4.30.14
Oil Spill
BP intent on fighting disputed oil spill payment claims from businesses
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
April 29, 2014 at 4:29 PM
BP PLC told investors Tuesday (April 29) that it will continue to fight
compensation payments to businesses it believes did not suffer economic
losses tied to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The British oil giant did
not go so far as to estimate what the remaining claims could cost, though
it shed some light on what has been spent so far.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/bp_set_on_fighting_unfounded_o.html
BP oil spill claimant must return $357,000 payment, judge rules
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
April 29, 2014 at 7:53 PM
A federal judge has ordered a claimant at the center of an investigation
into alleged fraud in the BP oil spill settlement program to return a
$357,000 payment.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/federal_judge_rules_claimant_a.html
State
Trauma, tears and tenacity: Miss. regroups after tornadoes
Clarion Ledger
Tuesday was a day of regrouping across Mississippi as residents
reeled from the devastating strikes of Monday's tornadoes and
storms.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/30/trauma-tears-tenacity-miss-regroups-tornadoes/8498309/
Alligator gar anglers' best friend?
Clarion Ledger
He's big. He's bad. He takes no prisoners. And depending on where
you fish, he could be your best buddy.
He's the alligator gar.
The floodwaters of 2011 along the Mississippi River have long
receded, but one of the effects still lingers. With the water came
silver carp.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/outdoorsreport/2014/04/28/outdoors-carp-gar-alligator-fishing-mississippi-recreation/8403275/
Conservation groups oppose change in DMR rules
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
A Sierra Club official hopes to use changes to rules for fishing nets
proposed by the state Department of Marine Resources to force an outright
ban on gill and trammel nets.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/29/5533737/conservation-groups-oppose-change.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1&sp-tk=18169551193FAB13AE5226A8B4E4C462D1877E39ECE79BC100EB962209794B3081E3482029C544A9A5A5CA24A3D1037C6D88BDBC5C0AA20CC29A8E864DE1129DEB8482D7AEDC6F37BFD6562CC5B9203B4A44984EB79F6A1683A8933111FE366D032B1F6C8647D8A78680EE8EA0B7F5B58CC0489CE8476B5643A42D4D3E2349E6AFD0285C06BC6B9662A490849663A80CC4ABEFA9DC20B5A64C20C919FF5B5A39406A1A78
Shortened red snapper season frustrates fishermen
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -This year's fishing season for red snapper will last
just 11 days. And that decision has a lot of recreational fishermen upset
about the limited opportunity they'll have to catch the popular game fish.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25383595/shortened-red-snapper-season-frustrates-fishermen
Mississippi Power again raises cost of Kemper plant
Sun Herald
BY MARY PEREZ
Mississippi Power on Tuesday said the expected cost of the Kemper County
power plant rose $196 million in March, bringing the total increase for the
first three months of the year to $380 million.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/29/5533290/mississippi-power-raises-cost.html?sp=/99/184/185/
National
Supreme Court Revives EPA Rule on Air Pollution Across State Lines
Court's 6-2 Ruling Is Victory for Obama Administration; 28 States Will Have
to Reduce Power-Plant Emissions
Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency can reinstate limits on
power-plant pollution that blows across state lines, the Supreme Court
ruled Tuesday, handing a defeat to electric utilities that opposed the
effort as costly regulatory overreach.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304163604579531594097453658?mg=reno64-wsj
Justices Back Rule Limiting Coal Pollution
By CORAL DAVENPORT
APRIL 29, 2014
NY Times
WASHINGTON — In a major victory for the Obama
administration, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the
authority of the Environmental Protection Agency to
regulate the smog from coal plants that drifts across
state lines from 28 Midwestern and Appalachian states to
the East Coast.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/30/us/politics/supreme-court-backs-epa-coal-pollution-rules.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Supreme Court upholds EPA rule limiting cross-state pollution
Washington Post
By Robert Barnes and Darryl Fears, Published: April 29
The Supreme Court on Tuesday resurrected an Environmental Protection Agency
rule targeting air pollution that drifts across state borders, handing the
Obama administration a victory on one of its major environmental efforts.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/court-upholds-epa-rule-on-cross-state-pollution/2014/04/29/7978fd14-cfce-11e3-b812-0c92213941f4_story.html
Documents contradict EPA on climate-rule delay
Politico
By: Erica Martinson
April 29, 2014 10:58 AM EDT
Newly released documents are fueling GOP questions about whether EPA put
politics ahead of policy by publishing a controversial climate rule so late
that it will allow red-state Senate Democrats to dodge a difficult vote.
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/04/epa-climate-rule-delay-documents-106141.html?hp=r10
Press Releases
UPDATED STORM DAMAGE REPORTED TO MEMA
PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received reports of
at 12 deaths and widespread damages related to the severe weather and
tornadoes that moved through the state Monday.
The counties reporting storm-related deaths are as follows:
· Issaquena: One death.
· Lee: One death.
· Rankin: One death.
· Winston: Nine deaths.
National Weather Service survey crews have confirmed tornadoes touched down
in at least three counties. Crews have rated the tornado in Tupelo as an
EF-2 with winds between 111 to 135 mph. Due to some areas being
inaccessible survey teams will look at additional damages to determine if
the tornado may have been stronger. In Winston County NWS surveyors
determined damages are the result of an EF-4 tornado with winds estimated
between 166 to 200 mph. In Rankin County NWS survey teams have determined
an EF-3 tornado with winds between 136-165 mph touched down Monday evening.
The primary focus of emergency crews is search and rescue in the affected
areas. MEMA area coordinators have been dispatched to Itawamba, Lee and
Winston counties to assist with operations.
The counties reporting damages are as follows:
· Choctaw-: Several roads affected by flash flooding.
· Desoto: Several roads affected by flash flooding.
· Grenada: Eight homes minor damage.
· Hinds: Several homes damaged, trees and power lines down, roads
affected by flash flooding.
· Itawamba: Several Homes damaged and roads affected by debris and
flash flooding.
· Jones: Homes damaged and roads affected by flash flooding.
· Leake: Several homes damaged.
· Lee: Major damage in the City of Tupelo. Reports of extensive home
damage in the area.
· Lowndes: 35 homes with major damage. 55 homes with minor damage and
one business was destroyed.
· Madison: Several roads closed due to damage.
· Montgomery: Two homes destroyed, one with major damage and eight
homes with minor damage.
· Neshoba: Several roads closed due to debris and flooding.
· Newton: Four homes destroyed and four homes with major damage. Eight
homes suffered minor damage and four homes were affected. Five roads
received major damage and another six had minor damage.
· Quitman: Trees and power lines down in the Marks community.
· Rankin: One death in Richland. Highland Park Trailer Park: 37 mobile
homes destroyed, 12 with major damage, 11 with minor damage and 59
affected. Numerous injuries reported from this location. Additional
damage surveys are underway in other parts of the county.
· Scott: One home destroyed and one home with minor damage. One
business received minor damage and three people were injured. One
person remains hospitalized.
· Simpson: Two homes were destroyed, five homes with major damage and
15 homes with minor damage.
· Warren: Four homes with major damage and three homes sustained minor
damage.
· Wayne: Several homes affected and roads closed due to flooding.
· Winston: Seven deaths and numerous injuries. Major damage near
Louisville. The Winston Medical Center has been damaged. Several
homes have been destroyed.
Three shelters are open in Lee and Winston counties:
· Columbus- Southside Baptist Church 100 Nashville Ferry Rd. East
· Louisville- First Methodist Church, 300 W. Main St.
· Louisville- First Baptist Church, 305 S. Church Ave.
· Pearl- Pearl Community Center next to City Hall 2420 Old Brandon Rd.
· Tupelo- BanccorpSouth Building, 375 E. Main St.
Gov. Phil Bryant has declared a State of Emergency Monday to make state
resources available to assist affected areas.
As of 4 p.m. approximately 27,350 customers are without power in the state.
The Mississippi National Guard is assisting with response efforts in Lee
and Winston counties. The Mississippi Highway Patrol has also dispatched
teams to affected areas.
Volunteers interested in assisting affected communities may sign up at
http://volunteermississippi.org/2014/04/2014-tornado-relief/. Residents
are urged not to self-deploy but to sign up and assist with the coordinated
volunteer relief effort.
Much of the state is still under a tornado watch with the possibility of
tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, heavy rain and flooding
and dangerous lightning. Residents should monitor local media, social media
or other technology for current weather conditions and notifications.
MEMA urges the public to report damages to your local Emergency Management
Agency. For a list of contact numbers for your county, visit
www.msema.org/local-ema. For more information, go to MEMA's website at
www.msema.org or download the MEMA mobile app on your iOS or Android
device.
The best way to get up-to-date information is to "Like" MEMA on Facebook,
or "Follow" us on twitter.
###
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
News Clippings 4.29.14
4.29.14
Oil Spill
BP refuses to pay for more research on Deepwater Horizon oil spill effects
on dolphins, turtles, oysters
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 25, 2014 at 2:31 PM
BP has refused to pay for continued studies of the effects of its Deepwater
Horizon oil spill on marine mammals, turtles and oysters that officials say
are required to complete a federally required Natural Resource Damage
Assessment, according to documents obtained by NOLA.com | The
Times-Picayune.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/bp_refuses_to_pay_for_more_res.html#incart_river
BP axes funding for study of Gulf Coast species, says there are 'defects'
in agreement with the federal government
Press-Register
Michael Finch II
April 28, 2014 at 8:00 PM
Funding for the study of certain marine mammals and other species has been
axed by BP, contending that it being denied access to the research,
according to news reports.
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/bp_axes_funding_for_study_of_g.html
How a Gulf Settlement That BP Once Hailed Became Its Target
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON and JOHN SCHWARTZAPRIL 26, 2014
NY Times
NEW ORLEANS — Four years ago the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
caught fire and exploded, killing 11 men, spewing millions
of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and staining,
seemingly indelibly, the image of BP, the international
energy giant responsible for the well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/us/how-a-gulf-settlement-that-bp-once-hailed-became-its-target.html?_r=0
Inside Report: Oil cleanup not over 'by a long shot'
Baton Rouge Advocate
The U.S. Coast Guard has moved almost three miles of Louisiana beach into a
new phase of cleanup called a "Middle Response" following the 2010 Gulf of
Mexico oilfield disaster at the Deepwater Horizon.
http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/8907826-123/inside-report-oil-cleanup-not
Recovery council working diligently toward restoration of the Gulf
AL.com
By Skip Gruber
As a Baldwin County commissioner and a member of Governor Bentley's Alabama
Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC), I am part of daily conversations about
how to repair and restore Alabama's Gulf Coast.
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/recovery_council_working_dilig.html
State
Dead sea turtles are washing ashore in South Mississippi
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Dead sea turtles have been washing up along the
beach from Biloxi to Waveland. So far this year, the Institute for Marine
Mammal Studies has responded to nearly 40 dead turtles, ten in the past few
days. The majority of the turtles found dead have been young.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25372048/dea-sea-turtles-are-washing-ashore-in-south-mississippi
Volunteers help Biloxi become clean and green
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
The people of Biloxi took advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday
and held a special cleanup day for the city. The Great American Cleanup is
something the city has taken part in for many years.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25349889/volunteers-help-biloxi-become-clean-and-green
Towns host hazardous waste collection events
WTVA
NETTLETON, Miss. (WTVA) -- Mississippi residents looking to rid their home
of hazardous waste will have several opportunities to do so Saturday.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Towns-host-hazardous-waste-collection-events/J0nWtMihNkiHF9i5txhRiQ.cspx
1,200 cars swing through Gautier with hazardous materials to drop off
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 26, 2014 at 1:22 PM
GAUTIER, Mississippi -- More than 1,200 vehicles -- loaded down with rusty
paint cans, crusty oil buckets and deteriorating tires -- pulled through
the "drive through" today during Jackson County's 11th annual Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/1200_cars_swing_through_gautie.html
Byram: City to kick off recycling program
Clarion Ledger
Wednesday will be the first day residents can drop off items at Public
Works for the city's new recycling program.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/26/byram-city-kick-recycling-program/8218915/
In-house cleanup: Hattiesburg decides to continue garbage pickup
Hattiesburg American
The City of Hattiesburg had considered getting out of the trash-toting
business if the price was right.
As it turned out, it wasn't.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140428/NEWS01/304280001/In-house-cleanup-Hattiesburg-decides-continue-garbage-pickup
Local agencies participate in National Drug Take Back Day
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Police departments across the country, including
several right here in South Mississippi, participated in national drug take
back day on Saturday. This year's drop off locations included Gulfport,
Long Beach and Pass Christian police departments as well as Keesler Air
Force Base's AAFES exchange.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25349815/local-agencies-participate-in-national-drug-take-back-day
Police collect 115 pounds of expired prescription drugs
Hattiesburg American
Hattiesburg police collected of about 115 pounds of expired or discarded
prescription drugs during Saturday's "National Drug Take Back Program."
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140429/NEWS01/304290013/Police-collect-115-pounds-expired-prescription-drugs?nclick_check=1
Parts of Horn Island closed to protect bird nesting areas
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -It's a sure sign that spring has arrived on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast. Much of the western end of Horn Island has been
closed to human traffic.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25341937/parts-of-horn-island-closed-to-protect-bird-nesting-areas
Scott Walker gets two month delay in his sentencing
WLOX
Scott Walker was supposed to find out his sentencing next Tuesday after
pleading guilty to fraud charges in the DMR corruption case. But this
morning, Walker knows he's gotten a bit of a reprieve.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25368859/scott-walker-asks-for-delay-in-sentencing
New gas station to offer compressed natural gas
By Terri Ferguson Smith
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN — A growing number of drivers in the U.S. are searching for
alternative fuel sources for their autos and one local company is hoping to
turn that into profit.
http://www.meridianstar.com/local/x493479539/New-gas-station-to-offer-compressed-natural-gas
Company aims for 'net zero' energy costs
MBJ
by Lisa Monti
Published: April 25,2014
The owners of M2C Energy Solutions, a full-service energy saving products
company, is getting ready for its national rollout at the end of the month.
Based in Gulfport, the company researches, educates and recommends
products, systems and services for residential and commercial customers who
want to save money on energy.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/04/25/company-aims-net-zero-energy-costs/
Regional
Arkansas environmental panel approves air quality permit for $1.1B proposed
steel mill
By CHUCK BARTELS Associated Press
April 25, 2014
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — A planned $1.2 billion steel mill planned
for northeast Arkansas cleared an important hurdle Friday with a state
regulatory panel's approval of its air quality permit.
Big River Steel had a lengthy fight for the permit for the Osceola plant,
with a competitor, Nucor Steel in Blytheville, filing multiple objections
along the way.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f82d452c7415406f9380b52de33d1ea3/AR--Arkansas-Steel-Mill
National
Challenge to Chesapeake cleanup tests EPA power
BY HOPE YEN
Associated PressApril 29, 2014
WASHINGTON — Maryland is joining three other jurisdictions in supporting
the Obama administration's plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay watershed,
seeking to counter an election-year legal challenge by farmers and 21
attorneys general that could shape future U.S. environmental policy.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/29/5530155/challenge-to-chesapeake-cleanup.html?sp=/99/102/
EPA chief rejects GOP lawmakers' 'secret science' claim
Published April 29, 2014
FoxNews.com
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy is pushing back
against Republican lawmakers who claim that the agency is relying on
"secret science" in its push to impose regulations on air and water
pollution.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/29/epa-chief-slams-secret-science-claim/?intcmp=latestnews
Republicans warn of threat to natural gas from EPA rule
The Hill
By Timothy Cama - 04/28/14 02:58 PM EDT
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to clarify which
bodies of water it can regulate would dramatically extend the agency's
reach and hurt natural-gas companies that have to build pipelines, Rep.
Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said Monday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/204561-rep-shuster-epas-water-rule-would-hurt-natural-gas-industry
EPA: Automakers on track to cut emissions
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez - 04/25/14 11:35 AM EDT
The Environmental Protection Agency is reporting that U.S. automakers are
"off to a good start" in meeting the Obama administration's greenhouse gas
standards for cars and light trucks.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/204377-epa-automakers-on-track-in-cutting-emissions
The reasons -- and risks -- behind shipping crude oil by rail
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington BureauApril 25, 2014
WASHINGTON — Domestic oil production is literally rolling across the
country.
The country's vast rail network has become, in effect, the pipeline for
newer sources of crude oil unlocked by hydraulic fracturing, particularly
in North Dakota's Bakken region.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/25/5522896/the-reasons-and-risks-behind-shipping.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Opinion
Partners in Ethanol Crime
The corn-fuel mandate has been an invitation to mass fraud.
Wall Street Journal
Ethanol is losing political steam on the left and right, but the fuel
retains a powerful patron in the Environmental Protection Agency. On
Wednesday the EPA retroactively reduced the 2013 gasoline-blending mandate
for cellulosic ethanol to 810,185 gallons from six million.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304512504579491750362682742?mg=reno64-wsj
Press Releases
EPA Report: Data Show Automakers on Track in meeting Greenhouse Gas
Standards
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
a Manufacturers Performance Report that assesses the automobile industry's
progress toward meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars
and light trucks in the 2012 model year – the first year of this fourteen
year program. The report reveals that consumers bought cleaner vehicles in
the first year of the program than the 2012 GHG standard required, and that
automakers are off to a good start in meeting program requirements.
"President Obama's Climate Action Plan calls for reductions in greenhouse
gases and this report shows that the automakers are off to a good start
reducing harmful emissions. EPA's greenhouse gas standards for light duty
cars and trucks are already reducing the dangerous carbon emissions that
contribute to climate change while saving consumers money at the pump, and
strengthening our nation's energy security by relying less on foreign oil,"
said EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy. "Our first official glimpse at how
the auto companies are doing shows that they are rising to the challenge of
meeting these standards, and realizing these benefits for our families and
our country."
The data show that in model year 2012, the industry reduced tailpipe carbon
dioxide emissions, and also used the optional flexibilities built into the
standards. Those flexibilities include emissions credits for improvements
in air conditioning systems, and a system that allows transfer of emissions
credits from year to year, and among manufacturers. These flexibilities
allow greater emissions reductions, lower compliance costs, and more
consumer choice, all while providing manufacturers with options on how and
when to make reductions. Because of the program's multi-year structure, EPA
will not make formal compliance determinations for the 2012 model year
until 2015. EPA will be closely tracking progress towards compliance, and
intends to issue annual Manufacturers Performance Reports on the program.
The trend towards more efficient, cleaner cars and trucks continued in
model year 2012. According to EPA's most recent Fuel Economy Trends Report,
fuel economy improved by 1.2 mpg in 2012 compared to 2011, the second
biggest improvement in the last 30 years. Further, in 2013 there were twice
as many sport utility vehicle models that achieved at least 25 miles per
gallon (mpg), and seven times as many car models that achieved 40 mpg or
more, compared to just five years ago.
The GHG emission standards are projected to cut 6 billion metric tons of
greenhouse gases over the lifetimes of vehicles sold in model years
2012-2025 – more than the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the
United States in 2012. The standards are also projected to save consumers
who purchase a new model year 2025 vehicle more than $8,000 in fuel costs
over that vehicle's lifetime.
More Information on the Manufacturers Performance Report:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/ghg-report.htm
More information on Light Duty Vehicle Standards:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-light-duty.htm
More information on GHG and Fuel Economy Trends:
http://epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm
EPA Seeks Small Businesses' Input on Lead Paint for Public and Commercial
Buildings
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting
small businesses to participate as consultants for a Small Business
Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel as the agency considers steps to reduce lead
based paint exposure from the renovation, repair, and painting of public
and commercial buildings as required by section 402(c)(3) of the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The SBAR Panel is being established pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, and will include representatives from the Small Business
Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA.
The Panel will ask a selected group of Small Entity Representatives (SERs)
to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company,
community, or organization to inform the Panel on impacts of a proposed
rule on small entities involved in the renovation, repair, and painting of
public and commercial buildings. SER panelists may participate via
telephone or webinar, as well as in person.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small businesses, small
governments and small organizations that may be subject to the rule
requirements to facilitate the selection of SERs. An entity is eligible to
be a SER if it will be directly subject to the particular proposed
regulation under development and meets one of the SBA's definitions
http://www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards
to qualify as a small entity.
EPA encourages the actual owners or operators of small businesses,
community officials, and representatives of non-profit organizations to
participate in this process. However, a person from a trade association
that exclusively or primarily represents potentially regulated small
entities may also serve as a SER.
Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be
received by May 9, 2014.
To nominate yourself, visit: How can I get Involved:
http://www.epa.gov/rfa/lead-pncb.html
More Information: http://www.epa.gov/sbrefa/faq.htm
EPA Recognizes Seven University Teams for Environmental Solutions
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced seven winning student teams of EPA's People, Prosperity and the
Planet (P3) phase II awards for innovative and sustainable designs to help
solve today's complex environmental problems at the 10th annual National
Sustainable Design Expo in Washington, D.C.
"As we mark the 10th year of the National Sustainable Design Expo and P3
competition, we continue to be inspired by the next generation of
scientists and engineers shaping the future of our country," said Bob
Perciasepe, U.S. EPA Deputy Administrator. "These students support a vision
for the future that encourages a prosperous economy while seeking
sustainable and creative solutions to some of the most pressing
environmental and health challenges facing our world."
EPA's P3 Program challenges student teams to create designs for a
sustainable future while offering quality hands-on experience that brings
science, technology, engineering and math classroom learning to life. This
year's winners were selected from 35 competing teams following two days of
judging by a panel of national experts convened by the American Association
for the Advancement of Science.
Each award-winning team is recommended for a grant of up to $90,000 to
further develop their design, apply it to real world situations, and bring
it to the marketplace. Previous P3 award winners have started successful
businesses and are marketing their technologies in the U.S. and around the
world.
Winners of this year's awards are:
Cornell University, New York, for designing a low-cost monitor for
measuring water quality.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, for designing an innovative
air conditioning system that runs on solar power.
Iowa State University for designing a new kind of fabric made with fibers
from bacteria and yeast grown in tea and polymers of corn and soy.
Purdue University, Indiana, for researching how to improve indoor air
quality by using plants grown in the air filter of a home HVAC system.
SUNY Stony Brook, New York, for designing and building Poseidon, an ocean
energy harvester that converts wave motion into electrical energy.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for exploring ways to use green oak or
"heart centers," the low-quality part of hardwood logs in U.S. building
construction.
University of Wisconsin, Madison, for implementing a campus recycling
program for expanded polystyrene packaging thereby diverting almost 2000
boxes and other polystyrene material from landfills in 6 months of
operation.
The winning teams announced today received EPA's P3 award and will each be
recommended for Phase II funding of a grant up to $90,000. Phase I funding
provided teams with up to $15,000 to develop their design. In addition to
the seven winning team, 17 teams were recognized as Honorable Mentions for
their project quality inspiring innovation for environmental solutions.
Now in its tenth year, EPA's P3 program has funded 477 student team
projects, that involved over 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students and
1,000 faculty members.
The 2014 National Sustainable Design Expo was held in conjunction with the
USA Science and Engineering Festival (USA SEF) at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, DC. This was the third year of the
Festival, the largest science festival in the United States.
More information on the P3 Program and this year's projects:
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/
More information on USA SEF: http://www.usasciencefestival.org/
Oil Spill
BP refuses to pay for more research on Deepwater Horizon oil spill effects
on dolphins, turtles, oysters
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 25, 2014 at 2:31 PM
BP has refused to pay for continued studies of the effects of its Deepwater
Horizon oil spill on marine mammals, turtles and oysters that officials say
are required to complete a federally required Natural Resource Damage
Assessment, according to documents obtained by NOLA.com | The
Times-Picayune.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/bp_refuses_to_pay_for_more_res.html#incart_river
BP axes funding for study of Gulf Coast species, says there are 'defects'
in agreement with the federal government
Press-Register
Michael Finch II
April 28, 2014 at 8:00 PM
Funding for the study of certain marine mammals and other species has been
axed by BP, contending that it being denied access to the research,
according to news reports.
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/bp_axes_funding_for_study_of_g.html
How a Gulf Settlement That BP Once Hailed Became Its Target
By CAMPBELL ROBERTSON and JOHN SCHWARTZAPRIL 26, 2014
NY Times
NEW ORLEANS — Four years ago the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
caught fire and exploded, killing 11 men, spewing millions
of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico and staining,
seemingly indelibly, the image of BP, the international
energy giant responsible for the well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/27/us/how-a-gulf-settlement-that-bp-once-hailed-became-its-target.html?_r=0
Inside Report: Oil cleanup not over 'by a long shot'
Baton Rouge Advocate
The U.S. Coast Guard has moved almost three miles of Louisiana beach into a
new phase of cleanup called a "Middle Response" following the 2010 Gulf of
Mexico oilfield disaster at the Deepwater Horizon.
http://theadvocate.com/news/opinion/8907826-123/inside-report-oil-cleanup-not
Recovery council working diligently toward restoration of the Gulf
AL.com
By Skip Gruber
As a Baldwin County commissioner and a member of Governor Bentley's Alabama
Gulf Coast Recovery Council (AGCRC), I am part of daily conversations about
how to repair and restore Alabama's Gulf Coast.
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/04/recovery_council_working_dilig.html
State
Dead sea turtles are washing ashore in South Mississippi
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Dead sea turtles have been washing up along the
beach from Biloxi to Waveland. So far this year, the Institute for Marine
Mammal Studies has responded to nearly 40 dead turtles, ten in the past few
days. The majority of the turtles found dead have been young.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25372048/dea-sea-turtles-are-washing-ashore-in-south-mississippi
Volunteers help Biloxi become clean and green
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -
The people of Biloxi took advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday
and held a special cleanup day for the city. The Great American Cleanup is
something the city has taken part in for many years.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25349889/volunteers-help-biloxi-become-clean-and-green
Towns host hazardous waste collection events
WTVA
NETTLETON, Miss. (WTVA) -- Mississippi residents looking to rid their home
of hazardous waste will have several opportunities to do so Saturday.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Towns-host-hazardous-waste-collection-events/J0nWtMihNkiHF9i5txhRiQ.cspx
1,200 cars swing through Gautier with hazardous materials to drop off
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 26, 2014 at 1:22 PM
GAUTIER, Mississippi -- More than 1,200 vehicles -- loaded down with rusty
paint cans, crusty oil buckets and deteriorating tires -- pulled through
the "drive through" today during Jackson County's 11th annual Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Day.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/1200_cars_swing_through_gautie.html
Byram: City to kick off recycling program
Clarion Ledger
Wednesday will be the first day residents can drop off items at Public
Works for the city's new recycling program.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/26/byram-city-kick-recycling-program/8218915/
In-house cleanup: Hattiesburg decides to continue garbage pickup
Hattiesburg American
The City of Hattiesburg had considered getting out of the trash-toting
business if the price was right.
As it turned out, it wasn't.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140428/NEWS01/304280001/In-house-cleanup-Hattiesburg-decides-continue-garbage-pickup
Local agencies participate in National Drug Take Back Day
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Police departments across the country, including
several right here in South Mississippi, participated in national drug take
back day on Saturday. This year's drop off locations included Gulfport,
Long Beach and Pass Christian police departments as well as Keesler Air
Force Base's AAFES exchange.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25349815/local-agencies-participate-in-national-drug-take-back-day
Police collect 115 pounds of expired prescription drugs
Hattiesburg American
Hattiesburg police collected of about 115 pounds of expired or discarded
prescription drugs during Saturday's "National Drug Take Back Program."
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140429/NEWS01/304290013/Police-collect-115-pounds-expired-prescription-drugs?nclick_check=1
Parts of Horn Island closed to protect bird nesting areas
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -It's a sure sign that spring has arrived on the
Mississippi Gulf Coast. Much of the western end of Horn Island has been
closed to human traffic.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25341937/parts-of-horn-island-closed-to-protect-bird-nesting-areas
Scott Walker gets two month delay in his sentencing
WLOX
Scott Walker was supposed to find out his sentencing next Tuesday after
pleading guilty to fraud charges in the DMR corruption case. But this
morning, Walker knows he's gotten a bit of a reprieve.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25368859/scott-walker-asks-for-delay-in-sentencing
New gas station to offer compressed natural gas
By Terri Ferguson Smith
The Meridian Star
MERIDIAN — A growing number of drivers in the U.S. are searching for
alternative fuel sources for their autos and one local company is hoping to
turn that into profit.
http://www.meridianstar.com/local/x493479539/New-gas-station-to-offer-compressed-natural-gas
Company aims for 'net zero' energy costs
MBJ
by Lisa Monti
Published: April 25,2014
The owners of M2C Energy Solutions, a full-service energy saving products
company, is getting ready for its national rollout at the end of the month.
Based in Gulfport, the company researches, educates and recommends
products, systems and services for residential and commercial customers who
want to save money on energy.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/04/25/company-aims-net-zero-energy-costs/
Regional
Arkansas environmental panel approves air quality permit for $1.1B proposed
steel mill
By CHUCK BARTELS Associated Press
April 25, 2014
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas — A planned $1.2 billion steel mill planned
for northeast Arkansas cleared an important hurdle Friday with a state
regulatory panel's approval of its air quality permit.
Big River Steel had a lengthy fight for the permit for the Osceola plant,
with a competitor, Nucor Steel in Blytheville, filing multiple objections
along the way.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/f82d452c7415406f9380b52de33d1ea3/AR--Arkansas-Steel-Mill
National
Challenge to Chesapeake cleanup tests EPA power
BY HOPE YEN
Associated PressApril 29, 2014
WASHINGTON — Maryland is joining three other jurisdictions in supporting
the Obama administration's plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay watershed,
seeking to counter an election-year legal challenge by farmers and 21
attorneys general that could shape future U.S. environmental policy.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/29/5530155/challenge-to-chesapeake-cleanup.html?sp=/99/102/
EPA chief rejects GOP lawmakers' 'secret science' claim
Published April 29, 2014
FoxNews.com
Environmental Protection Agency administrator Gina McCarthy is pushing back
against Republican lawmakers who claim that the agency is relying on
"secret science" in its push to impose regulations on air and water
pollution.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/04/29/epa-chief-slams-secret-science-claim/?intcmp=latestnews
Republicans warn of threat to natural gas from EPA rule
The Hill
By Timothy Cama - 04/28/14 02:58 PM EDT
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to clarify which
bodies of water it can regulate would dramatically extend the agency's
reach and hurt natural-gas companies that have to build pipelines, Rep.
Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) said Monday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/204561-rep-shuster-epas-water-rule-would-hurt-natural-gas-industry
EPA: Automakers on track to cut emissions
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez - 04/25/14 11:35 AM EDT
The Environmental Protection Agency is reporting that U.S. automakers are
"off to a good start" in meeting the Obama administration's greenhouse gas
standards for cars and light trucks.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/204377-epa-automakers-on-track-in-cutting-emissions
The reasons -- and risks -- behind shipping crude oil by rail
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington BureauApril 25, 2014
WASHINGTON — Domestic oil production is literally rolling across the
country.
The country's vast rail network has become, in effect, the pipeline for
newer sources of crude oil unlocked by hydraulic fracturing, particularly
in North Dakota's Bakken region.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/25/5522896/the-reasons-and-risks-behind-shipping.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Opinion
Partners in Ethanol Crime
The corn-fuel mandate has been an invitation to mass fraud.
Wall Street Journal
Ethanol is losing political steam on the left and right, but the fuel
retains a powerful patron in the Environmental Protection Agency. On
Wednesday the EPA retroactively reduced the 2013 gasoline-blending mandate
for cellulosic ethanol to 810,185 gallons from six million.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304512504579491750362682742?mg=reno64-wsj
Press Releases
EPA Report: Data Show Automakers on Track in meeting Greenhouse Gas
Standards
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
a Manufacturers Performance Report that assesses the automobile industry's
progress toward meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for cars
and light trucks in the 2012 model year – the first year of this fourteen
year program. The report reveals that consumers bought cleaner vehicles in
the first year of the program than the 2012 GHG standard required, and that
automakers are off to a good start in meeting program requirements.
"President Obama's Climate Action Plan calls for reductions in greenhouse
gases and this report shows that the automakers are off to a good start
reducing harmful emissions. EPA's greenhouse gas standards for light duty
cars and trucks are already reducing the dangerous carbon emissions that
contribute to climate change while saving consumers money at the pump, and
strengthening our nation's energy security by relying less on foreign oil,"
said EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy. "Our first official glimpse at how
the auto companies are doing shows that they are rising to the challenge of
meeting these standards, and realizing these benefits for our families and
our country."
The data show that in model year 2012, the industry reduced tailpipe carbon
dioxide emissions, and also used the optional flexibilities built into the
standards. Those flexibilities include emissions credits for improvements
in air conditioning systems, and a system that allows transfer of emissions
credits from year to year, and among manufacturers. These flexibilities
allow greater emissions reductions, lower compliance costs, and more
consumer choice, all while providing manufacturers with options on how and
when to make reductions. Because of the program's multi-year structure, EPA
will not make formal compliance determinations for the 2012 model year
until 2015. EPA will be closely tracking progress towards compliance, and
intends to issue annual Manufacturers Performance Reports on the program.
The trend towards more efficient, cleaner cars and trucks continued in
model year 2012. According to EPA's most recent Fuel Economy Trends Report,
fuel economy improved by 1.2 mpg in 2012 compared to 2011, the second
biggest improvement in the last 30 years. Further, in 2013 there were twice
as many sport utility vehicle models that achieved at least 25 miles per
gallon (mpg), and seven times as many car models that achieved 40 mpg or
more, compared to just five years ago.
The GHG emission standards are projected to cut 6 billion metric tons of
greenhouse gases over the lifetimes of vehicles sold in model years
2012-2025 – more than the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted by the
United States in 2012. The standards are also projected to save consumers
who purchase a new model year 2025 vehicle more than $8,000 in fuel costs
over that vehicle's lifetime.
More Information on the Manufacturers Performance Report:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/ghg-report.htm
More information on Light Duty Vehicle Standards:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-light-duty.htm
More information on GHG and Fuel Economy Trends:
http://epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm
EPA Seeks Small Businesses' Input on Lead Paint for Public and Commercial
Buildings
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting
small businesses to participate as consultants for a Small Business
Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel as the agency considers steps to reduce lead
based paint exposure from the renovation, repair, and painting of public
and commercial buildings as required by section 402(c)(3) of the Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA).
The SBAR Panel is being established pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, and will include representatives from the Small Business
Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA.
The Panel will ask a selected group of Small Entity Representatives (SERs)
to provide advice and recommendations on behalf of their company,
community, or organization to inform the Panel on impacts of a proposed
rule on small entities involved in the renovation, repair, and painting of
public and commercial buildings. SER panelists may participate via
telephone or webinar, as well as in person.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small businesses, small
governments and small organizations that may be subject to the rule
requirements to facilitate the selection of SERs. An entity is eligible to
be a SER if it will be directly subject to the particular proposed
regulation under development and meets one of the SBA's definitions
http://www.sba.gov/content/table-small-business-size-standards
to qualify as a small entity.
EPA encourages the actual owners or operators of small businesses,
community officials, and representatives of non-profit organizations to
participate in this process. However, a person from a trade association
that exclusively or primarily represents potentially regulated small
entities may also serve as a SER.
Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be
received by May 9, 2014.
To nominate yourself, visit: How can I get Involved:
http://www.epa.gov/rfa/lead-pncb.html
More Information: http://www.epa.gov/sbrefa/faq.htm
EPA Recognizes Seven University Teams for Environmental Solutions
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced seven winning student teams of EPA's People, Prosperity and the
Planet (P3) phase II awards for innovative and sustainable designs to help
solve today's complex environmental problems at the 10th annual National
Sustainable Design Expo in Washington, D.C.
"As we mark the 10th year of the National Sustainable Design Expo and P3
competition, we continue to be inspired by the next generation of
scientists and engineers shaping the future of our country," said Bob
Perciasepe, U.S. EPA Deputy Administrator. "These students support a vision
for the future that encourages a prosperous economy while seeking
sustainable and creative solutions to some of the most pressing
environmental and health challenges facing our world."
EPA's P3 Program challenges student teams to create designs for a
sustainable future while offering quality hands-on experience that brings
science, technology, engineering and math classroom learning to life. This
year's winners were selected from 35 competing teams following two days of
judging by a panel of national experts convened by the American Association
for the Advancement of Science.
Each award-winning team is recommended for a grant of up to $90,000 to
further develop their design, apply it to real world situations, and bring
it to the marketplace. Previous P3 award winners have started successful
businesses and are marketing their technologies in the U.S. and around the
world.
Winners of this year's awards are:
Cornell University, New York, for designing a low-cost monitor for
measuring water quality.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida, for designing an innovative
air conditioning system that runs on solar power.
Iowa State University for designing a new kind of fabric made with fibers
from bacteria and yeast grown in tea and polymers of corn and soy.
Purdue University, Indiana, for researching how to improve indoor air
quality by using plants grown in the air filter of a home HVAC system.
SUNY Stony Brook, New York, for designing and building Poseidon, an ocean
energy harvester that converts wave motion into electrical energy.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville, for exploring ways to use green oak or
"heart centers," the low-quality part of hardwood logs in U.S. building
construction.
University of Wisconsin, Madison, for implementing a campus recycling
program for expanded polystyrene packaging thereby diverting almost 2000
boxes and other polystyrene material from landfills in 6 months of
operation.
The winning teams announced today received EPA's P3 award and will each be
recommended for Phase II funding of a grant up to $90,000. Phase I funding
provided teams with up to $15,000 to develop their design. In addition to
the seven winning team, 17 teams were recognized as Honorable Mentions for
their project quality inspiring innovation for environmental solutions.
Now in its tenth year, EPA's P3 program has funded 477 student team
projects, that involved over 3,400 undergraduate and graduate students and
1,000 faculty members.
The 2014 National Sustainable Design Expo was held in conjunction with the
USA Science and Engineering Festival (USA SEF) at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center in Washington, DC. This was the third year of the
Festival, the largest science festival in the United States.
More information on the P3 Program and this year's projects:
http://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/
More information on USA SEF: http://www.usasciencefestival.org/
Friday, April 25, 2014
News Clippings 4.25.14
Oil Spill
4 years after BP spill, FL leaders kayak seashore
By MELISSA NELSON-GABRIEL, Associated Press
Friday, April 25, 2014
GULF ISLANDS NATIONAL SEASHORE, Fla. (AP) — For Dan Brown, seeing the globs
of orange and brown oil that washed up along the Florida Panhandle's 58
miles of protected national park beaches four years ago was like a punch in
the stomach.
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/4-years-after-BP-spill-FL-leaders-kayak-seashore-5428731.php
State
COFO Bldg. Cleanup Halted
WTOK
Debris cleanup at the demolition site for the historic COFO building in
Meridian has not resumed since Monday. That's when the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality(Embedded image moved to file:
pic01837.jpg) sent an inspector to the site after receiving a complaint.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/COFO-Bldg-Cleanup-Halted-256561921.html?ref=921
Hearing delayed on Mississippi Power Kemper costs
AP
Upcoming hearings on whether Mississippi Power Co. should be able to
get customers to pay for its Kemper County power plant have been
postponed.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2014/04/24/hearing-delayed-kemper-costs/8120329/
Jackson Co. Holds Hazmat Training Exercise
WXXV
With a practice train and hard hats, Jackson County is preparing for the
worst. A fake chemical spill and dummy victims met them on-site of a staged
emergency. When hazardous waste spews, officials get suited and booted.
Jackson County first responders are running a drill to prepare for a hazmat
train situation.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Jackson-Co-Holds-Hazmat-Training-Exercise/06tOBIGq9kCqn8mJv8eRiQ.cspx
Emergency responders train on dealing with rail accidents
WLOX
ACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Every day, trains pass through South Mississippi
carrying thousands of gallons of hazardous materials. Jackson County
emergency responders said if there is ever a rail accident, they want to
know exactly how to deal with it because that can save lives. Thursday they
held a training exercise simulating a train accident.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25336075/responders-train-on-dealing-with-train-accidents
OSHA releases findings, penalties for deadly Chevron explosion
WLOX
PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and
Health Administration (OSHA) has issued $24,000 in citations to Chevron
USA, Inc. related to the November 15, 2013 explosion that left one worker
dead at the company's Pascagoula refinery.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25333553/osha-releases-findings-penalties-for-deadly-chevron-explosion
Chevron Pascagoula Refinery hit with $24,000 in OSHA fines related to
November explosion death of employee from Semmes
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 24, 2014 at 5:27 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Chevron's Pascagoula refinery has been fined
$24,000 related to the November explosion and fire that left one employee
dead, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/chevron_hit_with_24000_in_osha.html#incart_river
Pascagoula seeks volunteers for Great American Cleanup, BB Jennings Park
restoration work Saturday
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 24, 2014 at 11:27 AM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Pascagoula's Parks and Recreation Department
will move forward with the second phase of a BB Jennings Park restoration
project Saturday, and volunteers are sought to help restore the native
plants in the area.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/pascagoula_seeks_volunteers_fo.html#incart_river
Regional
EPA nears decision on coal ash regulation
Chattanooga Times Free Press
By Dave Flessner
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Southern environmental leaders who want stricter controls over the disposal
of coal ash are challenging utility complaints that such regulations will
push up the price of electricity.
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/apr/24/epa-nears-decision-coal-ash-regulation/?businesstnvalley
Lab owner gets 2 years' probation, $10,000 fine for doctoring environmental
test results
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 24, 2014 at 7:07 PM
The co-owner of Laboratory Technology in Kenner was sentenced Thursday to
two years of probation and fined $10,000 by a federal judge in New Orleans,
after pleading guilty to doctoring the results of toxicity tests on samples
of "produced water" from oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/chemical_lab_owner_gets_2_year.html#incart_river
National
Coast Guard completes investigation into BP oil spill
Northwest Indiana Times
The U.S. Coast Guard has completed its investigation into the BP Whiting
Refinery oil spill in Lake Michigan and forwarded its findings to a hearing
officer in Washington, D.C.
http://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/coast-guard-completes-investigation-into-bp-oil-spill/article_27264b7d-b934-52ad-b5f4-1039324a7c63.html
Thursday, April 24, 2014
News Clippings 4.24.14
4.24.14
Oil Spill
Oil Spill Dissolving Wetlands
WKRG
New Orleans, LA -Four years after deepwater horizon a lot of the damage in
this part of Louisiana comes in what you don't see--and what you don't see
here is a lot of Cat Island. The island was once a vibrant place full of
birds according to members of the National Wildlife Federation. Today much
of it is below the surface. Mangroves are creepy fingers sticking up out
of the murky water.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/25314394/oil-spill-dissolving-wetlands
State
SCUA put on notice by MDA
Stone County Enterprose
By Jody O'Hara
Apr 17, 2014, 10:41
WIGGINS - Time is quickly running out for the Stone County Utility
Authority.
The Mississippi Development Authority, the grant administrator for the
Community Development Block Grants which funded the authority, has sent a
letter demanding completion of projects.
http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/article_2106.shtml
Moss Point fights back against litter bugs with city cleanup
WLOX
MOSS POINT, MS (WLOX) -Moss Point is fighting back against litter bugs that
are trashing the city. The city is holding a city-wide clean up day
Saturday to help keep Moss Point beautiful.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25324884/moss-point-fights-back-aginst-litter-bugs-with-city-wide-cleanup
Moss Point Citywide Cleanup, Jackson County hazardous waste event set for
Saturday
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 23, 2014 at 3:25 PM
MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- Two cleanup events will be held this weekend in
Jackson County, as Moss Point completes its last day of a citywide cleanup
and the county hosts Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Gautier.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/moss_point_citywide_cleanup_ja.html#incart_river
Ole Miss launches commitment to be 'climate neutral'
by MBJ Staff
Published: April 23,2014
OXFORD — The University of Mississippi has launched a campus-wide
commitment with the goal of making Ole Miss "climate neutral."
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/04/23/ole-miss-launches-commitment-climate-neutral/
Laurel Drug Take Back
WHLT
LAUREL, Miss - The Laurel Police Department wants you to drop off all of
your unused prescription drugs this Saturday at the police department for
their drug take back day.
http://www.whlt.com/story/25322527/laurel-drug-take-back
MCSO participates in Drug Take Back Initiative
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 12:00 pm | April 23, 2014
ABERDEEN – The Monroe County Sheriff's Office will take part in the
National Drug Take Back Initiative April 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2014/04/23/mcso-participates-drug-take-back-initiative/
Prescription med drop-off returns Saturday
Itawamba County Times
by Adam Armour | 6:58 am | April 23, 2014
Prescription drug abuse is one of the state law enforcement's greatest
threats. That's why the proper disposal of prescription medications is so
important. On Saturday, the Fulton Police Department will be participating
in the National Take Back Initiative, an effort to collect and destroy old
prescription medications from around the county.
http://itawambatimes.com/2014/04/23/prescription-med-drop-returns-saturday/
Workshop guides direction for Livable Communities grant
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 6:30 am | April 24, 2014
ABERDEEN – A two day workshop last week began with a broad range of ideas
and ended with three goals to formulate an action plan for Aberdeen Main
Street's recently awarded Livable Communities federal grant. The grant,
awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Appalachian
Regional Committee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was previously
awarded to nine different communities throughout Appalachia.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2014/04/24/workshop-guides-direction-livable-communities-grant/
Gov. Bryant signs bill giving sportsmen annual tax holiday
Neshoba Democrat
JACKSON-Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law Senate Bill 2425, giving
Mississippi sportsmen an annual tax free holiday in September. The
Mississippi Second Amendment Weekend holiday will include sales tax
exemption on individual sales of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment
and certain hunting supplies.
http://neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297&ArticleID=32359
National
Tank car fleet inadequate for crude oil, rail industry says
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington BureauApril 22, 2014
WASHINGTON — None of the tank cars currently in service carrying Bakken
crude oil is adequate for carrying that product, a rail industry
representative testified Tuesday, but until new federal regulations are
completed, the use of inadequate cars will continue.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/04/22/225235/tank-car-fleet-inadequate-for.html?sp=/99/200/260/
Rail safety effort marred by squabbling
BY JOAN LOWY
Associated Press
April 23, 2014
WASHINGTON — Spurred by a series of fiery train crashes, a push by
government and industry to make safer tank cars used for shipping crude oil
and ethanol has bogged down in squabbling and finger-pointing over whether
they're needed and if so, who should pay.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/23/5516922/rail-safety-effort-marred-by-squabbling.html?sp=/99/184/208/
Opinion
WLOX Editorial: Don't litter
The Renew our Rivers Program kicked off this week with a big turnout and
lots of good work by the 150 volunteers.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25320276/wlox-editorial-dont-litter
Press Releases
Deadline for Landowners Wanting 2014 Assistance in Planting Longleaf
Jackson, Miss— Landowners in Mississippi wanting to create or restore
Longleaf Pine stands can apply for financial assistance with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The Longleaf Pine Initiative is offered under the Environmental Quality
Incentive Program (EQIP) to landowners in central and southern Mississippi.
Applications for the Longleaf Pine program are taken on a continuous basis,
however to be considered for funding in the 2014 fiscal year, the deadline
is May 16, 2014.
The Longleaf Pine tree produces longer needles than other southern pines.
They provide valuable forest products, pine straw production, scenic
beauty, wildlife habitat and harbor many threatened and endangered species.
Longleaf Pines are more resistant than other southern pines to insect,
disease and fire. They can survive a prescribed burn at an earlier age.
Longleaf Pine tree nurseries have improved the quality of Longleaf
seedlings by producing a tree that reduces the amount of time needed for
the tree to grow out of the grass stage. These improvements allow the
Longleaf Pine to compete with the early growth rates of other southern pine
trees.
For additional information about the Longleaf Pine Initiative, visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ms/programs/landscape/?cid=nrcs142p2_017188
To find your local NRCS office, visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=MS&agency=NRCS.
####
EPA Announces List of Top 100 U.S. Organizations Using Renewable Energy
Tech Sector Leads the Way
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Green
Power Partnership released an updated list of the Top 100 organizations
that are choosing to use electricity from clean, renewable sources like
wind and solar power.
"By using green power, these companies and organizations are showing that
business can flourish while taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon
pollution," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. "Making cleaner choices
to power our communities, institutions and businesses reduces the pollution
that contributes to climate change, protects America's health and
environment, and supports continued growth in the green power sector."
Intel Corporation continues its seven-year run as the nation's largest
voluntary user of green power, meeting 100 percent of its electricity load
with renewable resources. Other technology companies in the top 10 include
Microsoft Corporation, Google Inc., and Apple Inc. Apple increased its
annual green power use by nearly 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), moving
from No. 11 to No. 8 on the list. In total, the combined green power usage
of these Top 100 Partners amounts to nearly 24 billion kWh annually, which
represents close to 83 percent of the green power commitments made by all
EPA Green Power Partners. The list is calculated based on annual green
power usage (in kilowatt-hours) by Green Power Partners.
The top 10 partners appearing on the Top 100 list include:
1. Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.)
2. Kohl's Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, Wis.)
3. Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.)
4. Whole Foods Market (Austin, Texas)
5. Google Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.)
6. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Bentonville, Ark.)
7. Staples (Framingham, Mass.)
8. Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.)
9. City of Houston, Texas
10. U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, D.C.)
In addition, for the eighth year in a row, EPA is encouraging increased
green power use among higher education institutions through the College and
University Green Power Challenge. Out of the 33 competing conferences, the
Big 10 is this year's conference champion, collectively using more than 309
million kWh of green power annually and avoiding carbon pollution equal to
that produced by the electricity use of more than 30,000 American homes.
The University of Pennsylvania continues to be the top individual school in
the challenge for the seventh year in a row, purchasing more than 200
million kWh of wind power annually - more green power than any of the 78
other competing schools.
EPA also recently announced that in support of President Obama's Climate
Action Plan, the Green Power Partnership is launching the On-site
Renewables Challenge, with a goal to double the use of on-site green power
by partners by the end of the decade. As part of the Challenge, EPA invites
partners to increase the amount of energy they produce and use from on-site
renewables by the end of the decade.
Green power is a subset of renewable energy and represents the renewable
energy resources and technologies that provide the highest environmental
benefit. EPA defines green power as electricity produced from solar, wind,
geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric
sources.
As part of the EPA's Green Power Partnership, more than 1,200 organizations
are purchasing more than 28 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually,
avoiding carbon pollution equal to that created by the electricity use of
more than 2.4 million American homes. The partnership provides quarterly
updated lists of partners using green power in the following categories:
retail, technology and telecommunications, local government, and K-12
schools, among others.
More on the Top 100 list and other Top rankings:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists
More on the 2013-14 EPA College & University Green Power Challenge
conference champions: www.epa.gov/greenpower/initiatives/cu_challenge.htm
More on the On-site Renewables Challenge:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/initiatives/onsite_challenge.htm
More on EPA's Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower
Oil Spill
Oil Spill Dissolving Wetlands
WKRG
New Orleans, LA -Four years after deepwater horizon a lot of the damage in
this part of Louisiana comes in what you don't see--and what you don't see
here is a lot of Cat Island. The island was once a vibrant place full of
birds according to members of the National Wildlife Federation. Today much
of it is below the surface. Mangroves are creepy fingers sticking up out
of the murky water.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/25314394/oil-spill-dissolving-wetlands
State
SCUA put on notice by MDA
Stone County Enterprose
By Jody O'Hara
Apr 17, 2014, 10:41
WIGGINS - Time is quickly running out for the Stone County Utility
Authority.
The Mississippi Development Authority, the grant administrator for the
Community Development Block Grants which funded the authority, has sent a
letter demanding completion of projects.
http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/article_2106.shtml
Moss Point fights back against litter bugs with city cleanup
WLOX
MOSS POINT, MS (WLOX) -Moss Point is fighting back against litter bugs that
are trashing the city. The city is holding a city-wide clean up day
Saturday to help keep Moss Point beautiful.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25324884/moss-point-fights-back-aginst-litter-bugs-with-city-wide-cleanup
Moss Point Citywide Cleanup, Jackson County hazardous waste event set for
Saturday
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 23, 2014 at 3:25 PM
MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- Two cleanup events will be held this weekend in
Jackson County, as Moss Point completes its last day of a citywide cleanup
and the county hosts Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day in Gautier.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/moss_point_citywide_cleanup_ja.html#incart_river
Ole Miss launches commitment to be 'climate neutral'
by MBJ Staff
Published: April 23,2014
OXFORD — The University of Mississippi has launched a campus-wide
commitment with the goal of making Ole Miss "climate neutral."
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/04/23/ole-miss-launches-commitment-climate-neutral/
Laurel Drug Take Back
WHLT
LAUREL, Miss - The Laurel Police Department wants you to drop off all of
your unused prescription drugs this Saturday at the police department for
their drug take back day.
http://www.whlt.com/story/25322527/laurel-drug-take-back
MCSO participates in Drug Take Back Initiative
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 12:00 pm | April 23, 2014
ABERDEEN – The Monroe County Sheriff's Office will take part in the
National Drug Take Back Initiative April 26 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2014/04/23/mcso-participates-drug-take-back-initiative/
Prescription med drop-off returns Saturday
Itawamba County Times
by Adam Armour | 6:58 am | April 23, 2014
Prescription drug abuse is one of the state law enforcement's greatest
threats. That's why the proper disposal of prescription medications is so
important. On Saturday, the Fulton Police Department will be participating
in the National Take Back Initiative, an effort to collect and destroy old
prescription medications from around the county.
http://itawambatimes.com/2014/04/23/prescription-med-drop-returns-saturday/
Workshop guides direction for Livable Communities grant
Monroe Journal
by Ray Van Dusen | 6:30 am | April 24, 2014
ABERDEEN – A two day workshop last week began with a broad range of ideas
and ended with three goals to formulate an action plan for Aberdeen Main
Street's recently awarded Livable Communities federal grant. The grant,
awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Appalachian
Regional Committee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, was previously
awarded to nine different communities throughout Appalachia.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2014/04/24/workshop-guides-direction-livable-communities-grant/
Gov. Bryant signs bill giving sportsmen annual tax holiday
Neshoba Democrat
JACKSON-Gov. Phil Bryant signed into law Senate Bill 2425, giving
Mississippi sportsmen an annual tax free holiday in September. The
Mississippi Second Amendment Weekend holiday will include sales tax
exemption on individual sales of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment
and certain hunting supplies.
http://neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297&ArticleID=32359
National
Tank car fleet inadequate for crude oil, rail industry says
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington BureauApril 22, 2014
WASHINGTON — None of the tank cars currently in service carrying Bakken
crude oil is adequate for carrying that product, a rail industry
representative testified Tuesday, but until new federal regulations are
completed, the use of inadequate cars will continue.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/04/22/225235/tank-car-fleet-inadequate-for.html?sp=/99/200/260/
Rail safety effort marred by squabbling
BY JOAN LOWY
Associated Press
April 23, 2014
WASHINGTON — Spurred by a series of fiery train crashes, a push by
government and industry to make safer tank cars used for shipping crude oil
and ethanol has bogged down in squabbling and finger-pointing over whether
they're needed and if so, who should pay.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/23/5516922/rail-safety-effort-marred-by-squabbling.html?sp=/99/184/208/
Opinion
WLOX Editorial: Don't litter
The Renew our Rivers Program kicked off this week with a big turnout and
lots of good work by the 150 volunteers.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25320276/wlox-editorial-dont-litter
Press Releases
Deadline for Landowners Wanting 2014 Assistance in Planting Longleaf
Jackson, Miss— Landowners in Mississippi wanting to create or restore
Longleaf Pine stands can apply for financial assistance with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
The Longleaf Pine Initiative is offered under the Environmental Quality
Incentive Program (EQIP) to landowners in central and southern Mississippi.
Applications for the Longleaf Pine program are taken on a continuous basis,
however to be considered for funding in the 2014 fiscal year, the deadline
is May 16, 2014.
The Longleaf Pine tree produces longer needles than other southern pines.
They provide valuable forest products, pine straw production, scenic
beauty, wildlife habitat and harbor many threatened and endangered species.
Longleaf Pines are more resistant than other southern pines to insect,
disease and fire. They can survive a prescribed burn at an earlier age.
Longleaf Pine tree nurseries have improved the quality of Longleaf
seedlings by producing a tree that reduces the amount of time needed for
the tree to grow out of the grass stage. These improvements allow the
Longleaf Pine to compete with the early growth rates of other southern pine
trees.
For additional information about the Longleaf Pine Initiative, visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/ms/programs/landscape/?cid=nrcs142p2_017188
To find your local NRCS office, visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?state=MS&agency=NRCS.
####
EPA Announces List of Top 100 U.S. Organizations Using Renewable Energy
Tech Sector Leads the Way
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Green
Power Partnership released an updated list of the Top 100 organizations
that are choosing to use electricity from clean, renewable sources like
wind and solar power.
"By using green power, these companies and organizations are showing that
business can flourish while taking meaningful steps to reduce carbon
pollution," said Gina McCarthy, EPA Administrator. "Making cleaner choices
to power our communities, institutions and businesses reduces the pollution
that contributes to climate change, protects America's health and
environment, and supports continued growth in the green power sector."
Intel Corporation continues its seven-year run as the nation's largest
voluntary user of green power, meeting 100 percent of its electricity load
with renewable resources. Other technology companies in the top 10 include
Microsoft Corporation, Google Inc., and Apple Inc. Apple increased its
annual green power use by nearly 100 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), moving
from No. 11 to No. 8 on the list. In total, the combined green power usage
of these Top 100 Partners amounts to nearly 24 billion kWh annually, which
represents close to 83 percent of the green power commitments made by all
EPA Green Power Partners. The list is calculated based on annual green
power usage (in kilowatt-hours) by Green Power Partners.
The top 10 partners appearing on the Top 100 list include:
1. Intel Corporation (Santa Clara, Calif.)
2. Kohl's Department Stores (Menomonee Falls, Wis.)
3. Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, Wash.)
4. Whole Foods Market (Austin, Texas)
5. Google Inc. (Mountain View, Calif.)
6. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Bentonville, Ark.)
7. Staples (Framingham, Mass.)
8. Apple Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.)
9. City of Houston, Texas
10. U.S. Department of Energy (Washington, D.C.)
In addition, for the eighth year in a row, EPA is encouraging increased
green power use among higher education institutions through the College and
University Green Power Challenge. Out of the 33 competing conferences, the
Big 10 is this year's conference champion, collectively using more than 309
million kWh of green power annually and avoiding carbon pollution equal to
that produced by the electricity use of more than 30,000 American homes.
The University of Pennsylvania continues to be the top individual school in
the challenge for the seventh year in a row, purchasing more than 200
million kWh of wind power annually - more green power than any of the 78
other competing schools.
EPA also recently announced that in support of President Obama's Climate
Action Plan, the Green Power Partnership is launching the On-site
Renewables Challenge, with a goal to double the use of on-site green power
by partners by the end of the decade. As part of the Challenge, EPA invites
partners to increase the amount of energy they produce and use from on-site
renewables by the end of the decade.
Green power is a subset of renewable energy and represents the renewable
energy resources and technologies that provide the highest environmental
benefit. EPA defines green power as electricity produced from solar, wind,
geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact small hydroelectric
sources.
As part of the EPA's Green Power Partnership, more than 1,200 organizations
are purchasing more than 28 billion kilowatt-hours of green power annually,
avoiding carbon pollution equal to that created by the electricity use of
more than 2.4 million American homes. The partnership provides quarterly
updated lists of partners using green power in the following categories:
retail, technology and telecommunications, local government, and K-12
schools, among others.
More on the Top 100 list and other Top rankings:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists
More on the 2013-14 EPA College & University Green Power Challenge
conference champions: www.epa.gov/greenpower/initiatives/cu_challenge.htm
More on the On-site Renewables Challenge:
www.epa.gov/greenpower/initiatives/onsite_challenge.htm
More on EPA's Green Power Partnership: www.epa.gov/greenpower
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
News Clippings 4.23.14
4.23.14
Oil Spill
Researchers see signs of progress at Macondo wellhead site
Sun Herald
BY PATRICK OCHS
GULFPORT -- Researchers aboard the vessel Atlantis are encouraged by their
findings from the most-recent excursion through the Gulf of Mexico to the
site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514948/researchers-see-signs-of-progress.html?sp=/99/184/201/
How much will BP owe? Federal judge sets hearings, meetings in advance of
January trial
The Associated Press
April 22, 2014 at 9:46 AM
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal court magistrate has issued a seven-page schedule
of hearings, conferences and deadlines leading up to January's trial aimed
at determining how much money BP will owe in Clean Water Act fines as a
result of its 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/how_much_will_bp_owe_federal_j.html#incart_river
BP Trial Date Set, RESTORE Amount Uncertain
WUWF
Four years after the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from
the Deepwater Horizon explosion, it appears another year will pass before
BP learns how much it will owe under the Clean Water Act.
http://wuwf.org/post/bp-trial-date-set-restore-amount-uncertain
Are Health Issues Connected to BP Oil Spill?
WKRG
On a day like this, it's hard to believe just four years ago Alabama's
beaches were in the middle of the biggest environmental disaster in U.S.
history.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/25313587/are-health-issues-connected-to-bp-oil-spill
DAVID YARNOLD: BP works hard to delay justice
BY DAVID YARNOLD
A McClatchy-Tribune Forum
April 22, 2014
Four years after the largest offshore oil disaster in U.S. history,
scientists are still trying to come to terms with the toll that the
Deepwater Horizon tragedy wreaked on the birds, sea life, waters and
habitats of the Gulf of Mexico. Multitudes of creatures and habitats were
wiped out -- and continue to suffer -- but outrageously, environmental
restoration has barely even begun.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514451/david-yarnold-bp-works-hard-to.html?sp=/99/728/
State
EPA Talks About Clean Up Process With Residents
WCBI
Columbus, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus residents learned more about the
contamination cleanup process near the former Kerr- McGee plant at a
community forum Monday night.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/e-p-a-talks-about-cleanup-process-with-residents
Colonial Estates water woes may be coming to an end
WLOX
JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -A plan to tie the Colonial Estates area of
Jackson County into the city's water system is welcome news to many people
who live there. More than 30 homes would be impacted, and the project would
be funded with a $600,000 grant from the Mississippi Development Authority.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25310706/water-woes-may-be-coming-to-an-end-in-colonial-estates
County pilot recycling program on target to meet goal
Natchez Democrat
Published 12:00am Wednesday, April 23, 2014
NATCHEZ — Adams County's pilot recycling program is apparently on target to
meet its long-term residential participation goal.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2014/04/23/county-pilot-recycling-program-on-target-to-meet-goal/
Tishomingo County gets funds to clear illegal dumpsites
WTVA
IUKA, Miss. (WTVA) -- Tishomingo County is getting help from a state agency
to clean up illegal dumpsites in the county.
http://www.wtva.com/news/national/story/Tishomingo-County-gets-funds-to-clear-illegal/vaDZAaprAkShOOV3G735IA.cspx
Volunteers remove lots of litter from Deer Island on Earth Day
WLOX
DEER ISLAND, MS (WLOX) -Deer Island is a lot cleaner, thanks to the efforts
of more than 150 volunteers. They spent the day Tuesday, picking-up litter
on the nearby island. It was part of the kickoff for Mississippi Power
Company's annual "Renew Our Rivers" program.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25309767/volunteers-remove-lots-of-litter-from-deer-island-on-earth-day
Pier Walk focuses on remembering loved ones and environment
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Tuesday was Earth Day and as many people took part in
events to preserve our environment over in Gulfport people were using the
day for a dual purpose. The third annual pier walk at the Ken Combs Pier
has been celebrated for three years now.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25315084/pier-walk-focuses-on-remembering-loved-ones-and-environment
Starkville Business Helps Residents Go Green on Earth Day
WCBI
Starkville, Miss. (WCBI) – One Starkville business is doing its part when
it comes to protecting the environment and being kind to nature.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-starkville-business-helps-residents-go-green-on-earth-day
Ole Miss Commits to Lowering Environmental Impact
WCBI
University of Mississippi, Miss. (WCBI) – Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones
marked Earth Day by signing a pledge to make Ole Miss climate friendly.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-ole-miss-commits-to-lowering-environmental-impact
Ethanol not the environmental silver bullet, study finds
Clarion Ledger
Ask any angler what he or she thinks of ethanol and the response
will generally include some rather foul language. For the folks who
have battled water in their fuel tanks, corrosion and paid
top-dollar for outboard repairs, it has all the appeal of fried
crappie fillets topped with chocolate syrup.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/outdoorsreport/2014/04/22/fuel-boat-motor-fishing-environment-outdoors-recreation/8006681/
Pascagoula council agrees to seek grant for kayak launch
Sun Herald
BY TAMMY LEYTHAM
PASCAGOULA -- The City Council agreed Tuesday to apply for a grant to build
a kayak launch.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514938/pascagoula-council-agrees-to-seek.html?sp=/99/184/201/
Regional
In South Carolina, leaders reconsider drilling along the coastline
BY SEAN COCKERHAM
McClatchy Washington Bureau
April 22, 2014
WASHINGTON — The push to start drilling in the Atlantic Ocean is gaining
momentum and dividing people along the grand coast of South Carolina, where
some local leaders fear what it could mean for tourism.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514115/in-south-carolina-leaders-reconsider.html?sp=/99/102/
National
EPA chief: Fighting climate change is top priority
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
The top priority for the Environmental Protection Agency is "dealing with
climate change," according to agency chief Gina McCarthy.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204027-epa-chief-fighting-climate-change-is-top-priority
EPA chief: Climate change, not Keystone, is game changer
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy on Tuesday sought to
downplay the importance of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and said the Obama
administration will continue to focus on the bigger problem of climate
change.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204051-epa-chief-climate-change-not-keystone-is-game-changer
Farm Bureau pledges to fight EPA's water rule
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
The American Farm Bureau Federation has promised to fight the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) through multiple avenues on its proposed new
definition of which bodies of water are under its jurisdiction, saying the
rule could "impose unworkable regulations on the nation's farms."
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204096-farm-bureau-pledges-to-fight-epas-water-rule
EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday retroactively lowered
the volume of cellulosic biofuel that refiners must blend into traditional
fuels, aligning the 2013 mandated volume to the actual amount of fuels
produced.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204085-epa-retroactively-lowers-biofuel-requirement-for-2013
U.S. EPA cuts 2013 target for cellulosic biofuel
Reuters
By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
on Tuesday slashed its target for 2013 use of cellulosic biofuel to less
than a million gallons, after the industry failed to meet goals for
production of the fuel last year.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/22/usa-epa-cellulosic-idINL2N0NE1KB20140422
EPA, States Move Through Early Stages Of Data-Sharing System Development
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Bloomberg
April 21 -- Senior state and Environmental Protection Agency officials have
held four meetings since December as they work through the early stages of
implementing a new data-sharing system that proponents say could transform
how environmental regulators in the country operate.
http://www.bna.com/epa-states-move-n17179889737/
Drought in Southwest Fuels Dispute Over Protections for Silvery Minnow
Environmentalists Say Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Suffering as Colorado, New
Mexico Siphon Off Too Much Water
Wall Street Journal
As water managers in the Southwest parcel out the scarce commodity to
cities and farmers in a prolonged drought, environmentalists are
threatening to sue them for not leaving enough for a tiny fish called the
Rio Grande silvery minnow.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579506182996143744?mg=reno64-wsj
Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Was Preventable, Officials Say
Cause of Blast Still Unclear, According to Preliminary Findings
AP
DALLAS—The fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people last year in a
tiny Texas town could have been prevented, even if it's still not clear
what started an initial fire that triggered the blast, federal officials
said Tuesday.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304279904579518083734648284?mg=reno64-wsj
Press Releases
EPA Honors Winners of 2013 Campus RainWorks Challenge
University of Florida and Kansas State University lead in innovative design
of green infrastructure on campus
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced
the four winners of its second annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a design
challenge created to engage college and university students in reinventing
our water infrastructure and developing innovative green infrastructure
systems to reduce stormwater pollution and build resilience to climate
change.
Stormwater is one of the most widespread challenges to water quality in the
nation. Large volumes of stormwater pollute our nation's streams, rivers
and lakes, posing a threat to human health and the environment and
contributing to downstream flooding.
The Campus RainWorks Challenge engages students and faculty members at
colleges and universities to apply green infrastructure principles and
design, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and increase the use of
green infrastructure on campuses across the nation. This year, EPA
introduced two design categories for the challenge—a master plan category,
which examines how green infrastructure could be integrated into a broad
area of a school's campus, and a site design category, which examines how
green infrastructure could be integrated into a particular site on the
team's campus. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students, working with a
faculty advisor, developed innovative green infrastructure designs in both
categories, showing how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the
campus community and the environment.
The 2013 challenge winners are:
University of Florida, Gainsville, FL (1st Place, Master Plan Category) �
��
The team's design plan centers on a 67.6 acre subwatershed in the northeast
corner of campus. To engage students with the journey of water, the
three-phase plan would transform two detention facilities into campus
amenities and daylight the flow of stormwater into above ground pipes and
vegetated bioswales. In addition to treating and retaining stormwater and
improving groundwater recharge, the team's plan would improve aesthetics
and safety along a major road.
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (1st Place, Site Design Category) –
The team's design plan calls for a stormwater pocket garden in a high
traffic area in front of Hale Library. Consisting of disconnected
downspouts, wet meadows, rain gardens, and stormwater runnels, the system
is designed to retain 100% of runoff from a 1-year storm. The team's plan
also incorporates native prairie vegetation, allowing the site to support
native songbirds and pollinators and reducing maintenance and irrigation
needs.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (2nd Place, Master Plan
Category) – The team's design plan centers on a 15 acre area in the center
of campus currently dedicated largely to surface parking. To create new
spaces for interaction while demonstrating sustainable stormwater controls,
the team proposed the addition of several campus amenities interwoven with
green infrastructure. Among the proposed green infrastructure features are
an outdoor amphitheater surrounded by rain gardens, a rain garden system in
the shape of a Spartan shield, and a stormwater cistern with glass viewing
pyramids. The team's plan would reduce runoff from the 10-year 24-hour
storm by 30% and would restore soils and native plant communities.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS (2nd Place, Site Design
Category) – The team's design plan centers on the 1.3 acre Union Green in
the heart of campus. To create a multi-functional space that provides an
educational experience, the team proposed a three-phase design. The first
phase adds a 1,000 gallon above-ground cistern, an aqueduct, and
bioretention to the west side of the site. The elevated aqueduct would
provide visual water conveyance and irrigation, and educate passersby about
stormwater management. The design would manage the 95th percentile storm,
and would reduce peak flows for the 2-year 24-hour storm below the
pre-development condition.
Teams from University of Texas at Austin (Master Plan Category), Purdue
University (Master Plan Category), Kansas State University (Site Design
Category), and University of Maryland (Site Design Category) were
recognized as honorable mentions for their entries.
EPA plans to conduct the third annual Campus RainWorks Challenge in the
fall of 2014.
Green infrastructure decreases pollution to local waterways by treating
rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater from entering sewer
systems. Green infrastructure reduces water pollution while increasing
economic activity and neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy
savings, and open space. Green infrastructure builds resilience to the
impacts of climate change, particularly by reducing the burden on local
water infrastructure. Green infrastructure tools and techniques include
green roofs, permeable materials, alternative designs for streets and
buildings, trees, rain gardens and rain harvesting systems. Communities are
increasingly using innovative green infrastructure to supplement or
substitute for "gray" infrastructure such as pipes, filters, and ponds.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/campusrainworks
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Rural Development Celebrates Earth Day by Supporting Water Quality |
| Projects in 40 States and Puerto Rico |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2014 Farm Bill Enables Record USDA Investments in Rural Water Systems |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|celebrated Earth Day by announcing record support for 116 projects that will|
|improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the |
|environment. |
| |
| |
|"Having reliable, clean and safe water is essential for any community to |
|thrive and grow," Vilsack said. "I am proud that USDA helps build rural |
|communities from the ground up by supporting water infrastructure projects |
|like these. I am especially proud that we can help communities that are |
|struggling economically and those that have urgent health and safety |
|concerns due to their failing water systems." |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement is USDA's largest Earth Day investment in rural water |
|and wastewater systems. Nearly $387 million is being awarded to 116 |
|recipients in 40 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Department |
|is providing $150 million in grants through the 2014 Farm Bill plus $237 |
|million in loans and grants from USDA's Water and Environmental Program. |
| |
| |
|Also noteworthy this year are USDA's accomplishments to help communities |
|with the greatest needs. Sixteen of the Earth Day projects are in areas of |
|persistent poverty. Twenty-nine are in communities served by USDA's " |
|StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity." StrikeForce is a |
|USDA initiative to reduce poverty by increasing investments in rural |
|communities through intensive outreach and stronger partnerships with |
|community leaders, businesses, foundations and other groups that are working|
|to combat poverty. |
| |
| |
|Climate change in particular is putting more stress on municipal water |
|systems. Many areas around the country have seen changes in rainfall, |
|resulting in more floods, droughts, declines in snowpack, intense rain, as |
|well as more frequent and severe heat waves. All of these are placing fiscal|
|strains on communities – causing them to make more frequent (and often more |
|expensive) repairs and upgrades. |
| |
| |
|Among projects funded this year, the city of McCrory, Ark., is receiving |
|$2.1 million to build a water treatment facility and two water supply wells,|
|and refurbish its two water storage tanks. The improvements will reduce high|
|manganese and iron levels in the water supply to provide safe drinking water|
|to McCrory's nearly 800 residents. McCrory is in Woodruff County, a |
|persistent poverty area that is part of USDA's "StrikeForce initiative for |
|Rural Growth and Opportunity." |
| |
| |
|Paintsville, Ky., is receiving a $4.9 million loan and $2.1 million grant to|
|rehabilitate its sanitary and stormwater sewer systems. This is one of 10 |
|projects funded by USDA that will improve water infrastructure in rural |
|areas of Kentucky. The Paintsville project will serve nearly 2,300 residents|
|and businesses and protect the ecosystems of Paint Creek and nearby lakes. |
| |
| |
|The city of San Joaquin, Calif., is receiving a $1 million loan/grant |
|combination to replace a contaminated well. The city had to shut down one of|
|its three wells due to high levels of bacteria. Once completed, this project|
|will ensure San Joaquin residents have safe, clean drinking water. |
| |
| |
|In Ohio, the Erie County Commissioners will use $3 million in loans and |
|nearly $3 million in grants to replace individual on-site waste treatment |
|systems that discharge into and pollute the Sandusky Bay and surrounding |
|areas. The commissioners also will build a wastewater collection system for |
|the Village of Bay View and the neighboring Bay Bridge area. The Bay View |
|peninsula is a vital ecological and economic area in the Western Basin of |
|Lake Erie. |
| |
| |
|Earth Day is observed annually on April 22 to raise awareness about the role|
|each person can play to protect vital natural resources and safeguard the |
|environment. Since the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, the event has |
|expanded to include citizens and governments in more than 195 countries. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|– strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's|
|investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands |
|as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture |
|Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of federal resources to |
|foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong|
|partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural |
|communities. |
| |
| |
|USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of |
|programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, |
|businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life |
|in rural America. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| On Earth Day, U.S. Forest Service Seeks Applications for Wood to Energy |
| Projects |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Announces New App -- Part of the Obama Administration's "All of the Above" |
| Energy Strategy |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 -- As part of the national observance of Earth |
|Day, the U.S. Forest Service today announced that it is seeking proposals |
|that expand wood energy use and support responsible forest management. Also |
|today, the Forest Service released a Wood Energy Financial App for use by |
|community and business leaders seeking to replace fossil fuel with wood |
|energy. |
| |
| |
|"USDA through the Forest Service is supporting development of wood energy |
|projects that promote sound forest management, expand regional economies, |
|and create new jobs," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These |
|efforts, part of the Obama Administration's 'all of the above' energy |
|strategy, create opportunities for wood energy products to enter the |
|marketplace." |
| |
| |
|"Building stronger markets for innovative wood products supports sustainable|
|forestry, reduces wildfire risk, and creates energy savings for rural |
|America," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. |
| |
| |
|The U.S. Forest Service published in the Federal Register the announcement |
|of requests for proposals under the Hazardous Fuels Wood-to-Energy Grant |
|program. The program will provide about $2.8 million to help successful |
|applicants complete the engineering design work needed to apply for public |
|or private loans for construction and long-term financing of wood energy |
|facilities. In addition, the agency announced $1.7 million in funding |
|availability under the Statewide Wood Energy Team cooperative agreement |
|program inviting public-private teams to seek funding to advance wood |
|energy. Activities may include workshops that provide technical, financial |
|and environmental information, preliminary engineering assessments, and |
|community outreach needed to support development of wood energy projects. |
| |
| |
|Since 2005, more than 150 Wood-to-Energy grants have been awarded to small |
|businesses, non-profits, Tribes, and State and local agencies to improve |
|forest health, while creating jobs, green energy, and healthy communities. |
|This year, the Wood-to-Energy grant program encourages geographic or |
|sector-based clusters, such as hospitals, prisons, or school campuses, to |
|leverage project similarities to improve economies of scale and expand the |
|use of woody biomass for energy. |
| |
| |
|For more information visit www.na.fs.fed.us/werc. Applicants may also submit|
|their applications through www.grants.gov. Application deadlines are |
|outlined in the Federal Register notice. |
| |
| |
|The Forest Service today also released an eBook which contains a Wood Energy|
|Financial App that allows users to do a simple and quick analysis to see if |
|wood energy is a viable alternative for their community or small business. |
|The App, which can be accessed from the Web or an eBook, is available at |
|www.woodenergy.umn.edu. |
| |
| |
|The App and eBook were developed through a partnership with Dr. Dennis |
|Becker, associate professor and Dr. Steve Taft, extension economist at the |
|University of Minnesota; Eini Lowell, wood technology specialist at the |
|Pacific Northwest Research Station; Dan Bihn, engineer at Bihn Systems and |
|Roy Anderson, senior consultant at The Beck Group. |
| |
| |
|In his State of the Union Address, President Obama pledged that his |
|Administration will continue to do everything in its power to act on climate|
|change. Today's announcements support the president's climate action plan |
|goal of preserving the role of forests in mitigating climate change. |
| |
| |
|The mission of the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of |
|Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the |
|Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future |
|generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides |
|assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest |
|forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service|
|manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through |
|visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the Nation's |
|clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency |
|has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of |
|the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres |
|are urban forests where most Americans live. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|USDA Awards Research Grants to Address the Impact of Climate Change on U.S. |
| Agriculture Production |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Des Moines, Iowa, April 22, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack ||announced today that USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
|(NIFA) awarded $6 million to 10 universities to study the effects of climate|
|on agriculture production and develop strategies to provide farmers and |
|ranchers with the solutions they need to supply the nation with quality |
|food. Vilsack made the announcement during remarks at "The Frontier of |
|Climate Change: State and Local Action in the Heartland" conference held at |
|Drake University. |
| |
| |
|"With longer growing seasons and an increased number of extreme weather |
|events, climate-related changes are increasingly posing new challenges and |
|risks for America's producers," said Vilsack. "Every day, farmers and |
|ranchers see the impact that changes in climate patterns have on their |
|operations, and they are contending with drought, floods or extreme |
|temperatures. The discoveries these grants will lead to will be invaluable |
|for American farmers whose livelihoods directly depend on the nation's land |
|and water resources." |
| |
| |
|NIFA made the awards through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative |
|(AFRI) funding opportunity in the Climate Variability and Change challenge |
|area. NIFA's climate work is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
|and increasing carbon sequestration in agricultural and forest production |
|systems and preparing the nation's agriculture and forests to adapt to |
|changing climates. |
| |
| |
|The fiscal year 2013 awards announced today include: |
| |
| |
| · University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., $900,000 - This study will |
| provide an integrated social and biophysical assessment of |
| vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and variability in the |
| Blue Mountains ecoregion of Oregon. |
| |
| |
| · Florida International University, Miami, Fla., $250,000 – This project|
| will study the mechanism of Ochratoxin-A toxicity in wine-musts |
| (freshly pressed grape juice for wine making) which is predicted to |
| intensify in winemaking regions because of the increased prevalence of|
| the toxin producing fungi in warmer climates, and create an |
| inexpensive and simple method of detoxification. |
| |
| |
| · Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $550,000 - The goal of this |
| research is to examine factors that either facilitate or hinder |
| climate adaptation, while assessing the role of human-made |
| infrastructure and policies that protect natural resources, grassland |
| and wetlands. . |
| |
| |
| · Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $975,000 �
� This |
| project will seek to define the effects of hot and cold temperatures |
| on turkey growth and development and develop management practices to |
| mitigate these effects. |
| |
| |
| · University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $25,000 – This is a |
| conference grant to support the National Extension Climate Science |
| Initiative Conference, which will empower Extension professionals and |
| collaborators with the latest in climate science research and delivery|
| methods. |
| |
| |
| · Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $800,000 – This project will|
| determine what effects a climate-induced rise in water temperature |
| will have on rainbow trout gut microbial communities and fish |
| metabolism. |
| |
| |
| · Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $600,000 – This project will |
| evaluate the resiliency of rice production with increasing climate |
| uncertainty by developing models integrating historical rice yield |
| data at the county and farm level, weather variables, and genotypic |
| parameters. |
| |
| |
| · Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $1,000,000 - The project|
| will provide some of the first climate adaptation tools for beef |
| production systems in the form of water management resources and lead |
| to the development of beef cattle that are adaptable to climate change|
| induced drought. |
| |
| |
| · Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $750,000 – This |
| project aims to strengthen farm operators' capacity to manage cropping|
| system's adaptation to climate change by providing real time online |
| decision making tools. |
| |
| |
| · West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.V., $150,000 – This project |
| will study the effect of climate change on interactions among solitary|
| pollinator bees, bee parasites and crops. |
| |
| |
|AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program established under the 2008|
|Farm Bill and supports work in six priority areas: 1) plant health and |
|production and plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal |
|products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) renewable energy, natural|
|resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) |
|agriculture economics and rural communities. |
| |
| |
|Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension|
|programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues |
|impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is |
|available at: www.nifa.usda.gov. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Oil Spill
Researchers see signs of progress at Macondo wellhead site
Sun Herald
BY PATRICK OCHS
GULFPORT -- Researchers aboard the vessel Atlantis are encouraged by their
findings from the most-recent excursion through the Gulf of Mexico to the
site of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514948/researchers-see-signs-of-progress.html?sp=/99/184/201/
How much will BP owe? Federal judge sets hearings, meetings in advance of
January trial
The Associated Press
April 22, 2014 at 9:46 AM
NEW ORLEANS -- A federal court magistrate has issued a seven-page schedule
of hearings, conferences and deadlines leading up to January's trial aimed
at determining how much money BP will owe in Clean Water Act fines as a
result of its 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/how_much_will_bp_owe_federal_j.html#incart_river
BP Trial Date Set, RESTORE Amount Uncertain
WUWF
Four years after the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico resulting from
the Deepwater Horizon explosion, it appears another year will pass before
BP learns how much it will owe under the Clean Water Act.
http://wuwf.org/post/bp-trial-date-set-restore-amount-uncertain
Are Health Issues Connected to BP Oil Spill?
WKRG
On a day like this, it's hard to believe just four years ago Alabama's
beaches were in the middle of the biggest environmental disaster in U.S.
history.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/25313587/are-health-issues-connected-to-bp-oil-spill
DAVID YARNOLD: BP works hard to delay justice
BY DAVID YARNOLD
A McClatchy-Tribune Forum
April 22, 2014
Four years after the largest offshore oil disaster in U.S. history,
scientists are still trying to come to terms with the toll that the
Deepwater Horizon tragedy wreaked on the birds, sea life, waters and
habitats of the Gulf of Mexico. Multitudes of creatures and habitats were
wiped out -- and continue to suffer -- but outrageously, environmental
restoration has barely even begun.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514451/david-yarnold-bp-works-hard-to.html?sp=/99/728/
State
EPA Talks About Clean Up Process With Residents
WCBI
Columbus, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus residents learned more about the
contamination cleanup process near the former Kerr- McGee plant at a
community forum Monday night.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/e-p-a-talks-about-cleanup-process-with-residents
Colonial Estates water woes may be coming to an end
WLOX
JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -A plan to tie the Colonial Estates area of
Jackson County into the city's water system is welcome news to many people
who live there. More than 30 homes would be impacted, and the project would
be funded with a $600,000 grant from the Mississippi Development Authority.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25310706/water-woes-may-be-coming-to-an-end-in-colonial-estates
County pilot recycling program on target to meet goal
Natchez Democrat
Published 12:00am Wednesday, April 23, 2014
NATCHEZ — Adams County's pilot recycling program is apparently on target to
meet its long-term residential participation goal.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2014/04/23/county-pilot-recycling-program-on-target-to-meet-goal/
Tishomingo County gets funds to clear illegal dumpsites
WTVA
IUKA, Miss. (WTVA) -- Tishomingo County is getting help from a state agency
to clean up illegal dumpsites in the county.
http://www.wtva.com/news/national/story/Tishomingo-County-gets-funds-to-clear-illegal/vaDZAaprAkShOOV3G735IA.cspx
Volunteers remove lots of litter from Deer Island on Earth Day
WLOX
DEER ISLAND, MS (WLOX) -Deer Island is a lot cleaner, thanks to the efforts
of more than 150 volunteers. They spent the day Tuesday, picking-up litter
on the nearby island. It was part of the kickoff for Mississippi Power
Company's annual "Renew Our Rivers" program.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25309767/volunteers-remove-lots-of-litter-from-deer-island-on-earth-day
Pier Walk focuses on remembering loved ones and environment
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Tuesday was Earth Day and as many people took part in
events to preserve our environment over in Gulfport people were using the
day for a dual purpose. The third annual pier walk at the Ken Combs Pier
has been celebrated for three years now.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25315084/pier-walk-focuses-on-remembering-loved-ones-and-environment
Starkville Business Helps Residents Go Green on Earth Day
WCBI
Starkville, Miss. (WCBI) – One Starkville business is doing its part when
it comes to protecting the environment and being kind to nature.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-starkville-business-helps-residents-go-green-on-earth-day
Ole Miss Commits to Lowering Environmental Impact
WCBI
University of Mississippi, Miss. (WCBI) – Ole Miss Chancellor Dan Jones
marked Earth Day by signing a pledge to make Ole Miss climate friendly.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-ole-miss-commits-to-lowering-environmental-impact
Ethanol not the environmental silver bullet, study finds
Clarion Ledger
Ask any angler what he or she thinks of ethanol and the response
will generally include some rather foul language. For the folks who
have battled water in their fuel tanks, corrosion and paid
top-dollar for outboard repairs, it has all the appeal of fried
crappie fillets topped with chocolate syrup.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/outdoorsreport/2014/04/22/fuel-boat-motor-fishing-environment-outdoors-recreation/8006681/
Pascagoula council agrees to seek grant for kayak launch
Sun Herald
BY TAMMY LEYTHAM
PASCAGOULA -- The City Council agreed Tuesday to apply for a grant to build
a kayak launch.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514938/pascagoula-council-agrees-to-seek.html?sp=/99/184/201/
Regional
In South Carolina, leaders reconsider drilling along the coastline
BY SEAN COCKERHAM
McClatchy Washington Bureau
April 22, 2014
WASHINGTON — The push to start drilling in the Atlantic Ocean is gaining
momentum and dividing people along the grand coast of South Carolina, where
some local leaders fear what it could mean for tourism.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/22/5514115/in-south-carolina-leaders-reconsider.html?sp=/99/102/
National
EPA chief: Fighting climate change is top priority
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
The top priority for the Environmental Protection Agency is "dealing with
climate change," according to agency chief Gina McCarthy.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204027-epa-chief-fighting-climate-change-is-top-priority
EPA chief: Climate change, not Keystone, is game changer
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy on Tuesday sought to
downplay the importance of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and said the Obama
administration will continue to focus on the bigger problem of climate
change.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204051-epa-chief-climate-change-not-keystone-is-game-changer
Farm Bureau pledges to fight EPA's water rule
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
The American Farm Bureau Federation has promised to fight the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) through multiple avenues on its proposed new
definition of which bodies of water are under its jurisdiction, saying the
rule could "impose unworkable regulations on the nation's farms."
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204096-farm-bureau-pledges-to-fight-epas-water-rule
EPA retroactively lowers biofuel requirement for 2013
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday retroactively lowered
the volume of cellulosic biofuel that refiners must blend into traditional
fuels, aligning the 2013 mandated volume to the actual amount of fuels
produced.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204085-epa-retroactively-lowers-biofuel-requirement-for-2013
U.S. EPA cuts 2013 target for cellulosic biofuel
Reuters
By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
on Tuesday slashed its target for 2013 use of cellulosic biofuel to less
than a million gallons, after the industry failed to meet goals for
production of the fuel last year.
http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/04/22/usa-epa-cellulosic-idINL2N0NE1KB20140422
EPA, States Move Through Early Stages Of Data-Sharing System Development
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Bloomberg
April 21 -- Senior state and Environmental Protection Agency officials have
held four meetings since December as they work through the early stages of
implementing a new data-sharing system that proponents say could transform
how environmental regulators in the country operate.
http://www.bna.com/epa-states-move-n17179889737/
Drought in Southwest Fuels Dispute Over Protections for Silvery Minnow
Environmentalists Say Rio Grande Silvery Minnow Suffering as Colorado, New
Mexico Siphon Off Too Much Water
Wall Street Journal
As water managers in the Southwest parcel out the scarce commodity to
cities and farmers in a prolonged drought, environmentalists are
threatening to sue them for not leaving enough for a tiny fish called the
Rio Grande silvery minnow.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304626304579506182996143744?mg=reno64-wsj
Texas Fertilizer Plant Explosion Was Preventable, Officials Say
Cause of Blast Still Unclear, According to Preliminary Findings
AP
DALLAS—The fertilizer plant explosion that killed 15 people last year in a
tiny Texas town could have been prevented, even if it's still not clear
what started an initial fire that triggered the blast, federal officials
said Tuesday.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304279904579518083734648284?mg=reno64-wsj
Press Releases
EPA Honors Winners of 2013 Campus RainWorks Challenge
University of Florida and Kansas State University lead in innovative design
of green infrastructure on campus
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced
the four winners of its second annual Campus RainWorks Challenge, a design
challenge created to engage college and university students in reinventing
our water infrastructure and developing innovative green infrastructure
systems to reduce stormwater pollution and build resilience to climate
change.
Stormwater is one of the most widespread challenges to water quality in the
nation. Large volumes of stormwater pollute our nation's streams, rivers
and lakes, posing a threat to human health and the environment and
contributing to downstream flooding.
The Campus RainWorks Challenge engages students and faculty members at
colleges and universities to apply green infrastructure principles and
design, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and increase the use of
green infrastructure on campuses across the nation. This year, EPA
introduced two design categories for the challenge—a master plan category,
which examines how green infrastructure could be integrated into a broad
area of a school's campus, and a site design category, which examines how
green infrastructure could be integrated into a particular site on the
team's campus. Teams of undergraduate and graduate students, working with a
faculty advisor, developed innovative green infrastructure designs in both
categories, showing how managing stormwater at its source can benefit the
campus community and the environment.
The 2013 challenge winners are:
University of Florida, Gainsville, FL (1st Place, Master Plan Category) �
��
The team's design plan centers on a 67.6 acre subwatershed in the northeast
corner of campus. To engage students with the journey of water, the
three-phase plan would transform two detention facilities into campus
amenities and daylight the flow of stormwater into above ground pipes and
vegetated bioswales. In addition to treating and retaining stormwater and
improving groundwater recharge, the team's plan would improve aesthetics
and safety along a major road.
Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS (1st Place, Site Design Category) –
The team's design plan calls for a stormwater pocket garden in a high
traffic area in front of Hale Library. Consisting of disconnected
downspouts, wet meadows, rain gardens, and stormwater runnels, the system
is designed to retain 100% of runoff from a 1-year storm. The team's plan
also incorporates native prairie vegetation, allowing the site to support
native songbirds and pollinators and reducing maintenance and irrigation
needs.
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI (2nd Place, Master Plan
Category) – The team's design plan centers on a 15 acre area in the center
of campus currently dedicated largely to surface parking. To create new
spaces for interaction while demonstrating sustainable stormwater controls,
the team proposed the addition of several campus amenities interwoven with
green infrastructure. Among the proposed green infrastructure features are
an outdoor amphitheater surrounded by rain gardens, a rain garden system in
the shape of a Spartan shield, and a stormwater cistern with glass viewing
pyramids. The team's plan would reduce runoff from the 10-year 24-hour
storm by 30% and would restore soils and native plant communities.
Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS (2nd Place, Site Design
Category) – The team's design plan centers on the 1.3 acre Union Green in
the heart of campus. To create a multi-functional space that provides an
educational experience, the team proposed a three-phase design. The first
phase adds a 1,000 gallon above-ground cistern, an aqueduct, and
bioretention to the west side of the site. The elevated aqueduct would
provide visual water conveyance and irrigation, and educate passersby about
stormwater management. The design would manage the 95th percentile storm,
and would reduce peak flows for the 2-year 24-hour storm below the
pre-development condition.
Teams from University of Texas at Austin (Master Plan Category), Purdue
University (Master Plan Category), Kansas State University (Site Design
Category), and University of Maryland (Site Design Category) were
recognized as honorable mentions for their entries.
EPA plans to conduct the third annual Campus RainWorks Challenge in the
fall of 2014.
Green infrastructure decreases pollution to local waterways by treating
rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater from entering sewer
systems. Green infrastructure reduces water pollution while increasing
economic activity and neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy
savings, and open space. Green infrastructure builds resilience to the
impacts of climate change, particularly by reducing the burden on local
water infrastructure. Green infrastructure tools and techniques include
green roofs, permeable materials, alternative designs for streets and
buildings, trees, rain gardens and rain harvesting systems. Communities are
increasingly using innovative green infrastructure to supplement or
substitute for "gray" infrastructure such as pipes, filters, and ponds.
More information: http://www.epa.gov/campusrainworks
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Rural Development Celebrates Earth Day by Supporting Water Quality |
| Projects in 40 States and Puerto Rico |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2014 Farm Bill Enables Record USDA Investments in Rural Water Systems |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today |
|celebrated Earth Day by announcing record support for 116 projects that will|
|improve water and wastewater services for rural Americans and benefit the |
|environment. |
| |
| |
|"Having reliable, clean and safe water is essential for any community to |
|thrive and grow," Vilsack said. "I am proud that USDA helps build rural |
|communities from the ground up by supporting water infrastructure projects |
|like these. I am especially proud that we can help communities that are |
|struggling economically and those that have urgent health and safety |
|concerns due to their failing water systems." |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement is USDA's largest Earth Day investment in rural water |
|and wastewater systems. Nearly $387 million is being awarded to 116 |
|recipients in 40 states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Department |
|is providing $150 million in grants through the 2014 Farm Bill plus $237 |
|million in loans and grants from USDA's Water and Environmental Program. |
| |
| |
|Also noteworthy this year are USDA's accomplishments to help communities |
|with the greatest needs. Sixteen of the Earth Day projects are in areas of |
|persistent poverty. Twenty-nine are in communities served by USDA's " |
|StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity." StrikeForce is a |
|USDA initiative to reduce poverty by increasing investments in rural |
|communities through intensive outreach and stronger partnerships with |
|community leaders, businesses, foundations and other groups that are working|
|to combat poverty. |
| |
| |
|Climate change in particular is putting more stress on municipal water |
|systems. Many areas around the country have seen changes in rainfall, |
|resulting in more floods, droughts, declines in snowpack, intense rain, as |
|well as more frequent and severe heat waves. All of these are placing fiscal|
|strains on communities – causing them to make more frequent (and often more |
|expensive) repairs and upgrades. |
| |
| |
|Among projects funded this year, the city of McCrory, Ark., is receiving |
|$2.1 million to build a water treatment facility and two water supply wells,|
|and refurbish its two water storage tanks. The improvements will reduce high|
|manganese and iron levels in the water supply to provide safe drinking water|
|to McCrory's nearly 800 residents. McCrory is in Woodruff County, a |
|persistent poverty area that is part of USDA's "StrikeForce initiative for |
|Rural Growth and Opportunity." |
| |
| |
|Paintsville, Ky., is receiving a $4.9 million loan and $2.1 million grant to|
|rehabilitate its sanitary and stormwater sewer systems. This is one of 10 |
|projects funded by USDA that will improve water infrastructure in rural |
|areas of Kentucky. The Paintsville project will serve nearly 2,300 residents|
|and businesses and protect the ecosystems of Paint Creek and nearby lakes. |
| |
| |
|The city of San Joaquin, Calif., is receiving a $1 million loan/grant |
|combination to replace a contaminated well. The city had to shut down one of|
|its three wells due to high levels of bacteria. Once completed, this project|
|will ensure San Joaquin residents have safe, clean drinking water. |
| |
| |
|In Ohio, the Erie County Commissioners will use $3 million in loans and |
|nearly $3 million in grants to replace individual on-site waste treatment |
|systems that discharge into and pollute the Sandusky Bay and surrounding |
|areas. The commissioners also will build a wastewater collection system for |
|the Village of Bay View and the neighboring Bay Bridge area. The Bay View |
|peninsula is a vital ecological and economic area in the Western Basin of |
|Lake Erie. |
| |
| |
|Earth Day is observed annually on April 22 to raise awareness about the role|
|each person can play to protect vital natural resources and safeguard the |
|environment. Since the first Earth Day celebration in 1970, the event has |
|expanded to include citizens and governments in more than 195 countries. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic |
|investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's|
|leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses |
|and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way |
|– strengthening America's economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA's|
|investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands |
|as the backbone of our American values. President Obama and Agriculture |
|Secretary Vilsack are committed to a smarter use of federal resources to |
|foster sustainable economic prosperity and ensure the government is a strong|
|partner for businesses, entrepreneurs and working families in rural |
|communities. |
| |
| |
|USDA, through its Rural Development mission area, has a portfolio of |
|programs designed to improve the economic stability of rural communities, |
|businesses, residents, farmers and ranchers and improve the quality of life |
|in rural America. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| On Earth Day, U.S. Forest Service Seeks Applications for Wood to Energy |
| Projects |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Announces New App -- Part of the Obama Administration's "All of the Above" |
| Energy Strategy |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, April 22, 2014 -- As part of the national observance of Earth |
|Day, the U.S. Forest Service today announced that it is seeking proposals |
|that expand wood energy use and support responsible forest management. Also |
|today, the Forest Service released a Wood Energy Financial App for use by |
|community and business leaders seeking to replace fossil fuel with wood |
|energy. |
| |
| |
|"USDA through the Forest Service is supporting development of wood energy |
|projects that promote sound forest management, expand regional economies, |
|and create new jobs," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "These |
|efforts, part of the Obama Administration's 'all of the above' energy |
|strategy, create opportunities for wood energy products to enter the |
|marketplace." |
| |
| |
|"Building stronger markets for innovative wood products supports sustainable|
|forestry, reduces wildfire risk, and creates energy savings for rural |
|America," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. |
| |
| |
|The U.S. Forest Service published in the Federal Register the announcement |
|of requests for proposals under the Hazardous Fuels Wood-to-Energy Grant |
|program. The program will provide about $2.8 million to help successful |
|applicants complete the engineering design work needed to apply for public |
|or private loans for construction and long-term financing of wood energy |
|facilities. In addition, the agency announced $1.7 million in funding |
|availability under the Statewide Wood Energy Team cooperative agreement |
|program inviting public-private teams to seek funding to advance wood |
|energy. Activities may include workshops that provide technical, financial |
|and environmental information, preliminary engineering assessments, and |
|community outreach needed to support development of wood energy projects. |
| |
| |
|Since 2005, more than 150 Wood-to-Energy grants have been awarded to small |
|businesses, non-profits, Tribes, and State and local agencies to improve |
|forest health, while creating jobs, green energy, and healthy communities. |
|This year, the Wood-to-Energy grant program encourages geographic or |
|sector-based clusters, such as hospitals, prisons, or school campuses, to |
|leverage project similarities to improve economies of scale and expand the |
|use of woody biomass for energy. |
| |
| |
|For more information visit www.na.fs.fed.us/werc. Applicants may also submit|
|their applications through www.grants.gov. Application deadlines are |
|outlined in the Federal Register notice. |
| |
| |
|The Forest Service today also released an eBook which contains a Wood Energy|
|Financial App that allows users to do a simple and quick analysis to see if |
|wood energy is a viable alternative for their community or small business. |
|The App, which can be accessed from the Web or an eBook, is available at |
|www.woodenergy.umn.edu. |
| |
| |
|The App and eBook were developed through a partnership with Dr. Dennis |
|Becker, associate professor and Dr. Steve Taft, extension economist at the |
|University of Minnesota; Eini Lowell, wood technology specialist at the |
|Pacific Northwest Research Station; Dan Bihn, engineer at Bihn Systems and |
|Roy Anderson, senior consultant at The Beck Group. |
| |
| |
|In his State of the Union Address, President Obama pledged that his |
|Administration will continue to do everything in its power to act on climate|
|change. Today's announcements support the president's climate action plan |
|goal of preserving the role of forests in mitigating climate change. |
| |
| |
|The mission of the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of |
|Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the |
|Nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future |
|generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides |
|assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest |
|forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service|
|manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through |
|visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the Nation's |
|clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency |
|has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of |
|the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres |
|are urban forests where most Americans live. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|USDA Awards Research Grants to Address the Impact of Climate Change on U.S. |
| Agriculture Production |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Des Moines, Iowa, April 22, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack ||announced today that USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture |
|(NIFA) awarded $6 million to 10 universities to study the effects of climate|
|on agriculture production and develop strategies to provide farmers and |
|ranchers with the solutions they need to supply the nation with quality |
|food. Vilsack made the announcement during remarks at "The Frontier of |
|Climate Change: State and Local Action in the Heartland" conference held at |
|Drake University. |
| |
| |
|"With longer growing seasons and an increased number of extreme weather |
|events, climate-related changes are increasingly posing new challenges and |
|risks for America's producers," said Vilsack. "Every day, farmers and |
|ranchers see the impact that changes in climate patterns have on their |
|operations, and they are contending with drought, floods or extreme |
|temperatures. The discoveries these grants will lead to will be invaluable |
|for American farmers whose livelihoods directly depend on the nation's land |
|and water resources." |
| |
| |
|NIFA made the awards through its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative |
|(AFRI) funding opportunity in the Climate Variability and Change challenge |
|area. NIFA's climate work is focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions |
|and increasing carbon sequestration in agricultural and forest production |
|systems and preparing the nation's agriculture and forests to adapt to |
|changing climates. |
| |
| |
|The fiscal year 2013 awards announced today include: |
| |
| |
| · University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo., $900,000 - This study will |
| provide an integrated social and biophysical assessment of |
| vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and variability in the |
| Blue Mountains ecoregion of Oregon. |
| |
| |
| · Florida International University, Miami, Fla., $250,000 – This project|
| will study the mechanism of Ochratoxin-A toxicity in wine-musts |
| (freshly pressed grape juice for wine making) which is predicted to |
| intensify in winemaking regions because of the increased prevalence of|
| the toxin producing fungi in warmer climates, and create an |
| inexpensive and simple method of detoxification. |
| |
| |
| · Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $550,000 - The goal of this |
| research is to examine factors that either facilitate or hinder |
| climate adaptation, while assessing the role of human-made |
| infrastructure and policies that protect natural resources, grassland |
| and wetlands. . |
| |
| |
| · Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $975,000 �
� This |
| project will seek to define the effects of hot and cold temperatures |
| on turkey growth and development and develop management practices to |
| mitigate these effects. |
| |
| |
| · University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minn., $25,000 – This is a |
| conference grant to support the National Extension Climate Science |
| Initiative Conference, which will empower Extension professionals and |
| collaborators with the latest in climate science research and delivery|
| methods. |
| |
| |
| · Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont., $800,000 – This project will|
| determine what effects a climate-induced rise in water temperature |
| will have on rainbow trout gut microbial communities and fish |
| metabolism. |
| |
| |
| · Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., $600,000 – This project will |
| evaluate the resiliency of rice production with increasing climate |
| uncertainty by developing models integrating historical rice yield |
| data at the county and farm level, weather variables, and genotypic |
| parameters. |
| |
| |
| · Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Okla., $1,000,000 - The project|
| will provide some of the first climate adaptation tools for beef |
| production systems in the form of water management resources and lead |
| to the development of beef cattle that are adaptable to climate change|
| induced drought. |
| |
| |
| · Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa., $750,000 – This |
| project aims to strengthen farm operators' capacity to manage cropping|
| system's adaptation to climate change by providing real time online |
| decision making tools. |
| |
| |
| · West Virginia University, Morgantown, W.V., $150,000 – This project |
| will study the effect of climate change on interactions among solitary|
| pollinator bees, bee parasites and crops. |
| |
| |
|AFRI is NIFA's flagship competitive grant program established under the 2008|
|Farm Bill and supports work in six priority areas: 1) plant health and |
|production and plant products; 2) animal health and production and animal |
|products; 3) food safety, nutrition and health; 4) renewable energy, natural|
|resources and environment; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) |
|agriculture economics and rural communities. |
| |
| |
|Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension|
|programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues |
|impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. More information is |
|available at: www.nifa.usda.gov. |
| |
| |
|# |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)