10.16.2014
State
Summit lands drilling fluid company
Clarion Ledger
Newpark Drilling Fluids is locating drilling fluid production
operations in Summit to service the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, an oil
and gas play in southwest Mississippi and Louisiana.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2014/10/15/summit-lands-drilling-fluid-company/17307653/
Itawamba tackles litter pickup with new van
WTVA
FULTON, Miss. (WTVA) -- It takes a lot of man-power to keep county roads
clean, but horsepower can make the job easier.
This minivan is the newest addition to Itawamba County's litter pickup
program.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Itawamba-tackles-litter-pickup-with-new-van/sn1fbJCBsUSxnHzHFEQuVw.cspx
BlueFire Renewables: A small company with big ambitions
Itawamba County Times
Mitchell Stanley, president of Washington-based non-profit group the
National Center for Sustainable Development, called BlueFire Renewables a
small company with big ambitions.
http://itawambatimes.com/2014/10/15/bluefire-renewables-small-company-big-ambitions/
USM reports $10M-plus in savings from energy-efficiency efforts
by MBJ
HATTIESBURG — The University of Southern Mississippi has undertaken
significant changes in energy consumption and efficiency that have resulted
in a savings of more than $10 million since 2009, according to USM.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/10/16/usm-reports-10m-plus-savings-energy-efficiency-efforts/
Oil Spill
Louisiana hopes to get between $1 billion and $4.9 billion in Restore Act
oil spill fine money
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
October 15, 2014 at 8:56 PM
Louisiana hopes to receive between $1 billion and $4.9 billion for coastal
restoration, related infrastructure improvements, scientific studies and
education programs from the federal Restore Act, the Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority was told Wednesday (Oct. 15).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/10/louisiana_hopes_to_get_between.html#incart_river
Oil spill fines head to state, parishes
Daily Comet
Keith Magill
Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 9:01 p.m.
State and parish governments are now clear to apply for an estimated $56
million in oil spill fine money to help stem coastal erosion.
Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes are in line to receive more than $1
million apiece.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20141015/ARTICLES/141019749
Plaintiffs urge courts to reject BP's push to oust oil spill claims program
head
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
October 15, 2014 at 5:36 PM
Plaintiffs' lawyers on Wednesday (Oct. 15) urged a federal judge to block
BP's request to remove Patrick Juneau as head of 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil
spill claim payments, painting the move as an example of the company's
"fundamental and recurring mischaracterization" of the settlement deal.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/10/plaintiffs_ask_judge_to_block.html#incart_river
National
Small businesses urge EPA to drop water rule
The Hill
Small businesses are accusing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of
a "massive power grab" to extend its authority over small bodies of water
like streams, ponds and even puddles.
http://thehill.com/regulation/220831-small-businesses-call-on-epa-to-withdraw-water-regs
EPA offers $3M to replace school bus engines
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Wednesday it will pay
$3 million to help schools replace old bus engines with new models that are
more fuel efficient.
http://thehill.com/regulation/220873-epa-offers-3-million-to-replace-old-dirty-school-bus-engines
EPA Approves New Weed Killer for Engineered Crops
AP
WASHINGTON -The Environmental Protection Agency has approved a new version
of a popular weed killer to be used on genetically modified corn and
soybeans.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/26793720/epa-approves-new-weed-killer-for-engineered-crops
Eleven more GM facilities say no to landfills
USA Today
The landfill-free, zero-waste movement continues in the auto
industry.
General Motors is announcing Thursday that 11 more of its facilities
have achieved landfill-free status, giving it a total of 122 around
the world.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/10/16/gm-landfills/17343235/
Press Releases
Girl Scouts in Mississippi Invited to Launch of the Gulf Awareness Patch
Contacts: Davina Marraccini, 404-562-8293 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main),
marraccini.davina@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Girl Scouts in Mississippi will soon have an opportunity to earn
a "Gulf Awareness Patch," demonstrating their commitment to preserving the
Gulf Coast ecosystem, thanks to a partnership between the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the University of Southern
Mississippi (USM) and the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi.
Brownies (2nd and 3rd grade Girl Scouts) from throughout the state are
invited to the launch of the Gulf Awareness Patch program this Saturday,
Oct. 18, at the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research
Laboratory. Ben Scaggs, EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program Office Director,
together with Lissa Frank, Girl Program Director for the Girl Scouts of
Greater Mississippi, and Christopher Snyder, USM's Marine Education Center
Director, will be on hand to launch the program.
Rain or shine, the Brownies will take part in five activities designed to
educate participants on the importance of conserving the Gulf. Participants
will learn various water quality testing methods and learn how to use a
seine net to collect organisms in the surf zone. There will be a lesson on
climate change and how everyone can make a difference. Participants will
receive a Gulf Awareness Patch upon completion of the event.
The Gulf Awareness Patch will be used as an education and outreach tool,
and can be earned on multiple occasions throughout the calendar year.
Troops may register for the event by visiting the Girl Scouts of Greater
Mississippi website:
http://gsogm.wildapricot.org/event-1766862?CalendarViewType=1&SelectedDate=10/9/2014
University of Southern Mississippi continues to stress energy savings
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) - This is a news release from The University of
Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi has undertaken significant changes
in energy consumption and efficiency that have resulted in a savings of
more than $10 million since 2009.
Facilities across the Hattiesburg campus – including those designated for
academics, athletics, residence life and dining – continue to be examined
to determine amounts of energy used, cost, and the energy-use
infrastructure in each building. The University's Physical Plant reviews
utility data, targets "hot" spots (high-energy consumption areas of campus)
and makes adjustments that have minimal impact on building occupants and
materials.
The Mississippi Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning
(IHL) has mandated that all universities reduce energy consumption by 30
percent by the end of fiscal year 2015. Southern Miss currently operates at
a 29.5 percent reduction. Some important energy-saving efforts undertaken
by the University include:
Equipment and mechanical changes in plants that include the installation of
energy-efficient technological featuresEnergy-efficient lighting
upgradesImplementation of night, weekend and holiday setbacks on heating,
ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC)Education and increased
communication with faculty, staff and students on how they can help reduce
consumption"In addition to our HVAC holiday setbacks, efforts such as
powering down computers and turning off lights go a long way to reduce our
utility consumption," said Dr. Chris Crenshaw, associate vice president for
facilities planning and management. "When the University spends less on
utilities, these energy savings truly impact everyone. The more
participation we receive, the more impactful these savings will be to our
campus community."
In 2009 Southern Miss established an Energy Management Team, consisting of
the superintendent of HVAC, an energy management control specialist, an
electrical engineer and an energy consultant. This group developed an
Energy Management Program that analyzes, reviews and recommends ways to
reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gases.
The team monitors energy usage daily and meets monthly to review energy
issues. Also, a quarterly brainstorming session is held to review new
technologies.
Mississippi Public Universities have saved $70 million over the past eight
years through efforts to reduce energy consumption and increase energy
efficiency, a report made recently to the Board of Trustees revealed. These
savings are the result of a system-wide effort to improve facilities and
equipment, track usage and performance, and leverage in-house expertise and
partnerships to share best practices.
"Many hands were involved in creating these cost savings and they are to be
commended for their hard work," said Trustee Ed Blakeslee, a member of the
system-wide Energy Council. "This demonstrates that our universities are
focused on saving money whenever and wherever possible. Keeping operational
costs down directs more resources to teaching and learning and student
support."
http://www.wdam.com/story/26796454/university-of-southern-mississippi-continues-to-stress-energy-savings
Risk assessment ensures protection of human health, including infants,
children
CONTACT: Cathy Milbourn (News Media Only) Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
202-564-7849 (main) 202-564-4355 (office)
703-308-8162 (Other Inquiries)
October 15, 2014
WASHINGTON--The EPA is registering the herbicide, Enlist Duo with
first-time ever restrictions to manage the problem of resistant weeds. The
pesticide is for use in controlling weeds in corn and soybeans
genetically-engineered (GE) to tolerate 2,4-D and glyphosate. The agency's
decision reflects a large body of science and an understanding of the risk
of pesticides to human health and the environment.
The herbicides 2,4-D and glyphosate are two of the most widely used
herbicides in the world for controlling weeds. Dozens of other countries
including Canada, Mexico, Japan and 26 European Union Members have approved
these pesticides for use on numerous crops and residential lawns. Last
year, Canada approved the use of Enlist Duo for the same uses that EPA is
authorizing.
EPA scientists used highly conservative and protective assumptions to
evaluate human health and ecological risks for the new uses of 2,4-D in
Enlist Duo. The assessments confirm that these uses meet the safety
standards for pesticide registration and, as approved, will be protective
of the public, agricultural workers, and non-target species, including
endangered species.
The agency evaluated the risks to all age groups, from infants to the
elderly, and took into account exposures through food, water, pesticide
drift, and as a result of use around homes. The decision meets the rigorous
Food Quality Protection Act standard of "reasonable certainty of no harm"
to human health.
The approved formulation contains the choline salt of 2,4-D which is less
prone to drift than the other forms of 2,4-D. The Agency has also put in
place restrictions to avoid pesticide drift, including a 30-foot in-field
"no spray" buffer zone around the application area, no pesticide
application when the wind speed is over 15 mph, and only ground
applications are permitted. This action provides an additional tool for the
agricultural community to manage resistant weeds.
To ensure that weeds will not become resistant to 2,4-D and continue
increased herbicide use, EPA is imposing a new, robust set of requirements
on the registrant. These requirements include extensive surveying and
reporting to EPA, grower education and remediation plans. The registration
will expire in six years, allowing EPA to revisit the issue of resistance.
In the future, the agency intends to apply this approach to weed resistance
management for all existing and new herbicides used on herbicide tolerant
crops.
This assessment is the third time in recent years that EPA has evaluated
the safety of 2,4-D and the safety finding is consistent with past
assessments that EPA has performed for 2,4-D. EPA comprehensively reviewed
2,4-D in 2005, and once more in 2012 and now again in 2014 in response to
the current application.
EPA is registering the pesticide in six states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The agency is accepting comments until
November 14, 2014 (30 days) on whether to register Enlist Duo in ten more
states: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi,
Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and North Dakota.
The EPA's final regulatory decision document is available in EPA docket
EPA-HQ-OPP-2014-0195 at www.regulations.gov
Questions and Answers about this final regulatory decision are available
at:
www2.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/registration-enlist-duo .
###
EPA Announces Winning P3 Student Teams for Pioneering Projects to Solve
Environmental Problems
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced
up to $15,000 for each of 42 student teams to pursue projects that deliver
sustainable, alternative approaches to address environmental challenges as
part of EPA's People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) program.
"Each year, the projects and designs created by the P3 teams surpass
expectations," said Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA's
Office of Research and Development. "These students are creating
sustainable solutions for our everyday needs, addressing some of the United
States' most challenging environmental issues and helping create a vibrant,
growing economy."
Past P3 teams have used their winning ideas to form small businesses and
non-profit organizations. Environmental Fuel Research, a 2008 P3 winner
from Drexel University, incorporated their grease waste-trap biofuel
technology into a business enterprise and won a $100,000 EPA Small Business
Innovation Research Phase I award this year. This woman-owned startup,
headquartered in a historically underutilized business (HUB) zone to
encourage economic development, has the potential to revolutionize domestic
biodiesel capacity in the United States.
Since 2004, the P3 Program has provided funding to student teams in all 50
states and Puerto Rico, committing over $10 million to cutting-edge,
sustainable projects designed by university students. Projects from this
year's teams include a new device for generating electricity from sunlight
that could be used on exterior walls of buildings; extending the growing
season for farmers by heating greenhouses with biomass; and reducing diesel
emissions for vehicles while lowering costs and improving fuel economy.
Funding for the P3 projects is divided into two phases. In the first phase,
student teams submit a proposal for a project, and if they are selected,
they compete with other Phase I winners at the National Sustainable Design
Expo in Washington, D.C. At the Expo, teams compete for Phase II funding of
up to $75,000. This is the 11th year for the EPA P3 Program.
Winners include student teams from the following universities:
• University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
• John Brown University, Siloam Springs, Ark.
• Arizona State University, Phoenix, Ariz.
• Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
• University of California, Davis, Davis, Calif.
• University of California, Riverside, Riverside, Calif
• University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn.
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Fla.
• University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
• Columbus State University, Columbus, Ga.
• Southern Polytechnic State University, Marietta, Ga.
• Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Ill.
• Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
• Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Ind.
• Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Ky.
• Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Mass.
• University of Massachusetts- Lowell, Lowell, Mass.
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Mass.
• Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md.
• Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
• Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.
• University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, Minn.
• University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
• Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Miss.
• Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C.
• North Carolina A&T University, Greensboro, N.C.
• University of North Carolina- Charlotte, Charlotte, N.C.
• Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.
• Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, N.Y.
• Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
• Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
• Ohio Northern University, Ada, Ohio
• University of Tulsa, Tulsa, Okla.
• Austin Community College, Austin, Texas
• Norwich University, Northfield, Vt.
• Western Washington University, Bellingham, Wash.
More information on the 2014 P3 Phase I Projects:
http://epa.gov/ncer/2014P3grantees
For more information on the P3 Program: www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/
