BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC Environment, Health and Safety committee representatives urged the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss regulatory relief for printed board manufacturing.

Uncertainty around the implementation of the 2008 Definition of Solid Waste rule, combined with the limitations of the EPA’s 2011 proposed rule, has inhibited the recycling of wastewater treatment sludges from electroplating operations, says IPC.

IPC representatives urged Suzanne Rudzinski, director of EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, to encourage secondary materials recycling in the upcoming revision of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act DSW rule.

“In 2010, US industries landfilled 9.7 million pounds of copper in various byproduct streams,” said EHS Committee Chair Lee Wilmot.

The changes to the DSW rule proposed by the EPA in 2011 would continue to inhibit the recycling of valuable secondary material by imposing unnecessary burdens, according to IPC.

“The US EPA needs to adopt user friendly rules if this landfill-instead-of-recycle result is to change,” added Wilmot.

During the meeting, IPC emphasized the importance of provisions that should be included in a final DSW rule, namely the transfer-based exclusion and remanufacturing exclusion. 

TORONTO – The Canadian government is reportedly disregarding US warnings that counterfeit military parts from China have been exposed in American fighter jets, transport planes, missiles and other weapons.

A US Congressional investigation during a 14-month span has revealed 1,800 cases (so far) of counterfeit electronic components involving more than a million fake military parts, say published reports.

Canadian military is said to have purchased 17 Hercules transport planes that could be part of the problem.

The US Senate Armed Services Committee said the counterfeit parts are generally from old computers and other “electronic trash” in China, with high potential for failure and possibly “catastrophic” consequences.

Julian Fantino, Canada's associate defense minister told reporters, “At this point in time, other than continuing to be vigilant, we don't have any particular concerns in this country. I have been advised that the checks and balances we have in place in our country are sufficient.”

According to the Congressional investigation, Canada is the third largest trafficker of counterfeit military components from Asia, say reports.

WILMINGTON, MA – The Boston SMTA Chapter will sponsor an all-day reliability and failure analysis seminar at Textron Defense Systems June 26.

OYSTER BAY, NY -- Unit shipments of gaming devices are falling but the longterm outlook is flat, say the latest forecasts.