Cochran, Bryant discuss storm recovery with coast leaders
WLOX
Federal buy outs of flood-prone properties and concerns about FEMA reimbursement dollars. Those were among the hurricane recovery issues discussed Thursday at a meeting hosted by Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19478149/cochran-bryant-discuss-storm-recovery-with-coast-leaders
6,000 South Mississippi homes affected by Isaac; cost at $30 million and rising
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran listened to concerns from city, county and state leaders at City Hall on Thursday and promised to help untangle issues with federal agencies in the wake of Hurricane Isaac.http://www.sunherald.com/2012/09/06/4169071/cochran-pledges-help-to-deal-with.html
Gov. Bryant on Isaac
WLOX
Video Only
http://www.wlox.com/category/240214/video-center?clipId=7695863&autostart=true
Some of Harrison Co. beach to open in time for Cruisin'
WLOX
It's a race against the clock for Harrison County crews trying to get some areas of beach open in time for the arrival of thousands of classic car lovers. Cruisin' the Coast kicks off in early October. However, right now the beach is closed because of Hurricane Isaac debris. So with a lot to do in a short time, crews are in overdrive.http://www.wlox.com/story/19476971/some-of-harrison-co-beach-to-open-in-time-for-cruisin
Supervisors award monitoring, management bid for cleanup to Dungan Engineering
By David A. Farrell
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — River County supervisors on Thursday awarded a monitoring and grant control contract to Dungan Engineering of Picayune.http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1059008907/Supervisors-award-monitoring-management-bid-for-cleanup-to-Dungan-Engineering
APNewsBreak: Tests confirm oil came from BP spill
Updated: Sep 06, 2012 4:45 PM CDT
By CAIN BURDEAU and JAY REEVES
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Laboratory tests show that globs of oil found on two Louisiana beaches after Hurricane Isaac came from the 2010 BP spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19474475/apnewsbreak-tests-confirm-oil-came-from-bp-spill
Hurricane Isaac puts BP back to work in La.
CBS
(CBS News) ELMER'S ISLAND, La. - We may not have seen the last of Hurricane Isaac. Government forecasters said Thursday there's a 40 percent chance that remnants of the storm will form a tropical cyclone.http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57507919/hurricane-isaac-puts-bp-back-to-work-in-la/
Hurricane Isaac's surge, waves, wipe out BP oil berm along northern Chandeleur Islands
Published: Thursday, September 06, 2012, 10:00 PM
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune
Hurricane Isaac's surge and waves swept away almost all of the sand from the 6-foot-high berm built in 2010 along the northern end of the Chandeleur Islands to capture oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to U.S. Geological Survey photos taken in the aftermath of the storm this week.http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2012/09/isaacs_surge_waves_wiped_out_b.html
East Beach property ruling in Ocean Springs could have broad implications to other beaches
Thursday, September 06, 2012, 3:51 PM
By Susan Ruddiman, The Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A special chancellor has ruled the Secretary of State has no claim on two parcels of property on East Beach.
As a result of the Aug. 14 ruling by Robert L. Lancaster, Chancery Court Judge for the 14th district in Columbus, Jackson County and Ocean Springs officials have expressed concern that the beaches cannot be cleaned up after Hurricane Isaac.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/09/east_beach_property_ruling_in.html
South Mississippi rescuers helping hundreds of animals after Isaac
Sun Herald
Animal rescuers spent several hours recently trying to rescue a young deer from the waters around Cable Bridge in Pass Christian. Flooding from Hurricane Isaac had trapped it there and the current was swift.http://www.sunherald.com/2012/09/06/4170512/south-mississippi-rescuers-helping.html
Oil Spill
BP executives sought to blame "blue collar rig workers": U.S.
Reuters
4:55am IST
By David Ingram
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - BP executives wanted to concentrate blame for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster on "blue collar rig workers" in order to save themselves, U.S. government lawyers wrote in a court document that until Thursday was partially redacted.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/09/06/us-bp-oilspill-blue-collar-idINBRE8851DF20120906
State News
EPA Decree Will Cost Jackson Big Money
Jackson Free Press
JACKSON — The city may have to begin what could add up to hundreds of millions of dollars worth of work on its sewer and waste-water system.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2012/sep/06/epa-decree-will-cost-jackson-big-money/
State agencies link up to increase electronic job search portals
WLBT
With the signing of their names, agency directors from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security and the Mississippi Department of Human Services made it official.http://www.wlox.com/story/19475349/state-agencies-link-up-to-increase-electronic-job-search-portals
National News
Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force to Meet in Des Moines
Illinois Ag Connection - 09/06/2012
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will be hosting a meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force in the Des Moines area on Sept. 11 and 12. More than 75 federal and state government officials and organization representatives are expected to participate in the task force meeting.http://www.illinoisagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=896&yr=2012
Plans announced for TVA settlement funds
$2.24M to go to WNC counties
Asheville Citizen-Times
ASHEVILLE — Improvements to DuPont State Forest and preserving a high-elevation watershed are among projects to win funding from a settlement with the Tennessee Valley Authority, officials announced Thursday.http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20120907/NEWS/309070018/Plans-made-TVA-settlement-funds?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFrontpage&nclick_check=1
OMB Reviewing EPA Proposal on Adequacy Of Refinery Air Toxics, New Source Standards
Bloomberg
Friday, September 7, 2012
from Daily Environment Report™
The Environmental Protection Agency Sept. 5 sent a proposed rule to the White House for review on the outcome of an evaluation of the adequacy of air pollution standards for petroleum refineries.http://www.bna.com/omb-reviewing-epa-n17179869513/
Fracking Is Safe—Except in Wyoming
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem on September 06, 2012
Louis Meeks, a hay farmer in Pavillion, Wyo., holds a mason jar under a faucet in his house and turns on the water. It’s a demonstration he’s given to a slew of neighbors and government officials. The water, drawn from his backyard well, is cloudy and smells like diesel. “Would you want to drink it?” he asks.http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/70202-fracking-is-safe-except-in-wyoming
The U.S. Military's Great Green Gamble Spurs Biofuel Startups
Forbes
Eighty miles west of El Paso, Tex., in a sunburned stretch of the New Mexico desert, Predator drones and blimps patrol the nearby border and immigration-agency SUVs speed through the desolate terrain, the occasional coyote loping across the scrub. Oddly, given that I’m more than 600 miles from the Pacific, there’s a distinct salty ocean tang wafting on the breeze. But that’s not the sea I’m smelling: The odor is emanating from algae growing in 30 acres of huge oblong ponds at Sapphire Energy’s Green Crude Farm.http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/09/06/the-u-s-militarys-great-green-gamble-spurs-biofuel-startups/
Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 7:30 p.m. Sept. 6, 2012
Media Contact:
866-920-MEMA
PEARL – Federal, state and local agencies continue to respond to Hurricane Isaac.
Emergency operations continue for Mississippians affected by the storm with the following updates:
Lamar County Dam: Pumping operations continue at the damaged dam in Lamar County. Fourteen homes remain evacuated. The dam has NOT been breached. A slide occurred on the dam Monday, and further damage to the slide prompted the precautionary evacuation.
Pike County Dam: Federal, state and local agencies remain on scene to assess the damage and pumping operations at the Pike County dam. Responding agencies are evaluating the water levels to further assess the damage.
Individual Assistance Registrations: As of 7 p.m., 8,751 individuals in declared Mississippi counties have registered for federal assistance through FEMA. More than $1.8 million has been approved for individual assistance.
Damage: State, federal and local partners continue to assess damage in affected counties.
Shelters: As of 7 p.m. today, one shelter in the state is open with 12 evacuees housed.
Deaths: One death in Pearl River County and one death in Holmes County have been attributed to Isaac.
Power Outages: Power has been restored to all who can receive it.
Additional Assistance: Residents needing services not covered by federal or state programs may call 2-1-1 Mississippi, or 1-866-472-8265 to seek additional resources.
For more information about all programs available for residents affected by Hurricane Isaac, visit us online at www.msema.org. You can also follow us on Twitter using keyword MSEMA and on Facebook under Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
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EPA Awards $15 Million to Assist U.S. Small Drinking Water and Wastewater Systems
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $15 million in funding to provide training and technical assistance to small drinking and wastewater systems – those serving fewer than 10,000 people – and to private well owners. The funding will help provide training and tools to improve small system operations and management practices, promoting sustainability and supporting EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment.
“Small systems form the backbone of our nation’s public water system and it is a priority for EPA to help them to meet water quality standards and provide clean water to communities,” said Nancy Stoner, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. “This funding and technical assistance is part of EPA’s continuing efforts to promote sustainability and public health protection for communities served by small systems.”
EPA awards include:
- · Nearly $7 million to the National Rural Water Association and nearly $3 million to the Texas Engineering Extension Service, which together will provide training and technical assistance for small public water systems across the country to achieve and maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act;
· $2.5 million to New Mexico Environmental Finance Center to help small systems improve their financial and managerial capabilities that will enable these systems to effectively provide safe drinking water over the long-term;
· $2 million to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership to work with small publicly-owned wastewater systems on treatment and operations issues and to help private well owners;
· $500,000 to the Rural Community Assistance Partnership to provide training and technical assistance to tribally-owned and operated public water systems.
More than 97 percent of the nation’s 157,000 public water systems serve fewer than 10,000 people, and more than 80 percent of these systems serve fewer than 500 people. Many small systems face unique challenges in providing reliable drinking water and wastewater services that meet federal and state regulations. These challenges can include a lack of financial resources, aging infrastructure, management limitations and high staff turnover.
For more information on EPA’s programs and tools to help small water systems, visit:
http://water.epa.gov/grants_funding/sdwa/smallsystemsrfa.cfm
EPA Awards $1.5 Million to Universities for Sustainable Drinking Water Treatment Methods
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced almost $1.5 million in funding to three universities to develop sustainable drinking water treatment methods. The research grants are funded through EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program. These grants, which supplement last year’s grants to eight other universities, are intended to provide innovative treatment methods to protect people’s health by keeping harmful contaminants out of drinking water.
In 2010, EPA announced a new drinking water strategy to strengthen protections against contaminants in drinking water and promote cost-effective new technologies to meet the needs of communities across the country struggling with water challenges. The research sponsored by these grants will help satisfy the key goals of this strategy.
The grantees are:
• University of Nevada, Reno – quantifying the range of drinking water contaminants and contaminant classes that can be removed by membrane distillation, and developing and testing a small-scale pilot system that operates using waste heat
• University of Florida, Gainesville and University of South Florida, Tampa – identifying, testing, and evaluating the sustainability of ion exchange processes that can treat entire groups of chemical contaminants.
• Clarkson University, Potsdam, N.Y. – engineering, developing, and demonstrating an integrated process comprised of membrane technology and electrical discharge plasma generated via a novel reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) electrode material.
There are approximately 157,000 public drinking water systems in the U.S. regulated by EPA, states, or tribes that provide drinking water to 90 percent of Americans. More than 290 million people living in the U.S. rely on the safety of tap water provided by public water systems that are subject to national drinking water standards.
EPA’s STAR grant program supports human health, ecology, economics and engineering sciences through grants, centers, and fellowships.
More information on the grants: http://www.epa.gov/ncer/dwtreatment
More information on EPA’s new Drinking Water Strategy: http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/dwstrategy/index.cfm
More information on STAR grants: http://epa.gov/ncer/
Recreational Vehicle Manufacturer to Pay $885,000 Penalty to Resolve Violations of the Clean Air Act
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a settlement with recreational vehicle manufacturer, American Suzuki Motor Corporation and Suzuki Motor Corporation, to pay an $885,000 penalty for allegedly importing and selling 25,458 uncertified all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-road motorcycles in the United States. ATVs and motorcycles that are not certified may be operating without proper emissions controls and can emit excess hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides that can cause respiratory illnesses, aggravate asthma and contribute to the formation of ground level ozone, or smog.
“EPA’s vehicle emission standards are vital safeguards that protect our nation’s air quality,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “By taking action to deter the importation and sale of non-compliant engines, EPA is not only protecting people’s health, but is also ensuring a level playing field for manufacturers that play by the rules.”
The Suzuki ATVs and off-road motorcycles were uncertified because they were manufactured with an undisclosed electronic emission control configuration that would allow the vehicles to be modified for increased horsepower through the installation of an aftermarket part. This type of modification could lead to increased emissions of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides. Design features that may effect emissions must be disclosed in certificate applications. Vehicles that do not conform to the design specifications in their certificate applications are not covered by a certificate. The violations were identified and self-disclosed by Suzuki.
The Clean Air Act (CAA) prohibits any vehicle or engine from being imported into or sold in the United States unless it is covered by a valid, EPA-issued certificate of conformity indicating that the vehicle or engine meets applicable federal emission standards. The certificate of conformity is the primary way EPA ensures that vehicles and engines meet emission standards. This enforcement action is part of an ongoing effort by EPA to ensure that all imported vehicles and engines comply with the CAA’s requirements.
The settlement requires Suzuki to implement three emission mitigation projects to reduce hydrocarbon emissions by 210 tons or more. The projects include replacing older unregulated gas cans with gas cans that meet current evaporative emission requirements, discontinuing the sale of high-permeability fuel line hoses, and installing evaporative emission control devices on certain models of highway motorcycles sold throughout the United States.
Suzuki also will modify its warranty policy and owner’s manual for ATVs and off-road motorcycles to increase awareness of modifications to emissions control systems, environmental regulations, prohibited modifications, and acts that could result in loss of warranty coverage.
More information on the settlement: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/cases/civil/caa/suzuki.html
More information on EPA’s Clean Air Act mobile source enforcement programs: http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/index.html#mobile
EPA, Green Sports Alliance Partner to Protect People’s Health and the Environment
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed an agreement with the Green Sports Alliance to work together to address environmental challenges faced by sports venues, organizations and teams. EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe joined Green Sports Alliance Executive Director Martin Tull today to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Second Annual Green Sports Alliance Summit in Seattle, Washington. The agreement will facilitate collaboration between the two organizations on issues such as waste management, water and energy conservation and sustainability for teams and at stadiums and sporting venues.
EPA has also agreed to share tools like the Energy Star Portfolio Manager, an energy management tool that allows building owners to track and assess energy and water consumption, to help Alliance members to improve their environmental performance.
“For years, American sports teams, venues and leagues have been leaders on sustainable development and environmental stewardship, and the Green Sports Alliance has been critical to the success they’ve seen,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe. “This MOU will strengthen the partnership EPA has with the Alliance, and ensure its members have EPA resources at their fingertips as they continue their important work. Together, we can find new ways to conserve energy, reduce waste and pollution, and engage America's sports fans in the effort to bring about a more sustainable future.”
“In order to be successful in their greening efforts, teams and venues have to start by measuring their environmental impact,” said Green Sports Alliance Executive Director Martin Tull. “We encourage this as a first step for all Alliance members. This deeper partnership with the EPA will help provide our members with the tools and resources they need to establish baselines and support their continuous improvement in terms of performance and efficiency.”
Green Sports Alliance is a non-profit organization with a mission to help sports teams, venues and leagues enhance their environmental performance. Alliance members represent over 100 sports teams and venues from 13 different sports leagues. The Green Sports Alliance and EPA share a commitment to supporting the U.S. sporting industry’s efforts to improve environmental awareness and promote more sustainable behavior by the sporting industry, stakeholders, partners and consumers. EPA has collaborated with a number of sporting organizations and related stakeholder groups to provide assistance to green sports projects, competitions and challenges to help organizations save money and protect people’s health and the environment.
More on the Green Sports Summit: http://www.greensportssummit.org/
More on the Green Sports Alliance: http://greensportsalliance.org/
More on EPA’s Partnership
