10.10.2014
State
Judge orders Hattiesburg, Groundworx to mediation
Hattiesburg American
The City of Hattiesburg walked into a courtroom Wednesday morning
hoping for a ruling on its motion for summary judgment in a civil
complaint brought by Groundworx LLC for breach of contract.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2014/10/08/hattiesburg-groundworx-civil-complaint-forrest-county-chancery-court-m-ronald-doleac/16928565/
Hattiesburg, Groundworx ordered mediation over contractual obligations
WDAM
The City of Hattiesburg will soon meet Groundworx, LLC in a court-ordered
mediation to resolve disputes surrounding the city's contract with the
company to build a wastewater facility.
http://www.wdam.com/story/26750110/hattiesburg-groundworx-ordered-mediation-over-contractual-obligations
Town of Marion awarded grant for sewer repairs
Meridian Star
The town of Marion has been awarded $450,000 in Community Block Development
Grant funds for sewer repairs.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/article_17f4f080-4f5c-11e4-a084-3b4436084a36.html
Water district detailed
Justin Vicory
Enterprise-Journal
October 9, 2014
LIBERTY — The scope of water sourcing facilities and recycling plants to
deal with increased fracking operations in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale oil
play is coming into focus, although construction on any of those is likely
to be a ways away.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_96b27f7a-4fd2-11e4-bb51-0b889807d957.html
North Lee seeks expense cuts
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
TUPELO – New faces on North Lee County Water Association's Board of
Directors brings more willingness to cede service in areas annexed by the
city two years ago.http://djournal.com/news/north-lee-seeks-expense-cuts/
Making A Difference: R. J. Reynolds and Keep the Reservoir Beautiful
WLBT
There was a group of people out at the reservoir Making A Difference
Thursday. They put in a community service day that their company encourages
them to do, helping 'keep the reservoir beautiful'.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/26751605/making-a-difference-r-j-reynolds-and-keep-the-reservoir-beautiful
KiOR denies ex-director's claims of problems with company's technology
by Associated Press
Published: October 9,2014
COLUMBUS — A former director of biofuel maker KiOR says he tried to warn
other board members about problems with KiOR's technology to turn wood
chips into an oil substitute, claims that could damage the company's
defense in shareholder lawsuits and a Securities and Exchange Commission
investigation.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/10/09/kior-denies-ex-directors-claims-problems-companys-technology/
Oil Spill
St. Bernard meets requirements for some Clean Water Act oil spill penalty
money
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
October 09, 2014 at 7:34 PM
St. Bernard Parish's new comprehensive plan was approved and certified by
the governor's office as meeting the requirements of the federal Restore
Act and thus placing it in line to receive a portion of Clean Water Act
penalties from the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, parish President
Dave Peralta said on Thursday (Oct. 9).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/10/st_bernard_meets_requirements.html#incart_river
National
Attorney General Buddy Caldwell joins 10 other AGs and 6 governors in
opposing proposed 'Waters of the U.S.' rule
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
October 09, 2014 at 4:55 PM
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell joined the attorneys general of
10 states and the governors of six states in opposing the Environmental
Protection Agency's and Army Corps of Engineers' proposed "Waters of the
U.S." rule as an overly broad expansion of federal authority over state
land.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/10/attorney_general_buddy_caldwel.html#incart_river
D.C. Circuit Asked to Reconsider Decision Upholding EPA Sulfur, Nitrogen
Standards
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Bloomberg
Three environmental groups have asked a federal appeals court to reconsider
a lawsuit challenging the Environmental Protection Agency's secondary
national ambient air quality standards for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
dioxide because the agency no longer plans to conduct a study to address
scientific uncertainties (Ctr. for Biological Diversity v. EPA, D.C. Cir.,
No. 12-1238, petition for rehearing filed 10/7/14).
http://www.bna.com/dc-circuit-asked-n17179895817/
EPA chief apologizes for her generation's role in climate change
The Hill
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Gina McCarthy apologized on
behalf of her generation Thursday for not acting to stop climate change.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/220329-epa-chief-apologizes-for-her-generations-role-in-climate-change
White House pushes climate protections for natural resources
The Hill
The White House launched a set of initiatives aimed at protecting natural
resources like landscapes and water from the effects of climate change.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/220309-white-house-pushes-climate-protections-for-landscapes-natural
Fracking Firms Get Tested by Oil's Price Drop
Further Declines Risk Making Expensive Shale Drilling Unprofitable
Wall Street Journal
Tumbling oil prices are starting to frighten energy companies around the
globe, especially drillers in North America, where crude is expensive to
pump.
http://online.wsj.com/articles/fracking-firms-get-tested-by-oils-price-drop-1412899027
Press Releases
EPA's WaterSense 2014 Partners of the Year Honored for Efficiency Efforts
to Protect Nation's Water Supply
WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized
the 2014 WaterSense Partners of the Year for their commitment to promoting
water efficiency and strengthening the drought resiliency of communities
across the country, during the WaterSmart Innovations Conference today in
Las Vegas, Nev.
"As the United States experiences the driest conditions in more than a
decade, there has never been a more important time for EPA and WaterSense
to focus on water efficiency" said Ken Kopocis, deputy assistant
administrator in EPA's Office of Water. "We are working to find ways to
further reduce water consumption to support healthy ecosystems and
communities. EPA is pleased to honor an impressive group of WaterSense
program leaders, whose efforts to build strong, resilient water systems are
helping communities nationwide meet challenges of extreme weather, drought,
and other effects of our changing climate."
The 2014 WaterSense Partners of the Year winners, along with more than
1,500 other WaterSense partners, have helped American consumers save 757
billion gallons of water - enough to supply all of the homes in the United
States with water for 26 days—since 2006. WaterSense partners combined
efforts have resulted in a $14.2 billion reduction in consumer water and
energy bills over the past 8 years and a reduction of 37 million metric
tons of greenhouse gas emission.
Building on the important work of the WaterSense program, and as part of
the President's Climate Action Plan, EPA and WaterSense partners are
continuing to find ways to enhance water efficiency. Improving water
efficiency helps communities to save water, save energy, and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.
EPA's WaterSense program seeks to protect our nation's water supply by
offering people a simple way to use less water with water-efficient
products and services. By encouraging people to use less water now, these
partners are helping to ensure we have clean and safe water supplies in the
future.
The Alliance for Water Efficiency and the Southern Nevada Water Authority
cosponsored the ceremony.
2014 Sustained Excellence Award Winner:
Kohler Co. (Kohler, Wis.) received the highest level of WaterSense
recognition for the second year in a row for continuing to implement new,
innovative technologies. One example is a dual-flush trip lever for
tank-type toilets that makes selecting a smaller flush easier for those
with dexterity challenges. Kohler also promoted WaterSense labeled products
in 2013 with its cross-country "Trust the Flush" bus tour to showcase
WaterSense labeled toilets' proven performance at more than 185 events.
2014 Partners of the Year:
Promotional Partner of the Year: Cobb County (Ga.) Water System's robust
rebate program for WaterSense labeled toilets contributed to a decrease in
the county's annual average daily water use by 10 million gallons per day
compared to 2010. This is the third WaterSense Promotional Partner of the
Year award for Cobb County, which also promoted WaterSense campaigns in its
Water $aver quarterly e-newsletter and via Twitter with the #fixaleak and
#showerbetter hashtags.
Promotional Partner of the Year: Colorado Springs (Colo.) Utilities earned
its second WaterSense Promotional Partner of the Year award by hosting more
than 20,000 visitors in its Conservation and Environmental Center. The
center displayed WaterSense labeled products, a water savings comparison
between labeled products and less efficient fixtures, and facts about the
water, energy and cost savings achieved with WaterSense labeled products.
Manufacturer Partner of the Year: Delta Faucet Company, (Indianapolis, In.)
a three-time Manufacturer Partner of the Year, created an online faucet
video gallery and website that featured WaterSense labeled products in more
than 20 videos, collectively receiving more than 38,000 views.
Manufacturer Partner of the Year: HydroPoint Data Systems (Petaluma,
Calif.) helped customers sustain their water savings in 2013 with the
release of a Water Budget Manager tool that allows users to see, track and
report a landscape's water consumption and water bills after installing
WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers.
Retailer Partner of the Year: The Home Depot (Atlanta, Ga.) was recognized
by EPA for the third time for its strong efforts to support rebate programs
across the country for WaterSense labeled toilets, showerheads and
irrigation controllers, helping consumers achieve more than $36 million in
product markdowns.
Builder Partner of the Year: KB Home (Los Angeles, Calif.) won its fourth
consecutive WaterSense Builder Partner of the Year award and broke new
ground in 2013 with the introduction of its Double ZeroHouse 2.0 concept to
increase water efficiency and other resource savings.
Professional Certifying Organization Partner of Year: The Irrigation
Association (Falls Church, Va.) received its second award for its efforts
to educate irrigation professionals and contractors about WaterSense and
cross-promote WaterSense's Sprinkler Spruce-Up alongside its Smart
Irrigation Month campaign.
Professional Certifying Organization Partner of Year: Sonoma-Marin (Calif.)
Saving Water Partnership worked with other professional certifying
organizations to collectively certify nearly 200 irrigation professionals
as part of its WaterSense labeled certification program in 2013, bringing
the total number of their certified professionals to 837.
Licensed Certification Provider Partner of the Year: Energy Inspectors
Corporation (Las Vegas, Nev.) inspected 51 WaterSense labeled new homes in
2013 and collaborated with KB Home to educate homeowners about the water-
and energy-saving benefits of WaterSense labeled models.
Six Excellence Awards were also given to partners for their efforts in
specific program areas:
· Athens-Clarke County (Ga.) Public Utilities Department, San Francisco
Public Utilities Commission, and Texas A&M AgriLife Research and
Extension Center in Dallas for Excellence in Outreach and Education
· Denver Water (Co.) for Excellence in Strategic Collaboration
· Puget Sound Energy (Wash.) for Excellence in Promoting WaterSense
labeled Products
Learn more about the 2014 Sustained Excellence Award winner, WaterSense
Partners of the Year, and Excellence Award winners at
www.epa.gov/watersense.
