Keeping with the theme of helping you do more with less, SEMA's Business Technology Committee (BTC) is sponsoring a track of seven seminars at the 2009 SEMA Show that will help your business do exactly that through the use of technology and quality product information.

The sessions are geared toward manufacturers, distributors and anyone else involved in the aftermarket distribution chain, and each is chock full of suggestions on how to make your business work smarter.

More than one-sixth of the state of Utah would be off-limits to any form of motorized recreation if Congress approves H.R. 1925, “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009.” SEMA submitted testimony to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in opposition to the bill to designate 9.4 million acres of land in Utah as “wilderness,” a label which bans mechanized activities, including off-roading, snowmobiling and mountain biking.

The issue is of keen interest to off-roaders and the SEMA-member companies that market off-road equipment.

Most of the 146 co-sponsors of the legislation represent areas east of the Rockies. At a recent House Subcommittee hearing, opposition to the bill was voiced from local residents and lawmakers representing the state. Concerns were also raised by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Robert Abbey who cautioned that current off-highway vehicle areas would be closed.

The BLM manages all of the land subject to closure. Director Abbey also noted that the agency had not yet completed mapping or an analysis of each area to be designated as wilderness, which would allow the BLM to make informed recommendations on wilderness designations.

SEMA will continue to monitor Congressional action on this legislation. Read SEMA comments on Red Rock Wilderness Act.

For additional details, contact Ethan Landesman at ethanl@sema.org.

More than one-sixth of the state of Utah would be off-limits to any form of motorized recreation if Congress approves H.R. 1925, “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009.” SEMA submitted testimony to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in opposition to the bill to designate 9.4 million acres of land in Utah as “wilderness,” a label which bans mechanized activities, including off-roading, snowmobiling and mountain biking.

The issue is of keen interest to off-roaders and the SEMA-member companies that market off-road equipment.

Most of the 146 co-sponsors of the legislation represent areas east of the Rockies. At a recent House Subcommittee hearing, opposition to the bill was voiced from local residents and lawmakers representing the state. Concerns were also raised by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Robert Abbey who cautioned that current off-highway vehicle areas would be closed.

The BLM manages all of the land subject to closure. Director Abbey also noted that the agency had not yet completed mapping or an analysis of each area to be designated as wilderness, which would allow the BLM to make informed recommendations on wilderness designations.

SEMA will continue to monitor Congressional action on this legislation. Read SEMA comments on Red Rock Wilderness Act.

For additional details, contact Ethan Landesman at ethanl@sema.org.

More than one-sixth of the state of Utah would be off-limits to any form of motorized recreation if Congress approves H.R. 1925, “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009.” SEMA submitted testimony to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in opposition to the bill to designate 9.4 million acres of land in Utah as “wilderness,” a label which bans mechanized activities, including off-roading, snowmobiling and mountain biking.

The issue is of keen interest to off-roaders and the SEMA-member companies that market off-road equipment.

Most of the 146 co-sponsors of the legislation represent areas east of the Rockies. At a recent House Subcommittee hearing, opposition to the bill was voiced from local residents and lawmakers representing the state. Concerns were also raised by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Robert Abbey who cautioned that current off-highway vehicle areas would be closed.

The BLM manages all of the land subject to closure. Director Abbey also noted that the agency had not yet completed mapping or an analysis of each area to be designated as wilderness, which would allow the BLM to make informed recommendations on wilderness designations.

SEMA will continue to monitor Congressional action on this legislation. Read SEMA comments on Red Rock Wilderness Act.

For additional details, contact Ethan Landesman at ethanl@sema.org.

More than one-sixth of the state of Utah would be off-limits to any form of motorized recreation if Congress approves H.R. 1925, “America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009.” SEMA submitted testimony to the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands in opposition to the bill to designate 9.4 million acres of land in Utah as “wilderness,” a label which bans mechanized activities, including off-roading, snowmobiling and mountain biking.

The issue is of keen interest to off-roaders and the SEMA-member companies that market off-road equipment.

Most of the 146 co-sponsors of the legislation represent areas east of the Rockies. At a recent House Subcommittee hearing, opposition to the bill was voiced from local residents and lawmakers representing the state. Concerns were also raised by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director Robert Abbey who cautioned that current off-highway vehicle areas would be closed.

The BLM manages all of the land subject to closure. Director Abbey also noted that the agency had not yet completed mapping or an analysis of each area to be designated as wilderness, which would allow the BLM to make informed recommendations on wilderness designations.

SEMA will continue to monitor Congressional action on this legislation. Read SEMA comments on Red Rock Wilderness Act.

For additional details, contact Ethan Landesman at ethanl@sema.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommended that hydrofluoroolefin (HFO-1234yf) be considered an acceptable substitute for chlorofluorocarbon “CFC-12” (also known as R-12 or Freon-12) in vehicle air-conditioning systems. Manufacturers of the substance would first need to take steps to prevent leakage issues, which could raise flammability concerns.

Use of the chemical would be limited to new vehicles until the EPA was satisfied that flammability could be adequately addressed with respect to retrofit equipment.

The EPA’s action is part of the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, which determines acceptable substitutes for ozone-depleting substances such as Freon and other CFCs. The EPA is also seeking to address the global warming potential (GWP) of these chemicals. HFO-1234yf has about four times the GWP potential of carbon dioxide, but is still far below CFC-12, which has a GWP of 10,890.

For additional information, visit www.epa.gov/ozone/snap. Questions may be directed to Stuart Gosswein.