Oil Spill
Deals awaited in BP spill civil litigation
Criminal accord includes guilty pleas, indictments
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi leaders are hoping Thursday's criminal settlement between BP
and the Department of Justice over the 2010 Gulf oil disaster speeds — and
doesn't thwart — civil settlements, from which Mississippi is expected to
receive at least hundreds of millions of dollars.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121116/NEWS01/311160012/Deals-awaited-BP-spill-civil-litigation?nclick_check=1
BP agrees to pay $4.5B; 3 employees charged
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A day of reckoning arrived for BP on Thursday as the oil
giant agreed to plead guilty to a raft of charges in the deadly Gulf of
Mexico spill and pay a record $4.5 billion, including the biggest criminal
fine in U.S. history. Three BP employees were also charged, 2 of them with
manslaughter.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20107884/bp-to-pay-45-billion-in-oil-spill-settlement
Portion of $4.5 billion BP fine will benefit Mississippi
Sun Herald
A day of reckoning arrived for BP on Thursday as the oil company agreed to
plead guilty to criminal charges and pay a record $4.5 billion in a
settlement with the government over the deadly 2010 Deepwater Horizon
disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Three BP employees also were charged, two
of them with manslaughter.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/15/4307601/portion-of-45-billion-bp-fine.html
Local, state officials react to BP settlement
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA -- Local and state officials in Mississippi were pleased to hear
of BP's $4.5 million settlement with the U.S. government over the 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil spill, but also indicated the payment of criminal
fines is but a first step for BP in making reparations to Gulf Coast states
affected by the spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/local_state_officials_react_to.html#incart_river
$4.5 billion BP fine settles only criminal charges
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com
Part of the $4.5 billion fine BP will pay for the 2010 Gulf oil spill will
benefit Mississippi and the other Gulf states, U.S. Attorney General Eric
Holder said during a press conference today in New Orleans.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/11/15/4306307/45-billion-bp-fine-settles-only.html
BP executive charged with lying to authorities
AP
NEW ORLEANS -- Two men who worked for BP during the 2010 Gulf oil spill
disaster have been charged with manslaughter and a third with lying to
federal investigators, according to indictments made public Thursday, hours
after BP announced it was paying $4.5 billion in a settlement with the U.S.
government over the disaster.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/11/bp_executive_charged_with_lyin.html#incart_river
BP to pay record penalty for Gulf oil spill
CNN
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- BP will plead guilty to manslaughter charges
stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico, and agreed to pay $4.5 billion in government penalties,
Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday.
http://money.cnn.com/2012/11/15/news/bp-oil-spill-settlement/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
BP Will Plead Guilty and Pay Over $4 Billion
NY Times
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS and JOHN SCHWARTZ
HOUSTON — BP, the British oil company, said on Thursday that it had agreed
to pay $4.5 billion in fines and other penalties and to plead guilty to 14
criminal charges related to the rig explosion two years ago that killed 11
people and caused a giant oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/16/business/global/16iht-bp16.html?ref=earth
BP settles criminal charges for $4 billion in spill; supervisors indicted
on manslaughter
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson
BP has agreed to plead guilty to 14 criminal counts, including
manslaughter, and will pay $4 billion over five years in a settlement with
the Justice Department over the April 20, 2010, drilling disaster in the
Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 people and unleashed the worst offshore oil
spill in U.S. history, officials announced Thursday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/bp-to-pay-billions-in-gulf-oil-spill-settlement/2012/11/15/ba0b783a-2f2e-11e2-9f50-0308e1e75445_story.html
BP Slapped With Record Fine
Oil Giant to Pay $4.5 Billion, Plead Guilty to Criminal Charges in 2010
Gulf Spill
Wall Street Journal
BP BP.LN -0.82% PLC agreed to accept criminal responsibility for the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster that killed 11 workers and to pay $4.5 billion
in fines and restitution, the biggest penalty ever levied by the U.S.
Justice Department.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324556304578120140555122104.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_3
BP to pay for Gulf oil spill crime: A record $4.5B
USA Today
2:30AM EST November 16. 2012 - NEW ORLEANS — Keith Jones waited more than
two years for the day when those responsible for the death of his son would
be brought to justice.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2012/11/15/bp-gulf-oil-spill-criminal-penalty/1707951/
BP, US reach $4.5B settlement for Gulf spill
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 11/15/12 04:34 PM ET
BP has reached a $4.5 billion settlement with the U.S. government to
resolve criminal and securities claims over the 2010 well blowout and
explosion that claimed 11 lives and touched off what became the biggest
spill in U.S. history.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/268123-bp-nearing-criminal-settlement-over-2010-gulf-spill
BP to pay $4.5 billion in fines for oil spill
Politico
By: Darren Goode
November 15, 2012 11:55 AM EST
BP will pay a record $4.5 billion in fines and plead guilty to a dozen
felony counts under a deal with the U.S. government to settle criminal
charges stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident that killed 11
workers and spilled nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of
Mexico.http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83914.html?hp=l11
BP's profits-first culture prompts 11 felony guilty pleas, $4.5 billion in
fines
Times Picayune
Citing gross negligence and what it called the company's profits-first
culture, the federal government on Thursday announced it had entered into a
settlement with BP of all criminal claims stemming from the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill, fining the company a record $4.5 billion and securing 11
felony pleas from the company for the 11 people killed in the April 2010
blast.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/11/bps_profits-first_culture_prom.html
BP agrees to record criminal penalties for U.S. oil spill
Reuters
4:09am EST
By Kathy Finn and David Ingram
NEW ORLEANS/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - BP Plc will pay $4.5 billion in
penalties and plead guilty to criminal misconduct in the Deepwater Horizon
disaster, which caused the worst U.S. offshore oil spill ever.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/16/us-bp-spill-idUSBRE8AE1AC20121116
BP oil spill deal: Gov. Rick Scott office calls $4.5 billion deal
'unacceptable'
WPTV
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Florida Gov. Rick Scott's office is sharply
criticizing a settlement reached between the federal government and oil
giant BP.
http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/national/bp-oil-spill-deal-gov-rick-scott-office-calls-45-billion-deal-unacceptable
Sen. Richard Shelby: Hold BP accountable to Restore Act
Press Register
U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, said today that Alabama must
continue to fight for civil penalties against BP as a result of the 2010
Gulf oil spill.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/sen_richard_shelby_hold_bp_acc.html
Families of Deepwater Horizon victims torn about BP plea deal
Times Picayune
The bumper sticker on Arleen Weise's Mini Cooper reads "DWH 11," but people
kept asking what it meant. So Weise got a blue magnetic sticker with 11
stars and the words spelled out - Deepwater Horizon - to drive the message
home.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/11/families_of_deepwater_horizon.html
Deepwater Horizon: Political Spills Clean Up Faster Than Oil Ones
Wall Street Journal
By Keith Johnson
In the months after the Deepwater Horizon accident, environmental
specialists suggested that the long-term ecological impact of the oil
spill would be less than feared in the immediate aftermath of the
explosion, because so much of the spilled oil degraded naturally. What
they didn't realize was that the practical and political fallout of the
spill would be far less than expected, too.
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2012/11/15/deepwater-horizon-political-spills-clean-up-faster-than-oil-ones/
Defense lawyers accuse Justice Department of making BP workers scapegoats
for 2010 rig blast
By Associated Press, Published: November 15 | Updated: Friday, November 16,
4:31 AM
NEW ORLEANS — While BP has resolved a sweeping criminal probe of its role
in the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, two company employees
charged in the deaths of 11 rig workers claim the Justice Department is
trying to make them scapegoats for the disaster.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/bp-agrees-to-plead-guilty-and-pay-a-record-45-billion-over-gulf-spill-3-employees-charged/2012/11/15/777b688c-2f82-11e2-af17-67abba0676e2_print.html
BP steadily moving beyond Gulf spill disaster
By JONATHAN FAHEY
AP Energy Writer
BP's $4.5 billion settlement of federal criminal charges announced Thursday
is a record amount, and a significant sum of money.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20111915/bp-steadily-moving-beyond-gulf-spill-disaster
Timeline of BP oil spill and legal cases
AP
Timeline of the massive 2010 Gulf oil spill, government response and
ensuing legal cases:
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/11/timeline_of_bp_oil_spill_and_l.html
State News
MDEQ's 'America Recycles' is today at Smith Park
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is hosting an America
Recycles Day event today from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Smith Park in downtown
Jackson .
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121115/NEWS/311150067/MDEQ-s-America-Recycles-today-Smith-Park?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7C&nclick_check=1
National News
EPA chief Lisa Jackson may be moving on
Washington Post
By Al Kamen
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Lisa Jackson, said by
insiders to be en route shortly back home to New Jersey after four years
here, was in fine form last week at the big Environmental Law Institute
gathering two days after President Obama's re-election.
After asking all EPA appointees there to stand up, she said: "Everyone who
wants my job, stand up!"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/epa-chief-lisa-jackson-may-be-moving-on/2012/11/15/fa6f944e-2f68-11e2-a30e-5ca76eeec857_blog.html
Farm bill still has a shot
Politico
By: David Rogers
November 15, 2012 03:27 PM EST
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said Thursday that he had
been assured by Speaker John Boehner that the farm bill remains part of the
year-end "big picture" for Republicans and the promise of $35 billion in
10-year savings "has gotten somebody's attention."
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1112/83934.html?hp=l14
Press Releases
GOV. PHIL BRYANT ISSUES STATEMENT ON BP SETTLEMENT
JACKSON—"Mississippi has not been a part of this plea bargain or the
criminal settlement. As I review the settlement documents, I will work to
determine best opportunities for the continued recovery on the Mississippi
Gulf Coast affected by this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers continue to
be with the family and friends of the four Mississippians who lost their
lives due to the Deepwater Horizon tragedy."
###
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the BP Press Conference
|-----------------------------------------------|
|New Orleans ~ Thursday, November 15, 2012 |
|-----------------------------------------------|
Good afternoon. I'm honored to join with Associate Attorney General Tony
West; Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, of the Justice Department's
Criminal Division; Director Robert Khuzami, of the Securities and Exchange
Commission's Division of Enforcement; John Buretta, head of the Deepwater
Horizon Task Force; and many of the Task Force's members – in announcing
the latest steps forward in our ongoing efforts to achieve justice for
those whose lives, and livelihoods, were impacted by the largest
environmental disaster in our nation's history – and to hold accountable
those who bore responsibility for this tragedy.
Today, in U.S. District Court here in the Eastern District of Louisiana,
the Department filed a 14-count information charging BP with 11 counts of
felony manslaughter, one count of felony obstruction of Congress, and
violations of the Clean Water and Migratory Bird Treaty Acts in connection
with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began in April 2010. BP has
agreed to plead guilty to all 14 criminal charges – admitting
responsibility for the deaths of 11 people and the events that led to an
unprecedented environmental catastrophe. The company also has agreed to
pay $4 billion in fines and penalties.
This marks both the single largest criminal fine – more than $1.25 billion
– and the single largest total criminal resolution – $4 billion – in the
history of the United States. It stands as a testament to the hard work
of countless investigators, attorneys, support staff members, and other
personnel – from the Deepwater Horizon Task Force and a range of federal,
state, and local agencies – who have worked tirelessly to advance a complex
and wide-ranging investigation that began even before the oil well was
capped. And it constitutes a major achievement toward fulfilling a
promise that I made here in New Orleans, along with my colleagues, nearly
two years ago: to engage with our partners and counterparts to determine
the causes of this disaster; to respond to its consequences; to seek
justice on behalf of its victims; and to enable Gulf Coast residents to
continue to recover and rebuild.
To this end, under the terms of the agreement we announce today, about $2.4
billion of the criminal recovery funds will be dedicated to environmental
restoration, preservation, and conservation efforts throughout this region
– including barrier-island creation and river diversion projects right here
in Louisiana. An additional $350 million will aid in the development of
state-of-the art oil spill prevention and response technologies, education,
research, and training. And more than $1 billion will go to the U.S.
Coast Guard's Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, to be available for cleanup –
and compensation for those affected by – oil spills in the Gulf and
throughout the United States.
As part of its guilty plea, BP will retain a monitor – for four years – who
will oversee safety, risk management and equipment maintenance in relation
to deepwater drilling in the Gulf, as well as an independent auditor who
will conduct annual reviews to ensure compliance with the terms of this
agreement. The company will also hire an ethics monitor to improve its
code of conduct and foster robust cooperation with the government.
There can be no question that this historic announcement represents a
critical step forward – and underscores the Justice Department's
determination to stand with Gulf Coast communities. In February, this same
commitment led the Department to reach a partial settlement – totaling $90
million – with MOEX Offshore, related to that company's Clean Water Act
liability for theDeepwater Horizon disaster. Approximately $45 million of
this total will go directly to the Gulf, in the form of penalties or
expedited environmental projects.
But our work is far from over. In the trips that my colleagues and I have
made to the Gulf Coast since the Deepwater Horizon spill, we've seen the
damage – to lives and businesses, as well as coastal areas and wetlands –
that this tragedy has inflicted. We understand the tremendous costs, both
economic and environmental, that have been associated with this disaster.
And we've been inspired by the resilience displayed by each and every Gulf
Coast resident who's been affected.
That's why I want to be absolutely clear that today's resolution does not
mark the end of our efforts. In fact, our criminal investigation remains
ongoing – and we'll continue to follow all credible leads and pursue any
charges that are warranted.
In fact, in addition to the charges filed against BP, a federal grand jury
returned an indictment charging the two highest-ranking BP supervisors who
were on board the Deepwater Horizon on the day of the explosion with 23
criminal counts – including 11 counts of seaman's manslaughter, 11 counts
of involuntary manslaughter, and alleged violations of the Clean Water Act.
The grand jury also charged a former BP executive – who served as a deputy
incident commander and BP's second-highest ranking representative at
Unified Command during the spill response – with hiding information from
Congress and allegedly lying to law enforcement officials.
These and other matters remain open, including a separate civil action
that's pending in federal court here in New Orleans. We're looking
forward to the trial – which is scheduled to begin in February of next year
– in which we intend to prove that BP was grossly negligent in causing the
oil spill. In that lawsuit, we are seeking civil penalties and a judgment
that BP and others are liable for removal costs and natural resource
damages – exposure that could amount to billions of dollars. Though we
have been unable to date to resolve the civil case, we remain as determined
as ever to hold those responsible accountable. In addition, my colleagues
and I are firmly committed to combating oil-spill fraud by investigating
and prosecuting those who attempt to reap criminal profits from such a
terrible tragedy.
Once again, I want to thank each of the Task Force members, Justice
Department leaders, local officials, critical agency partners, and Gulf
Coast residents who have contributed to this work and made today's historic
announcement possible. And now, I'd like to turn things over to another
key leader – Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer – who will provide
additional details about today's action.
Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer Speaks at the BP Press
Conference
|-----------------------------------------------|
|NEW ORLEANS ~ Thursday, November 15, 2012 |
|-----------------------------------------------|
Thank you, Attorney General Holder.
In April of 2010, the nation witnessed an unimaginable tragedy, when the
Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico. Eleven people
onboard the rig died, and oil began pouring out of the Macondo well, and
onto the sea floor, for months, causing immense damage to the Gulf region
and to our ecosystem.
The communities here in New Orleans, and around the Gulf, have waited
patiently for justice to be done. Today, their wait is over.
The Deepwater Horizon Task Force filed a 14-count information and guilty
plea agreement, in New Orleans federal court earlier today. The
information charges BP Exploration and Production Inc. with 11 counts of
felony manslaughter; violations of environmental laws, including the Clean
Water Act and Migratory Bird Act; and obstruction of Congress. BP has
agreed to plead guilty to each of these 14 counts and to pay the highest
criminal fine in U.S. history.
Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that the deaths of the 11 men onboard the
Deepwater Horizon could have been avoided. The explosion of the rig was a
disaster that resulted from BP's culture of privileging profit over
prudence; and we allege that BP's most senior decisionmakers onboard the
Deepwater Horizon negligently caused the explosion. We hope that today's
acknowledgement by BP of its misconduct – through its agreement to plead
guilty to 11 counts of felony manslaughter – brings some measure of justice
to the family members of the people who died onboard the rig.
As the oil spill continued, BP made a tragic situation worse: it began
misleading Congress and the American people about how much oil was pouring
out of the Macondo well. As BP now admits, in responding to Congress, the
company lied and withheld documents, in order to make it seem as though
less damage was being done to the environment than was actually occurring.
Acknowledging those lies, BP has agreed to plead guilty to felony
obstruction of Congress.
Make no mistake: While the company is guilty, individuals committed these
crimes. And we have also unsealed today a 23-count indictment charging
BP's two highest-ranking supervisors onboard the Deepwater Horizon with
manslaughter and violation of the Clean Water Act. The indictment charges
these two BP well site leaders with negligence, and gross-negligence, on
the evening of April 20, 2010. In the face of glaring red flags indicating
that the well was not secure, both men allegedly failed to take appropriate
action to prevent the blowout.
A separate indictment was also unsealed today charging a former senior BP
executive, David Rainey, with obstructing a congressional investigation and
making false statements to law enforcement officials. The indictment
alleges that Rainey, on behalf of BP, intentionally underestimated the
amount of oil flowing from the Macondo well. Rainey allegedly
cherry-picked pages from documents, withheld other documents altogether and
lied to Congress and others in order to make the spill appear less
catastrophic than it was.
The Attorney General stood near here when the Department first opened its
criminal investigation into the oil spill and promised that we would
thoroughly investigate and hold to account those responsible for this
horrible tragedy. Today, we have begun doing exactly that; and tomorrow,
and in the months to come, the Deepwater Horizon Task Force will continue
its tireless pursuit of justice in this matter.
I would like to personally thank Task Force Director John Buretta, who has
done an absolutely remarkable job leading this investigation, as well as
the many fine prosecutors from the Criminal Division, Environment and
Natural Resources Division and U.S. Attorney community, and the many
talented federal and state law enforcement agents, who have worked so hard,
for so long, to develop these cases. I would also like to thank our
colleagues at the Securities and Exchange Commission for their important
parallel investigation.
Thank you.
EPA Launches "SepticSmart" to Prevent Costly Septic System Problems,
Protect Environment
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched
"SepticSmart," a new program encouraging homeowners to take steps to
maintain their home septic systems, preventing costly repairs,
inconvenience and pollution to local waterways, which poses risks to public
health and the environment. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly 25
percent of U.S. households—more than 26 million homes—and almost one-third
of new developments are serviced by septic systems.
EPA launched SepticSmart to promote proper septic system care and
maintenance. This national program aims to educate homeowners about proper
daily system use and the need for periodic septic system maintenance.
SepticSmart also provides industry practitioners, local governments and
community organizations with tools and materials to educate their clients
and residents.
SepticSmart tips include:
· Spread out laundry and dishwasher loads throughout the day. Consider
fixing plumbing leaks and installing faucet aerators and
water-efficient products. Too much water use at once can overload
your system, particularly if it hasn't been pumped in the last couple
of years.
· Avoid pouring fats, grease and solids down the drain, which can clog
your system.
· Homeowners should have their septic system inspected every three
years by a licensed contractor and have their tank pumped when
necessary, generally every three to five years. Regular inspection
and pumping of a septic system can save homeowners from costly
repairs—on average, it costs homeowners $250 to pump their septic
system, while the average cost of replacing a conventional septic
system is $5,000 - $10,000. As the holidays approach, consider having
your tank inspected and pumped.
· Ask guests to only to put things in the toilet that belong there.
Dental floss, disposable diapers and wipes, feminine hygiene
products, cigarette butts, and cat litter can clog and potentially
damage septic systems.
· Remind guests not to park or drive on your system's drainfield
because the vehicle weight could damage buried pipes or disrupt
underground flow causing system backups and floods.
For more information, visit www.epa.gov/septicsmart.
EPA Focuses on Food Waste for 15th Annual America Recycles Day
WASHINGTON – Today on the 15th annual America Recycles Day, the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) renewed its commitment to helping
Americans reduce wasted food by working with grocers, universities,
stadiums and other venues through its Sustainable Materials Management Food
Recovery Challenge.
According to EPA estimates, food is now the single largest type of waste
going to our municipal landfills and incinerators – more than 33 million
tons of food ends up in landfills or are combusted each year. When food is
discarded in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas that
contributes to climate change. Americans throw away up to 40 percent of
their food, an average of 20 pounds per person a month. Much of this wasted
food is actually surplus, wholesome and edible food that could have helped
those in need.
"In 15 years of America Recycles Day, we've seen how recycling not only
helps us conserve our resources and protect our environment – it also helps
us save money by cutting back on purchasing needs and waste disposal
efforts," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Through the Sustainable
Materials Management Food Recovery Challenge, participants are encouraged
to make smarter, more sustainable food management choices. Our goal is to
limit food waste – the single largest type of waste entering our landfills
and incinerators – and ensure that excess food goes toward feeding our
families, not filling our wastebaskets."
The Sustainable Materials Management Food Recovery Challenge seeks to help
reduce the environmental impacts of how materials are extracted,
manufactured, distributed, used, reused, recycled, and disposed. Through
better purchasing decisions and finding better uses for surplus food,
participants in the challenge are supporting communities by feeding people,
not landfills. Challenge participants are also finding that they are saving
money through reduced purchasing and waste disposal fees.
All Americans can help reduce food waste by limiting food purchases to what
they are able to eat, and finishing leftovers before buying more food. In
addition, freezing or preserving produce before it goes bad, donating
canned or other untouched, safe food to those in need, and composting food
scraps can reduce wasted food.
America Recycles Day, November 15, is a time to reflect on the progress our
country has made to conserve our natural resources and to look for new
opportunities to reduce environmental impacts and more efficiently manage
materials. This America Recycles Day, EPA encourages Americans to look for
more opportunities to recycle, but also to consider additional
opportunities to conserve resources. Reducing wasted food is an opportunity
where all Americans can help make a difference.
For the America Recycles Day Presidential Proclamation:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/11/15/presidential-proclamation-america-recycles-day-2012
More information on reducing food waste:
http://www.epa.gov/recycle/reduce_fd_wste.html
More information on EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Food Recovery
Challenge: http://www.epa.gov/smm/foodrecovery
More information on how to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle:
http://www.epa.gov/recycle
Follow us on Twitter: #RecyclesDay
EPA Awards More Than $5.3 Million for Research Fellowships
CONTACT: Jason McDonald, 404-562-9203, mcdonald.jason@epa.gov
ATLANTA - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced
more than $5.3 million in research fellowships to 127 students pursuing
degrees in environmental studies throughout the United States. Twelve of
the fellowship recipients attend one of eight universities and colleges in
the Southeast. Duke University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University
of South Alabama, University of Central Florida, North Carolina State
University, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, University of
Florida – Gainesville and Spelman College each had at least one student
receive a fellowship. The 11 Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) fellows
and the one Science to Achieve Results (STAR) fellow exemplify the agency's
efforts to improve Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
education. These fellowships encourage leadership in the nation's
environmental science, research, restoration, pollution prevention and
sustainability efforts.
2012 marks the 30th anniversary of the GRO Fellowship program, which is
part of the national effort to ensure that the United States continues to
graduate students ready to meet environmental science, engineering, and
policy challenges. By enhancing and supporting quality environmental
education for undergraduate students, the GRO fellowship program encourages
promising students to pursue careers in environmental fields and to
continue their education beyond the baccalaureate level. Supporting
graduate environmental study for masters and doctoral students, the STAR
fellowship program provides a steady stream of well-trained environmental
specialists that are meeting society's environmental challenges by
performing new environmental research in engineering and in the physical,
biological, health, and social sciences.
"These fellowship awards enable undergraduate and graduate students all
over the country to pursue research and education opportunities that would
otherwise be beyond their means" said Dr. Jim Johnson, director of EPA's
National Center for Environmental Research. "Many of the fellowship
opportunities springboard aspiring scientists and engineers into careers in
environmental protection."
EPA is proud of the many research accomplishments of the alumni of the GRO
and STAR fellowship programs. "My research into low-cost solar cells was
made possible by this fellowship," said Dr. Cyrus Wadia, a 2002 STAR fellow
and currently assistant director for the White House's Clean Energy &
Materials. These programs have helped thousands of students achieve higher
education and conduct cutting edge environmental research.
Applications for the fiscal 2013 GRO Program and STAR fellowships are
currently open and applicants have until November 27, 2012 to apply.
More information on the GRO program and STAR fellowships:
http://epa.gov/ncer/fellow/
· stargro2012fellows.docx
