LONDON – Crude prices climbed today on a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration indicating a surprising decline in U.S. crude stocks.

EIA statistics showed crude supplies had dropped 2.4 million barrels to 309.1 million in the week to December 7, contradicting American Petroleum Institute (API) figures on Tuesday reporting a 270,000 barrel build.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with all other federal agencies, have published regulatory agendas that summarize the status of current rulemaking projects and highlight priorities for the next twelve months. Each agency has several major regulatory projects on their plates that will directly affect ILMA members. The OSHA regulatory agenda also reveals that the Agency has decided to withdraw its controversial rulemaking proceeding on metalworking fluids (MWFs).

The Department of Transportation's (DOT) Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) has announced a second extension in the deadline to file public comments on its proposal to clarify the jurisdiction of various agencies in the loading and unloading of hazardous materials (HazMat) before and after transportation activities. The rule was published in the Federal Register on June 15. The original comment deadline, which was October 12, 2001, now has been extended to February 1, 2002.