8.12.2013
Oil Spill
Efforts to locate oil on the Louisiana shoreline continue more than three
years after BP disaster
Baton Rouge Advocate
More than three years after the Deepwater Horizon/BP disaster in the Gulf
of Mexico, crews are still searching the Louisiana coast for evidence of
oil pollution.
http://theadvocate.com/home/6740950-125/efforts-to-locate-oil-on
State
DeSoto Co, cities, state clean-air campaign
AP
HERNANDO, MISS. — Clean air is not an abstract issue — it's one that
affects thousands of people, says Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/11/4865365/desoto-co-cities-state-clean-air.html
Report: Gulf Petrochemical Facilities Not Ready for Storms
MPB
A new report claims Gulf oil, chemical and coal facilities are not prepared
for storms, leading to high levels of air and water pollution when tropical
systems sweep through the region.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/report_gulf_petrochemical_facilities_not_ready_for_storms
Jackson recycling site again accepting paper
Business could fully reopen in mid-September
Clarion Ledger
Jackson's West Street recycling facility is once again accepting paper
recycling and could fully reopen as soon as next month, according to
project officials.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130810/NEWS/308090041/Jackson-recycling-site-again-accepting-paper
MDEQ issues water contact advisory for high bacteria levels at Front Beach,
Porter Avenue Beach
Mississippi Press
August 10, 2013 at 5:16 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality, through its Beach Monitoring Program, issued water contact
advisories Saturday for two sampling stations -- one in Harrison County and
one in Jackson County.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/08/mdeq_issues_water_contact_advi.html#incart_river
Around South Mississippi
Sun Herald
Water advisories issued intwo counties
JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has issued
water-contact advisories for four sampling stations in Harrison and Jackson
counties.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/10/4864850/around-south-mississippi.html
Mississippi DMR hires tidelands program coordinator
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has hired a
Jackson County woman to coordinate its $9 million a year tidelands program.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/09/4863059/mississippi-dmr-hires-tidelands.html
Officials approve naming beaches critical habitat for turtles
by Associated Press
Published: August 12,2013
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST — Officials say they won't have any problems if
Mississippi beaches are named critical habitat for endangered loggerhead
sea turtles.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/08/12/officials-approve-naming-beaches-critical-habitat-for-turtles/
Taylor named to forests post in Mississippi
Hattiesburg American
JACKSON — William "Eddie" Taylor Jr. has been appointed deputy forest
supervisor for national forests in Mississippi.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130812/NEWS01/308120008/Taylor-named-forests-post-Mississippi
Miss. State engineer to lead national organization
AP
STARKVILLE, MISS. — Robert Green has been elected president of the National
Society of Professional Engineers.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130812/NEWS/130812001/Miss-State-engineer-lead-national-organization
State travel spending: Up, up and away - on your dime
Budgets cut, but junkets with little or no oversight still rise
Clarion Ledger
In his opening remarks to a real estate conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
last year, the group's president lamented the low turnout because many
state governments have cut travel spending or banned out-of-country travel.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/NEWS0105/308110010?cid=dlvr.it
State agency travel spending
http://www.clarionledger.com/interactive/article/20130811/NEWS01/130809025/State-agency-travel-spending
Officials' travel pads other states', countries' coffers
Clarion Ledger
When many Mississippi government officials travel, the destination is
Destin, Fla.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/OPINION03/308110002/Officials-travel-pads-other-states-countries-coffers
Who keeps eye on tab?
Some question if travel efficiency being monitored
Clarion Ledger
When 12 officials with the Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer
Finance traveled to Destin, Fla., this year to mingle with people from the
industry they regulate, they each took their own cars.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/OPINION03/308110003/Who-keeps-eye-tab-
Some small agencies spend like the big boys
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi taxpayers likely wouldn't be surprised to learn they spent
$13,200 on Attorney General Jim Hood's travel for fiscal 2013. He holds a
top office and has to travel in and out of state frequently.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/OPINION03/308110007/Some-small-agencies-spend-like-big-boys
State vehicles may be more cost effective
Reimbursing miles driven, state could end up paying more
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi spends millions of dollars a year on the purchase, upkeep and
fuel for its fleet of about 7,500 state government vehicles.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/OPINION03/308110004/State-vehicles-may-more-cost-effective
Bryant spending less on air travel
Sometimes flying commercial or relying on private funds, governor undercuts
expenses of predecessor
Clarion Ledger
That passenger sitting next to you on your next commercial flight might be
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/OPINION03/308110005/Bryant-spending-less-air-travel?nclick_check=1
All expenses paid? Some lawmakers request reimbursement for lobbyist-funded
treks
Clarion Ledger
When the 19 Mississippi lawmakers arrived at the Sandestin Hilton in
Florida last summer, they were given hotel cards to charge expenses.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/OPINION03/308110001/All-expenses-paid-Some-lawmakers-request-reimbursement-lobbyist-funded-treks
At a glance: Proposed solutions for travel costs
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi officials including Gov. Phil Bryant say state government
travel spending — which increased from $37 million in 2012 to $40 million
for fiscal 2013 — can be reduced. Some solutions they propose:
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130811/NEWS0105/308110016/At-glance-Proposed-solutions-travel-costs
Region
NC four years behind on Clean Water Act rules
News and Observer
By Annalise Frank — afrank@newsobserver.com
RALEIGH — Once an innovative leader in water quality science, North
Carolina has fallen behind in meeting federal pollution standards.
North Carolina is the only state in its EPA region – which includes
Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi and
Florida – that has not adopted EPA-approved rules on measuring toxic metals
like arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver and zinc in its water, according to a
letter the EPA sent on July 31 to Tom Reeder, the director of the Division
of Water Resources, within the state Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/08/10/3097935/denr-four-years-behind-on-clean.html
National
In his second term, Obama becomes bolder on the environment
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Published: August 10
President Obama's environmental policies are likely to play a prominent
role in defining his second term, even as the budget, immigration and
health care still dominate the current political debate.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-his-second-term-obama-becomes-bolder-on-the-environment/2013/08/10/1e65239e-f9f5-11e2-a369-d1954abcb7e3_print.html
Study: Stronger regs needed to protect against 'seafood fraud'
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 08/08/13 04:16 PM ET
A new study makes the case for tracking fish from ocean to plate in order
to protect Americans from overspending hundreds of dollars each year on
mislabeled fish.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/316257-study-stronger-regs-needed-to-protect-against-seafood-fraud
Dakota lawmakers: EPA decision in Wyoming will raise energy prices
The Hill
By Ramsey Cox - 08/09/13 08:56 AM ET
North and South Dakota lawmakers chided a recent Environmental Protection
Agency decision to require Wyoming to use "costly" new technology to reduce
air pollution.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/316321-dakota-lawmakers-epa-decision-in-wyo-will-raise-energy-prices
