HESS CORPORATION RESOLVES CLEAN AIR ACT VIOLATIONS AT NEW JERSEY REFINERY

FROM:  DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Hess Corporation to Install $45 Million in Pollution Controls and Pay $850,000 Penalty to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations at New Jersey Refinery
WASHINGTON – Hess Corporation has agreed to pay an $850,000 civil penalty and spend more than $45 million in new pollution controls to resolve Clean Air Act violations at its Port Reading, N.J., refinery, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.  Once fully implemented, the controls required by the settlement are estimated to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 181 tons per year and result in additional reductions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  High concentrations of NOx and VOCs, key pollutants emitted from refineries, can have adverse impacts on human health, including contributing to childhood asthma, and are significant contributors to smog.

“This settlement is the 31st such agreement with petroleum refineries across the nation. Hess joins a growing list of corporations who have entered into comprehensive and innovative agreements with the United States that will result in cleaner, healthier air for communities across the nation,” said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division of the Department of Justice.  “For example, this agreement will improve air quality for New Jersey residents by requiring Hess to install advanced pollution control and monitoring technology and adopt more stringent emissions limits.”

“EPA is committed to protecting communities by reducing air pollution from the largest sources,” said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.  “This settlement will reduce harmful emissions that impact air quality, protecting the residents of Port Reading and New Jersey.”

The settlement requires new and upgraded pollution controls, more stringent emission limits, and aggressive monitoring, leak-detection and repair practices to reduce emissions from refinery equipment and processing units.

The government’s complaint, filed on April 19, 2012, alleged that the company made modifications to its refinery that increased emissions without first obtaining pre-construction permits and installing required pollution control equipment.  The Clean Air Act requires major sources of air pollution to obtain such permits before making changes that would result in a significant emissions increase of any pollutant.
The state of New Jersey actively participated in the settlement with Hess and will receive half of the civil penalty.

The settlement with Hess is the 31st under an EPA initiative to improve compliance among petroleum refiners and to reduce significant amounts of air pollution from refineries nationwide through comprehensive, company-wide enforcement settlements.  The first of these settlements was reached in 2000.  With today’s settlement, 108 refineries operating in 32 states and territories – more than 90 percent of the total refining capacity in the United States – are under judicially enforceable agreements to significantly reduce emissions of pollutants.  As a result of the settlement agreements, refiners have agreed to invest more than $6 billion in new pollution controls designed to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants by over 360,000 tons per year.

MALARIA IS STILL A THREAT TO MILLIONS

FROM:  U.S. CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL
"Have You Heard?"
Malaria threatens security of millions
Malaria, a disease spread by mosquito bites, can lead to impoverishment, disability, and death. Beyond the loss of human potential, malaria’s direct costs total more than $12 billion each year and cause substantial economic losses for entire nations. Encouragingly, inexpensive yet simple interventions can dramatically reduce malaria’s impact.

From global efforts to grass-roots mobilization, resources committed to fight malaria have increased greatly in the past decade. Hundreds of millions of life-saving insecticide-treated bed nets and effective antimalarial medicines are now available to people who need them, especially pregnant women and children under 5 years old, who are most vulnerable to malaria.

The impact of this massive scale-up has been a dramatic decline in malaria cases and deaths---in many countries by as much as 50 percent. Globally, WHO estimates that malaria deaths decreased by a third between 2000 and 2010, with most of this reduction in Africa. These achievements are fragile, however, because resources are constrained in the current economy, bed nets wear out, and parasites develop resistance to medicines.

World Malaria Day, April 25th, and its theme “Sustain Gains, Save Lives: Invest in Malaria,” remind us that successes of the past decade can be easily reversed.

The U.S. government has a major role in the global malaria partnership. CDC, which began in 1946 as the agency to control malaria in the United States, is a leader in global malaria efforts. The successful President’s Malaria Initiative is jointly implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development and CDC and has greatly contributed to recent decreases in malaria.

CDC has played a key role in developing and improving the tools to prevent and treat malaria: treated bed nets and house-spraying to protect families from mosquitoes, accurate diagnostic tests and high-quality effective drugs, and treatment for pregnant women that protects them and their babies.

What more can we do?

Even as many individuals and companies contribute to organizations that buy and distribute bed nets, our nation is harnessing its technical expertise to develop and evaluate new prevention and control methods. CDC is working to ensure that new medicines, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and mosquito control products are deployed effectively, and is also investigating new ways to collect the strategic information needed to track our progress and ensure we invest wisely.

With increased knowledge, the right tools, and renewed commitment to decrease malaria, we can sustain gains made in past decade and save lives.
Thomas R. Frieden, M.D., M.P.H
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

NEW PROGRAM TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR INNOVATIONS TO IMPROVE GLOBAL LIVING STANDARDS AND CONDITIONS

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Secretary Clinton Announces Launch of New Partnership to Drive Investment in Innovation
Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
April 27, 2012
Yesterday, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton launched a new partnership to promote investment in innovation at the inaugural Global Impact Economy Forum in Washington, DC.
The Accelerating Market-Driven Partnerships (AMP) initiative is a public-private partnership that seeks to mobilize innovation and investment around critical global challenges such as poverty, climate change, sustainable cities and waste, and addressing agricultural value chain waste in key growth markets. The pilot initiative will initially focus on promoting sustainable cities and related issues in Brazil.

During the launch of AMP, Secretary Clinton said: “AMP will bring a business eye to taking on social and environmental problems in developing markets. We will launch it in Brazil, focused first on building sustainable cities, from providing low-cost housing, to offering skills training that builds capacity of local workers, to improving urban waste management systems. AMP will draw on the resources of the private sector, civil society, and multilateral partners in both Brazil and the United States.”

AMP will provide a platform for businesses, private investors, social entrepreneurs, government, multilateral institutions and philanthropic organizations to identify and tackle key environmental, social and economic challenges in countries that are transitioning from development assistance. The partnership supports the U.S. Department of State’s efforts to promote sustainable, inclusive economic growth and development that strengthens diplomatic efforts and bolsters U.S. business opportunities and investments abroad.
The pilot initiative in Brazil will build on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s work on the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas to advance sustainable and inclusive cities and housing. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of State, AMP will also develop an “Innovation Toolkit” that identifies critical elements necessary to strengthen science and technology, and to foster the development of entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystems. AMP will partner with the World Bank Group’s EVOKE online educational gaming platform.

Brazil is South America’s largest economy and the world’s sixth largest economy in terms of gross domestic product. Since 2003, more than 30 million people in Brazil have been lifted out of poverty and are now active participants in the country’s vibrant economy. AMP will promote catalytic investments, such as investments in women, that create opportunities for sustainable social and economic growth and development in sectors identified as priorities by businesses, investors, government and multilateral institutions. Later this year, a delegation of U.S. officials will travel to Brazil to discuss U.S. support for Brazil's thriving innovation ecosystem as part of this initiative.

The AMP initiative is being launched in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the World Bank Group, the Law Offices of Arent Fox and Machado Associates, Grupo ABC, HP, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Mercy Corps.

Other commitments announced at the Secretary’s Global Impact Economy Forum include:
· Investing with Impact Platform: Morgan Stanley Smith Barney announced the launch of the Investing with Impact Platform which will provide the tools and products necessary for clients to combine financial, social and environmental returns.

· $1.25 billion Impact Investment fund: TriLinc Global Impact Fund, LLC announced today its intention to file a registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering of approximately $1.25 billion, with the purpose of providing an impact investment vehicle for the general public. The Fund intends to use net proceeds it receives to provide growth capital to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) around the world, particularly in developing economies.

U.S. ASSESSING IT'S OPTIONS IN YEMEN

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

U.S. Assessing Military Assistance to Yemen, Spokesman Says

By Karen Parrish

WASHINGTON, April 26, 2012 - Defense officials are assessing what U.S. national security role they are called upon to perform in Yemen, a department spokesman said today.

Navy Capt. John Kirby told Pentagon reporters the Defense Department had suspended military assistance activities in Yemen because of political instability there. Kirby said with a new administration now governing Yemen, defense leaders "are beginning to reassess, and to start up again, some elements of military assistance."

That assistance in the past has meant "helping Yemen deal with their own terrorism problems inside their borders," Kirby said.

A Sept. 30 U.S. airstrike in Yemen killed terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki, whom President Barak Obama has called "the leader of external operations" for al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.

But the threat inside Yemen presented by al-Qaida -- particularly al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula -- remains, Kirby said.

"We believe it's a serious threat. We're working with the Yemeni government, even now, on how best to help them deal with that threat," he added.

Defense leaders believe al-Qaida terrorists are a threat not only to nations in which they find safe havens, Kirby said, but also to other nations, including the United States.

"We still consider al-Qaida a threat to national security," he added.

Yemeni civil strife began to escalate in 2011, part of the "Arab Spring" or "Arab Awakening" movement that started in December 2010, and included a series of mass protests against ruling regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and other countries. Protests in Yemen eventually led to a transfer in power from former President Ali Abdullah Saleh to his former vice president, Abdo Rabo Mansour Hadi, who assumed the presidency Feb. 25 following a Feb. 21 election.

In a White House statement issued Feb. 25, President Obama congratulated the "brave Yemenis who have set their country on a path for a more stable, secure, and democratic future."

The United States will remain "a steadfast partner to Yemen and its people as they transition to a democracy worthy of their struggle," the president added.

NLRB JUDGE FINDS JIMMY JOHNS FRANCHISEE ILLEGALLY FIRED EMPLOYEES

FROM:  U.S. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
NLRB judge finds Jimmy Johns franchisee in Minnesota illegally fired employees for protected activity
Administrative Law Judge Arthur Amchan has found that a franchisee of the Jimmy Johns sandwich chain unlawfully discharged six employees after they staged a public campaign complaining of the company’s employee sick leave policy.

In his April 20 decision, Judge Amchan also found that Miklin Enterprises, Inc., a franchisee that operates 10 sandwich shops in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, unlawfully issued written warnings to three employees who took part in the campaign. His decision orders the employer to offer reinstatement to those discharged and rescind the written warnings, and to post notices at all of its shops.

Charges were filed by the Industrial Workers of the World on behalf of the workers, who have also been involved in a campaign to unionize the shops. The NLRB Regional Office in Minneapolis conducted an election in October, 2010, and the union lost by two votes. However, after objections were filed by the union alleging the company engaged in unfair labor practices during the election, the employer and union entered into a settlement in which a rerun election could be held within a year and a half.

In March, 2011, employees asked Milkin Enterprises to provide paid sick leave and to change a policy that requires the employees to find replacements when they are ill and unable to work. After the employer declined, employees posted notices near the 10 shops warning customers that their sandwiches could be made by ill employees. Many or all of these notices were immediately removed by the franchisee. Two days later, six employees involved in the postings were fired and three others received written warnings.
In his decision, Judge Amchan found that the employees’ activity was protected because it was part of an ongoing labor dispute, and that the language and images used did not cause the employees to lose their protection. In addition to ordering the employer to offer reinstatement, the judge also ordered that the employees receive full backpay for any loss of earnings and other benefits.

NASA'S SPITZER FINDS GALAXY WITH SPLIT PERSONALITY

WASHINGTON -- While some galaxies are rotund and others are slender 
disks like our spiral Milky Way, new observations from NASA's Spitzer 
Space Telescope show that the Sombrero galaxy is both. The galaxy, 
which is a round, elliptical with a thin disk embedded inside, is one 
of the first known to exhibit characteristics of the two different 
types. The findings will lead to a better understanding of galaxy 
evolution, a topic still poorly understood. 

"The Sombrero is more complex than previously thought," said Dimitri 
Gadotti of the European Southern Observatory in Chile and lead author 
of a new paper on the findings appearing in the Monthly Notices of 
the Royal Astronomical Society. "The only way to understand all we 
know about this galaxy is to think of it as two galaxies, one inside 
the other." 

The Sombrero galaxy, also known as NGC 4594, is located 28 million 
light-years away in the constellation Virgo. From our viewpoint on 
Earth, we can see the thin edge of its flat disk and a central bulge 
of stars, making it resemble a wide-brimmed hat. Astronomers do not 
know whether the Sombrero's disk is shaped like a ring or a spiral, 
but agree it belongs to the disk class. 

"Spitzer is helping to unravel secrets behind an object that has been 
imaged thousands of times," said Sean Carey of NASA's Spitzer Science 
Center at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif.. 
"It is intriguing Spitzer can read the fossil record of events that 
occurred billions of years ago within this beautiful and archetypal 
galaxy." 

Spitzer captures a different view of the galaxy than visible-light 
telescopes. In visible views, the galaxy appears to be immersed in a 
glowing halo, which scientists had thought was relatively light and 
small. With Spitzer's infrared vision, a different view emerges. 
Spitzer sees old stars through the dust and reveals the halo has the 
right size and mass to be a giant elliptical galaxy. 

While it is tempting to think the giant elliptical swallowed a spiral 
disk, astronomers say this is highly unlikely because that process 
would have destroyed the disk structure. Instead, one scenario they 
propose is that a giant elliptical galaxy was inundated with gas more 
than nine billion years ago. Early in our universe, networks of gas 
clouds were common, and they sometimes fed growing galaxies, causing 
them to bulk up. The gas would have been pulled into the galaxy by 
gravity, falling into orbit around the center and spinning out into a 
flat disk. Stars would have formed from the gas in the disk. 

"This poses all sorts of questions," said Rubén Sánchez-Janssen from 
the European Southern Observatory, co-author of the study. "How did 
such a large disk take shape and survive inside such a massive 
elliptical? How unusual is such a formation process?" 

Researchers say the answers could help them piece together how other 
galaxies evolve. Another galaxy, called Centaurus A, appears also to 
be an elliptical galaxy with a disk inside it. But its disk does not 
contain many stars. Astronomers speculate that Centaurus A could be 
at an earlier stage of evolution than the Sombrero and might 
eventually look similar. 

The findings also answer a mystery about the number of globular 
clusters in the Sombrero galaxy. Globular clusters are spherical 
nuggets of old stars. Ellipticals typically have a few thousand, 
while spirals contain a few hundred. The Sombrero has almost 2,000, a 
number that makes sense now but had puzzled astronomers when they 
thought it was only a disk galaxy. 

FLEET WEEK PORT EVERGLADES 2012

FROM:  U.S. NAVY
PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (April 25, 2012) The amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) prepares to moor at Port Everglades. Wasp, along with four other U.S. Navy ships and a U.S. Coast Guard cutter are scheduled to participate in the Fleet Week Port Everglades 2012. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Johnson/Released)

SPACE-BASED TACTICAL INFORMATION IN REMOTE PLACES

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARMED WITH SCIENCE
Written on APRIL 24, 2012 AT 7:50 AM by JTOZER
Satellite Sight For the Frontlines
Image is everything.
In the case of military members on the front lines, quick, reliable satellite images are important, but unfortunately not always easy to come by.  Today, the lowest echelon members of the U.S. military deployed in remote overseas locations are unable to obtain on-demand satellite imagery in a timely and persistent manner for pre-mission planning.

This is due to lack of satellite overflight opportunities, inability to receive direct satellite downlinks at the tactical level and information flow restrictions.

DARPA’s SeeMe program (Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements) aims to give mobile individual US warfighters access to on-demand, space-based tactical information in remote and beyond- line-of-sight conditions.

If successful, SeeMe will provide small squads and individual teams the ability to receive timely imagery of their specific overseas location directly from a small satellite with the press of a button — something that’s currently not possible from military or commercial satellites.

“We envision a constellation of small satellites, at a fraction of the cost of airborne systems, that would allow deployed warfighters overseas to hit ‘see me’ on existing handheld devices and in less than 90 minutes receive a satellite image of their precise location to aid in mission planning,” said Dave Barnhart, DARPA program manager.

The SeeMe constellation may consist of some two-dozen satellites, each lasting 60-90 days in a very low-earth orbit before de-orbiting and completely burning up, leaving no space debris and causing no re-entry hazard.

The program may leverage DARPA’s Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) program, which is developing an aircraft-based satellite launch platform for payloads on the order of 100 lbs. ALASA seeks to provide low-cost, rapid launch of small satellites into any required orbit, a capability not possible today from fixed ground launch sites.

“SeeMe is a logical adjunct to UAV technology, which will continue to provide local or regional very high-resolution coverage, but which can’t cover extended areas without frequent refueling,” Barnhart said. “With a SeeMe constellation, we hope to directly support warfighters in multiple deployed overseas locations simultaneously with no logistics or maintenance costs beyond the warfighters’ handhelds.”

FORMER MORGAN STANLEY EXEC. CHARGED WITH WITH FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES VIOLATIONS AND FRAUD

FROM:  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
SEC Charges Former Morgan Stanley Executive with FCPA Violations and Investment Adviser Fraud
Washington, D.C., April 25, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged a former executive at Morgan Stanley with violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) as well as securities laws for investment advisers by secretly acquiring millions of dollars worth of real estate investments for himself and an influential Chinese official who in turn steered business to Morgan Stanley’s funds.

The SEC alleges that Garth R. Peterson, who was a managing director in Morgan Stanley’s real estate investment and fund advisory business, had a personal friendship and secret business relationship with the former Chairman of Yongye Enterprise (Group) Co. – a Chinese state-owned entity with influence over the success of Morgan Stanley’s real estate business in Shanghai. Peterson secretly arranged to have at least $1.8 million paid to himself and the Chinese official that he disguised as finder’s fees that Morgan Stanley’s funds owed to third parties. Peterson also secretly arranged for him, the Chinese official, and an attorney to acquire a valuable Shanghai real estate interest from a Morgan Stanley fund. Peterson was acquiring an interest from the fund but negotiated both sides of the transaction. In exchange for offers and payments from Peterson, the Chinese official helped Peterson and Morgan Stanley obtain business while personally benefitting from some of these same investments. Peterson’s deception, self-dealing, and misappropriation breached the fiduciary duties he owed to Morgan Stanley’s funds as their representative.

Peterson agreed to a settlement of the SEC’s charges in which he will be permanently barred from the securities industry, pay more than $250,000 in disgorgement, and relinquish his interest in the valuable Shanghai real estate (currently valued at approximately $3.4 million) that he secretly acquired through his misconduct. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a related criminal case against Peterson.

“Peterson crossed the line not once, but twice. He secretly bribed a government official to illegally win business for his employer and enriched himself in violation of his fiduciary duty to Morgan Stanley’s clients,” said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “This case illustrates the SEC’s commitment to holding individuals accountable for FCPA violations, particularly employees who intentionally circumvent their company's internal controls.”

Kara Novaco Brockmeyer, Chief of the SEC Enforcement Division’s FCPA Unit, added, “As a rogue employee who took advantage of his firm and its investment advisory clients, Peterson orchestrated a scheme to illegally win business while lining his own pockets and those of an influential Chinese official.”

According to the SEC’s complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Peterson’s violations occurred from at least 2004 to 2007. His principal responsibility at Morgan Stanley was to evaluate, negotiate, acquire, manage and sell real estate investments on behalf of Morgan Stanley’s advisers and funds. He was terminated in 2008 due to his FCPA misconduct.

The SEC alleges that Peterson led Morgan Stanley’s effort to build a Chinese real estate investment portfolio for its real estate funds by cultivating a relationship with the Chinese official and taking advantage of his ability to steer opportunities to Morgan Stanley and his influence in helping with needed governmental approvals. Morgan Stanley thus partnered with Yongye on a number of significant Chinese real estate investments. At the same time, Peterson and the Chinese official expanded their personal business dealings both in a real estate interest secretly acquired from Morgan Stanley as well as by investing together in Chinese franchises of well-known U.S. fast food restaurants. Peterson failed to disclose these investments in annual disclosures that Morgan Stanley required him to make as part of his employment.

According to the SEC’s complaint, Peterson openly credited the Chinese official with helping obtain approvals required from other Chinese government entities for a deal to close. He wrote to several Morgan Stanley employees in response to an e-mail discussing the terms of one of Yongye’s purported investments, “Everyone pls keep in mind the big picture here. YY gave us this deal. ... So we owe them a favor relating to this deal. ... This should be very easy and friendly.” In another e-mail a week later, Peterson described “YYI” as “our friends who are coming in because WE OWE THEM A FAVOR.”

The SEC alleges that a Morgan Stanley compliance officer specifically informed Peterson in 2004 that employees of Yongye, a Chinese state-owned entity, were government officials for purposes of the FCPA. Peterson also received at least 35 FCPA compliance reminders from Morgan Stanley, but nonetheless committed the FCPA violations.

The SEC’s complaint charges Peterson with violations of the anti-bribery, books and records and internal control provisions of the FCPA, and with aiding and abetting violations of the anti-fraud provisions of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Peterson consented to a court order requiring him to disgorge $254,589 and relinquish to a court-appointed receiver the interest he secretly acquired from Morgan Stanley’s fund in the Jin Lin Tiandi Serviced Apartments. Peterson’s interest has a current estimated value of approximately $3.4 million. The proposed settlement is subject to court approval. Peterson also has consented to permanent industry bars based on the anticipated entry of the injunctions against him and his criminal conviction.

The SEC acknowledges the assistance of the Fraud Section of DOJ’s Criminal Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Morgan Stanley, which is not charged in the matter, cooperated with the SEC’s inquiry and conducted a thorough internal investigation to determine the scope of the improper payments and other misconduct involved.

INNOVATION USED TO MODERNIZE MISSILE WARNING NETWORK

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
The 6th Space Warning Squadron, located at Cape Cod Air Force Station, Mass., operates a Pave PAWS early warning radar. Despite operating a 30-year-old system, Team Six has discovered a number of innovative initiatives to enhance operations and increase the radar’s mission effectiveness. (U.S. Air Force photo)

Innovation in action 
by 1st Lt. Christian Evans
6th Space Warning Squadron
4/25/2012 - CAPE COD AIR FORCE STATION, Mass. -- Early warning radars have been a work-horse of the United States' missile warning network for more than 30 years.

This network, called the Integrated Tactical Warning and Attack Assessment network, is comprised of multiple systems which detect and track intercontinental and sea-launched ballistic missiles. These sites also work as collateral sensors in the Space Surveillance Network, tracking earth-orbiting satellites and reporting the information to the Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg AFB, Calif.

The Northern Hemisphere is home to six of these U.S. and allied ground-based early warning radar sites, which all contribute to the ITW/AA network. Of the six sites, the two radars located at Clear AFS, Alaska, and Cape Cod AFS, operate the Pave Phased-Array Warning System, initially designed for cold-war era threats and space traffic, while the rest have undergone major system modifications in the past decade.

To compensate for an older system design in the face of modern threats and a congested space environment, the 6th Space Warning Squadron, known as Team Six, at Cape Cod AFS, is continually innovating and executing a number of little-to-no cost initiatives to enhance operations and increase the radar's mission effectiveness.

For example, Team Six site analysts and tacticians have been searching for methods to increase the amount of radar resources devoted to space surveillance mission planning, without degrading missile warning capability. The team identified a default radar setting that might be adjusted and, after conducting a three-day test in November 2011, realized better than expected results. The radar acquired 9 percent more satellites and detected 28 percent more small objects.

The increase in smaller and total objects tracked provides more accurate data to improve space situational awareness, which helps protect both manned and unmanned space platforms and the national investment they entail. Improved space situational awareness is critical to achieving the wing's national security objectives in space.

The results from early initiatives have led to a micro-renaissance of ideas in Team Six and has encouraged personnel at all levels to contribute to innovation. For example, Team Six has moved many internal processes to SharePoint to improve knowledge management and sharing, and to streamline coordination and facilitate feedback from external organizations.
Sometimes, change is an internal idea; at other times, change is driven by pressure from outside or above the organization. Along with other ground-based radar sites and with the support of higher headquarters and functional staff, Team Six has undertaken an Air Force Space Command initiative to reduce the operations crew size from three to two operators.

This initiative is an innovation unto itself, requiring more efficient utilization of crew resources and weapon system interfaces. Operation and tasking of the Pave PAWS radar is more manually intensive than with the upgraded radar systems, so Team Six and the Sentinels of the 13th and 213th Space Warning Squadron at Clear AFS identified software changes to help crews excel in the new environment. Those software changes may take years to implement, and in the mean time, innovation will be the key to employing this system to the edge of its capability.
Some of these innovations are like sudden seismic movements, while others accumulate drop by drop, but promise a sea of change in culture.

Ever Aware is the 6th SWS motto, but with Team Six's taste for innovation, it might as well be Ever Aware, Ever Changing, and that's exactly the culture we need to dominate our high ground.

WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD IN KOSOVO ARE VISITED BY STATE LEADERSHIP

FROM:  WISCONSIN ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD
NEWS: Kosovo-deployed Guard Soldiers visited by state leadership
Date: April 24, 2012
National Guard troops keeping the peace in Kosovo received praise and gratitude from home as part of a leadership visit, April 19-23.
The governor of Wyoming, along with the top military officers for the states of Wisconsin and Wyoming, witnessed first-hand the efforts National Guard Soldiers have been performing as part of their year-long deployment in support of Operation Joint Guardian, a United Nations peacekeeping mission.

"I'm here to tell you that what you are doing here really matters," said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar , adjutant general of Wisconsin. "You have brought your combat experience and leadership skills to Kosovo and what you are doing is very important."

Dunbar was accompanied by Wisconsin State Command Sgt. Maj. George Stopper.
Gov. Matt Mead, commander-in-chief of the Wyoming National Guard , was accompanied by Maj. Gen. Luke Reiner , the adjutant general of Wyoming, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jayson Walford.
Soldiers from both states serve alongside more than 700 National Guard Soldiers from 28 other states, as well as seven other nations, as part of a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo known as KFOR. Their mission is to promote a safe and secure environment and ensure freedom of movement for citizens throughout Kosovo.

Most of the approximately 200 Wisconsin National Guard troops in country are part of the Multi-National Battle Group East (MNBG E), led by the Milwaukee-based 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade headquarters and includes Soldiers from the 32nd Military Police Company; Company F, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment ; and Detachment 1, Company B, 248th Aviation Battalion. Also part of MNBG E is approximately 20 Soldiers from the Wyoming National Guard's Detachment 2, Company B, 777th Aviation Support Battalion.

"Everyone's job differs," said Staff Sgt. Danielle Miller, a legal assistant from Wisconsin working at KFOR headquarters in Pristina. "This has been a very unique experience working with all the different nationalities. I consider it an opportunity of a lifetime."

MNBG E, along with MNBG West, ensures safety and security for Kosovo residents, performing a wide variety of missions in a supporting role to the Kosovo Police force and European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). Whether it's airlifting critical supplies like food and water to remote outposts, conducting vehicle checks or sharing best-practice methods with Kosovo law enforcement agencies, Wyoming and Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers have proven their value to their multinational partners.
"They do a really good job," said German Army Maj. Gen. Erhard Drews, KFOR commander. "I appreciate what they are doing," adding that the Soldiers do an excellent job balancing the force protection mission with deterrence.

"The job that these Soldiers are doing here is absolutely critical," said Wyoming's Reiner. "It's an important mission to keep this region of the world safe and secure, and for our Wyoming Guard Soldiers to come over here and participate in this is a big deal and it makes a difference."

"Everyone back home in Wyoming and all the states should be very proud of the work that's being done here," Mead asserted. "I think it's just a great opportunity to visit these guys and see how they're doing."
In addition to performing their missions, many of the Soldiers deployed to Kosovo are completing military education requirements. Approximately 40 soldiers participated and graduated from the Warrior Leader Course for junior noncommissioned officers April 11, and another class is scheduled to graduate April 30. The command hopes to graduate 120 by the end of the group's tour. Officers in the command are also participating in the Intermediate Level-Education course, and a Battle Staff NCO course for intermediate and senior NCOs is expected to start later this summer.

"If we can help them get those requirements done while they are here it's a win-win for all," said MNBG E Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Shields from Wisconsin. "Not only is it good for the Soldier, the Army and the Guard, but it also benefits the family and employers back home because the Soldier doesn't need to be away from home again to accomplish the training."

NATO has been leading a peace support operation in Kosovo since June 1999 in support of wider international efforts to build peace and stability in the area. Originally fielded by active duty units like the 82nd Airborne Division when NATO was the primary peacekeeping force in the region, the Army National Guard has taken a prominent role in the KFOR mission as Kosovo and European Union institutions assert themselves.
Over time, as the security situation has improved, NATO has been gradually adjusting KFOR's force posture towards a minimal presence - essentially, a smaller force progressively relying more on flexibility and intelligence with fewer static tasks, according to NATO officials.

"The intent is to teach them to take care of and provide for themselves," said Lt. Col. Jon Russell, MNBG E, operations officer from Wisconsin. This includes training and mentoring Kosovo security forces, conducting engineer inspections and educating medical personnel.

According to Kosovo native Ardian Nrecaj, who has been an interpreter for MNBG E since 1999, the Army National Guard forces joined the peace keeping effort in 2003 when the Pennsylvania Army National Guard took over from the active Army.

"National Guard members brought to Kosovo not only their military skills to keep a safe and secure environment, but they brought also their civilian skills, knowing that they are not only Soldiers but teachers, cops and other [types of workers]," he said. "With these extra sets of skills, they helped in training Kosovo institutions to receive more responsibility from KFOR."

The National Guard Soldiers currently assigned to MNBG E are more than halfway through their year-long deployment in Kosovo, and are expected to return in the fall.
"You're halfway there," Reiner said "Stay focused, stay safe, and make sure the second half is just as good as the first half."

ARMY PFC. MANNING WILL GO TO TRIAL IN FALL

FROM:  AMERICAN FORCES PRESS SERVICE

Alleged Document Leaker's Trial Set for September

By Donna Miles

FORT MEADE, Md., April 26, 2012 - Army Pfc. Bradley Manning will go to trial this fall to face charges that he leaked hundreds of thousands of classified documents in what's believed to be the largest intelligence leak in U.S. history.

Army Col. Denise Lind, the judge presiding over three days of motion hearings here, scheduled the trial to begin Sept. 21 and continue through Oct. 12.

The defense will get to decide if the case will be heard by a judge alone, by a jury to consist of all officers, or by a mixed panel that includes one third enlisted members from within Manning's current command, the Army's Military District of Washington.

During the hearings, Lind rejected the defense's argument yesterday that all 22 charges against him Manning should be dismissed.

Today, she also upheld the most serious charge against him, that he aided the enemy by disclosing classified military and diplomatic documents material to the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks. WikiLeaks, in turn, released thousands of these documents, including classified records about military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, on its website.

Lind specified today that the prosecution must prove that Manning disclosed the data with a clear understanding that the enemy would have access to it.

The decision followed three days of oral arguments, with the discussion centered largely on Manning's intent in disclosing the classified documents and what damage resulted.

The defense, led by civilian counsel David Coombs, argued that Manning never intended to aid the enemy when he provided the information to WikiLeaks.

The government called Manning's intent immaterial and said he should be tried based solely on his actions. "Why he did something isn't relevant," Army Maj. Ashden Fein, the lead prosecutor, told the judge. What is relevant at this point, he said, is what Manning actually did and how he did it.

Aiding the enemy under Article 104 of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice is a capital offense; however, the prosecution team has said it won't recommend the death penalty, a legal official said.

The maximum sentence Manning could receive, if found guilty of the charge, is life in prison.

He also could be reduced to E-1, the lowest enlisted grade, face a total forfeiture of all pay and allowances and dishonorable discharge, officials said.

Lind upheld other lesser charges against Manning, rejecting the defense's claim the government imposed "unreasonable multiplication of charges," essentially piling on duplicate charges for the same acts. She said she found no evidence that the prosecution exaggerated Manning's criminality or otherwise "overreached" in compiling charges against him.

The judge did, however, leave the door open for combining charges in the event that Manning is found guilty and the case moves into the sentencing phase.  This could reduce the length of any sentence imposed, a military legal official explained.

The defense team reiterated its call for the government to provide assessments of damages actually caused by the disclosures, calling this information critical to its case. Coombs argued today that the government's failure to provide a full accounting of harm done demonstrates that the disclosures actually had minimal impact.

Fein said the burden of proving actual damages isn't the government's responsibility, and that that information, should it be considered at all, should be reserved until sentencing.

Lind did not say when she will rule on the defense's request for damage assessments. She said she will review these documents personally to determine if the defense team should have access to them.

The judge also has yet to consider a new prosecution request to reconsider her directive that the State Department share its interim damage assessment report findings. 

Lind ruled yesterday that the prosecution does not have to provide the defense team transcripts of federal grand jury testimony regarding the WikiLeaks case. Although the FBI has been involved in the WikiLeaks investigation, the judge said the military has no authority to release the FBI information.

Manning sat emotionless in the courtroom wearing his Army service uniform during the three days of oral arguments. He followed the proceedings closely, periodically jotting notes on a yellow pad or leaning toward Coombs or his new military defense attorney, Army Capt. Joshua Tooman, to whisper a comment or peek at a document.

The 24-year-old military intelligence analyst was arrested at Contingency Operating Base Hammer near Baghdad, Iraq, May 25, 2010. A former 10th Mountain Division soldier, he is accused of installing unauthorized software onto government computers to extract classified information, unlawfully downloading it, improperly storing it, and transmitting the data for public release and use by the enemy.

The specific charges, as outlined on his charge sheet, include aiding the enemy; wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the Internet knowing that it is accessible to the enemy; theft of public property or records; transmitting defense information; and fraud and related activity in connection with computers. The charges include violation of Army Regulations 25-2 "Information Assurance" and 380-5 "Department of the Army Information Security Program."

Manning has not issued a plea on these charges.

Along with the trial dates, Lind scheduled additional hearings related to the case: June 6 to 8; July 16 to 20; Aug. 27 to 31; and Sept. 19 to 20. The hearings will focus on specific elements related to each charge to ensure a common understanding as both sides prepare their cases, as well as other procedural items.

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MEETING ON ARAB COUNTRIES PARTNERSHIP GOVERNANCE

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
The Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition Chairman's Summary of the Meeting on Governance on April 24, 2012 in Paris, France
Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
April 25, 2012
On April 24 in Paris, Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Robert Hormats chaired a meeting of the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition on the subject of governance. This governance meeting was a key part of further developing the Partnership this year, which also includes pillars related to finance and trade, investment and integration. The work of the Partnership this year takes place under the presidency of the United States. The U.S. Chairman of the Paris meeting on April 24 summarizes the results as follows:

The members of the Deauville Partnership recognize the importance of open government, accountability, and a fair regulatory environment to promote inclusive economic growth, rule of law, and job creation as part of a successful democratic transition. On April 24, 2012, representatives of the Partnership countries met in Paris, France.

The participants reached agreement on a number of concrete steps for the G-8, transition countries, regional partner countries, and supporting international institutions. These steps will focus on four core areas for effective governance: open government and anticorruption, asset recovery, the policy environment for small and medium-sized enterprises, and international exchanges. Such steps were conceived based on the shared conviction that institutional and governance reform is essential for inclusive economic growth and prosperity.

The Platform established by the Arab League, OECD, UNDP, Union for the Mediterranean and others to facilitate information sharing, co-operation and operational dialogue within the governance pillar of the Partnership is an important element for its success, and participants recognized the role the OECD has played in facilitating this process. We welcome regular reports on progress by the Platform.

Open Governance and Anti-corruption
The participants agreed on the importance of a series of initiatives to foster rule of law, combat impunity, and enhance citizen confidence in democratic institutions. They agreed on a number of actions to increase transparency in government institutions, promote government-citizen dialogue, combat corruption, and enhance integrity in public procurement. These efforts will attract investment and foster local economic development and job creation. Partnership actions will include:
Recognizing that open and transparent governance is a prerequisite for growth and public confidence, each transition country will consider pursuing membership in the Open Government Partnership and the potential benefits of joining the initiative. As an OGP member, Jordan will start implementing its OGP National Action Plan and seeks support in this regard, and Tunisia will join the OGP in 2013. Libya, Morocco, and Egypt will each work with the OECD to develop country specific reviews and initiate membership efforts for the OGP. The OECD MENA Governance Program plays an important role in this context.

Participants emphasized the importance of capacity building, through their own efforts and by working with non-government organizations. For example, this can be accomplished through recruiting a cadre of international volunteer experts from the public and private sectors to provide on-the-ground, technical assistance to better manage public finances. Participants stressed the importance of programs for capacity building in the sphere of public financial management.

Partnership countries will participate in the MENA Better Governance and Fair Tax Systems conference in Tunis, May 30-31, which will explore how good governance and tax administration can promote citizen engagement, increased public confidence and business success.

Transition countries are called upon to consider the implementation of international standards, informed by relevant assessments, including key preventive measures such as conflict of interest rules, disclosure of assets, and whistleblower protection. All UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) parties will conduct their reviews in a transparent and inclusive manner, and G8 members that have already done so will accede to UNCAC as soon as possible. Transition countries also should consider using OECD tools, such as the Clean GovBiz Initiative, to achieve concrete results.
Transition countries will make use of OECD tools to disseminate information about their progress towards effective implementation of integrity principles of good governance in public procurement, such as the OECD Principles for Enhancing Integrity in Public Procurement, the OECD/DAC Methodology for Assessing Procurement Systems, and other international practices, and will consider employing OECD surveys to enhance such progress.

Asset Recovery
Asset recovery is a high priority for the region and the international community. The Partnership will take action to promote cooperation and case assistance, as well as capacity-building efforts. Partnership actions will include:
Each G-8 member will publish a guide that describes specific steps required for assistance and cooperation for tracing, freezing, confiscating, and returning proceeds of corruption.

Each G-8 member and transition country will, to the extent possible, develop or reinforce mechanisms for pursuing and sharing best practices related to cooperation in the recovery of the proceeds of corruption.

G-8 members will support capacity-building activities, to the extent possible.
Transition and regional partner countries will establish and participate in an Arab Forum on Asset Recovery, in cooperation with the G8 and other partners, to provide a platform for policy dialogue, regional training, and developing a regional network of expertise on asset recovery.

Members of the Partnership will support the Stolen Assets Recovery Initiative of the World Bank and the UNDC.

Policy Environments for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
The Partnership will review legal, regulatory, and administrative practices for the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. Governments can improve the business climate for SMEs by advancing rule of law, reducing corruption, improving banking services, including access to microcredit, improving the tax environment and promoting cross-border trade. Improved practices will contribute to higher and more inclusive economic growth, more jobs, and a more vibrant civil society. Partnership actions will include:
G-8 members and international institutions continue to place high priority on offering assistance to transition countries in the field of SME development.
Partnership countries support the swift ratification of amendments to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) Articles of Agreement to open the EBRD’s “Special Fund” to Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan.
The OECD-MENA Women’s Business Forum will support the promotion of women’s economic participation by improving women’s entrepreneurship development.

The UK's Arab Partnership Economic Facility has the capacity to support project work focusing in the development of and enabling environments for SMEs. This can include areas such as investment climate reform, competition policy, enterprise development, business services and extending access to finance.

Partnership countries will support and participate in the conference on “Reviving Private Investment in the Deauville Partnership Countries: Investment Policies for Job Creation” to be held on May 7-8 in Cairo.
The United States and Tunisia will co-host a regional workshop in the early fall to examine best practices for policy and regulatory environment for SMEs.

Russia will host a session for Arab officials and businesses on trade and investment opportunities with an emphasis on SMEs at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in June.
Japan and Egypt will co-host a preparation meeting in Cairo in May for the Japan Arab Economic Forum.
Regional workshops to strengthen the capacity of SMEs will be organized under the auspices of the Euro-Mediterranean Charter for Enterprise.

Tunisia and Italy are co-chairing an OECD Working Group on SME Policy, Entrepreneurship and Human Capital Development within the framework of the OECD MENA Initiative.

International Exchanges
Partnership countries will support exchanges and training programs, especially for the following constituencies from transition countries: (1) members of legislative bodies and their staffs; (2) judges; (3) regional and municipal leaders; and (4) labor unions. By the end of 2013, G-8 members will identify completed exchanges and programs to support these groups from the transition countries. The goal of these programs is to facilitate strong commitments to effective, accountable, and representative governance practices.

Participants look forward to continuing the critical work of all three pillars of the Deauville Partnership, including the important governance pillar. Progress to this point is a sign of the enduring cooperation between the Partnership countries and support to the transitions in the region.

CFTC CHARGES MAN AND HIS COMPANIES WITH COMMODITY GOLD AND OIL OPTIONS FRAUD

FROM:  CFTC
CFTC Charges Florida Resident Abraham Gutterman and His Companies, Alliance Capital Metals LLC and AR Goldman Wealth Management, LLC with Commodity Gold and Oil Options Fraud and Misappropriation

Defendants allegedly stole more than $480,000 from customers
Federal court enters emergency order freezing defendants’ assets and protecting books and records
Washington, DC – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) today announced the filing of a federal court action against Abraham Gutterman, Alliance Capital Metals LLC (ACM), and AR Goldman Wealth Management, LLC (ARGWM) (doing business as U.S. Principal Financial Services), all of South Florida, charging them with commodity options fraud and misappropriation.

On March 15, 2012, the same day the complaint was filed, Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, entered an emergency order freezing the defendants’ assets. The order also prohibits the defendants from destroying or altering books and records. The judge set a hearing date for April 11, 2012.

The CFTC complaint alleges that from at least November 2009 to the present, the defendants fraudulently solicited and accepted at least $483,725 from at least 15 customers to trade gold and oil commodity options contracts. Defendants allegedly never disclosed to customers that their funds would be used for any purposes other than trading gold and oil options. Instead, the defendants misappropriated all of the customers’ funds, and spent the money on various personal expenses, including restaurants, gambling, entertainment, and retail purchases, according to the complaint.

The defendants allegedly lured customers using cold-calls, a website, and at least one face-to-face meeting in a bar in Hialeah, Fla. ACM and ARGWM allegedly used high pressure sales tactics, calling customers repeatedly and promising large profits to convince them to invest. Defendants did not provide customers with any documentation of their investments or account activity statements, and when one customer asked how his investment was doing, ACM and ARGWM advised him to watch the price of gold on business news television stations, according to the complaint.

Specifically, ACM and ARGWM, by and through their employees and agents, allegedly made the following misrepresentations and omissions of material fact to persuade customers to invest:
 customers would “make a killing” if they invested in commodity options through ACM and ARGWM;
 customers would make approximately $200,000 to $300,000 in less than three months with a $20,000 investment in gold options;

 the majority of ACM’s and ARGWM’s prior customers bought gold options in 20 contract lots and those customers’ investments had increased significantly;
 customers needed to “get in now” because the price of gold was about to rise from prices of approximately $1,700 to $1,800 per ounce to $2,500 per ounce;
 for every dollar the price per ounce of gold goes up, the customer’s options contracts would increase in value by $500 to $2,000; and
 gold options are a good investment for retirement savings and, after investing with ACM and ARGWM, the customer would have more than enough money to retire within just a few months.

Within a few months of investing, ACM and ARGWM allegedly advised customers that all their funds had been lost trading commodity options and the only way to recoup their investments was to invest additional funds. When customers requested that ACM and ARGWM sell their purported commodity options and return the balance of their funds, ACM and ARGWM allegedly refused and instead pressured customers not to sell their investments. No money was ever returned to the customers, according to the complaint.
In its continuing litigation, the CFTC seeks civil monetary penalties, restitution, rescission, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, trading and registration bans, and preliminary and permanent injunctions against further violations of the federal commodities laws, as charged.

The CFTC appreciates the assistance of the Aventura, Florida, Police Department.
CFTC Division of Enforcement staff responsible for this case are Robert Howell, Joseph Patrick, Susan Gradman, Scott Williamson, Rosemary Hollinger, and Richard Wagner.

CHARLES TAYLOR, FORMER PRESIDENT OF LIBERIA CONVICTED OF WAR CRIMES AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
The Verdict in the Charles Taylor Trial at the Special Court for Sierra Leone
Press Statement Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC
April 26, 2012
The United States welcomes the issuance of the judgment by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, convicting Charles Taylor, the former president of Liberia, of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Today’s judgment was an important step toward delivering justice and accountability for victims, restoring peace and stability in the country and the region, and completing the Special Court for Sierra Leone’s mandate to prosecute those persons who bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed in Sierra Leone. The Taylor prosecution at the Special Court delivers a strong message to all perpetrators of atrocities, including those in the highest positions of power, that they will be held accountable.

The trial of Charles Taylor is of enormous historical and legal significance as it is the first of a powerful head of state to be brought to judgment before an international tribunal on charges of mass atrocities and serious violations of international humanitarian law. Over 90 witnesses testified during the trial, bringing to light the range of crimes committed during the war in Sierra Leone, and affirming the importance of justice for the victims. The United States has been a strong supporter and the leading donor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone since its inception. The successful completion of the Special Court’s work remains a top U.S. Government priority.

NASA SCIENTISTS FIND HISTORY OF ASTEROID IMPACTS IN EARTH ROCKS

WASHINGTON -- Research by NASA and international scientists concludes
giant asteroids, similar or larger than the one believed to have
killed the dinosaurs, hit Earth billions of years ago with more
frequency than previously thought.

To cause the dinosaur extinction, the killer asteroid that impacted
Earth 65 million years ago would have been almost 6 miles (10
kilometers) in diameter. By studying ancient rocks in Australia and
using computer models, researchers estimate that approximately 70
asteroids the same size or larger impacted Earth 1.8 to 3.8 billion
years ago. During the same period, approximately four similarly-sized
objects hit the moon.

"This work demonstrates the power of combining sophisticated computer
models with physical evidence from the past, further opening an
important window to Earth's history," said Yvonne Pendleton, director
of NASA's Lunar Science Institute (NLSI) at NASA's Ames Research
Center at Moffett Field, Calif.

Evidence for these impacts on Earth comes from thin rock layers that
contain debris of nearly spherical, sand-sized droplets called
spherules. These millimeter-scale clues were formerly molten droplets
ejected into space within the huge plumes created by mega-impacts on
Earth. The hardened droplets then fell back to Earth, creating thin
but widespread sedimentary layers known as spherule beds.
The new findings are published today in the journal Nature.

"The beds speak to an intense period of bombardment of Earth," said
William Bottke principal investigator of the impact study team at the
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colo. "Their source
long has been a mystery."

The team's findings support the theory Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and
Neptune formed in different orbits nearly 4.5 billion years ago,
migrating to their current orbits about 4 billion years ago from the
interplay of gravitational forces in the young solar system. This
event triggered a solar system-wide bombardment of comets and
asteroids called the "Late Heavy Bombardment." In the paper, the team
created a model of the ancient main asteroid belt and tracked what
would have happened when the orbits of the giant planets changed.
They discovered the innermost portion of the belt became destabilized
and could have delivered numerous big impacts to Earth and the moon
over long time periods.

At least 12 mega-impacts produced spherule beds during the so-called
Archean period 2.5 to 3.7 billion years ago, a formative time for
life on Earth. Ancient spherule beds are rare finds, rarer than rocks
of any other age. Most of the beds have been preserved amid mud
deposited on the sea floor below the reach of waves.

The impact believed to have killed the dinosaurs was the only known
collision over the past half-billion years that made a spherule layer
as deep as those of the Archean period. The relative abundance of the
beds supports the hypothesis for many giant asteroid impacts during
Earth's early history.

The frequency of the impacts indicated in the computer models matches
the number of spherule beds found in terrains with ages that are well
understood. The data also hint at the possibility that the last
impacts of the Late Heavy Bombardment on Earth made South Africa's
Vredefort crater and Canada's Sudbury crater, both of which formed
about 2 billion years ago.

"The Archean beds contain enough extraterrestrial material to rule out
alternative sources for the spherules, such as volcanoes," said Bruce
Simonson, a geologist from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

The research was funded by NLSI and conducted by members or associates
of NLSI's Center of Lunar Origin and Evolution, based at SwRI.

The impact study team also includes scientists from Purdue University
in West Lafayette, Ind.; Charles University in Prague, Czech
Republic; Observatorie de la Cote d'Azur in Nice, France; and
Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan.

THE MYSTERY OF ENGINE ICE FIRE

FROM:  U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ARMED WITH SCIENCE
An Engine Of Ice and Fire
Written on APRIL 25, 2012 AT 7:06 AM by JTOZER

Polar opposites attract in the puzzling case of ice crystal engine icing, where the frozen crystals can be ingested into the core of a jet engine. (Image credit: NASA/Eric Mindek)
scientists are making progress in their preparations to mount a detailed research campaign aimed at solving a modern-day aviation mystery involving the unlikely combination of fire and ice inside a running jet engine.

NASA scientists are making progress in their preparations to mount a detailed research campaign aimed at solving a modern-day aviation mystery involving the unlikely combination of fire and ice inside a running jet engine.

The investigation deals with the seemingly strange notion that ice crystals associated with warm-weather storms can be ingested into the core of a jet engine, melt and then re-freeze, potentially causing the engine to lose power or shut down altogether. Safety officials have documented more than 150 incidents of this phenomenon since 1988. Most of the incidents have occurred in the tropics.

“It doesn’t seem intuitive that ice can form in the core of a warm engine,” said Ron Colantonio, manager of the Atmospheric Environment Safety Technologies Project at NASA’sGlenn Research Center in Cleveland.

So in order to make sense of the mystery, NASA and its research partners are planning to gather information by flying a specially-outfitted business jet in high-altitude, warm-weather conditions suspected of having a large amount of ice crystals.
Technicians in California are currently modifying a Gulfstream G2 airplane to hold a suite of meteorological instruments, with hopes of having everything ready for initial trial runs of the full setup in Florida this August.

The research team then will take the lessons learned from their trial runs, make appropriate changes and prepare for the primary campaign, which is now targeted between January and March, 2013. These flights will take place over Darwin, Australia, an area known for having the type of storms that include high levels of ice crystals.

Meanwhile, another set of investigators will be preparing the ground segment of the research, which involves simulating the engine icing conditions in an engine test facility at Glenn, as well as refining new computer codes to help predict where and when the engine icing conditions exist.

For now, pilots are being trained to recognize the potential existence of these ice crystals, which are about the same size as baking soda, and advised to avoid the weather conditions as best they can. Although a potential hazard, no accident has been attributed to the phenomenon in the 23 years since it was identified.

A computer rendering of the research aircraft NASA will use in a few months to collect vital atmospheric data about where, when and how high altitude ice crystals occur. (Image credit: NASA/Eric Mindek)

In most of the known cases, pilots have managed to restore engine power and reach their destinations without further problems. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there have been two forced landings.
For example, in 2005, both engines of a Beechcraft business jet failed at 38,000 feet above Jacksonville, Fla. The pilot safely glided the aircraft to an airport, dodging thunderstorms and ominous clouds on the way down.
It is expected that updated flight safety rules and engine testing standards will be adopted once all the research is compiled and analyzed during the next few years.
By Jim Banke

NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate

NASA TESTS GPS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR BIG U.S. EARTHQUAKES

FROM:  NASA
WASHINGTON -- The space-based technology that lets GPS-equipped 
motorists constantly update their precise location will undergo a 
major test of its ability to rapidly pinpoint the location and 
magnitude of strong earthquakes across the western United States. 
Results from the new Real-time Earthquake Analysis for Disaster 
(READI) Mitigation Network soon could be used to assist prompt 
disaster response and more accurate tsunami warnings. 

The new research network builds on decades of technology development 
supported by the National Science Foundation, the Department of 
Defense, NASA, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The network 
uses real-time GPS measurements from nearly 500 stations throughout 
California, Oregon and Washington. When a large earthquake is 
detected, GPS data are used to automatically calculate its vital 
characteristics including location, magnitude and details about the 
fault rupture. 

"With the READI network we are enabling continued development of 
real-time GPS technologies to advance national and international 
early warning disaster systems," said Craig Dobson, natural hazards 
program manager in the Earth Science Division at NASA Headquarters in 
Washington. "This prototype system is a significant step towards 
realizing the goal of providing Pacific basin-wide natural hazards 
capability around the Pacific 'Ring of Fire.'" 

Accurate and rapid identification of earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 and 
stronger is critical for disaster response and mitigation efforts, 
especially for tsunamis. Calculating the strength of a tsunami 
requires detailed knowledge of the size of the earthquake and 
associated ground movements. Acquiring this type of data for very 
large earthquakes is a challenge for traditional seismological 
instruments that measure ground shaking. 

High-precision, second-by-second measurements of ground displacements 
using GPS have been shown to reduce the time needed to characterize 
large earthquakes and to increase the accuracy of subsequent tsunami 
predictions. After the capabilities of the network have been fully 
demonstrated, it is intended to be used by appropriate natural hazard 
monitoring agencies. USGS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration are responsible for detecting and issuing warnings on 
earthquakes and tsunamis, respectively. 

"By using GPS to measure ground deformation from large earthquakes, we 
can reduce the time needed to locate and characterize the damage from 
large seismic events to several minutes," said Yehuda Bock, director 
of Scripps Institution of Oceanography's Orbit and Permanent Array 
Center in La Jolla, Calif. "We now are poised to fully test the 
prototype system this year." 

The READI network is a collaboration of many institutions including 
Scripps at the University of California in San Diego; Central 
Washington University in Ellensburg; the University of Nevada in 
Reno; California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory 
(JPL) in Pasadena; UNAVCO in Boulder, Colo.; and the University of 
California at Berkeley. 

NASA, NSF, USGS, and other federal, state, and local partners support 
the GPS stations in the network, including the EarthScope Plate 
Boundary Observatory, the Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array, the Bay 
Area Regional Deformation Array and the California Real-Time Network. 


"The relatively small investments in GPS-based natural hazards systems 
have revolutionized the way we view the Earth and allowed us to 
develop this prototype system with great potential benefits for the 
infrastructure and population in earthquake-prone states in the 
western United States," said Frank Webb, Earth Science Advanced 
Mission Concepts program manager at JPL. 

The READI network is the outgrowth of nearly 25 years of U.S. 
government research efforts to develop the capabilities and 
applications of GPS technology. The GPS satellite system was created 
by the Department of Defense for military and ultimately civil 
positioning needs. NASA leveraged this investment by supporting 
development of a global GPS signal receiving network to improve the 
accuracy and utility of GPS positioning information. Today that 
capability provides real-time, pinpoint positioning and timing for a 
wide variety of uses from agriculture to Earth exploration. 

"Conventional seismic networks have consistently struggled to rapidly 
identify the true size of great earthquakes during the last decade," 
said Timothy Melbourne, director of the Central Washington 
University's Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array. "This GPS system is 
more likely to provide accurate and rapid estimates of the location 
and amount of fault slip to fire, utility, medical and other 
first-response teams." 

The GPS earthquake detection capability was first demonstrated by 
NASA-supported research on a major 2004 Sumatra quake conducted by 
Geoffrey Blewitt and colleagues at the University of Nevada in Reno. 

SEC CHARGES COMPANY WITH MISREPRESENTATIONS ON NRSRO APPLICATION

FROM:  THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C., April 24, 2012 — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against Egan-Jones Ratings Company (EJR) and its owner and president Sean Egan for material misrepresentations and omissions in the company’s July 2008 application to register as a Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organization (NRSRO) for issuers of asset-backed securities (ABS) and government securities. EJR and Egan also are charged with material misrepresentations in other submissions furnished to the SEC and violations of record-keeping and conflict-of-interest provisions governing NRSROs.

The Commission issued an order instituting proceedings in which the SEC’s Division of Enforcement alleges that EJR — a credit rating agency based in Haverford, Pa. — submitted an application to register as an NRSRO for issuers of asset-backed and government securities in July 2008. EJR had previously registered with the SEC in 2007 as an NRSRO for financial institutions, insurance companies, and corporate issuers.
The SEC’s Division of Enforcement alleges that in its 2008 application, EJR falsely stated that as of the date of the application it had 150 outstanding ABS issuer ratings and 50 outstanding government issuer ratings. EJR further falsely stated in its 2008 application that it had been issuing credit ratings in the ABS and government categories as a credit rating agency on a continuous basis since 1995. In fact, at the time of its July 2008 application, EJR had not issued — that is, made available on the Internet or through another readily accessible means — any ABS or government issuer ratings, and therefore did not meet the requirements for registration as an NRSRO in these categories. EJR continued to make material misrepresentations regarding its experience rating asset-backed and government securities in subsequent annual certifications furnished to the SEC.

The SEC’s Division of Enforcement also alleges that EJR made other misstatements and omissions in submissions to the SEC by providing inaccurate certifications from clients, failing to disclose that two employees had signed a code of ethics different than the one EJR disclosed, and inaccurately stating that EJR did not know if subscribers were long or short a particular security.

The SEC’s Division of Enforcement further alleges that EJR violated other provisions of Commission rules governing NRSROs. EJR failed to enforce its policies to address conflicts of interest arising from employee ownership of securities, and allowed two analysts to participate in determining credit ratings for issuers whose securities they owned. EJR also failed to make and retain certain required records, including a detailed record of its procedures and methodologies to determine credit ratings and e-mails regarding its determination of credit ratings.

The SEC’s Division of Enforcement alleges that Egan provided inaccurate information that was included in EJR’s applications and annual certifications. He signed the submissions and certified that the information provided in them was “accurate in all significant respects,” when he knew that it was not. Egan also failed to ensure EJR’s compliance with the recordkeeping requirements and conflict-of-interest provisions.
The SEC’s Division of Enforcement alleges that, by the conduct described above, EJR willfully violated Exchange Act Sections 15E(a)(1), 15E(b)(2), 15E(h)(1) and 17(a), and Rules 17g-1(a), 17g-1(b), 17g-1(f), 17g-1(a)(2), 17g-2(a)(6), 17g-2(b)(2), 17g-2(b)(7), and 17g-5(c)(2). The Division of Enforcement further alleges that by the conduct described above, Egan willfully made, or caused EJR to make, material misstatements in its Form NRSRO, and caused or willfully aided, abetted, counseled, commanded, induced or procured EJR’s violations of Sections 15E and 17(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 17g-1, 17g-2, and 17g-5.

The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Stacy Bogert, Pamela Nolan, Alec Koch, and Yuri Zelinsky. The SEC’s litigation will be led by James Kidney.