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July 8,  2015     

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Inside This Issue.....
CSA Mid Year Meeting in Monterey - Book Your Room at the Hyatt Regency ASAP!
CDFA Announces Vacancies on the California Seed Advisory Board
Important information about the California Seed Law and Seed Quality from CDFA: Know What You Sow!
CSA Member Profile Of Dave Armstrong
ASTA Officers and New Board of Directors
John Schoenecker Completes Service as ASTA Chair
Betsy Perterson Retirement
Texas A&M Plant Breeding June Bulletin
California Legislative Report
015 IPM Innovator Awards: Call for Nominations
Pompeo GM Labeling Bill Changes as Subcommittee Reviews Need
Groups Want Tighter GM Crop Regulation
Bonus Depreciation Bill Introduced by Roberts
WHO Continues Chemical Reviews, says 2,4-D "Possible Carcinogen"
EPA Spending
One More Time - Senate Introduces Bill to Undo Duplicative EPA Permit Process
House Ag/FDA and EPA Spending Bills Full of Policy Riders
Drought-Relief Bill Introduced by House GOP
Federal Tax Extender Action as early as July
New Republican Rep. Tent Kelly Joins House Ag Committee
Senate Approves STB Reauthorization
DOT Heavy Truck Study Draws Fire, Prais
Upcoming Meetings

CSA Mid Year Meeting in Monterey - Book Your Room at the Hyatt Regency ASAP!

 

Plans are being finalized for the 2015 CSA Mid Year Meeting. Registration materials and information will be available and mailed next week. However, it is not too early to book your room and ensure that you have a reservation at the host hotel. The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa September 29-30, 2015. The Hyatt Regency Hotel & Spa is located at 1 Old Golf Course Road, Monterey, CA  93940.   Please make reservations directly with the hotel by 5:00 pm on September 4, 2015 to receive the group rate of $190.00 by utilizing Hyatt Passkey Web

 

Link: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/caseedassocation. We also have this link to the reservation website on the CSA Website on the calendar of events page www.calseed.org.

 

The golf tournament will again be a fundraiser for the "Ginny Patin Scholarship" and will be held on Tuesday, September 29th at 1:00 pm  at the Del Monte Golf Course located on the Hyatt property.  The tournament will begin with a shot-gun start at 1:00 pm and will include lunch. For those of you who do not golf the Bocce Ball Tournament will also be held on Tuesday afternoon with lunch as a fundraiser for the scholarship program.  All committees will meet on Wednesday, September 30th  participants can look forward to an engaging presentation by our keynote speaker as well as industry updates at the general session and committee discussions at the individual meetings.

 

The Mid Year meeting provides an opportunity for industry communication and a chance to get together with your business colleagues in a social atmosphere. I look forward to seeing all of you in Monterey.

 

Call ASAP To Book Your Hotel Room at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel & Spa.

 

Hyatt Passkey Web Link: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/caseedassocation

 

 

CDFA Announces Vacancies on the California Seed Advisory Board

 

The California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Pest Exclusion Branch is announcing three vacancies on the Seed Advisory Board. This Board is partially composed of seven members who are seed labelers, and two members that may be seed dealers. These nine members are registered to sell seed under provisions of the California Seed Law and represent the functions of seed production, conditioning, marketing, or utilization. The Board also has two public members. The term of office for board members is three years. Members typically meet twice a year but can meet more frequently if needed. Board members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

 

[Click here for vacancies]

Important Information about the California Seed Law and Seed Quality from CDFA: Know What You Sow!


The California Seed Law was first passed in 1921 to ensure the quality of seed sold to the consumer was of the quality represented by the seller. Over the years, specific requirements have been adopted for the labeling of seeds.

Member Profile July 2015: Dave Armstrong

 

Front row (left to right):
Dave Armstrong, Sakata Seed America; Betsy Petersen, CSA; Chuck Mouwen, Monsanto; Jeff Zischke, Sakata Seed America; Eduardo Mosqueda, Enza Zaden USA 
Back row (left to right):
Rich Falconer, Rijk Zwaan USA; Dale Krolikowski, Germains Seed Technology; Tom Moore, HM Clause; Rob Keene, Enza Zaden USA; Fred Fabre, S&W Seed Company, Mitchell Harkenrider, Ginny Patin Memorial Scholarship recipient

 

 

Dave Armstrong, President & CEO, Sakata America Holding Company, Inc. answers a few questions on his experience with Sakata and as a member of the California delegation that visited DC in June with ASTA.

 

 Q: Tell us how your Senate visit went, are there any new developments? 

A: The legislative agenda that the CA delegation presented to lawmaker's during our visits gives an outline to what the main topics were from our visits.

 

Q: Do you feel you made an impression during your visit to the Senate offices last week? 

A: Industry members met with key staffers from CA congressmen and senators, where our message was positively received, and my follow up e-mails were promptly answered by the staffers. I believe we presented a very compelling story.

 

Q: What is your role at Sakata?

A: My role is President/CEO of Sakata America Holding Company, Inc.

 

Q: What makes Sakata unique in the seed industry?

A: What makes Sakata unique in the seed industry is our ability to achieve more than a century of consistent breakthroughs in breeding of vegetables and flowers.

 

Q: What project(s) are you/your company working on? Any recent innovations? 

A: Some recent innovations from Sakata introduce exciting new genetics in a range of products, including melons, watermelons, spinach, peppers among many others.

 

Q: Have any new members recently joined your team? If so, whom?

A: Sakata America is building a strong team in research, seed production, sales and marketing across North/Central America in order to support our expanding assortment and to accelerate our growth.

 

Q: What advice would you offer to someone getting started in the seed industry? 

A: This is an exciting time to be in the seed industry, which is being transformed by new technologies in research, production and marketing. Seeds are truly 'seminal' to a healthy American food supply, and it's rewarding to contribute to that.

 

Q: Is your company active in community involvement? If so how? 

A: Sakata was recently awarded the title of 'Water Saving Hero', click here for more information on Sakata Seed America's corporate social responsibility actions.

 

Front row (left to right): Dave Armstrong, Hideto Kaneko, Monty McCoy, Hiroshi Sakata, Jeff Zischke, Diana Blea, Isabel Fuenzalida 
Back row (left to right): Hiro Hashimoto, Justin Davis, John Nelson, Ken Reid, Tom Day, Ron Garofalo, Tye Anderson
ASTA Officers and New Board of Directors

Congratulations to Fred Fabre, newly installed Western Regional Vice President of American Seed Trade Association!

 

Congratulations as well to the other ASTA officers and new Board of Directors members for the 2015/16 fiscal year:

  • Risa Demasi, Grassland Oregon, Chair
  • Mark Herrmann, Monsanto Vegetable, First Vice Chair
  • Tracy Tally, Justin Seed, Second Vice Chair
  • Fred Fabre, S&W Seed Company, Western Regional Vice President
  • Matt Hynes, GROWMARK, Inc. Vice President to Canada
  • John Latham, Latham Hi-tech Seeds, Central Regional Vice President
John Schoenecker Completes Service as ASTA Chair

Dear Friends,

 

As he gets set to pass the baton as Chairman, I am pleased to share with you this overview of John Schoenecker's contributions to the American Seed Trade Association over the past decade.

 

John Schoenecker:  A Look Back on the Outgoing ASTA Chairman's Service to the Seed Industry

Click here to read: http://hmclause.com/?p=6973

 

Kind regards,

  

Sierra SCOTT

Media & Web Specialist, AMPA

 

 

Congratulations Betsy on your Award and Your Retirement - We Wish You The Best!

 

Retiring from the California Seed Association, Betsy Peterson is honored with the American Seed Trade Association's Distinguished Service Award, which was presented during the 132nd Annual Convention in Washington, D.C.

 

Peterson, a California native, got her start in the seed industry harvesting sunflowers during a 10-week job for a U.S. Department of Agriculture researcher. From there, she was hooked. While at the University of California, Davis, she learned from some of the top researchers in the world and managed greenhouse and field trials. Peterson was the first female inspector for the California Crop Improvement Association, where she managed the sunflower seed domestic and OECD certification program, variety registration and native species.   In 2002, she joined the California Seed Association and broadened her work to include vegetable, flower and turf seeds. Peterson has worked with the industry to address issues that impact their ability to produce and distribute seed. She has facilitated workgroups to address seed borne pathogens, food safety, seed regulated import and export issues, and invasive species. Betsy retired from CSA June 30 to pursue work in textiles.

 


Texas A&M Plant Breeding June Bulletin

 

The Texas A & M Plant Breeding Bulletin contains information on upcoming workshops and symposia.

 

[Click here for the Texas A&M Plant Breeding June Bulletin]

 

California Legislative Report 
 by Dennis Albiani, Legislative Advocate

 

Governor Signs $167 Billion Budget

 

On June 19, 2015, California legislature approved a compromise $167 billion budget with $115.4 billion from general fund for 2015-2016. Governor Brown signed the budget on Wednesday, June 24. While tough decisions were necessary, the budget will help agriculture deal with drought during the water crisis.  In the budget there is assistance to farmers in the area of water efficiency, reducing greenhouse gases, building dairy digesters, increasing soil resilience, animal health labs, and funding for fairs. Here are some of the key points:

  • SWEEP, the State Water Efficiency and Enhancement Program, will receive $40 million from the budget. This will assist farmers who want to invest in water distribution and irrigation systems that save water and reduce greenhouse gases.
  • The CDFA's Dairy Digester Research and Development Program will receive $20 million which is an increase in $12 million from last year. This program gives grants to dairy farmers for installing dairy digesters in California.
  • $20 million is given to the Healthy Soils Initiative. This will fund demonstration projects and incentives for growers to use practices that can decrease levels of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere and increase water efficiency in soil.
  • Budget trailer bill SB 88 created a CEQA exemption for drought mitigation which provides stricter restrictions on any change in land use that would increase demand on groundwater basins. Since there is no exemption for agriculture, the concern was this could make it easier for a city or county to pass an ordinance that would regulate cropping patterns. However, the association worked with the speaker, Assembly member Gray and Senator Nielsen to get this provision clarified that is does not apply to cropping patterns through a letter to the journal. 
  • This year $4.3 million has been set aside for animal health labs. Of that, $1.3 million has been allocated to run the animal health lab in Tulare which researches disease outbreaks.
  • $3.1 million is included for fair funding to support 64 out of 78 fairs in California. These fairs will be chosen on an as-need basis and announced in the January 2016 budget.This money will also provide staff training for all 78 fairs throughout the state.
  • There is $50 million included for a biomass production incentive. This is important for orchard crops and forestry entities trying to manage wood and orchard byproducts. How the funding will be spent is an ongoing discussion and will be worked out in a bill later this year. 
  • Career Technical Education, which includes high school and middle school agricultural education programs, also received $400 million in additional dedicated funding through an incentive grant allocation system that requires an additional 50% match. For programs that strive for improvement by meeting specific standards, they will receive proportional funding.  

The legislature and Governor Brown worked on this budget to try and invest some of the additional revenues in one-time programs as well as fund ongoing requirements. The California Department of Food and Agriculture's total budget will be $430,910,000.   

 

2015 IPM Innovator Awards - Call for Nominations

 

Please note that we are now accepting nominations through July 31st.

 

Are you aware of a group that's using innovative and reduced-risk pest management practices and taking a leadership role to promote these practices? The Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is now accepting nominations for its 2015 IPM Innovator Awards. The awards are presented to groups, organizations, or companies that develop and share innovative IPM (integrated pest management) practices.

 

DPR began the IPM Innovator Award program in 1994 to recognize pioneering agricultural and urban organizations for their pest management leadership and creativity. IPM Innovators use novel IPM practices that show economic viability and are shared with others.

 

In 2014, DPR gave awards to three groups: the Coachella Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District, Easter Lily Research Foundation, and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department.

 

Nominating a group is easy. We even encourage deserving groups or individuals to nominate themselves. We ask for basic information and then contact the group for details.

 

To submit a nomination online, click here for the submission form. Or, visit DPR's web site,www.cdpr.ca.gov, and type Innovators in the search box at the top of the page. Select Nominate a group for an IPM Innovator Award to access the online submission form. We'll accept nominations for 2015 awards through July 31, 2015.

 

You can also email nominations to [email protected] by sending a message with the information requested by the online nomination form.

 

For additional information about the Innovator Award program and to view past recipients since 1994, videos, and slide shows, click here or visit DPR's web site, www.cdpr.ca.gov, and type Innovators in the search box at the top of the page.

 

If you have questions, feel free to contact Melissa Plemons at DPR at (916) 445-8411 or [email protected].

Pompeo GM Labeling Bill Changes as Subcommittee Reviews Need

 

A House bill that would permanently put FDA in the driver's seat when it comes to food labeling, and incapacitate state efforts to require labeling of foods containing genetically modified (GM) ingredients, made a giant leap forward, as chief bill author Rep. Mike Pompeo (R, KS) talked of new language in his bill during a subcommittee hearing this week in the Energy & Commerce Committee.

 

The Coalition for Safe & Affordable Food, a 40-plus-member group of ag and food associations, is keying in on Sen. John Hoeven (R, ND) to be its Senate champion on the issue.  Hoeven is working on a bill, but has said he wants Administration Democrat support.

 

The changes proposed by Pompeo put USDA squarely in charge of much of the biotechnology oversight when it comes to labeling of food ingredients or approval of new plant varieties destined for food through amendments to the Plant Protection Act (PPA).  It would also enhance USDA-FDA cooperation on labeling, but FDA would still need to review safety, and would have ultimate food label authority.

 

The House Agriculture Committee subcommittee on biotechnology, horticulture and research will hold a hearing June 25 to take a closer look at the Pompeo bill.  Meanwhile, 30 bipartisan members of the House Agriculture Committee sent a letter to Energy & Commerce Chair Fred Upton this week pledging their support for the Pompeo bill. 

 

More than just altruistic, the letter signals the changes proposed by Pompeo will give the Agriculture Committee, through USDA, oversight, significant jurisdiction over the bill.  The letter praises a voluntary certification program at USDA for foods that want to be labeled as "non-GM," as well as criticizes efforts in 26 states to pass state labeling laws. 

 

Groups Want Tighter GM Crop Regulation

 

Calling the current federal system of genetically modified (GM) crop regulation a "failure," consumer, food and related business groups this last week called on USDA to implement stronger regulation of GM crops. 

 

In comments filed on a USDA rulemaking in which the department said it's looking at ways to improve the current GM plant regulation process, the groups' comments were part of an estimated 74,000 received.  The rulemaking is a follow up to a 2008 proposed rule that came after USDA's oversight was criticized for being lax, court rulings went against the department, and several highly publicized contamination issues led to recalls and trade problems.

 

While currently, the primary criterion for "deregulation" of a GM plant variety is whether or not the new plant poses a risk to plant health, the 37 groups and companies - led by the National Family Farm Coalition and the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) - said they want to see assessments of safety when it comes to human and animal consumption, harm to ecosystems and the close monitoring of production systems for weed resistance.  They also want to see stronger efforts by USDA to prevent "contamination" of convention crop production by GM crops. 

 

Bonus Depreciation Bill Introduced by Roberts

 

Legislation to make permanent a federal 50% depreciation bonus on the purchase of new equipment and property, much-used by farmers, ranchers and rural businesses, was introduced this last week by Sen. Pat Roberts (R, KS), chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.  Roberts said his bill is designed to provide greater "certainty" in the tax code so rural businesses can do a better job of planning investments. 

 

The depreciation tax break is one of the several "tax extenders" that have expired and extended several times, and Roberts wants to give producers and rural businesses "predictability" over the federal tax code.  He's joined on the bill by Sens. Johnny Isakson (R, GA), Roy Blunt (R, MO) and Pat Toomey (R, PA). 


WHO Continues Chemical Reviews, says 2,4-D "Possible Carcinogen"  

 

As expected, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a unit of the World Health Organization (WHO), said last week that the herbicide 2,4-D "possibly" causes cancer in humans, bringing the chemical in line with a similar IARC determination for glyphosate.  The herbicide has been used since 1945 to control weeds in agriculture, cities and residential areas.

 

The group said in a press release:  "There is strong evidence that 2,4-D induces oxidative stress...and moderate evidence that 2,4-D causes immunosuppression.  However, epidemiological studies did not find a strong or consistent increase in non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other cancers in relation to 2,4-D." One IARC official said the primary studies reviewed reported mixed results.

 

IARC classifications have no regulatory impact on the use of chemicals reviewed, but the imprimatur of WHO can influence regulators and the public.  One report indicated that after IARC called glyphosate a "possible carcinogen" several regulators and politicians called for limits on its use.

 

Dow AgroSciences, which uses 2,4-D and glyphosate in a new herbicide, said the IARC classification is flawed and "inconsistent with government findings in nearly 100 countries" that have found 2,4-D to be safe when used as labeled. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) said the IARC action "underscore the risk" of 2,4-D, recently approved for use in genetically engineered crops. 

 

EPA Spending

 

In the FY2016 EPA spending bill, a $30.2-billion package the agency shares with the Interior Department, the agency came in with expected language stopping its "waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)" rulemaking, as well as blocking rules that would limit emissions from new and existing power plants through carbon recapture measures and a rewrite of agency ozone regulations.

 

Democrats on the subcommittee tried and failed to strip language in the bill that permanently prohibits EPA - which would receive an overall $7.2-billion spending allocation - from changing the Clean Water Act (CWA) definition of "navigable waters," or limiting the agency's actions on writing rules to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power plants during FY2016, ending September 30, 2016.  An amendment by Rep. Evan Jenkins (R, WVA) to stop EPA's action to update its ozone rules this year until 85% of the counties not meeting current standards become compliant was accepted. 

 

The Senate EPA-Interior bill, also approved in committee this week, includes language identical or similar to the policy riders on EPA regulations adopted in the House subcommittee, including language allowing states to reject agency rules on GHG recapture from power plants if they haven't filed and received approval on state control measures. 

 

One More Time - Senate Introduces Bill to Undo Duplicative EPA Permit Process 

 

Legislation that would remove duplicative EPA permitting requirements for pesticides used on or near water has once again been introduced in the Senate. The bill would not require new National Pollution Discharge Permits (NPDES) if a pesticide is already regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

 

Supporters of the bill say it was never Congress' intent to burden farmers and ranchers with a dual permitting system, particularly since a NPDES permit on top of a FIFRA permit provides no environmental benefit. 

 

The bill, introduced by Sens. Mike Crapo (R, ID) and Claire McCaskill (D, MO), is now before the Senate Agriculture Committee. In March, the House Agriculture Committee approved similar legislation. The House approved similar legislation in the last Congress, but the Senate failed to act.

 

House Ag/FDA and EPA Spending Bills Full of Policy Riders

 

The House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on ag/FDA this week marked up its FY2016 spending bill, but the number of policy riders on the bill nearly outweigh the spending cuts contained therein.  Similarly, both House and Senate EPA spending bills take dead aim at various regulations pending at the agency for procedural roadblocks or outright derailment.

 

The House Ag/FDA spending bill, described as favoring rural development, would slot rural business and housing loan programs, as well as rental aid and infrastructure at $2.5 billion, $83 million more than last year. The bill gives FDA an additional $30 million, bringing total discretionary spending for agriculture and FDA to $20.65 billion, about $175 million less than last year and $1.1 billion less than President Obama requested. FDA's overall spending allocation would be $4.6 billion, of which $2.6 billion is discretionary. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) would see a flat budget at $250 million, $72 million less than the President wants.

 

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D, MI), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said the House spending bill "shortchanges American agriculture, business owners, rural communities and families by re-opening the Farm Bill to make additional cuts. This bill also undoes important reforms that help save tax dollars, like limiting farm payments and connecting better conservation practices to crop insurance, while cuts only weaken our economy." Stabenow also took issue with a $139-million cut in the Women, Infant, Children (WIC) nutrition program, and cuts in programs that help grow "our biobased economy."

 

The ag spending package withholds any money for USDA to release the 2015 Dietary Guidelines recommendations if the new guidelines are not based on nutrition science as reviewed by the department's nutrition experts, not on "sustainability" or environmental allegations. The bill drops language which some say protect large meat and poultry companies from contract grower complaints of "mistreatment and abuse," reopening the battle with the Grain Inspection Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) over contracting of animal production. Further, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is denied 5% of its total funding ($56 million), until it assures in writing both the House and Senate that it has updated its animal care programs and created what are called "Institutional Animal Care & Use Committees" (IACUCs) to oversee animal research, with appropriate recordkeeping. This last item was based on a single New York Times story which reported the federal Meat Animal Research Center (MARC) tolerated animal abuse. 

 

Drought-Relief Bill Introduced by House GOP 

 

The "Western Water & American Food Security Act" was introduced last week by a group of Republican House members, legislation designed to "rebalance water needs" between endangered fish species and farm communities in drought-stricken California. 

 

The bill, on which Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) was consulted during "months of collaboration," was called "an important step to helping restore the water our communities desperately need by more fully utilizing the most sophisticated water in the world," according to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R, CA), one of the authors of the measure.  The bill was introduced by Rep. David Valadao (R, CA) and is supported by the entire GOP California delegation.

 

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D, CA), who retires at the end of her current term, slammed the bill as a "same old, same old" solution, and said the measure would "reignite water wars."  She said the GOP House members should support a bill she introduced that promotes recycling, conservation, desalination and improved water storage and management."

 

The bill seeks to increase the amount of water being pumped south from the delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers into the Central Valley of California, while allowing more of the water from storms to be captured in reservoirs.  Right now, much of that water is dedicated to retaining habitats for protected species, including the Delta smelt and Chinook salmon, and eventually runs into the Pacific Ocean, authors said.  The bill would also require state water regulators to use new science on the status of the fish, protected since 2008, since there are likely more fish than previously counted.  The bill also preserves existing water rights. 

 

Feinstein, who has fought water actions that undermine the Endangered Species Act (ESA) that she contends only benefit big agribusiness in the state, said, "I continue to believe we need a comprehensive approach with both short and long-term solutions to include increased flexibility as well as desalination, water storage and water recycling.  This is an incredibly complex issue, and I will continue to work with both sides to come up with a workable solution." 

 

Federal Tax Extender Action As Early As July

 

The battle to extend yet again a package of federal tax credits and other breaks could come to the Senate floor as early as next week if senior Republicans have their way. They're looking to tack the extenders package onto a multi-year extension of federal highway programs.

 

The package includes extension of a popular research and development tax break for business, a blenders' tax credit for biodiesel, child care credits, as well as business operations credits favored by farmers and ranchers.  

 

In the House, the fate of the extenders package is on hold as leaders look to see if a business tax overhaul is possible.  

 

New Republican Rep. Tent Kelly Joins House Ag Committee

House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway (R, TX) this last week announced Rep. Trent Kelly (R, MS) has joined the committee, and will serve on the Livestock & Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee, as well as the Commodity Exchanges, Energy & Credit Subcommittee.  Kelly was elected to the House in a May special election held after the death of Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R, MS). 

 

Senate Approves STB Reauthorization

 

The full Senate last week approved the Surface Transportation Board (STB) Reauthorization Act, legislation allowing the STB to continue operating through FY2019. The House has not taken up the measure.

 

The National Industrial Transportation League (NITLeague) reports the Senate-approved bill "is a significant positive development in efforts to improve the operation" of the STB. 

 

The bill expands voluntary arbitration processes in order to shorten and make less costly rate disputes; provides the STB with authority to begin investigations in some areas on its own initiative; sets rate review timelines, and requires the board to create a database of complaints and prepare quarterly reports on such cases.  Further, membership would be increased from three to five and allow board members to discuss action without prior hearing notices; require the STB to study more efficient and simple rate review methods, and require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the effects of bundled contracts with multiple origin-to-destination pairs. 

 

DOT Heavy Truck Study Draws Fire, Praise

 

Supporters of allowing heavier trucks on U.S. interstate highways praised a recently released Department of Transportation study on the safety of 96,000-pound single-trailer trucks with six axles and extra braking power as it shows safer, more fuel-efficient transport. However, this week, the American Trucking Association (ATA) charged the department's release of the report as incomplete and biased.

 

The truck size-weight analysis was ordered by Congress during the last short-term reauthorization of federal highway programs. The ATA says data limits in the study are "profound," and that DOT acknowledges the report is not as robust as it could be. The ATA says no changes to current law should be allowed until the data lack is overcome.

 

The Coalition for Transportation Productivity (CTP), comprised of over 100 shipping companies and associations, says multiple studies over several years show the heavier trucks not only are as safe as or safer than 80,000-pound vehicles, but that the elimination of less-than-truckload shipments is more efficient and will help offset the increase in shipping predicted over the next decade. Further, Canada and Mexico allow 96,000-pound trucks on their federal highways.

 

The CTP is supporting legislation to be included in the next highway program congressional action that would allow each state to decide whether or not to allow the 96,000-pound trucks on the interstate highways within the states, with shippers paying fees to maintain and repair bridges.

 

The study looked at trucks operating in excess of the current federal limit of 80,000 on interstate highways, a weight not raised since the 1990s. The department was told to look at safety, pavement and bridge deterioration, enforcement and shifts to other modes of transport, including rail.  

Upcoming Meetings

      

2015

  • September 29-30, 2015 - CSA Mid Year  Meeting at the Hyatt Monterey

 

 

 

2016

  • Annual Convention March 21-23, 2016 Silverado Resort and Spa, Napa, CA