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
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