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SACRAMENTO – Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Thursday announced the approval of the state’s new flammability standards for upholstered furniture, the culmination of the administration’s year-long effort to modernize the standards and reduce Californians’ exposure to harmful flame retardant chemicals.
“Today, California is curbing toxic chemicals found in everything from high chairs to sofas,” said Gov. Brown. “These new standards will keep the furniture in our homes fire-safe and limit unnecessary exposure to toxic flame retardants.”
Last year, Gov. Brown directed state agencies to revise California’s nearly 40-year-old flammability standards for upholstered furniture sold in the state to reflect modern manufacturing methods that can reduce the use of harmful chemicals.
Numerous studies have found links between exposure to chemicals used as flame retardants in upholstered furniture and cancer and fertility issues. These chemicals also disproportionately impact children. One study found toddlers can have up to three times the level of flame retardants in their bodies as their parents.
The new standards will protect Californians from the most common ignition sources of fires, namely smoldering sources such as cigarettes, space heaters and extension cords.
It also more effectively addresses upholstery cover fabric, requires the use of barrier materials with smolder-prone materials and tests the interactions of all the materials that go into a piece of upholstered furniture.
The previous standards included an open-flame test for filling materials, such as foam, which were treated with flame retardants.
The new standards eliminate an open flame test for filling materials. A number of manufacturers have already stated that under the new standards, they will no longer have to use flame retardants, and will either meet the requirements through the use of more smolder-resistant cover fabrics or smolder-resistant barriers beneath the cover fabrics.
“The previous standards focused predominantly on filling materials, where fires don’t actually start,” said Tonya Blood, chief of the Bureau of Electronic and Appliance Repair, Home Furnishings and Thermal Insulation, which led the effort to develop the new standards. “The new standards were developed to address where the fire begins, which is the cover fabric, and to focus on the interactions of the cover fabric and filling materials.”
Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, manufacturers may begin manufacturing to the new standards. They will have a year to complete the transition and must come into full mandatory compliance on Jan. 1, 2015.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Wednesday, Nov. 13, the Clearlake Police Department and the California Alcohol Beverage Control conducted a training class for businesses in the county that are licensed to sell alcohol.
Several businesses and their employees attended the training, Licensee Education on Alcohol and Drugs or LEADS.
The training class was free and voluntary to the businesses owners and its employees. It focused on obligations on serving alcoholic beverages safely, responsibly, legally and preventing illicit drug activity at the licensed establishments.
The class also covered criminal laws, ABC administrative laws, as well as prevention and education to all licensed business that sells alcohol.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked the California Beverage Control and Agent Kathy Chavez for providing the training class.
Any businesses wanting information on the, LEADS training class can contact the local Alcohol Beverage Control Office in Santa Rosa, 707-576-2165.
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The Central California Dungeness crab season will open on Friday, Nov. 15 south of the Mendocino County line.
The season opener will be preceded by an 18-hour gear setting period when crab trap gear can be set no earlier than 6 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14.
Quality tests conducted in the Central California region in early November indicate that California Dungeness crabs are ready for harvest.
The 2013-14 commercial Dungeness crab season also marks the first season that the Dungeness crab trap limit program will be in effect.
The program consists of seven tiers of trap allotments ranging from 175 to 500 traps. Dungeness crab vessel permit-holders can only fish the maximum number of traps within their respective trap tier. Washington and Oregon implemented their trap limit programs in 1999 and 2006, respectively. California now joins those ranks.
More information on the Dungeness crab trap limit program, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/invertebrate/traplimit.asp .
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Lower prices at the pump continue to be enjoyed by California motorists as prices continue to drop another $0.06 cents in one week.
The state average price is at $3.61 per gallon of unleaded regular gasoline, according to the AAA Northern California monthly gas survey.
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.59, that’s $0.02 cent cheaper than the state average, and a decrease of $0.24 since last month’s AAA report on Oct. 8, 2013.
For perspective, gas prices today are $ 0.25 less expensive than California’s average price on this date last year. California is recording the highest contiguous state average price for regular unleaded gasoline.
“Thanks to a light hurricane season, the completion of winter blend conversion and less demand by consumers, gas prices continue on a downward trend,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Barring any unforeseen event, AAA expects the state average at the pump to continue to fall as we approach the end of the year.”
Today’s national average price is $3.18 per gallon. Today’s average is $.01 lower than yesterday, $.06 lower than a week ago, $.17 lower than last month’s AAA report and $.26 lower than a year ago. The downward trend is enjoyed nationwide as every state reports lower prices than a week ago, a month ago and a year ago.
Hawaii is the only state to have an average price over the $4.00 mark. The highest price in the contiguous states is recorded in California at $3.61.
Average prices have fallen below the psychologically significant $3.00 threshold in six states: Arkansas, $2.93; Kansas, $2.95; Louisiana, $2.99; Missouri, $2.81; Oklahoma, $2.93; and Texas, $2.94. Twelve states are within a dime of the $3.00 mark.
After 15 straight weeks above $100 per barrel, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil has now settled below this mark for three straight weeks, including a five-month low of $93.37 per barrel last Tuesday.
WTI prices returned slightly higher over the second half of last week, and were up another 54 cents today to settle at $94.62 per barrel at the close of formal trading on the NYMEX.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville where regular unleaded gasoline is $3.42 per gallon. Of all the metro areas in Northern California, where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka has the highest average price at $3.87.
The highest average price of gas tracked by AAA in the nation is in Hawaii. The price there is $4.05 per gallon. The lowest price, at $2.81 per gallon, can be found in Missouri.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair. The way you drive can also impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also helps conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.
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