Oil Spill
GoCoast 2020 Commission must be coastwide effort
Thursday, October 04, 2012, 11:15 AM
By Mississippi Press Editorial Board
The GoCoast 2020 Commission must be a coastwide effort to make sure we get
the most bang for the RESTORE Act billions coming our way in the wake of
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-opinion/2012/10/gocoast_2020_commission_must_b.html
In Pensacola, John Boehner says he supports RESTORE Act
U.S. House Speaker visits for GOP fundraiser
Pensacola News Journal
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, affirmed his support for the
recently passed RESTORE Act during a quick and low-key appearance in
Pensacola on Thursday morning at a local GOP fundraiser.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20121005/NEWS01/310050021/In-Pensacola-John-Boehner-supports-RESTORE-Act?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CLife
Gulf Coast political leaders urge U.S. Attorney General to keep BP fine
money on the coast
Thursday, October 04, 2012, 5:55 PM
Press Register
By George Talbot
Federal officials from Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Texas are urging
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to send fine money paid by BP to the Gulf
Coast states harmed by the 2010 oil spill.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/10/gulf_coast_political_leaders_u.html
Florida Sen. Bill Nelson: Send BP fines to the Gulf Coast
Thursday, October 04, 2012, 12:08 PM
Press Register
By George Talbot
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said in a new letter to President Barack
Obama that control of fine money paid by BP for the 2010 oil spill should
be with the Gulf Coast states and not the federal government.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/10/florida_sen_bill_nelson_send_b.html
Lawmakers condemn possible BP settlement
NW Florida Daily News
Lawmakers representing Northwest Florida reacted strongly Thursday to word
that a deal is being discussed to give the federal government control over
BP fine money — and tax deductions to the company responsible for the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local-news/lawmakers-condemn-possible-bp-settlement-1.23242
Sessions, Bonner Send Letter AG Regarding RESTORE Act
WKRG
U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), a senior member of the Senate Committee on
Environment and Public Works, joined Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL) and other
members of the Gulf Coast congressional delegation today in sending a
letter to Attorney General Eric Holder on federal efforts to reach a
settlement agreement with the responsible parties in the Deepwater Horizon
case. Sessions issued the following comment upon the release of the letter:
http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2012/oct/04/sessions-bonner-send-letter-ag-regarding-restore-a-ar-4684322/
Brewing Texas Battle: Will Gulf Oil Spill Fines be Used for Pork?
The Orange Leader
AUSTIN, Texas — Two and a half years after British Petroleum's Deepwater
Horizon oil rig exploded, spewing 5 million barrels of crude into the Gulf
of Mexico, a battle is brewing over how the B.P. fines will eventually be
spent. The company is likely to pay out anywhere from $5 billion to $21
billion under the RESTORE Act, which was signed into law by President Obama
this summer. The National Wildlife Federation recently polled sportsmen
across the nation - most of whom identified themselves as conservative -
and found that 87 percent want the B.P. fines used primarily for habitat
restoration.
http://orangeleader.com/breakingnews/x62493799/Brewing-Texas-Battle-Will-Gulf-Oil-Spill-Fines-be-Used-for-Pork
State News
Governor Bryant Announces 'Energy Roadmap'
MPB
PUBLISHED BY JEFFREY HESS ON 04 OCT 2012 05:18PM
Governor Phil Bryantwants Mississippi to be a national leader in energy
production. The governor announced a new energy policy yesterday. MPB's
Jeffrey Hess reports the Governor is also calling for more conservation
around the state.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/governor_bryant_announces_energy_roadmap
Bryant unveils plan for state's energy sector
WLBT
If you ask Gov. Phil Bryant, it's aggressive, challenging and demanding.
However, he says it can be done. To show how, he's laying out the framework
for what he believes will help grow and mold the state's energy economy.
http://www.wlox.com/story/19738720/bryant-unveils-plan-for-states-energy-sector
Gov. Phil Bryant announces Energy Works: Mississippi's Energy Roadmap
(updated)
Thursday, October 04, 2012, 7:04 PM
By The Associated Press
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Gov. Phil Bryant is renewing his focus on promoting
energy-related development.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/10/gov_phil_bryant_announces_ener.html
Southern Company CEO calls Kemper plant a 'home run'
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com
JACKSON -- Large crowds gathered for Gov. Phil Bryant's energy summit here
Thursday, where the governor unveiled his Mississippi Works plan, which is
designed to attract more energy companies to Mississippi and also beef up
research and training.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/10/04/4225249/southern-company-ceo-calls-kemper.html
Field trip educates students about conservation
WTVA
VERONA, Miss. (WTVA) — Students from a Lee County school went on a six-hour
field trip Thursday.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Field-trip-educates-students-about-conservation/uT_5xDaJ2Uy_83MA-B4pDg.cspx
Lewis has left imprint on Miss.
Clarion Ledger
George Lewis likes to tell folks that he works for 300 Mississippi mayors.
He's done so for more than a decade, but at the end of the year, Lewis will
retire as executive director of the Mississippi Municipal League.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121005/NEWS/310050033/Lewis-has-left-imprint-Miss-?nclick_check=1
National News
Court hears legal challenge to Chesapeake Bay 'pollution diet'
Farmers, builders square off against EPA, environmentalists, local
officials
By Timothy B. Wheeler
The Baltimore Sun
7:05 PM EDT, October 4, 2012
In a challenge to the Obama administration's efforts to jump-start the
lagging restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, lawyers for farmers and
homebuilders argued in federal court here Thursday that the Environmental
Protection Agency overstepped its legal authority and relied on a flawed
computer model in setting a pollution "diet" for the ailing estuary.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bs-gr-bay-diet-court-20121004,0,6389240.story
Opinion
GoCoast 2020 Commission must be coastwide effort
Thursday, October 04, 2012, 11:15 AM
By Mississippi Press Editorial Board
The GoCoast 2020 Commission must be a coastwide effort to make sure we get
the most bang for the RESTORE Act billions coming our way in the wake of
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-opinion/2012/10/gocoast_2020_commission_must_b.html
Let us spend BP's oil-spill fines
Op-Ed
Pensacola News Journal
Any settlement between BP and the federal government over fines from the
2010 oil spill must include guarantees that the counties in the affected
states have broad leeway in how the money is spent.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20121003/OPINION/310030036/Let-us-spend-BP-s-oil-spill-fines?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs
Press Releases
WaterSense Partners of the Year Help Americans Save Water, Money on Utility
Bills
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored
five leading organizations as 2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year.
WaterSense-labeled products manufactured by these organizations and more
than 2,600 WaterSense partners nationwide have helped American businesses
and households save 287 billion gallons of water and $4.7 billion in water
and energy bills.
"WaterSense is proud to partner with these champions of water efficiency
who share our mission to protect the future of our nation's water supply,"
said Nancy Stoner, EPA's acting Assistant Administrator for Water. "The
2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year were exceptional in their efforts to
support innovative approaches to help people and companies save water and
money on utility bills nationwide."
The WaterSense Partner of the Year awards program recognizes WaterSense
partners who help advance the overall mission of WaterSense, increase
awareness of the WaterSense brand in a measurable way, and demonstrate
overall excellence in the water efficiency arena.
WaterSense recognized the following Partners of the Year for their
water-saving initiatives:
Manufacturer Partners of the Year:
American Standard Brands earned a Manufacturer Partner of the Year Award
for developing a WaterSense-labeled toilet model that can be installed
without tools. American Standard also toured the country with an
educational display that demonstrated how WaterSense-labeled faucets,
toilets and showerheads work.
Kohler Co., now a three-time WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year,
introduced its most water-efficient dual-flush toilet in 2011. Kohler also
more than doubled the number of WaterSense-labeled showerheads it offers
and supported and participated in the "Wasting Water Is Weird" consumer
education campaign to promote water conservation.
Retailer Partner of the Year:
Lowe's Companies, Inc. became a three-time WaterSense Retailer Partner of
the Year by supporting and participating in the "Wasting Water Is Weird"
campaign to promote water conservation and training their sales associates
on water savings and usability of WaterSense labeled products. Through
their efforts, Lowe's customers saved about 4 billion gallons of water in
2011 with WaterSense products.
Promotional Partner of the Year:
Colorado Springs Utilities was named the WaterSense Promotional Partner of
the Year for helping a local builder create the first WaterSense-labeled
home in Colorado. The utility also encouraged commercial kitchens in the
area to try pre-rinse spray valves that helped save more than 20 million
gallons of water.
Builder Partner of the Year:
KB Home, now a two-time WaterSense Builder Partner of the Year, built
nearly 100 WaterSense-labeled homes in 2011 and pushed the limits of
sustainable building with a model home designed to achieve net-zero energy
use and the highest levels of water and other resource efficiency.
The Partner of the Year awards were presented at the WaterSmart Innovations
conference in Las Vegas, Nev. The Excellence Awards were also given at the
conference to five organizations that contributed to program initiatives
such as providing employee education, supporting WaterSense's annual
Fix-a-Leak Week public awareness campaign, and facilitating collaboration
among stakeholders during 2011. WaterSense is a partnership program
sponsored by EPA, and seeks to protect the future of our nation's water
supply by offering people a simple way to use less water with
water-efficient products, new homes, and services.
More on the 2012 WaterSense Partners of the Year and Excellence Award
winners: www.epa.gov/watersense
EPA Announces New Electronic Filing System for Environmental Reviews
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced e-NEPA, a new online system that allows federal agencies to
submit environmental impact statements (EISs) electronically.
Traditionally, EISs have been submitted to EPA in hard copy. e-NEPA
eliminates the need to mail or deliver copies of EISs to EPA headquarters,
reducing printing, shipping, and delivery costs. It also saves time through
electronic filing and e-confirmation and improves transparency, allowing
EPA to post EIS documents to EPA's website.
"The release of e-NEPA is an important step forward in advancing the
President's commitment to streamline the federal environmental review
process," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Through electronic filing, we are
making it easier for federal agencies to submit environmental impact
statements, allowing them to save time and reduce costs, while making the
process more transparent for the public."
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to
integrate environmental considerations into their decision-making processes
by identifying the environmental impacts and reasonable alternatives to
their proposed actions. To meet NEPA requirements federal agencies prepare
detailed analyses known as EISs. EPA reviews, provides comments, and
maintains a national filing system for EISs.
Beginning on October 1, 2012, all agencies are required to use the e-NEPA
filing system.
More information about e-NEPA:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/submiteis/index.html
More information about NEPA: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/index.html
More information about how to file an EIS electronically:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/submiteis/guide-to-e-nepa-electronic-submittal-of-eis.pdf
