5.7.2014
Oil Spill
Judge orders new 'matching' policy for some BP oil spill claims
WWL
NEW ORLEANS – A federal judge has approved a new method of calculating BP
oil spill payments for certain types of businesses.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/Judge-orders-new-matching-policy-for-some-BP-oil-spill-claims-258191031.html
State
Bryant calls special session to authorize tornado spending
Clarion Ledger
Gov. Phil Bryant is calling lawmakers into special session on
Thursday to approve response and recovery spending for the April 28
tornadoes.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/06/tornado-funds-special-session/8780495/
Gov. Phil Bryant convenes special session Thursday on tornado costs
The Associated Press
May 06, 2014 at 5:34 PM
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- Gov. Phil Bryant has called the Mississippi
Legislature into special session starting Thursday to help pay state
government's share of recovery costs after the deadly April 28 tornadoes.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/gov_phil_bryant_convenes_speci.html#incart_river
MDEQ opens sites for hazardous waste
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality is temporarily opening two sites in north Mississippi for residents
affected by the storms to dump their household hazardous waste.
http://www.wtva.com/news/national/story/MDEQ-opens-sites-for-hazardous-waste/HNrSgddPwkSsEi6vBAKrBg.cspx
Concerned citizens request evidentiary hearing, Groundworx says permit
validity safe
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -Three concerned citizens have sent letters to the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to request an evidentiary
hearing concerning the Groundworx permit.
http://www.wdam.com/story/25447273/concerned-citizens-request-evidentiary-hearing-groundworx-says-permit-validity-safe
EPA grants state exemption
Clarion Ledger
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved an emergency
exemption for Mississippi beekeepers to use a miticide to help control
varroa mite infestations in honeybee colonies, Agriculture and Commerce
Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith said.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20140506/BIZ/305060002/EPA-grants-state-exemption
Water advisory lifted for Bay beach
Sun Herald
The state Department of Environmental Quality has lifted a water-contact
advisory for Bay St. Louis beach from the box culvert east to Ballantine
Street.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/06/5552921/around-south-mississippi.html
Funds available to farmers, others for Gulf initiative
Sun Herald
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service
is accepting applications for the Gulf of Mexico Initiative, aimed at
improving water quality and quantity, and fish and wildlife habitat within
watersheds draining into the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/06/5552921/around-south-mississippi.html
Frustrated anglers make their voices heard at DMR's 'Red Snapper Summit'
Mississippi Press
Creg Stephenson
May 06, 2014 at 9:55 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi --- Nearly 100 recreational fishermen from across south
Mississippi came together Tuesday night to make their voices heard on what
they feel is an unfairly limited 2014 red snapper season.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-sports/2014/05/frustrated_anglers_make_their.html#incart_river
South Mississippi's recreational and charter fishermen want bigger share of
snapper catch
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
BILOXI -- If South Mississippi recreational fishermen and charter boat
operators had their way, they would get a larger share of the red snapper
quota.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/06/5553109/recreational-and-charter-fishermen.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Construction causing concerns for east Harrison County residents
WLOX
HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -In east Harrison County, construction crews are
in the process of moving 300 residents from septic tanks and lagoons to a
sewer system.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25446798/construction-causing-concerns-for-east-harrison-county-residents
Biloxi council to vote on $116.5 million infrastructure project for east
Biloxi
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
May 06, 2014 at 3:08 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- What is being described as "the largest municipal
public works project in the city's history" is expected to be voted upon by
the Biloxi City Council during its Tuesday night meeting.
The three-year, federally-funded project will bring repair and replacement
to water, sewer and storm drain lines through a large section of east
Biloxi, according to Biloxi Public Affairs Manager Vincent Creel.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/biloxi_council_to_vote_on_1165.html#incart_river
Parking lot wreck leads to diesel spill in Diamondhead
WLOX
DIAMONDHEAD, MS (WLOX) -It wasn't a cleanup on aisle 6, but rather a
cleanup in the parking lot that caused a bit of commotion at the Rouses in
Diamondhead Tuesday afternoon.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25444199/parking-lot-wreck-leads-to-diesel-spill-in-diamondhead
Regional
Climate report says Southeast is 'extremely vulnerable'
The Associated Press
May 06, 2014 at 5:38 PM
MIAMI -- The Southeast is "exceptionally vulnerable" to sea level rise,
extreme heat events, hurricanes and a decreasing freshwater supply,
according to the National Climate Assessment released Tuesday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/05/climate_report_says_southeast.html#incart_river
National
Climate Change Is Harming Economy, Report Says
White House Says Urgent Action Needed; Report Details Effects in Every
State
Wall Street Journal
Climate change is creating problems for American citizens coast to coast
and costing the economy billions of dollars, as extreme weather brings
flooding, droughts and other disasters to every region of the country, a
federal advisory panel concluded in a report released Tuesday.
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303417104579545510182551226?mg=reno64-wsj
McCarthy: WH report a 'clear indication' of current climate impacts
The Hill
By Timothy Cama - 05/06/14 02:37 PM EDT
Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy said the White House's
Tuesday climate change report shows indisputably that the United States is
feeling widespread effects of climate change and the Obama administration's
environmental policies could help.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205340-mccarthy-wh-report-a-clear-indication-of-current-climate-impacts
GOP to examine claim that EPA blocking probes
BY DINA CAPPIELLO
Associated Press
May 7, 2014
WASHINGTON — A yearslong turf battle between the Environmental Protection
Agency's inspector general and an EPA unit run by President Barack Obama's
political staff is getting an airing before Congress by a top investigator
who accuses the EPA administrator's office of illegally operating a "rogue
enforcement agency" that has blocked independent investigations.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/05/07/5553340/gop-to-examine-claim-that-epa.html?sp=/99/184/208/
'Rogue' Agency? EPA under fire for allegedly obstructing investigations
Published May 07, 2014
FoxNews.com
The Environmental Protection Agency's little-known Office of Homeland
Security has illegally blocked investigations by an independent watchdog
for years, an inspector with the agency's Office of Inspector General will
tell Congress Wednesday.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/05/07/epa-accused-blocking-independent-investigations/
Court upholds EPA's 2013 renewable fuel mandate
The Hill
By Timothy Cama - 05/06/14 04:53 PM EDT
The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit refused Tuesday
to overturn the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2013 Renewable
Fuels Standard (RFS) level, saying the agency has "wide latitude" in
deciding how it sets the mandate.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/205363-court-upholds-epas-2013-renewable-fuel-mandate
Researchers warn Oklahoma quakes linked to fracking boom could get stronger
BY SEAN COCKERHAM
McClatchy Washington Bureau
May 6, 2014
WASHINGTON — Seismologists are warning that Oklahoma's skyrocketing
earthquakes linked to oil and gas activity are liable to get stronger and
more dangerous.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/05/06/226647/researchers-warn-oklahoma-quakes.html
Press Releases
Gov. Phil Bryant Calls Special Legislative Session to Address Disaster
Needs
JACKSON—Gov. Phil Bryant today announced his plans to call lawmakers into a
Special Legislative Session at 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2014, to provide
the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency with access to up to $20
million for disaster response and recovery costs.
Initial estimates indicate the state's costs for last week's deadly tornado
outbreak could exceed $13.5 million. Those estimates may change as damage
assessments are completed.
Following last week's storms, Itawamba, Lee, Lowndes, Madison, Rankin,
Wayne and Winston counties were declared eligible for FEMA's Individual
Assistance program and reimbursement assistance with eligible costs for
emergency response efforts and debris removal through FEMA's Public
Assistance program. Today, Individual Assistance was also extended to
Jones, Leake, Montgomery, Simpson and Warren counties. The state is also
seeking expanded Public Assistance aid.
"Residents across Mississippi are suffering as a result of last week's
deadly tornadoes, and it is imperative that we provide the necessary
resources for response and recovery," Gov. Phil Bryant said. "I am hopeful
the Legislature will appropriately address the funding needs for this most
recent disaster and will provide a sustainable method for satisfying
responsibilities the state has for ongoing work from other disasters. We
must also be prepared for the possibility of additional emergencies,
particularly as we near the start of hurricane season. I thank Speaker
Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves for their cooperation in addressing
these issues."
In addition to costs from last week's tornadoes, MEMA also estimates the
state is responsible for $20 million in costs for work that is still being
completed on 13 other disasters. As work on those projects is completed at
the local level, MEMA becomes responsible for paying 12.5 percent of the
costs under a typical federal cost sharing agreement. Local governments are
also responsible for 12.5 percent of eligible costs, and the federal
government is responsible for the remaining 75 percent. Aid to individuals
and households following a federal disaster declaration is paid in full by
the federal government.
MEMA is also responsible for paying disaster response costs when there is
not a federal disaster declaration and cost sharing structure. Response
efforts to an April 2014 storm system that caused a tornado in Covington
County and flooding along the Pearl River did not qualify for federal
reimbursement. The state must also be prepared to address the threat of new
disasters. The 2014 Atlantic hurricane season begins July 1.
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