Oil Spill
Gulf Islands National Seashore visitors spent $29.7 million in 2010
Published: Monday, March 19, 2012, 6:00 AM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Visitors to Gulf Islands National Seashore
spent $29.7 million in communities near the park in 2010 and that supported
430 jobs in the area, according to a National Park Service report.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/03/gulf_islands_national_seashore_1.html
Dolphin deaths drop dramatically
WLOX
Marine scientists are investigating the death of an adult dolphin that
washed ashore just west of Hewes Avenue in Gulfport.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17178843/dolphin-deaths-drop-dramatically
Tourism Folks Optimistic About The Summer Season
WLOX
The Summer tourism season is not here yet, but Spring Break is.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17179699/toursim-folks-optimistic-about-the-summer-season
Louisiana blue crab earns a blue ribbon
Published: Monday, March 19, 2012, 7:10 AM
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune
Thanks to a first-in-the-Gulf of Mexico designation, Louisiana blue crabs
might appear more readily in restaurants and grocery stores across the
globe. The designation of blue crab as a "certified sustainable fishery''
might also fetch the state's 3,000 blue crab commercial fishers more money
by further differentiating their product.
http://blog.nola.com/entertainment_impact_dining/print.html?entry=/2012/03/blue_crab_now_a_certified_sust.html
Filing of settlement expected by April 16
AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Attorneys in the proposed multibillion dollar settlement
of lawsuits against BP over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster expect to
present a federal judge with the details of the proposal by April 16.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/143009665.html
Oil companies invest in Gulf spill response
Daily Comet
A coalition of oil companies has increased its spill-cleanup capacity in
the Gulf of Mexico by tens of thousands of barrels a day.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20120318/ARTICLES/120319616/1214?p=2&tc=pg
New Book Helps Kids Cope With BP Oil Spill
Former Journalist Pens Story On Tragic Disaster
WDSU
NEW ORLEANS -- The aftermath of the BP oil spill still crowds the airwaves
each night making it tough on adults, but kids are feeling the effects too.
http://www.wdsu.com/r/30697518/detail.html
Oil from BP disaster contaminated ocean food chain, research confirms
Facing South Blog
Scientists have confirmed that oil from BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster has
entered the marine food chain.
http://southernstudies.org/2012/03/oil-from-bp-disaster-contaminated-ocean-food-chain-research-confirms.html
State News
Resident still concerned about Woolmarket oak trees
WLOX
It was a proud day for Woolmarket residents when they convinced the
Harrison County Utility Authority to burrow under some historic oak trees,
instead of tearing them down in order to install new sewer lines. But one
resident, worries the trees have been damaged anyway.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17186961/resident-still-concerned-about-woolmarket-oak-trees
Mississippi Power and Sierra Club talk about ruling
WLOX
The Mississippi Supreme Court unanimously ruled the Public Service
Commission must go back and provide more details on why commissioners eased
the financial terms under which the Kemper County Power Plant could be
built.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17182580/mississippi-power-and-siera-club-talk-about-ruling
Mississippi Power will keep building Kemper County
WLOX
Mississippi Power will keep building its new Kemper County Integrated
Gasification Combined Cycle facility, despite a ruling by the Mississippi
Supreme Court to send the certification process back to the Public Service
Commission.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17177424/mississippi-power-will-keep-building-kemper-county
Suit challenges Mississippi Development Authority's offshore seismic,
leasing rule (updated with pdf document)
Published: Friday, March 16, 2012, 6:13 AM Updated: Friday, March 16,
2012, 7:38 PM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- A lawsuit filed by two environmental groups
seeks to halt implementation of Mississippi Development Authority seismic
and leasing rules for the state's offshore waters.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/03/suit_challenges_mississippi_de.html
Amite Co. expects good, bad from oil activity
Enterprise Journal
By RANDY HAMMONS
At first glance, Amite County's entry into the oil boom business could be a
two-headed monster.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/03/19/v-print/3827061/amite-co-expects-good-bad-from.html
Jack Ryan: A fracking update
Enterprise Journal
A couple of interesting items about fracking came my way last week, and
they are worth sharing.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/opinion/article_611af676-70af-11e1-bc15-0019bb2963f4.html
Water/sewer improvements on Council agenda again
By Eloria Newell James
Laurel Leader Call
LAUREL — The Laurel City Council will consider pursuing funding options for
the city to do more water and sewer improvements.
http://leadercall.com/local/x1284941013/Water-sewer-improvements-on-Council-agenda-again
Boley cleanup to team up with Great American cleanup
By Jeremy Pittari
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE — Cleanup of not only the Hobolochitto Creek, but also the city,
is planned for April.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1690520071/Boley-cleanup-to-team-up-with-Great-American-cleanup
Volunteers clearing 800-acre greenspace in Gautier (photo gallery)
Published: Monday, March 19, 2012, 6:03 AM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
GAUTIER, Mississippi -- An 800-acre preserve off the Gautier-Vancleave Road
is gradually being cleared of debris and its fire lines turned into trails
with the work of volunteers in the Wildlife Federation's Habitat Stewards
program.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/03/volunteers_clearing_800-acre_g.html
Coast: Offshore drilling moves too fast
Editorial – Clarion Ledger
In addition to a lengthy list of pardons, former Gov. Haley Barbour left
another highly controversial matter for Mississippians to contend with as
he went out the door - offshore drilling.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120319/OPINION01/203190307/Coast-Offshore-drilling-moves-too-fast?odyssey=mod|
newswell|text|Opinion|p
National News
With Gas Prices Rising, Smog Rules May Stall
Wall Street Journal
By TENNILLE TRACY
The Obama administration, facing political heat over high gasoline prices,
may delay new rules that would cut pollution from cars but also could bring
higher prices at the pump, environmental and industry leaders said.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303812904577289492012447990.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
EPA finds Pennsylvania well water safe after drilling
In Dimock, Pa., some residents had complained of contamination in the wake
of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The agency will continue testing.
By Neela Banerjee
LA Times Washington Bureau
The Environmental Protection Agency said it did not find significant
contamination in well water serving 11 Pennsylvania families who feared
that natural gas drilling had polluted their well.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-fracking-dimock-20120318,0,1300487.story
Push Comes to Shove Over Water Restrictions
NY Times
By KATE GALBRAITH
FLOYDADA — J. O. Dawdy, who has been a farmer for 36 years, is so worried
about getting enough groundwater that he is considering a lawsuit to
protect his right to it.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/us/in-west-texas-push-comes-to-shove-over-water-restrictions.html?_r=1&ref=earth&pagewanted=print
As climate changes, Louisiana seeks to lift a highway
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Published: March 18
GOLDEN MEADOW, La.— Here on the side of Louisiana's Highway 1, next to
Raymond's Bait Shop, a spindly pole with Global Positioning System
equipment and a cellphone stuck on top charts the water's gradual
encroachment on dry land.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/as-climate-changes-louisiana-seeks-to-lift-a-highway/2012/03/12/gIQAJoEQLS_print.html
Coast Guard orders ships to cleanse ballast water to protect against
foreign species invasions
By Associated Press, Published: March 16
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Oceangoing cargo ships will be required to zap their
ballast water with ultraviolet light, chemicals or other treatments before
dumping it in U.S. waters under a regulation the Coast Guard announced
Friday to prevent species invasions that damage the environment and cause
billions in economic losses.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/coast-guard-orders-ships-to-cleanse-ballast-water-to-protect-against-foreign-species-invasions/2012/03/16/gIQAKqPJHS_print.html
Hunters fire back at environmental group's effort to ban 'toxic' lead
bullets
Fox News
By Perry Chiaramonte
Hunters are up in arms over an Arizona-based conservation group latest bid
to get the federal government to ban lead bullets, which the
environmentalists claim contaminates the food chain.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/16/hunting-industry-fires-back-at-environmental-groups-effort-to-ban-toxic-lead/
Press Releases
Mississippi River Commission schedules high-water inspection trip
VICKSBURG, Miss., March 12, 2012 -- The Mississippi River Commission will
conduct its annual high-water inspection trip on the Mississippi River
March
26-30, 2012.
Four public meetings have been scheduled aboard the Motor Vessel
MISSISSIPPI
in selected towns along the river so commission members have the
opportunity
to meet with local residents and hear their concerns, ideas and issues.
The
meeting places, dates and times are as follows:
* March 26 9:00 a.m. Tiptonville, Tenn., at
River Park
* March 27 9:00 a.m. Memphis, Tenn., at Mud
Island
* March 28 1:00 p.m. Vicksburg, Miss., at City
Front
* March 30 9:00 a.m. New Orleans, La., at
Thalia Street
Wharf
All meetings are open to the public. Local interests are invited to
present
their views and suggestions on matters affecting the water resources
infrastructure needs in the valley, including flood control and the
Mississippi River and Tributaries project, environmental issues, recreation
and navigation.
The agenda for each public meeting will be as follows:
1. Summary report by President of the Commission on national and regional
issues affecting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Commission programs
and
projects on the Mississippi River and its tributaries.
2. District Commander's overview for the Commission on current project
issues in the respective District area.
3. Presentations to the Commission by local organizations and members of
the
public giving views or comments on any issue affecting the programs or
projects of the Commission and the Corps of Engineers.
The MRC, established in 1879, is composed of seven members, each nominated
by
the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate. Three of
the
organization's members are officers of the Corps of Engineers; one member
is
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and three members
are civilians, two of whom are civil engineers.
General duties of the commission include recommendation of policy and work
programs, the study of and reporting upon the necessity for modifications
or
additions to the flood control and navigation project, recommendation upon
any matters authorized by law, and making semi-annual inspection trips. The
duties of the commission include the entire length of the Mississippi River
from its headwaters at Lake Itasca, Minn., to Head of Passes, La., where
the
Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
The purpose of the public meetings is to maintain a dialogue, an exchange
of
viewpoints and ideas flowing between the public and the Corps.
Presentations
by the public are made orally, but a copy of the remarks should be
presented
to the commission for the official record.
The public hearing process is unique to the Mississippi River Commission
and
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The benefits of hearing the issues and
concerns first hand through the public hearing process are invaluable to
the
commission and the Corps. Also, the interaction with congressional,
federal
and state interests, local boards and non-government organizations and the
public is crucial to the decision-making process of the commission.
Since 1879, the seven-member Presidentially appointed Mississippi River
Commission has developed and matured plans for the general improvement of
the
Mississippi River from the Head of Passes to the Headwaters. The
Mississippi
River Commission brings critical engineering representation to the drainage
basin, which impacts 41% of the United States and includes 1.25 million
square miles, over 250 tributaries, 31 states, and 2 Canadian provinces.
Listening, Inspecting, Partnering and Engineering since 1879.
- end -
