1.15.2014
Oil Spill
Appeal Decision Not Likely To Speed Up Wait For MS Businesses
MPB
BY EVELINA BURNETT
Mississippi businesses with claims from the BP oil spill are one step
closer to receiving payments after a federal appeals court upheld the BP
settlement agreement. But, their wait isn't over yet.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/appeal_decision_not_likely_to_speed_up_wait_for_ms_businesses
Fishing community raises objections about sediment diversions in joint
hearing on state's annual restoration plan, oil spill restoration program
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
January 14, 2014 at 8:17 PM
Representatives of oyster growers, shrimpers and fishers lined up at a
public hearing in Belle Chasse on Tuesday night (Jan. 14) to oppose about
$30 million dedicated to sediment diversions in the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority's fiscal year 2015 annual plan for coastal
restoration and flood protection, charging that the diversions will destroy
their livelihoods and their families.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/01/fishing_community_raises_objec.html#incart_river
State
Renfroe explains power increase; cost controls on Kemper plant
Sun Herald
BY MARY PEREZ
Stephen Renfroe said when he was appointed Southern District Public Service
Commission in September he won't run for election when he completes the
unexpired term of Leonard Bentz in November 2015.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/14/5259085/renfroe-explains-power-increase.html
MSU Receives an Award for Recycling
WCBI
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)-With more manufacturers like Toyota and retailers
like Wal-Mart adopting Waste Reduction and recycling plans, some
universities are now getting in on the trend to go green.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-mississippi-state-university-receives-an-award-for-recycling-program
Saltillo avoids high-hazard flood zone designation
By JB Clark
Daily Journal
SALTILLO – An error on a flood zone map that had been keeping one Saltillo
builder from selling three homes was corrected Tuesday.
http://djournal.com/news/saltillo-avoids-high-hazard-flood-zone-designation/
Gov. Bryant orders agencies to increase opportunities for disabled
Clarion Ledger
Gov. Phil Bryant, legislators and advocates for the disabled are teaming to
try to create more job opportunities for those with disabilities.
Bryant issues and executive order today for all state agencies to work
collaborate to try to increase job opportunities for the disabled.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140114/NEWS0105/301140033/Gov-Bryant-orders-agencies-increase-opportunities-disabled
Watchdog: MDOT funds not mismanaged
Clarion Ledger
Supporters of raising taxes for roads and bridges say a legislative
watchdog's report on the Mississippi Department of Transportation doesn't
change their tack.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2014140114021
Mississippi transportation report seeks more spending clarity
BY JEFF AMY
Associated Press
JACKSON -- A new report calls for Mississippi's road-building agency to do
more to account for the money it spends, but agrees the state doesn't have
enough money to maintain its roads and bridges.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/14/5259104/mississippi-transportation-report.html
Government top employer in the state, economist says
AP
Government is Mississippi's largest employer these days, state economist
Darrin Webb told lawmakers Tuesday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20140115/NEWS01/301150022/Government-top-employer-state-economist-says
Regional
Mississippian named to EPA job in Atlanta
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
JACKSON, Miss. -- Former Greenville, Miss., Mayor Heather McTeer Toney has
been named regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency's
regional office in Atlanta.
EPA Region 4 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six tribal nations.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/01/14/3870168/mississippian-named-to-epa-job.html
Former Greenville mayor named to EPA job in Atlanta
MBJ
January 14, 2014
JACKSON, Mississippi — Former Greenville, Miss., Mayor Heather McTeer Toney
has been named regional administrator for the Environmental Protection
Agency's regional office in Atlanta.
http://msbusiness.com/businessblog/2014/01/14/former-greenville-mayor-named-epa-job-atlanta/
National
New U.S. Tank Car Rules Won't Come Until 2015
Wall Street Journal
By BETSY MORRIS
Jan. 14, 2014 7:16 p.m. ET
New regulations that could require the railroad industry to improve, phase
out or retrofit the tank cars it uses to haul crude oil and other flammable
liquids are still more than a year away, according to a schedule published
by the U.S. Department of Transportation Tuesday.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304049704579321163614453986?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Cities Grapple With Oil-Train Safety
Recent Derailments Raise Concerns Over North Dakota Crude Traveling by Rail
Through Cities
Wall Street Journal
Every day, a train more than a mile long travels alongside a highway in
Albany, N.Y., a half-mile from the state capitol building and even closer
to houses. Its cargo is crude oil from North Dakota, which federal
regulators and railroads fear is more explosive than other oils.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303819704579320971969135440?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6
Probes Into West Virginia Chemical Spill Mount
Wall Street Journal
A host of lawmakers and agencies announced investigations Tuesday into the
West Virginia chemical spill, which forced 300,000 people to go out without
tap water for five days and highlighted gaps in federal, state and local
oversight of thousands of industrial chemicals and their storage.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303819704579321072264552420?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Opinion
In BP spills claim process, special master wants money returned: James
Varney
James Varney
The Times-Picayune
January 14, 2014 at 5:58 PM
Given its appeals success rate thus far, BP may be stuck with the
settlement agreement it signed off on regarding the Deepwater Horizon
blowout. That does not mean, however, that it's a good deal or will
ultimately prove a fair one for the company or claimants.
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2014/01/in_bp_spills_claim_process_spe.html
Clean Air Act: EPA'S Charade To Justify War On Coal Plants
Forbes
The Environmental Protection Agency didn't let a Clean Air Act requirement
that mandated technologies be "adequately demonstrated" hinder their new
performance standards ruling that puts a 1,100-pound limit per megawatt
hour on carbon emissions from new coal power plants. Not only is there no
scientifically-supportable climate benefit for limiting such emissions,
there is no viable commercial-scale technology to achieve that ideological
pipedream. Even if it mattered, the most modern coal-fired plants can only
reduce CO2 emissions to 1,800 pounds. What's more, they already knew that.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/larrybell/2014/01/14/clean-air-act-epas-charade-to-justify-war-on-coal-plants/
Press Releases
EPA Announces Regional Administrator for Region 4 Office in Atlanta
ATLANTA – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy
today announced President Barack Obama's selection of Heather McTeer Toney
as regional administrator for EPA's regional office in Atlanta. EPA Region
4 includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and six tribal nations.
"Heather McTeer Toney has a proven track record and broad experience as an
advocate and dedicated public servant," said Administrator McCarthy. "I
have full confidence that she'll continue that sense of service and
leadership working to protect people's health and the environment as
regional administrator in the region she was born, raised, and still calls
home."
Ms. McTeer Toney was the first African-American and first female to serve
as the Mayor of Greenville, Mississippi, holding that post from 2004-2012.
She joins EPA from Mississippi Valley State University, where she is the
Executive Director of the Center for Excellence in Student Learning. She is
also the Principal Attorney at Heather McTeer, PLLC.
Ms. McTeer Toney's private-sector success is complemented by considerable
experience in local and state politics. She began her career working as a
member of McTeer and Associates Law Firm and handled a diverse group of
cases ranging from racial discrimination to medical malpractice. Later she
served as the President of the National Conference of Black Mayors and in
2009, was nominated by former EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, to serve
as the Chairwoman of the Local Government Advisory Committee. Heather is
active in her community and an advocate for education, women's issues,
health and wellness. She is married to Dexter Toney and they have two
children.
EPA regional administrators are responsible for managing the Agency's
regional activities under the direction of the EPA administrator. They
promote state and local environmental protection efforts and serve as a
liaison to government officials. Heather is expected to begin her role as
regional administrator in January.
