2/1/13
Oil Spill
Gulf Restoration Network believes GoCoast 2020 Commission's final report
needs to do more
By Mississippi Press Staff
updated January 31, 2013 at 2:08 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- The Gulf Restoration Network called the GoCoast 2020
Commission's report in important step but the group feels the plan needs to
do more to ensure the long-term health of the Mississippi coast, according
to a news release from Mississippi's GRN organizer Raleigh Hoke today.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/01/gulf_restoration_network_belie.html#incart_river
Unknown substance leaking from Deepwater Horizon site
CBS
More than a month after BP and the Coast Guard finished a subsea operation
to inspect the Deepwater Horizon site for oil leaks, no source has been
found. Also, BP and the Coast Guard have not publicly identified a mystery
white, milky substance observed seeping from the wreckage. But they say
it's not oil and it's not harmful.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57566991/unknown-substance-leaking-from-deepwater-horizon-site/
State News
Coastal management director, sister leave DMR jobs Thursday
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
A high-profile Mississippi Department of Marine Resources employee, Tina
Shumate, and her sister, Samantha Hebert, resigned and left their jobs at
the agency Thursday, their attorney said.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/31/4441053/coastal-management-director-sister.html
People asked to weigh in on new DMR chief
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTONand JOHN FITZHUGH — Sun Herald
The people of South Mississippi will have a chance to tell the Commission
on Marine Resources what qualities, experience and expertise to look for in
a director.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/31/4441018/people-asked-to-weigh-in-on-new.html
Danny Guice gives pep talk to DMR employees
WLOX
After three months of federal and state investigations involving alleged
wrongdoing at the Department of Marine Resources and the firing of longtime
director Bill Walker, employees had their questions answered Thursday. More
than 100 DMR workers met with Interim Executive Director Danny Guice who
wanted to clear the air and offer a new vision for the agency.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20914867/danny-guice-gives-pep-talk-to-dmr-employees
Parade beads find new life through recycle program in South Mississippi
Sun Herald
By DONNA HARRIS — dharris@sunherald.com
Mardi Gras necklaces snatched from the air and scooped from the ground at
Coast parades can find new life in the Throw-Me-Again bead collection and
recycling program.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/01/31/4441032/parade-beads-find-new-life-through.html
Diesel spill cleanup on Highway 49
RANKIN COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
A cleanup was underway Thursday afternoon in Rankin County where diesel
fuel spilled on Highway 49 at Interstate 20.
Authorities on the scene said the driver of an 18-wheeler noticed a leak in
his fuel tank. He stopped and plugged it up. There was a minimal amount of
fuel on the road, but truck were brought in to clean up the spill.
The ramp from Interstate 20 to Highway 49 north was temporarily closed.
http://www.wlox.com/story/20918219/diesel-spill-closes-ra
National News
REI chief Sally Jewell in the mix for Interior
Washington Post
By Al Kamen
The search for a new interior secretary may be coming down to a battle
between two women from Washington state.
Enviros have been buzzing this week about a new, and possibly leading,
candidate said to be in the mix for the job: Sally Jewell, head of
Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), the hugely successful and eminently
green outdoor-outfitting company headquartered in Kent, Washington.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/rei-chief-sally-jewell-in-the-mix-for-interior/2013/01/31/c4cb27c0-6bbf-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_blog.html#pagebreak
Despite court ruling, EPA raises biofuel estimate
Published January 31, 2013
Associated Press
advertisement
Days after a federal appeals court said the Obama administration is setting
overly optimistic production quotas for the struggling biofuels industry,
the government issued new standards Thursday that raise production
estimates for 2013.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/01/31/despite-court-ruling-epa-raises-biofuel-estimate/
U.S. Renewable-Energy Capacity Doubled From 2009-2012, BNEF Says
Bloomberg
By Justin Doom - Jan 31, 2013
Renewable-energy capacity in the U.S. almost doubled from 2009 to 2012,
helping reduce the nation's carbon-dioxide emissions last year to the
lowest since 1994, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance report.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-31/u-s-renewable-energy-capacity-doubled-from-2009-2012-bnef-says.html
Dems ask NFL, NBA for suggestions on how to battle climate change
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 01/31/13 12:17 PM ET
A new Capitol Hill climate task force wants a wide range of parties —
including energy companies, green groups, sports leagues and plenty
in-between — to submit suggestions for federal actions to battle global
warming.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/280351-dems-ask-nfl-for-ideas-on-battling-climate-change
Obama's Climate Vow Elevates EPA Role in Keystone XL Review
Bloomberg
By Lisa Song - Jan 31, 2013
InsideClimateNews.org -- One of the biggest unknowns in the unfolding
Keystone XL debate is the role the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
might play.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-31/obama-s-climate-vow-elevates-epa-role-in-keystone-xl-review.html
Chesapeake regaining "resilience," EPA reports
But annual "barometer" finds bay still impaired, far from many restoration
goals
Baltimore Sun
The Chesapeake Bay is showing increased resilience in the face of natural
and man-made abuses, though it's still seriously impaired, according to the
latest official report on the regional restoration effort.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bal-bmg-chesapeake-regaining-resilience-epa-reports-20130131,0,2739167.story
Press Releases
EPA Proposes Changes to Enhance Confidence in RIN Trading in the RFS
Program
WASHINGTON -To help make the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program more
efficient and effective the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
proposing a structured process for buyers of Renewable Identification
Numbers (RINs) in order to verify their validity.
Under the proposal, RINs would be verified through a new voluntary quality
assurance program that also includes alternative compliance options which
leverage existing industry practices and market forces. This proposal will
be available for a 30-day public comment period. EPA will consider feedback
from a range of stakeholders before the proposal is finalized.
Quality Assurance Plans (QAPs) would provide a recognized means for
independent third parties to audit the production of renewable fuel and
verify that RINs have been validly generated.
For RINs that have been verified according to an approved QAP, the program
would provide protection against liability for civil violations resulting
from the transfer or use of invalidly generated RINs under certain
conditions. The rule would also specify both the conditions under which
invalid RINs must be replaced with valid RINs, and by whom. The proposed
rule allows verification of RINs to begin this year.
The RFS program, which was established under the Energy Policy Act of 2005
and later modified through the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007, requires that specified volumes of renewable fuel be used as
transportation fuel, home heating oil, and/or jet fuel each year.
Renewable fuel producers and importers generate RINs based on the volume of
compliant renewable fuel that they make available. RINs can then be traded
and used by petroleum refiners and importers ("obligated parties") to show
compliance with their volume obligations.
Following a number of high profile RIN fraud cases, EPA expects its
rulemaking to improve the overall liquidity in the RIN market and in
particular make it easier for smaller renewable fuel producers to sell
their RINs. EPA worked closely with stakeholders in developing the
proposal.
More information on the proposed rule and the RFS program:
http://epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/regulations.htm
EPA Proposes 2013 Renewable Fuel Standards
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing
the 2013 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the
agency's Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2).
The proposal announced today will be open for a 45-day public comment
period and EPA will consider feedback from a range of stakeholders before
the proposal is finalized. EPA continues to support the use of renewable
fuels within the transportation sector through the RFS2 program, which
encourages innovation, strengthens American energy security, and decreases
greenhouse gas pollution.
The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) established the
RFS2 program and the annual renewable fuel volume targets, which steadily
increase to an overall level of 36 billion gallons in 2022. To achieve
these volumes, EPA calculates a percentage-based standard for the following
year. Based on the standard, each refiner and importer determines the
minimum volume of renewable fuel that it must ensure is used in its
transportation fuel.
The proposed 2013 overall volumes and standards are:
Biomass-based diesel (1.28 billion gallons; 1.12 percent)
Advanced biofuels (2.75 billion gallons; 1.60 percent)
Cellulosic biofuels (14 million gallons; 0.008 percent)
Total renewable fuels (16.55 billion gallons; 9.63 percent)
Overall, EPA's RFS2 program encourages greater use of renewable fuels,
including advanced biofuels. For 2013, the program is proposing to
implement EISA's requirement to blend more than 1.35 billion gallons of
renewable fuels over the amount mandated for 2012.
More information on the standards and regulations:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/regulations.htm
More information on renewable fuels:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/index.htm
