Oil Spill
Harrison Co. to file suit against BP
WLOX
Harrison County is joining other local governments in filing a lawsuit
against BP. The litigation is about compensation the county claims it is
due because of the oil spill disaster.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17665059/harrison-co-to-file-suit-against-bp
Harrison County joins unified oil spill claim efforts
Published: Monday, April 23, 2012, 5:33 PM Updated: Monday, April 23,
2012, 6:17 PM
By April M. Havens, The Mississippi Press
HARRISON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Harrison County is the latest county to
join forces with other governmental entities on the coast in an effort to
recover losses from BP's 2010 oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/04/harrison_county_joins_unified.html
Harrison County files claim against BP
Sun Herald
By MELISSA M. SCALLAN
GULFPORT -- The Harrison County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously
Monday to file a claim against BP for losses related to the 2010 oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/23/v-print/3901072/harrison-county-files-claim-against.html
Shrimp processors object to BP settlement terms
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A group of Gulf Coast shrimp processors asked a federal
judge Monday to hold off on giving his preliminary approval to portions of
BP's proposed class-action settlement of economic damage claims spawned by
the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17661196/shrimp-processors-object-to-bp-settlement-terms
Brown pelicans rebounding, 2 years after Gulf oil spill
Published: Monday, April 23, 2012, 11:00 PM
By Bob Marshall, The Times-Picayune
Last Thursday morning, the Cat Islands in Barataria Bay looked like a slice
of brown pelican heaven. Every mangrove bush seemed crowned by a nest, and
each nest was home to a group of youngsters, from the tiny, hairless
newborns that resemble dinosaurs more than birds, to the gangly adolescents
trying to test their emerging plumage. And each nest was guarded by at
least one vigilant parent while other adults were wheeling across the blue
sky hunting for finned meals in the sparkling green waters below.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/04/brown_pelicans_rebounding_2_ye.html
Reaction to details of BP's settlement have been mixed
Published: Monday, April 23, 2012, 5:03 PM Updated: Monday, April 23,
2012, 5:08 PM
By Rebecca Mowbray, The Times-Picayune
Shrimp processing factories had made great strides in working with Gulf
Coast Claims Facility Administrator Ken Feinberg toward a formula that they
felt would fairly and effectively compensate them for their losses from the
BP oil spill. But Eddy Hayes, an attorney for the American Shrimp
Processors Association, said that the settlement filed in court last week
between BP and plaintiff attorneys erases all the progress that had been
made, because it uses some of the very same approaches that the group had
been trying to get Feinberg to abandon.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/04/reaction_to_details_of_bps_set.html
Gulf Still Grapples With Massive BP Oil Leak 2 Years Later
PBS
JEFFREY BROWN: Well, here in the present, two years on, the Gulf still
grapples with the impacts of the BP spill.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/science/jan-june12/gulfspill_04-20.html
Chamber, Main Street group spruce up downtown Moss Point
Sun Herald
By LINDSAY KNOWLES
MOSS POINT -- The Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Moss Point Main
Street officials worked together Monday to clean up the downtown riverfront
area as part of the coast-wide Clean Our Scene campaign.
The initiative, which is taking place in the three Mississippi coastal
counties, is sponsored by the Gulf Coast Regional Tourism Partnership and
is funded by a $16 million grant from BP.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/23/v-print/3901088/chamber-main-street-group-spruce.html
State News
DeSoto cities bag green awards
Hernando, Southaven lauded for sustainability
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Hernando may have lost the first Earth Day trash-sack race challenge, but
the city still can savor some green glory -- an "enHance" award for
stewardship from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/apr/24/desoto-cities-bag-green-awards/?print=1
Earth Day enjoys largest crowd
DeSoto Times
HERNANDO — In a county versus city matchup, DeSoto won by a hair — make
that a cigarette butt or torn paper napkin or two.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2012/04/24/news/doc4f95f7d31ccb3078559749.txt
Kemper County Coal-Fired Power Plant on Public Service Commission Agenda
MPB
Published by Rhonda Miller on 23 Apr 2012 04:52pm
The Sierra Club and Mississippi Power are expected to face off again today
over the Kemper County coal plant. MPB's Rhonda Miller reports the state
Public Service Commission will consider giving final approval to the
project.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/kemper_county_coal_fired_power_plant_on_public_service_commission_agenda
Small businesses stepping into regulatory review role
Committee will be able to push for changes in new rules
AP
As owners of a medical equipment company, Danyelle and Wayne Carroll say
they deal with the bureaucracy of nearly a dozen state and federal agencies
covering everything from taxes to Medicaid policies.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120424/NEWS/204240314/Small-businesses-stepping-into-regulatory-review-role
National News
EPA: 'More work needs to be done'
USA Today
The Environmental Protection Agency didn't respond to requests for an
opposing view. Excerpts from statements by EPA and two of its regional
offices to USA TODAY for its series on lead pollution:
OUR VIEW: Lead monitors fail kids
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/story/2012-04-23/EPA-lead-smelters-data/54494592/1
EPA Working on Guidance to Help States Develop, Revise TMDLs for Water
Bodies
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Bloomberg
By Amena H. Saiyid
The Environmental Protection Agency is developing guidance on implementing
the total maximum daily load requirements of the Clean Water Act, including
recommendations for states that want to modify existing TMDLs, according to
documents circulated at a meeting April 23.
http://www.bna.com/epa-working-guidance-n12884909035/
EPA to help fund clean diesel efforts
UPI
Published: April 24, 2012 at 8:16 AM
WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- Up to $20 million is available in grant
funding to help lower emissions from the U.S. fleet of diesel-powered
vehicles, the EPA said.
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/04/24/EPA-to-help-fund-clean-diesel-efforts/UPI-40581335269818/
Trading Company Sues EPA Over Handling of Scandal
Published April 23, 2012
Reuters
A trading company ensnared in the fallout from massive fraud uncovered in
the U.S. renewable fuel mandate has filed a lawsuit against the U.S.
government for its handling of the scandal.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2012/04/23/trading-company-sues-epa-over-handling-scandal/
Delay sought on farm bill
Politico
By: David Rogers
April 23, 2012 09:05 PM EDT
A draft Senate farm bill would save $26.4 billion over the next 10 years,
but it faces resistance from Southern commodity interests who are pressing
for a delay in Wednesday's markup before the Senate Agriculture Committee.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0412/75515.html
Press Releases
$20 Million Available for Clean Diesel Projects
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing
the availability of up to $20 million in FY 2012 grant funding to establish
clean diesel projects aimed at reducing harmful pollution from the nation's
existing fleet of diesel engines and improving air quality and Americans'
health. In addition to these grants, approximately $9 million will be
available through direct state allocations. EPA estimates that for every $1
spent on clean diesel funding up to $13 of public health benefit is
realized.
"Technology has evolved to make diesel engines more efficient and cleaner
than ever," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of
Air and Radiation. "These grants enable owners of older diesel vehicles to
make investments that modernize their vehicles while making the air in
their communities cleaner and healthier to breathe."
This is the first competition since the Diesel Emission Reduction Program,
also known as DERA, was reauthorized in 2011. The program cleans up
existing diesel vehicles, many of which can be operated for decades, by
targeting projects that utilize the most cost-effective clean diesel
strategies. By reducing diesel emissions in areas that have significant air
quality issues the program can have a direct impact on community health.
Diesel engines are durable, fuel efficient workhorses in the American
economy. EPA has standards in place that make new diesels more than 90
percent cleaner. However, older diesels that predate these standards emit
large amounts of air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and
particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are linked to health problems,
including asthma, lung and heart disease, and even premature death. Nearly
11 million older diesels still operate throughout the nation's
transportation system.
States, tribes, local governments, and non-profits are eligible to apply
for these grants. Projects can reduce air pollution from older school
buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines,
locomotives, and other diesel engines. The closing date for receipt of
proposals is June 4, 2012.
DERA was enacted in 2005 and since it was first funded in FY 2008, EPA has
awarded over 500 grants nationwide. These projects have reduced hundreds of
thousands of tons of air pollution and saved millions of gallons of fuel.
As part of EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign, many of these projects
fund cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged
communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of
respiratory ailments.
Request for Proposals forms and related documents:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/diesel/prgnational.htm
EPA Releases List of Top 50 Green-Powered Organizations
Intel, Kohl's, Microsoft rank in top three
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released an
updated list of the Top 50 Green Power Partnership organizations
voluntarily using clean, renewable electricity from resources such as
solar, wind, and low-impact hydropower. Intel Corporation tops the list as
the largest single user of green power, followed by Kohl's Department
Stores and Microsoft Corporation. Combined, the Top 50 partners are using
more than 15 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. Through
their use of green power, these top organizations are avoiding carbon
pollution equal to that created by the electricity use of more than 1.3
million American homes each year.
EPA's Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,300 partner
organizations, over half of which are small businesses and nonprofit
organizations, to voluntarily use green power. Green power resources
produce electricity with an environmental profile superior to conventional
power technologies, and produce significantly fewer greenhouse gas
emissions.
"We applaud all of our Green Power Partners for their use of clean,
renewable energy. For the first time, each of the Top 50 partners is using
more than 100 million kilowatt-hours of green power annually," said EPA
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Their actions help to reduce harmful carbon
pollution that threatens the health of our planet and the air we breathe,
and mark another step toward a new era of clean, innovative American
energy."
Intel has ranked number one on the list since 2008 and uses more than 2.5
billion kWh annually, or 88 percent of the company's nationwide electricity
use. Microsoft, which holds the number three spot, and McDonald's USA LLC,
which ranks eleventh, are new to the list.
The Green Power Partnership also updated the rankings of the 100 Percent
Green Power Users list, which highlights close to 700 partners using green
power for their entire electricity load, as well as its Top 20 Retailers
and Top 20 Local Governments lists. Kohl's ranks number one on both the Top
20 Retailers and 100 Percent Green Power Users lists while the City of
Houston ranks number one on the Top 20 Local Governments list.
More on the Top 50 list and other rankings: www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists
More on EPA's Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower
Obama Administration Names 78 Schools in 29 States and D.C. as First-Ever
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
Winners represent a diverse portfolio of schools, includes 66 public and 12
private schools in urban and rural communities
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan was joined today by
White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson to announce the
first-ever U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools, a list
including 78 schools that span 29 states and D.C.
The announcement was made during a visit to Stoddert Elementary School, one
of D.C.'s two honorees.
"Science, environmental and outdoor education plays a central role in
providing children with a well-rounded education, helping prepare them for
the jobs of the future," said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
"U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate compelling
examples of the ways schools can help children build real-world skillsets,
cut school costs, and provide healthy learning environments."
U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) is a federal
recognition program that opened in September 2011. Honored schools exercise
a comprehensive approach to creating "green" environments through reducing
environmental impact, promoting health, and ensuring a high-quality
environmental and outdoor education to prepare students with the 21st
century skills and sustainability concepts needed in the growing global
economy.
"Schools that take a green approach cut costs on their utility bills,
foster healthy and productive classrooms, and prepare students to thrive in
the 21st century economy," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House
Council on Environmental Quality. "These Green Ribbon School award winners
are taking outstanding steps to educate tomorrow's environmental leaders,
and demonstrating how sustainability and environmental awareness make sense
for the health of our students and our country."
The 78 awarded schools were named winners from among nearly 100 nominees
submitted by 30 state education agencies, the District of Columbia and the
Bureau of Indian Education. More than 350 schools completed applications to
their state education agencies. Among the list of winners are 66 public
schools including 8 charters, and 12 private schools composed of 43
elementary, 31 middle and 26 high schools with around 50 percent
representing high poverty schools.
"These Green Ribbon Schools are giving students and educators what they
need to maximize learning and minimize risks like asthma and other
respiratory illnesses, ensuring that no child is burdened by pollution in
or around their school," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Today's
winners are protecting our children's health and opening up environmental
education opportunities for students. The EPA is proud to help recognize
the Green Ribbon award winners and will continue working to improve the
environment of our nation's schools and helping prepare students to succeed
in the emerging green economy."
The U.S. Department of Education's "Green Ribbons" are one-year recognition
awards. Next year's competition will open in summer 2012. State agencies
are encouraged to send their intents to submit nominees by June 15, 2012
via email to green.ribbon.schools@ed.gov.
Connect with more U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools
resources.
Read all U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools blogs.
Connect with U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools on Facebook.
