11/3/14
State
With smog reductions, EPA could lift barriers to new industry for Greater
Memphis
Tom Charlier
Commercial Appeal
Good weather and a bad economy helped, but Memphis and surrounding areas
have cleaned up smog so effectively that federal regulators could soon
declare the region in compliance with the Clean Air Act — a move that would
make it much easier to recruit manufacturing jobs.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/with-smog-reductions-epa-could-lift-barriers-to-new-industry-for-greater-memphis_38305092
Lake can still be used to water golf course
Meridian Star
By Terri Ferguson Smith
November 2, 2014
Officials will not have to dig a well to irrigate the city-owned
Lakeview Golf Course as planned.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/lake-can-still-be-used-to-water-golf-course/article_c020e572-6247-11e4-8d5a-9f01b63cf7ac.html
Residents advised to stay away from portion of Eubanks Creek
WAPT
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality on Friday issued a
temporary water contact advisory for a portion of Eubanks Creek in Jackson.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/residents-advised-to-stay-away-from-portion-of-eubanks-creek/29464130
Brookhaven Steps Up Recycling Program
Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2014/10/31/brookhaven-steps-up-recycling-program/
Mississippi officials say they've gotten no money from biofuel firm KiOR as
loan deadline hits
By JEFF AMY
Associated Press
JACKSON, Mississippi — Mississippi officials say they didn't get any money
from faltering biofuel firm KiOR on Friday, the deadline for the company to
make a $1.9 million debt payment.
http://m.therepublic.com/view/story/bdf90eb23ccf4666a48046c42603854e/MS--KiOR-Debt
Mississippi ballot includes constitutional protection for hunting, fishing
Ron Maxey
Commercial Appeal
Randy Paton isn't really familiar with the Mississippi Right to Hunt and
Fish Amendment on Tuesday's ballot, but he knows he's in favor if it helps
protects what he views as a basic right.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/mississippi-ballot-includes-constitutional-protection-for-hunting-fishing_31783315
Mississippi health officials open 24-hour Ebola hotline
The Associated Press
November 02, 2014 at 7:03 PM
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi has opened a 24-hour Ebola hotline for
people with questions about the virus.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/11/mississippi_health_officials_o.html#incart_river
Regional
Concerns loom over offshore fracking's extent, oversight
WWL
GULF OF MEXICO — Fracking, the drilling technique that's driven a
boom in land-based shale gas production, has sparked environmental
concerns and public outcry, from Pennsylvania to St. Tammany Parish,
La.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/10/31/offshore-fracking-environmental-concerns/18233029/
Pipeline breaks have cost Sunoco millions
Shreveport Times
MOORINGSPORT – Oil is flowing once again through a 1,000-mile
pipeline that almost four weeks ago spilled thousands of barrels of
crude onto acres of private land and into a bayou, stopping just
short of a major body of water.
http://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/news/local/louisiana/2014/11/01/pipeline-breaks-cost-sunoco-millions/18340559/
National
Planet headed toward 'irreversible' climate damage, UN warns
The Hill
The globe is heading toward "severe, pervasive, and irreversible" climate
change impacts if left "unchecked," according to a new United Nations
report.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/222565-planet-headed-toward-irreversible-climate-damage-un-warns
Feds outline climate change plans
The Hill
The Obama administration released thousands of pages on Friday documenting
federal agencies' vulnerabilities to climate change and what those agencies
plan to do about it.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/222458-38-federal-agencies-outline-climate-threats-adaptation-plans
Opinion
Holland: Kemper plant remains vital to customers, state
Clarion Ledger
In response to your editorial, "Mississippi Power should cover
overrun costs," I want to make it clear that we are not asking our
customers to cover any "overrun" construction costs for the Kemper
County energy facility. We recognize that it has been difficult for
us to accurately forecast cost and schedule, and the company has,
rightfully so, been paying all of those costs above what is
authorized by the Mississippi Public Service Commission.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2014/10/31/holland-kemper-coal-plant-remains-vital/18260451/
The Obama administration v. fracking - this means war: James Varney
James Varney
The Times-Picayune
October 31, 2014 at 4:07 PM
President Barack Obama and his left-wing environmental allies have declared
war on America's energy sector. That's not hyperbole, according to a Senate
committee's minority report; it's a quote.
http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2014/10/the_obama_administration_v_fra.html
Just how bad is your dog for the environment?
LA Times
Who are you people? I never see you, though you must exist, because I
witness daily what you leave behind: fetid brown piles of feces, which I
hope issued from your dog and not from you.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-lewis-dogs-environmentalism-20141102-story.html
Press Releases
EPA Releases Climate Plans on Fifth Anniversary of President Obama's
Sustainability Initiative
Plan Builds Capacity to Protect Human Health and the Environment in a
Changing Climate
Contact: Jason McDonald, (404) 562-9203, mcdonald.jason@epa.gov
ATLANTA--As part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan, EPA today
released plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for
climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and
temperature extremes. These Sustainability Plans and Climate Change
Adaptation Plans coincide with the fifth anniversary of President Obama's
2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance,
which set aggressive energy, climate and environmental targets for
agencies, and detail how EPA's actions have already contributed to reducing
the Federal Government's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 percent
since 2008 – the equivalent of permanently taking 1.8 million cars off the
road.
"Climate change is no longer a distant threat. It is already challenging
our communities and our ability to protect the quality of the air we
breathe and the water we drink," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
"EPA's Adaptation Plan provides the agency with a roadmap for how we will
anticipate and plan for a changing climate, while our Sustainability Plan
identifies specific ways we will help slow the rate of climate change by
reducing our own carbon footprint."
Climate Change Adaptation Plan
When he laid out his Climate Action Plan to cut carbon pollution, prepare
communities for the impacts of climate change, and lead international
efforts to reduce emissions, the president reiterated his commitment to
leading by example in the Federal Government. The climate change impacts
that are hitting communities across the country – ranging from more severe
droughts and wildfires to record heat waves and damaging storms – are also
affecting Federal facilities, operations and resources. The President
directed agencies to assess their vulnerabilities to these impacts in
Climate Change Adaptation Plans and outline how they will protect Federal
programs and taxpayer investments.
The EPA Plan identifies priority actions the Agency will take to
incorporate considerations of climate change into its programs, policies,
rules and operations to ensure they are effective under future climatic
conditions. The Plan reflects input received from States, Tribes and
municipal and county officials during development, as well as comments
received during a formal Tribal consultation process and a 60 day public
comment period during the Winter of 2013.
EPA is also releasing final Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans
from its National Environmental Program Offices and all 10 Regional
Offices. The Implementation Plans, which also reflect responses to public
comment, provide more detail on how EPA Programs and Regions will carry out
the work called for in the agencywide Plan in partnership with states,
tribes, and local governments.
EPA commitments include:
· Incorporating climate adaptation criteria in the Brownsfields grants
process to ensure cleanup actions taken by communities are effective
as the climate changes.
· Integrating considerationsof climate change into the Clean Water
State Revolving Funds process and continue working with States to
ensure investments in water infrastructure are resilient to change in
climate
· Providing communities with the tools they need to increase their
resilience. For example, a Stormwater Calculator and Climate
Adaptation Tool empowers community planners to estimate the amount of
stormwater runoff that they'll have to manage today and in the
future.
Sustainability Plan
To do its part to help prevent the worst impacts of climate change, as the
largest energy user in the Nation, the Federal Government must also lead by
example to reduce its emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases.
EPA's Sustainability Plan outlines how the agency has reduced its
greenhouse gas emissions by 57.4 percent, and it is meeting additional
water, energy and waste targets.
EPA has consistently met or exceed the federal requirements for energy
efficiency, fuel use, renewable energy, and other high-performance
sustainable building metrics. In 2013, for example, EPA exceeded the 24
percent energy intensity reduction from its FY 2003 baseline, reducing its
FY 2013 energy intensity by 25.6 percent from FY 2003. In FY 2013, EPA also
reduced fleet petroleum use by 38.9 percent compared to the FY 2005
baseline, exceeding the goal of 16 percent.
To view EPA's Plan and Implementation Plans:
http://epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/fed-programs/Final-EPA-Adaptation-plans.html
More information about EPA's climate adaptation activities:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/effects/adaptation.html
To view EPA's Sustainability Plan:
http://www.epa.gov/oaintrnt/documents/sspp2014_508.pdf
· climateadaptation_pr.docx
