2.6.2014
Oil Spill
Oil Spill Project Meeting Draws A Big Crowd In Pensacola
WUWF
A Natural Environmental Resource Damage Assessment, or NERDA meeting was
held this week in Pensacola as public comment on Phase 3 of the early
restoration projects from the BP Oil Spill continues.
http://wuwf.org/post/oil-spill-project-meeting-draws-big-crowd-pensacola
State
Pascagoula's Brownfield Advisory Committee meets for first time to discuss
contaminated sites
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
February 05, 2014 at 5:17 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Pascagoula held its first Brownfield Advisory
Committee meeting today, continuing efforts on a three-year process to
identify and study contaminated properties across the city.
The city received two $200,000 brownfield assessment grants -- one to focus
on hazardous waste sites and the other to focus on petroleum sites -- from
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last May.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/pascagoulas_brownfield_advisor.html#incart_river
SCUA contract complete, 17 months late
Stone County Enterprise
By Jody O'Hara
Feb 3, 2014, 14:13
The Stone County Utility Authority granted substantial completion Monday on
a project to run sewer lines to the S-9 wastewater treatment plant.
The contractor, C.B. Developers of Petal, is 532 days over its original
completion estimate and is facing $302,000 in liquidated damages.
http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/article_1987.shtml
Petal irked by garbage pickup
The Associated Press
February 6, 2014
PETAL, MISS. — Three months after the decision to contract with Waste Pro
for its solid waste removal, the city of Petal has lost patience with the
poor service it says citizens are receiving.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/06/5315617/petal-irked-by-garbage-pickup.html
Columbus biofuel plant to resume operations in spring
Commercial Dispatch
February 5, 2014
Sarah Fowler
KiOR's biofuels plant in Columbus will likely be up and running again in
April, according to CEO Fred Cannon.
The Texas-based alternative fuel company's 500-ton per day facility on The
Island has been shut down since the beginning of January for maintenance,
Cannon said.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=30922
National
From Alaska to Florida, 21 attorneys general join fight to halt Chesapeake
Bay cleanup
Washington Post
By Darryl Fears, Published: February 5
Attorneys general in 21 states are backing an attempt to derail the Obama
administration's Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan, fearing that the government
will use that authority to regulate wastewater in other watersheds,
including the Mississippi River Basin.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/from-alaska-to-florida-attorneys-general-join-fight-to-end-chesapeake-bay-cleanup/2014/02/05/d88a426c-8e7f-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html
NC River Turns to Gray Sludge After Coal Ash Spill
By MICHAEL BIESECKER
Associated Press
Canoe guide Brian Williams dipped his paddle downstream from where
thousands of tons of coal ash has been spewing for days into the Dan River,
turning the wooden blade flat to bring up a lump of gray sludge.
On the riverbank, hundreds of workers at a Duke Energy power plant in North
Carolina scrambled to plug a hole in a pipe at the bottom of a 27-acre pond
where the toxic ash was stored.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/coal-ash-spill-nc-river-contained-22384415
Ag secretary insists 'climate hub' plan won't duplicate existing resources
Fox News
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack insisted Wednesday that a new program
setting up seven regional "climate hubs" was more than just window
dressing, as some questioned whether it might duplicate existing resources.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/05/ag-secretary-insists-climate-hub-plan-wont-duplicate-existing-resources/?intcmp=latestnews
Vilsack confident climate change is impacting farmers today
The Hill
Laura Barron-Lopez
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Wednesday he is confident climate
change is impacting farmers and rural communities.
Vilsack formally announced the launch of the Obama administration's new
climate hubs, which are aimed at helping farmers, ranchers, and communities
adapt to and mitigate climate change.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/197542-vilsack-confident-climate-change-is-impacting-farmers-today
California drought sets up fracking face-off
David R. Baker
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
San Francisco Chronicle
More than half of the oil and gas wells fracked across America since 2011
lie in places suffering through drought - including California.
That's one of the more eye-catching results of a hydraulic fracturing study
released Wednesday by Ceres, a nonprofit group that works with investors
and businesses to encourage sustainability.
http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/California-drought-sets-up-fracking-face-off-5208483.php
Fracking Boom Keeps Home Heating Bills in Check
Prices of Natural Gas Avoid Volatility of Past Winters
Wall Street Journal
Freezing temperatures are creating near-record demand for natural gas in
the U.S. as shivering Americans turn up the heat and plug in their electric
blankets.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303277704579349092247419158
Former Obama official: Fracking has never been an environmental problem
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON — Former U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar said Wednesday
morning that he believes hydraulic fracturing is safe, and the energy
industry should work to convince the public that it doesn't pose a safety
threat.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/02/05/former-obama-official-fracking-has-never-been-an-environmental-problem/
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Rather than piecemeal accountability, require
annual audits of all state agencies
Legislation is moving through the state Senate that will "cut wasteful
spending while ensuring taxpayers can see what their government is doing,"
according to Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves.
While these are, as Reeves calls them, "good-government bills," they are
not good enough.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/05/5314373/sun-herald-editorial-rather-than.html
Press Releases
EPA to Hold Public Hearing on Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power
Plants
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a
public hearing on Thursday, February 6, 2014 on the proposed carbon
pollution standards for new power plants. The proposed standards, which
only apply to power plants built in the future, are flexible and would help
minimize carbon pollution through the deployment of the same types of
modern technologies and steps that power companies are already taking to
build the next generation of power plants. Currently, there are no uniform
national limits on the amount of carbon pollution new power plants can
emit.
WHAT:
Public hearing on proposed carbon pollution standards for new power plants
WHEN:
Thursday, February 6, 2014
9:00 a.m. ET - 8:00 p.m. ET
WHERE:
William Jefferson Clinton East Building
Rooms 1152 and 1153
1201 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
**Members of the news media should be prepared to present photo credentials
and allow additional time to enter the building and go through security.**
The public may register to speak in person on the day of the hearing and
will be accommodated as time allows.
EPA also will accept written comments on the proposed standards until March
10, 2014.
More information on the hearings and instructions for submitting written
comments: http://www2.epa.gov/carbon-pollution-standards
EPA Releases New PSA for American Heart Month
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a
new Public Service Announcement (PSA) to educate the public and healthcare
providers about the risks of air pollution to the heart.
"Over more than four decades of EPA history, we've made tremendous progress
cleaning up the air we breathe by using science to understand the harmful
effects of air pollution," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "While EPA
continues to fight for clean air, Americans can take further action to
protect their heart health by following the advice in our new PSA."
February is American Heart Month, and one of EPA's commitments in the U.S.
Surgeon General's National Prevention Strategy is to educate health care
professionals on the health effects of air pollution, including heart
risks. This PSA supports the Million Hearts initiative, launched by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in September, 2011 to prevent
one million heart attacks and strokes by 2017.
Air pollution can trigger heart attacks, stroke, and worsen heart
conditions, especially in people with heart disease. One in three Americans
in the United States has heart disease. Very small particles are the
pollutants of greatest concern for triggering health effects from exposure
to air pollutants. These particles are found in transportation exhaust,
haze, smoke, and dust and sometimes in air that looks clean. Particle
pollution can be found in the air at any time of the year.
People with heart disease should check the daily Air Quality Index
forecast, which is color coded, to protect their health. At code orange or
higher, particle pollution can be harmful to people with heart disease. On
bad air quality days, it is recommended to reschedule outdoor exercise or
exercise indoors instead, and avoid exercising near busy roads.
Air Quality Index forecasts for more than 400 cities are available on the
forecast map through the free AirNow app for iPhone and Android phones, and
through the free EnviroFlash e-mail service. To sign up, visit
http://airnow.gov/ and click on the "Apps" or "EnviroFlash" icons.
Watch and download the PSA: http://youtu.be/yHXUPZCUuGs
A broadcast-ready version of the PSA is available here:
http://www.dvidshub.net/video/320928/smart-protect-your-heart-air-pollution#
Learn more ways to protect your heart from air pollution at
www.epa.gov/healthyheart.
Learn about the Million Hearts Initiative at
http://millionhearts.hhs.gov/index.html
EPA Launches WaterSense H2Otel Challenge to Encourage Water Savings
National awareness campaign helps hotels save water and money, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today launched
the WaterSense H2Otel Challengeas a way for agency partners and other
organizations to encourage hotels to use best management practices that
will save water and money, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions that
contribute to climate change.
"Hotels that reduce their water use will not only help their community save
precious resources, but can gain a competitive edge in today's green
marketplace," said Nancy Stoner, acting assistant administrator for EPA's
Office of Water. "Since 2006, WaterSense has helped Americans save more
than 487 billion gallons of water, and now we're building on that success
to help hotels take their sustainability efforts to the next level."
From New York City's Times Square to the Las Vegas strip, hotels across the
country will take a pledge to "ACT"—assess, change, and track their water
use in the following ways:
- Assess water use and savings opportunities throughout the hotel.
- Change products and processes to more water-efficient models and methods.
- Track water reduction progress before and after incorporating best
management practices.
Caesars Entertainment is the first company to sign up for the H2Otel
Challenge.
"At Caesars Entertainment's resorts throughout the country, we know that
sustaining our local water supply is as important as providing the best
entertainment experience we can to our guests. Over the last few years we
successfully implemented several water saving projects, such as adding
low-flow showerheads and sink aerators at our Las Vegas resorts. We are
excited to participate in the WaterSense H2Otel Challenge and to identify
where we can make even greater improvement to our operations," said Eric
Dominguez, Corporate Director of Engineering, Utilities and Environmental
Affairs for Caesars Entertainment.
"Here in Las Vegas, the hospitality industry is critical to our local
economy. Fortunately, our hotel and resort industry has long been a
valuable partner in our successful efforts to improve water efficiency in
the hospitality sector", said Doug Bennett, Conservation Manager for the
Southern Nevada Water Authority. "We are excited that some of our largest
resorts will share their knowledge and participate in the H2Otel
Challenge."
By tackling projects throughout their properties, hotels can find ways to
improve their water efficiency and performance while providing the highest
quality experience for guests. To help hotels make operational changes and
meet growing customer demand for green lodging, EPA will initiate a series
of educational webinars on February 13, 2014 and provide free tools based
on the online guide, WaterSense at Work: Best Management Practices for
Commercial and Institutional Facilities. WaterSense will also offer
outreach materials for hotels to publicize their efforts and celebrate
their successes with guests and employees.
For more information about the challenge, visit the WaterSense website at
www.epa.gov/watersense/challenge.
W.R. Grace Pays Over $63 Million Toward Cleanup and Restoration of
Hazardous Waste Sites in Communities Across the Country
WASHINGTON – Today, Columbia, Md.-based W.R. Grace & Co. under its
bankruptcy plan of reorganization, paid over $63 million to the U.S.
government to resolve claims for environmental cleanups at approximately 39
sites in 21 states, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announced today.
"Communities across the United States will benefit from this payment of
present and future cleanup costs," said Robert G. Dreher, Acting Assistant
Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The
Justice Department is committed to holding polluters responsible for their
environmental legacy, and won't just walk away leaving taxpayers to pick up
the tab."
"Cleaning up toxic pollution in communities is the responsibility of the
company that created it, not the American taxpayer," said Cynthia Giles,
Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "This money will be used to clean up contaminated sites and to
make a tangible difference for local communities across the country."
W.R. Grace's payment includes approximately $54 million for the EPA. The
company agreed to pay another $9 million to other federal agencies,
including the U.S. Department of Interior and the U.S. Army.
W.R. Grace, a global supplier of specialty chemicals, and 61 affiliated
companies filed for bankruptcy in April 2001. In 2003, EPA filed claims
against the company to recover past and future cleanup costs at sites
contaminated by asbestos and other hazardous substances.
Numerous agreements to resolve the Agency's environmental liability claims
against the company and its affiliates were negotiated as part of the
company's bankruptcy proceedings between April 2008 and February 2013. The
company continues to be responsible for all of the sites it owns or
operates and for any additional sites that were not known or resolved under
the earlier settlements.
W.R. Grace's liability for asbestos contamination in the town of Libby,
Montana, was addressed in a separate June 2008 settlement that resulted in
a payment of $250 million to the EPA. W.R. Grace continues to be
responsible for addressing cleanup at the Libby Mine.
The approximately $54 million payment to EPA will reimburse the Agency for
cleanup costs or provide funds for future cleanup at the following
Superfund sites:
Acton Plant - Acton, Mass.
Amber Oil - Milwaukee, Wis.
Aqua Tech - Greer, S.C.
Big Tex Site - San Antonio, Texas
Blackburn and Union Privileges - Walpole, Mass.
Cambridge Plant - Cambridge, Mass.
Casmalia Resources - Santa Barbara, Calif.
Central Chemical - Hagerstown, Md.
Galaxy/Spectron - Elkton, Md.
Green River - Maceo, Ky.
Harrington Tools - Glendale, Calif.
Intermountain Insulation - Salt Lake City, Utah
IWI Site - Summit, Ill.
Li Tungsten - Glen Cove, N.Y.
Malone Services Co. - Texas County, Texas
Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) - Barnstable County, Mass.
N-Forcer Site - Dearborn, Mich.
Operating Industries, Inc. - Monterey Park, Calif.
R & H Oil/Tropicana - San Antonio, Texas
RAMP Industries - Denver, Colo.
Reclamation Oil - Detroit, Mich.
Robinson Insulation - Minot, N.D.
Solvents Recovery Service of NE - Southington, Conn.
Vermiculite Exfoliation Site - Nashville, Tenn.
Vermiculite Expansion Site - High Point, N.C.
Vermiculite Intermountain - Salt Lake City, Utah
Vermiculite Northwest - Spokane, Wash.
Watson Johnson LF - Richland Township, Pa.
Wells G & H (Source & Central Areas) - Woburn, Mass.
Western Minerals Processing - Denver, Colo.
Western Minerals Products - Minneapolis, Minn.
W.R. Grace - Weedsport, N.Y.
Zonolite - Wilder, Ky.
Zonolite/W.R. Grace - Easthampton, Mass.
Zonolite - Prince George's Co., Md.
Zonolite - Hamilton Township, N.J.
Zonolite - Ellwood City, Pa.
Zonolite - New Castle, Pa.
Zonolite Road - Atlanta, Ga.
More information on W.R. Grace's payments to EPA under their plan of
reorganization:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/case-summary-epa-receives-over-54-million-wr-grace-bankruptcy
More information on Cleanup Enforcement:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/waste-chemical-and-cleanup-enforcement#cleanup
