9.30.13
Oil Spill
Judge set to preside over 2nd phase of BP trial
The Associated Press
September 29, 2013 at 2:37 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Top kill. Junk shot. Cofferdam. Top hat. Capping stack.
Those terms — obscure industry jargon before BP's massive 2010 oil spill —
became familiar buzzwords as the company scrambled to find a way to plug
its blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/09/judge_set_to_preside_over_2nd.html#incart_river
BP oil spill trial's second phase, starting Monday, will play key role in
deciding massive fines
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 27, 2013 at 6:43 PM
Dozens of lawyers return to a federal courtroom in New Orleans on Monday to
begin a month-long argument over whether BP's efforts to stem the 87-day
flow of oil from its April 2010 Macondo well blowout were adequate and how
much oil was released.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/mondays_second_phase_of_bp_tri.html#incart_river
In BP Trial, the Amount of Oil Lost Is at Issue
NY Times
By CLIFFORD KRAUSS
HOUSTON — With billions of dollars in penalties at stake, the civil trial
of the British oil company BP begins its second phase on Monday, which will
set the amount of oil that spilled into the Gulf of Mexico from the 2010
Deepwater Horizon rig explosion that killed 11 workers and soiled hundreds
of miles of beaches.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/business/energy-environment/bp-trial-in-2nd-phase-to-set-amount-of-oil-spilled.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&&pagewanted=print
Next in Gulf-Spill Trial: BP's Effort to Stop the Leak
Judge Will Also Take Up Question of How Much Oil Escaped
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
BP PLC will try to convince a federal judge that it made adequate efforts
to stop oil from leaking into the Gulf of Mexico when the latest phase of
a civil trial on the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster begins Monday in
Federal District Court in New Orleans.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303643304579105260066415906.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Billions in penalties at stake for BP in estimates of oil discharged into
Gulf
WWL
NEW ORLEANS - It's sure to be dry and highly technical, but the second
phase of the BP oil spill trial that starts Monday could make a $7 billion
difference for the British oil giant.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/eyewitness/davidhammer/Billions-in-penalties-at-stake-for-BP-in-estimates-of-oil-discharged-into-Gulf-225577172.html
Environmental groups target BP as second phase of oil spill trial begins
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 30, 2013 at 8:35 AM
A variety of environmental groups are using the resumption Monday (Sept.
30) of the federal trial of BP and its drilling partners over liability for
the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill as an opportunity to demand BP
properly compensate the public for the oil spill's damage.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/environmental_groups_target_bp.html
State
Hattiesburg sues Hercules over contamination
Hattiesburg American
The City of Hattiesburg has filed a U.S. District Court lawsuit against
Hercules Inc. and Ashland Inc. over contamination that may leach into the
city's municipal water supply.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130929/NEWS01/309290026/Hattiesburg-sues-Hercules-over-contamination
City of Greenville targets brownfields
AP
GREENVILLE — The city of Greenville has hired an environmental consultant
who will assess potential redevelopment sites for soil contamination.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130930/NEWS01/309300017/City-Greenville-targets-brownfields
New Jackson County trash cans offer recycling option
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
JACKSON COUNTY -- The county is ramping up its efforts to improve recycling
statistics with 10 new 2-in-1 trash and recycling receptacles at county
parks and
offices.http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/29/4991791/new-jackson-county-trash-cans.html?sp-tk=C591C61459D633F0E7B78B08ACD8D18B6D00DF4DB474B8B9CC0DFC64F975E35FFD1C8E9E744575D23324577F4A3E1DF6F70E7D689247D3E1C8E807EDFED6A3B2137FECB9878639FD378E96656D2A69A3B27541199AA654E58673EEE42B3B3F7CC5766D01E565BA8E057D6E51F97910603F9BAE16281FD07B872D50F9390E8CA635EEB1CC73E1F48E1601394636571F50D9EB294A648E985FC841EE8CB76712C2A08BA0E6
Starkville Residents Celebrate Recycling Day
WCBI
Starkville community members celebrate the 4th annual recycling day.
The event was held at Starkville Communities Farmers market with activities
for the kids along with tasty BBQ. Guests got to learn about the importance
of recycling along with the what their community offers.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/starkville-residents-celebrate-recycling-day
Regional
EPA OKs environmental standards for estuaries
By MATTHEW BEATON | The News Herald
Published: Friday, September 27, 2013 at 21:29 PM.
PANAMA CITY — Bay County officials can officially breathe a sigh of relief
since a federal agency Thursday accepted Florida's new numeric nutrient
standards for all the state's estuaries.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/epa-oks-environmental-standards-for-estuaries-1.209927
Water regulator defends return of grants
WRAL
RALEIGH, N.C. — Speaking before the state Mining and Energy Commission
Friday morning, state water quality chief Tom Reeder offered a passionate,
sometimes caustic, defense of his recent decision to return $580,000 in
federal grants.
http://www.wral.com/water-regulator-defends-return-of-grants/12932874/
National
Former EPA staffer pleads guilty in $900,000 theft
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
September 30, 2013 05:06 AM EDT
John Beale's retirement from the Environmental Protection Agency isn't
likely to afford him the standard of living to which he's accustomed.
The former career staffer pleaded guilty in court Friday to charges he took
almost $900,000 in unearned pay, bonuses and special accommodations through
more than a decade of lies to superiors and co-workers, including his
claims that he was absent from EPA's air office because he was working for
the Central Intelligence Agency.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/former-epa-staffer-pleads-guilty-in-900000-theft-97527.html?hp=r17
Opinion
Fundraisers for Posey seem 'cozy'
Geoff Pender
Clarion Ledger
Lobbyists and others with ties to Mississippi Power Co. and its embattled
Kemper coal plant are putting on a couple of high-dollar fundraisers for
Public Service Commissioner Lynn Posey.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130929/col0601/309290028/fundraisers-posey-seem-cozy-?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7Copinion%7Cp
Viewpoint: Repairing Gulf after oil is a long road
Pensacola News Journal
The long and winding road that leads to repairing the Gulf of Mexico
continues.
Recently, managers of the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill restoration had an
important public hearing here in Pensacola regarding a draft Programmatic
Environmental Impact Statement being developed by the Natural Resources
Damage Assessment Trustees.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20130929/OPINION/309290012/Viewpoint-Repairing-Gulf-after-oil-long-road?nclick_check=1
Press Releases
Gov. Bryant Declares Oct. 19 Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Day
Volunteers in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties are needed for the
25th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup to be held from 8 a.m. – 11
a.m., Saturday, Oct. 19, in conjunction with the International Coastal
Cleanup—the world's largest volunteer cleanup effort on behalf of the
marine environment. Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation in
support of the annual event organized by the Mississippi Department of
Marine Resources (MDMR) and the Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force,
which this year celebrates 25 years!
"Mississippi's unique coastal environment plays an important role in
tourism and in the Gulf Coast economy," Gov. Phil Bryant said. "It is so
important to keep our beaches and waterways clean, and I encourage
Mississippians to help make this year's Coastal Cleanup a success."
MDMR Executive Director Jamie Miller said, "The Mississippi Department
of Marine Resources is proud to take the lead in such an important event
for the Coast. We appreciate the volunteers and coordinators who help us
each year to make our home a cleaner place to live, work and visit. I am
especially excited to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Coastal Cleanup
and the people who have made this event possible over the years."
Here's how to register: 1) Register online at www.mscoastalcleanup.org,
2) Download the registration form from the website and fax it back, or
3) Call one of these numbers to request a form and sign up to volunteer:
467-9048 in Hancock County; 214-1405 in Harrison County; 217-5536 in
Jackson County; and 230-4100 for the Barrier Islands. Although group and
online registration ends Oct. 7, you can still register after that date
by downloading the registration form at www.mscoastalcleanup.org and
returning it.
"The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup has grown into a movement over the
past 25 years, creating a lot of interest from community groups and
educators wanting to take action year-round to reduce marine litter,"
said Lauren Thompson, state coordinator for the International Coastal
Cleanup and MDMR public relations manager. "If we have more volunteers
join our movement we can make an even bigger difference."
Andreas Merkl, president and CEO of Ocean Conservancy, lead organizer of
the International Coastal Cleanup, said, "Ocean Conservancy would like
to say to the volunteers: thank you, from our hearts. We're proud to be
partners with the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, with their incredible
effort and such hard work. And in the immediate future, we're going to
have to keep going out there, tongs in hand, to make sure Mississippi's
beaches and rivers remain healthy and beautiful. But Ocean Conservancy
also wants to work with people on actually solving the problem once and
for all—by finding ways to stop the trashing of our waters and land. It
will not be easy, but we can get there together!"
The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup continues its partnership with
Mississippi Power's Renew Our Rivers program. Data collected during the
October 2, 3 and 5 Renew Our Rivers cleanups will be added into the
Mississippi Coastal Cleanup data sent to Ocean Conservancy as part of
the International Coastal Cleanup.
On cleanup day, volunteers should report to their assigned cleanup site
by 8 a.m. Zone captains will be stationed at each cleanup site in bright
yellow T-shirts to answer volunteers' questions and give them supplies
such as trash bags, data cards to record the trash collected, bottled
water compliments of the Beverage Association of Mississippi, and free
25th anniversary Coastal Cleanup Croakies provided by Chevron Pascagoula
Refinery (while supplies last).
Following the cleanup, in Harrison County, volunteers must present their
meal ticket at Jones Park in Gulfport in the big tent north of the boat
launch, where they will enjoy a free lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. only
on event day, courtesy of RPM/Domino's Pizza and the Rotary clubs of
Gulfport and Orange Grove. In Jackson County, lunch for volunteers will
be held at the Estuarine Education Center at Mississippi Gulf Coast
Community College in Gautier between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. only the day of
the event compliments of The Shed Barbeque & Blues Joint. Volunteers in
Hancock County are invited for hotdogs and drinks at Washington St.
Pavilion in Bay St. Louis after the cleanup, courtesy of the Office of
Congressman Steven Palazzo and the Bay St. Louis Rotary Club.
During the 2012 International Coastal Cleanup, more than 550,000
volunteers worldwide removed more than 10 million pounds of debris from
the ocean, rivers, lakes and waterways. In Mississippi, more than 2,500
volunteers pitched in and removed nearly 55,000 pounds of trash.
"There are uncontrollable events – like the Japan tsunami and Hurricane
Katrina – that add to the problem of marine debris. That's why it's
important to tackle what's preventable," Lauren Thompson, state
coordinator for the Mississippi Coastal cleanup, said.
For more information visit the official Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Web
site at www.mscoastalcleanup.org or call the info line at 1-877-BEACH 05
(1-877-232-2405). Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
Volunteers who are Mississippi residents under age 21 must have their
parents sign the registration form and fax or mail it back to
participate. Non-Mississippi residents 18 and older are not required to
have their parents sign the form.
Volunteers will pick up marine debris in all three counties and the
barrier islands at 73 designated Coastal Cleanup sites, which include
three Renew Our Rivers sites and some private sites (not listed below).
Designated cleanup areas are as follows:
Hancock County
· Diamondhead – Diamondhead Yacht Club through Rotten Bayou
· Kiln McLeod State Park; Jourdan River Shores and Bayou Talla
· Lakeshore — Beach Blvd. from Poinset to mouth of Bayou Cadet; Third
Marsh Area, Lakeshore and Clermont Harbor
· Bay St. Louis — Bayou LaCroix/603/Lagan/Central/Riverview/The Cave;
19th St./Old Lazy River Road; Bay Marina Drive/Washington Street;
Jourdan River Estates; Garden Isle Community; Mouth of Jourdan River
to Dunbar; Beach Blvd. across street from Bay-Waveland Yacht Club;
Beach Blvd. at Bookter; Beach Blvd. at Our Lady of the Gulf; Depot
District
· Waveland — Beach Blvd. at Nicholson Avenue; Beach Blvd. at Vacation
Lane; Beach Blvd. at Buccaneer State Park
Harrison County
· Biloxi — Biloxi Small Craft Harbor; Deer Island; Edgewater Mall
(south of Hwy 90); Forrest Avenue Pier; Hiller Park; Keegan Bayou
(military assigned); Popp's Ferry Causeway; Porter Avenue (south of
Lighthouse); Coast Coliseum at Beach Comfort Station
· D'Iberville — D'Iberville Boat Launch
· Gulfport — Beach–East of Jones Park; Courthouse Road (south of Hwy.
90); James Hill Park; Kremer Landing; Lower Turkey Creek; Three
Rivers Park (off River Road)
· Long Beach — Long Beach Harbor/Pavilion
· Pass Christian — Pass Christian Harbor
Jackson County — Bluff Creek; Grand Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve (Bayou Heron)
· Gautier — Gautier City Park; Graveline Road/Shepard State Park; West
Pascagoula River Bridge
· Moss Point — Bellview Street Boat Launch and Park; Hwy. 63 Boat
Launch; I-10 Boat Launch; River Front
· Ocean Springs — East Beach; Fort Bayou Pier and Boat Launch; Fort
Maurepas – Beachfront; Front Beach (Harbor End); Front Beach (Ocean
Springs Yacht Club); Graveline Bayou Beachfront; Gulf Islands
National Seashore (Davis Bayou); Gulf Park Estates Public Pier
· Pascagoula – Beach Park and Front; I.G. Levy Park, North; Old Spanish
Fort; Pascagoula Causeway; River Park
Barrier Islands (requires boat) – Cat Island; East Ship Island; Horn
Island; Petit Bois; Sand Island
The Mississippi Coastal Cleanup's planning committee, the Mississippi
Marine Debris Task Force, is made up of representatives from BP; Chevron
Pascagoula Refinery; City of Biloxi; City of Gautier; City of Gulfport;
City of Moss Point; City of Ocean Springs; City of Pascagoula; Coastal
Conservation Association of Mississippi; Coastal Rivers; Delbert
Hosemann Secretary of State; D'Iberville Volunteers Foundation; DMR
Marine Patrol; Eco-Tours of South Mississippi; Grand Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve; Gulf Environmental Associates; Gulf Islands
National Seashore; Hancock County Beautification Committee; Hancock
County Board of Supervisors; Hancock County Chamber of Commerce; Hancock
County Solid Waste; Hands On Mississippi; Harrison County Beautification
Commission; Harrison County Board of Supervisors; Harrison County Sand
Beach Department; Harrison County Utility Authority; Heritage Trails
Partnership; Ingalls Shipbuilding; Jackson County Board of Supervisors;
Jackson County Chamber of Commerce; Jackson County Solid Waste
Department; Keep Mississippi Beautiful; Keesler Air Force Base;
Mississippi Air National Guard CRTC-Gulfport; Mississippi-Alabama Sea
Grant Consortium; Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality;
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources; Mississippi Gulf Coast
Community College; Mississippi Power; Mississippi State University
Coastal Research & Extension Center; Naval Construction Battalion
Center; Office of Congressman Steven Palazzo; Pascagoula Elks 1120;
Rotary International District 6840; Sea Coast Echo; United Way of South
Mississippi Volunteer Gulf Coast; and University of Southern
Mississippi-Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
Other sponsors include:
SEA TURTLE: Chevron Pascagoula Refinery; Matthews Brothers Inc.;
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; Mississippi Department
of Marine Resources; Mississippi Power; The Shed Barbeque and Blues
Joint; The Bait Box
SHARK: Cable One Advertising; Delta Sanitation, A Waste-Pro Company;
Lamar Outdoor Advertising-Mississippi Gulf Coast; L&L Broadcasting LLC;
Ocean Conservancy; Parents&Kids Magazine; The Sun Herald; Waste
Management
DOLPHIN: Allen Beverages Inc.; Coast Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc.;
Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Consolidated; Fisher Safety; Mississippi
Beverage Association; RPM/Domino's Pizza; Ship Island Excursions
COBIA: Biloxi-D'Iberville Press; Chiquita Fresh LLC; Conrad Yelvington
Distributors, Inc.; K99FM, Magic 93.7, 92.5 The Beat and News Radio
104.9; Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Professional Division; Knight-Abbey
Printing and Direct Mail; Ocean Springs Gazette; Sea Coast Echo; WLOX-TV
13
MULLET: Academy Sports & Outdoors; Keep Mississippi Beautiful;
Mississippi Department of Transportation
Monday, September 30, 2013
Friday, September 27, 2013
News Clippings 9.27.13
9.27.2013
Oil Spill
Defense seeks to toss BP supervisors' manslaughter charges
AP
September 26, 2013 at 9:32 pm
NEW ORLEANS — Lawyers for two BP rig supervisors charged with manslaughter
in the Deepwater Horizon disaster say the indictment should be dismissed
because prosecutors accuse the men of violating standards that didn't exist
when an explosion killed 11 workers on April 20, 2010.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/09/26/defense-seeks-to-toss-bp-supervisors-manslaughter-charges/
State
Renewable energy source finds home in Mound Bayou
Bolivar Commercial
by Paisley Boston
09.26.13 - 05:59 pm
Mound Bayou is housing green gas that has the potential to grow 14 feet
tall.
The Alcorn State University Extension service in Mound Bayou recently
planted an entire acre of giant miscanthus for the purpose of research.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/23697681/article-Renewable-energy-source-finds-home-in-Mound-Bayou?instance=latest_articles
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces $3 million for Mississippi
programs
The Associated Press
September 26, 2013 at 12:14 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has
announced more than $3 million in funding for renewable energy projects,
projects to improve public health in the Mississippi Delta region and
awards to support small farmers.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/09/us_agriculture_secretary_tom_v_1.html#incart_river
DMR to open bids on bringing down buildings at Ocean Springs Harbor
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
OCEAN SPRINGS -- The state Department of Marine Resources plans to open
bids next week for the demolition of the Harbor Landing boat shed and
restaurant -- vacant buildings at the Ocean Springs Harbor.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/26/4985302/dmr-to-open-bids-on-bringing-down.html
National
Report: Polluted farm runoff linked to toxic green algae slime in U.S.
waters
Washington Post
By Darryl Fears, Published: September 26
They call it the green slime, a toxic ooze of algae that covered lakes and
other water bodies across the United States this summer, closing beaches in
Wisconsin and Kentucky, and killing scores of dolphins, manatees, birds and
fish in Florida, a report says.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/report-polluted-farm-runoff-linked-to-toxic-green-algae-slime-in-us-waters/2013/09/26/591a75a2-25f1-11e3-b75d-5b7f66349852_print.html
EPA Carbon Standards Among Rules Targeted in Debt Ceiling Bill, Analysis
Says
Friday, September 27, 2013
Bloomberg
By Anthony Adragna and Ari Natter
Sept. 26 --Clean Air Act new source performance standards for new power
plants recently announced by the Obama administration are among the rules
House Republicans are targeting in debt ceiling legislation, according to
an analysis of the bill released Sept. 26 by the House Joint Economic
Committee.http://www.bna.com/epa-carbon-standards-n17179877380/
U.N. climate change report points blame at humans
CNN
By Dave Hennen, Brandon Miller and Eliott C. McLaughlin
Fri September 27, 2013
The world's getting hotter, the sea's rising and there's increasing
evidence neither are naturally occurring phenomena.
So says a report from the U.N. International Panel on Climate Change, a
document released every six years that is considered the benchmark on the
topic. More than 800 authors and 50 editors from dozens of countries took
part in its creation.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/27/world/climate-change-5-things/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Oil Spill
Defense seeks to toss BP supervisors' manslaughter charges
AP
September 26, 2013 at 9:32 pm
NEW ORLEANS — Lawyers for two BP rig supervisors charged with manslaughter
in the Deepwater Horizon disaster say the indictment should be dismissed
because prosecutors accuse the men of violating standards that didn't exist
when an explosion killed 11 workers on April 20, 2010.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/09/26/defense-seeks-to-toss-bp-supervisors-manslaughter-charges/
State
Renewable energy source finds home in Mound Bayou
Bolivar Commercial
by Paisley Boston
09.26.13 - 05:59 pm
Mound Bayou is housing green gas that has the potential to grow 14 feet
tall.
The Alcorn State University Extension service in Mound Bayou recently
planted an entire acre of giant miscanthus for the purpose of research.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/23697681/article-Renewable-energy-source-finds-home-in-Mound-Bayou?instance=latest_articles
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announces $3 million for Mississippi
programs
The Associated Press
September 26, 2013 at 12:14 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has
announced more than $3 million in funding for renewable energy projects,
projects to improve public health in the Mississippi Delta region and
awards to support small farmers.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/09/us_agriculture_secretary_tom_v_1.html#incart_river
DMR to open bids on bringing down buildings at Ocean Springs Harbor
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON — klnelson@sunherald.com
OCEAN SPRINGS -- The state Department of Marine Resources plans to open
bids next week for the demolition of the Harbor Landing boat shed and
restaurant -- vacant buildings at the Ocean Springs Harbor.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/26/4985302/dmr-to-open-bids-on-bringing-down.html
National
Report: Polluted farm runoff linked to toxic green algae slime in U.S.
waters
Washington Post
By Darryl Fears, Published: September 26
They call it the green slime, a toxic ooze of algae that covered lakes and
other water bodies across the United States this summer, closing beaches in
Wisconsin and Kentucky, and killing scores of dolphins, manatees, birds and
fish in Florida, a report says.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/report-polluted-farm-runoff-linked-to-toxic-green-algae-slime-in-us-waters/2013/09/26/591a75a2-25f1-11e3-b75d-5b7f66349852_print.html
EPA Carbon Standards Among Rules Targeted in Debt Ceiling Bill, Analysis
Says
Friday, September 27, 2013
Bloomberg
By Anthony Adragna and Ari Natter
Sept. 26 --Clean Air Act new source performance standards for new power
plants recently announced by the Obama administration are among the rules
House Republicans are targeting in debt ceiling legislation, according to
an analysis of the bill released Sept. 26 by the House Joint Economic
Committee.http://www.bna.com/epa-carbon-standards-n17179877380/
U.N. climate change report points blame at humans
CNN
By Dave Hennen, Brandon Miller and Eliott C. McLaughlin
Fri September 27, 2013
The world's getting hotter, the sea's rising and there's increasing
evidence neither are naturally occurring phenomena.
So says a report from the U.N. International Panel on Climate Change, a
document released every six years that is considered the benchmark on the
topic. More than 800 authors and 50 editors from dozens of countries took
part in its creation.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/27/world/climate-change-5-things/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
Thursday, September 26, 2013
News Clippings 9.26.13
9.26.13
Oil Spill
MPD investigates alleged BP oil spill scam
By Brian Livingston
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN — Wednesday around noon, Meridian Police Department officers
and detectives converged on a home on North Hills Street after receiving
several reports about people at the home soliciting for personal
information and promising the residents they would get monetary
compensation from the nation's worst marine oil spill.
http://meridianstar.com/local/x862167322/MPD-investigates-alleged-BP-oil-spill-scam
State
Jackson: 'Elephant' in State Budget Room
Jackson Free Press
The Jackson Fire Department extinguished a fire in July at the Hinds County
Armory, located at the Mississippi Fairgrounds, property the state owns.
Jackson has also taken out millions of dollars in loans with the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the loan repayments
have injected much-needed cash into the state treasury in the form of
interest.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2013/sep/25/jackson-elephant-state-budget-room/
Water advisory lifted in Long Beach
Sun Herald
The water contact advisory for Long Beach from Oak Gardens Avenue to South
Girard Avenue has been lifted by the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/25/4980799/water-advisory-lifted-in-long.html
Scientists will hit Grand Bay Reserve
Sun Herald
In honor of National Estuaries Day, the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources' Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, in southeast
Jackson County, will host a special Seaside with a Scientist adventure on
Saturday, Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. until noon.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/25/4981685/features-briefs.html
KiOR unveils Columbus II that will double production
by Associated Press
Published: September 26,2013
COLUMBUS — Texas-based KiOR Inc. has announced that it will double the
production capacity at its biofuels production facility in Columbus.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/09/26/kior-unveils-columbus-ii-double-production/
Ag secretary says MSU research on target
Clarion Ledger
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University officials gave U.S. Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack a tour around campus Wednesday in a rare
opportunity to brief a sitting Cabinet member on significant research
projects.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130926/NEWS01/309260019/Ag-secretary-says-MSU-research-target
Regional
Minn. taking lead to reduce size of Gulf 'dead zone'
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
For more than a decade, organizations and scientists working toward
reducing the size of the annual "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico have
shared a similar complaint: The dead zone remains largely unchanged and
states, left to their own devices, have done little to make significant
improvements.
http://theadvocate.com/home/7155348-125/minnesota-taking-lead-to-reduce
EPA says US falls short in shrinking dead zone
AP
The U.S. is falling short of its goals to cut Mississippi River pollution
and shrink the dead zone it creates in the Gulf of Mexico.
Speaking in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Environmental Protection Agency
officials said states in the river's watershed need to accelerate efforts
to cut pollution from farm field runoff and discharges from sewage
treatment plants.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/apArticle/id/DA91G6U80/
National
EPA chief hits road to sell climate change rules
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/25/13 09:40 AM ET
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy is ramping up
her PR campaign to win backing for carbon emissions limits for power
plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/324465-epa-chief-hits-road-for-climate-rule-sales-pitches
Obama Nominee for U.S. FERC in Jeopardy With Scott's 'No'
Bloomberg
By Brian Wingfield - Sep 26, 2013
Senator Tim Scott will vote against President Barack Obama's nominee to
lead the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, virtually erasing the
possibility of a Senate panel approving the nomination.
Scott, a South Carolina Republican, "is now a 'no' vote on the nomination"
of Ron Binz, Greg Blair, the senator's spokesman, said yesterday in an
e-mail.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-25/obama-nominee-for-u-s-ferc-in-jeopardy-with-scott-s-no-.html
Opinion
Settlement loophole in tax law could help BP
Daily Comet
Francisco Enriquez and Phineas Baxandall
Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 6:26 p.m.
At the top of every Google search for "BP oil spill" is a sponsored link
from BP that trumpets how much it has done for Gulf residents since its
Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in 2010, killing 11 workers and dumping
over 200 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20130924/ARTICLES/130929716?Title=Settlement-loophole-in-tax-law-could-help-BP
Wireless system: Skip the bickering
Jimmie Gates
Clarion Ledger
Immediately after Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast eight years
ago, the only way emergency officials could communicate was by writing
notes and having them hand delivered.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130926/COL0603/309260022/Wireless-system-Skip-bickering?odyssey=mod|
newswell|text|Columnists|p
Press Releases
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Secretary Vilsack Announces Projects in 22 States to Improve Farm, Ranch and|
| Rural Business Energy Efficiency and Generation |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|announced funding for projects in 22 states that will help agricultural |
|producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and |
|costs. Funding will also allow producers to use renewable energy |
|technologies in their operations and conduct feasibility studies for |
|renewable energy projects. Grant and loan funding is made available through |
|the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program|
|(REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Acting Under Secretary |
|for Rural Development Doug O' Brien made the announcement on behalf of the |
|Secretary. |
| |
| |
|"REAP continues to help farmers and rural businesses reduce their energy |
|consumption and by doing so, improve the bottom line of their operations," |
|O'Brien said. "This important Farm Bill program and others like it would not|
|be available without a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill." |
| |
| |
|REAP helps producers reduce energy costs and increase efficiency. For |
|example: |
| |
| |
| · Weber Land LLC in Halstead, Kan., will use a $26,000 REAP grant to |
| help purchase three energy-efficient electric irrigation systems that |
| will replace an out-of-date and inefficient diesel system. The new |
| systems will better irrigate 490 acres and is projected to reduce |
| current energy usage by 74 percent annually. |
| |
| |
| · Casa de San Pedro B&B, LLC in Hereford, Ariz., will use a $41,000 |
| grant to assist with the installation of ground-mounted solar panels. |
| Once operational, the bed and breakfast is expected to eliminate 83 |
| percent of its current electricity costs. |
| |
| |
| · In New York, 18 maple syrup producers will use more than $132,000 in |
| REAP funds to purchase reverse osmosis systems, evaporators and |
| preheaters to improve the energy efficiency of their operations. By |
| utilizing these new technologies and practices, producers will reduce |
| the amount of energy consumed by approximately 75 percent during the |
| production process. |
| |
| |
|Under the terms of REAP, up to 25 percent of eligible project costs can be |
|funded through a grant, and additional support can be provided in the form |
|of a loan guarantee. Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has |
|helped fund nearly 8,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects |
|nationwide. |
| |
| |
|REAP offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small |
|businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy |
|efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other private funding |
|sources. REAP also helps the conservation of natural resources and the |
|development of new forms of energy that reduce America's dependence on |
|fossil fuels and creates a stronger rural economy. Follow this link to view |
|the complete list of recipients announced today under the REAP program. |
| |
| |
|Today's REAP announcement helps support the June 2013 announcement of |
|President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which outlines a comprehensive |
|approach to reduce carbon pollution and better prepare the United States for|
|the impacts of climate change. USDA continues helping rural America innovate|
|to lead the world against modern climate challenges, and a summary of the |
|USDA's efforts are available at www.usda.gov/climatesolutions. |
| |
| |
|More information about USDA's role and accomplishments in renewable energy |
|can be found here: www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ENERGY |
|featuring access to agricultural, forestry, economic, and socio data on |
|energy through several web-based tools: the USDA Renewable Energy Investment|
|Map, the Renewable Energy Tool and Energy Matrix. These tools focus on |
|USDA's investments and projects for energy, energy efficiency, and |
|conservation programs; provides information and data to a broad spectrum of |
|stakeholders, including: farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, managers, |
|lenders, community developers, related companies, small businesses, |
|researchers, developers, and federal, state and local government agencies. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|- strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. |
| |
| |
|USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of |
|programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, |
|businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life |
|in rural America. USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for |
|the American people, even as the Department implements sequestration - the |
|across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget |
|Control Act. |
| |
| |
|USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than |
|$828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget |
|reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out|
|its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner|
|that causes as little disruption as possible. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Oil Spill
MPD investigates alleged BP oil spill scam
By Brian Livingston
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN — Wednesday around noon, Meridian Police Department officers
and detectives converged on a home on North Hills Street after receiving
several reports about people at the home soliciting for personal
information and promising the residents they would get monetary
compensation from the nation's worst marine oil spill.
http://meridianstar.com/local/x862167322/MPD-investigates-alleged-BP-oil-spill-scam
State
Jackson: 'Elephant' in State Budget Room
Jackson Free Press
The Jackson Fire Department extinguished a fire in July at the Hinds County
Armory, located at the Mississippi Fairgrounds, property the state owns.
Jackson has also taken out millions of dollars in loans with the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the loan repayments
have injected much-needed cash into the state treasury in the form of
interest.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2013/sep/25/jackson-elephant-state-budget-room/
Water advisory lifted in Long Beach
Sun Herald
The water contact advisory for Long Beach from Oak Gardens Avenue to South
Girard Avenue has been lifted by the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/25/4980799/water-advisory-lifted-in-long.html
Scientists will hit Grand Bay Reserve
Sun Herald
In honor of National Estuaries Day, the Mississippi Department of Marine
Resources' Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, in southeast
Jackson County, will host a special Seaside with a Scientist adventure on
Saturday, Sept. 28, from 8 a.m. until noon.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/25/4981685/features-briefs.html
KiOR unveils Columbus II that will double production
by Associated Press
Published: September 26,2013
COLUMBUS — Texas-based KiOR Inc. has announced that it will double the
production capacity at its biofuels production facility in Columbus.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/09/26/kior-unveils-columbus-ii-double-production/
Ag secretary says MSU research on target
Clarion Ledger
STARKVILLE — Mississippi State University officials gave U.S. Secretary of
Agriculture Tom Vilsack a tour around campus Wednesday in a rare
opportunity to brief a sitting Cabinet member on significant research
projects.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130926/NEWS01/309260019/Ag-secretary-says-MSU-research-target
Regional
Minn. taking lead to reduce size of Gulf 'dead zone'
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
For more than a decade, organizations and scientists working toward
reducing the size of the annual "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico have
shared a similar complaint: The dead zone remains largely unchanged and
states, left to their own devices, have done little to make significant
improvements.
http://theadvocate.com/home/7155348-125/minnesota-taking-lead-to-reduce
EPA says US falls short in shrinking dead zone
AP
The U.S. is falling short of its goals to cut Mississippi River pollution
and shrink the dead zone it creates in the Gulf of Mexico.
Speaking in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Environmental Protection Agency
officials said states in the river's watershed need to accelerate efforts
to cut pollution from farm field runoff and discharges from sewage
treatment plants.
http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/apArticle/id/DA91G6U80/
National
EPA chief hits road to sell climate change rules
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/25/13 09:40 AM ET
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy is ramping up
her PR campaign to win backing for carbon emissions limits for power
plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/324465-epa-chief-hits-road-for-climate-rule-sales-pitches
Obama Nominee for U.S. FERC in Jeopardy With Scott's 'No'
Bloomberg
By Brian Wingfield - Sep 26, 2013
Senator Tim Scott will vote against President Barack Obama's nominee to
lead the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, virtually erasing the
possibility of a Senate panel approving the nomination.
Scott, a South Carolina Republican, "is now a 'no' vote on the nomination"
of Ron Binz, Greg Blair, the senator's spokesman, said yesterday in an
e-mail.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-25/obama-nominee-for-u-s-ferc-in-jeopardy-with-scott-s-no-.html
Opinion
Settlement loophole in tax law could help BP
Daily Comet
Francisco Enriquez and Phineas Baxandall
Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 6:26 p.m.
At the top of every Google search for "BP oil spill" is a sponsored link
from BP that trumpets how much it has done for Gulf residents since its
Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in 2010, killing 11 workers and dumping
over 200 million gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20130924/ARTICLES/130929716?Title=Settlement-loophole-in-tax-law-could-help-BP
Wireless system: Skip the bickering
Jimmie Gates
Clarion Ledger
Immediately after Katrina struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast eight years
ago, the only way emergency officials could communicate was by writing
notes and having them hand delivered.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130926/COL0603/309260022/Wireless-system-Skip-bickering?odyssey=mod|
newswell|text|Columnists|p
Press Releases
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|Secretary Vilsack Announces Projects in 22 States to Improve Farm, Ranch and|
| Rural Business Energy Efficiency and Generation |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|announced funding for projects in 22 states that will help agricultural |
|producers and rural small businesses reduce their energy consumption and |
|costs. Funding will also allow producers to use renewable energy |
|technologies in their operations and conduct feasibility studies for |
|renewable energy projects. Grant and loan funding is made available through |
|the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Rural Energy for America Program|
|(REAP), which is authorized by the 2008 Farm Bill. Acting Under Secretary |
|for Rural Development Doug O' Brien made the announcement on behalf of the |
|Secretary. |
| |
| |
|"REAP continues to help farmers and rural businesses reduce their energy |
|consumption and by doing so, improve the bottom line of their operations," |
|O'Brien said. "This important Farm Bill program and others like it would not|
|be available without a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs Bill." |
| |
| |
|REAP helps producers reduce energy costs and increase efficiency. For |
|example: |
| |
| |
| · Weber Land LLC in Halstead, Kan., will use a $26,000 REAP grant to |
| help purchase three energy-efficient electric irrigation systems that |
| will replace an out-of-date and inefficient diesel system. The new |
| systems will better irrigate 490 acres and is projected to reduce |
| current energy usage by 74 percent annually. |
| |
| |
| · Casa de San Pedro B&B, LLC in Hereford, Ariz., will use a $41,000 |
| grant to assist with the installation of ground-mounted solar panels. |
| Once operational, the bed and breakfast is expected to eliminate 83 |
| percent of its current electricity costs. |
| |
| |
| · In New York, 18 maple syrup producers will use more than $132,000 in |
| REAP funds to purchase reverse osmosis systems, evaporators and |
| preheaters to improve the energy efficiency of their operations. By |
| utilizing these new technologies and practices, producers will reduce |
| the amount of energy consumed by approximately 75 percent during the |
| production process. |
| |
| |
|Under the terms of REAP, up to 25 percent of eligible project costs can be |
|funded through a grant, and additional support can be provided in the form |
|of a loan guarantee. Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has |
|helped fund nearly 8,000 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects |
|nationwide. |
| |
| |
|REAP offers financial assistance to farmers, ranchers and rural small |
|businesses to purchase and install renewable energy systems and make energy |
|efficiency improvements. These federal funds leverage other private funding |
|sources. REAP also helps the conservation of natural resources and the |
|development of new forms of energy that reduce America's dependence on |
|fossil fuels and creates a stronger rural economy. Follow this link to view |
|the complete list of recipients announced today under the REAP program. |
| |
| |
|Today's REAP announcement helps support the June 2013 announcement of |
|President Obama's Climate Action Plan, which outlines a comprehensive |
|approach to reduce carbon pollution and better prepare the United States for|
|the impacts of climate change. USDA continues helping rural America innovate|
|to lead the world against modern climate challenges, and a summary of the |
|USDA's efforts are available at www.usda.gov/climatesolutions. |
| |
| |
|More information about USDA's role and accomplishments in renewable energy |
|can be found here: www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=ENERGY |
|featuring access to agricultural, forestry, economic, and socio data on |
|energy through several web-based tools: the USDA Renewable Energy Investment|
|Map, the Renewable Energy Tool and Energy Matrix. These tools focus on |
|USDA's investments and projects for energy, energy efficiency, and |
|conservation programs; provides information and data to a broad spectrum of |
|stakeholders, including: farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, managers, |
|lenders, community developers, related companies, small businesses, |
|researchers, developers, and federal, state and local government agencies. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|- strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. |
| |
| |
|USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of |
|programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, |
|businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life |
|in rural America. USDA has made a concerted effort to deliver results for |
|the American people, even as the Department implements sequestration - the |
|across-the-board budget reductions mandated under terms of the Budget |
|Control Act. |
| |
| |
|USDA has already undertaken historic efforts since 2009 to save more than |
|$828 million in taxpayer funds through targeted, common-sense budget |
|reductions. These reductions have put USDA in a better position to carry out|
|its mission, while implementing sequester budget reductions in a fair manner|
|that causes as little disruption as possible. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
News Clippings 9.25.13
9.25.2013
Oil Spill
Decades needed for recovery of tiny life on Gulf seabed after BP oil spill,
new study says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 25, 2013 at 12:30 AM
The damage from oil during the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster to communities
of tiny organisms living in and on the soft sediment on the floor of the
Gulf of Mexico surrounding BP's Macondo well will take decades to repair,
according to a new scientific study conducted by NOAA, BP and university
researchers.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/decades_needed_for_recovery_of.html
Deep sea recovery from U.S. Gulf spill could take decades: study
Reuters
2:44am IST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The muddy deep-sea ecosystem around the massive 2010
Gulf of Mexico oil spill could take decades to recover from the effects of
the disaster, researchers reported on Tuesday.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/09/24/us-usa-environment-spill-idINBRE98N17J20130924
Opinions vary of spill's effects on fishing
Houma Today
Kelly Connelly
Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 5:46 p.m.
Ask anyone for their 2 cents: Are the state's fisheries recovering from the
2010 BP oil spill?
The answer will depend on who you ask and when you ask it. A balance is
struck between two contradictory messages: The Gulf is fine. Come visit.
Eat our seafood. But it's not fine enough to warrant suggestions of BP
evading paying lots and lots of fines.
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20130924/ARTICLES/130929731/1026/news01?Title=Opinions-vary-of-spill-8217-s-effects-on-fishing
State
Kemper not a model plant
New EPA standards prompt admission
Clarion Ledger
The company building the $5 billion Kemper power plant that had been touted
as revolutionizing the entire coal industry by some and a boondoggle by
others has reversed its position, saying the plant won't be a technological
model for coal-fired plants across the country.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130925/NEWS01/309250042/Kemper-not-model-plant
Hancock wetlands complaint will be heard in December
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- The trial date has changed for William R. "Rusty" Miller, a
Fairhope, Ala., real estate developer accused of wetlands and Clean Water
Act violations in Hancock County.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/24/4977748/trial-date-changed-in-hancock.html
Noblin Sewer System work begins
Bolivar Commercial
by Paisley Boston
The citizens of Noblin and Stanton subdivisions received a long over due
gift from Bolivar County and Cleveland.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/23679239/article-Noblin-Sewer-System-work-begins?instance=homefirstleft
Magnolia acquires Pearl e-recycler
Clarion Ledger
E-waste recycler Magnolia Environmental Solutions LLC has completed its
acquisition of Advantage E-Cycling of Pearl.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130925/BIZ/309250023/Magnolia-acquires-Pearl-e-recycler?nclick_check=1
Volunteers invited to view, sign Mississippi Coastal Cleanup quilt in
Pascagoula
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
September 24, 2013 at 3:30 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Coastal Cleanup is celebrating its
25th anniversary with a quilt that illustrates the event's history.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/09/volunteers_invited_to_view_sig.html#incart_river
US agriculture secretary coming to Miss. State
AP
STARKVILLE — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will tour the campus at
Mississippi State University on Wednesday and will be briefed on research
projects funded by his agency.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130925/NEWS01/309250028/US-agriculture-secretary-coming-Miss-State
Regional
Court Says EPA Must Make Decision On Nutrient Limits in Mississippi River
Basin
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Bloomberg
Sept. 23 --A federal district court has ruled that the Environmental
Protection Agency must determine within six months whether numeric nutrient
criteria are needed for the states in the Mississippi River Basin and the
northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Restoration Network v. Jackson,2013 BL
253612, E.D. La., No. 2:12-cv-00677, 9/20/13).
http://www.bna.com/court-says-epa-n17179877264/
Task force: Hitting 2015 goal to reduce Gulf of Mexico dead zone unlikely
Des Moines Register
Efforts will fall short of a 2015 goal to significantly shrink the size of
the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone, despite "incremental improvements and
significant investment" being made, the task force leading the charge says.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130924/BUSINESS01/130924040/Task-force-Hitting-2015-goal-reduce-Gulf-Mexico-dead-zone-unlikely?nclick_check=1
National
Obama Appeals to Trout Fishermen on Power-Plant Pollution
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem - Sep 25, 2013
The Obama administration is trying to build support for a key element of
its climate-change plan with appeals to everyone from trout fishermen to
fans of Al Roker on the Weather Channel.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-25/obama-appeals-to-trout-fishermen-on-power-plant-pollution.html
Climate change report will point a finger at humans
USA Today
A landmark report from the world's top climate scientists this week
is likely to say with heightened certainty that humans are behind
the planet's rising temperatures, and that surface temperatures are
not the only indicators of climate change.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/09/24/climate-change-report/2862815/
Opinion
Prosecutors Gone Wild In Case of Fmr BP Engineer Kurt Mix
Forbes
On May 2, 2012, Kurt Mix was indicted on charges of obstructing justice by
deleting text message strings from his cell phone while employed as a
drilling engineer tasked with capping the flow of oil into the Gulf of
Mexico. The spill was a result of an explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon
(Macondo well) accident in 2010, which killed 11 people. According to
government prosecutors, deletion of those text messages strings, one to his
supervisor (SUPERVISOR) and the other to a contractor (CONTRACTOR) working
for BP, were a criminal act meant to hinder the investigation of the BP
spill.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2013/09/24/prosecutors-gone-wild-in-case-of-fmr-bp-engineer-kurt-mix/
Oil Spill
Decades needed for recovery of tiny life on Gulf seabed after BP oil spill,
new study says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 25, 2013 at 12:30 AM
The damage from oil during the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster to communities
of tiny organisms living in and on the soft sediment on the floor of the
Gulf of Mexico surrounding BP's Macondo well will take decades to repair,
according to a new scientific study conducted by NOAA, BP and university
researchers.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/decades_needed_for_recovery_of.html
Deep sea recovery from U.S. Gulf spill could take decades: study
Reuters
2:44am IST
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The muddy deep-sea ecosystem around the massive 2010
Gulf of Mexico oil spill could take decades to recover from the effects of
the disaster, researchers reported on Tuesday.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/09/24/us-usa-environment-spill-idINBRE98N17J20130924
Opinions vary of spill's effects on fishing
Houma Today
Kelly Connelly
Published: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 5:46 p.m.
Ask anyone for their 2 cents: Are the state's fisheries recovering from the
2010 BP oil spill?
The answer will depend on who you ask and when you ask it. A balance is
struck between two contradictory messages: The Gulf is fine. Come visit.
Eat our seafood. But it's not fine enough to warrant suggestions of BP
evading paying lots and lots of fines.
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20130924/ARTICLES/130929731/1026/news01?Title=Opinions-vary-of-spill-8217-s-effects-on-fishing
State
Kemper not a model plant
New EPA standards prompt admission
Clarion Ledger
The company building the $5 billion Kemper power plant that had been touted
as revolutionizing the entire coal industry by some and a boondoggle by
others has reversed its position, saying the plant won't be a technological
model for coal-fired plants across the country.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130925/NEWS01/309250042/Kemper-not-model-plant
Hancock wetlands complaint will be heard in December
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- The trial date has changed for William R. "Rusty" Miller, a
Fairhope, Ala., real estate developer accused of wetlands and Clean Water
Act violations in Hancock County.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/24/4977748/trial-date-changed-in-hancock.html
Noblin Sewer System work begins
Bolivar Commercial
by Paisley Boston
The citizens of Noblin and Stanton subdivisions received a long over due
gift from Bolivar County and Cleveland.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/23679239/article-Noblin-Sewer-System-work-begins?instance=homefirstleft
Magnolia acquires Pearl e-recycler
Clarion Ledger
E-waste recycler Magnolia Environmental Solutions LLC has completed its
acquisition of Advantage E-Cycling of Pearl.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130925/BIZ/309250023/Magnolia-acquires-Pearl-e-recycler?nclick_check=1
Volunteers invited to view, sign Mississippi Coastal Cleanup quilt in
Pascagoula
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
September 24, 2013 at 3:30 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Mississippi Coastal Cleanup is celebrating its
25th anniversary with a quilt that illustrates the event's history.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/09/volunteers_invited_to_view_sig.html#incart_river
US agriculture secretary coming to Miss. State
AP
STARKVILLE — U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will tour the campus at
Mississippi State University on Wednesday and will be briefed on research
projects funded by his agency.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130925/NEWS01/309250028/US-agriculture-secretary-coming-Miss-State
Regional
Court Says EPA Must Make Decision On Nutrient Limits in Mississippi River
Basin
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Bloomberg
Sept. 23 --A federal district court has ruled that the Environmental
Protection Agency must determine within six months whether numeric nutrient
criteria are needed for the states in the Mississippi River Basin and the
northern Gulf of Mexico (Gulf Restoration Network v. Jackson,2013 BL
253612, E.D. La., No. 2:12-cv-00677, 9/20/13).
http://www.bna.com/court-says-epa-n17179877264/
Task force: Hitting 2015 goal to reduce Gulf of Mexico dead zone unlikely
Des Moines Register
Efforts will fall short of a 2015 goal to significantly shrink the size of
the Gulf of Mexico's dead zone, despite "incremental improvements and
significant investment" being made, the task force leading the charge says.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20130924/BUSINESS01/130924040/Task-force-Hitting-2015-goal-reduce-Gulf-Mexico-dead-zone-unlikely?nclick_check=1
National
Obama Appeals to Trout Fishermen on Power-Plant Pollution
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem - Sep 25, 2013
The Obama administration is trying to build support for a key element of
its climate-change plan with appeals to everyone from trout fishermen to
fans of Al Roker on the Weather Channel.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-25/obama-appeals-to-trout-fishermen-on-power-plant-pollution.html
Climate change report will point a finger at humans
USA Today
A landmark report from the world's top climate scientists this week
is likely to say with heightened certainty that humans are behind
the planet's rising temperatures, and that surface temperatures are
not the only indicators of climate change.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2013/09/24/climate-change-report/2862815/
Opinion
Prosecutors Gone Wild In Case of Fmr BP Engineer Kurt Mix
Forbes
On May 2, 2012, Kurt Mix was indicted on charges of obstructing justice by
deleting text message strings from his cell phone while employed as a
drilling engineer tasked with capping the flow of oil into the Gulf of
Mexico. The spill was a result of an explosion of BP's Deepwater Horizon
(Macondo well) accident in 2010, which killed 11 people. According to
government prosecutors, deletion of those text messages strings, one to his
supervisor (SUPERVISOR) and the other to a contractor (CONTRACTOR) working
for BP, were a criminal act meant to hinder the investigation of the BP
spill.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/walterpavlo/2013/09/24/prosecutors-gone-wild-in-case-of-fmr-bp-engineer-kurt-mix/
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
News Clippings 9.24.13
9.24.13
Oil Spill
BP renews bid to suspend settlement payments
The Associated Press
September 24, 2013 at 12:52 AM
NEW ORLEANS — BP on Monday renewed its request for a federal judge to
temporarily suspend settlement payments to Gulf Coast residents and
businesses following its massive 2010 oil spill, citing a scathing report
on alleged misconduct within the court-supervised program.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/09/bp_renews_bid_to_suspend_settl.html#incart_river
BP again asks federal judge to suspend Deepwater Horizon oil spill private
claims payments
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 23, 2013 at 3:20 PM
BP has asked a federal judge in New Orleans to suspend payment of private
claims stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill until new anti-fraud
measures are implemented in the claims process.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/bp_again_asks_federal_judge_to.html
BP asks court to halt payments from Gulf oil spill settlement
Reuters
Mon, Sep 23 2013
HOUSTON (Reuters) – BP asked a U.S. court on Monday to halt payments from
its settlement agreement for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico until
the claims administrator improves accounting and anti-fraud controls.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/23/us-bp-claims-idUSBRE98M1AL20130923
State
Canebrake dam road remains closed
Weekend rain did not cause more damage to dam
Hattiesburg American
The good news for Canebrake residents is that a weekend of wet weather
appears to have had no impact on the dam at the south end of the
development and that the structure is believed to be sound and safe.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130924/NEWS01/309240017/Canebrake-dam-road-remains-closed
Regional
Environmentalists win dead zone round against EPA
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- Environmental advocates in states along the Mississippi
River have won a round toward a long-term goal of having federal standards
created to regulate farmland runoff and other pollution blamed for the
oxygen-depleted "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and problems in other
bodies of water.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/23/4975540/environmentalists-win-dead-zone.html
National
Opponents ramp up fight against Obama climate plan
By JOSH LEDERMAN — Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers and industry groups are vowing to fight
President Barack Obama's climate change plan and its first-ever emission
limits on new power plants. But they're finding their options are limited —
at least in the short term.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/24/4975833/opponents-ramp-up-fight-against.html
EPA Won't Require Carbon Capture at Existing Coal Plants
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem - Sep 23, 2013
Existing coal-fired power plants won't be required to install equipment to
capture and store the carbon dioxide they emit under new Environmental
Protection Agency rules, the regulator's top EPA official said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-23/epa-won-t-require-carbon-capture-at-existing-coal-plants.html
E.P.A. Rules on Emissions at Existing Coal Plants Might Give States Leeway
NY Times
By MATTHEW L. WALD
WASHINGTON — Four years ago, Congress rejected the idea of a cap-and-trade
system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by putting a price on them. But
the plan announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday to
regulate emissions from existing coal-fired power plants could foster
creation of such a system, at least on a regional basis, and a push for
renewable energy and energy efficiency in states that so far have embraced
neither.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/business/energy-environment/epa-rules-on-emissions-at-existing-coal-plants-might-give-states-leeway.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
EPA won't require carbon trapping for existing power plants
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/23/13 10:16 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency will not call for existing coal plants
to install carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology next year, the
head of the agency said Monday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323895-epa-power-plant-rule-wont-include-controversial-provision
Cabinet stumps for climate action
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
September 24, 2013 05:00 AM EDT
Now that the Obama administration has released the first major piece of its
long-awaited climate action plan, the job of selling it can begin in
earnest.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/cabinet-climate-action-gina-mccarthy-97229.html?hp=r8
Business group cries foul over EPA water rule
The Hill
By Ben Goad - 09/24/13 07:00 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) neglected its requirement to take
small businesses into consideration during the development of regulations
with major implications for land development around the country, a powerful
industry group charged Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/324071-business-groups-cries-foul-over-epa-water-rule-
Shutdown would shutter EPA, chief says
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/23/13 12:35 PM ET
A government shutdown would effectively close the doors at the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency's administrator warned on
Monday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/323933-shutdown-would-shutter-epa-chief-says-
Pioneer of Environmental Movement Had Ear of Presidents
Wall Street Journal
By STEPHEN MILLER
Ruth Patrick created methods of monitoring water pollution used around the
world, and as a pioneer of the emerging environmental movement, she worked
with government and industry to clean up rivers and streams.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303983904579093661907108566.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6
Press Releases
EPA Honors 24 Organizations for Green Power Leadership
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
presented its 13th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 21 Green Power
Partners and three suppliers for their achievements in advancing the
nation's renewable electricity market. Close to one-third of America's
carbon pollution – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change –
comes from power plants. By using green power, communities, businesses and
organizations can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support
America's growing renewable energy industry, improve public health, and
help transition the United States to cleaner energy sources.
"Our 2013 Green Power Leadership Award winners are driving new renewable
energy generation and providing clear examples of organizations thriving on
innovation and sustainability," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
"These winners are moving us closer to the vision President Obama outlined
in his Climate Action Plan—cutting harmful pollution and promoting American
leadership in renewable energy."
EPA defines green power as electricity that is generated from renewable
resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas and low-impact
hydroelectric sources and produces no fossil fuel-based carbon pollution.
The winning organizations are recognized for dramatically increasing their
green power purchases, installing large-scale solar panel arrays, and
leading innovative renewable energy procurement efforts, among other
actions.
The 2013 Green Power Leadership Award winners are listed below in the
following categories:
Sustained Excellence in Green Power: Intel Corporation (Santa Clara,
Calif.); Kohl's Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, Wis.); Staples
(Framingham, Mass.)
Green Power Partners of the Year: Cisco Systems, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.);
Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.); Microsoft Corporation (Redmond,
Wash.); The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
Green Power Communities of the Year: Cincinnati, Ohio; Mercer Island, Wash.
Green Power Purchasing: Accredo Packaging, Inc. (Sugar Land, Texas); Dell
Inc. (Round Rock, Texas); Pearson (Upper Saddle River, N.J.); Powdr (Park
City, Utah), The North Face (Alameda, Calif.); U.S. Department of Energy
(Washington, D.C.); UW Credit Union (Madison, Wis.); Western Pennsylvania
Energy Consortium (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
On-site Generation: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.); County of Santa Clara,
Calif.; Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.); Volkswagen Group of America
Chattanooga Operations, LLC (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Green Power Suppliers of the Year: 3Degrees (San Francisco, Calif.);
Dominion Virginia Power (Richmond, Va.); Sterling Planet (Atlanta, Ga.)
The 21 award-winning partners were chosen for their exemplary use of green
power from more than 1,500 partner organizations, including Fortune 500
companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state and federal
governments, and colleges and universities. Utilities, renewable energy
project developers, and other green power suppliers were eligible to apply
for the Supplier of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership in
voluntary renewable energy offerings.
EPA also announced the winners of the third annual Green Power Community
Challenge, a national competition between communities to use renewable
energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the collective
participation of local governments, businesses, and residents. Out of 48
competing communities, Washington, D.C., won the challenge for a third year
in a row for using the most green power annually with more than one billion
kilowatt-hours (kWh). Oak Park, Ill., also won the challenge for a second
consecutive year for achieving the highest green power percentage of total
electricity use at 92 percent.
EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations
to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Nearly
two-thirds of partners use 100 percent green power. All together, the
partners are voluntarily using more than 28 billion kWh of green power
annually, equivalent to avoiding carbon pollution created by the
electricity use of more than three million average American homes each
year.
More on the Green Power Leadership Awards:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm
More on the Green Power Community Challenge:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities/gpcchallenge.htm
More on the Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower
Oil Spill
BP renews bid to suspend settlement payments
The Associated Press
September 24, 2013 at 12:52 AM
NEW ORLEANS — BP on Monday renewed its request for a federal judge to
temporarily suspend settlement payments to Gulf Coast residents and
businesses following its massive 2010 oil spill, citing a scathing report
on alleged misconduct within the court-supervised program.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/09/bp_renews_bid_to_suspend_settl.html#incart_river
BP again asks federal judge to suspend Deepwater Horizon oil spill private
claims payments
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 23, 2013 at 3:20 PM
BP has asked a federal judge in New Orleans to suspend payment of private
claims stemming from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill until new anti-fraud
measures are implemented in the claims process.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/bp_again_asks_federal_judge_to.html
BP asks court to halt payments from Gulf oil spill settlement
Reuters
Mon, Sep 23 2013
HOUSTON (Reuters) – BP asked a U.S. court on Monday to halt payments from
its settlement agreement for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico until
the claims administrator improves accounting and anti-fraud controls.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/23/us-bp-claims-idUSBRE98M1AL20130923
State
Canebrake dam road remains closed
Weekend rain did not cause more damage to dam
Hattiesburg American
The good news for Canebrake residents is that a weekend of wet weather
appears to have had no impact on the dam at the south end of the
development and that the structure is believed to be sound and safe.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130924/NEWS01/309240017/Canebrake-dam-road-remains-closed
Regional
Environmentalists win dead zone round against EPA
By JANET McCONNAUGHEY — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS -- Environmental advocates in states along the Mississippi
River have won a round toward a long-term goal of having federal standards
created to regulate farmland runoff and other pollution blamed for the
oxygen-depleted "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico and problems in other
bodies of water.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/23/4975540/environmentalists-win-dead-zone.html
National
Opponents ramp up fight against Obama climate plan
By JOSH LEDERMAN — Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers and industry groups are vowing to fight
President Barack Obama's climate change plan and its first-ever emission
limits on new power plants. But they're finding their options are limited —
at least in the short term.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/24/4975833/opponents-ramp-up-fight-against.html
EPA Won't Require Carbon Capture at Existing Coal Plants
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem - Sep 23, 2013
Existing coal-fired power plants won't be required to install equipment to
capture and store the carbon dioxide they emit under new Environmental
Protection Agency rules, the regulator's top EPA official said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-23/epa-won-t-require-carbon-capture-at-existing-coal-plants.html
E.P.A. Rules on Emissions at Existing Coal Plants Might Give States Leeway
NY Times
By MATTHEW L. WALD
WASHINGTON — Four years ago, Congress rejected the idea of a cap-and-trade
system to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by putting a price on them. But
the plan announced by the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday to
regulate emissions from existing coal-fired power plants could foster
creation of such a system, at least on a regional basis, and a push for
renewable energy and energy efficiency in states that so far have embraced
neither.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/24/business/energy-environment/epa-rules-on-emissions-at-existing-coal-plants-might-give-states-leeway.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
EPA won't require carbon trapping for existing power plants
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/23/13 10:16 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency will not call for existing coal plants
to install carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology next year, the
head of the agency said Monday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323895-epa-power-plant-rule-wont-include-controversial-provision
Cabinet stumps for climate action
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
September 24, 2013 05:00 AM EDT
Now that the Obama administration has released the first major piece of its
long-awaited climate action plan, the job of selling it can begin in
earnest.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/cabinet-climate-action-gina-mccarthy-97229.html?hp=r8
Business group cries foul over EPA water rule
The Hill
By Ben Goad - 09/24/13 07:00 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) neglected its requirement to take
small businesses into consideration during the development of regulations
with major implications for land development around the country, a powerful
industry group charged Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/324071-business-groups-cries-foul-over-epa-water-rule-
Shutdown would shutter EPA, chief says
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/23/13 12:35 PM ET
A government shutdown would effectively close the doors at the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency's administrator warned on
Monday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/administration/323933-shutdown-would-shutter-epa-chief-says-
Pioneer of Environmental Movement Had Ear of Presidents
Wall Street Journal
By STEPHEN MILLER
Ruth Patrick created methods of monitoring water pollution used around the
world, and as a pioneer of the emerging environmental movement, she worked
with government and industry to clean up rivers and streams.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303983904579093661907108566.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6
Press Releases
EPA Honors 24 Organizations for Green Power Leadership
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
presented its 13th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 21 Green Power
Partners and three suppliers for their achievements in advancing the
nation's renewable electricity market. Close to one-third of America's
carbon pollution – a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change –
comes from power plants. By using green power, communities, businesses and
organizations can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support
America's growing renewable energy industry, improve public health, and
help transition the United States to cleaner energy sources.
"Our 2013 Green Power Leadership Award winners are driving new renewable
energy generation and providing clear examples of organizations thriving on
innovation and sustainability," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
"These winners are moving us closer to the vision President Obama outlined
in his Climate Action Plan—cutting harmful pollution and promoting American
leadership in renewable energy."
EPA defines green power as electricity that is generated from renewable
resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas and low-impact
hydroelectric sources and produces no fossil fuel-based carbon pollution.
The winning organizations are recognized for dramatically increasing their
green power purchases, installing large-scale solar panel arrays, and
leading innovative renewable energy procurement efforts, among other
actions.
The 2013 Green Power Leadership Award winners are listed below in the
following categories:
Sustained Excellence in Green Power: Intel Corporation (Santa Clara,
Calif.); Kohl's Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, Wis.); Staples
(Framingham, Mass.)
Green Power Partners of the Year: Cisco Systems, Inc. (San Jose, Calif.);
Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.); Microsoft Corporation (Redmond,
Wash.); The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
Green Power Communities of the Year: Cincinnati, Ohio; Mercer Island, Wash.
Green Power Purchasing: Accredo Packaging, Inc. (Sugar Land, Texas); Dell
Inc. (Round Rock, Texas); Pearson (Upper Saddle River, N.J.); Powdr (Park
City, Utah), The North Face (Alameda, Calif.); U.S. Department of Energy
(Washington, D.C.); UW Credit Union (Madison, Wis.); Western Pennsylvania
Energy Consortium (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
On-site Generation: Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.); County of Santa Clara,
Calif.; Kaiser Permanente (Oakland, Calif.); Volkswagen Group of America
Chattanooga Operations, LLC (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Green Power Suppliers of the Year: 3Degrees (San Francisco, Calif.);
Dominion Virginia Power (Richmond, Va.); Sterling Planet (Atlanta, Ga.)
The 21 award-winning partners were chosen for their exemplary use of green
power from more than 1,500 partner organizations, including Fortune 500
companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state and federal
governments, and colleges and universities. Utilities, renewable energy
project developers, and other green power suppliers were eligible to apply
for the Supplier of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership in
voluntary renewable energy offerings.
EPA also announced the winners of the third annual Green Power Community
Challenge, a national competition between communities to use renewable
energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the collective
participation of local governments, businesses, and residents. Out of 48
competing communities, Washington, D.C., won the challenge for a third year
in a row for using the most green power annually with more than one billion
kilowatt-hours (kWh). Oak Park, Ill., also won the challenge for a second
consecutive year for achieving the highest green power percentage of total
electricity use at 92 percent.
EPA, through the Green Power Partnership, works with partner organizations
to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Nearly
two-thirds of partners use 100 percent green power. All together, the
partners are voluntarily using more than 28 billion kWh of green power
annually, equivalent to avoiding carbon pollution created by the
electricity use of more than three million average American homes each
year.
More on the Green Power Leadership Awards:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm
More on the Green Power Community Challenge:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/communities/gpcchallenge.htm
More on the Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower
Monday, September 23, 2013
News Clippings 9.23.13
9.23.2013
State
Cleanup project to reclaim Ridgeland property
Clarion Ledger
The state is working with federal officials to clean up large contaminated
sites in the state with the long-term goal of reclaiming the property for
use, but fear of liability keeps most people away from buying or reclaiming
such property for redevelopment, officials say.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130921/NEWS01/309210009/Cleanup-project-reclaim-Ridgeland-property
Waste company to cut recycling program
Commercial Dispatch
September 20, 2013 9:49:32 AM
William Browning - wbrowning@cdispatch.com
Mississippi Industrial Waste, a commercial solid waste company in Columbus,
will stop its curbside recycling program at the end of this month.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=27289&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Hattiesburg denies claims in suit over sewage treatment rates
Hattiesburg American
Two of the remaining defendants have answered the lawsuit Petal filed
against Hattiesburg over sewage treatment rates.
The matter has been removed from Forrest County Chancery Court to U.S.
District Court, while the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection
Agency and USA Yeast have been dismissed as defendants via agreed order.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130922/NEWS01/309220026/Hattiesburg-denies-claims-suit-over-sewage-treatment-rates
Refuge planned for Jackson area
Wildlife plot set for tract by reservoir
Clarion Ledger
Experiencing the outdoors may soon be much more convenient for those living
in the greater Jackson area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently
announced a proposal to establish a National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson's
backyard.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130922/SPORTS08/309220046/Refuge-planned-Jackson-area
Mechanical failure may be cause of gas leak at Jackson Co. plant
WLOX
A gas leak at a Jackson County plant Friday morning is being blamed on a
mechanical failure. A pipe at Airgas Specialties started leaking Anhydrous
Ammonia around 8:45 AM. Fortunately, no one was injured. It took county
firefighters and environmental crews about an hour to contain the small
leak.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23484214/mechanical-failure-may-be-cause-of-gas-leak-at-jackson-co-plant
Environmental groups protest Keystone oil pipeline
Clarion Ledger
A small crowd of environmental groups gathered on the south steps of the
state Capitol this weekend to protest the planned Keystone XL oil pipeline.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130923/NEWS01/309230006/Environmental-groups-protest-Keystone-oil-pipeline
Toyota Teams Up with Boy Scouts for Community Wide Cleanup
WCBI
Large manufacturing businesses like Toyota help bring jobs and economic
development to our area. And Toyota workers teamed up with local Boy Scouts
for a community wide cleanup.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-toyota-teams-up-with-boy-scouts-for-community-wide-cleanup
Utility Authority swears in officers
By Alexandra Hedrick
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — Steve Lawler was sworn into office at the Pearl River County
Utility Authority Board of Directors meeting on Thursday afternoon.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x2112876910/Utility-Authority-swears-in-officers
Edwards seen as choice to head Hancock County port commission
Sun Herald
If the vote goes as expected, Gov. Phil Bryant adviser Ashley Edwards, 33,
will land a job as executive director of the Hancock County Port & Harbor
Commission.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/21/4970786/edwards-seen-as-choice-to-head.html
Regional
Coastal Wetland Act still vital for combating erosion
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
The Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, passed by
Congress in 1990, created a lot of firsts for Louisiana.
http://theadvocate.com/news/7094257-123/beyond-building-marsh-cwppra-at
National
EPA's rule on greenhouse gases: Big promises, little impact
BY SEAN COCKERHAM
MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration on Friday set the first-ever limits
on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, but their impact could be
minimal because they don't apply to existing plants and there are few
coal-fired power plants being built in the United States.
Just two new coal-fired power plants are expected to open next year,
according to data from the Energy Information Administration, and there are
none set to open in 2015.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/20/3639964/epas-rule-on-greenhouse-gases.html
EPA proposes new rules to reduce power plant emissions
LA Times
By Neela Banerjee
September 20, 2013, 8:25 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agencyproposed new rules on
Friday to reduce future carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants, a
major step to address climate change that industry and some
environmentalist say could all but end the construction of coal-fired
plants in the United States.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-epa-power-plant-emissions-20130920,0,4425244.story
EPA Unveils Plan to Curb Emissions From New Coal Plants
Proposal Sets Up Fight With Companies
Wall Street Journal
By TENNILLE TRACY
The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its proposal to limit
greenhouse gases from new coal-fired power plants, setting up a battle
with companies that say tougher standards require the use of costly and
largely unproven technology.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323308504579086983430436084.html
EPA proposes first-ever carbon controls on new power plants, but effect
'negligible'
By Associated Press,
WASHINGTON — Linking global warming to public health, disease and extreme
weather, the Obama administration pressed ahead Friday with tough
requirements to limit carbon pollution from new power plants, despite
protests from industry and Republicans that it would dim coal's future.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/proposal-to-curb-global-warming-pollution-from-new-power-plants-dims-coals-future/2013/09/19/0be18d20-219b-11e3-ad1a-1a919f2ed890_print.html
Challenges Await Plan to Reduce Emissions
NY Times
By MATTHEW L. WALD and MICHAEL D. SHEAR
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's potentially pathbreaking proposal
for carbon emission limits on new power plants will face political and
legal challenges from opponents who argue that the technology needed has
not been close to being proven as the law requires.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/21/business/energy-environment/challenges-await-plan-to-reduce-emissions.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
EPA releases draft rules to cut emissions from power plants
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/20/13 09:25 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday released draft rules that
represent the first limits for carbon emissions from new power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323597-epa-chief-emissions-limits-wont-kill-coal-industry
Emissions regulations are central battle in Obama climate agenda
The Hill
By Julian Hattem and Ben Goad - 09/23/13 06:00 AM ET
If the Obama administration's proposed limits on greenhouse gas emissions
from new power plants become law, they would represent the first major
victory for the president on his second-term climate plan. But opponents
are not ready to roll over.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323785-new-emissions-regulations-are-central-battle-in-obama-climate-agenda
EPA used disputed carbon metric to develop power plant rules
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/20/13 10:17 AM ET
The Obama administration used a controversial estimate of the monetary cost
of carbon pollution to develop limits for greenhouse gas emissions from new
power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323605-epa-used-disputed-carbon-metric-to-develop-power-plant-rules-
Coal-state Democrats distance themselves from EPA
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
September 20, 2013 12:14 PM EDT
Coal-state Democrats wasted no time Friday in denouncing EPA's proposed new
greenhouse gas rule for power plants.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/coal-state-democrats-epa-97125.html
California law to regulate fracking signed by governor
Reuters
Fri, Sep 20 2013
By Sharon Bernstein
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California's first regulations on
fracking and related oil production practices will go into effect next year
in the most populous U.S. state under a bill signed into law on Friday by
Democratic Governor Jerry Brown.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/21/us-usa-california-fracking-idUSBRE98K00C20130921
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Mississippi Legislature should slash all state
travel budgets by 50 percent
Published: September 21, 2013
Atipping point in the abuse of Mississippi taxpayers should have been
reached last month when the director of the state Department of
Rehabilitation Services sent himself and 16 of his employees to a
conference in New York City at a cost to taxpayers of about $30,000.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/21/4968154/sun-herald-editorial-mississippi.html?sp-tk=412485CC0E5CF1E8AB1DD07125C4C7EBD9E8711DBB489FB2E768D9261FB840A633168BCC6DB120EA035C0E76A149A9935A8D1BEBF081B059CB5BE52DF26DE96B92D8BB30685057C8496DD91108B4A001E4309B352369C2C10B1C45CCE27BC03E7D3AA7504081F3F72349298C1F4F0A23356BC730AB75FA64DF6E63854BFD79EE262DF4A0B69C17DC616F88B35BA75C1300FEE3A3A56A258852CB17DB862B22B1A588A64D
Press Releases
TORNADO DAMAGE REPORTED TO MEMA
PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of
damage related to a cold front that moved through the state Friday and
Saturday.
Two counties have reported damage to MEMA:
* Adams: Damage to two homes.
* Smith: Damage to one home and one business.
The National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes across the state
related to this event.
* Adams: An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Kingston area, damaging
two homes.
* Adams: An EF-1 tornado touched down in the eastern part of Adams
County.
* Rankin: An EF-1 tornado touched down in the eastern part of Rankin
County.
* Simpson: An EF-0 tornado touched down in the northeastern part of
Simpson County.
* Smith: An EF-1 tornado touched down in the Pineville area, damaging
one chicken house, one barn and one mobile home.
MEMA urges the public to report damages to your local Emergency Management
Agency. For a list of contact numbers for your county, visit
www.msema.org/local-ema<http://www.msema.org/local-ema>.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for
updates. For up-to-date information in real time, download the free MEMA
app on your iPhone or Android device. Just search for MEMA in the app
store.
###
EPA Proposes Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants
Agency takes important step to reduce carbon pollution from power plants as
part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed
Clean Air Act standards to cut carbon pollution from new power plants in
order to combat climate change and improve public health. In addition, EPA
has initiated broad-based outreach and direct engagement with state,
tribal, and local governments, industry and labor leaders, non-profits, and
others to establish carbon pollution standards for existing power plants
and build on state efforts to move toward a cleaner power sector.
Today's proposal achieves the first milestone outlined in President Obama's
June 25 Memorandum to EPA on "Power Sector Carbon Pollution Standards," a
major part of the President's Climate Action Plan.
"Climate change is one of the most significant public health challenges of
our time. By taking commonsense action to limit carbon pollution from new
power plants, we can slow the effects of climate change and fulfill our
obligation to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children," EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy said. "These standards will also spark the
innovation we need to build the next generation of power plants, helping
grow a more sustainable clean energy economy."
Under today's proposal, new large natural gas-fired turbines would need to
meet a limit of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, while new small
natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of
CO2 per megawatt-hour. New coal-fired units would need to meet a limit of
1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, and would have the option to meet a
somewhat tighter limit if they choose to average emissions over multiple
years, giving those units additional operational flexibility.
These proposed standards will ensure that new power plants are built with
available clean technology to limit carbon pollution, a requirement that is
in line with investments in clean energy technologies that are already
being made in the power industry. Additionally, these standards provide
flexibility by allowing sources to phase in the use of some of these
technologies, and they ensure that the power plants of the future use
cleaner energy technologies -- such as efficient natural gas, advanced coal
technology, nuclear power, and renewable energy like wind and solar.
In response to recent information and developments in the power sector and
more than 2.5 million public comments, including those from the power
sector and environmental groups, today's proposal sets separate standards
for new gas-fired and coal-fired power plants.
Power plants are the largest concentrated source of emissions in the United
States, together accounting for roughly one-third of all domestic
greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, nearly a dozen states have already
implemented or are implementing their own market-based programs to reduce
carbon pollution. In addition, more than 25 states have set energy
efficiency targets, and more than 35 have set renewable energy targets.
While the United States has limits in place for arsenic, mercury and lead
pollution that power plants can emit, currently, there are no national
limits on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit.
In 2009, EPA determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans'
health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that
can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment.
Taking steady, responsible steps to cut carbon pollution from new and
existing power plants will protect children's health and will move us
toward a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations, while
supplying the reliable, affordable power needed for economic growth.
The agency is seeking comment and information on today's proposal,
including holding a public hearing, and will take that input fully into
account as it completes the rulemaking process. EPA's comment period will
be open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. In a
separate action, EPA is rescinding the April 2012 proposal.
Separately, EPA has initiated outreach to a wide variety of stakeholders
that will help inform the development of emission guidelines for existing
power plants. EPA intends to work closely with the states to ensure
strategies for reducing carbon pollution from existing sources are
flexible, account for regional diversity, and embrace common sense
solutions, allowing the United States to continue utilizing every fuel
source available. In accordance with the June 25 Presidential Memorandum,
EPA will issue proposed standards for existing power plants by June 1,
2014.
President Obama's Climate Action Plan, announced at Georgetown University
on June 25, 2013, takes steady, sensible, and pragmatic steps to cut the
harmful carbon pollution that fuels a changing climate, prepares our
communities for its impacts, while continuing to provide affordable,
reliable energy for Americans.
More information:
http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards
More information on President Obama's Climate Action Plan:
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
To hear an audio message on today's announcement from EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy: http://go.usa.gov/DUSG
State
Cleanup project to reclaim Ridgeland property
Clarion Ledger
The state is working with federal officials to clean up large contaminated
sites in the state with the long-term goal of reclaiming the property for
use, but fear of liability keeps most people away from buying or reclaiming
such property for redevelopment, officials say.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130921/NEWS01/309210009/Cleanup-project-reclaim-Ridgeland-property
Waste company to cut recycling program
Commercial Dispatch
September 20, 2013 9:49:32 AM
William Browning - wbrowning@cdispatch.com
Mississippi Industrial Waste, a commercial solid waste company in Columbus,
will stop its curbside recycling program at the end of this month.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=27289&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Hattiesburg denies claims in suit over sewage treatment rates
Hattiesburg American
Two of the remaining defendants have answered the lawsuit Petal filed
against Hattiesburg over sewage treatment rates.
The matter has been removed from Forrest County Chancery Court to U.S.
District Court, while the Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection
Agency and USA Yeast have been dismissed as defendants via agreed order.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130922/NEWS01/309220026/Hattiesburg-denies-claims-suit-over-sewage-treatment-rates
Refuge planned for Jackson area
Wildlife plot set for tract by reservoir
Clarion Ledger
Experiencing the outdoors may soon be much more convenient for those living
in the greater Jackson area. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently
announced a proposal to establish a National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson's
backyard.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130922/SPORTS08/309220046/Refuge-planned-Jackson-area
Mechanical failure may be cause of gas leak at Jackson Co. plant
WLOX
A gas leak at a Jackson County plant Friday morning is being blamed on a
mechanical failure. A pipe at Airgas Specialties started leaking Anhydrous
Ammonia around 8:45 AM. Fortunately, no one was injured. It took county
firefighters and environmental crews about an hour to contain the small
leak.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23484214/mechanical-failure-may-be-cause-of-gas-leak-at-jackson-co-plant
Environmental groups protest Keystone oil pipeline
Clarion Ledger
A small crowd of environmental groups gathered on the south steps of the
state Capitol this weekend to protest the planned Keystone XL oil pipeline.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130923/NEWS01/309230006/Environmental-groups-protest-Keystone-oil-pipeline
Toyota Teams Up with Boy Scouts for Community Wide Cleanup
WCBI
Large manufacturing businesses like Toyota help bring jobs and economic
development to our area. And Toyota workers teamed up with local Boy Scouts
for a community wide cleanup.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-toyota-teams-up-with-boy-scouts-for-community-wide-cleanup
Utility Authority swears in officers
By Alexandra Hedrick
The Picayune Item
POPLARVILLE — Steve Lawler was sworn into office at the Pearl River County
Utility Authority Board of Directors meeting on Thursday afternoon.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x2112876910/Utility-Authority-swears-in-officers
Edwards seen as choice to head Hancock County port commission
Sun Herald
If the vote goes as expected, Gov. Phil Bryant adviser Ashley Edwards, 33,
will land a job as executive director of the Hancock County Port & Harbor
Commission.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/21/4970786/edwards-seen-as-choice-to-head.html
Regional
Coastal Wetland Act still vital for combating erosion
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
The Coastal Wetland Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, passed by
Congress in 1990, created a lot of firsts for Louisiana.
http://theadvocate.com/news/7094257-123/beyond-building-marsh-cwppra-at
National
EPA's rule on greenhouse gases: Big promises, little impact
BY SEAN COCKERHAM
MCCLATCHY WASHINGTON BUREAU
WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration on Friday set the first-ever limits
on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, but their impact could be
minimal because they don't apply to existing plants and there are few
coal-fired power plants being built in the United States.
Just two new coal-fired power plants are expected to open next year,
according to data from the Energy Information Administration, and there are
none set to open in 2015.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/20/3639964/epas-rule-on-greenhouse-gases.html
EPA proposes new rules to reduce power plant emissions
LA Times
By Neela Banerjee
September 20, 2013, 8:25 a.m.
WASHINGTON -- The Environmental Protection Agencyproposed new rules on
Friday to reduce future carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants, a
major step to address climate change that industry and some
environmentalist say could all but end the construction of coal-fired
plants in the United States.
http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-epa-power-plant-emissions-20130920,0,4425244.story
EPA Unveils Plan to Curb Emissions From New Coal Plants
Proposal Sets Up Fight With Companies
Wall Street Journal
By TENNILLE TRACY
The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled its proposal to limit
greenhouse gases from new coal-fired power plants, setting up a battle
with companies that say tougher standards require the use of costly and
largely unproven technology.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323308504579086983430436084.html
EPA proposes first-ever carbon controls on new power plants, but effect
'negligible'
By Associated Press,
WASHINGTON — Linking global warming to public health, disease and extreme
weather, the Obama administration pressed ahead Friday with tough
requirements to limit carbon pollution from new power plants, despite
protests from industry and Republicans that it would dim coal's future.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/proposal-to-curb-global-warming-pollution-from-new-power-plants-dims-coals-future/2013/09/19/0be18d20-219b-11e3-ad1a-1a919f2ed890_print.html
Challenges Await Plan to Reduce Emissions
NY Times
By MATTHEW L. WALD and MICHAEL D. SHEAR
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's potentially pathbreaking proposal
for carbon emission limits on new power plants will face political and
legal challenges from opponents who argue that the technology needed has
not been close to being proven as the law requires.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/21/business/energy-environment/challenges-await-plan-to-reduce-emissions.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
EPA releases draft rules to cut emissions from power plants
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/20/13 09:25 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday released draft rules that
represent the first limits for carbon emissions from new power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323597-epa-chief-emissions-limits-wont-kill-coal-industry
Emissions regulations are central battle in Obama climate agenda
The Hill
By Julian Hattem and Ben Goad - 09/23/13 06:00 AM ET
If the Obama administration's proposed limits on greenhouse gas emissions
from new power plants become law, they would represent the first major
victory for the president on his second-term climate plan. But opponents
are not ready to roll over.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323785-new-emissions-regulations-are-central-battle-in-obama-climate-agenda
EPA used disputed carbon metric to develop power plant rules
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/20/13 10:17 AM ET
The Obama administration used a controversial estimate of the monetary cost
of carbon pollution to develop limits for greenhouse gas emissions from new
power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/323605-epa-used-disputed-carbon-metric-to-develop-power-plant-rules-
Coal-state Democrats distance themselves from EPA
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
September 20, 2013 12:14 PM EDT
Coal-state Democrats wasted no time Friday in denouncing EPA's proposed new
greenhouse gas rule for power plants.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/coal-state-democrats-epa-97125.html
California law to regulate fracking signed by governor
Reuters
Fri, Sep 20 2013
By Sharon Bernstein
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California's first regulations on
fracking and related oil production practices will go into effect next year
in the most populous U.S. state under a bill signed into law on Friday by
Democratic Governor Jerry Brown.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/21/us-usa-california-fracking-idUSBRE98K00C20130921
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Mississippi Legislature should slash all state
travel budgets by 50 percent
Published: September 21, 2013
Atipping point in the abuse of Mississippi taxpayers should have been
reached last month when the director of the state Department of
Rehabilitation Services sent himself and 16 of his employees to a
conference in New York City at a cost to taxpayers of about $30,000.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/21/4968154/sun-herald-editorial-mississippi.html?sp-tk=412485CC0E5CF1E8AB1DD07125C4C7EBD9E8711DBB489FB2E768D9261FB840A633168BCC6DB120EA035C0E76A149A9935A8D1BEBF081B059CB5BE52DF26DE96B92D8BB30685057C8496DD91108B4A001E4309B352369C2C10B1C45CCE27BC03E7D3AA7504081F3F72349298C1F4F0A23356BC730AB75FA64DF6E63854BFD79EE262DF4A0B69C17DC616F88B35BA75C1300FEE3A3A56A258852CB17DB862B22B1A588A64D
Press Releases
TORNADO DAMAGE REPORTED TO MEMA
PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of
damage related to a cold front that moved through the state Friday and
Saturday.
Two counties have reported damage to MEMA:
* Adams: Damage to two homes.
* Smith: Damage to one home and one business.
The National Weather Service confirmed five tornadoes across the state
related to this event.
* Adams: An EF-2 tornado touched down in the Kingston area, damaging
two homes.
* Adams: An EF-1 tornado touched down in the eastern part of Adams
County.
* Rankin: An EF-1 tornado touched down in the eastern part of Rankin
County.
* Simpson: An EF-0 tornado touched down in the northeastern part of
Simpson County.
* Smith: An EF-1 tornado touched down in the Pineville area, damaging
one chicken house, one barn and one mobile home.
MEMA urges the public to report damages to your local Emergency Management
Agency. For a list of contact numbers for your county, visit
www.msema.org/local-ema<http://www.msema.org/local-ema>.
The public is encouraged to follow MEMA on Twitter and Facebook for
updates. For up-to-date information in real time, download the free MEMA
app on your iPhone or Android device. Just search for MEMA in the app
store.
###
EPA Proposes Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants
Agency takes important step to reduce carbon pollution from power plants as
part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed
Clean Air Act standards to cut carbon pollution from new power plants in
order to combat climate change and improve public health. In addition, EPA
has initiated broad-based outreach and direct engagement with state,
tribal, and local governments, industry and labor leaders, non-profits, and
others to establish carbon pollution standards for existing power plants
and build on state efforts to move toward a cleaner power sector.
Today's proposal achieves the first milestone outlined in President Obama's
June 25 Memorandum to EPA on "Power Sector Carbon Pollution Standards," a
major part of the President's Climate Action Plan.
"Climate change is one of the most significant public health challenges of
our time. By taking commonsense action to limit carbon pollution from new
power plants, we can slow the effects of climate change and fulfill our
obligation to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our children," EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy said. "These standards will also spark the
innovation we need to build the next generation of power plants, helping
grow a more sustainable clean energy economy."
Under today's proposal, new large natural gas-fired turbines would need to
meet a limit of 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, while new small
natural gas-fired turbines would need to meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of
CO2 per megawatt-hour. New coal-fired units would need to meet a limit of
1,100 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour, and would have the option to meet a
somewhat tighter limit if they choose to average emissions over multiple
years, giving those units additional operational flexibility.
These proposed standards will ensure that new power plants are built with
available clean technology to limit carbon pollution, a requirement that is
in line with investments in clean energy technologies that are already
being made in the power industry. Additionally, these standards provide
flexibility by allowing sources to phase in the use of some of these
technologies, and they ensure that the power plants of the future use
cleaner energy technologies -- such as efficient natural gas, advanced coal
technology, nuclear power, and renewable energy like wind and solar.
In response to recent information and developments in the power sector and
more than 2.5 million public comments, including those from the power
sector and environmental groups, today's proposal sets separate standards
for new gas-fired and coal-fired power plants.
Power plants are the largest concentrated source of emissions in the United
States, together accounting for roughly one-third of all domestic
greenhouse gas emissions. Currently, nearly a dozen states have already
implemented or are implementing their own market-based programs to reduce
carbon pollution. In addition, more than 25 states have set energy
efficiency targets, and more than 35 have set renewable energy targets.
While the United States has limits in place for arsenic, mercury and lead
pollution that power plants can emit, currently, there are no national
limits on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can emit.
In 2009, EPA determined that greenhouse gas pollution threatens Americans'
health and welfare by leading to long lasting changes in our climate that
can have a range of negative effects on human health and the environment.
Taking steady, responsible steps to cut carbon pollution from new and
existing power plants will protect children's health and will move us
toward a cleaner, more stable environment for future generations, while
supplying the reliable, affordable power needed for economic growth.
The agency is seeking comment and information on today's proposal,
including holding a public hearing, and will take that input fully into
account as it completes the rulemaking process. EPA's comment period will
be open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register. In a
separate action, EPA is rescinding the April 2012 proposal.
Separately, EPA has initiated outreach to a wide variety of stakeholders
that will help inform the development of emission guidelines for existing
power plants. EPA intends to work closely with the states to ensure
strategies for reducing carbon pollution from existing sources are
flexible, account for regional diversity, and embrace common sense
solutions, allowing the United States to continue utilizing every fuel
source available. In accordance with the June 25 Presidential Memorandum,
EPA will issue proposed standards for existing power plants by June 1,
2014.
President Obama's Climate Action Plan, announced at Georgetown University
on June 25, 2013, takes steady, sensible, and pragmatic steps to cut the
harmful carbon pollution that fuels a changing climate, prepares our
communities for its impacts, while continuing to provide affordable,
reliable energy for Americans.
More information:
http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards
More information on President Obama's Climate Action Plan:
www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
To hear an audio message on today's announcement from EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy: http://go.usa.gov/DUSG
Friday, September 20, 2013
News Clippings 9/20/13
9/20/13
Oil Spill
Judge accepts Halliburton's $200,000 plea agreement for deleting data after
the BP oil spill; former employee faces individual charge
Mark Waller
The Times-Picayune
September 20, 2013 at 6:21 AM
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo on Thursday accepted a plea
agreement requiring Halliburton Energy Services Inc. to pay a $200,000 fine
and serve three years probation in exchange for pleading guilty to computer
fraud after deleting data related to the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/judge_accepts_halliburtons_200.html
Ex-Halliburton manager charged in Gulf spill probe
AP
NEW ORLEANS — A former Halliburton manager was charged Thursday with
destroying evidence following BP's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a
case that coincides with a guilty plea to a related charge by the
Houston-based oilfield services company.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130920/BIZ/309200010/Ex-Halliburton-manager-charged-Gulf-spill-probe
Former Halliburton Manager Charged in Gulf Spill Probe
Move Comes as Judge Accepts Plea Agreement From Oilfield-Services Company
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
The Justice Department charged a former Halliburton Co. manager Thursday
with destroying evidence in the aftermath of BP PLC's 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil spill.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324492604579085180890324954.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
New Hatchery to be built in downtown Pensacola
WEAR
We have new information about the location of a fish hatchery that will
soon be built in Pensacola. The hatchery will be next door to Nick's
Boathouse. This land will soon encompass 3 ponds and an indoor facility.
The hatchery, which will cost 20 million dollars will be paid for with
funds that the city secured from BP through the Natural Resource Damage
Assessment process.
http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/new-hatchery-built-downtown-pensacola-36213.shtml
BP: State can't order removal of anchors
By KEVIN McGILL — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — BP has filed a federal lawsuit against Louisiana authorities
over an August order that the oil giant remove anchors that were placed in
the Gulf of Mexico following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/20/4966517/bp-state-cant-order-removal-of.html?sp-tk=D1593E3DFD3A5E4E6F1BFAB2CADF90340CCE8DD35989E6CFE1BD7AC61DF5447FB84CCFA687C6EB9361938069A27C0806BCDBF73A3EC219904631B4F00B45E427094891806802A90ED48A330CDF62BEC0675E8888F9EEF5D4E9EAD1ABFC62E765EDA2D328F13BE75D5D8F4371A0BB57133EDF9865600341FD1C8D72AB5D76E3B9611A852F42A24452DB78D66D2DD38F2B2914B5DC4288BD68CD30D3ECB7F94F8AFFE1B5B8
State
Miss. agencies ask lawmakers for $750M more for next fiscal year
Clarion Ledger
State agencies at this week's annual budget hearings asked to spend an
extra $750 million next year, down from last year's mostly unfulfilled
requests for $1.1 billion in extra spending.
…The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality was the only other
state agency to make a budget request Thursday, the final day of the
hearings that began Monday.
DEQ is seeking a $2 million budget increase. Executive Director Trudy
Fisher said her agency's budget request includes $900,000 to restore 12
vacant positions and $750,000 to continue Superfund cleanup of 12 large
contaminated sites that rank nationally as health threats.
Fisher said that since 2008 there has been a 25 percent reduction in DEQ's
general fund budget, amounting to a $3.5 million in loss.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130920/NEWS01/309200032/Miss-agencies-ask-lawmakers-750M-more-next-fiscal-year
Tourism leaders say the litter must stop
WLOX
Trash is all over the interstate, down city streets and along the beach in
South Mississippi.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23480499/tourism-leaders-say-the-litter-must-stop
New EPA regulations could drive electricity costs sky high
WDAM
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release new regulations
on the building of new coal-fired power plants.
The CEO of South Mississippi Electric Power Association Jim Compton says
the new regulations will cause either a spike in electricity costs, or a
shortage of energy for South Mississippi.
http://www.wdam.com/story/23479717/new-epa-regulations-could-drive-electricity-costs-sky-high
Water advisory issued for Long Beach
LONG BEACH -- A water contact advisory has been issued for Long Beach from
Oak Gardens Avenue to Girard Avenue.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/19/4965989/around-south-mississippi.html
National
EPA Wants To Limit Greenhouse Gases From New Coal Power Plants
NPR
by ELIZABETH SHOGREN
September 20, 201312:01 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency's second stab at a proposal to set the
first-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants would
make it impossible for companies to build the kind of coal-fired plants
that have been the country's biggest source of electricity for decades.
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/20/223817507/epa-wants-to-limit-greenhouse-gases-from-new-coal-power-plants
White House to Press Curbs on Power-Plant Emissions
Proposal Would Help Move U.S. Toward Cleaner Energy Sources
Associated Press
WASHINGTON—The Obama administration will press ahead Friday with tough
requirements for new coal-fired power plants, moving to impose for the
first time strict limits on the pollution blamed for global warming.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323808204579086123486325350.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6
Administration Presses Ahead With Limits on Emissions From Power Plants
NY Times
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
WASHINGTON — A year after a plan by President Obama to limit greenhouse gas
emissions from new power plants set off angry opposition, the
administration will announce on Friday that it is not backing down from a
confrontation with the coal industry and will press ahead with enacting the
first federal carbon limits on the nation's power companies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/us/politics/obama-administration-announces-limits-on-emissions-from-power-plants.html?ref=earth&pagewanted=print
Will coal survive the EPA's new carbon rules?
Washington Post
By Brad Plumer, Updated: September 19, 2013
On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose
limits on carbon-dioxide emissions from all new power plants built in the
United States. It's the first big plank in the Obama administration's
second-term climate plan.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/19/will-coal-survive-the-epas-new-carbon-rules/?print=1
Coal in President Obama's climate crosshairs
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
September 19, 2013 10:42 PM EDT
The Obama administration is preparing to draw a red line against coal
pollution, with a proposal that for the first time would limit
climate-changing emissions from all future power plants.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/coal-barack-obama-epa-greenhouse-gas-emissions-97104.html?hp=f3
Obama's coming climate crackdown
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
September 19, 2013 03:30 PM EDT
The Obama administration is about to take a major step forward on climate
change — a crucial piece of a long-term strategy to join other countries in
tackling the Earth's environmental woes, but one sure to fuel a furious GOP
counterattack in 2014.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/epa-obama-carbon-climate-power-plants-97068.html?hp=l10
Legal, political battles await EPA's power plant emissions limits
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/20/13 06:40 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will propose carbon emissions
limits for new power plants Friday, a pillar of the White House climate
agenda that's facing attacks from industry groups and Republicans who call
it an assault on the coal industry.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/323569-epa-moves-on-coal-plants-sparking-political-and-legal-battles
EPA's emission limits require coal plants adopt new tech
USA Today
Lawsuits are expected to challenge the Environmental Protection
Agency's proposal today to limit emissions from new power plants,
and the main reason is cutting-edge, anti-pollution technology.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/19/epa-limits-emissions-coal-power-plants-carbon-capture-technology/2838391/
Dakotas, Texas and Nevada sue EPA
By JAMES MacPHERSON, Associated Press
Updated 2:03 pm, Thursday, September 19, 2013
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Nevada are
suing the Environmental Protection Agency, alleging it has failed to
determine the states' compliance with a new federal clean air requirement
that limits sulfur dioxide emissions.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/North-Dakota-leads-3-states-in-lawsuit-against-EPA-4827461.php
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: How would offshore drilling bring 'favorable
notice' to Coast tourism?
Having championed the creation of a single tourism agency for the entire
Coast, the Sun Herald certainly wants the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional
Convention and Visitors Bureau to get off to a good start.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/19/4965615/sun-herald-editorial-how-would.html
Press Releases
EPA Announces First WaterSense-Labeled Product Available for Commercial
Kitchens
Pre-rinse spray valves will help restaurants save water, energy, and money
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized
the first WaterSense specification for a commercial kitchen product. EPA
estimates that approximately 51 billion gallons of water is used every year
to rinse dishes by almost one million American food service establishments.
Pre-rinse spray valves—which remove excess food waste from dishes prior to
dishwashing—are now eligible to earn the WaterSense label and help food
service establishments save water, energy, and money.
If every U.S. commercial food service establishment installed and used a
WaterSense-labeled pre-rinse spray valve, Americans could save more than 10
billion gallons of water and more than $225 million in water and energy
costs annually.
Like all WaterSense-labeled products, pre-rinse spray valves that earn the
WaterSense label must be independently certified for efficiency and
performance. Working in conjunction with industry stakeholders, EPA
specifies a maximum flow rate for WaterSense-labeled pre-rinse spray valves
of 1.28 gallons per minute, 20 percent less water than the federal
standard. To ensure that these fixtures will work well and meet the demands
of high-volume kitchens while using less water, EPA also includes spray
force performance criteria and a requirement for life cycle testing for the
products to earn the WaterSense label.
"Pre-rinse spray valves can account for nearly one-third of the water used
in a typical commercial kitchen," said Veronica Blette, chief of EPA's
WaterSense Branch. "Replacing just one of these fixtures with a
WaterSense-labeled model can save a typical restaurant more than 7,000
gallons of water per year—the amount of water needed to wash nearly 5,000
racks of dishes."
A restaurant that replaces just one pre-rinse spray valve with a
WaterSense-labeled model could recoup its investment in four to eight
months and save more than $115 per year on water and energy costs,
depending on how its water is heated. WaterSense-labeled pre-rinse spray
valves will be promoted by EPA's ENERGY STAR program as part of a suite of
energy-saving products and practices for the restaurant industry.
To develop the specification, WaterSense worked with a project team
associated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME)/Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to evaluate pre-rinse
spray-valve performance and develop a meaningful test protocol. The
ASME/CSA project team was open to the public and comprised a wide variety
of interested parties, including manufacturers, utilities, testing
laboratories, representatives from ASTM International, and other
water-efficiency experts.
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the
future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use
less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Since
the program's inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save 487
billion gallons of water and $8.9 billion in water and energy bills. For
more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
###
Oil Spill
Judge accepts Halliburton's $200,000 plea agreement for deleting data after
the BP oil spill; former employee faces individual charge
Mark Waller
The Times-Picayune
September 20, 2013 at 6:21 AM
U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo on Thursday accepted a plea
agreement requiring Halliburton Energy Services Inc. to pay a $200,000 fine
and serve three years probation in exchange for pleading guilty to computer
fraud after deleting data related to the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2013/09/judge_accepts_halliburtons_200.html
Ex-Halliburton manager charged in Gulf spill probe
AP
NEW ORLEANS — A former Halliburton manager was charged Thursday with
destroying evidence following BP's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a
case that coincides with a guilty plea to a related charge by the
Houston-based oilfield services company.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130920/BIZ/309200010/Ex-Halliburton-manager-charged-Gulf-spill-probe
Former Halliburton Manager Charged in Gulf Spill Probe
Move Comes as Judge Accepts Plea Agreement From Oilfield-Services Company
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
The Justice Department charged a former Halliburton Co. manager Thursday
with destroying evidence in the aftermath of BP PLC's 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil spill.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324492604579085180890324954.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
New Hatchery to be built in downtown Pensacola
WEAR
We have new information about the location of a fish hatchery that will
soon be built in Pensacola. The hatchery will be next door to Nick's
Boathouse. This land will soon encompass 3 ponds and an indoor facility.
The hatchery, which will cost 20 million dollars will be paid for with
funds that the city secured from BP through the Natural Resource Damage
Assessment process.
http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/new-hatchery-built-downtown-pensacola-36213.shtml
BP: State can't order removal of anchors
By KEVIN McGILL — Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — BP has filed a federal lawsuit against Louisiana authorities
over an August order that the oil giant remove anchors that were placed in
the Gulf of Mexico following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/20/4966517/bp-state-cant-order-removal-of.html?sp-tk=D1593E3DFD3A5E4E6F1BFAB2CADF90340CCE8DD35989E6CFE1BD7AC61DF5447FB84CCFA687C6EB9361938069A27C0806BCDBF73A3EC219904631B4F00B45E427094891806802A90ED48A330CDF62BEC0675E8888F9EEF5D4E9EAD1ABFC62E765EDA2D328F13BE75D5D8F4371A0BB57133EDF9865600341FD1C8D72AB5D76E3B9611A852F42A24452DB78D66D2DD38F2B2914B5DC4288BD68CD30D3ECB7F94F8AFFE1B5B8
State
Miss. agencies ask lawmakers for $750M more for next fiscal year
Clarion Ledger
State agencies at this week's annual budget hearings asked to spend an
extra $750 million next year, down from last year's mostly unfulfilled
requests for $1.1 billion in extra spending.
…The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality was the only other
state agency to make a budget request Thursday, the final day of the
hearings that began Monday.
DEQ is seeking a $2 million budget increase. Executive Director Trudy
Fisher said her agency's budget request includes $900,000 to restore 12
vacant positions and $750,000 to continue Superfund cleanup of 12 large
contaminated sites that rank nationally as health threats.
Fisher said that since 2008 there has been a 25 percent reduction in DEQ's
general fund budget, amounting to a $3.5 million in loss.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130920/NEWS01/309200032/Miss-agencies-ask-lawmakers-750M-more-next-fiscal-year
Tourism leaders say the litter must stop
WLOX
Trash is all over the interstate, down city streets and along the beach in
South Mississippi.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23480499/tourism-leaders-say-the-litter-must-stop
New EPA regulations could drive electricity costs sky high
WDAM
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to release new regulations
on the building of new coal-fired power plants.
The CEO of South Mississippi Electric Power Association Jim Compton says
the new regulations will cause either a spike in electricity costs, or a
shortage of energy for South Mississippi.
http://www.wdam.com/story/23479717/new-epa-regulations-could-drive-electricity-costs-sky-high
Water advisory issued for Long Beach
LONG BEACH -- A water contact advisory has been issued for Long Beach from
Oak Gardens Avenue to Girard Avenue.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/19/4965989/around-south-mississippi.html
National
EPA Wants To Limit Greenhouse Gases From New Coal Power Plants
NPR
by ELIZABETH SHOGREN
September 20, 201312:01 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency's second stab at a proposal to set the
first-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants would
make it impossible for companies to build the kind of coal-fired plants
that have been the country's biggest source of electricity for decades.
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/20/223817507/epa-wants-to-limit-greenhouse-gases-from-new-coal-power-plants
White House to Press Curbs on Power-Plant Emissions
Proposal Would Help Move U.S. Toward Cleaner Energy Sources
Associated Press
WASHINGTON—The Obama administration will press ahead Friday with tough
requirements for new coal-fired power plants, moving to impose for the
first time strict limits on the pollution blamed for global warming.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323808204579086123486325350.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6
Administration Presses Ahead With Limits on Emissions From Power Plants
NY Times
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
WASHINGTON — A year after a plan by President Obama to limit greenhouse gas
emissions from new power plants set off angry opposition, the
administration will announce on Friday that it is not backing down from a
confrontation with the coal industry and will press ahead with enacting the
first federal carbon limits on the nation's power companies.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/20/us/politics/obama-administration-announces-limits-on-emissions-from-power-plants.html?ref=earth&pagewanted=print
Will coal survive the EPA's new carbon rules?
Washington Post
By Brad Plumer, Updated: September 19, 2013
On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose
limits on carbon-dioxide emissions from all new power plants built in the
United States. It's the first big plank in the Obama administration's
second-term climate plan.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/19/will-coal-survive-the-epas-new-carbon-rules/?print=1
Coal in President Obama's climate crosshairs
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
September 19, 2013 10:42 PM EDT
The Obama administration is preparing to draw a red line against coal
pollution, with a proposal that for the first time would limit
climate-changing emissions from all future power plants.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/coal-barack-obama-epa-greenhouse-gas-emissions-97104.html?hp=f3
Obama's coming climate crackdown
Politico
By: Andrew Restuccia
September 19, 2013 03:30 PM EDT
The Obama administration is about to take a major step forward on climate
change — a crucial piece of a long-term strategy to join other countries in
tackling the Earth's environmental woes, but one sure to fuel a furious GOP
counterattack in 2014.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/epa-obama-carbon-climate-power-plants-97068.html?hp=l10
Legal, political battles await EPA's power plant emissions limits
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/20/13 06:40 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will propose carbon emissions
limits for new power plants Friday, a pillar of the White House climate
agenda that's facing attacks from industry groups and Republicans who call
it an assault on the coal industry.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/323569-epa-moves-on-coal-plants-sparking-political-and-legal-battles
EPA's emission limits require coal plants adopt new tech
USA Today
Lawsuits are expected to challenge the Environmental Protection
Agency's proposal today to limit emissions from new power plants,
and the main reason is cutting-edge, anti-pollution technology.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/19/epa-limits-emissions-coal-power-plants-carbon-capture-technology/2838391/
Dakotas, Texas and Nevada sue EPA
By JAMES MacPHERSON, Associated Press
Updated 2:03 pm, Thursday, September 19, 2013
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Nevada are
suing the Environmental Protection Agency, alleging it has failed to
determine the states' compliance with a new federal clean air requirement
that limits sulfur dioxide emissions.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/North-Dakota-leads-3-states-in-lawsuit-against-EPA-4827461.php
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: How would offshore drilling bring 'favorable
notice' to Coast tourism?
Having championed the creation of a single tourism agency for the entire
Coast, the Sun Herald certainly wants the Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional
Convention and Visitors Bureau to get off to a good start.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/19/4965615/sun-herald-editorial-how-would.html
Press Releases
EPA Announces First WaterSense-Labeled Product Available for Commercial
Kitchens
Pre-rinse spray valves will help restaurants save water, energy, and money
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized
the first WaterSense specification for a commercial kitchen product. EPA
estimates that approximately 51 billion gallons of water is used every year
to rinse dishes by almost one million American food service establishments.
Pre-rinse spray valves—which remove excess food waste from dishes prior to
dishwashing—are now eligible to earn the WaterSense label and help food
service establishments save water, energy, and money.
If every U.S. commercial food service establishment installed and used a
WaterSense-labeled pre-rinse spray valve, Americans could save more than 10
billion gallons of water and more than $225 million in water and energy
costs annually.
Like all WaterSense-labeled products, pre-rinse spray valves that earn the
WaterSense label must be independently certified for efficiency and
performance. Working in conjunction with industry stakeholders, EPA
specifies a maximum flow rate for WaterSense-labeled pre-rinse spray valves
of 1.28 gallons per minute, 20 percent less water than the federal
standard. To ensure that these fixtures will work well and meet the demands
of high-volume kitchens while using less water, EPA also includes spray
force performance criteria and a requirement for life cycle testing for the
products to earn the WaterSense label.
"Pre-rinse spray valves can account for nearly one-third of the water used
in a typical commercial kitchen," said Veronica Blette, chief of EPA's
WaterSense Branch. "Replacing just one of these fixtures with a
WaterSense-labeled model can save a typical restaurant more than 7,000
gallons of water per year—the amount of water needed to wash nearly 5,000
racks of dishes."
A restaurant that replaces just one pre-rinse spray valve with a
WaterSense-labeled model could recoup its investment in four to eight
months and save more than $115 per year on water and energy costs,
depending on how its water is heated. WaterSense-labeled pre-rinse spray
valves will be promoted by EPA's ENERGY STAR program as part of a suite of
energy-saving products and practices for the restaurant industry.
To develop the specification, WaterSense worked with a project team
associated with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME)/Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to evaluate pre-rinse
spray-valve performance and develop a meaningful test protocol. The
ASME/CSA project team was open to the public and comprised a wide variety
of interested parties, including manufacturers, utilities, testing
laboratories, representatives from ASTM International, and other
water-efficiency experts.
WaterSense, a partnership program sponsored by EPA, seeks to protect the
future of our nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use
less water with water-efficient products, new homes, and services. Since
the program's inception in 2006, WaterSense has helped consumers save 487
billion gallons of water and $8.9 billion in water and energy bills. For
more information, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.
###
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)