2019 Federal Excise
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Indigenous Encounters
From Islands to Atoll: Relating Reefs of History at Kwajalein Greg Dvorak 1. Atollism Islands of starvation, islands of abundance, islands of connectedness: the nearly one hundred flat coral islets that form Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands, the largest atoll on earth, are a gigantic ring on the water, strung together by a dynamic reef. The lagoon it encloses—indeed the entire atoll—is a microcosm of Oceania, a metaphor for the contradictory and interconnected histories of the contemporary world. I choose Kwajalein to explore the idea of “encounter” not only because it was the site of a major battle of the Pacific War and a place of unfathomable change throughout the twentieth century between Marshall Islanders, Japanese, and Americans; I focus on Kwajalein also because it was my childhood hometown, where I spent the first decade of my life. Because the main island of the atoll is leased to the US Army as a missile-testing base, my early years in American suburbia there provided my first taste of the ways in which huge nations and small localities intersect. Haunted by the ghosts of Japanese soldiers and the lullabies of our Marshallese housekeeper, I knew that this atoll had been home to many others before me, yet I felt linked to those other people through the common idea of home, and through the genealogy of the atoll itself. Coral colonizes: Polyps voyage in the ocean currents, joining with other coral communities atop subaquatic volcanoes that rise miles from the sea floor to break the surface. Their migrations are based on the flows of the sea, and their settlements are serendipitous. -
Notice of Adjustments to Service Obligations
Served: May 12, 2020 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. CONTINUATION OF CERTAIN AIR SERVICE PURSUANT TO PUBLIC LAW NO. 116-136 §§ 4005 AND 4114(b) Docket DOT-OST-2020-0037 NOTICE OF ADJUSTMENTS TO SERVICE OBLIGATIONS Summary By this notice, the U.S. Department of Transportation (the Department) announces an opportunity for incremental adjustments to service obligations under Order 2020-4-2, issued April 7, 2020, in light of ongoing challenges faced by U.S. airlines due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency. With this notice as the initial step, the Department will use a systematic process to allow covered carriers1 to reduce the number of points they must serve as a proportion of their total service obligation, subject to certain restrictions explained below.2 Covered carriers must submit prioritized lists of points to which they wish to suspend service no later than 5:00 PM (EDT), May 18, 2020. DOT will adjudicate these requests simultaneously and publish its tentative decisions for public comment before finalizing the point exemptions. As explained further below, every community that was served by a covered carrier prior to March 1, 2020, will continue to receive service from at least one covered carrier. The exemption process in Order 2020-4-2 will continue to be available to air carriers to address other facts and circumstances. Background On March 27, 2020, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security Act (the CARES Act) into law. Sections 4005 and 4114(b) of the CARES Act authorize the Secretary to require, “to the extent reasonable and practicable,” an air carrier receiving financial assistance under the Act to maintain scheduled air transportation service as the Secretary deems necessary to ensure services to any point served by that air carrier before March 1, 2020. -
Feasibility Study GREEN CLIMATE FUND FUNDING PROPOSAL I
Annex II – Feasibility Study GREEN CLIMATE FUND FUNDING PROPOSAL I FEASIBILITY STUDY Addressing Climate Vulnerability In the Water Sector (ACWA) United Nations Development Programme UNDP On behalf of Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands RMI March 2018 For Submission to the Green Climate Fund EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is a small island developing states (SIDS) consisting of 29 coral atolls and 5 single islands. The nation is a large-ocean state, with approximately 1,225 islands and islets with a total land area of only 182 km2, spread across over 2 million km2 of vast ocean space. Most of the 24 inhabited local government jurisdictions (atolls and islands) are remote and lie merely 2 meters above sea level on average, posing various challenges and risks to sustainable development in face of climate change. RMI’s population in 2017 is estimated as 55,5621, most of which is concentrated in urban atolls of Majuro and Kwajalein (Ebeye)2. Context Climate Change: It is predicted, that RMI will face increasing sea level rise, increasing rainfall variability with potential for extended drought periods and increasing storm surges with climate change3, further aggravating RMI’s vulnerability and more specifically sustainable water supply. These climate change impacts are likely to exacerbate the risks of water shortages in RMI, by further challenging the ability of the Marshallese people to have access to safe freshwater resources year-round. Droughts and storm waves are some of the key climate based events that impact RMI. Climate projections show that in the next twenty-five years, rainfall and drought scenarios in RMI will continue and may increase in the short term4. -
Statistical Yearbook, 2017
REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS STATISTICAL YEAR BOOK 2017 Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO) Office of the President Republic of the Marshall Islands RMI Statistical Yearbook, 2017 Statistical Yearbook 2017 Published by: Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (EPPSO), Office of the President, Republic of the Marshall Islands Publication Year: June, 2018 Technical support was provided by Inclusive Growth Thematic cluster, UNDP, Pacific Office, Suva, Fiji Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the UNDP or EPPSO. The pictures used in this publication are mostly taken from the Google search and some from the respective organization’s websites. EPPSO is not responsible if there is any violation of “copy right” issue related with any of them. 1 RMI Statistical Yearbook, 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ...................................................................................................................................... 5 FOREWORD .................................................................................................................................. 6 LIST OF ACRONYMS ...................................................................................................................... 7 SUGGESTED NOTES PRIOR TO READING THIS PUBLICATION .......................................................... 10 BRIEF HISTORY OF REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS ............................................................. 12 REPUBLIC -
Ground-Water Resources of the Laura Area, Majuro Atoll, Marshall Islands
GROUND-WATER RESOURCES OF THE LAURA AREA, MAJURO ATOLL, MARSHALL ISLANDS By Scott N. Hamlin and Stephen S. Anthony U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 87-4047 Prepared in cooperation with the REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS Honolulu, Hawaii 1987 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DONALD PAUL HODEL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director For additional information Copies of this report write to: can be purchased from: District Chief, Hawaii District U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey, WRD Books and Open-File Reports Section 300 Ala Moana Blvd., Rm. 6110 Federal Center, Bldg. 41 Honolulu, Hawai 96850 Box 25425 Denver, Colorado 80225 CONTENTS Page Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------ 1 Introduction -------------------------------------------------------- 2 Purpose and scope ---------------------------------------------- 5 Setting -------------------------------------------------------- 5 Previous investigations ---------------------------------------- 6 Acknowledgments ------------------------------------------------ 8 Methods of study ---------------------------------------------------- 8 Surface geophysical survey ------------------------------------- 8 Installation of driven-well network ---------------------------- 8 Test holes and collection of lithologic samples ---------------- 11 Collection of water samples ------------------------------------ 11 Measurements of water levels ----------------------------------- 13 Geohydrologic framework --------------------------------------------- -
Ujae, Marshall Islands by Marshall I. Weisler
ATOLL RESEARCH BULLETIN NO. 460 ATOLLS AS SETTLEMENT LANDSCAPES: UJAE, MARSHALL ISLANDS BY MARSHALL I. WEISLER ISSUED BY NATIONAL MUSEIJM OF NATURAL HISTORY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S.A. AUGUST 1999 Q Eny'am'eg Biginnigar MARSHALL ISLANDS M,,#Q Namdb. v"" .X,,h Erlie 0 0 Bikku 9 0 Rua Ujae Atoll 0 Langeba Pacific FIGURE 1. Ujae Atoll and archaeological sites with map of the Marshall Islands showing location of Ujae. Atolls in bold (Utrok, Maloelap and Ebon), situated along the continuum of rainfall from the dy north to the wet south, are part of the Long-term archaeological study of the Marshall Islands. ATOLLS AS SETTLEMENT LANDSCAPES: UJAE, MARSHALL ISLANDS BY MARSHALL I. WEISLER' ABSTRACT Williamson and Sabath (1982) have demonstrated a significant relationship between modern population size and environment by examining atoll area and rainfall in the Marshall Islands. The present work seeks to extend that argument into prehistory by examining the relationship of ancient habitation sites and size of aroid pit agricultural systems to atoll land area and rainfall regime along the 1,500-3,500 mm precipitation gradient in the Marshall Islands. Four atolls were selected for study: Ebon at the wettest extent in the extreme south; Ujae and Maloelap near the center of the archipelago; and Utrc?k at the dry north. The first phase of this long-term archaeological program is reported. During the survey of Ujae Atoll (9" 05' N, 165" 40' E), three habitation sites, an aroid pit agricultural zone, one early historic burial, and seven fish traps, weirs, and enclosures were recorded. -
Navigating Our Energy Future Marshall Islands Electricity Roadmap
Navigating our Energy Future: Marshall Islands Electricity Roadmap December 2018 THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS ROADMAP WAS SUPPORTED BY THE NEW ZEALAND MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE This document may be cited as follows: Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. (December 2018). Navigating our Energy Future: Marshall Islands Electricity Roadmap. For further information please contact: Angeline Heine, RMI National Energy Office [email protected] www.rmienergyfuture.org Foreword Minister-in-Assistance to the President and Environment Minister, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) The Republic of the Marshall Islands is calling for The Marshall Islands was one of the first countries ambitious action by all countries to reduce greenhouse to prepare and submit a long-term decarbonization gas emissions (GHG). And we are leading the way. Our pathway to the United Nations Framework Convention commitment to ‘walking the talk’ is demonstrated by our on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as called for under the adoption of a pathway to a low-carbon energy future. Paris Agreement. Our Electricity Roadmap once again shows how even the smallest and most isolated of In our Nationally Determined Contribution, the Republic nations can lead the way to a safe and prosperous future of the Marshall Islands has committed to reducing GHG for all people. emissions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, with two significant milestones along the way – by 2025 our emissions will be at least 32 percent below 2010 levels, and 45 percent below by 2030. While all sectors of our society need to reduce emissions, the electricity sector is where the most HONORABLE DAVID PAUL developed and cost-effective technologies are already Minister-in-Assistance to the available, and therefore the greatest opportunities. -
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States
STATUSSTATUS OFOF THETHE CORALCORAL REEFSREEFS ININ THETHE PACIFICPACIFIC FREELYFREELY ASSOCIATEDASSOCIATED STATESSTATES CharlesCharles Birkeland,Birkeland, AhserAhser Edward,Edward, YimnangYimnang Golbuu,Golbuu, JayJay Gutierrez,Gutierrez, NoahNoah Idechong,Idechong, JamesJames Maragos,Maragos, GustavGustav Paulay,Paulay, RobertRobert Richmond,Richmond, AndrewAndrew Tafileichig,Tafileichig, andand NancyNancy VanderVander VeldeVelde From east to west, the Freely Associated States 14o N, the Marshalls have a total dry land area of include the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the only about 181.3 km2. However, when the Exclu Marshalls or the RMI), the Federated States of sive Economic Zone (by statute, from the shoreline Micronesia (FSM), and the Republic of Palau. The to 200 miles offshore) is figured in, the Republic Federated States of Micronesia – Kosrae, Pohnpei, covers 1,942,000 km2 of ocean within the larger Chuuk, and Yap – along with Palau, are known as Micronesia region. There are 11,670 km2 of sea FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES the Caroline Islands, which are among the longest within the lagoons of the atolls. FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES island chains in the world at 2,500 km. Land only makes up less than 0.01% of the area of All of these Micronesian islands were formerly a the Marshall Islands. Most of the country is the part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands broad open ocean with a seafloor that reaches 4.6 administered by the United States after World War km (15,000 ft). Scattered throughout are nearly a II. -
2016 Washington State Aviation System Plan
2016 Washington State Aviation System Plan March 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 – Overview ................................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Overview of 2015 WASP .......................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2.1 Aviation System Performance .................................................................................... 1-2 1.3 Prior WSDOT Aviation Planning Studies ................................................................................. 1-3 1.3.1 2009 Long-Term Air Transportation Study ................................................................. 1-3 1.3.2 2012 Aviation Economic Impact Study ........................................................................ 1-4 1.3.3 2013 (and prior) Airport Pavement Management System ........................................... 1-4 1.3.4 2014 Airport Investment Study ................................................................................... 1-5 1.4 Report Layout ......................................................................................................................... 1-5 Chapter 2 – Goals, Objectives, and System Performance Measures ............................................. 2-1 2.1 Process ................................................................................................................................... -
Emergency Assistance in Support of Food Security Recovery of Drought-Affected Communities
©FAO/Marshall Islands EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN SUPPORT OF FOOD SECURITY RECOVERY OF DROUGHT-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES June 2020 SDGs: Countries: Republic of the Marshall Islands Project Code: TCP/MAS/3601 FAO Contribution: USD 245 000 Duration: 1 October 2017 – 31 December 2019 Contact Info: FAO Representation in the Marshall Islands [email protected] EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IN SUPPORT OF FOOD SECURITY TCP/MAS/3601 RECOVERY OF DROUGHT-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES BACKGROUND The Republic of the Marshall Islands has historically faced numerous challenges with regard to the accessibility of consistent water supplies. In 2015/16, an estimated 21 000 people were affected by severe drought conditions as a result of the El Niño Southern Oscillation. A State of Emergency was declared in March 2016 and support was requested from the World Bank to conduct a Post Disaster Needs Assessment to evaluate the economic effects of the drought, while the Pacific Community was asked to assess key sectors, including agriculture, water and health. The monetary value of the effects of the drought, in early 2016, was estimated at USD 4.9 million. Although this was ©Joel Bujen equivalent to only 3.4 percent of the 2015 gross domestic Implementing Partner product for the country as a whole, the consequences of the drought on agricultural production were critical, Ministry of Natural Resources and Commerce. as the agriculture sector is of primary importance to Beneficiaries self-employed communities in outer islands, where the Community leaders, men, women and youth in atolls cultivation and processing of copra, and the sale of fish, affected by drought. bananas, pumpkins and handicrafts are the main sources of cash income. -
Wreck Trips to Bikini Atoll
Wreck Trips to Bikini Atoll Photo by Jesper Kjøller About Operation Crossroads The Critical Experiment After WWI ended in the early 1900s, and following a mandate from the League of Nation, the Japanese took over the administration of the Marshall Islands. This then resulted in an intensifying of the military presence in the islands, in anticipation of WWII. Bikini, Truk Lagoon, and other low-lying, peaceful coral atolls became strategic points of interest. Life for the Bikini Islanders wasn’t peaceful anymore as the Japanese began building watchtowers to keep an eye out for an American invasion. Bikini Atoll became a key outpost for the Japanese headquarters in the Marshalls. In February 1944, American forces took Kawajalein and the Marshall Islands by force. The Japanese control over the Marshalls was lost. There were five Japanese soldiers left on Bikini. Instead of allowing themselves to be captured, they blew themselves up with a grenade while hiding out in a foxhole. Post WWII, in December 1945, then US President Harry Truman, informed the US Army and Navy that the testing of nuclear weapons would be undertaken “to determine the effect of atomic bombs on American warships.” Unluckily for Bikini, its location and isolation from sea and air routes meant it was chosen as a nuclear testing point, these tests came to be named Operation Crossroads. Commodore Wyatt, then military governor of the Marshall Islands, went to Bikini in February 1946. After church on a Sunday, he gathered the native Bikini Islanders and asked them to leave their home so the US could begin testing bombs. -
Terminal Evaluation: Undp Gef Project (Id 2568) Renewable Energies (Admire)” 12 May 2016
TERMINAL EVALUATION: UNDP GEF PROJECT (ID 2568) “ACTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARSHALL ISLANDS RENEWABLE ENERGIES (ADMIRE)” 12 MAY 2016 AMITAV RATH i Acknowledgements I am grateful to many people for their cooperation and assistance during the conduct of this evaluation and wish to thank them for providing time for meetings, interviews and for answering many questions in person and by email and phone. Special thanks are due to all the persons (listed in the third annex) who provided time and valuable insights and information and contributed to this evaluation. Special thanks are due to the staff of the Ministry of Resources and Development, Republic of the Marshall Islands for their support during the evaluation mission and to the staff of UNDP in Fiji and Bangkok, who provided many documents, shared their insights and provided full assistance. Individual mention and acknowledgement are due to ‐ Walter Myazoe at MRD, who provided a very wide set of documents on the many different energy related cooperation activities in RMI, without which my understanding of the situation would have been very inadequate; Dolores deBrum Kattil, the Project Manager who provided me with the considerable documentation on the project and made all arrangements for the meetings in RMI; Ned Lobwij at MRD who stepped in to make many interviews and meetings actually happen, as Annex 3. Special acknowledgements are due to Emma Mario, the Environment Programme Analyst at the UNDP Fiji MCO for discussions and additional documents; Thomas Jensen, Energy Programme Specialist at the UNDP Pacific Centre, Fiji, for extensive comments to the first draft; and to Manuel L.