8/21/2013
Oil Spill
Seafood safety testing continues three years after oil spill
WLOX
Since the BP oil spill three years ago, the Department of Marine Resources
has tested 622 seafood samples. And all of those samples have been shown
"safe" to eat. The Commission on Marine Resources heard an update on the
seafood safety program at Tuesday's monthly meeting.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23199787/seafood-safety-testing-continues-three-years-after-oil-spill
New Gulf Seafood Trace Program unveiled
WLOX
Do you know where your shrimp come from?
If not, you can now. The Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association
unveiled its Gulf Seafood Trace Program.
Supported by BP grant funds, this program's aim is to get all local
restaurants on board to buy traceable shrimp from the Gulf of Mexico and
then tell you, the consumer, exactly where it came from.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23199423/new-gulf-seafood-trace-program-unveiled
Ocean Springs gets $194,000 oil-spill grant
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
OCEAN SPRINGS -- The city announced a $194,000 grant from Deepwater Horizon
oil spill claims that will help the Ocean Springs History Museum achieve
accreditation and associate it with the newly restored, architecturally
significant Charnley House on East Beach.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/20/4889151/ocean-springs-gets-194000-oil.html
Oil from BP spill pushed onto shelf off Tampa Bay by underwater currents,
study finds
· Tampa Bay Times
· Craig Pittman, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 20, 2013 2:36pm
The thick globs of BP oil that washed ashore on beaches along Florida's
Panhandle in 2010 never reached Tampa Bay, to the relief of hotel owners,
restaurateurs, anglers, beachgoers and local officials.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/oil-from-bp-spill-was-pushed-onto-shelf-off-tampa-bay-by-underwater/2137406
New BP ads say people without losses seeking money for 2010 oil spill
Bruce Alpert
Times-Picayune
August 20, 2013 at 3:12 PM
WASHINGTON -- BP is back with new newspaper ads, this time aimed at what
are billed as unscrupulous trial lawyers seeking a big pay day gaining
compensation for people who didn't suffer any losses from the 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/08/new_bp_ads_claim_people_withou.html
State
TESI customers are hoping for a sale of the utility
WLOX
For people living in Jackson County's Gulf Park Estates, the possible sale
of the area's primary water source is welcome news.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23198337/tesi-customers-are-hoping-for-a-sale-of-the-utility
The Ocean Expo is given a deadline to begin construction
WLOX
It's been more than a year and a half since the Ocean Expo Aquarium and
Learning Center broke ground in D'Iberville. Since then, little more than
clearing land and moving dirt has been done.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23200254/the-ocean-expo-gets-a-deadline-to-begin-construction
Miller asks Mississippi Legislature for more money for DMR
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- The state Department of Marine Resources will ask the Legislature
for a 4 percent increase in its budget for the fiscal year that will begin
July 1, according to a budget request unveiled Tuesday at the Commission on
Marine Resources meeting.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/20/4889008/miller-asks-mississippi-legislature.html
Groups spar over use of money in power plant dispute
ITD, Bigger Pieties questioned
AP
A free-market advocacy group that opposes Mississippi Power's $4.7 billion
coal-fired power plant under construction in Kemper County now finds itself
on the defensive, accused of using public funds in the fight against the
plant.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130821/NEWS01/308210029/Groups-spar-over-use-money-power-plant-dispute
Bentz resigns from Miss. Public Service Commission
Gov. to appoint commissioner
AP
Republican Leonard Bentz has stepped down from the Mississippi Public
Service Commission, as expected.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130821/NEWS01/308210037/Bentz-resigns-from-Miss-Public-Service-Commission
Hercules donates land to Hattiesburg for Rails to Trails
WDAM
The Long Leaf Trace will soon have a new artery connecting it to a
Hattiesburg street thanks to a land donation from Hercules.
http://www.wdam.com/story/23198038/long-leaf-trce
National
USGS moves to create climate change vulnerability database
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 08/20/13 12:15 PM ET
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is moving to create a registry
of climate change vulnerability to better protect wildlife, ecosystems and
dams.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/317837-usgs-moves-to-create-climate-change-vulnerability-database
War of words builds over possible regulation of lead bullets
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 08/20/13 01:27 PM ET
Wildlife conservationists are facing off against the gun lobby over
hunters' use of lead bullets.
This month, the National Rife Association (NRA) announced a new campaign to
discourage regulators and lawmakers from limiting the use of lead bullets,
which birds like eagles and vultures sometimes eat by accident and then
contract lead poisoning.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/lobbying/317859-war-of-words-builds-over-possible-regulation-of-lead-bullets
Opinion
Like the oil, questions linger about the BP spill
Houma Today
Michael Gorman
Editorial page editor
Published: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 at 3:55 p.m.
Back in 2010, as the oil spewed from far beneath the ocean's surface after
the deadly explosion of the Deepwater Horizon, the response among coastal
residents was panic.
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20130820/OPINION/130829968/1030/opinion?Title=Like-the-oil-questions-linger-about-the-BP-spill
Gulf Coast compensation fund under attack: Our view
USA Today
Gulf Coast residents, victimized in 2010 by BP's Deepwater Horizon
oil rig disaster, are being victimized again, this time by trial
lawyers exploiting a legal system ill-equipped to handle such
calamities.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/08/20/bp-gulf-coast-oil-spill-claims-trial-lawyers-editorials-debates/2679461/
BP not a victim: Opposing view
USA Today
Three years ago, the Gulf Coast was devastated by the worst man-made
environmental disaster in American history. Eleven men lost their
lives on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, and millions of gallons of
oil destroyed countless wildlife. The region's economic backbone was
shattered.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/08/20/bp-oil-spill-gulf-coast-settlement-editorials-debates/2679451/
COLUMN-BP puts Louisiana justice on trial: Kemp
Reuters
By John Kemp
LONDON, Aug 20 (Reuters) - BP (LSE: BP.L - news) 's increasingly
bad-tempered spat with the U.S. federal court, claims administrators and
legal community in New Orleans over oil-spill compensation payments
suggests the company has given up trying to win the case locally.
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/column-bp-puts-louisiana-justice-114628166.html
Press releases
EPA Kicks Off Fourth-Annual Energy Star National Building Competition with
More Than 3,000 Buildings
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched
the 2013 Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the
Buildings. Teams from more than 3,000 buildings across the country are
competing to see who can most reduce their buildings' energy use. In
support of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which calls for buildings
to cut waste and become at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020,
the competition specifically targets wasted energy in commercial buildings
and motivates businesses to improve energy efficiency, reduce harmful
carbon pollution, and save money.
"Battle of the Buildings is a great opportunity for businesses to save
money while reducing carbon pollution that contributes to climate change,"
said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "These are the kinds of smart,
innovative solutions that are going to help solve the environmental
challenges we face today."
The number of participants in the Battle of the Buildings has increased
from 14 buildings in 2010—the competition's first year—to more than 3,200
buildings in 2013. Altogether, last year's competitors cut their energy
costs by more than $50 million and reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions
equal to the electricity used by more than 43,000 homes.
More than 25 different types of commercial buildings are facing off in this
year's Energy Star National Building Competition, representing all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The diverse field of competitors includes the Hard Rock Hotel in Orlando,
Fla., a Catholic cathedral and rectory in Seattle, New York City's historic
100 Park Avenue building, and Busch Stadium—home of the St. Louis
Cardinals.
Competitors measure and track their buildings' monthly energy consumption
using Portfolio Manager, EPA's Energy Star online energy measurement and
tracking tool, and work over the year to cut energy waste through
improvements that range from equipment replacement to changes in occupant
behavior. Midpoint "weigh-in" results will be posted in December, with the
winner announced in April 2014.
EPA features a list of the competitors and their weigh-in results on the
Energy Star website, a live Twitter feed where competitors will post
updates on their progress, an interactive map of the competitors'
locations, and a user-generated photo stream where competitors can upload
pictures of their energy-saving efforts.
Commercial buildings in the U.S. are responsible for approximately 20
percent of both the nation's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a
cost of more than $100 billion annually. By improving the energy efficiency
of the places Americans work, play, and learn, the competitors will save
energy and reduce harmful carbon pollution that contributes to climate
change.
EPA's Energy Star program helps people across America make the best choices
to save energy, save money, and fight climate change – at home, at work, in
their businesses, and in their communities. Only products, homes, and
buildings that meet strict standards of energy efficiency and performance
can earn the Energy Star label. In 2012 alone, Americans saved $24 billion
on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to
those of 50 million vehicles with the help of Energy Star. Learn more about
America's number one resource for energy efficiency: www.energystar.gov.
More information on the competition:
www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings
