Oil Spill
House GOP subpoenas Interior Department over drilling ban report
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 04/03/12 12:38 PM ET
House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) on
Tuesday subpoenaed the Interior Department for documents about a 2010
report that erroneously suggested that outside engineers had endorsed a
deepwater drilling freeze following the BP oil spill.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/219691-house-republicans-subpoena-interior-over-drilling-ban-report
State News
Supervisor resolution on utility authority bill fails
By David A. Farrell
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — Pearl River County supervisors on Monday refused to take a
stand, when requested, to support a bill in the Mississippi House of
Representatives that would limit the authority and power of the county
utility authorities in Pearl River County and four other South Mississippi
counties. They gave no explanation of why they would not support the bill.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1940327387/Supervisor-resolution-on-utility-authority-bill-fails
Pearlington homeowners want supers to prevent storage site from opening
Sea Coast Echo
By GEOFF BELCHER
Apr 3, 2012, 22:02
Residents of the Bayou Woods subdivision in Pearlington on Monday showed up
in force to ask the Hancock County Board of Supervisors to stop a waste
storage site from opening near their homes.
http://12.68.233.230/40/article_5846.shtml
Sumrall recycling facility receives $1.5 million upgrade
WDAM
With the going green movement sweeping the nation, the number of schools,
homes, and employers recycling is skyrocketing. To combat this increasing
demand, Advanced Disposal Services has provided a $1.5 million upgrade to
it's Sumrall Recycling facility.
http://www.wdam.com/story/17321467/sumrall-recycling-facility-recieves-15-million-upgrade
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS CLEANUP
The Picayune Item
MCNEILL, Miss. — Pearl River County officials held a hazardous cleanup day
in McNeill. Residents were able to dispose of used motor oil, old batteries
and old electronics for free under a grant. Most of the items will be
recycled or used as alternative fuel sources.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1437247514/HAZARDOUS-MATERIALS-CLEANUP
County not ready to commit to regionalism funding yet
Natchez Democrat
…The board voted to give Murray the go-ahead to apply for a Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality grant to defray the cost of developing
a new solid waste plan.
The last solid waste plan was developed in 1994, and by law must be updated
every 20 years.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2012/04/03/county-not-ready-to-commit-to-regionalism-funding-yet/
EPA names new Gulf of Mexico program director
Florida Independent
By Virginia Chamlee | 04.03.12 | 1:35 pm
The EPA today announced the appointment of a director of a broad program
designed to "facilitate collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and
restore the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways
consistent with the economic well-being of the Region."
http://floridaindependent.com/74363/epa-gulf-of-mexico-ben-scaggs
Propane is 'stealth' alternative fuel, says Blossman Gas executive
Published: Tuesday, April 03, 2012, 11:08 PM Updated: Tuesday, April
03, 2012, 11:39 PM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A little more than a week ago, the buzz from
the Mississippi Capitol was all about compressed natural gas as the
alternative fuel for the state, as the celebrated T. Boone Pickens made his
pitch to the governor and legislators.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/04/propane_is_stealth_alternative.html
Bill to curb Personnel Board's oversight remains alive
Clarion Ledger
A bill that would have removed employees from under the state Personnel
Board is still alive after Tuesday's committee deadline, but a House
subcommittee's radically different version relieves opponents' fears.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120404/NEWS01/204040355/Bill-curb-Personnel-Board-s-oversight-remains-alive
National News
EPA Needs Two More Weeks to Complete Final Air Standards for Oil, Gas
Industry
Bloomberg
By Jessica Coomes
The Environmental Protection Agency told a federal court April 2 it needs
two additional weeks to finalize expanded air pollution standards for the
oil and gas industry (WildEarth Guardians v. EPA, D.D.C., No. 09-00089,
stipulation filed 4/2/12).
http://www.bna.com/epa-needs-two-n12884908776/
Biden blames fracking for earthquakes
Analysts say VP is shaky on his facts
Washington Times
The vice president shook up the scientific world Tuesday.
At a campaign stop in Virginia touting the administration's energy policy,
Vice President Joseph R. Biden blamed earthquakes on the extraction of
natural gas by fracking.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/apr/3/biden-blames-fracking-earthquakes/print/
Press Releases
EPA Announces Director for Gulf of Mexico Program
Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421,
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
(ATLANTA – April 3, 2012) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
announced the selection of Ben Scaggs
as the Director of the Gulf of Mexico Program. In his new role, Scaggs will
be responsible for overseeing a broad program designed to facilitate
collaborative actions to protect, maintain, and restore the health and
productivity of the Gulf of Mexico in ways consistent with the economic
well-being of the Region.
A native Mississippian, Scaggs began his career working on Capitol Hill for
the Veterans Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives then
transitioned to work as a legislative assistant for Congressman G.V.
"Sonny" Montgomery representing Mississippi's 3rd District. After
completing a Master's degree in Public Administration at the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill he worked for the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission in Washington, DC. He joined EPA in 1991 and currently serves as
EPA's Office Director overseeing the Agency's operation in Research
Triangle Park, North Carolina, which is the largest agency presence outside
of Washington, DC. Over the course of his 20 years at the Agency he has
worked in the Office of Air and Radiation and as an acting Enforcement
Branch Chief, in Region 4.
The Gulf of Mexico Program began in 1988 to protect, restore, and maintain
the health and productivity of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem in economically
sustainable ways. The program is financially supported by the Environmental
Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium of state
and federal government agencies and representatives of the business and
agricultural community, fishing industry, scientists, environmentalists,
and community leaders from all five Gulf States.
Founded on the threefold principles of partnership, science-based
information, and citizen involvement, the Gulf Program joined the Great
Lakes and Chesapeake Bay Programs as flagships of the nation's efforts to
apply an adaptive management approach to large coastal freshwater and
marine ecosystems.
"The Gulf of Mexico is a vast and productive body of water that is of
tremendous value in ecological, economic, and social terms." said EPA
Acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner. "We will look to Ben
to help us to continue in our efforts to ensure that the Gulf flourishes in
all its natural richness and variety, while embracing the needs and desires
of its people."
More than 60 percent of America's waters drain into the Gulf, creating both
large opportunities and challenges. In addition to its tremendous
ecological, economic, and social value, the Gulf is home to magnificent
beaches, critical wetland habitats, some of the most productive fisheries
in the world, and a quarter of U.S. domestic natural gas and one-eighth of
its oil.
According to Gwen Keyes Fleming, EPA Region 4 Administrator, the success of
the program lies in the partnerships that span a broad range of national,
local, and regional environmental concerns.
"The Gulf of Mexico Program reflects upon 20 years of collaboration and
environmental accomplishments to the benefit of the Gulf communities," said
Keyes Fleming. "Under Ben's leadership I expect that spirit of
collaboration to continue as we strive to meet the challenges of a thriving
Gulf Coast economy, balanced with our mission of protecting human health
and the environment."
With so many diverse partners working together to enhance the area, EPA
Region 6 Administrator Al Armendariz echoed the importance of strong
leadership, collaboration, and productive relationships in creating a
healthy and resilient Gulf.
"America's renewed interest in protecting the Gulf in the aftermath of the
Deep Water Horizon incident reminds us of the importance of the Gulf of
Mexico Program and its past and future work. Ben has close ties to the Gulf
Region including family on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as well as in Texas
and Florida. I am confident Ben's passion and leadership skills will prove
invaluable in the success of the Program," said Armendariz.
Scaggs will assume his new duties on April 23, 2012.
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