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
