Oil Spill
Government to test capping stack, two years after Gulf oil spill
Published: Thursday, May 24, 2012, 7:45 PM
By Ben Raines, Press-Register
MOBILE, Alabama -- The White House announced Thursday that the government
would finally require the oil industry to test the capping stack officials
hope to use to stop the next well blowout in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/05/government_to_test_capping_sta.html
State News
Grant to boost Hernando recycling
Commercial Appeal
Friday, May 25, 2012
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has awarded Hernando a
solid-waste assistance grant of $8,547 that will be used by the city to
promote its curbside recycling program.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/may/25/in-brief/?print=1
Grant Will Help Columbus Target Redevelopment
WCBI
Posted by Steve Rogers | May 24, 2012 / 05:29pm | Local News, Business
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) -- A $400,000 federal grant could lay the foundation
for revitalizing some Columbus commercial areas.
The city will use the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield
Revitalization grants to do environmental and planning assessments on the
old Warehouse District, an area of largely abandoned and rundown warehouses
along the railroad tracks that cut through the city's historic Southside
and the Mississippi University for Women campus.
http://www.wcbi.com/article.php?subaction=showfull&id=1337898544&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2,6&
Official: EPA regulations to drive up power rates
Hattiesburg American
Southern Pine Electric Power Association held a media day today at
Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Magee to give media the opportunity to
ask questions and learn more about how the member-owned association
operates.
One of the speakers, Jim Compton – South Mississippi Electric Power
Association's general manager, said the future of member rates will go up
due to capital investments associated with Environmental Protection Agency
regulations.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120524/NEWS01/120524017/Official-EPA-regulations-drive-up-power-rates
Gulfport adds water source to avert moratorium on new customers
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- A crisis has been averted in Orange Grove, where the Health
Department found the water system overloaded in April and ordered the city
not to add customers.
Gulfport has since added a water source from the Harrison County Utility
Authority, reducing the system from 105 percent of capacity to 83 percent,
Health Department correspondence with the city shows.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/05/24/3969526/gulfport-adds-water-source-to.html
MSU team finishes first in EcoCAR 2 competition
Clarion Ledger
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State's alternative vehicle design team returns to
the Magnolia State as champions after being named year-one winners of
EcoCAR 2: Plugging into the Future.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120525/NEWS/205250342/MSU-team-finishes-first-EcoCAR-2-competition
Justices reverse AG fees ruling
AP
The Mississippi Supreme Court ruled Thursday that legal fees totaling $24
million paid to private lawyers to represent the state are public funds.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120525/NEWS/205250346/Justices-reverse-AG-fees-ruling?odyssey=tab|
topnews|text|Home
National News
Obama nominates George Mason professor Allison M. Macfarlane as NRC
chairman
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson, Published: May 24
President Obama on Thursday nominated Allison M. Macfarlane, a professor of
environmental science and policy at George Mason University, to be the next
chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-nominates-george-mason-professor-allison-m-macfarlane-as-nrc-chairman/2012/05/24/gJQAzCD6nU_print.html
Ohio legislators to vote on new drilling rules
AP
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Rules regulating oil and gas well construction, water
handling, and the disclosure of chemicals used in drilling were ready to
clear their final legislative hurdles Thursday and head to Gov. John
Kasich.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57440979/ohio-legislators-to-vote-on-new-drilling-rules/
Natural gas fracking fizzles in Michigan
Pollution concerns, falling prices slow drilling
Detroit News
Just two years ago Michigan was well on its way to becoming Pennsylvania
West — following in that state's footsteps as the next hotbed of natural
gas exploration and production.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120525/METRO/205250363/Natural-gas-fracking-fizzles-in-Michigan
Fracking woes misguided, exec says
UPI
Published: May 24, 2012 at 9:17 AM
HOUSTON, May 24 (UPI) -- The natural gas industry is to blame for concerns
of hydraulic fracturing because of misconceptions of the dangers, an
executive said from Houston.
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2012/05/24/Fracking-woes-misguided-exec-says/UPI-26041337865437/
Press Releases
$1.2 Million in Brownfields Grants to Cleanup and Revitalize Communities in
Mississippi
Contact Information: James Pinkney, (404) 562-9183, pinkney.james@epa.gov
(Atlanta - May 24, 2012) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced today that it plans to award three communities in Mississippi
with brownfield grants for new investments to provide funding necessary to
clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and
create jobs while protecting human health.
"EPA is certainly excited about the opportunity for communities in the
Southeast Region to realize sustainable environmental results," said EPA
Region 4 Administrator, Gwen Keyes Fleming. "Through EPA's Brownfields
Program we support not just environmental revitalization but economic
revitalization. Each of these communities will receive funding to lay the
groundwork for future investments in their community vitality and
resiliency."
The Mississippi brownfield grant recipients are:
· City of Columbus ($200,00 assessment grant for hazardous substances
and $200,000 assessment grant for petroleum)
· City of Hernando ($200,00 assessment grant for hazardous substances
and $200,000 assessment grant for petroleum)
· City of McComb ($200,00 assessment grant for hazardous substances and
$200,000 assessment grant for petroleum)
"Restored Brownfield properties can serve as cornerstones for rebuilding
struggling communities. These grants will be the first step in getting
pollution out and putting jobs back into neighborhoods across the country,"
said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Clean, healthy communities are
places where people want to live, work and start businesses. We're
providing targeted resources to help local partners transform blighted,
contaminated areas into centers of economic growth."
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in
America. In 2011, EPA's brownfields program leveraged 6,447 jobs and $2.14
billion in cleanup and redevelopment funds. Since its inception EPA's
brownfields investments have leveraged more than $18.3 billion in cleanup
and redevelopment funding from a variety of public and private sources and
have resulted in approximately 75,500 jobs. More than 18,000 properties
have been assessed, and over 700 properties have been cleaned up.
Brownfields grants also target under-served and low income neighborhoods –
places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.
More information on the FY 2012 grant recipients:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
More information on EPA's brownfields program:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Brownfields success stories:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
###
EPA Announces $69.3 Million to Clean Up Contaminated Sites and Revitalize
Communities
Investment will protect people's health and the environment, create jobs
and promote economic redevelopment nationwide
WASHINGTON – Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced
$69.3 million in grants for new investments to provide communities with
funding necessary to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost
local economies and create jobs while protecting public health.
"Restored Brownfield properties can serve as cornerstones for rebuilding
struggling communities. These grants will be the first step in getting
pollution out and putting jobs back into neighborhoods across the country,"
said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Clean, healthy communities are
places where people want to live, work and start businesses. We're
providing targeted resources to help local partners transform blighted,
contaminated areas into centers of economic growth."
The 245 grantees include tribes and communities in 39 states across the
country, funded by EPA's Brownfields Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and
Cleanup (ARC) grants, and Revolving Loan Fund Supplemental grants. The
grants awarded will assess and clean up abandoned industrial and commercial
properties. Nearly half of the grantees this year are new awardees who
demonstrate a high level of commitment for undertaking specific projects
and leveraging the funding to move those projects forward.
Highlights of the projects planned by grant recipients:
• DeKalb County, Ga. plans to clean up and redevelop major industrial areas
served by transit and infrastructure in community areas, in addition to
expanding greenspace and community-based development. One important
revitalization effort is targeted for the General Motors Assembly Plant
(closed in 2008), which sits at the convergence of two major corridors and
the Doraville MARTA Station. Upon redevelopment, the project will reduce
blight and increase the local tax base.
• Toledo, Ohio (Coalition) will use the awarded assessment grant funding to
revitalize under-served neighborhoods and create local jobs at two proposed
projects. The Coalition will investigate properties in the Cherry Street
Corridor/Summit Street Redevelopment area to allow for the expansion of St.
Vincent's Hospital and Central Catholic High School. Secondly, the Fernwood
Growing Center Area, located in an underserved, low income neighborhood,
will be expanded by at least two additional sites for the use of urban
agriculture.
• Paul Cuffee School, a maritime charter school for Providence public
school children in Rhode Island, is receiving two EPA cleanup grants to
clean and redevelop adjacent properties for a new parking lot and athletic
field for students.
• Land-of-Sky, a local government planning and development organization
located in N.C., will use grant funds awarded to rehabilitate the Chatham
Site, a former manufacturing plant, a mill and a Western electric plant
into approximately 150 multifamily rental units. The project may result in
leveraging additional funding, including New Markets Tax Credits,
construction permanent loans, Federal Historic Tax Credit equity, NC Mill
Rehab Tax Credit equity and deferred development fees. Assessments have
been completed and the project is ready to begin redevelopment.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will provide a loan from its
Revolving Loan Fund to the city of Kenosha for the cleanup of the Kenosha
Engine Plant Cleaning site, a former Chrysler/American Motors plant. The
site, once the pride of southeastern Wisconsin, will provide the community
the opportunity to market the site to private investors that could bring
jobs and tax revenue to the community.
Approximately 29 percent of the grants are being awarded to non-urban areas
with populations of 100,000 or less, 16 percent are being awarded to
"micro" communities with populations of 10,000 or less, and the remaining
grants are being awarded to urban areas with populations exceeding 100,000.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in
America. In 2011, EPA's brownfields program leveraged 6,447 jobs and $2.14
billion in cleanup and redevelopment funds. Since its inception EPA's
brownfields investments have leveraged more than $18.3 billion in cleanup
and redevelopment funding from a variety of public and private sources and
have resulted in approximately 75,500 jobs. More than 18,000 properties
have been assessed, and over 700 properties have been cleaned up.
Brownfields grants also target under-served and low income neighborhoods –
places where environmental cleanups and new jobs are most needed.
See list of all awarded brownfields grants by state:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/bf_factsheets/
More information on EPA's brownfields program:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
More information on brownfields success stories:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/success/index.htm
EPA Advises Facility Operators to Minimize Releases during Hazardous
Weather Events
Contact: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421, harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – As hurricane season approaches, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is issuing a Hazardous Weather Release Prevention and
Reporting alert to remind facility operators of certain regulations that
require minimization of chemical releases during process shutdown
operations. This alert is designed to increase awareness among facility
operators about their obligation to operate facilities safely and report
chemical releases in a timely manner.
The alert specifies operational release minimization requirements and
clarifies reporting requirements, including exemptions. Unlike some natural
disasters, the onset of a hurricane is predictable and allows for early
preparations to lessen its effect on a facility. Before hurricane force
winds and associated storm surge flooding damage industrial processes, the
alert recommends that operators take preventive action by safely shutting
down processes, or otherwise operate safely under emergency procedures.
The alert and requirements are available at
http://www.epa.gov/region4/r4_hurricanereleases.html.
In the event of a hazardous weather incident, please visit
http://www.epa.gov/naturalevents/ for updated emergency information.
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