8.30.13
Oil Spill
Gov. Bobby Jindal's statements on BP are 'campaign of lies,' company says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
August 29, 2013 at 8:06 PM
Gov. Bobby Jindal and his coastal adviser, Garret Graves, are conducting a
"campaign of lies" against BP that misrepresents the company's record in
cleaning oil from Louisiana's coastline and restoring both the environment
and individuals harmed by its 2010 oil spill, a senior BP official said
Thursday.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/08/gov_jindals_statements_on_bp_a.html
BP answers Jindal criticism
Baton Rouge Advocate
by michelle millhollon
A day after Gov. Bobby Jindal accused BP of splashing out more on
advertising than coastal restoration, the company fired back.
http://theadvocate.com/news/6914782-123/bp-criticizes-governor
BP fires back at Jindal for comments
WWL
BP fired back Thursday evening at Gov. Bobby Jindal for a speech he gave
Wednesday, saying Jindal and his coastal restoration chief's statements
"seem purposefully intended to mislead the public" about how much the oil
giant has spent to fix damage to Louisiana's oiled coastline.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/eyewitness/davidhammer/BP-fires-back-at-Jindal-for-comments-221717241.html
BP well-site leaders seek trial delay in Gulf oil spill criminal case
Houston Chronicle
Lawyers for two BP well-site leaders on Wednesday asked a federal judge for
a nine-month delay in their trial on charges of manslaughter in the deaths
of 11 workers killed in the 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon
drilling rig.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/08/28/bp-well-site-leaders-seek-trial-delay-in-gulf-oil-spill-criminal-case/
Court withdraws ruling in BP insurance dispute, marking setback for oil
giant
The Associated Press
August 29, 2013 at 3:50 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal appeals court reversed course Thursday on its
earlier ruling favoring BP in a multimillion-dollar insurance dispute,
handing at least a temporary setback to the energy giant as it seeks to
defray some of the enormous costs associated with the huge 2010 Gulf oil
spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/08/court_withdraws_ruling_in_bp_i.html#incart_river
State
Governor: No nuclear waste disposal site coming to Mississippi
WDAM
Governor Phil Bryant said there will not be a nuclear waste dump site in
Mississippi.
"As far as nuclear waste of course not, that's an exaggeration," said
Bryant.
http://www.wdam.com/story/23294153/governor-no-nuclear-waste-disposal-site-coming-to-mississippi
Rolling recycling carts making debut in Jackson County
SUN HERALD
New 35-gallon rolling recycling carts made an early arrival at some homes
in the unincorporated areas of Jackson County this week.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/29/4912256/rolling-recycling-carts-making.html
New book tells true tale of survival of South MS Katrina dolphins
WLOX
They were feared dead after Hurricane Katrina. But they survived and
touched the hearts of people around the world. Now, the story of eight
Katrina dolphins is being told in a newly-released book. On Thursday,
Mississippi's First Lady shared their incredible story with some Gulfport
children.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23292496/new-book-tells-true-tale-of-katrina-dolphins-from-south-ms
It was a day for South Mississippi to remember, not dwell on Hurricane
Katrina
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZand CECILY CUMMINGS — SUN HERALD
BILOXI -- Under sunny skies, South Mississippi remembered the victims of
Hurricane Katrina eight years ago, when the wind and storm surge destroyed
so many homes, schools, churches, businesses and lives.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/29/4912452/it-was-a-day-for-south-mississippi.html
Regional
Federal judge to rule Tuesday on whether Semmes can block Plains Southcap
pipeline construction
Press-Register
John Sharp
August 29, 2013 at 8:05 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – A federal judge requested Thursday for attorneys
representing the city of Semmes to provide legal proof on whether the
International Building Code applies to the regulation of an oil pipeline.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/08/federal_judge_to_rule_tuesday.html#incart_river
National
Spilled fracking fluid likely killed Kentucky fish-USGS
Reuters
Thu, Aug 29 2013
(Reuters) - Hydraulic fracturing fluids that spilled into a Kentucky creek
in 2007 likely caused "widespread death or distress" to fish, according to
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/29/us-energy-fracking-usgs-idUSBRE97S0RZ20130829
Press releases
Corps Regulatory Branch Promotes Mallard
Vicksburg, Miss... The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District
(Corps) recently selected Jennifer Fryar Mallard as chief of the permit
section in the regulatory branch.
Mallard will serve as chief of the permit section responsible for review,
analysis, approval, disapproval, evaluation, and inspection of certain
Corps projects and all applications for Department of the Army permits
covered by general permits, and nationwide permits. She will also have
oversight of the compliance program which reviews, analyzes, and evaluates
public notices and permit documents issued by local, state and other
federal agencies. She will use her thorough knowledge and understanding of
regulatory methods, techniques and practices of the principles of biology,
botany, soils, chemistry, geology and forestry.
Mallard joined the Corps in 2001 as a park ranger at Lake Greeson in
Murfreesboro, Arkansas. After deploying to Mississippi for Hurricane
Katrina emergency operations in 2005, she accepted a position in the
regulatory branch where she has served as an environmental specialist and
senior environmental specialist for the past eight years.
A native of Caddo Gap, Arkansas, she is a graduate of the University of
Arkansas, Fayetteville, and Henderson State University where she earned a
Bachelor's Degree in environmental soil and water science and in park and
recreation management. She is the daughter of the late James R. Fryar and
Gracie G. Fryar of Caddo Gap, Arkansas. She is married to Matthew Mallard
of Enterprise, Mississippi and they share two sons and are members of First
Baptist Church in Vicksburg.
XXX
Mississippi Marks Eight Years of Recovery since Hurricane Katrina
JACKSON—Eight years ago today, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in
Mississippi near Pearlington in Hancock County. The massive storm inundated
the Gulf Coast with prolonged hurricane force winds, torrential rain, and a
storm surge that measured more than 30 feet in some areas and reached as
far as 12 miles inland.
The storm claimed the lives of 231 Mississippians and left more than 45
million cubic yards of debris in its wake. All 82 Mississippi counties and
the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians were declared federal disaster
areas, and 74 counties received full federal assistance.
The magnitude of Katrina's damage was unprecedented. Homes, public
buildings and infrastructure were obliterated. However, Mississippians did
what they do best and immediately began clearing, cleaning, and planning
for the future.
"Eight years later, the scenes displayed on news channels around the world
after this terrible disaster have been replaced by revitalized communities
and a vibrant, thriving Gulf Coast," Governor Phil Bryant said. "While we
will never forget the tremendous pain this storm caused and the tragedy of
so many lives lost, our state has become stronger because of Katrina.
"The vast majority of public repair and rebuilding projects are complete,
our housing stock is restored, almost all of our pre-Katrina population has
returned to our lower six counties, and we are moving forward with the
recovery vision set by Gulf Coast leaders after the storm. I am proud of
the resilience and strength our state has shown."
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Executive Director Robert Latham,
who was also serving as director during Katrina, echoed the Governor's
remarks.
"All of the memories of Katrina still haunt me today, but with every trip
to the coast I am amazed at the progress that has been made. Even though
the recovery has been long and hard and continues today, the leadership of
local officials and the resilience and persistence of our citizens and
their refusal to accept defeat makes me proud to be a Mississippian."
"By far the most important lesson Mississippi has learned is the value of
preparedness," Gov. Bryant said. "Take the time to ensure your family knows
what to do in case of emergency. Have a family communication plan, stock a
disaster supply kit, and know where you will go if you need to evacuate.
Preparing now could save your life."
For information about preparing for emergencies, visit MEMA online at
www.msema.org or download MEMA's new mobile app for iOS and Android
devices.
###
Grenada Lake Annual Drawdown Accelerated This Year
Vicksburg, Miss - The Vicksburg District of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Corps) will accelerate the annual drawdown of Grenada Lake by
one month in order to perform dam maintenance. The Corps has increased the
amount of water released through the dam within seasonal release
requirements in an effort to reach the flood control pool level of 193 feet
by 1 November.
The Corps annually lowers the Grenada Lake level from 215 feet on 1 August
to 193 feet on 1 December in order to allow storage for winter and spring
rains. This reduces the risk of flooding throughout the Yazoo Basin.
Crews at the lake will begin the dam maintenance when the water level
recedes to workable pool levels.
Because of lower than normal lake levels for the months of September and
October, boaters are warned to be cautious of underwater obstacles. The
boat ramps that will close earlier than normal are: Bryant, Gums Crossing,
North Abutment, North Graysport, Piney Woods and Skuna-Turkey.
The primary mission of Vicksburg District's four Mississippi lakes,
backwater levees and structures is flood damage risk reduction. Grenada
Lake is located in the gently rolling hills of pine and hardwood forests
just before the low lands of the Mississippi Delta begin. The lake is
considered by many to be an inland paradise and encompasses approximately
90,427 acres. The lake offers many opportunities for outdoor enthusiast to
include hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, skiing, bird watching, camping,
picnicking, golfing and swimming.
For more information, please visit our website at www.mvk.usace.army.mil.
The Grenada Lake Field Office phone is 662.226.5911.
XXX
Two California Firms and Owner Agree to Settle Clean Air Act Violations
Stemming from Illegal Import of Vehicles
WASHINGTON – Two Los Angeles-based consulting firms, MotorScience Inc., and
MotorScience Enterprise Inc., (MotorScience) and their owner, Chi Zheng,
have agreed to settle alleged Clean Air Act (CAA) violations stemming from
the illegal import of 24,478 all-terrain, recreational vehicles into the
U.S. from China without testing to ensure emissions would meet applicable
limits on harmful air pollution, announced the Department of Justice, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources
Board (ARB).
MotorScience and Zheng have agreed to have a stipulated judgment entered
against them for a $3.55 million civil penalty and to pay an additional
$60,000 civil penalty within six months. The United States will receive 80
percent of collected penalties, and California will receive the remaining
20 percent.
"This illegal importation of over 20,000 vehicles evaded federal emission
standards, jeopardizing human health," said Cynthia Giles, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
"Engines operating without proper emissions controls can emit excess carbon
monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen which can cause respiratory
illnesses, aggravate asthma and contribute to the formation of ground level
ozone or smog."
"Vehicles and engines that are manufactured overseas and sold in the U.S.
must meet the same Clean Air standards as domestically-made products," said
Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice
Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "We will continue
to vigorously enforce these laws to ensure that American consumers get
environmentally sound products that do not pollute the atmosphere and
violators do not gain an unfair economic advantage by skirting the law."
"The integrity of new vehicle standards are the foundation for achieving
our air quality goals in California," said ARB Enforcement Chief James
Ryden. "When a manufacturer circumvents these requirements, they not only
cheat their customers and competitors, but they also shortchange every
citizen of our state who relies upon our shared actions to clean the air."
Today's settlement also requires that for the next 15 years, before either
MotorScience or Zheng may engage in any further work involving non-road
vehicles and engines, they must follow a rigorous compliance plan to ensure
that any emissions testing and certification applications submitted to EPA
or the ARB accurately represent those vehicles and engines. Non-road
vehicles and engines include recreational vehicles, generators, lawn and
garden equipment, and other non-road internal combustion engines.
EPA's investigation showed that MotorScience obtained EPA certificates of
conformity for numerous vehicles without conducting required emissions
testing. As alleged in separate complaints filed in federal district court
by the United States and the state of California in September 2011,
MotorScience arranged for emissions testing of a limited number of
vehicles, and then reused those results to obtain certificates of
conformity for numerous other, dissimilar vehicles. For at least three of
those vehicles, EPA confirmed that their emissions exceeded the federal
limits for hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides.
MotorScience and its president, Zheng, provide consulting services for
vehicle manufacturers and other clients interested in obtaining
certificates of conformity from EPA to allow import of their vehicles into
the U.S. In 2010, EPA voided 12 certificates held by four of the
defendants' clients, who were U.S.-based importers for Chinese recreational
vehicle manufacturers. The complaints filed by the U.S. and California
alleged that defendants caused four of their clients to illegally import
vehicles under federal certificates and California executive orders that
were voided. The complaints further alleged that defendants caused their
clients to fail to create and maintain required records on emissions
testing.
The CAA prohibits any vehicle or engine from being imported into or sold in
the United States unless it is covered by a valid, EPA-issued certificate
of conformity demonstrating that the vehicle or engine meets applicable
federal emission standards. The CAA also prohibits any actions that cause
the importation of uncertified vehicles or that cause recordkeeping
violations. Similarly, the California Health and Safety Code prohibits any
vehicle or engine from being distributed or sold in California, unless such
vehicle or engine is covered by a valid, ARB-issued executive order
demonstrating that the vehicle or engine meets applicable California
emission standards.
The certificate of conformity is the primary way EPA ensures that vehicles
and engines meet emission standards. This enforcement action is part of an
ongoing effort by EPA to ensure that all imported vehicles and engines
comply with the CAA's requirements.
More information on the settlement:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/motorscience-and-chi-zheng-clean-air-act-settlement
More information on EPA's Clean Air Act mobile source enforcement programs:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/air/index.html#mobile
