3.14.13
Oil Spill
Halliburton rig worker acknowledges missing signs of well blowout as BP
trial continues
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
March 13, 2013 at 8:07 PM
Joseph Keith, a mud logger for Halliburton's Sperry Sun unit, testified
Wednesday in the 11th day of the BP trial that he took a smoke break and
missed a "kick" of natural gas an hour before the April 20, 2010 blowout of
BP's Macondo well and the explosion and fire aboard the Deepwater Horizon
drilling rig.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/03/halliburton_rig_worker_acknowl.html#incart_river
Rig worker: Flurry of activity hindered his ability to monitor BP's well
for signs of blowout
By Associated Press, Published: March 13
NEW ORLEANS — A worker who survived the deadly explosion on the Deepwater
Horizon testified Wednesday that a flurry of activity on the drilling rig
hindered his ability to monitor BP's well for signs of trouble before the
April 2010 blowout.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/rig-worker-flurry-of-activity-hindered-his-ability-to-monitor-bps-well-for-signs-of-blowout/2013/03/13/bb1502f6-8bf3-11e2-af15-99809eaba6cb_story.html
Creatures in Alabama coastal marshes mostly unaffected by BP spill,
according to study
By Ben Raines | braines@al.com
March 13, 2013 at 4:10 PM
A three-year study of an Alabama marsh suggests the 2010 BP spill had
little effect on the number of juvenile fish, shrimp and crabs living there
before and after the disaster.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/03/creatures_in_alabama_coastal_m.html#incart_river
Officials collect ideas on how to spend oil spill money
Tampa Bay Times
ST. PETERSBURG — In New Orleans, a federal trial has been grinding away,
aimed at deciding who caused the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and how
much those responsible should pay in fines.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/officials-collect-ideas-on-how-to-spend-oil-spill-money/2108782
State questions handling of BP oil-spill money
News Service of Florida
4:56 p.m. EDT, March 13, 2013
State lawmakers may take over a BP-financed tourism program because
troubles have cropped up in how the money has been handled in a couple of
Panhandle counties, according to Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-bp-spill-tourism-money-mishandled-20130312,0,7115988.story
Plaintiffs' lawyer resigns amid BP oil spill trial
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS -- A Texas lawyer has resigned from the team of plaintiffs'
attorneys who brokered a multibillion-dollar settlement with BP PLC and are
facing the company at trial over the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/03/13/3284427/plaintiffs-lawyer-resigns-amid.html
State News
Marine Resources commissioners select five Mississippians to interview for
DMR executive director's post
By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
on March 13, 2013 at 11:57 AM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources
emerged from a 2 1/2 hour executive session with five candidates chosen
from a field of 17 who will now be interviewed for the Department of Marine
Resources Executive Director post.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/03/marine_resources_commissioners_2.html#incart_river
CMR narrows field for DMR chief to five
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- The Commission on Marine Resources on Wednesday narrowed the
field for the executive director's job at the Department of Marine
Resources from 17 to five and hopes to have three nominees for the governor
by next week.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/03/13/4525214/17-applications-received-for-dmr.html
CMR narrows the search for new DMR executive director
WLOX
The Commission on Marine Resources has now narrowed the search for a new
DMR executive director. Commissioners held a special meeting Wednesday
morning to review 17 applications for the job. They spent about two hours
reviewing resumes and chose five finalists from that group.
http://www.wlox.com/story/21630960/cmr-narrows-the-search-for-new-dmr-executive-director
Cochran backs bill exempting small farms from EPA rules
by MBJ Staff
Published: March 13,2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has endorsed
legislation that would provide relief to small farms from Environmental
Protection Agency fuel storage requirements that are set to take effect in
May.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/03/13/cochran-backs-bill-exempting-small-farms-from-epa-rules/
$13.8m wastewater plant begins tests
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
WALLS — The $13.8 million Johnson Creek Wastewater Plant near Walls began
successfully discharging wastewater effluent on March 6, according to Tracy
Huffman, project engineer and a consultant for the DeSoto County Regional
Utility Authority.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2013/03/14/news/doc51410bdbec61b668512306.txt
Natchez Gets Funding for KiOR Project
AP
NATCHEZ, Miss. (AP) – Adams County has received $3.9 million in grants from
the state for work on a levee and new water system on the former Belwood
County Club property, the future site of KiOR's Natchez alternative fuel
production facility.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/natchez-gets-funding-for-kior-project
Opinion
The EPA: The Worst Of Many Rogue Federal Agencies
Forbes
In the Age of Obama, there are many viable candidates for the official
title of Washington's "Private Sector Enemy Number One." You could make a
strong case for the National Labor Relations Board, the Department of
Homeland Security, the Transportation Security Administration, and others,
but my choice would be the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markhendrickson/2013/03/14/the-epa-the-worst-of-many-rogue-federal-agencies/
Clearing the Air on an Opaque EPA
EPA nominee Gina McCarthy has an awful lot to answer for
By DAVID VITTER
March 13, 2013
David Vitter is a Republican senator from Louisiana.
Sunshine Week couldn't come at a better time this year. President Obama,
who pledged that his administration would be "the most open and transparent
in history," has just nominated a new head of the Environmental Protection
Agency amidst serious problems there proving how hollow that promise is.
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/03/13/obama-epa-nominee-gina-mccarthy-has-a-lot-to-answer-for
Press Releases
Governor Bryant Signs Job Training Bill
JACKSON— Governor Phil Bryant has signed House Bill 932, a measure that
will provide $8 million more to the Workforce Enhancement Training Fund.
The WET fund is used by community colleges to provide training for jobs and
skills that employers have identified as being in demand.
"For Mississippi to compete in a global marketplace, we must have a skilled
workforce," Gov. Bryant said. "This legislation helps maintain the
integrity of the Workforce Enhancement Training Fund without increasing the
burden on employers and will ensure that training is available for jobs
that are in demand in our state."
The measure will generate the additional job training money for one year by
reducing the unemployment tax while increasing the WET Fund tax by an
equivalent amount. The net effect on employers, who pay the taxes, will be
zero. The decrease in unemployment taxes will be further offset by more
than $14 million in fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits MDES has
recovered.
"The $8 million dollars secured from the WET fund will have an immediate
benefit for Mississippi employers who depend on community colleges for
workforce training," Dr. Clyde Muse, President of Hinds Community College
said. "Access to these newly recovered funds is a testament to Governor
Bryant's commitment to building a stronger Mississippi workforce by
supporting education and workforce initiatives that equip Mississippi
workers with skills that produce a family-sustaining wage."
"Because of this innovative legislation, more money will be available to
train Mississippians for good-paying, high-demand jobs," MDES Executive
Director Mark Henry said.
The Mississippi Department of Employment Security drafted HB 932 and worked
with the Legislature to pass the bill.
House Bill 932:
http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2013/pdf/history/HB/HB0932.xml
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National Water Quality Initiative Targets Three Watersheds in Mississippi
JACKSON, March 13, 2013 — Producers in three impaired watersheds are
eligible to apply for funds through the National Water Quality Initiative.
The three watersheds chosen in Mississippi include Ashlog Creek, a
tributary of the Pearl River; Porter Bayou, a tributary of the Big
Sunflower River; and North Tippah Creek, a tributary of the Tippah River.
Through this effort, eligible producers in select watersheds will invest in
voluntary conservation actions to help provide cleaner water for their
neighbors and communities. The selected watersheds were identified with
help from state agencies, partners and the NRCS State Technical Committee.
"Water is our greatest natural resources and nothing can survive without
it," State Conservationist Homer Wilkes said. "The Water Quality Initiative
will further NRCS' partnership efforts to improve water quality using
voluntary actions on private lands. This initiative is a focused approach
in areas facing significant natural resource challenges. It bolsters the
positive results of landscape conservation initiatives NRCS and its
partners already have underway."
Using funds from the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, NRCS will
provide funding and advice to producers to install conservation practices
such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces in watersheds with
impairments where the federal investment can make a difference to improve
water quality.
NRCS accepts applications for financial assistance on a continuous basis
throughout the year. Remember to check with your local NRCS office to see
if you are located in a selected watershed.
For more information, contact your local field office or visit our website.
Applications for Gulf of Mexico Initiative due April 19
Jackson, March 13, 2013 – USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) is encouraging agriculture producers in Harrison and Hancock
counties to apply for assistance through the Gulf of Mexico Initiative
(GoMI), an initiative focusing on improving the water quality of the Gulf.
Producers in the Bayou LaTerre and Rotten Bayou watersheds are eligible.
Applications are accepted on a continuous basis; the next ranking period
deadline is April 19. GoMI is funded through the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP) as well as other NRCS programs. Interested
producers should visit their local field or conservation district offices
at the following locations:
Harrison County landowners
Natural Resources Conservation Service
12238 Ashley Drive
Gulfport, MS 39503
228-831-0881
Hancock County landowners
Hancock County SWCD Natural Resources Conservation Service
16195 State Hwy 603/43 310 Hwy 26 East
Kiln, MS 39556 Poplarville, MS 39470
228-255-3225 601-795-4409
"The Gulf of Mexico Initiative encourages the use of conservation practices
on farms near Mississippi's coastal rivers and streams," State
Conservationist Homer Wilkes said. "The Gulf of Mexico is an important
environmental and economic resource for this state, and it is important we
help our farmers do their part in improving water quality."
GoMI was launched in December 2011 as a way to work with producers in
targeted watersheds draining into the Gulf to implement sustainable
agricultural systems that will reduce the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus
and sediment traveling from the farm to the Gulf of Mexico.
EQIP is a voluntary conservation program administered by NRCS. Reauthorized
in the 2008 Farm Bill, it supports production agriculture and environmental
quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers may
receive financial and technical help with structural and management
conservation practices on agricultural land.
To find your local USDA service center, call (601) 296-1173 or visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=MS&agency=NRCS.
