3.27.2014
State
Congress Is Forcing Team Obama to Withhold Funding From the South
The administration has a plan to give more money to Southern states for
clean-air protection, but lawmakers block it every year.
National Journal
Roger Wicker has a bone to pick with the Obama administration.
The Southeast—the region that the Mississippi Republican senator calls
home—has 20 percent of the nation's people. But when it comes time for the
administration to dole out cash for a clean-air program, the Southeast only
gets 12 percent of the program's funding, Wicker said.
http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/congress-is-forcing-team-obama-to-withhold-funding-from-the-south-20140327
South Mississippi charter boat captains upset over possible CMR nominee
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
JACKSON -- The Coast's charter boat captains aren't happy with the man they
believe will be the nominee to represent them on the Commission on Marine
Resources and they're letting the governor know it.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/26/5448341/charter-boat-captains-upset-over.html
Mayors push to protect Mississippi River
Hattiesburg American
WASHINGTON — Mississippi mayors from cities along the Mississippi River
joined others Wednesday in calling for Congress to support $400 million in
the administration's fiscal 2015 budget to help fund disaster prevention
efforts.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140327/NEWS01/303270016/Mayors-push-protect-Mississippi-River
Department of Energy pulls BlueFire funding
Itawamba County Times
by Adam Armour | 7:00 am | March 26, 2014
BlueFire Renewables is appealing a decision to pull federal funding for its
$300 million Fulton cellulose plant.
http://itawambatimes.com/2014/03/26/department-energy-pulls-bluefire-funding/
New life for Oma sewer district
Lawrence County Press
Two weeks can make a huge difference in the life of a project in Lawrence
County.
The Lawrence County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to breath new life
into the belabored Oma Sewer project.
http://lawrencecountypress.com/contentitem/369348/1181/new-life-for-oma-sewer-district
Records disputes could go to Miss. ethics group
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Ethics Commission could gain power to
settle disputes over requests for public records.
Senators passed the final version of Senate Bill 2507 on Wednesday, sending
it to Gov. Phil Bryant.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Records-disputes-could-go-to-Miss-ethics-group-5350963.php
People moving into South Mississippi
5 of 6 counties notch gains since 2010
Sun Herald
BY MARY MARGARET HALFORD
The population of Harrison County is steadily growing, and the number of
people in all but one of the six southernmost counties is on the rise,
according to numbers being released by the U.S. Census Bureau today.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/26/5448806/people-moving-into-south-mississippi.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Regional
How Human Activity Can Cause "Dead Zones" in the Gulf of Mexico
KIII
HOUSTON (Kiii News) -Leading conservationists and officials representing
all the states bordering the Gulf of Mexico have been attending a special
conference in Houston.
http://www.kiiitv.com/story/25080781/how-human-activity-can-cause-dead-zones-in-the-gulf-of-mexico
National
GOP slams EPA for overreach
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
Republicans are hitting the Environmental Protection Agency for its latest
regulation on streams and wetlands.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/201826-gop-slams-epa-for-overreach
Republicans question EPA head on fake CIA agent case
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
Senate Republicans used a Wednesday hearing about the Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA) budget to criticize EPA Administrator Gina
McCarthy over the agency's handling of former employee and fake CIA agent
John Beale.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/201820-republicans-question-epa-head-on-fake-cia-agent-case
Coast Guard: BP Let 9 to 18 Barrels of Oil in Lake
By RICK CALLAHAN
Associated Press
An initial assessment of a Lake Michigan oil spill shows that between nine
and 18 barrels of crude oil entered the lake following a malfunction at oil
giant BP's sprawling northwestern Indiana refinery, the U.S. Coast Guard
said Wednesday.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/coast-guard-bp-18-barrels-oil-lake-23071759
Energy boom spurs growth west of the Mississippi
BY JESSE J. HOLLAND
Associated PressMarch 26, 2014
WASHINGTON — America's energy boom is fueling population growth west of the
Mississippi River.
New 2013 census information released Thursday shows that 6 of the 10
fastest-growing metropolitan areas and 8 of the 10 fastest-growing counties
in the country are located in or near the oil- and gas-rich fields of the
Great Plains and Mountain West.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/26/5448445/energy-boom-spurs-growth-west.html?sp=/99/184/208/
Press Releases
COCHRAN WARY OF EPA EFFORT TO CLARIFY CLEAN WATER REGULATIONS
Senator, Long Opposed to EPA Regulatory Overreach, Encourages Public Review
& Comment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking member on
the Senate Agriculture Committee, today questioned the intent of a proposed
rule to clarify the reach of the Clean Water Act over streams and wetlands,
and encouraged the agriculture and business communities to weigh in on the
environmental regulatory proposal.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, on Tuesday released a proposed rule intended to clarify the
definitions of waters subject to government oversight under the Clean Water
Act. The announcement of the new rule, titled "Waters of the United States
Proposed Rule," opens a 90-day public comment period.
"While I am suspect of the impact and objectives of this rulemaking, I give
the agency some credit for finally choosing to use the rulemaking process
and allow for public input as Congress intended. I encourage citizens to
carefully review this proposal and weigh in with EPA to ensure that
regulations like this one are based on sound science, consider economic
impacts, and demonstrate common sense," Cochran said.
The veteran Mississippi lawmaker has been critical of actions taken by the
EPA in recent years to expand the extent to which the Clean Water Act can
be used to tighten federal control over waterways in a manner that could
unfairly interfere with agriculture, homebuilding and other land-intensive
industries.
"Over the past five years the EPA has demonstrated a willingness to expand
its regulatory reach, ignore common sense and, at times, exceed any
rational reading of the law. Its actions have increased the regulatory
burdens and costs on farmers, ranchers, businesses and other job creators,"
Cochran said. "Stakeholders in Mississippi and elsewhere should take a
very close look at this latest EPA regulatory effort."
Cochran has worked against the use of an EPA-Army Corps of Engineers
guidance document, issued outside of the regular federal rulemaking
process, to expand government regulation waterways. In June 2013, the
Senator cosponsored the Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act (S.1006), which
would prevent the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers from using a guidance
document finalized in February 2012 to change legal responsibilities under
the Clean Water Act. It also stops the two agencies from issuing similar
guidance in the future.
LINKS
• Waters of the United States Proposed Rule: http://1.usa.gov/1eL673C
• Statement on Preserve the Waters of the U.S. Act, June 2013:
http://1.usa.gov/12sPaHl
###
http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=7e13ae72-78d9-4ff2-83ff-cb89f2402a6e
Celebrate the Gulf Marine Education Festival
returns to Pass Christian's War Memorial Park April 5
BILOXI, Miss. – Come out and enjoy two free festivals at one time! For
a fun and educational event for the whole family, visit the 23rd annual
Celebrate the Gulf Marine Education Festival on Saturday, April 5, 2014,
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The award-winning Celebrate the Gulf will be held
in conjunction with Art in the Pass at War Memorial Park, located on
Beach Boulevard in Pass Christian, Miss. Enjoy lively, hands-on exhibits
that highlight the benefits of a healthy Gulf of Mexico. Touch tanks,
live animals, Raptor Road Show/Birds of Prey, plus fishing rodeo for
youth, 12 and under.
"Celebrate the Gulf is an event designed to educate our youth about
marine life and the environment," said Jamie Miller, executive director
of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources. "Children are never
too young to learn about our coastal resources and how to protect them.
This is a great family event, and DMR is pleased to be part of it."
Visit more than 20 Celebrate the Gulf exhibits related to the wise use,
preservation or conservation of our valuable aquatic and coastal
resources. Children and adults alike will get to experience everything
from crawling through the ever-popular "Turtle Hurdle" to visiting a
special touch tank full of marine creatures, sponsored by the Institute
for Marine Mammal Studies. Participants will also participate in many
hands-on activities involving native plants, birds and marine life. A
special Raptor Road Show presented by the Environmental Studies Center
from Mobile, Ala., will also be offered periodically throughout the
festival.
"Prizes will be awarded to the schools that send the most students to
the Celebrate the Gulf event," said Jennifer Buchanan, education
coordinator for the MDMR's Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
(NERR). "So come on out and have fun while supporting your school."
As a special treat for our young fishers, the Mississippi Department of
Marine Resources in association with the Coastal Conservation
Association (CCA) of Mississippi and the Celebrate the Gulf Marine
Education Festival, will be hosting a FREE junior fishing rodeo on the
western side of the Pass Christian Harbor on Saturday, April 5, 2014,
from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. for children 12 and under. Every child who fishes
will win a prize. Prizes will be awarded at Celebrate the Gulf Marine
Education Festival in Pass Christian's War Memorial Park after the
fishing rodeo. For more information on Celebrate the Gulf and the free
junior fishing rodeo, call Jennifer Buchanan at 228-475-7047 or
jen.buchanan@dmr.ms.gov.
Sponsors of Celebrate the Gulf include the Mississippi Department of
Marine Resources, Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve,
Mississippi Power Company, Ingalls Shipbuilding, City of Pass Christian,
Chevron Pascagoula Refinery, Gulf of Mexico Program, Coastal
Conservation Association of Mississippi, and DuPont.
Our sister festival, Art in the Pass, is taking place on the same site
both Saturday and Sunday. Art in the Pass is celebrating its 17th
anniversary this year. Attracting a sophisticated, buying public and a
talented group of national artists, this juried art festival has grown
from a few local artists presenting their works to more than 100
exhibiting artists. The art festival will take place between 10 a.m. and
5 p.m. April 5 and 6.
—MORE—
Celebrate the Gulf Marine Educational Festival returns April 5—page 2 of
2
Art in the Pass' Marine Cuisine Pavilion will feature the culinary arts,
focusing on Mississippi Gulf Fresh Seafood. Activities will include free
cooking demonstrations and tasting samples provided by local chefs and
the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Seafood Marketing
Program.
The Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) is located near
the community of Pecan in southeast Jackson County and includes wetlands
and waterways from Bang's Lake to the Alabama state line. A major goal
of the Reserve is to provide for research coordination and dissemination
of scientific data to the community and local decision-makers to provide
sound information on which to base management decisions. Visit the
NERR's website at www.grandbaynerr.org.
The 18,000-acre reserve is home to several rare or endangered plant and
animal species and serves as an essential nursery habitat for numerous
important commercial and recreational fish species. The Reserve is
managed through state-federal partnership between the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources and its local partners—Mississippi
Secretary of State's Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mississippi
State University and the Nature Conservancy—and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to
enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by
managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and
waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational,
educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with
environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at
www.dmr.ms.gov.
2014 Celebrate the Gulf Exhibitors
· Institute for Marine Mammal Studies
· Gulf Coast Council Federation of Fly Fishers
· Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR):
- MDMR Invasive Species Program
- MDMR Seafood Technology Bureau
- MDMR Marine Patrol
- MDMR/Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
· Mississippi Power's Renew Our Rivers
· Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Coastal Basin
Team
· Adopt-A-Stream Mississippi-Mississippi Wildlife Federation/MDEQ
· NOAA Fisheries
· Wolf River Conservation Society
· Gulf of Mexico Program - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
· Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge - U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service
· The Nature Conservancy
· Pass Christian Public Library
· Dauphin Island Sea Lab
· Mississippi Coast Audubon
· McCoy's River and Marsh Tours
· Lynn Meadows Discovery Center
· City of Pass Christian Code Enforcement Office
· MDMR Lyman Fish Hatchery and University of Southern Mississippi Gulf
Coast Research Laboratory
· Northern Gulf Institute
· Wildlife Care & Rescue Center, Inc.
PHOTO CREDIT: Photo courtesy of MDMR/Grand Bay NERR
PHOTO CAPTION: Festival-goers of all ages enjoy the Raptor Road Show
presented by the Environmental Studies Center from Mobile, Ala. during last
year's Celebrate the Gulf Festival Marine Education Festival. This year's
free festival is set for April 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at War Memorial
Park in Pass Christian.
—END—
Testimony of EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy Before Senate Environment and
Public Works Committee on Proposed FY 2015 Budget
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina
McCarthy testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public
Works today at a hearing to discuss EPA's proposed FY 2015 budget.
Administrator McCarthy's remarks:
Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Vitter, and members of the Committee, thank
you for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the Environmental
Protection Agency's proposed FY 2015 budget. I'm joined by the Agency's
Acting Chief Financial Officer, Maryann Froehlich.
EPA's budget request of $7.890 billion for the 2015 fiscal year starting
October 1, 2014 reflects our ongoing efforts to meet the challenges facing
the agency today and into the future. Despite these challenges, we remain
dedicated to protecting public health and the environment, and we know we
must target staff and resources and find new ways to fulfill our mission.
We will focus those resources in a way that will allow EPA to be more
effective and efficient.
The FY 2015 budget reflects a strategic approach to our budget planning
process, looking toward the future rather than continuing to simply react
to tough budget choices with cuts across the Agency. The FY 2015 budget
request does this in the following ways:
- It reflects EPA's incorporation of new technologies and new regulatory
and non-regulatory approaches that can help us maintain our efficiency and
effectiveness.
- It strengthens EPA's partnership with public health and environmental
protection partners in states, tribes and local communities with a focus on
aligning our resources, avoiding duplication, and identifying and closing
any gaps in the broader environmental enterprise system.
- It invests our funds and leverages funds of our partners where it makes
the most sense and gets the biggest bang for the buck.
Following the framework of priorities laid out in the FY 2014 - 2018
Strategic Plan and working within our budget, we are committed to ensuring
the staff we have in program areas and regions make the most sense and will
have the most impact.
EPA has already taken steps toward proactive management of our operating
budget. Through the VERA/VSIP process, we have begun to accelerate
attrition within EPA both at headquarters and the regions toward a ceiling
of 15,000 nonrefundable FTE's.
Our FY 2015 budget relies on a reduced workforce focused on programs,
policies, and regulations that matter most to public health and the
environment. This is not simply about cutting the workforce to save costs.
We are reshaping the workforce and our work to meet current and future
challenges. Doing this includes making key investments.
It makes long-term fiscal sense to invest the cost savings achieved --
through a smaller workforce and improved use of technology -- to work
smarter and more effectively. This approach will keep EPA strong, focused
on science and the law, and transparent in addressing environmental
challenges and the results we have achieved.
This budget will provide the support we need to move forward by targeting
real progress in priority areas: communities, climate change and air
quality, toxics and chemical safety, and clean water.
Building on current work on the ground in our communities, we are asking
for $7.5 million and 64 staff in FY 2015 to work toward efforts that will
make a difference in people's everyday lives and in their communities.
Those efforts include providing green infrastructure technical assistance
for up to 100 communities that will promote cost-effective approaches to
water management.
This budget request furthers our environmental justice efforts. The
protections provided by our national environmental laws must be accessible
to everyone. We will do more to partner with states, tribes, and local
governments and other federal agencies to better coordinate and leverage
resources supporting community efforts.
Addressing the threat from a changing climate is one of the greatest
challenges of this and future generations. The request for climate change
and air quality is $1.03 billion—over $41 million more than fiscal year
2014. And it designates $199.5 million specifically for climate change
work.
Building on existing efforts and base budget resources, the Agency has
added $10 million and dedicates 24 FTE's in FY 2015 to support the
President's climate action plan. $2 million is designated for technical
assistance for adaptation planning for water utilities at greatest risk
from storm surges. Research and development efforts will focus on support
tools for at-risk communities and tribes in preparing for the impacts of
climate change.
The Agency will focus resources on the development of common sense and
achievable greenhouse gas standards for power plants—the single largest
source of carbon pollution. The President's budget provides support for the
states to help them meet their obligations under Section 111 of the Clean
Air Act with regard to cutting carbon emissions.
This request also supports the President's interagency methane strategy and
the President's recently announced directive to EPA to develop phase 2 fuel
efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles. EPA also
will be implementing a range of activities in support of the President's
call to cut energy waste in homes, businesses, and factories.
Chemicals and toxic substances are prevalent in our everyday lives. The EPA
budget requests almost $673 million to support work to reduce the risk and
increase the safety of chemicals and prevent pollution for all Americans
and especially children.
We are requesting $23 million and 24 FTE in FY 2015 to support activities
under the President's executive order on chemical safety, as well as Agency
efforts on chemical prioritization, air toxics, radon, and volatile organic
compounds in drinking water. $5 million in resources for air toxics work
will enhance our capabilities to design effective regulations and continue
developing the national air toxics assessment.
The nation's water resources are the lifeblood of our communities. The FY
2015 budget recognizes the long-term benefits of healthy aquatic systems
for all aspects of our daily lives.
The Agency is directing $8 million and 10 FTE to advance clean water.
Resources are also proposed for the municipal separate storm sewer systems
program for technical support to communities that must develop effective
stormwater permits for the first time.
We are requesting $1.775 billion for the clean water and drinking water
state revolving funds. Although this is a more than a $580 million decrease
over FY 2014 levels, federal capitalization of the SRFs totals over $22
billion since FY 2009, if you include the FY 2015 request. The FY 2015
budget seeks to ensure that federal dollars provided through the fund lead
to the design, construction, and support of sustainable water
infrastructure.
The EPA is looking toward future ways to better serve the American people
by employing technology where it can be used more effectively. E-Enterprise
is a major joint initiative between EPA and states to modernize our
business practices and to increase responsiveness. This effort holds the
promise of increased effectiveness and savings for businesses as well as
government. The agency is expanding efforts in the second year of the
multi-year E-Enterprise business model including focusing people and
resources to accelerate development of the E-Manifest system and associated
rule-making work. For example, the benefits of implementing the E-Manifest
system include annual savings estimated at $75 million for over 160,000
waste handlers. Transitioning from a paper-based system saves time and
effort for every person who used to handle that paper.
In addition, EPA is making changes to long-standing business practices such
as contracts, grants management, and the regulation development process.
One important area of emphasis is improving freedom of information act
(FOIA) and records management.
In FY 2015, the Agency is requesting over $1.33 billion to continue to
apply the most effective response approaches for cleanups under RCRA,
Superfund, Leaking Underground Storage Tank, and other authorities. This
strategy will help ensure land is returned to beneficial use in the most
effective way. $1.16 billion is requested for Superfund which includes a
$43.4 million increase for remedial work and an increase of $9.2 million
for emergency response and removal.
In this budget, we hold firm our priority support for state and tribal
partners, the primary implementers and front line of environmental
programs. Funding for state and tribal assistance grants – or STAG – is
once again the largest percentage of the EPA's budget request and
prioritizes funding for state categorical grants.
The FY 2015 budget includes a total of $1.13 billion in categorical grants
– a net $76 million increase over FY 2014.
• Within that total is over $96 million for tribal general
assistance program grants – a $31 million increase over FY 2014.
• We also included an $18 million increase for pollution control
(Section 106),
• There is a $16 million increase for environmental information
grants.
• There is a $15 million increase for state and local air quality
management in our request.
Science is the foundation of our work at the EPA. And science is supported
by the President's request of $537.3 million. In FY 2015, the EPA is
focusing research on the most critical issues facing the Agency.
These include efforts to: advance chemical prioritization and predictive
toxicology, help communities make sustainable decisions regarding
environmental protection and resilience, and inform regional and community
level strategies for the use of green infrastructure and other innovative
alternative practices.
The EPA continues to focus on reducing its physical footprint and achieving
greater energy efficiency. Since 2006, the EPA has released approximately
428 thousand square feet of space nationwide, resulting in a cumulative
annual rent avoidance of over $14.6 million.
The EPA continues to eliminate programs that have served their purpose,
accomplished their mission, or are duplicative. The FY 2015 budget
eliminates a number of such programs totaling nearly $56 million. These
include beaches protection categorical grants, state indoor radon grants,
and diesel emissions reductions assistance grants.
Recognizing the importance of the two-year budget agreement congress
reached in December, which the President's budget adheres to, levels are
not sufficient to expand opportunity to all Americans or to drive the
growth our economy needs.
For that reason, across the federal government, the budget also includes a
separate, fully paid for $56 billion opportunity, growth, and security
initiative. This initiative—split evenly between defense and non-defense
funding—shows how additional discretionary investments in FY 2015 can spur
economic progress, promote opportunity, and strengthen national security.
• Within the initiative is $1 billion for a climate resilience
fund, through which the budget will invest in research and unlock data to
better understand and prepare for impacts of a changing climate. These
investments will also fund breakthrough technologies and resilient
infrastructure.
• Within the climate resilience fund, EPA will support a nation
better prepared for the impacts of climate change—with $10 million for
protecting and enhancing coastal wetlands, and $5 million to support urban
forest enhancement and protection.
We have made some very difficult choices in this budget. But we need to
look realistically at challenges we face in the future and make sure we
have the best tools and people in the right places to make the most
difference. Our final FY 2015 budget reflects a balanced approach to
accomplishing this.
Thank you for the opportunity to touch upon some of the highlights of EPA's
FY 2015 budget request in my testimony today. I look forward to answering
your questions.
