Robot Submarine Seeks Oil Sheen Source Near Deepwater Horizon Site
Published October 15, 2012
Dow Jones Newswires
A submarine robot is seeking the source of a surface oil sheen that matched
oil from the massive 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a spokesman for the
U.S. Coast Guard said Monday.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/10/15/robot-submarine-seeks-oil-sheen-source-near-deepwater-horizon-site/
Most eligible parties to accept spill deal, claims head says
Houston Chronicle
By Emily Pickrell | Monday, October 15, 2012
NEW ORLEANS - BP's multibillion dollar settlement with individuals and
businesses affected by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill doesn't appear to
be in jeopardy, as more than 90 percent of those eligible are expected to
accept the deal, the claims administrator said Monday.
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Most-eligible-parties-to-accept-spill-deal-3951288.php
Seafood testing program to end next year
Florida Times Union
The Department of Agriculture will ask lawmakers to approve the use of the
final $1.5 million from BP to continue a seafood testing program through
October of next year.
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2012-10-15/seafood-testing-program-end-next-year
State News
150 households dispose of hazadous waste
(Embedded image moved to file: pic26924.jpg)
Jebb Johnston
Published: Oct 12, 2012
Taking advantage of Saturday s Household Hazardous Waste Day, local
residents brought hundreds of pounds of toxic chemicals, thousands of
pounds of electronics and other items that might otherwise have ended up in
the landfill.
Funded by a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality grant, it was
the first such event held in Corinth in nine years. A total of 150
different households brought materials to the event for proper disposal or
recycling.
http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=P35YGEeY
Hinds supervisors allow Clinton landfill expansion
Clarion Ledger
A Clinton solid waste landfill owner can more than double the size of his
facility after all, Hinds County supervisors decided today.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121015/NEWS/121015005/Hinds-supervisors-allow-Clinton-landfill-expansion?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome&nclick_check=1
Board Of Supervisor Vote To Expand Landfill
Fox40
The board voted today 3-2 in favor of expanding the landfill. This comes
after voting to deny that request just 2 weeks ago. Today's decision came
down to one deciding factor, district 5 Supervisor Kenny Stokes.
http://www.fox40tv.com/news/local/story/Board-Of-Supervisor-Vote-To-Expand-Landfill/vnaSgJJCwUWYsId6RPMCXg.cspx
Hinds County supervisors revote, approve landfill expansion
WAPT
JACKSON, Miss. — The Hinds County Board of Supervisors approved a landfill
expansion proposal on Monday after voting against it earlier this month.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/Hinds-County-supervisors-revote-approve-landfill-expansion/-/9156946/16802932/-/lwv76g/-/index.html
Hinds County landfill will be allowed to expand
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - Hinds County Supervisors have changed their vote and
will now allow a landfill to expand south of Clinton.
http://www.wlbt.com/story/19824060/hinds-county-landfill-will-be-allowed-to-expand
Hercules meeting set for Wednesday
Hattiesburg American
HATTIESBURG — A community informational meeting about the Hercules
Impoundment Basin Decommissioning will be held from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at
the Jackie Dole Sherrill Community Center, 220 W. Front St.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20121016/NEWS01/310160006/Hercules-meeting-set-Wednesday
MDEQ lifts beach closure following sewage spill last month
by MBJ Staff
Published: October 16,2012
BAY ST. LOUIS — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
has lifted a temporary water contact advisory issued Sept. 24 for Joe's
Bayou near Felicity Street in Bay St. Louis.
http://msbusiness.com/2012/10/mdeq-lifts-beach-closure-following-sewage-spill-last-month/
High corn prices halt ethanol production in Vicksburg
WLBT
For the last four years, Bunge-Ergon in Vicksburg has been turning corn
into ethanol. Now, the plant is turning away from its ethanol production,
all thanks to a record high spike in corn prices.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19826468/high-corn-prices-halt-ethanol-production-in-vicksburg
National News
Q and A: Tracking a Worrisome Dead Zone
NY Times
By RACHEL NUWER
For over a quarter-century, the marine ecologist Nancy Rabalais, the
executive director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium, has
worked to understand and to spread awareness of the so-called dead zone in
the Gulf of Mexico.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/q-and-a-tracking-a-worrisome-dead-zone/
Opinion
Gov. Phil Bryant's energy vision offers a wealth of possibilities (Sid
Salter)
STARKVILLE, Missisippi -- When it comes to jobs and future economic
development, it's pretty easy to get Rebels, Golden Eagles and Bulldogs to
sing out of the same hymnals with a reasonable expectation that the
majority of the rest of the state's population will sing along.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-opinion/2012/10/bryants_energy_vision_offers_a.html#
Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 October 2012
Public Meeting Notice
Vicksburg, Miss - The US Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District
(Corps) is undertaking a feasibility study to address aquatic degradation
on the Quiver River within the Big Sunflower River Watershed in
Mississippi. The Corps and the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Joint Water
Management District will perform a cooperative investigation for
restoration of the aquatic ecosystem of wildlife habitat and related
purposes.
A meeting will be held on 24 October 2012, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at
the Mississippi Delta Community College Capps Technology Center, 920
Highway 82 West, Indianola, Mississippi 38751.
The purpose of the meeting is to involve the public, State of Mississippi
resource agencies, Indian tribes, and other interested parties in
identifying the environmental issues to be examined and establishing a
range of alternatives to be evaluated.
All residents of the community and interested parties are invited to attend
and submit written or verbal comments.
Date: 24 October 2012
What: Quiver River NEPA scoping meeting
Where: MS Delta Community College Capps Technology Center, 920 Highway 82
West, Indianola, MS 38751
Time: 5:00-8:30 p.m.
The Vicksburg District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers encompasses a
68,000-square-mile area across portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and
Louisiana that holds seven major river basins and incorporates
approximately 460 miles of mainline levees. To learn more about the
Vicksburg District, visit our website, www.mvk.usace.army.mil .
XXX
EPA Announces Opportunity to Apply for 2013 Environmental Justice Small
Grants
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today
that it is seeking applicants for a total of $1.5 million in environmental
justice small grants to be awarded in 2013. EPA's environmental justice
efforts aim to ensure equal environmental and health protections for all
Americans, regardless of race or socioeconomic status. The grants enable
non-profit organizations to conduct research, provide education and develop
solutions to local health and environmental issues in communities
overburdened by harmful pollution. Grants are available for up to $30,000
each.
"Environmental justice grants support efforts to raise awareness about
local health and environmental concerns," said Lisa Garcia, EPA's senior
advisor to the administrator for environmental justice. "By supporting
local projects in under-served communities, communities are able to develop
plans and partnerships that will continue to improve their local
environment and better protect human health into the future."
The 2013 grant solicitation is now open and will close on Jan. 7, 2013.
Applicants must be incorporated non-profits or tribal organizations working
to educate, empower and enable their communities to understand and address
local environmental and public health issues. EPA will host four
pre-application teleconference calls on Oct. 30, 2012; Nov. 14, 2012; Dec.
1, 2012; and Dec. 13, 2012 to help applicants understand the requirements.
Previous grants have supported activities including projects to better
protect children in the Boston-area from incidences of lead poisoning and
asthma attacks, conduct research on air quality in a portside Philadelphia
community and provide support to residents on the Red Lake Reservation in
Minnesota to repair failing septic systems and identify water that is
unsafe to drink.
The principles of environmental justice uphold the idea that all
communities overburdened by pollution – particularly minority, low income
and indigenous communities – deserve the same degree of protection from
environmental and health hazards, equal access to the decision-making
process and a healthy environment in which to live, learn and work. Since
1994, the environmental justice small grants program has provided funding
in more than 1,300 communities, to community-based non-profit organizations
and local governments working to address environmental justice issues. The
grants represent EPA's commitment to expand the conversation on
environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across
the nation.
More information about the Environmental Justice Small Grants program:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
Environment Justice Small Grants 2013 Request for Proposals and schedule of
pre-application teleconference calls:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2013.pdf
