1.8.13
Roll Tide!
Oil Spill
Federal judge sets Feb. 14 hearing on whether to accept Transocean's plea
deal
By The Associated Press
on January 07, 2013 at 12:43 PM, updated January 07, 2013 at 12:45 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge in New Orleans has scheduled a Feb. 14
hearing to decide whether to accept the Justice Department's criminal
settlement with Transocean Ltd. over the company's role in the massive 2010
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/federal_judge_sets_feb_14_hear.html#incart_river
Oiled pelican photo in "HOLD BP ACCOUNTABLE" ad greets Justice employees at
Washington Metro station
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated January 07, 2013 at 1:42 PM
A photo of a struggling pelican coated with oil floating in the Gulf of
Mexico now greets workers arriving at the Navy Archives Metro station,
close to the Department of Justice's Pennsylvania Avenue headquarters
building. The photo is part of a National Wildlife Federation advertising
placard demanding "HOLD BP ACCOUNTABLE."
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/01/oiled_pelican_photo_in_hold_bp.html
State News
DeSoto County Supervisors bury rezoning sought by west DeSoto rubbish pit
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Monday, January 7, 2013
Foes of a rubbish pit at Star Landing Road near Lake Cormorant schools
scored a victory, if temporary, over operators of the site as the DeSoto
Board of Supervisors declined to take action on Unified Waste System's
application for rezoning of the property as preparation for seeking
conditional use as a landfill.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2013/jan/07/supervisors-bury-rezoning-sought-by-west-desoto/?print=1
DEBRIS REMOVAL
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE — DEBRIS REMOVAL — Supervisors are eyeing debris removal from the
Christmas Day tornado. Residents are piling storm debris along the
right-of-way of county roads. Supervisors on Monday voted to ask the state
auditor for permission to use small portions of private property to remove
storm debris along county right-of-ways. Supervisors said it they get the
okay, they will look at removing it. They said they expect no help
financially from FEMA or MEMA in paying for the removal.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1633445880/DEBRIS-REMOVAL
National News
Is Washington Gov. Gregoire front-runner for EPA?
Washington Post
By Al Kamen
Outgoing Washington State Gov. Christine Gregoire (D) is reportedto be
emerging as the front-runner to replace Lisa Jackson as head of the
Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop
Energy Department, EPA nominations may be on tap
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 01/07/13 03:03 PM ET
Now that President Obama has proposed new national security Cabinet
members, the White House may be able to move to the Energy Department and
Environmental Protection Agency.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/275933-defense-intel-nominations-may-leave-energy-dept-epa-on-tap
EPA fracking study may dodge some tough questions
AP
PITTSBURGH — An ongoing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency study on
natural gas drilling and its potential for groundwater contamination has
gotten tentative praise so far from both industry and environmental groups.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/01/07/epa-fracking-study-may-dodge-some-tough-questions/
O'Malley panel urges 'fracking' safeguards
Severance tax, landowners' rights among legislative proposals
By Timothy B. Wheeler
The Baltimore Sun
An advisory commission studying whether shale gas extraction should proceed
in Maryland called Monday for new legislation to deal with potential abuses
in leasing and drilling for the fuel, but environmentalists said so many
questions remain about the safety of the drilling method known as
"fracking" that they want lawmakers to impose a moratorium until the issue
has been fully analyzed.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bs-gr-fracking-legislation-20130107,0,338160.story
Opinion
A welcome investment in Manatee County: BP money
Published: January 8, 2013
BRADENTON HERALD EDITORIAL
In an exercise of what could be viewed as wishful thinking -- which we
would celebrate mightily if realized -- Manatee County officials have
approved $68.6 million in environmental restoration projects that would be
funded by the rather massive penalties against the company primarily
responsible for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill two years ago.
http://www.bradenton.com/2013/01/08/4341995/a-welcome-investment-in-manatee.html
Press Releases
Settlement with New Cingular Wireless to Resolve Violations at Hundreds of
Legacy AT&T Wireless Sites
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and New
Cingular Wireless (NCW) have reached an administrative settlement requiring
the company to pay a civil penalty of $750,000 and spend $625,000 on
environmental projects to resolve alleged reporting, planning and
permitting violations at 332 legacy AT&T Wireless (AWS) sites now owned by
NCW.
The violations, which occurred at AWS sites in 43 states, such as cellular
towers, transmitter sites, switching stations and warehouses, included
failure to comply with Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
(EPCRA) reporting requirements related to the presence of sulfuric acid and
diesel fuel at sites, inadequate or no Clean Water Act (CWA) Spill
Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans, and Clean Air Act
(CAA) minor source permitting requirements.
The EPCRA requirements help communities plan for emergencies involving
hazardous substances, the CWA's SPCC rule requires facilities to have oil
spill prevention, preparedness, and response plans to help prevent oil
discharges to navigable waters and adjoining shorelines, and the minor
source permitting requirements under the CAA ensure that air emissions
limits are met.
Under the settlement, NCW will provide a certification of EPCRA compliance
at 1,356 sites and conduct comprehensive compliance audits of CAA and
CWA/SPCC requirements at 1,361 and 41 legacy-AWS facilities, respectively.
NCW has also agreed to pay stipulated penalties for all disclosed and
corrected violations discovered through these audits.
NCW has also agreed to conduct environmental projects, which will provide
hazardous materials awareness and health/safety training to building
inspectors and fire fighters. The projects will also support the
procurement of emergency response equipment such as fire-fighting
equipment, gas meters, hazmat identification equipment, satellite phones
and other emergency communications equipment. The seven entities, located
in four states that will benefit from the projects are: Palm Beach County
Fire Rescue and Georges Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County,
Fla., New York City Fire Department, N.Y., Yancey, Texas Volunteer Fire
Department, Texas, and San Diego, County California Office of Emergency
Services, Bodega Bay, California Fire Protection District, and Los Angeles,
California Police Department Calif.
Since 1998, nearly 6,000 telecommunications facilities have been brought
into compliance through more than 30 settlements as part of EPA's effort to
improve compliance in the telecommunications sector.
More information on the New Cingular Wireless settlement:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/waste/cases/att.html
