Thursday, January 31, 2013

News Clippings 1/31/13

Oil Spill



Justice Department asks judge to require BP to produce documents showing

how it low-balled oil flow

By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

updated January 31, 2013 at 7:30 AM



The Justice Department on Wednesday asked a federal judge in New Orleans to

require BP to produce documents that outline how it low-balled the amount

of oil flowing into the Gulf of Mexico from its Macondo well in 2010.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/01/justice_asks_federal_judge_to.html





U.S. Seeks to Lift BP Attorney Privilege on Spill Papers


Bloomberg


By Laurel Brubaker Calkins - Jan 31, 2013


BP Plc (BP/)'s exploration unit no longer has legal grounds to withhold

from the U.S. documents detailing its calculations for the oil flow rate

during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, prosecutors said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-30/bp-s-plea-said-to-remove-spill-records-attorney-privilege.html





State News





Gulfport residents question port's plan for 33rd Street property

WLOX




The Isaiah Fredericks Community Center in Gulfport was packed with dozens
of residents Tuesday night. Each was wanting to hear more about the idea to
utilize an inland port property on 33rd Street.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20808560/gulfport-residents-question-ports-plan-for-33rd-street-property





Oil cleanup resumes at leaky Mississippi River barge, traffic resumes
cautiously
By The Associated Press
updated January 31, 2013 at 8:04 AM

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Water vessels were moving cautiously Thursday
through a section of the Mississippi River where a barge was leaking oil as
Coast Guard officials attempted to ease the economic impact of shutting
down one of the nation's vital commerce routes.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/oil_cleanup_resumes_at_leaky_m.html#incart_river





Guice: DMR working to regain public's trust

Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Changes are in the works at the Mississippi Department of Marine

Resources, said interim Director Danny Guice Jr., who acknowledged this

week the agency has lost the public's trust.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/30/4438343/guice-dmr-working-to-regain-publics.html




Sun Herald wins President's Award from McClatchy Co.
SUN HERALD


SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The McClatchy Co. announced Wednesday the Sun Herald

has won one of its President's Awards for journalism excellence in 2012.





The company recognized the Sun Herald and five of its journalists -- Karen

Nelson, Anita Lee, Paul Hampton, Michael Newsom and John Fitzhugh -- for

their investigative reporting on the state Department of Marine Resources.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/30/4437434/sun-herald-wins-presidents-award.html





Public Service Commission in crosshairs
Clarion Ledger


A festering power struggle between the Mississippi Rural Water Association

and the state Public Service Commission could hand public utilities more

freedom but leave customers without protection.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130131/NEWS010504/301310055/Public-Service-Commission-crosshairs







Lawmakers push bill for Kemper power settlement
By The Associated Press
updated January 30, 2013 at 5:57 PM


JACKSON, Mississippi -- Lawmakers are advancing a proposal to let

Mississippi Power Co. sell bonds to cover expenses above $2.4 billion at

the Kemper County power plant the company is building.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/lawmakers_push_bill_for_kemper.html#incart_river






Eagle Scout project focuses on recycling

Brandon youth helping wildlife
Special to Rankin Ledger


Abandoned fishing line can harm birds, fish and other wildlife, and a new
program makes it easy for fishermen at the Ross Barnett Reservoir to
dispose of unwanted line.
http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130129/NEWS/301290003/-1/NEWS01/Eagle
+Scout+project+focuses+on+recycling




PERS chief: Spread '13th check'
Cost of living hike would be monthly
Clarion Ledger


The annual three percent cost-of-living adjustment for retired state

employees, referred to as the 13th check, should be changed to a monthly

increase for future retirees, the executive director of the state Public

Employees' Retirement System said Wednesday.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130131/NEWS010504/301310049/PERS-chief-Spread-13th-check-







National News






EPA moves to ban D-Con brand mouse and rat control products



By Associated Press,

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the sale
of a dozen rat and mouse poisons sold under the popular D-Con brand in an
effort to protect children and pets.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apnewsbreak-epa-moves-to-ban-d-con-brand-mouse-and-rat-control-products/2013/01/30/997bab8a-6b06-11e2-9a0b-db931670f35d_story.html





Gina McCarthy not discussing EPA plans
Politico
Andrew Restuccia
January 31, 2013 04:35 AM EST


Environmental Protection Agency air chief Gina McCarthy was mum Wednesday
when asked whether she is gunning to replace Lisa Jackson as head of the
agency.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/mccarthys-not-sharing-plans-to-pursue-epa-chief-86957.html?hp=l18




Dems to Obama: Pick EPA chief with 'vision,' use 'available tools' on
climate
The Hill


By Ben Geman - 01/30/13 11:11 AM ET


Several Senate committee chairmen and other Democrats are urging President
Obama to appoint a new Environmental Protection Agency Administrator with
"both a vision and demonstrated record of working to safeguard our children
and families."
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/280087-dems-to-obama-pick-epa-chief-with-vision-use-available-tools-on-climate





Delayed auto pollution rules land at White House for review
The Hill


By Ben Geman - 01/30/13 09:25 AM ET


The White House has begun a review of delayed Environmental Protection
Agency rules that will require lower pollution from gasoline and vehicles.

EPA, which had earlier planned to finalize the regulations in 2012, sent
draft rules to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review on Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/280053-long-awaited-auto-pollution-rules-land-at-white-house-for-review





Opinion





SUN HERALD | Editorial: D'Iberville deserves public airing of contract


T he residents of D'Iberville deserve a public airing of the revelation

that the D'Iberville City Council didn't know about a contract with

Maxwell-Walker Consulting Group that would net the firm a $180,000 finder's

fee for a BP grant for D'Iberville.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/30/4437918/sun-herald-editorial.html






SUN HERALD | Editorial: Transparency should be a priority for public
officials


Readers of the Sun Herald will not be surprised to learn that the Sunshine

Review, which collects and shares information about state and local

government transparency, has rated Mississippi one of the least transparent

states in the nation.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/29/4435516/sun-herald-editorial-transparency.html







Press Releases





36th Annual Joint Meeting of Southeast U.S.-Japan and Japan/U.S. Southeast
Associations to be held in November in Biloxi, Miss.

Biloxi, Miss. - Governor Phil Bryant announced today the state of
Mississippi will host the 36th Annual Joint Meeting of the Southeast U.S. –
Japan and Japan/U.S. Southeast Associations. The meeting will be held
November 17-19, 2013, at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Miss.

The Southeast U.S. – Japan and Japan/U.S. Southeast Associations,
collectively known as SEUS-Japan, were established in 1975 to promote
trade, investment, understanding and friendship between Japan and the
organization's southeastern U.S. member states. Member states include
Mississippi, which joined the association in 2007, Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

The associations' annual joint meeting attracts more than 300 Japanese and
southeastern U.S. business leaders, government officials and economic
development professionals each year and provides opportunities to
strengthen investment and trade relationships between the two regions.

"Mississippi has been a proud member of SEUS-Japan since 2007, and we are
delighted to be hosting this year's SEUS-Japan joint meeting," Governor
Bryant said. "Mississippi is already home to leading Japanese businesses
such as Nissan and Toyota, and this event will allow us to pursue new
investment and trade opportunities with our Japanese counterparts and
showcase our beautiful Gulf Coast. I thank Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway and
the Mississippi Gulf Coast for welcoming our guests in November and for
hosting this important event."

During the 2013 meeting, government officials, business leaders and
economic development professionals from Mississippi and the other six
southeast U.S. member states will have opportunities to discuss investment
and trade opportunities with participating Japanese business executives.
The theme of the 2013 event is "Success through Harmony, Tradition and
Innovation."

William Yates, president and chief executive officer of Mississippi-based
Yates Construction, will serve as the meeting's private sector co-chairman
alongside co-chairman Atsutoshi Nishida, chairman of the board of Toshiba
Corporation.

"This event is an excellent opportunity for Mississippi to join together
with our southeastern neighbors and Japanese counterparts in order to
strengthen our ties, celebrate our successes and continue to encourage
future success through innovation," said Yates.

"Mississippi's involvement with SEUS-Japan allows us to grow our existing
relationship with Japan, our state's largest source of foreign direct
investment," said Brent Christensen, executive director of the Mississippi
Development Authority (MDA). "I am proud our state is this year's host, and
I encourage Mississippi business leaders and economic development
professionals interested in trade and investment opportunities with Japan
to make plans now to join us in Biloxi in November."

More information about the 2013 SEUS-Japan joint meeting can be found at
www.seusjapan2013.org.



EPA Moves to Ban 12 D-Con Mouse and Rat Control Products / Action Will
Prevent Thousands of Accidental Exposures Among Children Each Year


Release Date: 01/30/2013
Contact Information: Dale Kemery (News media only) kemery.dale@epa.gov
202-564-7839 202-564-4355; EN ESPAÑOL: Lina Younes younes.lina@epa.gov
202-564-9924 202-564-4355

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is moving to ban the
sale of 12 D-Con mouse and rat poison products produced by Reckitt
Benckiser Inc. because these products fail to comply with current EPA
safety standards. Approximately 10,000 children a year are accidentally
exposed to mouse and rat baits; EPA has worked cooperatively with companies
to ensure that products are both safe to use around children and effective
for consumers. Reckitt Benckiser Inc., maker of D-Con brand products, is
the only rodenticide producer that has refused to adopt EPA's safety
standards for all of its consumer use products.

"Moving forward to ban these products will prevent completely avoidable
risks to children, said James Jones, acting assistant administrator for
EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "With this
action, EPA is ensuring that the products on the market are both safe and
effective for consumers."

The agency has worked with a number of companies during the last five years
to develop safer rodent control products that are effective, affordable,
and widely available to meet the needs of consumers. Examples of products
meeting EPA safety standards include Bell Laboratories' Tomcat products, PM
Resources' Assault brand products and Chemsico's products.

The EPA requires rodenticide products for consumer use to be contained in
protective tamper-resistant bait stations and prohibits pellets and other
bait forms that cannot be secured in bait stations. In addition, the EPA
prohibits the sale to residential consumers of products containing
brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difethialone, and difenacoum because of their
toxicity to wildlife.

For companies that have complied with the new standards in 2011, EPA has
received no reports of children being exposed to bait contained in bait
stations. EPA expects to see a substantial reduction in exposures to
children when the 12 D-Con products that do not comply with current
standards are removed from the consumer market as millions of households
use these products each year.

For a complete list of the homeowner use rat and mouse products that meet
the EPA's safety standards, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mice-and-rats/rodent-bait-station.html.

For a complete list of Reckitt Benckiser Inc.'s non-compliant products,
visit:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/mice-and-rats/cancellation-process.html#cancellation
.

The EPA's final Notice of Intent to Cancel will be available in the EPA
docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0049 at www.regulations.gov. After Federal Register
publication of the Notice of Intent to Cancel, Reckitt Benckiser will have
30 days to request a hearing before an EPA Administrative Law Judge. If a
hearing is not requested, the cancellations become final and effective.
Information on Rodenticide products and EPA's review is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/rodenticides/

More information on preventing and controlling rodents is available at:
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/controlling/rodents.htm

###


Coca-Cola/Hickory Ridge and Watauga County Landfill Projects Recognized for
Transforming Waste into a Green Community Asset



Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421,
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov




ATLANTA -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized two
regional landfills for generating renewable energy from a local source
while protecting the climate, providing energy savings and strengthening
the economy.



Regional awardees include:



Coca-Cola and Hickory Ridge Landfill Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Project,
Conley, Ga.: Mas Energy, the Coca-Cola Company, and Republic Services
developed a project that provides Coca-Cola's Atlanta Syrup Plant with a
continuous supply of green electricity, steam, and chilled water. This
project, the first landfill gas energy project for Coca-Cola, supplies
nearly all of the plant's energy needs and results in real energy savings
for the company.


Watauga County Landfill Small Electricity Project, Boone, N.C.: Watauga
County developed this model 186 kilowatt (kW) project at a small, unlined
landfill closed for 18 years by creatively employing modified automotive
engines and the assistance of the Appalachian State University (ASU) Energy
Center. The project provides economic benefits for the county and
one-of-a-kind research opportunities for ASU students and faculty.


In total, eight landfill methane utilization projects and partners from
across the U.S. will be recognized at the 16th Annual Landfill Methane
Outreach Program Conference in Baltimore, Md. on January 30, 2013.


This year's eight winning projects and partners will avoid the emissions
equal to the annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from more than 52,000
passenger vehicles. The seven electricity-generating projects total
approximately 50 megawatts of generation capacity, and the direct-use
project uses 50 standard cubic feet per minute of landfill gas.


The remaining six awardees include: Gundersen Health System and La Crosse
County Landfill Combined Heat and Power Project (Wis.), Landfill Energy
Systems (Mich.), Lycoming County Landfill Dual Cogeneration and Electricity
Project (Pa.), Millersville Landfill Electricity Project (Md.), Olinda
Alpha Landfill Combined Cycle Project (Calif.), and St. Landry Parish
Landfill Compressed Natural Gas Project (La.).



EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program is a voluntary assistance and
partnership program that reduces GHG emissions by supporting landfill gas
energy project development. The program has assisted with more than 560
landfill gas energy projects over the past 18 years, transforming waste
into a green community asset. The U.S. currently has about 600 operational
landfill gas energy projects.


More information: http://www.epa.gov/lmop



Vroman Named New Levee Safety Branch Chief

Vicksburg, Miss...The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District
recently selected Noah Vroman as the new levee safety branch chief of the
Dam and Levee Safety Modifications Production Center. As the Levee Safety
Branch chief, Vroman will function as the regional authoritative source of
theoretical expertise and practical knowledge in the subject matter areas
of levee safety, engineering risk analysis and public works infrastructure
safety.

Vroman began his career at the Vicksburg District as a civil engineer in
the geotechnical branch in 2003. He has served as a research geotechnical
engineer, dam safety program manager and as the chief of the investigation
and inspection section. He also served on the Interagency Performance
Evaluation Taskforce (IPET) and the Southeast Louisiana Hurricane
Protection Project following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and
received the Superior Civilian Award in 2007.

Vroman grew up in Tupelo and graduated from Tupelo High School. He earned a
Bachelor's Degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University
and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in civil engineering at
Mississippi State University. He is a Registered Professional Engineer in
the state of Mississippi.

Vroman is married to the former Ashley Wages from Pontotoc County and they
have three children.

The Mississippi Valley Division and the Vicksburg District serve the nation
by providing emergency response to natural disasters and emergency support
to other agencies, particularly the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). The Vicksburg District has the responsibility for providing
federal debris removal expertise in the State of Mississippi, or any
location, when tasked by Headquarters, USACE and for providing technical
expertise in examining and offering engineer solutions for problems with
critical infrastructure. To learn more about the Vicksburg District, visit
our website, www.mvk.usace.army.mil .




XXX

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

News Clippings 1/30/13

1.30.13



Oil Spill





Inside GoCoast 2020's report: Research, tourism, transportation needs

outlined

Mississippi Press

By April M. Havens | gulflive.com

updated January 29, 2013 at 1:43 PM



The Mississippi coast now has a road map to guide it in spending millions

in RESTORE Act funds the state expects to receive from the 2010 BP oil

spill, leaders announced this week.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/inside_gocoast_2020_report_res.html#incart_river





Federal judge approves BP oil spill plea, $4 billion in penalties

By The Associated Press

updated January 29, 2013 at 1:06 PM



NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge on Tuesday approved an agreement for BP PLC

to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges and pay a record $4

billion in criminal penalties for the company's role in the 2010 oil

disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/federal_judge_approves_bp_oil.html#incart_river





Judge Accepts BP's $4 Billion Criminal Settlement Over Gulf Oil Spill
NY Times
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS



HOUSTON — A federal judge in New Orleans on Tuesday approved an agreement

between BP and the Justice Department for the company to plead guilty to 14

criminal charges and pay $4 billion in penalties for the 2010 oil well

blowout and spill in the Gulf of Mexico that left 11 workers dead and

fouled hundreds of miles of shoreline.



http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/business/judge-approves-bp-criminal-settlement.html?ref=earth








After resolving $4B in criminal penalties, BP now faces billions of dollars
in civil fines



By Associated Press,

NEW ORLEANS — Now that a $4 billion plea deal has resolved BP's criminal
liability for the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill nearly three years ago,
the company will turn its focus to a trial that could potentially cost it
billions of dollars more in civil penalties.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/after-resolving-4b-in-criminal-penalties-bp-now-faces-billions-of-dollars-in-civil-fines/2013/01/30/dc171b26-6ab3-11e2-9a0b-db931670f35d_story.html





Alabama AG Luther Strange applauds BP court ruling

By George Talbot | gtalbot@al.com

updated January 29, 2013 at 3:38 PM



NEW ORLEANS - Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange applauded a federal

court ruling today that approved a $4 billion deal between BP and the

Department of Justice to settle criminal charges from the 2010 Gulf oil

spill.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/01/alabama_ag_luther_strange_appl.html#incart_river





State News





Coast Guard: Barge leaked 7,000 gallons
AP





VICKSBURG — The Coast Guard said Tuesday that about 7,000 gallons of crude

oil were unaccounted for aboard a leaking barge that had rammed a railroad

bridge near Vicksburg on the Mississippi River, which remained closed for a

third day as crews slowly pumped out oil.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130130/NEWS01/301300039/Coast-Guard-Barge-leaked-7-000-gallons







State, federal leaders supporting Hancock County in Lake Ponchartrain levee
battle


Sea Coast Echo


By Dwayne Bremer


Jan 29, 2013, 17:38


Mississippi's state and federal leaders have begun aligning themselves with
Hancock County in its efforts to fight the proposed new Louisiana levee
system.http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_6612.shtml#.UQklSb_nNKY






Letter: The 'hole' truth on Delta groundwater

Jan. 22, 2013Jeff Morgan, Cleveland, Miss.


Delta Farm Press




EDITOR'S NOTE: Jeff Morgan is a third generation farmer in Sunflower and

Leflore counties in the Mississippi Delta. He farms with his father and

brother, growing wheat and soybeans. They have also grown rice and raised

catfish and cattle in the past.





With innovations such as irrigation, modern agriculture — the driving force

in the Mississippi Delta's economy — creates jobs, increases production,

and keeps money flowing all year. Irrigated farmland has a significantly

high value and provides money to county tax bases.

http://deltafarmpress.com/government/letter-hole-truth-delta-groundwater






Memories, debris hauled away in Pearl River County

WLOX




This week, Pearl River County work crews began hauling away storm debris
left behind by those Christmas Day tornadoes. Seventeen homes were
destroyed and some 20 others were severely damaged from the tornadoes.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20758027/memories-debris-hauled-away-in-pearl-river-county





Residents want answers from port about contaminants

Sun Herald

By MELISSA M. SCALLAN — mmscallan@sunherald.com


GULFPORT -- Residents and community leaders said Tuesday night they want

answers about a possible plan to put an inland port on land that is

contaminated with arsenic and lead.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/29/4435893/residents-want-answers-from-port.html




Bills would strip PSC's investigative powers
by Patsy R. Brumfield
NEMS Daily Journal
01.30.13 - 03:00 am
JACKSON – Twin bills before the Mississippi Legislature aim to strip the
Public Service Commission of its powers to investigate public utilities.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/21561887/article-Bills-would-strip-PSC%E2%80%99s-investigative-powers?instance=secondary_stories_left_column



Mississippi gets low grades for transparency on state, local websites

Sun Herald

By DONNA HARRIS — dharris@sunherald.com


Mississippi ranked in the bottom five states in the nation in a report

released Tuesday by a nonprofit organization dedicated to state and local

government transparency.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/29/4435934/mississippi-gets-low-grades-for.html







National News





A fiscal Code Blue for 'Code Red' pollution alerts


USA Today





Think the budget battles in Washington, D.C., are just a lot of hot

air? Well, say so long to next-day air pollution forecasts, hanging

out on the chopping block amid federal funding fights.

Even as the U.S. Embassy warns about Beijing'ssmog, federal weather

officials here are proposing to cut the nation's two-day ozone and

smog forecasts, ones behind local warnings to the sick and elderly

about "Code Red" days for air pollution.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/vergano/2013/01/25/code-red-air-quality/1864615/







Oil-and-gas lobby might take ethanol fight to Supreme Court
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 01/29/13 02:21 PM ET

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is "strongly considering" asking the
U.S. Supreme Court to hear a case regarding sales of a high-ethanol fuel
blend, API Group Downstream Director Bob Greco said Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/279885-oil-and-gas-lobby-considering-taking-high-ethanol-fuel-case-to-supreme-court





Oil group: High-ethanol fuel harms cars
The Hill
By Ben Goad - 01/29/13 12:54 PM ET

A high-ethanol fuel blend approved for use in some late model autos could
damage millions of vehicles, according to research released Tuesday by a
major oil industry group.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/279861-research-whows-high-ethanol-fuel-is-harmful-to-cars



EPA denies regional chief used private email for official business
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 01/29/13 05:09 PM ET

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shot down claims by a pair of
senior Republicans that an agency official used a private email account for
official business.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/279937-epa-denies-regional-chief-used-private-email-for-official-business





Press Releases





The Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast
01/29/2013 04:45 PM EST

Today, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released The Path
Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast: A Proposed Comprehensive Plan. This
document reflects the deliberations of the Council to date in developing a
more detailed initial Comprehensive Plan. Our collective focus is on how to
ensure the long-term health, prosperity, and resilience of the Gulf Coast.

The Council recognizes this unique and unprecedented opportunity to
implement a coordinated Gulf Coast region-wide restoration effort. We are
committed to developing a plan in collaboration with the people who live
and work in the Gulf Coast region. As we begin to develop a Comprehensive
Plan, we will provide robust opportunities for public engagement so that we
hear from people across the region. We hope that you will join us and offer
your ideas to this important effort.


The Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast - Gulf Restoration Council
FINAL.pdf

The Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast: A Proposed Comprehensive Plan

FYI - if you didn't see this.


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



--------------------------------------------
GULF COAST ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION COUNCIL

The Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast
01/29/2013 04:45 PM EST

Today, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council released The Path
Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast: A Proposed Comprehensive Plan. This
document reflects the deliberations of the Council to date in developing a
more detailed initial Comprehensive Plan. Our collective focus is on how to
ensure the long-term health, prosperity, and resilience of the Gulf Coast.

The Council recognizes this unique and unprecedented opportunity to
implement a coordinated Gulf Coast region-wide restoration effort. We are
committed to developing a plan in collaboration with the people who live
and work in the Gulf Coast region. As we begin to develop a Comprehensive
Plan, we will provide robust opportunities for public engagement so that we
hear from people across the region. We hope that you will join us and offer
your ideas to this important effort.





The Path Forward to Restoring the Gulf Coast - Gulf Restoration (1.13
Council FINAL.pdf MB)

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

MDEQ January Newsletter

Please use the link below to access the January 2013 newsletter from the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Thanks for your interest.

http://bit.ly/T5U1s4

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 1/29/13

1.29.13



Oil Spill





Governor Bryant releases final report from"Go Coast 2020

WLOX



Governor Phil Bryant calls it "our playbook for the future." That's how the
governor describes the final report released Monday from the Go Coast 2020
group.

http://www.wlox.com/story/20746406/gocoast-2020s-final-report-released-by-gov-bryant





GoCoast 2020 Commission releases final report (updated)

By Mississippi Press Staff

updated January 28, 2013 at 1:13 PM



BILOXI, Mississippi -- Gov. Phil Bryant's plan for restoring Mississippi's

coastal areas with funds from the BP oil spill focuses on workforce

training and programs to bring more high-tech communications and better

transportation services to the region.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/gocoast_2020_commission_releas.html#incart_river





GoCoast 2020 report shows how RESTORE Act money should be spent

Sun Herald

By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Gov. Phil Bryant said Mississippi has its play book ready to go

when the RESTORE Act money starts flowing to the state.





He and Trudy Fisher, executive director of the Mississippi Department of

Environmental Quality, presented the final report of the GoCoast 2020

Commission today at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Convention Center.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/28/4432273/gocoast-2020-final-report-to-be.html







Bryant releases plan to spend oil spill money


by The Associated Press


01.28.13 - 01:35 pm


BILOXI — Gov. Phil Bryant's plan for restoring Mississippi's coastal areas
with funds from the BP oil spill focuses on workforce training and programs
to bring more high-tech communications and better transportation services
to the region.

http://djournal.com/view/full_story/21546538/article-Bryant-releases-plan-to-spend-oil-spill-money?instance=secondary_stories_left_column



SUN HERALD | Editorial: GoCoast 2020 plan is still a work in progress
Published: January 28, 2013


Gov. Phil Bryant came to the Coast on Monday to release the "final report"

of the GoCoast 2020 Commission, which he put together last year to advise

him on the allocation of money Mississippi may receive under the RESTORE

Act.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/28/4433248/sun-herald-editorial-gocoast-2020.html






Judge to rule on BP's plea deal over Gulf spill today

By The Associated Press

updated January 29, 2013 at 2:48 AM



NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge will decide whether to approve an agreement

for BP PLC to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges and pay a

record $4 billion in criminal penalties for the company's role in the 2010

oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.



http://blog.al.com/live/2013/01/judge_to_rule_on_bps_plea_deal.html#incart_river





BP guilty plea for Gulf oil spill to be considered by federal judge on

Tuesday

By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

updated January 28, 2013 at 5:47 PM



U.S. District Judge Sarah Vance will hold a hearing Tuesday on whether to

accept a guilty plea agreement by BP that requires the company to pay $4

billion in fines and other payments to settle criminal charges -- including

felony manslaughter -- stemming from the disastrous 2010 Gulf oil spill and

the and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/01/bp_guilty_plea_for_deepwater_h.html





Study: "Dirty bathtub" buried oil from BP spill
CBS





The Deepwater Horizon disaster of 2010 was the largest oil spill in U.S.

history. Nearly three years after oil began gushing from the sea floor of

the Gulf of Mexico, a large percent of the crude remains unaccounted for.

New research suggests that as much as one-third of the oil released is

still in the Gulf and is mixed with deep ocean sediments through a

phenomenon known as the "dirty bathtub."

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57566171/study-dirty-bathtub-buried-oil-from-bp-spill/







BP grants bolster plans for artificial reef project off Collier coast

· By KELLY FARRELL

· Posted January 28, 2013 at 5:20 a.m

Naples Daily News





NAPLES — BP has awarded $1.3 million in grants toward plans to create

artificial reefs along the Collier County coast.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2013/jan/28/bp-grants-plans-artificial-reef-collier-coastline/





State News





Bryant considers ending DMR governing board


Sun Herald


By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Gov. Phil Bryant wants to study doing away with the Mississippi

Commission on Marine Resources and have the head of the Department of

Marine Resources report directly to him.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/28/4433549/bryant-considers-ending-dmr-governing.html






Marine Resources chairman: Keeping an open mind on new executive director

WLOX





BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -


The state senator who chairs the "Marine Resources" committee says he's
keeping an open mind about who he'd like to see chosen as the new executive
director of the Department of Marine Resources (DMR).


http://www.wlox.com/story/20756427/marine-resources-chairman-keeping-an-open-mind-on-new-executive-director





Oil barge leak halts ships near Vicksburg
Clarion Ledger





The railroad bridge hit by an oil barge early Sunday morning has been

cleared for traffic as cleanup crews try to contain an undetermined amount

of oil that has leaked into the Mississippi River near Vicksburg.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130129/NEWS01/301290028/Oil-barge-leak-halts-ships-near-Vicksburg







Press Releases





FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Jan. 28, 2013





CONTACT:


Mick Bullock 601-576-2811, mick.bullock@governor.ms.gov


Nicole Roberts 601-576-2802, nicole.roberts@governor.ms.gov


www.governorbryant.com





Robbie Wilbur, MS Dept. of Environmental Quality, 601-961-5277,
Robbie_wilbur@deq.state.ms.us

RESOURCE:


GoCoast final report: http://www.gocoast2020.com/





GOVERNOR PHIL BRYANT ANNOUNCES GOCOAST 2020's FINAL REPORT





Biloxi — Governor Phil Bryant announced the GoCoast 2020 Commission's final
report which is a compilation of work done by the group over the past five
months.





In August, 2012, Gov. Bryant announced the creation of GoCoast 2020 to
serve as the official advisory body for the allocation of funds received by
the State of Mississippi under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability,
Tourist Opportunity, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act of 2011
(RESTORE).





Joined by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Trudy Fisher, who had a leadership role in
the GoCoast 2020 Commission, Gov. Bryant highlighted the work of the
GoCoast 2020 Commission.





"When we launched GoCoast 2020 last August, we all knew this would be a
major undertaking that would require a lot of time, energy and a sincere
spirit of cooperation among everyone involved," Gov. Bryant said. "While we
still don't have all of the details or final federal regulations of how the
Mississippi Plan will need to be formulated for RESTORE, we are ahead of
the game and will be ready day one. That's why I'm so grateful and
appreciative of all of the time and work put into this GoCoast 2020 Final
Report by so many people on the Coast."





The RESTORE Act directs that 80 percent of certain penalties assessed as a
result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill be directed to the five Gulf
Coast states impacted by the spill. GoCoast 2020 was established to set a
foundation and road map of priorities for Mississippi so the state will be
better prepared as the final federal guidelines and regulations are set
forth under RESTORE.


Created by an Executive Order from Gov. Bryant, GoCoast 2020 was comprised
of more than one hundred twenty business and community leaders, elected
officials and citizens from across the three Mississippi Gulf Coast
counties.





Gov. Bryant talked about the strong spirit of cooperation that went into
the GoCoast 2020 effort saying, "I thank you for working together, for
dreaming big and for creating a vision for the Mississippi Gulf Coast for
many future generations to come. As tragic as the oil spill was, if we
continue working together, we are going to turn it into a springboard which
will catapult the Mississippi Gulf Coast forward."





"This report is the result of focused conversations examining overarching
goals and priorities to make the Coast better than it has ever been," MDEQ
Executive Director, Trudy Fisher said. "We have been handed an
unprecedented opportunity to improve not only the environment and our
natural resources but the lives of all residents on the Coast. Through the
foresight of Governor Bryant, it's a chance for us to lay a foundation for
what will eventually be the "Mississippi Plan" for the RESTORE Act. This
GoCoast 2020 Final Report clearly demonstrates that Mississippi is the
leader in preparing for the use of RESTORE funds when they are available."





As a Coast-driven process with the goal of including a broad representation
of input into the Final Report, the GoCoast 2020 Commission relied on
involvement from a wide range of people and expertise. Several hundred
citizens attended and participated in the three listening sessions that
were held in each of the three coastal counties in October, 2012. Through
several months of meetings, workshops, public listening sessions, and
extensive research, GoCoast 2020 focused on eight key areas related to the
activities specified in the RESTORE Act. The purposes of this activity were
to chart a vision and to provide a framework of recommendations that will
protect the environment as the foundation of the coastal lifeblood, improve
the job creation climate to increase economic opportunities, and enhance
the unique quality of life for Mississippi's coastal residents in the near
term and for generations to come.





GoCoast 2020's eight key areas of focus were:


• Eco-restoration


• Economic development


• Seafood


• Infrastructure


• Tourism


• Workforce development


• Small business


• Research and education





The GoCoast 2020 Commission's eight committees, called GoTeams, all
identified several common threads that should be followed as the
Mississippi Gulf Coast prepares for the implementation of the RESTORE Act.
First and foremost, each GoTeam focused on the need for any project
considered in the future under RESTORE to have as positive an impact as
possible on the entire Coastal region, not just one single area.





Among the other shared goals of each GoTeam included the need for the
long-term sustainability of any projects that are ultimately undertaken as
a result of RESTORE. That includes financial stability so that there is a
strong foundation in place for the Coast's continued growth in the future.





The GoCoast 2020 Final Report can be viewed in its entirety at
www.GoCoast2020.com.








###





Quotes from GoCoast Members





"Being cohesive and having a regional approach to economic development is
absolutely the way to go for the future of the Gulf Coast."


- Ed Day, Co-chair of the GoCoast 2020 Economic Development Committee





"GoCoast 2020 has been a great opportunity for the people of South
Mississippi to give their input into what's important to us here on the
Gulf Coast. We've learned a lot over the past 6 or 7 years since Katrina as
to how to best redevelop our communities. This is a great opportunity for
us to give our own personal and professional opinions as to how we can best
move our state forward."


- Representative Scott Delano, Member of the GoCoast 2020 Economic
Development Committee





"Getting the group of volunteers together and working daily throughout the
last several months took leadership and patience from the Governor and
Trudy Fisher. The end product is the assemblage of good ideas with the
expectation that their implementation will result in continuously
increasing value for years to come."


- John Hairston, Co-chair of the GoCoast 2020 Tourism Committee

Monday, January 28, 2013

Three GoCoast 2020 stories

GoCoast 2020 report shows how RESTORE Act money should be spent

Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Gov. Phil Bryant said Mississippi has its play book ready to go

when the RESTORE Act money starts flowing to the state.





He and Trudy Fisher, executive director of the Mississippi Department of

Environmental Quality, presented the final report of the GoCoast 2020

Commission today at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Convention Center.





The commission was established by Bryant to look at how best spend funds

that will come to the state from fines levied against BP for the 2010 Gulf

oil spill.





Bryant said it is "a dynamic, vibrant report, that will not be put on a

shelf. "This is a way forward."





Among the recommendations of the report are better high speed Internet

access across the Coast, preserving areas of the Coast as "working

waterfronts," looking at relocating CSX railroad tracks north of Interstate

and returning Amtrak and a collaboration between schools and industry to

provide a skilled workforce.





Fisher said the report sets Mississippi ahead of other states by having a

plan already in place when the money arrives in 2013 or 2014.





A meeting to get public comment will be held Feb. 19 at a time and place in

South Mississippi yet to be determined.





The RESTORE Act will return 80 percent of the BP fines to the Gulf states

affected by the 2010 oil spill. The fine, expected to be between $5 billion

and $21 billion, will be split among the five states.





Eight committees and more than 100 volunteers from South Mississippi worked

since August to determine how the money can improve economic development,

tourism, small business, workforce development, infrastructure, seafood,

eco restoration and research and education in South Mississippi.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/28/4432273/gocoast-2020-final-report-to-be.html






GoCoast 2020's final report released by Gov. Bryant



WLOX





"The most important resource on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is our people."
That statement, made by a citizen at one of the GoCoast 2020 public
listening sessions, is listed in GoCoast 2020's final report as an
"essential truth" guiding upcoming restoration efforts from the 2010 Gulf
Oil Spill.




In August, 2012, Gov. Bryant announced the creation of GoCoast 2020 to
serve as the official advisory body for the allocation of funds received by
the State of Mississippi under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability,
Tourist Opportunity, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act of 2011
(RESTORE).




Monday, Gov. Bryant and Trudy Fisher, Executive Director of the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), highlighted commission's final
report.




"When we launched GoCoast 2020 last August, we all knew this would be a
major undertaking that would require a lot of time, energy and a sincere
spirit of cooperation among everyone involved," Gov. Bryant said. "While we
still don't have all of the details or final federal regulations of how the
Mississippi Plan will need to be formulated for RESTORE, we are ahead of
the game and will be ready day one. That's why I'm so grateful and
appreciative of all of the time and work put into this GoCoast 2020 Final
Report by so many people on the Coast."




The RESTORE Act directs that 80 percent of certain penalties assessed as a
result of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill be directed to the five Gulf
Coast states impacted by the spill.




GoCoast 2020 was established to set a foundation and road map of priorities
for Mississippi so the state will be better prepared as the final federal
guidelines and regulations are set forth under RESTORE. Created by an
Executive Order from Gov. Bryant, GoCoast 2020 was comprised of more than
one hundred twenty business and community leaders, elected officials and
citizens from across the three Mississippi Gulf Coast counties.




Gov. Bryant talked about the strong spirit of cooperation that went into
the GoCoast 2020 effort saying, "I thank you for working together, for
dreaming big and for creating a vision for the Mississippi Gulf Coast for
many future generations to come. As tragic as the oil spill was, if we
continue working together, we are going to turn it into a springboard which
will catapult the Mississippi Gulf Coast forward."




"This report is the result of focused conversations examining overarching
goals and priorities to make the Coast better than it has ever been," MDEQ
Executive Director, Trudy Fisher said. "We have been handed an
unprecedented opportunity to improve not only the environment and our
natural resources but the lives of all residents on the Coast. Through the
foresight of Governor Bryant, it's a chance for us to lay a foundation for
what will eventually be the "Mississippi Plan" for the RESTORE Act. This
GoCoast 2020 Final Report clearly demonstrates that Mississippi is the
leader in preparing for the use of RESTORE funds when they are available."




GoCoast 2020 focused on eight key areas related to the activities specified
in the RESTORE Act to provide a framework of recommendations that will
protect the environment as the foundation of the coastal lifeblood, improve
the job creation climate to increase economic opportunities, and enhance
the unique quality of life for Mississippi's coastal residents in the near
term and for generations to come.




GoCoast 2020's eight key areas of focus were:


· Eco-restoration

· Economic development

· Seafood

· Infrastructure

· Tourism

· Workforce development

· Small business

· Research and education



The GoCoast 2020 Commission's eight committees, called GoTeams, all
identified several common threads that should be followed as the
Mississippi Gulf Coast prepares for the implementation of the RESTORE Act.
Each GoTeam focused on the need for any project considered in the future
under RESTORE to have as positive an impact as possible on the entire
Coastal region, not just one single area.




Among the other shared goals of each GoTeam included the need for the
long-term sustainability of any projects that are ultimately undertaken as
a result of RESTORE. That includes financial stability so that there is a
strong foundation in place for the Coast's continued growth in the future.




The GoCoast 2020 Final Report can be viewed in its entirety here:
http://www.gocoast2020.com/wp-content/uploads/finalreport.pdf




http://www.wlox.com/story/20746406/gocoast-2020s-final-report-released-by-gov-bryant




GoCoast 2020 Commission releases final report (updated)

By Mississippi Press Staff

updated January 28, 2013 at 1:13 PM



BILOXI, Mississippi -- Gov. Phil Bryant's plan for restoring Mississippi's

coastal areas with funds from the BP oil spill focuses on workforce

training and programs to bring more high-tech communications and better

transportation services to the region.

Bryant and Trudy Fisher, executive director of the Mississippi Department

of Environmental Quality, released the final report the GoCoast 2020

Commission Monday in Biloxi.

The five states bordering the Gulf of Mexico will get 80 percent of Clean

Water Act fines from the 2010 BP spill, although the money won't be split

evenly. The total haul is estimated at $5 billion to $21 billion, depending

on what parties agree to in a settlement or what a federal judge

determines.

The RESTORE Act, passed by Congress, sets up the distribution, though Clean

Water Act fines must be settled or ruled on by a court before they will be

distributed. There's likely to be more money through a federal

environmental damage process and from Mississippi's legal claims of

economic harm.

Bryant created the group, called Go Coast 2020, to focus on eight areas:

ecological restoration, economic development, small business, seafood,

tourism, education, infrastructure and workforce development.

Among the recommendations of the report are better high speed Internet

access across the Coast, preserving areas of the coast as "working

waterfronts," looking at relocating CSX railroad tracks north of Interstate

and returning Amtrak and a collaboration between schools and industry to

provide a skilled workforce.

"GoCoast 2020 will make sure this effort is coast-driven," Bryant said

Monday. "It should not be run from Jackson; it should not be run from

Washington, D.C."

Fisher said the report sets Mississippi ahead of other states by having a

plan already in place when the money arrives in 2013 or 2014.

A meeting to get public comment will be held Feb. 19 at a time and place in

South Mississippi to be announced later.

"While we still don't have all of the details or final federal regulations

of how the Mississippi Plan will need to be formulated for RESTORE, we are

ahead of the game and will be ready day one. That's why I'm so grateful and

appreciative of all of the time and work put into this GoCoast 2020 Final

Report by so many people on the coast," Bryant said.

___

Read the final report here.



http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/gocoast_2020_commission_releas.html#incart_river

GoCoast 2020 Final Report to be released on Monday in Biloxi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 25, 2013

CONTACT:
Mick Bullock 601-576-2811, mick.bullock@governor.ms.gov
Nicole Roberts 601-576-2802, nicole.roberts@governor.ms.gov
www.governorbryant.com

Robbie Wilbur, MS Dept. of Environmental Quality, 601-961-5277,
Robbie_wilbur@deq.state.ms.us

GoCoast 2020 Final Report to be released on Monday in Biloxi
Governor Phil Bryant and MDEQ Executive Director, Trudy Fisher, to issue
Final Report of the group representing the work of the GoCoast 2020
Commission.

Biloxi – The Final Report of the GoCoast 2020 Commission will be released
at a press conference on Monday, January 28 at 10:00 A.M.

The event will be held at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum Convention
Center in Biloxi in Room L5/L6.

Gov. Bryant and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Executive
Director, Trudy Fisher, will release the GoCoast 2020 Final Report and will
make remarks at the press conference.

GoCoast 2020 was established by Gov. Bryant through executive order to
serve as the official advisory board for the allocation of funds received
by the State of Mississippi under the RESTORE Act and to create a
long-range planning strategy for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. More
information is available at www.gocoast2020.com.

###


Mick Bullock
Communications Director/Press Secretary
Office of Governor Phil Bryant
601-576-2811
mick.bullock@governor.ms.gov
www.governorbryant.com

News Clippings 1/28/13

1.28.13



Oil Spill







GoCoast report coming Monday





Sun Herald





BILOXI -- The final report of the GoCoast 2020 Commission will be released

at a press conference Monday.





Gov. Phil Bryant and Trudy Fisher, executive director of the Mississippi

Department of Environmental Quality, will release the report.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/25/4426812/business-briefs.html






BP oil spill: Grover Robinson 'a natural fit' for Gulf Consortium chairman
Pensacola News Journal


Electing Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson to be chairman of

Florida's Gulf Consortium was an easy decision, according to Gulf County

Commissioner Warren Yeager.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20130128/NEWS08/301280018/Grover-Robinson-BP-oil-spill-Gulf-Consortium







Escambia County officials break ground on Mahogany Mill Boat Ramp
Pensacola News Journal


Escambia County broke ground on the future site of the Mahogany Mill Boat

Ramp on Friday.



The boat ramp is part of the initial wave of restoration projects funded by

the Natural Resource Damage Assessments allotted to the state of Florida

following the Deep-water Horizon oil spill.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20130126/NEWS01/301260020/Escambia-County-officials-break-ground-Mahogany-Mill-Boat-Ramp







State News





'Oversights' disclosed in $3M BP grant
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com


D'IBERVILLE -- City officials say it was an "oversight" that the council

didn't know about a contract with Maxwell-Walker Consulting Group to secure

a BP grant for D'Iberville that would net the firm a finder's

fee.http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/26/4430383/oversights-disclosed-in-3m-bp.html







Oily sheen reported up to three miles downriver from Vicksburg barge

accident

By The Associated Press

updated January 28, 2013 at 2:57 AM



A barge laden with 80,000 gallons of oil struck a railroad bridge in

Vicksburg, Miss., over the weekend, spilling light crude into the

Mississippi River and closing the waterway for miles each way, the Coast

Guard said. A second barge was damaged.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/01/oily_sheen_reported_up_to_thre.html#incart_river





Keesler Air Force Base earns recycling award
SUN HERALD


BILOXI -- Keesler Air Force Base has been named an environmental hero in

Mississippi for its comprehensive recycling efforts.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/27/4431413/keesler-air-force-base-earns-recycling.html






Utility Authority working on many projects

By Jeremy Pittari
The Picayune Item


PICAYUNE — Pearl River County's Utility Authority is working on a number of
water and waste water projects to improve the infrastructure for those
services.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x2056595446/Utility-Authority-working-on-many-projects



Bill would remove AG lawyers from state agency duties

Sun Herald

By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com


Lawyers from the Mississippi Attorney General's Office would no longer be

assigned to state agencies, if one state lawmaker gets his wish.





http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/26/4430373/bill-would-remove-ag-lawyers-from.html







National News





Marine biologists look to hatcheries to replenish red snapper, speckled

trout stocks

By The Associated Press

updated January 26, 2013 at 8:25 PM



NEW ORLEANS -- Marine biologists are trying to learn whether they can

increase populations of two of the Gulf of Mexico's most popular sport and

food fish -- and perhaps further relax quotas on one of them -- by raising

and releasing small fry.



http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/marine_biologists_look_to_hatc.html#incart_river








Court of Appeals says EPA overestimates production of certain biofuels to
promote industry



By Associated Press,

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court has ruled that the Environmental
Protection Agency is overestimating the amount of fuel that can be produced
from grasses, wood and other nonfood plants in an effort to promote a
fledgling biofuels industry.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/court-of-appeals-says-epa-overestimates-production-of-certain-biofuels-to-promote-industry/2013/01/25/66ba94ac-6725-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html







Focus On Fracking Diverts Attention From Horizontal Drilling

NPR





Mention the recent surge in oil and natural gas production in the U.S. and
one word comes to mind for a lot of people: "fracking." Hydraulic
fracturing is a controversial technique that uses water, sand and
potentially hazardous chemicals to break up rock deep underground to
release oil and natural gas.
http://www.npr.org/2013/01/27/170015508/focus-on-fracking-diverts-attention-from-horizontal-drilling





Stage is set for fracking in Tennessee
Chattanooga Times Free Press
By Pam Sohn
Monday, January 28, 2013
·


East Tennessee in coming years may find itself front and center in the
growing debate over fracking — the hydraulic or nitrogen gas fracturing of
shale rock deep underground to free natural gas.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/jan/28/stage-is-set-for-fracking-in-tennessee/





Colorado gov. proposes new fracking study
By KRISTEN WYATT, Associated Press



DENVER (AP) — Colorado should use unanticipated tax money to study the
effects of oil and gas drilling on air quality, as well as devote more
money to public schools and wildfire prevention, Gov. John Hickenlooper
told lawmakers Friday.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/Colorado-gov-proposes-new-fracking-study-4224642.php




Press Releases






EPA Releases New Report on Children's Health and the Environment in America



WASHINGTON – EPA today released "America's Children and the Environment,
Third Edition," a comprehensive compilation of information from a variety
of sources on children's health and the environment. The report shows
trends for contaminants in air, water, food, and soil that may affect
children; concentrations of contaminants in the bodies of children and
women of child-bearing age; and childhood illnesses and health conditions.
The report incorporates revisions to address peer review and public
comments on draft materials released in 2011.

"This latest report provides important information for protecting America's
most vulnerable – our children. It shows good progress on some issues, such
as reducing children's blood lead levels and exposure to tobacco smoke in
the home, and points to the need for continued focus on other issues", said
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Although we are encouraged by these
findings, there is still much work to be done. By monitoring trends,
identifying successes, and shedding light on areas that need further
evaluation, we can continue to improve the health of our children and all
Americans."

Among the contaminants clearly linked to health conditions in children, key
findings include:


· The median concentration of lead in the blood of children between the
ages of 1 and 5 years was 92 percent lower in 2009-2010 compared to
1976-1980 levels. Although the majority of the decline occurred in
the 1980s, consistent decreases have continued since 1999.


· The median level of cotinine (a marker of exposure to environmental
tobacco smoke) measured in blood of nonsmoking children ages 3 to 17
years was 88 percent lower in 2009-2010 than it was in 1988–1991. In
2010, 6 percent of children ages 0 to 6 years lived in homes where
someone smoked regularly, compared with 27 percent in 1994.


· The percentage of children living in counties where pollutant
concentrations were above the levels of one or more national air
quality standards declined from 75 percent to 59 percent from 1999 to
2009.



The level of knowledge regarding the relationship between environmental
exposures and health outcomes varies widely among the topics presented in
this report, and the inclusion of an indicator in the report does not
necessarily imply a known relationship between environmental exposure and
children's health effects. The report provides data for selected children's
health conditions that warrant further research because the causes,
including possible contributing environmental factors, are complex and not
well understood at this point.

In the case of asthma, researchers do not fully understand why children
develop the condition. However, substantial evidence shows exposure to
certain air pollutants, including particulate matter and ozone, can trigger
symptoms in children who already have asthma. Although the report found the
percentage of children reported to currently have asthma increased from 8.7
percent in 2001 to 9.4 percent in 2010 and that minority populations are
particularly affected by asthma, the severity of children's asthma and
respiratory symptoms has declined. The rate of emergency room visits for
asthma decreased from 114 visits per 10,000 children in 1996 to 103 visits
per 10,000 children in 2008. Between 1996 and 2008, hospitalizations for
asthma and for all other respiratory causes decreased from 90
hospitalizations per 10,000 children to 56 hospitalizations per 10,000
children.

The report also looks at trends in other health conditions, such as
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and preterm births, for
which rates have increased. There is no conclusive information on the role
of environmental contaminants in ADHD or preterm births, and additional
research is ongoing.

The national indicators presented in this comprehensive report are
important for informing future research related to children's health.
Children may be more vulnerable to environmental exposures than adults
because children's bodies are still developing. Children eat more, drink
more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size; and their behavior
can expose them more to chemicals and organisms.

This report includes 37 indicators of children's environmental health to
address 23 important topics. The expanded content reflects the latest
research on children's health issues and the availability of data for more
topics. Each indicator and its supporting text were peer reviewed by
independent external experts and made available for review and comment by
the public.

More on "America's Children and the Environment, Third Edition":
http://www.epa.gov/ace/

Friday, January 25, 2013

Fw: GoCoast 2020 Final Report to be released on Monday in Biloxi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 25, 2013

CONTACT:
Mick Bullock 601-576-2811, mick.bullock@governor.ms.gov
Nicole Roberts 601-576-2802, nicole.roberts@governor.ms.gov
www.governorbryant.com

Robbie Wilbur, MS Dept. of Environmental Quality, 601-961-5277,
Robbie_wilbur@deq.state.ms.us

GoCoast 2020 Final Report to be released on Monday in Biloxi
Governor Phil Bryant and MDEQ Executive Director, Trudy Fisher, to issue
Final Report of the group representing the work of the GoCoast 2020
Commission.

Biloxi – The Final Report of the GoCoast 2020 Commission will be released
at a press conference on Monday, January 28 at 10:00 A.M.

The event will be held at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum Convention
Center in Biloxi in Room L5/L6.

Gov. Bryant and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Executive
Director, Trudy Fisher, will release the GoCoast 2020 Final Report and will
make remarks at the press conference.

GoCoast 2020 was established by Gov. Bryant through executive order to
serve as the official advisory board for the allocation of funds received
by the State of Mississippi under the RESTORE Act and to create a
long-range planning strategy for the Mississippi Gulf Coast. More
information is available at www.gocoast2020.com.

###


Mick Bullock
Communications Director/Press Secretary
Office of Governor Phil Bryant
601-576-2811
mick.bullock@governor.ms.gov
www.governorbryant.com

News Clippings 1.25.13

1/25/13



Oil Spill





Federal judge rejects motion to extend deadline for BP oil spill seafood
settlement
Safety of Gulf seafood debated 8 months after BP oil spill


By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated January 24, 2013 at 3:24 PM


The federal judge overseeing the massive BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill

litigation has denied a request to extend the deadline for commercial

fishing vessel owners and others to join a $2.3 billion settlement to cover

seafood-related claims.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/01/federal_judge_rejects_motion_t.html





State News





DMR employee's South Mississippi home searched

Sun Herald

By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com



BILOXI -- Investigators have searched the home of Tina Shumate, coastal

management and planning director at the Mississippi Department of Marine

Resources.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/24/4426973/dmr-employees-home-searched.html




Contractor financed car for Utility Authority director

Sun Herald

By MELISSA SCALLAN and ANITA LEE — Sun Herald


A contractor with the Harrison County Utility Authority bought a car in

2011 and a month later signed the title over to the authority's executive

director.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/24/4426971/contractor-financed-car-for-utility.html




Gautier Mayor still working to reduce litter in the city



WLOX





Gautier's Mayor Tommy Fortenberry waged a war against litter last year
after seeing discarded trash all around town. The mayor and some folks in
the city said Gautier is cleaning up its act.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20663950/gautier-maypr-still-working-to-reduce-litter-in-the-city





PSC, Miss. Power Reach Settlement Over Kemper Co. Plant




MPB



Mississippi Power and the Mississippi Public Service Commission have
reached a deal opening the possibility for rate increases to fund a
multi-billion dollar power plant in Kemper County. MPB's Daniel Cherry
reports...
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/784psc_miss._power_reach_settlement_over_kemper_co._plant






National News





Appeals court rejects EPA bid on pollution case
By MATTHEW DALY — Associated Press

WASHINGTON — A federal appeals court will not reconsider a decision

blocking an Obama administration effort to tighten restrictions on power

plant pollution.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/24/4426637/appeals-court-rejects-epa-bid.html








EPA Loses Bid for Full-Court Review of Cross-State Rule


Bloomberg


By Tom Schoenberg - Jan 24, 2013


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lost a bid for review by a full

federal appeals court of a three-judge panel's ruling that threw out

regulations designed to cut cross-state pollution from coal-fired power

plants.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-24/epa-loses-bid-for-full-court-review-of-cross-state-air-rule-1-.html







Democrats send wish list to Obama for executive action on climate change
The Hill


By Zack Colman - 01/24/13 10:44 AM ET


Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) on
Thursday outlined a slate of climate change actions that President Obama
could execute with his own authority.


http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/279037-waxman-whitehouse-launch-bicameral-climate-effort-urge-obama-to-use-authority





California Sued for Allegedly Failing to Regulate Fracking


Bloomberg


By Karen Gullo - Jan 24, 2013


California was sued for allegedly failing to regulate and supervise

hydraulic fracturing by oil and gas companies under the state's underground

injection control program.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-24/california-sued-for-allegedly-failing-to-regulate-fracking-1-.html





Republicans threaten 'formal action' over EPA head's 'Richard Windsor'
emails
The Hill


By Ben Geman - 01/24/13 12:02 PM ET


House Republicans are threatening "formal action" against the Environmental
Protection Agency unless the agency hands over records about Administrator
Lisa Jackson's use of a secondary government email account.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/279069-house-gop-presses-epa-on-richard-windsor-email-account





Opinion




Collins would freeze, not cut, 13th checks for state workers


by Bill Crawford
Published: January 25,2013

State Sen. Nancy Collins of Tupelo is courageously preparing legislation to
address growing financial problems with the state retirement system (PERS).


She said her goal was to start a conversation about PERS' long-term
sustainability. "This is the elephant in the room," she told the Northeast
Mississippi Daily Journal. "We should not be afraid to talk about it."

http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/01/25/collins-would-freeze-not-cut-13th-checks-for-state-workers/





Press Releases







EPA Announces Settlements with Company for Multiple Violations of Chemical
Reporting and Pesticide Laws

Release Date: 01/24/2013
Contact Information: Stacy Kika, Kika.stacy@epa.gov, 202-564-0906,
202-564-4355

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that
it reached settlements with two subsidiaries of the Kemira Group for
violations of chemical and pesticide laws.

The settlement with Kemira Chemicals resolves alleged violations of the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, including the sale and
distribution of an unregistered pesticide, the sale and distribution of
misbranded pesticides, and pesticide production reporting violations. The
sale and distribution of unregistered or misbranded pesticides can cause
serious illness in humans and be harmful to the environment. Under the
terms of the agreement, Kemira Chemicals has corrected the alleged
violations and will pay a civil penalty of $301,600.

EPA also reached an agreement with Kemira Water Solutions after an EPA
inspection identified 27 violations of the Toxic Substance Control Act's
Inventory Update Reporting (IUR) rule for the 2006 reporting period. The
IUR rule requires manufacturers and importers of certain chemical
substances to report the production volume and location of each facility
producing these chemical substances. The information collected is used to
support risk screening and assessment and makes up the most comprehensive
source of basic screening-level, exposure-related information on chemicals
available to EPA. Kemira Water Solutions has since submitted the required
information to EPA and will pay a civil penalty of $503,110.

Kemira Chemicals, Inc. and Kemira Water Solutions, Inc. are both
subsidiaries of Kemira Group, a global chemical company with U.S.
headquarters in Atlanta, Ga.

More information about the settlement:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/waste/cases/kemiragroup.html

Thursday, January 24, 2013

News Clippings 1.24.13

1.24.13



Oil Spill





Fishing Industry Frustrated With Science Reviews of BP Oil Spill




WWNO


The public got a chance in New Orleans to hear about research under way to

assess environmental damage caused by the BP oil spill. Some in the fishing

industry say they feel left out of the process.

http://www.wwno.org/post/fishing-industry-frustrated-science-reviews-bp-oil-spill







BP Deepwater Horizon spill: Scientists say seafood safe, but health effects

being measured

By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

updated January 22, 2013 at 6:15 PM



There continues to be no evidence that harmful levels of chemicals from the

BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill are in seafood, but initial study results

show that former spill cleanup workers are carrying biomarkers of many

chemicals contained in the oil in their bodies, and women and children

along Louisiana's coast are reporting health effects believed linked to

oil.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/01/bp_deepwater_horizon_spill_sci.html





Oil spill claims seminar set for today
Hattiesburg American


HATTIESBURG — Folks who lost money due to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil

spill can learn how to file claims at 6 p.m. today at the Lake Terrace

Convention Center.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130124/NEWS01/301240027/Oil-spill-claims-seminar-set-today







State News





Politicians giving marine resources foundation money back
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com


Campaigns for governor, Congress, the state Legislature and other offices

received checks from the foundation headed by recently fired Department of

Marine Resources Executive Director Bill Walker.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/23/4424293/politicians-giving-marine-resources.html







DMR agrees public entitled to agency records

Sun Herald

By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com

GULFPORT -- Faced with a lawsuit, the Mississippi Department of Marine

Resources agreed Wednesday to give the Sun Herald agency documents the

newspaper seeks under the state's Public Records Act.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/23/4423149/dmr-agrees-public-entitled-to.html




Gasoline spill at Jackson gas station



WLBT





A cleanup operation is underway in south Jackson.




The Jackson Fire Department and a private environmental cleanup company are
working to contain a gasoline spill.




http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/20663410/gasoline-spill-at-jackson-gas-station



Northbay seeks city help on lake
Madison County Journal

MADISON - A group of Northbay homeowners has asked the city and county to
pay about $350,000 to dredge their lake polluted by runoff from north of
Hoy Road.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=26086



Gulf Coast Research Lab recruiting 'citizen scientists'

WLOX




The Gulf Coast Research Lab is recruitingcitizen scientists for an upcoming
research project. They're looking for volunteers who will spend several
weeks learning more about the impact of the oil spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20660312/gulf-coast-research-lab-recruiting-citizen-scientists








National News





Obama's covert plans for climate
Politico
By: Darren Samuelsohn
January 23, 2013 07:52 PM EST


President Barack Obama got green hearts fluttering when he devoted more
time to climate change than any other single issue during his inaugural
address.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/obamas-covert-plans-for-climate-86648.html?hp=r2




Chesapeake to Host EPA In Study of Fracking Risk

Natural-Gas Producer to Host Federal Study of Drilling's Risk to Water
Quality

Wall Street Journal


By TENNILLE TRACY


WASHINGTON—Natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corp. CHK +1.68% has

agreed to let the Environmental Protection Agency conduct extensive tests

at one of its drilling sites as part of an investigation into the safety

of hydraulic fracturing, an administration official said.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323854904578260173099118476.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

News Clippings 1.23.13

1.23.13



Oil Spill





The Science of the BP Oil Spill
WKRG


NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana -- Research, three years in the making is being
discussed and dissected in New Orleans as thousands of researchers talk
about the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://www2.wkrg.com/news/2013/jan/22/t-ar-5423134/





Escambia Commissioner Grover Robinson will lead RESTORE Act group
Pensacola News Journal


Escambia County Commissioner Grover Robinson on Friday was elected chairman

of the state group that will dole out a chunk of anticipated BP fine money

to counties across Florida's coast.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20130123/NEWS10/301230020/Escambia-Commissioner-Grover-Robinson-will-lead-RESTORE-Act-group




Lawyer seeks to extend filing deadline for BP Gulf oil spill seafood

settlement

By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

updated January 22, 2013 at 7:17 PM



A Texas lawyer has filed a motion asking the federal judge overseeing the

massive BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill litigation to extend the deadline for

commercial fishing vessel owners and others to join a $2.3 billion

settlement to cover seafood-related claims.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/01/lawyer_seeks_to_extend_filing.html





BP claims chief says $332M being paid in Florida
By BILL KACZOR, Associated Press
Updated 3:28 pm, Tuesday, January 22, 2013

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The administrator of a class-action settlement
between petroleum giant BP and oil spill claimants said Tuesday that more
than 34,000 Florida businesses and individuals so far have been approved to
receive $332 million.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/science/article/BP-claims-chief-says-332M-being-paid-in-Florida-4214783.php



State News





Education, job creation priorities in Gov. Phil Bryant's State of the State

address (updated)

By The Associated Press

updated January 22, 2013 at 6:50 PM



JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant said in his State of

the State speech Tuesday evening that citizens expect "bold action" from

elected officials in 2013, with an emphasis on strengthening education and

promoting job creation.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/education_job_creation_priorit.html#incart_river







Bryant: 'Bold Action' Need in Mississippi


MPB



Governor Phil Bryant is calling on Mississippi lawmakers to take 'bold
action' for the state. Bryant is laying out his vision for the current
legislative session during his state of the state address. MPB's Jeffrey
Hess reports the speech was widely accepted by Republicans but fell flat
with many Democratic lawmakers.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/bryant_bold_action_need_in_mississippi



Jackson County joins Hancock in opposing Louisiana's storm plan

Sun Herald
By CHRISTINA STEUBE — csteube@sunherald.com


The Jackson County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to support Hancock

County with a letter opposing Louisiana's storm-surge protection study.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/22/4422033/jackson-county-joins-hancock-in.html







National News





Tom Udall's name added to the mix for Interior post

Washington Post


By Emily Heil


So much for a short list. Add another name to the possible candidates for
Interior secretary, a post that will be vacant when Ken Salazar departs the
agency in March: Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/tom-udalls-name-added-to-the-mix-for-interior-post/2013/01/22/85e608a2-64af-11e2-b84d-21c7b65985ee_blog.html#pagebreak






Supreme Court won't hear challenge to EPA rulemaking on sulfur dioxide



By Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won't hear a challenge to a tough new clean
air requirement limiting sulfur dioxide emissions.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/supreme-court-wont-hear-challenge-to-epa-rulemaking-on-sulfur-dioxide/2013/01/22/03610256-64aa-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html




Supreme Court won't hear challenge to EPA pollution rule
The Hill


By Ben Geman - 01/22/13 12:12 PM ET


The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a major copper company's plea to
review an Environmental Protection Agency air pollution rule that set
standards for sulfur dioxide, a pollutant tied to several respiratory
ailments.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/278517-supreme-court-wont-hear-challenge-to-epa-pollution-rule





White House starts review of revised gas 'fracking' rule
The Hill


By Ben Geman - 01/23/13 08:53 AM ET


The Interior Department on Tuesday sent the White House a new draft of
rules to govern oil-and-gas "fracking" on federal and Indian lands.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/278735-white-house-starts-review-of-revised-gas-fracking-rule





In inaugural address, Obama makes a moral case for action on climate change



Washington Post


By Juliet Eilperin

President Obama had mentioned climate change in prominent speeches before
Monday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/obama-makes-a-moral-case-for-action-on-climate-change/2013/01/22/1d33ea98-64cf-11e2-9e1b-07db1d2ccd5b_story.html




Liberal Dem: EPA should flex its powers on climate change
The Hill


By Ben Goad - 01/22/13 03:48 PM ET


Proponents of efforts to counter the effects of climate change are
signaling a shift in their strategy, opting to abandon another run at
comprehensive legislation in favor of a renewed push to tackle the issue
through federal regulations.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/278601-boxer-epa-should-flex-regulatory-muscle-on-climate-change-regs



Boxer targets energy efficiency for climate strategy
Politico
By: Darren Goode
January 23, 2013 04:38 AM EST




Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer is moving
bills to improve building energy efficiency as one means of mitigating
climate change.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/01/boxer-targets-energy-efficiency-for-climate-strategy-86586.html?hp=r6




Bipartisan support moves hydropower bill
The Hill


By Zack Colman - 01/22/13 12:29 PM ET


The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a bill Tuesday that would
speed up the permitting process for a slate of hydropower projects.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/278529-house-energy-committee-passes-hydropower-bill




Westlands Water District's $1 billion claim against U.S. rejected

By Michael Doyle — McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — A federal court has quietly dismissed a $1 billion claim by

the well-known Westlands Water District, leaving unresolved the

long-standing problem of coping with irrigation drainage in California's

San Joaquin Valley.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/22/4421439/westlands-water-districts-1-billion.html





Press Releases





Jobs, Economic Prosperity, Education and Responsible Budgeting Dominate
Gov. Bryant's Second State of the State Address
Speech Includes Announcement of New Ashley Furniture Facility in Verona

JACKSON – Gov. Phil Bryant's second State of the State Address outlined a
number of goals, calling for education and health care improvements, job
growth and additional economic development efforts, and the importance of a
responsible budget.

During the annual speech to the Legislature, Gov. Bryant announced that
Ashley Furniture, a major Mississippi employer, will create 60 new jobs
when it locates manufacturing and customer service operations in Verona,
Miss.

"Ashley Furniture is a leading employer in Mississippi and I appreciate
their confidence in our state and workforce," Gov. Bryant said.

The governor reported during his address that the past year was a good one
for Mississippi.

"I have said many times that I believe the 2012 legislative session will be
known as the most business-friendly session in modern history. Already by
working together with the Mississippi Development Authority, we have
announced nearly 2,700 new jobs and a private sector investment totaling
more than a half-billion dollars. Now as we look to the new year, we will
be just as aggressive."

Gov. Bryant stressed the importance of a successful public education system
to Mississippi's economic development efforts, saying, "There is one
definitive way we can make sure that our workforce will remain competitive:
we must improve our public education system."

Gov. Bryant's "Education Works" agenda addresses some of Mississippi's most
pressing public education needs.

"My education agenda was created in collaboration with education leaders,
teachers and researchers. It sets a clear path to success and will
invigorate our public education system so our children graduate high school
ready to make the most of the opportunities that follow," Gov. Bryant said.

Five key areas of "Education Works" include:

· Improving literacy skills and ending status-quo social promotion
policies;
· Developing and rewarding teacher quality;
· Continuing early childhood education efforts;
· Increasing school choice; and
· Improving college and career readiness.

Gov. Bryant's plan includes third- and seventh-grade promotion policies
that require students to be proficient in reading and math. Bryant's agenda
also focuses on attracting top Mississippi students to teaching positions
and rewarding high-performing teachers with salary increases. He also
proposed increasing entrance standards for teaching programs and offering
scholarships to top high school and college students who want to pursue a
career in education.

Gov. Bryant believes parents deserve the right to seek better opportunities
for their children, and his proposals put value on school choice.

"Not only should we endeavor to pass a workable public charter school bill
to give our children one more opportunity to succeed, we must also give
parents the option to request their child be transferred to another school
through the implementation of statewide open enrollment policies. My agenda
further empowers parents by designating privately funded opportunity
scholarships for low-income families in D and F schools. Parents can use
these programs to send their child to a school that better meets their
needs."

As part of his focus on strengthening Mississippi's health and its economy
through developing the state's medical industry, Gov. Bryant announced the
formation of the Mississippi Health Care Solutions Institute. The governor
named Dr. Clay Hays, a respected cardiologist and former chairman of the
Greater Jackson Area Chamber, as the Institute's first chair.

"This Institute will serve as a chamber of commerce for health care,
bringing our medical industry together and supporting health care as an
economic driver in our state," Gov. Bryant said.

Gov. Bryant further discussed the importance of a responsible budget,
calling for the Legislature to again follow the advice of his Executive
Budget Recommendation and spend no more than 98 percent of General Fund
revenues.

He also urged lawmakers to follow his funding recommendations for critical
government functions like public safety and economic development when
crafting the state's budget this legislative session.

"I served as lieutenant governor during the beginning of the financial
crisis and had to make tough choices to cut more than $100 million from
state government. However, public safety and economic development are
essential functions of our government, and they should be treated as such."

Bryant also urged lawmakers to strengthen Mississippi's business climate by
stabilizing tax policies for small job creators.

"Each June, certain small employers in this state are required to pre-pay a
portion of their taxes," Gov. Bryant said. "Known as the
delayed-accelerated tax payment, this move puts a large burden on our
state's job creators. My budget proposes relief for small employers, and I
urge the Legislature to support it."

Gov. Bryant concluded his remarks by pledging to work with lawmakers to
create good policy for Mississippi.

"Work in good faith with me on items both easy and hard, and I will pledge
to you to do the same."