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Impact of Colonial Pipeline shutdown on New Hampshire gas prices expected to be minimal
May 11, MANCHESTER, N.H. --One of the largest gas and fuel pipelines in the United States is hoping to restore services by Friday after a cybersecurity attack forced it to shut down.
The Colonial Pipeline runs from Houston to New Jersey and the closure could soon have an impact on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel in the Northeast.
AdvertisementOfficials with the company called it a ransomware attack, which is identified as a form of malware programed to encrypt files on a device rendering them unusable. The malicious actors then demand ransom in exchange for decryption of the files.
The FBI has reported the attack originated from a group of hackers in Russia called DarkSide.
Officials in President Joe Biden’s administration have said they are watching the situation closely and as of now there is no concern about supply.
“Right now, there is not a supply shortage. We are preparing for multiple possible contingencies because that’s our job, especially on the homeland security team,” said Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, U.S. Homeland Security advisor. “Considering what additional steps may be useful to mitigate any potential disruptions to supply.”
Experts worry the attack could contribute to already rising gas prices ahead of the summer travel season. The Department of Transportation is temporarily allowing truck drivers transporting gas to work longer days to maintain supply.
The Northern New England AAA said New Hampshire is just far enough North that it may not cause a substantial impact. more
May 11, MANCHESTER, N.H. --One of the largest gas and fuel pipelines in the United States is hoping to restore services by Friday after a cybersecurity attack forced it to shut down.
The Colonial Pipeline runs from Houston to New Jersey and the closure could soon have an impact on gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel in the Northeast.
AdvertisementOfficials with the company called it a ransomware attack, which is identified as a form of malware programed to encrypt files on a device rendering them unusable. The malicious actors then demand ransom in exchange for decryption of the files.
The FBI has reported the attack originated from a group of hackers in Russia called DarkSide.
Officials in President Joe Biden’s administration have said they are watching the situation closely and as of now there is no concern about supply.
“Right now, there is not a supply shortage. We are preparing for multiple possible contingencies because that’s our job, especially on the homeland security team,” said Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, U.S. Homeland Security advisor. “Considering what additional steps may be useful to mitigate any potential disruptions to supply.”
Experts worry the attack could contribute to already rising gas prices ahead of the summer travel season. The Department of Transportation is temporarily allowing truck drivers transporting gas to work longer days to maintain supply.
The Northern New England AAA said New Hampshire is just far enough North that it may not cause a substantial impact. more
MAY 10, 2021
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held a briefing on the Biden administration’s policy agenda. She was joined by Deputy National Security Advisers Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Anne Neuberger, who provided an update on the Colonial Pipeline hack
White House Daily Briefing
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki held a briefing on the Biden administration’s policy agenda. She was joined by Deputy National Security Advisers Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall and Anne Neuberger, who provided an update on the Colonial Pipeline hack
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger, May 10, 2021
MAY 10, 2021
MS. PSAKI: Hi everyone. Happy Monday. Today, we are joined by Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger.
I know you all know who they are, so I’m going to skip the introductions so we have more time for questions. We have very limited time, but we will try to take as many as possible.
So, with that, I’ll turn it over to Liz.
DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL: It’s great to be with you today. Thank you, Jen.
I have an update for you on the Colonial Pipeline and what the Biden administration is doing to provide assistance through a whole-of-government effort.
On Friday evening, May 7th, Colonial Pipeline reported that its pipeline system had been subject to a ransomware cyberattack. Colonial chose to shut down its pipeline operations as a precautionary measure and to ensure that the ransomware could not migrate from business computer systems to those that control and operate the pipeline. We’ve been in ongoing contact with Colonial, and the President continues to be regularly briefed on the incident and our work.
Colonial is currently working with its private cybersecurity consultants to assess potential damage and to determine when it is safe to bring the pipeline back online. Thus far, Colonial has told us that it has not suffered damage and can be brought back online relatively quickly, but that safety is a priority given that it has never before taken the entire pipeline down.
Beginning on Friday night, soon after we learned of the shutdown, the White House convened an interagency team that included the Department of Energy, which is the lead agency for incident response in this case; the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — or “CISA”; the FBI; the Department of Transportation Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; the Department of the Treasury; the Department of Defense; and other agencies. more
MAY 10, 2021
MS. PSAKI: Hi everyone. Happy Monday. Today, we are joined by Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall and Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technologies Anne Neuberger.
I know you all know who they are, so I’m going to skip the introductions so we have more time for questions. We have very limited time, but we will try to take as many as possible.
So, with that, I’ll turn it over to Liz.
DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL: It’s great to be with you today. Thank you, Jen.
I have an update for you on the Colonial Pipeline and what the Biden administration is doing to provide assistance through a whole-of-government effort.
On Friday evening, May 7th, Colonial Pipeline reported that its pipeline system had been subject to a ransomware cyberattack. Colonial chose to shut down its pipeline operations as a precautionary measure and to ensure that the ransomware could not migrate from business computer systems to those that control and operate the pipeline. We’ve been in ongoing contact with Colonial, and the President continues to be regularly briefed on the incident and our work.
Colonial is currently working with its private cybersecurity consultants to assess potential damage and to determine when it is safe to bring the pipeline back online. Thus far, Colonial has told us that it has not suffered damage and can be brought back online relatively quickly, but that safety is a priority given that it has never before taken the entire pipeline down.
Beginning on Friday night, soon after we learned of the shutdown, the White House convened an interagency team that included the Department of Energy, which is the lead agency for incident response in this case; the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency — or “CISA”; the FBI; the Department of Transportation Pipeline Safety and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration; the Department of the Treasury; the Department of Defense; and other agencies. more
Biden Raises the Minimum Wage for Federal Government Contractors and Subcontractors to $15/Hour Effective January 30, 2022
May 11 - On April 27, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, requiring covered government contractors and subcontractors to pay workers performing work on or in connection with a government contract at least $15.00/hour.
The increase, which is generally effective on January 30, 2022, comes four months after President Biden directed his administration to “start work” to allow him to issue the Executive Order. Currently, covered government contractors and subcontractors have to pay their workers working on or in connection with a government contract or subcontract at least $10.95/hour. The Executive Order states that federal contractors paying their workers at least $15.00/hour will bolster economy and efficiency in federal procurement.
The Executive Order directs the Department of Labor to issue regulations implementing the Executive Order by November 24, 2021. Within 60 days of the issuance of the Department of Labor regulations, the FAR Council is to amend the FAR to include a clause requiring the $15.00/hour minimum wage.
The $15.00/hour minimum wage applies to new solicitations issued on or after January 30, 2022, and new contracts awarded on or after March 30, 2022, that are governed by the Davis-Bacon Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or the Service Contract Act. It also will apply to contract extensions and . While the increase in the minimum wage is not required until 2022, the Executive Order strongly encourages the executive agencies to include the $15.00/hour minimum wage in solicitations issued and new contracts awarded before January 30, 2022. Therefore, contractors should carefully review new solicitations and contracts to see if the new minimum wage requirement has been included.
The $15.00/hour minimum wage will be adjusted for inflation annually beginning on January 1, 2023, based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (United States city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted).
The Executive Order also phases out the tipped minimum wage by 2024. The tipped minimum wage will be increased to $10.50/hour starting on January 30, 3022. Thereafter it will be increased to 85% of the adjusted minimum wage until the tipped minimum wage equals the federal minimum wage beginning on January 1, 2024.
To the extent government contractors and subcontractors currently are paying wages below $15.00/hour, they should be prepared to provide higher wages on future contracts as well as contract options and extensions. It is likely that the new regulations will provide for an equitable adjustment if the contractor or subcontractor is required to pay higher wages for contract options and extensions. Government contractors and subcontractors will need to factor in wage increases for new contracts in their bids and proposals. source from
May 11 - On April 27, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Increasing the Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors, requiring covered government contractors and subcontractors to pay workers performing work on or in connection with a government contract at least $15.00/hour.
The increase, which is generally effective on January 30, 2022, comes four months after President Biden directed his administration to “start work” to allow him to issue the Executive Order. Currently, covered government contractors and subcontractors have to pay their workers working on or in connection with a government contract or subcontract at least $10.95/hour. The Executive Order states that federal contractors paying their workers at least $15.00/hour will bolster economy and efficiency in federal procurement.
The Executive Order directs the Department of Labor to issue regulations implementing the Executive Order by November 24, 2021. Within 60 days of the issuance of the Department of Labor regulations, the FAR Council is to amend the FAR to include a clause requiring the $15.00/hour minimum wage.
The $15.00/hour minimum wage applies to new solicitations issued on or after January 30, 2022, and new contracts awarded on or after March 30, 2022, that are governed by the Davis-Bacon Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, or the Service Contract Act. It also will apply to contract extensions and . While the increase in the minimum wage is not required until 2022, the Executive Order strongly encourages the executive agencies to include the $15.00/hour minimum wage in solicitations issued and new contracts awarded before January 30, 2022. Therefore, contractors should carefully review new solicitations and contracts to see if the new minimum wage requirement has been included.
The $15.00/hour minimum wage will be adjusted for inflation annually beginning on January 1, 2023, based on increases in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (United States city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted).
The Executive Order also phases out the tipped minimum wage by 2024. The tipped minimum wage will be increased to $10.50/hour starting on January 30, 3022. Thereafter it will be increased to 85% of the adjusted minimum wage until the tipped minimum wage equals the federal minimum wage beginning on January 1, 2024.
To the extent government contractors and subcontractors currently are paying wages below $15.00/hour, they should be prepared to provide higher wages on future contracts as well as contract options and extensions. It is likely that the new regulations will provide for an equitable adjustment if the contractor or subcontractor is required to pay higher wages for contract options and extensions. Government contractors and subcontractors will need to factor in wage increases for new contracts in their bids and proposals. source from
