Two mile section of I-10 near ports of LA-LB closed for 3-5 weeks (From 1440 newsletter 11/15/23)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced yesterday that damage from a fire beneath Interstate 10 in downtown Los Angeles Saturday would close a 2-mile section of the highway for three to five weeks during repairs. Fire investigators said Monday the blaze was likely the result of arson, though no suspects have been identified. The stretch serves roughly 300,000 daily commuters and two of the highest-volume ports in the country.
Ed Note: This will cause delays of shipments arriving LA-LB during the repair period.
EPA issues reporting rule for PFAS retroactive to 2011
The Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final rule that finalizes reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA states that this rule only applies to manufacturers of PFAS but that importers of PFAS in articles are considered PFAS manufacturers.
PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s and can be found in a wide array of industrial and consumer products. They are synthesized for many different uses, from firefighting foams, to coatings for clothes and furniture, to food contact substances, to the manufacture of other chemicals and products. They are used in a wide variety of products, including textiles, electronics, wires and cables, pipes, cooking and bakeware, sport articles, automotive products, toys, transportation equipment, and musical instruments, that may be imported into the U.S. as finished articles…
…As a result, this rule will require persons that manufacture (including importers) or have manufactured these chemical substances in any year since Jan. 1, 2011, to submit information to the EPA regarding PFAS uses, production volumes, byproducts, disposal, exposures, and environmental or health effects. The EPA is allowing affected entities until Nov. 13, 2024, to collect data, followed by a six-month reporting period. As a result, reports will be due approximately May 13, 2025, except for reports from small article importers, which will be due Nov. 13, 2026.
Lufthansa Cargo decreases Airfreight Surcharge to 0.60 USD per kg
The sum of cost components in our airfreight surcharge has decreased in the past weeks. Consequently, Lufthansa Cargo is decreasing its Airfreight Surcharge, effective November 20, 2023, from 0.65 to 0.60 USD per kg chargeable freight weight. Please note, the latest acceptance time (LAT) of the booked/confirmed flight, not the AWB issue date, determines the applicable Airfreight Surcharge.