Zero Robotics - Scholieren besturen minisatellieten ín het ISS

Zero Robotics - Scholieren besturen minisatellieten ín het ISS

PENTAGON SPOKESMAN CALLS BUDGET PROCESS 'A MESS'

George Little

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Budget Process 'A Mess,' Pentagon Spokesman Says
By Claudette Roulo
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 - When reporters asked him about the budget process during a news conference here today, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little had a plain-spoken answer.

"I could try to be somewhat heartfelt and diplomatic, but I'll boil it down to this: it is, at this stage, a mess," he said.

The instability is "highly problematic" for the Defense Department, Little said, and affects the entire federal budget.

Although Congress acted to delay a "sequestration" provision in budget law that would have triggered deep across-the-board budget cuts last week, he said, its failure to resolve sequestration once and for all is generating uncertainty among service members and civilians alike.

"We've heard that already on the front lines in Afghanistan," he said. "The troops have serious questions about sequestration. This is not just a Washington issue. It's a Camp Bastion issue. It's an issue at Incirlik. It's an issue at our bases in Asia. We need to think carefully about this."

Sequestration has been a topic of discussion for too long, Little said, noting that Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has said many times that there needs to be "a true, genuine, honest conversation about the budget."

"It's time for Congress to act," he added.

Little reiterated some potential effects of sequestration on the Defense Department that Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter outlined in August, adding that they haven't changed in the intervening five months.

"[Sequestration] could seriously disrupt our forces and programs, to include readiness," Little said. "It could require us to substantially modify and scale back our new defense strategy."

In addition, he said, it could reduce war funding and training for units deploying to Afghanistan, reduce commissary hours, delay payments to medical service providers and disrupt investment programs.

"This is not a rational way to govern," Little said.

Some temporary DOD employees also may be affected, he said. "We're going to do right by our employees in terms of communication and do what we have to do to follow the law," he added. "No decisions have been reached yet, but we're actively consulting with the Office of Management and Budget to see what actions we may need to take in advance of the [March 1] 'fiscal cliff' deadline."

Even though the U.S. military may still be able to carry out the fight in Afghanistan and protect some programs, Little said, "overall, our mission as a department could be devastated -- at least for a short period of time. And that's not a prospect that any of us relish."

Allowing three major fiscal problems to coincide in less than two months -- the debt ceiling, the continuing resolution that funds the government for only a portion of the fiscal year, and sequester -- "is just not the right way to go about business," Little said. "This is not the right way to run government."

The Defense Department is "doing some serious planning for sequestration," he said. "We hope to avoid it. We don't want there to be uncertainty, but with less than two months to go before the next deadline hits for the 'fiscal cliff,' we need to be ready."

SOLDIER SURVIVED MINE EXPLOSION AND RETURNED TO AFGHANISTAN

Army Staff Sgt. Steven Wentzell. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Gene Arnold

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Face of Defense: Undeterred Soldier Returns to Afghanistan
By Army Sgt. Gene Arnold
4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division
WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 - An explosive ordnance disposal technician from Fort Drum, N.Y., is back in the country where he almost lost his life two years ago.

Army Staff Sgt. Steven Wentzell is training Afghan army explosive ordnance disposal teams in techniques, tactics and procedures.

Wentzell said the Army wasn't always in his career path, even though he is the grandchild of a Medal of Honor nominee. At first, he said, he simply was looking for something that would give him a marketable skill for a civilian career. But after joining the Army, he added, he found he enjoyed military life.

"I wanted something more stable," he said. "My grandfather was in the Army Air Corps in World War II. He was one of the men to drop the first bombs during the war, then he was a [prisoner of war] in the Korean War."

His grandfather steered him toward the military, Wentzell said. "But I only wanted to do four years and get out," he added. "So I talked over my choice with my wife, and she agreed. Three days later, I was in the Army."

Wentzell originally chose to become a heating, ventilation and air conditioning mechanic, thinking that this profession would be a lucrative career choice. But he soon realized it wasn't the job for him, he said.

He later deployed as a motor transportation operator in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This didn't give him the feeling he had hoped for when he joined the Army, he said. But on several missions, he saw explosive ordnance disposal technicians at work. Intrigued, he attended a question-and-answer session and decided to give EOD a shot.

His curiosity sparked a new job interest, Wentzell said, but he wasn't sure early on if he wanted to continue on the path he had started. He gave EOD a chance, completing contract extensions to finish EOD school, and finally found what he was looking for, he said.

When the time came to use his EOD skills in combat, he didn't hesitate to complete his mission. In March 2011, Wentzell was deployed to Regional Command South, where he cleared improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance. He finally got that rush of adrenaline and excitement he had been searching for all along, he said. With a child on the way, he re-enlisted during his deployment.

Just days after the birth of his daughter, the unthinkable happened. A flash of light, heat and a sudden jolt of energy threw his body backward. He'd stepped on an anti-personnel mine attached to a 25-gallon jug packed with homemade explosives. The mine exploded, but the jug didn't. Still, Wentzell broke his tibia, fibula, heel, ankle and toes, and he was medically evacuated.

"When I came to, I was angry; I wouldn't be able to keep my guys safe," Wentzell said. "I got depressed, because I was leaving my dudes. I knew I could keep them safe -- I wasn't sure about the next guy."

But he added that he considers himself lucky, noting that others had been killed or had lost limbs in explosions of similar mines.

The recovery process was long and hard, Wentzell said, but wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He credits his determination and fighting spirit for cutting down his recovery time.

Now deployed to Regional Command East, Wentzell said he has decided not to allow that one accident to define him.

"I decided to come back here because I felt my time was cut short and I needed to do this," he said. "[If I didn't come back], I never could have known if I could handle it."

The time away helped him see how much Afghanistan has changed, Wentzell said, and the partnership with the Afghan soldiers has brought a new sense of commonality. "I've realized that the Afghan and coalitions forces have a common goal: a better Afghanistan," he said.

His current deployment has piqued another interest: instructing.

"I'm trying to be an instructor at Fort Lee, Va., for the pre-EOD course before the actual course at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.," he said. "I want to stay in the Army and hopefully one day become a command sergeant major."

For those who have been injured in combat and still want to serve, Wentzell has a message to share.

"I really respect their decision," he said. "It's going to be hard, and at times, extremely hard. But if you have the will and determination to continue on, you'll be successful."

MEMBER OF "STICK UP KIDZ" CRIME GANG APPREHENDED

FROM:  U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE

U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force Arrests “Stick Up Kid”

January 07, 2013 - The U.S. Marshals Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force assisted by officers from the Erie Bureau of Police arrested James Gates III. Gates was taken into custody in Erie, PA. Gates is believed to be a member of the “Stick Up Kidz” in Erie. Several members are alleged to have committed home invasion robberies and burglaries in the Erie County area. Gates is wanted on charges of Robbery, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Robbery, Corrupt Organizations, Criminal Conspiracy to a Corrupt Organization, Burglary, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Theft by Unlawful Taking and Conspiracy to Commit Theft by Deception.

USA.GOV GIVES ADVICE ON FINDING A CREDIT COUNSELING AGENCY

FROM:  USA.GOV
How to Choose a Credit Counseling Agency
It’s easy to get into debt. It’s much harder to get out of it.

Fortunately, there are credit counseling agencies that can help you get your finances in order. They can help you figure out a budget and stick to it while managing your debt and avoiding future financial pitfalls.

However, not all credit counseling agencies are the same. Some offer free or low-cost services while others charge high fees or might not be trustworthy. The following tips will help you choose the right credit counseling agency.

Look for Agencies with a Good Reputation

Most reputable credit counseling agencies are nonprofits that offer free or low-cost services. However, the fact that an agency is a nonprofit does not guarantee that it is affordable or that it has a good reputation. Here are some tips for selecting a credit agency you can trust:
Ask family members and friends if they can recommend an agency. It’s best to pick one that has been around for several years and has a well-established reputation.
Use credit agencies or credit counseling services referred by credit unions, banks, universities or military bases.
Choose a credit agency that’s been approved by the Federal Government.
You can also check out state and local consumer agencies to find out if a credit agency has complaints.

Compare Services and Costs

Once you have a list of agencies you can trust, the next step is to take a closer look at the services and costs they offer so that you can choose the one that best serves your needs. Be careful with credit agencies that charge high fees for services that you can get for free somewhere else.

Some of the most common services offered by credit agencies include:
Professional, person-to-person assistance with managing your money and debt.
Help putting together a family budget and sticking to it.
Free workshops and educational material.
Ask Lots of Questions

Before finally choosing a credit agency, it’s worth writing down a list of questions you might have so that you can avoid surprises such as hidden fees or limited services. Here are some questions to help you pick the right credit agency.
Are there different fees for different services? Some agencies might charge for initial consultations or a monthly fee. Be careful with agencies that pay their employees more depending on the services you sign up for.
Will you be signing a contract before getting counseling? If so, be sure to read the contract before signing it.
Does the agency have the right certifications to provide credit counseling? It’s best to use agencies that have been certified by independent organizations.
What is the privacy policy of the agency? It’s important that your personal and financial information is protected.

ROBONAUT 2: FIRST HUMANOID IN SPACE

FROM: NASA

Robonaut Operates Task Board in Space
In the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory, Robonaut 2 is pictured on Jan. 2, during a round of testing for the first humanoid robot in space. Ground teams put Robonaut through its paces as they remotely commanded it to operate valves on a task board.

Robonaut is a testbed for exploring new robotic capabilities in space, and its form and dexterity allow it to use the same tools and control panels as its human counterparts do aboard the station.

Photo Credit: NASA

U.S. GIVES TERRORIST DESIGNATIONS TO TWO MEN TIED TO 2008 KHARTOUM ATTACK

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Terrorist Designations of Abdelbasit Alhaj Alhassan Haj Hamad and Mohamed Makawi Ibrahim Mohamed
Media Note 
Office of the Spokesperson 
Washington, DC
January 8, 2013

The U.S. Department of State has designated Abdelbasit Alhaj Alhassan Haj Hamad and Mohamed Makawi Ibrahim Mohamed under Executive Order 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism. As a result of this designation, all property subject to U.S. jurisdiction in which Abdelbasit and Makawi have any interest is blocked and any assets they may have under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. This action will help stem the flow of financial and other assistance to these terrorists.

Abdelbasit and Makawi participated in an armed attack in Khartoum, Sudan on January 1, 2008, which resulted in the deaths of a U.S. diplomat serving with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), John Michael Granville, and Adbelrahman Abbas Rahama, a Sudanese USAID employee. Abdelbasit shot Granville and Makawi killed Abbas Rahama during the attack. Both Abdelbasit and Makawi were convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a Sudanese criminal court in 2009. In 2010, they killed a Sudanese police officer and wounded another while escaping from prison. They remain at large.

The attack occurred when Granville and Abbas were leaving a New Year’s Eve party in Khartoum. Abdelbasit shot Granville and Makawi killed Abbas Rahama during the attack. Both men and two co-conspirators were convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a Sudanese criminal court in 2009. In 2010, they killed a Sudanese police officer and wounded another while escaping from a maximum security prison through a tunnel. One of the escapees was captured; another was reportedly killed in Somalia in May 2011.

SOLAR PANELS AT WEST POINT

The installation of solar panels on top of the Lichtenberg Tennis Center has become a visible sign of progress in West Point’s Net Zero Energy goals. Photo by Nicole Ciaramella, West Point DPW

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ARMED WITH SCIENCE
Solar Panels Deliver New Energy To West Point's Net Zero Initiative
Written on January 7, 2013 at 7:50 am by jtozer


Since becoming a Net Zero Energy pilot installation last April, West Point has been making strides toward the ultimate goal of producing as much energy as it uses by 2020.

According to an environmental assessment for the U.S. Army Environmental Command and West Point Garrison, the installation currently generates less than .02 percent of the energy it consumes from renewable sources. Matt Talaber, Department of Public Works engineer and director, said the solar panels will be a step in the right direction.

"The solar panels are very visible and a very recognizable part of our renewable energy initiative that can immediately click with the general public," Talaber said.
"It’s a positive image that shows West Point is interested in renewable energy and is working on its Net Zero energy goals."
The work began Oct. 15 with minor roof repairs before the panels were attached to a metal rack system. When the wiring to the interior controls is completed, the photovoltaic technology will service approximately 50-60 percent of the building’s energy consumption annually.

The tennis center was an ideal location for the panels due to its southern exposure; lots of light and an uninterrupted rooftop, with no parking or other activity.

lots of light and an uninterrupted rooftop, with no parking or other activity.

"We have our projections about how well these panels will do, but now we have a real functional lab, if you will, in a single building where we can really track current usage against past usage," Talaber said.

Talaber admits the solar panels are high on the list of visible achievements for Net Zero, but they’re not the sole accomplishment to date. Talaber cited several multi-million dollar projects underway, all designed to improve energy savings so the installation will reach its goals.

"These (projects) are energy saving related projects happening in mechanical rooms and rooftops that aren’t as widely recognized as, say, solar panels or wind turbines," Talaber said.

Paul Simihtis, DPW’s Energy Branch chief, said as the Net Zero process continues at West Point, it’s important to acknowledge that a major component in the end state is general conservation–reducing the post’s energy consumption.
"That’s the kind of thing that isn’t visible and hard for most people to see because those are the things we do inside the buildings–the controls and HVAC upgrades," Simihtis said. "Creating renewable energy becomes the next piece in this."
Behavior change is hard, Talaber said, but the message needs to be constant and continual in this process.

"It’s about getting into the basics of cutting back … shutting the window or turning the air condition down or the lights off," Talaber said. "If many people do a lot of small things, we will realize great gains, and that’s the area we need to attack first."

That’s where garrison tenants meet with academic departments to combine expertise, explore research opportunities and provide meaningful capstone projects for cadets to become involved. Talaber also credited the West Point Energy Council for its role in integrating subject matter experts to solve the installation’s energy problems.

Even before West Point was named a Net Zero installation, Talaber said it’s been a longstanding goal for all new construction to go beyond minimal energy efficiency standards.

As the Science Center and Bartlett Hall continue to take shape, signs have been posted around this construction indicating compliance to this mission. Any new building construction, Simihtis said, is targeted with an aggressive BTU-per square foot number to ensure optimal energy efficiency. He cited the Science Center and barracks projects as measuring up to these high standards.

"We’re on track to have one of the most efficient new barracks designs in the Army right now," Simihtis said.

"When we renovate now we are much more sensitive to energy standards and new energy codes," Talaber said. "But because we are Net Zero we’ve tried to go above and beyond the simple things like glazing of windows and building insulation. Part of our Energy Savings Performance contract, the first one we had, the company is conducting work on behavioral change and getting the message out about conservation."

There’s a host of other energy savings initiatives being explored at DPW, from micro-hydro power and waste-to-energy projects to geothermal systems on the waterfront.

"There’s a wide array of possibilities and corresponding research being done," Talaber said. "Our effort is being complemented by three different research labs across the country with foremost experts in energy conservation and renewable energy."

The deadline to become energy efficient is several years away, but there’s still much to do to achieve its goals.

"We have quickly moved into project execution and are well on our way," Talaber said. "Net Zero really helped focus us across the academy with this common goal."

By Mike Strasser, U.S. Military Academy Public Affairs


　

U.S. State Department Daily Press Briefing - January 8, 2013: Transcript

Daily Press Briefing - January 8, 2013

VIDEO: BUBBLES IN THE HELIOSHEATH

FROM: NASA

Sea of Bubbles at Edge of Solar System
This animation summarizes the new heliospheric scenario and the formation of the "sea" of bubbles in the heliosheath. The Sun’s magnetic field points toward the Sun in the Northern hemisphere and away from the Sun in the Southern (shown in red and blue). These oppositely pointing magnetic fields are separated by a layer of current called the heliospheric current sheet. Due to the tilt of the magnetic axis in relation to the axis of rotation of the Sun, the heliospheric current sheet flaps like a flag in the wind. The flapping current sheet separates regions of oppositely pointing magnetic field, called sectors. As the solar wind speed decreases past the termination shock, the sectors squeeze together, bringing regions of opposite magnetic field closer to each other. When the separation of sectors becomes very small, the sectored magnetic field breaks up into a sea of nested "magnetic bubbles" in a phenomenon called magnetic reconnection.

Press Briefing For January 8, 2013 | The White House

Press Briefing | The White House

DVIDS - Video - DoD Briefing For January 8, 2013

DVIDS - Video - DoD Briefing

DOD News Briefing with George Little from the Pentagon

DOD News Briefing with George Little from the Pentagon

FEMA HURRICANE SANDY CLEANUP PHOTOS

FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Breezy Point, N.Y., Jan. 3, 2013 -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins residential demolition and debris removal of houses fully destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in Breezy Point, NY. FEMA is providing public assistance funds to aid partners in the cleanup of Breezy Point and the Rockaways in Queens, NY. Andre R. Aragon-FEMA

DOD COMPTROLER SAYS NEED MORE STABILITY IN BUDGET SIZE, PROCESS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
DOD Comptroller: Budget Stability Key to National Security
By Cheryl Pellerin
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 - Stability in the size of the Defense Department's budget -- and especially in the process of funding it -- is critical to maintaining national security, DOD Comptroller Robert F. Hale said here yesterday.

During a keynote address at the Brookings Institution here, Hale discussed three steps that must be taken to accommodate lean budget times.

Two of the steps already are in place, he said: determining a defense strategy to guide spending and instituting initiatives that stretch defense dollars.

"And third, we need -- I would say desperately need -- more stability, both in terms of budget size and, maybe particularly, budget process," Hale added.

In more than three decades of working in and around the defense budget, he said, he has never seen a period featuring greater budgetary uncertainty than the next few months present.

Meanwhile, Hale said, he hopes to submit the fifth defense budget he's overseen as comptroller.

"The first two [budgets] featured increases in the top line," he said. "The third one, in February 2011, featured substantial top-line reduction, and the last one featured a significant reduction: about $260 billion over a five-year period relative to our planned $487 billion [reduction] over 10 years. And we may not be done."

The 2012 American Taxpayer Relief Act, which Congress passed Jan. 1, may force further reductions, Hale said. Although the law avoided activating a "sequestration" mechanism in a budget law passed last year, the threat of that mechanism's automatic across-the-board cuts now looms beginning March 1, he added.

"We're still working on the details, but the total sequestration for DOD appears to be roughly $45 billion if it all goes into effect -- about 9 percent of our budget," Hale explained.

"That is less than the sequestration [amount of about $62 billion] we faced before passage of the New Year's Day act. That could have been as much as 12 percent. But we also have two fewer months in which to accommodate those changes," he said.

At a time when U.S. national security challenges have never been more complex, Hale said, the lack of budgetary stability and the reliance on continuing resolutions, which fund only a portion of the fiscal year budget at a time, makes it very hard to plan and extremely hard to plan well.

"We also cannot rule out an extension of the continuing resolution throughout the rest of this year, and that would sharply reduce the operation and maintenance funds that we have available and that we need to maintain readiness," one of the department's highest priorities, the comptroller said.

And while U.S. troops are in Afghanistan, protecting funds for wartime operations means even larger cuts in base budget dollars available for readiness, he noted.

"I think the nation's security would be better served if Congress adopted and then stayed with a more stable budget plan," Hale said.

The department hasn't enjoyed much budget-process stability during his tenure as comptroller, Hale added.

"I have personally coordinated four shutdown drills," he said. "During two of them, I was sitting in my office at 8 at night, not knowing whether at midnight we would shut down the department or not. Fortunately, we didn't in either case."

Continuing resolutions -- the nation is operating under one right now, he pointed out -- "really hogtie the department and its ability to manage," Hale added.

A questioner asked Hale how industry can help the department navigate in a leaner budget environment. "We need you to sharpen your pencils as much as we are trying to do with regard to your overhead and anything else that would help us hold down costs," he replied.

The department's Better Buying Power initiative, established in 2010, was directed at improving efficiency and productivity for the $400 billion DOD spends annually on goods and services. Part of the initiative seeks to work "more closely with industry to see what you can do there. In return, we owe you some stability, and ... we're not there yet," Hale said.

"My hope is that in the next two months, all of us in the leadership of the nation and the Congress can work together to provide that stability," he added. "Our national security demands no less."

NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN FOR JANUARY 8, 2013

Photo:  Destroying Captured Weapons.  Credit:  U.S. DOD

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

U.S., Afghan Forces Arrest Taliban Facilitator
From an International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Release

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2013 - A combined Afghan and coalition security force arrested a Taliban facilitator today in the Pul-e Khumri district of Afghanistan's Baghlan province, military officials reported.

The facilitator belonged to a group of insurgents who carry out bomb attacks in the province. He was personally responsible for assisting in the transfer of improvised explosive devices and conducting IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In other Afghanistan operations today:

-- A combined force killed two insurgents, including the Taliban leader Khanjar, in Nangarhar province's Khugyani district. Khanjar, also known as Izat and Abu Khaled, directed attacks against Afghan government officials and Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also arrested a local Taliban leader who oversaw the transfer and delivery of weapons and ammunition.

-- An Afghan-led security force, supported by coalition troops, arrested two insurgents during a search for a Haqqani network leader in Khost province's Sabari district. The Haqqani leader directs and conducts attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In an operation yesterday, a combined force killed Taliban leader Mohammad Sayed and another insurgent in Helmand province's Washer district. Sayed distributed weapons and ammunition to Taliban fighters and was trying to acquire rockets for attacks targeting Afghan government officials.

Una cuna de estrellas

Una cuna de estrellas

The drug-free kids tool

The drug-free kids tool

WOMAN INDICTED FOR IDENTITY THEFT TO OBTAIN TAX REFUNDS

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Monday, January 7, 2013
Georgia Woman Indicted for Stealing Identities to Obtain Tax Refunds

A federal grand jury in Montgomery, Ala., returned a superseding indictment charging Deatrice Smith Williams and Quentin Collick for their roles in a stolen identity refund fraud conspiracy, Assistant Attorney General Kathryn Keneally of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama George L. Beck Jr. and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today. The 13 count indictment charges Williams and Collick with conspiracy to file false claims, theft of public funds, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

On Aug. 9, 2012, Quentin Collick was indicted for his role in the conspiracy. In November 2012, pursuant to a criminal complaint, Williams was arrested for her role in the conspiracy. The superseding indictment was unsealed today.

According to court documents, Williams worked for a debt collection company in Georgia. As part of her employment, Williams had access to names and social security numbers. She provided several names and Social Security numbers to her son-in-law, Quentin Collick. Collick, and his co-conspirators used those names to file false tax returns from the Middle District of Alabama. Collick and his co-conspirators, in turn, cashed several fraudulent federal refund checks.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Collick and Williams each face maximum potential sentences of 10 years in prison for the conspiracy count, up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count, and a mandatory 2-year sentence for the aggravated identity theft counts. Collick also faces up to 10 years in prison for each theft of public funds count. They are also subject to fines and mandatory restitution if convicted.

The case was investigated by Special Agents of the IRS - Criminal Investigation. Tax Division Trial attorneys Jason H. Poole and Michael Boteler and Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Brown are prosecuting the case.

U.S.-CHILE JOINT COMMISSION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL COOPERATION

Map:  Chile.  Credit:  CIA World Factbook

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT

Sixth Meeting of the U.S.-Chile Environmental Affairs Council and Fourth Meeting of the U.S.-Chile Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation

Media Note
Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
January 7, 2013

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Dr. Kerri-Ann Jones will lead the United States delegation and co-chair the sixth meeting of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Environmental Affairs Council and fourth meeting of the U.S.-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation in Santiago, Chile on January 9. Acting Assistant Trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources Jennifer Prescott will co-lead the U.S. delegation at the Council meeting.

Ana Novik, Director of Multilateral Economic Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Relations’ Directorate for International Economic Relations will co-chair the Council for Chile. The Commission will also be co-chaired by Ambassador José Luis Balmaceda, Director of Environment and Natural Resources in Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Relations.

These meetings reaffirm the strong commitment of the United States and Chile to work together to preserve and protect the environment by implementing the FTA’s Environment Chapter and the U.S. Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement. As part of these meetings, Commission and Council members will also host a public session with representatives from civil society to discuss Environment Chapter obligations and the results of environmental cooperation activities in Chile.

Since the United States and Chile signed the Environmental Cooperation Agreement in 2003, the United States has dedicated more than $4 million to support trade-related projects in Chile under this agreement. Joint efforts have brought more than six million hectares of land under improved natural resource management; reached approximately 30,000 people though informational guides to promote public participation; and, trained over 300 officials in natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental enforcement.

The success of this bilateral cooperation demonstrates how increased trade and stronger environmental protection can complement each other and how the two nations are leveling the playing field by helping ensure that businesses in Chile are playing by similar environmental rules as businesses in the United States.