11.20.2013
Oil Spill
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Every penny of BP millions should be spent wisely,
transparently
Over the next five years, the state of Mississippi will receive its portion
of the financial settlement of criminal charges against BP and Transocean
for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The $356 million is a
significant amount, and its wise outlay can do much to restore the damage
done to the Gulf and our most precious natural resources.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/11/16/5118572/sun-herald-editorial-every-penny.html
State
City, local company enter negotiations on wastewater treatment
Hattiesburg American
The City of Hattiesburg will be entering talks with a local company to
provide land application of treated wastewater.
The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to start negotiations with
Groundworx, LLC, to provide services, and Mayor Johnny DuPree said the city
wanted to have a decision by the end of the year on whether to contract
with the Hattiesburg-based company.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20131120/NEWS01/311200016/City-local-company-enter-negotiations-wastewater-treatment?nclick_check=1
$200 million East Biloxi infrastructure stalled on the tracks
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -A lack of permits has stalled $200 million in water,
sewer and drainage improvements in East Biloxi indefinitely. At a meeting
on Tuesday, Biloxi Council Members learned CSX has yet to sign off on
permits from paperwork submitted almost a year ago. The project manager
said without CSX's approval nothing can begin in East Biloxi.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24016083/200-million-east-biloxi-infrastructure-work-stalled-on-the-tracks
Biloxi's newly hired director may need time with injured son
sun herald
BY MARY PEREZ
BILOXI -- The City Council on Tuesday hired Dan Gaillet as the city's
public works director and heard that CSX railroad is holding up $200
million of infrastructure work in East Biloxi.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/11/19/5129092/biloxi-council-hires-new-public.html
DMR reviewing comments on offshore drilling
sun herald
BY ANITA LEE
BAY ST. LOUIS -- Jamie Miller, executive director of the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources, expects to decide by mid-December whether
proposed regulations for seismic testing and oil or gas drilling leases off
the Coast are consistent with the agency's Mississippi Coastal Program.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/11/19/5128610/zimmerman-joins-marine-resources.html
Gulf Coast drilling opponents to get their day in court
MBJ
by Lisa Monti
Published: November 15,2013
A recent ruling by a Hinds County's Chancery Court judge will give
opponents of oil and gas drilling in the Mississippi Sound their day in
court to appeal the Mississippi Development Authority's proposed drilling
rules.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/11/15/gulf-coast-drilling-opponents-get-day-court/
Pass Christian oyster reefs close temporarily
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -The recent heavy rains are to blame for the DMR
closing the Pass Christian oyster reefs Tuesday afternoon. That rainfall
caused a drop in water quality, which prompted this temporary shutdown of
oyster harvesting.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24015340/pass-christian-oyster-reefs-close-temporarily
DMR receives $9.7 million in tidelands funds
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
November 19, 2013 at 2:25 PM
GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann
presented a check Tuesday for more than $9.7 million to the Coast's
legislative delegation and the Mississippi Department of Resources to
benefit Mississippi Coast residents.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/11/dmr_receives_97_million_in_tid.html#incart_river
DMR announces new ethics hotline for suspected fraud
WLOX
HANCOCK COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -
The director of the Department of Marine Resources today announced a new
"ethics hotline" and online reporting system. Director Jamie Miller said it
will allow DMR employees to anonymously report and instances of suspected
fraud or wrongdoing within the department.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24011599/dmr-announces-new-ethics-hotline-for-suspected-fraud
Regional
Judge rules Plains Southcap eminent domain application OK but reserves
ultimate judgment
Press-Register
Brendan Kirby
November 19, 2013 at 8:28 PM
MOBILE, Alabama – Plains Southcap -- regardless of whether it's a
partnership or a corporation -- has the right to file a legal action to
take land owned by the local water utility, a judge ruled Tuesday.
http://blog.al.com/live/2013/11/judge_rules_plains_southcap_em.html#incart_river
National
Map: The United States of Watersheds
Washington Post
By Reid Wilson, Updated: November 19 at 8:30 am
When American settlers moved westward in the 19th century, they went in
search of precious gold, furs and land. But today, as the West booms,
there's another limited commodity that states need to carefully ration:
Water.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/11/19/map-the-united-states-of-watersheds/
Court Orders Government to Stop Collecting Nuclear-Waste Fees
Appeals Court Cites Halted Yucca Mountain Storage Project
Wall Street Journal
By KEITH JOHNSON
Nov. 19, 2013 12:56 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON—A federal court ruled Tuesday that the federal government can't
keep collecting fees for nuclear-waste storage until it finds a way to
store the waste, delivering a victory to nuclear-power operators.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303531204579207980596692574?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Opinion
Don't hide behind Farm Bill
The Kansas City Star Guest editorial
Clarion Ledger
Suppose you step outside one morning to enjoy the crisp autumnal air. You
stand on your porch, take a deep breath … and gag at the stench. Maybe it's
coming from the stream that flows nearby. The water didn't used to have
that sheen. Maybe it's riding on the northerly breeze. The wind doesn't
usually blow from that direction.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20131120/OPINION01/311200011/Don-t-hide-behind-Farm-Bill
Press Releases
Cabot Corporation Agrees to Spend Over $84 Million to Control Harmful Air
Pollution at Texas, Louisiana Facilities
WASHINGTON – Boston-based Cabot Corporation, the second largest carbon
black manufacturer in the United States, has agreed to pay a $975,000 civil
penalty and spend an estimated $84 million on state of the art technology
to control harmful air pollution, resolving alleged violations of the New
Source Review (NSR) provisions of the Clean Air Act (CAA) at its three
facilities in the towns of Franklin and Ville Platte, La. and Pampa, Texas,
announced the Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) today. This agreement is the first to result from a national
enforcement initiative aimed at bringing carbon black manufacturers into
compliance with the CAA's NSR provisions.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is a co-plaintiff in the
case and will receive $292,500 of the penalty.
"With today's commitment to invest in pollution controls, Cabot has raised
the industry standard for environmental protection," said Cynthia Giles,
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "These upgrades will have lasting, tangible impacts on improved
respiratory health for local communities. We expect others in the industry
to take notice and realize their obligation to protect the communities in
which they operate."
"By agreeing to pay an appropriate penalty and install state of the art
technology to control harmful air pollution, Cabot Corp is taking a
positive step forward to address these significant violations of the Clean
Air Act," said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the
Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "This
agreement will serve as a model for how the industry can come into
compliance with the Clean Air Act by installing controls that prevent
harmful pollution and improve air quality for surrounding communities."
"This is a huge win for the citizens of our district," said U.S. Attorney
Stephanie A. Finley. "These harmful pollutants can cause serious,
long-term respiratory harm. The United States Attorney's Office is
committed to the enforcement of the environmental laws and protection of
the community. This settlement promotes a healthier environment and an
opportunity to allow the residents of the district to breathe cleaner air."
At all three facilities, the settlement requires that Cabot optimize
existing controls for particulate matter or soot, operate an "early
warning" detection system that will alert facility operators to any
particulate matter releases, and comply with a plan to control "fugitive
emissions" which result from leaks or unintended releases of gases. To
address nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution, Cabot must install selective
catalytic reduction technology to significantly reduce emissions, install
continuous monitoring, and comply with stringent limits. At the two larger
facilities in Louisiana, Cabot must address sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution
by installing wet gas scrubbers to control emissions, install continuous
monitoring, and comply with stringent emissions limits. In addition, the
Texas facility is required to comply with a limit on the amount of sulfur
in feedstock which is the lowest for any carbon black plant in the United
States.
These measures are expected to reduce NOx emissions by approximately 1,975
tons per year, SO2 emissions by approximately 12,380 tons per year, and
significantly improve existing particulate matter controls. Exposure to NOx
emissions can cause severe respiratory problems and contribute to childhood
asthma. SO2 and NOx can be converted to fine particulate matter once
released in the air. Fine particulates can be breathed in and lodged deep
in the lungs, leading to a variety of health problems and even premature
death. The harmful health and environmental impacts from these pollutants
can occur near the facilities as well as in communities far downwind from
the plants.
In the complaint filed by DOJ on behalf of EPA, the government alleged that
between 2003 and 2009, Cabot made major modifications at its carbon black
facilities without obtaining pre-construction permits and without
installing and operating required pollution technology. The complaint
further alleges that these actions resulted in increased emissions of NOx
and SO2, violating CAA requirements stating that companies must obtain the
necessary permits prior to making modifications at a facility and must
install and operate required pollution control equipment if those
modifications will result in increases of certain pollutants.
Today's action also requires that Cabot spend $450,000 on energy saving and
pollution reduction projects that will benefit the communities surrounding
the facilities in Franklin and Ville Platte, La. and in Pampa, Texas, such
as upgrading air handling units at municipal buildings in the three
communities to more efficient technology.
Carbon black is a fine carbonaceous powder used as a structural support
medium in tires and as a pigment in a variety of products such as plastic,
rubber, inkjet toner and cosmetics. It's produced by burning oil in a low
oxygen environment; the oil is transformed into soot (carbon black), which
is collected in a baghouse. Because the oil used in the process is low
value high sulfur oil, the manufacturing process creates significant
amounts of SO2 and NOx,, as well as particulate matter.
This settlement is part of EPA's national enforcement initiative to control
harmful air pollution from the largest sources of emissions. Since 2010,
EPA has been focusing enforcement efforts on reducing emissions at carbon
manufacturing plants in the United States. Currently, none of the 15 carbon
black manufacturing plants located in the United States have controls on
emissions of SO2 and NOx or have continuous emissions monitors.
Cabot Corporation manufactures global specialty chemicals and performance
materials, which include rubber additives for tires and brake pads,
activated carbon for air purifiers, chemicals used in the manufacture of
lithium-ion batteries, and inkjet colorants.
The proposed consent decree will be lodged with the United States District
Court for the Western District Court for Louisiana and will be subject to a
45-day public comment period. The company is required to pay the penalty
within 30 days after the court approves the settlement. The proposed
consent decree can be viewed online at
www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html
More information about the settlement:
www2.epa.gov/enforcement/cabot-corporation-clean-air-act-settlement
More information about EPA's national enforcement initiative:
www.epa.gov/compliance/data/planning/initiatives/2011airpollution.html
