12/7/12
Oil Spill
Former BP exec wants trial delay in Gulf disaster criminal case
Posted on December 6, 2012 at 2:01 pm by Harry R. Weber
Houston Chronicle
A former BP executive charged with obstruction of Congress stemming from
statements he made about the amount of oil that was flowing from a
blown-out well following the deadly 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster is seeking
to delay his criminal trial.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/12/06/former-bp-exec-wants-trial-delay-in-gulf-disaster-criminal-case/
BP building what it calls the world's largest supercomputer complex in
Houston
By NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated December 06, 2012 at 9:10 PM
BP said Thursday that it has started construction in Houston on a new
facility that will house what's being billed as the world's largest complex
of supercomputers for commercial research, which the British oil giant will
use for processing and managing massive amounts of geological and seismic
data.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2012/12/bp_to_build_worlds_largest_sup.html
State News
Aging Gulfport sewer plant needs costly improvements
WLOX
The City of Gulfport faces a costly project that the federal EPA is
demanding. Mayor George Schloegel says the city must make improvements to
an aging sewage treatment plant.
And the price of that project could be as much as $100 million.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20280228/aging-gulfport-sewer-plant-needs-costly-improvements
Clinton, other metro cities plan new water wells
Growth pushing existing wells to near capacity in many areas, officials say
Clarion Ledger
New storefronts, grand openings and the sound of heavy equipment aren't the
only indicators of growth in the city of Clinton.
The need to dig two new water wells is a sign the city needs more wiggle
room in how many residential and business customers it's able to add to its
water system.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121207/NEWS/312070024/Clinton-other-metro-cities-plan-new-water-wells?nclick_check=1
Alice Harden, 1948-2012: Champion for education
Colleagues, educators, state leaders praise Jackson lawmaker as passionate,
tireless advocate for schools
Clarion Ledger
When Bobby Brown started as principal of Blackburn Middle School in 2005,
his first administrative position in Jackson Public Schools, state Sen.
Alice Harden dropped by to see him.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121207/NEWS01/312070033/Alice-Harden-1948-2012-Champion-education?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome&nclick_check=1
National News
Money in focus as UN climate talks enter last day
By KARL RITTER — Associated Press
DOHA, QATAR — A dispute over money clouded U.N. climate talks Friday, as
rich and poor countries sparred over funds meant to help the developing
world cover the rising costs of mitigating global warming and adapting to
it.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/12/06/4344014/tensions-mount-as-un-climate-talks.html
Drought revives old water war among river states
By DAVID A. LIEB, Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The water wars are raging again in America's
heartland, where drought-stricken states are pleading for the increasingly
scarce water of the Missouri River — to drink from their faucets, irrigate
their crops and float the barges that carry billions of dollars of
agricultural products to market.
http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2012/12/06/drought-revives-old-water-war-among-river-states
Cory Gardner, Peter Welch form bipartisan energy efficiency caucus
Politico
By: Darren Goode
December 7, 2012 05:01 AM EST
Reps. Cory Gardner and Peter Welch are angling to make efficiency an area
of compromise in a deeply divided Congress that has struggled to produce
new energy laws.
http://www.politico.com/story/2012/12/gardner-welch-form-bipartisan-energy-efficiency-caucus-in-congress-84707.html?hp=l10
Senate passes bill easing energy efficiency rules on appliances
The Hill
By Ramsey Cox - 12/06/12 05:21 PM ET
The Senate passed a bill Thursday easing federal regulations on the
manufacture of coolers, water heaters and other appliances.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/271571-senate-passes-bill-easing-energy-efficiency-rules-on-appliances
Press Releases
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| USDA, Gulf State Producers and Partners Take the 'Initiative' for Gulf of |
| Mexico Conservation |
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|WASHINGTON, December 6, 2012 —Agriculture Secretary Vilsack today announced |
|the release of a new USDA report highlighting crucial ways farmers, ranchers|
|and landowners are participating in USDA Natural Resources Conservation |
|Service (NRCS) partnership initiatives to improve ecosystems, wildlife |
|habitat and water quality on private lands in the Gulf of Mexico region. |
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|"USDA conservation efforts have improved water quality, enhanced wildlife |
|habitats and bolstered agricultural operations in coastal communities," |
|Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "Today's report shows the importance|
|of continued partnerships, restoration and conservation of natural resources|
|as they are key to the recovery of American ecosystems and rural economies. |
| |
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|The report spotlights more than 20 successful conservation projects put into|
|action by Gulf region producers and forest owners with assistance from NRCS |
|and its partners. Highlights include: |
| |
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| · Initiatives created in response to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. |
| Through one, the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative, producers and |
| landowners created "instant wetlands" on more than 470,000 acres to |
| create shallow water areas to provide alternative places for migrating|
| water birds (including waterfowl, shorebirds, and neotropical |
| songbirds). |
| |
| |
| · The Everglades Initiative has helped restore and protect more than |
| 95,000 acres of wetland habitat in Florida's northern Everglades as |
| well as create habitat for the endangered Florida panther. |
| |
| |
| · The Gulf of Mexico Initiative launched this year has and will help |
| producers in 16 priority watersheds manage land and habitat while |
| maintaining profitability, conserving water, controlling sediment and |
| nutrient runoff, and keeping saltwater out of habitat needed by |
| threatened and endangered species. |
| |
| |
| · The Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative is helping |
| producers and landowners along the river install water quality |
| improvement practices that reduce low-oxygen, or hypoxic, conditions |
| in the Gulf. |
| |
| |
| · The Working Lands for Wildlife Gopher Tortoise Initiative, a |
| partnership between NRCS and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is |
| helping producers and landowners provide habitat for this threatened |
| species vital to longleaf pine ecosystems in six states. |
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|For more information on NRCS' initiatives and programs, visit or your local |
|USDA service center. |
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|USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service helps America's farmers and |
|ranchers conserve the Nation's soil, water, air and other natural resources.|
|All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions that benefit |
|both the landowner and the environment. |
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|Follow NRCS on Twitter. Check out other conservation-related stories on USDA|
|Blog. Watch videos on NRCS' YouTube channel. |
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DOE and EPA Release Annual Fuel Economy Guide with 2013 Models
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
Department of Energy (DOE) are releasing the 2013 Fuel Economy Guide,
giving consumers clear and easy-to-read information to help them choose the
most fuel efficient and low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles that meet
their needs. The 2013 models include efficient and low-emission vehicles in
a variety of classes and sizes, but notable this year is the growing
availability of hybrids and the increasing number of electric vehicles.
"This Administration has been working to foster a new generation of clean,
fuel-efficient American vehicles, and part of that effort is ensuring that
Americans have access to the best possible fuel economy information when
they're choosing a car," said Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "The 2013 Fuel
Economy Guide provides Americans information about which car on the lot
offers the greatest fuel economy and the lowest environmental impact. These
are important considerations that can help families save money while
protecting their health and the environment."
"The Fuel Economy Guide gives consumers easily accessible information to
help them choose the vehicle that's right for them," said Energy Secretary
Steven Chu. "Fuel efficient vehicles help American families save money at
the pump, continue to deliver on vehicle performance, and help reduce our
dependence on foreign oil while limiting carbon pollution."
This year's guide gives consumers a broad range of information that they
can use to select their next fuel efficient vehicle, whether they want to
consider an electric vehicle or one that uses a more conventional fuel.
This year, for the first time, EPA and DOE have added a second top ten list
of most efficient vehicles -- separating advanced technology vehicles from
conventional gasoline and diesel vehicles. Electric and plug-in hybrid
electric models are the most fuel-efficient and lowest-emission vehicles
available today and are becoming more common. At the same time, consumers
may still look up the conventional gasoline and diesel models that offer
superior fuel efficiency.
The 2013 guide provides an estimated annual fuel cost for each vehicle. The
estimate is calculated based on the vehicle's miles per gallon (mpg) rating
and national estimates for annual mileage and fuel prices. The online
version of the guide allows consumers to enter their local gasoline prices
and typical driving habits to receive a personalized fuel cost estimate.
The 2013 guide also includes a greenhouse gas rating for each model.
Consumers may view the guide at fueleconomy.gov and it will be available in
hard copy at dealer showrooms. EPA and DOE will update the guide online as
more 2013 vehicles become available.
All 2013 model year vehicles will display a new fuel economy and
environment label to provide consumers with more comprehensive fuel
efficiency information, including five-year fuel costs or savings compared
to the average new vehicle, as well as new ratings for greenhouse gas and
smog. These labels are required for model year 2013, but some automakers
voluntarily adopted the new label design on some 2012 models.
More information, including a complete version of the guide and details on
the fuel economy labels:http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ and at
http://fueleconomy.gov/m/ for mobile devices.
EPA Announces Recipients of 2012 Environmental Justice Small Grants
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced a total of $1.2 million in competitive grants awarded to 50
non-profit and tribal organizations working to address environmental
justice issues nationwide. The grants enable non-profit organizations to
conduct research, provide education, and develop solutions to local health
and environmental issues in low-income communities overburdened by harmful
pollution.
"EPA's environmental justice grants provide important support to
community-based organizations working to advance environmental justice at
the local level," said Lisa Garcia, senior advisor to the administrator for
environmental justice. "This year's grants will help organizations in 26
states and Puerto Rico perform projects that will educate residents about
environmental issues that may impact their health, collect data about local
environmental conditions, and work to address environmental justice issues
in their communities."
The 2012 grants support activities that address a range of community
concerns including restoring and protecting waterways, reducing exposure to
air pollutants from diesel exhaust and seeking healthier alternatives to
household pesticides.
Environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and meaningful
involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the
environmental decision-making process. Since 1994, EPA's environmental
justice small grants program has supported projects to address
environmental justice issues in more than 1,300 communities. The grants
represent EPA's continued commitment to expand the conversation on
environmentalism and advance environmental justice in communities across
the nation.
2012 EJ Small Grant recipients and project descriptions:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-recipients-2012.pdf
More information about EPA's Environmental Justice Small Grants program:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
Request for Proposals (RFP) for the FY 2013 Environmental Justice Small
Grants and schedule of pre-application teleconference calls:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/grants/ej-smgrants-rfp-2013.pdf
