Chemical Security 101: What You Don’t Have Can’t Leak, or Be Blown Up by Terrorists
Source: Center for American Progress

Most of the nation’s 101 most dangerous chemical facilities could become less attractive terrorist targets by converting to alternative chemicals or processes. Doing so would improve the safety and security of more than 80 million Americans living within range of a worst-case toxic gas release from one of these facilities, according to data compiled for this report. Millions more living near railroads and highways used for transporting hazardous chemicals would also be safer and more secure.

The Department of Homeland Security and numerous security experts have repeatedly warned that terrorists could use industrial chemicals as improvised weapons of mass destruction. Current chemical security efforts, however, are inadequate to protect workplaces and communities.

Indeed, temporary standards enacted two years ago (and set to expire in 2009) focus almost entirely on physical security measures, such as adding gates and guards. These measures, however worthy, cannot assure protection against a concerted attack, insider sabotage, or catastrophic release. Nor do they protect communities along chemical delivery routes. More than 90 percent of the 101 most dangerous facilities ship or receive their highest-hazard chemical by railcar or truck.

+ Full Report (PDF; 1.5 MB)
+ Interactive Map: The 101 Most Dangerous Chemical Facilities

Global Trends 2025: The National Intelligence Council’s 2025 Project (PDF; 33.5 MB)
Source: National Intelligence Council

“Global Trends 2025: A Transformed World” is the fourth unclassified report prepared by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in recent years that takes a long-term view of the future. It offers a fresh look at how key global trends might develop over the next 15 years to influence world events. Our report is not meant to be an exercise in prediction or crystal ball-gazing. Mindful that there are many possible “futures,” we offer a range of possibilities and potential discontinuities, as a way of opening our minds to developments we might otherwise miss.

Some of our preliminary assessments are highlighted below:

• The whole international system—as constructed following WWII—will be revolutionized. Not only will new players—Brazil, Russia, India and China— have a seat at the international high table, they will bring new stakes and rules of the game.
• The unprecedented transfer of wealth roughly from West to East now under way will continue for the foreseeable future.
• Unprecedented economic growth, coupled with 1.5 billion more people, will put pressure on resources—particularly energy, food, and water—raising the specter of scarcities emerging as demand outstrips supply.
• The potential for conflict will increase owing partly to political turbulence in parts of the greater Middle East.

FTC Issues Performance and Accountability Report (PAR) for Fiscal Year 2008
Source: Federal Trade Commission

The Commission has issued its Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Performance and Accountability Report (PAR). In accordance with the Reports Consolidation Act of 2000, the PAR combines the agency’s Performance Report, financial statements, and audit opinion. The PAR compares and evaluates actual performance against established measures and targets set forth in the FTC’s 2006 to 2011 Strategic Plan (www.ftc.gov/strategicplan) and the annual Performance Plan required under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993. The FY 2008 independent financial audit resulted in the FTC’s twelfth consecutive unqualified opinion, the highest audit opinion available.

The PAR begins with a “Message from the Chairman” and includes three parts: Part I contains management’s discussion and analysis of the FTC’s performance and financial activities, including the agency’s Mission Challenges; Part II contains the Performance Report; and Part III contains the agency’s financial statements and independent audit results. The PAR can be viewed at www.ftc.gov/par.
+ Full Report (PDF; 6.6 MB)

Report Lists Environmental Progress
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

A new report has been released that describes EPA’s environmental and financial progress over the past year. The Performance and Accountability report highlights the agency’s efforts to dramatically reduce air pollution, improve water quality, make significant strides in cleaning up Superfund sites, increase health and environmental safety through pesticide and chemical evaluation, and avoid pollution through strong enforcement actions in fiscal year 2008.

+ The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s FY 2008 Performance and Accountability Report

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Away From Work, 2007
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Both the rate and the number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work decreased from 2006 to 2007, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department Labor. The 2007 rate was 122 per 10,000 full-time workers, a decrease of 4 percent from 2006. There were 1.2 million cases requiring days away from work in private industry out of 4 million total recordable cases as reported by the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses. The number of days-away-from-work cases in 2007 decreased by 24,630 cases, or 2 percent, as compared to 2006 levels. Median days away from work—a key measure of the severity of the injury or illness—was 7 days in 2007, the same as the prior three years.

EUROPOL: coordinating the fight against serious and organised crime
Source: UK- House of Lords Select Committee on European Union
From the Foreword:

Europol, the European Police Office responsible for coordinating the fight against serious and organised crime, began operations from its headquarters in The Hague in 1999. In January 2010 it will become an agency of the EU. The Council Decision bringing about this change in its constitution has made some amendments to its objects, powers, working methods and governance. Many of these changes are beneficial, so far as they go; but they do not go very far, and we believe this represents a missed opportunity.

The raison d’etre of Europol is the exchange of information for law enforcement purposes. It is a matter of particular concern that four fifths of the information exchanged by national liaison officers stationed at Europol is exchanged without actually going through Europol, and hence without being placed on Europol’s database and without being accessible to Member States other than those directly involved. The reason is a lack of trust: a reluctance on the part of Member States, especially at the early stages of an investigation, to share sensitive information with all Member States through the Europol channels. One way of improving this would be for Member States to station at Europol only officers and officials with the highest necessary security clearance.

In addition to simply facilitating the exchange of factual information, Europol analyses information to help the investigation of particular categories of crime. This is one of Europol’s success stories. Undertaking analysis of information is one of the differences between Europol and Interpol, a difference we explain more fully in Chapter 2.

The United Kingdom has been influential in persuading Europol to base its work on Organised Crime Threat Assessments: planning for future threats rather than reacting to past events. Much however remains to be done to persuade other Member States of the value of this, and of other modern policing methods.

+ Full Report (PDF; 3.2 MB)

New GAO Reports and Correspondence (PDFs)
Source: Government Accountability Office
20 November 2008
+ Reports
1. Health Information Technology: More Detailed Plans Needed for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Redesigned BioSense Program
2. International Environmental Oversight: U.S. Agencies Follow Certain Procedures Required by Law, but Have Limited Impact
3. Department of Homeland Security: Billions Invested in Major Programs Lack Appropriate Oversight
–
+ Correspondence
1. Approaches to Mitigate Freight Congestion
2. Contract Management: DOD Developed Draft Guidance for Operational Contract Support but Has Not Met All Legislative Requirements

U.S. Tort Costs Up Slightly in 2007; Significant Increases Anticipated for 2008
Source: Towers Perrin
From press release:

Fueled by the first increase in automobile accident frequency since 1999, tort costs in the United States rose by 2.1% in 2007, according to the 2008 Update on U.S. Tort Cost Trends from global professional services firm Towers Perrin. The $5.1 billion climb from 2006 costs marks the first cost escalation since 2005 and comes on the heels of a 5.6% decline in 2006.

Further, due to the continuing fallout of the 2007 subprime mortgage debacle and the current global financial crisis — as well as such factors as the impact of mercurial fuel prices on personal auto liability costs and the potential for increased activity in the area of employment practices liability — Towers Perrin is estimating that U.S. tort costs will increase 4% in 2008 and an additional 5% in both 2009 and 2010.

+ Full Report (PDF; 343 KB)

Dissecting the Economic Crisis: What Does it All Mean for the Retail Industry?
Source: Deloitte LLP

As recently as early September, most analysis of the economy was focused on whether the Federal Reserve might have to increase interest rates due to concern over inflation. Rising commodity prices and a perception that the worst of the credit crunch was behind us were the reasons for such discussions. How quickly things have changed. As of this writing, we face a significantly diminished availability of credit, the prospect of a significant recession, massive government intervention in the financial markets and a business environment for retailers far weaker and uncertain than recently expected.

In “Dissecting the Economic Crisis: What does it all mean for the retail industry?” we discuss the current economic situation and its potential impact on the sector. The report also includes a few suggestions for retailers to act on in these challenging times.

An economic downturn presents an opportunity for companies to examine their internal processes for planning and responding to changes in the marketplace. It also represents, among other things, opportunities for retailers to connect with customers, evaluate their competitive position and re-examine their supply chains. To survive, and even thrive, in today’s increasingly complex and uncertain world, retailers need to build business models that are more responsive, adaptable and efficient with resources and assets.

+ Full Document (PDF; 155 KB)

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings Releases Reading First Impact Study Final Report
Source: U.S. Department of Education

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the release of the Institute of Education Sciences’ report: Reading First Impact Study: Final Report. This report presents an additional year of data from 2006-2007 on student reading comprehension and classroom instruction. In addition, the report includes information on the impact of the program on first-grade students’ decoding skills.

The study was conducted in 248 schools (125 Reading First schools, 123 non-Reading First schools) in 18 sites (17 districts and 1 statewide program) in 13 states. It measured Reading First schools against other schools in Reading First districts—schools that may have implemented the same reforms.

+ Report: Reading First Impacts Instruction of Struggling Readers

New Member Pictorial Directory: 111th Congress
Source: Government Printing Office
Images and basic bio info for new members of the U.S. Congress. Available as separate files or single document (30 pages; PDF).

Hat Tip: SB

New Study Shows Time Spent Online Important for Teen Development
Source: American Anthropological Association/John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Results from the most extensive U.S. study on teens and their use of digital media show that America’s youth are developing important social and technical skills online – often in ways adults do not understand or value.

“It might surprise parents to learn that it is not a waste of time for their teens to hang out online,” said Mizuko Ito, University of California, Irvine researcher and the report’s lead author. “There are myths about kids spending time online – that it is dangerous or making them lazy. But we found that spending time online is essential for young people to pick up the social and technical skills they need to be competent citizens in the digital age.”

Released here today at the American Anthropological Association’s annual meeting, the study was supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s $50-million digital media and learning initiative, which is exploring how digital media are changing how young people learn, play, socialize, and participate in civic life.

+ Overview (PDF; 82 KB)
+ White Paper (PDF; 2.6 MB)

2008 U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission Annual Report (PDF; 3.9 MB)
Source: U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission
From press release:

China relies on heavy-handed government control over its economy to maintain an export advantage over other countries. The result: China has amassed nearly $2 trillion in foreign exchange and has increasingly used its hoard to manipulate currency trading and diplomatic relations with other nations. These are among the concusions in the sixth Annual Report to Congress of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. “Rather than use this money for the benefit of its citizens—by funding pensions and erecting hospitals and schools, for example–China has been using the funds to seek political and economic influence over other nations,” said Larry Wortzel, chairman of the Commission, at the official release of the group’s 2008 report to Congress on Thursday.

The bipartisan Commission, established by Congress to analyze the economic and national security relationship of the two nations, made 45 recommendations to Congress for further action. The 393-page report was unanimously approved by the 12 Commissioners. The Commission held eight hearings; travelled to China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan; commissioned original research; and consulted with the U.S. intellegence community.

Air Canada flight attendant helped land plane
Source: Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit (via AP)

An Air Canada co-pilot having a mental breakdown had to be forcibly removed from the cockpit, restrained and sedated, and a stewardess with an out-of-date license for reading airplane instruments helped the pilot safely make an emergency landing, an Irish investigation concluded Wednesday.

The report by the Irish Air Accident Investigation Unit into an incident in January applauded the decision-making of the pilot and the cockpit skills of the flight attendant, who stepped into the co-pilot’s seat for the emergency diversion to Shannon Airport in western Ireland.

None of the 146 passengers or other nine crew members on board the Boeing 767 bound from Toronto to London was injured after the 58-year-old co-pilot had to be removed by attendants and sedated by two doctors on board.

+ Full Report (PDF; 190 KB)

Consumers Anxiously Await Black Friday Deals With Much Shopping to Complete
Source: National Retail Federation

Though the majority of consumers have not even put a dent in their shopping list, traditional winter apparel and personal, inexpensive items like DVDs, CDs and books will be the first things they stock up on as they begin their holiday shopping. According to NRF’s 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, 72.0 percent of consumers have completed less than 10 percent of their shopping, compared with 2.2 percent of shoppers who say they have completely finished.

+ Full survey results (PDF; 35 KB)