The EPA is finalizing amendments to hazardous waste manifest regulations and to hazardous waste electronic manifest (e-Manifest) regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), it said in a notice in the Federal Register. The agency says these actions should increase the utility of the e-Manifest system, reduce administrative burden and improve tracking of hazardous waste shipments.
Australia this week announced Magnitsky-style human rights sanctions against seven Israelis and one entity for violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. The designations target Yinon Levi, Zvi Bar Yosef, Neria Ben Pazi, Elisha Yered, David Chai Chasdai, Einan Tanjil, Meir Ettinger and Hilltop Youth, according to Australia's updated sanctions list. Australia said Hilltop Youth is “responsible for inciting and perpetrating violence against Palestinian communities.”
The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned the Lopez Human Smuggling Organization, a Guatemala-based transnational criminal organization. OFAC said the group helps move migrants through Mexico and into the U.S., and has relied on several U.S. banks and money service businesses to “receive payment from the family members of those being smuggled and to pay other members of the organization.” Along with the sanctions, DOJ charged 19 members of the group for their involvement in human smuggling.
The U.S. sanctioned the Congo River Alliance, also known by its French name Alliance Fleuve Congo, a coalition of rebel groups that the Office of Foreign Assets Control said is looking to overthrow the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The agency also sanctioned Corneille Yobeluo Nangaa, who founded the alliance, along with Bertrand Bisimwa, the president of the March 23 Movement (M23), a Rwanda-backed rebel group and member of the alliance. Also sanctioned was Twirwaneho, another member group of the alliance and its commander Charles Sematama.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., questioned a senior Bureau of Industry and Security official this week about whether the agency would consider using its foreign direct product rule to impose more license restrictions on foreign exports of advanced chipmaking equipment to China.
The Biden administration is making progress in its effort to persuade American allies to adopt outbound investment restrictions similar to the ones the U.S. is pursuing, a Treasury Department official said July 25.
New rules from the Commerce and State departments could lead to a range of new restrictions on U.S. support for certain foreign military intelligence and security services, increasing export licensing requirements for activities that could give U.S. adversaries a “critical military or intelligence advantage.”
An Iranian national was extradited to the U.S. from the U.K. on charges related to his alleged role in a scheme to evade U.S. export controls by shipping electronic testing technology to Iran, DOJ announced. Saeid Haji Agha Mousaei made his initial appearance in an Illinois U.S. District Court on July 22, where he faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., smuggling goods from the U.S., wire fraud and violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., urged the Biden administration July 23 to expand the scope of sanctions on entities and people who undermine peace and stability in the West Bank.
The Biden administration is considering imposing additional economic sanctions on Georgia in response to the country’s recent anti-democratic actions, a State Department official told a congressional panel July 23.