Oil Spill
BP could reap billions of dollars in tax credits from oil spill settlement
Thursday, October 18, 2012, 7:16 PM
Press Register
By George Talbot
BP, which caused the biggest environmental catastrophe ever seen on U.S.
shores, may be poised to receive the biggest tax break in American history
as a result of it.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/10/bp_could_reap_billions_of_doll.html
BP Could Receive Billions Of Dollars In Tax Breaks
(MOBILE, Ala.) Oil giant BP could be in the running for billions of dollars
in tax breaks if a settlement with the federal government is reached.
http://www.local15tv.com/news/local/story/BP-Could-Receive-Billions-Of-Dollars-In-Tax-Breaks/PFfL5JKkh0yB7VkcdD_r2A.cspx
Coastal Recovery Not Possible without RESTORE Cash
WKRG
FAIRHOPE, Alabama --
Spilling five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 is
expected to cost BP as much as 20 billion dollars in Clean Water Act fines
and penalties.
http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2012/oct/17/c-ar-4777520/
BP says recent oil sheen in Gulf likely came from discarded equipment
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune.
BP officials said Thursday that a sheen recently spotted near the site of
the massive Gulf oil spill two years ago appears to be leaking from a piece
of discarded equipment that was used in the early stages of the response.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2012/10/bp_says_recent_oil_sheen_in_gu.html
BP reports source of sheen at Deepwater Horizon spill site is from
discarded equipment
AP
NEW ORLEANS -- BP PLC says a sheen on the Gulf of Mexico appears to have
come from oil seeping out of a piece of discarded equipment used to contain
its massive 2010 oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/10/bp_reports_source_of_sheen_at.html#
BP says gulf oil sheen not from a fresh leak
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson,
BP said Thursday that an oil sheen detected in the Gulf of Mexico last
month probably came from crude trapped in the giant coffer dam that the
company used in a futile attempt to capture the oil that was spilling from
a BP well in 2010.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bp-says-recent-gulf-oil-sheen-was-not-a-leak/2012/10/18/5bf387e8-195c-11e2-bd10-5ff056538b7c_story.html
Coast Guard: Gulf oil slick comes from device used in 2010 spill
Houston Chronicle
An undersea camera confirms that an oil slick discovered in the Gulf of
Mexico came from a 100-ton device on the seafloor that BP had used several
weeks after the 2010 oil spill in a failed attempt to cap its runaway
Macondo well, the U.S. Coast Guard said Thursday.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/10/18/source-gulf-oil-slick-coming-from-abandoned-containment-device/
State News
Port Director Don Allee resigns
WLOX
Don Allee, Executive Director and CEO of the Mississippi State Port
Authority at Gulfport, resigned Friday morning effective November 2, 2012.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19863571/port-director-don-allee-resigns
Grant to Address Smithville Sewer Issues
BY
STEVE ROGERS
– OCTOBER 19, 2012
WCBI
SMITHVILLE, Miss. — Mayor Gregg Kennedy received notice from Governor Phil
Bryant that the Town of Smithville's application for Small Government
Public Facilities funds through the Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) Program in the amount of $449,646 was approved by the Mississippi
Development Authority.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/grant-to-address-smithville-sewer-issues
Clogged sewer line causing back ups
WLBT
The Jackson Public Works department is working to clear a clogged sewer
line on Powers Avenue. The 21 inch line has been backed up for several
hours.
http://www.wlbt.com/story/19864241/clogged-sewer-line-causing-back-ups
DMR attorneys looking at legality of land swap
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
OCEAN SPRINGS -- Lawyers at the state Department of Marine Resources are
looking at a proposal to swap land and businesses the DMR owns at the Ocean
Springs Harbor for acreage in Biloxi.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/18/4252836/dmr-attorneys-looking-at-legality.html
Page 13: Exploring the coast's natural beauty
WLOX
The coast's rich heritage and natural beauty are enjoyed by hundreds of
tourists every year when they step on board the Sailfish. The boat in the
Biloxi Small Craft Harbor conducts tours of our marine environment and
shows visitors what its like to shrimp.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19845922/page-13-exploring-the-coasts-natural-beauty
Miss. officials certify saltwater fishing records
AP
BILOXI, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources says it
has certified two new saltwater fishing records.
http://www.fox40tv.com/news/local/story/Miss-officials-certify-saltwater-fishing-records/E6PcCIH8hEqIMgZuvnTwgQ.cspx
National News
Activists want climate change on presidential debate agenda
By Curtis Morgan — The Miami Herald
MIAMI — Despite a year that has produced unprecedented ice melts in the
Arctic and Greenland, a devastating drought across much of the country and
hundreds of record high temperatures around the world, the subject of
climate change has managed to remain in the deep freezer of presidential
politics.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/19/4253130/activists-want-climate-change.html
Biofuels industry presses congressional leaders to maintain fuel rule
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 10/18/12 02:59 PM ET
Biofuels groups pressed congressional leadership Thursday to maintain a
biofuels mandate when lawmakers consider drought-relief legislation.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/262837-biofuels-industry-presses-congressional-leaders-to-maintain-fuel-rule
Oil-and-gas group questions EPA fracking study
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 10/18/12 12:20 PM ET
An oil-and-gas industry group said the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) water testing at a Wyoming natural gas drilling site raises concerns
about the agency's national study on hydraulic fracturing.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/262769-oil-and-gas-group-questions-epa-fracking-study
EPA's Water Tests in Wyoming Town Flawed, Oil Group Says
Bloomberg
Testing methods used by the Environmental Protection Agency in a Wyoming
town where residents blame hydraulic fracturing for water contamination are
flawed, and an updated analysis doesn't show drilling tainted the aquifer,
an industry group said.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-10-18/epa-s-water-tests-in-wyoming-town-flawed-oil-group-says
A Rogue Climate Experiment Outrages Scientists
NY Times
By HENRY FOUNTAIN
A California businessman chartered a fishing boat in July, loaded it with
100 tons of iron dust and cruised through Pacific waters off western
Canada, spewing his cargo into the sea in an ecological experiment that has
outraged scientists and government officials.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/science/earth/iron-dumping-experiment-in-pacific-alarms-marine-experts.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
Press Releases
ROVs investigate possible sheen source
10/18/2012 03:20 PM EDT
NEW ORLEANS — Remote operated vehicles deployed from the offshore
construction vessel Skandi Neptune collected oil samples on Wednesday from
the underwater site of the Deepwater Horizon incident to determine the
source of a surface sheen discovered last month.
The samples were taken after the ROV video showed apparent oil globules
leaking from the containment dome at approximately 15 globules per minute,
which is estimated to be less than 100 gallons per day. In 2010, the 40‐
foot‐tall containment dome was used as part of an attempt to capture oil
and allow it to flow through a pipe to a barge on the surface. This
technique was not successful and the equipment was moved away from the well
head and riser pipe, and set in its current position approximately 500
meters from the original Macondo well head. It is entirely separate from
the well head and any riser piping. Out of an abundance of caution, the ROV
also inspected the original Macondo well area including the wreckage,
debris, relief wells, and the riser on the sea floor and observed no oil
leakage from that area.
The two collected oil samples will be used for lab analysis. One sample
will be shared by BP and Transocean, and the second sample will be used by
the Coast Guard. The lab analysis will help determine if the containment
dome is the likely source of the recent sheening.
"The Coast Guard is further evaluating what is believed to be seepage from
the containment dome to determine how best to respond," said Capt. Duke
Walker, Federal On‐Scene Coordinator for the Deepwater Horizon response.
The ROV operations were observed by the Coast Guard, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the Department
of Interior's Trustee, BP, Transocean and state on‐scene coordinators from
Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.
The Skandi Neptune departed for the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon
incident Sunday to identify the origin of an oil sheen first reported to
the National Response Center Sept. 16. The Coast Guard issued a Notice of
Federal Interest to BP and Transocean after the reported sheen was
correlated to the oil that originated from BP's Macondo well.
The video of ROV inspections will be available in full at
www.RestoreTheGulf.gov
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 marine emergencies.
New App Lets Users Check Health of Waterways Anywhere in the U.S.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launched
a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of
thousands of lakes, rivers and streams across the United States from their
smart phone, tablet or desktop computer. Available at
http://www.epa.gov/mywaterway, the How's My Waterway app and website uses
GPS technology or a user-entered zip code or city name to provide
information about the quality of local water bodies. The release of the app
and website helps mark the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, which
Congress enacted on October 18, 1972, giving citizens a special role in
caring for the nation's water resources. Forty years later, EPA is
providing citizens with a technology-based tool to expand that stewardship.
"America's lakes, streams and rivers are national treasures. Communities
and neighborhoods across the U.S. want to know that their local lakes,
rivers and streams are healthy and safe to enjoy with their families," said
Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water.
"This new app provides easy, user-friendly access to the health of a
waterway, whether it is safe for swimming and fishing, and what is being
done about any reported problems. People can get this information whether
researching at a desktop or standing streamside looking at a smart phone."
How It Works
• SEARCH: Go to http://www.epa.gov/mywaterway and allow GPS-technology to
identify the nearest streams, rivers or lakes or enter a zip code or city
name.
• RESULTS: Instantly receive a list of waterways within five miles of the
search location. Each waterway is identified as unpolluted, polluted or
unassessed. A map option offers the user a view of the search area with the
results color-coded by assessment status.
• DISCOVER: Once a specific lake, river or stream is selected, the How's My
Waterway app and website provides information on the type of pollution
reported for that waterway and what has been done by EPA and the states to
reduce it. Additional reports and technical information is available for
many waterways. Read simple descriptions of each type of water pollutant,
including pollutant type, likely sources and potential health risks.
• MORE: Related links page connects users to popular water information on
beaches, drinking water and fish and wildlife habitat based on a user's
search criteria.
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| Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Funding for Projects to Boost |
| Renewable Energy Production, Reduce Energy Consumption |
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| |
|WASHINGTON – Oct. 19, 2012 –Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|announced funding for 244 projects nationwide that are focused on helping |
|agricultural producers and rural small businesses reduce energy consumption |
|and costs, and use renewable energy technologies in their operations. |
|Funding is made available through USDA's Rural Energy for America Program |
|(REAP). |
| |
| |
|"As part of President Obama's "all of the above" energy strategy, USDA has |
|partnered with thousands of America's farmers, ranchers and rural businesses|
|to help them save energy and improve their bottom line," said Vilsack. "This|
|effort is helping to provide stable energy costs that create an environment |
|for sustainable job growth in rural America." |
| |
| |
|For example, in Coos County, New Hampshire, Balsams View, LLC has been |
|selected to receive a grant to replace an outdated heating system with a |
|state of the art, high-efficiency, wood fired biomass boiler system. The new|
|energy-efficient system is expected to use 77 percent less wood. |
| |
| |
|In Augusta, Wisconsin, farmer Matthew Gabler has been selected to receive a |
|grant to install a new 11 kilowatt wind turbine producing approximately |
|29,000 kilowatt-hours a year for his farm. |
| |
| |
|In Washington State, Edaleen Cow Power LLC, located near Lynden, Whatcom |
|County, has been selected to receive a Rural Energy for America Program Loan|
|and Grant Combination of $2,638,000 to install an anaerobic digester and |
|sell the resulting electricity to a utility. The project is anticipated to |
|generate 4,635 Megawatt hours per year. Edaleen Dairy's 2,450-head herd will|
|be the sole manure source for the project and the dairy will benefit by from|
|the bedding byproduct the digester produces. |
| |
| |
|REAP offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small |
|businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make |
|energy-efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other funding |
|sources for businesses. In all, USDA announced over $16 million in energy |
|investments today. |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement is an example of investments the Obama Administration |
|is making to help create jobs and grow the rural economy. For a complete |
|listing of Rural Energy for America Program grant and loan recipients |
|announced today, please click here. |
| |
| |
|For additional information on Rural Development projects, please visit Rural|
|Development's new interactive web map featuring program funding and success |
|stories for fiscal years 2009-2011. The data can be found at: |
|http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/RDSuccessStories.html. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|– strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's|
|investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands |
|as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture |
|Secretary Tom Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to|
|foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong|
|partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural |
|communities. |
| |
| |
|USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, administers and manages |
|housing, business and community infrastructure programs through a national |
|network of state and local offices. Rural Development has an active |
|portfolio of more than $172 billion in loans and loan guarantees. These |
|programs are designed to improve the economic stability of rural |
|communities, businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the |
|quality of life in rural America. |
| |
| |
|# |
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Ten Ways to Save Money, Energy and Protect Your Health This Winter
WASHINGTON – With winter quickly approaching, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is highlighting ten tips for Americans to protect
their health, save money, and lower energy while enjoying the winter
holiday season.
1. Maintain your heating equipment to lower utility bills. Heating and
cooling costs account for about $1,000 -- nearly half of a home's total
annual energy bill. Maintaining the efficiency of your home's heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can have a big effect on
your utility bills. Dirt and neglect can impact the efficiency of your HVAC
system and are some of the top causes of heating system failure. Schedule
an HVAC checkup with a licensed HVAC contractor to make sure your system is
operating at peak performance. Also, check your system's air filter every
month and change it when it's dirty or at a minimum, every three months. A
dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to
keep you warm or cool — wasting energy.
http://www.energystar.gov/homeimprovement
2. Download EPA's free Apps to help protect your health. The AIRNow app
allows users to enter a zip code and get current particle pollution and
ozone levels and forecasts for more than 400 cities across the country. The
Ultraviolet (UV) Index provides an hourly forecast of the UV radiation
levels from the sun. Both are available for Apple and Android phones. Learn
more about these apps and the others: http://m.epa.gov/apps/index.html
3. Decorate for the holidays with Energy Star light strings that can last
up to 10 times longer. Energy Star-qualified light strings use about 65
percent less electricity than incandescent light strings and are available
in a variety of colors, shapes and lengths. They save energy and are more
durable, shock-resistant and cooler to the touch. If every decorative light
string sold in the U.S. this year were Energy Star qualified, Americans
would save $80 million in utility bills and one billion pounds of
greenhouse gas emissions would be prevented.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=DS
4. Lower the temperature in your home to increase savings up to 12 percent.
Control your home's temperature while away or asleep by using one of the
pre-programmed settings. Programming the thermostat to turn the temperature
down 8 degrees for 7 hours each night and an additional 7 hours each
weekday could result in a seasonal heating savings of approximately 12
percent. For the average home, this could result in savings of about $180.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_save_energy_at_home
5. Check for water leaks and install WaterSense products to save
approximately $170 per year. The average household spends as much as $500
per year on their water and sewer bill, but approximately $170 per year can
be saved by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances.
http://www.epa.gov/watersense
6. Reduce your food waste. Feed people, not landfills. Food is the single
largest type of waste going to landfills and incinerators. Americans
disposed of approximately 33 million tons of food waste in 2010. When
excess food, leftover food, and food scraps are disposed of in a landfill,
they decompose and become a significant source of methane - a potent
greenhouse gas. Much of the food that is discarded in landfills is actually
safe, wholesome food that could have been used to feed people. So when you
are thinking about making your family dinner, think about how you can
reduce your food waste to save money, help communities, and protect the
environment.
http://www.epa.gov/osw/conserve/materials/organics/food/fd-house.htm
7. Look for the Design for the Environment label on more than 2,800
products during winter cleaning. EPA's Designed for the Environment (DfE)
logo differentiates products that use only the safest ingredients to
protect people, our pets, and the environment. In 2011, Americans using DfE
products cut the use of harmful chemicals by more than 756 million pounds.
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/
8. Test your home for radon gas, 1 in 15 homes may have elevated levels.
Radon, a colorless odorless gas, is the leading cause of lung cancer among
non-smokers and levels can increase during colder months. Purchase an
affordable Do-It-Yourself test kit online or at a local hardware store to
determine the level in your home. Addressing high levels often costs the
same as other minor home repairs. http://www.epa.gov/radon
9. Learn before you burn and cut firewood use by more than 30 percent. The
Burn Wise program has best burn practices to help better protect your home
and your health. Never burn garbage, cardboard, ocean driftwood or wet
wood. If you replace an old wood stove with a more efficient one,
efficiency can increase by 50 percent, 1/3 less wood can be used for the
same heat and 70 percent less particle pollution indoors and out are
produced. http://www.epa.gov/burnwise/
10. Prevent Pests. Now is the time when pests such as insects and rodents
may try to move indoors. Eliminate sources of food, water, and shelter to
reduce pest problems. Prevent pests by using caulk to eliminate cracks,
repair water leaks, remove clutter, and clean up crumbs and other food
sources. If you decide to use a pesticide, read the label first. The
pesticide label is your guide to using pesticides safely and effectively.
It contains pertinent information that you should read and understand
before you use a pesticide product. http://www.epa.gov/safepestcontrol/
More winter tips: http://www.epa.gov/epahome/hi-winter.htm
More local information from MyEnvironment:
http://www.epa.gov/myenvironment/
All year long you can Pick5 for the Environment: http://www.epa.gov/pick5/
