3.13.13
Oil Spill
Cement seal had 'low probability of success,' Halliburton executive
testifies at BP trial
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated March 12, 2013 at 8:04 PM
The cement slurry used to seal the ill-fated BP Macondo well "had a low
probability of success," a Halliburton executive who served as head of its
cementing operations at the time of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster
testified Tuesday in the BP spill trial.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/03/cement_slurry_had_low_probabil.html#incart_river
Halliburton Official 'Surprised' by Unauthorized Tests
Bloomberg
By Allen Johnson Jr. and Margaret Cronin Fisk on March 12, 2013
A Halliburton Co. (HAL) safety executive testified he didn't authorize
post-explosion tests on the type of cement used on the BP Plc (BP/) well
that blew up in the Gulf of Mexico and was surprised when he heard about
them a year later.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-03-12/halliburton-official-surprised-by-unauthorized-tests
BP claims administrator has paid out nearly $1.7 billion
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
updated March 11, 2013 at 7:05 PM
The Deepwater Horizon Claims Center, which is administering the claims
process for the economic and property damages settlement between BP and
private claimants for damages resulting from the 2010 oil spill, has paid
out nearly $1.7 billion as of Monday.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/03/bp_claims_administrator_has_pa.html#incart_river
State News
Marine Resources commissioners to review executive director applicants
Wednesday
By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
on March 12, 2013 at 3:38 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources will
meet in executive session Wednesday morning to begin reviewing applications
from candidates for the vacant Executive Director's post for the Department
of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/03/marine_resources_commissioners_1.html#incart_river
National News
Blaze erupts on Louisiana waterway after pipeline struck; four injured, one
severely
By The Associated Press
updated March 13, 2013 at 12:48 AM
LAFITTE, La. — A tug boat pushing an oil barge struck a gas pipeline in a
bayou south of New Orleans on Tuesday night, igniting a blaze that burned
for hours and left four people injured, one severely.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/03/blaze_erupts_on_louisiana_wate.html#incart_river
174 manatees killed by red tide in Florida, but Alabama migrants so far
unaffected
By Ben Raines | braines@al.com
March 13, 2013 at 12:12 AM
A record number of manatees have been killed by a red tide outbreak along
Florida's southwest coast this winter.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/03/174_manatees_killed_by_red_tid_1.html#incart_river
Democrats circulate carbon tax bill
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 03/12/13 01:40 PM ET
A bicameral group of Democrats floated draft legislation Tuesday that would
impose a per-ton fee on carbon emissions from the nation's largest
polluters, such as electricity generators and petroleum refineries.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/287641-democrats-circulate-carbon-fee-bill
Obama: Climate change threatens shipping routes
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 03/12/13 11:35 AM ET
President Obama said Tuesday that federal investments in waterway
maintenance will be vital as drought fueled by climate change creates
problems for barges bringing goods out of the Midwest.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/287577-obama-climate-fueled-drought-presents-export-risks
States, Groups Ask EPA to Exclude Initiative From Enforcement Priorities
for FY 2014-16
Bloomberg
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
By Jessica Coomes
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and some industry groups are encouraging the
Environmental Protection Agency to exclude a new compliance initiative from
the agency's enforcement priorities for fiscal years 2014 through 2016.
http://www.bna.com/states-groups-ask-n17179872754/
EPA email: Goal was 'shaming' states into compliance
Washington Times
Internal EPA emails released Tuesday show an agency hostile to new energy
production in the U.S. and an effort at "shaming" states into complying
with Obama administration environmental priorities, according to the top
Republican on the Senate environment committee.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/mar/12/epa-email-goal-was-shaming-states/
Groups split on Md. bill to exempt farms from new bay regs in exchange for
inspections
By Associated Press, Published: March 12
BALTIMORE — Environmental groups are split over a bill that would give
Maryland farmers more certainty about how Chesapeake Bay restoration
regulations will affect them.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/groups-split-on-md-bill-to-exempt-farms-from-new-bay-regs-in-exchange-for-inspections/2013/03/12/6943fdba-8b62-11e2-af15-99809eaba6cb_story.html
Bill Would Require Details on Asbestos Payouts
Wall Street Journal
By DIONNE SEARCEY
Federal lawmakers are reviving efforts to require asbestos bankruptcy
trusts to detail their claim payouts in a bid to cut down on fraud across
the multibillion-dollar system set up to compensate people sickened by the
material.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324096404578356313546870042.html
Opinion
Newsom: I'd rather get a mullet than pick next DMR director
Sun Herald
The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources will get together today to
talk about candidates to head up the Department of Marine Resources.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/03/12/4523786/newsom-id-rather-get-a-mullet.html
Wicker Bill Would Reverse Harmful EPA Regulation
Studies Say Increased Ethanol in Fuel Could Lead to Engine Damage, Higher
Food Prices
Monday, March 11, 2013
Last month, I introduced legislation with Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to
reverse an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation that would lead
to an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline. With budgets tight
and gas prices high, shortsighted policies from government bureaucrats
should not add to the financial burdens of American consumers, which higher
levels of ethanol in gasoline threaten to do.
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=NewsRoom.WeeklyColumn&ContentRecord_id=598e7cbb-0110-b68f-e76f-bee5060f3554&Region_id=&Issue_id
=
EPA Nominee Gina McCarthy Has A History Of Misleading Congress
Forbes
By Marlo Lewis & Anthony Ward
President Obama has nominated Gina McCarthy to succeed Lisa Jackson as EPA
administrator. When the Senate takes up her confirmation, lawmakers should
be aware that McCarthy, the current chief of air regulation at EPA, has a
history of misleading Congress and the public about her agency's greenhouse
gas regulations.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2013/03/12/epa-nominee-gina-mccarthy-has-a-history-of-misleading-congress/
Press Releases
EPA Announces Cities with the Most Energy Star Buildings in the US
Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York, Atlanta rank in top five
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a list
of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings in
2012, highlighting how owners and managers of commercial buildings across
the country are taking action on climate change while delivering real
financial savings to the bottom line.
"Through their partnership with EPA, the owners and managers of Energy Star
certified buildings are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions while
saving on utility bills," said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe.
"With Energy Star, cities across America are helping achieve President
Obama's goal to cut in half the energy wasted by our businesses over the
next 20 years."
In 2012, more than 20,000 Energy Star certified buildings across America
helped save more than $2.7 billion in annual utility bills while preventing
greenhouse gas emissions equal to emissions from the annual electricity use
of more than two million homes.
Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17 percent of U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. EPA
continues to see an increase in buildings applying for and earning Energy
Star certification each year. The cumulative number of Energy Star
certified buildings has increased by more than 24 percent compared to last
year, representing more than 3 billion square feet of floorspace
nationwide. In 2012 alone, more than 8,200 buildings earned EPA's Energy
Star certification.
For the fifth year in a row, Los Angeles continues to hold on to first
place, with 528 buildings. Washington, D.C., with 462 buildings, is a
competitive front-runner. In third place, with 353 buildings, Chicago has
risen through the rankings each year, starting in sixth place in 2008 and
increasing the number of buildings certified by an average of 32 percent
each year. New York, which recently required its commercial buildings to
publicly disclose their energy use, secured fourth place.
Phoenix broke into the top 10 for the first time, with 202 buildings.
Boston, a newcomer to the list last year, held on to 10th place, with 11th
place Philadelphia not far behind. Seventh-place Houston, with 241
buildings, is home to one in particular that stands out: Phoenix Tower, a
34-story office building, has earned EPA's Energy Star 14 times—more than
any other building in America.
Commercial buildings that earn EPA's Energy Star must perform in the top 25
percent of similar buildings nationwide, as verified by a professional
engineer or a registered architect. Energy Star certified buildings use an
average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer
greenhouse gas emissions than average buildings. Fifteen types of
commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, including office buildings,
K-12 schools, and retail stores.
Launched in 1992 by EPA, Energy Star is a market-based partnership to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Over the past 20
years, with help from Energy Star, American families and businesses have
saved more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8
billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Today, the Energy Star
label can be found on more than 65 different product categories and more
than 1.4 million new homes, in addition to the more than 20,000 commercial
buildings.
Complete list of Top Cities: http://energystar.gov/topcities
Data behind Energy Star certified buildings:
http://energystar.gov/datatrends
More about earning the Energy Star for commercial buildings:
http://energystar.gov/labeledbuildings
