No images? Click here EPA Issues Rule to Phase Down HFCs On September 23, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Final Rule entitled: “Phasedown of Hydrofluorocarbons: Establishing the Allowance Allocation and Trading Program under the AIM Act”. The American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act, passed at the end of 2020, gives EPA the authority to phase down production and consumption of HFCs in the United States by 85 percent over the next 15 years. This final rule is the first regulation under the AIM Act to address HFCs and sets the HFC production and consumption baseline levels from which reductions will be made. The rule also establishes an initial methodology for allocating and trading HFC allowances for 2022 and 2023 and creates a compliance and enforcement system. More information on the rule can be found at the following links: ICYMI: GCCA Launches 2 NEW Grassroots Campaigns in September September has been a busy month for GCCA’s grassroots efforts as we have launched 2 new campaigns focusing on the Pro Act and potential tax increases on your business. If you haven’t taken action on these campaigns yet, we encourage you to do so by clicking below! PRO Act Campaign - TAKE ACTION Small Business Tax Fairness Act Campaign - TAKE ACTION To read more about these initiatives CLICK HERE. GCCA Hosts Special COVID-19 Webinar to Discuss Biden’s “Path Out of the Pandemic”On Thursday, September 23, GCCA hosted a special COVID-19 Webinar to discuss President Biden’s “Path Out of the Pandemic”. President Biden recently announced a six-pronged, comprehensive national strategy to put the Nation on a path out of the pandemic. The six-pronged strategy focuses on Vaccinating the Unvaccinated, Further Protecting the Vaccinated, Keeping Schools Safely Open, Increasing Testing and Requiring Masking, Protecting Our Economic Recovery, and Improving Care for those with COVID-19. Within that plan are provisions that will dramatically impact your business, such as, requiring all employers with 100+ employees to ensure their workers are vaccinated or tested weekly. Watch a recap of the webinar HERE to hear the latest developments from the GCCA staff. FBI issues Private Industry Notification on Cyber Criminals Actors Targeting the Food and Agriculture Sector with Ransomware AttacksOn September 1, the FBI issued a Private Industry Notification regarding cyber criminals actors targeting the food and agriculture sector with ransomware attacks. The alert describes how ransomware attacks targeting the Food and Agriculture sector can disrupt operations, cause financial loss, and negatively impact the food supply chain. Ransomware may impact businesses across the sector, from small farms to large producers, processors and manufacturers, and markets and restaurants. Cyber criminal threat actors exploit network vulnerabilities to exfiltrate data and encrypt systems in a sector that is increasingly reliant on smart technologies, industrial control systems, and internet-based automation systems. Cyber security will be a featured topic at the upcoming IARW/WFLO Convention to help members better understand the risks and how they can strengthen their operations to defend against cyber attacks. Read the full notification HERE. GCCA Launches Refrigerants SurveyIn order for us to better understand the impacts of refrigerant policies on our industry, it is important for us to know the breakdown of what types of refrigerants your facilities are utilizing. GCCA encourages you to participate in this brief anonymous survey, which will provide GCCA staff with essential information to better advocate on your behalf. Click HERE to fill out the survey. Guidance Released on Vaccine Mandates for Federal Contractors On September 24th, the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force released additional guidance on the vaccine requirements for federal contractors and subcontractors. President Biden has mandated that all federal employees and federal contractors be vaccinated. There is no COVID testing option, unlike the mandate on companies with more than 100 employees. The guidance includes definitions for federal contractors and covered contracts and specifies that subcontractors are subject to the requirements. Federal contractors and subcontractors with a covered contract will be required to conform to the following workplace safety protocols: 1. COVID-19 vaccination of covered contractor employees, except in limited circumstances where an employee is legally entitled to an accommodation; 2. Compliance by individuals, including covered contractor employees and visitors, with the Guidance related to masking and physical distancing while in covered contractor workplaces; and 3. Designation by covered contractors of a person or persons to coordinate COVID-19 workplace safety efforts at covered contractor workplaces. In addition, covered contractors must ensure that all individuals, including covered contractor employees and visitors, comply with published CDC guidance for masking and physical distancing at a covered contractor workplace. The new requirements will apply to all new contracts beginning on October 15th and covered contractor employees must be fully vaccinated no later than December 8, 2021. GCCA members who do business with the U.S. federal government are encouraged to read the guidance to determine if they may be considered a covered contractor or subcontractor. Read the guidance HERE. If you have not yet participated in our grassroots campaigns, but would like to take action to oppose the PRO Act or oppose the harmful tax hikes in the American Job’s Plan, click the Take Action tab above now. |