8.1.14
State
A first -- training residents to affect industrial air permits
Sun Herald
BY TAMMY LEYTHAM
PASCAGOULA -- The state and federal government held a workshop Thursday to
help people get more involved in air quality permitting for industry near
where they live.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/07/31/5722252/residents-turn-out-to-gain-voice.html?sp=/99/184/
Bayou Casotte Residents Move Forward with Fight Against
Plant
WXXV
A group of Pascagoula residents are moving forward in their fight to
improve the air quality in their neighborhood, air they say has been badly
polluted by chemicals coming from nearby industries.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Bayou-Casotte-Residents-Move-Forward-with-Fight/qPTOVI8M5EWG80xGX9CxNg.cspx
Recycling going well in Pike County
The Associated Press
MCCOMB, MISS. — Recycling is well underway in McComb and Summit, but
officials say they hope to see more participation in Magnolia and Osyka now
that the service is available in all four of Pike County's municipalities.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/08/01/5724031/recycling-going-well-in-pike-county.html?sp=/99/184/218/
OSHA investigating deadly Omega Protein plant explosion
WLOX
MOSS POINT, MS (WLOX) -WLOX News just received a statement from the Omega
Protein plant in Moss Point. The statement says that Omega and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration are continuing their
investigations into the Monday's explosion at the plant, and that Omega is
providing assistance to OSHA throughout its investigative process.
http://www.wlox.com/story/26167693/osha-investigating-deadly-omega-protein-plant-explosion
Ingalls in Gulfport closes
WLOX
A company in Gulfport that once employed 400 is now closed. In September of
last year, Ingalls announced its Gulfport Composite Center of Excellence
would shut down. Officials estimated the closure would happen this past
May. But, it actually came a little later, because workers had to finish
one final project a deckhouse. As we discovered that deckhouse has been
completed and on Thursday it was delivered marking the end of Ingalls in
Gulfport.
http://www.wlox.com/story/26169106/ingalls-in-gulfport-closes
Oil Spill
RestoreTheTexasCoast.org unveiled, Texas anglers encouraged to comment
Lone Star Outdoor News
The State of Texas has unveiled restorethetexascoast.org, a dedicated
online resource for Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery efforts.
http://www.lsonews.com/restorethetexascoast-org-unveiled-texas-anglers-encouraged-comment/
National
EPA Emissions Plan Draws Protest in Pittsburgh
Union Members Gather in Opposition to Proposed Carbon-Emissions Rule
Wall Street Journal
PITTSBURGH—Several thousand unionized coal miners, electrical workers and
others filled this city's downtown on Thursday to protest the Obama
administration's proposed rule to curb carbon emissions from the nation's
power plants, ahead of two days of hearings on the issue in the city.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/epa-emissions-plan-draws-protest-in-pittsburgh-1406831465
EPA pushes renewable fuel compliance deadline
The Hill
For the third time this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
pushed back the deadline for gasoline and diesel refiners to blend
renewable fuels into their products.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/213958-epa-pushes-renewable-fuel-compliance-deadline
Manufacturers: Ozone standard could be most costly regulation ever
The Hill
A looming Obama administration rule aimed at updating the federal ozone
standard could be the single most expensive federal regulation in U.S.
history, according to a new study commissioned by the National Association
of Manufacturers (NAM).
http://thehill.com/regulation/213920-manufacturers-ozone-standard-could-be-most-costly-rule-of-all-time
Press Releases
Gov. Bryant: Mississippi's Economy Growing in Strength, Conservative
Budgeting Principles and Economic Development are Key
State Receives Fourth Consecutive Silver Shovel Award for Economic
Development Success
NESHOBA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS—Gov. Phil Bryant today highlighted Mississippi's
growing economic success to fairgoers at "Mississippi's Giant Houseparty",
the Neshoba County Fair.
Gov. Bryant has focused much of his administration on creating a thriving
business climate in Mississippi, and the state saw revenue growth of almost
$317 million from fiscal year 2013 to fiscal year 2014.
The governor also announced that Mississippi, for the fourth consecutive
year, is the recipient of the Area Development Magazine Silver Shovel Award
for excellence in economic development. Since 2012, Mississippi's economic
development efforts have led to the announcement of almost 12,000 new jobs
and more than $1.96 billion in private sector investment. Employment
figures released for June 2014 show an increase of 36,800 jobs in
Mississippi since the depths of the recession.
"I've said I want every Mississippian who wants a job to have one. I've
changed that. I want you to have a job even if you don't want one."
"Mississippi's economy reached $100 billion for the first time in 2012 and
we experienced almost five percent growth from 2013 to 2014," Gov. Bryant
said. "Now, instead of spending all the money, we've saved for the future.
I called on the Legislature to fill the Rainy Day Fund as we did when I was
lieutenant governor, and thanks to conservative leadership, Mississippi now
has more than $400 million in reserves to guard against another downturn in
the national economy."
The state's fiscal year 2015 budget also avoids spending "one-time" money
on recurring expenses, something the governor has long advocated and
modeled in his fiscal year 2015 Executive Budget Recommendation to the
Legislature.
"Budgeting prudently and saving for the future are critical to
Mississippi's economic health, and so is accountability in spending. Since
my time as state auditor, I have said our budget should be based on results
and not who you know at the Capitol. I am encouraged that the Legislature
has announced its intention to join me in moving toward a performance-based
budget model that will be more accountable to Mississippi taxpayers.
"We've experienced great success in our economic growth, and we're going to
double down on economic development and job creation. Workforce training
and improving public education will continue to be critical to our efforts.
We've invested an additional $241 million into public education since 2011,
and this year we enacted a $105 million teacher pay raise program to
attract the best and brightest to our classrooms. These efforts, combined
with policies like our Third Grade Gate, are putting Mississippi on the
path to success.
"Our fight to reduce teen pregnancy is also vital to our success as a
state, and preliminary figures from the Mississippi Department of Health
show teen pregnancy has fallen more than 15 percent from 2011 to 2013."
Gov. Bryant also highlighted conservative measures that Mississippi has
adopted, including establishing the state's first Second Amendment sales
tax holiday, which will waive sales tax on firearms, ammunition and hunting
supplies during the first weekend in September; adopting comprehensive
criminal justice reform; banning abortions after 20 weeks; and protecting
religious freedom from undue government burden.
During his 2014 State of the State Address, Gov. Bryant called on the
Legislature to add the national motto "In God We Trust" to the Great Seal
of the State of Mississippi.
"I continue to believe now is the time to stand for our beliefs—our faith,
our families, and our nation, and I am proud to have added the simple yet
profound words 'In God We Trust' to our state's official seal.
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Mississippi Upper Black Creek Watershed 2nd Signup Announced
Jackson, Miss—The United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) is again accepting applications for the Upper
Black Creek Watershed Initiative through the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP). The NRCS and the United States Forest Service
(USFS) are partnering to improve the health and resiliency of the forest
ecosystems where public and private lands meet.
The project is part of the Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership which
will invest $1.3 million in Mississippi to help mitigate wildfire threats
to communities and landowners, improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species
and protect water quality and water supply. Some of the most popular
conservation practices are tree planting, forest site preparation,
prescribed burning, grazing land practices and herbaceous weed control for
spraying cogongrass. Also included are opportunities for landowners of
forested lands to receive financial assistance to obtain a detailed forest
management plan.
The eligible counties include all or parts of the following: Jefferson
Davis, Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Perry, Pearl River, Stone, George and
Jackson.
Landowners and producers interested in participating in the Upper Black
Creek Watershed Initiative may apply at any time at their local United
States Department of Agriculture Service Center / NRCS office. The
application process is continuous; however, only applications received by
August 13, 2014 will be considered for funding in this second sign-up.
For additional information on the 2014 Upper Black Creek Watershed
Initiative program, contact the NRCS Office in the eligible counties. To
locate your nearest NRCS office, visit;
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
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| Greenhouse Gas Report to Assist Producers Facing Climate Challenges |
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| For the First Time, USDA Climate Hubs Get New Tools to Gauge Progress in Building |
| Drought-Resistant Healthy Soil |
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|WASHINGTON, July 31, 2014 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released a |
|report that, for the first time, provides uniform scientific methods for quantifying |
|the changes in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and carbon storage from various land |
|management and conservation activities. The report, titled Quantifying Greenhouse Gas |
|Fluxes in Agriculture and Forestry: Methods for Entity-Scale Inventory, will help USDA |
|evaluate current and future greenhouse gas conservation programs, as well as develop |
|new tools and update existing ones to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners |
|participate in emerging carbon markets. |
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|"America's farm, ranch and forest managers are stewards of the land, and have long |
|recognized the significance of managing soil health, plant productivity and animal |
|nutrition. Conservation practices and other management changes can reduce GHG emissions|
|and increase carbon storage while improving soil health, productivity, and resilience |
|to drought and other extreme weather," said Undersecretary for Natural Resources and |
|Environment Robert Bonnie. "In partnership with USDA and the Obama Administration, |
|State and regional GHG offset programs and voluntary GHG markets can help make these |
|practices less costly to implement and increase the producer's bottom line." |
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|Today's report outlines science-based methods for quantifying changes in GHG emissions |
|and carbon storage at the local farm, ranch or forest operation. Reducing GHG emissions|
|and increasing carbon storage builds healthy, carbon-rich soils and more resilient |
|production of food, fiber and fuel. USDA recently established Regional Climate Change |
|Hubs to assist landowners with management challenges that arise from weather |
|variability and climate change. The methods report and the tools provided in it will |
|aid the Hubs in giving landowners information on management options to improve |
|agriculture production, soil health, and resource conservation. |
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|The report is the work of 38 experts in GHG estimation in the cropland, grazing land, |
|livestock and forest management sectors across academia, USDA and the federal |
|government. The report was reviewed by an additional 29 scientists, other Federal |
|experts, and the public. While developing the report, reviewers considered scientific |
|rigor, transparency, completeness, accuracy, and cost effectiveness, as well as |
|consistency and comparability with other Federal GHG inventory efforts. The report can |
|be downloaded at www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/estimation.htm. |
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|Current USDA carbon tools, such as USDA's COMET-Farm, are being updated to incorporate |
|the new methods. Using COMET-Farm, a land manager who is considering a shift to no-till|
|production system, for example, can evaluate the soil carbon benefits of that system |
|and consider revenue opportunities provided by entering into a voluntary agreement with|
|a carbon market. The methods in the report are comprehensive, addressing a wide variety|
|of cropland, grazing land, livestock and forest management practices. |
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|For more information on USDA's Climate Change activities, please visit www.usda.gov and|
|click on "Climate Solutions." |
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