5.16.14
State
USDA offers assistance in removing debris from tornado
by MBJ Staff
Published: May 14,2014
LOUISVILLE — The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) has received a request to assist with the
removal of debris from areas in Louisville affected by the April 28
tornado.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/05/14/usda-offers-assistance-removing-debris-tornado/
Congress' accord on water resources bill means money for Mississippi
projects
Sun Herald
BY GREG GORDON
WASHINGTON -- For the first time since 2007, Congress has reached agreement
on a water resources bill, and it promises to free money for Mississippi
flood-control projects and to modernize many of the state's ports and
waterways, including the Port of Gulfport, the state's senators announced
Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/15/5577109/congress-accord-on-water-resources.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Scientists Say Rising Sea Level Would Impact MS Gulf Coast
MPB
Two studies this week of polar melt in Antarctica point to rising sea
levels over the coming centuries. MPB's Evelina Burnett takes a look at
what rising seas could mean for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/scientists_say_rising_sea_level_would_impact_ms_gulf_coast
DeSoto wastewater board to close old facilities
The Associated Press
May 16, 2014
HERNANDO, MISS. — The DeSoto County Regional Utility Authority board has
authorized advertising for bids for an estimated $2.9 million project to
close the old, offline Western Facilities — the Twin Lakes and Lake Forest
plants and the Walls Lagoon.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/16/5578567/desoto-wastewater-board-to-close.html?sp=/99/184/218/
Union County illegal dumpsite cleaned up
WTVA
PLEASANT RIDGE COMMUNITY, Miss (WTVA) -- We showed pictures taken by Union
County Emergency Management Director Curt Clayton on County Road 227, on a
remote hunting ground located near the Pleasant Ridge Community.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Union-County-illegal-dumpsite-cleaned-up/Zs-pA_GFSE6i3_lnKtuZ_w.cspx
Coast Citizens to Join Hands to Say 'No' to Offshore Drilling in
Mississippi
WXXV
Concerned citizens of the Mississippi Gulf Coast will gather on the beach
to join hands in opposition to offshore drilling in Mississippi's state
waters and around the Gulf Islands National Seashore.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Coast-Citizens-to-Join-Hands-to-Say-No-to/TEdXGZcD1UyyLrLy9J0PQA.cspx
Volunteers help to make Turkey Creek a cleaner place
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Walking through the woods towards Turkey Creek, the
view is peaceful and serene, but Mother Nature's beauty soon gives way to
man-made ugliness. The pile of garbage catches the volunteers by surprise.
Amy Carlson is one of them.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25528541/turkey-creek-is-a-lot-cleaner-now
National
EPA Proposes New Rules to Curb Pollution From Refining
Agency's Proposal Targets Storage Tanks, Flares and Heavy-Oil Processing;
Now Open to Public Comment
Wall Street Journal
Oil refiners will be required to further curb air pollution from storage
tanks, flares and heavy-oil processing equipment under proposed rules
released on Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304908304579564230770595754?mg=reno64-wsj
EPA Proposes Changes to Refinery Emission Rules
By EMILY SCHMALL
Associated Press
Texas environmental advocates are applauding a new U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency proposal to reduce oil refinery pollution by forcing
operators to adopt new technology that better monitors and controls
emissions.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-proposes-refinery-emission-rules-23733072
Proposed EPA rule would reduce refinery flaring, require fence line
monitoring of toxic chemicals
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
May 15, 2014 at 7:24 PM
Refineries in Louisiana and around the nation would have to install
state-of-the-art technology to reduce emissions from flares and could face
fines for emissions during start-ups, shut-downs and malfunctions, under
sweeping new rules proposed Thursday by the federal Environmental
Protection Agency.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/05/proposed_epa_rule_to_limit_ref.html#incart_river
EPA chief, students talk asthma and climate change
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
8:03 p.m. EDT, May 15, 2014
As her agency prepares what could be the most significant U.S. regulations
for curbing climate change, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Gina McCarthy was mobbed Thursday by Dr. Phillips High School students
trying to get a selfie with the Cabinet-level official.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/health/os-epa-administrator-orlando-visit-20140515,0,6766475.story
Biofuel groups take aim at EPA methods in U.S. blending quota cuts
Reuters
Thu, May 15 2014
By Cezary Podkul
NEW YORK, May 15 (Reuters) - Nearly three dozen advanced biofuel companies
including DuPont and Spain's Abengoa appealed to President Barack Obama on
Thursday to rethink the methodology for setting U.S. biofuel blending
quotas.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/05/15/epa-rvo-final-rule-idUSL1N0O114720140515
Senators push to fund crude oil safety training for smaller railroads
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington Bureau
May 15, 2014
WASHINGTON — America's smaller railroads lack the capability to offer
safety training in the shipment of crude oil and ethanol, and two top
Senate appropriators asked federal regulators Thursday to fund those
efforts.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/15/5576062/senators-push-to-fund-crude-oil.html?sp=/99/184/208/
Smokey Bear, nearly 70, gets a millennial makeover
BY MEG JAMES
Los Angeles Times
May 15, 2014
LOS ANGELES -- Smokey Bear turns 70 this summer. But instead of kicking
back in retirement -- whacking golf balls or sniffing around for early-bird
dinner specials -- the bear in bluejeans is returning to work to educate
people about wildfires.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/15/5578021/smokey-bear-nearly-70-gets-a-millennial.html?sp=/99/102/
Press Releases
EPA Proposes Updates to Emissions Standards for Refineries to Protect
Nearby Neighborhoods
Proposed steps will protect public health and improve air quality
WASHINGTON – After receiving input from stakeholders including community
groups, industry and the states, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is proposing to update the toxic air pollution standards for
petroleum refineries to protect neighborhoods located near refineries. The
agency's common-sense proposal would further reduce toxic pollution from
flaring and other processes and includes new monitoring requirements.
Exposure to toxic air pollutants, such as benzene, can cause respiratory
problems and other serious health issues, and can increase the risk of
developing cancer.
"This proposal will help us accomplish our goal of making a visible
difference in the health and the environment of communities across the
country," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "The common-sense steps we
are proposing will protect the health of families who live near refineries
and will provide them with important information about the quality of the
air they breathe."
The agency's proposal would, for the first time, require monitoring of air
concentrations of benzene around the fenceline perimeter of refineries to
assure that emissions are controlled and these results would be available
to the public. The proposal would also require upgraded emission controls
for storage tanks including controls for smaller tanks; performance
requirements for flares to ensure that waste gases are properly destroyed;
and emissions standards for delayed coking units which are currently a
significant unregulated source of toxic air emissions at refineries.
When these proposed updates are fully implemented, EPA estimates toxic air
emissions, including benzene, toluene, and xylene, would be reduced by
5,600 tons per year. Volatile organic compound emissions would be cut by
approximately 52,000 tons per year. Additionally, these cost-effective
steps will have no noticeable impact on the cost of petroleum products at
the approximately 150 petroleum refineries around the country.
EPA is issuing this proposal as part of a process outlined in the Clean Air
Act that requires the agency to evaluate the emissions standards currently
in place to determine whether there is any remaining risk to public health
or the environment and whether there have been any new developments in
practices, processes and control technologies. In a series of recent
enforcement cases, EPA has compelled the use of innovative pollution
control practices such as flare gas recovery and flare efficiency that are
reducing toxic air pollution in communities. These efforts demonstrate that
the proposed standards are practical and achievable today. More information
about these cases:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/national-enforcement-initiative-cutting-hazardous-air-pollutants
EPA will take comment on the proposal for 60 days after it is published in
the Federal Register. The agency plans to hold two public hearings, near
Houston and Los Angeles, and will finalize the standards in April 2015.
Details on the public hearings will be available on EPA's website shortly.
Additional information about the proposal:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/petref.html
EPA to participate at the 1st Annual Mayor's Walk in Columbus, Miss. to
Promote Asthma Awareness
Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404)
562-8400 (Main), harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – In an effort to bring asthma awareness to the Columbus, Miss.
community, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will participate
at the 1st Annual Mayor's Walk in Columbus, Miss. The theme of the event
is "To Lead by Example, Inspire and Empower the Community by Improving the
Quality of Health". EPA will provide information on common asthma triggers
and ways to reduce exposure to indoor and outdoor pollutants linked to
asthma.
WHO: EPA
WHAT: 1st Annual Mayor's Walk
WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 2014, 8:00 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.
WHERE: The Riverwalk
Columbus, Miss.
