Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to Help Rebuild the Gulf Coasts'
Ecosystems and Economies in the Wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Council Announces its First Public Meeting
November 30, 2012 Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ, 601-961-5277
WASHINGTON — The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the Council)
announced today that it will hold its first public meeting on December 11,
2012 in Mobile, Alabama. The Council, which was established by the
Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism, Opportunities Revived
Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), will develop
and oversee implementation of a comprehensive plan to help restore the
ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast region in the wake of the Deepwater
Horizooil spill.
The oil spill caused extensive damage to the Gulf Coast's natural
resources, devastating the economies and communities that rely on it. In an
effort to help the region rebuild, Congress passed the bipartisan RESTORE
Act, which dedicates 80 percent of Clean Water Act administrative and civil
penalties paid by responsible parties after the date of enactment of this
Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill to the
Gulf Region for ecological and economic recovery efforts. This law will
likely generate investments in economic development, tourism promotion, and
science-based natural resource restoration in the states hit hardest by the
spill -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The Council will work with the State and local communities to identify
projects and programs that will restore the region's natural resources and
help benefit local businesses, boost their economies, and create jobs. In
order to ensure robust public input throughout the entire process, the
Council will hold several public meetings and listening sessions in each of
the Gulf States in the coming months.
The first meeting will introduce the Council to the public. It will also
give the public the opportunity to provide feedback on the Council's
restoration planning efforts. This meeting will be held on December 11,
2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel,
64 South Waters Street, Mobile, AL, 36602. There will also be an Open House
from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, during which the public
can discuss these issues with participating state and federal
representatives.
To preregister for the Council meeting, visit:
events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hghxkyjab&oeidk=a07e6po9rtw09ef560b
.
Gulf Restoration Council
The RESTORE Act established a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the
Council), which is comprised of governors from the five affected Gulf
States', the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of Interior, Commerce,
Agriculture, and Homeland Security as well as the Secretary of the Army and
the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Gulf
States selected and President Obama appointed the Secretary of Commerce as
the Council's Chair.
RESTORE Act
The RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of all administrative and civil
penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon spill to a Gulf Coast
Restoration Trust Fund and outlines a structure by which the funds can be
utilized to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems,
fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and
economy of the Gulf Coast region. The RESTORE Act sets forth the following
framework for allocation of the Trust Fund:
· 35 percent of the money divided equally between the five Gulf States
for ecological and economic restoration efforts in the region;
· 30 percent of the money through the Council to implement a
comprehensive plan for ecosystem and economic recovery of the Gulf
Coast;
· 30 percent of the money for States' plans to address based on impacts
from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill;
· 2.5 percent of the money to create the Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology Program
within the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); and
· 2.5 percent of the money to the Centers of Excellence Research
grants, which will each focus on science, technology, and monitoring
related to Gulf restoration.
# # #
Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us
Connect with MDEQ on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MDEQ/118172664880239?v=wall
Follow MDEQ on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ
Friday, November 30, 2012
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to Help Rebuild the Gulf Coasts’ Ecosystems and Economies in the Wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill The Council Announces its First Public Meeting
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to Help Rebuild the Gulf Coasts'
Ecosystems and Economies in the Wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Council Announces its First Public Meeting
November 30, 2012 Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ, 601-961-5277
WASHINGTON — The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the Council)
announced today that it will hold its first public meeting on December 11,
2012 in Mobile, Alabama. The Council, which was established by the
Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism, Opportunities Revived
Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), will develop
and oversee implementation of a comprehensive plan to help restore the
ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast region in the wake of the Deepwater
Horizooil spill.
The oil spill caused extensive damage to the Gulf Coast's natural
resources, devastating the economies and communities that rely on it. In an
effort to help the region rebuild, Congress passed the bipartisan RESTORE
Act, which dedicates 80 percent of Clean Water Act administrative and civil
penalties paid by responsible parties after the date of enactment of this
Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill to the
Gulf Region for ecological and economic recovery efforts. This law will
likely generate investments in economic development, tourism promotion, and
science-based natural resource restoration in the states hit hardest by the
spill -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The Council will work with the State and local communities to identify
projects and programs that will restore the region's natural resources and
help benefit local businesses, boost their economies, and create jobs. In
order to ensure robust public input throughout the entire process, the
Council will hold several public meetings and listening sessions in each of
the Gulf States in the coming months.
The first meeting will introduce the Council to the public. It will also
give the public the opportunity to provide feedback on the Council's
restoration planning efforts. This meeting will be held on December 11,
2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel,
64 South Waters Street, Mobile, AL, 36602. There will also be an Open House
from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, during which the public
can discuss these issues with participating state and federal
representatives.
To preregister for the Council meeting, visit:
events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hghxkyjab&oeidk=a07e6po9rtw09ef560b
.
Gulf Restoration Council
The RESTORE Act established a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the
Council), which is comprised of governors from the five affected Gulf
States', the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of Interior, Commerce,
Agriculture, and Homeland Security as well as the Secretary of the Army and
the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Gulf
States selected and President Obama appointed the Secretary of Commerce as
the Council's Chair.
RESTORE Act
The RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of all administrative and civil
penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon spill to a Gulf Coast
Restoration Trust Fund and outlines a structure by which the funds can be
utilized to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems,
fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and
economy of the Gulf Coast region. The RESTORE Act sets forth the following
framework for allocation of the Trust Fund:
· 35 percent of the money divided equally between the five Gulf States
for ecological and economic restoration efforts in the region;
· 30 percent of the money through the Council to implement a
comprehensive plan for ecosystem and economic recovery of the Gulf
Coast;
· 30 percent of the money for States' plans to address based on impacts
from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill;
· 2.5 percent of the money to create the Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology Program
within the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); and
· 2.5 percent of the money to the Centers of Excellence Research
grants, which will each focus on science, technology, and monitoring
related to Gulf restoration.
# # #
Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us
Connect with MDEQ on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MDEQ/118172664880239?v=wall
Follow MDEQ on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ
Ecosystems and Economies in the Wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The Council Announces its First Public Meeting
November 30, 2012 Robbie Wilbur, MDEQ, 601-961-5277
WASHINGTON — The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the Council)
announced today that it will hold its first public meeting on December 11,
2012 in Mobile, Alabama. The Council, which was established by the
Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourism, Opportunities Revived
Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), will develop
and oversee implementation of a comprehensive plan to help restore the
ecosystem and economy of the Gulf Coast region in the wake of the Deepwater
Horizooil spill.
The oil spill caused extensive damage to the Gulf Coast's natural
resources, devastating the economies and communities that rely on it. In an
effort to help the region rebuild, Congress passed the bipartisan RESTORE
Act, which dedicates 80 percent of Clean Water Act administrative and civil
penalties paid by responsible parties after the date of enactment of this
Act in connection with the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill to the
Gulf Region for ecological and economic recovery efforts. This law will
likely generate investments in economic development, tourism promotion, and
science-based natural resource restoration in the states hit hardest by the
spill -- Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
The Council will work with the State and local communities to identify
projects and programs that will restore the region's natural resources and
help benefit local businesses, boost their economies, and create jobs. In
order to ensure robust public input throughout the entire process, the
Council will hold several public meetings and listening sessions in each of
the Gulf States in the coming months.
The first meeting will introduce the Council to the public. It will also
give the public the opportunity to provide feedback on the Council's
restoration planning efforts. This meeting will be held on December 11,
2012 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel,
64 South Waters Street, Mobile, AL, 36602. There will also be an Open House
from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, during which the public
can discuss these issues with participating state and federal
representatives.
To preregister for the Council meeting, visit:
events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hghxkyjab&oeidk=a07e6po9rtw09ef560b
.
Gulf Restoration Council
The RESTORE Act established a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (the
Council), which is comprised of governors from the five affected Gulf
States', the Secretaries from the U.S. Departments of Interior, Commerce,
Agriculture, and Homeland Security as well as the Secretary of the Army and
the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Gulf
States selected and President Obama appointed the Secretary of Commerce as
the Council's Chair.
RESTORE Act
The RESTORE Act dedicates 80 percent of all administrative and civil
penalties related to the Deepwater Horizon spill to a Gulf Coast
Restoration Trust Fund and outlines a structure by which the funds can be
utilized to restore and protect the natural resources, ecosystems,
fisheries, marine and wildlife habitats, beaches, coastal wetlands, and
economy of the Gulf Coast region. The RESTORE Act sets forth the following
framework for allocation of the Trust Fund:
· 35 percent of the money divided equally between the five Gulf States
for ecological and economic restoration efforts in the region;
· 30 percent of the money through the Council to implement a
comprehensive plan for ecosystem and economic recovery of the Gulf
Coast;
· 30 percent of the money for States' plans to address based on impacts
from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill;
· 2.5 percent of the money to create the Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring and Technology Program
within the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA); and
· 2.5 percent of the money to the Centers of Excellence Research
grants, which will each focus on science, technology, and monitoring
related to Gulf restoration.
# # #
Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us
Connect with MDEQ on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MDEQ/118172664880239?v=wall
Follow MDEQ on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ
News Clippings 11/30/12
11/30/12
Oil Spill
Coast Guard approves underwater inspection of BP well, Deepwater Horizon
wreckage for oil
Times Picayune
The Coast Guard announced Thursday that it has approved another
investigation of the BP Macondo wellhead and nearby wreckage of the
Deepwater Horizon drillship to determine if they may be the source of a
recurring sheen at the site. The plan by BP and Transocean, owner of the
ship, was submitted by the companies on Nov. 9, after the sheen was
reported to the Coast Guard's National Response Center by Bonny Schumaker,
founder of the California-based non-profit On Wings of Care, after she flew
over the area.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/11/coast_guard_approves_underwate.html
BP engineer says government records should exonerate him in spill case
WWL
NEW ORLEANS - When federal prosecutors investigated BP for lying about how
much oil was coming out of its ruptured Gulf well in April 2010, the first
person they charged with obstruction was BP engineer Kurt Mix.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/eyewitness/davidhammer/BP-engineer-says-government-records-should-exonerate-him-in-spill-case-181431011.html
Louisiana lining up major restoration projects to build with BP oil spill
fine money
Times Picayune
Louisiana officials are scrambling to prepare plans for dozens of coastal
restoration projects in anticipation of the arrival of billions of dollars
in BP oil spill fine money, the state Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority was told Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/11/louisiana_lining_up_major_rest.html
Lifting BP ban will be more than simple agreement-US source
Reuters
Thu, Nov 29 2012
By Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. officials were surprised that BP Plc
suggested an agreement would soon be ready to lift a suspension imposed
this week on the company's obtaining new federal contracts, a government
source said on Thursday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/29/usa-bp-suspension-idUSL1E8MTABB20121129
BP Caught Off Guard
Wall Street Journal
When U.S. authorities said they were temporarily suspendingBP BP.LN -0.09%
from new contracts with the Federal government due to a "lack of business
integrity" demonstrated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, there were
strong indications that BP had been caught off guard.
http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/11/29/bp-caught-off-guard/
State News
Kemper coal plant: Report disputes price tag, completion date
Clarion Ledger
A new report estimates the costs of building Mississippi Power's
customer-subsidized Kemper coal plant could balloon to $3 billion or more,
and questions the company's statements that it is 70-percent complete and
on schedule to open in May 2014.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121130/NEWS01/311300053/Kemper-coal-plant-Report-disputes-price-tag-completion-date?odyssey=tab|
topnews|text|
City ponders fate of rapidly shrinking landfill
Commercial Dispatch
Jeff Clark
November 29, 2012 10:08:51 AM
The City of Columbus will soon have to a face decision regarding the
dumping of waste in its landfill. A recent study by Neel-Schaffer
Engineering shows the landfill will run out of space within three years.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=20652&TRACKER=1
Group aims to keep county beautiful
Magee Courier
BY DAVID MINSKY
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 11:53 AM CST
There are two ways to keep Simpson?County free from roadside trash: stop
littering or pick up the trash already there.
http://www.mageecourier-countynews.com/articles/2012/11/29/headlines/headlines03.txt
New Hampshire firm buys assets of failed Senatobia solar panel business
Commercial Appeal
By Ron Maxey
Thursday, November 29, 2012
A New Hampshire firm has purchased the assets of a failed solar panel
venture in Senatobia and doesn't intend to take over the company's contract
with Mississippi that provided nearly $26 million in loans.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/29/new-hampshire-firm-buys-assets-of-failed-solar/?print=1
National News
Pledges to fight global warming inadequate, U.S. off track: study
Alister Doyle and Marton Kruppa
Reuters
DOHA (Reuters) - Major nations' policies are inadequate to limit global
warming and the United States is off track even in carrying out its weak
pledge to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a scientific scorecard showed on
Friday.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-climate-talks-emittersbre8at0ja-20121130,0,4733521.story
GOP lawmakers float resolution to keep carbon tax grounded
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/29/12 02:34 PM ET
Two conservative Republicans want to ensure that carbon tax proposals never
see the light of day in Congress.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) said Thursday that
they're seeking support for a resolution declaring that a carbon tax would
be economically harmful.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/270141-vitter-pompeo-float-resolution-to-ensure-carbon-tax-stays-grounded
Senate passes amendment allowing biofuel refinery construction
The Hill
By Zack Colman and Ramsey Cox - 11/29/12 01:25 PM ET
The Senate passed an amendment to the defense bill Thursday that would
strike the prohibition on biofuel refinery construction.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/270133-senate-passes-amendment-allowing-biofuel-refinery-construction
Poll: Most favor stronger soot rules
The HIll
By Zack Colman - 11/29/12 01:22 PM ET
Most voters want the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move forward
with stricter soot regulations, though some are skittish about how those
rules would affect the economy, according to a poll released Thursday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/270127-poll-most-favor-stronger-soot-rules
Senate Democrats push EPA to move quickly on sulfur in gasoline
Houston Chronicle
More than a dozen Senate Democrats on Thursday urged the Obama
administration to slash the amount of smog-forming sulfur emissions from
gasoline over the objections of the oil industry and many congressional
Republicans.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/11/29/senate-democrats-push-epa-to-move-quickly-on-sulfur-in-gasoline/
Five year farm bill gets new life
Politco
By: David Rogers
November 29, 2012 05:36 PM EST
House and Senate farm bill leaders edged closer Thursday, joined in a last
ditch effort —together with Agriculture Secy. Tom Vilsack—to put in place a
new five-year plan before the end of this Congress.
http://www.politico.com/story/2012/11/five-year-farm-bill-gets-new-life-84420.html?hp=r3
AAA warns E15 gasoline could cause car damage
USA Today
1:01AM EST November 30. 2012 - The AAA says the Environmental Protection
Agency and gasoline retailers should halt the sale of E15, a new ethanol
blend that could damage millions of vehicles and void car warranties.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/30/aaa-e15-gas-harm-cars/1735793/
Grand Canyon 70 million years old, formed during era of dinosaurs, new
study claims
Washington Post
By Joel Achenbach
To stand on the South Rim and gaze into the Grand Canyon is to behold an
awesome immensity of time. The serpentine Colorado River has relentlessly
incised a 280-mile-long chasm that in some places stretches 18 miles wide
and more than a mile deep. Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park will
encounter an exhibit titled the Trail of Time, and learn that scientists
believe the canyon is about 6 million years old — relatively young by
geological standards.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/grand-canyon-70-million-years-old-formed-during-era-of-dinosaurs-new-study-claims/2012/11/29/5788b9d0-3a45-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html
Press Releases
Coast Guard approves plan for ROV reinspection
11/23/2012 02:14 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS - BP and Transocean have received approval from the Coast Guard
to proceed with another ROV investigation of the Deepwater Horizon wreckage
and wellhead site after a sheen was reported by BP on November 2 and
verified by satellite imagery. A joint plan to determine the source of a
surface sheen was submitted by the companies on November 9 for review by
the Coast Guard.
The plan calls for ROV's to inspect potential sources of oil in the
vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon wellhead and rig wreckage to address the
sheen that persists in the area. The mission is scheduled to commence on 3
December under US Coast Guard oversight.
In addition, Captain Duke Walker, Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) for
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, tasked BP and Transocean with
developing a comprehensive array of options for permanent remediation of
oil that could still be contained within wreckage in the vicinity of the
original Deepwater Horizon incident.
A sheen was also discovered back on 16 September, BP undertook ROV
operations in October and discovered the containment dome was leaking oil.
Another ROV operation was conducted to cap a containment dome leaks. No
further oil emissions from the containment dome were observed after the cap
and plugs were put in place. Video, taken Oct. 25, displaying the capping
of the containment dome and plugging of the connection ports on the sides
and top of the structure.
The FOSC is also releasing video taken on Thursday, October 25, 2012
showing the successful capping of the cofferdam and plugging of the
connection ports on the sides and top of the structure. The cap and plugs
were successfully put in place and no further oil emissions from the
containment dome were observed. The video can be viewed at:
ROV video Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE4WuCcpR1I&feature=youtu.be
ROV video Part 2 https://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1835234
The Gulf Coast Incident Management Team remains committed to the continued
cleanup of the Gulf Coast and all shorelines affected as a result of the
Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. The FOSC will continue response
activities to remove all oil where it is technologically feasible,
environmentally beneficial and safe for workers to perform recovery
operations.
To report all pollution incidents contact the National Response Center at
1-800-424-8802 or the Coast Guard 8th District command center at
504-589-6225 in the event of any marine emergencies.
Oil Spill
Coast Guard approves underwater inspection of BP well, Deepwater Horizon
wreckage for oil
Times Picayune
The Coast Guard announced Thursday that it has approved another
investigation of the BP Macondo wellhead and nearby wreckage of the
Deepwater Horizon drillship to determine if they may be the source of a
recurring sheen at the site. The plan by BP and Transocean, owner of the
ship, was submitted by the companies on Nov. 9, after the sheen was
reported to the Coast Guard's National Response Center by Bonny Schumaker,
founder of the California-based non-profit On Wings of Care, after she flew
over the area.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/11/coast_guard_approves_underwate.html
BP engineer says government records should exonerate him in spill case
WWL
NEW ORLEANS - When federal prosecutors investigated BP for lying about how
much oil was coming out of its ruptured Gulf well in April 2010, the first
person they charged with obstruction was BP engineer Kurt Mix.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/eyewitness/davidhammer/BP-engineer-says-government-records-should-exonerate-him-in-spill-case-181431011.html
Louisiana lining up major restoration projects to build with BP oil spill
fine money
Times Picayune
Louisiana officials are scrambling to prepare plans for dozens of coastal
restoration projects in anticipation of the arrival of billions of dollars
in BP oil spill fine money, the state Coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority was told Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/11/louisiana_lining_up_major_rest.html
Lifting BP ban will be more than simple agreement-US source
Reuters
Thu, Nov 29 2012
By Timothy Gardner
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. officials were surprised that BP Plc
suggested an agreement would soon be ready to lift a suspension imposed
this week on the company's obtaining new federal contracts, a government
source said on Thursday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/29/usa-bp-suspension-idUSL1E8MTABB20121129
BP Caught Off Guard
Wall Street Journal
When U.S. authorities said they were temporarily suspendingBP BP.LN -0.09%
from new contracts with the Federal government due to a "lack of business
integrity" demonstrated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, there were
strong indications that BP had been caught off guard.
http://blogs.wsj.com/source/2012/11/29/bp-caught-off-guard/
State News
Kemper coal plant: Report disputes price tag, completion date
Clarion Ledger
A new report estimates the costs of building Mississippi Power's
customer-subsidized Kemper coal plant could balloon to $3 billion or more,
and questions the company's statements that it is 70-percent complete and
on schedule to open in May 2014.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121130/NEWS01/311300053/Kemper-coal-plant-Report-disputes-price-tag-completion-date?odyssey=tab|
topnews|text|
City ponders fate of rapidly shrinking landfill
Commercial Dispatch
Jeff Clark
November 29, 2012 10:08:51 AM
The City of Columbus will soon have to a face decision regarding the
dumping of waste in its landfill. A recent study by Neel-Schaffer
Engineering shows the landfill will run out of space within three years.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=20652&TRACKER=1
Group aims to keep county beautiful
Magee Courier
BY DAVID MINSKY
Wednesday, November 28, 2012 11:53 AM CST
There are two ways to keep Simpson?County free from roadside trash: stop
littering or pick up the trash already there.
http://www.mageecourier-countynews.com/articles/2012/11/29/headlines/headlines03.txt
New Hampshire firm buys assets of failed Senatobia solar panel business
Commercial Appeal
By Ron Maxey
Thursday, November 29, 2012
A New Hampshire firm has purchased the assets of a failed solar panel
venture in Senatobia and doesn't intend to take over the company's contract
with Mississippi that provided nearly $26 million in loans.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/29/new-hampshire-firm-buys-assets-of-failed-solar/?print=1
National News
Pledges to fight global warming inadequate, U.S. off track: study
Alister Doyle and Marton Kruppa
Reuters
DOHA (Reuters) - Major nations' policies are inadequate to limit global
warming and the United States is off track even in carrying out its weak
pledge to limit greenhouse gas emissions, a scientific scorecard showed on
Friday.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-climate-talks-emittersbre8at0ja-20121130,0,4733521.story
GOP lawmakers float resolution to keep carbon tax grounded
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/29/12 02:34 PM ET
Two conservative Republicans want to ensure that carbon tax proposals never
see the light of day in Congress.
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.) said Thursday that
they're seeking support for a resolution declaring that a carbon tax would
be economically harmful.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/270141-vitter-pompeo-float-resolution-to-ensure-carbon-tax-stays-grounded
Senate passes amendment allowing biofuel refinery construction
The Hill
By Zack Colman and Ramsey Cox - 11/29/12 01:25 PM ET
The Senate passed an amendment to the defense bill Thursday that would
strike the prohibition on biofuel refinery construction.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/270133-senate-passes-amendment-allowing-biofuel-refinery-construction
Poll: Most favor stronger soot rules
The HIll
By Zack Colman - 11/29/12 01:22 PM ET
Most voters want the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move forward
with stricter soot regulations, though some are skittish about how those
rules would affect the economy, according to a poll released Thursday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/270127-poll-most-favor-stronger-soot-rules
Senate Democrats push EPA to move quickly on sulfur in gasoline
Houston Chronicle
More than a dozen Senate Democrats on Thursday urged the Obama
administration to slash the amount of smog-forming sulfur emissions from
gasoline over the objections of the oil industry and many congressional
Republicans.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/11/29/senate-democrats-push-epa-to-move-quickly-on-sulfur-in-gasoline/
Five year farm bill gets new life
Politco
By: David Rogers
November 29, 2012 05:36 PM EST
House and Senate farm bill leaders edged closer Thursday, joined in a last
ditch effort —together with Agriculture Secy. Tom Vilsack—to put in place a
new five-year plan before the end of this Congress.
http://www.politico.com/story/2012/11/five-year-farm-bill-gets-new-life-84420.html?hp=r3
AAA warns E15 gasoline could cause car damage
USA Today
1:01AM EST November 30. 2012 - The AAA says the Environmental Protection
Agency and gasoline retailers should halt the sale of E15, a new ethanol
blend that could damage millions of vehicles and void car warranties.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/30/aaa-e15-gas-harm-cars/1735793/
Grand Canyon 70 million years old, formed during era of dinosaurs, new
study claims
Washington Post
By Joel Achenbach
To stand on the South Rim and gaze into the Grand Canyon is to behold an
awesome immensity of time. The serpentine Colorado River has relentlessly
incised a 280-mile-long chasm that in some places stretches 18 miles wide
and more than a mile deep. Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park will
encounter an exhibit titled the Trail of Time, and learn that scientists
believe the canyon is about 6 million years old — relatively young by
geological standards.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/grand-canyon-70-million-years-old-formed-during-era-of-dinosaurs-new-study-claims/2012/11/29/5788b9d0-3a45-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html
Press Releases
Coast Guard approves plan for ROV reinspection
11/23/2012 02:14 PM EST
NEW ORLEANS - BP and Transocean have received approval from the Coast Guard
to proceed with another ROV investigation of the Deepwater Horizon wreckage
and wellhead site after a sheen was reported by BP on November 2 and
verified by satellite imagery. A joint plan to determine the source of a
surface sheen was submitted by the companies on November 9 for review by
the Coast Guard.
The plan calls for ROV's to inspect potential sources of oil in the
vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon wellhead and rig wreckage to address the
sheen that persists in the area. The mission is scheduled to commence on 3
December under US Coast Guard oversight.
In addition, Captain Duke Walker, Federal On-Scene Coordinator (FOSC) for
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, tasked BP and Transocean with
developing a comprehensive array of options for permanent remediation of
oil that could still be contained within wreckage in the vicinity of the
original Deepwater Horizon incident.
A sheen was also discovered back on 16 September, BP undertook ROV
operations in October and discovered the containment dome was leaking oil.
Another ROV operation was conducted to cap a containment dome leaks. No
further oil emissions from the containment dome were observed after the cap
and plugs were put in place. Video, taken Oct. 25, displaying the capping
of the containment dome and plugging of the connection ports on the sides
and top of the structure.
The FOSC is also releasing video taken on Thursday, October 25, 2012
showing the successful capping of the cofferdam and plugging of the
connection ports on the sides and top of the structure. The cap and plugs
were successfully put in place and no further oil emissions from the
containment dome were observed. The video can be viewed at:
ROV video Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE4WuCcpR1I&feature=youtu.be
ROV video Part 2 https://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1835234
The Gulf Coast Incident Management Team remains committed to the continued
cleanup of the Gulf Coast and all shorelines affected as a result of the
Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion. The FOSC will continue response
activities to remove all oil where it is technologically feasible,
environmentally beneficial and safe for workers to perform recovery
operations.
To report all pollution incidents contact the National Response Center at
1-800-424-8802 or the Coast Guard 8th District command center at
504-589-6225 in the event of any marine emergencies.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
News Clippings 11/29/12
11/29/12
Oil Spill
BP gives $6M in grants to South Mississippi organizations
By CECILY CUMMINGS — Special to the Sun Herald
HANCOCK COUNTY -- Thirteen just might be the lucky number for the Gulf
Coast tourism and seafood industry.
On Wednesday, a grant recipient check presentation was held at the Infinity
Science Center where 13 organizations from South Mississippi received
grants from BP to promote Gulf Coast tourism and the seafood industry after
the 2010 oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/28/4328676/bp-gives-6m-in-grants-to-south.html
BP Blocked From Deals
Ban Covers Contracts With the U.S.; Three Plead Not Guilty in Spill Case
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
NEW ORLEANS—The Obama administration has temporarily blocked BP PLCBP.LN
+0.22% from obtaining new contracts with the U.S. government, citing a
"lack of business integrity" that resulted in the Deepwater Horizon
explosion and oil spill in 2010.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324020804578146941265511214.html
3 BP employees arraigned on Gulf oil spill charges
AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive have
pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig
explosion and the company's response to the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf
of Mexico.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/3_bp_employees_arraigned_on_gu.html#incart_river
Senators question ban on contracts to BP
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/28/12 04:10 PM ET
Senators that strongly back expanded oil drilling are seeking more
information from the Environmental Protection Agency about its decision to
temporarily bar BP from new federal contracts, including oil-and-gas
leases.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/269933-senators-question-bp-federal-contracts-ban
Counties want governor's help with plan for BP money
News Herald
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Counties affected by the Gulf oil spill want to make
sure the governor's office is on board when RESTORE Act money comes
through.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/counties-want-governor-s-help-with-plan-for-bp-money-1.56406
State News
Leak prompts brief evacuation at Nissan plant
Clarion Ledger
The Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton was evacuated Wednesday
afternoon after a minor fuel leak was discovered.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121129/NEWS/311280076/Leak-prompts-brief-evacuation-Nissan-plant
Jackson's EPA troubles could impact suburbs
Madison County Journal
By MICHAEL SIMMSONS
The city of Jackson will pay about $400 million to improve its wastewater
system to prevent the overflow of raw sewage under a proposed consent
decree announced Nov. 20 by federal and state officials.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=25854
Cochran, Wicker support NOAA decision on 'turtle excluder devices'
Sun Herald
U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker said Wednesday they supported a
federal decision not to require some shrimpers to use turtle excluder
devices.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/28/4328665/cochran-wicker-support-noaa-decision.html
Wildlife management areas need volunteers
Special to The Clinton News
Managing the state's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) is a non-stop job,
and sometimes it is nice to have an extra hand.
http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121129/NEWS/311280008/-1/NEWS01/Wildlife-management-areas-need-volunteers
Markers to tell history of floods, levee
AP
GREENVILLE, MISS. — Two new historic markers being placed in Greenville
will tell the stories of the river stages during the 1927 and 2011 floods
and the history of the Mississippi River levee.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/29/4328862/markers-to-tell-history-of-floods.html
National News
As nations haggle, global carbon cut targets get impossibly deep
Wed, Nov 28 2012
Reuters
By David Fogarty and Alister Doyle
(Reuters) - As the nations of the world struggle in Doha to agree even
modest targets to tackle global warming, the cuts needed in rising
greenhouse gas emissions grow ever deeper, more costly and less likely to
be achieved.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/28/us-climate-talks-targets-idUSBRE8AR14T20121128
Senate passes amendment keeping biofuel investments in defense bill
The Hill
By Zack Colman and Ramsey Cox - 11/28/12 02:33 PM ET
The Senate approved an amendment to the defense authorization bill
Wednesday that would restore the military's ability to invest in biofuels.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/269897-senate-passes-amendment-keeping-biofuel-investments-in-defense-bill
Press Releases
EPA Recognizes Seven Communities for Smart Growth Achievement
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recognizes seven communities with its 2012 National Award for Smart Growth
Achievement. The Smart Growth awards are given for creative, sustainable
initiatives that better protect the health and the environment of our
communities while also strengthening local economies.
The 2012 award winners are being recognized in four categories: Overall
Excellence in Smart Growth, Equitable Development, Main Street or Corridor
Revitalization, and Programs and Policies. Specific initiatives include
improving transportation choices, developing green, energy-efficient
buildings and communities, and providing community members with access to
job training, health and wellness education, and other services.
The 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement winners are:
Overall Excellence - Winner
BLVD Transformation Project, Lancaster, Calif.
The redesign of Lancaster Boulevard helped transform downtown Lancaster
into a thriving residential and commercial district through investments in
new streetscape design, public facilities, affordable homes, and local
businesses. Completed after eight months of construction, the project
demonstrates how redesigning a corridor guided by a strategic vision can
spark new life in a community. The project has generated almost $300
million in economic output and nearly 2,000 jobs.
Equitable Development - Winner
Mariposa District, Denver, Colo.
The redevelopment of Denver's historic and ethnically diverse La
Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood is turning an economically challenged area
into a vibrant, transit-accessible, district. The community's master plan
preserves affordable housing while adding energy-efficient middle-income
and market-rate homes. Because of extensive community engagement,
development will include actions to improve the health of residents, reduce
pollution, and control stormwater runoff.
Main Street or Corridor Revitalization - Winner
The Cooperative Building, Brattleboro, Vt.
The Brattleboro Food Co-op, the town's only downtown food store, made a
commitment to remain at its downtown location by constructing an
innovative, four-story green building on Main Street with a grocery store,
commercial space, offices, and affordable apartments. The Main Street
location provides healthy food, new jobs, and housing within walkable
distances of downtown businesses and public transit.
Programs and Policies - Winner
Destination Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Va.
The city of Portsmouth revised its comprehensive plan and undertook a broad
review of its development and land use regulations. As a result,
Destination Portsmouth prepared a package of new plans, zoning ordinances,
and other development policies in collaboration with community
stakeholders. The overhaul of the city's codes encourages development in
targeted growth areas and helps businesses to locate in the city while also
protecting the character of Portsmouth's historic neighborhoods.
Equitable Development - Honorable Mention
Northwest Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Through safer streets, job training and education programs, and
high-quality, affordable homes, the once struggling Northwest Gardens
neighborhood is rapidly becoming a model for economic, environmental, and
social sustainability. The redesigned neighborhood offers a range of
energy-efficient, affordable housing choices and is one of the first
communities in the nation to receive LEED for Neighborhood Development
certification. A local housing authority program also provides
disadvantaged youths with construction training as they complete their
GEDs.
Main Street or Corridor Revitalization - Honorable Mention
Larkin District, Buffalo, N.Y.
Community organizations and a local developer partnered with the University
at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning to help revitalize the
Larkin District, an old manufacturing district located one mile from
downtown Buffalo. Architectural students worked with the developer and the
city to create a master plan for an urban village that now features new
office space, restaurants, apartments, parks, and plazas. New sidewalks,
lighting, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, and bus shelters reduce pollution from
vehicles by making walking, biking, and public transit more appealing.
Programs and Policies - Honorable Mention
Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund, San Francisco, Calif.
The Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund is providing loans
for developers to build affordable homes near public transportation. At
this point, the fund has provided loans for a 153-unit high-rise for
low-income families located two blocks from a major transit station, and
for a 64-unit building for seniors close to a light rail station that will
provide free transit passes for all residents.
This year's winners and honorable mentions were selected from 47 applicants
from 25 states. The winning entries were chosen based on their
effectiveness in creating sustainable communities; fostering equitable
development among public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders; and serving
as national models for environmentally and economically sustainable
development.
EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in 2002 to
recognize exceptional approaches to development that protect the
environment, encourage economic vitality, and enhance quality of life. In
the past 11 years, 54 winners from 26 states have shown a variety of
approaches that states, regions, cities, suburbs, and rural communities can
use to create economically strong, environmentally responsible development.
EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities manages the awards program.
EPA will host a ceremony on December 5th to recognize these seven award
winners. Please RSVP for the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
ceremony here.
More information on the winners: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm
Oil Spill
BP gives $6M in grants to South Mississippi organizations
By CECILY CUMMINGS — Special to the Sun Herald
HANCOCK COUNTY -- Thirteen just might be the lucky number for the Gulf
Coast tourism and seafood industry.
On Wednesday, a grant recipient check presentation was held at the Infinity
Science Center where 13 organizations from South Mississippi received
grants from BP to promote Gulf Coast tourism and the seafood industry after
the 2010 oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/28/4328676/bp-gives-6m-in-grants-to-south.html
BP Blocked From Deals
Ban Covers Contracts With the U.S.; Three Plead Not Guilty in Spill Case
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
NEW ORLEANS—The Obama administration has temporarily blocked BP PLCBP.LN
+0.22% from obtaining new contracts with the U.S. government, citing a
"lack of business integrity" that resulted in the Deepwater Horizon
explosion and oil spill in 2010.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324020804578146941265511214.html
3 BP employees arraigned on Gulf oil spill charges
AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Two BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive have
pleaded not guilty to criminal charges in the deadly Deepwater Horizon rig
explosion and the company's response to the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf
of Mexico.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/3_bp_employees_arraigned_on_gu.html#incart_river
Senators question ban on contracts to BP
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/28/12 04:10 PM ET
Senators that strongly back expanded oil drilling are seeking more
information from the Environmental Protection Agency about its decision to
temporarily bar BP from new federal contracts, including oil-and-gas
leases.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/269933-senators-question-bp-federal-contracts-ban
Counties want governor's help with plan for BP money
News Herald
PANAMA CITY BEACH — Counties affected by the Gulf oil spill want to make
sure the governor's office is on board when RESTORE Act money comes
through.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/counties-want-governor-s-help-with-plan-for-bp-money-1.56406
State News
Leak prompts brief evacuation at Nissan plant
Clarion Ledger
The Nissan vehicle assembly plant in Canton was evacuated Wednesday
afternoon after a minor fuel leak was discovered.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121129/NEWS/311280076/Leak-prompts-brief-evacuation-Nissan-plant
Jackson's EPA troubles could impact suburbs
Madison County Journal
By MICHAEL SIMMSONS
The city of Jackson will pay about $400 million to improve its wastewater
system to prevent the overflow of raw sewage under a proposed consent
decree announced Nov. 20 by federal and state officials.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=25854
Cochran, Wicker support NOAA decision on 'turtle excluder devices'
Sun Herald
U.S. Sens. Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker said Wednesday they supported a
federal decision not to require some shrimpers to use turtle excluder
devices.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/28/4328665/cochran-wicker-support-noaa-decision.html
Wildlife management areas need volunteers
Special to The Clinton News
Managing the state's Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) is a non-stop job,
and sometimes it is nice to have an extra hand.
http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121129/NEWS/311280008/-1/NEWS01/Wildlife-management-areas-need-volunteers
Markers to tell history of floods, levee
AP
GREENVILLE, MISS. — Two new historic markers being placed in Greenville
will tell the stories of the river stages during the 1927 and 2011 floods
and the history of the Mississippi River levee.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/29/4328862/markers-to-tell-history-of-floods.html
National News
As nations haggle, global carbon cut targets get impossibly deep
Wed, Nov 28 2012
Reuters
By David Fogarty and Alister Doyle
(Reuters) - As the nations of the world struggle in Doha to agree even
modest targets to tackle global warming, the cuts needed in rising
greenhouse gas emissions grow ever deeper, more costly and less likely to
be achieved.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/28/us-climate-talks-targets-idUSBRE8AR14T20121128
Senate passes amendment keeping biofuel investments in defense bill
The Hill
By Zack Colman and Ramsey Cox - 11/28/12 02:33 PM ET
The Senate approved an amendment to the defense authorization bill
Wednesday that would restore the military's ability to invest in biofuels.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/269897-senate-passes-amendment-keeping-biofuel-investments-in-defense-bill
Press Releases
EPA Recognizes Seven Communities for Smart Growth Achievement
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recognizes seven communities with its 2012 National Award for Smart Growth
Achievement. The Smart Growth awards are given for creative, sustainable
initiatives that better protect the health and the environment of our
communities while also strengthening local economies.
The 2012 award winners are being recognized in four categories: Overall
Excellence in Smart Growth, Equitable Development, Main Street or Corridor
Revitalization, and Programs and Policies. Specific initiatives include
improving transportation choices, developing green, energy-efficient
buildings and communities, and providing community members with access to
job training, health and wellness education, and other services.
The 2012 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement winners are:
Overall Excellence - Winner
BLVD Transformation Project, Lancaster, Calif.
The redesign of Lancaster Boulevard helped transform downtown Lancaster
into a thriving residential and commercial district through investments in
new streetscape design, public facilities, affordable homes, and local
businesses. Completed after eight months of construction, the project
demonstrates how redesigning a corridor guided by a strategic vision can
spark new life in a community. The project has generated almost $300
million in economic output and nearly 2,000 jobs.
Equitable Development - Winner
Mariposa District, Denver, Colo.
The redevelopment of Denver's historic and ethnically diverse La
Alma/Lincoln Park neighborhood is turning an economically challenged area
into a vibrant, transit-accessible, district. The community's master plan
preserves affordable housing while adding energy-efficient middle-income
and market-rate homes. Because of extensive community engagement,
development will include actions to improve the health of residents, reduce
pollution, and control stormwater runoff.
Main Street or Corridor Revitalization - Winner
The Cooperative Building, Brattleboro, Vt.
The Brattleboro Food Co-op, the town's only downtown food store, made a
commitment to remain at its downtown location by constructing an
innovative, four-story green building on Main Street with a grocery store,
commercial space, offices, and affordable apartments. The Main Street
location provides healthy food, new jobs, and housing within walkable
distances of downtown businesses and public transit.
Programs and Policies - Winner
Destination Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Va.
The city of Portsmouth revised its comprehensive plan and undertook a broad
review of its development and land use regulations. As a result,
Destination Portsmouth prepared a package of new plans, zoning ordinances,
and other development policies in collaboration with community
stakeholders. The overhaul of the city's codes encourages development in
targeted growth areas and helps businesses to locate in the city while also
protecting the character of Portsmouth's historic neighborhoods.
Equitable Development - Honorable Mention
Northwest Gardens, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Through safer streets, job training and education programs, and
high-quality, affordable homes, the once struggling Northwest Gardens
neighborhood is rapidly becoming a model for economic, environmental, and
social sustainability. The redesigned neighborhood offers a range of
energy-efficient, affordable housing choices and is one of the first
communities in the nation to receive LEED for Neighborhood Development
certification. A local housing authority program also provides
disadvantaged youths with construction training as they complete their
GEDs.
Main Street or Corridor Revitalization - Honorable Mention
Larkin District, Buffalo, N.Y.
Community organizations and a local developer partnered with the University
at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning to help revitalize the
Larkin District, an old manufacturing district located one mile from
downtown Buffalo. Architectural students worked with the developer and the
city to create a master plan for an urban village that now features new
office space, restaurants, apartments, parks, and plazas. New sidewalks,
lighting, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, and bus shelters reduce pollution from
vehicles by making walking, biking, and public transit more appealing.
Programs and Policies - Honorable Mention
Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund, San Francisco, Calif.
The Bay Area Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Fund is providing loans
for developers to build affordable homes near public transportation. At
this point, the fund has provided loans for a 153-unit high-rise for
low-income families located two blocks from a major transit station, and
for a 64-unit building for seniors close to a light rail station that will
provide free transit passes for all residents.
This year's winners and honorable mentions were selected from 47 applicants
from 25 states. The winning entries were chosen based on their
effectiveness in creating sustainable communities; fostering equitable
development among public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders; and serving
as national models for environmentally and economically sustainable
development.
EPA created the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement in 2002 to
recognize exceptional approaches to development that protect the
environment, encourage economic vitality, and enhance quality of life. In
the past 11 years, 54 winners from 26 states have shown a variety of
approaches that states, regions, cities, suburbs, and rural communities can
use to create economically strong, environmentally responsible development.
EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities manages the awards program.
EPA will host a ceremony on December 5th to recognize these seven award
winners. Please RSVP for the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement
ceremony here.
More information on the winners: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards.htm
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
MDEQ Newsletter - November 2012
Following is the link to the November newsletter from the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality. Thanks for your interest.
http://bit.ly/10VuPGx
Connect with MDEQ on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MDEQ/118172664880239?v=wall
Follow MDEQ on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ
Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us
Department of Environmental Quality. Thanks for your interest.
http://bit.ly/10VuPGx
Connect with MDEQ on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/pages/MDEQ/118172664880239?v=wall
Follow MDEQ on Twitter
http://twitter.com/#!/MDEQ
Mr. Robbie Wilbur
Communications Director
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Post Office Box 2261
Jackson, Mississippi 39225
601/961-5277
601/421-5699 (c)
601/961-5715 (f)
rwilbur@deq.state.ms.us
News Clippings 11/28/12
11/28/12
Oil Spill
BP enters plea in Gulf of Mexico oil spill case
Press Register
NEW ORLEANS - BP today responded to federal charges stemming from its role
in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, entering a not-guilty plea in
federal court in New Orleans that is part of its $4.5 billion criminal
settlement with the U.S. government.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/bp_enters_plea_in_gulf_of_mexi.html#incart_river
3 BP employees to be arraigned in oil spill probe
AP
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Two BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive were
scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on criminal charges stemming from the
deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and the company's response to the
massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/27/4325942/bp-arraigned-in-oil-spill-case.html
In BP oil spill, two drilling veterans scapegoated, attorneys say
Washington Post
By Joel Achenbach, Published: November 27
Few Americans have ever heard of Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine. They
have spent much of their lives offshore, drilling holes in the seafloor for
the oil giant BP. Over many decades in the business, each rose to the rank
of well site leader, a job commonly known on a rig as "the company man."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/in-bp-oil-spill-two-drilling-veterans-scapegoated-lawyers-claim/2012/11/27/d1c79ec2-3744-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html
BP suspended from new US government contracts following Gulf spill
settlement, EPA says
By Associated Press,
WASHINGTON — BP is being temporarily suspended from new contracts with the
U.S. government, the Environmental Protection Agency says.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bp-suspended-from-new-us-government-contracts-following-gulf-spill-settlement-epa-says/2012/11/28/7a766a4a-3965-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html
Not enough eligible businesses are filing for BP oil spill settlements
MBJ
by Becky Gillette
Published: November 23,2012
Billions of dollars have been set aside by oil giant BP Oil to compensate
businesses damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico. You don't have to be in the seafood business or even a business on
the Coast to qualify.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2012/11/23/deepwater-horizon/
Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance to receive BP tourism grant
funds Wednesday
Press Register
MOBILE, Alabama – The Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance has been
awarded more than $250,000 in grant funding from BP to promote its "Summers
Last Longer" program.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/alabama_restaurant_and_hospita.html
Nonprofits to receive ceremonial grant checks from Deepwater Horizon
Pensacola News Journal
Patrick A. Juneau, the Deepwater Horizon claims administrator, will be in
Pensacola today presenting $7 million worth of ceremonial checks to 16
nonprofits.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20121127/NEWS01/121127003/Nonprofits-receive-ceremonial-grant-checks-from-Deepwater-Horizon
State News
NOAA withdraws plans to require turtle excluder devices
AP
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- New regulations that would have forced shrimpers
in the bays and marshes of the Gulf of Mexico to install devices on their
nets to save endangeredsea turtles were scrapped Tuesday by federal
officials.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/noaa_withdraws_plans_to_requir.html#incart_river
Mississippi port project draws criticism — and hope
USA Today
10:18AM EST November 25. 2012 - GULFPORT, Miss. — It was billed as the
"Port of the Future" — a half-billion-dollar expansion of this city's port
that would draw massive Asia-bound container ships, generate thousands of
high-paying jobs, and ignite the area's economy.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/25/gulfport-mississippi-disaster-recovery-money/1720221/
Bennie Turner, state senator from West Point, dies at 64
Clarion Ledger
State. Sen. Bennie Turner, D-West Point, died today, Senate officials said.
Turner, 64, an attorney, served in the seat representing all of Clay and
parts of Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Noxubee counties since 1992. He was current
chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, vice chairman of judiciary, and
former chairman of judiciary.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121128/NEWS/311280046/Bennie-Turner-state-senator-from-West-Point-dies-64
Parker wins DeSoto Senate seat while Kinkade captures DeSoto vote in House
race
Commercial Appeal
By Ron Maxey
Originally published 09:32 p.m., November 27, 2012
Updated 12:08 a.m., November 28, 2012
Olive Branch optometrist David Parker retained his base of support from the
Nov. 6 election and built on it to defeat Pat Nelson Tuesday in a runoff
for the state Senate District 19 seat, while Bill Kinkade won DeSoto County
and appeared headed to a districtwide victory over Jeremy Bryan for the
state House District 52 seat.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/27/parker-wins-desoto-senate-seat-while-kinkade-in/?print=1
National News
Group to sue EPA to force U.S. carbon rules for transport
Tue, Nov 27 2012
Reuters
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A policy reform group plans to issue a notice on
Wednesday informing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it will
file a lawsuit to force the agency to use federal rules to cap and charge
for carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/28/us-epa-carbon-idUSBRE8AR00020121128
Obama quietly signs bill shielding airlines from carbon fees in Europe
The Hill
By Keith Laing - 11/27/12 02:02 PM ET
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires U.S. airlines be
excluded from European carbon emissions fees.
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/aviation/269603-obama-quietly-signs-airline-emission-trading-ban-
Energy officials see little hope for climate talks
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/27/12 01:39 PM ET
Top International Energy Agency (IEA) officials offered a bleak assessment
Tuesday of the prospects for global progress on preventing big temperature
increases.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/269599-energy-agency-sees-glass-half-empty-on-climate-change
Oil-and-gas lobby: Repeal of biofuel rule a top priority in next Congress
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 11/27/12 12:47 PM ET
A top oil-and-gas lobby is changing strategy and will press Congress to
repeal a biofuel production mandate instead of pushing for piecemeal
changes to the rule.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/269579-api-to-make-biofuel-rule-repeal-a-top-priority-next-congress
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Group: U.S. needs National Energy Strategy Council |
| Politico |
| By: Darren Goode |
| November 28, 2012 04:37 AM EST |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| The White House and Congress should create a National Energy Strategy Council |
| to produce new policy and coordinate the activities of federal agencies, |
| according to a broad coalition of former senators and federal, industry, |
| environmental and labor officials that is unveiling a blueprint Tuesday |
| morning. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84290.html?hp=l13
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Duck stamp debate is latest dysfunction |
| Politico |
| By: David Rogers |
| November 27, 2012 11:49 PM EST |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| Tony Motley, a former U.S. ambassador to Brazil and great pal of the late |
| Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, often joked of writing a Washington novel someday with |
| the title "Beyond the Merits." |
| |
| |
| But who could have guessed the Senate would beat him to the punch, penning the |
| first chapter itself Monday night when the "world's greatest deliberative body" |
| derailed a popular sportsmen's bill because of a fight over how to count a |
| proposed $10 increase in the price of duck stamps? |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84305.html?hp=r1
Press Releases
BP Temporarily Suspended from New Contracts with the Federal Government
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced
that it has temporarily suspended BP Exploration and Production, Inc., BP
PLC and named affiliated companies (BP) from new contracts with the federal
government. EPA is taking this action due to BP's lack of business
integrity as demonstrated by the company's conduct with regard to the
Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response, as reflected
by the filing of a criminal information. On November 15, 2012, BP agreed to
plead guilty to eleven counts of Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Officers,
one count of Obstruction of Congress, one misdemeanor count of a violation
of the Clean Water Act, and one misdemeanor count of a violation of the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all arising from its conduct leading to the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest
environmental disaster in U.S. history.
For the Deepwater Horizon investigation, EPA was designated as the lead
agency for suspension and debarment actions. Federal executive branch
agencies take these actions to ensure the integrity of Federal programs by
conducting business only with responsible individuals or companies.
Suspensions are a standard practice when a responsibility question is
raised by action in a criminal case.
The BP suspension will temporarily prevent the company and the named
affiliates from getting new federal government contracts, grants or other
covered transactions until the company can provide sufficient evidence to
EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards. The suspension
does not affect existing agreements BP may have with the government.
Oil Spill
BP enters plea in Gulf of Mexico oil spill case
Press Register
NEW ORLEANS - BP today responded to federal charges stemming from its role
in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon catastrophe, entering a not-guilty plea in
federal court in New Orleans that is part of its $4.5 billion criminal
settlement with the U.S. government.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/bp_enters_plea_in_gulf_of_mexi.html#incart_river
3 BP employees to be arraigned in oil spill probe
AP
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — Two BP rig supervisors and a former BP executive were
scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday on criminal charges stemming from the
deadly Deepwater Horizon rig explosion and the company's response to the
massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/27/4325942/bp-arraigned-in-oil-spill-case.html
In BP oil spill, two drilling veterans scapegoated, attorneys say
Washington Post
By Joel Achenbach, Published: November 27
Few Americans have ever heard of Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine. They
have spent much of their lives offshore, drilling holes in the seafloor for
the oil giant BP. Over many decades in the business, each rose to the rank
of well site leader, a job commonly known on a rig as "the company man."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/in-bp-oil-spill-two-drilling-veterans-scapegoated-lawyers-claim/2012/11/27/d1c79ec2-3744-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_story.html
BP suspended from new US government contracts following Gulf spill
settlement, EPA says
By Associated Press,
WASHINGTON — BP is being temporarily suspended from new contracts with the
U.S. government, the Environmental Protection Agency says.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bp-suspended-from-new-us-government-contracts-following-gulf-spill-settlement-epa-says/2012/11/28/7a766a4a-3965-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html
Not enough eligible businesses are filing for BP oil spill settlements
MBJ
by Becky Gillette
Published: November 23,2012
Billions of dollars have been set aside by oil giant BP Oil to compensate
businesses damaged by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico. You don't have to be in the seafood business or even a business on
the Coast to qualify.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2012/11/23/deepwater-horizon/
Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance to receive BP tourism grant
funds Wednesday
Press Register
MOBILE, Alabama – The Alabama Restaurant and Hospitality Alliance has been
awarded more than $250,000 in grant funding from BP to promote its "Summers
Last Longer" program.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/alabama_restaurant_and_hospita.html
Nonprofits to receive ceremonial grant checks from Deepwater Horizon
Pensacola News Journal
Patrick A. Juneau, the Deepwater Horizon claims administrator, will be in
Pensacola today presenting $7 million worth of ceremonial checks to 16
nonprofits.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20121127/NEWS01/121127003/Nonprofits-receive-ceremonial-grant-checks-from-Deepwater-Horizon
State News
NOAA withdraws plans to require turtle excluder devices
AP
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana -- New regulations that would have forced shrimpers
in the bays and marshes of the Gulf of Mexico to install devices on their
nets to save endangeredsea turtles were scrapped Tuesday by federal
officials.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/noaa_withdraws_plans_to_requir.html#incart_river
Mississippi port project draws criticism — and hope
USA Today
10:18AM EST November 25. 2012 - GULFPORT, Miss. — It was billed as the
"Port of the Future" — a half-billion-dollar expansion of this city's port
that would draw massive Asia-bound container ships, generate thousands of
high-paying jobs, and ignite the area's economy.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/25/gulfport-mississippi-disaster-recovery-money/1720221/
Bennie Turner, state senator from West Point, dies at 64
Clarion Ledger
State. Sen. Bennie Turner, D-West Point, died today, Senate officials said.
Turner, 64, an attorney, served in the seat representing all of Clay and
parts of Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Noxubee counties since 1992. He was current
chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, vice chairman of judiciary, and
former chairman of judiciary.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121128/NEWS/311280046/Bennie-Turner-state-senator-from-West-Point-dies-64
Parker wins DeSoto Senate seat while Kinkade captures DeSoto vote in House
race
Commercial Appeal
By Ron Maxey
Originally published 09:32 p.m., November 27, 2012
Updated 12:08 a.m., November 28, 2012
Olive Branch optometrist David Parker retained his base of support from the
Nov. 6 election and built on it to defeat Pat Nelson Tuesday in a runoff
for the state Senate District 19 seat, while Bill Kinkade won DeSoto County
and appeared headed to a districtwide victory over Jeremy Bryan for the
state House District 52 seat.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/27/parker-wins-desoto-senate-seat-while-kinkade-in/?print=1
National News
Group to sue EPA to force U.S. carbon rules for transport
Tue, Nov 27 2012
Reuters
By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A policy reform group plans to issue a notice on
Wednesday informing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that it will
file a lawsuit to force the agency to use federal rules to cap and charge
for carbon emissions from the transportation sector.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/28/us-epa-carbon-idUSBRE8AR00020121128
Obama quietly signs bill shielding airlines from carbon fees in Europe
The Hill
By Keith Laing - 11/27/12 02:02 PM ET
President Obama has signed into law a bill that requires U.S. airlines be
excluded from European carbon emissions fees.
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/aviation/269603-obama-quietly-signs-airline-emission-trading-ban-
Energy officials see little hope for climate talks
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/27/12 01:39 PM ET
Top International Energy Agency (IEA) officials offered a bleak assessment
Tuesday of the prospects for global progress on preventing big temperature
increases.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/269599-energy-agency-sees-glass-half-empty-on-climate-change
Oil-and-gas lobby: Repeal of biofuel rule a top priority in next Congress
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 11/27/12 12:47 PM ET
A top oil-and-gas lobby is changing strategy and will press Congress to
repeal a biofuel production mandate instead of pushing for piecemeal
changes to the rule.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/269579-api-to-make-biofuel-rule-repeal-a-top-priority-next-congress
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Group: U.S. needs National Energy Strategy Council |
| Politico |
| By: Darren Goode |
| November 28, 2012 04:37 AM EST |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| The White House and Congress should create a National Energy Strategy Council |
| to produce new policy and coordinate the activities of federal agencies, |
| according to a broad coalition of former senators and federal, industry, |
| environmental and labor officials that is unveiling a blueprint Tuesday |
| morning. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84290.html?hp=l13
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Duck stamp debate is latest dysfunction |
| Politico |
| By: David Rogers |
| November 27, 2012 11:49 PM EST |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| Tony Motley, a former U.S. ambassador to Brazil and great pal of the late |
| Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, often joked of writing a Washington novel someday with |
| the title "Beyond the Merits." |
| |
| |
| But who could have guessed the Senate would beat him to the punch, penning the |
| first chapter itself Monday night when the "world's greatest deliberative body" |
| derailed a popular sportsmen's bill because of a fight over how to count a |
| proposed $10 increase in the price of duck stamps? |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84305.html?hp=r1
Press Releases
BP Temporarily Suspended from New Contracts with the Federal Government
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced
that it has temporarily suspended BP Exploration and Production, Inc., BP
PLC and named affiliated companies (BP) from new contracts with the federal
government. EPA is taking this action due to BP's lack of business
integrity as demonstrated by the company's conduct with regard to the
Deepwater Horizon blowout, explosion, oil spill, and response, as reflected
by the filing of a criminal information. On November 15, 2012, BP agreed to
plead guilty to eleven counts of Misconduct or Neglect of Ship Officers,
one count of Obstruction of Congress, one misdemeanor count of a violation
of the Clean Water Act, and one misdemeanor count of a violation of the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act, all arising from its conduct leading to the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 people and caused the largest
environmental disaster in U.S. history.
For the Deepwater Horizon investigation, EPA was designated as the lead
agency for suspension and debarment actions. Federal executive branch
agencies take these actions to ensure the integrity of Federal programs by
conducting business only with responsible individuals or companies.
Suspensions are a standard practice when a responsibility question is
raised by action in a criminal case.
The BP suspension will temporarily prevent the company and the named
affiliates from getting new federal government contracts, grants or other
covered transactions until the company can provide sufficient evidence to
EPA demonstrating that it meets Federal business standards. The suspension
does not affect existing agreements BP may have with the government.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
News Clippings 11/27/12
11/27/12
Oil Spill
Judge sets meeting to discuss BP plea deal
AP
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge has scheduled a closed-door meeting Thursday
to discuss BP's agreement to plead guilty to criminal charges stemming from
its deadly 2010 rig explosion and response to the massive Gulf oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/judge_sets_meeting_to_discuss.html#incart_river
Texas still waiting for $100M in restoration funds from BP oil spill
Officials have received 188 suggestions from public on how to spend money
Posted: November 27, 2012 - 7:47am
By KATE GALBRAITH
THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
AUSTIN — Texas has been promised at least $100 million for coastal
restoration in the wake of the massive BP oil spill that harmed the Gulf
of Mexico in 2010.But no Texas projects have been announced, and an
official involved with the talks did not sound optimistic about getting
dollars flowing quickly to causes like protecting marshland or sea life.
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2012-11-27/texas-still-waiting-100m-restoration-funds-bp-oil-spill#.ULTO7Ie_FKZ
BP: Many settlement opt-out requests weren't valid
AP
BP and a team of plaintiffs' attorneys say only about half of the
businesses and individuals who asked to be excluded from a proposed
settlement over the company's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
submitted valid requests.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20187922/bp-many-settlement-opt-out-requests-werent-valid
Why BP is not a takeover target
Fortune
With a $130 billion market cap, and billions of dollars in unknown
liabilities, BP is still one big toxic mess.
By Cyrus Sanati
FORTUNE -- It's one of the largest companies in the world. Could it really
be a takeover target?
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/26/bp-takeover/?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A
+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+(Top+Stories)
State News
PRCC signs partnership with EPA
Gulf of Mexico program promotes student environmental studies
Hattiesburg American
Sofia Tent spent last summer studying environmental justice at Stennis
Space Center, as part of an internship with the Environmental Protection
Agency's Gulf of Mexico program.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20121127/NEWS01/311270007/PRCC-signs-partnership-EPA
PRCC, EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program ink agreement
By David A. Farrell
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — Pearl River Community College President Dr. William A. Lewis
and the EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program Director Ben Scaggs signed a
memorandum of understanding on Monday that will see the Program use PRCC
honors students in projects aimed at improving the environmental quality of
the Gulf of Mexico. The agreement was actually between the PRCC Honors
Institute and the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x942835128/PRCC-EPA-s-Gulf-of-Mexico-Program-ink-agreement
Sewage Improvments Begin in Crawford
WCBI
CRAWFORD, Miss. (WCBI)- Every town must maintain infrastructure to keep
their community safe, sanitary and livable. But those improvements are
expensive and city leaders must find ways to upgrade without draining the
budget or increasing taxes.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-sewage-improvments-begin-in-crawford
Keep Tupelo Beautiful
WCBI
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)-Despite the freezing temperatures this morning
volunteers gathered to keep Tupelo beautiful.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/keep-tupelo-beautifulc
OSHA cites Mississippi Phosphates for safety, health violations
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- Mississippi Phosphates Corp. has been cited by the federal
government for 40 safety and health violations following the deaths of two
workers in separate incidents at the company's Pascagoula plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/26/4323586/osha-cites-mississippi-phosphates.html
AP analysis: Corrections, Medicaid deficits are hurdles for Mississippi
legislators
AP
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi legislators head into the 2013 session
knowing they have deficits to address in corrections and Medicaid.
Any others? That's all rather tentative right now about six weeks out from
the Jan. 8 start.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/ap_analysis_corrections_medica.html#incart_river
National News
EPA strengthens water quality guidelines for beaches
States can decide whether to adopt the new standards, issued to protect
people swimming, surfing and boating in coastal waters.
LA Times
By Noam N. Levey, Washington Bureau
November 26, 2012, 7:24 p.m.
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agencyupdated water quality
guidelines for the nation's beaches Monday, moving in response to charges
that the federal government has not done enough to protect bathers from
polluted water.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-epa-beaches-20121127,0,2220243.story
GOP blocks bill to ease restrictions on hunters, fishermen, open access to
federal lands
By Associated Press, Published: November 26
WASHINGTON — A wide-ranging bill to give hunters and fishermen more access
to public lands stalled in the Senate Monday after Republicans said it
spends too much money.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/gop-blocks-bill-to-ease-restrictions-on-hunters-fishermen-open-access-to-federal-lands/2012/11/26/a8bca6ae-382e-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Sportsmen bill stumbles in Senate |
| Politico |
| By: David Rogers |
| November 26, 2012 08:03 PM EST |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| A major sportsmen bill to improve wildlife habitat and expand access to federal |
| lands for hunting and fishing stumbled badly in the Senate on Monday night — |
| the victim of an obscure budget dispute over how to count a proposed $10 |
| increase in the price of duck stamps to pay for wetlands conservation. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84254.html?hp=l2
Wealth rises in USA's heartland
USA Today
The nation's oil and gas boom is driving up income so fast in a few hundred
small towns and rural areas that it's shifting prosperity to the nation's
heartland, a USA TODAY analysis of government data shows.
http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1728123?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs
Opinion
BP criminal fines could be a game changer for Louisiana's coast: Bob
Marshall
Times Picayune
When coastal groups begin considering candidates for conservationist of the
year awards, I hope Attorney General Eric Holder -- or at least his office
-- is at the top of their lists. That's because the details in the record
$4.9 billion fine his office has forced BP to pay for its Deepwater Horizon
crimes against the Gulf are nothing less than a game changer in the state's
struggle for addressing its starving, sinking, drowning coast.
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2012/11/bp_criminal_fines_could_be_a_g.html
Game changer: 'Fracking'
USA Today
By now it's not news that "fracking" underground shale formations —
cracking them open with high-pressure jets of water, chemicals and sand —
has unlocked new supplies of natural gas and oil in places such as North
Dakota and Pennsylvania.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121127/OPINION01/311270010/Game-changer-Fracking-?odyssey=mod|
newswell|text|Opinion|p
Press Releases
EPA Recommends New Recreational Water Quality Criteria to Better Protect
Public Health
WASHINGTON -- Pursuant to an order from a U.S. District Court and as
required by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of
2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recommended new
recreational water quality criteria for states that will help protect
peoples' health during visits to beaches and waters year round. The
science-based criteria provide information to help states improve public
health protection by addressing a broader range of illness symptoms, better
accounting for pollution after heavy rainfall, providing more protective
recommendations for coastal waters, encouraging early alerts to beachgoers
and promoting rapid water testing. The criteria released today do not
impose any new requirements; instead, they are a tool that states can
choose to use in setting their own standards.
The criteria provide states and communities with the most up to date
science and information that they can use to determine whether water
quality is safe for the public and when to issue an advisory or a beach
closure. EPA has provided a variety of other tools to help states evaluate
and manage recreational waters.
The new criteria are based on several recent health studies and use a
broader definition of illness to recognize that symptoms may occur without
a fever, including a number of stomach ailments. EPA also narrowed from 90
days to 30 days the time period over which the results of monitoring
samples may be averaged. This produces a more accurate picture of the water
quality for that given time, allowing for improved notification time about
water quality to the public. This shortened time period especially accounts
for heavy rainfall that can wash pollution into rivers, lakes or the ocean
or cause sewer overflows.
The strengthened recommendations include:
· A short-term and long-term measure of bacteria levels that must be
used together to ensure that water quality is properly evaluated.
· Stronger recommendations for coastal water quality so public health
is protected similarly in both coastal and fresh waters.
· A new rapid testing method that states can use to determine if water
quality is safe within hours of water samples being taken.
· An early-alert approach for states to use to quickly issue swimming
advisories for the public.
· Tools that allow states to predict water quality problems and
identify sources of pollution, as well as to develop criteria for
specific beaches.
More information:
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation/index.cfm
Oil Spill
Judge sets meeting to discuss BP plea deal
AP
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge has scheduled a closed-door meeting Thursday
to discuss BP's agreement to plead guilty to criminal charges stemming from
its deadly 2010 rig explosion and response to the massive Gulf oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/judge_sets_meeting_to_discuss.html#incart_river
Texas still waiting for $100M in restoration funds from BP oil spill
Officials have received 188 suggestions from public on how to spend money
Posted: November 27, 2012 - 7:47am
By KATE GALBRAITH
THE TEXAS TRIBUNE
AUSTIN — Texas has been promised at least $100 million for coastal
restoration in the wake of the massive BP oil spill that harmed the Gulf
of Mexico in 2010.But no Texas projects have been announced, and an
official involved with the talks did not sound optimistic about getting
dollars flowing quickly to causes like protecting marshland or sea life.
http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2012-11-27/texas-still-waiting-100m-restoration-funds-bp-oil-spill#.ULTO7Ie_FKZ
BP: Many settlement opt-out requests weren't valid
AP
BP and a team of plaintiffs' attorneys say only about half of the
businesses and individuals who asked to be excluded from a proposed
settlement over the company's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico
submitted valid requests.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20187922/bp-many-settlement-opt-out-requests-werent-valid
Why BP is not a takeover target
Fortune
With a $130 billion market cap, and billions of dollars in unknown
liabilities, BP is still one big toxic mess.
By Cyrus Sanati
FORTUNE -- It's one of the largest companies in the world. Could it really
be a takeover target?
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/26/bp-takeover/?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A
+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+(Top+Stories)
State News
PRCC signs partnership with EPA
Gulf of Mexico program promotes student environmental studies
Hattiesburg American
Sofia Tent spent last summer studying environmental justice at Stennis
Space Center, as part of an internship with the Environmental Protection
Agency's Gulf of Mexico program.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20121127/NEWS01/311270007/PRCC-signs-partnership-EPA
PRCC, EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program ink agreement
By David A. Farrell
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — Pearl River Community College President Dr. William A. Lewis
and the EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program Director Ben Scaggs signed a
memorandum of understanding on Monday that will see the Program use PRCC
honors students in projects aimed at improving the environmental quality of
the Gulf of Mexico. The agreement was actually between the PRCC Honors
Institute and the EPA Gulf of Mexico Program.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x942835128/PRCC-EPA-s-Gulf-of-Mexico-Program-ink-agreement
Sewage Improvments Begin in Crawford
WCBI
CRAWFORD, Miss. (WCBI)- Every town must maintain infrastructure to keep
their community safe, sanitary and livable. But those improvements are
expensive and city leaders must find ways to upgrade without draining the
budget or increasing taxes.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-sewage-improvments-begin-in-crawford
Keep Tupelo Beautiful
WCBI
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)-Despite the freezing temperatures this morning
volunteers gathered to keep Tupelo beautiful.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/keep-tupelo-beautifulc
OSHA cites Mississippi Phosphates for safety, health violations
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- Mississippi Phosphates Corp. has been cited by the federal
government for 40 safety and health violations following the deaths of two
workers in separate incidents at the company's Pascagoula plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/26/4323586/osha-cites-mississippi-phosphates.html
AP analysis: Corrections, Medicaid deficits are hurdles for Mississippi
legislators
AP
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi legislators head into the 2013 session
knowing they have deficits to address in corrections and Medicaid.
Any others? That's all rather tentative right now about six weeks out from
the Jan. 8 start.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/ap_analysis_corrections_medica.html#incart_river
National News
EPA strengthens water quality guidelines for beaches
States can decide whether to adopt the new standards, issued to protect
people swimming, surfing and boating in coastal waters.
LA Times
By Noam N. Levey, Washington Bureau
November 26, 2012, 7:24 p.m.
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agencyupdated water quality
guidelines for the nation's beaches Monday, moving in response to charges
that the federal government has not done enough to protect bathers from
polluted water.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-epa-beaches-20121127,0,2220243.story
GOP blocks bill to ease restrictions on hunters, fishermen, open access to
federal lands
By Associated Press, Published: November 26
WASHINGTON — A wide-ranging bill to give hunters and fishermen more access
to public lands stalled in the Senate Monday after Republicans said it
spends too much money.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/gop-blocks-bill-to-ease-restrictions-on-hunters-fishermen-open-access-to-federal-lands/2012/11/26/a8bca6ae-382e-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_story.html
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| Sportsmen bill stumbles in Senate |
| Politico |
| By: David Rogers |
| November 26, 2012 08:03 PM EST |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| A major sportsmen bill to improve wildlife habitat and expand access to federal |
| lands for hunting and fishing stumbled badly in the Senate on Monday night — |
| the victim of an obscure budget dispute over how to count a proposed $10 |
| increase in the price of duck stamps to pay for wetlands conservation. |
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84254.html?hp=l2
Wealth rises in USA's heartland
USA Today
The nation's oil and gas boom is driving up income so fast in a few hundred
small towns and rural areas that it's shifting prosperity to the nation's
heartland, a USA TODAY analysis of government data shows.
http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/1728123?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE%7Cs
Opinion
BP criminal fines could be a game changer for Louisiana's coast: Bob
Marshall
Times Picayune
When coastal groups begin considering candidates for conservationist of the
year awards, I hope Attorney General Eric Holder -- or at least his office
-- is at the top of their lists. That's because the details in the record
$4.9 billion fine his office has forced BP to pay for its Deepwater Horizon
crimes against the Gulf are nothing less than a game changer in the state's
struggle for addressing its starving, sinking, drowning coast.
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2012/11/bp_criminal_fines_could_be_a_g.html
Game changer: 'Fracking'
USA Today
By now it's not news that "fracking" underground shale formations —
cracking them open with high-pressure jets of water, chemicals and sand —
has unlocked new supplies of natural gas and oil in places such as North
Dakota and Pennsylvania.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121127/OPINION01/311270010/Game-changer-Fracking-?odyssey=mod|
newswell|text|Opinion|p
Press Releases
EPA Recommends New Recreational Water Quality Criteria to Better Protect
Public Health
WASHINGTON -- Pursuant to an order from a U.S. District Court and as
required by the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of
2000, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today recommended new
recreational water quality criteria for states that will help protect
peoples' health during visits to beaches and waters year round. The
science-based criteria provide information to help states improve public
health protection by addressing a broader range of illness symptoms, better
accounting for pollution after heavy rainfall, providing more protective
recommendations for coastal waters, encouraging early alerts to beachgoers
and promoting rapid water testing. The criteria released today do not
impose any new requirements; instead, they are a tool that states can
choose to use in setting their own standards.
The criteria provide states and communities with the most up to date
science and information that they can use to determine whether water
quality is safe for the public and when to issue an advisory or a beach
closure. EPA has provided a variety of other tools to help states evaluate
and manage recreational waters.
The new criteria are based on several recent health studies and use a
broader definition of illness to recognize that symptoms may occur without
a fever, including a number of stomach ailments. EPA also narrowed from 90
days to 30 days the time period over which the results of monitoring
samples may be averaged. This produces a more accurate picture of the water
quality for that given time, allowing for improved notification time about
water quality to the public. This shortened time period especially accounts
for heavy rainfall that can wash pollution into rivers, lakes or the ocean
or cause sewer overflows.
The strengthened recommendations include:
· A short-term and long-term measure of bacteria levels that must be
used together to ensure that water quality is properly evaluated.
· Stronger recommendations for coastal water quality so public health
is protected similarly in both coastal and fresh waters.
· A new rapid testing method that states can use to determine if water
quality is safe within hours of water samples being taken.
· An early-alert approach for states to use to quickly issue swimming
advisories for the public.
· Tools that allow states to predict water quality problems and
identify sources of pollution, as well as to develop criteria for
specific beaches.
More information:
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/health/recreation/index.cfm
Monday, November 26, 2012
News Clippings 11.26.12
11/26/12
Oil Spill
Jackson County seeks BP funds for flooding fix in Franklin Creek
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors are seeking nearly $4
million in BP gulf spill restoration funds to restore coastal marsh and
reduce community flooding within the Franklin Creek watershed.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/jackson_county_seeks_bp_funds.html
Did BP oil spill harm water quality in Orange Beach? Study of Cotton Bayou
to find out
Press Register
ORANGE BEACH, Alabama-- It's been nearly 2½ years since oil from the
Deepwater Horizon disaster made its way through Perdido Pass into the
city's backbays and while time has diminished the visibility of the crude
into tarballs, some residents of Cotton Bayou say they're noticing a
degradation of water quality.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/has_bp_oil_spill_harmed_water.html
BP, workers head to court over criminal charges in Gulf disaster
Houston Chronicle
BP is preparing to plead guilty to manslaughter and other crimes arising
from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico rig explosion and oil spill but isn't expected
to do that during an initial appearance Tuesday in New Orleans federal
court.
http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/BP-workers-head-to-court-over-criminal-charges-4065585.php
BP reorganizes oil production unit
Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) - BP unveiled a reorganization of its oil and gas
production operations on Friday, reversing a change it enacted after the
Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-bp-restructure-oil-production-unit-sources-120830690--finance.html
State News
Wetlands action called illegal
Real estate developer to appear in court
AP
GULFPORT — A real estate developer from Alabama is due in court on charges
he violated the Clean Water Act by illegally filling wetlands near Bay St.
Louis for financial gain, and by polluting water.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20121126/NEWS/311260008/Wetlands-action-called-illegal
Hernando sees green in reclaiming 'brownfield' areas
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Hernando has selected the EarthCon consulting firmto manage the city's
$400,000 "brownfield" grant for a community assessment of blighted but
potentially viable sites for reclamation and fiscal contribution.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/22/hernando-sees-green-in-reclaiming-brownfield/?print=1
Sewer to get funds for needed upgrade
Delta Regional Authority supplying $200K
Madison County Herald
Businesses and residents in western Madison County have received a major
emergency investment in resources that target the rehabilitation of the
area sewer collection system.
http://www.mcherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121120/NEWS/311200001/-1/NEWS01/Sewer-to-get-funds-for-needed-upgrade
PERS approves increase in employer contributions
AP
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The governing board of the state retirement system
has increased -- as expected -- the amount employers contribute to the
program.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/pers_approves_increase_in_empl.html#incart_river
National News
DEQ monitors air at homes near giant Louisiana sinkhole
WAFB
Flaring at the Bayou Corne sinkhole site has stopped indefinitely at one
well site. Texas Brine, the company that owns the property, submitted a
proposal to the state Wednesday afternoon asking permission to cap one well
for good after dangerous gases were detected.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20161632/deq-monitors-air-at-homes-near-giant-louisiana-sinkhole
Natural gas drillers target US truck, bus market
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - If the trash truck or bus rolling down your street
seems a little quieter these days, you're not imagining things. It's
probably running on natural gas.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/20179204/natural-gas-drillers-target-us-truck-bus-market
With Ban on Drilling Practice, Town Lands in Thick of Dispute
NY Times
By JACK HEALY
LONGMONT, Colo. — This old farming town near the base of the Rocky
Mountains has long been considered a conservative next-door neighbor to the
ultraliberal college town of Boulder, a place bisected by the railroad and
where middle-class families found a living at the vegetable cannery, sugar
mill and Butterball turkey plant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/us/with-ban-on-fracking-colorado-town-lands-in-thick-of-dispute.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
The demise of coal-fired power plants
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson, Published: November 23
In SALEM, Mass. — Peter Furniss, the fair-haired chief executive of
Footprint Power, gives a tour of the aging coal and oil plant that towers
over sailboats in this historic harbor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-demise-of-coal-fired-power-plants/2012/11/21/e7ca1e6e-fdda-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html
Outdoors bill angers some environmentalists
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Published: November 25
Making life better for fish and wildlife and the people who hunt them lies
at the heart of the Sportsmen's Act of 2012, the bill that covers
everything from habitat conservation to transporting bows through national
parks, which is likely to be approved by the Senate on Monday.
But though the bill enjoys broad, bipartisan support, some
environmentalists are not happy with it. The bill ensures that lead can
continue to be used in ammunition, which they say poisons some wildlife,
and it specifically says that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot
regulate components "used in shot, bullets and other projectiles," such as
bullets and fishing tackle.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoors-bill-angers-some-environmental-groups/2012/11/25/ecddb32c-33e8-11e2-bfd5-e202b6d7b501_print.html
U.N. Climate Talks Open in Qatar
AP
(DOHA, Qatar) — U.N. talks on a new climate pact resumed Monday in oil and
gas-rich Qatar, where negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss
fighting global warming and helping poor nations adapt to it.
http://world.time.com/2012/11/26/u-n-climate-talks-open-in-qatar/
Opinion
Settle the Deepwater Horizon spill
Washington Post
By Editorial Board, Published: November 21
A RECORD-BREAKING environmental accident has produced a record-breaking
criminal fine. The oil company BP agreed last week to pay $4.5 billion to
settle a series of criminal claims regarding the 2010 Deepwater Horizon
spill, including negligence in the deaths of 11 oil-rig workers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/settle-the-deepwater-horizon-spill/2012/11/21/d7c720fc-329b-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_print.html
Oil Spill
Jackson County seeks BP funds for flooding fix in Franklin Creek
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors are seeking nearly $4
million in BP gulf spill restoration funds to restore coastal marsh and
reduce community flooding within the Franklin Creek watershed.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/jackson_county_seeks_bp_funds.html
Did BP oil spill harm water quality in Orange Beach? Study of Cotton Bayou
to find out
Press Register
ORANGE BEACH, Alabama-- It's been nearly 2½ years since oil from the
Deepwater Horizon disaster made its way through Perdido Pass into the
city's backbays and while time has diminished the visibility of the crude
into tarballs, some residents of Cotton Bayou say they're noticing a
degradation of water quality.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/has_bp_oil_spill_harmed_water.html
BP, workers head to court over criminal charges in Gulf disaster
Houston Chronicle
BP is preparing to plead guilty to manslaughter and other crimes arising
from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico rig explosion and oil spill but isn't expected
to do that during an initial appearance Tuesday in New Orleans federal
court.
http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/BP-workers-head-to-court-over-criminal-charges-4065585.php
BP reorganizes oil production unit
Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) - BP unveiled a reorganization of its oil and gas
production operations on Friday, reversing a change it enacted after the
Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-bp-restructure-oil-production-unit-sources-120830690--finance.html
State News
Wetlands action called illegal
Real estate developer to appear in court
AP
GULFPORT — A real estate developer from Alabama is due in court on charges
he violated the Clean Water Act by illegally filling wetlands near Bay St.
Louis for financial gain, and by polluting water.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20121126/NEWS/311260008/Wetlands-action-called-illegal
Hernando sees green in reclaiming 'brownfield' areas
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Hernando has selected the EarthCon consulting firmto manage the city's
$400,000 "brownfield" grant for a community assessment of blighted but
potentially viable sites for reclamation and fiscal contribution.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/22/hernando-sees-green-in-reclaiming-brownfield/?print=1
Sewer to get funds for needed upgrade
Delta Regional Authority supplying $200K
Madison County Herald
Businesses and residents in western Madison County have received a major
emergency investment in resources that target the rehabilitation of the
area sewer collection system.
http://www.mcherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121120/NEWS/311200001/-1/NEWS01/Sewer-to-get-funds-for-needed-upgrade
PERS approves increase in employer contributions
AP
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The governing board of the state retirement system
has increased -- as expected -- the amount employers contribute to the
program.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/pers_approves_increase_in_empl.html#incart_river
National News
DEQ monitors air at homes near giant Louisiana sinkhole
WAFB
Flaring at the Bayou Corne sinkhole site has stopped indefinitely at one
well site. Texas Brine, the company that owns the property, submitted a
proposal to the state Wednesday afternoon asking permission to cap one well
for good after dangerous gases were detected.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20161632/deq-monitors-air-at-homes-near-giant-louisiana-sinkhole
Natural gas drillers target US truck, bus market
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press
SCRANTON, Pa. (AP) - If the trash truck or bus rolling down your street
seems a little quieter these days, you're not imagining things. It's
probably running on natural gas.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/20179204/natural-gas-drillers-target-us-truck-bus-market
With Ban on Drilling Practice, Town Lands in Thick of Dispute
NY Times
By JACK HEALY
LONGMONT, Colo. — This old farming town near the base of the Rocky
Mountains has long been considered a conservative next-door neighbor to the
ultraliberal college town of Boulder, a place bisected by the railroad and
where middle-class families found a living at the vegetable cannery, sugar
mill and Butterball turkey plant.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/us/with-ban-on-fracking-colorado-town-lands-in-thick-of-dispute.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
The demise of coal-fired power plants
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson, Published: November 23
In SALEM, Mass. — Peter Furniss, the fair-haired chief executive of
Footprint Power, gives a tour of the aging coal and oil plant that towers
over sailboats in this historic harbor.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/the-demise-of-coal-fired-power-plants/2012/11/21/e7ca1e6e-fdda-11e1-b153-218509a954e1_story.html
Outdoors bill angers some environmentalists
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Published: November 25
Making life better for fish and wildlife and the people who hunt them lies
at the heart of the Sportsmen's Act of 2012, the bill that covers
everything from habitat conservation to transporting bows through national
parks, which is likely to be approved by the Senate on Monday.
But though the bill enjoys broad, bipartisan support, some
environmentalists are not happy with it. The bill ensures that lead can
continue to be used in ammunition, which they say poisons some wildlife,
and it specifically says that the Environmental Protection Agency cannot
regulate components "used in shot, bullets and other projectiles," such as
bullets and fishing tackle.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outdoors-bill-angers-some-environmental-groups/2012/11/25/ecddb32c-33e8-11e2-bfd5-e202b6d7b501_print.html
U.N. Climate Talks Open in Qatar
AP
(DOHA, Qatar) — U.N. talks on a new climate pact resumed Monday in oil and
gas-rich Qatar, where negotiators from nearly 200 countries will discuss
fighting global warming and helping poor nations adapt to it.
http://world.time.com/2012/11/26/u-n-climate-talks-open-in-qatar/
Opinion
Settle the Deepwater Horizon spill
Washington Post
By Editorial Board, Published: November 21
A RECORD-BREAKING environmental accident has produced a record-breaking
criminal fine. The oil company BP agreed last week to pay $4.5 billion to
settle a series of criminal claims regarding the 2010 Deepwater Horizon
spill, including negligence in the deaths of 11 oil-rig workers.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/settle-the-deepwater-horizon-spill/2012/11/21/d7c720fc-329b-11e2-bb9b-288a310849ee_print.html
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
News Clippings 11.21.12
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Oil Spill
Lab lands grant to examine effects of BP oil spill
by MBJ Staff
Published: November 20,2012
STARKVILLE — The Mississippi State Chemical Laboratory is receiving funding
to support an enhanced multi-state research program examining effects of
the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2012/11/20/lab-lands-grant-to-examine-effects-of-bp-oil-spill/
State News
EPA decree on water system violations filed by city
Clarion Ledger
An extensive accord between the city of Jackson and the Environmental
Protection Agency has been signed, sealed and delivered to court, but it
may be some time before the document's full impact is known.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121121/NEWS/311200056/EPA-decree-water-system-violations-filed-by-Jackson
Mississippi's capital city agrees to federal plan to improve sewer system
to prevent overflow
AP
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi's capital city will pay hundreds of millions
of dollars to improve its water system to prevent the overflow of raw
sewage, under a proposed consent decree announced Tuesday by federal and
state officials.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/ece92d5578554cdabab93874d1e1d856/MS--Jackson-Water
Deck the DeSoto halls - with recycled rubbish that treasures creativity
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
"I like the 'snowcans' the most," decided Mackenzie Thaxton, eyeing the
shiny, flayed aluminum Mountain Dew can that the 17-year-old Hernando High
senior and Art Club president was about to place on the tree.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/20/deck-the-desoto-halls-150-with-recycled-rubbish/?print=1
Supervisors name PRCUA board member
By David A. Farrell
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — On Tuesday, Pearl River County supervisors named Fred Aubrey
of Lake Hillsdale to fill an empty position on the seven-member Pearl River
County Utility Authority board of directors, following an extended
conversation between supervisors and PRCUA board president Tommy Breland,
during which the dreaded words "north and south" were mentioned.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1951901496/Supervisors-name-PRCUA-board-member
Citizens group happy OS Harbor land swap deal abandoned
WLOX
A citizens group called "Friends of the Ocean Springs Harbor" is happy a
proposed land swap at the harbor has been scrapped. Tuesday, the group's
spokesman, Bruce Duckett, thanked the Commission on Marine Resources for
abandoning the controversial land swap.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20153768/citizens-group-happy-os-harbor-land-swap-deal-abandonded
Ward proposes wetlands fill for port-related development in North Gulfport
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- Ward Investments wants to develop 512 acres south of Interstate
10 for port-related development.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/20/4315701/ward-proposes-north-gulfport-development.html
National News
U.S. and Mexico Sign a Deal on Sharing the Colorado River
NY Times
By IAN LOVETT
CORONADO, Calif. — The governments of the United States and Mexico signed
an agreement on Tuesday to overhaul how the two countries share and manage
water from the Colorado River, which provides water to more than 33 million
people in seven states and Mexico.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/21/us/us-and-mexico-sign-deal-on-managing-colorado-river.html?ref=earth&pagewanted=print
Global Carbon Dioxide Levels Hit New Record in 2011, Survey Shows
Reuters
GENEVA, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Atmospheric volumes of greenhouse gases blamed
for climate change hit a new record in 2011, the World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) said in its annual Greenhouse Gas Bulletin on Tuesday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/20/global-carbon-dioxide-levels_n_2163612.html?utm_hp_ref=green
Lisa Jackson's 'Windsor' knot
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
November 20, 2012 06:30 PM EST
EPA officials say the agency wasn't trying to hide anything by giving
Administrator Lisa Jackson a secondary email address to use when
corresponding with other government officials.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84112.html?hp=r9
Nutrient plan targets incentives, not regs
By Gene Lucht
Iowa Farmer Today
Wednesday, November 21, 2012 5:00 am
DES MOINES — State officials on Monday announced a plan for dealing with
nutrient runoff that is based on incentives and voluntary programs rather
than regulations.
http://www.iowafarmertoday.com/staff/nutrient-plan-targets-incentives-not-regs/article_cb70d02a-3352-11e2-a1b5-001a4bcf887a.html
Press Releases
(Embedded image moved to file: pic17825.jpg)
(Embedded image moved to file: pic03221.jpg)
(Embedded image moved to file: pic17870.jpg)
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DOJ (202) 514-2007
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012 EPA (202) 564-4355
WWW.JUSTICE.GOV TTY (866) 544-5309
U.S. AND MISSISSIPPI ANNOUNCE CLEAN WATER ACT AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF
JACKSON
WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) announced today a comprehensive Clean Water Act settlement
with the city of Jackson, Miss. Jackson has agreed to make improvements to
its sewer systems to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated raw
sewage and unauthorized bypasses of treatment at the Savanna Street
Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), the city's largest wastewater treatment
facility. When wastewater systems overflow, they can release untreated
sewage and other pollutants into local waterways, threatening water quality
and contributing to beach closures and disease outbreaks.
"This agreement will bring lasting benefits to the people of Jackson
by reducing the threats to public health posed by untreated sewage
overflows," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the
Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The
settlement will bring the city into compliance with the nation's Clean
Water Act, requiring significant upgrades to the existing sewer system.
Under the settlement, assistance will be provided to residents to repair
sewer connections in lower-income areas that have suffered historically
from overflows of untreated sewage"
"EPA is working with cities to protect the nation's waters from raw
sewage overflows that can have significant impacts on people's health and
the environment," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for the EPA's
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Today's settlement will
lead to improvements in the management of wastewater overflows, which will
reduce water pollution and benefit the Jackson community for years to
come."
"MDEQ has worked for several years with the city of Jackson on
compliance issues and corrections to their wastewater system," said
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Executive Director Trudy
Fisher. "Our efforts will continue to cooperatively work with the city and
help them move forward. We are hopeful this settlement will result in a
better quality of life for the city's citizens and an improvement in water
quality for the Pearl River and surrounding streams."
The consent decree requires Jackson to implement specific programs
designed to ensure proper management, operation and maintenance of its
sewer systems. In order to address the problem of wet weather overflows of
raw sewage from the sewer lines, Jackson will develop and implement a
comprehensive sewer system assessment and rehabilitation program. The city
will also develop and implement a comprehensive performance evaluation and
composite correction program to reduce the bypasses of treatment at the
Savanna Street WWTP.
The consent decree also requires Jackson to develop and implement
numerous sewer system capacity, management, operations and maintenance
programs, including a pump station operation and preventive maintenance
program, a WWTP operation and maintenance program and a water quality
monitoring program.
In addition to the control requirements, the consent decree requires
Jackson to pay a civil penalty of $437,916. As part of the settlement,
Jackson has also agreed to implement a supplemental environmental project
valued at $875,000 that will provide additional environmental benefits to
the local community. The project involves reducing the flow of water from
entering the sewer system by eliminating illicit stormwater connections and
repairing defective private lateral sewer lines from the low-income
residential properties.
Keeping raw sewage and contaminated stormwater out of the waters of
the United States is one of the EPA's national enforcement initiatives for
2011 to 2013. The initiative focuses on reducing sewer overflows, which can
present a significant threat to human health and the environment. These
reductions are accomplished by obtaining cities' commitments to implement
timely, affordable solutions to these problems, including the increased use
of green infrastructure and other innovative approaches.
The United States has reached similar agreements in the past with
numerous municipal entities across the country including Mobile and
Jefferson County (Birmingham), Ala.; Atlanta and Dekalb County, Ga.;
Memphis, Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn.; Miami-Dade County, Fla.; New
Orleans, La.; Hamilton County (Cincinnati), Oh.; Northern Kentucky
Sanitation District #1 and Louisville MSD, Ky.
The proposed consent decree with Jackson is subject to a 30-day public
comment period and final court approval before becoming effective. A copy
of the consent decree lodged today is available on the Department of
Justice website at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html
More about the settlement:
www.epa.gov/enforcement/water/cases/cityofjacksonmississippi.html
More information on EPA's national enforcement initiative:
www.epa.gov/compliance/data/planning/initiatives/2011sewagestormwater.html
# # #
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
News Clippings 11/20/12
11/20/12
Oil Spill
BP's US Criminal Settlement Over Oil Spill is Credit Positive -Moody's
By Selina Williams
Published November 19, 2012
Dow Jones Newswires
BP PLC's (BP.LN) $4.5 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of
Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission over criminal charges
and claims arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster are credit
positive for the company because they clarify the level of the criminal
penalties, Moody's said Monday.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/11/19/bp-us-criminal-settlement-over-oil-spill-is-credit-positive-moody/
Will this be BP's last apology?
CNN
FORTUNE -- For the second time in five years, BP, the world's
fourth-largest company, has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal felony for
epic safety failures that resulted in deaths, disaster, and billions in
damage.
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/19/bp-oil-spill-settlement/
State News
IMMS continues to look for answers in dolphin deaths
WLOX
They're regarded by many as one of the most intelligent, gentle, and
friendly creatures on earth. That's exactly why there's so much confusion
surrounding recent incidents along the Gulf Coast.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20132902/imms-continues-to-look-for-answers-in-dolphin-deaths
Groups Say Kemper Power Plant is Over Budget and Behind Schedule
MPB
BY DANIEL CHERRY | PUBLISHED 19 NOV 2012 06:41PM |
Opponents of Mississippi Power's $2.8 billion power plant in Kemper County
say the project is over budget and behind schedule. In spite of
controversy, MPB's Daniel Cherry reports, Mississippi Power is pushing
ahead with the plant.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/749groups_say_kemper_power_plant_is_over_budget_and_behind_schedule
Brandon lawmaker resigns, to pay fine as part of deal in ethics case
Printing company can't do business with state for a year
Clarion Ledger
State Rep. Kevin McGee, R-Brandon, has agreed to resign from the
Legislature and pay a $10,000 fine in a deal with the Mississippi Ethics
Commission.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121120/NEWS/311200026/Brandon-lawmaker-resigns-pay-fine-part-deal-ethics-case
US judges: No Miss. legislative elections in 2013
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Three federal judges say they won't order Mississippi
to hold a new round of legislative elections in 2013.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20141373/us-judges-no-miss-legislative-elections-in-2013?clienttype=printable
National News
After election wins, greens map policy strategy
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
November 20, 2012 04:37 AM EST
Still aglow from a wave of electoral victories, the country's major
environmental groups are mapping out a plan for the next four years — and
they hope to use their 2012 election strategy as a model.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84060.html?hp=l10
Bipartisan steps urged on climate change policy
Global warming is 'hot' again, but analysts urge compromise, not ideology,
in Congress
By Beth Daley
Boston Globe Staff
First, Hurricane Sandy hit. Then, President Obama mentioned global warming
in his acceptance speech. Now, 2012 looks likely to be the hottest year on
record.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/11/19/bipartisan-steps-urged-climate-change-policy/4wCsBxHXim8s2KrL7hm26H/story.html
States eye trusts for new oil, gas revenue
USA Today
9:26PM EST November 19. 2012 - What should be done with the nation's new
oil and gas riches?
One answer rapidly gaining popularity: Set some aside for future
generations.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/19/states-oil-gas-revenue/1715851/
Fracking boom gains momentum
USA Today
7:10PM EST November 19. 2012 - Political obstacles to oil and gas
production are starting to fall away at the state and local levels as
voters, elected officials and courts jump on the energy boom bandwagon.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2012/11/19/energy-boom-gains-momentum-as-obstacles-disappear/1715743/
Oil Spill
BP's US Criminal Settlement Over Oil Spill is Credit Positive -Moody's
By Selina Williams
Published November 19, 2012
Dow Jones Newswires
BP PLC's (BP.LN) $4.5 billion settlement with the U.S. Department of
Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission over criminal charges
and claims arising from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster are credit
positive for the company because they clarify the level of the criminal
penalties, Moody's said Monday.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/11/19/bp-us-criminal-settlement-over-oil-spill-is-credit-positive-moody/
Will this be BP's last apology?
CNN
FORTUNE -- For the second time in five years, BP, the world's
fourth-largest company, has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal felony for
epic safety failures that resulted in deaths, disaster, and billions in
damage.
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/11/19/bp-oil-spill-settlement/
State News
IMMS continues to look for answers in dolphin deaths
WLOX
They're regarded by many as one of the most intelligent, gentle, and
friendly creatures on earth. That's exactly why there's so much confusion
surrounding recent incidents along the Gulf Coast.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20132902/imms-continues-to-look-for-answers-in-dolphin-deaths
Groups Say Kemper Power Plant is Over Budget and Behind Schedule
MPB
BY DANIEL CHERRY | PUBLISHED 19 NOV 2012 06:41PM |
Opponents of Mississippi Power's $2.8 billion power plant in Kemper County
say the project is over budget and behind schedule. In spite of
controversy, MPB's Daniel Cherry reports, Mississippi Power is pushing
ahead with the plant.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/749groups_say_kemper_power_plant_is_over_budget_and_behind_schedule
Brandon lawmaker resigns, to pay fine as part of deal in ethics case
Printing company can't do business with state for a year
Clarion Ledger
State Rep. Kevin McGee, R-Brandon, has agreed to resign from the
Legislature and pay a $10,000 fine in a deal with the Mississippi Ethics
Commission.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121120/NEWS/311200026/Brandon-lawmaker-resigns-pay-fine-part-deal-ethics-case
US judges: No Miss. legislative elections in 2013
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Three federal judges say they won't order Mississippi
to hold a new round of legislative elections in 2013.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20141373/us-judges-no-miss-legislative-elections-in-2013?clienttype=printable
National News
After election wins, greens map policy strategy
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
November 20, 2012 04:37 AM EST
Still aglow from a wave of electoral victories, the country's major
environmental groups are mapping out a plan for the next four years — and
they hope to use their 2012 election strategy as a model.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/84060.html?hp=l10
Bipartisan steps urged on climate change policy
Global warming is 'hot' again, but analysts urge compromise, not ideology,
in Congress
By Beth Daley
Boston Globe Staff
First, Hurricane Sandy hit. Then, President Obama mentioned global warming
in his acceptance speech. Now, 2012 looks likely to be the hottest year on
record.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2012/11/19/bipartisan-steps-urged-climate-change-policy/4wCsBxHXim8s2KrL7hm26H/story.html
States eye trusts for new oil, gas revenue
USA Today
9:26PM EST November 19. 2012 - What should be done with the nation's new
oil and gas riches?
One answer rapidly gaining popularity: Set some aside for future
generations.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/11/19/states-oil-gas-revenue/1715851/
Fracking boom gains momentum
USA Today
7:10PM EST November 19. 2012 - Political obstacles to oil and gas
production are starting to fall away at the state and local levels as
voters, elected officials and courts jump on the energy boom bandwagon.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2012/11/19/energy-boom-gains-momentum-as-obstacles-disappear/1715743/
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