8/29/13
Oil Spill
Gulf restoration council approves initial restoration plan, as Gov. Bobby
Jindal urges quick action
Times-Picayune
A federal-state group set to oversee the spending of billions of dollars of
Clean Water Act fines from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spillunanimously
approved Wednesday an initial comprehensive plan for restoring the Gulf
Coast's ecosystem and economy. Members of the council also promised that
the first projects could be approved by June 2014, the beginning of the
next hurricane season.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/08/gulf_restoration_council_appro.html
Oil spill restoration overseers approve 1st plan
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- The committee that will oversee some of BP PLC's oil spill
fines hopes to put money into restoration projects within 12 months, U.S.
Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker said Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/28/4909510/oil-spill-restoration-overseers.html
Louisiana officials want funding for Gulf Coast restoration work
Baton Rouge Advocate
By Amy Wold
NEW ORLEANS — Money for Gulf Coast coastal restoration projects, funded by
civil penalties paid in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe,
could arrive within a year and Louisiana officials called for a speedy
process to get the work moving.
http://theadvocate.com/home/6883970-125/louisiana-officials-want-funding-for
Coastal restoration plan approved
Houma Today
Jacob Batte
Published: Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council unanimously approved an
initial Gulf Coast restoration plan Wednesday that could take shape within
a year.
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20130828/ARTICLES/130829571/1026/news01?Title=Coastal-restoration-plan-approved
Jindal blasts BP, says it spent more on ads than coastal restoration
WWL
NEW ORLEANS – Gov. Bobby Jindal had some of his harshest words for BP on
Wednesday, calling the oil giant out for spending more money on glossy
advertising than on restoring the coast damaged by its 2010 oil spill.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/eyewitness/davidhammer/Jindal-blasts-BP-say-it-spent-more-on-ads-than-coastal-restoration-221578271.html
Ex-BP engineers facing manslaughter trial in Deepwater Horizon explosion
seek delay
Times-Picayune
A pair of former BP engineers charged with manslaughter in connection with
the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that killed
11 offshore workers asked a federal judge for a nine-month trial delay.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/08/attorneys_representing_a_pair.html
Federal judge asked to order BP oil spill claims administrator to set
payment rules for oil and gas service companies also hurt by federal
drilling moratoria
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
August 28, 2013 at 10:34 AM
Lawyers representing private claimants in the settlement with BP of
economic claims stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill signaled late
Tuesday that another disagreement has arisen between the two sides, this
time over the payment of claims for oil and gas companies that also were
hurt by federal moratoria on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in the
aftermath of the spill.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/08/federal_judge_asked_to_order_b.html
Judge refuses to suspend BP settlement payments
The Associated Press
August 28, 2013 at 11:07 AM
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal judge on Wednesday rejected BP's latest request to
suspend all settlement payments to Gulf Coast residents and businesses
while a former FBI director leads an independent investigation of the
program compensating victims of the company's 2010 oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/08/judge_refuses_to_suspend_bp_se_1.html#incart_river
BP steers clear of Interior's latest offshore drilling lease sale
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 08/28/13 02:34 PM ET
BP, which is trying to get out from under a temporary ban on new federal
contracts, appears resigned to spending at least several more months in the
penalty box.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/319205-bp-steers-clear-of-interiors-latest-offshore-drilling-lease-sale
State
Unclaimed boat intended for former Mississippi DMR head's nonprofit, YADA
says
Sun Herald
By ANITA LEE — calee@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- An unclaimed boat that prompted a lawsuit was intended for a
nonprofit group headed by Bill Walker, former executive director of the
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, an officer from another
organization said Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/28/4909441/unclaimed-boat-intended-for-former.html
Wildlife refuge expansion proposed
Bolivar Commercial
by Courtney Stevens
08.28.13 - 03:57 pm
Bolivar County hunters and fisherman may begin to experience some
difficulties come hunting season.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to expand the White River
National Wildlife Refuge to connect existing conservation lands, provide
sustainable wildlife habitat and offer more public opportunities to hunt,
fish and observe wildlife.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/23469531/article-Wildlife-refuge-expansion-proposed-?instance=homethirdleft
MEMA launches smartphone app, emergency text messaging
Clarion Ledger
The next time a hurricane approaches or a tornado forms, Mississippians
might not get their first warning through the blare of a siren or a news
report on the Internet.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130829/NEWS01/308290029/MEMA-launches-smartphone-app-emergency-text-messaging?gcheck=1
Katrina taught lessons that served South Mississippi well
Sun Herald
By DONNA HARRIS — Sun Herald
Katrina taught the people of South Mississippi lessons others would do well
to study if they're hit by a natural disaster.
The 2005 storm buried the Coast in millions of cubic yards of debris,
creating a mountain of problems for residents.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/28/4909409/katrina-taught-lessons-that-served.html
Regional
Jindal opposes coastal erosion lawsuit due to oil industry contributions,
environmental groups say
Times-Picayune
A consortium of local environmental groups on Wednesday charged that Gov.
Bobby Jindal's receipt of more than $1 million in political contributions
from the oil and gas industry is behind his opposition of a lawsuit against
the industry aimed at getting them to restore coastal wetland damage.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/08/environmental_groups_say_jinda.html
National
Environmental, animal rights groups sue EPA for dropping plan to gather
livestock farm data
By DAVID PITT Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa — Environmental and animal welfare groups sued the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday, alleging the federal agency
unlawfully scrapped a rule that would have authorized it to collect
information from large-scale livestock confinement farms.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/4e30b528af3f41b9bb11f1e864d7a3f5/US--EPA-Sued-Livestock-Farm-Rule/#.Uh8_axsqjzY
Opinion
Bryant visited French nuclear recycling facility in June with MEI president
Sam Hall
Clarion Ledger
Gov. Phil Bryant led a Mississippi delegation that included the president
of the Mississippi Energy Institute to a French nuclear waste recycling
facility owned by AREVA energy company on June 18.
http://blogs.clarionledger.com/samrhall/2013/08/28/bryant-visited-french-nuclear-recycling-facility-in-june-with-mei-president/
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Thad Cochran helped us survive Katrina
The eighth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is a fitting opportunity to
consider the political future of Thad Cochran.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/28/4908819/sun-herald-editorial-thad-cochran.html
Press releases
GOV. BRYANT, MEMA INTRODUCE NEW EMERGENCY PUBLIC INFORMATION TOOLS
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
unveiled two new public alerting tools aimed at helping citizens prepare
for emergencies, and warn them of impending threats directly through their
smartphones.
During a news conference held at MEMA headquarters in Pearl this morning,
Gov. Bryant and MEMA Director Robert Latham demonstrated MEMA's new mobile
phone app that allows the public to find emergency information,
preparedness tools, weather radar, along with several other options like
statewide highway information.
"The number one way to lessen the potential impacts from an emergency is to
be prepared. Have a family communication plan, stock a disaster supply kit,
and know where you will go if you need to evacuate," Gov. Phil Bryant said.
"Utilizing technology is a smart way to get important information to the
public quickly, and this new app will help Mississippians stay informed
before and after emergencies."
The new mobile app is free and available to iPhone and Android phone users
by searching for MEMA in the iPhone or Android app store.
"We're excited to be able to release our app because we live in a mobile
society, and putting lifesaving information at the fingertips of our
residents is a great way to inform and protect the entire family,
regardless of where they are," said Latham.
The other new initiative is the Wireless Emergency Alert system, which
allows emergency text messages to be sent by MEMA, county emergency
managers and the National Weather Service to every enabled smartphone phone
in an area without its user having to download an app or subscribe to a
service. The messages could include extreme weather warnings, local
emergencies requiring evacuation or other immediate action, Amber Alerts
and Presidential Alerts during national emergency situations.
As an example, if a tornado warning is issued for Rankin County every
enabled cell phone in the county would hear a special tone and receive a
short text message warning of the threat. Phones will only receive the
message one time. No matter where you travel in the country, if you have an
enabled phone you will receive a text alert for the local area you are in.
"This WEA program will save lives, no doubt about it," said Latham. "The
fact that you can get an automatic alert no matter where you are is
remarkable, but you need to know what you will do before you receive the
alert."
The WEA is also free and does not even require users to have a text
messaging plan. Cell phone customers can contact their providers to see if
their device is WEA enabled, or you can go to
http://www.fema.gov/wireless-emergency-alerts to learn more.
For more information about emergency preparedness, visit www.msema.org, or
download the new MEMA mobile application in the Android or iPhone app
store.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for
updates.
Video of today's event is available on MEMA's website through MEMA's
YouTube page, which can be accessed at www.msema.org.
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