Tuesday federal headlines – August 5, 2014

The Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newsc...

The Morning Federal Newscast is a daily compilation of the stories you hear Federal Drive hosts Tom Temin and Emily Kopp discuss throughout the show each day. The Newscast is designed to give FederalNewsRadio.com users more information about the stories you hear on the air.

  • Two senators say they’ve resolved a snit over the Mine Safety and Health Administration, part of the Labor Department. Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) say the agency failed to conduct required inspections of a nuclear waste dump in their state. The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is a salt mine. It’s been leaking radiation and recently had a fire. Now the Labor Department has agreed to quarterly inspections. In explaining its absence, the mine safety agency cited confusion over an agreement with the Energy Department. (Senator Tom Udall, Associated Press)
  • The Army says it plans to lay off 500 majors this month. The involuntary separations are part of a downsizing the Army promised earlier this year. It’s culling from a pool of 19,000 captains and majors. Earlier this summer, the Army cut 1,000 captains. Officials use Officer Separation Boards and Enhanced Selective Service Retirement Boards to figure out who to lay off based on reduncancies in grade and rank. Separated soldiers will be eligible for training through partnerships with the private sector. A deal with General Motors and Raytheon teaches soldiers to become auto service technicians. Some will be encouraged to join the National Guard or Army Reserves. (GovExec)
  • Two engineers from NASA’s Langley Research Center have been honored by the people the agency sends up into space. Robert Parker and David Roberts were presented awards by Tracy Caldwell Dyson, a NASA astronaut. Parker and Roberts each received a Silver Snoopy lapel pin flown on board a space shuttle mission. The pin was accompanied by a letter of commendation. Parker was honored for work on development of Orion flight hardware in that spacecraft’s first mission. Roberts was honored for his technical expertise and leadership in unique research hardware. NASA says the Silver Snoopy is the astronauts’ personal award and is presented to fewer than one percent of NASA’s employees each year. Contractors are also eligible for Snoopys. (Associated Press)
  • Life is changing drastically for the Army Corps of Engineers. For the first time in its history, the Corps will have to disclose the amount of pollutants its dams are sending into waterways. That’s the result of a settlement in a lawsuit concerning the Columbia and Snake Rivers in the Pacific Northwest. Local environmental groups had sued over oil spills from equipment operating eight dams. The Corps agreed to notify the groups of any spills that occur. And it will apply to the EPA for pollution permits from now on. Plus, the Corps agreed to look for biodegradable lubricants for dam machinery. (Associated Press)
  • Federal agents are looking for signs of the Ebola at U.S. airports. Border patrol agents, particularly at Dulles and New York’s JFK Airport have been told to question travelers about possible exposure to the virus and to watch for symptoms such as a fever or red eyes. With African heads of state visiting Washington this week, the Secret Service has been trained to look for signs too. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says any passenger suspected of having Ebola would be quarantined immediately. The agency also says it has sent about two dozen public health staff to infected parts of West Africa. It is sending 50 more experts over the next month. The CDC has taken to social media to answer questions about Ebola. Director Tom Frieden says the best way to protect Americans is to stop the outbreak in Africa. (Associated Press)
  • The Health and Human Services Department is closing the shelters it set up at military bases for children caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. It could shutter a facility at Fort Sill, Oklahoma as early as Friday. It plans to close others at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas and Naval Base Ventura County in California within the next two months. About 7,700 had been staying at the three military bases since the shelters opened in late spring. But the government says fewer children are crossing the border now. HHS cautions, it could reopen the shelters if necessary. (Associated Press)
  • White House press secretaries past and present are paying homage to Jim Brady, who held that job for President Ronald Reagan and even took a bullet for him. He died yesterday at the age of 73. Current White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest and 11 predecessors released a joint statement. They say Brady defined the role of the modern White House Press Secretary, doing his job with integrity, having a true affection and respect for the press and relishing a good sparring with the front row. The White House briefing room bears Brady’s name. (Associated Press)

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