1.13.2014
Oil Spill
Multibillion-dollar BP private claims settlement is upheld by split U.S.
5th Circuit Court panel
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
January 10, 2014 at 11:29 PM
A split decision of a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S.Circuit Court of
Appeals on Friday upheld a lower court decision approving a
multibillion-dollar settlement with BP of private claims stemming from the
April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2014/01/split_us_5th_circuit_court_pan.html#incart_river
Court upholds 2012 oil spill settlement
AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal appeals court has upheld a judge's approval of
a multibillion-dollar settlement between BP PLC and lawyers for Gulf Coast
businesses and residents who claim the company's 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil
spill cost them money.
http://www.fox10tv.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/court-upholds-2012-oil-spill-settlement
U.S. appeals court affirms BP settlement in 2010 Gulf oil spill
Reuters
Fri, Jan 10 2014
Jan 10 (Reuters) - A panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on
Friday affirmed a federal judge's approval of a multi-billion dollar
settlement between BP Plc and businesses and individuals who lost money and
property in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/11/bpspill-ruling-idUSL2N0KL03D20140111
Court Upholds BP Oil-Spill Settlement
Oil Company May Have to Pay Billions More Than It Anticipated
Wall Street Journal
By TOM FOWLER
Jan. 10, 2014 10:28 p.m. ET
A federal appeals court in New Orleans on Friday upheld the damage
settlement betweenBP BP.LN -0.22% PLC andthousands of Gulf Coast residents
and businesses in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303393804579313352259634422
Residents given more time to comment on early BP restoration projects
Controversial fish hatchery among $26.6 million in local funding
Pensacola News Journal
Local residents have until Feb. 19 to weigh in on the use of some $26.6
million in early restoration funds arising from the BP oil spill.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20140111/NEWS10/301110012/Residents-given-more-time-to-comment-on-early-BP-restoration-projects
Feds still weighing appeal in BP supervisors' case
WRAL
Posted January 10
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge agreed Thursday to extend a deadline for the
Justice Department to decide whether to appeal the dismissal of some
manslaughter counts against two BP employees charged in the deadly 2010
explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.
http://www.wral.com/feds-still-weighing-appeal-in-bp-supervisors-case/13288546/
State
DEQ wants input on upcoming environmental conference topics
Sun Herald
BY LAUREN WALCK
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is planning a
conference this year, and wants the help of all interested parties to plan
it.
It will focus on environmental justice and mark the 20th anniversary of an
executive order mandating that federal programs provide environmental
protections equally and regardless of race or income.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/11/5251475/deq-wants-input-on-upcoming-environmental.html
Mississippi DEQ wants your ideas for Environmental Justice conference
MBJ Blog
January 10, 2014
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is seeking
suggestions on speakers and topics for Environmental Justice conference the
state agency is sponsoring this year to recognize the 20th anniversary of
President Clinton's signing of the Environmental Justice Executive Order.
http://msbusiness.com/businessblog/2014/01/10/mississippi-deq-wants-ideas-environmental-justice-conference/
Tupelo to negotiate water for new residents
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
TUPELO – High-stakes negotiations begin in earnest this week to determine
if recently annexed Tupelo residents can gain access to the city's lower
cost water utilities and switch from the North Lee County Water
Association, a rural water association with a history of providing rust and
brown colored water.
http://djournal.com/news/tupelo-negotiate-water-new-residents/
North Lee negotiator brings baggage with Tupelo
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
TUPELO – North Lee County Water Association's board president brings a less
than pleasant history with the city of Tupelo as detailed negotiations
begin this week related to providing water service to annexed areas.
http://djournal.com/news/north-lee-negotiator-brings-baggage-tupelo/
Corinth may recycle asphalt for street repairs
AP
CORINTH, Miss. — Corinth officials may buy an asphalt recycler in the hope
of improving the outcome of small-scale street repairs.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/viewart/20140112/NEWS01/140112003/Corinth-may-recycle-asphalt-street-repairs-
Reservoir set to be dredged
Clarion Ledger
According to Ross Barnett Reservoir Chief Engineer Greg Burgess, dredging
is set to begin soon on the south shore of Pelahatchie Bay.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140111/SPORTS08/301110044/Reservoir-set-dredged
Agency: Toss out alligator lawsuit
AP
State wildlife officials want the Mississippi Supreme Court to throw out a
dispute between a Wilkinson County couple and ExxonMobil Corp. over an
alleged alligator infestation.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20140113/NEWS01/301130015/Agency-Toss-out-alligator-lawsuit
Regional
ExxonMobil Baton Rouge $2.3M settlement tops total DEQ business fines for
2011
Lauren McGaughy
The Times Picayune
January 10, 2014 at 5:39 PM
ExxonMobil Corp. agreed Friday (Jan. 9) to shell out more than $2.3 million
in fines and funds for environmental projects, after a state agency cited
the company for numerous violations at its Baton Rouge refinery and
chemical plant since 2008.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/01/exxonmobil_baton_rouge_fines_l.html#incart_river
NC sues EPA over air emissions rules
WRAL
RALEIGH, N.C. — The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources
has filed a lawsuit against new air quality rules set by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency.
The lawsuit, filed Dec. 26 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit, claims that a change in the EPA's regulations for
particulate matter would unfairly penalize North Carolina.
http://www.wral.com/nc-sues-epa-over-air-emissions-rules/13288897/
National
Top administration officials to testify on climate agenda
The Hill
Top environmental officials will testify at a Senate committee hearing next
week on President Obama's climate plan.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/195110-top-administration-officials-to-testify-on-climate-agenda
West Virginia tap water ban to be lifted soon, officials say
Published January 13, 2014
Associated Press
For the fifth straight day, hundreds of thousands of people in West
Virginia had to wash, cook and brush their teeth with bottled water, but
officials promised the ban on tap water that was tainted by a chemical
spill would soon be lifted.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/13/hundreds-report-exposure-symptoms-in-w-va-after-crippling-chemical-spill/?intcmp=latestnews
West Virginia Chemical-Spill Site Avoided Broad Regulatory Scrutiny
Contamination Highlights Gaps in Regulations, Prompts Questions on
Potential Threats
Wall Street Journal
By ALEXANDRA BERZON and KRIS MAHER
Updated Jan. 12, 2014 8:25 p.m. ET
The site of a West Virginia chemical spill that contaminated the water
supply for 300,000 people operated largely outside government oversight,
highlighting gaps in regulations and prompting questions on whether local
communities have a firm grasp on potential threats to drinking water.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303819704579317062273564766?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Audits would show where money goes
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has put state agencies on notice that he wants more
information about how they spend tax dollars.
We are convinced the best way of obtaining that information would be to
require annual audits of every aspect of state government.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/11/5249227/sun-herald-editorial-audits-would.html
Democratic State Senator sees oil spill funds as statewide infrastructure
opportunity
Y'all Politics
by Frank Corder
In April 2010, the BP-operated Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded in the
Gulf of Mexico killing eleven workers and discharging an estimated 4.9
million barrels of oil into the water over three months.
http://yallpolitics.com/index.php/yp/post/36703/
Bryant aims to board up boards
Geoff Pender
Clarion Ledger
As he promised when he first took office, Gov. Phil Bryant, in an act of
sheer political bravery, is trying to tackle that most insidious and costly
facet of government: the great, creeping appointed bureaucracy.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140112/COL0601/301120018/Bryant-aims-board-up-boards
Press Releases
MDEQ To Sponsor Environmental Justice Conference
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) will sponsor an Environmental Justice Conference this year
recognizing the 20th anniversary of the Environmental Justice Executive
Order. This conference will bring together communities, non-profit
organizations, researchers, businesses, healthcare professionals, state and
local government and federal partners committed to addressing Environmental
Justice.
Before selecting a location or date, MDEQ wants to hear from the public. We
encourage you to submit your ideas about speakers, topics, or other
thoughts on the conference to Melissa Collier, Director of Office of
Community Engagement, at melissa_collier@deq.state.ms.us or by mail to P.O.
Box 2261, Jackson, MS, 39225.
# # #
MSU signs agreement with UN organization while in Rome
by MBJ Staff
Published: January 9,2014
STARKVILLE — During meetings this week in Rome, Mississippi State
University officials formally broadened a 2010 agreement to work together
with the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on
initiatives to address world hunger and poverty.
MSU president Mark E. Keenum and FAO deputy director general Daniel
Gustafson signed a memorandum of understanding that expands the 2010
foundation for collaborations focusing most immediately on aquatic animal
health, disease prevention and emergency diagnostics, and FAO recognition
of MSU as a Center for Knowledge for Aquatic Health.
The MOU makes MSU a member of the Global Aquaculture Advancement
Partnership and will engage MSU's existing facilities and expertise in
aquatic animal disease diagnostics and management to expand the work of
FAO's Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES). It is a component of FAO's Food
Chain Crisis Management Framework to prevent food chain emergencies, and to
promote effective containment and management of the most serious epidemic
pests and diseases and food safety threats through international
cooperation.
The agreement between MSU and FAO in 2010 centered on food safety and
nutrition. Other areas addressed in the original agreement include
agriculture, poverty issues relating to children, and environmental
sustainability.
Keenum's signature on the new memorandum comes after years of dialogue
between MSU and the FAO that began when he visited with agency
representatives in Rome in 2010.
"As a land-grant institution, Mississippi State has a distinguished history
of research and education to advance global development," Keenum said. "We
are well positioned to be in the forefront of developments that can reduce
hunger and help other nations improve the response to needs within their
own borders. This expanded agreement with FAO is another significant step
forward in that process," he said.
The U.N. established the FAO in 1945 to raise levels of nutrition and
standards of living for all people in FAO member countries; to secure
improvements in the efficiency of production and distribution of food and
agricultural products; and to contribute toward expanding the world economy
and ensuring humanity's freedom from hunger.
Keenum said the expanded memorandum "broadens and strengthens" MSU's
existing partnership to assist FAO and also helps FAO's sister U.N.
organization, the World Food Program, in its efforts to eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger, reduce child mortality, ensure environmental
sustainability, and enhance development activities. That collaboration
includes MSU research to develop a nutritional food source based on
cashews.
"Our food science, nutrition and health promotion department has led the
effort on this project," Keenum said. "One challenge in addressing world
hunger is to find nutritious, inexpensive food products that don't require
water and can serve a range of ages, from children to adults. Mississippi
State has much expertise it could bring to bear that would benefit not only
the efforts in other countries, but in our own."
During the MSU partnership dialogues with FAO, Keenum made a formal
academic presentation to the U.N. group entitled: "U.S. Land-Grant
Universities in the Fight Against World Hunger."
While in Rome, Keenum also met with Ertharin Cousin, executive director of
the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and deputy executive director
Amir Mahmoud Abdulla. Part of the United Nations System, the WFP has a
special mission of responding to civil conflict, natural disasters and
other emergency situations. It is the world's largest humanitarian agency
fighting worldwide hunger. "The organization's work is significant, because
WFP estimates that a third of all deaths in children under the age of 5 in
developing countries are linked to malnutrition," Keenum said.
He also met with David Lane, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Agencies for Food
and Agriculture.
While in Rome, Keenum and the MSU delegation also visited the MSU College
of Art, Architecture and Design's Rome Semester program at the University
of Arkansas Rome Center, where MSU has a study abroad agreement with UARC
for MSU architecture majors.
