Schweitzer Engineering, Canyon Creek Cabinet Co., Toray Composites Receive AWB’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards
Schweitzer Engineering Labs, Canyon Creek Cabinet Co., and Toray Composites have been honored with AWB’s Manufacturer of the Year Awards.  The awards will be presented at Auburn’s Emerald Downs on June 6. Contact AWB’s Mike Hudson at (360) 943-1600 or MikeH@awb.org.

 

Electronic Waste Rulemaking Begins Tomorrow
The Dept. of Ecology’s rulemaking to implement electronic waste legislation passed last session (SB 6428) will begin tomorrow. AWB members representing television and computer manufacturers, retailers, and waste haulers will participate in the two-phase stakeholder process to develop rules defining how manufacturers must register, pay fees and label products for sale in the state and how electronic products will be collected, transported and recycled. Public comment on the proposed rule is scheduled to begin July 19 with adoption of the final rules in September. Contact AWB’s Grant Nelson at (360) 943-1600 or GrantN@awb.org.
 

Land Use Committee Meeting on June 8 – Real Estate Licensing and 2007 Legislative Session on Agenda
The AWB Land Use Committee will meet June 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m. in AWB’s Large Conference Room. The meeting will include a discussion of the Washington State Real Estate Commission Task Force’s legislative proposal to update Washington’s real estate licensing law (www.cb.wsu.edu/~wcrer/1885taskforce) and a report on the status of the Puget Sound Partnership (www.pugetsoundpartnership.org). We will also review and edit AWB’s Land

Use/GMA Policy Legislative Objective for the 2007 legislative session. Contact AWB’s Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or ChrisM@awb.org.

 

State Supreme Court Issues Ruling on What Constitutes a “Repeat Violation” in Important WISHA Case
Washington’s Supreme Court has handed down its decision in Cobra Roofing v. L&I, an important WISHA regulatory case. In a 5-4 decision authored by Justice Charles Johnson, the Court contended that the state need only show that a same type of hazard is involved to constitute a “repeat violation,” and that EAJA attorney’s fees do not apply to administrative proceedings before the BIIA nor to judicial review of WISHA citations. Contact AWB’s Kris Tefft at (360) 943-1600 or KrisT@awb.org.
 

Office Regulatory Assistance’s Faith Lumsden at AWB Regulatory Reform Meeting – June 12
AWB’s Regulatory Reform Committee will meet June 12, 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at AWB’s Large Conference Room. Faith Lumsden, director of the governor’s Office of Regulatory Assistance, will discuss the status of several programs including Government Management Accountability and Performance (GMAP) goals; the Business Portal Initiative (BPI); and a new approach to environmental permitting. Contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or at ChrisM@awb.org.
 

National Association of Manufacturers Commends AWB for its Work on Pandemic Flu
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has singled out three associations for their work and Web sites on the Pandemic Flu Resources.  They are the Association of Washington Business (AWB), Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) and Associated Florida Industries (AFI). Please use our Web site: www.awb.org/biz/pandemicflu.asp to learn more about pandemic flu.
 

Energy Site Evaluation to be Discussed at Energy Committee Meeting – June 13
AWB’s Energy Committee is meeting June 13, 9 a.m.-11:00 a.m. in AWB’s Large Conference Room. Jim Luce, chair of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC), will talk to the committee. We will also review our legislative objectives – Electric Energy Policy and Oil and Gas Policy – for the 2007 legislative session. Contact Chris McCabe at (360) 943-1600 or at ChrisM@awb.org.
 

OSHA 10-Hour Certification Course – Mark Your Calendars for June 22
Learn all you need to know about OSHA at the OSHA 10-hour certification course, June 22, Downtown Red Lion Hotel, Seattle, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. Standard fee is $149, but AWB CompWise members get a discounted fee of $119.Register online at www.awb.org/events/seminars/osha10hrcert.asp. Contact AWB’s Alisha Boggs at (360) 943-1600 or AlishaB@awb.org.
 

Famed Mountain Climber Jim Whitaker to be Keynote Speaker at Northwest Environmental Summit
AWB’s annual Northwest Environmental Summit and Trade Show is scheduled for Oct. 18-19 at the Tacoma Convention Center. To register and learn more, visit www.envsummit.com. Interested in sponsoring or becoming a tradeshow exhibitor? Contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org. Secure your sponsorship by June 13 to be listed in the promotional brochure!
 

AWB Policy Summit to Be Held Sept. 20-22 – Register Early
AWB’s Policy Summit will be held at Blaine’s Semiahmoo Resort, Sept. 20-22. To register or sponsor, visit www.policysummit.com. Contact AWB’s Jennifer Davis at (360) 943-1600 or JenniferD@awb.org.

 

Washington Policy Center Health Care Conference – June 6
Co-sponsored by AWB, the Health Care Conference will feature Nina Owcharenko, senior health care analyst at the Heritage Foundation. The conference will be held June 6, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Doubletree Hotel, SeaTac. For more info, visit www.washingtonpolicy.org or call (206) 937-9691.

 

AWB’s Gary Chandler on Next Washington Business Weekly
AWB’s Gary Chandler will discuss the role of AWB’s Governmental Affairs staff on the next Washington Business Weekly, Thursday on Tacoma’s KLAY-AM 1180, 11 a.m.-12 noon; and Spokane’s KSBN-AM 1230, 5 p.m.-6 p.m.; and at www.awb.org.