2.4.2014
Oil Spill
BP's Deepwater Horizon bill rises by $200m as profits fall
Latest update on continuing costs of Macondo blowout comes as oil firm
reports fall in quarterly and yearly profits
The Guardian
BP has been forced to set aside an extra $200m (£123m) for the Gulf of
Mexico oil spill, bringing the bill so far to $42.7bn.
The final figure could be far higher, however, as the latest tally does not
take account of additional provisions for economic loss claims from a
further legal settlement BP has made, the group said. BP is also waiting
for a final US court decision over whether it was considered grossly
negligent for the Deepwater Horizon accident.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/feb/04/bp-deepwater-horizon-bill-rises-profits-fall
Coastal restoration workshops on tap Tuesday at Mobile Baykeeper, Five
Rivers Delta Resource Center
Sally Pearsall Ericson
MOBILE, Alabama -- Mobile Baykeeper and the Mobile Bay Sierra Club will
host free coastal restoration workshops on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
The first event, the hour-long Citizen's Guide to Coastal Restoration
workshop, will be held at noon at the Mobile Baykeeper office, 450-C
Government St. in downtown Mobile. The discussion will focus on Alabama's
recovery from the BP oil disaster.
http://blog.al.com/live/2014/02/coastal_restoration_workshops.html
State
Delta growers asked to sign up irrigation wells for voluntary metering
program
Delta Farm Press
Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality is asking irrigation well
permit holders in the Delta to participate in a voluntary metering program
to help determine how much water is being pumped for agricultural purposes
in the region.
http://deltafarmpress.com/management/delta-growers-asked-sign-irrigation-wells-voluntary-metering-program
MYSTERY MONDAY: Skeleton of the Jackson Volcano
WJTV
Lanes of traffic replaced with lava. Airport approaches blocked by ash.
Step back in time and this was pre-historic Jackson.
It's only landmark: a giant volcano jutting from the sea. Would you believe
evidence of it still exists under your feet?
http://www.wjtv.com/story/24624193/mystery-monday-skeleton-of-the-jackson-volcano
Jackson County Utility Authority to begin forcing mandatory water, sewer
hookups
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
February 03, 2014 at 11:23 AM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The Jackson County Utility Authority will soon
begin compelling connection for residents inside four water and sewer
project areas, leaders told the Board of Supervisors today.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/jackson_county_utility_authori.html#incart_river
Water, sewer hookups crucial in four areas of Jackson County
Sun Herald
BY KAREN NELSON
JACKSON COUNTY -- The Jackson County Utility Authority is reaching the
point where it will need to use a measure of pressure to secure water and
sewer hookups in four key areas of the county where potential customers are
still using their septic tanks and wells.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/03/5307579/water-sewer-hookups-crucial-in.html
Jackson Co. Residents Running Out of Time to Connect to New Sewer Line
WXXV
Water overflow and sewer seepage have been a common problem for years in
low lying areas along the Coast, and Ocean Beach Estates in Ocean Springs
is no exception. Now, thanks to government funding, new sewer lines are
available to residents for low cost. Jimmy Heidelberg, the General
Councilor for the Jackson County Utility Authority (J.C.U.A.), says,
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Jackson-Co-Residents-Running-Out-of-Time-to/qUnsadqQLEOAgsqo-jBJVA.cspx
Council president weighs-in on massive infrastructure project
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -Some Biloxi city council members want to know why the
city's massive infrastructure work after Hurricane Katrina is taking so
long.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24625086/council-president-weighs-in-on-massive-infrastructure-project
Lamar County recieves 'white goods' grant
Hattiesburg American
PURVIS _ Lamar County has received a $22,650 solid-waste assistance grant
from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality that will allow it
to continue its "white goods" weekend pickups.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140203/NEWS01/140203006/Lamar-County-recieves-white-goods-grant
Harrison County awarded $70,000 grant from MDEQ
Mississippi Press
February 03, 2014 at 10:00 AM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
has awarded Harrison County a solid waste assistance grant of $70,000 that
will be used by the county for a household hazardous waste collection event
to be held in the Spring of 2014.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/harrison_county_awarded_70000.html
County lands solid waste grant from MDEQ
by MBJ Staff
Published: February 3,2014
HARRISON COUNTY — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) has awarded Harrison County a solid waste assistance grant of
$70,000 that will be used by the county for a household hazardous waste
collection event to be held in the spring.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/03/county-lands-solid-waste-grant-mdeq/
Grant will pay for hazardous waste collection
Sun Herald
JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality awarded
Harrison County a solid waste assistance grant of $70,000 that will be used
by the county for a household hazardous waste collection event in the
spring.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/03/5308575/around-south-mississippi.html
Golden Triangle Gets Tire Disposal Grant
WCBI
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has awarded the
Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority a $90,000 waste
tire grant.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/golden-triangle-gets-tire-disposal-grant
Coast responders, railways equipped to deal with derailments
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
South Mississippi's first responders are prepared to deal with train
derailments, emergency managers say, while transportation company owners
have their own teams of hazardous materials specialists, along with
contracts with private companies for emergency responses.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/03/5308615/coast-responders-railways-equipped.html
Investigation ongoing in recent biodiesel plant fire
WTVA
NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WTVA) — Almost two weeks after a couple of explosions
rocked sections of Union County, the investigation continues into what
caused the initial explosion at the JNS Biofuels plant.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Investigation-ongoing-in-recent-biodiesel-plant/EpiIwzwiOkS9gk8q2KkJWw.cspx
Garbage collection free ride comes to an end
WLOX
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -Hundreds of residents in the annexed area of Bay
St. Louis have been enjoying free garbage collection service. But that
no-cost pick-up is about to come to an end, thanks to a new computer
program.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24624724/garbage-collection-free-ride-comes-to-an-end
Adams County supervisors extends option to KiOR
AP
NATCHEZ, MISS. — The Adams County Board of Supervisors has voted to extend
an option contract on the former Belwood Country Club property to
alternative fuel manufacturer KiOR.
http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20140204/NEWS/302040043/Adams-County-supervisors-extends-option-KiOR
Bruce Chinn to replace Tom Kovar as general manager of Chevron's Pascagoula
refinery
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
February 03, 2014 at 7:49 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Bruce Chinn has been named general manager of
the Chevron Pascagoula Refinery, effective March 1, according to officials
at Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/bruce_chinn_to_replace_tom_kov.html#incart_river
Mississippi couple sues ExxonMobile over alleged alligator infestation
Published February 04, 2014
Associated Press
The Mississippi Supreme Court is refereeing a dispute between a Wilkinson
County couple and ExxonMobil Corporation over an alleged alligator
infestation, with justices scheduled to hear oral arguments Tuesday.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/02/04/mississippi-couple-sues-exxonmobile-over-alleged-alligator-infestation/?intcmp=latestnews
National
West Virginia Spill Points to Lack of Data on Threats to Water Supply
Wall Street Journal
Soon after a chemical spill contaminated a large West Virginia water system
last month, water-company officials said they were unfamiliar with the
substance and didn't know it was being stored about a mile upriver from a
treatment plant.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304851104579361223250977790?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5
Kansas joins appeal of EPA regulation on lawn and farm runoff
Kansas City Star
February 4
TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has joined other states in
appealing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulation of
nutrients in runoff from farms and lawns.
http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/04/4796647/kansas-joins-appeal-of-epa-regulation.html
Changes sought for endangered act
BY MATTHEW BROWN
Associated PressFebruary 4, 2014
BILLINGS, MONT. — Republicans in Congress are calling for an overhaul to
the Endangered Species Act, but experts say broad changes to one of the
nation's cornerstone environmental laws are unlikely given the pervasive
partisan divide in Washington, D.C.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/04/5308910/ap-newsbreak-changes-sought-for.html
