9/19/2013
Oil Spill
Judge to review Halliburton's plea deal
By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Associated Press
Updated 1:05 am, Thursday, September 19, 2013
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge is set to decide whether to approve a
plea agreement that calls for Halliburton Energy Services to pay a $200,000
fine for destroying evidence after BP's 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/texas/article/Judge-to-review-Halliburton-s-plea-deal-4826607.php
Judge asked to dismiss BP rig supervisors' charges
AP
Lawyers for two BP rig supervisors charged in the deaths of 11 workers in
the Deepwater Horizon disaster have asked a federal judge to dismiss the
manslaughter charges against their clients.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23470481/judge-asked-to-dismiss-bp-rig-supervisors-charges
Louisiana could begin building Mid-Barataria sediment diversion by late
2015
Times-Picayune
Construction of a major diversion that would funnel sediment and freshwater
from the Mississippi River into the Barataria Basin at Myrtle Grove to
rebuild wetlands could begin by the fall of 2015, thanks to money coming as
a result of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, state coastal officials
learned Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/09/louisiana_could_begin_building.html
State
Are residents being shortchanged by the Harrison Co. Utility Authority?
WLOX
If a government entity wants your land, you may have little choice in how
much you're paid. If negotiations fail, governments use a legal process
called eminent domain to acquire land for public projects.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23470455/harrison-county-utility-authority-appraisals-questioned
5 loggerhead turtles hatch from Pass Christian nest
WLOX
The Gulf of Mexico is home to five new sea turtles. Institute of Marine
Mammal Studies Director Moby Solangi told WLOX News five sea turtle eggs
hatched this week.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23460005/5-loggerhead-turtles-hatch-from-pass-christian-nest
City of Madison and county to split creek repairs
Madison County Herald
Officials in Madison County and the city of Madison are working on an
agreement for how to handle repairing and maintaining Hearn Creek, south of
Hoy Road between Rice and Old Canton roads.
http://www.mcherald.com/article/20130916/NEWS/130916001/City-Madison-county-split-creek-repairs
Mississippi Coal Plant Overruns Show Risks of Carbon Rule
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem - Sep 18, 2013
Coal's future is being built in rural Mississippi, and so far this is what
it looks like: a $1 billion cost overrun, a stew of legal battles, a revolt
by ratepayers and a credit downgrade for the local utility.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-18/mississippi-coal-plant-overuns-show-risks-of-carbon-rules.html
Mississippi Department of Marine Resources asks for 4 percent budget
increase
The Associated Press
September 18, 2013 at 3:31 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources,
which has been under state and federal investigation for its spending
practices, is seeking a 4 percent budget increase for the coming year.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/09/mississippi_department_of_mari_5.html#incart_river
National
EPA's McCarthy Defends Climate Plan in Congress
Wall Street Journal
Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy and Energy Secretary
Ernest Moniz appeared before members of the House Energy and Commerce
Committee Wednesday to talk about climate change.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2013/09/18/epas-mccarthy-defends-climate-plan-in-congress/
Gina McCarthy defends carbon capture for future plants
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
September 19, 2013 05:06 AM EDT
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy defended the Obama administration's climate
plan Wednesday as a necessary force to shift to a lower-carbon energy
future — but didn't dispute lawmakers' suggestions that it will place new
burdens on coal.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/gina-mccarthy-epa-carbon-capture-97024.html?hp=r6
Senate GOP leader McConnell offers bill to thwart EPA climate rules
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/18/13 10:47 AM ET
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has floated new legislation
that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from issuing
carbon pollution standards for power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/322975-senate-gop-leader-mcconnell-offers-bill-to-thwart-epa-climate-rules
Opinion
EDITORIAL/Kemper coal plant viable
Neshoba Democrat
Mississippi ratepayers historically have borne the cost of constructing
base load electric power generating plants, and Mississippi Power's $2.4
billion Kemper County lignite coal gasification plant is no different -
and, in fact, will be lower.
http://neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=302&ArticleID=30310
Press Releases
Geologic Map Day: Celebrate on October 18!
Alexandria, VA - Celebrate the second annual Geologic Map Day! On October
18, as
a part of the Earth Science Week 2013 activities, join leading geoscience
organizations in promoting awareness of the importance of geologic mapping
to
society. Earth Science Week 2013 will be celebrated October 13-19.
Be sure to check out the Geologic Map Day poster included in this year's
Earth
Science Week Toolkit at http://www.earthsciweek.org/materials/index.html.
Showing how geologic maps can be used to understand natural hazards, the
poster
also provides step-by-step instructions for a related classroom activity
and
links to state geologic maps and maps of national parks. Additional
resources
for learning about geologic maps can be found on the Geologic Map Day web
page
http://www.earthsciweek.org/geologicmap/.
"As the saying goes, 'Civilization exists by geological consent – subject
to
change without notice.' Outside of Alaska, California is the most
seismically
active state in the country, with more than 70 percent of the Nation's
earthquake damage occurring in this state every year. Mapping earthquake
faults
and their surrounding geology is a key element in making California safer
for
its communities," says Dr. John Parrish, President of AASG and State
Geologist
of California.
Geologic Map Day partners include the American Geosciences Institute (AGI),
the
Association of American State Geologists (AASG), the U.S. Geological
Survey, the
National Park Service, the Geological Society of America, and Esri.
To find your state's geologic survey and additional geologic mapping
information
go to http://www.stategeologists.org/ and click on the state of interest.
###
The Association of American State Geologists (AASG) is an organization of
the
chief executives of the state geological surveys in 50 states and Puerto
Rico.
The first state survey was established in 1823 in North Carolina. By 1840,
there
were at least 15 state surveys, most of which were charged with the
discovery of
mineral, energy, land, and water resources in their state or territory.
Since
1908, the Association has met regularly to discuss issues of common
interest and
to initiate united actions when warranted.
# # #
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy Testimony Before House Committee on Energy
and Commerce's Subcommittee on Energy and Power
WASHINGTON -- As prepared for delivery.
Chairman Whitfield, Ranking Member Rush, members of the Committee: Thank
you for the opportunity to testify today.
In June, the President reaffirmed his commitment to reducing carbon
pollution when he directed many federal agencies, including the
Environmental Protection Agency, to take meaningful steps to mitigate the
current and future damage caused by carbon dioxide emissions and to prepare
for the anticipated climate changes that have already been set in motion.
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Based on the
evidence, more than 97% of climate scientists are convinced that human
caused climate change is occurring. If our changing climate goes unchecked,
it will have devastating impacts on the United States and the planet.
Reducing carbon pollution is critically important to the protection of
Americans' health and the environment upon which our economy depends.
Responding to climate change is an urgent public health, safety, national
security, and environmental imperative that presents an economic challenge
and an economic opportunity. As the President has stated, both the economy
and the environment must provide for current and future generations and we
can and must embrace cutting carbon pollution as a spark for business
innovation, job creation, clean energy and broad economic growth. The
United States' success over the past 40 years makes clear that
environmental protection and economic growth go hand in hand.
The President's Climate Action Plan directs federal agencies to address
climate change using existing executive authorities. The Plan has three key
pillars: cutting carbon pollution in America; preparing the country for the
impacts of climate change; and leading international efforts to combat
global climate change.
Cutting Carbon Pollution
EPA plays a critical role in implementing the Plan's first pillar, cutting
carbon pollution. Over the past four years, EPA has begun to address this
task under the Clean Air Act.
Our first steps addressed motor vehicles, which emit nearly a third of U.S.
carbon pollution. EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, along with the auto industry and other stakeholders, worked
together to set greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for Model Year
2012 to 2025 light-duty vehicles. Over the life of these vehicles, the
standards will save an estimated $1.7 trillion for consumers and businesses
and cut America's oil consumption by 12 billion barrels, while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by 6 billion metric tons.
EPA's and NHTSA's standards for model year 2014 through 2018 heavy-duty
trucks and buses present a similar success story. Under the President's
Plan, we will be developing a second phase of heavy-duty vehicle standards
for post 2018 model years.
Building on this success, the President asked EPA to work with states,
utilities and other key stakeholders to develop plans to reduce carbon
pollution from future and existing power plants, which are responsible for
about 40 percent of America's carbon pollution.
EPA will soon issue new proposed carbon pollution standards for future
power plants, reflecting new information and the extensive public comments
on our 2012 proposal. For existing plants, we are engaged in outreach to a
broad group of stakeholders with expertise who can inform the development
of proposed standards, regulations, or guidelines, which we expect to issue
in June of 2014. These guidelines will provide guidance to States, which
have the primary role in developing and implementing plans to address
carbon pollution from existing plants. This framework will allow us to
capitalize on state leadership and innovation while also accounting for
regional diversity and providing the necessary flexibility.
The Plan also calls for the development of a comprehensive, interagency
strategy to address emissions of methane – a powerful greenhouse gas that
also contributes to ozone pollution, but which has substantial economic
value. EPA will work with other agencies to assess emissions data, address
data gaps, and identify opportunities to reduce methane emissions through
incentive-based programs and existing authorities.
Preparing for Impacts of Climate Change
Even as we work to avoid dangerous climate change, we must strengthen
America's resilience to climate impacts we're already experiencing and
those that can no longer be avoided. The President's Plan calls for a broad
array of actions on this front. EPA will incorporate research on climate
impacts into the implementation of our existing programs, and develop
information and tools to help decision-makers – including State, local and
tribal governments – to better understand and address these impacts.
Further, EPA is working closely with our federal agency counterparts on
several other aspects of building our national resilience, including
developing the National Drought Resilience Partnership, ensuring the
security of our freshwater supplies, protecting our water utilities, and
protecting and restoring our forests in the fact of a changing climate.
International Efforts
Our changing climate is also a global challenge, and the President's Plan
recognizes that the United States must couple action at home with
leadership abroad. Working closely with the State Department, EPA will
continue to engage our international partners in reducing carbon pollution
through an array of activities.. These include public-private partnership
efforts to address emissions of methane and other short-lived climate
pollutants under the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the Global Methane
Initiative, as well as bilateral cooperation with major economies.
Conclusion
The President's Plan provides a roadmap for federal action to meet the
pressing challenge of a changing climate– promoting clean energy solutions
that capitalize on American innovation and drive economic growth. EPA looks
forward to working with other federal agencies and all stakeholders on
these critical efforts.
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify, and I look forward to
answering your questions.
