3.20.14
Oil Spill
Louisiana's coastal insects still dying from BP oil spill, researcher says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
March 19, 2014 at 7:19 PM
Insects living in wetland grasses along Louisiana's coast oiled in the
aftermath of the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster are still dying, the
result of exposure to remaining oil in the marsh almost four years later,
Louisiana State University entomologist Linda Hooper-Bui said Wednesday.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/03/coastal_insects_still_dying_fr.html
Oil spill claims administrator Patrick Juneau in Hancock County: Let's
finish what we set out to do
Sun Herald
BY LAUREN WALCK
As BP was bidding on new areas of the Gulf to drill Wednesday, oil spill
claims administrator Patrick Juneau stopped by Hancock County to follow up
on the more than $4 million in grants given to 12 Coast tourism
organizations.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/19/5428257/bp-claims-administrator-speaks.html
New Rules For BP Business Claims Are Issued
MPB
BY EVELINA BURNETT | PUBLISHED 19 MAR 2014
Long-awaited rules for business claims stemming from the massive 2010 BP
oil spill have been released.
But, as MPB's Evelina Burnett reports, some Mississippi businesses will
probably have to wait a bit longer to get paid.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/new_rules_for_bp_business_claims_are_issued
BP Is Highest Bidder for 24 Gulf of Mexico Blocks
Wall Street Journal
By Tom Fowler
BP PLC appeared to win new drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico on
Wednesday, less than a week after a federal ban was lifted that kept the
company doing business with the U.S. government for 16 months.
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20140319-711166.html
BP Scraps Renewable Energy Goal After Investing $8.3 Billion
Bloomberg
Louise Downing March 19, 2014
BP Plc (BP/), recovering from an oil spill that may cost it as much as $42
billion, said it hasn't set a new target for investing in renewable energy
after investing $8.3 billion in the business.
http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/698737?type=bloomberg
State
Trash is classy in Bay St. Louis
Sun Herald
BY JENNIFER LENAIN
BAY ST. LOUIS -- Trash is chic at the fourth annual No Trash Bash fashion
show.
Fifteen contestants' designs, made from reused materials, were modeled on
the runway to show fashion isn't just purchased from a store rack.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/19/5429338/trash-is-classy-in-bay-st-louis.html
Mississippi private landowners can help conserve wetlands
Press-Register
Jeff Dute
March 20, 2014 at 5:39 AM
MISSISSIPPI PROGRAM SEEKS PRIVATE LANDOWNERS TO HELP WETLAND-DEPENDENT
WILDLIFE -- Mississippi Partners for Fish and Wildlife is seeking to enroll
new private-land wetland projects to benefit waterfowl and other wildlife,
and the application period ends May 1.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/03/post_593.html
National
Author of 'EPA Playbook'? Report claims notorious fraudster was behind
costly EPA regulations
Fox News
John Beale, the former EPA official who fooled his bosses into believing he
worked for the CIA, was deeply involved in crafting costly environmental
standards which still are having an impact today -- though he came into the
job with little, if any, environmental experience.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03/19/author-epa-playbook-report-claims-notorious-fraudster-was-behind-costly-epa/
Gulf shrimp and long-line fisheries named some of "dirtiest fisheries" in
recent report
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
March 20, 2014 at 6:33 AM
The Gulf of Mexico shrimp and long-line fisheries are named as some of the
nine "dirtiest fisheries" in a report released Thursday by the ocean
conservation and advocacy nonprofit Oceana. The "Wasted Catch" report lists
fisheries that have the largest amount of bycatch, which is fish and
wildlife that are unintentionally caught when attempting to catch other
species.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/03/gulf_shrimp_and_long-line_fish.html#incart_river
25 years later, Exxon Valdez spill effects linger
WRAL
Before the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 in the Gulf of Mexico, there
was the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska, at the time the nation's largest
oil spill.
The 987-foot tanker, carrying 53 million gallons of crude, struck Bligh
Reef at 12:04 a.m. on March 24, 1989. Within hours, it unleashed an
estimated 10.8 million gallons of thick, toxic crude oil into the water.
Storms and currents then smeared it over 1,300 miles of shoreline.
http://www.wral.com/25-years-later-exxon-valdez-spill-effects-linger/13494997/
Facing drought, California farmers rally against regulations limiting water
supplies
Fox News
Thousands of farmers in drought-stricken California are rallying this week
in opposition to regulations that have frozen water supplies across the
state.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/03/19/farmer-rally-against-regulations-limiting-water-supplies-amid-drought/?intcmp=latestnews
Scientists unveil dinosaur dubbed the 'chicken from hell'
CNN
(CNN) -- For a Tyrannosaurus rex looking for a snack, nothing might have
tasted quite like the "chicken from hell."
That's one way Matt Lamanna describes Anzu wyliei, the species of dinosaur
that he and fellow paleontologists unveiled Wednesday.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/19/us/dinosaur-chicken-hell/index.html?iref=allsearch
Press Releases
EPA Celebrates 10 Years of SmartWay Partnerships
Voluntary program saves companies billions in fuel costs while cutting
pollution
WASHINGTON -- EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership is celebrating 10 years
as a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the
cleanest most energy-efficient way possible, saving businesses money while
protecting public health and fighting climate change. Over the last 10
years, SmartWay has eliminated 51.6 million metric tons of carbon
pollution, resulting in savings of more than120 million barrels of oil, and
$16.8 billion in fuel costs.
SmartWay helps businesses move more goods more miles with lower emissions
and less energy by helping accelerate the availability, adoption and market
penetration of advanced fuel efficient technologies and operational
practices in the freight supply chain, while lowering costs and improving
environmental performance.
"SmartWay's success over the past decade means cleaner air for Americans to
breathe, and also lower shipping costs for businesses – a win-win," said
Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and
Radiation. "The partnership uses innovative technology to help national and
multinational corporations operate a more connected, clean and
climate-friendly global freight network."
Ten years ago, SmartWay started with 15 Charter Partners, freight sector
business leaders that shared and supported the initial vision of moving
freight more efficiently, saving money on fuel costs and advancing fuel
efficient technologies. Since then, the program has grown to over 3,000
Partners including some of the nation's largest freight shippers, such as
Best Buy Co., Inc., Hewlett Packard, Lowe's, The Home Depot, and Sharp
Electronics. Recently, General Motors and the U.S. Postal Service have
joined the program. The program has recently expanded into Canada, which
will allow U.S. businesses to access one seamless cross-border program with
the nation's largest trading partner.
SmartWay has inspired other large U.S. trade partners, including China and
Mexico, to initiate similar green freight programs, making it easier for
multinational companies to understand their global goods movement
footprint. Leading such a global sustainability effort requires ongoing
innovation and collaboration with multiple freight industry sectors. For
example, this year SmartWay will offer a first-of-its-kind environmental
assessment tool for the inland barge industry.
The SmartWay Partnership is a public-private initiative between EPA, large
and small trucking companies, rail carriers, logistics companies,
commercial manufacturers, retailers, and other federal and state agencies.
Information about SmartWay's 10th anniversary:
www.epa.gov/smartway/about/smartway10.htm.
General information about SmartWay: www.epa.gov/smartway.
