8/13/14
State
North Lee, Tupelo may seek to settle
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – The city of Tupelo's continuing effort to block the construction
of six new water wells by the North Lee County Water Association was
rebuffed again Tuesday by the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality Permit Board after more than five hours of testimony.
http://djournal.com/news/north-lee-tupelo-may-seek-settle/
Hattiesburg officially ends agreement with Groundworx
Hattiesburg American
On the same day he received authority from City Council to end the city's
contract with Groundworx LLC, Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree did just
that.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2014/08/12/groundworx-contract-ended/13968649/
Bay St. Louis business owners say closed beach won't impact them
WLOX
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -As we first told you Monday the Mississippi DEQ
closed part of the Bay St. Louis beach front after a sewer lift station
malfunctioned causing a spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/26265032/bay-st-louis-business-owners-say-closed-beach-wont-impact-them
Initial dam work under way at Long Creek Reservoir
Meridian Star
By Michael Stewart
Wednesday, August 13, 2014 5:00 am
Work has begun to remove a concrete spillway at Long Creek Reservoir. Plans
are to cut a 77-foot section out of the top of the dam beginning next week.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/article_17c45668-2299-11e4-9716-0019bb2963f4.html
Long Creek Reservoir Update
WTOK
More progress is being made to fix the problem at Long Creek Reservoir in
Meridian. During a work session Tuesday, the manager for the project from
the city's Public Works Department informed city council members that water
from the lake is no longer being drained. David Sloan told the group that
preliminary work on the dam will soon be finished.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Long-Creek-Reservoir-Update-270964021.html
State fines Garden Park Medical Center over hazardous waste handling
The Associated Press
GULFPORT, MISS. — A Gulfport hospital is paying an $87,000 fine for
improperly handling hazardous waste.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/08/13/5743014/miss-fines-hospital-over-hazardous.html
Florence students recognized as recycling leaders
Clarion Ledger
Florence Elementary School has been recognized as a leader in the
state by a recycling program created by a partnership between MOM
Brands cereal and recycling company TerraCycle, Inc.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/08/12/florence-recycling-terracycle/13947263/
KiOR warns of bankruptcy
AP
By JEFF AMY
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Struggling biofuel firm KiOR says in a financial
filing that it will run out of money by September and that bankruptcy could
follow.
http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=MEokEKPC
28 million-year-old fossils found in Mississippi
WDAM
Two Mississippi men have discovered 25 - 28 million-year-old fossils in
Wayne County.
http://www.wdam.com/story/26251924/28-million-year-old-fossils-found-in-mississippi
Oil Spill
Mississippi oysters make a comeback - for a price
Mississippi oysters make a comeback -- for a price
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
The Mississippi oyster industry is bouncing back from a triple whammy --
Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil disaster and the Mississippi River flood --
and is still a long way from its peak 10 years ago.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/08/12/5742820/mississippi-oysters-make-a-comeback.html?sp=/99/184/
Dramatic downturn in gulf oyster harvests since BP oil spill
WLOX
Mississippi fishermen harvested nearly 400,000 sacks of oysters in the
season before the BP oil spill. Since the spill in 2010, the "best" oyster
season has been just 78,000 sacks. Those figures go along with a new report
which finds the overall gulf oyster harvest has dropped dramatically since
the oil spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/26261164/oyster-harvests-not-the-pearl-they-used-to-be
Advisory Committee Setting Criteria for Awarding Funds for Restore Act
Projects
WJHG
PANAMA CITY - Bay County's RESTORE Act Advisory Committee met again Tuesday
to discuss distribution of BP settlement money.
http://www.wjhg.com/home/headlines/Advisory-Committee-Setting-Criteria-for-Awarding-Funds-for-Restore-Act-Projects-271009821.html
Regional
Drillers defining Tuscaloosa shale's productive areas
Baton Rouge Advocate
BY TED GRIGGS
Goodrich Petroleum Corp. and other players in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale
are making excellent and rapid progress in defining the most productive
area to drill in the oil-rich formation, according to the company's chief
executive officer.
http://theadvocate.com/news/9943044-123/drillers-defining-tuscaloosa-shales-productive
National
Senators want more comment time on EPA climate rule
The Hill
Two senators are planning to ask the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
to further extend the public comment period for its power plant carbon
proposal.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/214986-senators-want-more-comment-time-on-epa-climate-rule
Journalists to EPA: Stop muzzling scientists
The Hill
A coalition of journalism and science groups is pressing the Environmental
Protection Agency to end its policy of restricting independent scientists
who advise the agency from talking to media outlets without permission.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/214983-journalists-tell-epa-to-stop-muzzling-science-advisers
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Climate change remains wide open to debate
August 12, 2014
We favor the view that Earth's climate is changing and not for the better.
We also believe human activity accounts for some portion of that change. We
therefore support modifying human behavior to moderate the change and
mitigate the consequences.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/08/12/5742217/sun-herald-editorial-climate-change.html?sp=/99/728/
Press Releases
White House Council on Environmental Quality and EPA Honor Student Leaders
and Exceptional Teachers with Environmental Education Awards
Contact: Rachel Deitz, deitz.rachel@epa.gov, 202-564-1807
Contacto En Español: Lina Younes, Younes.lina@epa.gov, 202-564-9924
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2014
WASHINGTON- Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality, in
conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, announced the
winners of the annual Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental
Educators (PIAEE) and President's Environmental Youth Award, (PEYA)
recognizing outstanding student leaders in environmental stewardship and
K-12 teachers employing innovative approaches to environmental education in
their schools. In a ceremony at the White House, 17 teachers and 60
students from across the nation are being honored for their contributions
to environmental education and stewardship.
"These awards recognize the outstanding contributions of student leaders
and exceptional teachers on some of the most pressing issues facing our
nation, including combating climate change and instituting sustainability
practices," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Environmental education
encourages academic achievement, especially in the sciences, and develops
the next generation of leaders in environmental stewardship."ý
This year, students are receiving awards for projects including activities
such as creating a novel water purification method, assessing apples as a
sustainable fuel source, and reducing the carbon footprint of a school to
help combat climate change. Teachers being honored this year have employed
interactive, hands-on learning projects such as opening a marine science
station, designing a solar powered garden irrigation system, building a
nature trail, and connecting students to their natural surroundings through
field studies. These students and teachers creatively utilize their local
ecosystems, environment, community and culture as a context for learning.
"To deal with immense challenges like climate change, we need a generation
of leaders who don't back away from complex environmental problems, and who
have the skills to solve them," said Mike Boots, Acting Chair of the White
House Council on Environmental Quality. "Across the country, environmental
education is helping develop that generation of leaders, and the students
and teachers being recognized today are remarkable examples of this kind of
education at its best."
The PIAEE and PEYA awardees demonstrate the creativity, innovation,
leadership and passion for community engagement needed to face difficult
environmental challenges. Teachers and students attending the ceremony will
also be participating in a workshop led by the White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy to discuss climate and best practices in the
field of climate education.
And today, NOAA, the US Global Change Research Program, and collaborators
from both the National Climate Assessment network of stakeholders (NCAnet)
and the CLEAN Network are releasing a series of guides for educators
focused on each of the regions covered in the U.S. National Climate
Assessment released by the Obama Administration in May 2014. The guides,
which are being deployed on climate.gov, aim to help unpack regional
findings and scientific messages, provide links to key resources, and
connect educators with the climate-relevant information they need.
Additionally, the National Environmental Education Foundation and EPA
announced the winner of the 2014 Bartlett Award. This additional
recognition is given each year to an exceptionally outstanding PIAEE award
winner, who can serve as an inspiration and model to others.
PEYA winners ýinclude students from 9 states, including Washington, Iowa,
Oklahoma, North Carolina and New Hampshire. PIAEE winners and honorable
mentions include teachers from 23 states and territories, including
Vermont, Texas, Colorado, Kansas, Guam and Puerto Rico.
For details on the new PIAEE winners, visit
http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators-piaee-winners
For details on the Bartlet award winners, visit
http://www.neefusa.org/bartlettaward.htm
For details on the new PEYA winners, visit:
http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidents-environmental-youth-award-peya-winners
.
New Filing System to Save Thousands in Taxpayer Dollars
Helps Small Businesses Register with the State
Jackson, Miss.— The Secretary of State's Office will launch a new online
filing system for existing and potential businesses in Mississippi. This
convenient software will trim thousands of dollars in mailing expenses by
the Agency.
"For years, companies looking to do business in Mississippi were forced to
use snail mail or make a trip to Jackson to conduct business with our
Agency," says Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann. "Now, with the click of
a mouse and the privacy of their home, anyone can conduct business with the
State."
The new online filing system will launch August 25th. Mississippi is the
first state in the nation to provide online filing for allof its business
services.
"Requiring the use of the online filing system will save the State of
Mississippi thousands in taxpayer dollars, by reducing paper, postage and
manpower to process the documents," adds Secretary Hosemann. "We ask that
the public be patient as we integrate this new system, which will be a
convenience for both small businesses and promote job growth in our State."
Paper business filings will continue to be accepted through December 31,
2014. Beginning in 2015, all users must utilize the online filing system.
The new business filing portal will be available August 25, 2014 at
www.sos.ms.gov.
