6.24.2013
Oil Spill
BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill lawyers offer familiar storylines in post-trial
pitches to judge
Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
June 21, 2013 at 8:55 PM
Two months after the first phase of the BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill trial
ended, lawyers on both sides on Friday submitted hundreds of pages of
post-trial briefs, making their last pitch to the federal judge overseeing
the sprawling case about whether any or all of the companies involved in
the ill-fated drilling project engaged in gross negligence or willful
misconduct leading up to the deadly rig explosion.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/06/bp_gulf_of_mexico_oil_spill_la.html
Lawyer accused of misconduct resigns from BP claims case
The Associated Press
June 21, 2013 at 4:29 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- A lawyer working for the administrator overseeing a
multibillion-dollar settlement from the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf
resigned Friday after being accused of misconduct.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/06/lawyer_accused_of_misconduct_r.html#incart_river
Okaloosa appoints RESTORE Act committee
By KARI C. BARLOW / Daily News
Okaloosa County commissioners have selected 11 residents to serve on the
panel to help decide how RESTORE Act money will be spent locally.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/okaloosa-appoints-restore-act-committee-1.162776
Scientists examine oil spill's impact on oysters
Daily Comet
By Nikki Buskey
Published: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.
More than three years since the BP oil spill, an LSU AgCenter scientist is
working to determine how oil impacted oysters, which have been struggling
to recover since 2010.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20130622/ARTICLES/130629830?Title=Scientists-examine-oil-spill-8217-s-impact-on-oysters
State News
Inspector general audit questions millions in CIAP grants at DMR
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE and PAUL HAMPTON — Sun Herald
Conflicts of interest, mismanagement and weak federal oversight have
tainted the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources' mission to preserve
coastal resources, a draft of a federal audit concludes.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/22/4752724/inspector-general-audit-questions.html
Audit questions transfer of grant funds to IMMS in Gulfport
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com
A draft of a federal audit says there is evidence the Department of Marine
Resources deliberately misled the federal agency in charge of the Coastal
Impact Assistance Program when it transferred a $7.8 million grant from the
University of Southern Mississippi to the Institute for Marine Mammal
Studies.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/22/4752728/audit-questions-transfer-of-grant.html
Draft Interior OIG Report
http://media.sunherald.com/smedia/2013/06/23/08/52/14EvZv.So.77.pdf
Thelma Collins becomes mayor of the town of Itta Bena on July 1; inherits
a $500K debt.
AP
ITTA BENA, Mississippi — Thelma Collins becomes mayor of the town of Itta
Bena on July 1. Along with the job, she inherits a $500,000 debt.
…In addition, Collins said that the city's lagoon is out of compliance with
the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's standards. If that
issue isn't addressed in the near future, the city can expect a fine.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/94c829b078fa4ddda8b7a4dc3afee326/MS--Itta-Bena-Budget
DMR is selling 2 large boats
WLOX
The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is selling two large fishing
vessels once owned by the foundation run by DMR's former director.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22665534/dmr-is-selling-2-large-boats
Jackson Co. residents encourage their neighbors to recycle
WLOX
A push is underway to get more Jackson County residents thinking more
environmentally friendly. According to Waste Pro, only four percent of what
they pick up curbside in Jackson County is being set out to be recycled.
Supervisors are hoping if they make the process easier, people will be more
willing to do it.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22662523/jackson-co-residents-encourage-their-neighbors-to-recycle
USM's new president gets first tour of Gulf Coast Research Lab
WLOX
USM President Rodney Bennett got his first look at the Gulf Coast Research
Lab's Cedar Point campus Friday, and what he saw impressed him. Dr. Bennett
said the aquaculture research at GCRL has the potential to take the marine
sciences program to international prominence.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22657276/usms-new-president-gets-first-tour-of-gulf-coast-research-lab
Pascagoula River Audubon Center helps connect kids with nature
WLOX
Instead of sitting indoors playing video games and watching television,
several kids are spending their summer outdoors learning about the
environment at the Pascagoula River Audubon Center summer camp.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22649152/pascagoula-audubon-center-connect-kids-to-nature
Jeff Davis Lake, closed for 3 years due to hazardous dam, reopens for
outdoor enthusiasts
The Associated Press
June 22, 2013 at 2:00 PM
PRENTISS, Mississippi -- Outdoors enthusiasts in Jefferson Davis County are
returning to a popular lake that was closed for three years.
Authorities had closed Jeff Davis Lake because its dam had become a hazard.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/06/jeff_davis_lake_closed_for_3_y.html#incart_river
Lifelong resident donates land to local city
WTVA
AMORY, Miss. (WTVA) - Thanks to one person's generosity, the city of Amory
will have land that can be used by people who like to exercise and enjoy
nature at the same time.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Lifelong-resident-donates-land-to-local-city/QN_DULfTTUGuYD5225tZWg.cspx
MDEQ lifts beach closure prompted by sewage release
by MBJ Staff
Published: June 21,2013
BILOXI — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ),
through its Beach Monitoring Program, has lifted a beach closure issued
June 17.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/06/21/mdeq-lifts-beach-closure-prompted-by-sewage-release/
National News
Obama to unveil climate plan in Tuesday speech
By JOSH LEDERMAN — Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is preparing to unveil his long-awaited
national plan to combat climate change in a major speech, he announced on
Saturday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/22/4752036/obama-to-unveil-climate-plan-in.html
Obama's Climate Plans Face Yearslong Fight
Wall Street Journal
By KEITH JOHNSON and PETER NICHOLAS
WASHINGTON—When President Barack Obama lays out plans to tackle climate
change in a speech Tuesday, including the first effort to curb
greenhouse-gas emissions from existing power plants, he will unleash a
yearslong battle that has little assurance of being resolved during his
time in office.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323998604578563680500313330.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Obama climate plan may ricochet on EPA pick
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
June 23, 2013 06:10 PM EDT
If Gina McCarthy didn't already have a target on her back, she does now.
The president's high-profile climate change speech Tuesday — which will
include a directive to the EPA to get moving on climate change regulations
— only intensifies the already-complicated politics surrounding her
confirmation to become EPA administrator.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/obama-climate-plan-epa-gina-mccarthy-93221.html?hp=r5
EPA faces lawsuit over beach pollution
June 21, 2013|By David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel
Although dozens of South Florida beaches undergo routine testing for water
pollution, the beaches that pass may not be as clean as they seem,
according to a coalition of environmental groups.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-06-21/news/fl-beach-pollution-lawsuit-20130621_1_epa-tests-beach-pollution-water-pollution
Boost for cars or bust? Ethanol debate heats up
By MATTHEW DALY — Associated Press
WASHINGTON — It's a dilemma for drivers: Do they choose a gasoline that's
cheaper and cleaner even if, as opponents say, it could damage older cars
and motorcycles?
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/24/4754133/boost-for-cars-or-bust-ethanol.html
Official: water complaints could be 'act of terrorism'
Mt. Pleasant community says state is attempting to silence its complaints
Tennessean
A Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation deputy director
warned a group of Maury County residents that unfounded complaints about
water quality could be considered an "act of terrorism."
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130620/NEWS11/306200108
Solar Energy Spurs a Power Struggle
Wall Street Journal
By RYAN TRACY
Disputes over the use of small-scale solar power are flaring across the
nation, with utilities squaring off against solar-energy marketers over
rules for the growing technology.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324069104578527682342015380.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Federal audit of DMR paints picture of conflicts of
interest, mismanagement
For months, the headlines have marched across the front pages of the Sun
Herald. "Federal auditors question DMR land buys." "$210,000 from DMR buys
Walker's son's land." "Foundation fleet: DMR pours more than $1.4 million
into recreational fishing boats." "Connections: Neighbors, relatives and
politicians land DMR jobs." "DMR charters fishing trips for lawmakers,
others."
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/06/22/4751057/sun-herald-editorial-federal-audit.html
DMR deserves credit for nearshore reefs program (Al Jones column)
Mississippi Press
By Al Jones
June 21, 2013 at 3:35 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi --- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources in
Biloxi has been under the microscope recently that led to Jamie Miller
being named the new director.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2013/06/dmr_deserves_credit_for_nearsh.html
