Merry Christmas and best wishes to you and your family this holiday season!
State
4 dead from severe weather in Jones, Marion counties
Hattiesburg American
COLUMBIA – It was a scene of chaos and destruction Tuesday as an
early-afternoon swath of severe weather swept through the Pine Belt,
resulting in four fatalities and hundreds of damaged homes and
businesses.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/12/23/mississippi-severe-weather-system/20812051/
MDEQ awards solid waste assistance grant to Three Rivers
by Ray Van Dusen
Monroe Journal
JACKSON – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality awarded the
Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority a $75,000 solid waste
assistance grant that will be used for household hazardous waste collection
events in the Spring of 2015. The authority includes Calhoun, Itawamba,
Lafayette, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc and Union counties.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2014/12/21/mdeq-awards-solid-waste-assistance-grant-three-rivers/
Municipalities offering curbside pickup for Christmas trees
Madison County Journal
Duncan Dent
Area municipalities will begin collecting Christmas trees on Friday.
Madison the City is providing curbside pickup and a residents wishing to
recycle the trees will be able to drop them off at Webster Animal Shelter,
located on 525 Post Oak Road. Trees must be stripped of all ornaments and
lights.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=29594
Seven Locations for Christmas Tree Recycling in Harrison County
WXXV
Seven drop-off locations for Christmas trees recycling will be open in
Harrison County between now and January 20, 2015.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Seven-Locations-for-Christmas-Tree-Recycling-in/JaBvWrvaikKgP8mffMqAmA.cspx
Christmas tree recycling available in Tupelo
WTVA
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- When it's time to take your live tree down, where
will it go?
The city of Tupelo is once again accepting live Christmas trees for the
purpose of recycling.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Christmas-tree-recycling-available-in-Tupelo/1OgQ4ssZf0S-MeRm7mlETw.cspx
GP Monticello recognized for environmental excellence
Lawrence County Press
Employees at Georgia-Pacific Corporation's Georgia-Pacific Monticello LLC
received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife
habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council's (WHC) 26th Annual
Symposium, Celebrating Corporate Conservation.
http://lawrencecountypress.com/contentitem/383739/1181/gp-monticello-recognized-for-environmental-excellence
More than 100 pounds of flounder confiscated by MDMR from Pascagoula
seafood dealer
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
December 23, 2014 at 3:37 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- More than 100 pounds of flounder were confiscated
from a Pascagoula seafood dealer because the owner could not produce
records showing where it had been purchased.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/12/more_than_100_pounds_of_flound.html#incart_river
State agriculture values set to top $7B for third year
MBJ
Published: December 24,2014
Despite low prices for many commodities, the overall projected totals for
Mississippi's crop values should top $7 billion for the third straight year
and essentially match the record set in 2013.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2014/12/24/state-agriculture-values-set-top-7b-third-year/
No. 2 leadership role in the state Senate up for grabs
Clarion Ledger
One of first orders of business when the state Legislature convenes
January 6 on the Senate side is filling the void at the No. 2
leadership spot.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/12/23/leadership-role-state-senate-grabs/20837427/
Oil Spill
Oil spill trial by the numbers: How much will BP pay?
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
December 23, 2014 at 4:43 PM
The Justice Department and BP on Friday (Dec. 19) gave a preview of the
arguments they plan to make during the final phase of the oil spill trial.
The trial, which starts Jan. 20, will determine how much in fines BP and
its partners will pay for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil disaster.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/12/bps_oil_spill_fines_by_the_num.html
BP says lower oil price should factor in spill fines
Penalties sought by prosecutors would be too much financial pain, company
states in court papers
Houston Chronicle
By Collin Eaton
December 23, 2014
BP is asking a court that will assess penalties for the Deepwater Horizon
disaster to weigh the effects of the volatile oil market, saying high fines
and low-priced crude could keep its Houston-based U.S. unitin the red five
years after the catastrophic Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/BP-says-lower-oil-price-should-factor-in-spill-5976916.php#/0
Regional
McCrory names new head for environmental agency
WRAL
RALEIGH, N.C. — Gov. Pat McCrory on Tuesday named Don van der Vaart, a
deputy secretary who teaches engineering at North Carolina State
University, to head the state Department of Environment and Natural
Resources.
http://www.wral.com/mccrory-names-new-head-for-environmental-agency/14304229/
National
EPA Ordered to Start Enforcing Rules to Cut Ozone in 2015
Bloomberg
By David Voreacos and Andrew Zajac - Dec 23, 2014
U.S. regulations for reducing ozone pollution must take effect next year,
not several months later as the Environmental Protection Agency sought, a
federal appeals court ruled.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-23/epa-ordered-to-start-enforcing-rules-to-cut-ozone-in-2015.html
Court throws out exceptions in EPA ozone rule
The Hill
An appeals court Tuesday overturned two carve-outs that the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) used to allow states more flexibility in complying
with ozone pollution standards.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/227968-court-throws-out-exceptions-in-epa-ozone-rule
States, biz groups back coal company in EPA climate rule lawsuit
The Hill
Twelve states and an array of business groups asked a federal court to step
in and stop the Obama administration from moving further in its attempt to
limit carbon pollution from power plants.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/227982-states-biz-groups-back-coal-company-in-epa-climate-rule-lawsuit
EPA schedules 3 hearings on ozone rule
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency will host three hearings in different
corners of the country to gather input on its plan to reduce ozone levels.
The hearings will take place Jan. 29 in Washington, D.C., and Arlington,
Texas, and on Feb. 2 in Sacramento, Calif., the agency announced Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/227996-epa-schedules-3-hearings-on-ozone-rule
House, Senate Republicans Seek FERC Response on EPA Power Plant Meetings
Bloomberg
Key Senate and House Republicans are asking each commissioner of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to describe any meetings with the
Environmental Protection Agency regarding the proposed Clean Power Plan.
http://www.bna.com/house-senate-republicans-n17179921694/
Court rules against environmentalists seeking EPA regs for lead bullets
AP
A federal appeals court has ruled against environmentalists who are trying
to force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate spent lead bullets
and lead shot used in hunting and shooting sports.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/24/court-rules-against-environmentalists-seeking-epa-regs-for-lead-bullets/?intcmp=latestnews
Opinion
The Supreme Court's Hidden Climate Change Agenda?
Forbes
GUEST POST WRITTEN BYBrian H. Potts and David R. Zoppo
Mr. Potts and Mr. Zoppo are environmental attorneys at the international
law firm Foley & Lardner LLP.
If you had to decide which air pollutant to regulate from the nation's
fleet of existing power plants—mercury, a toxic substance that adversely
affects human health, or carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that many
scientists believe is contributing to climate change—which would you
choose?
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2014/12/23/the-supreme-courts-hidden-climate-change-agenda/
Press Releases
Gov. Phil Bryant Issues State of Emergency for Marion and Jones Counties
Following Severe Storms and Flooding
JACKSON – Gov. Phil Bryant has issued a state of emergency this evening for
Marion and Jones counties, along with other parts of the state affected by
severe weather. A state of emergency is an administrative tool that
authorizes the use of additional state resources to aid in storm response
efforts.
"I have declared a state of emergency to assist local officials with any
available state resources that are needed in areas affected by severe
weather, specifically in Jones and Marion counties," Gov. Bryant said. "The
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the National Weather Service
are continuing to monitor the situation in the region."
There have been reports of a tornado that moved through Marion County on
Tuesday afternoon.
There have been reports of damage to both homes and businesses in the city
of Columbia due to severe weather. Local power companies were reporting
6,300 customers without power as of 2:45 p.m. in Marion County.
In Jones County there were reports of damaged homes along with 935
customers without power as of 3:30 p.m.
The best way to get up-to-date information during this event is to "Like"
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EPA to Hold Public Hearings in California, Texas and Washington, D.C. on
Proposed Smog Standards
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three
public hearings on the proposed updates to the national air quality
standards for ground-level ozone, also known as smog. EPA has proposed to
strengthen the standards to a level within a range of 65 to 70 parts per
billion to better protect Americans' health and the environment, while
taking comment on a level down to 60 ppb. The agency estimates that the
benefits of meeting the proposed standards will significantly outweigh the
costs, preventing asthma attacks, heart attacks, missed school days and
premature deaths, among other health effects.
WHAT: Public hearings on proposed updates to national air quality standards
for ozone
WHEN: Jan. 29 and Feb. 2, 2015. Each hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and
continue until 7:30 p.m. local time
WHERE:
Jan. 29: Arlington, Texas
Arlington City Hall
101 W. Abram Street
Arlington, Texas, 76010
Jan. 29: Washington
U.S. EPA
William Jefferson Clinton East building, Room 1153
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
Feb. 2: Sacramento, Calif.
California Air Resources Board
Byron Sher Auditorium
1001 "I" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Note: People attending the hearings in Washington and Sacramento will be
required to show valid picture identification to enter the buildings. In
Washington, an additional form of ID may be required for people with
driver's licenses issued by certain states. See
http://www.epa.gov/glo/hearings.html for more information on REAL ID.
The public may register to speak at a specific time at a hearing by
contacting Eloise Shepherd at 919-541-5507 or shepherd.eloise@epa.gov.
People may also register in person on the day of the hearing. EPA will
accept written comments on the proposed standards until March 17, 2015. The
agency will issue a final rule by Oct. 1, 2015.
More information on the proposal and instructions for submitting written
comments: http://www.epa.gov/glo/actions.htm
EPA, Coast Guard Extend Pollution Control Agreement with Royal Caribbean
New advanced technologies allow industry to comply with emission standards,
reduce costs
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Coast
Guard authorized formal exemptions by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines that
allow for the enlargement of the cruise line's research program to develop
and install exhaust gas scrubber systems on its cruise ships. Under the
exemption, as articulated in MARPOL, Royal Caribbean will expand the
program from six to 19 ships.
This advanced emission control technology will be used in waters
surrounding U.S. coasts, known as Emission Control Areas (ECAs). Because
emissions from ocean-going vessels can harm air quality on land, the U.S.
government requires ships operating within the North American and U.S.
Caribbean ECAs to reduce harmful air pollution emissions such as nitrogen
oxide, sulfur oxide, and particulate matter. The ECAs were developed by the
United States and Canada through an agreement with the International
Maritime Organization in order to protect human health and the environment
by significantly reducing air pollution from ocean-going vessels. EPA
estimates that by 2020 the low sulfur ECA requirements will have prevented
as many as 14,000 premature deaths and relieved respiratory symptoms for
nearly 5 million people in the United States and Canada.
Royal Caribbean's research program has developed exhaust gas scrubber
technology that has the potential to provide greater emission reductions
than would be achieved using only ECA compliant low-sulfur fuel, and at a
much lower cost. Under this research program extension, a total of 19
ships covering a range of vessel sizes and applications will begin using
these scrubbers starting in 2015.
These permits provide a temporary relief from the ECA's fuel sulfur content
requirements. This approach will enable Royal Caribbean to meet its
emission requirements through exhaust gas scrubber technology, rather than
with engine and fuel system modifications. This trial program will also
provide valuable information on developing advanced emissions control
technologies for other marine engines.
For more information on EPA's strategy to reduce harmful emissions from
ocean vessels: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm
For more information on Emission Control Areas:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm#emissioncontrol
