5.6.2014
Oil Spill
Still Counting Gulf Spill's Dead Birds
By MARK SCHROPE
MAY 5, 2014
NY Times
After the Deepwater Horizon oil rig blew out in the Gulf
of Mexico some 50 miles from the nearest land, responders
were left to cope with a search area of nearly 40,000
square miles, as well as wind and currents that kept
evidence of damage away from the more easily searchable
coastline.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/06/science/still-counting-gulf-spills-dead-birds.html?ref=earth&_r=0
State
Gov. Phil Bryant may call special session to pay for tornado damage
The Associated Press
May 05, 2014 at 8:45 PM
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bryant may call the Mississippi
Legislature into special session to help pay state government's share of
tornado recovery costs.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/gov_phil_bryant_may_call_speci.html#incart_river
EPA, Columbus Residents Meet to Discuss Creosote Clean Up
WCBI
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – Columbus residents packed the Hunt Gymnasium
Monday night to express their concerns over clean up efforts at the old
Kerr McGee chemical site. Representatives of both the EPA and the
Department of Justice answered questions concerning the recent settlement
with Kerr McGee, how it impacts cleaning up the site, and the multi-state
trust.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-epa-columbus-residents-meet-to-discuss-creosote-clean-up
Jackson County opposes EPA, Corps of Engineers' proposed definition of
'waters of the U.S.'
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
May 05, 2014 at 2:58 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Jackson County supervisors decided today to
speak out against a draft regulation that could affect the county's ability
to maintain its waterways.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/jackson_county_opposes_epa_cor.html#incart_river
Jackson County supervisors don't want Clean Water Act to apply to roadside
ditches
Sun Herald
BY KAREN NELSON
PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County supervisors are drafting a letter opposing one
aspect of the way the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA plan to
define the Clean Water Act.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/05/5548474/jackson-county-supervisors-dont.html?sp=/99/184/201/
George County supervisors visit Washington to update legislators on Lake
George project
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
May 05, 2014 at 3:51 PM
LUCEDALE, Mississippi -- George County supervisors walked the halls of
Congress last week to personally update lawmakers on the Southeast
Mississippi Water Supply Project, or Lake George.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/george_county_supervisors_visi.html#incart_river
Harrison County looks for energy savings
WLOX
HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Harrison County is looking to save big money on
future utility bills. The board of supervisors has hired a company to
conduct an energy audit of all county facilities. It's a project that could
result in substantial savings.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25432330/harrison-county-looks-for-energy-savings
Kemper County power plant overruns drag down Southern Compant stock
The Associated Press
May 05, 2014 at 4:51 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Troubles at the Kemper County power plant that
Mississippi Power Co. is building are so great that they're dragging down
the stock of parent Southern Co.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/kemper_county_power_plant_over.html#incart_river
National
Smog-Standard Ruling Stirs Debate
Judge's Ruling Reanimates Battle Between Businesses and Environmental
Groups
Wall Street Journal
A federal judge's ruling last week directing the Obama administration to
issue a long-delayed smog standard is reanimating a battle between
businesses and environmental groups that has been dormant for three years.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304831304579541533406221584
Climate Change Is Harming Economy, Report Says
White House Says Urgent Action Needed
Wall Street Journal
Climate change is having a present-day, negative impact on Americans'
everyday lives and damaging the U.S. economy as extreme weather brings
flooding, droughts and other disasters to every region in the country, a
federal advisory committee has concluded.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303417104579545510182551226?mg=reno64-wsj
Obama Intensifies Focus on Climate With New Assessment Report
Wall Street Journal
President Barack Obama will argue this week that the effects of climate
change must be confronted now, intensifying his focus on the issue a month
before new and contentious rules are due out that will regulate emissions
from existing power plants.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303417104579544301704247142?mg=reno64-wsj
Federal report gauges U.S. impacts of global warming
USA Today
Global warming is affecting where and how Americans live and work,
and evidence is mounting that burning fossil fuels has made extreme
weather such as heat waves and heavy precipitation much more likely
in the USA, according to a massive federal report released Tuesday
at the White House.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/05/06/national-climate-assessment/8736743/
Podesta says 'zero' chance Congress can stop Obama's climate plan
Published May 06, 2014
FoxNews.com
White House counselor John Podesta said Monday that attempts by
congressional lawmakers to block the Obama administration's climate action
plan will fail.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/06/podesta-says-zero-chance-congress-can-stop-obama-climate-plan/
Feds: No plans to regulate agricultural methane emissions
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
Three cabinet-level officials are assuring Republican senators that the
Obama administration has no plans to regulate methane emissions from the
agricultural sector or livestock.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205215-feds-no-plans-to-regulate-agricultural-methane-emissions
Dirty U.S. Coal Finds a Home in Europe
Low Cost Outweighs High Sulfur Content as Exports to Continent Surge
Wall Street Journal
DRAX, England—Even as it faces increased regulatory scrutiny at home,
America's dirty and unwanted coal is being embraced in one of the world's
cleanest energy markets: theEuropean Union.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303417104579543814192542586?mg=reno64-wsj
House plans hearing on alleged EPA investigation obstruction
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
The House Oversight Committee has scheduled a hearing this week on
allegations that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has obstructed
some of its Office of Inspector General's investigations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205229-house-plans-hearing-on-alleged-epa-investigation-obstruction
Deadly side effect to fracking boom
By KEVIN BEGOS and JONATHAN FAHEY
Associated Press
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (AP) -- Booming production of oil and natural gas has
exacted a little-known price on some of the nation's roads, contributing to
a spike in traffic fatalities in states where many streets and highways are
choked with large trucks and heavy drilling equipment.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DRILLING_TRAFFIC_DEATHS?SITE=VALYD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
USGS: Okla. Fracking Has Increased Chance Of 'Damaging Quake'
by SCOTT NEUMAN
May 05, 2014 8:42 PM ET
NPR
The United States Geological Survey says the number of earthquakes in
Oklahoma has gone up dramatically in recent months. It says the surge in
seismic activity is due in part to fracking and that it has increased the
danger of a damaging quake in the central part of the state.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/05/05/309888859/usgs-okla-fracking-has-increased-chance-of-damaging-quake
Press Releases
NRCS Starts Signup For Agriculture Land and Wetland Conservation Easements
Jackson, Miss—The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) is now accepting applications for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The ACEP was created
through the 2014 Farm Bill and combines NRCS' former Farm and Ranch Lands
Protection Program, the Grassland Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve
programs.
This program consists of two components. The Agricultural Land Easements
(ALE) and the Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). The ALE would prevent
productive working lands from being converted to non-agricultural uses and
maximize protection of land devoted to food production. The WRE would
restore and enhance wetlands and improve wildlife habitat. Eligible WRE
lands include farmed or converted wetlands that can be successfully and
cost-effectively restored.
"This is an exciting new opportunity for even more people to get involved
in conserving natural resources," said Mississippi state conservationist
Kurt Readus. "We encourage Indian tribes, state and local governments,
non-governmental organizations and private landowners to contact their
local NRCS office to find out how to apply."
Applications are currently being accepted and can be obtained at your local
Mississippi NRCS field office in Mississippi. Deadline for submission is
June 6, 2014.
Applications are also available at: www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted
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