12.5.13
Oil Spill
FBI agent: BP engineer's deleted texts referenced amount of oil flowing
from blown-out well
The Associated Press
December 04, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Some of the text messages that a former BP drilling engineer deleted from
his cellphone contained information that could have been evidence in the
Justice Department's investigation of the company's 2010 oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico, an FBI agent testified Wednesday at the engineer's trial on
obstruction of justice charges.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/12/fbi_agent_says_bp_engineers_de.html#incart_river
State
Illegal dumpsites continuous problem to Monroe county
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 12:00 pm | December 2, 2013
It's probably been more than once when the average driver has seen an
illegal dumpsite somewhere in the county. Although the first instinct
signals an unsightly appearance, there are other negative strings attached.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2013/12/02/illegal-dumpsites-continuous-problem-monroe-county/
MDEQ and CEQ recognize Dalrymple's service
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 6:00 am | December 1, 2013
JACKSON – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and
the Commission on Environmental Quality (CEQ) recognized the service of
Amory resident Martha Dalrymple at its monthly meeting on Oct. 24.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2013/12/01/mdeq-ceq-recognize-dalrymples-service/
Schloegel directs auditor, DMR to release records to public
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
GULFPORT -- Regardless of whether she finds State Auditor Stacey Pickering
in civil contempt of court, Chancery Judge Jennifer Schloegel directed his
office and the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources to produce public
records by Monday, as she ordered in October.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/04/5166916/pickering-asks-judge-to-recuse.html
National
Obama to feds: Boost renewable power 20 percent
BY MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Saying the government should lead by example, President Barack
Obama is ordering the federal government to nearly triple its use of
renewable sources for electricity by 2020.
http://www.sunherald.com/2013/12/05/5169119/obama-to-feds-boost-renewable.html
Large Companies Prepared to Pay Price on Carbon
NY Times
By CORAL DAVENPORT
WASHINGTON — More than two dozen of the nation's biggest corporations,
including the five major oil companies, are planning their future growth on
the expectation that the government will force them to pay a price for
carbon pollution as a way to control global warming.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/business/energy-environment/large-companies-prepared-to-pay-price-on-carbon.html?ref=earth&_r=0&pagewanted=print
EPA proposal could shift war on renewable fuels
Politico
By: Darren Goode
December 5, 2013 05:08 AM EST
A battle royal over ethanol will be on display Thursday as oil, livestock,
environmental, biofuels and consumer groups descend on a public hearing on
the Environmental Protection Agency's renewable fuels mandate.
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/12/environmental-protection-agency-renewable-fuels-gasoline-100687.html?hp=r11
Diseases on the move because of climate change
USA Today
SACRAMENTO — Software engineer Andres Chavez is used to doing things
quickly, efficiently and correctly. So he knew something was
seriously wrong when, on a business trip in 2009, he was so confused
he could barely sign a stack of paperwork.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/04/climate-change-disease/2623863/
Press Releases
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| Agriculture Secretary Announces Projects to Improve Water Quality |
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| 74 Projects in 40 States Will Improve Service for More than 211,000 Rural |
| Residents |
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|WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced|
|funding for projects in 40 states to finance investments in improved water |
|and wastewater systems for more than 200,000 rural residents. |
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|"Rural businesses and residents need access to clean water and modern waste |
|disposal systems. This isn't just an economic issue, it's an issue of basic |
|health and safety," said Vilsack. "Water and wastewater projects like these |
|help safeguard rural access to a modern, working infrastructure, which in |
|turn ensures a decent quality of life and helps attract – and keep – the |
|best and brightest in small towns across America." |
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|Vilsack noted that passage of a comprehensive Food, Farm and Jobs bill would|
|help tackle the $2.1 billion backlog of shovel-ready rural water/wastewater |
|projects, and said the bill is vital to rural communities. These are just |
|some of the reasons why Congress should pass a comprehensive bill as soon as|
|possible, he said. |
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|In today's announcement, USDA is providing $203 million to finance 74 water |
|and infrastructure improvement projects in 40 states. For example, Eagle |
|Butte, S.D., has been selected to receive a $2 million loan/grant |
|combination to upgrade a wastewater treatment system that serves more than |
|3,000 residents in one of the poorest parts of the state. In Texas, the El |
|Paso County Water Improvement District #4 is getting a $4.2 million |
|loan/grant combination to install a new water storage tank and |
|nano-filtration system. The project will provide clean, safe water for more |
|than 8,000 residents. |
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|The funding is being provided through USDA Rural Development's Water and |
|Environmental Program. It will have a significant impact on rural residents |
|and businesses – as it did for people who live and work near Berlin, Md. At |
|the start of the Obama Administration, USDA Rural Development awarded the |
|town $11.8 million in Recovery Act loans and grants to upgrade its |
|wastewater treatment plant to meet environmental standards. The project had |
|benefits beyond improved wastewater services for local residents and |
|businesses. Sixty-five construction workers, who had lost their jobs just |
|before the town received the Rural Development funds, were hired to work on |
|the project. |
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|The Berlin project is one of nearly 3,900 water and wastewater projects |
|supported with funding authorized by the Farm Bill that Rural Development |
|has financed since 2009. These projects have created jobs and provided clean|
|water for nearly 14 million rural residents. |
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|View here the list of projects that will receive USDA funding, contingent |
|upon the recipient meeting the terms of the funding agreement. |
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|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|– strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's|
|investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands |
|as the backbone of our American values. |
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| Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Energy Efficiency Loan Program to |
| Lower Costs for Consumers, Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions |
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| Rural Development Loan Program is Latest USDA Effort in Support of Climate |
| Action Plan |
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|WASHINGTON, Dec. 4, 2013 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced|
|that USDA will take new steps to save consumers money on their energy bills |
|in partnership with rural electric cooperatives. USDA plans to provide rural|
|electric cooperatives up to $250 million to lend to business and residential|
|customers for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems. |
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|"Energy efficiency retrofitting can shrink home energy use by 40 percent, |
|saving money for consumers and helping rural utilities manage their electric|
|load more efficiently," said Vilsack. "Ultimately, reducing energy use helps|
|pump capital back into rural communities. This program is designed to meet |
|the unique needs of consumers and businesses to encourage energy efficiency |
|retrofitting projects across rural America." |
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|Vilsack noted that the Energy Efficiency and Loan Conservation Program, by |
|promoting energy savings in rural areas, is another step by which USDA is |
|supporting President Obama's Climate Action Plan. The program will help |
|build a cleaner and more sustainable domestic energy sector for future |
|generations by reducing barriers to investment in energy efficiency and |
|potentially cutting energy bills for American families and businesses in the|
|process. |
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|Although energy efficiency measures can reduce home energy use considerably,|
|many consumers and businesses do not invest in them because they lack the |
|capital or financing to do so. Consistent with President Obama's Climate |
|Action Plan, this program will reduce barriers to these investments by |
|making financing more available. |
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|Funding will be provided to rural electric cooperatives and utilities – the |
|majority of which already have energy efficiency programs in place – who |
|will then re-lend the money to help homeowners or businesses make energy |
|efficiency improvements. In addition to energy audits, the loans may be used|
|for upgrades to heating, lighting and insulation, and conversions to more |
|efficient or renewable energy sources. |
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|A March 2012 Rockefeller Foundation report on financing energy efficiency |
|projects found that a $279 billion investment could yield more than $1 |
|trillion in energy savings over 10 years. That is the equivalent of 30 |
|percent of the annual electricity spending in the U.S. Funding from the loan|
|program will complement and strengthen other energy efficiency activities at|
|USDA. Through its Rural Development mission area, USDA also supports the |
|research, development and use of renewable fuels. |
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|Vilsack noted that many of USDA's existing efforts to promote renewable |
|energy and energy efficiency are provided by the Farm Bill – and he once |
|again urged Congress to provide a new, multiyear Food, Farm and Jobs Bill |
|that continues investing in a clean energy future for rural America. |
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|The rule is scheduled to publish in the Dec. 5 issue of the Federal Register|
|. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|– strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's|
|investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands |
|as the backbone of our American values. |
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