10/17/2013
Oil Spill
MDEQ will announce website seeking spill restoration ideas from
Mississippians
Sun Herald
By MARY MARGARET HALFORD — mhalford@sunherald.com
With the help of the state Department of Environmental Quality,
Mississippians will get the chance to play a role in deciding how to
restore their Gulf Coast after the BP oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/10/16/5036962/mdeq-will-announce-website-seeking.html
BP witnesses support company's smaller Gulf oil spill estimate in federal
trial
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
October 16, 2013 at 6:36 PM
BP witnesses on Wednesday continued to buttress the company's arguments in
federal court that a significantly smaller amount of oil flowed from its
Macondo well than the 5 million barrels suggested by U.S. Justice
Department witnesses.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/10/bp_witnesses_support_companys.html#incart_river
Tar mat discovered at Fourchon Beach after Tropical Storm Karen
Katherine Sayre
The Times-Picayune
October 16, 2013 at 9:33 PM
The Coast Guard says it has recovered 4,100 pounds of a tar mat discovered
under the sand at Fourchon Beach. The oily material was found by crews
inspecting Louisiana's coast after Tropical Storm Karen.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/10/tar_mat_discovered_at_fourchon.html#incart_river
State
Leak stopped at North Lake Serene dam
Inspection found leak
Hattiesburg American
A small-yet-troubling "sand boil" under the western spillway apron of the
North Lake Serene dam had been brought to a stop by 9 p.m. Wednesday after
being ringed with a stack of sandbags.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20131017/NEWS01/310170025/Leak-stopped-North-Lake-Serene-dam?gcheck=1
Lamar officials: Lake Serene dam leak "worthy of concern"
WDAM
LAMAR COUNTY, MS (WDAM) -
Lamar County officials and the State Department of Environmental Quality
are investigating a leak under the spillway of the North Lake Serene dam
that officials have said is 'worthy of concern.'
http://www.wdam.com/story/23712373/lamar-officials-investigating-leak-at-the-lake-serene-dam
NAACP Holds Town Hall Meeting on Environment
MPB
The Gulfport NAACP is shining a light on environmental issues, including a
local power plant that has some concerned. MPB's Evelina Burnett reports.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/naacp_holds_town_hall_meeting_on_environment
Local power plant air quality rating prompts NAACP meeting
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -
The NAACP chapter in Gulfport hosted a town hall meeting concerning Plant
Watson on Lorraine-Cowan Road. The meeting was sparked after a report by
the American Lung Association gave the Mississippi Power plant a "D" score.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23701472/local-power-plant-air-quality-rating-prompts-naacp-meeting
Earthquake drill participation urged
Clarion Ledger
JACKSON — Mississippi officials are encouraging residents to take part
Thursday in the Great ShakeOut, a nationwide earthquake preparedness
exercise sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131017/NEWS01/310170036/Earthquake-drill-participation-urged
National
WHO agency says air pollution causes lung cancer
Published October 17, 2013
Associated Press
What many commuters choking on smog have long suspected has finally been
scientifically validated: air pollution causes lung cancer.
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/10/17/who-agency-says-air-pollution-causes-lung-cancer/?intcmp=latestnews
U.S. Steps Up Research on Pipeline Safety
Grants of $7.8 Million This Year Come as Recent Spills Expose Deficiencies
in Inspections
Wall Street Journal
Recent oil-pipeline spills have exposed weaknesses in the industry's best
inspection tools, and the federal agency responsible for monitoring safety
is stepping up research spending in an attempt to spot problems in pipes
before they rupture.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304384104579139622764364390?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Shutdown's science fallout could last for years
Politico
By: Darren Samuelsohn
October 17, 2013 05:03 AM EDT
The government may finally be on a path to reopening, but the shutdown's
effects will linger for scientists studying everything from climate change
to cancer.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/shutdowns-science-fallout-could-last-for-years-98427.html?hp=r6
Environmentalists sue EPA over ocean acidification
By DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press
SEATTLE (AP) — The Center for Biological Diversityfiled a federal lawsuit
against the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday over the threat it
says ocean acidification poses to oysters and other sea life off the coasts
of Oregon and Washington.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/Environmentalists-sue-EPA-over-ocean-acidification-4901141.php
Press Releases
GOV. BRYANT, MEMA ENCOURAGE SHAKEOUT EXERCISE PARTICIPATION
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant and MEMA Director Robert Latham are reminding
Mississippians to Drop, Cover and Hold On during the Great Central U.S.
ShakeOut.
More than 218,000 Mississippians have signed up to participate in the
nationwide earthquake exercise at 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2013. More than
18.2 million have signed up around the country.
"Disaster preparedness is important so you and your family can be better
equipped when a disaster strikes. Exercises like this can save lives and
teach us valuable lessons in the event an earthquake hits Mississippi."
said Gov. Bryant
Mississippi is located on the New Madrid Fault system, which is responsible
for the 1811 and 1812 earthquakes. Scientists estimate that there is a 25
to 40 percent chance of a damaging earthquake in the central U.S. within
the next 50 years.
"Earthquakes are one of many hazards that Mississippians face," said MEMA
Director Robert Latham. "This exercise is intended to ensure that all
residents of Mississippi know what to do if an earthquake occurs."
The recommended steps to protect yourself during an earthquake are Drop,
Cover and Hold On:
· DROP to the ground.
· Take COVER under a sturdy desk or table, or cover your head/neck with
your arms.
· HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri,
Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee are participating in the Great Central U.S.
ShakeOut, but the Great Shakeout is a nationwide exercise. The Great
Central U.S. ShakeOut is coordinated by the Central U.S. Earthquake
Consortium and its Member and Associate States, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, the U.S. Geological Survey and dozens of partners.
To participate in the ShakeOut, visit MEMA's website www.msema.org, and
click on the ShakeOut button on the front page, or visit the ShakeOut
website directly at www.shakeout.org/centralus.
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.
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