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National Transportation Safety Board: Bering Air Crash Attributed to Excess Aircraft Weight and Improper Airspeed Management in Icing Conditions
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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Bering Air Crash Attributed to Excess Aircraft Weight and Improper Airspeed Management in Icing Conditions
Cessna Caravan crashed on ice floe 12 miles offshore near Nome, Alaska
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Inadequate airspeed management during severe icing conditions, combined with an airplane above its maximum gross weight, led to the February 2025 crash of a Bering Air flight near Nome, Alaska, killing 10.
Bering Air Flight 445, a Textron Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan, was on the final leg of a scheduled commuter
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WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The National Transportation Safety Board issued the following news release:
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Bering Air Crash Attributed to Excess Aircraft Weight and Improper Airspeed Management in Icing Conditions
Cessna Caravan crashed on ice floe 12 miles offshore near Nome, Alaska
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Inadequate airspeed management during severe icing conditions, combined with an airplane above its maximum gross weight, led to the February 2025 crash of a Bering Air flight near Nome, Alaska, killing 10.
Bering Air Flight 445, a Textron Aviation Cessna 208B Caravan, was on the final leg of a scheduled commuterflight and heading to Nome when it crashed onto pack ice about 12 miles offshore of Norton Sound on Feb. 6, 2025. The pilot and all nine passengers were killed.
The NTSB found the airplane encountered more severe icing conditions than forecast, including large supercooled water droplets. Investigators used archived electronic data from various onboard avionics systems to determine that the airplane's ice protection system functioned as designed and prevented significant ice accumulation on protected surfaces.
The NTSB said managing the airplane's ice protection system increased the pilot's workload when preparing for an approach to Nome Airport, which had temporarily closed its runways for deicing. The NTSB determined those demands degraded the pilot's situational awareness, which led to the airspeed decay until the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall from which the pilot did not recover. The airplane's operation above its maximum gross weight further reduced its stall margin, leaving less room for recovery.
"The tragedy of Flight 445 was not the result of a single failure, but a series of preventable breakdowns that eroded critical safety margins," said NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, who was on scene in Nome. "I've seen how Alaskan communities use aviation as a lifeline. Once implemented, our recommendations will make that lifeline safer and prevent other communities from experiencing similar heartbreak."
The investigation also found that Bering Air's flight risk assessment and operational control procedures failed to prevent routine overweight operations. Investigators identified a pattern of underreported aircraft weights on company load manifests, with several flights operating above weight limitations.
In addition, the investigation found the Federal Aviation Administration did not increase its oversight of Bering Air despite the operator's rapid growth and increased operational complexity following the pandemic and the bankruptcy of a major competitor.
The NTSB issued new safety recommendations to the FAA, including calling for most charter, air taxi, and fractional ownership operators to provide pilots with training on how to prevent and recover from a loss of control in flight.
The NTSB also reiterated previous recommendations calling for certificated dispatchers for most Part 135 operators, expanded use of flight data monitoring programs, broader load manifest requirements for Part 135 operations, and crash-resistant flight recorder systems for certain aircraft.
Links to the final report and public docket are on the accident investigation webpage (https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ANC25MA018.aspx).
To report an incident/accident or if you are a public safety agency, please call 1-844-373-9922 or 202-314-6290 to speak to a Watch Officer at the NTSB Response Operations Center (ROC) in Washington, DC (24/7).
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Original text here:https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NR20260730.aspx
EXIM Announces Return to Profitability, Putting Money Back in Taxpayers' Pockets
WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Announces Return to Profitability, Putting Money Back in Taxpayers' Pockets
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) John Jovanovic released the following statement about returning the Bank to profitability:
"Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is profitable again for the first time in nearly a decade," said Chairman Jovanovic. "This matters to every hard-working American across the country. EXIM has shown that we can reindustrialize
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WASHINGTON, July 31 -- The Export-Import Bank of the U.S. issued the following news release:
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EXIM Announces Return to Profitability, Putting Money Back in Taxpayers' Pockets
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WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, the Chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) John Jovanovic released the following statement about returning the Bank to profitability:
"Under President Trump's leadership, EXIM is profitable again for the first time in nearly a decade," said Chairman Jovanovic. "This matters to every hard-working American across the country. EXIM has shown that we can reindustrializeAmerica and support the industries of the future, all while returning a profit to the American people. When EXIM does its job, there are more well-paying jobs across the country and American taxpayers have more money in their pockets."
Chairman Jovanovic appeared live on FOX Business alongside Maria Bartiromo to make the announcement. Watch more here.
ABOUT EXIM:
As the United States government's official export credit agency, the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) supports American jobs by facilitating U.S. exports. As an independent agency, EXIM plays a critical role in supporting economic growth, securing critical supply chains, and ensuring American businesses are given a fighting chance. To achieve this mission, EXIM offers financing including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, loan guarantees, and direct loans. Learn more at www.exim.gov.
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Original text here: https://www.exim.gov/news/exim-announces-return-profitability-putting-money-back-taxpayers-pockets
Postal Service IG: Options for Addressing the U.S. Postal Service's Financial Gap
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following white paper (No. RISC-WP-26-002) on July 22, 2026, entitled "Options for Addressing the U.S. Postal Service's Financial Gap."
Here are excerpts:
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The Postal Service is expected to be self-sustaining and cover its costs through the sale of postal products and services. However, USPS is in dire financial condition, with costs exceeding revenue every year after fiscal year (FY) 2006 and combined losses over that timeframe totaling nearly $118 billion. If left unaddressed, ongoing losses will threaten
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General issued the following white paper (No. RISC-WP-26-002) on July 22, 2026, entitled "Options for Addressing the U.S. Postal Service's Financial Gap."
Here are excerpts:
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The Postal Service is expected to be self-sustaining and cover its costs through the sale of postal products and services. However, USPS is in dire financial condition, with costs exceeding revenue every year after fiscal year (FY) 2006 and combined losses over that timeframe totaling nearly $118 billion. If left unaddressed, ongoing losses will threatenthe Postal Service's ability to continue operations.
To support efforts aimed at addressing the Postal Service's financial gap, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG) compiled 15 revenue-generating and cost-saving options for long-term sustainability. These options are not OIG recommendations. Instead, they are policy proposals made by various stakeholders over time, including the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), mailers and shippers, think tanks, and Congress.
The options include strategies to grow revenue, fund the Postal Service's universal service obligation (USO) activities, enact benefits reform, restructure the workforce, and reduce operational costs.
Because no single option is likely sufficient to address the financial gap in the near term, this white paper also combines the 15 options into four theoretical scenarios designed to achieve financial breakeven status. The scenarios range from prioritizing current service levels over independent self-sustainability, to ensuring self-sustainability through service cuts, as well as balanced approaches in-between.
Given the Postal Service's mounting financial pressures, maintaining the status quo is no longer a viable path. USPS is limited in its ability to achieve breakeven status through self-help measures alone. A dialogue among stakeholders to address the complex choices and difficult trade-offs required to restore the Postal Service's financial sustainability is both timely and essential to secure its future.
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View the original text at: https://www.uspsoig.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2026-07/risc-wp-26-002.pdf
Fed IG: The Board's and Reserve Banks' Practices for Following Up on Safety and Soundness Findings for Large and Foreign Banking Organizations
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on July 22, 2026, entitled "The Board's and Reserve Banks' Practices for Following Up on Safety and Soundness Findings for Large and Foreign Banking Organizations."
Here are excerpts:
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The Board and Federal Reserve Banks monitor the safety and soundness of large and foreign banking organizations. If they identify a formal finding as part of their supervisory activities, and the LFBO remediates it, the Board and the respective Reserve Bank should timely confirm that remediation.
However, most
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Federal Reserve Inspector General issued the following report on July 22, 2026, entitled "The Board's and Reserve Banks' Practices for Following Up on Safety and Soundness Findings for Large and Foreign Banking Organizations."
Here are excerpts:
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The Board and Federal Reserve Banks monitor the safety and soundness of large and foreign banking organizations. If they identify a formal finding as part of their supervisory activities, and the LFBO remediates it, the Board and the respective Reserve Bank should timely confirm that remediation.
However, mostof the horizontal findings we reviewed were not closed until several months after LFBOs submitted remediation materials. After we completed our work, but before we issued this report, the Board revised its supervisory approach, including the process for validating institutions' remediation efforts. As a result, we do not have recommendations but note that the Board should consider enhancing its system for tracking and reporting remediation follow-up work.
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The report is posted at: https://oig.federalreserve.gov/reports/board-lfbo-findings-jul2026.pdf
EPA Proposes Updated Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Hopewell Precision Superfund Site in Dutchess County, New York
WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Proposes Updated Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Hopewell Precision Superfund Site in Dutchess County, New York
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NEW YORK \- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an updated groundwater cleanup plan for the Hopewell Precision Superfund site in Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County, New York. Based on years of groundwater data showing that contamination levels have been steadily declining, EPA is proposing a cleanup approach that relies on naturally occurring processes to reduce
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WASHINGTON, July 30 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release:
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EPA Proposes Updated Groundwater Cleanup Plan for Hopewell Precision Superfund Site in Dutchess County, New York
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NEW YORK \- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing an updated groundwater cleanup plan for the Hopewell Precision Superfund site in Hopewell Junction, Dutchess County, New York. Based on years of groundwater data showing that contamination levels have been steadily declining, EPA is proposing a cleanup approach that relies on naturally occurring processes to reducecontamination over time, along with long-term groundwater monitoring and controls to prevent exposure to contaminated groundwater.
"The good news is all of our work at this site is paying off and we have gotten to the point where contamination levels are low enough that we can let natural processes take over, in tandem with EPA monitoring," said EPA Regional Administrator Michael Martucci. "This proposal illustrates the effectiveness of the Superfund program in providing clean land for all Americans."
Former manufacturing operations contaminated ground water at the site with volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. EPA has already addressed impacted drinking water wells by connecting affected homes to the public water supply. Under the proposed plan, EPA will continue to monitor groundwater and maintain protections that require connection to the municipal public water system, limit use of nonmunicipal water sources, and require periodic testing for private water sources outside the municipal system.
EPA groundwater studies have found that concentrations have steadily declined. Initially, bioremediation was considered as part of the cleanup plan, but it was postponed so EPA could continue monitoring groundwater trends. Based on years of data showing significant reduction in contamination, EPA has now determined that bioremediation is not needed. Naturally occurring processes will restore groundwater over a similar timeframe as the original approach, while maintaining protection for the community.
Based on these findings, EPA determined that we no longer need to use bioremediation and that natural processes can restore groundwater over a similar timeframe as the original cleanup approach, while maintaining protection for the community.
EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed plan for 30 days, beginning July 29. The public may submit written comments to Ashley Similo, Remedial Project Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2890 Woodbridge Avenue, Building 205, Bay B, Edison, NJ 08837 or by email to similo.ashley@epa.gov.
EPA will hold a virtual public meeting via Zoom to discuss the proposed cleanup plan and receive public comments on August 4 at 6:00 p.m. To register for the meeting, please use the following link: http://bit.ly/4aXduHi.Exit EPA's website
The proposed plan and supporting documents will be available on the Hopewell Precision Superfund site profile page.
Follow EPA Region 2 on XExit EPA's website, InstagramExit EPA's website, and visit our FacebookExit EPA's website page. For more information about EPA Region 2, visit our website.
26-042
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Original text here: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-proposes-updated-groundwater-cleanup-plan-hopewell-precision-superfund-site
EPA IG: OIG Report to the Office of Management and Budget on the EPA's Semiannual Report on Purchase Card Violations
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-N-0044) entitled "OIG Report to the Office of Management and Budget on the EPA's Semiannual Report on Purchase Card Violations."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-194, and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-123, Appendix B, A Risk Management Framework for Government Charge Card Programs, direct each head of an executive agency with more than $10 million in purchase card spending
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-N-0044) entitled "OIG Report to the Office of Management and Budget on the EPA's Semiannual Report on Purchase Card Violations."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
The Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act of 2012, Pub. L. No. 112-194, and Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-123, Appendix B, A Risk Management Framework for Government Charge Card Programs, direct each head of an executive agency with more than $10 million in purchase card spendingannually, and each inspector general of such an executive agency, to submit to the OMB director, on a semiannual basis, a joint report on purchase card violations.
Summary of Findings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepared the Semi-Annual Report on Purchase Charge Card Violations for the period of October 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, which is attached to this letter. The EPA reported no violations for the period. My office received no information that is inconsistent with the EPA's violation report for the reporting period. Additionally, we received no allegations of misuse of the government purchase card for the semiannual period.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-07/_epaoig_20260728-26-n-0044_cert.pdf
EPA IG: Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023
WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0043) entitled "Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to determine whether the EPA is awarding fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water infrastructure earmark grants expeditiously and in accordance with federal and EPA requirements.
Summary of Findings
As of September 2025, approximately 44 percent of the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water earmark funds had not been awarded. According
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WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General issued the following report (No. 26-P-0043) entitled "Audit of EPA Water Earmark Grants for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023."
Here are excerpts:
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Why We Did This Report
We conducted this audit to determine whether the EPA is awarding fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water infrastructure earmark grants expeditiously and in accordance with federal and EPA requirements.
Summary of Findings
As of September 2025, approximately 44 percent of the fiscal years 2022 and 2023 water earmark funds had not been awarded. Accordingto the EPA, progress is slow due to challenges the Agency faces, such as initially not having an earmark program, significant personnel shortages, and many recipients without federal grant experience. We found that the Agency's lack of goals for timely awards, central tracking of pre-award documents, and clear guidance for tribal consultations also hindered the timely award of earmarks. As a result, over $1 billion of the $2.3 billion, or 510 of the 1,198 projects, had not been awarded and used to achieve the intended purpose of improving public health and environmental protections.
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The report is posted at: https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2026-07/_epaoig_20260721-26-p-0043_cert.pdf
