cover Letter -- NIOSH ALERT: "Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Death After the Use of Explosives in a Sewer Construction Project"
- Dump Trucks in the Construction Zone (62 KB PDF)
- Fatal Hazard: Falling through skylights and roof and floor openings. (213 KB PDF)
- Fatal Hazard: UPDATE - Falling through skylights and roof and floor openings (213 KB PDF)
- Ineffective back-up alarms on road construction vehicles (221 KB PDF)
- Lateral Supports for Open Web Steel Joists
- Lead Exposure During Cable De-tensioning Work (595 KB PDF)
- Skid-steer loader FACE Fatal Facts bulletin, including a one-page safety tips poster (154 KB PDF)
- Spraying Ignitable Finishes At Construction Sites (162 KB PDF)
- Transfer Dump Trucks Can Crush Employees (329 KB PDF)
Training Materials
- Lead In Construction Training Kit
- Construction Self-Inspection Guide
- Noise in Road Construction
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- Supported Scaffold Safety
- Residential Construction Checklist
- Health Hazards in Construction
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Wow, looks like a great time was had by all, wish I was there! Did anyone happen to find a tomato can label at Paulie Gee's
Btw,can someone put some names to the faces in some of the photos? I recognize maybe 2 or 3.
That's not me. That's an imposter pretending to be me. That guy's way too goofy looking to be me.
Man, I gotta say I envy you guys. Seems like everybody had an absolute blast. Great stuff and awesome write-ups. Not to mention the pictures. Wonderful.Next time we need to hold one here on the left coast
I was bit taken aback by his chuckwagon comment when I showed him a pic of my mobile.
dear pizza enthusiasts, i want to thank all of you for a wonderful evening! that was the most comfortable i have ever felt with a group of people i have never met in my life. i guess our passion for pizza makes us family because that is what i got from every one.
Paulie, this guy is a character in a great way, this personality is what it takes... now why the hell would he not feed us a tomato, mozzarella and basil pizza.
i want to know how your pizza differs in tastes using a starter,and do you ever make yeast risen pizza?
Mike, I'll be there!Craig


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Nite Ize Figure 9 Small Carabiner
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1-5 of 5


text:
Missing: No reason for Hancock-area man's disappearance
Answering your questions as hunting season begins in Michigan/Debbie Munson Badini
Contrary to what the recent weather patterns may have us believing, the fall hunting seasons are officially here and in full swing. With waterfowl, small game, bear, fall turkey and archery deer seasons all open, the woods are an exciting place to be these days.
As usual, it is also an exciting time at the Department of Natural Resources, as our dedicated staff members have the opportunity to interact with the hunting public at wild game registration stations and at the DNR offices where licenses are sold. Not only do we get to hear the stories and see the smiling faces of successful hunters, but it is also a golden opportunity to answer any questions or concerns our customers may have about hunting season rules and regulations.
Here's a sampling of some of the most common questions we are hearing this fall:
Does the federal shutdown affect the DNR's operations? Will I still be able to buy a hunting license? The federal government shutdown does not affect State of Michigan DNR operations or hunting license sales. State parks and campgrounds, DNR offices and other DNR land and facilities remain open for the public's enjoyment this fall.
My teenager would like to try hunting for the first time. Does he/she need to complete hunter's safety first? First-time hunters ages 10 and up may hunt with an apprentice license for two license seasons before completion of hunter education is required. Apprentice hunters 10-16 years old must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or someone designated by the parent or guardian; apprentice hunters 17 years and older must be accompanied by an adult 21 years or older. The mentor accompanying the apprentice hunter must possess a valid regular hunting license for the same game/season as the apprentice.
Did all of the wolf hunting licenses sell out? Yes, and no. On Saturday, Sept. 28, when licenses went on sale over-the-counter, the 1,200 licenses sold out before the end of the day. However, some license holders may choose to void their license before the end of the sale period on Thursday, Oct. 31, meaning small numbers of licenses could be returned to the license pool for purchase. Anyone interested in obtaining a license who was not yet successful should check periodically at www.mdnr-elicense.com to see if licenses are available. License agents at the DNR Operations Service Centers (OSCs) in Baraga, Marquette and Newberry can also check license availability for customers.
I have a wolf hunting license, how can I find land to hunt in one of the Wolf Management Units?
Abundant public land is available for hunters targeting wolves in the three Wolf Management Units (WMUs), however, the DNR is offering assistance in connecting hunters with farmers who have experienced wolf depredation of livestock. While the WMU boundaries were drawn to specifically target packs with a documented history of depredation, farmers and hunters partnering together will make this targeted approach to wolf management more successful. Those with a wolf hunting license looking for land to hunt should call the Baraga, Marquette or Newberry OSCs before Friday, Oct. 18, to be added to a list that will be shared with farmers.
When and where can I have my deer checked?
DNR deer registration stations at the Baraga, Marquette and Newberry OSCs are open M-F, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (and other business hours by appointment) during the archery deer season. Hours and locations will be expanded during the November firearm season. Registration is voluntary and participants receive a 2013 Deer Cooperator Patch. For a list of locations and hours, visit www.michigan.gov/deer.
Have other questions for us? Feel free to stop by or call any DNR OSC for help, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midnr, or call in to "Ask the DNR" on WNMU-TV 13 on Thursday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 5 to have your question answered live on the air.
Additional items of interest for October:
Fall color chairlift rides will be offered this weekend, from noon to 7 p.m. Oct. 5-6, at the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park ski hill for $5 per person (children under 12 ride free of charge). For details, call the ski hill at 906-885-5209 or visit www.michigan.gov/porkies.
The Michigan Natural Resources Commission will hold its annual Upper Peninsula meeting on Thursday in Iron Mountain at the Pine Mountain Lodge beginning at 1 p.m. CST. The meeting will feature presentations by the Wildlife and Fisheries divisions, the consideration of two U.P. land transactions, the presentation of the Partners in Conservation award to two U.P. residents, and opportunity for public comment. Additional details, including instructions for signing up for public comment, can be found online at www.michigan.gov/nrc.
Hunter education field days will be offered in Ironwood (Oct. 12) and Negaunee Township (Oct. 13) for anyone taking the online or home study course. Completion of the field day is necessary to receive a hunter education certificate. Pre-registration is required and students under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. For additional details and to pre-register, call Cpl. Ryan Rademacher at 231-578-1313.
Debbie Munson Badini is the DNR's Deputy Public Information Officer. Have suggestions for future column topics or questions about natural resource management in the UP? Contact her by phone at 906-226-1352, via email at firstname.lastname@example.com, or on Twitter @MichiganDNR.


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Skip to comments.Dominican prostitute: Sen. Bob Menendez likes the youngest and newest girls
Posted on 01/31/2013 5:51:33 AM PST by JohnPDuncan
In a little-noticed email published online Wednesday by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a young Dominican woman wrote nine months ago that she slept with 59-year-old New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez at a series of sex parties organized by Dr. Salomon Melgen, a longtime Menendez campaign donor.
That Senator also likes the youngest and newest girls, the woman wrote on April 21, 2012, according to an English translation provided to The Daily Caller by a native Spanish speaker.
In the beginning he seemed so serious, because he never spoke to anyone, but he is just like the others and has just about the same tastes as the doctor, very refined. I think they were taking us more often to get us checked [medically] because of him.
TheDC is not disclosing the womans name because she may have been a minor when her alleged sexual encounters with Menendez occurred. Four different Spanish speakers who reviewed TheDCs translation of her letter all said her Spanish writing indicated someone who was very young and unsophisticated.
CREW chose to publish her name, despite her concerns for her safety.
I do not want to have problems with those people, she wrote, adding that she believed I can trust you, that you will help us, and that nothing bad will happen to the other young girls, to me, or to my family.
The young woman wrote that she was recruited as an escort from an adult escort service called the Doll Palace, and that the code word chocolate would summon her and other girls to Melgens sex parties. She offered specific recollections of Melgens preferred pimp, the homes where she slept with his house guests for money, and the phone number her calls would come from.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
30 years federal prison for both of them!
Speaking for reprobates, So say we all. lol
Whatever happened to the Demorat mantra that the seriousness of the implication outweighs whether it was true or not ?
Nothing but street creds for a Demo candidate.......
Crazy times we live in.
Nothing but street creds for a Demo candidate.......
Crazy times we live in.
Children in the DR doing the work American children are forbidden by law to do.
Should he be charged under the child pornography statutes as I bet he watched? But I'll bet her eyes were closed tightly.
MSM about to break silence on Sen. Menendez scandal
Sen. Menendez Switch to Republican Party Almost Done
RNC, Congress Republicans set to welcome new member.. D'oh!
....the headline should read, FBI TOLD TO HOLD OFF INVESTIGATION UNTIL AFTER ELECTION
He's talking about children here. You're not really agreeing with that, are you?
He's talking about children here. You're not really agreeing with that, are you? Are you a democrat troll or what?
Maybe this is why the good senator is so adamant about passing the immigration amnesty bill?
He's a democrat. Nothing will happen to him. He will rise within the ranks of the democrat party.
But if a Republican SAYS the wrong words he's hounded out of office.
New Jersey Senator Lautenberg would have accompanied New Jersey Senator Menendez, but he was at the embalmers getting touched up.
I keep imagining the non stop coverage this would be receiving if a Republican politician was involved.
Women don't lie about these things, Democrats have insisted for years, so even allegations would be considered gospel truth if a Republican was accused.
No wonder the Democrats want to buy contraceptives for all young girls. That's really for their old goat politicians' peace of mind. Menendez should be packing up his office, but Democrats have nothing against perverts.
Where's the Attorney General? Anybody else sick of these people manipulating the government for their own benefit?
Hey, so do I, but The Lord and Mrs. JimRed would not approve.
By the way, prostitution is legal in the Dominican Republic, and unike here, fifteen won't get you twenty!
...unlike here...
Correction: Age of consent in D.R. is eighteen. Who knew?
Ha, wake me up when it's the lead story on NBC, NYT, and HuffPo.
Last year, Menendez said on air that "any Secret Service agent who was involved with a prostitute should be fired.."
Why is this News? Didn't you hear? Larry Craig tapped his feet in a Rest Room stall!
Only 18+ and a nonblood relation. No offence intended.
Holder was arresting men who traveled to Thailand and the Phillipines for sex with underage prostitutes. Menendez should be cinvicted, imprisoned and given the Scarlet Letter(s) - S O for Sex Offender.
Most of the articles I read yesterday about this from the MSM didn't mention the fact the girls were "underage".
So you can imagine the comments that followed the articles. One that comes to mind was a "So what, the Senator isn't married and has sexual needs like anyone else. Prostitution is legal there so who cares if he hired a prostitute."
These people are such the kool-aid drinkers though that they would probably defend Menendez sleeping with 10yo hookers anyhow.
Well its OK because he's a Democrat. Just forget about it.
HEY! MENENDEZ! LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE! (ya filthy pedophile)
Menendez-— I want d' jung ones
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text:
July 31, 2012
Table of Contents
Subject Page No. Exhibit
Introduction 2
1. Adoption of the Proposed Meeting Agenda 3
2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting 4
of March 27, 2012 and Special Meetings of
April 24 and June 26, 2012
3. Procurement and Real Estate Reports 5 "3.1" – 3.8"
4. Recent Developments and Status of NYPA's 8
Ethics and Compliance Program
5. Motion to Conduct an Executive Session 14
6. Motion to Resume Meeting in Open Session 15
7. Next Meeting 16
Closing 17
Minutes of the regular meeting of the New York Power Authority's Governance Committee held at the Authority's offices at 123 Main Street, White Plains, New York at approximately 8:40 a.m.
The following Members of the Governance Committee were present:
Trustee Eugene L. Nicandri, Chairperson
Chairman John R. Koelmel
Trustee Terrance P. Flynn
Trustee Joanne M. Mahoney
Also in attendance were:
R. Wayne LeChase Trustee
Gil Quiniones President and Chief Executive Officer
Judith McCarthy Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Edward Welz Chief Operating Officer
Donald Russak Chief Financial Officer
Jill Anderson Chief of Staff and Director – Energy Policy
Joan Tursi Senior Vice President – Corporate Support Services
Randy Crissman Vice President – Technical Compliance
Joseph Gryzlo Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
Patricia Leto Vice President Procurement
Lesly Pardo Vice President – Internal Audit
Brian McElroy Treasurer
Karen Delince Corporate Secretary
Dennis Eccleston Chief Information Officer
Rod Mullin Director – Fuel Planning and Operations
Mark O'Connor Director – Real Estate
Gary Schmid Manager – Network Services
Louise Nestler Assistant Ethics Officer
Lorna Johnson Assistant Corporate Secretary
Sheila Baughman Senior Secretary, Corporate Secretary's Office
Chairman Eugene Nicandri presided over the meeting. Corporate Secretary Delince kept the Minutes.
Chairman Eugene Nicandri welcomed committee members, Trustee LeChase and Authority senior staff to the meeting. He said the meeting has been duly noticed as required by the Open Meetings Law and called the meeting to order pursuant to Section B(4) of the Governance Committee Charter.
1. Adoption of the Proposed Meeting Agenda
By motion made and seconded the agenda for the meeting was adopted.
2. Approval of the Minutes
The Minutes of the Committee's Regular Meeting of March 27, 2012 and the Special Meetings of April 24 and June 26, 2012 were approved.
3. Procurement and Real Estate Reports
Ms. Joan Tursi submitted the following report:
"This memorandum is to advise the Governance Committee of certain 2012 YTD activities of the Corporate Support Services/Enterprise Shared Services ('CSS/ESS') Business Unit, including: procurement contract activity, disposal of personal property, acquisition and disposal of real property, Supplier Diversity Program activities and plant inventory statistics, as well as fossil fuels and corporate finance activities of the Energy Resource Management and Business Services Business Units, respectively. This memorandum also advises the Committee of a proposed Corporate Policy relating to Authority vehicles and equipment.
"Pursuant to Subsection C.5 of the Authority's Governance Committee Charter relating to Reports, the Vice President Procurement and the Director Real Estate are required to report to the Committee at all regularly scheduled meetings and the Committee has the authority to require Procurement and Real Estate staff to prepare additional reports and to produce documents for Committee review.
"The reported activities are governed by various State laws and regulations and are set forth in the attached Reports.
"As more fully described in the individual reports attached hereto as Exhibits 3.1 - 3.8, the Procurement Contract Report summarizes activity for procurements of $5,000 or greater awarded since January 1, 1990 that were active in 2012, as identified by the Authority's SAP computer system. The Disposal of Personal Property Report lists all personal property disposal transactions over $5,000 conducted during the reporting period. The Real Estate Report includes all transactions over $15,000 for the acquisition or disposal of real property. The Supplier Diversity Program Activity Report summarizes dollars awarded to New York State-certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises ('MWBEs') based on reportable expenditures. The Plant Inventory Analysis lists current stock value and compares it to that of the same period last year, with a brief explanation for any significant increase or decrease. The Fossil Fuels and Corporate Finance Reports list the fuel- and finance-related transactions conducted by the Fuel Operations and Treasury work groups, respectively.
"The proposed Corporate Policy sets forth the use of GPS/Telematic technologies in Authority Fleet vehicles and equipment, with the goal of improving driver safety, optimizing vehicle utilization, lowering costs and increasing productivity."
Ms. Patricia Leto presented highlights of the report on the Disposal of Personal Property (Exhibit 3.2). Responding to a question from Chairman Nicandri, Ms. Tursi said the Fleet auctions are conducted two or three times per year by JJ Kane Auctioneers of Rome, NY. She added that the next auction is scheduled for August.
Mr. Mark O'Connor presented highlights of the report on the Acquisition and Disposal of Real Property (Exhibit 3.3). Responding to a question from Trustee Mahoney regarding the St. Lawrence Lands Program, Mr. O'Connor said the state of New York under the jurisdiction of the Authority owns most of the lands that borders the St. Lawrence project; therefore, the Authority does not need to receive permission from the State Parks to convey the lands. Also, the Program is a part of the Comprehensive Settlement Plan of the St. Lawrence Project Relicensing Settlement Agreement which was reviewed and approved by the Authority and the Attorney General.
Mr. Rod Mullin presented highlights of the report on Fossil Fuel (Exhibit 3.6). Responding to a question from Chairman Nicandri, Mr. Mullin said there has been a lot of activity in the natural gas Industry; natural gas prices are down and, therefore, a number of companies are now building gas lines to take advantage of that supply and use it commercially. As a result, coal units are not able to compete with them. President Quiniones added that there has been reports and analysis done which results show that gas prices will have to go up to the $5 range before coal plants can be competitive in terms of generating electricity. Statistics have shown that, in the past, 50 % of the electricity produced in the U.S. was from coal- fired power plants; it is now down to 33% -- a substantial decrease in electricity produced from coal because of the much lower price of natural gas.
Ms. Joan Tursi presented highlights of the report on the use of GPS/Telematic Technologies on the Authority's Fleet Vehicles and Equipment (Exhibit 3.8). Responding to a question from Trustee Mahoney, Ms. Tursi said the Authority is currently discussing the GPS system with the union. Mr. Welz added that the Authority is discussing the impacts of the GPS system and monitoring of employee licenses with the union. In response to a comment from Trustee Flynn, Ms. Tursi said the Authority is implementing the licensing monitoring program to ensure that employees driving its fleet vehicles have valid driver's licenses. In response to a question from Chairman Nicandri, Ms. McCarthy said the Authority will be using the license monitoring system only to check that employees have a valid driver's license or if it has been suspended or revoked. In response to further question from Trustee Mahoney, Ms. Tursi said the Authority will use a licensing monitoring program currently used by other agencies and authorities, which will alert the Authority, on a continuous basis, if there is a change in the status of an employee's driver's license. The Authority has also contracted a maintenance company, ARI, which will monitor employees with out-of-state driver's licenses. The company will issue a report to the Authority periodically. She reiterated that the Authority will not be notified if an employee has, for example, violations as the result of a DWI or speeding ticket. Responding to further question from Chairman Nicandri, Mr. Welz said some job descriptions require that the employee have a driver's license; if there is an issue with such an employee's driver's license, it will have an impact on the employee's ability to perform their job. However, the Authority will deal with such instances on a case by case basis. Ms. McCarthy added that any disciplinary action taken would depend on the information received regarding the status of the license. The Business Unit would evaluate the issue; however, it could have an effect on the employee's job.
4. Recent Developments and Status of NYPA's
Ethics and Compliance Program
Mr. Joseph Gryzlo submitted the following report:
ETHICS and COMPLIANCE
"The Office of Ethics and Compliance advises NYPA's trustees, officers and employees on the applicable ethics and compliance standards relating to NYPA's employees and operations. It coordinates the investigation of allegations and concerns involving NYPA's assets and employees. This report highlights significant developments in NYPA's ethics and compliance program for the period March 27, 2012 to July 31, 2012.
"The principal substantive issues arising under the NYS ethics laws and NYPA's Code of Conduct investigated or researched since the most recent Governance Committee report on March 27, 2012 include various requests to engage in outside activities and employment and issues concerning conflicts of interest, gifts inquiries, post-employment restrictions and unwarranted privileges. The Office receives inquiries from all NYPA facilities and headquarters' business units. Issues raised by and concerning NYPA's bargaining unit employees have increased since the inclusion of the represented workforce within the scope of the Code of Conduct in late 2009.
"The Office of Ethics and Compliance provides annual training to all trustees, officers and employees to reaffirm NYPA's commitment to prevailing ethics principles and raise awareness of the laws and regulations with which all NYS public employees are required to comply. NYPA's positive culture of ethics and compliance is further reinforced by various training initiatives, including the May 2012 NYS Office of Inspector General program, as well as targeted employee communications relating to the NYS financial disclosure program, gifts restrictions, honoraria guidelines, periodic 'Ethics Challenges' appearing in NYPA's Currents publication and customized presentations for NYPA's Compliance Work Group and business units and departments.
Ethics Caseload
"Annual ethics training related to Outside Activities and Employment was provided during the fourth quarter of 2011 and first quarter of 2012 and continues to result in various requests to review the external activities of NYPA employees. These requests include approvals to perform services as part-time municipal law enforcement officials, Justice of the Peace and fire investigator; engineering consultants and professional board memberships. In all instances, the Office of Ethics and Compliance evaluates employees' reported outside activities and employment to ensure there are no conflicts of interest with NYPA's business interests and the employees' NYPA job duties. Written guidelines are provided which identify the circumstances under which employees may participate in part-time outside endeavors. Employees affirmatively agree to adhere to the guidelines which include the need to perform their outside pursuits solely on their own time and without the use of any NYPA assets or resources. Those employees holding 'policy-making' positions and others who are required to file annual financial disclosure forms with the NYS Joint Commission on Public Ethics ('JCOPE') are instructed to include their outside employment and related compensation in their filing. Requests to engage in outside employment by employees holding 'policy-making' positions are also required to be approved by the JCOPE. Those approvals are coordinated by the Office of Ethics and Compliance.
"Gifts inquiries remain a top issue for the Office of Ethics and Compliance. In the recent reporting period, thirteen inquiries were reviewed, including a request to re-visit a prior opinion relating to an employee's participation on an external organization's board and the propriety of his being able to accept complimentary travel and lodging from a program sponsor. An organization offered to pay the out-of-state travel and lodging expenses for the NYPA employee who was asked to moderate a panel discussion at the organization's annual meeting. The Office of Ethics and Compliance previously advised the employee not to accept complimentary travel and lodging since the employee's role on the external board and participation in the meetings were related to his NYPA job duties and had benefited NYPA. The Office of Ethics and Compliance reaffirmed its prior opinion after researching the applicable provisions of the NYS Public Officers Law and related regulations.
"NYPA's Sustainability Program is the culmination of the 'triple-bottom line' approach of environmental stewardship, social equity and economic prosperity. The Green Team, NYPA's voluntary sustainability committee, sought to implement an internal blog to engage employees in discussions related to green products and services found or used by other NYPA employees. The blog poses potential improper endorsement and unwarranted privilege ethical issues for employees who may post information related to the products they use. By naming a particular product on an officially sponsored NYPA website, it may appear that NYPA and the employee are endorsing the product or the services of a particular vendor in violation of NYS Public Officers Law § 74(3)(d). Violations of the Public Officers Law are enforced against public employees, not state agencies. In an attempt to help the Sustainability Group and NYPA reach their eco-friendly goals, the Office of Ethics and Compliance has agreed to act as moderator of the blog to assist employees in making posts that share valuable 'green' information, while helping them to avoid violations of the Public Officers Law or create the appearance of such violations.
Collaboration with the New York State Inspector General's Office
"The Ethics and Compliance Office continues to collaborate with the NYS Inspector General's Office on investigations of allegations and complaints involving NYPA employees and business partners. Issues of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest or abuse by state officers and employees relating to their office or employment, or by anyone having business dealings with covered agencies are included within the Inspector General Office's jurisdiction. Details of pending cases will be provided during the Governance Committee Executive Session.
"The Inspector General's Office concluded one case involving a NYPA employee during the current reporting period. A Security Sergeant at the Clark Energy Center was arrested on charges that he used a NYPA credit card to purchase gasoline for his personal vehicle and falsified records to cover up his theft. NYPA identified the employee's wrongdoing and referred the matter to the Inspector General and cooperated fully with the external investigation. The employee remains on unpaid disciplinary suspension status pending the resolution of the criminal proceedings.
"Financial Disclosure forms were due to be submitted to the JCOPE by May 15, 2012. All NYPA trustees, employees holding 'policy-making positions' and those earning an annual salary greater than $88,256 were required to file their financial disclosure information for the 2011 filing period. The great majority of NYPA filers continue to utilize the online filing process. JCOPE experienced website challenges during its initial administration of the program throughout the filing period. The Office of Ethics and Compliance intervened on many employees' behalf and facilitated the successful filing of financial disclosure forms and requests for exemptions. JCOPE anticipates that these program filing difficulties will be resolved prior to the 2013 filing period.
"The Ethics and Compliance Office offered a Supervisory Development Training module to approximately 15 new supervisors during this reporting period. This training session is conducted twice annually in conjunction with the Human Resources Talent Development Group and is designed to provide supervisors with an overview of the types of ethical issues they may encounter from their employees and to offer them an opportunity to ask any ethics-related questions they may have in their new roles.
"The NYS Inspector General Office's Director of Training made four presentations to headquarters staff in May. The purpose of these training sessions was to review the jurisdiction of the Inspector General and highlight employees' legal responsibility to report wrongdoing, including bribery, conflicts of interest, fraud, theft and governmental waste. The Inspector General's Office cited its favorable working relationship with NYPA and also encouraged employees to report their concerns through NYPA's internal resources and the outsourced employee concerns hotline (1-877-TEL-NYPA). The Law Department and Office of Ethics and Compliance intends to communicate the Inspector General's message to NYPA's facilities during 2012 and tailor the presentations to NYPA's business and operations.
"The Office of Ethics and Compliance has developed and is facilitating the implementation of two NYPA performance measures. These measures are designed to create a centralized inventory of (i) all statutory and regulatory mandated reports NYPA must prepare and file with external entities and (ii) all statutory and regulatory mandated training initiatives NYPA must provide to its trustees, officers and employees. The centralized database has been created and business units and departments are in the process of identifying and entering the mandatory reports and training applicable to their groups. The Office of Ethics and Compliance will monitor inventories for compliance and work with the Law Department to verify the accuracy and timeliness of the data.
"This report highlights important aspects of NYPA's reliability standards compliance program for the period March 27, 2012 to July 31, 2012. A brief background statement is followed by discussion of specific reliability standards-related topics affecting the enterprise.
"Following the 2003 Northeast blackout, the Energy Policy Act of 2005 was passed and gave the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ('FERC') the power to establish mandatory standards for electric reliability. FERC named the North American Electric Reliability Corporation ('NERC') as its Electric Reliability Organization ('ERO') and charged it with developing and enforcing reliability standards. The Northeast Power Coordinating Council ('NPCC') is NERC's enforcement agent for the Northeast U.S. NERC established an organization and processes for developing, implementing and enforcing standards. The initial set of standards became enforceable on June 18, 2007. Since then, the standards have continued to be expanded and revised to address known gaps in the standards or gaps discovered from lessons learned from analyses of more recent system disturbances and blackout events.
"NYPA is currently registered, under the NERC functional registration model, as a Transmission Owner, Generator Owner, Generator Operator, Purchasing and Selling Entity, and Load Serving Entity. Recently, NYPA requested de-registration as a Load Serving Entity. Under these registrations, NYPA is subject to 115 standards containing 379 requirements. The standards cover a wide range of NYPA's operation and maintenance activities and processes. In addition, NYPA is subject to some more stringent standards and reliability requirements established by NPCC.
In the period 2007 to 2010, NYPA strengthened its internal compliance program to guide the organization and provide oversight of the processes required to maintain evidence required to demonstrate compliance to the standards. This involved organizational restructuring, the establishment of a governance program through the creation of new or the modification of existing policies and procedures, and the provision of training of the staff.
NERC Reliability Standards Compliance Enforcement Actions
"During the reporting period, NYPA staff managed compliance enforcement actions related to several of the NERC Reliability Standards that are applicable to NYPA's NERC registrations. The actions and statuses are briefly stated below:
1. PRC-005-1 R2 - Transmission and Generation Protection System Maintenance and Testing (NERC Violation ID: NPCC201100236): NYPA self-reported to NPCC a potential violation of the requirement R2 of PRC-005-1 on February 11, 2011. The associated mitigation plan closure documents are being reviewed by NPCC staff. NPCC has not yet contacted NYPA about settlement discussions related to this violation.
2. CIP-004-3 R2 - Cyber Security - Personnel and Training (NERC Violation ID: NPCC2012200446): NYPA self-reported to NPCC a potential violation of requirement R2 of CIP-004-3 on February 16, 2012. The mitigation plan and associated closure documents were submitted to NPCC for review and approval in April 2012, submitted to NERC for approval on May 18, and were approved by NERC and submitted to FERC on June 14.
3. CIP-004-3 R4.2 - Cyber Security - Personnel and Training (NERC Violation ID: NPCC2012-200459): NYPA self-reported to NPCC a potential violation of requirement R4 of CIP-004-3 on March 12, 2012. The mitigation plan was submitted in April 2012 and completed in late June 2012. The mitigation plan closure documents are being assembled for submittal to NPCC in July 2012.
4. CIP-006-3 R4 – Cyber Security – Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets: (NERC Violation ID: NPCC2012-200657): NYPA self-reported to NPCC a potential violation of requirement R4 of CIP-006-3 on June 21, 2012. The self-report is being reviewed by NPCC staff.
Audits of the NERC Reliability Standards
"NPCC notified NYPA on March 14, 2012 that it would conduct a spot check audit of two Purchasing and Selling Entity ('PSE') standards applicable to NYPA as a registered PSE. The audit was conducted for the following standards:
1. IRO-005-3 R10: Reliability Coordination - Current Day Operation
2. VAR-001-2 R5: Voltage and Reactive Control
"The NPCC Spot Check team evaluated compliance with two (2) applicable requirements out of the twenty-four (24) requirements associated with the above standards for the period of June 21, 2011 to May 9, 2012. The NPCC Spot Check team determined that the remaining twenty-two (22) requirements were not applicable to NYPA. Based on the information and documentation provided, the NPCC Spot Check team found NYPA to have no findings of non-compliance with two (2) applicable requirements. The NPCC Spot Check team identified zero (0) Possible Violations, zero (0) Areas of Concern and zero (0) Recommendations. The NPCC Spot Audit report is expected to be finalized by the end of July 2012.
"In 2010, FERC issued its final rule on the Electric Reliability Organization Definition of the Bulk Electric System ('BES') to include assets greater than 100 kV. Pursuant to FERC Order 743, NERC established a Standard Drafting Team ('BES SDT') to develop a new BES definition and RSC staff is monitoring the work of the BES SDT. The definition and an exception process were developed and approved by the industry in 2011. The NERC Board of Trustees approved the new BES Definition and the Exception Process in January 2012. NERC filed both with FERC on January 25, 2012.
"On June 21, 2012 FERC issued a proposal that would approve NERC's revisions to the definition of the bulk electric system to provide greater clarity and ensure consistency in identifying system elements across the nation's reliability regions. Under the new definition, all assets operating at 100 kV or greater will be elements of the bulk electric system. NERC's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ('NOPR') also proposes to approve NERC's new rules of procedure for adding elements to and removing them from the definition on a case-by-case basis. While proposing to approve the revisions to the definition of the BES, the NOPR also seeks comment on certain issues, including the exclusion of certain facility configurations from the definition.
"The new BES definition will have substantive impacts on New York State's electric utilities, including NYPA, because a larger population of generation and transmission assets will be subject to NERC Reliability Standards. In this regard, the Northeast Power Coordinating Council ('NPCC') established a BES Transition Plan that contains actions for assessing the impact of the new BES Definition. As part of NPCC's BES Transition Plan, in March, NYPA developed and submitted to NPCC a list of newly identified transmission assets that will become part of the BES pursuant to a new definition of the BES. NYPA identified 35 additional assets that will be subject to the NERC Reliability Standards:
1. Five (5) transmission lines
2. Seven (7) transformers
3. Twenty-three (23) reactive devices
"These newly identified BES elements represent a 50% increase in the number of NYPA BES elements. In June, NYPA staff began a reliability compliance gap analysis for these 35 transmission assets, pursuant to NYPA's current NERC functional registrations.
"More importantly, the adoption of the new BES definition may require NYPA to register as a Transmission Operator ('TOP') and/or a Transmission Planner ('TP'), which will lead to additional compliance responsibilities and accountabilities. Currently, the New York Independent System Operator ('NYISO') is the TOP and TP for NYPA's bulk power system elements. Under the new definition, the NYISO is not expected to take these responsibilities for any of the newly identified transmission elements in New York State. The responsibilities are expected to be distributed among the New York Transmission Owners ('NYTOs'). In response to these projected impacts, in February 2011, the NYISO and the NYTOs established a team to discuss and develop an action plan to address the statewide impacts of the implementation of the new BES definition. This group has been meeting regularly to clarify the impacts with respect to functional responsibility and compliance accountability for the TOP and TP Standards. The objective is to reach agreement on a registration model that will work for New York State and meet the requirements of NPCC and NERC. The team expects to accomplish its objective before the end of 2012.
NERC RECOMMENDATIONS TO INDUSTRY – Facility Ratings for Transmission Lines
"On October 7, 2010, NERC issued a 'NERC Alert – Recommendation to Industry' requiring NYPA to review its current Facility Ratings Methodology for its solely- and jointly-owned transmission lines to verify that the methodology is based on actual field conditions (in particular, line clearances). NYPA continues to implement its work plan for responding to this Recommendation to Industry. NYPA's assessment revealed that it has about 260 line clearance discrepancies in NYPA's 1,400 miles of transmission lines; about 50 of which are on lines rated as high priority. Staff has developed and is implementing a plan to eliminate the discrepancies on the high priority lines by the end of 2012; a significant undertaking. Contact has been established with other utilities to seek their assistance in remediating some of the discrepancies related to distribution lines that transect NYPA's transmission lines. NYPA has met several times with the NYISO, the Reliability Coordinator for New York; to coordinate the implementation of the remediation plan. The NYISO is working with NYPA to schedule transmission line outages required for the remediation work. The last meeting with the NYISO occurred on July 12, 2012. The most recent status report, required by NERC, was submitted to NPCC on July 16, 2012."
Mr. Randy Crissman provided highlights of the report on Reliability Standards Compliance to the Committee. He added that Version 5 of the Critical Infrastructure Protection ("CIP") standards being developed regarding Cyber Security in the electricity industry will be approved by the end of the year and will be enforceable in 2014 – 2015. President Quiniones said that since the 2003 blackout, cyber security has been an evolving part of the Authority's business. Various U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate legislative bills on cyber security are being drafted, which may have an impact on the Authority.
5. Motion to Conduct an Executive Session
Mr. Chairman, I move that the Authority conduct an executive session pursuant to the Public Officers Law of the State of New York section §105 to discuss matters leading to the appointment, employment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of a particular person or corporation. Upon motion made and seconded an Executive Session was held
6. Motion to Resume Meeting in Open Session
Mr. Chairman, I move to resume the meeting in Open Session. Upon motion made and seconded the meeting resumed in Open Session.
7. Next Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Governance Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 8:30 a.m.
On motion made and seconded, the meeting was adjourned by the Chairman at approximately
10:50 a.m.
Karen Delince
Corporate Secretary


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Man robs banks, escapes in Arkansas River
A suspected bank robber led police on a chase Thursday afternoon that ended with him jumping into a spillway in the Arkansas River and never resurfacing.
Around 2 p.m. officers responded to Security Service Federal Credit Union, 310 E. Abriendo Ave., regarding a bank robbery.
The responding officers received information on the suspect and found someone matching his description along the river trail, Eric Gonzales, a public information officer with the Pueblo Police Department, said.
The suspect was running away and police started following him until they got to the Santa Fe bridge when officers began narrowing in on him.
The suspect then jumped off the trail into the Arkansas River just east of the bridge to elude police and swam to a barrier in the middle of the river underneath a walkway bridge that is parallel to and east of the Santa Fe bridge.
The man climbed onto a concrete pillar on the barrier while officers were on top of the walkway bridge and the sides of the riverbanks trying to get him to stop.
The suspect was taunting the police officers and suddenly took off his shoes and dove head-first from the concrete pillar into a spillway about 15 feet away in the river east of the walkway bridge.
Officers observed him come back to the surface briefly before being quickly swept into the undertow. He never surfaced again.
"We think he hit himself on some rocks," Gonzales said. "There's no way he cleared the spillway and there's a lot of rocks sitting in that spillway."
Police said the current where the suspect jumped in the river was strong enough to keep him under.
Police recovered a shoe from the river they believe belongs to the suspect.
Officers were working to identify the suspect.
A photo was taken of him before he jumped in the river and police are in the process of reviewing that picture.
Gonzales said it's unknown at this time if the man was armed or not.
Pueblo police officers worked in conjunction with the Pueblo Fire Department's water rescue team as the search and investigation continues.
A man who lives on Moffat Street just south of the portion of the river the incident took place at, said he witnessed the man go into the river.
"I saw him go where the rapids on that spillway are," he said, saying the suspect was wearing white shorts and a white shirt. "It shook me up a bit. It was crazy to see something like that happen."
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text: Hi - bought this pickup over a year ago for my Taylor 314 Acoustic. I use it very infrequently but the last two times I've used it I have gone direct from the guitar into powered mixers for amplification. I've found that the output is very low from 1-3 on the volume having to push the channel volume on the mixer way up to get sound. The sound quality is very good at this level but it's not a great set up when trying to find a balanced mix on the board. When I get the pickup up to 5 and higher I get really bad sound - sort of microphonic. The guitar sounds like it's being played through an echo/can type sound lots of sensitivity to noise coming from the guitar and my hands, I try to keep my hand away from the PUP but it's still sounds bad. There are unwanted overtones that are hard to describe. I've tried new batteries with no luck. I can probably get by with keeping the pickup volume low and cranking the mixer but it seems wrong that with an onboard pre amp I would need to get the mixers channel input up to max just to get it right in the mix. This is through two different PA systems, differnt channels, fooling with mix/line settings etc. Am I doing something wrong? I was hoping for the price this would be better.


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Traffic Stop Nets 107 lbs. of Marijuana
A Tuesday night traffic top north of Klamath Falls led to an arrest and the seizure of 107 pounds of marijuana. 23-year old Brandon James Manger of Bend was being pulled over for a traffic violation when authorities found the pot in his Dodge Durango. The pot seized is valued at approximately 250-thousand dollars. Manger is lodged in Klamath County on charges of possession and delivery of a controlled substance.


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Weathering the weather
MARSHALL – It's no secret people are fed up with the cold and snow still hanging around Minnesota. And when you're trying to plan a garden, it gets even more frustrating.
"Everyone's itching to get out and get started," said Therese Van Nevel of the Garvin Nursery.
Although customers are looking at spring plants, Van Nevel and other area nursery managers said this week that frosty temperatures are making people wait before they buy.
"We've seen a lot of people out looking," especially when temperatures went into the 70s a couple of weeks ago, said Jason Farber, manager at Greenwood Nursery's Marshall location.
But overall conditions haven't been ideal for gardening.
"Obviously you can't plant when there's snow on the ground, and then the soil has to be warm enough to work with," Farber said.
At the Country Side Nursery in Lake Benton, "People are mostly looking. They're not ready to buy," said Penny Krause.
However, nursery managers said it doesn't mean the spring planting season will be a bust.
"There's just going to be a big backup," Jason Farber said. "We're probably going to end up cramming a month-and-a-half to two months of sales in three or four weeks."
Meanwhile, nursery managers said it will be more challenging to manage their inventory. Nurseries usually begin raising seedlings in early spring in order to have plants ready to purchase around April and May.
"It puts everyone behind schedule," said Greenwood owner Jeff Farber said of this spring's weather. He said staff at Greenwood's growing location in Tracy will have to carefully manage their crops to deal with the setback, but it shouldn't be a big problem. "With some plants, you just do a lot of pinching and trimming," he said.
Cold nights and the possibility of frost also make it harder to display and care for spring plants, Krause said. Many have to be kept in the greenhouse right now. Late spring snow also covered up supplies of soil for potting bare-root trees and plants, she said.
Van Nevel said the Garvin Nursery sells perennials, which tend to be less threatened by colder temperatures. However, she said cold snaps can be hard on budding trees.
One thing was positive about the late-spring snow and rain, nursery managers said.
"It's very good that we had that moisture this spring," Van Nevel said. "It's really helped bring us out of this drought."
Nursery managers emphasized that there is still plenty of time to plant a garden – but be prepared for a rush at the greenhouse.
"There might be some lines at the cash register," Jason Farber said.


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8:00 AM Race School registration Open 8:30 AM Introductions and class room 9:00 AM On Track Exercises (lead follow, sliding, side by side, full speed lapping with passing) 11:00 AM Lunch (provided by Endurance Karting) 11:15 PM Track Walk. Afternoon lapping sessions with instructor feedback. 12:30 PM Fun Race among participants 1:00 PM Closing Ceremony *Lunch and water provided for race school participants
Adv. School - ExperiencedFriday July 11, 2014 $425/Single Entry $375/participant with 2+ 4 people per class To Purchase Advanced Schools Click Here: Click here to see if you qualify for the Adv. School
Two Class times to select from: Morning Class (1hr 50 minutes of seat time) Limited to 4 Participants 8:45 AM Advanced School registration Open 9:00 AM Track Walk with Instructor 9:20 AM - 1:30 PM Lapping sessions with Feedback from Instructor *Lunch and water provided for advanced school participants
1.5 Hr Race
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11:30- 12:30pm Registration
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o 3:15 PM Early Registration Opens
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o 7:00 AM Check-in and Equipment Rental Open
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o Rent safety gear and purchase schools and practice sessions HERE
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Tight On Space But Love Christmas, Try A Decal Christmas Tree
Contributing Monkie V Ol Blak
Topics of Interest christmas trees, interior design
Published on December 1, 2011
Section Architecture / Interior Design
Comments 4
Decal By Subhuti
Yes, it's that time again. Time to head out with your love ones and buy all that new Christmas stuff. New LED christmas lights, a fake or real Christmas tree, stockings, fake snow and so on. It is exhausting to even think about.
I was unlucky enough to be at Target, a place I never go to. If that wasn't bad enough, I found myself in the middle of a Christmas explosion. Christmas everything, they had Chinese cheap o stringed lights for $4, fake trees, ornaments, stockings, fake snow, fake snowflake sparkly ornaments and on and on, you get the picture. As it happens, I wasn't alone either, I was with my very beautiful and sophisticated girlfriend, who upon laying her eyes on this mega find of Christmas bonanza, transformed into a 5 year old girl, touching and wanting nearly everything. Lucky we made it out of there without buying one of those fake trees, because, this decal idea is looking pretty good. No need to have a decaying fire hazard sitting in the living room, when you can have something as stylish as a vinyl wall tree decal… right?
All the rage in… tiny apartments everywhere, Christmas Tree Wall Decals. The decals are made from self stick vinyl and they come in all kinds of cool modern design. Way cooler than the same old live tree thing everyone does. This is original, fun and yes can be peeled off and used again next year.
Tree's go for between $12 to $24 plus shipping. No tools need, just a blank wall. Have fun and take photos… you can checkout some of the trees on Subhuit etsy shop.
Continue Reading / See Additional Photos


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Certified Used Nissan Cars in Fayetteville, AR
Superior Nissan welcomes you to check out our always-up-to-date certified inventory online - ideal for doing your pre-buy research from the comfort of your own home or office. When you've found the Nissan model you like (i.e. the Frontier, Juke, Rouge, Xterra or Sentra), come down to our dealership, located at 3372 North College Avenue, and take a test drive. The service you'll receive is a cut above and our sales staff is professional, yet highly approachable. You'll quickly understand why we have such an expansive base of loyal customers.


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If you are interested in using this image, please consult Acknowledging the Website.
Image Reference
Harper's Weekly (November 8, 1862), p.713. (Copy in Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library)
This scene depicts the common practice of moving slaves farther South to avoid adhering to the Emancipation Proclamation. These slaves lived in Leesburg, Virginia, and were driven by Confederate soldiers. To minimize the loss of profit, masters chained their slaves together during the long journey.


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>Runner's World - My Event Ratings>
In short: an amazing run for all abilities.In full: was my first mass participation event so didnt really grasp the need to be in zone early was busy queuing for the toilet,more toilets needed and nearer the start. great weekend though ran a pb, met mo farah, received fantastic support the whole way round so the race flew by. will be back for more regardless and my daughter wants to do the mini great north next time.a must do race!Date of review: September 22, 2011
In short: could be improved in a few areasIn full: start not really called all of a sudden we were off without warning. course ok but some posts could have been removed.fairly quick course but definitly quicker out there.marshalling pretty good although saw and heard of a few managing to go wrong.poor goody bag? energy bar &water and gym bag but cant expect much for £8 these days. room for improvment!Date of review: February 27, 2011
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FAA requests screenings info
ALPENA – The Federal Aviation Administration has issued screening information requests that ultimately will lead to six candidates being selected to be named a center of excellence for the testing and training of unmanned aircrafts vehicles.
Alpena County is a member of a coalition that is trying to secure one of the highly sought after designations that could lead to major development at Alpena County Regional Airport.
Laura Brown, public affairs person for the FAA, said there are certain submissions that need to made throughout the entire 80-day process. She said some information needs to be received by the FAA soon.
"It is a staggered process. Applicants do not have the entire 80 days to submit everything. There are certain things that have deadlines within 80 days," Brown said. "I believe the first deadline is next week. The entire process for the screening information requests will take 80 days."
Commissioner Tom Mullaney said he thought since there have been privacy concerns regarding drones and some legal challenges related to them, the requests might be delayed as they have been in the past. He said because the timeline for the SIR is so short all involved in the coalition need to be sure the best proposals are submitted. He said the coalition has been working with the Michigan Economic Development Commission, which is expected to pay to have a consultant put together the needed information for the federal government, but as of Friday he didn't know what the state was going to do.
Mullaney said it was believed the state was considering hiring Explorer Solutions, which worked with Alpena County for its drone plans for the airport, and a Washington company called SeaTech. Mullaney said he has not been informed who or if anyone has been hired yet. He said he has some concerns as the deadlines draw near.
"This means the state has to get motivated and take action because we're still waiting for the MEDC to get their ducks in a row. Maybe this will act as a stimulus for them to get moving," Mullaney said. "As far as any contracts the MEDC has signed we don't know anything. I'm concerned that we don't have any direction and I wish they would be more forthright with us instead of leaving us sitting back waiting."
In the government's SIR it lists several criteria that will be considered before issuing the designations. The FAA will evaluate a site's geographics, climate diversity, population density, air traffic density, research needs.
Mullaney said Alpena is a perfect fit for unmanned aircraft testing and training and is more than worthy of being a center of excellence. He said if the information requested from the FAA is submitted with all the facts included the FAA will see the region has the largest restricted airspace this side of the Mississippi River, has all types of weather and has a relatively low population.
"We are like AAA above everyone else. We have water, the international boarder for homeland security issues and our air traffic is minimal," Mullaney said. "There shouldn't be any competition at all … we should be ahead of everybody else in location alone."
The deadline the FAA has set for the process to be complete is May 5. The agency will then hold a 60-day public comment period about the sites before making the designations.
As time becomes an issue Mullaney said he has reached out to the MEDC to try to schedule a meeting next week. He said as of Friday night he had not heard back from the it.
Commissioner Cam Habermehl said when the county hired Explorer Solutions to find a niche that could be used to promote development at the airport the plan was unmanned aircrafts even before the federal government decided to create the centers of excellence. He said should things go south and the coalition is not selected, the plans for the airport will move forward.
"The center of excellence would be a big bonus and a benefit if it happens, but we are still sticking to our original plan of developing the property at the airport," Habermehl said. "We have a list of potential companies we would like to get to move here and our project will move on no matter what happens. The center of excellence and our project are really two different things that could go well together, but we will continue forward is for some reason we get denied."


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Dress up cornbread stuffing with parsnips, squash and dried cranberries.
Aaron Sanchez adds chorizo to his Latin version of cornbread stuffing.
Jeffrey watches as scrapple, a pork-and-cornmeal meatloaf, takes shape.
Tyler's maple-glazed, bacon-topped turkey has a sage-cornbread stuffing.
Try this incredible dish, and you too will be Crazy 'Bout Crawfish!
Alton Brown makes perfect creamed cornbread in a cast iron skillet.
Tyler's fig-glazed hens with cornbread stuffing are holiday crowd-pleasers.
Giada combines crisp veggies, cornbread and herbs for a refreshing salad.
Ina creates a simple cornbread stuffing for her cornish hens.
Caramelized onions and cornbread add Southern charm to Tyler's stuffing.
Get Cooking Channel on your TV.