2/13/13
Oil Spill
U.S. Senator Asks DOJ to Wait on Civil Settlement of BP Oil Spill Charges
Published February 12, 2013
Dow Jones Newswires
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Sen. David Vitter (R., La.) is asking the U.S. Justice Department to hold
off on a civil settlement with BP Plc (BP, BP.LN) over the Deepwater
Horizon accident until the company comes to terms with Gulf Coast states on
other environmental penalties.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/02/12/us-senator-asks-doj-to-wait-on-civil-settlement-bp-oil-spill-charges/
Republican lawmaker urges DOJ not to rush BP clean water decision
Reuters
Tue, Feb 12 2013
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican lawmaker has urged U.S. authorities not
rush to settle with BP Plc under the U.S. Clean Water Act in a court case
starting this month related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/12/us-bp-spill-vitter-idUSBRE91B1D420130212
BP oil spill money will boost Pinellas culinary tourism
Tampa Tribune
CLEARWATER -- Oil slicks from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill did not wash
up on Pinellas County beaches, but county tourism officials still fear the
2010 environmental disaster tarnished the Gulf Coast's reputation for
pristine beaches and seafood.
http://www2.tbo.com/news/business/2013/feb/12/1/bp-oil-spill-money-will-boost-pinellas-culinary-to-ar-632495/
State News
Hearings set for sewage districts
Bolivar Commercial
by Rory Doyle
02.07.13 - 07:39 pm
The Bolivar County Board of Supervisors held its first of two February
meetings Monday at the First Judicial Courthouse in Rosedale prior to the
official grand reopening ceremony of the historic facility.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/21652449/article-Hearings-set-for-sewage-districts?instance=latest_articles
Entergy lauds women in state government
Clarion Ledger
It's amazing, Mississippi's first female agriculture commissioner says, how
vicious debate can get in the state Legislature.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130213/NEWS01/302130045/Entergy-lauds-women-state-government
National News
In State of the Union, Obama threatens Congress on climate change
Washington Post
By Stephen Stromberg , Updated: February 13, 2013
President Obama began his State of the Union address Tuesday night by
threatening Congress. And, on global warming, that's a good thing.
This was the threat: Pass a market-based climate-change plan — maybe
something like the cap-and-trade program John McCain once proposed — or I
will unleash my administration.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2013/02/13/obama-state-of-the-union-climate-change-sotu/
Obama promises climate action
Washington Post
While President Obama called on Congress to pass the same kind of
cap-and-trade legislation which died in 2010, urging it "to pursue a
bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change," no such bill is
likely to pass in the next two years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/02/12/promise-on-cap-and-trade-action/
Obama's State of the Union climate call may buy time for EPA
Politico
By: Darren Goode
February 12, 2013 11:23 PM EST
President Barack Obama's speech Tuesday night further raised hopes that he
is prepared to take action on climate change — but probably not right away.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/02/obamas-state-of-the-union-climate-call-may-buy-time-for-epa-87567.html?hp=l3
In address, a pledge to fight global warming
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/12/13 09:21 PM ET
President Obama used his State of the Union speech to offer a full-throated
pledge to use executive actions to battle global warming if Congress won't
pass a major climate bill.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/282697-obama-vows-executive-climate-push-but-many-specifics-remain-absent
Top Republican to Obama: Don't bypass Congress on climate
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/12/13 11:58 PM ET
The Senate's number three Republican said President Obama risks a public
backlash if he goes around Capitol Hill by pushing new executive-level
actions on climate change.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/282755-top-republican-to-obama-dont-bypass-us-on-climate
Jindal aide: Army Corps of Engineers is a 'complete disaster'
By Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune
February 07, 2013 at 10:44 AM
WASHINGTON - The chair of Louisiana's coastal Protection and Restoration
Authority said Thursday that the Army Corps of Engineers, aside for its
post-Katrina hurricane protection upgrades, is a "complete disaster."
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/02/jindal_aide_army_corps_of_engi.html
Sen. Boxer's ideal EPA candidate seems to describe Gina McCarthy
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 02/12/13 03:41 PM ET
Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairwoman Barbara Boxer
(D-Calif.) isn't outright naming her top choice to run the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
But her description of a preferred candidate fits Gina McCarthy, EPA's top
air pollution regulator, very, very nicely.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/282573-sen-boxers-ideal-epa-candidate-seems-to-describe-gina-mccarthy
Company accused of dumping oil in Gulf of Mexico
by Associated Press
Published: February 12,2013
GULF OF MEXICO — The Justice Department is suing a Houston, Texas-based
company it accuses of illegally discharging oil from a platform in the Gulf
of Mexico.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/02/12/company-accused-of-dumping-oil-in-gulf-of-mexico/
Signaling delay in regulations, NY health official says more time needed to
review fracking
By Associated Press, Updated: Wednesday, February 13, 2:09 AM
ALBANY, N.Y. — Environmental groups praised state regulators for delaying a
decision on shale gas development until a more in-depth health study is
finished, but landowners eager to reap profits from their mineral resources
were frustrated at another delay in a rulemaking process that has kept
drilling on hold for 4 1/2 years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/signaling-delay-in-regulations-ny-health-official-says-more-time-needed-to-review-fracking/2013/02/13/f25978d4-75ad-11e2-9889-60bfcbb02149_story.html
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: If there's a rush to name a new DMR director, then
slow it down
One thing we hope no one will give up for Lent is a conscientious and
transparent approach to finding the next executive director of the
Mississippi Department of Marine resources.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/12/4461990/sun-herald-editorial-if-theres.html
Press releases
UPDATED DAMAGE REPORTS FROM TORNADOES AND SEVERE WEATHER
PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of
at least 800 homes destroyed or receiving major damage from severe storms
and tornadoes Sunday night. Power companies report outages are down to 350
customers.
Three shelters are open for affected residents:
· Forrest County Community 361 Shelter on U.S. 49 South in Hattiesburg.
· Lamar County Multipurpose Center at 99 Central Industrial Rd. in
Purvis.
· Petal Civic Center at 712 South Main Street in Petal.
Tomorrow joint damage assessments will begin with MEMA, FEMA, local
officials and members of the U.S. Small Business Administration. The
results of those assessments will be used to determine if Mississippi is
eligible for federal assistance.
The National Weather Service in Jackson has confirmed an EF1 tornado with
95mph winds occurred Sunday afternoon in Lawrence County. It struck the Arm
community, snapping and uprooting dozens of trees. It also caused some
minor roof damage. It was about 140 yards wide and on the ground for about
1.6 miles. This tornado is in addition to the EF-4 confirmed in
Lamar/Forrest Counties and the EF-3 in Marion County.
People interested in volunteering to assist with the clean-up are
encouraged to sign up with the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service
at www.volunteermississippi.org or by calling 1-888-353-1793.
A list of counties with damages:
Claiborne:
· Several roads flooded.
Forrest County:
· Reporting 192 homes destroyed, 338 with major damage with assessments
still ongoing.
Hinds County:
· Several homes flooded. Trees down.
Humphreys County:
· At least one home and horse arena damaged.
Lamar County:
· Reporting 58 homes destroyed and 194 with major damage.
Lawrence County:
· Several homes damaged.
Marion County:
· Eleven homes destroyed, four with major damage.
Perry County:
· Several homes damaged. Three roads closed due to debris and flooding.
Warren County:
· Trees down and flooding on multiple streets.
Wayne County:
· Four homes destroyed and six with major damage.
· Two bridges and two roads sustained major damage.
Yazoo County:
· Trees down and flooding on multiple streets.
State and local emergency officials remain on the ground in impacted areas.
MEMA will report updates as they are available.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for
information.
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