2.7.2014
Oil Spill
Fish Hatchery Project Meeting
WEAR
A meeting about the proposed fish hatchery project in Escambia County is
underway right now.
http://www.weartv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/fish-hatchery-project-meeting-41220.shtml
U.S.Geological Survey model could guide offshore oil spill cleanup
UPI
Published: Feb. 7, 2014 at 6:08 AM
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 7 (UPI) -- ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Feb. 7 (UPI) --
A computer modeling system could help guide cleanup efforts for oil spills
like the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey
said.
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2014/02/07/USGeological-Survey-model-could-guide-offshore-oil-spill-cleanup/UPI-23371391771319/?spt=rln&or=1
State
Southern Balks at EPA Rules That Cite Its Carbon-Capture Plant
Bloomberg
By Mark Drajem February 06, 2014
Southern Co., which is building the nation's only commercial power plant
that will capture its own carbon emissions, criticized a proposal from the
federal government to require all new coal plants to use the technology.
At a public hearing today at the Environmental Protection Agency
headquarters in Washington, industry representatives said the agency went
too far in its proposed limits on carbon-dioxide emissions from new power
plants. The technology isn't commercially available and doesn't have the
rules in place to govern its use, they said.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-02-06/southern-balks-at-epa-rules-that-cite-its-carbon-capture-plant
Mississippi Senate advances DMR reorganization bill authored by Pascagoula
Sen. Brice Wiggins
The Associated Press
February 06, 2014 at 3:39 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The state Senate has advanced a bill -- authored by
Sen. Brice Wiggins, R-Pascagoula -- to reorganize the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/02/mississippi_senate_advances_dm.html
Part of Waveland beach under DEQ advisory
Sun Herald
JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality advises
beachgoers to stay out of the water off Waveland beach between Oak and
Favre streets, Its Beach Monitoring Program, which uses water sampling by
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, has found evidence of high bacteria levels
in the water there.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/02/06/5316699/part-of-waveland-beach-under-deq.html
MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisory for Location in Waveland
WXXV
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, issued a water contact
advisory Thursday for one sampling station in Hancock County. This segment
of beach is not closed; however, there may be an increased risk of illness
associated with swimming in this area.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-Issues-Water-Contact-Advisory-for-Location/TWm581sOH0G94-udrbn9IA.cspx
House, Senate split on wild hog bills
Animals costing farmers millions
Clarion Ledger
Wild hogs are roaming the state, proliferating in large numbers and
destroying farm land, a state senator said Thursday.
"Wild hogs are no laughing matter," said Senate Wildlife Chairman Giles
Ward. "We have a tremendous problem with wild hogs. They are taking away
millions of dollars of crops."
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140207/NEWS01/302070021/House-Senate-split-wild-hog-bills
Regional
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy joins Mayor Mitch Landrieu in dedicating
rain garden, discussing climate change
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
February 06, 2014 at 7:33 PM
Braving near-freezing temperatures and a smattering of sleet, Environmental
Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy and New Orleans Mayor Mitch
Landrieu unveiled a new rain garden Thursday in Gentilly that is aimed at
reducing flooding and cleaning rainwater runoff before it enters Lake
Pontchartrain.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/02/epa_administrator_gina_mccarth_1.html
EPA cleaning up extensive acid spill in northern Escambia County
Fish kill reported in Fletcher Creek; spill contained to waterway
Pensacola News Journal
A CSX freight train derailment near the community of Molino Jan. 28 spilled
up to 30,000 gallons of a corrosive acid into a creek feeding the Escambia
River, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20140206/NEWS01/140206011/EPA-cleaning-up-extensive-acid-spill-northern-Escambia-County
National
EPA Considering Methods to Assess Economywide Costs of Air Regulations
Friday, February 7, 2014
Bloomberg
By Jessica Coomes
Feb. 5 --The Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting public input on
how to assess the economywide costs and benefits of air pollution
regulations (79 Fed. Reg. 6,899).
http://www.bna.com/epa-considering-methods-n17179881955/
WH names Mike Boots as acting CEQ director
Washington Post
By Juliet Eilperin, Updated: February 6 at 12:35 pm
On Thursday the White House promoted Mike Boots, the Council on
Environmental Quality's chief of staff, to serve as the council's acting
director.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/02/06/wh-names-mike-boots-as-acting-ceq-director/
Meet Obama's new go-to guy on climate change
The Hill
The White House named Mike Boots acting director of its Council on
Environmental Quality on Thursday.
Boots, the chief of staff at CEQ, will take the helm on Feb. 18, four days
after current chief Nancy Sutley steps down.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/197661-wh-names-mike-boots-acting-director-of-ceq
House told of risk of fracking on federal lands
UPI
Published: Feb. 6, 2014 at 9:03 AM
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (UPI) -- Nick Lund, a
manager from the National Parks Conservation Association, told House
leaders hydraulic fracturing on federal lands "could harm park air
quality."
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2014/02/06/House-told-of-risk-of-fracking-on-federal-lands/UPI-61791391695437/
House GOP bill aims to end 'secret science' in EPA rulemaking
Fox News
Republican lawmakers in the House are pushing legislation that would
prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency from proposing new regulations
based on science that is not transparent or not reproducible.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/07/house-gop-bill-aims-to-end-secret-science-in-epa-rulemaking/
'Secret science' must end, Republicans declare
The Hill
By Ben Goad
Legislation introduced Thursday in the House would bar the Environmental
Protection Agency from issuing new rules without first disclosing all of
the scientific research that went into them.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energy-environment/197701-gop-bill-would-outlaw-epas-secret-science
Press Releases
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| NRCS and Forest Service Partner to Improve Forest Health |
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| San Bernardino and Riverside County, California Among Areas Targeted to |
| Reduce Wildfire Risk |
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| HELENA, Mont., February 6, 2014 – Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural|
|Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie announced today a multi-year |
|partnership between the U.S. Forest Service and the Natural Resources |
|Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the health and resiliency of forest |
|ecosystems where public and private lands meet across the nation. The Under |
|Secretary made the announcement in Helena, Montana, near the site of the Red|
|Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir, one of the first areas to be addressed |
|through the partnership. Another area to be targeted is the San |
|Bernardino/Riverside County area of California which experienced |
|catastrophic wildfires a decade ago. |
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| "NRCS and the Forest Service have the same goal in this partnership – |
|working across traditional boundaries and restoring the health of our |
|forests and watersheds whether they're on public or private lands," Bonnie |
|said. |
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| Today's announcement is part of the Obama Administration's Climate Action|
|Plan to responsibly cut carbon pollution, slow the effects of climate change|
|and put America on track to a cleaner environment. |
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| The project, called the Chiefs' Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership, |
|will invest $30 million in 13 projects across the country this year to help |
|mitigate wildfire threats to communities and landowners, protect water |
|quality, and supply and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species. |
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| The 13 priority projects will build on existing projects with local |
|partnerships already in place. By leveraging technical and financial |
|resources and coordinating activities on adjacent public and private lands, |
|conservation work by NRCS and the Forest Service will be more efficient and |
|effective in these watersheds. |
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| "Wildfires and water concerns don't stop at boundaries between public and|
|private lands," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. "By working together, we can |
|provide more focused and effective assistance to help public and private |
|landowners and managers put conservation solutions on the ground |
|nationwide." |
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| "The Chiefs' Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership is an opportunity |
|for our agencies to pool resources and get better results for the American |
|people," U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell added. "Restoring the health |
|of our nation's forests and grasslands is a critical effort, and it's going |
|to take partnerships like this to see the job through." |
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| The list of the 13 projects: |
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| Montana – Red Mountain Flume/Chessman Reservoir: $865,000 for restoration|
|of the watershed is critical to protecting communities, watershed health and|
|drinking water, contributing 80 percent of the water supply for Helena, |
|Mont. Successful implementation of this project will protect public health |
|and safety, reduce the risk of decades of erosion and flooding that could |
|result from a wildfire, and potentially save millions of dollars in |
|mitigation costs. |
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| California - San Bernardino and Riverside County Fuels Reduction Project:|
|In October 2003, Southern California experienced catastrophic wildfires that|
|burned over 750,000 acres, destroyed 3,500 homes, and resulted in 22 |
|fatalities and over $3 billion in losses. Since then, multiple partners have|
|committed time and resources to planning and implementing forest health and |
|wildfire hazard reduction projects on private land and working with the |
|owners within San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Reducing forest fuels |
|on 30,000 acres will provide additional protection for community safety, |
|wildlife habitat, watershed health, recreation opportunities and cultural |
|resources. |
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| California – Mid-Klamath River Communities Project: The partnership has |
|yielded numerous implementation-ready projects and treatments on some high |
|priority federal and private lands are underway or complete. These |
|treatments include fuel breaks, thinning, broadcast burning, and improved |
|fire suppression infrastructure such as water tanks and ingress/egress |
|routes. Although these projects are focused on communities, most of these |
|projects have identified wildlife, water, and economic stability benefits. |
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| Minnesota – Upper Mississippi Headwaters Restoration |
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| New Mexico – Isleta Project |
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| New Hampshire – New Hampshire Drinking Water Improvement |
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| Wisconsin – Lake Superior Landscape Restoration Partnership |
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| West Virginia – West Virginia Restoration Venture |
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| Kentucky – Triplett Creek |
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| Arkansas – Western Arkansas Woodland Restoration |
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| New York – Susquehanna Watershed Riparian Buffer Enhancements |
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| Mississippi – Upper Black Creek Watershed |
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| Oregon – East Face of the Elk Horn Mountains |
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| Summaries of all projects selected can be found here. |
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| The agencies are reviewing additional sites for the partnership to |
|collaborate in the future and will continue to capitalize on NRCS and Forest|
|Service overlying priorities and programs. |
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EPA Requests Input on Hazardous Waste Management in the Retail Sector
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
releasing the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) for Hazardous Waste
Management in the Retail Sector. EPA is responding to issues the retail
industry has identified that they face in implementing hazardous waste
regulations. This NODA provides stakeholders the opportunity to help the
agency better understand their operations and identify options for possible
further action.
"As part of President Obama's efforts to make regulatory programs more
effective and less burdensome, EPA is committed to working closely with the
retail industry and stakeholders to help remove barriers that may affect
compliance with federal regulations," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
The agency seeks comment on existing data on the retail industry universe
and amount of hazardous waste it generates, and suggestions for improving
hazardous waste regulations for retail operations. The NODA also seeks
information and hazardous waste data on the following:
· Episodic generation
· Retails stores' programs for handling hazardous waste
· Hazardous waste training for employees
· Aerosol cans
· Transportation and reverse logistics
· Reverse logistics centers
· Sustainability efforts undertaken by retail facilities
All comments on the NODA should be submitted by 60 days from publication
and should be identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2012-0426.
Today's action is part of the agency's regulatory reform plan that
implements President Obama's directive given in Executive Order 13563,
which directs agencies to make regulatory programs more effective or less
burdensome in achieving regulatory objectives. The NODA is the latest in
continuing efforts to reach out to the retail sector. The agency has
conducted multiple site visits at retailers to learn more about how they
manage their pharmaceutical and retail waste, and issued guidance within
the current regulatory structure to provide flexibility to stakeholders in
managing pharmaceutical container hazardous waste residues. The agency has
also reached out to the retail sector by giving presentations to industry
associations and other stakeholders about retail sector compliance concerns
and efforts that EPA is taking to understand and address these concerns and
offering to host listening sessions.
More information on the NODA:
http://www.epa.gov/waste/hazard/generation/retail.htm
USDA Accepts Grant Applications for Conservation Innovation Efforts
Grant Program Links Public, Private Groups to Improve the Environment and
Preserve Resources
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is
accepting applications for competitive grants to develop and accelerate
conservation approaches and technologies on private agricultural and forest
lands.
"Conservation Innovation Grants (CIGs) have contributed to some of the
most pioneering conservation work on America's agricultural and forest
lands," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "It's an excellent
investment in new conservation technologies and approaches that farmers,
ranchers and forest landowners can use to achieve their production and
conservation goals."
About $15 million will be made available nationwide by the USDA's
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). State and local governments,
federally recognized Indian tribes, non-governmental and educational
organizations, private businesses and individuals are eligible to apply.
Vilsack said priority will be given to applications that relate to
nutrient management, energy conservation, soil health, air quality, climate
change, wildlife, economics, sociology, environmental markets, food safety,
historically underserved groups, or assessments of past CIG projects.
In the 10 years that NRCS has administered the program, grants have
helped develop water quality trading markets, demonstrated ways to increase
fertilizer water and energy efficiencies, as well as address other resource
concerns.
For example, the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association used a CIG grant
to work with growers to install automated sprinkler systems that conserve
water and trim costs. Ducks Unlimited and other partners used a grant to
develop a carbon credit system for North Dakota landowners in the Prairie
Pothole region, a crucial area for migrating waterfowl. The Wilds, a
wildlife conservation center, also used a grant to demonstrate how a
combination of warm-and cool-season grasses can be successfully
incorporated into a productive, sustainable rotational grazing system.
The grant program enables NRCS to work with public and private partners
to accelerate technology development and adopt promising approaches to
address natural resource concerns. Funded through the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program, the grants are awarded through a competitive process.
At least 50 percent of the total cost of grant projects must come from
non-federal matching funds, including cash and in-kind contributions
provided by the grant recipient.
For more on this grant opportunity, visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/cig/index.html. To apply electronically,
visit www.grants.gov.
USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service helps America's farmers
and ranchers conserve the nation's soil, water, air and other natural
resources. All programs are voluntary and offer science-based solutions
that benefit both the landowner and the environment.
Follow NRCS on Twitter . Check out other conservation-related stories on
the USDA Blog. Watch videos on NRCS' YouTube channel.
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