5.14.14
Oil Spill
Methane-eating microbes ate only half the gas released into the Gulf during
BP oil spill, new research shows
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
May 13, 2014 at 5:39 PM
Methane-eating bacteria believed to have quickly destroyed nearly all of
the natural gas released in the Gulf of Mexico in the three months after
the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill were not as efficient as originally
thought, according to a new, peer-reviewed paper in Nature Geoscience.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/05/methane-eating_microbes_ate_on.html#incart_river
Study: 80,000 birds killed by BP oil spill
Tri-Parish Times
By JOHN DeSANTIS
May 13, 2014 11:39 am
The official estimates of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill's effect on birds
have not yet been published, although the numbers are waiting in the wings.
http://www.tri-parishtimes.com/news/article_2be950f4-dabd-11e3-b5eb-001a4bcf887a.html
Committee hears suggestions for RESTORE funds
By BEN KLEINE | The News Herald
Published: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 18:48 PM.
PANAMA CITY — Bay County's RESTORE Act Advisory Committee heard suggestions
for ways to spend $6.4 million the county received from the Transocean
settlement.
http://www.newsherald.com/news/government/committee-hears-suggestions-for-restore-funds-1.319001
State
Debris removal is underway
WTVA
SALTILLO, Miss (WTVA) "Everything has been great because of the rapidness
of the help has been amazing," said Tupelo resident, Marcus Hoover.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Debris-removal-is-underway/Lkzi1wxZqU-UgxSK_JtPBQ.cspx
New Albany Receives Prestigious Grant
WCBI
NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WCBI) – The city of New Albany has been selected to
receive a prestigious grant. Selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, the Appalachian Regional Commission and the U.S Department of
Agriculture, New Albany is receiving technical assistance and support
through the 20-14 "Livable Communitites" grant.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-new-albany-receives-prestigious-grant
New Albany receives grant
WTVA
NEW ALBANY, Miss (WTVA) -- New Albany is recognized as a livable community
and receives a lucrative grant.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/New-Albany-receives-grant/YgqTMyyo70GRW616MXPNgQ.cspx
Regional
1 coastal crawfish species needs federal protection, 5 others don't
The Associated Press
May 13, 2014 at 9:37 PM
Five crawfish species found in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi are still
common and have been dropped from a petition asking for them to be listed
as endangered, but a sixth needs protection, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service said Tuesday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/1_coastal_crawfish_species_nee.html#incart_river
National
U.S. Military Pressed on Climate Change
Retired Officers' Report to Call for Updated War Plans and Building More
Ships to Operate in Arctic
Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON—The military must do more to prepare for the impacts of a
changing climate, including updating war plans and building more ships to
operate in the Arctic, a report by a group of retired military officers
will say Wednesday.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303851804579560442694806318?mg=reno64-wsj
Ethics violations, child porn among recent EPA employee offenses
The Hill
By Timothy Cama - 05/13/14 05:49 PM EDT
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee pleaded guilty to
accessing child pornography in 2012 on a website he used his EPA email to
access, the agency's internal watchdog said Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/206024-ethics-violations-child-porn-among-recent-epa-employee-offenses
Obama withdraws nomination for top Interior official
The Hill
By Timothy Cama - 05/13/14 03:31 PM EDT
President Obama Monday formally withdrew the nomination of Tommy Beaudreau
to be the assistant secretary of the interior, since Beaudreau has taken
another position at the Interior Department.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/206001-obama-withdraws-nomination-for-top-interior-official
Bills would beef up safety regs for spent nuclear fuel
The Hill
By Benjamin Goad - 05/13/14 12:35 PM EDT
Lawmakers are pressing to bolster regulations for spent nuclear fuel,
contending that pools left to languish for decades at decommissioning
plants could prove disastrous in the event of an accident or terrorist
attack.
http://thehill.com/regulation/205962-bills-would-beef-up-safety-regs-for-spent-nuclear-fuel
Press Releases
Kerr-McGee Chemical (Columbus) Superfund Site Public Comment Period
Extended
Contact Information: James Pinkney, (404) 562-9183 (Direct), (404) 562-8400
(Main) pinkney.james@epa.gov
(ATLANTA – May 13, 2014) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the extension of
the deadline for comments on the proposed Anadarko Settlement by one week
from May 14, 2014 to May 21, 2014. The extension is applicable to the
Kerr-McGee Site in Columbus only.
The Kerr-McGee Chemical (Columbus, MS) Site is comprised of approximately
90 acres, and is located at 2300 North 14th Avenue in Columbus, MS. The
facility was operational from approximately 1928 to 2003. While
operational, Kerr-McGee manufactured pressure-treated railroad products
such as wooden cross ties, switch ties, and timbers. The production
processes at the site utilized creosote and creosote coal tar solutions to
produce pressure-treated wood products. The facility also used
pentachlorophenol (PCP) for wood-treating from the 1950s until the
mid-1970s.
Questions related to the status of claims filed by individuals with the
Tronox Tort Trust should be directed to the Trust's helpline at
helpline@tronoxtorttrust.com or toll free at (800) 753-2480. The Tort Trust
website is http://www.tronoxtorttrust.com.
To obtain additional information about the site or the Superfund process,
please contact Community Involvement Coordinator Kerisa Coleman, at (404)
562-8831
.
Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
###
