5.2.2013
Oil Spill
Governor Announces Funding for New Coastal Restoration Projects
WKRG
Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday announced that Alabama will receive
nearly $100 million in funding for three proposed coastal restoration
projects as part of the ongoing early restoration process following the BP
Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/22134139/governor-announces-funding-for-new-coastal-restoration-projects
Agreement reached on Ala. oil spill restoration
AP
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — BP and federal and state officials have reached an
agreement on proposed early restoration projects from the BP oil spill that
are expected to cost about $94 million.
http://www.wdef.com/news/state/story/Agreement-reached-on-Ala-oil-spill-restoration/bUNqUVovFk668JmnnRwZTA.cspx?rss=3472
Governor Bentley announces funding for coastal restoration projects
WIAT
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) – On Wednesday, Governor Robert Bentley announced
plans for Alabama to receive nearly $100 million in funding for proposed
coastal restoration projects.
http://www.cbs42.com/2013/05/01/governor-bentley-announces-funding-for-coastal-restoration-projects/
Gov. Robert Bentley announces $85 million in oil spill restoration funds to
be used at Gulf State Park (updated)
Press Register
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – Gov. Robert Bentley announced today that Alabama will
receive nearly $100 million for three proposed coastal restoration projects
as part of the early restoration process following the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/05/gov_robert_bentley_to_announce_2.html
Exposure to BP oil-contaminated sediment causes defects in killifish, study
says
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
May 01, 2013 at 10:37 PM
Exposure of embryos of a tiny Gulf of Mexico fish to sediment from
Louisiana wetlands contaminated with oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon
spill causes defects to the growing fish's heart and cardiovascular system,
delays hatching, and reduces overall hatching success, according to a new
study co-authored by two Louisiana State University scientists.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/05/exposure_to_sediment_contamina.html
Coastal restoration bill easily passes Louisiana House
By Lauren McGaughy, NOLA.com | The Times Picayune
on May 01, 2013 at 3:17 PM
Any money Louisiana receives from Deepwater-Horizon-BP oil spill cleanwater
fines would be used solely for coastal protection and restoration programs
under a bill approved by the state's lower chamber Wednesday. The
constitutional amendment passed easily by a vote of 98-0 and will head to
the Senate for further debate.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/05/coastal_restoration_restore_la.html
State News
DMR announces start of 60-day comprehensive evaluation
By Mississippi Press Staff
on May 01, 2013 at 5:19 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi - The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
announced Wednesday that it has begun a 60-day comprehensive evaluation to
identify and recommend a plan of action to correct any fiscal and
programmatic deficiencies, and to ensure more transparency, efficiency and
accountability in the future.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/05/dmr_announces_start_of_60-day.html#incart_river
DMR hires firm to review agency finances, structure
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has an agreement
with a firm to conduct a 60-day review of the troubled agency's finances,
structure, staffing, work flow and government program compliance.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/05/01/4634774/dmr-hires-firm-to-review-agency.html
Bell praises success of annual Earth Day
Bolivar Commercial
by Denise Strub
05.01.13 - 03:30 pm
Bolivar County Earth Day, which was held in April, was a huge success
according to Cleveland Public Works Director Ray Bell.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/22433085/article-Bell-praises-success-of-annual-Earth-Day-?instance=homethirdleft
Solid Waste numbers up
County environmental awareness cited
DeSoto Tribune
By ROBERT LEE LONG
DeSoto County residents have been busy with spring cleaning — so much so
that DeSoto County Environmental Services Manager Ray Laughter and County
Administrator Vanessa Lynchard called a special meeting with area media
outlets to tout the annual DeSoto County Spring Cleanup's phenomenal
success.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2013/05/02/news/doc5181aae9d0372880255384.txt
PEER reviews wildlife programs, makes recommendations
by MBJ Staff
Published: May 1,2013
JACKSON — Questions have arisen over the Mississippi Department of
Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks' management of selected wild game in
Mississippi (i.e., the waterfowl, turkey and deer management programs),
according to the PEER Committee.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/05/01/peer-reviews-wildlife-programs-makes-recommendations/
Floodplain update impacts homeowners
by NEMS Daily Journal
05.02.13 - 06:21 am
OXFORD – Lafayette County officials and several residents discussed
concerns over FEMA floodplain mapping with Congressman Alan Nunnelee on
Wednesday.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/22440677/article-Floodplain-update-impacts-homeowners?instance=secondary_stories_left_column
Port of Gulfport wants 47-foot-deep ship channel added to study
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- The Port of Gulfport is asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
to study the feasibility of a 47-foot-deep ship channel in Gulfport.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/05/01/4635611/port-of-gulfport-wants-47-foot.html
National News
Spread of Hydrofracking Could Strain Water Resources in West, Study Finds
NY Times
By FELICITY BARRINGER
The rapid expansion of hydraulic fracturing to retrieve once-inaccessible
reservoirs of oil and gas could put pressure on already-stressed water
resources from the suburbs of Fort Worth to western Colorado, according to
a new report from a nonprofit group that advises investors about companies'
environmental risks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/02/science/earth/hydrofracking-could-strain-western-water-resources-study-finds.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
General Motors signs onto corporate 'climate declaration'
The HIll
By Ben Geman - 05/01/13 04:07 PM ET
General Motors Co. is signing onto a joint statement from a slew of big
companies that calls for bolder federal action to confront climate change.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/297303-general-motors-signs-onto-climate-declaration-
Former EPA chief under fire for new batch of 'Richard Windsor' emails
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 05/01/13 02:08 PM ET
Critics are leaping on private emails from the former head of the
Environmental Protection Agency that seem to show her using the alias of
"Richard Windsor" to communicate with people outside the government.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/297255-former-epa-chief-under-fire-for-new-batch-of-richard-windsor-emails
Poll: Majority see climate change affecting US weather
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 05/01/13 10:38 AM ET
Fifty-eight percent of U.S. residents believe global warming is affecting
the country's weather and a substantial number of people say it has made
various extreme weather events "more severe."
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/297163-poll-majority-see-climate-change-affecting-us-weather
Opinion
Gina McCarthy - A business-friendly choice for the EPA
The Hill
By Richard Eidlin, policy director, American Sustainable Business Council -
05/01/13 01:00 PM ET
It is one of the great myths of our political debate that we must choose
between economic growth and environmental protection. Gina McCarthy,
President Obama's nominee to head up the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), has spent her career proving this a false choice.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/297197-gina-mccarthy-a-business-friendly-choice-for-the-epa
Press Releases
Harvard University Recognizes EPA Renewable Energy Program as a Top
Government Innovation
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
RE-Powering America's Land Initiative was recognized as one of the Top 25
Innovations in American Government by Harvard University. The initiative,
started at EPA in 2008, encourages development of renewable energy on
potentially contaminated lands, landfills and mining sites.
"We are honored that EPA and the RE-Powering Initiative have been
recognized for its promotion of innovative land revitalization. The EPA
saw an opportunity to return contaminated or potentially contaminated lands
to productive reuse while supporting renewable energy development," said
Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response. "As President Obama has made clear, investments in
American-made renewable energy are vital to our economic security and
environmental health."
The RE-Powering Initiative supports the transformation of liabilities into
assets for surrounding communities. Since RE-Powering's inception, more
than 70 renewable energy projects have been installed on contaminated sites
or landfills. These early projects represent over 215 MW of installed
capacity, which could power approximately 35,000 homes, and provide a
foundation for future development as demonstrations of the latest
technologies in both renewable energy and remediation design.
The Harvard Innovations Award is funded by the Ford Foundation and
administered by the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at
the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Over 400
government initiatives have been recognized since the Innovations program
began in 1985.
"These Top 25 innovations in government offer real, tangible ways to
protect our most disadvantaged citizens, educate the next-generation
workforce, and utilize data analytics to enhance government performance,"
said Stephen Goldsmith, director of the Innovations in Government program
at the Ash Center. "Despite diminishing resources, these government
programs have developed model innovations that other struggling agencies
should be inspired to replicate and adapt to their own communities."
In 2000, the EPA Brownfields program was recognized as the Innovations in
American Government's overall award winner. Final award selection for this
year is anticipated later in 2013.
More information on the Innovations in American Government program and the
Top 25 programs recognized:www.innovations.harvard.edu.
More information on the RE-Powering America's Land Initiative:
http://www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland/
