12/3/12
Oil Spill
Local groups get $6M in BP funds
Sea Coast Echo
Nov 30, 2012, 17:16
More than two years after the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, the BP money
is starting to trickle in to Hancock County. Representatives from 13
Mississippi Gulf Coast organizations – including three from Hancock County
– on Wednesday at the INFINITY Science Center received oversized novelty
checks representing $6 million in funds from the settlement BP agreed to
pay to promote the Gulf Coast's tourism and seafood industries in the wake
of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.
http://12.68.233.230/40/article_6459.shtml#.ULyeXYO_HpU
RESTORE Act's Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to hold first
meeting Dec. 11 in Mobile, Ala.
Times Picayune
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, which will oversee the
spending of about 80 percent of BP Clean Water Act fine money under the
terms of the federal RESTORE Act, will hold its first public meeting in
Mobile, Ala., on Dec. 11.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/11/restore_acts_gulf_coast_ecosys.html
Dispersant makes oil from spills 52 times more toxic
As in 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster, it makes petroleum less visible, but
much more harmful
MSNBC
For microscopic animals living in the Gulf of Mexico, even worse than the
toxic oil released during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster may be the
very oil dispersants used to clean it up, a new study finds.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50032789/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.ULyqtIO_HpU
Lifting BP ban will be more than simple agreement: source
By Timothy Gardner
Published November 29, 2012
Reuters
WASHINGTON – 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.foxbusiness.com/news/2012/11/29/lifting-bp-ban-will-be-more-than-simple-agreement-source/
BP Has More Than $2 Billion in Defense Awards Set to Expire
Bloomberg
BP Plc (BP/), suspended from winning new U.S. government contracts for its
role in the biggestoil spill in the nation's history, has military deals
with a potential value of more than $2 billion set to expire in the next
two years.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-11-30/bp-has-more-than-2-billion-in-defense-contracts-set-to-expire.html
The spill: How much should BP suffer?
CNN
(CNN) -- Remember when oil giant BP paid billions of dollars to clean up
its own mess from the 2010 Gulf oil spill?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/us/bp-suspension/index.html
BP to outline upstream growth strategy
Reuters
Sun, Dec 2 2012
By Andrew Callus
LONDON (Reuters) - BP (BP.L: Quote, Profile,Research, Stock Buzz) will
outline growth plans for its oil and gas production arm on Monday in its
first strategy update since striking a series of deals aimed at getting its
Russian and U.S. operations back on track.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/02/us-bp-strategy-idUSBRE8B106H20121202
State News
Corinth Saw Mill Fined
WCBI
CORINTH, Miss. (WCBI) – A Corinth company is forced to pay a hefty fine for
failing to conduct environmental testing.
Timber Products Company paid a $47,000 fine for failing to test for
emissions from a saw and a sander for the last four years. The Springfield
Oregon based company agreed to pay the fine in October to the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality. The company also failed to properly
maintain records of inspections made on equipment.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/corinth-saw-mill-fined
International Paper mill near Vicksburg pays fine
AP
International Paper Co. is paying a $38,250 civil fine for failing to label
used oil tanks and exceeding air pollution limits from a lime kiln.
The company, based in Memphis, Tenn., agreed in September to pay the fine
to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121202/APN/1212020615
Conservation groups promote awareness of Indian Point Preserve
WLOX
It's a natural treasure, hidden in the heart of Gautier. Indian Point
Preserve is 800 acres of wet-pine savannah that's perfect for hiking, bird
watching and just enjoying Mother Nature. And now several conservation
groups are working to build public awareness about this coastal preserve.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20232085/conservation-groups-promote-awareness-of-indian-point-preserve
Mississippi lawsuit: Twin Creeks tried to deceive state
By Jeff Amy Associated Press
Friday, November 30, 2012
JACKSON — A California technology company trumped up a single solar panel
sale in August in an attempt to hold onto the $27.7 million in state aid
the company received to build a solar plant in Senatobia, Mississippi
officials say.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/nov/30/mississippi-lawsuit-twin-creeks-tried-to-deceive/?print=1
National News
EPA adopting combination of state, federal water pollution rules for
Florida after court fight
By Associated Press,
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will adopt a
combination of state and federal water pollution rules for Florida after a
lengthy court fight with environmental groups that favored the federal
version, agency officials said late Friday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/epa-adopting-state-water-pollution-rules-for-florida-instead-of-tougher-federal-version/2012/11/30/b2828f56-3b61-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_print.html
Supreme Court to decide whether logging roads are industrial or
agricultural pollution sources
By Associated Press, Published: December 1
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to switch
gears on more than 30 years of regulating the muddy water running off
logging roads into rivers.
At issue: Should the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency keep considering
it the same as water running off a farm field, or start looking at it like
a pipe coming out of a factory?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/supreme-court-to-decide-whether-logging-roads-are-industrial-or-agricultural-pollution-sources/2012/12/01/f386c162-3bd3-11e2-9258-ac7c78d5c680_print.html
Ethanol labeling at the pump: A high-octane fight
Politico
By: Darius Dixon
December 3, 2012 04:25 AM EST
AAA and the renewable fuels industry are locking horns over ethanol.
The clash came Friday, when the motorist advocacy group called on the
Environmental Protection Agency and gas stations to stop the sale of the
E15 ethanol gasoline blend until a better labeling system can be devised to
protect drivers and their vehicles.
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=2205B874-998F-480D-AB09-B15C61787964
GOP lawmakers say fracking study could hurt job growth
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 11/30/12 03:21 PM ET
A group of GOP House energy leaders advised Health and Human Services
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to exercise caution in a possible study on the
health impacts of natural-gas drilling.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/270387-house-gop-members-urge-caution-on-fracking-study
