6/10/2014
Oil Spill
U.S. Supreme Court rules BP must pay claims during appeal
The Associated Press
June 09, 2014 at 12:04 PM
NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Supreme Court says BP must continue paying claims
from a fund established after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill while the
company appeals terms of its settlement with some businesses.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/06/us_supreme_court_rules_bp_must.html#incart_river
U.S. Supreme Court refuses, for now, to stop BP oil spill payments
Katherine Sayre
The Times-Picayune
June 09, 2014 at 6:25 PM
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined a request from BP to block
payments to businesses while the oil giant appeals its 2010 Gulf of Mexico
disaster settlement.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/06/supreme_court_refuses_to_stop.html
State
Neon flags alert South Mississippi beachgoers to bacteria
Neon flags alert beachgoers to bacteria
Sun Herald
BY LAUREN WALCK
With a full spectrum of colored flags flapping along Coast beaches this
summer, there's one you shouldn't ignore.
Neon orange flags posted atop the wooden stairs that lead from sidewalk to
sand signal high bacteria levels in the water, which should be avoided.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/06/09/5638221/neon-flags-alert-south-mississippi.html?sp=/99/184/
Levee Break on a Webster County Lake Adds to Flooding Fears in the Area
WCBI
WEBSTER COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)-Some Webster County residents received twice
as much flooding when a levee broke on a private lake,
This dirt on the side of the levee that protects area homes from Savannah
Lake is washing away.
http://www.wcbi.com/wordpress/video-levee-break-on-a-webster-county-lake-adds-to-flooding-fears-in-the-area
Ammonia Leak in Richland, Dozens Evacuated
WJTV
RICHLAND, Miss. - We received word around 3:00 this afternoon the ammonia
leak is now contained but residents here in Richland still need to use
caution outside.
http://www.wjtv.com/story/25732877/ammonia-leak-in-richland-dozens-evacuated
Richland business evacuated after ammonia leak
WAPT
RICHLAND, Miss. —Cleanup was set to begin Tuesday at a Richland business
that was evacuated Monday because of an ammonia leak.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/richland-business-evacuated-after-ammonia-leak/26405526#!WX1cs
Ammonia leak in Richland business, employees evacuated
WLBT
RICHLAND, MS (Mississippi News Now) -HAZMAT teams in Rankin county are on
the scene of a anhydrous ammonia leak.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/25729821/ammonia-leak-in-richland-business-employees-evacuated
Harrison County aims to eliminate failing septic tanks
WLOX
HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Making the water cleaner by doing away with
failing septic tanks; Harrison County supervisors would like to accomplish
that goal. They reallocated some CIAP money at Monday's meeting to help
fund sewer improvement projects.
http://www.wlox.com/story/25730595/harrison-co-supervisors-discuss-the-status-of-ciap-funded-projects
Tippah Co. awarded grant for illegal dumping clean-up
WTVA
RIPLEY, Miss. (WTVA) -- Tippah County is a recipient of a solid waste
assistance grant given by the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality.
http://www.wtva.com/news/national/story/Tippah-Co-awarded-grant-for-illegal-dumping-clean/Vy8SLo1vvU2YXbIgTaLKiw.cspx
DMR asks judge to reverse sanctions, legal fees in records case
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
BILOXI -- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has hired an
outside attorney who is requesting that Chancery Court Judge Jennifer
Schloegel alter her judgment in a records lawsuit the Sun Herald filed
against the DMR, state auditor's office and Auditor Stacey Pickering.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/06/09/5637694/dmr-asks-judge-to-reverse-sanctions.html?sp=/99/184/201/
Up to $400M could spur oil drilling in Louisiana, Mississippi
AP
JACKSON, Miss. – A private equity firm will invest up to $400
million to support efforts by Houston-based Halcón Resources Corp to
drill for oil on the 314,000 acres that Halcón has leased in the
Tuscaloosa Marine Shale of southwest Mississippi and southeast
Louisiana.
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2014/06/09/m-spur-oil-drilling-louisiana-mississippi/10252443/
National
Supreme Court Rules Against Residents in Environmental Lawsuit Case
Top Court Says Federal Superfund Law Doesn't Trump State Time Limits on
Lawsuits
Wall Street Journal
The Supreme Court on Monday made it harder for residents in a handful of
states to sue for financial damages and cleanup measures to address
contamination that wasn't discovered until long after it took place.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/supreme-court-says-superfund-law-not-above-state-time-limits-on-lawsuits-1402338970
NSA sued for EPA records
The Hill
A group of conservative and environmental organizations is suing the
National Security Agency (NSA) in order to obtain records about top
officials at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/208711-nsa-sued-for-epa-records
Press Releases
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|USDA Announces Funding Availability for Turning Biomass Material into Energy|
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| Farm Bill Implementation Continues as Energy Facilities Can Now Apply for |
| Renewed Biomass Crop Assistance Program |
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|WASHINGTON, June 9, 2014 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced|
|that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin accepting |
|applications June 16 from energy facilities interested in receiving forest |
|or agricultural residues to generate clean energy. The support comes through|
|the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was authorized by the 2014|
|Farm Bill. |
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|BCAP provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers who establish and|
|maintain new crops of energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or |
|agricultural residues to a qualifying energy facility. Of the total $25 |
|million per year authorized for BCAP, the 2014 Farm Bill provides up to 50 |
|percent ($12.5 million) each year for matching payments for the harvest and |
|transportation of biomass residues. BCAP matching payments will resume this |
|summer, while crop incentives will begin in 2015. Some matching payments |
|will support the removal of dead or diseased trees from National Forests and|
|Bureau of Land Management public lands. This will be turned into renewable |
|energy while reducing the risk of forest fire. Agriculture residues, such as|
|corn cobs and stalks, also may qualify as energy-producing feedstock. |
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|"Removing dead or diseased trees from forests to use for biomass production |
|creates clean energy while reducing the threat of forest fires and the |
|spread of harmful insects and disease," said Vilsack. "Increasing our |
|country's production of biomass energy also helps grow our economy. Food is |
|made in rural America, but fuel is made in rural America, too. This program |
|is yet another USDA investment in expanding markets for agricultural |
|products made in rural places across the country." |
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|With the 2014 Farm Bill requiring several regulatory updates to BCAP, the |
|resumption of payments for starting and maintaining new sources of biomass |
|(Project Areas) has been deferred until a later date when the regulatory |
|updates occur. |
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|The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers BCAP, will begin |
|accepting applications from biomass conversion facilities beginning June 16,|
|2014, through July 14, 2014. Information on funding availability can be |
|found in the Federal Register notice at |
|http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2014-13617_PI.pdf. For more details on |
|applications and deadlines on BCAP, visit a local FSA county office or go |
|online to www.fsa.usda.gov/bcap. |
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|BCAP was reauthorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. The 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. Since enactment, USDA has made significant progress to implement |
|each provision of this critical legislation, including providing disaster |
|relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening risk management tools; |
|expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; establishing |
|innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new markets |
|for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing and |
|community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For |
|more information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. |
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