State
Harrison County Utility Authority board welcomes the spotlight
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
GULFPORT -- The Harrison County Utility Authority, a natural habitat for
engineers and contractors, had some unusual visitors Thursday in its first
meeting since a bribery scandal broke this week -- members of the public
and media.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/12/18/5975794_harrison-county-utility-authority.html?sp=/99/100/&rh=1
Utility authority members troubled by 'breach of public trust'
WLOX
Members of the Harrison County Utility Authority board met for the first
time Thursday since a conspiracy scheme was exposed, Tuesday. As soon as
the gavel called the board meeting to order, Board President Mayor Billy
Hewes addressed the topic on everyone's mind.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27661929/utility-authority-members-troubled-by-breach-of-public-trust
Shale oil: market correction or longterm direction?
by jack.weatherly
Published: December 18,2014
The golden age of hydraulic fracturing began about 10 years ago "as oil and
gas producers began to explore the nation's massive shale formations in
earnest," according to an essay on the American Society of Mechanical
Engineers website.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/12/18/shale-oil-market-correction-longterm-direction/
Aluminum company rumored for Columbus: 'clock' is for website, not plant
site
by jack.weatherly
Published: December 18,2014
There is plenty of evidence that a $1.2 billion aluminum mill will be built
at Columbus.
But when the American Specialty Alloys clock on Internet hits zero today at
about 7 p.m. don't expect a big announcement.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/12/18/aluminum-company-rumored-columbus-clock-website-not-plant-site/
Lamar County may have to pick up policing in Lumberton
Hattiesburg American
PURVIS – Lumberton could be a city without a cash flow within the
next few weeks.
…Winston said the city would have only $2,000 on hand after paying
its bills this month. More ominous: Winston said the city's main
revenue stream, its sales tax revenue, could be commandeered to pay
down about $150,000 overdue on a loan from the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality.
"If they take the sales tax, immediately, we will be unable to fund
the police department," he said.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lumberton/2014/12/18/ben-winston-lamar-county-lumberton-dale-lucus-police/20613257/
'Blue Economy' important for Mississippi's future
by Lisa Monti
Published: December 18,2014
A new study looking at Mississippi's maritime industries spotlights the
importance of shipbuilding, fishing, oceanography and marine technology as
a dominant force in the state's economy. The data show that in the three
coastal counties, about 51,000 people – 35 percent of the entire workforce
– are employed in so- called blue industries.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/12/18/blue-economy-important-mississippis-future/
Port of Gulfport unveils aesthetic landscape plan
WLOX
Along with the expansion and improvements at the Port of Gulfport, plans
are also in the works for a major landscaping project.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27665716/port-of-gulfport-unveils-aesthetic-landscape-plan
Oil Spill
Oil spill claims office to start distribution of second $500 million in
seafood payments next week
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
December 18, 2014 at 11:42 AM
Oil spill claims administrator Patrick Juneau will begin the process of
paying out a second, $500 million round of payments to seafood workers
starting next week. But he warned it could be several months before workers
see the money.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/oil_spill_claims_office_to_sta.html#incart_river
Oil spill claims administrator sets deadline for settlement claims
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
December 18, 2014 at 4:00 PM
Individuals and businesses damaged by the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill
have six months left to file a claim under BP's multibillion-dollar
settlement.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/oil_spill_claims_administrator_1.html#incart_river
National
Dam breaks, tainted wells prompt new look at coal-ash dumps that escaped
EPA review
Washington Post
CHESTER, W.Va. — When work began on a strange new reservoir in the hills
outside this Ohio River town, local officials promoted the project as
offering something for everyone: an aquatic playground for boaters and
sunbathers, and for the local power plant, a dump.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/dam-breaks-tainted-wells-prompt-new-look-at-coal-ash-dumps-that-escaped-epa-review/2014/12/18/801739d6-8619-11e4-b9b7-b8632ae73d25_story.html
U.S. green groups sue EPA over stormwater regulations
Reuters
By Ayesha Rascoe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two environmental groups have sued the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency for what the groups said was failing to
comply with a court order requiring the agency to strengthen regulations
preventing pollution from storm water runoff.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/19/us-usa-environment-water-idUSKBN0JX0Z620141219
EPA chief: Extreme weather boosting climate-change plan
USA Today
WASHINGTON — Extreme weather events from typhoons to heat waves are
helping make the case to Americans on the need to address climate
change, the head of the EPA says, although opposition from
congressional Republicans to the Obama administration's ambitious
plan remains unrelenting.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/18/usa-today-capital-download-epa-gina-mccarthy-climate-change/20548025/
WH: Agencies should factor for climate change in project reviews
The Hill
The White House is floating new guidelines for federal agencies on how to
weigh climate change impacts when reviewing energy and infrastructure
projects.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/227589-wh-advises-agencies-to-weigh-climate-impacts-when-considering
House GOP creates energy, EPA oversight panel
The Hill
House Republicans have created a new Oversight Committee subpanel to
supervise the Obama administration's environmental and energy policies.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/227564-house-gop-creates-energy-epa-oversight-panel
Press Releases
EPA Announces 2014 Annual Environmental Enforcement Results
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released
its annual enforcement and compliance results reflecting a focus on large
cases driving industry compliance and that have a high impact on protecting
public health and the environment.
"By taking on large, high impact enforcement cases, EPA is helping to level
the playing field for companies that play by the rules, while maximizing
our ability to protect the communities we serve across the country," said
Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance. "Despite challenges posed by budget cuts and a
government shutdown, we secured major settlements in key industry sectors
and brought criminal violators to justice. This work resulted in critical
investments in advanced technologies and innovative approaches to reduce
pollution and improve compliance."
In fiscal year 2014, EPA enforcement actions required companies to invest
more than $9.7 billion in actions and equipment to control pollution and
clean up contaminated sites. EPA's cases resulted in $163 million in
combined federal administrative, civil judicial penalties, and criminal
fines. Other results include:
· Reductions of an estimated 141 million pounds of air pollutants,
including 6.7 million pounds of air toxics.
· Reductions of approximately 337 million pounds of water pollutants.
· Clean up of an estimated 856 million cubic yards of contaminated
water/aquifers.
EPA pursues high impact cases that drive compliance across industries:
· Lowe's Home Centers agreed to a corporate-wide compliance program
ensuring contractors nation-wide follow laws to protect children from
dangerous lead paint exposure.
· The nation's second largest natural gas producer, Chesapeake
Appalachia, agreed to restore streams and wetlands damaged from its
operations and implement a comprehensive plan to comply with water
protection laws.
EPA holds criminal violators accountable that threaten the health and
safety of Americans, while directing funds to affected communities:
· EPA's criminal program generated $63 million in fines and
restitution, secured $16 million in court-ordered environmental
projects and sentenced defendants to a combined 155 years of
incarceration.
· After EPA pursued the case, Tonawanda Coke was found guilty and
required to pay a $12.5 million criminal penalty and to fund $12.2
million in community service in New York, for releasing benzene from
its facility into neighboring communities.
EPA enforcement work reduces pollution in the sectors that impact American
communities the most:
· Settlements with Minnesota Power and Wisconsin Electric Power Company
are cutting coal fired power plants emissions, requiring companies to
control pollution and conduct innovative mitigation projects that
promote renewable energy development and protect clean air for local
communities.
· We're reducing dangerous air toxics released from industrial flares
at refineries and chemical plants, requiring companies like Shell and
DuPont to implement monitoring and pollution control technologies.
These efforts are equipping minority and low-income communities with
monitoring data, while reducing toxic air pollution for residents
living near the facilities.
· EPA is working closely with cities such as East Bay MUD (California),
Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (Illinois) and Miami-Dade
County (Florida) to cut discharges of raw sewage and contaminated
stormwater through integrated planning, green infrastructure and
other innovative approaches.
EPA ensures companies and federal facilities take responsibility and clean
up toxic pollution they create.
· Polluted sites across the country are being cleaned up while EPA
conserves and recovers federal funds. This year, settlements will
result in more than $453.7 million in commitments from responsible
parties to clean up Superfund sites, and return $57.7 million to the
Superfund trust.
· When abandoned munitions posed an imminent and substantial
endangerment at the Camp Minden, Louisiana site, EPA acted to ensure
proper cleanup and accountability by the U.S. Army.
Major cases developed in 2014, but not included in fiscal year 2014
statistics demonstrate EPA's ongoing commitment to tough enforcement:
· A settlement with Hyundai-Kia netted a $100 million fine, forfeiture
of emissions credits and more than $50 million invested in compliance
measures helps level the playing field for car companies that follow
the law, and helps reduces greenhouse gas emissions fueling climate
change.
· The largest cleanup settlement in American history, with Anadarko and
Kerr McGee, will put more than $4.4 billion into toxic pollution
cleanup, improving water quality and removing dangerous materials in
tribal and overburdened communities.
· A settlement with Alpha Natural Resources, one of the country's
largest coal companies, requires it to protect water quality in
communities near their coal mining operations in five states.
More information about EPA's Fiscal Year 2014 enforcement results:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-annual-results-fiscal-year-fy-2014
Two Texas Companies and Four Chinese Manufacturers Found to Be in Violation
of Clean Air Act for Selling More than 11,000 Uncertified Motorcycles and
ATVs
EPA has also denied applications for certificates to these companies for
sale of model year 2015 vehicles in the US
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced
that two Texas-based companies—Jonway Motorcycle (USA) Co., Ltd., and
Shenke USA, Inc.—and four manufacturers in China violated the Clean Air Act
by importing and selling more than 11,000 motorcycles and all-terrain
vehicles (ATVs) that did not conform to the specifications that the
companies had certified to EPA or lacked EPA certification.
EPA's Environmental Appeals Board ruled that the companies are responsible
for a $1,258,582 civil penalty for these violations. EPA also denied
applications from Zhejiang Jonway Motorcycle Manufacturing Co., Ltd.,
Shenke USA, Inc., and a third company not part of the case decided by the
Environmental Appeals Board—Huibang USA, Inc.—for certificates of
conformity for model year 2015 highway motorcycles and recreational
vehicles manufactured by Zhejiang Jonway Motorcycle Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Without these certificates, which are like permits, Jonway and Shenke may
not lawfully sell their model year 2015 vehicles in the U.S.
"EPA's vehicle certification regulations are an important way we help
reduce air pollution and protect public health," said Cynthia Giles,
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "Failing to provide honest and accurate information to EPA
compromises our ability to protect clean air for Americans."
Jonway Motorcycle (USA) Co., Ltd. and Shenke USA, Inc., hold the
certificates of conformity for uncertified vehicles. Four Chinese
entities—Jonway Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai Shenke Motorcycle Co., Ltd.,
Zhejiang JMStar Shenke Motorcycle Co., Ltd., and Zhejiang Jonway Motorcycle
Manufacturing Co., Ltd.—manufactured the vehicles.
As EPA reviews future certificate applications for these manufacturers, the
agency will carefully consider all available information, including any
outstanding or unresolved enforcement penalties or actions, when deciding
whether to approve those applications.
The Clean Air Act requires vehicle manufacturers to certify to EPA that
their products will meet applicable federal emission standards to control
air pollution, and every vehicle sold in the U.S. must be covered by an
EPA-issued certificate of conformity. To obtain certificates of conformity,
manufacturers or importers must submit an application to EPA that describes
the engine or vehicle, including its emission control system. The
application must also provide emissions data demonstrating that the engines
and vehicles will meet applicable federal emission standards.
Through inspections of imported vehicles at the Los Angeles/Long Beach
Seaport and Nitro Powersports, LLC, a vehicle retailer in Carrollton,
Texas, EPA discovered that Jonway and Shenke imported 11,043 noncompliant
highway motorcycles and 226 ATVs beginning in model year 2009. The
companies illegally imported and distributed over 80 models of uncertified
vehicles, which were available for purchase across the U.S.
The motorcycles and ATVs were not covered by certificates of conformity
because they had undersized catalysts, adjustable carburetors that were not
described in the corresponding application for certification, were
manufactured by an entity different from the one specified in the
corresponding application for certification, or were manufactured after the
applicable certificate expired. Jonway and Shenke also imported ATVs that
lacked proper warranties and labels.
EPA's investigation also uncovered evidence of recordkeeping violations
related to emissions testing and certification. Jonway Motorcycle (USA)
Co., Ltd. and Shenke USA, Inc. failed to maintain complete emissions test
records for several of the engine families for which they were the
certificate holders. The companies also failed to maintain records on all
of the vehicles covered by their certificates that were imported into the
U.S. as well as failing to timely and completely respond to EPA's request
for information to assess their compliance.
In July and August, 2014, Shenke USA, Inc. and Zhejiang Jonway Motorcycle
Manufacturing Co., Ltd., jointly submitted applications for certificates of
conformity for model year 2015 highway motorcycles and recreational
vehicles. These applications were denied later in August 2014. In September
2014, Huibang USA, Inc. and Zhejiang Jonway Motorcycle Manufacturing Co.,
Ltd., jointly submitted an application for a certificates of conformity for
model year 2015 recreational vehicles. This application was denied in
October 2014.
Highway motorcycles and recreational vehicles emit carbon monoxide, as well
as hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides that contribute to the formation of
ground-level ozone. Breathing carbon monoxide can cause harmful health
effects by reducing oxygen delivery to the body's tissues and organs, like
the heart and brain. Nitrogen oxides can cause or contribute to a variety
of health problems and adverse environmental impacts, such as ground-level
ozone, acid rain, water quality deterioration and visual impairment.
Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health problems, including chest
pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion, and can worsen
bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.
The Environmental Appeals Board's default order and final decision in the
case is available at
http://yosemite.epa.gov/oa/EAB_Web_Docket.nsf/4192ecc36740334585256fc500721f72/af693f1241c52c4e85257d900059758b!OpenDocument
.
For more information on this case, visit
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/jonway-and-shenke-default-order-and-final-decision
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/jonway-and-shenke-default-order-and-final-decision
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/jonway-and-shenke-default-order-and-final-decision
.
