Oil Spill
WEB EXTRA: Gerald Blessey's GoCoast 2020 Trust Fund memorandum and essay
Sun Herald
MEMORANDUM
TO: GoCoast 2020 Commission
FROM: Gerald Blessey, President
Columbus Communities, LLC
DATE: October 7, 2012
SUBJECT: Idea -- GoCoast Trust Fund (See attached Essay)
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/13/4240829/web-extra-gerald-blesseys-gocoast.html
THE NEWS HERALD (Panama City, Fla.): A slap on the wrist for BP is a slap
in the face to Gulf Coast
By AN EDITORIAL OPINION OFTHE NEWS HERALD (Panama City, Fla.)
How do you get the likes of Sen. Bill Nelson and Rep. Steve Southerland on
the same side of an issue? Threaten to touch Florida's share of money from
the BP oil spill settlement.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/14/4240818/the-news-herald-panama-city-fla.html
Southerland: RESTORE funds a rare opportunity
APALACHICOLA — Think not just good, but great.
That is what Congressman Steve Southerland, R-Panama City, urged
commissioners from Gulf, Franklin and Wakulla counties during an
informational meeting Thursday on the RESTORE Act.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/southerland-restore-funds-a-rare-opportunity-1.29001
Local leaders appeal to Washington on BP settlement
Updated: Saturday, 13 Oct 2012, 9:58 PM CDT
WALA
· Renee Dials
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile Mayor Sam Jones joined a list of local leaders
who are worried about a possible settlement with British Petroleum stemming
from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/city-leaders-appeal-to-washington-on-bp-settlement
Ala. Senator addresses talk of RESTORE Act settlement
Updated: Sunday, 14 Oct 2012, 11:23 PM CDT
WALA
· Joe Salvatore
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - During a visit to the Port City on Sunday, Alabama
Senator Richard Shelby spoke to FOX10 News about a recent shift in attitude
by the Obama Administration on the RESTORE Act.
http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/sen-shelby-talks-about-restore-act
Local Leaders Fighting for BP Fine Money
WKRG
MOBILE, Alabama -- Two and a half years later, the oil spill disaster
continues causing problems for communities along the Gulf Coast. This time,
it's the possibility that millions of dollars may not go to victims of the
environmental disaster, as originally planned.
http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2012/oct/14/local-leaders-fighting-bp-fine-money-ar-4753702/
Feds approve BP-Transocean plan to identify source of sheen related to 2010
Gulf oil spill
By Associated Press, Published: October 12
NEW ORLEANS — Federal officials said late Friday they have approved a joint
plan from BP and Transocean to identify the source of a sheen in the Gulf
Of Mexico associated with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/feds-approve-bp-transocean-plan-to-identify-source-of-sheen-related-to-2010-gulf-oil-spill/2012/10/12/4f22541a-14e6-11e2-9a39-1f5a7f6fe945_print.html
Coast Guard approves plan by BP and Transocean to identify source of sheen
at site of Deepwater Horizon disaster
Updated: Friday, October 12, 2012, 10:01 PM
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Friday night that it approved a joint plan
from BP and Transocean to identify the source of a sheen in the Gulf of
Mexico that testing has indicated was from oil that originated from BP's
failed Macondo 252 well.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/10/coast_guard_approves_plan_by_b.html
Alaskans' pain set stage for Gulf spill victims' gain
Houston Chronicle
As a federal judge considers whether to approve a huge civil settlement in
the 2010 oil spill, thousands of Gulf Coast residents owe their day in
court to a law that arose from the Exxon Valdez disaster 23 years ago.
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Alaskans-pain-set-stage-for-Gulf-spill-victims-3944766.php
State News
MDEQ Celebrates Children's Health Month at Mississippi Children's Museum
Fox40
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality displayed an exhibit
inside the Mississippi Children's Museum that informed the public about the
environmental health issues that affect children.
http://www.fox40tv.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-Celebrates-Childrens-Health-Month-at/r-se8jg_Kk-ZfrXYl-srXw.cspx
Sewage discharge closes part of Biloxi beach
AP
Updated: Oct 15, 2012 5:52 AM CDT
A sewage discharge has closed a 7-to-8-mile stretch of beach in Biloxi.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19816872/sewage-discharge-closes-part-of-biloxi-beach
Beach closure notice issued
Sun Herald
The state Department of Environmental Quality issued a beach closure
Saturday for a section of beach in Biloxi.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/13/4242289/around-south-mississippi.html
MDEQ lifts beach closures at five locations
Sea Coast Echo
Oct 12, 2012, 23:11
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its
Beach Monitoring Program, has lifted beach closures issued Aug. 31 for the
following monitoring stations in Hancock County and Pass Christian:
http://12.68.233.230/40/article_6334.shtml#.UHv1ZMXXZKI
DeSoto County targets gas cans in hazardous waste cleanup
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Updated 11:10 p.m., October 13, 2012
It's time to get in gear for DeSoto County's annual fall community
hazardous waste cleanup on Oct. 27, and officials hope to get some
environmental mileage out of a "gas can swap" that's new this year.
"Last year was one of our better events, and this time we're doing
something a little different for Household Hazardous Waste Day — an
off-road gasoline container exchange," said Ray Laughter, manager of the
county's Environmental Services unit.
He said the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has teamed with
Suzuki Motors and donated 400 ozone-friendly off-road gas cans to be
"swapped" for old cans brought in by DeSoto County residents.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/oct/13/desoto-county-targets-gas-cans-in-hazardous/?print=1
Fair Cloth Landfill Up For A Re-Vote
WJTV
In tomorrow's Hinds County Board meeting, some concerned citizens will
voice their opinion about the Fair Cloth Landfill expansion, which is now
up for a re-vote.
http://www2.wjtv.com/news/2012/oct/14/fair-cloth-landfill-re-vote-ar-4754093/
Hinds Board of Supervisors to revisit landfill request
Updated: Oct 14, 2012 9:54 PM CDT
WLBT
The Hinds County Board of Supervisors will revisit the request to expand a
landfill, just south of Clinton.
http://www.wlbt.com/story/19817967/hinds-board-of-supervisors-to-revisit-landfill-request
Jackson water bills likely to rise
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Water bills in the city of Jackson could go up
significantly if the City Council agrees to buy new water meters at the
heart of a $90 million water and sewer improvement project.
http://www.fox40tv.com/news/local/story/Jackson-water-bills-likely-to-rise/bwQ8x6HKYkC3wribHdYxKA.cspx
Stion Solar Plant and GSREIA hope to save Mississippians money
WDAM
With a major solar manufacturing plant in Hattiesburg, President of Gulf
States Renewable Energy Industries Association Tucker Crawford believes
that now is the time to bring in a tax credit program that benefit the
residents and the businesses.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19810377/stion-solar-plant-and-gsreia-hope-to-save-mississipians-money
National News
Coal ash decision stymied in election year
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Published: October 14
In Maryland's Zekiah Swamp, one of the Chesapeake Bay's most important
tributaries, 8.4 million tons of coal ash in pits from former operations of
the Morgantown power plant are leaking into groundwater. Residents on the
Moapa River Reservation north of Las Vegas blame a spike in respiratory
illnesses on the uncovered ash ponds and ash dump from a generating station
nearby.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/coal-ash-decision-stymied-in-election-year/2012/10/14/1bc6d2cc-0d6f-11e2-bb5e-492c0d30bff6_story.html
EPA probes health risks left by old lead factory sites
USA Today
The Environmental Protection Agency is re-examining more than 460 former
lead factory sites across the USA for health hazards left by toxic fallout
onto soil in nearby neighborhoods.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2012/10/13/epa-actions-underway-to-address-lead-smelter-factory-dangers/1625741/
Natural gas producers open up in joining leak study
Houston Chronicle
After months of insistence from natural gas producers that methane leaks
are not a concern, nine energy companies are supporting research that may
prove the opposite.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/10/12/natural-gas-producers-open-up-in-joining-leak-study/
Press Releases
FOSC for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in New Orleans approved a joint
plan from BP and Transocean
10/12/2012 09:02 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS — The Federal On-Scene Coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon
oil spill in New Orleans approved a joint plan from BP and Transocean
Thursday.
The joint plan was required by Coast Guard Capt. Duke Walker to identify
the source of a sheen located in the Gulf of Mexico that has been
associated with Macondo 252 oil. The Notice of Federal Interest informed BP
and Transocean that they may be responsible for costs related to
identifying the source of the sheen and cleanup.
The proposed joint plan includes satellite observations and mobilizing
remotely operated vehicles to examine the original Macondo well area
including the wreckage, debris, and the riser on the sea floor.
The ROV is expected to be mobilized Sunday with direct Coast Guard
oversight. Operations are anticipated to commence early next week with
logistics and weather permitting.
The public is reminded to contact the National Response Center at
1-800-424-8802 to report all pollution incidents or the Coast Guard 8th
District Command Center at 504-589-6225 in the event of any maritime
emergencies.
