4.10.14
Oil Spill
Grant Will Pay For Spill Restoration Planning
MPB
BY EVELINA BURNETT | PUBLISHED 09 APR 2014
Mississippi will spend more than $3 million dollars over the next three
years to come up with an oil spill restoration plan for the coast.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/grant_will_pay_for_spill_restoration_planning
Mississippi Is the First Gulf State to Receive Restoration Planning Money
WXXV
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (M.D.E.Q.) Tuesday
announced receipt of a $3.6 million grant from the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation (N.F.W.F.).
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Mississippi-Is-the-First-Gulf-State-to-Receive/0PVL7nY2v0W-63RPFLugOQ.cspx
Dying dolphin babies in the Mississippi Sound brings call for more research
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
GULFPORT -- Researchers at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies are once
again finding dead baby dolphins throughout the Mississippi Sound.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/09/5485201/dying-dolphin-babies-in-the-mississippi.html
Four years on, animals dying in record numbers from BP spill
MSNBC
04/09/14 05:36 PM
By Erin Delmore
The effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill continue to threaten
the Gulf of Mexico's animal population, according to a report prepared by
the National Wildlife Federation, which warned of damage to 14 native
species including bottlenose dolphins and sea turtles.
http://www.msnbc.com/all/animals-dying-record-numbers-bp-spill-gulf-of-mexico
Deepwater Horizon claims administrator calls county the 'Cadillac' of grant
process
BY TOM CARLTON
Special to the Journal of South Mississippi Business
April 9, 2014
Patrick Juneau, claims administrator for the Deepwater Horizon Claims
Center, visited the Rotary Club of Bay St. Louis in March and was greeted
like a patron saint of tourism. And why wouldn't he be? Mississippi Coast
organizations collectively received more than $8 million in first-round and
second-round grants from the Gulf Tourism and Seafood Promotional Fund, and
Juneau is the man responsible for reviewing and distributing these grant
funds. He made it clear, saying the area deserves all that it has received.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/09/5482889/deepwater-horizon-claims-administrator.html?sp=/99/102/
State
MDEQ welcomes new members to enHance program
by MBJ Staff
Published: April 10,2014
ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) has accepted three new members, seven renewal memberships and two
returning members into its enHance program for the 2014 class.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/04/10/mdeq-welcomes-new-members-enhance-program/
MDEQ Recognizes 2014 enHance Members
WCBI
(includes three photos)
JACKSON, Miss. (Press Release) — The Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ), accepted three new members, seven renewal
memberships, and two returning members into its enHance program for the
2014 class. The recognition was part of a workshop and awards luncheon held
today in Jackson.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/mdeq-recognizes-2014-enhance-members
Grant to expand recycling in area
By Amelia Camurati
Enterprise-Journal
McComb Mayor Whitney Rawlings' battle for curbside recycling in the city by
2015 is one step closer to reality.
On Tuesday, Rawlings announced the city had been approved for a $123,916
Cooperative Recycling grant from the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality to expand the recycling program with Keep Pike County
Beautiful and extend it for at least one year.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_ae564864-c003-11e3-b82e-001a4
bcf887a.html
Public Works readies for annual Earth Day
Bolivar Commercial
by Courtney Warren
04.09.14 - 06:15 pm
Cleveland and Bolivar County will be cleaner and brighter after Earth Day.
The Cleveland-Bolivar County Earth Day occurs every April in partnership
with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and is scheduled
for this Saturday at Cleveland Public Works.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/24900169/article-Public-Works-readies-for-annual-Earth-Day?instance=main_article
Warning to public: Stay out of contaminated floodwaters
Clarion Ledger
Officials are warning the public that as the rivers rise, it is
imperative to stay out of the floodwaters.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/04/09/warning-to-public-stay-out-of-contaminated-floodwaters/7503467/
Houston finishing up sewer revitalization
Chickasaw Journal
HOUSTON – It's not the most glamorous work done by the city but it is
sorely needed.
The City of Houston is wrapping up a sewer-line renovation project that
will basically make many of the older, leaking sewer pipes like new.
http://chickasawjournal.com/2014/04/09/houston-finishing-sewer-revitalization/
Mantachie gets first self-serve natural gas pump in N.E. Miss.
Itawamba County Times
* The pump, which will provide fuel for natural gas powered vehicles, will
be one of only three statewide.
"This is why this works," said Mike Horton, manager of North Mississippi
Natural Gas in Mantachie, pointing to his computer monitor.
http://itawambatimes.com/2014/04/09/mantachie-gets-first-self-serve-natural-gas-pump-n-e-miss/
Regional
Alabama charterboat pilot program could fundamentally change how red
snapper are managed in Gulf
Press-Register
Jeff Dute
April 10, 2014 at 6:17 AM
A new day may have dawned on management of red snapper in the Gulf of
Mexico.
An Alabama-based, two-year pilot program that would give the state's entire
charterboat fleet the freedom to catch a predetermined number of red
snapper whenever they wanted got a second life and the blessing of the full
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Wednesday afternoon.
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/04/alabama_charterboat_pilot_prog.html#incart_river
National
EPA Consulted With Hundreds of Groups On Carbon Rule for Existing Power
Plants
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Bloomberg
April 8 --Senior Environmental Protection Agency officials consulted with
at least 210 separate groups representing a broad range of interests in the
Washington area and held more than 100 meetings and events with additional
organizations across regional offices as the agency prepared its carbon
pollution regulation for existing power plants.
http://www.bna.com/epa-consulted-hundreds-n17179889449/
Committee moves to restrict EPA's authority to block water permits
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted Wednesday to
restrict the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to block
permits to dump dredge or fill material into waterways.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/203081-committee-moves-to-restrict-epas-authority-to-block-water-permits
Senate GOP to Obama: Tell EPA to back off
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
Senate Republicans are pushing back against a proposed rule allowing the
Environmental Protection Agency to assert its authority over the nation's
streams and wetlands.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/203114-senate-gop-to-obama-tell-epa-to-back-off
Feds to propose mandatory 2-man crews on oil trains
The Hill
By Blake Neff
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will propose a new rule requiring
all trains carrying oil to be crewed by at least two people, the agency
announced Wednesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/railroads/203074-feds-to-propose-mandatory-2-man-crews-on-oil-trains
Press Releases
COCHRAN: EPA SHOULD ADHERE TO FARM BILL RESTRICTIONS ON REGULATING FOREST
ROADS
With Recent Floods in Miss., Cochran Asks EPA to Help Streamline Flood
Control Project Reviews
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today questioned whether
the Environmental Protection Agency can be more cooperative in dealing with
other agencies when assessing environmental matters related to forests and
flood control projects.
Cochran on Wednesday participated in a Senate Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee hearing to review the FY2015 budget request for the EPA.
Cochran offered questions regarding implementation of a 2014 farm bill
provision which restricts EPA's ability to enforce costly and burdensome
regulations on forest roads as a source of pollution, as well as potential
environmental review delays on flood control projects.
"The Obama administration has made it known that it will pursue
environmental regulatory changes with or without the consent of Congress.
Unfortunately, these EPA efforts can run counter to the nation's economic
wellbeing and sometimes affect the health and safety of the public,"
Cochran said.
Cochran sought assurances from EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy that her
agency will follow congressional intent of the 2014 farm bill provision
that amends the Clean Water Act to reaffirm the agency's long-standing
policy that storm water runoff permits are not required for forest-related
activities. The farm bill changes were included in the bill to provide
certainty to private forest landowners and the forest product industry that
EPA shall not use discretionary authority to regulate forest roads as a
"point source" of pollution.
"We are all interested in maintaining forest health in Mississippi and
elsewhere, but I want assurances that the law will be followed and that the
EPA won't take steps to restrict the use of forest roads," Cochran said.
Cochran also submitted inquiries to McCarthy related to EPA willingness to
work with the Army Corps of Engineers and the Rankin-Hinds Drainage Control
District to assist with the environmental reviews and requirements for
needed flood control projects.
"Governor Phil Bryant's emergency declaration in 12 counties due to severe
rain and flooding in the Pearl River Basin once again highlights the EPA's
role in the decades-long effort to develop more effective flood control for
Jackson," Cochran said. "Our capital city and others within the Pearl
River flood zone would benefit greatly from an EPA that does not represent
an impediment to protecting lives and property."
An agreement on an effective flood control solution has eluded the Army
Corps and local officials since flooding in 1979 caused damages equivalent
to $1.3 billion in today's terms. Cochran noted EPA cooperation on
"aligning resources, avoiding duplication, and closing gaps in the broader
environmental enterprise system" could help advance such a project, once
the study is completed and the project is constructed.
###
GOV. BRYANT WARNS OF ONGOING FLOODING
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
are warning residents about ongoing flooding within the state. Many rivers
and tributaries in central and south Mississippi are at, near or above
flood stage following extensive rainfall over the past week.
"I urge Mississippians to stay away from floodwater," said Gov. Bryant.
"Even if it looks still on the surface, the current beneath could be moving
swiftly. To aid response, I declared a state of emergency for 12 counties
that have been affected so far. The declaration can be expanded if
additional areas are impacted."
Several rivers have flooded and may continue to rise until they crest
within the next few days. The Pearl River in portions of central and south
Mississippi, the Strong River in D'Lo and Tallahala Creek in Laurel are all
above flood stage.
MEMA, the National Weather Service and other local, state and federal
agencies are monitoring these rivers closely and expect them to begin
cresting in the next several days.
"I urge all Mississippians to have a family emergency plan in place in the
event that flooding continues or we see another round of storms," Gov.
Bryant said. "Know where your family will go during an emergency, have a
stocked disaster supply kit in case you are without power or have to leave
your home quickly and know how to reach your loved ones after an emergency
has passed."
Several counties are reporting road closures due to flooding. If you
encounter flood waters, never attempt to drive through. Remember the
phrase, "Turn Around, Don't Drown." Even a few inches of water can be
enough to move a vehicle. Residents should also be aware of any boil water
notices that could be issued for their area.
"Everyone, especially children, should not play or work near flood waters,"
said Bryant. "The water could have strong currents, be contaminated or
contain dangerous wildlife."
Gov. Bryant declared a State of Emergency for 12 counties on April 8, 2014.
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.
###
Testimony of EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy Before the Senate Interior,
Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on
Appropriations
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina
McCarthy testified today before the Senate Interior, Environment and
Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations at
a hearing to discuss EPA's proposed FY 2015 budget.
Administrator McCarthy's remarks:
Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Murkowski, and members of the Committee,
thank you for the opportunity to appear before you to discuss the
Environmental Protection Agency's proposed FY 2015 budget. I'm joined by
the Agency's Acting Chief Financial Officer, Maryann Froehlich.
EPA's budget request of $7.890 billion for the 2015 fiscal year starting
October 1, 2014 reflects our ongoing efforts to meet the challenges facing
the agency today and into the future. Despite these challenges, we remain
dedicated to protecting public health and the environment, and we know we
must target staff and resources and find new ways to fulfill our mission.
We will focus those resources in a way that will allow EPA to be more
effective and efficient.
The FY 2015 budget reflects a strategic approach to our budget planning
process, looking toward the future rather than continuing to simply react
to tough budget choices with cuts across the Agency. The FY 2015 budget
request does this in the following ways:
• It reflects EPA's incorporation of new technologies and new
regulatory and non-regulatory approaches that can help us maintain our
efficiency and effectiveness.
• It strengthens EPA's partnership with public health and
environmental protection partners in states, tribes and local communities
with a focus on aligning our resources, avoiding duplication, and
identifying and closing any gaps in the broader environmental enterprise
system.
• It invests our funds and leverages funds of our partners where
it makes the most sense and gets the biggest bang for the buck.
Following the framework of priorities laid out in the FY 2014 - 2018
Strategic Plan and working within our budget, we are committed to ensuring
the staff we have in program areas and regions make the most sense and will
have the most impact.
EPA has already taken steps toward proactive management of our operating
budget. Through the VERA/VSIP process, we have begun to accelerate
attrition within EPA both at headquarters and the regions toward a ceiling
of 15,000 nonrefundable FTE's.
Our FY 2015 budget relies on a reduced workforce focused on programs,
policies, and regulations that matter most to public health and the
environment. This is not simply about cutting the workforce to save costs.
We are reshaping the workforce and our work to meet current and future
challenges. Doing this includes making key investments.
It makes long-term fiscal sense to invest the cost savings achieved --
through a smaller workforce and improved use of technology -- to work
smarter and more effectively. This approach will keep EPA strong, focused
on science and the law, and transparent in addressing environmental
challenges and the results we have achieved.
This budget will provide the support we need to move forward by targeting
real progress in priority areas: communities, climate change and air
quality, toxics and chemical safety, and clean water.
Building on current work on the ground in our communities, we are asking
for $7.5 million and 64 staff in FY 2015 to work toward efforts that will
make a difference in people's everyday lives and in their communities.
Those efforts include providing green infrastructure technical assistance
for up to 100 communities that will promote cost-effective approaches to
water management.
This budget request furthers our environmental justice efforts. The
protections provided by our national environmental laws must be accessible
to everyone. We will do more to partner with states, tribes, and local
governments and other federal agencies to better coordinate and leverage
resources supporting community efforts.
Addressing the threat from a changing climate is one of the greatest
challenges of this and future generations. The request for climate change
and air quality is $1.03 billion—over $41 million more than fiscal year
2014. And it designates $199.5 million specifically for climate change
work.
Building on existing efforts and base budget resources, the Agency has
added $10 million and dedicates 24 FTE's in FY 2015 to support the
President's climate action plan. $2 million is designated for technical
assistance for adaptation planning for water utilities at greatest risk
from storm surges. Research and development efforts will focus on support
tools for at-risk communities and tribes in preparing for the impacts of
climate change.
The Agency will focus resources on the development of common sense and
achievable greenhouse gas standards for power plants—the single largest
source of carbon pollution. The President's budget provides support for the
states to help them meet their obligations under Section 111 of the Clean
Air Act with regard to cutting carbon emissions.
This request also supports the President's interagency methane strategy and
the President's recently announced directive to EPA to develop phase 2 fuel
efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for heavy-duty vehicles. EPA also
will be implementing a range of activities in support of the President's
call to cut energy waste in homes, businesses, and factories.
Chemicals and toxic substances are prevalent in our everyday lives. The EPA
budget requests almost $673 million to support work to reduce the risk and
increase the safety of chemicals and prevent pollution for all Americans
and especially children.
We are requesting $23 million and 24 FTE in FY 2015 to support activities
under the President's executive order on chemical safety, as well as Agency
efforts on chemical prioritization, air toxics, radon, and volatile organic
compounds in drinking water. $5 million in resources for air toxics work
will enhance our capabilities to design effective regulations and continue
developing the national air toxics assessment.
The nation's water resources are the lifeblood of our communities. The FY
2015 budget recognizes the long-term benefits of healthy aquatic systems
for all aspects of our daily lives.
The Agency is directing $8 million and 10 FTE to advance clean water.
Resources are also proposed for the municipal separate storm sewer systems
program for technical support to communities that must develop effective
stormwater permits for the first time.
We are requesting $1.775 billion for the clean water and drinking water
state revolving funds. Although this is a more than a $580 million decrease
over FY 2014 levels, federal capitalization of the SRFs totals over $22
billion since FY 2009, if you include the FY 2015 request. The FY 2015
budget seeks to ensure that federal dollars provided through the fund lead
to the design, construction, and support of sustainable water
infrastructure.
The EPA is looking toward future ways to better serve the American people
by employing technology where it can be used more effectively. E-Enterprise
is a major joint initiative between EPA and states to modernize our
business practices and to increase responsiveness. This effort holds the
promise of increased effectiveness and savings for businesses as well as
government. The agency is expanding efforts in the second year of the
multi-year E-Enterprise business model including focusing people and
resources to accelerate development of the E-Manifest system and associated
rule-making work. For example, the benefits of implementing the E-Manifest
system include annual savings estimated at $75 million for over 160,000
waste handlers. Transitioning from a paper-based system saves time and
effort for every person who used to handle that paper.
In addition, EPA is making changes to long-standing business practices such
as contracts, grants management, and the regulation development process.
One important area of emphasis is improving freedom of information act
(FOIA) and records management.
In FY 2015, the Agency is requesting over $1.33 billion to continue to
apply the most effective response approaches for cleanups under RCRA,
Superfund, Leaking Underground Storage Tank, and other authorities. This
strategy will help ensure land is returned to beneficial use in the most
effective way. $1.16 billion is requested for Superfund which includes a
$43.4 million increase for remedial work and an increase of $9.2 million
for emergency response and removal.
In this budget, we hold firm our priority support for state and tribal
partners, the primary implementers and front line of environmental
programs. Funding for state and tribal assistance grants – or STAG – is
once again the largest percentage of the EPA's budget request and
prioritizes funding for state categorical grants.
The FY 2015 budget includes a total of $1.13 billion in categorical grants
– a net $76 million increase over FY 2014.
• Within that total is over $96 million for tribal general
assistance program grants – a $31 million increase over FY 2014.
• We also included an $18 million increase for pollution control
(Section 106),
• There is a $16 million increase for environmental information
grants.
• There is a $15 million increase for state and local air quality
management in our request.
Science is the foundation of our work at the EPA. And science is supported
by the President's request of $537.3 million. In FY 2015, the EPA is
focusing research on the most critical issues facing the Agency.
These include efforts to: advance chemical prioritization and predictive
toxicology, help communities make sustainable decisions regarding
environmental protection and resilience, and inform regional and community
level strategies for the use of green infrastructure and other innovative
alternative practices.
The EPA continues to focus on reducing its physical footprint and achieving
greater energy efficiency. Since 2006, the EPA has released approximately
428 thousand square feet of space nationwide, resulting in a cumulative
annual rent avoidance of over $14.6 million.
The EPA continues to eliminate programs that have served their purpose,
accomplished their mission, or are duplicative. The FY 2015 budget
eliminates a number of such programs totaling nearly $56 million. These
include beaches protection categorical grants, state indoor radon grants,
and diesel emissions reductions assistance grants.
Recognizing the importance of the two-year budget agreement congress
reached in December, which the President's budget adheres to, levels are
not sufficient to expand opportunity to all Americans or to drive the
growth our economy needs.
For that reason, across the federal government, the budget also includes a
separate, fully paid for $56 billion opportunity, growth, and security
initiative. This initiative—split evenly between defense and non-defense
funding—shows how additional discretionary investments in FY 2015 can spur
economic progress, promote opportunity, and strengthen national security.
• Within the initiative is $1 billion for a climate resilience
fund, through which the budget will invest in research and unlock data to
better understand and prepare for impacts of a changing climate. These
investments will also fund breakthrough technologies and resilient
infrastructure.
• Within the climate resilience fund, EPA will support a nation
better prepared for the impacts of climate change—with $10 million for
protecting and enhancing coastal wetlands, and $5 million to support urban
forest enhancement and protection.
We have made some very difficult choices in this budget. But we need to
look realistically at challenges we face in the future and make sure we
have the best tools and people in the right places to make the most
difference. Our final FY 2015 budget reflects a balanced approach to
accomplishing this.
Thank you for the opportunity to touch upon some of the highlights of EPA's
FY 2015 budget request in my testimony today. I look forward to answering
your questions.
