Oil Spill
Snapper born during the oil spill are adults now. How many survived?
By Ben Raines, Press-Register
MOBILE, Alabama -- Red snapper born during the BP oil spill two years ago
will be reaching legal harvest size right about now, just in time for the
opening of the Gulf's snapper season on Friday.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/05/snapper_born_during_the_spill.html
Restore Act supporters coordinate Capitol Hill lobbying effort
By Bruce Alpert, Times-Picayune
Washington -- This time there were no blue umbrellas, no Capitol rallies
and no visits with congressional leaders. Women of the Storm, a group
formed after Hurricane Katrina to advocate for post-storm assistance from
the federal government, had a "virtual" lobbying effort Wednesday: using
cell phones, social networks and email to reach the congressional members
deciding whether to include the Restore Act in a pending transportation
bill.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/05/restore_act_supporters_coordin.html
Congressman says La. must get funds
BY JORDAN BLUM
Advocate Washington bureau
May 31, 2012
WASHINGTON — The vice chairman of the congressional conference committee on
transportation legislation said Wednesday it is critical the final bill
includes the RESTORE Act language that directs BP fine money to Louisiana
and other Gulf states.
Speaking at a Transportation Construction Coalition fly-in conference in
Washington to lobby for the passage of the overall legislation, U.S. Rep.
John Mica, R-Fla., spoke in favor of both the RESTORE Act and the RAMP Act
legislation, which directs more dollars to dredging and other port-related
projects in Louisiana and elsewhere, being included in the final
transportation bill.
http://theadvocate.com/news/2961690-123/congressman-says-la-must-get
Congressman Steve Scalise opposes amendment allowing state lawmakers to
redirect oil spill fines
By Jeff Adelson, The Times-Picayune
U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, is calling on state lawmakers to
abandon a proposal that could allow the Legislature to redirect fines from
the Deepwater Horizon disaster to projects unrelated to coastal
restoration.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/05/congressman_steve_scalise_oppo.html
Mississippi shrimp season opened this morning with a higher boat count
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Nearly 30 percent more shrimp boats were on the
water as Mississippi's shrimp season opened Wednesday, according to a
report from Traci Floyd, Shrimp and Crab Bureau director for state
Department of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/05/mississippi_shrimp_season_open_3.html
South Mississippi shrimp season opens early to good reports
Sun Herald
By KATE MAGANDY
BILOXI -- Shrimp season opened to more boats on the water and more shrimp
in the nets.
Officials with the Department of Marine Resources say 210 boats were on the
water when shrimp season opened at dawn on Wednesday, up by more than 40
boats from last year.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/05/30/3978516/south-mississippi-shrimp-season.html
BP grant helps fund enhanced birding trail for Audubon Society
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- The Pascagoula River Audubon Center is taking
steps to improve and enhance the Mississippi Coast Birding Trail, with an
anticipated end result of bringing additional tourists to the area, stated
a news release from Ray Melick, a BP spokesman in Mississippi.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/05/bp_grant_helps_fund_enhanced_b.html
Judge outlines new plan for Gulf oil spill trial
The Associated Press
A federal judge has outlined a new structure for a trial of Gulf oil spill
claims that wouldn't be resolved by a proposed class-action settlement
between BP PLC and a team of plaintiffs' attorneys.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/05/31/3978874/judge-outlines-new-plan-for-gulf.html
State News
City mulling privatization of waste water plant handling
By CALEB BEDILLION
DAILY LEADER
City leaders may take action this week and approve outsourcing the
operation of the city's waste water treatment plant.
http://www.dailyleader.com/news/article_33bbcab6-a7af-11e1-a069-001a4bcf887a.html
Landfill meets with opposition
Stone County Enterprise
By Jody O'Hara
May 24, 2012, 12:28
A public hearing concerning a proposed rubbish landfill on City Bridge Road
brought about 50 people to the Stone County Courthouse Thursday evening.
Nearly everyone was opposed to the idea.
http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/article_1591.shtml
Letter to lawmakers addressing dams
Winona Times
by Reggie Ross
05.24.12 - 09:30 am
A letter to state and federal lawmakers as well as the drainage district
from Carroll County is in the making, according to one county official.
http://winonatimes.com/view/full_story/18710401/article-Letter-to-lawmakers-addressing-dams?instance=winstonsecondary_stories_left_column
Yazoo clay blamed for partial parking lot collapse in Clinton
Special to The Clinton News
Orange cones blocked a portion of the Walmart parking lot in Clinton on
Tuesday after it collapsed. The asphalt recently crumbled along the western
edge of the parking lot, taking out about 30 parking spaces.
Geologist David Dockery told 16 WAPT news that the collapse could be
attributed to Yazoo clay. As moisture evaporates, the Yazoo clay shrinks
and cracks, Dockery said. When it rains, water gets in the cracks, causing
it to expand, and in this case, crumble.
http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120530/NEWS/120530001/-1/NEWS01/Yazoo-clay-blamed-for-partial-parking-lot-collapse-in-Clinton
Dillard to lead Wildlife Federation
Madison County Journal
By MATT STUART
Madison County's sportsmen will be pleased to learn that the new president
of the Mississippi Wildlife Federation (MWF) hails from Madison.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=25120
National News
FACT CHECK: A tough-talking official's words don't match EPA's actions in
policing oil and gas
By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, May 31, 12:36 AM
WASHINGTON — In the three years since President Barack Obama took office,
Republicans have made the Environmental Protection Agency a lightning rod
for complaints that his administration has been too tough on oil and gas
producers.
But an Associated Press analysis of enforcement data over the past decade
finds that's not the case. In fact, the EPA went after producers more often
in the years of Republican President George W. Bush, a former Texas oilman,
than under Obama.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/fact-check-a-tough-talking-officials-words-dont-match-epas-actions-in-policing-oil-and-gas/2012/05/31/gJQAhzMP3U_print.html
Nebraska lawmakers question EPA's aerial livestock surveillance
Published May 30, 2012
FoxNews.com
aA bipartisan group of Capitol Hill
lawmakers is pressing EPA Director Lisa Jackson to answer questions about
privacy issues and other concerns after the agency used aerial surveillance
to monitor livestock operations over their home state of Nebraska.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/30/hill-lawmakers-from-nebraska-question-epa-aerial-livestock-surveillance/
Press Releases
18 U.S. Teachers Receive Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental
Educators
WASHINGTON – The White House Council on Environmental Quality, in
partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has
announced the winners of the 2011-2012 Presidential Innovation Award for
Environmental Educators. Eighteen teachers from around the country are
being recognized for their exceptional work as leaders in the field of
environmental education in formal school settings. Award recipients and
their local education agencies will receive monetary awards and
commemorative plaques to help support and encourage their use of
environmental education in their classrooms and schools.
"To earn this prestigious award, each educator demonstrated teaching skills
and innovative use of environmental education that connected students with
the world around them in ways that will strengthen their education for
years to come," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Their lessons have
put creativity and innovation, community engagement and leadership into
practice, teaching students about civic responsibility and environmental
stewardship. We are fortunate to have such educators in our schools today."
The Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators recognizes
outstanding K-12 teachers and their local education agencies across the
United States for excellence in integrating environmental education into
their lessons and connecting students with their communities and the
natural world.
This program recognizes and supports teachers from both rural and urban
education settings who make use of experiential and environmental
opportunities that utilize creativity and community engagement to help
students develop a sense of civic responsibility and stewardship in
ecosystems. This year's winning teachers' programs range from field studies
in watershed and wetland science in New England to the study of clean
energy sources in Colorado and ocean and climate science in Texas, forest
ecology and trout studies in the Pacific Northwest and water resource
management projects in the desert.
"The educators who have earned this honor are demonstrating leadership and
excellence in environmental education, and are harnessing the innovation
and imagination of our students," said Nancy Sutley, chair of the White
House Council on Environmental Quality. "These teachers are encouraging our
nation's future leaders to take responsibility for being good stewards of
our environment, and preparing them to succeed in the 21st century."
Recipients of the Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators
include:
· Lizanne Cox, New Haven, Conn., Common Ground High School
· Ed Lindsey, Old Town High School, Old Town, Maine
· Patricia Lockhart, Hubert Humphrey PS 57R, Staten Island, N.Y.
· Aaron Baker, Randolph High School, Randolph, N.J.
· Rebecca Sanders, Crellin Elementary School, Oakland, Md.
· Robert Carroll, Plaza Middle School, Virginia Beach, Va.
· Deborah Wasylik, Dr. Phillips High School, Orlando, Fla.
· Frank McKay, Exploris Middle School, Raleigh, N.C.
· Sandra Vander Veldon, Fox River Academy, Appleton, Wis.
· Howard Hill, Highland Park High School, Highland Park, Ill.
· Clifford Strain, Flour Bluff ISD - Middle School, Corpus Christi,
Texas
· Bradd Schulke, East Mountain High School, Sandia Park, N.M.
· Denise Scribner, Eisenhower High School, Goddard, Kan.
· John Broda, Buffalo Ridge Elementary, Cheyenne, Wyo.
· Sally High, Pagosa Springs Middle School, Pagosa Springs, Colo.
· Riccardo Magni, Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria, Calif.
· Mike Town, Redmond High School, Redmond, Wash.
· Deidre Bingaman, Donnelly Elementary School, Donnelly, Idaho
More information about the winners:
http://www.epa.gov/education/teacheraward/winners.html
More information about this program:
http://www.epa.gov/education/teacheraward
