ASTM journals are now online. Visitors to ASTM’s Web site at www.astm.org can now search for papers and authors, view tables of contents and abstracts, and download individual papers (credit card required) from the Journal of Testing and Evaluation; Cement, Concrete and Aggregates; Geotechnical Testing Journal; Journal of Composites Technology and Research; and the Journal of Forensic Sciences. Current subscribers receive bothonline access and printed volumes.

New “Compostable Logo”

The International Biodegradable Products Institute and the U.S. Composting Council have announced a joint program to certify and identify (via a logo) plastic products that will biodegrade and compost satisfactorily in actively managed compost facilities. The compostable logo will be awarded to those plastic products that conform to the ASTM Standard D 6400, Specification for Compostable Plastics. Until last year, there has not been a widely recognized, scientifically based standard for judging the biodegradability and compostability of plastics in the United States. The chairman of ASTM Subcommittee D20.96 on Environmentally Degradable Plastics, Dr. Ramani Narayan, heads BPI’s Scientific Review Committee, which will determine a company’s right to use the logo. Contact: Frederic Scheer, President, BPI (888/206-5658, ext. 100); or Sharon Barnes, President, USCC (800/421-8722).

Standards for E-Commerce

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI), U.S. member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), has announced that its delegates to the ISO Committee on Consumer Policy (COPOLCO) have joined with consumer representatives from 25 nations to encourage the expedited development of International Standards in the area of electronic commerce to promote the interests of both business and consumers. ISO member country delegations have indicated their support for standards to protect consumers in the rapidly developing global market that has been shaped by the Internet. COPOLCO cited mounting evidence that many consumers are reluctant to engage in electronic commerce due to a lack of confidence in the reliability of e-commerce merchants, concerns about privacy and security, and confusion about the reliability of on-line codes and seals programs which claim to protect and promote the consumer interest. Contact: James McCabe, ANSI (212/642-8921).

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Award

The National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors is calling for nominations for the 2001 National Board Safety Medal Award. Nominations must be received by Dec. 31. Letters of recommendation must be submitted by three individuals who are personally familiar with the candidate and who can attest to the candidate’s contributions relative to boiler and pressure vessel safety. Address letters of recommendation to the Executive Director, the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors, 1055 Crupper Ave., Columbus, OH 43229-1183.

Mexico-EU Free Trade Accord

A free trade agreement negotiated late last year by Mexico and the 15-member European Union entered into force July 1. The agreement, which gives EU expanded access to the Mexican market similar to that enjoyed by the United States and Canada, progressively lowers tariffs on many non-agricultural goods, including many electrical industry products, and also contains chapters on services, investment, public procurement, intellectual property, and dispute settlement. Excerpted from "electroindustry" June 2000, published by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association.

Decision-Making in Urban and Civil Engineering

The 2nd International Conference on Decision-Making in Urban and Civil Engineering will be held Nov. 20-22 in Lyon, France. The conference will promote discussion and mutual interaction between members of the urban and civil engineering community, who are interested in the possibilities, but also the problems generated by new decision-making tools and methods. Various domains of urban and civil engineering are concerned such as construction, building, architecture, public works, infrastructure, urban planning, transportation, water management, environment, and so forth. Contact: Isabelle Lhomme, INSA de Lyon—URGC-HU/DMinUCE, 20, avenue Albert Einstein - bâtiment 304 69621 Villeurbanne Cedex, France (33 (0) 4 72 43 60 93; fax: 33 (0) 4 72 43 85 21). //

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