4.3.2013
Oil Spill
Dolphin, turtle deaths linked to Gulf oil spill, scientists say
AP
NEW ORLEANS — Continuing deaths of dolphins and sea turtles are a sign that
the Gulf of Mexico is still feeling effects from the 2010 spill that spewed
200 million gallons of oil from a well a mile below the surface, a
prominent environmental group said Tuesday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130403/NEWS01/304030030/Dolphin-turtle-deaths-linked-Gulf-oil-spill-scientists-say
National Wildlife Federation says environmental effects of BP spill far
from over
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
April 02, 2013 at 7:22 PM
Two weeks before the third anniversary of the BP Gulf oil spill, the
National Wildlife Federation has issued a report declaring that the
environmental effects are far from over and recommending ways to respond to
lingering impacts and prevent future spills.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/04/national_wildlife_federation_s_1.html
National Geographic explores spike of dolphin attacks along Gulf Coast
By Mark Heim | mheim@al.com
April 02, 2013 at 11:11 PM
Dolphins are being killed in what National Geographic is calling a growing
string of apparent attacks along the Gulf Coast in recent months.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/04/national_geographic_explores_s.html#incart_river
Mississippi sees spike in baby dolphin deaths
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
There's been another spike in dolphin deaths this year in Mississippi. And
the vast majority of strandings have been baby dolphins. Scientists are
still busy tracking dolphin mortalities and searching for answers.
http://www.wlox.com/story/21858830/mississippi-sees-spike-in-baby-dolphin-deaths
Halliburton engineer testifies that he wouldn't have designed Macondo
cement differently
By Richard Thompson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
April 02, 2013 at 7:56 PM
A Halliburton technical adviser who designed the cement used to seal BP's
ill-fated Macondo oil well testified Tuesday that in hindsight he would not
change the composition and design of the mixture.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/04/halliburton_engineer_testifies.html
Halliburton worker: BP employees didn't risk safety when they didn't follow
recommendations
By Associated Press,
NEW ORLEANS — A man who worked for BP's cement contractor on the drilling
rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 testified Tuesday that he
didn't believe the oil giant's employees were risking workers' safety when
they didn't follow his recommendations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/trial-over-gulf-oil-resumes-with-testimony-by-halliburton-employee/2013/04/02/f7bb5928-9b9b-11e2-9219-51eb8387e8f1_story.html
Federal judge rules against Transocean in spill subpoena challenge
Houston Chronicle
A federal court on Monday rejected Transocean's request to dismiss
subpoenas for records tied to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/04/01/federal-judge-rules-against-transocean-in-spill-subpoena-challenge/
State News
Jackson County gets two grants
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has granted Jackson
County $33,098 for its electronic waste collection and recycling program,
as well as $88,000 to continue its waste tire collection program.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/04/02/4564811/around-south-mississippi.html
Alcorn signs new waste disposal deal
WTVA
CORINTH, Miss. (AP) — Alcorn County has signed a 10-year contract with
Waste Connections Inc. for waste disposal.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Alcorn-signs-new-waste-disposal-deal/rRJXjKLqsUypBGavWkWNmw.cspx
Port of Pascagoula to get $10 million for wood-pellet shipping facility
Sun Herald
By LEIGHANNE LOCKHART — llockhart@sunherald.com
PASCAGOULA -- The state House of Representatives and Senate authorized a
borrowing bill this week includes $10 million for the Port of Pascagoula.
The port will put the $10 million toward the development of a specialized
facility to support the state's wood-pellet industry.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/04/02/4567309/port-of-pascagoula-to-get-10-million.html
National News
Groups sue EPA for top officials' instant-message records
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 04/02/13 04:49 PM ET
Two conservative groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency to
compel disclosure of instant-message chats involving former Administrator
Lisa Jackson, Gina McCarthy, the senior regulator nominated by President
Obama to lead the EPA, and others.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/291477-groups-sue-epa-for-top-officials-instant-message-records
Opinion
More Evidence Shows Drilling Causes Earthquakes
Bloomberg
By Matthew Philips on April 01, 2013
A recent study (abstract here) published in the journal Geology is getting
a lot of attention for conclusions it draws about whether oil and natural
gas drilling is causing earthquakes. In particular, the study examines the
biggest quake in the history of Oklahoma, a 5.7 shaker that hit the tiny
town of Prague on Nov. 6, 2011. Ripples from the earthquake were felt
across 17 states.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-04-01/more-evidence-that-fracking-causes-earthquakes
Ethanol in gasoline no good reason to pay more at pump
Bloomberg/Clarion Ledger
U.S. oil production has reached a 20-year high and, since March 2012,
demand for gasoline has fallen almost 5 percent. So why have prices at the
pump jumped? From mid-December through the end of February they rose almost
20 percent, though they have declined a bit in recent weeks. Some of the
blame for the increase goes to the federal mandate on ethanol use in the
U.S. fuel supply.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130403/OPINION01/304030009/Ethanol-gasoline-no-good-reason-pay-more-pump
