8/27/14
State
Volatile mixture in fish plant tank ignited blast
AP
MOSS POINT – A fatal explosion at a fish processing plant on the
Mississippi Coast happened when sparks ignited a volatile mixture in
a tank, safety officials said Tuesday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2014/08/26/volatile-mixture-fish-plant-tank-ignited-blast/14664209/
Rail Authority Launches Environmental Assessment
WTOK
The Rail Authority of East Mississippi has been scrutinizing market demand
and economic data for four years. It will soon initiate its comprehensive
feasibility study for a railroad line from Meridian to Waynesboro.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Rail-Authority-Launches-Environmental-Assessment-272636131.html?device=phone
Oil Spill
Business efforts to speed up oil spill claims payments stall in appeals
court
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
August 26, 2014 at 11:35 AM
Two businesses trying to get settlement money sooner from the BP oil spill
litigation hit a dead end at a federal appeals court this week.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/08/appeals_court_tosses_requests.html
National
Obama Pursuing Climate Accord in Lieu of Treaty
NY Times
By CORAL DAVENPORTAUG. 26, 2014
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is working to forge
a sweeping international climate change agreement to
compel nations to cut their planet-warming fossil fuel
emissions, but without ratification from Congress.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/27/us/politics/obama-pursuing-climate-accord-in-lieu-of-treaty.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Expect Napa quake to rattle D.C. efforts on seismic alerts
BY MICHAEL DOYLE
McClatchy Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — The Napa County earthquake will have political aftershocks on
Capitol Hill. The big question is how long they'll last.
Prompted by California's weekend temblor, lawmakers are renewing their push
for earthquake warning programs. The most recent quake could spur support
for a long-debated early warning system. It also could reveal some partisan
fault lines.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/08/26/5764573/expect-napa-quake-to-rattle-dc.html?sp=/99/184/767/312/
Fracking link to birth defects probed
BY ISAAC ARNSDORF
Bloomberg News
NEW YORK — The first research into the effects of oil and gas development
on babies born near wells has found potential health risks. Government
officials, industry advocates and the researchers themselves say more
studies are needed before drawing conclusions.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/08/26/5764150/fracking-link-to-birth-defects.html?sp=/99/184/767/312/
Opinion
A climate for change: The EPA's limits on emissions are important but not
enough
Editorial – Washington Post
THE COUNTRY is about to see its fiercest climate-change battle. After years
of congressional inaction, President Obama's Environmental Protection
Agency is applying new rules to curb greenhouse-gas emissionsfrom cars,
trucks and — most controversially — power plants, the biggest national
emitters. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he will
try to restrict the EPA if Republicans take over the Senate. Mr. Obama's
executive actions will be an issue in the 2016 presidential campaign.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-climate-for-change-the-epas-limits-on-emissions-are-important-but-not-enough/2014/08/26/f47fa828-2a4b-11e4-86ca-6f03cbd15c1a_story.html
Press Releases
ExxonMobil Pipeline Company to Pay Civil Penalty Under Proposed Settlement
for Torbert, Louisiana Oil Spill
Settlement Resolves Clean Water Act Violation Stemming from 2012 Spill
WASHINGTON — ExxonMobil Pipeline Company (ExxonMobil) has agreed to pay a
civil penalty for an alleged violation of the Clean Water Act stemming from
a 2012 crude oil spill from ExxonMobil's "North Line" pipeline near
Torbert, Louisiana, the Department of Justice and the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. Under the consent decree lodged
today in federal court, ExxonMobil will pay $1,437,120 to resolve the
government's claim.
The United States' complaint, which was also filed today in the U.S.
District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana, alleges that
ExxonMobil discharged at least 2,800 barrels (or 117,000 gallons) of crude
oil in violation of Section 311 of the Clean Water Act. On April 28, 2012,
ExxonMobil's 20/22-inch-diamater pipeline ruptured near Torbert, about 20
miles west of Baton Rouge, and crude oil spilled into the surrounding area
and flowed into an unnamed tributary connected to Bayou Cholpe.
"All businesses have an obligation to protect their workers, the local
community and the environment in which they operate," said Cynthia Giles,
Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance at EPA.
"EPA is committed to protecting communities by enforcing laws that reduce
pollution in local waterways."
"Oil spills into our nation's waters endanger public health and the
environment and warrant concerted enforcement efforts," said Sam Hirsch,
Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment
and Natural Resources Division. "Today's settlement achieves a just result
and furthers our enforcement mission."
The $1.4 million penalty is in addition to the costs incurred by ExxonMobil
to respond to the oil spill and to replace the segment of ruptured
pipeline. ExxonMobil is completing cleanup actions pursuant to an
administrative order issued by the Louisiana Department of Environmental
Quality. The company also continues to do follow-up work and to operate
under a Corrective Action Order issued by the United States Department of
Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
The Clean Water Act makes it unlawful to discharge oil or hazardous
substances into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or
adjoining shorelines in quantities that may be harmful to the environment
or public health. The penalty paid for this spill will be deposited in the
federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund managed by the National Pollution
Fund Center. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to pay for federal
response activities and to compensate for damages when there is a discharge
or substantial threat of discharge of oil or hazardous substances to waters
of the United States or adjoining shorelines.
The proposed consent decree, lodged in the Middle District of Louisiana, is
subject to a 30-day public comment period and court review and approval. A
copy of the consent decree is available on the Department of Justice
website at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.
