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.