9/4/13
Oil Spill
Oil cleanup near completion, BP officials say
Daily Comet
Jacob Batte
Published: Tuesday, September 3, 2013 at 10:11 p.m.
More than three years after the Deepwater Horizon spill, much of the oil
has been cleaned up, a BP spokesman said.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20130903/ARTICLES/130909926/1320?Title=Oil-cleanup-near-completion-BP-officials-say
Concerns about Gulf spill settlement are irrelevant, plaintiffs lawyers say
Houston Chronicle
The lead plaintiffs attorneys who negotiated last year's
multibillion-dollar class-action civil settlement in the litigation over
the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to
reject a challenge to the deal filed by more than a dozen individuals and
businesses.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2013/09/03/concerns-about-gulf-spill-settlement-are-irrelevant-plaintiffs-lawyers-say/
BP tourism grants, totaling $4.6 million, doled out in Alabama, mostly to
Mobile, Baldwin organizations
Press-Register
Marc D. Anderson
September 03, 2013 at 10:58 AM
MOBILE, Alabama -- As part of the second round of BP tourism grant
distribution among Gulf states, Alabama organizations, mostly in Baldwin
and Mobile counties, were awarded $4.6 million.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/09/bp_tourism_grants_totaling_46.html
State
Bryant names Steve Renfroe to empty spot on PSC
September 3
BY JEFF AMY
Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. — A former Chevron Corp. lobbyist was named to the Public
Service Commission on Tuesday, and says he's undecided about Mississippi
Power's $4.7 billion Kemper County project.
http://www.kansascity.com/2013/09/03/4454657/bryant-names-steve-renfroe-to.html
Governor fills PSC post
Retired Chevron official to face tough decisions about Kemper plant
Clarion Ledger
Steve Renfroe says he's coming into his appointment as Southern District
public service commissioner without preconception on the biggest issue
before the agency: the Kemper County power plant and how much South
Mississippi power customers will have to pay for it.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130904/NEWS01/309040021/Governor-fills-PSC-post
New public service commissioner has no interest in politics
WLOX
New Southern Public Service Commissioner Steve Renfroe said when it comes
to making decisions, he won't be playing politics. Governor Phil Bryant
appointed the lifelong Moss Point resident to serve out the unexpired term
of Leonard Bentz.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23323175/new-public-service-commissioner-has-no-interest-in-politics
Bryant names Steve Renfroe new public service commissioner
Sun Herald
By MARY MARGARET HALFORD — mhalford@sunherald.com
BILOXI -- Steve Renfroe has been named as South Mississippi's new public
service commissioner by Gov. Phil Bryant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/03/4920889/bryant-names-steve-renfroe-new.html
$250M pipeline completed to Collins
Clarion Ledger
Joint venture partners Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. and Valero Energy
Corp. say they have completed a $250 million, 141-mile pipeline that
connects refineries in Norco, La., to Plantation Pipe Line Co.'s petroleum
transportation hub in Collins.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130904/BIZ/309040014/-250M-pipeline-completed-Collins?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1
Regional
Federal judge sides with Semmes in dispute over halted oil pipeline
construction
Press-Register
Brendan Kirby
September 03, 2013 at 5:07 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – There will be no quick restart of a controversial oil
pipeline through Semmes, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Chief U.S. District Judge William Steele sided with Semmes in the dispute
with Plains Southcap involving the $120 million project.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/09/federal_judge_sides_with_semme.html#incart_river
National
House Science chairman says EPA violating subpoena
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 09/03/13 04:19 PM ET
The GOP chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee
accused the Environmental Protection Agency of flouting a subpoena he
issued requesting data from various public health studies.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/320065-house-panel-chairman-says-epa-violating-subpoena
Wildlife service proposes change to endangered species management rules
The Hill
By Julian Hattem - 09/03/13 05:41 PM ET
Regulators in charge of protecting endangered species want new rules for
actions that unintentionally harm, kill or disturb protected animals.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries
Service are proposing regulations for an alternate method of calculating
how new development and other projects will affect endangered species.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/320099-wildlife-service-proposes-change-to-endangered-species-management-rules-
Opinion
CHARLIE MITCHELL: Bryant shouldn't be coy about nuclear waste
There was a dust-up last week about whether Mississippi should
ever-ever-ever become a home for nuclear waste.
Guess what?
Mississippi has been a home for nuclear waste for nearly 30 years.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/03/4922166/charlie-mitchell-bryant-shouldnt.html
COLUMN-U.S. advanced biofuel targets inflated expectations: Wynn
Reuters
Tue, Sep 3 2013
By Gerard Wynn
LONDON, Sept 3 (Reuters) - The latest financial results from advanced
biofuel producer KiOR illustrate how over-ambitious U.S. targets inflated
industry and investor expectations, after the company's share price halved
on disappointing production.
The company's sluggish start at its Mississippi facility is awkward for the
Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/03/column-wynn-biofuel-us-idUSL6N0GY1YP20130903
Press Releases
Gov. Bryant Names Steve Renfroe to Public Service Commission
BILOXI—Gov. Phil Bryant today announced his decision to appoint Steve
Renfroe, a lifelong resident of Moss Point, to serve as Southern District
Public Service Commissioner. Renfroe will fill the unexpired term of
Leonard Bentz, who resigned Aug. 19, 2013.
The Public Service Commission regulates electric, gas, water and sewer
utilities; regulates telecommunications; and hears and investigates
complaints regarding public utilities. The commission consists of one
member elected from each of Mississippi's three Supreme Court districts.
"Proper regulation of energy infrastructure and resources is critical for
both businesses and families, and I'm very pleased Steve agreed to come out
of retirement to serve in this important capacity," Gov. Bryant said. "He
has integrity, the right experience, and a heart for South Mississippi. I
have every confidence Steve will do an excellent job."
Renfroe is a graduate of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and
earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Mississippi College. He
began his career as a math instructor in the Moss Point School District and
later worked for Chevron as an environmental specialist and a public and
government affairs manager. He retired in 2011 after 35 years with the
company.
Renfroe has served as chairman of the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer
Service and chairman of the United Way for Jackson & George Counties. He
was instrumental in bringing the National Audubon Society's new education
center to South Mississippi.
He has served as chairman of Excel By 5, an early childhood initiative
supported by Chevron that he and his wife Debby, a 30-year public school
kindergarten teacher, helped start. Renfroe has also served on the Early
Childhood Advisory Council under Governors Barbour and Bryant.
"I'm very honored to be appointed by Gov. Bryant," Renfroe said.
"Integrity is all about keeping promises, and I promise to make decisions
based on what's best for Mississippians. I appreciate the opportunity to
help the commission navigate the next couple of years--and then--I look
forward to returning to retirement. I will not run for election in 2015."
Renfroe will be sworn in early next week by Hattiesburg Youth Court Judge
Mike McPhail.
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