1.31.2014
Oil Spill
Gulf projects meeting won't be rescheduled in P.C.
By News Herald staff
Published: Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 20:16 PM.
PANAMA CITY -- A meeting to discuss millions in proposed early Gulf
restoration projects for Bay County will not be rescheduled, a state agency
says.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/gulf-projects-meeting-won-t-be-rescheduled-in-p-c-1.270394
State
Biloxi council balks at pace of massive project
Bids for $120M in sewer work set to go out
Sun Herald
BY MARY PEREZ
BILOXI -- City Council members said they are unhappy with the progress of
the massive project to repair or replace water, sewer and drainage damaged
by Hurricane Katrina and voted Tuesday not to pay the latest invoice from
HNTB, the company hired to oversee the work.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/30/5299182/biloxi-to-begin-infrastructure.html
Kemper plant cost rises to $4.06 billion
Sun Herald
BY MARY PEREZ
Southern Company added another $40 million to the cost of Mississippi
Power's Kemper power plant in a filing this week with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/29/5295175/kemper-plant-cost-rises-to-406.html
McDaniel targeted in Kemper plant ad
Geoff Pender
Clarion Ledger
A new radio ad is targeting U.S. Senate candidate and current state Sen.
Chris McDaniel for voting for the $1 billion bond bill for Mississippi
Power Co.'s embattled and overbudget $5 billion Kemper County power plant.
http://blogs.clarionledger.com/politics/2014/01/29/mcdaniels-targeted-in-kemper-plant-ad/
Biloxi City Council 'dragging its feet' on stadium project, councilmember
says
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
January 30, 2014 at 6:26 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- The Biloxi City Council Tuesday voted to table three
items relating to construction of a $36 million minor league baseball
stadium -- including one resolution necessary to collect the $15 million in
grant money pledged by Gov. Phil Bryant.
Approval of a subgrant agreement with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality is necessary for the city to receive the $15 million,
funded by a BP grant.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/01/biloxi_council_dragging_its_fe.html
Pipeline bill dispute remains undecided
Tuesday deadline for legislation looms
Clarion Ledger
Allowing the Mississippi Public Service Commission to regulate disputes
among shippers of natural gas and its derivatives and pipeline owners could
unlock 250 million barrels of oil that's currently unreachable and generate
$100 million in annual tax revenue for the state.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140131/BIZ/301310020/Pipeline-bill-dispute-remains-undecided?nclick_check=1
New process from Mississippi company helps remove bacteria from oysters
MBJ
by Lisa Monti
Published: January 24,2014
Crystal Seas Seafood is expecting sales of its irradiated Crystal Clear
Oysters to ratchet up in the summer.
Crystal Seas Seafood in Pass Christian is processing a small portion of
their oysters with irradiation to eliminate health risks posed by the
naturally occurring Vibrio bacteria in Gulf waters that is highly
concentrated during summer months.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/01/24/new-process-mississippi-company-helps-remove-bacteria-oysters/
Mississippi Phosphates to add to its product line next month
The Associated Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi — Mississippi Phosphates Corp. plans to add to its
product line.
In a news release Thursday, the company said beginning in mid-February it
will add Monoammonium Phosphate to take advantage of broader market
opportunities.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-business/2014/01/mississippi_phosphates_to_add.html#incart_river
Regional
Louisiana-Army Corps agreement to provide new money for coastal restoration
projects
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
January 30, 2014 at 6:00 PM
Louisiana may have found an unusual source of money to help pay for r
estoring the state's coastal wetlands: fees required of developers by the
Army Corps of Engineers to compensate for damage they expect to do to
wetlands.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/01/louisiana-army_corps_agreement.html#incart_river
National
Obama's agenda: EPA leading the charge on climate change
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
January 31, 2014 05:06 AM EST
Part of a POLITICO Pro Special Report series on the Obama administration's
executive action and regulatory agenda.
President Barack Obama's environmental regulators will spend the rest of
this year writing climate rules that would reshape the nation's electricity
supply, throw a cloud over the future of coal power and take the biggest
stride ever in throttling the nation's greenhouse gas pollution.
And that's just the beginning.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/obama-power-play-epa-agenda-climate-change-102894.html?hp=t2_7
EPA Chief: Climate-Change Regulation 'Done Deal' Despite Supreme Court
Review
National Journal
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy is confident
that the Supreme Court won't throw a wrench—at least not a big one—into her
agency's power to limit carbon-dioxide emissions.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/epa-chief-climate-change-regulation-done-deal-despite-supreme-court-review-20140130
Fearing they'll 'be next,' industries unite against Obama's climate change
rules
The Hill
By Ben Goad
A coalition of industry heavyweights on Thursday launched what its calling
a do-or-die campaign to influence the regulation of U.S. energy production.
Seventy-six business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the
National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the American Gas
Association, have agreed to dedicate necessary resources to "vigorously
participate" in every facet of President Obama's effort to tackle climate
change through regulation, said Karen Harbert, president of the Chamber's
Institute for 21st Century Energy.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/196968-business-plans-major-pushback-on-energy-regulation
Environmentalists slam new bay pact
CBF "shocked" draft agreement ignores toxic pollution, climate change
Baltimore Sun
Tim Wheeler
Environmentalists are slamming a new draft Chesapeake Bay restoration
agreement for failing to address toxic pollution or even mention climate
change as a complicating factor in the three-decade effort to revive the
ailing estuary.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bal-bmg-new-bay-cleanup-pact-gets-mixed-review-20140130,0,5189437.story
Federal rail agency collects minimal enforcement fines, documents show
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Transportation collects relatively
small civil penalties against the railroads it regulates, as concern grows
over the safety of shipping large volumes of crude oil and ethanol in tank
cars long known to be deficient, federal documents show.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/30/5299919/federal-rail-agency-collects-minimal.html
Looming report on Keystone XL said likely to disappoint pipeline opponents
Fox News
The State Department is expected to release an environmental analysis on
the Keystone XL oil pipeline as early as Friday that may disappoint
environmentalists and opponents of the proposed project, according to
individuals briefed on the matter.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/31/critical-keystone-xl-report-to-be-released/
Senators push EPA to rethink changes to renewable fuel mandate
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
A group of senators is pushing the Environmental Protection Agency to
reconsider its proposed volume levels for the amount of biofuels that must
be blended by refiners into the nation's oil supply.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/197026-senators-push-epa-to-rethink-changes-to-renewable-fuel-mandate
Press Releases
EPA Releases Climate Assessment Update to National Stormwater Calculator
WASHINGTON –Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
phase II of the National Stormwater Calculator and Climate Assessment Tool
package. The updated calculator includes future climate vulnerability
scenarios.
The calculator, a part of President Obama's Climate Change Action Plan, is
a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of stormwater runoff
from a specific location. The calculator now includes changes in seasonal
precipitation levels, the effects of more frequent high-intensity storms,
and changes in evaporation rates based on validated climate change
scenarios by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
"Climate change threatens our health, our economy, and our environment,"
said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. "As part of the President's Climate
Action Plan, this tool will help us better prepare for climate impacts by
helping build safer, sustainable, and more resilient water infrastructure."
The updated calculator includes climate models that can be incorporated
into the calculation of stormwater runoff. This adds future climate
scenarios to last year's phase I release, which included local soil
conditions, slope, land cover, historical rainfall records.
Users can enter any U.S. location and select different scenarios to learn
how specific green infrastructure changes, including inexpensive changes
such as rain barrels and rain gardens, can reduce stormwater runoff. This
information shows users how adding green infrastructure, which mimics
natural processes, can be one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce
stormwater runoff.
Every year billions of gallons of raw sewage, trash, household chemicals,
and urban runoff flow into our streams, rivers and lakes. Polluted
stormwater runoff can adversely affect plants, animals, and people. It also
negatively impacts our economy – from closed beaches to decreased fishing
in polluted areas. Green infrastructure can reduce the damage caused by
climate change by improving water quality in streams and rivers, protecting
groundwater sources, and enhancing recreational activities. Using the
calculator to choose the best green infrastructure options for an area is
an innovative and efficient way to promote healthy waters and support
sustainable communities.
More information on the National Stormwater Calculator and Climate
Assessment Tool package: http://www.epa.gov/nrmrl/wswrd/wq/models/swc/
More information about the virtual climate resilience toolkit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf
More information on EPA's Green Infrastructure research:
http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/index.cfm
EPA Awards Almost $9 Million in Grants to Researchers Working to Improve
Water Quality
WASHINGTON – Today at the 14th National Conference and Global Forum on
Science, Policy and the Environment, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy announced grants to four research
institutions for innovative and sustainable water research to manage
harmful nutrient pollution. Nutrient pollution is one of America's most
widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems, and is caused by
excess nitrogen and phosphorus in waterways.
"These grants will go towards research to help us better manage nutrients
and better protect our precious water resources from the dangers of
nutrient pollution, especially in a changing climate," said Administrator
McCarthy.
When excessive nitrogen and phosphorus enter our waterways -- usually via
stormwater runoff and industrial activities -- our water can become
polluted. Nutrient pollution has impacted many streams, rivers, lakes, bays
and coastal waters for the past several decades, resulting in serious
environmental and health issues, and negatively impacting the economy. For
example, nutrient pollution can reduce oxygen levels in water, leading to
illnesses in fish and the death of large numbers of fish. In some cases
nutrient pollution leads to elevated toxins and bacterial growth in waters
that can make people sick.
The Science to Achieve Results (STAR) grants, announced by Administrator
McCarthy today, are an integral part of EPA's research on water quality and
availability. Improving existing water infrastructure is costly, which
makes creating new and sustainable approaches to water use, reuse and
nutrient management important.
These grants support sustainable water research and demonstration projects
consistent with a comprehensive strategy for managing nutrients and active
community engagement throughout the research process.
The following institutions received grants:
-- Pennsylvania State University Center for Integrated Multi-scale Nutrient
Pollution Solutions, to focus on nutrient flows in Pennsylvania and the
Chesapeake basin;
-- University of South Florida Center for Reinventing Aging Infrastructure
for Nutrient Management, to support Tampa Bay and similar coastal areas as
they face problems of aging wastewater collection and treatment systems,
and rapid population growth;
-- Colorado State University, Center for Comprehensive, Optimal, and
Effective Abatement of Nutrients, for linking physical, biological, legal,
social and economic aspects of nutrient management in the Western and
Eastern United States; and
-- Water Environment Research Foundation, Alexandria, Va, National Center
for Resource Recovery and Nutrient Management, for innovative research in
nutrient reduction through resource recovery and behavioral factors
affecting acceptance and implementation.
For more information on the grants and projects, visit
http://epa.gov/ncer/nutrient.
For more information on EPA-funded research supporting water quality and
availability, visit http://www.epa.gov/research/waterscience.
EPA and Freddie Mac to Cut Carbon Pollution and Increase Affordability of
Multifamily Buildings
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Energy Star
program and Freddie Mac have signed an agreement that will help to cut
carbon pollution while increasing the affordability of multifamily housing
properties. The agreement outlines strategies to save water, energy and
money for multifamily property owners and residents.
"Boosting energy and water efficiency not only saves money and makes these
properties a better investment for owners and more affordable for families
who live there -- it is also an important step in the President's
commitment to fighting climate change by cutting energy waste in our
nation's buildings," said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "By making it easier to secure financing
for energy efficiency investments and providing data about energy use and
efficiency opportunities, these strategies will create lasting
environmental and public health benefits while making multifamily buildings
more efficient and valuable."
"Freddie Mac is proud to partner with the EPA in this effort," said
Mitchell Resnick, Freddie Mac Multifamily vice president of loan pricing
and securitization. "As one of the largest Commercial Mortgage-Backed
Securities (CMBS) issuers in the country, we are looking to guide the
industry and the CMBS market towards a greater sensitivity to
environmentally responsible lending and investing. This partnership is the
first of what we hope are many steps in that direction. We are looking at
how energy efficiency improves the financial viability of the apartments we
finance, and most importantly its impact on the affordability of rental
housing."
Roughly one-third of Americans live in apartments within multifamily
buildings, spending approximately $22 billion on energy every year. Rising
energy costs are contributing to the decline in affordability for many of
these Americans. Housing industry studies have projected that multifamily
properties can become 30 percent more efficient by 2020, unlocking $9
billion in energy savings and preventing more than 35 million metric tons
of greenhouse gas emissions per year.
In support of the President's Climate Action Plan, this memorandum of
understanding outlines key strategies to make multifamily housing more
affordable by encouraging building owners and tenants to benchmark their
energy and water performance and take steps to improve efficiency. Among
those strategies:
- Freddie Mac will explore the collection of energy and water performance
data from property owners during the loan underwriting and asset management
processes.
- By demonstrating the financial value of energy and water efficiency to
lenders and borrowers, Freddie Mac hopes to be able to influence lending
practices in ways that encourage investments in energy efficiency and make
multifamily housing units more affordable.
- EPA will assist Freddie Mac with these, and other, goals, by providing
technical and educational support in the use of the Energy Star Portfolio
Manager® energy management and tracking tool as well as other Energy Star
resources.
The President's Climate Action Plan calls for helping multifamily buildings
cut waste and becoming at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020.
While EPA has already been working with Fannie Mae and the U.S. Department
of Housing and Urban Development, this latest agreement with Freddie Mac is
another critical step forward in meeting the President's goal. Together,
these three organizations influence the largest sources of residential and
multifamily lending in the country.
Products, homes and buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label prevent
greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy efficiency requirements
set by the U.S. EPA. In 2012 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY
STAR, saved $26 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas
emissions equal to the annual electricity use from 35 million homes. From
the first ENERGY STAR qualified computer in 1992, the ENERGY STAR label can
now be found on products in more than 70 different categories, with more
than 4.5 billion sold over the past 20 years. Over 1.4 million new homes
and 20,000 office buildings, schools and hospitals have earned the ENERGY
STAR label.
More information on EPA's ENERGY STAR buildings program:
www.energystar.gov/buildings
More Information on Freddie Mac: www.FreddieMac.com
