4.9.14
Oil Spill
MDEQ awarded $3.6M for coastal restoration
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -How do you think Mississippi should spend restoration
money to rebuild the Gulf Coast following the BP oil spill? Tuesday, the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality was awarded a $3.6 million
grant that will be used for planning purposes as the state looks to put
together a restoration plan.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25195966/mdeq-awarded-36m-for-coastal-restoration
Mississippi gets $3.6 million for more planning for BP spill restoration
SUN HERALD
April 8, 2014
BILOXI -- Officials with the state Department of Environmental Quality say
the $3.6 million that Mississippi received Tuesday makes it the first Gulf
state to receive oil spill restoration planning money from the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/08/5481753/mississippi-gets-36-million-for.html?sp=/99/184/
MDEQ receives $3.6 million grant for oil spill restoration planning
Mississippi Press
April 08, 2014 at 6:02 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
today announced receipt of a $3.6 million grant from the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/mdeq_receives_36_million_grant.html#incart_river
State receives first NFWF funding to support coastal planning
by MBJ Staff
Published: April 9,2014
MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST — The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) has received a $3.6 million grant from the National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/04/09/state-receives-first-nfwf-funding-support-coastal-planning/
Health of Gulf species suggests problems, raises questions almost four
years after BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, report says
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
April 08, 2014 at 5:58 PM
The health of bottlenose dolphins, predators at the top of the food chain
in the Gulf of Mexico, could indicate problems in the ecosystem as a whole
nearly four years after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, according
to a report released Tuesday by the National Wildlife Federation.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/04/gulf_of_mexico_species_post-bp.html#incart_river
Four years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, wildlife still struggling
UPI
Published: April 8, 2014 at 1:38 PM
Brooks Hays
WASHINGTON, April 8 (UPI) -- WASHINGTON, April 8 (UPI) -- Roughly four
years after BP's Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, spilling 200 million
gallons of oil -- the biggest oil spill in U.S. history -- wildlife in the
Gulf of Mexico continue to struggle.
http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2014/04/08/Four-years-after-the-Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill-wildlife-still-struggling/2991396974308/?spt=hts&or=3
State
DuPree explores funding sources for wastewater treatment
Hattiesburg American
Mayor Johnny DuPree may not have been able to bring a 1 percent sales tax
referendum before Hattiesburg voters.
But the four-term incumbent still is exploring potential revenue sources to
offset future expenses the city will incur in revamping its wastewater
treatment and disposal systems.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140409/NEWS01/304090016/DuPree-explores-funding-sources-for-wastewater-treatment
Groundworx permit approved, city leaders have reservations
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -After weeks of little movement on the Groundworx
project, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has given the
go-ahead for the Hattiesburg project.
http://www.wdam.com/story/25193338/groundworx-permit-approved-city-leaders-have-reservations
Hazardous waste collections set twice in April
By Errol Castens
Daily Journal
OXFORD – Have leftover paint, depleted batteries, unneeded cleaners or
expired garden chemicals?
Residents of seven counties can safely dispose of such household hazardous
waste on two Saturdays this month.
http://djournal.com/news/hazardous-waste-collections-set-twice-april/
Alcorn County sells site held for rubbish landfill
AP
CORINTH, Miss. (AP) — Alcorn County supervisors have accepted a bid of
$1,100 per acre for 125 acres once proposed for a rubbish landfill.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Alcorn-County-sells-site-held-for-rubbish-landfill/CIXJqsC5B027uqyJPollkg.cspx?rss=2377&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Video cameras on way to catch litterers in the act
The Associated Press
April 9, 2014
VICKSBURG, MISS. — Vicksburg police are buying video cameras to catch
illegal dumpers in the act.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/04/09/5482144/video-cameras-on-way-to-catch.html?sp=/99/184/218/
MDOT crews to conduct 'Trash Bash' event Thursday in Jackson, George
counties
Mississippi Press
April 08, 2014 at 5:01 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The Mississippi Department of Transportation has
scheduled a day-long "Trash Bash" event for Thursday to take place in
Jackson and George counties.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/04/mdot_crews_to_conduct_trash_ba.html#incart_river
National
EPA nominee stirs up deep-seated climate views in Senate
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
A Senate hearing on the nominee for a top Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) post had lawmakers battling over carbon emissions limits and extreme
weather events on Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/202962-epa-nominee-stirs-up-deep-seeded-climate-views-in-senate
USA's most endangered rivers of 2014
USA Today
The San Joaquin River in central California — one of the sources of
San Francisco's drinking water and an agricultural resource for the
fertile San Joaquin Valley — is the nation's "most endangered
river," according to a report from American Rivers.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/09/most-endangered-american-rivers-san-joaquin/7466011/
Oklahoma Swamped by Surge in Earthquakes Near Fracking
Bloomberg
By Jim Efstathiou Jr. - Apr 8, 2014
There have been more earthquakes strong enough to be felt in Oklahoma this
year than in all of 2013, overwhelming state officials who are trying to
determine if the temblors are linked to oil and natural gas production.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-04-07/oklahoma-swamped-by-surge-in-earthquakes-near-fracking.html
Press Releases
Mississippi Is the First Gulf State to Receive Restoration Planning Money
(Jackson, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) today announced receipt of a $3.6 million grant from the National
Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The money will be used by MDEQ to coordinate
the views, visions, values, and plans of the people of the Gulf Coast as
Mississippi puts together an integrated, coastal wide, restoration plan.
The project award constitutes approximately one percent of the overall NFWF
dollars which will be made available under the consent decree. Mississippi
is the only Gulf state to receive dedicated planning money from NFWF to
date.
"This money will support Mississippi in developing a comprehensive far
reaching road map that ensures that every restoration dollar coming to our
state is spent wisely and effectively. We will seize this historic
opportunity to coordinate the vision of the people of the Gulf Coast with
science-based plans as we identify priority projects that remedy harm,
optimize environmental benefits along our coast, and reduce the risk of
future harm to natural resources that were affected by the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
"This multi-phase, three year project allows Mississippi to carry out an
assessment of current ecological conditions and restoration efforts,
compile and evaluate existing resource management plans, determine habitat
and living resource focal areas, draft a comprehensive restoration plan to
identify priority restoration projects and programs that maximize
environmental benefits for Mississippi's coast, and review and update the
planning effort periodically.
"We only have one chance to get this right. This planning money is the best
instrument at our disposal for making sure everything we do in this state
is coordinated, comprehensive, and realistic. It is critical that all the
pieces work well together. We want to hear from the people of the Coast and
today's announcement gives us the opportunity to invite every person in the
Gulf to take their seat at the table," said Trudy Fisher, MDEQ Executive
Director.
Over the coming year, Mississippi will conduct robust vision mapping,
through innovative upstream stakeholder engagement, soliciting the views,
and visions, of the people of the Gulf Coast. The planning process will
continue through 2017 as relevant planning documents, current restoration
efforts, and stakeholder input are merged with science based data to help
determine the most effective, and comprehensive plan for restoring our Gulf
Coast.
This project represents some of the first obligations of funds received by
NFWF's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. In early 2013, a U.S. District
Court approved two plea agreements resolving certain criminal charges
against BP and Transocean related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Provisions within the plea agreements direct a total of $2.544 billion to
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation over a five-year period. From
that amount, NFWF will receive more than $356 million for projects to
protect or restore natural resources in Mississippi in the aftermath of the
oil spill.
"NFWF's approval of Mississippi's Restoration Planning Project represents a
significant step in the identification and prioritization of projects and
programs to restore and conserve Mississippi's coastal habitats and
replenish its important living resources," said Jeff Trandahl, Executive
Director and CEO of NFWF. "We appreciate the strong leadership the state
of Mississippi has shown and support their desire to utilize a portion of
the funds available under the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund for this
important effort. Together, we'll work to remedy harm to Gulf Coast
natural resources affected by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill."
Mississippi Coastal Restoration Plan Project
To learn more about the state of Mississippi's process for identifying
priority Gulf Coast restoration projects, visit www.restore.ms.
To learn more about NFWF's Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund in Mississippi,
visit
http://www.nfwf.org/gulf/Pages/GEBF-Mississippi.aspx
# # #
Gov. Phil Bryant Declares State of Emergency Following Flooding and Severe
Storms
JACKSON—Gov. Phil Bryant today declared a state of emergency in 12
Mississippi counties that have suffered impacts from flooding and severe
storms that moved through the state beginning April 3. A state of emergency
is an administrative tool that authorizes the use of additional state
resources to aid in storm response efforts.
Chickasaw, Covington, Hinds, Holmes, Jones, Kemper, Marion, Neshoba,
Newton, Noxubee, Simpson and Yazoo counties are included in the
declaration. The declaration can be expanded if additional counties are
impacted.
"Multiple counties in Mississippi have been impacted by these storms. High
water remains in many areas and could continue to rise if we see additional
rainfall. Residents should avoid floodwaters and take all necessary safety
precautions," Gov. Bryant said. "MEMA and other state agencies are working
to assist the counties and residents that have been impacted, and this
state of emergency declaration will allow the use of additional tools and
resources as we respond to this weather event."
The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has activated the State
Emergency Operations Center to coordinate response for the ongoing
flooding, and recovery from severe weather.
The National Weather Service forecasts additional rainfall today into
tonight with rivers forecast to crest later this week.
Residents should use caution and avoid floodwaters. Water that appears
still on the surface may be moving swiftly with dangerous currents.
Children should not play in or near floodwaters. Motorists should avoid
roads covered by water and take alternate routes. Even a few inches of
water may be enough to move a vehicle.
Residents are asked to report any damage to their county emergency
management director. A directory of those directors can be found on the
MEMA website, www.msema.org, and on MEMA's free mobile phone app.
For the latest on road conditions, go to www.mdottraffic.com, download the
free MDOT mobile phone app or dial 5-1-1.
To receive up-to-date information during this event, "Like" MEMA on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/msemaorg or "Follow" @MSEMA on Twitter.
EPA to Work with Ports to Improve Environmental Performance
Clean diesel grants and new ports initiative will advance sustainable
technologies
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is
hosting the "Advancing Sustainable Ports" summit to mark the kickoff of a
new EPA initiative to recognize ports that take action to improve
environmental performance. EPA will also award $4.2 million in grant
funding for clean diesel projects at six U.S. ports.
"Ports are the main gateway for U.S. trade and are critical to our
country's economic growth, yet the communities surrounding ports face
serious environmental challenges," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
"Today we demonstrate that through collaboration and innovation we can
achieve the goals of economic growth and environmental stewardship."
Most of the country's busiest ports are located in or near large
metropolitan areas and, as a result, people in nearby communities can be
exposed to high levels of pollution. For example, diesel powered port
equipment can seriously impact air quality for nearby residents and
generate substantial greenhouse gas and black carbon emissions.
Implementing clean air strategies at ports will reduce emissions and
provide health benefits from improved air quality for workers and families
who live nearby.
Over the past eight months, EPA has led a national conversation on ports,
which brought together a wide variety of stakeholders from community
organizations, port authorities, shippers, local governments and academia
for three themed webinars to share information, goals, and successes of
ports in reducing emissions and improving environmental performance.
Through this process, EPA set the stage for the development of a new port
recognition initiative that will provide additional incentives to improve a
variety of environmental issues including improving local air quality,
reducing carbon emissions, and addressing environmental justice issues. In
addition, EPA's new ports initiative program will work with port
authorities to develop emission measurement tools, which will help ports
better understand their energy use and environmental impact.
The grants awarded today will help six ports improve air quality and reduce
carbon emissions, by providing $4.2 million in Diesel Emissions Reduction
Act (DERA) grants to retrofit, replace, or repower diesel engines resulting
in immediate emissions reductions in harmful pollution. The grant
recipients are the Port of Seattle, the Port of Hueneme, the Port of
Tacoma, the Maryland Port Administration, the Virginia Port Authority, and
the Port of Los Angeles.
More information about EPA's National Conversation on Ports:
www.epa.gov/otaq/ports/
More information about the Port Summit:
www.epa.gov/otaq/ports/ports-summit.htm
More information on the DERA grants for ports:
www.epa.gov/otaq/ports/ports-dera-rfp.htm
