2.12.13
Oil Spill
BP's green makeover stifled backlash after oil spill, study shows
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON – Before the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, BP's
multimillion-dollar advertising machine convinced surveyed American
consumers it was the most environmentally friendly oil company, university
researchers wrote in a recent paper.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/11/bps-green-makeover-stifled-backlash-after-oil-spill-study-shows/
State
Miss. River bridge closed after multiple vehicle crash; chemical spilled
from tanker truck
AP
A chain-reaction accident has shut down the icy Mississippi River bridge on
Interstate 20 at Vicksburg, Miss.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20140212/NEWS/140212003/Miss-River-bridge-closed-after-multiple-vehicle-crash-chemical-spilled-from-tanker-truck
Biloxi council finally steps up to the plate and approves stadium bonds
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
February 11, 2014 at 1:56 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- After nearly two weeks of delays, the Biloxi City
Council finally put the final stamp of approval on a project which will
result in the construction of a $36 million minor league baseball stadium
along U.S. 90.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/biloxi_council_finally_steps_u.html
Regional
Support for wetland restoration dramatically increased over past decade,
survey shows
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
February 11, 2014 at 6:07 PM
An survey commissioned by America's WETLAND Foundation hows that support
for restoring coastal wetlands has increased dramatically in Louisiana over
the past decade.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/02/support_for_wetland_restoratio.html#incart_river
National
Fracking With Diesel Gets EPA Standards Industry Fought
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem - Feb 11, 2014
The Environmental Protection Agency issued measures for using diesel in
hydraulic fracturing, setting standards it said could be adopted by states
to govern a process that has spurred the boom in natural gas production.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-11/fracking-with-diesel-gets-epa-standards-industry-fought.html
EPA moves to regulate diesel in fracking
The Hill
By Ben Goad
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued guidance Tuesday governing
the use of diesel fuel in hydraulic fracturing.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/198150-epa-moves-to-regulate-diesel-in-fracking
Republicans to EPA: Reveal 'secret science'
The Hill
By Tim Devaney
Republican lawmakers on Tuesday pressed the Environmental Protect Agency
(EPA) to reveal the "secret" scientific data behind controversial
decisions.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/198100-republicans-to-epa-reveal-your-secret-science
Danville leaders to hear from EPA on massive coal ash spill
AP
DANVILLE — Federal environmental officials are expected to give an update
on a massive coal ash spill to members of the Danville City Council.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/latest-news-ap/danville-leaders-to-hear-from-epa-on-massive-coal-ash/article_b6a96e0e-9305-11e3-aa66-001a4bcf6878.html
Battle Over California Drought Solution
As Golden State's Fields Grow More Parched, Washington Offers Dueling
Remedies
Wall Street Journal
California's drought is becoming a hot issue on Capitol Hill, where bills
from Senate Democrats and House Republicans offer rival solutions on how to
best aid water-starved farmers.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303874504579377241109393218?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_4
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: 'Big win' for accountability is too small
Now, while the Legislature is in session, is the time to convince lawmakers
that nothing short of annual audits of all state agencies will bolster
accountability and transparency in state government.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/11/5330868/sun-herald-editorial-big-win-for.html
Press Releases
EPA Revises Permitting Guidance for Using Diesel Fuel in Oil and Gas
Hydraulic Fracturing
WASHINGTON-- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
revised underground injection control (UIC) program permitting guidance for
wells that use diesel fuels during hydraulic fracturing activities. EPA
developed the guidance to clarify how companies can comply with a law
passed by Congress in 2005, which exempted hydraulic fracturing operations
from the requirement to obtain a UIC permit, except in cases where diesel
fuel is used as a fracturing fluid.
EPA is issuing the guidance alongside an interpretive memorandum, which
clarifies that class II UIC requirements apply to hydraulic fracturing
activities using diesel fuels, and defines the statutory term diesel fuel
by reference to five chemical abstract services registry numbers. The
guidance outlines for EPA permit writers, where EPA is the permitting
authority, existing class II requirements for diesel fuels used for
hydraulic fracturing wells, and technical recommendations for permitting
those wells consistently with these requirements. Decisions about
permitting hydraulic fracturing operations that use diesel fuels will be
made on a case-by-case basis, considering the facts and circumstances of
the specific injection activity and applicable statutes, regulations and
case law, and will not cite this guidance as a basis for decision.
Although developed specifically for hydraulic fracturing where diesel fuels
are used, many of the guidance's recommended practices are consistent with
best practices for hydraulic fracturing in general, including those found
in state regulations and model guidelines for hydraulic fracturing
developed by industry and stakeholders. Thus, states and tribes responsible
for issuing permits and/or updating regulations for hydraulic fracturing
may find the recommendations useful in improving the protection of
underground sources of drinking water and public health more broadly.
Responsible development of America's unconventional oil and natural gas
resources offers important economic, energy security, and environmental
benefits. The EPA is working with states and other key stakeholders to help
ensure that extraction of these resources does not come at the expense of
public health and the environment. In particular, the EPA is moving forward
on several initiatives, such as the diesel guidance, to provide regulatory
clarity with respect to existing laws and using existing authorities where
appropriate to enhance public health and environmental safeguards.
EPA released a draft of the guidance in May 2012 and held a 105 day public
comment period to gain input on the guidance from a wide range of
stakeholders.
To read the guidance, visit:
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/hydraulic-fracturing.cfm
EPA Administrator Reaffirms Commitment to Environmental Justice on 20th
Anniversary of Executive Order
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina
McCarthy today reaffirmed the Agency's commitment to environmental justice
in a meeting of the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC)
held in Denver, Colorado. The meeting coincides with a Presidential
Proclamation by President Obama commemorating the 20th anniversary of the
1992 signing of Executive Order 12898, "Federal Actions to Address
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations."
"Working collaboratively with our stakeholders, we have made great strides
over the past two decades to reduce air pollution and clean up contaminated
land and water in communities across the country, especially those faced
with disproportionate impacts from pollution," said Administrator McCarthy.
"While we recognize the important work that has been accomplished over the
past two decades, we will keep striving to improve the quality of life for
all Americans by addressing the persistent environmental and health burdens
faced by our most vulnerable populations."
Executive Order 12898 states that every federal agency, with the law as its
guide, should make environmental justice part of its mission. Other topics
discussed included sustainability and environmental justice, equitable
development, climate resiliency, and leveraging financial and other
resources for communities.
In recognizing the work of the NEJAC and communities over the past 20
years, Administrator McCarthy presented the NEJAC gavel to its new
chairwoman, Margaret May.
Environmental justice has been an important part of EPA's mission to
protect public health and the environment. Since 1994, EPA has awarded $25
million to 1,400 communities across the country in support of projects that
include reducing exposure to indoor environmental asthma triggers,
restoring and protecting waterways, educating childcare professionals on
ways to prevent lead poisoning, reducing pesticide use in childcare
facilities, and other environmental justice concerns.
The NEJAC, a federal advisory committee to EPA, provides independent
guidance and recommendations on national environmental justice policy
issues, such as integrating environmental justice considerations into EPA's
decision-making process, and strategies for ensuring that communities have
meaningful opportunities to participate in that process. During the past 20
years, more than 1,000 stakeholders have volunteered to participate on the
NEJAC.
For more information on environmental justice and the 20th anniversary:
http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/events/20th-anniversary.html
To read the Presidential Proclamation, visit:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/02/10/presidential-proclamation-20th-anniversary-executive-order-12898-environ
