Safe Drinking Water Act: EPA Should Improve Implementation of Requirements on Whether to Regulate Additional Contaminants

Safe Drinking Water Act: EPA Should Improve Implementation of Requirements on Whether to Regulate Additional Contaminants

by David C. Trimble
Paperback, 146 pages, 2011, $45.00
ISBN: 9781437988680

Under 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), every 5 years the EPA is to determine for at least five contaminants, such as chemicals, whether regulation is warranted, considering those that present the greatest public health concern.

Since 1996, EPA had not recommended any new contaminants for regulation until Feb. 2011, when it reversed its controversial 2008 preliminary decision to not regulate perchlorate, an ingredient in rocket fuel and other products. This report: (1) evaluates the extent to which EPA’s implementation of the 1996 amendments has helped assure the public of safe drinking water; and (2) reviews the process and scientific analyses used to develop the 2008 regulatory determination on perchlorate. Illus. A print on demand report.

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Residential Appraisals: Opportunities to Enhance Oversight of an Evolving Industry

Residential Appraisals: Opportunities to Enhance Oversight of an Evolving Industry

by William B. Shear
Paperback, 60 pages, 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9781437988697

Real estate valuations, which encompass appraisals and other estimation methods, have come under increased scrutiny in the wake of the recent mortgage crisis. The Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act mandated this study of the various valuation methods and the options available for selecting appraisers, as well as the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, which established appraiser independence requirements for mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

This report examined: (1) the use of different valuation methods; (2) factors affecting consumer costs for appraisals and appraisal disclosure requirements; and (3) conflict-of-interest and appraiser selection policies and views on their impact. A print on demand report.

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Influenza Pandemic: Lessons Learned from the H1N1 Pandemic Should Be Incorporated into Future Planning

Effect of Food and Beverage Prices on Children’s Weights

by Bernice Steinhardt and Marcia Crosse
Paperback, 67 pages, 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9781437988318

The 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic was the first human pandemic in over four decades; the CDC estimates that there were 89 million U.S. cases. Over $6 billion was available for the response, led by the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security, with coordination provide by the Homeland Security Council through its National Security Staff.

In particular, CDC worked with states and localities to communicate with the public and to distribute H1N1 vaccine and supplies. This report examines: (1) how CDC used the funding; (2) the key issues raised by the federal response; and (3) the actions taken to identify and incorporate lessons learned. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

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International Food Security Assessment, 2011-21

International Food Security Assessment, 2011-21

by Shahla Shapouri
Paperback, 64 pages, 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9781437988796

This report shows that the number of food-insecure people in developing countries is estimated to decline by about 9 million, from 861 million in 2010 to 852 million in 2011 and the number is projected to decline by 16 percent, or nearly 140 million over the next decade.

Food security in Asia and the Latin America and the Caribbean region is projected to improve, whereas food security in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to deteriorate. Food-insecure people are defined as those consuming less than the nutritional target of roughly 2,100 calories per day per person.

Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find publication.

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Effect of Food and Beverage Prices on Children’s Weights

Effect of Food and Beverage Prices on Children’s Weights

by Minh Wendt & Jessica E. Todd
Paperback, 29 pages, 2011, $20.00
ISBN: 9781437988772

One factor that may be important in explaining rising childhood obesity is food prices. This report explores the effect of food prices on children’s Body Mass Index (BMI) using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) and the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database.

On average, higher prices for soda, 100 percent juices, starchy vegetables, and sweet snacks are associated with lower BMIs among children. In addition, lower prices for dark green vegetables and lowfat milk are associated with reduced BMI. The effect of subsidizing healthy food may be just as large as raising prices of less healthy foods. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand edition of an important, hard-to-find report.

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Defense Department Cyber Efforts: DoD Faces Challenges in Its Cyber Activities

Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods

by Davi D’Agostino, Greg Wilshusen
Paperback, 79 pages, 2011, $25.00
ISBN: 9781437989281

The DoD is in the midst of a global cyberspace crisis as foreign nation states and other actors, such as hackers, criminals, terrorists, and activists exploit DoD and other U.S. government computer networks to further a variety of national, ideological, and personal objectives.

This report identifies: (1) how DoD is organized to address cybersecurity threats; and assesses the extent to which DoD has: (2) developed joint doctrine that addresses cyberspace oeprations; (3) assigned command and control responsibilities; and (4) identified and taken actions to mitigate any key capability gaps involving cyberspace operations.

It is an unclassified version of a previously issued classified report. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

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Afghanistan: Actions Needed to Improve Accountability of U.S. Assistance to Afghanistan

Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods

by Charles Michael Johnson, Jr.
Paperback, 48 pages, 2011, $20.00
ISBN: 9781437989298

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Defense (DoD) award direct assistance to Afghanistan, using bilateral agreements and multilateral trust funds that provide funds through the Afghan national budget.

This report assessed: (1) the extent to which the U.S., through USAID and DoD, has increased direct assistance; (2) USAID and DoD steps to ensure accountability for bilateral direct assistance; and (3) USAID and DoD steps to ensure accountability for direct assistance via multilateral trust funds for Afghanistan.

The report reviewed USAID, DoD, and multilateral documents and met with U.S. officials in Wash., D.C., and Afghanistan. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

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Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods

Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods

by Jessica E. Todd, Ephraim Leibtag, Corttney Penber
Paperback, 40 pages, 2011, $20.00
ISBN: 9781437988352

Although healthy foods can be affordable, if less healthy foods are cheaper, individuals may have an economic incentive to consume a less healthful diet. Using the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database, the authors explore whether a select set of healthy foods (whole grains, dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, whole fruit, skim and 1% milk, fruit juice, and bottled water) are more expensive than less healthy alternatives.

They find that not all healthy foods are more expensive than less healthy alternatives. They also find considerable geographic variation in the relative price of healthy foods. This price variation may contribute to geographic variation in diet and health outcomes. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

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Organized Retail Crime (ORC): Private Sector and Law Enforcement Collaborate to Deter and Investigate Theft

Organized Retail Crime (ORC): Private Sector and Law Enforcement Collaborate to Deter and Investigate Theft

by Eileen R. Larence
Paperback, 49 pages, 2011, $20.00
ISBN: 9781437987577

Each year organized groups of professional shoplifters steal or fraudulently obtain billions of dollars in merchandise to resell in an activity known as ORC. These stolen goods can also be sold on online marketplaces, a practice known as “e-fencing.” This report assessed ORC and e-fencing.

It addresses: (1) types of efforts that select retailers, state and local law enforcement, and federal agencies are undertaking to combat ORC; (2) the extent to which tools or mechanisms exist to facilitate collaboration and info. sharing among these ORC stakeholders; and (3) steps that online marketplaces have taken to combat ORC and e-fencing, and additional actions retailers and law enforcement think may enhance these efforts. Illus. This is a print on demand report.

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2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress (6th ed.)

2010 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress (6th ed.)

by Jill Khadduri and Dennis Culhane
Paperback, 195 pages, 2011, $35.00
ISBN: 9781437987591

The AHAR provides the results of local counts of people homeless on a single night in January, as well as estimates of the number, characteristics, and service patterns of all people who used residential programs for homeless people during the 2010 federal Fiscal Year (Oct. 2009-Sept. 2010).

Also, for the first time, this year’s AHAR includes info. about the use of permanent supportive housing programs and the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.

This is the first report to provide national estimates on the use of the full continuum of homeless assistance programs — from homelessness prevention to homeless residential services to permanent supportive housing. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

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