State News
Hazmat spill could take three days to clean
Sun Herald
By ROBIN FITZGERALD
GULFPORT -- A hazardous-materials crew is working around the clock to clean
up a corrosive liquid spill at Channel Chemical Corp. and expects the
cleanup will take two or three days, Earl Etheridge of the state Department
of Environmental Quality said Tuesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/14/v-print/3753408/hazmat-spill-could-take-three.html
DEQ: No danger from chemical leak on Seaway Road
WLOX
A chemical spill on Seaway Road will "minimal impact" on the environment.
That's according to Earl Etheridge with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality.
http://www.wlox.com/story/16931825/deq-no-danger-from-chemical-leak-on-seaway-road
Drilling opponents say state should slow down
Sun Herald
By GEOFF PENDER
GULFPORT -- Mississippi is rushing toward drilling in state waters without
having "done its homework" or addressed concerns about tourism, the
environment or economics, opponents say.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/14/v-print/3753604/drilling-opponents-say-state-should.html
Department of Marine Resources to seek Fishery Failure declaration from
NOAA
Published: Wednesday, February 15, 2012, 6:56 AM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
BILOXI, Mississippi -- A fishery failure declaration for the shrimp season
in state waters may be requested from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration as early as this week, said Dale Diaz, director of Marine
Fisheries for the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/02/mississippi_department_of_mari_4.html
Public documents can be pricey
AP
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS
JACKSON -- Belzoni resident Glenn Russell says he paid $278 last year for a
copy of the Humphreys County Board of Supervisors claims docket. That was
$1 a page for 278 pages.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/14/v-print/3753600/public-documents-can-be-pricey.html
National News
While touting 'fracking,' Salazar confronted by professed victim
The Hill
By Andrew Restuccia - 02/14/12 01:46 PM ET
The Obama administration was served with a stark reminder Tuesday that its
embrace of natural-gas drilling is being met with heartfelt resistance by
some.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/210603-secretary-salazar-confronted-by-emotional-fracking-critic
EPA Proposal Cuts Water Infrastructure Funds, Increases Air, Water
Pollution Grants
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Bloomberg
By Patrick Ambrosio
Contributing to this story was Pat Rizzuto
President Obama Feb. 13 proposed a fiscal year 2013 budget containing $8.3
billion in discretionary funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, a
$105 million decrease from fiscal 2012 achieved through cuts to state
wastewater treatment and drinking water funds.
http://www.bna.com/epa-proposal-cuts-n12884907868/
EPA sets new rules for emissions from PVC production
Houston Chronicle
By Matthew Tresaugue
Updated 09:46 p.m., Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday set stringent new emissions
limits for industrial plants that manufacture polyvinyl chloride, a
ubiquitous plastic commonly known as PVC.
http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/EPA-sets-new-rules-for-emissions-from-PVC-3324417.php
Press Releases
EPA Finalizes Air Toxic Emissions Standards for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Production Facilities
Standards will cut harmful emissions that impact local communities
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued
strong final standards requiring facilities that produce polyvinyl chloride
and copolymers (PVC) to reduce harmful air emissions, which will improve
air quality and protect people's health in communities where facilities are
located. Exposure to toxic air pollutants, like those emitted from PVC
facilities, can cause respiratory problems and other serious health issues,
and can increase the risk of developing cancer. In particular, children are
known to be more sensitive to the cancer risks posed by inhaling vinyl
chloride, one of the known carcinogens emitted from PVC facilities.
The final standards are based on currently available technologies and will
reduce emissions of air toxics, such as dioxin and vinyl chloride.
Facilities will have the flexibility to choose the most practical and
cost-effective control technology or technique to reduce the emissions.
Facilities will be required to monitor emissions at certain points in the
PVC production process to ensure that the standards are met.
Currently, there are 17 PVC production facilities throughout the United
States, with a majority of these facilities located in Louisiana and Texas.
All existing and any new PVC production facilities are covered by the final
rule.
PVC production facilities manufacture PVC resins that are used to make a
large number of commercial and industrial products at other manufacturing
facilities. These products include latex paints, coatings, adhesives, clear
plastics, rigid plastics, and flooring.
EPA had a 74-day public comment period and held two public hearings on the
proposal before issuing the final rule.
More information on the final rule: http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3fs.html
