7.23.14
State
Cochran continues to question EPA over new regulations
by MBJ Staff
Published: July 23,2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking member of the
Senate Agriculture Committee, continues to raise questions about the impact
on agriculture and rural economies of the new Clean Water Act regulations
proposed this spring by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/07/23/cochran-continues-question-epa-new-regulations/
Down the Drain
The Meridian Star
By Terri Ferguson Smith
The city has plans to cut a hole about 40 feet wide to finish draining
Lakeview Long Creek Reservoir, but that won't happen until enough of the
lake drains through its spillway to safely breach the dam, according to the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.meridianstar.com/local/x864251459/Down-the-Drain
EPA honors Lowndes County group
WTVA
ATLANTA, Ga. (WTVA) -- The U. S. Enviornmental Protection Agency has
honored a Lowndes County group for its work to inform the public about the
Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation Superfund Site.
http://www.wtva.com/news/national/story/EPA-honors-Lowndes-County-group/0wt1M-KTMEyuhXShAp_Wqw.cspx
New Plan Lays Out Future Roadmap For Gulf Islands Seashore
MPB
A new general management plan for the Gulf Islands National Seashore lays
out a 20-year roadmap for the future of the national park, which includes
most of Mississippi's barrier islands. As MPB's Evelina Burnett reports,
the seashore brings more than 1 million visitors to the state every year.
http://mpbonline.org/News/article/new_plan_lays_out_future_roadmap_for_gulf_islands_seashore
Lumber company announces Mississippi expansion
AP
PHILADELPHIA, Miss. – Weyerhaeuser Co. is investing $57 million to
modernize over the next three years at its softwood lumber mill in
Philadelphia, Miss.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2014/07/22/lumber-company-announces-mississippi-expansion/12993425/
Mississippi pollinator protection project first on commercial farmland
Delta Farm Press
In a joint project, Syngenta and Delta F.A.R.M. (Farmers Advocating
Resource Management) have committed to establishing at least five
"Operation Pollinator" plots this year throughout northwest Mississippi,
with plans to increase the program to more fields and farms each year
through 2016. The Mississippi sites will be the first commercial farmland
in the nation to host the plots.
http://deltafarmpress.com/blog/mississippi-pollinator-protection-project-first-commercial-farmland
Oil Spill
Ex-BP engineer's retrial postponed
The Associated Press
The August retrial of a former BP engineer accused of obstructing justice
in an investigation of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill has been postponed
while an appeals court decides whether a judge was right to throw out his
earlier conviction.
http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2014/07/ex-bp_engineers_retrial_postpo.html#incart_river
Oil spill claimant hits back at BP's 'campaign of intimidation' with
defamation suit
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
A New Orleans law firm swept up in BP's public campaign challenging
payments to certain oil spill claimants has sued the British oil giant, one
of its lawyers and an Associated Press reporter for defamation.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/07/oil_spill_claimant_files_defam.html
National
Industry to EPA: Climate rule 'not workable'
The Hill
Leading industry groups, including the Chamber of Commerce and the National
Mining Association, are pressing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to heed warnings that its new climate regulation is "not workable."
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/212965-industry-takes-aim-at-epa-climate-rule
Climate change hits all Pentagon operations, official says
The Hill
All Pentagon operations in the U.S. and abroad are threatened by climate
change, according to a Defense Department official.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/213027-climate-change-hits-all-pentagon-operations-official-says
EPA improves radiation monitor system
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has improved the management of
its system of radiation monitors around the country over the last two
years, its Office of Inspector General (OIG) said.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/212964-epa-improves-radiation-monitor-system
Landrieu pushes new revenue model for offshore drilling
The Hill
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) used a Tuesday hearing to advocate for
legislation that would remove the cap that Gulf Coast states have on the
revenue they can receive from offshore drilling royalties and fees.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/212993-landrieu-pushes-new-revenue-model-for-offshore-drilling
Obama Administration to Announce Stricter Oil Train Safety Standards
Wall Street Journal
The Obama administration will unveil Wednesday new rules proposing stricter
safety standards on trains carrying flammable fuels, including oil and
ethanol, according to a Capitol Hill source familiar with the pending
regulation.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/obama-administration-to-announce-stricter-oil-train-safety-standards-1406072438
'Saltwater' from fracking spill much different from ocean water
McClatchy
BY LISA SONG
In early July, a million gallons of salty drilling waste spilled from a
pipeline onto a steep hillside in western North Dakota's Fort Berthold
Reservation. The waste - a byproduct of oil and gas production - has now
reached a tributary of Lake Sakakawea, which provides drinking water to the
reservation.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/23/234153/saltwater-from-fracking-spill.html
The Hospital Disinfectant That's Being Used In Fracking
Forbes
Fracking seems to have more going against it than for it, but a South
Carolina-based company is hoping the oil and gas industry will mitigate
environmental damages and health concerns with its latest product,
Excelyte.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rosatrieu/2014/07/22/the-hospital-disinfectant-thats-being-used-in-fracking/
Geothermal Industry Grows, With Help From Oil and Gas Drilling
NY Times
SAN FRANCISCO — Geothermal energy — tapping into heat deep
underground and using it to produce power — is sometimes
described as a forgotten renewable. It languishes in the
shadows of better-known sources like wind and the sun, and
in 2011 it accounted for less than 1 percent of electric
power worldwide, according to last year's World Energy
Outlook.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/24/business/geothermal-industry-grows-with-help-from-oil-and-gas-drilling.html?ref=earth&_r=0
EPA Denies Texas Emergency Weedkiller Request
Wall Street Journal
Federal regulators denied Texas farmers' push to use a powerful herbicide
against invasive "super weeds" threatening to strangle cotton crops.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/epa-denies-texas-emergency-weedkiller-request-1406053913
EPA sends out tweet promoting Kim Kardashian game, apologizes for doing so
Fox News
NEW YORK – It seems whoever runs the EPA's official Twitter account may
also be a fan of Kim Kardashian.
On Monday evening, a tweet went out from the official @EPAwater account
promoting the increasingly popular "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" game.
http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2014/07/22/epa-sends-out-tweet-promoting-kim-kardashian-game/?intcmp=latestnews
A glimpse inside the remote government warehouse where confiscated wildlife
ends up
Al.com
Tucked amid the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service's National Wildlife Property Repository. The
facility, located about 10 miles from downtown Denver, houses seized
wildlife-related items that are in violation of the U.S. Endangered Species
Act.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2014/07/a_glimpse_inside_the_remote_go.html#incart_river
Press Releases
Memphis Town Community Advisory Group receives 2014 Citizen Excellence in
Community Involvement Award
Release date: 7/22/2014
Contact Information: James Pinkney, (404) 562-9183 (Direct), (404) 562-8400
(Main) pinkney.james@epa.gov
(ATLANTA – July 22, 2014) The Memphis Town Community Advisory Group is
being recognized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as
the winner of the 2014 Citizen Excellence in Community Involvement Award.
This award is presented annually to an individual or a community group
working with a Superfund team for outstanding achievements in the field of
environmental protection.
Through the Memphis Town Community Advisory Group's (CAG) monthly meetings,
a forum was provided to identify community concerns and partner with EPA to
identify acceptable solutions. The CAG took the initiative to apply for a
Technical Assistance Grant (TAG) to obtain technical support, and provided
meaningful comments to EPA, the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ) and the City of Columbus on site work plans and design
documents. The CAG also assisted EPA and MDEQ in identifying the best
options for sharing information with the local community.
The Memphis Town Community Advisory Group was recognized for its
commitment, dedication and leadership to the Columbus, MS community
affected by the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation Superfund Site. The CAG has
proven to be of significant value to not only the community in which it
serves but to the agency as well. The U.S. EPA looks forward to continued
partnership with the CAG throughout the investigation and cleanup process
at the Kerr-McGee Superfund Site.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Reminds Farmers of 2014 Farm Bill Conservation Compliance Changes |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, July 22, 2014 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today reminded producers |
|that changes mandated through the 2014 Farm Bill require them to have on file a Highly |
|Erodible Land Conservation and Wetland Conservation Certification (AD-1026). The Farm |
|Bill relinked highly erodible land conservation and wetland conservation compliance |
|with eligibility for premium support paid under the federal crop insurance program. |
| |
| |
|"It's important that farmers and ranchers taking the right steps to conserve valuable |
|farm and natural resources have completed AD-1026 forms on file at their local Farm |
|Service Agency (FSA) office," said Vilsack. "This will ensure they remain eligible for |
|crop insurance support." |
| |
| |
|For farmers to be eligible for premium support on their federal crop insurance, a |
|completed and signed AD-1026 form must be on file with the FSA. Since many FSA and |
|Natural Resource Conservation (NRCS) programs have this requirement, most producers |
|should already have an AD-1026 on file. If producers have not filed, they must do so by|
|June 1, 2015. |
| |
| |
|When a farmer completes the AD-1026, FSA and NRCS staff will outline any additional |
|actions that may be required for compliance with the provisions. The Risk Management |
|Agency, through the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), manages the federal crop|
|insurance program that provides the modern farm safety net for American farmers and |
|ranchers. |
| |
| |
|Since enactment of the 1985 Farm Bill, eligibility for most commodity, disaster, and |
|conservation programs has been linked to compliance with the highly erodible land |
|conservation and wetland conservation provisions. The 2014 Farm Bill continues the |
|requirement that producers adhere to conservation compliance guidelines to be eligible |
|for most programs administered by FSA and NRCS. This includes the new price and revenue|
|protection programs, the Conservation Reserve Program, the Livestock Disaster |
|Assistance programs and Marketing Assistance Loans implemented by FSA. It also includes|
|the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and|
|other conservation programs. |
| |
| |
|FSA recently released a revised form AD-1026, which is available at USDA Service |
|Centers and online at: www.fsa.usda.gov. USDA will publish a rule later this year that |
|will provide details outlining the connection of conservation compliance with crop |
|insurance premium support. Producers can also contact their local USDA Service Center |
|for information. A listing of service center locations is available at |
|www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/contact/local/. |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement was made possible 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. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
EPA Warning: Recharging Air Conditioners with Wrong Refrigerant Poses
Injury and Fire Risks
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is cautioning
homeowners, manufacturers of propane-based refrigerants, home improvement
contractors and air conditioning technicians of the safety hazards related
to the use of propane in existing motor vehicle and home air conditioning
systems.
A number of refrigerants with "22a" or "R-22a" in the name contain highly
flammable hydrocarbons, such as propane. These refrigerants are being
marketed to consumers seeking to recharge existing home and motor vehicle
air conditioning systems that were not designed to use propane or other
flammable refrigerants. These refrigerants have never been submitted to EPA
for review of their health and environmental impacts and are not approved
for use in existing air conditioning systems.
Using propane-based refrigerant in an air conditioner that is not designed
for flammable refrigerants poses a threat to homeowners as well as service
technicians because systems that are recharged with "22a" refrigerants can
catch fire or explode resulting in injury and property damage. EPA is
investigating instances where propane-based refrigerants have been marketed
and used as a substitutes for HCFC-22 (R-22) and will take enforcement
actions where appropriate.
More information about R-22a and alternatives for air conditioning:
http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/r22a.html
