2/15/13
Oil Spill
Judge approves Transocean's plea deal in oil spill
By MICHAEL KUNZELMANand KEVIN MCGILL — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge has approved Transocean Ltd.'s agreement
with the Justice Department to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge and pay
$400 million in criminal penalties for its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/14/4470277/judge-approves-transoceans-plea.html
Judge approves plea deal between Transocean and feds on criminal charges
stemming from Gulf oil spill
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated February 14, 2013 at 7:43 PM
Less than a month after BP's plea deal on criminal charges was approved, a
federal judge on Thursday approved a similar, but far less expensive, deal
between Transocean and the U.S. Justice Department based on the company's
role in the Gulf oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/02/federal_judge_approves_400_mil.html
Judge Accepts Transocean Guilty Plea in Gulf Oil Spill
NY Times
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS
HOUSTON — A federal judge in New Orleans approved on Thursday Transocean's
agreement with prosecutors to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge and pay
$400 million in criminal penalties for its role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil well blowout that left 11 workers dead and resulted in a yearlong
moratorium on deepwater drilling.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/business/judge-clears-transocean-plea-in-gulf-spill.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Judge Approves Transocean Settlement
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
A federal judge in New Orleans approved Transocean Ltd.'s RIGN.VX -0.28%
$400 million criminal settlement with the Justice Department over the 2010
Deepwater Horizon accident, a spokesman for the company said Thursday.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324616604578304020782814346.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
BP oil spill settlement offers surpass $2 billion mark
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated February 14, 2013 at 10:17 AM
More than $2 billion in settlement payments have been offered to businesses
and individuals who suffered losses as a result of BP's Gulf of Mexico oil
spill, according to a federal court filing by the Lafayette lawyer in
charge of the claims process.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/02/bp_oil_spill_settlement_offers.html
State News
Water advisory issued after sewage overflows from manholes
MDEQ issues three water advisories for areas of Jackson
WAPT
JACKSON, Miss. —Water advisories have been issued for three areas of
Jackson.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued the two
temporary water contact advisories and one precautionary advisory due to
manhole sewage overflows that took place Wednesday.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/Water-advisory-issued-after-sewage-overflows-from-manholes/-/9156912/18545338/-/vxk0quz/-/index.html
Commission on Marine Resources formalizing ad for new DMR director
By Mississippi Press Staff
updated February 14, 2013 at 4:14 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi - The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources will
formalize the advertisement inviting applications and nominations for the
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Executive Director position at
their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, according to a news
release.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/02/commission_on_marine_resources_1.html#incart_river
Senate approves Kemper power plant settlement bills, now headed to governor
By The Associated Press
updated February 14, 2013 at 5:32 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The state Senate has approved two House-passed
bills that codify a settlement between the Public Service Commission and
Mississippi Power Co. over the company's Kemper County power plant.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/02/senate_approves_kemper_power_p.html#incart_river
National News
Insider Emerges as Top Contender for EPA Job
Wall Street Journal
By TENNILLE TRACY, KEITH JOHNSON and RYAN TRACY
WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama is moving toward naming a veteran
clean-air expert to head the Environmental Protection Agency, in a signal
of his intent to make climate change a priority in his second term.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324616604578304361773700262.html
USDA bolsters Mississippi River Basin project
The Associated Press
MINNEAPOLIS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's spending another
$59 million this year on an initiative that works with farmers and other
landowners to reduce pollution in the Mississippi River basin.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/15/4470339/usda-bolsters-mississippi-river.html
U.S. Agency Cites Climate Change as 'Financial Risk'
Wall Street Journal
By TENNILLE TRACY
WASHINGTON—A government agency that investigates federal spending has
singled out climate change as an event that could pose a "significant
financial risk" to the U.S. government.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324616604578304193661558314.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
EPA official: Cuts will undercut pollution forecasts, waste cleanups
By Associated Press,
WASHINGTON — A top environmental official is warning lawmakers that
automatic spending cuts due next month would jeopardize EPA's ability to
protect against oil spills, air pollution, and hazardous waste.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/epa-official-cuts-will-undercut-pollution-forecasts-waste-cleanups/2013/02/14/c943750c-76b7-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html
Traces of Anxiety Drug May Affect Behavior in Fish
NY Times
By PAM BELLUCK
Traces of a common psychiatric medication that winds up in rivers and
streams may affect fish behavior and feeding patterns, according to a study
in the journal Science published Thursday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/science/traces-of-anxiety-drug-may-affect-fish-behavior-study-shows.html?ref=earth
House hearing looks at fracking, regulations
The Hill
By Zack Colman and Ben Geman - 02/14/13 06:30 PM ET
COMING FRIDAY: House Republicans will launch new broadsides against federal
environmental regulations.
A House Energy and Commerce Committee panel will discuss state efforts "in
protecting the environment under current law."
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/283317-overnight-energy-house-hearing-looks-at-fracking-regulations
GOP bills target 'overreaching' EPA
The Hill
By Ben Goad - 02/14/13 03:25 PM ET
A series of new bills introduced this week in the Senate seek to limit the
Environmental Protection Agency's regulatory reach and would subject the
agency to penalties for missing reporting deadlines.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/283257-gop-bills-target-epa-power-seek-transparency-
Sen. Boxer hopes to bring climate legislation to floor by summer
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 02/14/13 12:43 PM ET
Senate Environment and Public Works Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.)
said Thursday that she plans to move a comprehensive climate bill through
her committee and to the floor by this summer.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/283189-sen-boxer-plans-to-get-climate-bill-to-floor-by-summer
Georgia pols ramp up campaign to shift Tennessee border, siphon water
supply
By Barnini Chakraborty
Published February 14, 2013
FoxNews.com
Georgia residents are thirsty for Tennessee water. And state lawmakers are
willing to try and move the border in order to get it.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/14/water-wars-georgia-wants-slice-tennessee-river/?test=latestnews
Southern governors implore Interior nominee Sally Jewell to drill off their
coasts
By Sean Cockerham — McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON — The governors of South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia
are pushing President Barack Obama's choice for interior secretary to
abandon federal opposition to drilling off the Atlantic Coast, where
production has been blocked for decades.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/02/14/4469790/southern-governors-implore-interior.html
Opinion
A natural gas strategy Democrats should heed
Washington Post
By Editorial Board,
"THE NATURAL-GAS boom has led to cleaner power and greater energy
independence," President Obama declared in his State of the Union address
Tuesday night. "That's why my administration will keep cutting red tape and
speeding up new oil and gas permits."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-natural-gas-strategy-democrats-should-heed/2013/02/14/5adc3162-7621-11e2-8f84-3e4b513b1a13_story.html
Press Releases
Transocean Pleads Guilty, Is Sentenced to Pay $400 Million in Criminal
Penalties for Criminal Conduct Leading to Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Second Corporate Guilty Plea Obtained by Deepwater Horizon Task Force,
Second-largest Criminal Clean Water Act Fines and Penalties in U.S. History
WASHINGTON - Transocean Deepwater Inc. pleaded guilty today to a violation
of the Clean Water Act (CWA) for its illegal conduct leading to the 2010
Deepwater Horizon disaster, and was sentenced to pay $400 million in
criminal fines and penalties, Attorney General Holder announced today.
In total, the amount of fines and other criminal penalties imposed on
Transocean are the second-largest environmental crime recovery in U.S.
history – following the historic $4 billion criminal sentence imposed on BP
Exploration and Production Inc. in connection with the same disaster.
"Transocean's guilty plea and sentencing are the latest steps in the
department's ongoing efforts to seek justice on behalf of the victims of
the Deepwater Horizon disaster," said Attorney General Holder. "Most of the
$400 million criminal recovery – one of the largest for an environmental
crime in U.S. history – will go toward protecting, restoring and rebuilding
the Gulf Coast region."
"The Deepwater Horizon explosion was a senseless tragedy that could have
been avoided," said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the
Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Eleven men died, and the Gulf's
waters, shorelines, communities and economies suffered enormous damage.
With today's guilty plea, BP and Transocean have now both been held
criminally accountable for their roles in this disaster."
Transocean's guilty plea was accepted, and the sentence was imposed, by
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo of the Eastern District of
Louisiana. During the guilty plea and sentencing proceeding, Judge Milazzo
found, among other things, that the sentence appropriately reflects
Transocean's role in the offense conduct, and that the criminal payments
directed to the National Academy of Sciences and National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation are appropriately designed to help remedy the harm to the Gulf
of Mexico caused by Transocean's actions. The judge also noted that the
fines and five year probationary period provide just punishment and
adequate deterrence.
Transocean pleaded guilty to an information, previously filed in federal
court in New Orleans, charging the company with violating the CWA. During
the guilty plea proceeding today, Transocean admitted that members of its
crew onboard the Deepwater Horizon, acting at the direction of BP's well
site leaders, known as "company men," were negligent in failing to
investigate fully clear indications that the Macondo well was not secure
and that oil and gas were flowing into the well.
The criminal resolution is structured to directly benefit the Gulf region.
Under the order entered by the court pursuant to the plea agreement, $150
million of the $400 million criminal recovery is dedicated to acquiring,
restoring, preserving and conserving – in consultation with appropriate
state and other resource managers – the marine and coastal environments,
ecosystems and bird and wildlife habitat in the Gulf of Mexico and
bordering states harmed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This portion of
the criminal recovery will also be directed to significant barrier island
restoration and/or river diversion off the coast of Louisiana to further
benefit and improve coastal wetlands affected by the spill. An additional
$150 million will be used to fund improved oil spill prevention and
response efforts in the Gulf through research, development, education and
training.
Transocean was also sentenced, according to the plea agreement, to five
years of probation – the maximum term of probation permitted by law.
A separate proposed civil consent decree, which resolves the United States'
civil CWA penalty claims, imposes a record $1 billion civil Clean Water Act
penalty, and requires significant measures to improve performance and
prevent recurrence, is pending before U.S. District Judge Carl J. Barbier
of the Eastern District of Louisiana.
The charges and allegations pending against individuals in related cases
are merely accusations, and those individuals are considered innocent
unless and until proven guilty.
The guilty plea and sentencing announced today are part of the ongoing
criminal investigation by the Deepwater Horizon Task Force into matters
related to the April 2010 Gulf oil spill. The Deepwater Horizon Task Force,
based in New Orleans, is supervised by Assistant Attorney General Breuer
and led by Deputy Assistant Attorney General John D. Buretta, who serves as
the director of the task force. The task force includes prosecutors from
the Criminal Division and the Environment and Natural Resources Division of
the Department of Justice; the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern
District of Louisiana, as well as other U.S. Attorneys' Offices; and
investigating agents from: the FBI; Environmental Protection Agency,
Criminal Investigative Division; Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Inspector General; Department of Interior, Office of Inspector General;
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Law Enforcement;
U.S. Coast Guard; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the Louisiana
Department of Environmental Quality.
This case was prosecuted by Deepwater Horizon Task Force Director John D.
Buretta, Deputy Directors Derek A. Cohen and Avi Gesser, and task force
prosecutors Richard R. Pickens II, Scott M. Cullen, Colin Black and Rohan
Virginkar.
Wicker, Vitter Introduce Bill to Roll Back Ethanol Requirement for Gasoline
Legislation seeks to limit ethanol blend to 10 percent
Thursday, February 14, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and David Vitter
(R-La.) on Thursday, introduced legislation to block an increase in the
amount of ethanol that can be blended with gasoline. The bill would
overturn Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) waivers that allowed
gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol (E15) to be used for many passenger
cars and light trucks.
The higher blend of ethanol has been found to cause engine damage, reduce
fuel efficiency, and contribute to higher corn prices and rising food costs
for American consumers. The Wicker-Vitter bill would prohibit the EPA
Administrator from granting any waiver for a blend above 10 percent ethanol
and would repeal the previous waivers.
"EPA's flawed waivers allowing E15 amount to government bureaucrats issuing
short-sighted regulations that negatively impact families and businesses
across the country," said Wicker, a member of the Environment and Public
Works (EPW) Committee. "The concerns surrounding E15 that existed prior to
the waivers have increased instead of diminishing."
"Whether you drive a car, truck, boat, or tractor, misfueling with E15
could result in engine failure, increased emissions, and the voiding of
warranty coverage," said Vitter. "It is irresponsible for EPA to allow E15
without sufficient testing and technical analysis. I support an
all-inclusive energy strategy, but experimenting before understanding the
consequences and potential cost of using E15 is unfair to consumers."
EPA issued two waivers to permit the use of E15. The first, in 2010, was
for use in cars and light trucks model year 2007 or later. The second, in
2011, allowed E15 to be used in vehicles model year 2001 to 2006.
In November 2012, AAA urged the Obama administration to halt the sale of
E15 because of possible engine damage. AAA said it found in a survey a
strong likelihood of consumer confusion and the potential for voided
warranties and vehicle damage. More on that study can be found here:
http://newsroom.aaa.com/2012/11/new-e15-gasoline-may-damage-vehicles-and-cause-consumer-confusion/
A copy of the Wicker-Vitter bill can be found here:
http://wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Files.View&FileStore_id=c82fe883-51a0-4fc9-999e-51ec19f4b85a
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=daf97f2b-c16c-053c-f435-581ca633c2fb&Region_id=&Issue_id
=
