Steve Peacock's U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor

Disturbing Truth Behind Obama's Travel Madness (WND)

My latest from WND. -- S.P.

Supporters of Barack Obama tout his dedication to the responsibilities of the presidency by noting that he had taken 96 days of vacation at the point in his term that President George W. Bush had taken a reported 335.

But they admit that 51 of Bush’s trips were to his Texas ranch, while records show that Obama’s destinations have ranged from exotic European and African locales to pricey digs to Hawaii, where he’s sometimes traveled separately from his family, effectively doubling transportation costs for taxpayers.

The records released are partial, meaning no firm travel-expense total can be assembled. But individual cases are revealing.

Continued at WND.com...

ALSO SEE: CNN Rips Off U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor Story on Biden's Plush Parisian Jaunt

 more at http://www.wnd.com/2013/11/the-disturbing-truth-behind-obamas-travel-junkets/#SMBd76Lp60bvCSCW.99

NOAA Seeks Contractors to Study Russian Fishing Fleets in Bering Sea

The impact of Russian fishing fleets on the Steller Sea Lion currently is unknown—but the U.S. government is aiming to find out. Consequently, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) this week issued Request for Proposals (Solicitation #NMFS_RFQ_AKR110607G) seeking contractors capable of carrying out such a study in Russian waters of the Western Bering Sea. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service hopes to identify the mortality rate of the sea lions related to Russian fishery practices in that region.

According to background information in the RFP:

Steller sea lions are listed as threatened (eastern stock) and endangered (western stock) under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Steller sea lions range across the North Pacific Ocean rim from Japan, Russia, and in the USA from Alaska to central California. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), through its groundfish observer program, conducts research on the interaction between Steller sea lions, other marine mammals, and sea birds, and the U.S. groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska.

A base-year contract will be awarded from the date of the award to Sept. 30, 2012, with an Oct. 1, 2012–Sept. 15, 2013, option period.

NOAA did not provide an estimated cost of the project.  

Da Nang Agent-Orange/Dioxin Technical Documents Obtained

The following documents detailing the U.S. government’s Agent Orange/dioxin contamination-cleanup at Da Nang Airport in Vietnam have been obtained by U.S. Trade & Aid Monitor. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which is overseeing the project, had not publicly made available this information, which federal entities typically upload to government procurement databases. The agency claimed the documents were too large and subsequently limited distribution to potential vendors interested in submitting bids.

As the Monitor previously reported, USAID official are meeting in Vietnam this Wednesday (May 25) with companies interested in submitting bids on the environmental remediation program.

While the documents obtained are not necessarily new or revelatory, until now they have been kept out of the public domain, with distribution largley limited to vendors who submitted requests to USAID for CDs containing the data . The following is a summary of and link to each document, all of which are being stored—and will remain available—via the Monitor network.

Agreement for Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam

This document lays out the scope of the agreement between the two nations, in English and in Vietnamese, tackling topics ranging from diplomatic immunity and tax exemptions to project publicity and various responsibilities of parties involved.

Final Design Report

Contains specifications for what specifically needs to be done, where it needs to be accomplished in and around the airport, and also lists prior soil test results. This large document also contains site photos.

Dig-Haul Bid Form

A fill-in-the-blanks form for contractors wishing to put together bids to carry out the project. Lists categories of project requirements (i.e.: Site Preparation, Site Restoration, Contaminated Soils and Sediments, etc.)

Dig-Haul Bid Specifications

A detailed description of what needs to be removed, how it will be treated, stored, and returned, and task documentation requirements.

Dig-Haul Design Package & Drawing

Dioxin Data

Breakdown of the specific chemical composition of dioxin and other contaminants found in Da Nang.

Health and Safety Plan

Contains everything from the official philosophy behind safety precautions to the specifics of safety equipment usage and training.

Memorandum of Intent between USAID and the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam.

The formal agreement that the two parties signed in Hanoi on Dec. 30, 2010.

Final Site-Wide Sampling and Analysis Plan

Additional details on contaminated-soil sampling, packaging, and shipment criteria.