Oil Spill
House backs BP fines plan
RESTORE Act would direct money to Gulf Coast states
Clarion Ledger
WASHINGTON — The House Thursday endorsed a bipartisan effort to steer
billions of dollars in fines from the BP oil spill to Gulf Coast
communities still recovering from the April 2010 disaster.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120217/NEWS/202170330/House-backs-BP-fines-plan
Oil spill fine amendment through House but much work remains
Published: Friday, February 17, 2012, 7:33 AM Updated: Friday, February
17, 2012, 8:21 AM
By George Altman, Washington Bureau , Press Register
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. House of Representatives approved language Thursday
calling for 80 percent of civil fines resulting from the 2010 oil spill,
which could amount well into the billions of dollars, to be reserved to
help Gulf states rebound from the disaster.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/02/oil_spill_fine_amendment_throu.html
Restore Act measure to boost BP cleanup passes U.S. House
Sun Herald
By MARIA RECIO
WASHINGTON -- The House approved an amendment Thursday pushed by Gulf State
lawmakers to dedicate 80 percent of the fines collected from the BP oil
spill to a trust fund for coastal restoration of Mississippi, Florida,
Alabama, Louisiana and Texas.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/02/16/v-print/3758736/restore-act-measure-to-boost-bp.html
House votes to direct 80 percent of Deepwater Horizon fines to Gulf states
The Hill
By Pete Kasperowicz - 02/16/12 05:45 PM ET
The House on Thursday afternoon approved an amendment that would require 80
percent of all fines assessed against BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill be directed to a Gulf coast restoration fund.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/211259-house-votes-to-direct-80-percent-of-deepwater-horizon-fines-to-gulf-states
State News
Ribbons cut on new sewage treatment plants
By Jeremy Pittari
The Picayune Item
PEARL RIVER COUNTY — After six and a half years of work, the Pearl River
County Utility Authority is now the first in Mississippi to have not one,
but two, state of the art computerized waste water treatment facilities up
and running.
On Wednesday, representatives from the Utility Authority's board of
directors, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and some
officials from both cities turned out to officially announce completion of
the facilities.
Both sewage plants, one each in Picayune and Poplarville, use ultraviolet
light as part of the waste water treatment process. MDEQ Executive Director
Trudy Fisher said Pearl River County's is the first Utility Authority in
Mississippi to get not one, but two of the state of the art computerized
facilities constructed and operational. She said she hopes other Utility
Authorities in the state will follow suit.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1049390588/Ribbons-cut-on-new-sewage-treatment-plants
DeSoto Co. asks EPA to alter ozone listing
Officials object to plan calling for "nonattainment"
AP
HERNANDO -DeSoto County has formally objected to the Environmental
Protection Agency's plan to list it as "nonattainment" on ozone levels.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120217/NEWS/202170327/DeSoto-Co-asks-EPA-alter-ozone-listing
EPA orders Mississippi Phosphates to correct corrosive water issue at
Pascagoula plant
Published: Thursday, February 16, 2012, 3:15 PM Updated: Thursday,
February 16, 2012, 3:40 PM
By April M. Havens, The Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Phosphate Corp. is being ordered by
the Environmental Protection Agency to take immediate action on a corrosive
water issue discovered last year, the agency announced today.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/02/epa_orders_mississippi_phospha.html
Pontotoc aldermen seek emergency sewer funding
by David Helms
The Pontotoc Progress
02.16.12 - 02:19 pm
The Pontotoc Board of Aldermen passed two resolutions last week in ongoing
efforts to secure $350,000 in emergency funds from the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to repair dire sewer problems in
the East Valley Drive neighborhood of Green Valley Subdivision.
http://nems360.com/view/full_story/17557691/article-Pontotoc-aldermen-seek-emergency-sewer-funding?instance=secondary_stories_left_column
Waste-water facility expansion gets nod
$1 million in federal funds available
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Friday, February 17, 2012
With just more than $1 million available from the Corps of Engineers in
fiscal 2012, the DeSoto Regional Utility Authority board has voted to
proceed with its expansion of the Short Fork Waste Water Treatment Facility
on the county's eastern side.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/feb/17/waste-water-facility-expansion-gets-nod/?print=1
Presley gets subpoenaed water bylaws
by Emily Le Coz
NEMS Daily Journal
02.17.12 - 06:15 am
TUPELO - Water associations that withheld their bylaws from Northern
District Mississippi Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley now are
complying after getting subpoenaed, Presley said.
http://nems360.com/view/full_story/17563810/article-Presley-gets-subpoenaed-water-bylaws?instance=secondary_stories_left_column
Fee policy reversal keeps events at rez
Clarion Ledger
Instruments and paddles will go up at the Ross Barnett Reservoir in May
after all.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120217/NEWS/202170331/Fee-policy-reversal-keeps-events-rez
National News
Barges collide on Mississippi River, spilling oil
Published: Friday, February 17, 2012, 8:09 AM Updated: Friday, February
17, 2012, 8:13 AM
By The Associated Press
LAPLACE, La. — The U.S. Coast Guard says an oil tanker barge collided with
another barge on the Mississippi, spilling oil and leading officials to
close a five-mile stretch of the river.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2012/02/barges_collide_on_mississippi.html
House and Senate GOP seek to overrule regulations on power plant pollution,
union elections
By Associated Press, Published: February 16
WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress launched bids Thursday to nullify
Obama administration rules that would speed up union elections and set the
first national air pollution standards for toxic mercury pollution from the
nation's power plants.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal-government/house-and-senate-gop-seek-to-overrule-regulations-on-power-plant-pollution-union-elections/2012/02/16/gIQAAs30HR_print.html
Business groups launch legal, Capitol Hill attacks on EPA mercury rule
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/16/12 05:18 PM ET
Major industry groups have stepped up efforts to scuttle new EPA rules that
require curbs on emissions of mercury and other air toxics from coal-fired
power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/211241-business-groups-launch-legal-capitol-hill-attacks-on-epa-mercury-rule
Inhofe to force vote on killing EPA's power plant mercury rule
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/16/12 01:01 PM ET
Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) announced plans Thursday to force a Senate vote
on killing new Environmental Protection Agency rules to curb emissions of
mercury and other air toxics from coal-fired power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/211167-inhofe-to-force-vote-on-killing-epas-power-plant-mercury-rule
White House begins gas 'fracking' rule review
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/16/12 09:50 AM ET
The White House Office of Management and Budget has begun vetting upcoming
Interior Department rules that will toughen regulation of the controversial
natural-gas drilling method called hydraulic fracturing.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/211093-white-house-begins-fracking-rule-review
Payroll deal spares EPA boiler rules
The Hill
By Andrew Restuccia - 02/16/12 09:23 AM ET
The compromise agreement to extend the payroll tax cut does not include a
provision to delay and soften Environmental Protection Agency boiler
pollution regulations, according to a Capitol Hill aide familiar with the
final deal.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/211083-payroll-deal-spares-epa-boiler-rules
UPDATE 1-U.S. EPA probing Navistar diesel-engine production
Reuters
Thu, Feb 16 2012
Feb 16 (Reuters) - Navistar International Corp confirmed on Thursday it
received notice the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is investigating
its diesel-engine production in a probe that could lead to as much as $285
million in fines.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/16/navistar-engines-idUSL2E8DGBY920120216
Press Releases
EPA Orders Mississippi Phosphates Corporation of Pascagoula, MS to
Correct Problems at their Facility
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421,
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an
Administrative Order on Consent to Mississippi Phosphates Corporation
(MPC) in Pascagoula, MS that requires expedited corrective measures be
taken at the facility to ensure the protection of public health and the
environment. EPA issued the order under Section 7003 of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), which provides statutory authority
to address an imminent and substantial endangerment to human health at
facilities.
EPA believes that an imminent and substantial endangerment to human
health and the environment exists at the facility due to corrosive water
discovered by the facility outside the West Stack perimeter dike in
January 2011 and September 2011. This order further directs MPC to
continue to perform corrective actions that were included in a previous
September 2009 Unilateral Order. The 2009 order was issued to MPC due to
the EPA's discovery of uncontrolled leaks and spills of sulfuric acid
and untreated discharges from sulfuric acid plants to the adjacent
bayou; and uncontrolled spills and leaks of phosphoric acid to unlined
ditches at the MPC facility in August 2009.
MPC began operation in the late 1950s and was a subsidiary of
Mississippi Chemical Corporation (MCC) from the early 1990's through
2004. On May 15, 2003, MCC filed for bankruptcy and MPC was acquired by
creditors. On December 21, 2004, MPC emerged from bankruptcy and is now
owned by Phosphate Holdings, Inc, a publicly traded corporation. MPC
manufactures sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid at the site and produces
diammonium phosphate (DAP), a phosphate-based fertilizer.
Some of the work required of MPC in the 7003 Order includes: the
submission of a revised plan to repair and replace degraded containment
around sulfuric acid plants (SAPs); the continued implementation of the
groundwater investigative and remediation work plan for the SAPs, DAP
plant and construction area southwest of SAPs; daily visual assessment
of seepage from west stack perimeter dike; and the submission of a west
gypsum stack system improvement plan. As MPC addresses the requirements
of this order, the EPA and Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality will continue to work jointly to oversee MPC's compliance with
environmental laws, regulations and permits.
###
EPA Issues Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Sites
New permit includes more protections for waterways, shaped by important
public and stakeholder feedback
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a
new permit, in accordance with the Clean Water Act, that will provide
streamlined permitting to thousands of construction operators, while
protecting our nation's waterways from discharges of polluted stormwater
from construction sites. Stormwater discharges from construction sites can
contain harmful pollutants, such as nutrients, that contaminate waters,
increase drinking water treatment costs, and damage aquatic ecosystems. The
new permit was shaped by important input from the public and stakeholders
to ensure that it provides important protections for waterways, while also
providing flexibility to operators.
The 2012 construction general permit (CGP) is required under the Clean
Water Act and replaces the existing 2008 CGP, which expired on February 15,
2012. The new permit includes a number of enhanced protections for surface
waters, including provisions to protect impaired and sensitive waters.
Under the Clean Water Act, national pollutant discharge elimination system
(NPDES) permits are typically issued for a five-year period, after which
time EPA generally issues revised permits based on updated information and
requirements, as is the case with today's announcement. NPDES permits
control water pollution by including limits on the amount of pollutants
that can be discharged into waterways by specific sources. The permit also
provides new flexibilities for operators. For example, it allows for
emergency projects (e.g., restoration following a flood or other natural
disaster) to begin immediately without permit authorization from EPA, while
still retaining full authority for EPA to ensure that the project proceeds
in an environmentally responsible manner once it has commenced. The permit
also enables operators of already permitted projects flexibility where
compliance with a new permit requirement is economically impracticable.
The 2012 CGP updates include steps intended to limit erosion, minimize
pollution sources, provide natural buffers or their equivalent around
surface waters, and further restrict discharges to areas impaired by
previous pollution discharge.
Many of the permit requirements implement new effluent limitations
guidelines and new source performance standards for the construction and
development industry that became effective on February 1, 2010, which
include pollution control techniques to decrease erosion and sediment
pollution.
The permit will be effective in areas where EPA is the permitting
authority: Idaho, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Washington,
D.C., and most U.S. territories and in Indian country lands.
EPA invited the public to comment on the draft permit. The agency also had
a webcast to introduce owners and operators of construction sites, members
of the public, and State or Tribal permitting authorities to the new
requirements of the proposed CGP.
More information on the proposed construction general permit:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/cgp.cfm
Commission for Environmental Cooperation Announces Funding to Address
Environmental Problems in North America
WASHINGTON – Today, Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) council
members including U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa
P. Jackson announced the winners of more than $1.3 million of grants under
the CEC's North American Partnership for Environmental Community Action
(NAPECA) program. The grants will support community efforts to promote
healthy communities and ecosystems, encourage activities that address
climate change through the transition to a low carbon economy, and advance
innovative projects that could assist in greening the economies of the
three countries.
Eighteen projects were chosen from 500 proposals received last year as part
of a new initiative announced at the CEC Council's meeting held in
Montreal. The successful projects span the eco-regions of North America and
support environmental action at the community level from the sub-arctic
tundra, to the grasslands of the Great Plains, to the tropical forests of
Mexico. Projects address issues ranging from the effects of climate change
on Woodland Caribou and the Athabaskan Peoples in Canada, to
citizen-powered air quality testing in Louisiana, and protecting the health
of women and children through the adoption of better clean energy cook
stoves in Mexico.
The 18 projects were selected based on their significance for addressing
community and North American environmental issues, their innovation and
technical or scientific approaches, their emphasis on promoting
partnerships and demonstration of a plan to produce clear and tangible
results. The projects represent an extremely broad base of hands-on groups
and organizations, representing tribal nations, indigenous peoples,
community organizations, environmental groups, and academic institutions.
The CEC council members include the environment ministers of the three
NAFTA countries: Canada's Environment Minister Peter Kent, Mexico's
Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources Juan Elvira Quesada and
US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
A complete list of grantees: http://www.cec.org/napeca
More information on the Commission for Environmental Cooperation:
http://www.epa.gov/oia/regions/na/nacec/index.html
