Friday, February 28, 2014

News Clippings 2.28.14

2.28.2014



Oil Spill





BP gets slick in trying to undermine gulf oil spill settlement
In full-page ads, BP ridicules payouts it believes are undeserved,
including $8 million to famed chef Emeril Lagasse and $173,000 to an escort
service.
LA Times


It would be perfectly proper for BP, the giant British oil company, to feel
a sense of corporate remorse.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20140221,0,1294413.column#axzz2uGLX3193





Why I want to get BP in front of a jury of Alabamians (Opinion from
Attorney General Luther Strange)
AL.com
February 26, 2014
By Luther Strange



It has been almost four years since the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil

spill in the Gulf of Mexico, America's biggest environmental disaster.

Making Alabama whole from this disaster has been and remains a top

priority.

http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/02/why_i_want_to_get_bp_in_front.html






New sentence date for ex-BP engineer fighting conviction on obstruction
charge


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

February 28, 2014



NEW ORLEANS — Sentencing for a former BP engineer found guilty of
obstructing justice in the government's investigation of the Deepwater
Horizon disaster has been pushed back while his lawyers fight the
conviction.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/0f0168a0da9d429ebe5b4eabaa78427d/LA--Gulf-Oil-Spill-Deleted-Texts




State





Coast to see $10.9 million for oyster, blue crab fisheries disasters
Sun Herald

BY LAUREN WALCK



The tide started to turn this week for harvesters of oysters and blue

crabs, who have been struggling in the Sound since the 2011 Mississippi

River flooding.





The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the state

will get $10.9 million for fisheries disaster relief, part of $75 million

nationally for six troubled areas.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/27/5376767/coast-to-see-109-million-for-oyster.html






Oil-rich shale formation gushes high hopes in southwest Mississippi

The Associated Press



February 27, 2014 at 12:50 PM



GILLSBURG, Mississippi -- Residents living above an oil-rich shale

formation that stretches across southwest Mississippi and Louisiana have

been waiting on a boom for years. A steady trickle of drilling is already

boosting the rural region's economy, and spending by two oil companies

could make 2014 the year that many other locals finally cash in on the oil

far beneath their feet.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/oil-rich_shale_formation_gushe.html#incart_river




Mississippi Town Waits for Oil Jackpot






AP





Video





http://video.ap.org/Mississippi-Town-Waits-for-Oil-Jackpot--25663750#.UxCQQ_k7tca






Mayor of Hattiesburg plans to veto sewer rate increase



WDAM



HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -Mayor Johnny DuPree has announced that he will veto
a city ordinance that would drastically increase Hattiesburg's city sewer
rates.
http://www.wdam.com/story/24843884/mayor-of-hattiesburg-plans-to-veto-sewer-rate-increase


Vetoed: Mayor DuPree says annual sewer rate increases too much for many
Hattiesburg residents to bear


Hattiesburg American



Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree concedes that the city's sewer rates — and

by extension, its water bills — will have to be raised to help pay for a

new wastewater treatment system that the city has to have operating by

2017.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140228/NEWS01/302280035/Vetoed-Mayor-DuPree-says-annual-sewer-rate-increases-too-much-many-Hattiesburg-residents-bear




Probe planned of city's sewer system


Hattiesburg American



Hattiesburg will begin a city-wide examination of its sanitary sewer system

Monday that in the end will give consulting engineers, city administrators

and elected officials a comprehensive map of the underground lines and any

issues with them.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140228/NEWS01/302280036/Probe-planned-city-s-sewer-system




Local city consolidates recycling location options


WTVA





TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - There is a sign on the side of fire station 6

informing people that there is no longer recycling bins to recycle at.

http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Local-city-consolidates-recycling-location-options/eE7Fbb1IzkCMxJJAJ8JGlQ.cspx






Pontotoc Co Looks to Save Money and the Environment with Fuel Switch



WCBI


PONTOTOC, MS (WCBI) – While most people think of natural gas as a fuel
source to heat their homes or run clothes dryers or stoves, some
communities are exploring other uses. As WCBI's Allie Martin reports, one
local city is joining the small but growing number of places using it to
power vehicles.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-pontotoc-county-looks-to-save-money-and-the-environment-with-fuel-switch





National





Watchdog: EPA officials obstructed probes through 'intimidation'


Fox News


The chief watchdog overseeing the Environmental Protection Agency is
accusing agency officials of obstructing investigations by refusing to
cooperate, using bully tactics to silence lower-level workers and, in at
least one instance, threatening an agent.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/27/watchdog-epa-officials-obstructed-probes-through-intimidation/





Nuclear dump leak raises questions about cleanup
BY JERI CLAUSING

Associated Press



CARLSBAD, N.M. — For 15 years the trucks have barreled past southeastern

New Mexico's potash mines and seemingly endless fields of oil rigs, hauling

decades worth of plutonium-contaminated waste to what is supposed to be a

safe and final resting place a half mile underground in the salt beds of

the Permian Basin.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/28/5377004/nuclear-dump-leak-raises-questions.html




Wyoming top in CO2 per person amid new regulations

AP


CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Turns out the worst state for carbon dioxide
emissions per person isn't smoggy California or bustling New York, but a
state famous for big, clear skies: Wyoming.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2014/feb/27/wyoming-top-in-co2-per-person-amid-new-regulations/

Thursday, February 27, 2014

News Clippings 2.27.14

2.27.2014



Oil Spill





Louisiana coastal authority approves $725 million 2015 plan for levee and

restoration work

Mark Schleifstein

The Times-Picayune

February 26, 2014 at 10:08 PM



Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on Wednesday

approved a $725 million plan for fiscal year 2015 that includes $477

million for construction of levees and coastal restoration projects.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/02/louisiana_coastal_authority_ap.html





Judge denies BP's request to delay seafood claims payments

Jennifer Larino

The Times-Picayune

February 26, 2014 at 4:52 PM



A federal judge Wednesday refused a request by BP to postpone oil spill

compensation payments to seafood workers after the oil giant argued that

the program should be put on hold because of fraud claims against a Texas

lawyer.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/02/judge_denies_bps_request_to_de.html





BP loses ruling on payments to seafood workers
Bloomberg




BP lost a bid to have a judge suspend about $1.3 billion in payments to
seafood industry workers who are part of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill
settlement because of alleged improprieties by a lawyer involved in the
accord.


http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/26/bp-loses-ruling-on-payments-to-seafood-workers/





Oil spill trial delayed for former BP executive accused of lying to

Congress

The Associated Press



A federal judge has indefinitely delayed the trial of a former BP executive

accused of lying to Congress in 2010 about the amount of oil that was

spewing from the company's blown-out well.

http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/02/oil_spill_trial_delayed_for_fo.html





80 percent of oil removed from Gulf after 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill

WAFB


(WAFB) -There is some good news regarding cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico
following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.wafb.com/story/24832604/80-percent-of-oil-removed-from-gulf-after-2010-deepwater-horizon-oil-spill





State





Groundworx sewer saga continues in Hattiesburg

WDAM


HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -The sewage odor that has been dubbed "the
Hattiesburg Smell" by area residents described the stench that seeps its
way into the airways of city homes every day.
http://www.wdam.com/story/24832568/groundworx-sewer-saga-continues-in-hattiesburg





April 22 set for E-Waste Day
Clarion Ledger


The next Business e-Waste Day is 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 22 at the

Mississippi Farmer's Market on High Street in Jackson.



http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140227/BIZ/302260045/April-22-set-E-Waste-Day







Taylor, Wiggins try to smooth over disagreement about DMR
DMR oversight is the issue
Sun Herald

BY PAUL HAMPTON



After exchanging a couple of letters criticizing one another, the chairman

of the Commission on Marine Resources and the chairman of the state Senate

committee that deals with the Department of Marine Resources reached

something of a truce.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/26/5373323/taylor-wiggins-try-to-smooth-over.html




CMR chairman takes issue with state senator's facts and concerns

WLOX


BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The chairman of the Commission on Marine Resources takes
issue with concerns raised by a state senator regarding the expansion of a
fishing reef with salvaged concrete.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24833630/cmr-chairman-takes-issue-with-state-senators-facts-and-concerns





Regional







Georgia governor Nathan Deal endorses Flint River water plan

By Ray Henry
The Associated Press
Published: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 12:00 p.m.

ATLANTA | Gov. Nathan Deal endorsed a plan Wednesday that would allow

environmental officials to restrict farmers from taking water from the

Flint River basin during droughts, though opponents say that legal power

could be used to send more water to Florida and are backing a different

plan.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20140226/news/140229730?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter






How is ADEM protecting the environment?



Fox 10


FOX10 News is taking a closer look at how the Alabama Department of

Environmental Management is protecting you and the environment.



ADEM's mission is to enforce environmental laws and protect you, the land,

air and water. But some are skeptical about how effective the agency is at

enforcing the law.

http://fox10tv.com/2014/02/26/special-report-how-is-adem-protecting-the-environment/







National






States move to limit EPA's clean water authority

MSNBC



Florida, Texas and Alaska are nowhere near the Chesapeake Bay. But that

hasn't stopped those states from trying to intervene in the EPA's cleanup

of the mid-Atlantic estuary.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/states-rights-or-consequence-free-pollution







Feeling The Fiscal Squeeze, EPA Seeks To Slim Down

NPR
by BRIAN NAYLOR
February 26, 2014


Audio Only


The Environmental Protection Agency is offering buyouts to some of its
employees. The move comes as a number of federal agencies, under pressure
from the sequester, are trying to slim their budgets.
http://www.npr.org/2014/02/26/283066689/feeling-the-fiscal-squeeze-epa-seeks-to-slim-down





Opinion






BP Gulf Spill Restitution: Rule of Law, Please





BP





Responsible adults tell the next generation to do the right thing. Follow

the law. Act with integrity. If you make a mistake, admit it, accept the

consequences, and be better for it.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertbradley/2014/02/26/bp-gulf-spill-restitution-rule-of-law-please/print/

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

News Clippings 2.26.14

2.26.14



Oil Spill





Even after BP's change of heart, claims settlement process rolls on

Press-Register

Michael Finch II

February 25, 2014 at 6:57 PM



MOBILE, Alabama -- The strange mix of circumstances surrounding BP's oil

spill claims process have gotten even murkier lately as the British oil

giant began buying ads in newspapers decrying the process rife with fraud.

http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/even_after_bps_change_of_heart.html






BP seeks to halt payments to seafood-industry claimants

Baton Rouge Advocate

BY RICHARD THOMPSON

A Texas lawyer who is the target of a federal probe into whether he grossly

inflated the number of clients he represented in the wake of the 2010 Gulf

of Mexico oil spill is due in federal court in New Orleans on Wednesday, as

BP takes aim at the $2.3 billion deal it brokered to compensate the seafood

industry for losses suffered by commercial fishing vessel owners, captains,

fishermen and crew members.



http://theadvocate.com/home/8465058-125/bp-seeks-to-halt-payments




Governor appoints six to Gulf Consortium

By News Herald staff
Tuesday, February 25, 2014

TALLAHASSEE -- The governor has appointed six Panhandle residents to the

Gulf Consortium, a board created to help allocate RESTORE Act dollars.

http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/governor-appoints-six-to-gulf-consortium-1.282900






BP begins oil production at major Gulf of Mexico deepwater hub

Jennifer Larino

The Times-Picayune

February 25, 2014 at 4:32 PM



BP has started production at a key offshore oil and gas hub, its third

major deepwater drilling project to begin flowing oil and gas in the Gulf

of Mexico this year, the company said this week.

http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/02/bp_begins_oil_production_at_ma.html





State





Questions remain about wastewater treatment plan
Hattiesburg American


For about two hours Tuesday night at the Hattiesburg Train Depot, a cascade

of voices veered from sharing straight-up concerns to injecting somewhat

baffling asides only tangentially related to the topic at hand.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140226/NEWS01/302260013/Questions-remain-about-wastewater-treatment-plan




DEQ hosts public hearing on Hattiesburg waste water treatment

WDAM


HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -Concerned Hattiesburg-area residents met with the
Mississippi Dept. of Environmental Quality Tuesday night to voice their
concerns about a new plan by the city to treat its waste water.
http://www.wdam.com/story/24823511/deq-hosts-public-hearing-on-hattiesburg-waste-water-treatment





Wiggins gets little response from DMR about spending
Sun Herald

BY PAUL HAMPTON



State Sen. Brice Wiggins didn't care for the response he got from the

Commission on Marine Resources when he raised concerns about Department of

Marine Resources spending.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/25/5370063/wiggins-gets-little-response-from.html




Cleveland recycling grows


Bolivar Commercial


by Denise Strub


It has been a little over a year since Cleveland began its recycling
program and since that time it has grown by bags and bales.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/24638981/article-Cleveland-recycling-grows?instance=main_article



Ridgeland joins Keep America Beautiful affiliates


Clarion Ledger



An affiliation ceremony was held Tuesday afternoon for the city of

Ridgeland in the City Hall boardroom. The Keep Ridgeland Beautiful

organization joins the national affiliates of Keep America Beautiful, which

brings people together to sustain vibrant communities.

http://blogs.clarionledger.com/theburbs/2014/02/25/ridgeland-joins-keep-america-beautiful-affiliates/






Keesler hospital earns energy-efficiency award from EPA


by MBJ Staff
Published: February 24,2014

BILOXI — Keesler Medical Center has earned its second consecutive
Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Award.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/24/keesler-hospital-earns-energy-efficiency-award-epa/




National





Emergency DOT order mandates rail crude oil tests

The Hill

By Laura Barron-Lopez


The Department of Transportation on Tuesday issued an emergency order
mandating stricter standards for shippers transporting crude oil by rail.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199223-dot-mandates-shippers-test-crude-oil-transported-via-rail



Data Harvesting Worries Farmers

Seed Makers Barrel Into Technology Business

Wall Street Journal


Big agricultural companies say the next revolution on the farm will come

from feeding data gathered by tractors and other machinery into computers

that tell farmers how to increase their output of crops like corn and

soybeans.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304450904579369283869192124.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6







Press Releases





EPA Honors Corporate Leadership in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Center
for Corporate Climate Leadership announced the third annual Climate
Leadership Award winners in partnership with the Association of Climate
Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
and The Climate Registry (TCR). Nineteen awards were given to 15
organizations and two individuals in the public and private sectors for
their leadership in addressing climate change by reducing carbon pollution.

The 2014 Climate Leadership Award recipients are:


Organizational Leadership Award: City of Chula Vista, Sprint, and
University of California, Irvine

Individual Leadership Award: Sam Brooks, Associate Director, D.C.
Department of General Services, and Robert Taylor, Energy Manager,
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Supply Chain Leadership Award: Sprint

Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Achievement Award): The
Boeing Company; Caesars Entertainment; Cisco Systems, Inc.; Ecolab;
The Hartford; IBM; Johnson Controls; Kohl's Department Stores; Mack
Trucks; and Novelis

Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Setting Certificate):
Fruit of the Loom, Inc.; Hasbro, Inc.; and Kohl's Department Stores



"Our Climate Leadership Award winners have made great strides in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, and are providing leadership nationwide in many
sectors of our economy," said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator
for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Their innovative approaches and
commitment to reducing carbon pollution demonstrate that efforts to address
climate change are repaid by saving money and energy, while supporting more
livable and resilient communities, and a healthier, better protected
environment now and for future generations."

The national awards program recognizes and incentivizes exemplary
corporate, organizational, and individual leadership in response to climate
change. Award recipients represent a wide array of industries, including
finance, manufacturing, retail, technology, higher education and local
government.

"The Association of Climate Change Officers is pleased to recognize another
exceptional class of organizations and individuals who are demonstrating
leadership in driving climate action into their organizational cultures,"
said Daniel Kreeger, ACCO's co-founder and executive director. "These award
recipients are demonstrating critical devotion and leadership to managing
and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the risks and
challenges posed by climate change. These recipients are role models for
corporate, organizational, and individual leaders who can and should be
responding proactively to climate change risks and opportunities."

"Communities and businesses are already experiencing the impacts of climate
change, and we need to act now to protect both our environment and our
economy," said C2ES President Eileen Claussen. "We join EPA in applauding
the winners of the Climate Leadership Awards. These companies,
organizations, and individuals demonstrate that we can save energy, reduce
emissions, and take decisive steps toward a low-carbon future. We hope
their accomplishments will serve as an example for others to follow."

"The Climate Registry applauds this year's Climate Leadership Award winners
for demonstrating a meaningful, results-oriented response to climate
change," said David Rosenheim, executive director of TCR. "Exhibiting
transparency, consistent metrics, and innovative mitigation measures, our
deserving award recipients are building a stronger platform for policy,
innovation, and business solutions to reducing carbon pollution."

The President's Climate Action Plan calls on the federal government to work
with all stakeholders to take action to cut the harmful carbon pollution
that fuels climate change. These organizations and individuals are working
to do just that.

The awards are held in conjunction with the 2014 Climate Leadership
Conference at the Hyatt Mission Bay Hotel in San Diego, Calif.

More information about the 2014 Climate Leadership Award winners is
available at www.epa.gov/climateleadership/awards/2014winners.html

The EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership was launched in 2012 to
establish norms of climate leadership by encouraging organizations with
emerging climate objectives to identify and achieve cost-effective GHG
emission reductions, while helping more advanced organizations drive
innovations in reducing their greenhouse gas impacts in their supply chains
and beyond. The Center serves as a comprehensive resource to help
organizations of all sizes measure and manage GHG emissions, providing
technical tools, ground-tested guidance, educational resources, and
opportunities for information sharing and peer exchange among organizations
interested in reducing the environmental impacts associated with climate
change.

More information about EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership:
www.epa.gov/climateleadership

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

News Clippings 2.25.14

2.25.2014



Oil Spill





Appeals court upholds dismissal of 11 parish suits against BP under

Louisiana wildlife law

Mark Schleifstein

The Times-Picayune

February 24, 2014 at 9:18 PM



The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday upheld a lower court's

dismissal of lawsuits filed by 11 Louisiana parishes that sought to recover

penalties from BP and its drilling partners under a Louisiana law for

pollution-related losses of aquatic life and wildlife resulting from the

Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill. The 5th Circuit agreed that the

suits were preempted by federal law.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2014/02/appeals_court_upholds_dismissa.html





BP Claims Administrator Patrick Juneau to tour art museum in Mobile

Press-Register

Michael Finch II

February 24, 2014 at 9:17 PM



MOBILE, Alabama -- The Mobile Museum of Art will host Patrick Juneau,

claims administrator for the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, early Tuesday.


The visit will include a tour of the museum's refurbished and reconfigured

art galleries, which were made possible with a $500,000 grant from a BP

Tourism and Seafood Promotional Fund.

http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/bp_claims_administrator_patric.html





State





Concerns raised about DMR spending on fishing reef project

WLOX


BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -More than 500 concrete pilings from the demolition of
the old Margaritaville will be given to the DMR to use on nearby Katrina
reef, located just south of Deer Island.


State Senator Brice Wiggins sent a letter, raising concerns about the DMR
spending thousands of dollars on the salvaged concrete.


http://www.wlox.com/story/24810168/concerns-raised-about-dmr-spending-on-fishing-reef-project





Denbury Resources fights tax on carbon dioxide extraction

The Associated Press



February 24, 2014 at 5:02 PM



JACKSON, Mississippi -- Denbury Resources is fighting an attempt to tax

carbon dioxide drilled from underground deposits in Mississippi, another in

a series of efforts to penalize the oil producer for shipping carbon

dioxide out of state instead of using it in Mississippi.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/denbury_resources_fights_tax_o.html#incart_river





Pipeline hearing gets testy
Legislator, energy executive spar over tax exemption
Clarion Ledger


A House committee hearing on a bill that would remove carbon dioxide's

exemption from the state's oil and gas severance tax got testy when it came

time to parse the legislation's economics.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140225/NEWS010504/302250029/Pipeline-hearing-gets-testy







Regional





Coast Guard reopens all portions of the Mississippi River

Jed Lipinski

The Times-Picayune

February 24, 2014 at 6:00 PM



The Mississippi River has reopened with restrictions as of 1:30 p.m.,

following the closure of a 65-mile stretch of the waterway due to an oil

spill near Vacherie on Saturday afternoon, the Coast Guard reported.



http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/02/coast_guard_reopens_all_portio.html#incart_river





National





For the Supreme Court, a Case Poses a Puzzle on the E.P.A.'s Authority


NY Times

By ADAM LIPTAK

FEB. 24, 2014


WASHINGTON — In trying to decide whether the Environmental
Protection Agency has the authority under two programs to
regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources
like power plants, the Supreme Court on Monday faced what
Justice Elena Kagan called "the conundrum here."



http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/us/justices-weigh-conundrum-on-epa-authority.html?ref=earth&_r=0





Supreme Court divided on whether EPA has overreached on greenhouse gas
rules



Washington Post


By Robert Barnes

The Supreme Court was divided Monday over whether the Obama
administration's Environmental Protection Agency had gone too far in trying
to regulate power plant and factory emissions of gases blamed for global
warming.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-divided-on-whether-epa-has-overreached-on-greenhouse-gas-rules/2014/02/24/78852f6c-9d93-11e3-9ba6-800d1192d08b_story.html




Justices Divided on EPA Greenhouse-Gas Case



Supreme Court Weighs Arguments on Agency's Move to Cut Emissions From
Stationary Polluters

Wall Street Journal


WASHINGTON—An Obama -administration effort to cut greenhouse-gas emissions

faced an uncertain fate at the Supreme Court on Monday, with justices

sharply divided over industry claims that the government is going too far

in applying the Clean Air Act.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304834704579403493490838398?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5






Justice Kennedy skeptical of EPA's powers

The Hill




The Supreme Court's swing vote on Monday voiced skepticism of a key plank
in the Obama administration's efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions.




Justice Anthony Kennedy on Monday suggested he believed the Environmental
Protection Agency overstepped its bounds in the way it is requiring
greenhouse gases be regulated under permits for power plants, factories and
other "stationary" sources.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199079-justice-kennedy-skeptical-of-epas-powers







EPA threatens Pa. over pollution rule


The Hill




The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is threatening to sanction
Pennsylvania unless it complies with a three-year-old air pollution rule.




The EPA on Monday said Pennsylvania is the only state that has not complied
with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards that federal regulators set
for lead.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/199091-epa-threatens-pa-over-pollution-rule







'Big data' going public?

By Julian Hattem


The Hill




The Commerce Department wants to unleash the power of "big data," but it's
looking for the public's help.




On Monday, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
released a formal request asking for private companies to help make its
immense amounts of data on the air, oceans and climate available to the
public.
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/199128-noaa-looks-to-bring-big-data-to-public







Opinion






The Environmental Protection Agency's Breathtakingly Lawless Attempt To


Regulate Greenhouse Gases





Forbes





By MARLO LEWIS





Yesterday the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Utility Air Regulatory

Group v. EPA. The case is the first since Massachusetts v. EPA (2007) to

examine the extent of the EPA's Clean Air Act authority to regulate

greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/02/25/the-environmental-protection-agencys-breathtakingly-lawless-attempt-to-regulate-greenhouse-gases/







Press Releases


|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Announces New Grants to Help Communities Meet Water Challenges in |
| Coming Years |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| $6 Million in Fiscal Year 2014, Up to $30 Million Over Next Five Years |
| Available |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, Feb. 24, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced |
|today that USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) will |
|make $6 million in grants available this year, and up to $30 million total |
|over the next five years as part of a new initiative to provide solutions to|
|agricultural water challenges. The grants will be used to develop management|
|practices, technologies and tools for farmers, ranchers, forest owners and |
|citizens to improve water resource quantity and quality. |
| |
| |
|"Cutting edge research holds the key to tackling the complex challenges |
|posed by prolonged drought and ensuring the future food security of our |
|nation," said Secretary Vilsack. "These grants will help arm America's |
|farmers and ranchers with the tools and strategies they need to adapt and |
|succeed, and build on ongoing, cross-governmental efforts to provide relief |
|to those impacted by severe drought." |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement builds on USDA efforts to help farmers, ranchers and |
|forest landowners mitigate the impacts of drought, including implementation |
|of the livestock disaster assistance programs provided through the 2014 Farm|
|Bill and $40 million in additional conservation dollars. |
| |
| |
|NIFA has identified three critical topics that will be funded through this |
|new challenge area: 1) ensuring the water security of surface and ground |
|water needed to produce agricultural goods and services; 2) improving |
|nutrient management in agricultural landscapes focused on nitrogen and |
|phosphorous; and 3) reducing impacts of chemicals and the presence and |
|movement of environmental pathogens in the nation's water supply. NIFA's |
|approach will link social, economic, and behavioral sciences with |
|traditional biophysical sciences and engineering to address regional scale |
|issues with shared hydrological processes, and meteorological and basin |
|characteristics. |
| |
| |
|NIFA is expected to make $30 million available over the next five years for |
|the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) water challenge area, |
|with the expectation that the new projects awarded this fiscal year would |
|receive additional funding in the following four years. All additional |
|funding is contingent on future congressional appropriations and achievement|
|of project objectives and milestones. |
| |
| |
|Building on its investment in water research, NIFA will also fund projects |
|through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP), which |
|addresses critical water resource issues including water quality protection |
|and water conservation. The RFA for this program is expected to be released |
|in the spring of 2014. |
| |
| |
|The NIWQP supports research, education and Extension projects and programs |
|that address critical water resource issues in agricultural, rural and |
|urbanizing watersheds. These projects reflect the growing need to combine |
|knowledge from biological and physical sciences with social and economic |
|sciences to address complex water issues. |
| |
| |
|The NIWQP focuses on addressing water issues at the watershed scale. |
|Projects funded by the NIWQP are outcome-oriented, aiming to increase |
|awareness and change behaviors related to water resource management. |
| |
| |
|Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension|
|programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues |
|impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is |
|available at: www.nifa.usda.gov. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Monday, February 24, 2014

News Clippings 2.24.14

2.24.2014



Oil Spill





5th Circuit deputy clerk: 'Staff error' caused wrong ruling on BP's request
to have full court review oil spill settlement
WWL


NEW ORLEANS -- A three-judge panel of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
kept alive BP's request to have the full court review its expensive
settlement with private businesses affected by its 2010 oil spill.
But only after a whole lot of confusion.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/Three-judge-panel-rejects-BPs-attempt-to-have-2010-settlement-reviewed-246520461.html






BP's ready for new U.S. energy contracts, official says

UPI
Published: Feb. 24, 2014 at 6:01 AM

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- British energy
company BP is close to getting relief from a 2012 ban on new oil contracts
secured through the U.S. government, a company official said.

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2014/02/24/BPs-ready-for-new-US-energy-contracts-official-says/UPI-97141393239713/




Four years after oil accident, BP giving cash to Alabama politicians
Feb 23, 2014
Anniston Star

MONTGOMERY — Nearly four years after an oil spill that killed an entire
summer of tourism along the Gulf coast, the employee PAC for the oil
company BP is dipping its toes in Alabama's political waters again.
http://www.thepiedmontjournal.com/view/full_story/24630073/article-Four-years-after-oil-accident--BP-giving-cash-to-Alabama-politicians?instance=news_secondary



Dispute over law firm's oil spill claims continues



By KEVIN McGILL


Associated Press / February 21, 2014


NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP is pressing a federal court to disallow a $7.9

million Gulf oil spill claim awarded to a Louisiana law firm.

http://www.boston.com/business/news/2014/02/21/dispute-over-law-firm-oil-spill-claims-continues/92IglkRP0GJcMaYb4iUB1O/story.html







State







MDEQ: Claim of incomplete permit review for silicon plant a 'guise' by

competitor


MBJ
by Ted Carter
Published: February 21,2014

The head of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality says an
Alabama silicon manufacturer's claim that the state agency erred in
granting an operating permit to competitor Mississippi Silicon Metals lacks
merit.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/21/mdeq-claim-incomplete-permit-review-silicon-plant-guise-competitor/




Gautier working to keep its bodies of water cleaner

WLOX


GAUTIER, MS (WLOX) -One coast city is going beyond telling people to not
litter the land, it's also telling people to not litter the water.


The City of Gautier is the first coast city to take part in the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality's stream sign initiative.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24797218/gautier-working-to-keep-its-bodies-of-water-cleaner





14th Ave. drainage project moving forward
Commercial Dispatch


Nathan Gregory
February 21, 2014

A painstaking process to make drainage improvements to a contaminated ditch
on 14th Avenue North is taking a major step forward.

Columbus councilmen authorized mayor Robert Smith to execute an
environmental action and transfer agreement between the city and Multistate
Environmental Response Trust (MST). The agreement is expected to be
finalized next week when representatives of both entities discuss the
agreement's terms and closing dates.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=31363



Enerkem's biofuel plant in Pontotoc still on drawing board


By Dennis Seid



Daily Journal



PONTOTOC – Five years have passed, and a planned $100 million ethanol plant

is no closer to being built.



Little has changed from a year ago, when company officials said they were

committed to the project and were working to "move the project forward."

http://djournal.com/news/enerkems-biofuel-plant-pontotoc-still-drawing-board/






MDEQ issues another water contact advisory


by MBJ Staff
Published: February 21,2014

OCEAN SPRINGS — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ),
through its Beach Monitoring Program, has issued a water contact advisory
for one sampling station in Jackson County.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/21/mdeq-issues-another-water-contact-advisory/




Moss Point working to repair main water line that busted at reverse osmosis

plant

Mississippi Press

Myya Robinson

February 21, 2014 at 5:15 PM



MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- Moss Point crews are working to repair a main

water line that busted at the city's reverse osmosis plant, according to

Mayor Billy Broomfield.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/moss_point_working_to_repair_m.html#incart_river





George County supervisors OK contract for next round of work on $50 million

reservoir project

Mississippi Press

Gareth Clary

February 21, 2014



LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- The George County Board of Supervisors this week

approved a $1 million contract with the Pat Harrison Waterway District and

Jackson-based Pickering Engineering for the next phase of work on the

Southeast Mississippi Regional Water Supply Project, more commonly known as

Lake George.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/george_county_supervisors_ok_1.html





Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent on the move
WTVA


TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- She's a mountain woman ready to take on the
Magnolia State.

Mary Risser is the new Natchez Trace Parkway Superintendent.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Natchez-Trace-Parkway-Superintendent-on-the-move/OIgY5-QByUe9UAGFqS2EjA.cspx





Regional





Barge oil spill closes Mississippi River at New Orleans
AP


NEW ORLEANS — A 65-mile stretch of the Mississippi River remained closed at

New Orleans on Monday following a weekend collision that resulted in crude

oil spilling from a barge.

http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20140224/NEWS01/140224002/Barge-oil-spill-closes-Mississippi-River-New-Orleans







National






Supreme Court Climate Case Looks at EPA's Power




AP




Industry groups and Republican-led states are heading an attack at the


Supreme Court against the Obama administration's sole means of trying to


limit power-plant and factory emissions of gases blamed for global warming.


http://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/supreme-court-climate-case-looks-epas-power-n36591





Supreme Court weighs EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gases
The Hill

By Laura Barron-Lopez





The Supreme Court on Monday will hear challenges to an Obama administration
greenhouse gas regulation.

The program in question is the Environmental Protection Agency's permitting
process for industry sources, which includes coal-fired power plants,
chemical facilities and oil refineries.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198962-supreme-court-weighs-epa-authority-to-regulate-greenhouse-gases



Federal wood burning rule prompts rural backlash


By DAVID A. LIEB
Associated Press



JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A federal proposal to clean up the smoke wafting

from wood-burning stoves has sparked a backlash from some rural residents,

lawmakers and manufacturers who fear it could close the damper on one of

the oldest ways of warming homes on cold winter days.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/EPA-wood-stove-proposal-prompt-rural-backlash-5260343.php







Colorado first state to regulate methane emissions

The Hill

By Laura Barron-Lopez


Colorado approved groundbreaking controls on emissions from oil and natural
gas operations as a means to curb increasing smog.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199015-colorado-first-state-to-regulate-methane-emissions






Opinion






The 'Absurd Results' Power Grab


Can the EPA simply rewrite a law to suit its policy goals?

Wall Street Journal


The Obama Administration's penchant for rewriting the law via regulation

will get a major test on Monday when the Supreme Court hears a challenge to

the Environmental Protection Agency's "carbon endangerment" rule. This case

is especially significant because it will determine whether the agency can

rewrite its own previous rewrite of the Clean Air Act to bypass the normal

channels of democratic consent.



http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914204579397003756191282






The EPA 'Spy' and Double Standards


Gina McCarthy gets a pass, while Mark Townsend gets a threat.

Wall Street Journal


The official story about the Environmental Protection Agency fraudster who

pretended to work for the CIA has collapsed. It turns out that EPA

Administrator Gina McCarthy not only didn't uncover John Beale's crimes.

She helped him collect extra taxpayer money and appears to have ignored

critical evidence of his fraud more than two years before he left the

agency. Meanwhile, in another EPA case, the government has threatened an

employee with prison time for alleged management errors that appear far

less serious than those of Ms. McCarthy.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303491404579391463486610206







BLOOMBERG VIEW: Fracking doesn't have to leave us parched
BY AND EDITORIAL OPINIONOF BLOOMBERG VIEW

February 23, 2014



Among the environmental worries posed by hydraulic fracturing, including

the release of methane into the air and contamination of groundwater, one

has recently escalated: the concern that the enormous quantities of water

used in fracking will leave parts of the country parched.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/23/5363614/bloomberg-view-fracking-doesnt.html

Friday, February 21, 2014

News Clippings 2/21/14

2/21/2014



Oil Spill





Judge delays trial for two BP well site leaders
AP




NEW ORLEANS — The trial for two BP employees charged in the deadly 2010
explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig has been put on hold while
a federal appeals court considers the dismissal of some of the manslaughter
charges filed against them.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/20/judge-delays-trial-for-two-bp-well-site-leaders/





Judge rejects Mix's motion seeking his recusal
AP




NEW ORLEANS The federal judge who presided over the trial of a former BP
engineer found guilty of obstructing justice in the government's
investigation of the Deepwater Horizon disaster has denied a defense motion
to disqualify him from the case.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/19/judge-rejects-mixs-motion-seeking-his-recusal/





State





Potential solutions for Lake Serene dams on the horizon
Hattiesburg American


When it comes to the Lake Serene system and its dams, the fix appears to be

in.



Or at least, on the way.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140221/NEWS01/302210016/Potential-solutions-Lake-Serene-dams-horizon







Plea accepted: Scott Walker pleads guilty to conspiracy, fraud
US attorney says investigation remains open
Sun Herald

BY ANITA LEE



HATTIESBURG -- Scott Walker turned down a federal plea deal in October, but

after he saw the case being built against him and learned his co-defendant

had cut a deal, the 34-year-old realized he would have to accept a less

generous plea agreement prosecutors extended this week, his attorneys told

a judge Thursday.





http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/20/5355292/scott-walker-pleads-guilty-to.html







Scott Walker pleads guilty to 2 federal crimes, heads to hospital for birth

of son

Mississippi Press



April M. Havens



February 21, 2014 at 1:38 AM



HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Scott Walker this morning pleaded guilty to

theft concerning programs receiving federal funds and conspiracy in two

separate federal cases.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/scott_walker_guilty_plea_to_co.html#incart_river





Walker faces 15 years in prison, possible $500k fine

WLOX


HATTIESBURG, MS (WLOX) -Friday, Scott Walker will become a father for the
second time. Thursday he became a confessed felon, by pleading guilty to
two federal conspiracy and fraud charges in U.S. District Court.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24776142/walker-faces-15-years-in-prison-possible-500k-fine





National





BNSF plans to upgrade tanker fleet after accidents
BY MATTHEW BROWN

Associated Press

BILLINGS, MONT. — BNSF Railway Co. said it intends to buy a fleet of 5,000

strengthened tank cars to haul oil and ethanol in a move that would set a

higher benchmark for safety within an industry that's seen multiple major

accidents.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/21/5357633/bnsf-plans-to-upgrade-tanker-fleet.html



EPA to overhaul pesticide regs

The Hill

By Ben Goad


The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing new regulations to
safeguard the nation's millions of agricultural workers against pesticide
poisoning.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/pending-regs/198864-epa-to-overhaul-pesticide-regs



Doctors push for curbs on traffic pollution


The Hill





A group of doctors is urging the Obama administration to push through rules
that would reduce traffic pollution in an effort to prevent lung disease,
asthma attacks and other cardiovascular problems.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/198837-doctors-push-for-curbs-on-traffic-pollution






Exxon CEO Joins Suit Citing Fracking Concerns



Residents of Dallas Suburb Fight Construction of Tower That Would Provide
Water for Drilling
Wall Street Journal


BARTONVILLE, Texas—One evening last November, a tall, white-haired man

turned up at a Town Council meeting to protest construction of a water

tower near his home in this wealthy community outside Dallas.



http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304899704579391181466603804






Nuclear-Waste Leak Reported at New Mexico Repository



Officials Say Radiation Poses No Threat to Public Health
AP


Federal officials Thursday confirmed a leak of nuclear waste at a

southeastern New Mexico repository, but it could be weeks before workers

can safely access the underground dump to determine what happened.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304914204579395551708681172?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5







Press Releases





EPA Proposes New Safety Measures to Protect Farm Workers from Pesticide
Exposure

WASHINGTON —Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced
proposed revisions to the Worker Protection Standard in order to protect
the nation's two million farm workers and their families from pesticide
exposure.

"Today marks an important milestone for the farm workers who plant, tend,
and harvest the food that we put on our tables each day," said Gina
McCarthy, EPA Administrator. "EPA's revised Worker Protection Standard will
afford farm workers similar health protections to those already enjoyed by
workers in other jobs. Protecting our nation's farm workers from pesticide
exposure is at the core of EPA's work to ensure environmental justice."

EPA is proposing significant improvements to worker training regarding the
safe usage of pesticides, including how to prevent and effectively treat
pesticide exposure. Increased training and signage will inform farm workers
about the protections they are afforded under the law and will help them
protect themselves and their families from pesticide exposure.

Workers and others near treated fields will now be protected from pesticide
overspray and fumes. In addition, EPA has proposed that children under 16
be legally barred from handling all pesticides, with an exemption for
family farms. These revisions protect workers while ensuring agricultural
productivity and preserving the traditions of family farms.

This proposal represents more than a decade of extensive stakeholder input
by federal and state partners and from across the agricultural community
including farm workers, farmers, and industry on the current EPA Worker
Protection Standard (WPS) for Agricultural Pesticides first established in
1992.

For more information on the EPA's Proposed Worker Protection Standard:
http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/workers/proposed/index.html

Thursday, February 20, 2014

News Clippings 2.20.14

2/20/14



Oil Spill





BP official says it's getting closer to EPA agreement
AP




NEW ORLEANS — The head of BP America says he believes the company is moving
closer toward once again being allowed to bid on federal contracts.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/19/bp-official-says-its-getting-closer-to-epa-agreement/





Hatchery vote could ripple across Florida
Officials: BP restoration projects could be derailed if council rejects
Bruce Beach lease
Pensacola News Journal


The fate of $88 million in BP early restoration projects across Florida has

been placed squarely on the shoulders of the Pensacola City Council.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20140220/NEWS10/302190024/Hatchery-vote-could-impact-entire-state







State





Gautier becomes first city on Gulf Coast to execute MDEQ sign stream

initiative

Mississippi Press

Joanne Anderson

February 19, 2014 at 10:58 AM



GAUTIER, Mississippi -- A drainage ditch is not just a drainage ditch.

A new program of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is

designed to raise public awareness of the importance of keeping clean

streams of any size that drain into the area's bayous and ultimately the

Gulf of Mexico.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/gautier_becomes_first_city_on.html





Bill and Scott Walker ready to plead guilty to felonies
Bill and Scott Walker readyto plead guilty to federal felonies
Sun Herald

BY ANITA LEE



Former Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Director Bill Walker and

his son, once a candidate for Ocean Springs mayor, admit they conspired to

defraud the federal government of $210,000 for their own financial benefit.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/19/5351791/scott-walker-to-enter-guilty-pleas.html




Bill Walker to plead guilty to federal conspiracy charge March 10

Mississippi Press

Warren Kulo

February 19, 2014 at 2:20 PM



HATTIESBURG, Mississippi -- Former Mississippi Department of Marine

Resources Director Bill Walker will plead guilty to one count of conspiracy

to defraud the federal government, according to a notice of intent to plead

filed with the U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg Wednesday.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/bill_walker_to_plead_guilty_to.html#incart_river




Former DMR director Walker to plead guilty



WLOX



BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The former director of the Department of Marine
Resources will plead guilty to one federal charge of conspiracy to defraud
the federal government.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24767514/former-dmr-director-walker-to-plead-guilty





Tupelo closes recycling site, improves another


By Robbie Ward



Daily Journal



TUPELO – Tupelo will end drop-off recycling in west Tupelo on Feb. 27 but

plans to expand and improve the remaining downtown location.

http://djournal.com/news/tupelo-closes-recycling-site-improves-another/



Regional





Environmental groups may sue over lack of turtle protections in Gulf shrimp

trawls

Benjamin Alexander-Bloch

The Times-Picayune

February 19, 2014 at 6:37 PM



Environmental groups are threatening to sue to force the use of turtle

excluder devices in shrimp trawls in the Gulf of Mexico. The groups on

Wednesday said that until those devices are required, the National Marine

Fisheries Service should "suspend the shrimp trawl fishery" in the Gulf.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/02/environmental_groups_threaten.html#incart_river





Sugarcane hybrid eyed as possible biofuel
Plants resistant to cold, disease key to research
AP


This winter is an excellent test for a sugarcane hybrid developed in

Louisiana as a potential biofuel crop, according to a professor at

Mississippi State University.

http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20140220/BIZ/302200039/Sugarcane-hybrid-eyed-possible-biofuel







National






Trading System Tackles Waste


New Plan Pays Farmers to Curb Agricultural Runoff that Pollutes the Gulf of
Mexico

Wall Street Journal


NEW MADISON, Ohio— Kevin Hollinger planted radishes and oats last fall in

his corn and soybean fields, but he isn't planning to harvest them.

Instead, he is letting the crops die over the winter to improve the soil

and keep fertilizer and other nutrients from running into nearby waterways.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304899704579391142078606468?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5




Highway agency moving toward new alt fuel rules

The Hill

By Tim Devaney


The Obama administration is moving forward with another fuel efficiency
rule that would cost automakers more than $14 million each year, according
to government estimates.




The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced
Wednesday it is considering a new rule that would require car manufacturers
to indicate which vehicles can operate on alternative fuels and explain
which alternative fuels they can use, such as ethanol, biodiesel, vegetable
oil, hydrogen or electric batteries.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/198756-highway-agency-set-to-release-new-alt-fuel-rules





Solar energy plants in tortoises' desert habitat pit green against green
Published February 20, 2014
FoxNews

Plans to create two solar energy plants on public lands in California and
Nevada are pitting renewable energy advocates against environmentalists who
fear the facilities will endanger federally threatened desert tortoises in
the area.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/20/solar-energy-plants-in-tortoises-desert-habitat-pit-green-against-green/?intcmp=latestnews

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

News Clippings 2/19/14

2/19/14



Oil Spill




Administering BP claims settlement is tough work but worth it, lawyer says
Baton Rouge Advocate



BY RICHARD THOMPSON

Patrick Juneau was leaving church in Lafayette recently when a woman

approached him.

http://theadvocate.com/news/neworleans/8403597-148/story.html





$60,0000 contract ruffles Baldwin County commissioner

Press-Register



Thyrie Bland



February 18, 2014 at 5:18 PM



A decision by the Baldwin County Commission to pay an attorney to help the

county secure BP oil spill money caused some tension at today's commission

meeting.

http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/600000_contract_ruffles_baldwi.html





State





MS Dept. of Environmental Quality hears concerns in Pascagoula

WLOX


PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -Noise, dust, litter, and strange odors have driven
some Pascagoula residents over the edge. Monday night, they got a chance to
voice their concerns.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24748457/ms-dept-of-environmental-quality-hears-concerns-in-pascagoula





Ocean Springs' Scott Walker plans to plead guilty to fraud, conspiracy in
two federal cases
Sun Herald

BY ANITA LEE



GULFPORT -- Ocean Springs businessman and former mayoral candidate Scott

Walker plans to plead guilty to one count of fraud and one count of

conspiracy in two federal corruption cases filed against him and others.





http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/18/5349683/ocean-springs-scott-walker-plans.html







Court papers say Scott Walker will plead guilty

WLOX


BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -There's a new development in the federal corruption case
connected to the Department of Marine Resources. Scott Walker has notified
the federal court that he will change his 'not guilty' plea in two federal
cases filed against him.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24759285/court-papers-say-scott-walker-will-plead-guilty





Ocean Springs' Scott Walker to plead guilty to counts of fraud, conspiracy

Mississippi Press



Warren Kulo



February 19, 2014 at 1:12 AM



OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Scott Walker of Ocean Springs will plead

guilty to one count of federal program fraud and one count of conspiracy,

according to court documents filed electronically Tuesday with the U.S.

District Court.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/ocean_springs_scott_walker_to.html





Pascagoula planning for $715,000 sewer system upgrade project

Mississippi Press



April M. Havens



February 18, 2014 at 8:10 PM



PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The Pascagoula City Council tonight voted to

approve a budget amendment that will allow the city to get $715,000 in

sewer updates for a cost of $238,050.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/pascagoula_planning_for_715000.html#incart_river





Columbus Plans to Help West Point Recycling Program


WCBI


COLUMBUS, Miss. – (WCBI)Columbus may give West Point's new curbside
recycling program a helping hand.


The Columbus City Council tonight agreed to sell an unused paper and
cardboard baler to West Point. The only hitch is figuring out a reasonable
price.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-columbus-plans-to-help-west-point-recycling-program





CMR tackles proposed change in gill net regulations

WLOX


BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The controversy over gill net fishing is flaring-up
again. Twenty years ago, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources
held public hearings on gill net rules that attracted dozens of angry
commercial fishermen.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24755472/cmr-tackles-proposed-change-in-gill-net-regulations





Gill nets back on CMR's agenda; Taylor won't seek reappointment
Sun Herald

BY PATRICK OCHS



BILOXI -- Most of Tuesday's Commission on Marine Resources meeting

consisted of a back-and-forth discussion of degradable net regulations.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/18/5348935/taylor-wont-seek-reappointment.html






Canadian students help protect our coastal environment

WLOX


MOSS POINT, MS (WLOX) -Some Canadian students are spending their spring
break in Moss Point learning how to take care of the environment. The
students from McMaster University are working at the future site of the
Pascagoula River Audubon Center.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24758603/canadian-students-help-protect-our-coastal-environment





HUD Says It Wants To See Port's Jobs Plan Within 60 Days


MPB



The Port of Gulfport is facing criticism again for the way it's kept track
of jobs under its $600 million restoration and expansion project.


But now the focus is turning to how the port is going to create – and
document - the 1,300 new jobs it's promised.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/hud_says_it_wants_to_see_ports_jobs_plan_within_60_days







National




EPA Emission Rules Face Test at High Court
Wall Street Journal


Seven years after a landmark Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for

federal regulation of greenhouse gases, the justices will consider whether

the Environmental Protection Agency has stretched its powers too far in

applying new emissions rules.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304899704579389302045805162







Air pollution exposure may increase risk of autism, schizophrenia




Fox News


Air pollution exposure has long been suspected to increase the risk of both

heart and lung diseases, but another important organ may also be at risk of

injury from this contaminated air: the brain.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/02/18/air-pollution-exposure-may-increase-risk-neurodevelopmental-disorders/?intcmp=latestnews




Obama orders new green rules
The Hill




President Obama on Tuesday announced he was ordering his administration to
develop a set of new fuel efficiency standards for trucks, buses and other
heavy-duty vehicles.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198592-obama-orders-new-green-standards-for-trucks



EPA cracks down on lead exposure violations


The Hill




The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday announced settlement
agreements with dozens of businesses found to have violated the agency's
regulations on lead dust exposure.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/198586-epa-cracks-down-on-lead-exposure-violations





Press Releases






EPA TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT PUBLIC FROM HARMFUL LEAD EXPOSURE

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced
enforcement actions that will require 35 home renovation contractors and
training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by
minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required
by the EPA's Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Standards. These
standards provide important, front-line protection for children and others
vulnerable to exposure to lead dust that can cause lead poisoning.

"Families deserve the peace of mind that home renovations occur without
harming children," said Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA's
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Businesses that play by
the rules deserve to compete on a level playing field. EPA will continue to
enforce the nation's lead rules to protect the public from illegal and
dangerous lead exposure."

The settlements, issued between May 2013 and January 2014, include 17
contractors that failed to obtain required certification prior to
performing renovation activities on pre-1978 homes, where lead is more
likely to be present. In addition, 21 settlements involve violations for
failure to follow required lead-safe work practices, and three cases
involve general contractors who failed to ensure their subcontractors
followed the RRP standards.

The enforcement actions, which all require contractors to certify
compliance with the RRP standards, led to more than $274,000 in civil
penalties.

Three of the companies agreed to fund environmental projects to benefit
communities. HarenLaughlin Construction and Exterior Energy Consultants
will fund lead abatement work at local properties, while the New Jersey
Council of Community Colleges will provide tuition-free, EPA accredited
training courses to renovators expected to work on projects impacted by
Hurricane Sandy.

The RRP standards, which are part of the federal Toxic Substances Control
Act, are intended to ensure that owners and occupants of housing built
before 1978 and child-occupied facilities receive information on lead-based
paint hazards before renovations begin, that individuals performing such
renovations are properly trained and certified by EPA, and that, during
renovations, specific work practices are followed to reduce the potential
for lead-based paint exposure.

Contractors that are certified under EPA's RRP standards are encouraged to
display EPA's "Lead-Safe" logo on worker's uniforms, signs, websites, and
other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by looking
for the logo before hiring a home contractor.

Between May 2013 and January 2014, EPA has settled enforcement actions with
the following companies:

Environmental Engineering & Technology, Inc. of Newport News, VA
The Training Network, Inc. of Oak Hill, VA
Professional Training Associates, Inc. of Duquesne, PA
The Home Hero, LLC of Philadelphia, PA
Thermo-Twin Industries, Inc. of Oakmont, PA
Samuel M. Lewis of Columbus, OH
Midwest College Painters, LLC of Bloomfield, MI
D&S Construction of Western Ohio, LLC of Sidney, OH
M&J Environmental Institute of Maple Grove, MN
Hannegan Construction Company of St. Charles, MO
HarenLaughlin Construction of Lenexa, KS
Jason Madura of Warsaw, MO
Nezerka Enterprises LLC d/b/a Certa Pro Painters of Shawnee
Mission, KS
James L. and Dona D. Jungers of Lincoln, NE
Dennis Barker of Fairbury, NE
Painting Done Right of Lincoln, NE
Prudent Technologies, Inc. of Kansas City, MO
Rothers Inc., d/b/a Rothers Design/Build of Kansas City, KS
Ritchie Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Puroclean Emergency Restoration
Services of Sullivan, MO
Exterior Energy Consultants, Inc. of Gladstone, MO
Philip Thornton and Stanley Thornton of Marshall, MO
Van Dyk Construction of Littleton, CO
Devex Construction LLC of Greenwood Village, CO
Thomas Breuer Construction of Sioux Falls, SD
Alaska Commercial Contractors, Inc. of Juneau, AK
VanPool Painting, Inc. of Juneau, AK
Kachina Contractor Solutions, LLC of Elkins Park, PA
Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Inc. of Braintree, MA
Bill Vizzo Contractors, LLC of Shelton, CT
James J. Welch & Co., Inc. of Salem, MA
New Hampshire Plate Glass Corp. of Portsmouth, NH
Dura-Plex, Inc. of Brick, NJ
Hernandez Painting of Hempstead, NY
Consortium for Workforce and Economic Development / New Jersey
Council of Community Colleges of Trenton, NJ
Schryer Thompson Construction, Inc. of Concord, CA



More information about the settlements:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-rule-february-2014


More information about the RRP standards and how contractors can get
certified: www.epa.gov/lead

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

News Clippings 2.18.14

2.18.2014



Oil Spill





Kimberly Blair: Conservancy's call to action
Pensacola News Journal


With the deadline for public vetting of 44 projects slated for BP early

restoration dollars looming tomorrow, Ocean Conservancy is calling on the

public to weigh in.

http://www.pnj.com/article/20140218/NEWS09/302180006/Kimberly-Blair-Conservancy-s-call-to-action






Legal-Bay: BP claims settlement headed to Supreme Court


by MBJ
Published: February 17,2014

NEW ORLEANS — Legal-Bay LLC, The Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company,
believes the British Petroleum Inc. Business Economic Loss (BEL) claims
settlement will eventually make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court under a
writ of certiorari.

http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/17/legal-bay-bp-claims-settlement-headed-supreme-court/





State





Alabama company challenges permit for Mississippi Silicon
Daily Journal

An Alabama company has filed a petition with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality over the agency's fast-tracking of a permit for
Mississippi Silicon, the company that announced last month it was building
a plant in Tishomingo County and adding 200 jobs.
http://djournal.com/news/alabama-company-challenges-permit-mississippi-silicon/



MDEQ stands by permit issued to Mississippi Silicon
WTVA


BURNSVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality stands by its decision to issue a permit for Mississippi Silicon to
build a plant in Tishomingo County.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-stands-by-permit-issued-to-Mississippi/ZY1uKPLf-0SEY35d-4Va4A.cspx





Ohio-based company challenging state permit for planned silicon-metal
facility
Clarion Ledger


An Ohio-based company is challenging a state permit issued for Mississippi

Silicon's planned silicon-metal production facility in Tishomingo County,

saying the developers haven't proven their Burnsville plant will be able to

contain potentially harmful emissions.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140215/BIZ/302150018/Ohio-based-company-challenging-state-permit-planned-silicon-metal-facility




MDEQ: Claim of incomplete permit review for silicon plant a 'guise' by
competitor
MBJ Blog

February 17, 2014

JACKSON, Mississippi — The head of the Mississippi Department of

Environmental Quality says an Alabama silicon manufacturer's claim the

state agency erred in granting an operating permit to competitor

Mississippi Silicon Metals lacks merit.

http://msbusiness.com/businessblog/2014/02/17/mdeq-claim-incomplete-permit-review-silicon-plant-guise-competitor/






KiOR shutting down production at Columbus plant


by MBJ Staff
Published: February 17,2014

COLUMBUS — KiOR has halted production at its Columbus plant in December to
make improvements and has no plans to resume production during the first
quarter of 2014.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/17/kior-shutting-production-columbus-plant/



Energy efficiency: Mississippi already benefiting from U.S. moving toward

energy self sufficiency


MBJ
by Becky Gillette
Published: February 14,2014

Not that many years ago there were concerns about "the end of oil," the
depletion of the oil reserves that fuel the world economy. One of the
largest economic problems in the U.S. was the cost of importing so much
oil. But drilling technology innovations including fracking now have some
experts predicting that by 2035 the U.S. will achieve something almost
unthinkable until now: Energy self sufficiency, making it no longer
dependent on oil imports from unstable countries in the Middle East.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/14/energy-efficiency-mississippi-already-benefiting-u-s-moving-toward-energy-self-sufficiency/




Clogged sewer line creates smelly problem at Lanier


WAPT


JACKSON, Miss. —Parents of Lanier High School students said their children
have smelled something foul in classrooms for weeks.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/clogged-sewer-line-creates-smelly-problem-at-lanier/24536116




Growth in South Mississippi: Who's coming and going?
Sun Herald

BY MARY MARGARET HALFORD



The number of people who are drawn to live in South Mississippi is greater

than the number of people who left the region in recent years, according to

new census data.

http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/15/5343098/growth-in-south-mississippi-whos.html




Is hunting and fishing a right? You make the call this fall

WLOX


BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -Right now, hunting and fishing in Mississippi is legally
considered a privilege. That could change in November when a constitutional
amendment is placed on the ballot. If a majority of citizens vote yes,
Mississippi will join 17 others states in the country that make hunting and
fishing a right.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24745418/is-hunting-and-fishing-a-right-you-make-the-call-this-fall





AP analysis: Mississippi voters to decide on right to hunt and fish

amendment

The Associated Press

February 16, 2014 at 5:53 PM



JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi voters will decide in November whether

to amend the state constitution to guarantee the right to hunt and fish.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/ap_analysis_mississippi_voters.html





National






AFBF, attorneys general want states to dictate nutrient runoff ... not EPA

Feb. 13, 2014


Brad Haire | Southeast Farm Press




What's happening at the Chesapeake Bay watershed matters to states in the

Southeast. Attorneys general from 21 states have joined an American Farm

Bureau Federation appeal against the Environmental Protection Agency's

efforts to dictate the management of nutrient runoff around the bay.

http://southeastfarmpress.com/government/afbf-attorneys-general-want-states-dictate-nutrient-runoff-not-epa







Tulane $1 million prize aimed at low-oxygen 'dead zones' could be first of

many prizes

Mark Schleifstein

The Times-Picayune

February 17, 2014 at 5:30 PM



Backed by an initial $1 million donation from the Patrick F. Taylor

Foundation, Tulane University on Monday launched a Grand Challenge prize

program to find a new technological solution for the low-oxygen hypoxia

areas known as "dead zones" that form off the coast of Louisiana and at

other locations around the world.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/02/tulane_1_million_prize_aimed_a.html#incart_river





Water War: Southern states battle to keep faucets flowing


Fox News


The drought-parched states of Georgia, Alabama and Florida are back at it
-- fighting for a slice of water rights in a decades-long water war that's
left all three thirsty for more.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/17/water-war-southern-states-battle-to-keep-faucets-flowing/?intcmp=latestnews





EPA Says Some Coal Ash Uses Are Safe

February 16, 2014
By IAN HICKS - Staff Writer , The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register



WHEELING - A report released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
declares coal ash safe for reuse in certain construction materials -
providing coal industry supporters a measure of hope as the agency
prepares to issue its first-ever regulations on the substance.
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/595968/EPA-Says-Some-Coal-Ash-Uses-Are-Safe.html?nav=515




Obama Orders New Efficiency Standards for Trucks
Wall Street Journal


President Barack Obama plans to announce Tuesday that his administration

will issue new fuel efficiency standards for trucks, the White House said.

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/02/18/obama-orders-new-efficiency-standards-for-trucks/




Heavy-duty vehicles in Obama crosshairs

The Hill

By Laura Barron-Lopez


President Obama will unveil the next phase of fuel economy and greenhouse
gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles on Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198554-obama-to-launch-new-fuel-efficiency-standards-for-trucks







Obama launches climate change fund

By Laura Barron-Lopez


President Obama announced a new climate change "resiliency fund" in a
Friday night speech in drought-struck California.




The fund, which would need to be approved by Congress, is intended to help
communities dealing with negative weather like drought, wildfires, and
floods that are the result of climate change.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198486-obama-climate-change-influence-on-drought-undeniable