7.10.14
Oil Spill
USF Study: Skin Lesions on Fish Decline Years After BP Oil Spill
WUSF
A new study by marine biologists based at the University of South Florida
shows that an outbreak of skin lesions and oil residue signatures
discovered in fish a year after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico may
be related to the catastrophe.
http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/usf-study-skin-lesions-fish-decline-years-after-bp-oil-spill
State
Meeting to discuss future silicon plant project
WTVA
IUKA, Miss. (WTVA) -- A public meeting is being held Saturday in Iuka by a
group that says it wants to call attention to the health risks connected to
a silicon metal plant under construction in Tishomingo County.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Meeting-to-discuss-future-silicon-plant-project/469oCzuG4UWUcgAVEg-JPA.cspx
Tupelo, North Lee water talks advance
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
TUPELO – Negotiators discussing Tupelo providing water to residents in
annexed areas have revisited a proposal to also provide the surface water
to North Lee County Water Association customers beyond the city limits.
http://djournal.com/news/tupelo-north-lee-water-talks-advance/
MDEQ awards waste tire grant to Three Rivers
New Albany Gazette
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has awarded the
Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority a $59,000 waste tire grant to
continue the local waste tire collection program for small quantity
generators of waste tires in Calhoun, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc and
Union Counties.
http://newalbanygazette.com/2014/07/09/mdeq-awards-waste-tire-grant-three-rivers/
Horn, Petit Bois islands off Mississippi Coast included in critical turtle
habitat
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
Small stretches of beach on Horn and Petit Bois islands off the Mississippi
Coast are included in the 685 miles of beaches from Mississippi to North
Carolina the federal government has designated protected areas "essential
for loggerhead recovery."
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/07/09/5691344/horn-petit-bois-islands-off-mississippi.html?sp=/99/100/&ihp=1
Loggerhead turtle critical habitats designated
The Associated Press
July 09, 2014 at 4:13 PM
About 685 miles of beaches and nearly 200,000 square miles of the Atlantic
Ocean and Gulf of Mexico have been declared critical habitat for threatened
loggerhead sea turtles.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/07/loggerhead_turtles_critical_ha.html#incart_river
National
Senate panel to hold hearing on EPA climate rule
The Hill
By Laura Barron-Lopez
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on
the centerpiece regulation of President Obama's climate agenda this month.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/211731-senate-panel-to-hold-hearing-on-epa-climate-rule
House Republicans threaten to subpoena EPA over carbon rules
The Hill
By Timothy Cama
House Republicans threatened to subpoena Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Wednesday for various documents related to its rule unveiled last
year to limit carbon emissions from new power plants.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/211777-gop-threatens-to-subpoena-epa-over-carbon-rules
GOP: EPA water rule could harm farmers
The Hill
House Republicans clashed with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
officials Wednesday over the agency's controversial plan to regulate small
bodies of water, which the GOP says could hurt American farmers.
http://thehill.com/regulation/211730-gop-clashes-with-epa-over-waters-rule
Oil industry aims to be 'good neighbor' in fracking boom
The Hill
A prominent industry group issued first-of-its-kind standards Wednesday for
oil and gas companies to better engage the public at the local level on the
controversial method of fracking for natural gas.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/211758-oil-industry-aims-to-be-good-neighbor-in-fracking-boom
Texas Law Reducing Dam Inspections Sparks Criticism
Move Raises Concerns As Drought Threatens to Weaken Earthen Barriers
Wall Street Journal
DALLAS—Texas has stopped inspecting 44% of the dams in the state, following
passage last year of a state law that exempted most privately owned dams
from safety requirements.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/texas-law-reducing-dam-inspections-sparks-criticism-1404949104
Press releases
FEDS MUST RECOGNIZE MISSISSIPPI'S NINE-MILE GULF WATERS BOUNDARY UNDER
COCHRAN AMENDMENT
Miss. Senator Offers Seaward Boundary Amendment to Bipartisan Sportsmen's
Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The federal government would be required to recognize
the extension of Mississippi's state water boundaries in the Gulf of Mexico
under an amendment introduced today by U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.).
Cochran offered the Mississippi seaward boundary amendment to the
Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act of 2014 (S.2363), a comprehensive bill regarding
hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation policies.
"Recreational fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is an important part of the
economy and lifestyle of South Mississippi. The federal government not
recognizing Mississippi's right to extend its waters for the purpose of
fishing adversely affects these activities, as we saw this year with the
shortened red snapper season," Cochran said. "My legislation would attempt
to remedy that situation."
The Cochran amendment would extend Mississippi's seaward boundary to nine
geographic miles for the purpose of recreational fisheries management.
Governor Phil Bryant signed legislation that took effect in July 2013 that
extended state waters nine miles into the Gulf of Mexico. The federal
government, however, today only recognizes a three-mile limit, which
inhibits recreational fishing activities in Mississippi waters.
In addition to addressing Mississippi's authority to extend its seaward
boundary, the amendment would assert state authority for managing, leasing,
developing and using the recreational fisheries within the extended area.
Cochran, a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, is an original
cosponsor of the Bipartisan Sportsmen's Act, which the Senate began
debating this week. (http://1.usa.gov/1n6G9HV)
The sportsmen's legislation represents a comprehensive effort to address
federal policies affecting hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. It
incorporates several bills cosponsored by Cochran, including the Hunting,
Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act to exempt ammunition and
fishing tackle that contain lead from being regulated by the Toxic
Substances Control Act.
A copy of Cochran Amendment No. 3517 is available below.
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http://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=20096840-c514-448b-9672-e182c4dd1c77
