10.24.2013
Oil Spill
Interior close to floating new offshore drilling rule
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 10/23/13 03:15 PM ET
A top Interior Department official said the department is close to
finishing a draft rule that toughens standards for subsea "blowout
preventers," the type of device that failed to halt BP's runaway Gulf of
Mexico oil well in 2010.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/330189-interior-close-to-floating-new-offshore-drilling-rule
State
Amory firm paying $40,000 environmental fine
AP
AMORY, Miss. (AP) — An Amory steel tube maker is paying a nearly $40,000
civil fine for storing hazardous waste too long.
True Temper Sports agreed in September to pay the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality $39,655 for holding eight drums of hazardous waste
longer than the 90 days allowed under federal rules.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Amory-firm-paying-40-000-environmental-fine/6VcezWCMLE2JuzsW1kwOzw.cspx
Aberdeen aldermen accept resolution to proceed on Brownfields assessment
grant
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 6:00 am | October 23, 2013
ABERDEEN – The board of aldermen took the lead Oct. 15 in pursuing the
beginning phases of a Brownfields grant by unanimously accepting a
resolution to move forward.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2013/10/23/aberdeen-aldermen-accept-resolution-proceed-brownfields-assessment-grant/
Orange flags flying soon
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Published: Thursday, October 24, 2013 1:05 AM CDT
HERNANDO— Beginning soon, motorists driving around the historic courthouse
Square in Hernando can glance up at the flagpole in front of the DeSoto
County Administration Building to see if orange flags are flying just below
the Mississippi State flag.
No, the orange flags don't mean that University of Tennessee fans have
commandeered the flagpole.
Instead, the county's Ozone Action Committee is seeking to warn residents
when ozone levels are particularly high.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2013/10/24/news/doc52686b3d67a95344124058.txt
Chemical spill cleaned up on Hwy 49 in Gulfport
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Highway 49 in Gulfport was shut for about 10 minutes
Wednesday morning while emergency crews cleaned up a chemical spill. It
happened near the intersection of Hwy 49 and O'Neal Road.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23768340/chemical-spill-cleaned-up-on-hwy-49-in-gulfport
75 gallons of hydrochloric acid byproduct leaked at U.S. 49 in Gulfport
Sun Herald
By ROBIN FITZGERALD — rfitzgerald@sunherald.com
GULFPORT -- About 75 gallons of a byproduct of hydrochloric acid leaked
from ruptured barrels being hauled Wednesday on U.S. 49 in an incident that
temporarily shut down a section of highway just south of O'Neal Road.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/10/23/5053358/us-49-in-gulfport-re-opens-after.html
Smoke closes section of Hwy 90 in Gautier Wednesday afternoon
WLOX
GAUTIER, MS (WLOX) -Traffic is flowing once again on Highway 90 in Gautier,
but it was a different story Wednesday afternoon. Smoke from a woods fire
created dangerous driving conditions, forcing officials to close a portion
of the busy roadway right around the time many people were leaving work.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23771968/smoke-closes-section-of-hwy-90-in-gautier-wednesday-afternoon
Saturday is Prescription Drug Take Back Day
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Law enforcement agencies say parents
can help prevent possible overdoses by safely disposing of medications they
no longer use.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/23775764/saturday-is-prescription-drug-take-back-day
Drop off your drugs this Saturday
Itawamba County Times
by Adam Armour | 7:00 am | October 24, 2013
Head into the bathroom. Now, open up the cabinet where the medicine is kept
— prescription and over-the-counter alike — and start checking some dates.
See what's in there that isn't being used, is half empty or expired.
Chances are, there are several.
http://itawambatimes.com/2013/10/24/drop-drugs-saturday/
Nuclear ideas for Mississippi discussed at Rotary
Winston County Journal
October 18, 2013
The head of the privately funded Mississippi Energy Institute explained to
the Louisville Rotary Club, the institute work on bringing jobs and other
opportunities to the state with a "nuclear option."
http://winstoncountyjournal.com/?p=5337
Regional
New $3.7 million restoration award announced, this time from pesticide
settlement
Gulf Coast News
Washington, D.C. – Federal and state agencies last week announced a new
$3.7 million award for restoration of Alabama natural resources. The funds
come as part of a $5 million settlement with BASF following pesticide
releases into the Mobile Bay watershed which began 60 years ago.
http://www.gulfcoastnewstoday.com/gulf_visitor_guide/article_af89d562-3bfa-11e3-810d-0019bb2963f4.html
Tons of drugs expected to be turned in to DEA this weekend. Where do they
go?
Al.com
Mike Oliver
October 23, 2013 at 2:21 PM
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- In April, people turned in 371 tons of drugs at
5,800 sites nationwide, overseen by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/10/tons_of_drugs_expected_to_be_t.html#incart_river
National
Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants declined from 2011 to 2012, EPA
says
Washington Post
By Lenny Bernstein, Published: October 23
Greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other industrial facilities
declined by 4.5 percent from 2011 to 2012 as utilities continued to switch
from coal to natural gas to generate electricity and produced slightly less
power overall, the Environmental Protection Agency reported Wednesday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-power-plants-declined-from-2011-to-2012-epa-says/2013/10/23/4d8715a0-3c18-11e3-a94f-b58017bfee6c_story.html
Power plant carbon emissions fall 10 percent
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez - 10/23/13 01:58 PM ET
A shift by utilities to cleaner burning natural gas helped carbon
pollution from power plants fall over the last three years, according to
data released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/330169-power-plant-carbon-emissions-fall-10-percent
Nearly united House backs new water projects bill
By HENRY C. JACKSON — Associated Press
WASHINGTON — After weeks of intense partisan fights, the House is showing
it can come together on major legislation after all.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/10/24/5055252/nearly-united-house-backs-new.html
W.Va. chicken farmer wins EPA lawsuit over runoff
By VICKI SMITH, Associated Press
Updated 3:47 pm, Wednesday, October 23, 2013
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has no
legal right to force a West Virginia poultry grower to obtain water
pollution permits for runoff from her Hardy County farm because it is
routine stormwater discharge, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/W-Va-chicken-farmer-wins-EPA-lawsuit-over-runoff-4920110.php
Taking out the rivers' trash, one piece at a time
CNN
Memphis, Tennessee (CNN) -- In the past 15 years, Chad Pregracke has helped
pull more than 67,000 tires from the Mississippi River and other waterways
across the United States.
But that's just scratching the surface.
He's also helped retrieve 218 washing machines, 19 tractors, 12 hot tubs,
four pianos and almost 1,000 refrigerators.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/cnnheroes-pregracke-rivers-garbage/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
Greens slam Coke, Pepsi for oil sands crude in trucks
Poltico
By: Andrew Restuccia
October 24, 2013 05:06 AM EDT
The Sierra Club is taking on the kings of the soft-drink world.
The environmental group and the conservation group ForestEthics are running
ads in USA Today this week that call on Coca-Cola and Pepsi to end their
reliance on fuel derived from Canadian oil-sands crude when shipping their
products around the U.S.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/sierra-club-coca-cola-pepsi-oil-use-98757.html?hp=r11
Press Releases
EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities
Carbon pollution from power plants declines 10 percent from 2010 due to
growing use of natural gas
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
its third year of greenhouse gas data detailing carbon pollution emissions
and trends broken down by industrial sector, greenhouse gas, geographic
region, and individual facility. The data, required to be collected
annually by Congress, highlight a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as
more utilities switch to cleaner burning natural gas.
"EPA is supporting President Obama's Climate Action Plan by providing the
high-quality data necessary to help guide common-sense solutions to address
climate change," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Putting this data
in the hands of the public increases transparency, supports accountability,
and unlocks innovation."
Greenhouse gases emitted through human activities such as transportation
and power generation are the primary driver of recent climate change, which
threatens the health and welfare of Americans—by increasing the likelihood
of hotter, longer heat waves, fueling more frequent and intense extreme
weather events, and worsening ground level ozone, an air pollutant that
causes respiratory and cardiovascular health problems.
EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program collects annual greenhouse gas
information from over 8,000 facilities in the largest emitting industries,
including power plants, oil and gas production and refining, iron and steel
mills, and landfills. In addition, the program is receiving data on the
increasing production and consumption of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
predominantly used in refrigeration and air-conditioning. The Greenhouse
Gas Reporting Program is the only program that collects facility-level
greenhouse gas data from major industrial sources across the United States.
The 2012 data show that in the two years since reporting began, emissions
from power plants have decreased 10 percent. This is due to a switch from
coal to natural gas for electricity generation and a slight decrease in
electricity production. Fossil-fuel fired power plants remain the largest
source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. With just under 1,600 facilities
emitting over 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide in 2012, these plants
account for roughly 40 percent of total U.S. carbon pollution.
The data are accessible through EPA's online data publication tool, FLIGHT,
which is available for both desktop and mobile devices. This year, with
three years of data for most sources, FLIGHT has been updated with new
features, including the ability to view trend graphs by sector and
facility, and download charts and graphs for use in presentations and
reports. The data are also published through EnviroFacts, which allows the
public to download data for further analyses.
Access EPA's GHG Reporting Program Data and Data Publication Tool:
http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/
Access EnviroFacts:
http://epa.gov/enviro/
EPA Recognizes WaterSense Partners of the Year for their Efforts in
Promoting Water Efficiency
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing
its 2013 WaterSense Partners of the Year, including two partners who
received the first-ever WaterSense Sustained Excellence awards in
recognition of their continuous high level of support. The Partner of the
Year awards program recognizes the commitment of WaterSense partners in
promoting water efficiency to the American public. The award winners'
efforts, along with those of more than 2,700 other WaterSense partners,
have helped Americans save 487 billion gallons of water and $8.9 billion in
water and energy bills.
"All of our WaterSense partners have taken steps to reduce our nation's
water use, but several stood out in 2012 for their commitment to the
WaterSense program and collaborative efforts to promote WaterSense-labeled
products, new homes and outreach and educational programs," said EPA's
acting Assistant Administrator for Water Nancy Stoner. "We are pleased to
honor these organizations which have consistently supported our mission to
protect the future of our nation's water supply."
The following partners were formally recognized for their water-saving
efforts during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, Nev., at
a special awards ceremony cosponsored by the Alliance for Water Efficiency
and Southern Nevada Water Authority.
Sustained Excellence Award Winners:
Kohler Co., a three-time WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year and
two-time Excellence Award winner, continued to drive demand for
WaterSense-labeled products in 2012. Kohler crisscrossed the country to
promote its WaterSense-labeled products at industry shows in Orlando,
Chicago and San Francisco and even made a stop at Home Depot's 2012 Earth
Day Celebration in New York City's Times Square to demonstrate the flushing
power of its WaterSense-labeled toilets.
Lowes, Inc., a three-time WaterSense Retailer Partner of the Year and 2011
Excellence Award winner, helped Americans become more water-efficient in
2012 by increasing its online inventory of WaterSense-labeled products,
promoting bilingual WaterSense marketing materials, and developing a
smartphone application to help employees find WaterSense-labeled product
rebates for customers.
Partners of the Year:
Promotional Partner of the Year: Athens-Clarke County (Georgia) Public
Utilities Department piloted a commercial program to educate restaurant
owners on the benefits of WaterSense-labeled products and celebrated Fix a
Leak Week 2012 by holding workshops and installing WaterSense-labeled
fixtures in a community building that reduced its water use by 50 percent.
Large Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Delta Faucet Company conducted a
coast-to-coast collaborative effort with a variety of WaterSense partners
and stakeholders during Fix a Leak Week 2012. Delta installed its
WaterSense-labeled plumbing fixtures in 1,900 housing units in 10 cities
across the country, resulting in more than 7 million gallons in estimated
annual water savings.
Small Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Niagara Conservation Corp.
partnered with local utilities and plumbers to develop Niagara Green City,
a program promoting water- and energy-efficient products, and assembled
plumbing kits with WaterSense-labeled products for local utilities to
distribute throughout their communities.
Retailer Partner of the Year: The Home Depot was recognized by EPA for the
second consecutive year for its efforts to promote WaterSense in all of its
U.S. stores, as well as online. The Home Depot's "Eco Options" website,
featuring WaterSense-labeled products and water savings calculators,
garnered more than 2.5 million hits in 2012.
Builder Partner of the Year: KB Home, now a three-time WaterSense Builder
Partner of the Year, continued to break new ground in 2012 with the
construction of WaterSense-labeled new homes across the country. KB Home
continued to raise the bar by building its first ZeroHouse 2.0 model in the
Washington, D.C., area to also earn the WaterSense label.
Professional Certifying Organization Partner of Year: The Irrigation
Association (IA) received its first WaterSense Partner of Year award in the
professional certifying organization category for encouraging irrigators to
become certified through its WaterSense-labeled programs, introducing
WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers to thousands of industry
stakeholders, and assisting WaterSense in continued work toward labeling
soil moisture-based control technologies.
Irrigation Partner of Year: John Taylor, the president of Taylor Irrigation
Service, Inc., in Houston, Texas, and a certified irrigation auditor,
overhauled his company's business model in 2012 to focus on promoting
water-smart landscaping and efficient irrigation practices, including
WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers.
Six Excellence Awards were also given at the conference to partners for
their outstanding contributions in specific program areas:
• City of Boulder (Colo.) Department of Public Works/Utilities for
Excellence in Promoting WaterSense-labeled Products
• Colorado Springs (Colo.) Utilities for Excellence in Strategic
Collaboration
• Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, and Town of Sharon, Mass., for
Excellence in Education and Outreach
• Sonoma-Marin (Calif.) Saving Water Partnership for Excellence in
Promoting WaterSense and Water-Efficient Irrigation Practices
• Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver (Colo.) for Excellence in
Construction of Affordable WaterSense-labeled New Homes
Learn more about the 2013 Sustained Excellence Award winners, WaterSense
Partners of the Year, and Excellence Award winners at
www.epa.gov/watersense.
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.
