12.3.13
Oil Spill
5th Circuit orders temporary halt to business loss payments without proof
of BP oil spill damage
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
December 03, 2013 at 3:26 AM
Just 10 days after a federal judge in New Orleans lambasted BP for
demanding that businesses must prove their losses were caused by the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill before being paid under the terms of a private
settlement, an appeals court ordered the judge not to allow such payments
without proof that losses resulted from the spill.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/12/5th_circuit_orders_temporary_h.html#incart_river
Court Calls for Broader Review of BP Spill Funds
A court ruling Monday might spare BP PLC from making hundreds of millions
of dollars in compensation payments stemming from its 2010 oil spill.
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
Dec. 2, 2013 10:31 p.m. ET
A federal-appeals-court ruling late Monday might spare BP BP.LN -0.47% PLC
from making hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation payments
stemming from its 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304854804579234882249561484?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Jury selection begins in trial of former BP engineer
Mix accused of deleting evidence in wake of explosion
Baton Rouge Advocate
BY RICHARD THOMPSON
Attorneys and a federal judge began questioning prospective jurors Monday
in the trial of a former BP engineer accused of trying to stymie government
investigators by deleting text messages and voice mails in the wake of the
2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://theadvocate.com/news/7740047-123/jury-selection-begins-in-trial
State
MDEQ grants target hazardous waste, illegal dump sites
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality has awarded grants to some area agencies to help with disposal of
hazardous household waste and illegal dumpsite enforcement.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-grants-target-hazardous-waste-illegal-dump/sT9dG2e8NUKzEsecEypQ8Q.cspx
Environmental slab to cover contamination at Signet Maritime's Pascagoula
facility
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
December 02, 2013 at 1:58 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors and Port of
Pascagoula commissioners on Monday approved a joint resolution to have an
environmental slab constructed at Signet Maritime Corp.'s facility in
Pascagoula.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/12/environmental_slab_to_cover_co.html#incart_river
Signet Maritime gets $523,000 Katrina grant
Sun Herald
BY KAREN NELSON
PASCAGOULA -- The Jackson County Board of Supervisors and the Port of
Pascagoula approved using federal Katrina money Monday morning to build a
containment slab at a shipyard in Pascagoula.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/02/5162116/signet-maritime-gets-523000-katrina.html
Jackson County awards $9.2 million contract for east side water treatment
plant
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
December 02, 2013 at 11:08 AM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors this morning awarded
a $9.2 million construction contract for a plant that will treat Pascagoula
River water for residents in east Jackson County, an area leaders say
struggles with low water quality.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/12/jackson_county_awards_92_milli.html#incart_river
Water treatment plant to be built in northeast Jackson County
Sun Herald
BY KAREN NELSON
PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County announced Monday it would move immediately
into construction of a $9.2 million drinking water plant that is part of a
project, almost 20 years in the making, to use water from the Pascagoula
River to supply businesses and homes in northeast Jackson County.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/02/5162147/water-treatment-plant-to-be-built.html
PSC's Renfroe says he won't run for seat in 2015
Clarion Ledger
Southern District Public Service Commissioner Steve Renfroe won't run for
election in 2015 and said the agreement limiting Mississippi Power's
recovery costs for its Kemper County coal plant "is brilliant."
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131203/NEWS01/312030011/PSC-s-Renfroe-says-he-won-t-run-seat-2015
Schloegel 'ponders with astonishment' actions of auditor, attorney general
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
Chancery Court Judge Jennifer Schloegel questions in a statement filed with
the Mississippi Supreme Court whether State Auditor Stacey Pickering,
Attorney General Jim Hood and the U.S. Attorney's Office have committed
fraud on the court and abused the grand jury process.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/02/5161557/schloegel-ponders-with-astonishment.html
Regional
State may sue Army Corps of Engineers over Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet
wetlands restoration
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
December 02, 2013 at 2:41 PM
The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will discuss Tuesday
whether to file suit against the Army Corps of Engineers to enforce a
congressional requirement that the agency pay the full cost of its proposed
$3 billion plan to restore wetlands and land destroyed by the construction
and operation of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/12/state_may_sue_army_corps_of_en.html#incart_river
National
EPA to be 'flexible' on carbon standards
The Hil
By Laura Barron-Lopez
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy on Monday said
her agency would give states great flexibility in meeting new requirements
for carbon emissions from power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/191743-epa-to-be-flexible-with-states-on-carbon-standards
EPA chief defends emissions listening tour
The Hill
By Julian Hattem
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday defended a
"listening tour" on emissions regulations that critics say deliberately
skipped major coal-producing states.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/191728-epa-chief-defends-emissions-listening-tour
EPA chief: U.S. and China must lead way on climate regs
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy stressed the need for
the U.S. to play a key role in leading international talks on climate
change.
Another leader in those talks is China, McCarthy said Monday at an event
hosted by the liberal Center for American Progress.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/191822-epa-chief-us-and-china-must-lead-way-on-climate-regs
Both parties reject EPA fire hydrant rule
The Hill
By Pete Kasperowicz
The House voted Monday to override an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulation that would require new fire hydrants to be lead-free by early
next year.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/votes/191828-gop-dems-reject-epa-rule-on-fire-hydrants
Opinion
Restoration of Gulf Coast off to a solid start
Clarion Ledger
Jill Mastrototaro
Guest Columnist
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation recently announced funding for 22
restoration projects across the Gulf Coast, including three in Mississippi.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20131203/OPINION/312030002/Restoration-Gulf-Coast-off-solid-start
Press Releases
EPA Approves Redesignation of Atlanta Area to Attainment for Ozone
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421,
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it
is taking final action to approve the state of Georgia's request to
redesignate the Atlanta area to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone
standard. This action is based on air quality monitoring data for the
three-year period of 2008, 2009, and 2010 that meets the standard. The area
continues to attain this standard.
"This is a great accomplishment for the Atlanta area, a product of strong
collaboration among government, the business community, environmental
organizations and ordinary citizens." said Acting EPA Regional
Administrator Stan Meiburg. "Together with our partners at the Georgia
Environmental Protection Division, we look forward to continued progress in
improving Atlanta's air quality."
The Atlanta area has made significant progress in improving air quality.
This progress is a result of hard work and great cooperation among local,
state and federal agencies, private partners and the over four million
Georgians who live and work in the Atlanta area. The Atlanta area impacted
by this proposed action includes the following 20 counties: Barrow,
Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette,
Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Rockdale,
Spalding and Walton.
"All of metropolitan Atlanta can be proud of this major accomplishment.
Everyone should be applauded, from citizens who keep their vehicles in good
running condition to industries and power plants that have invested in
improved emission controls," said Judson H. Turner, Director of the Georgia
Environmental Protection Division. "It has taken many years, but the
results are cleaner air and a healthier place to live and work."
Ground level or "bad" ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is
created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Emissions from
industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust,
gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx
and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems
including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can
worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground level ozone also can
reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated
exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.
For more information on the Atlanta area proposed 1997 8-hour ozone
redesignation, visit docket number EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0986 at
www.regulations.gov.
EPA Approves Redesignation of Charlotte Area to Attainment for Ozone
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421,
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that it
is taking final action to approve the state of North Carolina's request to
redesignate the Charlotte area to attainment of the 1997 8-hour ozone
standard. This action is based on air quality monitoring data for the
three-year period of 2008, 2009, and 2010 that meets the standard. The area
continues to attain this standard. On December 26, 2012, EPA took final
action on the South Carolina portion of the Charlotte Area.
"We commend the hard work of state and local officials to implement the
control measures needed to reduce ozone pollution and improve Charlotte's
air quality," said Acting EPA Regional Administrator Stan Meiburg. "We will
continue to work with state and local agencies to improve air quality and
protect public health."
The Charlotte area has made significant progress in improving air quality.
This progress is a result of hard work and great cooperation among local,
state and federal agencies, private partners and the over two million North
Carolinians who live and work in the Charlotte area. The Charlotte area
impacted by this action includes the following 6 full counties and 1
partial county: Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Union and a
portion of Iredell.
"The redesignation of the Charlotte area represents a successful
collaboration of all levels of government, business and industry partners,
and the citizens of the region," said N.C. Governor Pat McCrory, who
worked on the issue extensively as mayor of Charlotte from 1995-2009. "It
is a big step for economic development in the region and, more importantly,
it means that all who live in and near Charlotte are breathing cleaner
air."
Ground level or "bad" ozone is not emitted directly into the air, but is
created by chemical reactions between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile
organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Emissions from
industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust,
gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx
and VOC. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems
including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation, and congestion. It can
worsen bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma. Ground level ozone also can
reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated
exposure may permanently scar lung tissue.
For more information on the Charlotte area proposed 1997 8-hour ozone
redesignation, visit docket number EPA-R04-OAR-2012-0986 at
www.regulations.gov.
