Monday, March 1, 2021
6A The Mining Journal
State / Nation
US still open
to Iran nuclear
talks after
Iran’s rejection
By MATTHEW LEE
AP Diplomatic Writer
WASHINGTON — The
Biden administration said
Sunday it remains open to
talks with Iran over the
2015 nuclear deal despite
Tehran’s rejection of an
EU invitation to join a
meeting with the U.S. and
the other original partici-
pants in the agreement.
A senior administration
official said the U.S. was
“disappointed” in the re-
jection but was flexible as
to the timing and format
of the talks and saw Iran’s
decision to snub the Euro-
pean invitation as part of
the diplomatic process.
The official said the U.S.
would be consulting with
the other participants —
Britain, China, France,
Germany, Russia and the
European Union — on
the way forward.
In this Wednesday photo, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo
speaks during a press conference before the opening of a
mass COVID-19 vaccination site in the Queens borough of
NewYork. A former aide’s allegations that Gov. Cuomo sub-
jected her to an unwanted kiss during years of sexual harass-
ment have spurred calls for an investigation — and questions
about who might meaningfully conduct one. (AP photo)
In this Feb. 11 photo President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with lawmakers on in-
vestments in infrastructure, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. From left,
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden, Sen.
Tom Carper, D-Del., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Looking beyond the $1.9 trillion
COVID relief bill, Biden and lawmakers are laying the groundwork for another of his top leg-
islative priorities — a long-sought boost to the nation’s roads, bridges and other infrastruc-
ture that could meet GOP resistance to a hefty price tag. (AP photo)
Crisis deepens for Cuomo;AG
wants to lead harassment probe
Biden team readies wider
economic package after virus relief
By Associated Press staff
ALBANY, N.Y. — The
crisis enveloping Gov. An-
drew Cuomo deepened Sun-
day as the state’s attorney
general demanded he grant
her the authority to investi-
gate claims he sexually ha-
rassed at least two women
who worked for him.
have deep respect for Chief
Judge DiFiore, I am the du-
ly elected attorney general
and it is my responsibility to
carry out this task, per Exec-
utive Law. The governor
must provide this referral so
an independent investiga-
tion with subpoena power
can be conducted.”
By KEVIN FREKING, HOPE YEN
and JOSH BOAK
Week will no longer be a kind of Groundhog’s
Day promise — but actually be something that
delivers generational investments,” he said.
Much of America’s infrastructure — roads,
bridges, public drinking and water systems,
dams, airports, mass transit systems and more
— is in need of major restoration after years of
underfunding, according to the American Soci-
ety of Civil Engineers. In its 2017 Infrastruc-
ture Report Card, it gave the national infrastruc-
ture an overall grade of D+.
Both chambers of Congress will use as start-
ing points their unsuccessful efforts to get in-
frastructure bills through the last session.
Democrats passed a $1.5 trillion package in
the House last year, but it went nowhere with
the Trump administration and the Republican-
led Senate. A Senate panel approved narrower
bipartisan legislation in 2019 focused on reau-
thorizing federal transportation programs. It,
too, flamed out as the U.S. turned its focus to
elections and COVID-19.
Biden has talked bigger numbers, and some
Democrats are now urging him to bypass Re-
publicans in the closely divided Congress to ad-
dress a broader range of priorities urged by in-
terest groups.
During the presidential campaign, Biden
pledged to deploy $2 trillion on infrastructure
and clean energy, but the White House has not
ruled out an even higher price tag.
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Looking beyond the
$1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, President Joe
Biden and lawmakers are laying the ground-
work for another top legislative priority — a
long-sought boost to the nation’s roads, bridges
and other infrastructure that could run into Re-
publican resistance to a hefty price tag.
Biden and his team have begun discussions on
the possible outlines of an infrastructure pack-
age with members of Congress, particularly
mindful that Texas’ recent struggles with pow-
er outages and water shortages after a brutal
winter storm present an opportunity for agree-
ment on sustained spending on infrastructure.
Republicans say if the White House approach
on the COVID relief bill — which passed the
House Saturday on a near party-line vote and
now heads to the Senate — is a sign of things
to come for Biden’s plan on infrastructure and
other initiatives, it could be a difficult road
ahead in Congress.
A White House proposal could come out in
March.
“Now is the time to be aggressive,” said
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, a for-
mer South Bend, Indiana, mayor who knows
potholes.
At a conference with state and local highway
officials Thursday, he referred to the often-
promised, never-achieved mega-initiative on
roads, bridges and the like from the Trump ad-
ministration.
“I know you are among those who are work-
ing and waiting most patiently, or maybe impa-
tiently, for the moment when Infrastructure
The official was not au-
thorized to discuss the
matter by name and spoke
on condition of anonymi-
ty.
Democrats statewide ap-
peared to be abandoning
Cuomo in large numbers as
Attorney General Letitia
James rejected two propos-
als by the governor for an
investigation of his conduct.
Under the governor’s first
plan, announced Saturday
evening, a retired federal
judge would have reviewed
his workplace behavior. In
the second proposal, an-
nounced Sunday morning in
an attempt to appease leg-
islative leaders, Cuomo said
he had asked James and the
state’s chief appeals court
judge, Janet DiFiore, to
jointly appoint a lawyer to
investigate the claims and
issue a public report.
But James said that plan
didn’t go far enough, either.
“I do not accept the gover-
nor’s proposal,” she said.
“The state’s Executive Law
clearly gives my office the
authority to investigate this
matter once the governor
provides a referral. While I
The governor’s office did-
n’t immediately comment.
The plan for James and
DiFiore, who was appointed
to her position by Cuomo, to
choose an investigator joint-
ly, also met a cascade of
criticism from fellow
Democrats who called for
him to relinquish all control
of the investigation to
James.
Under state law, the state
attorney general needs a re-
ferral from the governor in
order to investigate his con-
duct.
State Sen. Andrea Stew-
art-Cousins, the Senate ma-
jority leader and a Democrat
from suburban Westchester
County, said through her
spokesperson, “We support
the AG and her call for re-
ferral.”
A spokesperson for state
Assembly Speaker Carl
Heastie, a Bronx Democrat,
said Heastie “strongly
agrees with the Attorney
General.”
Earlier Sunday, Iran
turned down the offer for
talks saying the “time is-
n’t ripe” for the meeting,
at which the U.S. would
have participated as an
observer. Iran had been
insisting that the U.S. lift
or ease sanctions imposed
on it by the Trump admin-
istration under its “maxi-
mum pressure campaign”
before sitting down with
the United States.
President Joe Biden has
said repeatedly that the
U.S. would return to the
deal that his predecessor,
Donald Trump, withdrew
from in 2018 only after
Iran restores its full com-
pliance with the accord.
“Considering
US/E3
Pointing to the storm in Texas as a “wake-up
call” for the need to improve energy systems
and other infrastructure, Gina McCarthy,
Biden’s national climate adviser, told The As-
sociated Press that Biden’s plan will specifical-
ly aim at green and other initiatives that promote
job creation.
positions & actions, time
isn’t ripe for the proposed
informal meeting,” Irani-
an
foreign
ministry
spokesman Saeed Khati-
bzadeh said on Twitter.
MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, GREAT LAKES, AND ENERGY
AIR QUALITY DIVISION
Professor in Michigan fired
PART 9: EMISSION LIMITATIONS AND PROHIBITIONS - MISCELLANEOUS
Rule Set 2020-60 EQ
after racist, homophobic tweets
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2021
Virtual Hearing
BIG RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) reported about the tweets in electromagnetic fields and
— A science professor at a November. According to the nanotechnology were de-
university in central Michi- newspaper’s screenshots, one ployed against him.
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Air Quality Division (AQD), will hold
a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. The hearing will be held to
receive public comments on proposed changes to Part 9: Emission Limitations and Prohibitions – Miscellaneous,
promulgated pursuant to Part 55, Air Pollution Control, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act,
1994 PA 451, as amended (Act 451).
gan who claimed sinister tweet said: “Covid19 is an-
forces were targeting him and other jewish revolution.”
breaking into his home has
been fired months after using president, David Eisler, said way in my heart,” the state-
racist, anti-Semitic and ho- the school was “shocked and ment said. “But out of spite
“I know that many of the
things I tweeted were horri-
At the time, the university’s ble, and I don’t truly feel that
mophobic slurs on Twitter.
outraged by these tweets.” He for myself and what my
The proposed rule set (2020-60 EQ) will amend the current rules to:
Thomas Brennan an- added the tweets were “ex- world had turned into, I de-
nounced in a Twitter posting tremely offensive and run cided to say all the things that
Saturday he’d been fired, and counter to the values of our are some of worst things you
Ferris State University later University and our commit- could say.”
confirmed he was dismissed ment to diversity, equity and
last week, The Detroit News inclusion.”
R 336.1902, “Adoptions of standards by reference.” Proposed revisions consist primarily of updates to reference
prices to align with what is currently offered by the respective sources, including the AQD. The update also revises
the publication dates referenced. Revisions were also made to the physical and web addresses listed in the rule to
reflect the current information and availability of these reference materials from their respective agencies.
He added about what he de-
scribed as debilitating
In a statement linked to his headaches and the possibility
R 336.1974, “Emission standards for existing commercial and industrial solid waste incinerators” (CISWI).
Proposed revisions address the most recent amendments to Subpart DDDD made by the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on March 18, 2019. The rule revisions will account for the changes to
Subpart DDDD, which would result in a rule that directly mirrors Subpart DDDD except for the compliance date. The
compliance date of the rule, as required under MCL 24.247, will be 7 days after rule promulgation. The compliance
date in Subpart DDDD has passed; therefore, Michigan units will need to be in compliance 7 days after rule
promulgation.
reported. The Big Rapids-
based university, which put Saturday posting, Brennan he was delusional: “The
Brennan on administrative expressed remorse for the things I said on twitter were
leave in November as it in- tweets. But he said they were not expressed in order to dis-
vestigated, declined further a consequence of self-de- criminate against people of
comment.
structive behavior and mi- different races or social cate-
The Torch, the university’s graines that stemmed from a gories but were uttered as a
student-run newspaper, first “secret program” in which result of my disability.”
Once approved, the rules will be submitted to the USEPA as an amendment to the Michigan State Implementation
Plan (SIP). The comment period and hearing will fulfill requirements contained in the state administrative rules and
the federal Clean Air Act.
WIC PROGRAM
Ohio man charged
WIC PROGRAM Federal Regulations require that state agencies ensure that
the public has an opportunity to provide comment on development of the
These rules are promulgated by authority conferred on the Director of EGLE by Section 5512 of Act 451,
MCL 324.5512. These rules will take effect 7 days after filing with the Secretary of State.
WIC Program State Plan of Operations.
in eastern Michigan
The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services will accept written
comments regarding the operation of the WIC Program in Michigan between
March 1, 2021 and April 30, 2021. Comments may be related to any aspect
school threat
The rules (2020-60 EQ) are published on the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules’ Web site at
Michigan.gov/MOAHR. Click on “Administrative Rules,” “Pending Rules Activity” and then “Rules Currently Pending
in the Rulemaking Process.” Enter 2020-60 EQ in the “Search” box, then click on 2020-60 EQ. The rules will also be
published in the March 15, 2021, issue of the Michigan Register.
By Associated Press staff
of the operation of the WIC Program in Michigan. These comments will
PORT HURON, Mich. —
A 32-year-old Ohio man has
been charged in eastern
Michigan with directing ter-
rorist threats at a Port Huron
elementary school and po-
lice officers, police an-
nounced Sunday.
assist the Department to constructively review WIC operations and make
improvements in the operation of the WIC Program in Michigan. Comments
should be mailed to:
Due to the constraints associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the hearing will be held electronically. To attend
the virtual public hearing, click on the link below. If you do not have internet access or would like to participate via
telephone, please call the number below and enter the conference ID.
WIC Division
Michigan Department of Health & Human Services
Elliott-Larsen Building
320 S. Walnut
Lansing, MI 48933
Attend the Virtual Public Hearing via Zoom
Individuals interested in participating can click the link above at the start of the event (1:00 p.m.). You may register
ahead of time, but pre-registration is not required to attend the hearing. If you choose to register ahead of time, you
will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You can also find this Zoom link
in the EGLE calendar at: Michigan.gov/EGLE, click on the “EGLE Calendars, Events and Training,” then “Event Type,”
“Public Hearings and Meetings.”
If you do not have internet access and would like to join by PHONE ONLY, please use the following phone number:
636-651-3142 and use conference code 374288.
The Detroit News reported
that Dominik Hricovsky
faces multiple charges, in-
cluding a threat of terrorism,
discharging a firearm in or at
a building and being a felon
in possession of a firearm.
A police statement ac-
cused Hricovsky of placing
several calls to St. Clair
County emergency dispatch
threatening to burn down the
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture
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employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are
prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability,
age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activi-
ty conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for
program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language,
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Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact
USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program
information may be made available in languages other than English.
Any interested person is invited to attend and present his or her views. It is requested that all statements be
submitted in writing for the hearing record. Anyone unable to attend may submit comments in writing to the
following address by 5:00 p.m. on March 31, 2021. Copies of the draft rules may also be obtained by mail or
electronic transmission at the following address:
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addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the
form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your
completed form or letter to USDA by:
Cleveland
School and to shoot at police
officers.
Elementary
Air Quality Division
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy
Attention: Marissa Stegman
Dispatchers traced the
calls to a Port Huron apart-
ment where officers found
Hricovsky visiting his girl-
friend. An investigation also
found Hricovsky had fired
one round outside an apart-
ment window, the police
statement said.
P.O. Box 30260
Lansing, Michigan 48909-7760
Phone: 517-582-3601
Fax: 517-241-7499
(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
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Individuals with disabilities who need visual, hearing, and/or other assistance for effective participation should direct
a request for assistance to Jennifer Dixon at 616-581-0044 in advance of the meeting.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Published March 1, 2021
