Technology Briefs - July 15 - July 21
The Latest Headlines:
- House Cuts Funds for Bush’s Hydrogen Vehicle Plan
- EPA Must Reconsider Calif. Gasoline Waiver Request
- University of Idaho to Conduct Truck Studies
- Stonepath Completes Purchase of Customs Services
- Menlo Unveils New Supply-Chain Management Software
- Modine's Fiscal 1Q Earnings Improve
- House Committee Passes Stronger Internet Tax Ban
- West Virginia Lawmakers Push for Better Cell Coverage
- EPA Must Reconsider Calif. Gasoline Waiver Request
House Cuts Funds for Bush’s Hydrogen Vehicle Plan
House Republican leaders trimmed funds for President George W. Bush's plan to develop hydrogen-powered vehicles that reduce pollution and dependence on foreign oil, saying they are trying to slow federal spending, Bloomberg reported Friday.The House set aside $219 million, about $38 million less than Bush wants, for research on vehicles and fuel cells that generate electricity.
Bush previously pledged in January to spend $1.7 billion over the next five years on the hydrogen initiative. Through government partnerships with companies, Bush said the program would make hydrogen-powered vehicles affordable and widely used by 2020. Transport Topics
EPA Must Reconsider Calif. Gasoline Waiver Request
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ruled late Thursday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must reconsider California's request for a waiver from federal fuel additive requirements, news services reported.In 2001, the EPA refused to grant California's request for a waiver from the Clean Air Act so it could sell cleaner-burning gasoline without the additive ethanol, Dow Jones reported. Gov. Gray Davis sought the waiver on the grounds that California refineries already were reformulating gasoline that was cleaner than anywhere else.
The 1990 Federal Clean Air Act requires the nation's smoggiest areas to use a cleaner-burning blend of gasoline that includes an oxygenate, typically ethanol or MTBE - methyl tertiary butyl ether.
"The EPA abused its discretion in refusing to consider and weigh the effect of the proposed waiver on particulate matter pollution along with its effect on ozone levels," the decision said.
California was the first state to start banning MTBE, one of the key ingredients used to add oxygen to gasoline. A dozen other states, including New York, Connecticut and Maine have since decided to phase out MTBE, which has been blamed for polluting ground water, Reuters said. Transport Topics
University of Idaho to Conduct Truck Studies
American Trucking Associations said Wednesday it had contracted with the University of Idaho's National Institute for Advanced Transportation Technology to perform several truck-related studies.The main study involves the analysis of winter road management practices and their impact on trucking operations and equipment. It will evaluate the benefits, costs and detrimental effects of anti-icing methods and evaluate the corrosiveness and effectiveness of various chemical applications, ATA said in a release.
The university will also research load securement procedures and study the safety performance of longer-combination vehicles in the western states.
The Idaho Trucking Association will also begin working with area law enforcement and transportation officials to develop uniform accident reporting practices in states where longer-combination vehicles operate, ATA said. Transport Topics
Stonepath Completes Purchase of Customs Services
Logistics provider Stonepath Group said Thursday it had completed the purchase of Customs Services International Inc., a Miami-based international freight forwarder and Customs broker.Stonepath previously said it would pay $1.4 million in a combination of cash and common stock. In addition, CSI would be entitled to as much as $3.8 million, contingent upon the future financial performance of the company.
Stonepath said the deal would enhance its presence in Miami and provide Stonepath Logistics with more business throughout Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Transport Topics
Menlo Unveils New Supply-Chain Management Software
Menlo Worldwide Technologies on Thursday unveiled "Menlo VIEW," its new supply-chain management software.The company said in a release that it provides end-to-end supply-chain visibility and provides alerts so action may be taken before on-time delivery is jeopardized.
Menlo Worldwide Technologies is part of the Menlo Worldwide group that is owned by CNF Inc. CNF is ranked No. 4 on the 2003 Transport Topics 100 list of the largest U.S. and Canadian for-hire trucking companies. Transport Topics
Modine's Fiscal 1Q Earnings Improve
Modine Manufacturing Co., which specializes in thermal management and whose products are used in trucks, said Wednesday that its net income for the 2004 fiscal first quarter ended June 26 was $11.3 million or 33 per share, compared with $10.4 million, or 31 cents a year ago.The Racine, Wis.-based company said overall sales for the first quarter increased 6% to $288.9 million.
Although sales for its original equipment segment decreased approximately 2% to $115.7 million, they were positively impacted by new business in the North American medium-duty and heavy-duty truck markets. Transport Topics
( for the full press release.)
House Committee Passes Stronger Internet Tax Ban
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday voted to make permanent a ban on Internet access and traffic taxes currently due to expire in November, Reuters reported.It also removed a grandfather clause that allows a handful of states to levy taxes that were in place before the ban was first passed in 1998 and clarified that the ban applies to all methods of Internet access, including pricier high-speed links taxed by some states.
If more people used the Internet to make purchases, it could benefit package delivery companies because products bought online are shipped straight to customers from warehouses.
The ban does not apply to online sales taxes, which are already prohibited under a Supreme Court decision unless the retailer has a substantial in-state presence.
Nine states took in between $3.6 million and $45 million from access taxes last year, Reuters said. Transport Topics
West Virginia Lawmakers Push for Better Cell Coverage
Lawmakers in West Virginia called for improved cell phone service across the state and especially along the West Virginia Turnpike, the Associated Press reported Tuesday.Cell phone service is basically nonexistent between Charleston and the Mossy exit of the turnpike, a stretch of about 40 miles.
State officials are concerned that a terrorist attack or other serious emergency could go underreported because cell phone callers could not receive a signal, AP said.
Last winter, a bill to improve cell phone coverage on the turnpike was introduced, but the state Parkways Authority balked, fearing the high costs of building transmission towers, AP said. Transport Topics
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