7/31/13
Oil Spill
BP Prepares For Long Fight In Civil Oil Spill Trial -CEO
Wall Street Journal
By Selina Williams
LONDON--BP PLC (BP.LN) is less likely to negotiate a settlement in a civil
trial to determine environmental fines for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil
spill, in the wake of spiraling costs from a separate deal clinched last
year to compensate businesses for losses stemming from the disaster, the
company's chief executive said Tuesday.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130730-710051.html
State News
Hazardous waste disposal is Aug. 3 in Hancock County
Sun Herald
HANCOCK COUNTY -- Residents of Hancock County can dispose of hazardous
household waste Saturday at the Old County Government Complex on Longfellow
Road, Bay St. Louis, between 8 a.m. and noon.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/29/4832873/around-south-mississippi.html
DMR, VT Halter Marine partnership will add 70 acres to Round Island
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
July 30, 2013 at 1:35 PM
ROUND ISLAND, Mississippi -- Over the past two weeks there's been a large
barge stationed just west of Round Island in shallow water where the isle
once reached.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/dmr_vt_halter_marine_partnerin.html
Round Island is getting a new look and new purpose
WLOX
A public-private partnership in Jackson County is helping Mother Nature
restore an island that time and tides have almost completely washed away.
When the job is done, Round Island will have a new look and a new purpose.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22970435/round-island-is-getting-a-new-look-and-new-purpose
VT Halter dredging leads to Round Island expansion
Sun Herald
By CHRISTINA STEUBE — csteube@sunherald.com
About 200 acres of coastline and marshes are lost each year in Mississippi,
but a joint project will fight this loss by nearly quadrupling the size of
Round Island just off the coast of Pascagoula.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/30/4836362/vt-halter-dredging-leads-to-round.html
Nissan to add park on-site for suppliers
Logistics center to bring 800 more jobs
Clarion Ledger
CANTON — In the midst of marking its first decade in Mississippi, Nissan
Canton is giving itself quite an anniversary gift in the form of 800 jobs
coming to a supplier park to be built just north of the company's vehicle
assembly plant.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130731/NEWS01/307310039/Nissan-add-park-site-suppliers
Southern Co. taking $450M charge for Miss. plant
By RAY HENRY
Associated Press
ATLANTA (AP) - Southern Co. shareholders will absorb $450 million in losses
incurred while building a new coal-fired power plant in Mississippi,
raising the total write-offs on the construction project to nearly $1
billion, utility officials said Tuesday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22972112/southern-co-taking-450m-charge-for-miss-plant
National News
Carbon regulation will help economy, EPA chief says
Boston Globe
Newly confirmed US Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy
pledged Tuesday to let science drive her agency's agenda as it begins to
develop controversial rules to limit carbon pollution from existing power
plants.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/2013/07/30/carbon-regulation-will-help-economy-epa-chief-says/72dK9LLq4gDzIIUmwkAEgK/story.html
Gina McCarthy: Climate change poses economic threat
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
July 31, 2013 05:02 AM EDT
Climate change isn't an environmental problem — it's an economic problem,
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said Tuesday.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/gina-mccarthy-climate-change-poses-economic-threat-94945.html?hp=r12
Bob Perciasepe staying put at EPA
Washington Post
By Emily Heil
Bob Perciasepe is no sore loser.
As the deputy administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, some
observers figured he might have been in line to get the job heading the
agency when it came open this year (though the fact that as a white guy, he
didn't add any diversity to the cabinet probably didn't help him). But he's
obviously not letting getting passed over bug him.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop
Drilling for relief well on damaged Gulf rig to take 35 days
The Associated Press
July 30, 2013 at 5:43 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- Crews are expected to begin drilling a relief well Thursday
at the site of a gas well that blew wild July 23 off the Louisiana coast
but eventually was choked off by sand and sediment.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/drilling_for_relief_well_on_da.html#incart_river
Coal ash bill likely dead on arrival in Senate
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/30/13 12:36 PM ET
A House-passed bill that would limit the Environmental Protection Agency's
ability to regulate coal ash likely isn't going anywhere in the Senate.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/314351-coal-ash-bill-likely-dead-on-arrival-in-senate
States worry that federal action could limit their control of chemicals
July 30
BY ERIKA BOLSTAD
McClatchy Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — It sounds good: the Chemical Safety Improvement Act, a
proposed law with bipartisan support giving the Environmental Protection
Agency more authority to regulate dangerous chemicals.
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/07/30/4378411/states-worry-that-federal-action.html
EPA informs Jindal of St. Bernard's final sulfur dioxide overage
designation
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
July 31, 2013 at 3:37 AM
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has informed Gov.
Bobby Jindal that St. Bernard Parish has finally been found in violation of
hourly sulfur dioxide emission standards adopted in 2010.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/07/epa_informs_jindal_of_st_berna.html
Area west of Mississippi River added to impaired waters list
Baton Rouge Advocate
BY AMY WOLD
The nation's top environmental agency has placed the coastline of Louisiana
west of the Mississippi River on the list of impaired waterways in
Louisiana in what some consider a symbolic move to bring attention to the
dead zone problem in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://theadvocate.com/home/6648318-125/area-west-of-mississippi-river
Obama taps Interior official for deputy secretary post
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/30/13 07:14 PM ET
President Obama will nominate Michael Connor to be deputy secretary of the
Interior Department, a promotion from his current job heading Interior's
water and hydropower agency called the Bureau of Reclamation.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/314519-obama-taps-interior-official-for-deputy-secretary-post
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Role of state agencies needs overhaul
The Mississippi Legislature estimated there would be a little more than $5
billion in the state's general fund during the current fiscal year. It
appropriated that amount on everything from the arts and agriculture to
wildlife and workers compensation.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/30/4835809/sun-herald-editorial-role-of-state.html
Press Releases
COMMERCIAL PLASTICS RECYCLING ANNOUNCES NEW MISSISSIPPI FACILITY
(BAY ST. LOUIS, MS) — Commercial Plastics Recycling, Inc. recently
announced the Company's expansion of its post-industrial plastic recycling
operations to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The new recycling operations are
located in a 30,000 square foot facility on 33 acres with rail siding
inside the Port Bienville Industrial Park.
The plant handles post-industrial and post-commercial plastics such as PET,
HDPE, ABS, HIPS, LDPE, PP, PVC, SAN and PC. Capabilities currently in place
include shredding, grinding and screening with room for additional
equipment and growth. The Company has extensive experience in assisting
both small and large corporations with their recycling programs. The Bay St
Louis facility is the latest plant for CPR, Inc. which is headquartered in
Tampa, Florida with facilities in North Carolina and West Virginia. For
more information on the company, visit their website at www.cprinc.net.
The Mississippi Recycling Coalition is pleased to welcome CPR, Inc. to the
state of Mississippi and looks forward to the company building successful
operations here. MRC is committed to helping expand and establish recycling
industries and businesses in our State. For more information on joining
MRC, visit our website at www.msrecycles.org.
Nissan to Locate Supplier Park near Canton, Miss., Facility
CANTON, Miss.—Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Nissan announced today
the company will construct a Nissan Supplier Park near the company's Canton
vehicle assembly plant. The expansion will support 800 jobs, including 400
newly created supplier jobs and 400 hires Nissan has made since June 1 in
anticipation of the project.
The supplier park project represents a company investment of more than $50
million and is Nissan's first major supplier park located in North America.
Construction of a more than 1 million square-foot integrated logistics
center off Nissan Parkway and infrastructure improvements to an existing
supplier logistics center at the Canton plant will accommodate future
supplier operations.
"For a decade, Nissan has been a loyal corporate partner and has created
thousands of jobs for Mississippians," Gov. Bryant said. "The addition of
the new supplier park will bring more manufacturing-related jobs to
Mississippi and serves to strengthen our growing automotive sector. I am
grateful to Nissan for demonstrating to the world that 'Mississippi Works.'
Great things are taking place in our state, and I wish Nissan many more
years of growth and success in Canton."
"Today, we begin an exciting new chapter in Mississippi as we continue our
localization and investment efforts in the United States," said Nissan Vice
President for Total Delivered Cost Dan Bednarzyk. "Today's groundbreaking
supports our efforts to bring more Nissan cars and trucks to our plant in
Mississippi, and means more Mississippi jobs. Additionally, the supplier
park will help make us more globally competitive in our Canton Mississippi
plant."
The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the
integrated logistics center for site preparation and infrastructure. To
assist with the renovation of the supplier logistics center, MDA provided
assistance for building upgrades, modifications and worker training.
Madison County provided assistance for the project, as well.
"In the 10 years since it began operations, Nissan has become the
cornerstone for Mississippi's automotive industry and has created a model
for manufacturing in our state today," said MDA Executive Director Brent
Christensen. "It is a big part of our mission to assist great companies
such as Nissan as they grow and create job opportunities for Mississippi's
residents, and we thank our partners in Madison County who worked with us
to help make this project possible."
Nissan employs more than 5,600 team members at its Canton plant. The
company first announced plans to construct the manufacturing plant in 2000,
and it began production in 2003. The facility has built more than 2.3
million vehicles, with current production of the award-winning Altima,
Sentra compact sedan, Armada full-size SUV, Xterra mid-size SUV, Titan and
Frontier pickup trucks and NV full-size commercial cargo and passenger
vans.
Nissan's crossover model, the Murano, will become the ninth vehicle
produced at the Canton plant beginning in 2014.
###
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
News Clippings 7.30.13
7/30/13
Oil Spill
BP's Deepwater compensation fund running dry
Company raises estimate of compensation claims to $9.6bn in second quarter
and ups overall provision for oil spill to $42.4bn
The Guardian
BP has revealed that there is just $300m left in its Gulf of Mexico oil
spillcompensation fund after costs jumped $1.4bn (£913m) in the second
quarter of the year.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jul/30/bp-deepwater-compensation-fund-running-dry?CMP=twt_fd
BP Says Spill Fund Is Running on Fumes
Payments Related to Gulf Spill Continue to Weigh on Energy Giant
Wall Street Journal
LONDON—BP PLC said Tuesday that the $20 billion fund it set up to cover
the cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will soon run out, as
compensation claims have accelerated despite legal efforts from the
company to halt what it claims are excessive payouts.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323854904578637180606036090.html
Lift hold on clients' Gulf oil spill claims payments, law firm urges judge
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
July 29, 2013 at 6:16 PM
A New Orleans law firm representing more than 600 individuals and companies
with pending BP oil spill economic damage claims has urged the federal
judge overseeing the settlement between BP and claimants to remove his hold
on their claims, which was put in place pending investigations into claims
processing by the Deepwater Horizon Claims Center.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/07/lift_hold_on_clients_gulf_oil.html
National News
Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' above average but not near record, scientists
say
The Associated Press
July 29, 2013 at 2:19 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- This summer's "dead zone" at the bottom of the Gulf of
Mexico, where there's so little oxygen that starfish suffocate, is bigger
than average but doesn't approach record size as scientists had predicted,
according to findings released Monday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/gulf_of_mexico_dead_zone_above.html#incart_river
Opinion
The EPA's Game of Secret Science
The agency pursues rules that will cost billions but refuses to reveal its
research. Maybe a subpoena will be needed.
Wall Street Journal
By LAMAR SMITH
As the Environmental Protection Agency moves forward with some of the most
costly regulations in history, there needs to be greater transparency
about the claimed benefits from these actions. Unfortunately, President
Obama and the EPA have been unwilling to reveal to the American people the
data they use to justify their multibillion-dollar regulatory agenda.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323829104578624562008231682.html
Making case for energy efficiency
Politico
By: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Rob Portman
July 29, 2013 09:25 PM EDT
For the past three years, we have worked together to develop the Energy
Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, legislation that will go a long
way toward making the United States more energy efficient and more
economically competitive. Our bill makes good environmental sense. It makes
good energy sense. And it makes good economic sense, too.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/making-shaheen-portman-energy-efficiency-94875.html?hp=r9
Press Releases
NOAA-supported scientists find large Gulf dead zone, but smaller than
predicted
Heavy rains increase nutrient pollution flow down Mississippi River
July 29, 2013
NOAA-supported scientists found a large Gulf of Mexico oxygen-free or
hypoxic "dead" zone, but not as large as had been predicted. Measuring
5,840 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut, the 2013 Gulf dead
zone indicates nutrients from the Mississippi River watershed are
continuing to affect the nation's commercial and recreational marine
resources in the Gulf.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2013/2013029_deadzone.html
Oil Spill
BP's Deepwater compensation fund running dry
Company raises estimate of compensation claims to $9.6bn in second quarter
and ups overall provision for oil spill to $42.4bn
The Guardian
BP has revealed that there is just $300m left in its Gulf of Mexico oil
spillcompensation fund after costs jumped $1.4bn (£913m) in the second
quarter of the year.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2013/jul/30/bp-deepwater-compensation-fund-running-dry?CMP=twt_fd
BP Says Spill Fund Is Running on Fumes
Payments Related to Gulf Spill Continue to Weigh on Energy Giant
Wall Street Journal
LONDON—BP PLC said Tuesday that the $20 billion fund it set up to cover
the cost of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill will soon run out, as
compensation claims have accelerated despite legal efforts from the
company to halt what it claims are excessive payouts.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323854904578637180606036090.html
Lift hold on clients' Gulf oil spill claims payments, law firm urges judge
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
July 29, 2013 at 6:16 PM
A New Orleans law firm representing more than 600 individuals and companies
with pending BP oil spill economic damage claims has urged the federal
judge overseeing the settlement between BP and claimants to remove his hold
on their claims, which was put in place pending investigations into claims
processing by the Deepwater Horizon Claims Center.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/07/lift_hold_on_clients_gulf_oil.html
National News
Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' above average but not near record, scientists
say
The Associated Press
July 29, 2013 at 2:19 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- This summer's "dead zone" at the bottom of the Gulf of
Mexico, where there's so little oxygen that starfish suffocate, is bigger
than average but doesn't approach record size as scientists had predicted,
according to findings released Monday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/gulf_of_mexico_dead_zone_above.html#incart_river
Opinion
The EPA's Game of Secret Science
The agency pursues rules that will cost billions but refuses to reveal its
research. Maybe a subpoena will be needed.
Wall Street Journal
By LAMAR SMITH
As the Environmental Protection Agency moves forward with some of the most
costly regulations in history, there needs to be greater transparency
about the claimed benefits from these actions. Unfortunately, President
Obama and the EPA have been unwilling to reveal to the American people the
data they use to justify their multibillion-dollar regulatory agenda.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323829104578624562008231682.html
Making case for energy efficiency
Politico
By: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Sen. Rob Portman
July 29, 2013 09:25 PM EDT
For the past three years, we have worked together to develop the Energy
Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act, legislation that will go a long
way toward making the United States more energy efficient and more
economically competitive. Our bill makes good environmental sense. It makes
good energy sense. And it makes good economic sense, too.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/making-shaheen-portman-energy-efficiency-94875.html?hp=r9
Press Releases
NOAA-supported scientists find large Gulf dead zone, but smaller than
predicted
Heavy rains increase nutrient pollution flow down Mississippi River
July 29, 2013
NOAA-supported scientists found a large Gulf of Mexico oxygen-free or
hypoxic "dead" zone, but not as large as had been predicted. Measuring
5,840 square miles, an area the size of Connecticut, the 2013 Gulf dead
zone indicates nutrients from the Mississippi River watershed are
continuing to affect the nation's commercial and recreational marine
resources in the Gulf.
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2013/2013029_deadzone.html
Monday, July 29, 2013
News Clippings 7.29.13
Oil Spill
Halliburton has incentive to cut another deal
AP
NEW ORLEANS — Halliburton has resolved a Justice Department criminal probe
of its role in the Gulf oil spill by agreeing to pay a $200,000 fine and
admitting it destroyed evidence, but the company still has a powerful
incentive to cut another deal with businesses and residents.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130729/NEWS01/307290011/Halliburton-has-incentive-cut-another-deal
Did Halliburton cut a good deal with Justice?
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson, Published: July 26
Is the criminal plea agreement Halliburton struck with the Justice
Department on Thursday a good deal for the company?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/did-halliburton-cut-a-good-deal-with-justice/2013/07/26/be7654d2-f628-11e2-aa2e-4088616498b4_story.html
Halliburton plea may help BP in spill liability battle
Reuters
Sat, Jul 27 2013
By Braden Reddall and Mica Rosenberg
(Reuters) - BP Plc appeared to gain an edge in the battle over liability
for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill on Friday, after Halliburton abandoned
one of its arguments that tried to paint the British oil company as
unconcerned about well safety.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/07/26/us-halliburton-gulfspill-idINBRE96P10520130726
FSU Researchers Explore Impact of BP Oil Spill
WJHG
While many focus on the economic impact of the 2010 BP(Embedded image moved
to file: pic24179.jpg) Deepwater Horizon oil spill, researchers from the
Florida State University Coastal Marine Lab are now looking into a new area
- for the past two years, they've been looking in the deep sea.
http://www.wjhg.com/news/headlines/FSU-Researchers-Explore-Impact-of-BP-Oil-Spill-217331471.html
Gauging health of Louisiana fisheries is a complex task
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
A few months ago, John Lopez was looking for blue crabs for a boil he was
planning at the New Canal Lighthouse in New Orleans, but the pickings were
scarce.
http://theadvocate.com/home/6586603-125/gauging-health-of-louisiana-fisheries
BP mounts heavy media campaign as judge weighs spill case
Houston Chronicle
BP's unrelenting attacks against how the Gulf oil spill civil settlement it
agreed to is being handled aims to win over the public, but the strategy
risks antagonizing a key constituent who is following every word — the
federal judge overseeing the case.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/07/29/bp-mounts-heavy-media-campaign-as-judge-weighs-spill-case/
State News
Bryant, Ala. governor call for joint oil sands assessment
AP
MOBILE — The governors of Mississippi and Alabama said Saturday their two
states will partner to study oil sands resources.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130729/NEWS01/307290010/Bryant-Ala-governor-call-joint-oil-sands-assessment
Mississippi, Alabama partner to study oil sands resources
Sun Herald
By DONNA HARRIS — dharris@sunherald.com
MOBILE -- Mississippi and Alabama will form a partnership to further study
the oil sands resources in the two states, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley announced Saturday while speaking to the
Southern States Energy Board.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/27/4827766/bryant-pipeline-is-safest-way.html
Water advisory issued for Three Mile Creek, Pearl River
MDEQ: Excessive rainwater, sewage bypass reported in manhole
WAPT
A temporary water contact advisory was issued for a section of Three Mile
Creek and the Pearl River due to excessive rainwater and a sewage bypass at
a manhole off South Gallatin Street, according to the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/water-advisory-issued-for-three-mile-creek-pearl-river/-/9156912/21208840/-/pu6w5tz/-/index.html?absolute=true
MS Power CEO defends controversial Kemper County plant
WLOX
A lot of Mississippi Power customers have been critical of the company for
getting two rate hikes approved, before the controversial Kemper County
lignite plant even goes on line. But new CEO Ed Holland said that is not
the least bit unusual.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22944001/ms-power-ceo-defends-controversial-kemper-county-plant
Endangered Mississippi gopher frog has good year in the wild and in the lab
The Associated Press
It's been a good year in the wild and in the lab for one of the world's
most endangered species, the dusky gopher frog.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/good_year_in_the_wild_and_in_t.html#incart_river
Fully-loaded tanker-trailer cleared from Highway 49
WDAM
A tanker truck carrying more than 8,700 gallons of a gasoline/ethanol
mixture that overturned just before 12: 30 p.m. on Saturday is now cleared
from Highway 49.
http://www.wdam.com/story/22951707/fully-loaded-tanker-trailer-cleared-from-highway-49
National News
Scientists collect water near site of blown well
By STACEY PLAISANCE — Associated Press
NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO — Scientists from several universities are working
to learn whether a gas well that blew wild last week off the Louisiana
coast is polluting the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/29/4830307/scientists-collect-water-near.html
After Delayed Vote, E.P.A. Gains a Tough Leader to Tackle Climate Change
NY Times
By JOHN M. BRODER
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — When Lisa P. Jackson announced at the end of last year
that she was stepping down as the administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency, President Obama faced a choice. He could play it safe by
appointing her deputy or he could confront Congress head-on and signal a
strong commitment to tackling climate change by appointing the agency's
head of air quality, Gina McCarthy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/us/politics/after-delayed-vote-epa-gains-a-tough-leader-to-tackle-climate-change.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&&pagewanted=print
Court tosses Texas, industry challenge to EPA greenhouse gas permitting
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/26/13 01:22 PM ET
A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to the Environmental
Protection Agency's greenhouse gas permitting requirements, siding with the
EPA in a battle against Texas, Wyoming and industry groups over
implementation of the rules.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313767-court-tosses-texas-industry-challenge-to-epa-greenhouse-gas-permitting
House Dems push bill to end oil and gas waste exemption
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/26/13 12:28 PM ET
A pair of House Democrats floated legislation Thursday that would end the
oil and gas industry's exemption to a federal waste disposal law, which
could have implications for hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313743-house-dems-push-bill-to-end-oil-and-gas-waste-exemption-
GOP lawmaker warns Interior's fracking rule could lead to cascade of new
regs
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/28/13 04:00 PM ET
A House Republican seeking to thwart the Interior Department's (DOI)
regulation of fracking, the controversial oil-and-gas development method,
said he's trying to prevent what he believes will become a cascade of rules
from multiple federal agencies.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313945-gop-lawmaker-interior-fracking-rule-is-nose-under-the-tent
Internal EPA report highlights disputes over fracking and well water
An EPA staff report suggests methane from hydraulic fracturing, or
fracking, contaminated wells near Dimock, Pa., but the agency says the
water's safe to drink.
LA Times
By Neela Banerjee
WASHINGTON — One year ago, the Environmental Protection Agency finished
testing drinking water in Dimock, Pa., after years of complaints by
residents who suspected that nearby natural gas production had fouled their
wells. The EPA said that for nearly all the 64 homes whose wells it
sampled, the water was safe to drink.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-epa-dimock-20130728,0,4847442.story
Scientists Envision Fracking in Arctic and on Ocean Floor
Wall Street Journal
Scientists in Japan and the U.S. say they are moving closer to tapping a
new source of energy: methane hydrate, a crystalline form of natural gas
found in Arctic permafrost and at the bottom of oceans.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324694904578600073042194096.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Coal industry threatened by stringent new EPA standards
By Doug McKelway
Published July 26, 2013
FoxNews.com
The next time you turn on a light, ride an elevator or charge up your cell
phone, you might want to thank John Toth or 86,000 others like him still
working today to dig the coal that fuels 40 percent of the electricity in
the most productive nation ever.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/07/26/coal-industry-threatened-by-stringent-new-epa-standards/
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Annual audits would help prevent complacency from
becoming corruption
We have been editorializing for months about the need for annual audits of
all government entities in Mississippi, but Stacy Pickering has perhaps
offered the most clear and effective arguments yet for why they are
necessary in protecting the taxpayers against the kind of mismanagement
that has been discovered at the state Department of Marine Resources.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/27/4826329/sun-herald-editorial-annual-audits.html
Press Releases
Mississippi, Alabama governors call for assessment of oil sands resources
MOBILE, Ala. – Mississippi and Alabama are joining to form a partnership to
further study the oil sands resources in the two states, Gov. Phil Bryant
and Gov. Robert Bentley announced today while speaking to the Southern
States Energy Board.
Gov. Bryant and Gov. Bentley signed a memorandum of understanding,
commissioning the assessment of oil sands, which is a sandy mixture found
below the surface containing bitumen. After extracting the sand, the
bitumen is transformed into refinery ready crude oil.
"As I have said before, for our nation to become more energy independent,
we must recognize the importance of a forward-thinking approach to energy
and continue to develop a comprehensive energy policy that works," Gov.
Bryant said.
"By taking this action, we're exploring the potential for safe and
reliable development of energy right here at home," Gov. Bentley said.
The effort is to be conducted as a joint effort between the Geological
Survey of Alabama/State Oil and Gas Board, the Mississippi State Oil and
Gas Board, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Mississippi Office of
Geology and the Southern States Energy Board.
Known as the Hartselle Sandstone, this underground layer of resources
stretches from north-central and northwest Alabama into northeastern
Mississippi. Various studies have been done over the years regarding the
Hartselle Sandstone. The most recent shows an estimated 7.5 billion barrels
of oil are located in the reserves.
"We need new information on the development of the area," Gov. Bryant said.
"By signing this MOU today, Mississippi looks forward to working with
Governor Bentley and his team of experts to study these resources which
will hopefully lead to commercial development. It is going to take full
cooperation from industry, state officials, and technical experts to get
this formation into production, and I am here today to offer assistance
from Mississippi."
"We all see the future promise of alternative sources of energy. However,
these sources will not be able to fulfill all of our needs for a long
time," Governor Bentley added. "That means fossil fuels will continue to
be an important source of energy for the foreseeable future. We simply
must continue to develop our North American fossil fuel resources in a safe
and responsible manner. This assessment will help us better understand the
resources that are available while also helping us meet our energy needs."
The assessment may include an inventory of existing core and well logs for
data collection; identification of data gaps; acquisition and
interpretation of additional data; detailed geologic reservoir modeling; a
refined estimate of oil reserves; and an inventory of existing and new
infrastructure needed to support the industry. Through the analysis, it
will also look into any legal or regulatory barriers to commercial
deployment across the geographical boundary between the States.
"Communities and businesses depend on reliable sources of energy," Governor
Bentley concluded. "That's why it's so important to explore our resources.
Through this assessment, we can better understand the resources we have and
the most responsible methods of developing them."
This practice of extracting oil sands is no stranger to Canada, which has a
long history of extracting from oil sands with the largest deposits located
in Alberta. The International Energy Agency (IEA) lists Canada's reserves
as being 178 billion barrels and Gov. Bryant believes there is opportunity
for our two states to learn from our Canadian neighbors.
"Canada has proven to be a leader in oil sand recovery, and we hope through
this evaluation process we can collaborate and share knowledge on best
practices," Bryant said.
###
MEMA Adds Another Element In Developing A New "Culture of Preparedness"
PEARL – Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Latham has
a new priority for Mississippians to prepare for emergencies. "Given the
risks and vulnerabilities that we face in our state and our history of
disasters it is time to develop what I am calling a new "Culture of
Preparedness," said Latham. "I am often asked if we are better prepared
now than we were on August 29, 2005 when Hurricane Katrina, considered the
worst natural disaster in recent history, made landfall on the Mississippi
Gulf Coast."
Government at every level has made significant strides in preparing for the
next storm. We have rebuilt stronger and better and our response capacity
is better than it has ever been. Unfortunately I believe that our citizens
are not as prepared as they could be. This new culture of preparedness
campaign begins with individual and family preparedness and expands to
neighborhoods and communities. The outcome of a disaster as it relates to
injuries and deaths is often determined before the first responders ever
arrive on the scene. If individuals, families and communities are better
prepared we can save lives, reduce injuries and are then left to just
cleanup and rebuild. We have to do more to save lives.
If severe weather or an emergency strikes your area, it could be hours or
even days before emergency officials and other assistance can get to you if
there are downed trees and power lines blocking travel. But the connections
and plans formed by a Community Preparedness Group can save valuable
minutes when the worst happens.
A Community Preparedness Group can serve several functions, from keeping a
community informed on safety and preparedness issues, to looking out for
neighbors with special needs during times of crisis, to keeping contact
information for the neighborhood in case of emergency.
Here are just a few tips for setting up a Community Preparedness Group in
your own area:
· Meet with your County Emergency Management Director to discuss
possibilities for your group. Find out if there are other groups in
the area, what role your county EMA will have, if any, in helping
organize the group and/or conducting meetings.
· Talk to community members to see if there is interest in establishing
a group to notify neighbors and check on them in times of severe
weather or other emergencies. This can be done through word of mouth
or speaking engagements at community churches, volunteer fire
departments, and other local organizations.
· Have an organizational meeting in which attendees are broken up into
groups made of streets, neighborhoods, or a certain number of
adjacent houses.
· Discuss community concerns. What do group members expect from the
Community Preparedness Group, and what are its capabilities in a time
of crisis?
· Pick team leaders from each area who will serve as a primary contact
point for their groups.
· Through your call tree, email or text distribution list, social media
pages, or word of mouth, have team leaders notify their groups when
there are coming issues which could affect their neighborhood.
· Consistently use websites or pages on social media to communicate
risks and hazards and for posting preparedness information and
activities.
· Establish contact with your local fire department, police or
sheriff's department, and EMS service and find out who the emergency
responders in your area are. It never hurts to know the people who
will respond to your home or neighborhood in case of an emergency.
· Teach members to put together an Emergency Supply Kit, a Family
Emergency Plan, and a Family Communication Plan.
· Work with team leaders to identify neighbors and community members
with special needs, such as elderly, shut-ins, etc.
· Make a plan to have someone check on neighbors with special needs
when temperatures are extremely hot or cold, or when there is severe
weather activity or other disasters in your area.
· Encourage members to start their children on emergency plans early. A
child will keep the whole family accountable.
· Plan to have periodic meetings with your team leaders to keep
interest up and develop new ways to keep community members involved.
Invite area responders to speak at or attend the meetings to keep
awareness of and ties to your community strong.
Visit www.msema.org and click on the BE PREPARED section at the top of the
page for more information.
###
Friday, July 26, 2013
News Clippings 7.26.13
Oil Spill
RESTORE Act public engagement meeting today at 5 p.m. at Pelican Landing
Mississippi Press
Brittany Bright
July 25, 2013 at 2:40 PM
MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- A public meeting to discuss Moss Point efforts
to restore and recover the Mississippi Gulf Coast from the BP oil spill
will be held today at Pelican Landing at 5 p.m.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/restore_act_public_engagement.html#incart_river
Halliburton to plead guilty to destroying Deepwater Horizon evidence, pay
$200,000 fine
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
July 25, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Halliburton Energy Services Inc., the company that oversaw cement pouring
during the drilling of the BP Macondo well, has agreed to plead guilty to
destroying evidence connected to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, and to pay
a $200,000 fine, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/07/halliburton_energy_services_in.html
Halliburton to Plead Guilty to Destroying Deepwater Horizon Evidence
Justice Department Says Company Destroyed Computer Simulations That Didn't
Support Its Contention in Oil Spill
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
Halliburton Co. will plead guilty to destroying evidence in the wake of
the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324564704578628472663785926.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Tulane in New Orleans gets $1 million grant to develop dispersants for
clean up of oil spill: Uptown Line
Jessie Lingenfelter
The Times-Picayune
July 25, 2013 at 7:39 AM
New Orleans, along with several other areas in the Gulf Coast region, is
still recovering from many of the aftereffects of 2010's BP Deepwater
Horzion oil spill, including some of the speculated negative tolls the
dispersants used in its cleanup took on the environment and public health.
http://blog.nola.com/new_orleans/2013/07/tulane_in_new_orleans_gets_1_m.html
BP pushes back against oil spill claims in new ad campaign
Press Register
George Talbot
July 25, 2013 at 3:46 PM
BP is upping the ante in its public campaign to try and block payments to
some business claiming harm from the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
The British company launched full page ads in the New York Times and the
Wall Street Journal today, portraying itself as the target of trial lawyers
seeking to exploit BP's efforts to restore the Gulf Coast.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/07/bp_pushes_back_against_oil_spi.html#incart_river
State News
Denbury Resources pays $662,500 fine after 2011 oil well blowout, but
problems
AP
JACKSON, Mississippi — Denbury Resources promises to bring new life to old
oil fields by pumping in carbon dioxide to force additional oil to the
surface. But the company's oil fields have seen a series of uncontrolled
carbon dioxide blowouts that may bring up oil and drilling fluids with
them.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/65e0ccd8784c49d09f7e09d8647c49ce/MS--Denbury-Fine/
Gulfport property decision could pave way for concrete plant
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- Residents who live near about 38 acres zoned for heavy
industrial use did not want to see it resubdivided so the owner could sell
about six acres, but the Planning Commission felt it had little choice
Thursday.
…Mellen said the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality would have
to approve any plant operations. Residents said they will follow through
with MDEQ if the plans go forward.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/25/4824161/gulfport-property-decision-could.html
Signal awards demolition contract for Mr. Gus rig
SUN HERALD
PASCAGOULA -- A contract has been awarded for the demolition of Mr. Gus, an
antiquated jack-up drill rig located in the Signal International West Yard,
the company announced Thursday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/25/4823637/signal-awards-demolition-contract.html
National News
Fire out on Gulf well that 'snuffed itself out'
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY and KEVIN McGILL
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A drilling rig that caught fire after a natural gas
blowout in the Gulf of Mexico appears stable now that the fire is out, and
there was no sign of any oil sheen on a fly-over Thursday morning, a rig
company executive said.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22928075/rig-owner-eyes-relief-well-to-divert-gas-off-coast
Dems' recess game plan: Push climate message
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
July 26, 2013 05:03 AM EDT
The White House, congressional Democrats and their allies are plotting an
August recess offensive to promote President Barack Obama's climate change
plan and head off Republican opposition.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/dems-recess-game-plan-push-climate-message-94773.html?hp=l4
White House aides, utility reps huddle on power plant carbon regs
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/25/13 12:50 PM ET
Utility industry officials are bending the ears of White House aides as
federal regulators craft first-time carbon emissions standards for power
plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313511-white-house-aides-utility-reps-huddle-on-power-plant-carbon-regs
Wyden floats fracking regs framework
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/25/13 01:50 PM ET
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
floated a proposal Thursday to let states regulate fracking underground
while permitting the federal government to set reporting and disclosure
requirements.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313549-sen-wyden-floats-fracking-regs-framework
Halliburton also part of US fracking antitrust probe
Thu, Jul 25 2013
Reuters
By Braden Reddall
July 25 (Reuters) - Halliburton Co, the largest provider of pressure
pumping services used in hydraulic fracturing, said on Thursday it had also
been contacted by the U.S. government regarding potential antitrust issues
in the pressure pumping market.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/07/25/usa-fracking-antitrust-idUSL1N0FV1RS20130725
House votes to blunt EPA regs on coal ash
The Hill
By Pete Kasperowicz - 07/25/13 11:41 AM ET
The House on Thursday in a 265-155 vote approved legislation that gives
states the authority to regulate coal ash.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313471-house-votes-to-blunt-epa-regs-on-coal-
Press Releases
U.S. Representative Gregg Harper (R-Miss.)
Jul 25, 2013
Hello--
Mississippians rely on coal for energy and jobs. But the EPA is in the
process of regulating coal ash as a hazardous material, which could have
negative effects on the economy.
Here's the truth. Coal ash has been used for decades as a safe part of many
products that Americans use every day.
And I have good news. The House passed a bill today to halt this
regulation.
The "Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act" provides an alternative to
the Obama administration's proposed rule. I am a cosponsor of this bill
because it protects jobs, the environment, and our economy.
Not only is this bill fair for job creators, it's fair for Mississippi's
families too. There's no question -- our state relies on coal and coal ash
for energy and jobs.
God Bless,
(Embedded image moved to file: pic11593.jpg)
Gregg Harper
Member of Congress
http://harper.house.gov/need-know/i-have-good-news
Mississippi River Levels Begin Rapid Fall
Vicksburg, Miss - After recently enduring near record high stages, the
Mississippi River has begun to decrease in water levels. Forecasters
predict the Mississippi River will fall rapidly over the next seven to ten
days, from 36 feet to approximately 21 feet on the Vicksburg gage.
The falling Mississippi River levels enabled the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Vicksburg District (Corps) to re-open the gates at the Steel
Bayou structure on Wednesday, 24 July 2013. This will release
approximately thirteen feet of water from Steele Bayou which will drain
over 110,000 acres of land in the lower Yazoo Back water area. The gates
at the Little Sunflower Structure are also currently open.
Additionally, the Corps will open the Muddy Bayou gates sometime during the
next week to allow water levels in Eagle Lake to lower approximately two
feet. This will be a welcome relief for Eagle Lake residents and dock
owners who endured higher than normal lake levels since mid-February.
The Vicksburg District encompasses a 68,000-square-mile area across
portions of Mississippi, Arkansas, and Louisiana that holds seven major
river basins and incorporates approximately 460 miles of mainline levees.
The primary mission of Vicksburg District's four Mississippi lakes,
backwater levees and structures is flood damage risk reduction. Since its
inception, the Mississippi River and Tributaries flood risk reduction
projects have cumulatively prevented approximately $ 612 billion of flood
damage. For more information visit our website, www.mvk.usace.army.mil
XXX
Thursday, July 25, 2013
News Clippings 7.25.13
7/25/13
State News
Pipeline moves past Mobile utility; deals with Mississippi spill
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
Plains Southcap appears to be playing hardball in an effort to get a crude
oil pipeline in the ground as soon as possible from Mobile to the Chevron
Pascagoula Refinery.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/24/4820850/pipeline-moves-past-mobile-utility.html
Plains Southcap files condemnation lawsuit against MAWSS to seize watershed
property for oil pipeline
Press Register
John Sharp
July 24, 2013 at 11:09 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – A condemnation lawsuit was filed in Mobile County Probate
Court on Wednesday afternoon by Plains Southcap to seize the final tracts
of land to complete its 45-mile oil pipeline.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/plains_southcap_filed_condemna.html#incart_river
EPA open house updates community on cleanup of the EPA Superfund Site
Winston County Journal
July 18, 2013
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosted an open house on Thursday,
July 11, at the Louisville Housing Authority Community Center to update the
community on the progress of the cleanup of the American Creosote Superfund
Site.
http://winstoncountyjournal.com/?p=4326
Pickering: DMR probe may reveal "culture of corruption"
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com
OCEAN SPRINGS -- State Auditor Stacey Pickering said Wednesday he believes
the ongoing probes of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources could
start to have some resolutions beginning this fall and investigators may
reveal evidence of a "culture of corruption."
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/24/4819719/pickering-dmr-probe-may-reveal.html
National News
Rig owner eyes relief well to divert gas off coast
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY and KEVIN McGILL — The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — The owner of a natural gas drilling rig aflame off of
Louisiana's coast said preparations were under way for the possible
drilling of a relief well to divert gas from the site and bring the well
under control.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/25/4821265/rig-owner-eyes-relief-well-to.html
Activists petition judge in California to force EPA to protect children
from pesticide drift
AP
SAN FRANCISCO — Activists have filed another petition to force federal
regulators to set safety standards that protect children from pesticides
that drift from farm fields into nearby communities.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/216845811.html
GOP slams EPA on 'fracking' as committee leader weighs bill
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/24/13 12:24 PM ET
House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) is weighing
legislation to alter the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) study on the impact of oil-and-gas "fracking" on drinking water.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313167-gop-slams-epa-on-fracking-as-committee-leader-weighs-bill
Navy's Clean-Energy Push to Get Focus at Hearing
Nominee Likely to Face Tough Questions From Republicans
Wall Street Joournal
By KEITH JOHNSON
The Navy's efforts to wean itself off oil, boost renewable energy and deal
with climate change will come under sharp scrutiny Thursday as the nominee
to be in charge of Navy energy affairs goes before the Senate Armed
Services Committee.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323971204578626064086241422.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Biofuel Makers Seek to Ease Mandates to Avert Congressional Cuts
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem on July 25, 2013
Makers of some renewable fuels are asking the federal government to ease
quotas for use of their products in a bid to head off a congressional
overhaul of a program that refiners say is driving up costs at the pump.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-25/biofuel-makers-seek-to-ease-mandates-to-avert-congressional-cuts
Opinion
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's Tenure To Be Tested By Coal Sector
Forbes
Gina McCarthy's tortuous trial to become the nation's leading environmental
leader has concluded in her favor. The big question, though, is what
happens next? She now has the unenviable task of leading President Obama's
charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — one to which she is committed
but also one to which her opponents are equally determined.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2013/07/24/epa-administrator-gina-mccarthys-tenure-to-be-tested-by-coal-sector/
Press Releases
MEMA REINFORCES NEED FOR EARTHQUAKE SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES
PEARL – Mississippians, both residents and first responders, must be ready
for an earthquake. An important focus for the Mississippi Emergency
Management Agency is to strengthen search and rescue capabilities. Today
MEMA hosted a seminar at Northwest Mississippi Community College in
Senatobia, focusing on the challenges of earthquake search and rescue.
Local and state first responders learned more about the earthquake hazard
in the central U. S., which includes north Mississippi. They also learned
what resources will be required following an earthquake.
"We can't wait for a disaster to happen and then begin to identify assets
you need for the response," said MEMA Director Robert Latham. "This effort
is intended to identify current search and rescue capabilities and
determine where our gaps are so that we can work with the Mississippi
Office of Homeland Security in training and equipping the needs."
While the focus of the seminar was on earthquake risk, search and rescue
assets around Mississippi are a major component of the response during
other disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and any other hazards the
state faces.
MEMA is working with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium to
ensure that the state is prepared to respond to and recover from an
earthquake.
CUSEC was established in 1983 with funding from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, with the primary mission of reducing deaths, injuries,
property damage and economic loss resulting from earthquakes in the central
U.S.
The number of earthquakes known to have occurred within Mississippi's
boundaries is small, but the state has been affected by numerous shocks in
neighboring states.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone Earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 were felt as far
south as the Gulf Coast, and caused the banks of the Mississippi River to
cave in as far south as Vicksburg.
For more information about earthquakes, visit www.msema.org.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for
updates.
EPA Software Helps Reduce Water Pollution as Part of President's Climate
Action Plan
National stormwater calculator helps manage stormwater runoff
Release Date: 07/24/2013
Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy @epa.gov 202-564-7849
202-564-4355; En español: Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov 202-564-9924,
202-564-4355
WASHINGTON – As part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the National
Stormwater Calculator, an innovative addition to the administration's
virtual climate resilience toolkit. EPA's new calculator will help property
owners, developers, landscapers, and urban planners make informed land-use
decisions to protect local waterways from pollution caused by stormwater
runoff. Preventing stormwater runoff, which can impact drinking water
resources and local ecosystems, protects people's health and the
environment.
The calculator, which is phase I of the Stormwater Calculator and Climate
Assessment Tool package announced in the President's Climate Action Plan in
June, is a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of
stormwater runoff from a specific site, based on local soil conditions,
slope, land cover, and historical rainfall records. Users can enter any
U.S. location and select different scenarios to learn how specific green
infrastructure changes, including inexpensive changes like rain barrels and
rain gardens, can prevent pollution. This information helps users determine
how adding green infrastructure can be one of the most cost-effective ways
to reduce stormwater runoff.
"EPA's research is providing innovative solutions to protect our nation's
water resources," said Lek Kadeli, principal deputy assistant administrator
for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "The Stormwater Calculator
demonstrates different types of green infrastructure approaches which can
result in protection from flooding, energy savings, improved air quality,
increased property values, healthier communities, and cost savings for the
American people."
Each year billions of gallons of raw sewage, trash, household chemicals,
and urban runoff flow into our streams, rivers and lakes. Polluted
stormwater runoff can adversely affect plants, animals, and people. It also
adversely affects our economy – from closed beaches to decreased fishing
and hunting in polluted areas. Green infrastructure is an affordable
solution to promote healthy waters and support sustainable communities.
An update to the Stormwater Calculator, which will include the ability to
link to several future climate scenarios, will be released by the end of
2013. Climate projections indicate that heavy precipitation events are very
likely to become more frequent as the climate changes.
More information about the National Stormwater Calculator:
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/wq/models/swc/
More information about the virtual climate resilience toolkit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
More information on EPA's Green Infrastructure research:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/index.cfm
###
EPA Expands List of Safer Chemical Ingredients
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) today added
more than 130 chemicals to its Safer Chemical Ingredients List. For the
first time, 119 chemicals that use fragrance for commercial and consumer
cleaning products have been added to the list.
"Fragrances are an important yet complex part of many consumer cleaning
products. By adding fragrance and other chemicals to the Safer Chemical
Ingredients List, EPA continues its commitment to help companies make safer
products and provide the public with greater access to chemical
information," said James Jones, acting assistant administrator for the
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The Safer Chemical Ingredients List, which now contains 602 chemicals,
serves as a resource for manufacturers interested in making safer products;
health and environmental advocates seeking to encourage the use of safer
chemicals; and consumers seeking information on the ingredients in safer
chemical products.
It also serves as a guide for Design for the Environment (DfE) labeled
products, which must meet EPA's rigorous, scientific standards for
protecting human health and the environment.
More than 2,500 products are certified under the DfE Standard for Safer
Products including all-purpose cleaners, laundry and dishwasher detergents,
window cleaners, car and boat care, and many other products. Using
DfE-certified products significantly reduces exposures to chemicals which
helps protect families and the environment.
The Safer Chemical Ingredients list was created in September 2012 and EPA
continues to update the list with additional fragrances and chemicals.
More on the Safer Chemical Ingredients List:
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/saferingredients.htm
State News
Pipeline moves past Mobile utility; deals with Mississippi spill
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
Plains Southcap appears to be playing hardball in an effort to get a crude
oil pipeline in the ground as soon as possible from Mobile to the Chevron
Pascagoula Refinery.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/24/4820850/pipeline-moves-past-mobile-utility.html
Plains Southcap files condemnation lawsuit against MAWSS to seize watershed
property for oil pipeline
Press Register
John Sharp
July 24, 2013 at 11:09 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – A condemnation lawsuit was filed in Mobile County Probate
Court on Wednesday afternoon by Plains Southcap to seize the final tracts
of land to complete its 45-mile oil pipeline.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/plains_southcap_filed_condemna.html#incart_river
EPA open house updates community on cleanup of the EPA Superfund Site
Winston County Journal
July 18, 2013
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hosted an open house on Thursday,
July 11, at the Louisville Housing Authority Community Center to update the
community on the progress of the cleanup of the American Creosote Superfund
Site.
http://winstoncountyjournal.com/?p=4326
Pickering: DMR probe may reveal "culture of corruption"
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com
OCEAN SPRINGS -- State Auditor Stacey Pickering said Wednesday he believes
the ongoing probes of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources could
start to have some resolutions beginning this fall and investigators may
reveal evidence of a "culture of corruption."
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/24/4819719/pickering-dmr-probe-may-reveal.html
National News
Rig owner eyes relief well to divert gas off coast
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY and KEVIN McGILL — The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — The owner of a natural gas drilling rig aflame off of
Louisiana's coast said preparations were under way for the possible
drilling of a relief well to divert gas from the site and bring the well
under control.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/25/4821265/rig-owner-eyes-relief-well-to.html
Activists petition judge in California to force EPA to protect children
from pesticide drift
AP
SAN FRANCISCO — Activists have filed another petition to force federal
regulators to set safety standards that protect children from pesticides
that drift from farm fields into nearby communities.
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/216845811.html
GOP slams EPA on 'fracking' as committee leader weighs bill
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 07/24/13 12:24 PM ET
House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) is weighing
legislation to alter the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency's
(EPA) study on the impact of oil-and-gas "fracking" on drinking water.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/313167-gop-slams-epa-on-fracking-as-committee-leader-weighs-bill
Navy's Clean-Energy Push to Get Focus at Hearing
Nominee Likely to Face Tough Questions From Republicans
Wall Street Joournal
By KEITH JOHNSON
The Navy's efforts to wean itself off oil, boost renewable energy and deal
with climate change will come under sharp scrutiny Thursday as the nominee
to be in charge of Navy energy affairs goes before the Senate Armed
Services Committee.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323971204578626064086241422.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Biofuel Makers Seek to Ease Mandates to Avert Congressional Cuts
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem on July 25, 2013
Makers of some renewable fuels are asking the federal government to ease
quotas for use of their products in a bid to head off a congressional
overhaul of a program that refiners say is driving up costs at the pump.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-07-25/biofuel-makers-seek-to-ease-mandates-to-avert-congressional-cuts
Opinion
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy's Tenure To Be Tested By Coal Sector
Forbes
Gina McCarthy's tortuous trial to become the nation's leading environmental
leader has concluded in her favor. The big question, though, is what
happens next? She now has the unenviable task of leading President Obama's
charge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions — one to which she is committed
but also one to which her opponents are equally determined.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2013/07/24/epa-administrator-gina-mccarthys-tenure-to-be-tested-by-coal-sector/
Press Releases
MEMA REINFORCES NEED FOR EARTHQUAKE SEARCH AND RESCUE CAPABILITIES
PEARL – Mississippians, both residents and first responders, must be ready
for an earthquake. An important focus for the Mississippi Emergency
Management Agency is to strengthen search and rescue capabilities. Today
MEMA hosted a seminar at Northwest Mississippi Community College in
Senatobia, focusing on the challenges of earthquake search and rescue.
Local and state first responders learned more about the earthquake hazard
in the central U. S., which includes north Mississippi. They also learned
what resources will be required following an earthquake.
"We can't wait for a disaster to happen and then begin to identify assets
you need for the response," said MEMA Director Robert Latham. "This effort
is intended to identify current search and rescue capabilities and
determine where our gaps are so that we can work with the Mississippi
Office of Homeland Security in training and equipping the needs."
While the focus of the seminar was on earthquake risk, search and rescue
assets around Mississippi are a major component of the response during
other disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and any other hazards the
state faces.
MEMA is working with the Central United States Earthquake Consortium to
ensure that the state is prepared to respond to and recover from an
earthquake.
CUSEC was established in 1983 with funding from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, with the primary mission of reducing deaths, injuries,
property damage and economic loss resulting from earthquakes in the central
U.S.
The number of earthquakes known to have occurred within Mississippi's
boundaries is small, but the state has been affected by numerous shocks in
neighboring states.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone Earthquakes of 1811 and 1812 were felt as far
south as the Gulf Coast, and caused the banks of the Mississippi River to
cave in as far south as Vicksburg.
For more information about earthquakes, visit www.msema.org.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for
updates.
EPA Software Helps Reduce Water Pollution as Part of President's Climate
Action Plan
National stormwater calculator helps manage stormwater runoff
Release Date: 07/24/2013
Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn milbourn.cathy @epa.gov 202-564-7849
202-564-4355; En español: Lina Younes, younes.lina@epa.gov 202-564-9924,
202-564-4355
WASHINGTON – As part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the National
Stormwater Calculator, an innovative addition to the administration's
virtual climate resilience toolkit. EPA's new calculator will help property
owners, developers, landscapers, and urban planners make informed land-use
decisions to protect local waterways from pollution caused by stormwater
runoff. Preventing stormwater runoff, which can impact drinking water
resources and local ecosystems, protects people's health and the
environment.
The calculator, which is phase I of the Stormwater Calculator and Climate
Assessment Tool package announced in the President's Climate Action Plan in
June, is a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of
stormwater runoff from a specific site, based on local soil conditions,
slope, land cover, and historical rainfall records. Users can enter any
U.S. location and select different scenarios to learn how specific green
infrastructure changes, including inexpensive changes like rain barrels and
rain gardens, can prevent pollution. This information helps users determine
how adding green infrastructure can be one of the most cost-effective ways
to reduce stormwater runoff.
"EPA's research is providing innovative solutions to protect our nation's
water resources," said Lek Kadeli, principal deputy assistant administrator
for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "The Stormwater Calculator
demonstrates different types of green infrastructure approaches which can
result in protection from flooding, energy savings, improved air quality,
increased property values, healthier communities, and cost savings for the
American people."
Each year billions of gallons of raw sewage, trash, household chemicals,
and urban runoff flow into our streams, rivers and lakes. Polluted
stormwater runoff can adversely affect plants, animals, and people. It also
adversely affects our economy – from closed beaches to decreased fishing
and hunting in polluted areas. Green infrastructure is an affordable
solution to promote healthy waters and support sustainable communities.
An update to the Stormwater Calculator, which will include the ability to
link to several future climate scenarios, will be released by the end of
2013. Climate projections indicate that heavy precipitation events are very
likely to become more frequent as the climate changes.
More information about the National Stormwater Calculator:
http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/wq/models/swc/
More information about the virtual climate resilience toolkit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
More information on EPA's Green Infrastructure research:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/index.cfm
###
EPA Expands List of Safer Chemical Ingredients
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) today added
more than 130 chemicals to its Safer Chemical Ingredients List. For the
first time, 119 chemicals that use fragrance for commercial and consumer
cleaning products have been added to the list.
"Fragrances are an important yet complex part of many consumer cleaning
products. By adding fragrance and other chemicals to the Safer Chemical
Ingredients List, EPA continues its commitment to help companies make safer
products and provide the public with greater access to chemical
information," said James Jones, acting assistant administrator for the
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The Safer Chemical Ingredients List, which now contains 602 chemicals,
serves as a resource for manufacturers interested in making safer products;
health and environmental advocates seeking to encourage the use of safer
chemicals; and consumers seeking information on the ingredients in safer
chemical products.
It also serves as a guide for Design for the Environment (DfE) labeled
products, which must meet EPA's rigorous, scientific standards for
protecting human health and the environment.
More than 2,500 products are certified under the DfE Standard for Safer
Products including all-purpose cleaners, laundry and dishwasher detergents,
window cleaners, car and boat care, and many other products. Using
DfE-certified products significantly reduces exposures to chemicals which
helps protect families and the environment.
The Safer Chemical Ingredients list was created in September 2012 and EPA
continues to update the list with additional fragrances and chemicals.
More on the Safer Chemical Ingredients List:
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/saferingredients.htm
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
News Clippings 7.24.13
7/24/13
Oil Spill
Rig owner loses round in oil spill document fight
AP
Transocean Deepwater Drilling Corp. has lost a round in its fight to avoid
handing over documents to a government board investigating the 2010
Deepwater Horizon explosion.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/326575/81/Rig-owner-loses-round-in-oil-spill-document-fight
State News
Creosote contamination almost contained at former plant site
by Associated Press
Published: July 23,2013
PICAYUNE — Soil on the property, contaminated by creosote where wood was
treated at the old Picayune Wood Treating plant from the 1940s to the late
1990s, is in the final states of being completely contained.
A Superfund open house was hosted recently by the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/07/23/cresotote-contamination-almost-contained-at-former-plant-site/
Dupont considers sale, spin-off of performance chemicals
WLOX
Dupont executives announced Tuesday they're considering either selling or
spinning off their performance chemicals segment. That means the Dupont
flag may not be flying at the Delisle titanium dioxide facility for much
longer.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22916340/dupont-considers-sale-spin-off-of-delisle-titanium-dioxide-facility
Pascagoula, Corps of Engineers partner to study drainage problems
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
July 23, 2013 at 3:15 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Pascagoula will partner with the Army Corps of
Engineers to investigate the causes of major drainage issues across the
city and to come up with a game plan to alleviate them, city Planning,
Inspections and Engineering Director Jaci Turner said today.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/pascagoula_corps_of_engineers.html#incart_river
MDWFP helping landowners deal with wild hogs
The Associated Press
JACKSON, MISS. — Mississippi wildlife officials say wild hogs are now in
more than half the counties of the state, tearing up crops and destroying
other kinds of vegetation.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/24/4817824/mdwfp-helping-landowners-deal.html
Barnett Reservoir considering new fees
WLBT
The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is considering user fees for
boaters, hunters and campers at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/22915189/barnett-reservoir-considering-new-fees
National News
'08 smog standard upheld
Miss., others wanted to see it reduced
AP
WASHINGTON — A federal court on Tuesday upheld a 2008 air pollution
standard the Obama administration vowed to strengthen, but later reversed
itself and kept in place.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130724/NEWS01/307240018/-08-smog-standard-upheld
Fire breaks out on evacuated Gulf gas well
AP
NEW ORLEANS — An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast
has caught fire, hours after a blowout that prompted the evacuation of 44
workers.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130724/NEWS/130724001/Fire-breaks-out-evacuated-Gulf-gas-well-
Coastal areas want their fair share of energy royalties
Obama administration won't support bipartisan legislation
Clarion Ledger
WASHINGTON — Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
slammed the Obama administration Tuesday for opposing their bipartisan
legislation that would steer more royalties from energy production on
federal lands to coastal states.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130724/BIZ/307240020/Coastal-areas-want-their-fair-share-energy-royalties
Mobile County Commission seeks greater oversight on oil pipeline issue
Press Register
Michael Dumas
July 23, 2013 at 5:49 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – Public sentiment against proposed oil projects throughout
the county continued at the Mobile County Commission's regular meeting on
Tuesday, July 23.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/mobile_county_commission_seeks.html#incart_river
Senior House Republican readies EPA power plant regs bill
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/23/13 05:20 PM ET
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) told The Hill he'll soon roll out legislation to
restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's reach over greenhouse gas
emissions from power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/312975-senior-house-republican-readies-epa-power-plant-regs-bill
Louisiana Agency to Sue Energy Companies for Wetland Damage
NY Times
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Louisiana officials will file a lawsuit on Wednesday against dozens of
energy companies, hoping that the courts will force them to pay for decades
of damage to fragile coastal wetlands that help buffer the effects of
hurricanes on the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/louisiana-agency-to-sue-energy-companies-for-wetland-damage.html?ref=earth&pagewanted=print
Opinion
BP settlement prospects may be dicey for local governments
Clarion Ledger
Sid Salter
In April, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood appointed his predecessor
Mike Moore and Ridgeland attorney Billy Quin as outside counsels to handle
the state's litigation against BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130724/OPINION/307240013/BP-settlement-prospects-may-dicey-local-governments
Press Releases
EPA Reduces Regulatory Burden for Industrial Facilities Using Solvent Wipes
Common-sense exclusion will save industry up to $27.8 million per year
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) modified
the hazardous waste management regulations under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) to conditionally exclude solvent-contaminated wipes
from hazardous waste regulations provided that businesses clean or dispose
of them properly. The rule is based on EPA's final risk analysis, which
was peer reviewed in 2008 and published for public comment in 2009, that
concluded wipes contaminated with certain hazardous solvents do not pose
significant risk to human health and the environment when managed properly.
EPA estimates that the final rule will result in a net savings of between
$21.7 million and $27.8 million per year.
Wipes are used in conjunction with solvents for cleaning and other purposes
by tens of thousands of facilities in numerous industrial sectors, such as
printers, automobile repair shops and manufacturers of automobiles,
electronics, furniture and chemicals.
"Today's rule uses the latest science to provide a regulatory framework for
managing solvent-contaminated wipes that is appropriate to the level of
risk posed by these materials," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "I've
heard directly from stakeholders about the benefits of this rule and the
need to finalize it. The rule reduces costs for thousands of businesses,
many of which are small businesses, while maintaining protection of human
health and the environment."
Today's final rule excludes wipes that are contaminated with solvents
listed as hazardous wastes under RCRA that are cleaned or disposed of
properly. To be excluded, solvent-contaminated wipes must be managed in
closed, labeled containers and cannot contain free liquids when sent for
cleaning or disposal. Additionally, facilities that generate
solvent-contaminated wipes must comply with certain recordkeeping
requirements and may not accumulate wipes for longer than 180 days.
EPA estimates that the final rule will result in a net savings of $18
million per year in avoided regulatory costs and between $3.7 million and
$9.9 million per year in other expected benefits, including pollution
prevention, waste minimization and fire prevention benefits.
Today's rule is consistent with President Obama's Executive Order 13563,
Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, which charges federal agencies
to monitor regulatory effectiveness and to help make agency regulatory
programs more effective or less burdensome in achieving the regulatory
objectives.
EPA first proposed modified regulations for solvent-contaminated wipes on
November 20, 2003, and published a revised risk assessment for public
comment on October 27, 2009. The docket for this rulemaking is
EPA-HQ-RCRA-2003-0004 and can be accessed at http://www.regulations.gov
once the final rule is published.
More information about this rulemaking:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/wasteid/solvents/wipes.htm
Oil Spill
Rig owner loses round in oil spill document fight
AP
Transocean Deepwater Drilling Corp. has lost a round in its fight to avoid
handing over documents to a government board investigating the 2010
Deepwater Horizon explosion.
http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/326575/81/Rig-owner-loses-round-in-oil-spill-document-fight
State News
Creosote contamination almost contained at former plant site
by Associated Press
Published: July 23,2013
PICAYUNE — Soil on the property, contaminated by creosote where wood was
treated at the old Picayune Wood Treating plant from the 1940s to the late
1990s, is in the final states of being completely contained.
A Superfund open house was hosted recently by the Environmental Protection
Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/07/23/cresotote-contamination-almost-contained-at-former-plant-site/
Dupont considers sale, spin-off of performance chemicals
WLOX
Dupont executives announced Tuesday they're considering either selling or
spinning off their performance chemicals segment. That means the Dupont
flag may not be flying at the Delisle titanium dioxide facility for much
longer.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22916340/dupont-considers-sale-spin-off-of-delisle-titanium-dioxide-facility
Pascagoula, Corps of Engineers partner to study drainage problems
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
July 23, 2013 at 3:15 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Pascagoula will partner with the Army Corps of
Engineers to investigate the causes of major drainage issues across the
city and to come up with a game plan to alleviate them, city Planning,
Inspections and Engineering Director Jaci Turner said today.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/07/pascagoula_corps_of_engineers.html#incart_river
MDWFP helping landowners deal with wild hogs
The Associated Press
JACKSON, MISS. — Mississippi wildlife officials say wild hogs are now in
more than half the counties of the state, tearing up crops and destroying
other kinds of vegetation.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/24/4817824/mdwfp-helping-landowners-deal.html
Barnett Reservoir considering new fees
WLBT
The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District is considering user fees for
boaters, hunters and campers at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/22915189/barnett-reservoir-considering-new-fees
National News
'08 smog standard upheld
Miss., others wanted to see it reduced
AP
WASHINGTON — A federal court on Tuesday upheld a 2008 air pollution
standard the Obama administration vowed to strengthen, but later reversed
itself and kept in place.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130724/NEWS01/307240018/-08-smog-standard-upheld
Fire breaks out on evacuated Gulf gas well
AP
NEW ORLEANS — An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast
has caught fire, hours after a blowout that prompted the evacuation of 44
workers.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130724/NEWS/130724001/Fire-breaks-out-evacuated-Gulf-gas-well-
Coastal areas want their fair share of energy royalties
Obama administration won't support bipartisan legislation
Clarion Ledger
WASHINGTON — Sens. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
slammed the Obama administration Tuesday for opposing their bipartisan
legislation that would steer more royalties from energy production on
federal lands to coastal states.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130724/BIZ/307240020/Coastal-areas-want-their-fair-share-energy-royalties
Mobile County Commission seeks greater oversight on oil pipeline issue
Press Register
Michael Dumas
July 23, 2013 at 5:49 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – Public sentiment against proposed oil projects throughout
the county continued at the Mobile County Commission's regular meeting on
Tuesday, July 23.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/mobile_county_commission_seeks.html#incart_river
Senior House Republican readies EPA power plant regs bill
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/23/13 05:20 PM ET
Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-Ky.) told The Hill he'll soon roll out legislation to
restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's reach over greenhouse gas
emissions from power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/312975-senior-house-republican-readies-epa-power-plant-regs-bill
Louisiana Agency to Sue Energy Companies for Wetland Damage
NY Times
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
Louisiana officials will file a lawsuit on Wednesday against dozens of
energy companies, hoping that the courts will force them to pay for decades
of damage to fragile coastal wetlands that help buffer the effects of
hurricanes on the region.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/25/us/louisiana-agency-to-sue-energy-companies-for-wetland-damage.html?ref=earth&pagewanted=print
Opinion
BP settlement prospects may be dicey for local governments
Clarion Ledger
Sid Salter
In April, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood appointed his predecessor
Mike Moore and Ridgeland attorney Billy Quin as outside counsels to handle
the state's litigation against BP over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130724/OPINION/307240013/BP-settlement-prospects-may-dicey-local-governments
Press Releases
EPA Reduces Regulatory Burden for Industrial Facilities Using Solvent Wipes
Common-sense exclusion will save industry up to $27.8 million per year
WASHINGTON - Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) modified
the hazardous waste management regulations under the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) to conditionally exclude solvent-contaminated wipes
from hazardous waste regulations provided that businesses clean or dispose
of them properly. The rule is based on EPA's final risk analysis, which
was peer reviewed in 2008 and published for public comment in 2009, that
concluded wipes contaminated with certain hazardous solvents do not pose
significant risk to human health and the environment when managed properly.
EPA estimates that the final rule will result in a net savings of between
$21.7 million and $27.8 million per year.
Wipes are used in conjunction with solvents for cleaning and other purposes
by tens of thousands of facilities in numerous industrial sectors, such as
printers, automobile repair shops and manufacturers of automobiles,
electronics, furniture and chemicals.
"Today's rule uses the latest science to provide a regulatory framework for
managing solvent-contaminated wipes that is appropriate to the level of
risk posed by these materials," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "I've
heard directly from stakeholders about the benefits of this rule and the
need to finalize it. The rule reduces costs for thousands of businesses,
many of which are small businesses, while maintaining protection of human
health and the environment."
Today's final rule excludes wipes that are contaminated with solvents
listed as hazardous wastes under RCRA that are cleaned or disposed of
properly. To be excluded, solvent-contaminated wipes must be managed in
closed, labeled containers and cannot contain free liquids when sent for
cleaning or disposal. Additionally, facilities that generate
solvent-contaminated wipes must comply with certain recordkeeping
requirements and may not accumulate wipes for longer than 180 days.
EPA estimates that the final rule will result in a net savings of $18
million per year in avoided regulatory costs and between $3.7 million and
$9.9 million per year in other expected benefits, including pollution
prevention, waste minimization and fire prevention benefits.
Today's rule is consistent with President Obama's Executive Order 13563,
Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review, which charges federal agencies
to monitor regulatory effectiveness and to help make agency regulatory
programs more effective or less burdensome in achieving the regulatory
objectives.
EPA first proposed modified regulations for solvent-contaminated wipes on
November 20, 2003, and published a revised risk assessment for public
comment on October 27, 2009. The docket for this rulemaking is
EPA-HQ-RCRA-2003-0004 and can be accessed at http://www.regulations.gov
once the final rule is published.
More information about this rulemaking:
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard/wastetypes/wasteid/solvents/wipes.htm
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
News Clippings 7/23/13
Oil Spill
Halliburton: Gulf spill settlement talks have 'slowed'
Houston Chronicle
Oil field services firm Halliburton said Monday its settlement talks with
victims of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill have "recently slowed" and it
is unclear if a deal will ultimately be reached, as the company reported a
nearly 8 percent drop in second-quarter profit.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/07/22/halliburton-gulf-spill-settlement-talks-have-slowed/
State News
New mayor, council eye water, sewer project
City already signed on under previous administration
Clarion Ledger
Jackson's $90 million water and sewer project remains in limbo while a new
administration and City Council subject it to another round of scrutiny.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130723/NEWS01/307230018/New-mayor-council-eye-water-sewer-project
Mississippi assistant attorney general's sons benefitted from grant he
applied for at DMR
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- An assistant attorney general assigned to the state Department of
Marine Resources applied for a federal Coastal Impact Assistance Program
grant that resulted in contracts for his two sons.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/22/4814396/mississippi-assistant-attorney.html
Moss Point woman angered by illegal dumping in her neighborhood
WLOX
Imagine having garbage pile up in your neighborhood and nothing is done
about it. One Moss Point resident said that's exactly what's been going on
near her home on Second and Elder streets. She wants the city to finally
stop litter bugs from illegally dumping in Moss Point.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22904645/moss-point-fed-up-with-illegal-dumping-in-her-neighboorhood
Cell phone recycle program offers cash on delivery
WTVA
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- You may have noticed a new kiosk at the main
entrance to the Mall at Barnes Crossing food court.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Cell-phone-recycle-program-offers-cash-on-delivery/cAfXMF7dhkG01SUjR9wBBQ.cspx
Miss. Materials adds natural gas to its fleet mix
Savings, environmental benefits could revolutionize industry, officials say
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi Materials Corp. hopes the 12 new mixing trucks at its Jackson
headquarters mark not only fuel savings and environmental friendliness for
the company but the start of a revolution in its industry.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130723/NEWS01/307230019/Miss-Materials-adds-natural-gas-its-fleet-mix
National News
Plains Southcap to pursue condemnation of MAWSS property to finish
controversial oil pipeline
Press Register
John Sharp
July 22, 2013 at 6:25 PM
(Embedded image moved to file: pic12896.jpg)
MOBILE, Alabama – An attorney representing Plains Southcap says he will
file a condemnation lawsuit against the Mobile Area Water and Sewer Service
this week in order to seize the final property the company needs in order
to complete a controversial oil pipeline.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/plains_southcap_to_pursue_cond.html#incart_river
House bill slashes EPA budget by 34 percent
The Hill
By Erik Wasson and Ben Geman - 07/22/13 11:31 AM ET
House Republicans on Monday unveiled plans to slash the Environmental
Protection Agency's budget by 34 percent in 2014 and block federal rules to
limit carbon emissions from power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/appropriations/312537-house-bill-slashes-epa-budget-by-34-percent
New EPA chief exhorts agency staff to 'act now on climate change'
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/22/13 12:35 PM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency "has a clear responsibility to act now
on climate change," the agency's new chief said Monday in a video message
to staff.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/312561-new-epa-chief-to-staff-this-is-a-defining-time-for-epa
GOP senators: EPA 'deliberately' inflating rule's benefits
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 07/22/13 06:43 PM ET
A group of Republican senators suggest the Obama administration may be
purposefully overstating the benefits of new environmental rules by more
than $2.2 billion to make them seem more valuable.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/letterscomments/312701-gop-senators-epa-deliberately-inflating-rules-benefits-by-more-than-22-billion
GOP threatens to subpoena EPA over pollution studies
By Isobel Markham
The Salt Lake Tribune
Jul 22 2013 11:03 pm
Washington • House Republicans say they are tired of waiting for the
Environmental Protection Agency to hand over research data behind the
nation's clean-air regulations and on Monday threatened to issue a subpoena
if they don't receive the information by the end of the month.
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/56626646-90/epa-data-health-agency.html.csp
Press Releases
Mississippi River Commission Schedules Low-Water Inspection Trip
Vicksburg, Miss.......The Mississippi River Commission will conduct its
annual low-water inspection trip of the lower Mississippi River basin
beginning 20 August and ending on 23 August 2013.
Three public meetings have been scheduled in selected towns along the
river. These public meeting with be held aboard the Motor Vessel
MISSISSIPPI. The meeting places, dates and times are as follows:
August 20 9:00 a.m. Memphis, Tennessee (Beale Street Landing)
August 21 1:00 p.m. Vicksburg, Mississippi (City front)
August 23 9:00 a.m. Morgan City, Louisiana (Port Commission
dock)
All meetings are open to the public. Individuals and/or groups are invited
to present their views and suggestions on matters affecting the water
resources infrastructure of the lower Mississippi valley. This includes
environmental issues, recreational and navigational issues and flood
control projects.
The agenda for each public meeting will be as follows:
1. Summary report by president of the commission on national and regional
issues affecting the programs and projects on the Mississippi River and its
tributaries.
2. District commander's overview for the commission on current project
issues in the respective district area.
3. Presentations to the commission by local organizations and members of
the public giving views or comments on any issue affecting the programs or
projects of the commission and the Corps of Engineers.
The purpose of the public meetings is to maintain a dialogue, an exchange
of viewpoints and ideas flowing between the public and the Corps.
Presentations by the public are made orally, but a copy of the remarks
should be presented to the commission for the official record.
Since 1879, the seven-member Presidentially appointed Mississippi River
Commission has developed and matured plans for the general improvement of
the Mississippi River from the Head of Passes to the Headwaters. The
Mississippi River Commission brings critical engineering representation to
the drainage basin, which impacts 41 percent of the United States and
includes 1.25 million square miles, over 250 tributaries, 31 states, and
two Canadian provinces.
XXX
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|USDA Announces Results for 45th Conservation Reserve Program General Sign-Up|
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| Offers Received for 1.9 Million Acres |
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|AMES, IOWA, July 22, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept 1.7 |
|million acres offered under the 45th Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) |
|general sign-up. The Department received nearly 28,000 offers on more than |
|1.9 million acres of land, demonstrating CRP's continuing appeal as one of |
|our nation's most successful voluntary programs for soil, water, and |
|wildlife conservation. Under Vilsack's leadership, USDA has enrolled nearly |
|12 million acres in new CRP contracts since 2009. Currently, there are more |
|than 26.9 million acres enrolled on 700,000 contracts. |
| |
| |
|"For 27 years, lands in CRP have helped to conserve our nation's resources |
|and played a part in mitigating climate change," said Vilsack. "American |
|farmers and ranchers continue to recognize the importance of protecting our |
|nation's most environmentally sensitive land by enrolling in CRP. As the |
|commodities produced by our farmers and ranchers continue to perform |
|strongly in the marketplace - supporting one out of every twelve jobs here |
|in the United States - it is no surprise that American producers continue to|
|recognize the importance of protecting our nation's most environmentally |
|sensitive land by enrolling in CRP." |
| |
| |
|In addition to today's announcement, over the last four years, USDA has set |
|aside significant acreage under CRP's Continuous enrollment programs to |
|target habitat conservation on especially important lands. For example, in |
|March, 2012, President Obama dedicated 1 million acres of CRP to Continuous |
|Enrollment Programs to conserve wetlands, grasslands and wildlife. This |
|year, farmers and ranchers have already offered more than 370,000 acres |
|under Continuous CRP signup, a figure that is impressive given that the lack|
|of a Farm Bill extension last fall meant that CRP enrollment only reopened |
|this spring in May. Lack of a comprehensive Farm Bill this year has resulted|
|in uncertainty for achieving further enrollment objectives under continuous |
|CRP. |
| |
| |
|CRP is a voluntary program that allows eligible landowners to receive annual|
|rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, |
|resource-conserving covers on eligible farmland throughout the duration of |
|their 10 to 15 year contracts. |
| |
| |
|Under CRP, farmers and ranchers plant grasses and trees in fields and along |
|streams or rivers. The plantings prevent soil and nutrients from washing |
|into waterways, reduce soil erosion that may otherwise contribute to poor |
|air and water quality, and provide valuable habitat for wildlife. In 2012, |
|CRP helped to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous losses from farm fields by 605|
|million pounds and 121 million pounds respectively. CRP has restored more |
|than two million acres of wetlands and associated buffers and reduces soil |
|erosion by more than 300 million tons per year. CRP also provides $2.0 |
|billion annually to landowners-dollars that make their way into local |
|economies, supporting small businesses and creating jobs. |
| |
| |
|In addition, CRP sequesters more carbon dioxide than any other conservation |
|program in the country, and also reduces both fuel and fertilizer use. |
|Yearly, CRP results in carbon sequestration equal to taking almost 10 |
|million cars off the road. |
| |
| |
|USDA selected offers for enrollment based on an Environmental Benefits Index|
|(EBI) comprised of five environmental factors plus cost. The five |
|environmental factors are: (1) wildlife enhancement, (2) water quality, (3) |
|soil erosion, (4) enduring benefits, and (5) air quality. |
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|# |
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