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
