As of Tue. - 5/5/2020, all business functions and operational facets within the 3 separate EBAA IRON facilities (e.g.:  Eastland, TX; Albany, TX and Cordele, GA) are still operating as business as usual.  There continues to be no changes or interruptions to our production, raw materials supply chain and/or our delivery capabilities of EBAA products.

FYI - our updates have become bi-weekly basis.  Hopefully soon, these updates can become monthly updates, with our intention to eventually be able to cease providing them all together once this pandemic is behind us.

As of Mon. - 4/20/2020, there continues to be no change or interruptions to our production and/or delivery capabilities at EBAA IRON, INC.

Here is a link to a 4/17/2020-dated announcement letter from The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the latest guidance from Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regarding Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers guidelines:
https://www.cisa.gov/news/2020/04/17/cisa-releases-version-30-guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workers-during

This latest 3.0 version of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers guidance is intended to help state and local jurisdictions (and the private sector) identify and manage their essential workforce while responding to COVID-19.  CISA’s original guidance was released on March 19, 2020 and version 2.0 was subsequently released on March 28, 2020.  Here is a link to the 4/17/2020-dated release of the latest 3.0 version:
version 3.0 of the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers guidance

As a reminder, EBAA IRON, INC. continues to qualify as being considered an Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce manufacturer under the definitions & guidelines for determining Critical Manufacturing per the initial 3/19/2020-dated advisory list as provided by CISA in their efforts to execute the Secretary of Homeland Security’s authority to secure critical infrastructure.  See below definition/guidance:
CRITICAL MANUFACTURING

• Workers necessary for the manufacturing of metals (including steel and aluminum), industrial minerals, semiconductors, materials and products needed for medical supply chains and for supply chains associated with transportation, aerospace, energy, communications, information technology, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, wood products, commodities used as fuel for power generation facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, processing and reprocessing of solid waste, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains, and workers necessary to maintain a manufacturing operation in warm standby.
• Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed to manufacture medical equipment and PPE.
• Workers necessary for mining and production of critical minerals, materials and associated essential supply chains, and workers engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for mining production and distribution.
• Workers who produce or manufacture parts or equipment that supports continued operations for any essential services and increase in remote workforce, including computing and communication devices, semiconductors, and equipment such as security tools for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) or data centers.
• Workers manufacturing or providing parts and equipment that enable the maintenance and continued operation of essential businesses and facilities.

Additionally, in an effort to assure we are providing a safe & clean work environment for all of our highly valued EBAA IRON, INC. employees & associates, we are continually monitoring our onsite enforcement and implementation of the COVID-19 risk mitigation practices (as recommended by the CDC).  Each of our 3-separate EBAA IRON facilities (which are located in Eastland, TX; Albany, TX and Cordele, GA) continue to make sure that the appropriate emphasis is being placed on protecting the health and well-being of all onsite employees (as well as for any outside contractors or visitors to our facilities) in order to properly carry out their daily work performance routines.

On Saturday, March 28, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released updated guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce. (see below following link)
CISA Guidance on the Essential Critical Infrastructure Workforce Version 2.0 Updated.pdf

Among other things, the updated guidance - developed with input from other federal agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector - expands the descriptive language related to the “Critical Manufacturing” sector as follows:

• Workers necessary for the manufacturing of metals (including steel and aluminum), industrial minerals, semiconductors, materials and products needed for medical supply chains, and for supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, information technology, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, wood products, commodities used as fuel for power generation facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, processing and reprocessing of solid waste, emergency services, and the defense industrial base. Additionally, workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains, and workers necessary to maintain a manufacturing operation in warm standby
• Workers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed to manufacture medical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Workers necessary for mining and production of critical minerals, materials and associated essential supply chains, and workers engaged in the manufacture and maintenance of equipment and other infrastructure necessary for mining production and distribution.
• Workers who produce or manufacture parts or equipment that supports continued operations for any essential services and increase in remote workforce (including computing and communication devices, semiconductors, and equipment such as security tools for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) or data centers).

As did the previous version, the guidance notes that it is “advisory in nature” and that “individual jurisdictions should add or subtract essential workforce categories based on their own requirements and discretion.”

As of 3/30/2020, EBAA IRON and its each of its 3 separate facilities are still operating as “normal” under the auspices of the above noted guidance guidelines and with the assurances that we have incorporated - as well as continue to enforce and implement into our operations - the COVID-19 risk mitigation practices as recommended by the CDC.

Per the attached 3/23/2020-issued guidance memo from US Dept. of Homeland Security – C.I.S.A., EBAA IRON, INC. is still operating each of our 3 manufacturing and distribution facilities as normally, along with affirmation to the local and state authorities for where we operate that we have incorporated into our operations the COVID-19 risk mitigation practices as recommended by the CDC.  Below is a summary of the guidance memo and with how it applies to EBAA IRON, INC.  Also, here is a link to the US Dept. of Homeland Security – C.I.S.A. website for obtaining more detailed info. on this recently issued guidance memo:
https://www.cisa.gov/publication/guidance-essential-critical-infrastructure-workforce

SUMMARY
On March 23, 2020, US Dept. of Homeland Security – C.I.S.A. issued updated guidance addressing essential critical infrastructure workers and industries to aid State and local officials in their efforts to protect their communities from COVID-19.  Under CISA’s guidance, “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” within the “Critical Manufacturing” sector, include:
“[w]orkers necessary for the manufacturing of materials and products needed for … supply chains associated with transportation, energy, communications, food and agriculture, chemical manufacturing, nuclear facilities, the operation of dams, water and wastewater treatment, emergency services, and the defense industrial base…” including “workers needed to maintain the continuity of these manufacturing functions and associated supply chains.”

The “Critical Manufacturing” sector, is one of the 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified by CISA in its National Infrastructure Protection Plan 2013: Partnering for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (NIPP 2013).  It includes the manufacturing industries that are the most crucial for the continuity of the other critical sectors and that have significant national economic implications.  In its 2015 Critical Manufacturing Sector-Specific Plan, CISA identifies primary metals manufacturing and, specifically, iron and steel mills, as part of the critical manufacturing sector.  U.S. iron foundry producers of metal castings for water, wastewater and public transportation infrastructure (such as EBAA IRON, INC.) fall squarely within this description. – End summary

As all of you are well aware, federal, state and local authorities face unprecedented challenges in their efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 and mitigate the economic impacts of the pandemic.  Among these efforts, a growing number of state and local authorities have issued “shelter in place” and “stay at home” directives.  As state and local governments order the shutdown of nonessential businesses to help address the worsening pandemic, many are relying on the CISA guidance to define essential critical infrastructure workers.  The CISA guidance should help states and localities identify the producers and employees that should continue normal operations, including iron foundries and metal fabricators, which manufacture products for the nation’s critical public works infrastructure.

Thus, based on this recently issued US Dept. of Homeland Security – C.I.S.A. guidance memo, along with our ongoing onsite enforcement and implementation of the COVID-19 risk mitigation practices (as recommended by the CDC) at each of our EBAA IRON facilities, we do not anticipate incurring any interruption to our production or operational capabilities at being able to supply any of our distributors, end user customers or client partners with their material needs for EBAA products.  If any of this changes, you will be updated immediately. 

Please feel free to share this information with your fellow staff members or with any other concerned parties within your respective territories who may be interested in our current work place status and/or manufacturing capabilities due to the ongoing impacts associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

At this time, EBAA IRON, INC. is not experiencing any work force related issues or supply chain interruptions at being able to produce or to obtain the necessary raw materials or minor components needed to manufacture and/or completely assemble any of our cast ductile iron finished product items within our normal capabilities or standard lead time schedules.  Hence, we do not anticipate having to implement any work stoppages or production slow-downs any time soon due to COVID-19 related issues at any of our 3 separate U.S.-based foundry, manufacturing and distribution facilities (located in Eastland, TX; Albany, TX and Cordele, GA).  Thankfully, all of our essential component and raw material suppliers are U.S.-based as well (who are also not reliant upon offshore sourcing) and each of them have provided us positive feedback and assurances that they too are well prepared at this time to keep all of their supply chain channels and production facilities open and running smoothly in order to maintain uninterrupted throughput capabilities for their customers (like EBAA IRON) during this unprecedented time period as well.

Thus, barring any federal or state level emergency orders or mandates to require of us to shut down our work places, it’s business as usual for EBAA IRON at each of its 3 separate facilities and with all of its over 450+ employees – granted, with a special emphasis these days at making sure all of our employees are fully aware of how and why they should be practicing appropriate personal hygiene in the workplace (as well as at home) and to be mindful of when it’s necessary or appropriate to implement social distancing practices as well.”

Keep being safe and healthy,

Jim Keffer, President