6.12.2013
Oil Spill
RESTORE council seeking public input at meeting tonight in Biloxi (live
updates)
Mississippi Press
By Warren Kulo | GulfLive.com
June 11, 2013 at 8:16 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council will
hold what it is calling a "public engagement session" in Biloxi tonight at
6 p.m. in the Mississippi Coast Coliseum Convention Center.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/06/restore_council_seeking_public.html#incart_river
Girl, 5, among those who get messages across at RESTORE Act meeting in
Biloxi
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- One of the most effective people at Tuesday night's meeting on
the RESTORE Act didn't have a great speaking voice, a polished presentation
or a bunch of political connections.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/11/4728129/girl-5-among-those-who-get-messages.html
State News
Bay Springs oil spill state's costliest in decade
Amount leaked four times more than original company estimate
Clarion Ledger
The Bay Springs oil leak that polluted wetlands and waterways four months
ago was the state's costliest pipeline accident in a decade at more than
$5.2 million, according to a federal agency that tracks such incidents.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130612/NEWS/306110037/Bay-Springs-oil-spill-state-s-costliest-decade
Opening day brings big shrimp in small numbers
WLOX
Calm seas and hot weather greeted fishermen Tuesday morning on the first
day of shrimp season in Mississippi. Shrimpers were allowed to drop their
nets beginning at 6am Tuesday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22562110/opening-day-brings-big-shrimp-in-small-numbers
MDMR pushing for change after red snapper season ruling
by MBJ Staff
Published: June 11,2013
GULF OF MEXICO — The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) says
it wants changes to the federal government's setting of the red snapper
fishing season in the Gulf.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/06/11/mdmr-pushing-for-change-after-red-snapper-season-ruling/
Issaquena wins grant to clean up dump sites
Vicksburg Post
A grant to clean up illegal dump sites has been awarded to Issaquena
County, state regulators said Monday.
The $7,236 award will be used to clear places where residential or
commercial garbage is unlawfully disposed, a news release from the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/news/article_2c7a5b74-d2af-11e2-9892-001a4bcf6878.html
National News
White House plots climate strategy with Senate, House Democrats
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 06/11/13 05:22 PM ET
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) met with
White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough last week to coordinate climate
strategy, the Rhode Island Democrat told reporters Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/304841-dems-met-with-white-house-to-hash-out-climate-strategy
US-China climate deal was long in the works
By JOSH LEDERMAN — Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Disparate interests ranging from environmental activists to
businesses and industry are lining up to support a first-of-its-kind deal
between the U.S. and China to phase out a chemical blamed for climate
change.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/12/4728374/us-china-climate-deal-was-long.html
Groups square off over chemical reform bill
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 06/11/13 05:50 PM ET
A fight is brewing on Capitol Hill over legislation to reform the
government's control of toxic chemicals.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/legislation/304855--groups-square-off-over-chemical-reform-bill-
Hollywood director James Cameron urges boost in oceans research
By Trevor Graff — McClatchy Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Hollywood director James Cameron told a Senate panel on
Tuesday that federal partnerships in oceanic research are vital to
understanding the oceans' role in climate change, trade and education.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/11/4727841/hollywood-director-james-cameron.html
Press Releases
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| USDA Announces A Notice of Contract Proposals to Support Advanced Biofuels |
| Production |
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|WASHINGTON, June 11, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|announced the availability of up to $98.6 million to support the production |
|of advanced biofuels, and an opportunity for eligible producers to submit |
|applications. USDA remains focused on carrying out its mission, despite a |
|time of significant budget uncertainty. Today's announcement is one part of |
|the Department's efforts to strengthen the rural economy. |
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|"The United States is on the path to a cleaner, more secure energy future," |
|Vilsack said. "By helping producers to support and expand the production of |
|advanced biofuels, USDA is ensuring that Rural America is a key component of|
|President Obama's 'all-of-the-above' energy strategy to reduce the Nation's |
|reliance on foreign oil." |
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|The payments are provided through USDA Rural Development's Bioenergy Program|
|for Advanced Biofuels, commonly referred to as the Advanced Biofuel Payment |
|Program. It was established in the 2008 Farm Bill to support the expansion |
|of advanced biofuel production. Payments are made to eligible producers |
|based on the amount of biofuel produced from renewable biomass, other than |
|corn kernel starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include crop residue; |
|animal, food and yard waste; vegetable oils; and animal fat. |
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|Through the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels and other programs, USDA|
|is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure necessary |
|to build a biofuels industry that creates jobs and produces renewable fuel. |
|Since 2009, more than 275 eligible producers in 44 states have received |
|payments. |
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|Producers use the payments to offset production costs and in some instances |
|expand their operations. For example, in 2012, Sequential-Pacific Biodiesel,|
|a biodiesel facility based in Salem, Ore., increased its annual production |
|by approximately 1 million gallons, or about 20 percent. Sequential-Pacific |
|primarily uses locally sourced waste vegetable oils in its production of |
|biodiesel. The support USDA Rural Development provided through its Bioenergy|
|Program for Advanced Biofuels helped the company buy equipment that |
|increased the speed of production and pre-treatment of feedstock. |
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|Producers who did not apply for payments during the October 2012 application|
|window may now apply for payments for third and fourth quarter fiscal year |
|2013 production as well as for any applicable incremental production. |
|Applications received by July 11, 2013 will be considered for Fiscal Year |
|2013 funds. Complete details on how to apply and on available funding are |
|found on Page 34975 of the June 11 Federal Register, |
|http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-06-11/pdf/2013-13778.pdf. |
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|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|– strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's|
|investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands |
|as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture |
|Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of Federal resources to |
|foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong|
|partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural |
|communities. |
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|USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of |
|programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, |
|businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life |
|in rural America. |
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|USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for the American people,|
|even as USDA implements sequestration – the across-the-board budget |
|reductions mandated under terms of the Budget Control Act. USDA has already |
|undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than $828 million in |
|taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget reductions. These |
|reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out its mission, |
|while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner that causes |
|as little disruption as possible. |
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