Isaac
Isaac could test Gulf defenses originally built to stop oil from 2010
Deepwater Horizon spill
By Associated Press, Published: August 28
DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. — Sand dunes and a rock barrier built to help contain
the 2010 Gulf oil spill are being watched for their effectiveness in
shielding this fragile coastline from Isaac.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/isaac-could-test-gulf-defenses-originally-built-to-stop-oil-from-2010-deepwater-horizon-spill/2012/08/28/5c4517b6-f120-11e1-b74c-84ed55e0300b_story.html
Officials: Isaac Could Stir Up Oily Gunk From 2010 Spill
AP
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Louisiana officials say Hurricane Isaac may stir up oil
and oily gunk left behind from the 2010 BP oil spill.
http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/aug/28/officials-isaac-could-stir-oily-gunk-2010-spill-ar-4432754/
MEMA updates state actions in response to Isaac
WLOX
As Hurricane Isaac makes landfall and continues to impact Mississippi with
rising storm surge, high winds and torrential rains, Gov. Phil Bryant, MEMA
Executive Director Robert Latham and other officials will remain on the
Gulf Coast until Isaac moves out of the area.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19402779/mema-updates-state-actions-in-response-to-isaac
Gov. Bryant: Isaac is a statewide storm
WLOX
"This is a statewide storm," was Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant's message
at the 3pm briefing Tuesday in Gulfport. Governor Bryant said that he is,
"expanding the response statewide to river counties and the Delta."
http://www.wlox.com/story/19399376/gov-bryant-isaac-is-a-statewide-storm
Isaac will weaken slowly after second landfall; Coast still feeling effects
Sun Herald
Isaac will start to weaken after making landfall twice, but the National
Hurricane Center says the hurricane won't weaken as quickly as anticipated,
in part, because of the swampy terrain it will cover as it slowly moves
further inland.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/08/29/4152307/isaac-will-weaken-slowly-after.html
EPA grants Louisiana partial fuel waiver ahead of Isaac
Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday granted
a partial fuel waiver to the state of Louisiana to make it easier for
distributors to keep the state's supply of fuel available as it responds to
Hurricane Isaac.
http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=OBR&date=20120828&id=15496924#
Oil Spill
Sen. Vitter says focus should be on restoring wetlands
WWL
EW ORLEANS — Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner has voiced his displeasure with the
Corps of Engineers and the fact that, for decades, his town has been kept
out of the levee protection system.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/jefferson/Sen-Vitter-says-money-from-BP-Clean-Water-fines-Restore-Act-could--help-unprotected-areas-167672295.html
State News
Fire at recycling warehouse in Jackson
WLBT
The huge warehouse fire on Palmyra street in downtown Jackson has been
knocked down, but firefighters remain on the scene monitoring hot spots.
http://www.wlbt.com/story/19399597/structure-on-fire-on-bloom-street-in-jackson
National News
EPA issues new fuel-efficiency standard; Autos must average 54.5 mpg by
2025
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Published: August 28
The Obama administration announced strict new vehicle fuel-efficiency
standards Tuesday, requiring that the U.S. auto fleet average 54.5 miles
per gallon by 2025, an uncontroversial move that, unlike other
administration energy policies, was endorsed by industry and
environmentalists alike.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/autos-must-average-545-mpg-by-2025-new-epa-standards-are-expected-to-say/2012/08/28/2c47924a-f117-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html
Press Releases
Media Contact
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7 a.m. Aug. 29, 2012
Hurricane Isaac Continues to Pound Coastal Mississippi and Louisiana
Jackson, MS—Hurricane Isaac has slowed in the Gulf and continues to send
torrential rains over already rain-soaked areas throughout Mississippi and
Louisiana.
Emergency operations continue for Mississippians affected by the storm with
the following updates:
· Shelters: 31 shelters across the state are open with 2,132 evacuees
housed.
· Power Outages: As of 5:30 a.m., approximately 4,000 homes are
reported without power, of which 735 are Entergy customers.
· Road closures: US 90 between Bay St. Louis Bridge to Biloxi Bay
Bridge is closed to all traffic. Highway 604 in Hancock County, north
of Pearlington.
· Search/Rescue: Overnight, in Hancock County, there were three adults
and one infant who were rescued from a houseboat on the Pearl River
near Pearlington.
· Mississippi National Guard: 1,500 National Guard troops were deployed
to affected areas.
· Mississippi Highway Patrol: 104 troopers from the MHP were deployed
to affected areas to assist local law enforcement. Many of these
troopers are members of the Special Operations Group which
specializes in search and rescue operations.
· Resources: A truckload of generators is staged at Camp Shelby in
Hattiesburg, MS to be deployed as needed to areas affected by the
storm; 20 truckloads of water and two truckloads of tarps are staged
and to be distributed as needed; and over 80,000 sandbags were
distributed to affected counties.
For up-to-date information on American Red Cross shelters, go to
http://mississippi-redcross.org/. For updates on MEMA emergency
operations, call the MEMA information line at 1-866-519-6362 or go
online to www.msema.org.
###
EPA Requests Proposals for $216,000 Environmental Education Grant
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293,
marraccini.davina@epa.gov
(ATLANTA – Aug. 28, 2012) Through Nov. 21, EPA Region 4 will accept
proposals from eligible schools and entities for a $216,000 environmental
education grant to develop new programs promoting environmental stewardship
across the Southeast.
The Environmental Education Regional Grants Program is a competitive
program that supports EPA's efforts to increase public awareness and
knowledge about environmental issues. The total estimated funding for this
opportunity is approximately $2,160,000 nationwide. EPA expects to award 10
grants nationally—one per region—with each individual award totaling no
more than $216,000.
Applications can be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov by Nov. 21,
2012, 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time. Alternately, applications may be
postmarked by Nov. 21 or hand delivered by the end of the business day to
the EPA Southeast Regional Office. Proposals received after the due date
will not be considered.
A solicitation notice announcing the grants program is available online at
www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html. In September, EPA will host two webinars
for potential applicants interested in additional information about the
application process. The date, time and call-in information for the
webinars will be posted on the website, and interested persons can sign-up
online to receive e-mail updates.
Environmental education grants provide funding to local education agencies,
state education and environmental agencies; colleges and universities;
not-for-profit organizations; and non-commercial broadcasting entities.
Tribal education agencies controlled by an Indian tribe, band or nation,
including schools and community colleges, may also apply.
Learn more about EPA's environmental education grants:
www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html
For additional information, contact Kathy Armstrong at
armstrong.kathy@epa.gov or 404-562-8225.
Obama Administration Finalizes Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standards
Consumer Savings Comparable to Lowering Price of Gasoline by $1 Per Gallon
by 2025
WASHINGTON, DC – The Obama Administration today finalized groundbreaking
standards that will increase fuel economy to the equivalent of 54.5 mpg for
cars and light-duty trucks by Model Year 2025. When combined with previous
standards set by this Administration, this move will nearly double the fuel
efficiency of those vehicles compared to new vehicles currently on our
roads. In total, the Administration's national program to improve fuel
economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions will save consumers more than
$1.7 trillion at the gas pump and reduce U.S. oil consumption by 12 billion
barrels.
"These fuel standards represent the single most important step we've ever
taken to reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said President Obama. "This
historic agreement builds on the progress we've already made to save
families money at the pump and cut our oil consumption. By the middle of
the next decade our cars will get nearly 55 miles per gallon, almost double
what they get today. It'll strengthen our nation's energy security, it's
good for middle class families and it will help create an economy built to
last."
The historic standards issued today by the U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
build on the success of the Administration's standards for cars and light
trucks for Model Years 2011-2016. Those standards, which raised average
fuel efficiency by 2016 to the equivalent of 35.5 mpg, are already saving
families money at the pump.
Achieving the new fuel efficiency standards will encourage innovation and
investment in advanced technologies that increase our economic
competitiveness and support high-quality domestic jobs in the auto
industry. The final standards were developed by DOT's National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and EPA following extensive
engagement with automakers, the United Auto Workers, consumer groups,
environmental and energy experts, states, and the public. Last year, 13
major automakers, which together account for more than 90 percent of all
vehicles sold in the United States, announced their support for the new
standards. By aligning Federal and state requirements and providing
manufacturers with long-term regulatory certainty and compliance
flexibility, the standards encourage investments in clean, innovative
technologies that will benefit families, promote U.S. leadership in the
automotive sector, and curb pollution.
"Simply put, this groundbreaking program will result in vehicles that use
less gas, travel farther, and provide more efficiency for consumers than
ever before—all while protecting the air we breathe and giving automakers
the regulatory certainty to build the cars of the future here in America,"
said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "Today, automakers are seeing
their more fuel-efficient vehicles climb in sales, while families already
saving money under the Administration's first fuel economy efforts will
save even more in the future, making this announcement a victory for
everyone."
"The fuel efficiency standards the administration finalized today are
another example of how we protect the environment and strengthen the
economy at the same time," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
"Innovation and economic growth are already reinvigorating the auto
industry and the thousands of businesses that supply automakers as they
create and produce the efficient vehicles of tomorrow. Clean, efficient
vehicles are also cutting pollution and saving drivers money at the pump."
The Administration's combined efforts represent the first meaningful update
to fuel efficiency standards in decades. Together, they will save American
families more than $1.7 trillion dollars in fuel costs, resulting in an
average fuel savings of more than $8,000 by 2025 over the lifetime of the
vehicle. For families purchasing a model Year 2025 vehicle, the net savings
will be comparable to lowering the price of gasoline by approximately $1
per gallon. Additionally, these programs will dramatically reduce our
reliance on foreign oil, saving a total of 12 billion barrels of oil and
reducing oil consumption by more than 2 million barrels a day by 2025 – as
much as half of the oil we import from OPEC each day.
The standards also represent historic progress to reduce carbon pollution
and address climate change. Combined, the Administration's standards will
cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks in half by 2025,
reducing emissions by 6 billion metric tons over the life of the program –
more than the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the United States
in 2010.
President Obama announced the proposed standard in July 2011, joined by
Ford, GM, Chrysler, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar/Land Rover, Kia, Mazda,
Mitsubishi, Nissan, Toyota, and Volvo, as well as the United Auto Workers.
The State of California and other key stakeholders also supported the
announcement and were integral in developing this national program.
In achieving these new standards, EPA and NHTSA expect automakers' to use a
range of efficient and advanced technologies to transform the vehicle
fleet. The standards issued today provide for a mid-term evaluation to
allow the agencies to review their effectiveness and make any needed
adjustments.
Major auto manufacturers are already developing advanced technologies that
can significantly reduce fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions beyond the
existing model year 2012-2016 standards. In addition, a wide range of
technologies are currently available for automakers to meet the new
standards, including advanced gasoline engines and transmissions, vehicle
weight reduction, lower tire rolling resistance, improvements in
aerodynamics, diesel engines, more efficient accessories, and improvements
in air conditioning systems. The program also includes targeted incentives
to encourage early adoption and introduction into the marketplace of
advanced technologies to dramatically improve vehicle performance,
including:
· Incentives for electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles,
and fuel cells vehicles;
· Incentives for hybrid technologies for large pickups and for other
technologies that achieve high fuel economy levels on large pickups;
· Incentives for natural gas vehicles;
· Credits for technologies with potential to achieve real-world
greenhouse gas reductions and fuel economy improvements that are not
captured by the standards test procedures.
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