3.3.14
Oil Spill
In New Orleans courts, the legal gusher BP cannot contain
Washington Post
By Steven Mufson
Saturday, March 1, 10:05 AM
After a blowout at its Macondo exploration well killed 11 workers, set fire
to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig and triggered a massive oil spill in the
Gulf of Mexico, a contrite BP vowed to "make things right" and set aside
$42.5 billion to do so.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/in-new-orleans-courts-the-legal-gusher-bp-cannot-contain/2014/02/28/1bc3209c-8865-11e3-833c-33098f9e5267_print.html
Oil mat appears in Pensacola waters years after BP spill
Pensacola News Journal
A submerged oil mat was found on Langdon Beach near Fort Pickens on
Thursday morning, officials from the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection said.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20140301/NEWS10/303010015/Oil-appears-on-Pensacola-Beach-years-after-BP-Gulf-spill
Coast Guard, BP contractors remove 1,250 pounds of oily material near Fort
Pickens
Press-Register
Dennis Pillion
February 28, 2014 at 12:31 PM
PENSACOLA BEACH, Florida -- On Thursday, approximately 1,250 pounds of oily
material was removed from a beach area near Fort Pickens, just west of
Pensacola Beach. The oil was identified as MC-252, oil coming from the
Macando well, which leaked an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil into the
Gulf after the Deepwater Horizon explosion in 2010.
http://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2014/02/coast_guard_bp_contractors_rem.html
Tar Mat Produces Half Ton of BP Oil
WKRG
The turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico wash ashore on part of the Gulf
Island National Seashore near Fort Pickens.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/24856220/tar-mat-produces-half-ton-of-bp-oil
USF Study: Oil From BP Spill Went As Far South as Sanibel Island
By Craig Pittman
Tampa Bay Times
Published: Friday, February 28, 2014 at 9:21 a.m.
Dissolved oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill off Louisiana wafted
underwater all the way down to Florida's Sanibel Island, sickening fish
along the way, according to a new study from University of South Florida
scientists.
http://www.theledger.com/article/20140228/NEWS/140229179?Title=USF-Study-Oil-From-BP-Spill-Went-As-Far-South-as-Sanibel-Island
Environmentalist tapped for county RESTORE board
By MATTHEW BEATON | The News Herald
Published: Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 21:26 PM.
PANAMA CITY — Local environmentalists have gotten their wish: One of their
own will serve on a county board guiding what could be $120 million in
RESTORE Act money for Bay County.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/environmentalist-tapped-for-county-restore-board-1.285150
WALTON COUNTY TO RECEIVE $9.87 MILLION IN OIL SPILL SETTLEMENT
Defuniak Herald
Feb 28th, 2014
By DOTTY NIST
An agreement has been approved to settle claims of Walton County and the
Walton County Tourist Development Council (TDC) in connection with BP's
April 20, 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://defuniakherald.com/?p=7357
BP loses effort to see documents in claims probe
AP
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that BP is not entitled to see
confidential documents used by a court-appointed investigator who has
alleged that some attorneys acted improperly in the claims process arising
from the 2010 Gulf oil spill.
http://www.theindependent.com/news/national/bp-loses-effort-to-see-documents-in-claims-probe/article_4a8a7d40-d055-5422-849e-267349530c6e.html
Sentence date for ex-BP engineer delayed until April
AP
NEW ORLEANS -- Sentencing for a former BP engineer found guilty of
obstructing justice in the government's investigation of the Deepwater
Horizon disaster has been pushed back while his lawyers fight the
conviction.http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/01/5381571/region-briefs.html
State
Cleanup at derailment site wrapping up
Hattiesburg American
The story
On Jan. 31, 19 cars of a Canadian National Railway train left the tracks
while traveling through the outskirts of New Augusta.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140302/NEWS01/303020044
Park Service wants comments on bank stabilization project
by MBJ Staff
Published: February 28,2014
TUPELO — The National Park Service is seeking public comment on a wetland
and floodplain statement of findings (SOF) that analyzes impacts of a bank
stabilization project at Chiwapa Creek (milepost 253, Lee County).
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/02/28/park-service-wants-comments-bank-stabilization-project/
Call for accountability State spends millions to create jobs but leaders
want better tracking of results
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
Gov. Phil Bryant and Brent Christensen, executive director of the
Mississippi Development Authority, have publicly boasted that 6,265
Mississippi jobs were created in 2013 -- more than twice the 2,674 jobs MDA
said it helped create in 2012.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/03/01/5381543/call-for-accountability-state.html
Consumer Protection Week features Free Shredding Events
Clarion Ledger
Consumer protection is the focus this week, thanks to a collaboration
between 75 federal, state and local agencies, consumer groups, and national
organizations.
http://blogs.clarionledger.com/consumerwatch/2014/03/01/consumer-protection-week-features-free-shredding-events/
County officials clean up smelly carcass mess in Vancleave
WLOX
VANCLEAVE, MS (WLOX) -WLOX recently told you about a growing problem in
Jackson County that presented an environmental hazard to the area, illegal
carcass dumping. Residents, especially in Vancleave, were fed up so they
called on county supervisors to get the mess cleaned up.
http://www.wlox.com/story/24864470/jackson-county-officals-cleanup-smelly-carcass-mess-in-vancleave
Longtime Miss. agriculture leader Bost dies at 90
AP
STARKVILLE — William Bost, who directed the Mississippi Cooperative
Extension Service for nearly two decades, has died at age 90.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/viewart/20140301/NEWS01/140301006/Longtime-Miss-agriculture-leader-Bost-dies-90-
Regional
Ash Spill Shows How Watchdog Was Defanged
NY Times
RALEIGH, N.C. — Last June, state employees in charge of
stopping water pollution were given updated marching
orders on behalf of North Carolina's new Republican
governor and conservative lawmakers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/01/us/coal-ash-spill-reveals-transformation-of-north-carolina-agency.html?ref=earth&_r=0
No threat of Mississippi River floods so far, despite record snowfalls
The Associated Press
February 28, 2014 at 9:03 AM
This winter's record snowfalls haven't been widespread enough to create
anything more than typical high water farther south on the Mississippi
River, National Weather Service hydrologist Jeff Graschel said.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/02/no_threat_of_mississippi_river.html#incart_river
National
EPA to reveal tougher sulfur emissions rule
Targets disease; critics cite costs
By Coral Davenport
NEW YORK TIMES
MARCH 03, 2014
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency plans to unveil a major
regulation Monday that forces oil refiners to strip out sulfur, a
smog-forming pollutant linked to respiratory disease, from American
gasoline blends, according to people familiar with the agency's plans.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2014/03/03/epa-set-reveal-tough-new-sulfur-emissions-rule/dIbV82X7nt9yRhXGZf15IP/story.html
EPA says 'coal is in energy mix'
The HIll
By Tim Devaney
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy on Friday
signaled an intent to work with industry groups on the ageny's proposed
standards for coal-fired power plants.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/199630-epa-says-coal-is-in-energy-mix
Climate change fight in the balance
UPI
WASHINGTON, March 2 (UPI) -- While the public sleeps through an unusually
rough winter, the fight against climate change -- or the fight against
excessive regulation, depending on the point of view -- is being waged at
the U.S. Supreme Court in a landmark case involving greenhouse gases.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/03/02/Climate-change-fight-in-the-balance/UPI-96081393749000/?spt=rln&or=1
Judges Appear Skeptical of Industry Case Against EPA Air Standards for
Particulates
Bloomberg
Feb. 20 --Federal appeals court judges appeared inclined Feb. 20 to defer
to the Environmental Protection Agency's expertise over its decision to
tighten air quality standards for fine particulate matter (Nat'l Ass'n of
Mfrs. v. EPA, D.C. Cir., No. 13-1069, oral arguments 2/20/14).
http://www.bna.com/judges-appear-skeptical-n17179882517/
Farmers may face tougher EPA work rules
Friday, February 28, 2014 3:00 PM
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Feb. 21 proposed
strengthening 20-year-old standards aimed at protecting farmworkers from
toxic pesticides.
http://agrinews-pubs.com/Content/News/Latest-News/Article/Farmers-may-face-tougher-EPA-work-rules/8/6/9764
EPA Starts Process That Could Restrict Pebble Mine
AP
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is taking the first
steps toward restricting or even prohibiting development of a massive
gold-and-copper prospect near the headwaters of a premier sockeye salmon
fishery in southwest Alaska — though no final decision has been made.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-starts-process-restrict-pebble-mine-22717533
Keurig 'K-Cups' becoming environmental problem by the billions
Press-Register
Cassie Fambro
March 01, 2014 at 11:46 PM
If you own a Keurig coffee machine, you're among 13 million other people.
If you woke up and used a K-cup this morning, it was one of billions of
K-cups that may end up in landfills.
http://blog.al.com/wire/2014/03/k-cups_becoming_environemental.html#incart_river
Opinion
Mississippi Power, Sierra Club not BFF
Jeff Ayres
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi Power is in the business of generating and delivering
electricity, sometimes through sources like coal.
The Sierra Club is in the business of raising awareness of and protecting
the environment, and is no friend of coal.
http://blogs.clarionledger.com/theprofitmargin/2014/02/28/mississippi-power-sierra-club-not-bff/
Press Releases
EPA Sets Cleaner Fuel and Car Standards, Slashing Air Pollution and
Providing Health Benefits to Thousands
WASHINGTON – Based on extensive input from the public and a broad range of
stakeholders, including public health groups, auto manufacturers, refiners,
and states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today finalized
emission standards for cars and gasoline that will significantly reduce
harmful pollution and prevent thousands of premature deaths and illnesses,
while also enabling efficiency improvements in the cars and trucks we
drive. These cleaner fuel and car standards are an important component of
the administration's national program for clean cars and trucks, which also
include historic fuel efficiency standards that are saving new vehicle
owners at the gas pump. Once fully in place, the standards will help avoid
up to 2,000 premature deaths per year and 50,000 cases of respiratory
ailments in children.
"These standards are a win for public health, a win for our environment,
and a win for our pocketbooks," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "By
working with the auto industry, health groups, and other stakeholders,
we're continuing to build on the Obama Administration's broader clean fuels
and vehicles efforts that cut carbon pollution, clean the air we breathe,
and save families money at the pump."
The final standards will quickly and effectively cut harmful soot, smog and
toxic emissions from cars and trucks. The Obama Administration's actions to
improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gases from these same vehicles
will also result in average fuel savings of more than $8,000 by 2025 over a
vehicle's lifetime. The fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards covering
model year vehicles from 2012-2025 are projected to save American families
more than $1.7 trillion in fuel costs.
Following a proven approach that addresses vehicles and fuels as an
integrated system, today's action will enable substantial pollution
reductions at low cost. The standards slash emissions of a range of harmful
pollutants that can cause premature death and respiratory illnesses,
reducing standards for smog-forming volatile organic compounds and nitrogen
oxides by 80 percent, establishing a 70 percent tighter particulate matter
standard and virtually eliminating fuel vapor emissions. These standards
will also reduce vehicle emissions of toxic air pollutants, such as benzene
by up to 30 percent.
The final fuel standards will reduce gasoline sulfur levels by more than 60
percent – down from 30 to 10 parts per million (ppm) in 2017. Reducing
sulfur in gasoline enables vehicle emission control technologies to perform
more efficiently. New low-sulfur gas will provide significant and immediate
health benefits because every gas-powered vehicle on the road built prior
to these standards will run cleaner – cutting smog-forming NOx emissions by
260,000 tons in 2018.
The Tier 3 standards cut tailpipe pollution where people live and breathe –
reducing harmful emissions along the streets and roadways that run through
our neighborhoods and near our children's schools. By 2018, EPA estimates
the cleaner fuels and cars program will annually prevent between 225 and
610 premature deaths, significantly reduce ambient concentrations of ozone
and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by about 260,000 tons. That is about 10
percent of emissions from on-highway vehicles, with those reductions
reaching 25 percent (330,000 tons) by 2030.
By 2030, EPA estimates that up to 2,000 premature deaths, 50,000 cases of
respiratory ailments in children, 2,200 hospital admissions and
asthma-related emergency room visits, and 1.4 million lost school days,
work days and days when activities would be restricted due to air
pollution. Total health-related benefits in 2030 will be between $6.7 and
$19 billion annually. The program will also reduce exposure to pollution
near roads. More than 50 million people live, work, or go to school in
close proximity to high-traffic roadways, and the average American spends
more than one hour traveling along roads each day.
The final standards are expected to provide up to 13 dollars in health
benefits for every dollar spent to meet the standards, more than was
estimated for the proposal. The sulfur standards will cost less than a
penny per gallon of gasoline on average once the standards are fully in
place. The vehicle standards will have an average cost of about $72 per
vehicle in 2025. The standards support efforts by states to reduce harmful
levels of smog and soot and aids their ability to attain and maintain
science-based national ambient air quality standards to protect public
health, while also providing flexibilities for small businesses, including
hardship provisions and additional lead time for compliance.
EPA conducted extensive outreach with key stakeholders throughout the
development of the rule, held two public hearings in Philadelphia and
Chicago, and received more than 200,000 public comments. The final
standards are based on input from a broad range of groups, including state
and local governments, auto manufacturers, emissions control suppliers,
refiners, fuel distributors and others in the petroleum industry, renewable
fuels providers, health and environmental organizations, consumer groups,
labor groups and private citizens.
The final standards will work together with California's clean cars and
fuels program to create a harmonized nationwide vehicle emissions program
that enables automakers to sell the same vehicles in all 50 states. The
standards are designed to be implemented over the same timeframe as the
next phase of EPA's national program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions from cars and light trucks beginning in model year 2017.
Together, the federal and California standards will maximize reductions in
GHGs, air pollutants and air toxics from cars and light trucks while
providing automakers regulatory certainty, streamlining compliance, and
reducing costs to consumers.
To meet the cleaner gasoline standards necessary to reduce tailpipe
emissions and protect public health, the agency has built in flexibility
and adequate time for refiners to comply. For those refineries that may
need it, the program would provide nearly six years to meet the standards.
To provide a smooth transition for refiners to produce cleaner gasoline,
the program is structured in a way that allows the industry to plan any
additional investments needed. In addition, the agency is giving special
considerations to small refiners, while offering provisions for compliance
assistance in the case of extreme hardship or unforeseen circumstances.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/tier3.htm
