12/4/12
Oil Spill
First meeting of Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to be held in
Mobile
Press Register
By Ben Raines | braines@al.com
December 02, 2012 at 5:16 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- The first public meeting of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem
Restoration Council will be held in Mobile on December 11, 2012.
http://blog.al.com/live/2012/11/first_meeting_of_gulf_coast_ec.html
Scientists still learning from Deepwater Horizon disaster
Tampa Bay Times
By Craig Pittman
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Deepwater Horizon disaster happened in one of the worst places in the
world for an oil spill — 5,000 feet below the surface in a body of water
that scientists admitted they knew little about, where it could potentially
ruin both the seafood and tourism industries that depended on it.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/scientists-still-learning-from-deepwater-horizon-disaster/1264438
BP outlines plans as smaller company, stresses safety
San Antonio
By Emily Pickrell
BP made its case Monday for a brighter, albeit smaller future, as CEO Bob
Dudley and other key executives met with investors, explaining the
company's growth strategy and hitting on other topics.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/article/BP-outlines-plans-as-smaller-company-stresses-4088088.php
State News
Jackson County supervisors: Big Hill Acres closer to water, sewer solution
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors this morning approved
a set of agreements that will get Big Hill Acres one step closer to
much-needed water and sewer services, leaders said.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/12/jackson_county_supervisors_big.html#incart_river
$90M deal: Mayor, council at odds
Clarion Ledger
An impasse between the Jackson City Council and Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.
threatens to delay indefinitely a $90 million contract the mayor called the
largest infrastructure project in the city's history.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121204/news/312040001/-90m-deal-mayor-council-odds?nclick_check=1
County wants litterbugs to pay up
Natchez Democrat
Published 12:06amTuesday, December 4, 2012
NATCHEZ — Litter has long been a bane of the Adams County Board of
Supervisors, and Monday the supervisors took another step forward in their
war on wanton wayside waste.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2012/12/04/county-wants-litterbugs-to-pay-up/
Bryant says Miss. should avoid aid to startups
AP
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant says he'd prefer that the state not invest in
startup companies like failed solar equipment firm Twin Creeks. The
Republican says he's steering the Mississippi Development Authority away
from loaning or giving money to such companies.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20121204/NEWS/312040033/Bryant-says-Miss-should-avoid-aid-startups
Rating agencies keeping a close eye on state's pensions
MBJ
by Ted Carter
Published: November 30,2012
Mississippi state government ended fiscal 2012 with the same solid credit
ratings with which it started the year. Whether the Magnolia State
maintains its strong credit in the years to come could hinge on the
effectiveness of measures to fund the Public Employees' Retirement System
of Mississippi, or PERS.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2012/11/30/rating-agencies-keeping-a-close-eye-on-states-pensions/
National News
E.P.A. Rule Complicates Runoff Case for Justices
NY Times
By ADAM LIPTAK
WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. did not seem happy during a
Supreme Court argument on Monday about whether the Clean Water Act applies
to runoff from logging roads. The source of his frustration was a
last-minute action from theEnvironmental Protection Agency that was
expressly calculated to address the legal issues before the court.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/04/us/epa-rule-complicates-supreme-court-case-on-logging-runoff.html?ref=earth&pagewanted=print
Last-minute EPA rule change frustrates chief justice
Washington Post
By Robert Barnes,
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday promulgated a last-minute
rule that it says makes it unnecessary for the Supreme Court to decide a
logging pollution case it heard Monday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/last-minute-epa-rule-change-frustrates-chief-justice/2012/12/03/cc3d9c2a-3d8b-11e2-ae43-cf491b837f7b_story.html
US says climate plan on track, EU wants more
Mon, Dec 3 2012
Reuters
By Humeyra Pamuk and Regan Doherty
DOHA, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The United States said on Monday it was on track to
meet its own target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, a plan
many scientists say is still too weak to avert damaging global warming.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/03/climate-talks-idUSL5E8N3HAV20121203
Biofuels group hits back against criticism on high-ethanol fuel
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 12/03/12 06:08 PM ET
The chief lobbyist for a biofuels trade group defended a higher-blend
ethanol fuel Monday as safe for car engines made in the model year 2001 or
later.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/270711-biofuels-group-plays-defense-on-high-ethanol-fuel
E.P.A. Updates a Decades-Old Water Quality Standard
NY Times
By EMMA BRYCE
Last week the Environmental Protection Agency issued a new set of water
quality guidelines for monitoring bacterial outbreaks in inland and coastal
waters used frequently by recreational swimmers. The standard was last
updated in 1986. The move was prompted by a federal court order and a
requirement of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act
of 2000.
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/03/e-p-a-updates-a-decades-old-water-quality-standard/
Hazardous Air Pollutants Detected Near Fracking Sites
Bloomberg
By Lisa Song - Dec 3, 2012
InsideClimateNews.org -- For years, the controversy over natural gas
drilling has focused on the water and air quality problems linked to
hydraulic fracturing, the process where chemicals are blasted deep
underground to release tightly bound natural gas deposits.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-03/hazardous-air-pollutants-detected-near-fracking-sites.html
Press Releases
EPA Appoints 11 New Members to the National Environmental Education
Advisory Council
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa
P. Jackson has appointed 11 environmental education professionals to serve
on the agency's National Environmental Education Advisory Council (NEEAC).
The National Environmental Education Advisory Council is comprised of
representatives from organizations outside the federal government who
provide EPA with advice and recommendations on environmental education. The
council provides EPA with a better understanding of the needs of schools,
universities, state departments of education and natural resources. The
first meeting of the NEEAC is scheduled for December 13-14, 2012.
"The National Environmental Education Advisory Council provides EPA with
insight from men and women with first-hand environmental education
experience. This is essential to our work to support environmental
education efforts across the country and help Americans understand how
protecting the environment is really about protecting our health and the
health of our communities," said Administrator Jackson. "I congratulate our
new NEEAC members on their appointments and look forward to continuing to
work with the council."
The NEEAC was established in 1990 under the National Environmental
Education Act to provide input from stakeholders to EPA. Environmental
education increases public awareness and knowledge about environmental
issues or problems. In doing so, it provides the public with the necessary
skills to make informed decisions and take responsible action.
The newly appointed members will represent a variety of stakeholders.
Caroline Lewis and Dr. Kelly Keena will be representing primary and
secondary education. Keena is a science teacher in Colorado and is a lauded
environmental educator. Lewis has a wide breadth of experience in education
both as a teacher and as the education strategist and director at the CLEO
Institute.
Dr. Mark. Kraus and Dr. Edna Negron-Martinez will represent colleges and
universities. Kraus has served in leadership positions for 20 years and is
currently chair of the Department of Natural Science Health and Wellness at
Miami Dade Wolfson Campus. Negron-Martinez is a full professor at the
Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico and has also held
positions in public and environmental health.
Kay Antunez de Mayolo and Vidette (Kiki) Cory will draw on their experience
by representing state departments of education and natural resources.
Antunez de Mayolo has retired from the California Department of Forestry
and Fire Prevention where she remains as a volunteer statewide
environmental education coordinator. She has also taught at California
Polytechnic State University. Cory has served the environmental education
community in many ways and is currently the Project Wild coordinator for
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, chair of the Texas Environmental
Education Advisory Committee, and a member of the board of directors of the
Science Teachers Association of Texas.
Cara Gizzi and Scott Frazier will be representing business and industry.
Gizzi is the director for Public Safety Education and Outreach at
Underwriters Laboratories, Inc, where she expands the scope of the Safety
Smart Youth Education program. Frazier will be drawing on his experience as
CEO of Project Indigenous, as well as his time as Yellowstone Ecological
Research Center liaison and Native Waters executive director and project
coordinator.
Angie Chen and Richard Gonzales will represent nonprofits. Chen has
experience with several nonprofits and is now a program officer at the S.D.
Bechtel Jr. Foundation and Stephen Bechtel Fund. Gonzales is a lauded
environmental educator and now serves as the project coordinator for the
Science and Spanish Club Network, which he initiated in 2000.
Kenneth Gembel will represent the interests of senior Americans and share
his 44 years of experience as environmental manager for General Motors as
well as his talent in the classroom.
More information on the NEEAC and the list of new members:
http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/neeac.html
EPA Awards Over $100,000 to Student Teams in Sustainable Technology
Competition
CONTACT: Jason McDonald, 404-562-9203, mcdonald.jason@epa.gov
ATLANTA– Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded
grants to 9 Southeastern college teams in phase I of its People, Prosperity
and the Planet (P3) annual student design competition. Each grant, totaling
up to $15,000 per team, for an overall amount of $105,000, is applied
toward designing and developing sustainable technologies to help protect
people's health and the environment while promoting economic development.
Examples of team projects this year include:
· Designing and building a portable solar-powered generator for
disaster relief and off-grid applications.
· Evaluate the use of solar distillation techniques for treatment of
pond water, rain water, and waste water to provide drinking water.
The annual P3 competition begins by awarding grants to student teams
to develop and design their proposed technologies. The proposals
highlight the team's technology and its potential for improving
quality of life, promoting economic development, and protecting the
planet.
"This year's P3 teams are made up of emerging environmental leaders who are
part of the future of environmental and public health protection," said Lek
Kadeli, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA's Office of
Research and Development. "These P3 grants encourage the growth of small
businesses focused on developing innovative technologies to combat
environmental issues."
After eight months of work on their projects, the teams bring their designs
to Washington, D.C. to participate in EPA's National Sustainable Design
Expo. During the event, a panel of scientific experts judges the projects.
Winners receive a P3 award and recommendation for a second phase grant of
up to $90,000 to further develop their designs and prepare them for the
marketplace.
The 9th Annual National Sustainable Design Expo featuring EPA's P3
competition is scheduled for April 20-21, 2013, on the National Mall in
Washington, D.C. The expo is open to the public and will display the 2012
P3 teams' designs.
EPA is currently accepting applications for P3 awards for the 2013-2014
academic year through Dec. 11, 2012. .
More information on the P3 2012 recipients:
http://www.epa.gov/p3/2012recipients
More information on past P3 winners:
http://www.epa.gov/p3/multimedia/index.html
· sustainabilitytechnoawards_pr.docx
Glass Container Manufacturer Agrees to Install Pollution Controls and Pay
$1.45 Million to Settle Clean Air Act Violations
Settlement to reduce emissions at facilities in Georgia, Oklahoma,
Pennsylvania, and Texas
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Department of Justice announced that Ohio-based Owens-Brockway Glass
Container Inc., the nation's largest glass container manufacturer, has
agreed to install pollution control equipment to reduce harmful emissions
of nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM)
by nearly 2,500 tons per year and pay a $1.45 million penalty to resolve
alleged Clean Air Act violations at five of the company's manufacturing
plants.
"The pollution controls required by today's settlement will significantly
reduce emissions that can impact residents' health and local environment in
communities located near glass manufacturing plants," said Cynthia Giles,
assistant administrator for the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "These new pollution controls will improve air quality and
protect communities from Georgia to Texas from emissions that can lead to
respiratory illnesses, smog and acid rain."
"This agreement will significantly reduce the amount of air pollution,
known to cause a variety of environmental and health problems, from the
nation's largest manufacturer of glass containers," said Ignacia S. Moreno,
assistant attorney general for the Environment and Natural Resources
Division of the Department of Justice. "The settlement, the latest in a
series of agreements with the glass manufacturing sector, addresses major
sources of pollution at facilities located in four states and will mean
cleaner air for the people living in those communities."
The pollution controls required as part of the settlement to reduce NOx,
SO2, and PM will cost an estimated cost of $37.5 million. Owens-Brockway
will also spend an additional $200,000 to mitigate excess emissions at its
plant in Atlanta by working with the Georgia Retrofit Program to retrofit
diesel school buses and fleet vehicles with controls to reduce emissions,
or it will assist with the purchase of new natural gas, propane, or hybrid
vehicles.
Reducing air pollution from the largest sources of emissions, including
glass manufacturing plants, is one of the EPA's National Enforcement
Initiatives for 2011-2013. This is the fourth settlement in EPA's National
Glass Manufacturing Plant Initiative.
NOx, SO2, and PM, three key pollutants emitted from glass plants, have
numerous adverse effects on human health and the environment. NOx and SO2
contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog, acid rain, and the destruction
of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. NOx and SO2 can also irritate the
lungs and aggravate of pre-existing heart or lung conditions. PM contains
microscopic particles that can travel deep into the lungs and cause
difficulty breathing, coughing, decreased lung function, and even death.
The facilities covered by the settlement are located in Atlanta, Ga.;
Clarion, Penn.; Crenshaw, Penn.; Muskogee, Okla.; and Waco, Texas.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality is also a signatory to
this consent decree.
The proposed consent decree will be lodged with the United States District
Court for the Northern District of Ohio, and will be subject to a 30-day
public comment period.
More information on the settlement:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/cases/owensbrockway.html
More information about EPA's National Enforcement Initiatives:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/data/planning/initiatives/index.html
