7.22.13
Oil Spill
Judge delays 2nd phase of BP oil spill trial
The Associated Press
July 19, 2013 at 3:36 PM
A federal judge has ordered a two-week delay of the second phase of a trial
over BP's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier on Friday moved the start of the second
phase from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30 to give the parties in the litigation more
time to prepare.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2013/07/judge_delays_2nd_phase_of_bp_o.html
Federal judge denies BP bid to suspend payments on oil spill claims
Juliet Linderman
The Times-Picayune
July 19, 2013 at 6:40 PM
A federal judge Friday denied British oil giant BP's bid for a preliminary
injunction that would have allowed the company to temporarily suspend
payments related to claims from the 2010 oil spill until an investigation
into alleged fraud in the multibillion-dollar claims payment program is
complete.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2013/07/federal_judge_denies_bp_bid_fo.html
Blue crab stock declines are concern for Gulf Coast fishermen
Press Register
Fara Illich
July 21, 2013 at 9:42 AM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- In the cool early-morning air, Frank Parker jumps
into his skiff off the Kuhn Street Pier with an ice chest full of bait and
26 years of commercial shrimp and crab fishing experience under his belt.
He says there are ups and downs in this business, but lately he's just
trying to catch enough to pay the bills.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/steep_decline_in_blue_crab_sto.html#incart_river
ADEM official gets praise from city
BY JOHN MULLEN
Saturday, July 20, 2013 4:30 am
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Roy Collins of the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management has been a superstar helping the city since the BP oil spill hit
the area in May, officials say.
http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/area_news/article_c4773a7e-f095-11e2-ad7d-0019bb2963f4.html
State News
Public Works' approach isn't working
Clarion Ledger
Interviews with current and former city of Jackson employees, coupled with
a review of public documents, depict a Public Works Department in disarray.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130721/NEWS01/307210044/Public-Works-approach-isn-t-working
Environmentalists to demonstrate this week against oil pipeline through
Mobile County
Press Register
John Sharp
July 21, 2013 at 1:28 PM
MOBILE, Alabama -- Environmentalists and other concerned citizens are
planning a lively week of demonstrations and organizing as they prepare an
uphill fight in preventing an oil pipeline running 41 miles to Mississippi
and through a section of Mobile's drinking water supply.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/07/the_fight_against_oil_environm.html#incart_river
Rice growers meet for updates
Bolivar Commercial
by Kevin Pearson
07.21.13 - 07:53 am
The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation met for its annual Rice Commodity
Advisory Committee Meeting Friday.
…The Delta Coordinator of the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality Sam Mabry presented information from the Delta Sustainable Water
Task Force on the voluntary water meter program that could replace the
mandatory program.
"The key facts," Mabry said, is "that if five percent of the wells in each
county in the Delta have meters on them by June 30, 2014 and 10 percent by
December 31, 2015, the mandatory program will not go into effect at that
time."
To participate in the voluntary program, contact Yazoo Mississippi Delta
Joint Water Management or visit their website to receive a form to indicate
specifics about the flow-meters that will be installed.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/23177792/article-Rice-growers-meet-for-updates?instance=homesecondleft
PRC Utility Authority is ahead of budget
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — Pearl River County Utility Authority Executive Director Jeff
McClain reported at Thursday afternoon board of director's meeting that
revenues for the year are running over $20,000-30,000 above projections,
causing the utility authority to be well within its budget for the year.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x2088950156/PRC-Utility-Authority-is-ahead-of-budget
Beer bottles litter Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Sun Herald
By JOHN FITZHUGH — jcfitzhugh@sunherald.com
MOSS POINT -- Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve is a delicate
collection of marshes, swamps, sloughs and pine savannas.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/20/4810018/beer-bottles-litter-grand-bay.html
DMR boats awarded to two highest bidders
WLOX
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Friday that they
have accepted the two highest bids for the Californian and the Topaz.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22886012/dmr-boats-awarded-to-two-highest-bidders
MEMA & Hancock County leaders talk buyout
WLOX
The Hancock County buy-out program was the hot topic of discussion at an
informational forum in Pearlington. Representatives from MEMA joined forces
with Hancock County leaders to answer questions from residents of the
community. Some folks used the forum to vent their frustrations.
http://www.wlox.com/story/22889164/mema-hancock-county-leaders-talk-buyout
Hosemann: State boards study is under way
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said his office has
identified 204 boards or commissions comprised of more than 1,600 members
who oversee various state agencies and quasi-state agencies.
http://djournal.com/news/hosemann-state-boards-study-is-under-way/
National News
New EPA chief has an ambitious to-do list
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Updated: July 19, 2013
Now that Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy has
been confirmed, she faces a lengthy to-do list.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/07/19/new-epa-chief-has-an-ambitious-to-do-list/?print=1
EPA names interim air pollution chief to lead carbon crackdown
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/19/13 11:22 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency has named an interim chief for air
quality regulations who will help lead the administration's efforts to
limit greenhouse gas emissions.
Janet McCabe became the top air quality regulator on Friday, moving into
the role formerly held by new EPA chief Gina McCarthy.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/312249-new-pollution-chief-named-to-lead-epas-carbon-crackdown-
White House climate advisor tells House Dems what's coming
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/19/13 01:47 PM ET
President Obama's chief climate and energy adviser made the rounds Friday
to brief House Democrats on the administration's climate agenda.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/312293-white-house-official-house-dems-talk-climate-plan-in-series-of-meetings
The case against EPA political bias
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
July 21, 2013 10:30 PM EDT
Critics of the Obama administration have gotten a lot of mileage by
claiming ideological bias at the Environmental Protection Agency. But a
POLITICO analysis of the evidence shows holes in their case.
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=29D5A5E8-0825-4F9F-8688-25C3A36A0C4D
South Carolina sues EPA over Clean Air Act
By Nathaniel Cary — Greenville News
South Carolina has joined 11 other states in a joint lawsuit against the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, charging that the federal agency
isn't complying with freedom of information requests related to
implementation of a haze requirement in the Clean Air Act.
http://www.thestate.com/2013/07/18/2868305/south-carolina-sues-epa-over-clean.html
Wyoming joins lawsuit against EPA's 'sue and settle' practice
Star Tribune
CHEYENNE — Wyoming is one of 12 states that will sue the Environmental
Protection Agency Tuesday to force the release of EPA records related to
some lawsuits by environmental groups.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming-joins-lawsuit-against-epa-s-sue-and-settle-practice/article_cdd66b78-ab0d-5dee-8ed1-cf6e5db3c5bb.html
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Some things on the Coast aren't for sale
Suppose someone showed up on the Coast with a surefire way to create
thousands of jobs, attract tens of thousands of tourists and not cost
taxpayers one cent more than they are already paying. Imagine the stampede
to seal such a deal.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/07/20/4808612/sun-herald-editorial-some-things.html
