3.28.13
Oil Spill
Lack of centralizers in well a concern, but not over safety, Halliburton
engineer testifies
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
March 27, 2013 at 6:22 PM
A Halliburton engineer who was onboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig
in the days before it caught fire and exploded in the Gulf of Mexico
testified Wednesday that he was concerned when BP cut back on the amount of
equipment used to keep the drill pipe centered in the ill-fated Macondo
well as the cement was poured, but did not consider it a safety problem.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/03/lack_of_centralizers_in_drill.html
Halliburton calls BP's request for sanctions 'a mid-trial sideshow' in BP
oil spill trial filing
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on March 27, 2013 at 2:37 PM
Responding to a BP motion asking a federal judge to sanction Halliburton
for not turning over potentially damaging evidence in the Gulf of Mexico
oil spill trial, Halliburton on Tuesday accused BP of "finger pointing" and
looking to "create a mid-trial sideshow to divert attention away from its
own egregious acts and omissions" that led to its Macondo well blowout and
one of the largest oil spills in the nation's history.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/03/halliburton_calls_bps_request.html
BP Ignored Halliburton Advice on Well, Witness Says
Bloomberg
By Allen Johnson Jr. and Margaret Cronin Fisk - Mar 27, 2013
BP Plc (BP/) was warned days before its Gulf of Mexico well exploded that
its decision to forgo 15 stabilizers meant the effort to seal gas leaks
with cement could result in an increased blowout risk called "channeling,"
a Halliburton Co. (HAL) witness testified.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-27/bp-ignored-halliburton-advice-on-well-witness-says-correct-.html
13 organizations receive BP tourism grants
WLOX
Industry leaders are optimistic this could be the year the number of
visitors to the Mississippi Coast gets back to pre-oil spill numbers. In
the meantime, BP continues to provide funding for advertising to help lure
vacationers to our attractions and events.
http://www.wlox.com/story/21812160/13-organinzations-receive-bp-toursim-grants
Tourism Partnership hands out $1.7 million in BP grant money
Mississippi Press
By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
March 27, 2013 at 5:32 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs was
among 13 recipients of grants totaling $1.7 million awarded by the Gulf
Coast Regional Tourism Partnership, which announced the grants Wednesday
afternoon at the South Beach Hotel in Biloxi.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/03/tourism_partnership_hands_out.html#incart_river
Coast events boosted by tourism grants
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- Grants totaling more than $1.75 million were presented Wednesday
to help promote events and draw more visitors to South Mississippi.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/03/27/4556438/coast-events-boosted-by-tourism.html
State News
As FBI moves in, Janus voted out as D'Iberville city manager
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com
D'IBERVILLE -- Michael Janus voluntarily took a leave of absence from his
job as D'Iberville city manager in February, and the mayor and City Council
made it permanent Wednesday by voting unanimously to terminate his
contract.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/03/27/4556214/janus-out-in-diberville.html
It's official: Janus out as D'Iberville city manager
WLOX
Michael Janus is officially out as D'Iberville's city manager. The city
council voted six to nothing Wednesday to terminate Janus's contract. City
leaders said his firing became necessary so the city could start over.
http://www.wlox.com/story/21813647/its-official-janus-out-as-diberville-city-manager
7-year dredging project on reservoir up for bids
$1.9 million project to improve navigation
Clarion Ledger
Chris Campbell has come up with his own mini dredging operation to ease the
build-up of mud and silt around his home at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130328/NEWS01/303280045/7-year-dredging-project-reservoir-up-bids-
Fashion show goes green with runway recyclables
Designers have a chance to present creative ideas
Rankin Ledger
Keep the Rez Beautiful is looking for designers — both professional and
amateur — to make apparel and accessories composed of recyclable items for
the nonprofit's upcoming recycle fashion show.
http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130326/NEWS/303260014/-1/NEWS01/Fashion
+show+goes+green+with+runway+recyclables
Poplarville continues "Keep Poplarville Beautiful Project"
By David A. Farrell
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — POPLARVILLE — A citywide effort by city employees and
residents to pick up trash, bag it and get rid of it was scheduled to
continue today as city and civic officials pushed to make the city a more
attractive place, said City Clerk Jodi Stuart. The campaign is called the
"Keep Poplarville Beautiful Project."
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x1221100597/Poplarville-continues-Keep-Poplarville-Beautiful-Project
Clevelander named head of Mississippi Wildlife Federation
Bolivar Commercial
by Rory Doyle
03.27.13 - 05:14 pm
Cleveland native Brad Young is forging his path in the Mississippi wildlife
scene.
The board of directors for the Mississippi Wildlife Federation has selected
Young to lead the organization as the new executive director, beginning
April 22.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/22088303/article-Clevelander-named-head-of-Mississippi-Wildlife-Federation?instance=homesecondleft
State budget deal close, negotiators say
by Bobby Harrison
NEMS Daily Journal
03.28.13 - 06:47 am
JACKSON – The top appropriators for the House and Senate said late
Wednesday they had essentially reached a budget deal.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/22093134/article-State-budget-deal-close--negotiators-say?instance=secondary_stories_left_column
National News
Due to sequester, HUD and EPA to implement agency-wide furloughs
MSNBC
The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental
Protection Agency are going to shut their doors entirely over the course of
several days this spring and summer as a result of sequestration. For seven
non-consecutive days total, nearly all of HUD"s staff will be furloughed
and the entire department will be officially closed. The EPA is expected to
implement a similar policy for about three non-consecutive days.
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/03/27/due-to-sequester-hud-and-epa-to-implement-agency-wide-furloughs/
Federal appeals court backs EPA in Texas clean-air case
Dallas Morning News
A federal appeals court has ruled against both Texas' biggest electrical
generator, Luminant, and environmental groups in a case involving federal
agency authority.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20130327-federal-appeals-court-backs-epa-in-texas-clean-air-case.ece
Oil Spills Mount on Tracks
Minnesota Derailment Joins a Sharp Rise in Incidents in Years of Energy
Boom
Wall Street Journal
A Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. train carrying crude oil to Chicago
derailed in western Minnesota on Wednesday and spilled up to 714 barrels,
state officials said, the biggest recent accident in a growing number of
railroad leaks of crude.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324685104578386662069983532.html
How climate change threatens the seas
USA Today
OYSTER BAY, Wash. -- The tide rolls out on a chilly March evening,
and the oystermen roll in, steel rakes in hand, hip boots crunching
on the gravel beneath a starry, velvet sky.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/27/climate-change-seas/2024759/
Study: Two-thirds of pesticides got flawed EPA approval
USA Today
How dangerous are the pesticides used in consumer products? An
investigation by an environmental group says the answer is unclear,
because the EPA used a loophole to approve many of them.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/27/pesticides-get-flawed-epa-approval/2024991/
Small Towns Find Fracking Brings Boom, Booming Headaches
Bloomberg
By Alan Bjerga - Mar 27, 2013
Fracking's secondary effects will increasingly challenge small towns and
cities grappling with job gains and environmental costs, according to a
study by Oklahoma State University researchers.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-27/small-towns-find-fracking-brings-boom-booming-headaches.html
Natural Gas Lobbyist Takes on Obama on Fracking
Bloomberg
By Jim Snyder - Mar 27, 2013
The new head of a U.S. natural gas trade group said he will seek to raise
the industry's visibility as the Obama administration considers regulations
that may limit hydraulic fracturing for the fuel.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-03-27/natural-gas-lobbyist-takes-on-obama-on-fracking.html
Opinion
Funds to restore the Gulf
Here comes a rare opportunity to invest in the health and sustainability of
the Gulf.
Houston Chronicle
In the next several weeks the heady whiff of money blowing in on a Gulf
Coast breeze will have cities, counties and the state of Texas itself
dreaming ambitious dreams. The source of the money is the state's share of
fines and penalties from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, possibly as much
as $1.1 billion.
http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Funds-to-restore-the-Gulf-4389862.php
Press releases
EPA Announces Chemicals for Risk Assessment in 2013, Focus on Widely Used
Flame Retardants
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced it will begin assessments on 23 commonly used chemicals, with a
specific focus on flame retardant chemicals, in order to more fully
understand any potential risks to people's health and the environment. This
effort is part of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan which
identifies commonly used chemicals for risk assessment.
Americans are often exposed to flame retardant chemicals in their daily
lives; flame retardants are widely used in products such as household
furniture, textiles, and electronic equipment. Some flame retardant
chemicals can persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in people and
animals, and have been shown to cause neurological developmental effects in
animals.
"EPA is committed to more fully understanding the potential risks of flame
retardant chemicals, taking action if warranted, and identifying safer
substitutes when possible," said James J. Jones, Acting assistant
administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
"Though today's announcement represents a significant step forward on
chemical safety, it's important to remember that TSCA, this country's
chemicals management legislation, remains in dire need of reform in order
to ensure that all Americans are protected from toxic chemicals in their
environment."
EPA will begin evaluating 20 flame retardant chemicals, conducting full
risk assessments for four of the flame retardants, three of which are on
the TSCA Work Plan, and one that was the subject of an Action Plan
development under TSCA. In addition, we are assessing eight other flame
retardants by grouping flame retardants with similar characteristics
together with the chemicals targeted for full assessment. EPA will use the
information from these assessments to better understand the other chemicals
in the group, which currently lack sufficient data for a full risk
assessment.
EPA will also begin analyzing how eight of the 20 flame retardant chemicals
transform and move in the environment. These chemicals were selected
because they are likely to persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in
people and/or have high exposure potential, but there are not adequate data
to conduct full risk assessments.
During its review of data on flame retardant chemicals in commerce, EPA
also identified approximately 50 flame retardant chemicals that are
unlikely to pose a risk to human health, making them possible substitutes
for more toxic flame retardant chemicals.
As EPA develops its draft risk assessments, the agency will use information
that is available through a wide range of publicly available data sources.
EPA also encourages submission of additional relevant information on these
chemicals, such as unpublished studies and information on uses and
potential exposures. This information should be submitted by May 30, 2013,
to ensure that it is included in the agency's review.
Submit relevant information on these chemicals or find more information on
TSCA Work Plan and flame retardant chemicals for risk assessment:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/workplans.html
A full list of the chemicals announced for further assessment is available
here: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/2013wpractivities.html
