5.2.14
Oil Spill
Louisiana to receive money from 2010 oil spill disaster
WAFB
BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -Billions of dollars from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon
Oil Rig disaster could help begin to repair the Louisiana coast. But if
lawmakers don't make smart decisions with the money, the state could lose
out. The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is told that money is
critical in restoring the coast.
http://www.wafb.com/story/25407944/louisiana-to-recieve-money-from-restore-act
State
Clean up Means Piles of Debris and Paperwork
WCBI
LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Cleaning up debris is a huge task. Monitoring it
is probably an even bigger headache, especially for city and county
leaders.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-clean-up-means-piles-of-debris-and-paperwork
Neel-Schaffer makes national ranking for 20th consecutive year
by MBJ Staff
Published: May 1,2014
JACKSON — Neel-Schaffer Inc. is once again ranked among the nation's Top
500 design firms by Engineering News-Record, coming in at 199th on ENR's
list for 2014.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/05/01/neel-schaffer-makes-national-ranking-20th-consecutive-year/
National
200 lawmakers push EPA to rescind water regulation
The Hill
By Benjamin Goad - 05/01/14 06:22 PM EDT
More than 200 House members are calling on the Obama administration to drop
its plans to expand the Environmental Protection Agency's jurisdiction over
smaller bodies of water around the country.
http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/205002-200-lawmakers-push-epa-to-rescind-water-regulation
EPA grounds helicopter used for pollution checks
By WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A distinctive sound of summer at the Jersey shore —
the roar of a low-flying helicopter above the surf as it looked for
pollution — won't be heard anymore.
http://www.wral.com/epa-grounds-helicopter-used-for-pollution-checks/13611908/
Minorities face greatest risk from chemical disasters, study says
The Hill
Black people and other minorities face the most exposure to chemical
disasters, according to a new study.
http://thehill.com/regulation/204945-blacks-latinos-face-greatest-risk-from-chemical-disasters-study-says
Internal memos reveal EPA worked behind the scenes to kill Alaska mine
project
Published May 01, 2014
FoxNews.com
WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency came under fire Thursday
after new emails surfaced that allegedly show government officials worked
in secret with tribal leaders and other environmental groups to
preemptively oppose the controversial Pebble Mine project in Alaska before
a review was even conducted.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/01/internal-emails-reveal-epa-worked-in-secret-to-get-pebble-mine-project-killed/
Senate Likely to Vote Soon on Keystone Approval, Democrats Say
Legislation Designed to Force Approval of Pipeline and Bypass Obama
Administration
Wall Street Journal
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Thursday he was prepared to bring a
measure approving the Keystone XL pipeline to the Senate floor, despite the
Obama administration's reluctance to decide its fate during an election
year.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303678404579535833749857104?mg=reno64-wsj
Bird conservation group challenges feds over wind farm eagle deaths
Published May 02, 2014
FoxNews.com
One of the nation's leading bird conservation groups plans to sue the Obama
administration over a federal regulation that allows wind energy companies
to obtain 30-year permits to kill eagles without prosecution by the
government.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/02/bird-conservation-group-challenges-feds-over-wind-farm-eagle-deaths/
Press Releases
EPA Announces Funding Availability to Clean Up Diesel Engines Nationwide
Funding for diesel clean-up targeting cost-effective projects and poor air
quality areas
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today
the availability of $9 million in grant funding for clean diesel projects
to reduce diesel pollution and emissions exposure from the nation's
existing fleet of diesel engines.
The funding comes from EPA's Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) and
will target the most cost-effective projects and fleets operating in areas
designated as poor air quality areas.
Diesel engines are extremely efficient but emit air pollutants such as
nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). These pollutants are
linked to a range of serious health problems including asthma, lung and
heart disease, other respiratory ailments, and even premature death.
Under this funding, EPA anticipates awarding between 10 and 20 assistance
agreements. Various strategies are eligible for achieving diesel emission
reductions, such as installing verified exhaust control and idle reduction
devices, and vehicle and engine replacement. Projects may include school
buses, transit buses, heavy-duty diesel trucks, marine engines,
locomotives, and other diesel engines.
Since the start of the DERA program in 2008, it has improved air quality
and provided critical health benefits by reducing hundreds of thousands of
tons of air pollution and saving millions of gallons of fuel. EPA
estimates that clean diesel funding generates up to $13 of public health
benefit for every $1 spent on diesel projects.
EPA has awarded over 600 DERA grants across the US and reduced more than
250,000 tons of NOx and more than 14,000 tons of PM. Many of these projects
fund cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged
communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of
asthma, heart, and lung disease.
The closing date for receipt of proposals is June 17, 2014.
More information and to access the Request for Proposals and other
documents: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/prgnational.htm
More information on EPA's National Clean Diesel campaign:
http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Announces New Landmark Conservation Initiatives |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|New Programs Authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill Help Restore Wetlands, Support|
| Outdoor Recreation Activities, Boost the Economy |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| ORRTANNA, Pa., May 1, 2014—Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced |
|today that applications are now being accepted for new, landmark |
|conservation initiatives created by the 2014 Farm Bill. The programs will |
|provide up to $386 million to help farmers restore wetlands, protect working|
|agriculture lands, support outdoor recreation activities and boost the |
|economy. |
| |
| |
| |
| Vilsack made the announcement at Kuhn Orchards in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania.|
|The farm's owners participate in the USDA Conservation Stewardship Program, |
|have worked to encourage pollinator health through planting practices, and |
|used USDA program support to construct a high tunnel. |
| |
| |
| |
| "By protecting working lands and wetlands, we're able to strengthen |
|agricultural operations, sustain the nation's food supply and protect |
|habitat for a variety of wildlife," Vilsack said. "In addition, we're |
|providing states and Tribal governments a tool to expand access to private |
|lands for hunting, fishing, hiking and other recreational activities, which |
|helps boost wildlife-related businesses and grow the economy." |
| |
| |
| |
| USDA's conservation efforts have helped mitigate the negative impacts of |
|drought and are helping producers to manage the effects of climate change. |
|USDA has enrolled a record number of acres in conservation programs that |
|have saved millions of tons of soil and improved water quality and have |
|contributed to the national effort to preserve habitat for wildlife and |
|protect the most sensitive ecological areas. USDA has partnered with more |
|than 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners on these conservation projects|
|since 2009-a record number. |
| |
| |
| |
| In addition to protecting cropland and critical habitats, conservation |
|strengthens outdoor recreation and helps boost the economy. According to the|
|National Fish and Wildlife Federation, annual U.S. conservation spending |
|totals $38.8 billion, but it produces $93.2 billion of economic output |
|throughout the economy - 2.4 times more than what is put in. This output |
|takes the form of more than 660,500 jobs, $41.6 billion in income and a |
|$59.7 billion contribution to national Gross Domestic Product. |
| |
| |
| |
| The new programs announced today are the Agricultural Conservation |
|Easements Program (ACEP) and the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat |
|Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). Applications for ACEP funding consideration in |
|fiscal year 2014 must be submitted by the individual state deadline or June |
|6, 2014, whichever is earlier. Applications and state deadline information |
|can be obtained at your local USDA Service Center or at |
|www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. Applications for VPA-HIP are due by June 16 |
|and should be completed at Grants.gov. For more information, view the notice|
|on Grants.gov or the program's website. |
| |
| |
| |
| Through the 2014 Farm Bill's new conservation programs, USDA is making |
|available up to $366 million for conservation easements under ACEP to state |
|and local governments, Indian tribes, non-governmental organizations and |
|private landowners. ACEP consolidates three former easement programs—the |
|Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program, the Grassland Reserve Program and |
|the Wetlands Reserve Program—into one to make conservation efforts more |
|efficient while strengthening tools to protect land and water. |
| |
| |
| |
| VPA-HIP is a competitive grant program that enables state and Tribal |
|governments to increase opportunities for owners and managers of private |
|lands who want to make their land available for public recreation. Up to $20|
|million is available this year for VPA-HIP. Both programs have application |
|deadlines later this spring. |
| |
| |
| |
| Funding for the ACEP and VPA-HIP programs is provided through the 2014 |
|Farm Bill, which authorizes services and programs that impact every American|
|and millions of people around the world. The new Farm Bill builds on |
|historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while |
|achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for |
|taxpayers. Vilsack said that quickly and effectively implementing new |
|programs and reforms to existing ones called for by the 2014 Farm Bill is a |
|top priority for USDA. Learn more about the Farm Bill at |
|www.nrcs.usda.gov/FarmBill. |
| |
| |
| |
| More information on the new conservation programs announced today are |
|below. |
| |
| |
| |
| Agricultural Conservation Easements Program |
| |
| |
| |
| USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) administers the two |
|components of ACEP, one for agricultural land easements and one for wetland |
|reserve easements. |
| |
| |
| |
| Under the agricultural land component, funds are provided to eligible |
|entities that can use ACEP funding to purchase agricultural land easements |
|that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land. |
| |
| |
| |
| Eligible lands for agricultural land component include cropland, |
|rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forest land. |
|Application priority will be given to proposals preventing conversion of |
|productive working lands to non-agricultural uses and maximizing the |
|protection of land devoted to growing the nation's food supply. |
| |
| |
| |
| Under the wetland reserve component, funding is provided to landowners |
|for the purchase of an easement and for restoration funds to restore and |
|enhance wetlands, improving habitat for migratory birds and other wildlife. |
|Lands that are eligible for a wetland reserve easement include farmed or |
|converted wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored. |
|Applications also will be prioritized based on the easement's potential for |
|protecting and enhancing habitat for migratory birds, fish and other |
|wildlife. |
| |
| |
| |
| Both programs have application deadlines in early June for fiscal year |
|2014 funding. More information can be obtained at your local USDA Service |
|Center or at www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. |
| |
| |
| |
| Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program |
| |
| |
| |
| Recipients of the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program |
|can use the grant funding to create new or expand existing public access |
|programs. These programs provide financial incentives or technical |
|assistance, such as rental payments or wildlife habitat planning services, |
|to owners and managers who allow public access. |
| |
| |
| |
| Funding priority will be given to applications that propose to: |
| |
| |
| · Maximize private lands acreage available to the public; |
| · Ensure that land enrolled in the program has appropriate wildlife |
| habitat; |
| · Strengthen wildlife habitat improvement efforts; |
| · Supplement funding and services from other federal or state agencies, |
| tribes or private resources; and |
| · Provide information to the public about the location of public access |
| land. |
| |
| Applications for VPA-HIP are due by June 16 and should be completed at |
|Grants.gov. For more information, view the notice on Grants.gov or the |
|program's website. |
| |
| |
| |
| # |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
