State
"Viva Recycling" conference held in Tupelo
WTVA
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA)-- Recycling is big business.
Take Tupelo Recycling for instance where there's hundreds of thousands of
pounds of recyclable materials.
http://www.wtva.com/news/Recycling_Talk_.html
Hinds County creek loaded with garbage
WLBT
HINDS COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -A Utica resident is concerned
about tons of garbage illegally dumped in the Little Tallahala creek on
Prentiss Crump road.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30365912/hinds-county-creek-loaded-with-garbage
Mississippi in multi-state probe of VW's bogus emissions tests
MBJ
Mississippi has joined more than two dozen other states in investigating
whether German car manufacturer Volkswagen used deceptive trade practices
to convince consumers that their cars were environmentally friendly, when
they weren't.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/10/mississippi-in-multi-state-probe-of-vws-bogus-emissions-tests/
Mysterious Fuel Spill Causes Road Closures
WTOK
Philadelphia, Miss. A diesel gas spill led to some major traffic issues in
an already congested part of Philadelphia Tuesday.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Mysterious-Fuel-Spill-Causes-Road-Closures-337714191.html
Jackson awarded a $16.5 million grant
Clarion Ledger
Jackson has been awarded a $16.5 million grant from the U.S.
Department of Transportation for infrastructure improvements along
North State Street and West County Line Road.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/10/27/jackson-awarded-165-million-grant/74674876/
Pascagoula set to begin paving project next month at Point Park
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Pascagoula's Point Park will undergo a paving
project beginning Nov. 2, and the popular park is expected to remain open
during the 45-day construction time.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/pascagoula_set_to_begin_paving.html#incart_river
Mississippi Power ups Kemper cost by $110 million through mid-2016
Sun Herald
Mississippi Power said Tuesday it is still reviewing the construction,
commissioning and startup schedule for the lignite portion of the Kemper
County energy plant and still anticipates it will be operational by
mid-2016, but at a higher cost.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article41610510.html
Case closed on MDOT beer run probe
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Department of Transportation has ended an
investigation into a worker who used an agency truck to carry beer
and passengers to an Ole Miss game.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/10/27/case-closed-mdot-beer-run-probe/74695858/
Oil Spill
Extensive coral damage related to BP spill, study finds
AP
NEW ORLEANS — Gulf coral damage from the massive BP oil spill is more
extensive than previously thought, according to a new study that revealed
sick and dying corals in the rich, deep-water environment off the coasts of
Alabama and Mississippi known as the Pinnacles.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/extensive_coral_damage_related.html#incart_river
Regional
EPA demands Sabal redirect from Floridan Aquifer
Valdosta Daily Times
By Joe Adgie
October 27, 2015 8:30 pm
ATLANTA — The Environmental Protection Agency has recommended the Sabal
Trail Pipeline be redirected away from the Floridan Aquifer, and that would
mean the proposed pipeline would not come through Lowndes County.
http://www.valdostadailytimes.com/news/local_news/epa-demands-sabal-redirect-from-floridan-aquifer/article_3b1df28e-6794-5b75-a7d8-6c388d1d57c7.html
National
EPA proposes to expand Toxic Release Inventory by adding emissions from oil
and gas facilities
By Don Hopey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed requiring large oil
and gas processing facilities to publicly report, for the first time, the
names and amounts of the toxic chemicals they emit to the federal Toxics
Release Inventory.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2015/10/27/EPA-proposal-would-require-oil-and-gas-facilities-to-report-chemicals-to-Toxics-Release-Inventory/stories/201510270202
How critics plan to torpedo Obama's prized climate rule
The Hill
Opponents of President Obama's climate rule for power plants are uniting
behind a legal strategy aimed at blocking the contentious regulations from
taking effect.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/258321-how-critics-plan-to-torpedo-obamas-prized-climate-rule
18 Texas Counties deemed 'nonattainment areas' by EPA due to increased
ozone regulations
SE Texas Record
HOUSTON - On Oct. 1 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency strengthened
the National Ambient Air Quality Standards from 75 parts per billion (ppb)
to 70 ppb nationwide.
http://setexasrecord.com/stories/510644751-18-texas-counties-deemed-nonattainment-areas-by-epa-due-to-increased-ozone-regulations
New regs for Wednesday: 9/11 health insurance, mortgage disclosures,
emissions
The Hill
Emissions: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will open a new
climate rule to public examination.
The EPA will hold public hearings next month in four cities around the
country for the proposed requirements for greenhouse gas emissions from
electric utility generating units.
The public hearings will be held in Pittsburgh, Denver, Atlanta and
Washington, D.C. starting Nov. 12.
http://thehill.com/regulation/258198-new-regs-for-wednesday-9-11-health-insurance-mortgage-disclosures-emissions
Opinion
EPA protects people by enforcing the law
By Gina McCarthy
The Hill
America has come a long way in protecting public health and the environment
over the past 45 years. Since 1970, we've cut air pollution by nearly 70
percent, while our economy has tripled in size. America's environmental
laws have provided a solid foundation for success, but they're only part of
the equation. Without resources to work hand-in-hand with state, local, and
tribal partners to enforce these laws, progress isn't possible. Laws talk
the talk; but enforcement walks the walk.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/258101-epa-protects-people-by-enforcing-the-law
Obama's New Ozone Standard: More Regulations, More Problems
Forbes
Few are happy. Expect a flurry of lawsuits and congressional action against
the Environmental Protection Agency's new ground-level ozone standard. Now
that the EPA's new standard of 70 parts per billion (ppb) — down from 75
ppb — has been published in the Federal Register, environmental groups,
states and industry groups are gearing up to fight the regulation before it
becomes law.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertbradley/2015/10/27/obamas-ozone-standard-a-wrong-road-too-far/
Press Releases
Wicker Works to Block Costly EPA Regulations
Miss. Senator Joins Efforts to Overturn Extreme 'Clean Power Plan'
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., is supporting two measures
aimed at blocking the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) so-called
"Clean Power Plan." The bipartisan proposals authored by Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., (S.J.Res. 23) and Senator Shelley Moore
Capito, R-W.Va., (S.J.Res. 24) would overturn the Obama Administration's
restrictive regulations for new and existing coal-fired power plants.
"Congress is taking strong steps to challenge this regulatory assault,"
Wicker said. "The President's agenda is a blatant overreach that would
destroy jobs and lead to skyrocketing energy costs for people and
businesses in Mississippi. Even those who agree with the goal of these
regulations have said that EPA's plan cannot work for our state."
Under the "Congressional Review Act" (CRA), Congress can overturn actions
by a federal agency, like EPA, following the formal publication and
submission of a rule to Congress. If the two CRAs are enacted into law,
they would nullify both sections of the costly power rule even if portions
of the plan have already gone into effect. Leader McConnell is expected to
schedule votes soon on the two proposals, which are co-authored by Sens.
Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D, respectively.
The Administration's expensive plan consists of two major phases of
implementation:
· First, the finalized regulation would limit the construction of new
coal-fired plants. This portion would effectively ban coal-fired power
plants from being built in the future, thus eliminating the potential
for coal jobs in America.
· Second, the Administration has proposed and finalized a regulation to
cut carbon-dioxide emissions from existing power plants. In effect, this
regulation would force the closures of coal-fired power plants
throughout the country.
Wicker was joined by Mississippi's entire congressional delegation in
sending a letter to EPA, the United States Department of Agriculture, and
the White House Office of Management and Budget calling for an
investigation into whether carbon-dioxide reduction goals associated with
the Clean Power Plan are achievable at a reasonable cost – specifically for
Mississippi.
EPA Settlements Help Protect Public Against Health Hazards from Lead
Exposure
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today
announced 75 enforcement actions from the past year that require renovation
contractors and training providers to protect people from harmful exposure
to lead dust and debris, as required by EPA's Lead-based Paint Renovation,
Repair, and Painting (RRP) regulations.
Seventy-five settlements were filed from October 2014 through September
2015 for renovations performed on pre-1978 homes and child-care facilities,
and each requires that the alleged violator certify its compliance with RRP
regulations to EPA and, in most cases, pay civil penalties to resolve the
alleged violations. The violations cited in the settlements reflect EPA's
goal to reduce illegal and unsafe renovations, and the lead hazards risks
that result from them.
"Ensuring that lead-based paint is properly removed and handled helps
protect children's health when repairs or renovations are performed in
older housing, particularly where kids live" said Cynthia Giles, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
"These cases show that EPA is serious about making sure companies that
break the law are held accountable when they undercut responsible
businesses and put public health at risk."
In three of the settlements, entities agreed to fund voluntary lead
abatement projects, which require removal of lead-based paint and
post-construction testing to ensure that no hazardous conditions remain.
Each of the projects is expected to cost at least $20,000 to complete.
Approximately two-thirds of the cases involved failure to obtain EPA
certification prior to conducting renovations. The cases reflect an
increased focus on ensuring that firms and renovators comply with lead-safe
work practices intended to protect children and others from exposure to
lead dust. More than half of the cases cited violations of work practice
standards and other requirements that directly affect how work is
performed.
Lead dust and debris from improper renovation activities on properties
built prior to 1978 is a major source of lead exposure that can cause lead
poisoning. Although using lead-based paint in dwellings was prohibited
after 1978, it is still present in more than 30 million homes across the
nation, in all types of communities. The RRP Rule provides important
protections for children and others vulnerable to lead exposure. Even low
levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning
problems, lower IQ and hyperactivity, slowed growth, hearing problems and
anemia. In rare cases, ingestion of lead can cause seizures, coma and even
death.
The RRP Rule, which is part of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act, is
intended to ensure that owners and occupants of pre-1978 "target housing"
and "child-occupied facilities" receive information on lead-based paint
hazards before renovations begin, that individuals performing such
renovations are properly trained and certified, and that renovators and
workers follow specific lead-safe work practices during renovations to
reduce the potential for exposure to lead.
The penalties in the settlements address the cited violations. Enforcement
penalties also help deter other violations, and level the playing field for
companies that follow the law. These fines help eliminate the financial
advantage a violator may get by underbidding competitors that are
compliant.
Contractors that are certified under EPA's RRP regulations are encouraged
to display EPA's "Lead-Safe" logo on worker's uniforms, signs, websites,
and other material, as appropriate. Consumers can protect themselves by
looking for the logo before hiring a home contractor, and by being
generally aware of whether a renovator is following lead-safe work
practices when working on their property. Those practices, such as what a
renovator must do to minimize lead dust dispersion, are outlined in EPA's
Renovate Right lead hazard information pamphlet, available at
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/documents/renovaterightbrochure.pdf
Renovators are required to give the pamphlet to property owners and
occupants within 60 days before starting any renovation.
In the following settlements, the companies paid civil penalties in excess
of $25,000, respectively:
• Garden Homes Management, Corp. (CT) paid a penalty of $54,644,
and will perform a window replacement supplemental environmental project
valued at $20,000 for violating certification, firm responsibility,
information distribution, and recordkeeping requirements; and violating
Lead-based Paint Disclosure Rule information distribution and disclosure
requirements.
• Blue Mountain Air, Inc. (CA) paid $51,030 as a penalty for
violating firm certification, recordkeeping, and firm responsibility
requirements.
• Line Construction Company (KS) paid a fine of $33,642 to settle
violations of firm certification, recordkeeping, and information
distribution requirements.
• The Whalley Glass Company (CT) paid a $31,286 penalty for
violating firm certification, firm responsibility, information
distribution, and recordkeeping requirements.
• William DeMarse, d/b/a Bill DeMarse Professional Painting (MI)
paid a fine of $28,545 for non-compliance with firm certification, work
practice, and firm responsibility requirements.
• Cardo Windows, Inc. (NJ) settled, paying a fine of $27,000 for
failing to comply with information distribution and recordkeeping
requirements.
In each of the following cases, EPA recovered more than $20,000 in a
combination of penalties and a Supplemental Environmental Project:
• RDF Inc. d/b/a Paul Davis Restoration (NE) will perform a
supplemental environmental project valued at $27,304, in addition to paying
a penalty of $3,033, for failure to comply with firm responsibility,
recordkeeping, information distribution, and work practice requirements.
• Bordner Installation Group, Inc. (MO) will undertake a
supplemental environmental project valued at $20,000 and pay a penalty of
$2,198 for violating recordkeeping and information distribution rules.
In the following settlements, companies paid civil penalties in excess of
$10,000, respectively:
• Scherrer Engineering and Construction, Inc. (WV) paid $22,500
as a penalty for violating requirements for firm certification, information
distribution, firm responsibility, and work practice standards.
• Colossal Contractors, Inc. (MD) paid a $21,196 penalty for
failing to comply with information distribution, recordkeeping and work
practice requirements.
• JSH Home Improvements, LLC (PA) paid $19,096 as a penalty for
non-compliance with firm certification, firm responsibility, information
distribution, recordkeeping, and work practice requirements.
• Blue Door Painters, Inc. (VA) paid a penalty of $18,000 for
failing to comply with standards for work practices, firm responsibility,
information distribution, and recordkeeping.
• Envirotech, Inc. (MO) paid a penalty of $14,024 for failing to
comply with information distribution, work practice, and firm
responsibility requirements.
• Blue Springs Siding and Windows, LLC (MO) paid $13,566 for
non-compliance with firm certification and recordkeeping requirements.
• AAPCP LC (VA) settled, paying a fine of $12,800 to settle
information distribution violations.
• Pella Windows & Doors (MO) settled with a fine of $12,558 for
violating firm certification and recordkeeping requirements.
• Damage Control & Restoration, Inc. (KS) $12,194 for
non-compliance with information distribution and recordkeeping obligations.
• Whitney Management & Maintenance Co. (CT) paid a penalty of
$10,285 for failing to comply with firm certification, information
distribution, firm responsibility and recordkeeping requirements.
EPA entered into expedited settlement agreements with the companies listed
below. These agreements allow violators to quickly resolve certain minor
lead-based paint offenses (not including work practice violations) with a
reduced penalty, typically $2,000 or less.
• Hatillo, LLC Home Improvement Services (CT)|
• 8AS Construction (NY)
• Total Perfection Construction, Inc. (NY)
• Chesapeake Finishing, Inc. (MD)
• RLS, LLC, (PA)
• Jimmy Johns Construction, LLC (PA)
• Only Bathrooms, LLC (PA)
• Ohio Laborer's Training & Apprenticeship Trust Fund (OH)
• Arch Environmental Group, Inc. (MI)
• Northern Environmental Consultants, LLC (MI)
• Fortune Homes, Inc. (CO)
• Gold Spring International, Inc. (CA)
• JUV, Inc. (CA)
• Southwest Construction & Property Management (CA)
• KCK Builders, Inc. (CA)
• Taber Construction, Inc. (CA)
• Kitchens By Design, Inc. (CA)
• All Best Builders, Inc. d/b/a All Trusty Builders (CA)
• Wickman Development and Construction (CA)
In the following settlements, the companies paid fines less than $10,000,
respectively, generally reflecting a reduction based on ability to pay.
Every case obtains compliance with RRP regulations.
• DiNuzzo LLC d/b/a DiNuzzo Painting (CT)
• John Fogg Jr. Enterprises, LLC (CT)
• Star Painting, LLC (NJ)
• Integrated Construction Maintenance, LLC (MD)
• J & R Builders, LLC (WV)
• Elk Custom Homes Contracting, Inc. (PA)
• Mark Ferrar, Hawk Mountain Soda Blasting & MARCAT VT, LLC (PA)
• CertaPro Main Line Painters (PA)
• Robert W. Heh, Jr. Construction Co., d/b/a Window Depot USA
(PA)
• American Remodeling and Roofing, Inc. (PA)
• Zook Quality Builders (PA)
• Window World Penn-Ohio, LLC (OH)
• The Door Store of Louisville, LLC (KY)
• Castillo Construction Services, Inc. (FL)
• Perdue Builders (KY)
• Allied Doors South Florida, LLC (FL)
• Paul Sellars General Contractor (KY)
• Tiny's Construction, LLC (TN)
• Hammond and Brandt Builders, LLC (TN)
• The Clinard Co., Inc. d/b/a Clinard Home Improvement (TN)
• Omni Services, LLC (SC)
• The Glass Guru (FL)
• Rohrer Group, Inc. d/b/a Window World of Akron, Ohio (OH)
• Capitol Painting & Decorating (IL)
• Matthew Young (MO)
• Home Performance Services, LLC (MO)
• Custom Builders Russellville, Inc. (MO)
• Accent Systems, Inc. d/b/a Accent DKI (NE)
• Tony Kapple d/b/a Kapples Building Remodeling (IA)
• JakeCo Painting, LLC (MO)
• Springer Building & Design, Inc. (KS)
• Housemasters Contracting Co. (MO)
• Brown Restoration, Inc. (MO)
• Dynamic Specialties, Inc. d/b/a Dynamic Porch & Patio (MO)
• Repairs Unlimited (KS)
• Bielenberg Builders, Inc. (NE)
• C & W Harrison (MO)
• Superior Inspection Services, Inc. (OR)
More information about the RRP Rule and how contractors can get certified
is available at
http://www2.epa.gov/lead/renovation-repair-and-painting-program
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
News Clippings 10/27/15
State
Water Contact Advisory Issued for Riverdale Creek
WCBI
BY EMILY CASSULO · OCTOBER 26, 2015
JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) — The Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Monday for the
lower segment of Riverdale Creek in Grenada.
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/water-contact-advisory-issued-for-riverdale-creek/
Water contact advisory issued for Grenada creek
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (News Release) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality
(MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Monday for the lower segment of
Riverdale Creek in Grenada.
http://www.wtva.com/news/Water_contact_advisory_issued_in_Grenada_County.html
Mississippi lifts burn ban statewide
AP
Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation lifting the statewide burn ban
that has been in force since Oct. 20.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/mississippi_lifts_burn_ban_sta.html#incart_river
Commissioners inspect levee
Bolivar Commercial
The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board conducted its 119th annual
inspection recently to show the commissioners and invited guests the
condition of the levee.
http://www.bolivarcommercial.com/newsx/item/2972-commissioners-inspect-levee
UM professor discovers new species
Oxford Eagle
A University of Mississippi biologist collaborated as part of an
international research team on the discovery of a new species of the
Galapagos giant tortoise, findings that are included in the Oct. 21 issue
of PLoS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Public Library of
Science.
http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2015/10/26/um-professor-discovers-new-species/
Oil Spill
Escambia RESTORE Projects Rated
WUWF
Another step is taken in funding projects in Escambia County, with RESTORE
Act money from the BP oil spill.
http://wuwf.org/post/escambia-restore-projects-rated
Alabama lawyers clean up in BP oil settlement
Al.com
Alabama lawyers are due about $20 million in legal fees connected to the
2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/alabama_lawyers_clean_up_in_bp.html
Regional
Gulf officials argue for shift in managing fishery
Clarion Ledger
WASHINGTON – Gulf Coast officials, joined by charter boat operators
from Mississippi, are urging Congress to pass legislation that would
shift management of the red snapper fishery to states, saying they
would do a much better job.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/10/26/gulf-officials-argue-shift-managing-fishery/74632610/
Feds appeal $3 billion MR-GO restoration ruling against the Army Corps of
Engineers
Times-Picayune
The U.S. Justice Department on Monday appealed a New Orleans federal
judge's decision that the Army Corps of Engineers must pay the full $3
billion cost of restoring wetlands destroyed by the agency's improper
construction and maintenance of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet shipping
shortcut.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/feds_appeal_3_billion_mr-go_re.html#incart_river
Homeowners faced with big bills to fix dams deemed unsafe
AP
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - People who live around dozens of lakes in South
Carolina are under emergency orders to repair or replace dams that ruptured
or were deemed unsafe by inspectors after the historic rains this month,
and they face staggering bills ranging from thousands of dollars to perhaps
millions.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30353313/homeowners-faced-with-big-bills-to-fix-dams-deemed-unsafe?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
National
New Database Tracks Top Environment, Health and Safety Violators
WSJ
The oil and gas, pharmaceutical and utility sectors top the list of a new
corporate misconduct database that tracks U.S. environmental, health and
safety violations of parent and subsidiary companies.
http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2015/10/27/new-database-tracks-top-environment-health-and-safety-violators/
Hickenlooper to seek high court opinion on AG Clean Power Plan suit
Governor says he is concerned by Cynthia Coffman's joining multi-state EPA
lawsuit
By Jesse Paul
The Denver Post
Gov. John Hickenlooper said Monday he will seek the Colorado Supreme
Court's opinion on the legality of Attorney General Cynthia Coffman's
lawsuit to stop implementation of the Clean Power Plan.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_29025307/hickenlooper-seek-high-court-opinion-ag-clean-power
Coal company sues over 'destructive' EPA ozone standards
The Hill
Murray Energy Corp. has filed the first lawsuit against the Obama
administration's new ozone rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/258129-coal-company-sues-over-epa-ozone-standards
EPA: Remedy to Landfill Fire to Come in 2015
AP
A plan to make sure an underground St. Louis-area landfill fire doesn't
reach a cache of Cold War-era nuclear waste buried nearby will come before
the end of 2015, an Environmental Protection Agency administrator said
Monday.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-remedy-landfill-fire-2017-34747208
Press Releases
Statewide Burn Ban Lifted
JACKSON—At the request and advice of the Mississippi Forestry Commission,
Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation lifting the statewide burn ban
that has been in force since Oct. 20.
Local jurisdictions have the authority to issue burn bans, and residents
should verify with their local governments whether a ban is in place prior
to engaging in outdoor burning.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission will continue to monitor conditions and
will issue public updates on burn bans as needed.
To report a wildfire, dial 911 or contact the Mississippi Forestry
Commission Central Dispatch region in your area:
· Northwest Dispatch: 1-877-226-5414
· Northeast Dispatch: 1-800-681-8760
· Southwest Dispatch: 1-888-823-3473
· South Central Dispatch: 1-800-736-9115
· Southeast Dispatch: 1-800-240-5161
For a list of counties included in each dispatch district and for a
printable map of Mississippi Forestry Commission Central Dispatch Regions,
visit http://www.mfc.ms.gov/wildfire-report.php
To learn more about wildfire prevention or to find out if your county is
still under a burn ban, visit http://www.mfc.ms.gov/.
###
GOV. BRYANT DECLARES FALL SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDENESS WEEK
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant declares Oct. 26-30 Fall Severe Weather
Preparedness Week in Mississippi.
Mississippi is entering the severe weather season seen each year as the
seasons change. According to the National Weather Service, from 1950 to
2014 the state saw 1,921 tornadoes with 486 of them striking in the months
of October, November and December. The most active tornado month in
Mississippi is April with 365 tornadoes.
On Dec. 23, 2014, a long lived, persistent storm tracked across Marion,
Lamar and Jones counties, producing multiple tornadoes and killing five
people. This storm devastated Columbia and parts of Laurel just two days
before Christmas.
"Mississippi is accustomed to responding to a variety of weather
conditions, but it is important to remember that preparedness begins at
home," said Gov. Bryant. "Sit down with your family and review your plan
today. Know what you and your loved ones will do and where you will go if
severe weather threatens your community."
The National Weather Service will issue a statewide test tornado warning on
NOAA weather radios at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. Schools,
government agencies and businesses throughout the state are encouraged to
participate in the tornado drill. If there is an actual threat of severe
weather, the test will take place on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015.
"To echo what Gov. Bryant said, I urge all Mississippians to sit down at
the dinner table and go over their plan," said MEMA Director Robert Latham.
"I want to especially emphasize people who live in mobile or manufactured
homes to find safe haven in their areas."
The federal, state and local governments have invested millions of dollars
in nearly 100 safe rooms across Mississippi that are intended to protect
citizens from severe weather. The buildings are constructed to withstand
200 mph winds. Check with your county emergency manager to find out the
closest one in your area.
MEMA and the NWS will focus on specific types of severe weather each day of
the week on social media and websites. The outline is as follows:
· Monday, Oct. 26: Severe Thunderstorms. Lightning, large hail and
damaging winds from severe storms are much more frequent than
tornadoes in the South.
· Tuesday, Oct. 27: Flooding and Flash Flooding. Flooding is the number
one cause of weather-related deaths behind heat. Remember… Turn
Around, Don't Drown.
· Wednesday, Oct. 28: Tornado Safety. Repeatedly, people survive people
survive tornadoes by knowing weather safety rules and by taking
appropriate and timely action. A statewide tornado drill will be
conducted at 9:15 a.m.
· Thursday, Oct. 29: Snow and Ice. Surprisingly, these winter events
can affect the Magnolia State before winter officially begins in late
December.
· Friday, Oct. 30: Extreme Cold and Wind Chill. Know what they are and
how to prepare and protect yourself and your home.
"Weather conditions in Mississippi have been very quiet for the last 6
months, but the weather pattern is changing to one that is more favorable
for severe weather for the rest of the fall season," said Steve Wilkinson,
NWS Jackson Warning Coordination Meteorologist.
Local weather information and alerts are available through the NWS online
at the following websites:
· Central Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/jan.
· Coastal Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/mob or
www.srh.noaa.gov/lix.
· Northern Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/meg.
There are several ways to receive severe weather warnings, like a NOAA
weather radio, or one of several applications on mobile devices. A number
of free mobile applications are available for download on smart phones,
which can alert you when a watch or warning is issued for your area.
For detailed preparedness information, contact your county emergency
management agency, or go to MEMA's website at www.msema.org. The best way
to get up-to-date information is to "Like" MEMA and the National Weather
Service on Facebook, or "Follow" us on twitter.
###
Fiscal Year 2016 Guidelines for EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and
Revolving Loan Fund Grants now Available
Contact: James Pinkney, 404-562-9183 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main),
pinkney.james@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Fiscal Year
2016 Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund
Grants. The Requests for Proposals for each of the three grants are
available on EPA's Brownfields Program webpage: EPA Brownfields Grant
Guidelines.
The webpage also contains other documents to assist applicants. These
include a Summary of Guideline Changes from the previous solicitations,
Assessment and Cleanup Guideline Checklists, Frequently Asked Questions,
and a Grants.gov Tip Sheet. Further assistance will be provided in a
Brownfields Grant Writing Webinar scheduled for November 10, 2015 at 2:00
pm EST. This free EPA Webinar will be announced and posted in the next few
weeks on the EPA webpage.
Proposals must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by
December 18, 2015.
One addition to previous year's Assessment Guidelines is the inclusion of
regional priorities. The Region 4 priority is providing assistance to
Communities That Have Limited In-House Capacity to Manage Brownfields
Projects. The priority is for projects that provide support to communities
that have limited capacity or administrative infrastructure to effectively
manage brownfields programs. Proposals that include partnerships among
governmental entities having shared jurisdiction over the targeted sites
(e.g. state, regional authorities, local governments) relate to this
priority.
The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act
requires the EPA to publish guidance to assist applicants in preparing
proposals for grants to assess and clean up brownfield sites. EPA's
Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes,
and nonprofits to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse
brownfield sites. Guidelines are published for applying for a) Assessment
Grants, which are used to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct
planning (including cleanup planning) and community involvement related to
brownfield sites; b) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants, which
are used to capitalize a revolving fund and to make loans and provide
subgrants to conduct cleanup activities at brownfield sites; and c)
Brownfields Cleanup Grants, which are used to conduct cleanup activities at
a specific brownfield site owned by the applicant.
The total funding available under the national competitions for Assessment,
Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund grants is estimated at $54.5 million
subject to the availability of funds and other applicable considerations.
EPA anticipates awarding about 151 Assessment grants estimated at $34.1
million, 60 Cleanup grants estimated at $11.9 million, and 12 Revolving
Loan Fund grants estimated at $8.5 million.
The Agency's brownfields grants provide communities with the necessary
funding to restore America's land, boost local economies, preserve
greenspace and create jobs while protecting public health.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Provides Funding for More Than 1,100 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency |
| Projects Nationwide |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Funding supports solar and other renewable energy projects to create jobs and promote |
| energy independence |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA|
|is awarding loans and grants that will help more than 1,100 rural small businesses and |
|agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding |
|is for energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems. USDA is |
|financing projects in every state, as well as in the Virgin Islands, the Western |
|Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. |
| |
| |
|"More rural business owners and ag producers are incorporating energy-saving measures |
|into their business plans," Vilsack said. "These actions improve an operation's bottom |
|line and help reduce its carbon footprint. This funding will help incorporate renewable|
|energy and energy efficiency technology and reduce energy costs. But beyond the local |
|benefits seen by a company saving energy costs and the global benefits of reducing |
|carbon emissions, this funding will also create American jobs by supporting energy |
|production and efficiency installations that are made in rural America." |
| |
| |
|USDA is providing $102 million in loan guarantees and $71 million in grants for 1,114 |
|projects financed through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Among the |
|projects, nearly $6 million is being awarded for 17 anaerobic digesters in California, |
|Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. In |
|total, these projects are expected to generate and/or save 906 million kilowatt hours |
|(KWh) of energy – enough to power more than 83,675 homes for a year and cut carbon |
|pollution by an estimated 455,000 metric tons. That is the equivalent of taking more |
|than 131,500 cars off the road for a year. |
| |
| |
|The owners of Parker Farms in Ripley, Tenn., are receiving a $45,000 REAP grant to help|
|finance the installation of a 50 kilowatt solar system that was installed late last |
|year. The system has lowered the grain farm's average monthly electric bill by $800 – |
|from $1,140 to $340. That is a savings of nearly $10,000 a year. The solar system |
|covers more than 70 percent of the farm's annual electric costs. Parker Farms |
|participates in the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Green Power Providers program |
|and sells 100 percent of its solar electricity to TVA at a premium. |
| |
| |
|Fresh Air Energy XVI, LLC is receiving a $3.8 million loan guarantee to finance a 6.5 |
|megawatt solar array in Greene County, North Carolina. The project is expected to |
|produce enough energy to power 1,000 average-sized homes for a year. This is one of |
|several loans the company is receiving to expand the use of solar energy in the state. |
| |
| |
|In Pearl City, Hawaii, the owner of the wholesale bakery "The Patisserie, Inc." is |
|being awarded a $256,000 loan guarantee and a $128,000 grant to install a photovoltaic |
|system. It is expected to generate 172,000 kilowatts of energy annually and reduce |
|energy use by nearly 40 percent. |
| |
| |
|Congress created the REAP program in the 2002 Farm Bill. Because of the success of the |
|program, Congress reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill with guaranteed funding of at |
|least $50 million annually for the duration of the five-year bill. The 2014 Farm Bill |
|builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past seven years while |
|achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. |
| |
| |
|Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable |
|energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduced energy costs for rural |
|businesses nationwide. During this period, USDA has provided almost $360 million in |
|grants and $430 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small |
|business owners. When operational, these projects will generate/save an estimated 8.4 |
|million megawatt hours – enough to power more than 760,000 homes for a year and reduce |
|greenhouse gas emissions by almost 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That's the |
|equivalent of removing more than 1 million cars from the road. |
| |
| |
|Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the |
|terms of the loan or grant agreement. |
| |
| |
|In addition to the grants announced today, USDA is reminding eligible recipients that |
|the department is accepting applications for future REAP funding. For application |
|deadlines and details on how to apply, contact a USDA state energy coordinator, or see |
|page 60349 of the October 6 Federal Register. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and |
|resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these |
|investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have |
|empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, |
|small towns and rural communities. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Water Contact Advisory Issued for Riverdale Creek
WCBI
BY EMILY CASSULO · OCTOBER 26, 2015
JACKSON, Miss. (PRESS RELEASE) — The Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Monday for the
lower segment of Riverdale Creek in Grenada.
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/water-contact-advisory-issued-for-riverdale-creek/
Water contact advisory issued for Grenada creek
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (News Release) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality
(MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Monday for the lower segment of
Riverdale Creek in Grenada.
http://www.wtva.com/news/Water_contact_advisory_issued_in_Grenada_County.html
Mississippi lifts burn ban statewide
AP
Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation lifting the statewide burn ban
that has been in force since Oct. 20.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/mississippi_lifts_burn_ban_sta.html#incart_river
Commissioners inspect levee
Bolivar Commercial
The Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board conducted its 119th annual
inspection recently to show the commissioners and invited guests the
condition of the levee.
http://www.bolivarcommercial.com/newsx/item/2972-commissioners-inspect-levee
UM professor discovers new species
Oxford Eagle
A University of Mississippi biologist collaborated as part of an
international research team on the discovery of a new species of the
Galapagos giant tortoise, findings that are included in the Oct. 21 issue
of PLoS ONE, a peer-reviewed journal published by the Public Library of
Science.
http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2015/10/26/um-professor-discovers-new-species/
Oil Spill
Escambia RESTORE Projects Rated
WUWF
Another step is taken in funding projects in Escambia County, with RESTORE
Act money from the BP oil spill.
http://wuwf.org/post/escambia-restore-projects-rated
Alabama lawyers clean up in BP oil settlement
Al.com
Alabama lawyers are due about $20 million in legal fees connected to the
2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/alabama_lawyers_clean_up_in_bp.html
Regional
Gulf officials argue for shift in managing fishery
Clarion Ledger
WASHINGTON – Gulf Coast officials, joined by charter boat operators
from Mississippi, are urging Congress to pass legislation that would
shift management of the red snapper fishery to states, saying they
would do a much better job.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/10/26/gulf-officials-argue-shift-managing-fishery/74632610/
Feds appeal $3 billion MR-GO restoration ruling against the Army Corps of
Engineers
Times-Picayune
The U.S. Justice Department on Monday appealed a New Orleans federal
judge's decision that the Army Corps of Engineers must pay the full $3
billion cost of restoring wetlands destroyed by the agency's improper
construction and maintenance of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet shipping
shortcut.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/feds_appeal_3_billion_mr-go_re.html#incart_river
Homeowners faced with big bills to fix dams deemed unsafe
AP
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - People who live around dozens of lakes in South
Carolina are under emergency orders to repair or replace dams that ruptured
or were deemed unsafe by inspectors after the historic rains this month,
and they face staggering bills ranging from thousands of dollars to perhaps
millions.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30353313/homeowners-faced-with-big-bills-to-fix-dams-deemed-unsafe?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
National
New Database Tracks Top Environment, Health and Safety Violators
WSJ
The oil and gas, pharmaceutical and utility sectors top the list of a new
corporate misconduct database that tracks U.S. environmental, health and
safety violations of parent and subsidiary companies.
http://blogs.wsj.com/riskandcompliance/2015/10/27/new-database-tracks-top-environment-health-and-safety-violators/
Hickenlooper to seek high court opinion on AG Clean Power Plan suit
Governor says he is concerned by Cynthia Coffman's joining multi-state EPA
lawsuit
By Jesse Paul
The Denver Post
Gov. John Hickenlooper said Monday he will seek the Colorado Supreme
Court's opinion on the legality of Attorney General Cynthia Coffman's
lawsuit to stop implementation of the Clean Power Plan.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_29025307/hickenlooper-seek-high-court-opinion-ag-clean-power
Coal company sues over 'destructive' EPA ozone standards
The Hill
Murray Energy Corp. has filed the first lawsuit against the Obama
administration's new ozone rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/258129-coal-company-sues-over-epa-ozone-standards
EPA: Remedy to Landfill Fire to Come in 2015
AP
A plan to make sure an underground St. Louis-area landfill fire doesn't
reach a cache of Cold War-era nuclear waste buried nearby will come before
the end of 2015, an Environmental Protection Agency administrator said
Monday.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-remedy-landfill-fire-2017-34747208
Press Releases
Statewide Burn Ban Lifted
JACKSON—At the request and advice of the Mississippi Forestry Commission,
Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation lifting the statewide burn ban
that has been in force since Oct. 20.
Local jurisdictions have the authority to issue burn bans, and residents
should verify with their local governments whether a ban is in place prior
to engaging in outdoor burning.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission will continue to monitor conditions and
will issue public updates on burn bans as needed.
To report a wildfire, dial 911 or contact the Mississippi Forestry
Commission Central Dispatch region in your area:
· Northwest Dispatch: 1-877-226-5414
· Northeast Dispatch: 1-800-681-8760
· Southwest Dispatch: 1-888-823-3473
· South Central Dispatch: 1-800-736-9115
· Southeast Dispatch: 1-800-240-5161
For a list of counties included in each dispatch district and for a
printable map of Mississippi Forestry Commission Central Dispatch Regions,
visit http://www.mfc.ms.gov/wildfire-report.php
To learn more about wildfire prevention or to find out if your county is
still under a burn ban, visit http://www.mfc.ms.gov/.
###
GOV. BRYANT DECLARES FALL SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDENESS WEEK
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant declares Oct. 26-30 Fall Severe Weather
Preparedness Week in Mississippi.
Mississippi is entering the severe weather season seen each year as the
seasons change. According to the National Weather Service, from 1950 to
2014 the state saw 1,921 tornadoes with 486 of them striking in the months
of October, November and December. The most active tornado month in
Mississippi is April with 365 tornadoes.
On Dec. 23, 2014, a long lived, persistent storm tracked across Marion,
Lamar and Jones counties, producing multiple tornadoes and killing five
people. This storm devastated Columbia and parts of Laurel just two days
before Christmas.
"Mississippi is accustomed to responding to a variety of weather
conditions, but it is important to remember that preparedness begins at
home," said Gov. Bryant. "Sit down with your family and review your plan
today. Know what you and your loved ones will do and where you will go if
severe weather threatens your community."
The National Weather Service will issue a statewide test tornado warning on
NOAA weather radios at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015. Schools,
government agencies and businesses throughout the state are encouraged to
participate in the tornado drill. If there is an actual threat of severe
weather, the test will take place on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2015.
"To echo what Gov. Bryant said, I urge all Mississippians to sit down at
the dinner table and go over their plan," said MEMA Director Robert Latham.
"I want to especially emphasize people who live in mobile or manufactured
homes to find safe haven in their areas."
The federal, state and local governments have invested millions of dollars
in nearly 100 safe rooms across Mississippi that are intended to protect
citizens from severe weather. The buildings are constructed to withstand
200 mph winds. Check with your county emergency manager to find out the
closest one in your area.
MEMA and the NWS will focus on specific types of severe weather each day of
the week on social media and websites. The outline is as follows:
· Monday, Oct. 26: Severe Thunderstorms. Lightning, large hail and
damaging winds from severe storms are much more frequent than
tornadoes in the South.
· Tuesday, Oct. 27: Flooding and Flash Flooding. Flooding is the number
one cause of weather-related deaths behind heat. Remember… Turn
Around, Don't Drown.
· Wednesday, Oct. 28: Tornado Safety. Repeatedly, people survive people
survive tornadoes by knowing weather safety rules and by taking
appropriate and timely action. A statewide tornado drill will be
conducted at 9:15 a.m.
· Thursday, Oct. 29: Snow and Ice. Surprisingly, these winter events
can affect the Magnolia State before winter officially begins in late
December.
· Friday, Oct. 30: Extreme Cold and Wind Chill. Know what they are and
how to prepare and protect yourself and your home.
"Weather conditions in Mississippi have been very quiet for the last 6
months, but the weather pattern is changing to one that is more favorable
for severe weather for the rest of the fall season," said Steve Wilkinson,
NWS Jackson Warning Coordination Meteorologist.
Local weather information and alerts are available through the NWS online
at the following websites:
· Central Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/jan.
· Coastal Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/mob or
www.srh.noaa.gov/lix.
· Northern Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/meg.
There are several ways to receive severe weather warnings, like a NOAA
weather radio, or one of several applications on mobile devices. A number
of free mobile applications are available for download on smart phones,
which can alert you when a watch or warning is issued for your area.
For detailed preparedness information, contact your county emergency
management agency, or go to MEMA's website at www.msema.org. The best way
to get up-to-date information is to "Like" MEMA and the National Weather
Service on Facebook, or "Follow" us on twitter.
###
Fiscal Year 2016 Guidelines for EPA Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and
Revolving Loan Fund Grants now Available
Contact: James Pinkney, 404-562-9183 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main),
pinkney.james@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Fiscal Year
2016 Guidelines for Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund
Grants. The Requests for Proposals for each of the three grants are
available on EPA's Brownfields Program webpage: EPA Brownfields Grant
Guidelines.
The webpage also contains other documents to assist applicants. These
include a Summary of Guideline Changes from the previous solicitations,
Assessment and Cleanup Guideline Checklists, Frequently Asked Questions,
and a Grants.gov Tip Sheet. Further assistance will be provided in a
Brownfields Grant Writing Webinar scheduled for November 10, 2015 at 2:00
pm EST. This free EPA Webinar will be announced and posted in the next few
weeks on the EPA webpage.
Proposals must be submitted electronically through www.grants.gov by
December 18, 2015.
One addition to previous year's Assessment Guidelines is the inclusion of
regional priorities. The Region 4 priority is providing assistance to
Communities That Have Limited In-House Capacity to Manage Brownfields
Projects. The priority is for projects that provide support to communities
that have limited capacity or administrative infrastructure to effectively
manage brownfields programs. Proposals that include partnerships among
governmental entities having shared jurisdiction over the targeted sites
(e.g. state, regional authorities, local governments) relate to this
priority.
The Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act
requires the EPA to publish guidance to assist applicants in preparing
proposals for grants to assess and clean up brownfield sites. EPA's
Brownfields Program provides funds to empower states, communities, tribes,
and nonprofits to prevent, inventory, assess, clean up, and reuse
brownfield sites. Guidelines are published for applying for a) Assessment
Grants, which are used to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct
planning (including cleanup planning) and community involvement related to
brownfield sites; b) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Grants, which
are used to capitalize a revolving fund and to make loans and provide
subgrants to conduct cleanup activities at brownfield sites; and c)
Brownfields Cleanup Grants, which are used to conduct cleanup activities at
a specific brownfield site owned by the applicant.
The total funding available under the national competitions for Assessment,
Cleanup, and Revolving Loan Fund grants is estimated at $54.5 million
subject to the availability of funds and other applicable considerations.
EPA anticipates awarding about 151 Assessment grants estimated at $34.1
million, 60 Cleanup grants estimated at $11.9 million, and 12 Revolving
Loan Fund grants estimated at $8.5 million.
The Agency's brownfields grants provide communities with the necessary
funding to restore America's land, boost local economies, preserve
greenspace and create jobs while protecting public health.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Provides Funding for More Than 1,100 Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency |
| Projects Nationwide |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Funding supports solar and other renewable energy projects to create jobs and promote |
| energy independence |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA|
|is awarding loans and grants that will help more than 1,100 rural small businesses and |
|agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding |
|is for energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems. USDA is |
|financing projects in every state, as well as in the Virgin Islands, the Western |
|Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. |
| |
| |
|"More rural business owners and ag producers are incorporating energy-saving measures |
|into their business plans," Vilsack said. "These actions improve an operation's bottom |
|line and help reduce its carbon footprint. This funding will help incorporate renewable|
|energy and energy efficiency technology and reduce energy costs. But beyond the local |
|benefits seen by a company saving energy costs and the global benefits of reducing |
|carbon emissions, this funding will also create American jobs by supporting energy |
|production and efficiency installations that are made in rural America." |
| |
| |
|USDA is providing $102 million in loan guarantees and $71 million in grants for 1,114 |
|projects financed through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Among the |
|projects, nearly $6 million is being awarded for 17 anaerobic digesters in California, |
|Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Washington. In |
|total, these projects are expected to generate and/or save 906 million kilowatt hours |
|(KWh) of energy – enough to power more than 83,675 homes for a year and cut carbon |
|pollution by an estimated 455,000 metric tons. That is the equivalent of taking more |
|than 131,500 cars off the road for a year. |
| |
| |
|The owners of Parker Farms in Ripley, Tenn., are receiving a $45,000 REAP grant to help|
|finance the installation of a 50 kilowatt solar system that was installed late last |
|year. The system has lowered the grain farm's average monthly electric bill by $800 – |
|from $1,140 to $340. That is a savings of nearly $10,000 a year. The solar system |
|covers more than 70 percent of the farm's annual electric costs. Parker Farms |
|participates in the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) Green Power Providers program |
|and sells 100 percent of its solar electricity to TVA at a premium. |
| |
| |
|Fresh Air Energy XVI, LLC is receiving a $3.8 million loan guarantee to finance a 6.5 |
|megawatt solar array in Greene County, North Carolina. The project is expected to |
|produce enough energy to power 1,000 average-sized homes for a year. This is one of |
|several loans the company is receiving to expand the use of solar energy in the state. |
| |
| |
|In Pearl City, Hawaii, the owner of the wholesale bakery "The Patisserie, Inc." is |
|being awarded a $256,000 loan guarantee and a $128,000 grant to install a photovoltaic |
|system. It is expected to generate 172,000 kilowatts of energy annually and reduce |
|energy use by nearly 40 percent. |
| |
| |
|Congress created the REAP program in the 2002 Farm Bill. Because of the success of the |
|program, Congress reauthorized it in the 2014 Farm Bill with guaranteed funding of at |
|least $50 million annually for the duration of the five-year bill. The 2014 Farm Bill |
|builds on historic economic gains in rural America over the past seven years while |
|achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. |
| |
| |
|Since the start of the Obama Administration, REAP has helped finance 10,753 renewable |
|energy and energy efficiency projects that have reduced energy costs for rural |
|businesses nationwide. During this period, USDA has provided almost $360 million in |
|grants and $430 million in loan guarantees to agricultural producers and rural small |
|business owners. When operational, these projects will generate/save an estimated 8.4 |
|million megawatt hours – enough to power more than 760,000 homes for a year and reduce |
|greenhouse gas emissions by almost 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. That's the |
|equivalent of removing more than 1 million cars from the road. |
| |
| |
|Funding of each award announced today is contingent upon the recipient meeting the |
|terms of the loan or grant agreement. |
| |
| |
|In addition to the grants announced today, USDA is reminding eligible recipients that |
|the department is accepting applications for future REAP funding. For application |
|deadlines and details on how to apply, contact a USDA state energy coordinator, or see |
|page 60349 of the October 6 Federal Register. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and |
|resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, these |
|investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have |
|empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America's economy, |
|small towns and rural communities. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Monday, October 26, 2015
News Clippings 10/26/15
State
MDEQ: Chevron Pascagoula spills chemicals again
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- A chemical spill has occurred again at the Chevron Pascagoula
refinery, officials confirmed Friday afternoon.
http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article41217555.html
Chevron spill: 10,000 gallon overflow being cleaned up
WLOX
PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -There has been another mishap at the Chevron
Refinery in Pascagoula. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
confirms 10,000 gallons of an oil product spilled sometime before midnight
Thursday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30336733/chevron-spill-10000-gallon-overflow-being-cleaned-up
Chemical Spill at the Chevron Refinery
WXXV
There has been another chemical spill at the Chevron refinery in
Pascagoula.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Chemical-Spill-at-the-Chevron-Refinery/3ZlC5rmupUiYTzsDMlVg_w.cspx
Forrest County hosts Clean Up Day for non-hazardous waste
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -Forrest County residents got rid of old tires,
scrap metal and other non-hazardous waste during a county and
state-sponsored Clean Up Day Saturday.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30342180/forrest-county-hosts-clean-up-day-for-non-hazardous-waste
Recycling Efforts Continue to Increase
Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2015/10/24/recycling-efforts-continue-to-increase-cases-of-contamination-decline/
MDEQ Lifts Beach Closure in Biloxi
WXXV
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its
Beach Monitoring Program, lifted a beach closure Friday that was issued for
a segment of beach in Biloxi on October 15.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-Lifts-Beach-Closure-in-Biloxi/bd_n4ovmbESTYQePq4-evw.cspx
E-Waste Day at Farmer's Market in Jackson
Clarion Ledger
Donate your unwanted computers, copiers, fax machines, radios, TVs,
and all other electronics today.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2015/10/23/e-waste-day-farmers-market-jackson/74464898/
Mississippi Power's Kemper plant casts a shadow over PSC races
Sun Herald
Mississippi Power can expect tough questions about its Kemper power plant
rate requests, regardless of which candidate wins the Southern District
seat on the Public Service Commission.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article41358846.html
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center moves forward with expansion
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Four years after acquiring prime property near Highway
90, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is moving forward with a major
expansion project.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30337424/lynn-meadows-discovery-center-moves-forward-with-expansion
Gluckstadt attempting to incorporate
Clarion Ledger
Residents in the Madison County town of Gluckstadt are again making
an effort to incorporate.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/10/23/gluckstadt-hopes-incorporate/74470440/
National
Obama Carbon Rules to Face Lawsuits, Congressional Tests
Challengers are expected to focus on whether the EPA exceeded its powers by
pushing utilities to shift to cleaner forms of energy
WSJ
WASHINGTON—What could be a yearslong legal and political battle over the
Obama administration's main climate-change initiative formally kicked off
Friday, with two dozen states filing a lawsuit against regulations aimed at
cutting U.S. carbon emissions.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-carbon-rules-to-face-lawsuits-congressional-tests-1445611059
States sue to block EPA's pollution rule — even as some try to comply
Washington Post
More than two dozen states filed lawsuits Friday seeking to block the Obama
administration's signature climate-change regulation in a wave of
opposition that coincided with new calls from scientists and even former
Republican administration officials for deeper cuts in carbon pollution for
the sake of the planet.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/states-sue-to-block-epas-pollution-rules--even-as-some-try-to-comply/2015/10/23/1002a1de-79c6-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html
Lawsuits pile up against Obama's climate rule
The Hill
A wide range of litigants filed lawsuits Friday against President Obama's
signature climate change rule for power plants, representing a broad group
of business interests.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257958-lawsuits-pile-up-against-obamas-climate-rule
MDEQ: Chevron Pascagoula spills chemicals again
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- A chemical spill has occurred again at the Chevron Pascagoula
refinery, officials confirmed Friday afternoon.
http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article41217555.html
Chevron spill: 10,000 gallon overflow being cleaned up
WLOX
PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) -There has been another mishap at the Chevron
Refinery in Pascagoula. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
confirms 10,000 gallons of an oil product spilled sometime before midnight
Thursday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30336733/chevron-spill-10000-gallon-overflow-being-cleaned-up
Chemical Spill at the Chevron Refinery
WXXV
There has been another chemical spill at the Chevron refinery in
Pascagoula.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Chemical-Spill-at-the-Chevron-Refinery/3ZlC5rmupUiYTzsDMlVg_w.cspx
Forrest County hosts Clean Up Day for non-hazardous waste
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -Forrest County residents got rid of old tires,
scrap metal and other non-hazardous waste during a county and
state-sponsored Clean Up Day Saturday.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30342180/forrest-county-hosts-clean-up-day-for-non-hazardous-waste
Recycling Efforts Continue to Increase
Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2015/10/24/recycling-efforts-continue-to-increase-cases-of-contamination-decline/
MDEQ Lifts Beach Closure in Biloxi
WXXV
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its
Beach Monitoring Program, lifted a beach closure Friday that was issued for
a segment of beach in Biloxi on October 15.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-Lifts-Beach-Closure-in-Biloxi/bd_n4ovmbESTYQePq4-evw.cspx
E-Waste Day at Farmer's Market in Jackson
Clarion Ledger
Donate your unwanted computers, copiers, fax machines, radios, TVs,
and all other electronics today.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2015/10/23/e-waste-day-farmers-market-jackson/74464898/
Mississippi Power's Kemper plant casts a shadow over PSC races
Sun Herald
Mississippi Power can expect tough questions about its Kemper power plant
rate requests, regardless of which candidate wins the Southern District
seat on the Public Service Commission.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article41358846.html
Lynn Meadows Discovery Center moves forward with expansion
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Four years after acquiring prime property near Highway
90, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is moving forward with a major
expansion project.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30337424/lynn-meadows-discovery-center-moves-forward-with-expansion
Gluckstadt attempting to incorporate
Clarion Ledger
Residents in the Madison County town of Gluckstadt are again making
an effort to incorporate.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/10/23/gluckstadt-hopes-incorporate/74470440/
National
Obama Carbon Rules to Face Lawsuits, Congressional Tests
Challengers are expected to focus on whether the EPA exceeded its powers by
pushing utilities to shift to cleaner forms of energy
WSJ
WASHINGTON—What could be a yearslong legal and political battle over the
Obama administration's main climate-change initiative formally kicked off
Friday, with two dozen states filing a lawsuit against regulations aimed at
cutting U.S. carbon emissions.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-carbon-rules-to-face-lawsuits-congressional-tests-1445611059
States sue to block EPA's pollution rule — even as some try to comply
Washington Post
More than two dozen states filed lawsuits Friday seeking to block the Obama
administration's signature climate-change regulation in a wave of
opposition that coincided with new calls from scientists and even former
Republican administration officials for deeper cuts in carbon pollution for
the sake of the planet.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/states-sue-to-block-epas-pollution-rules--even-as-some-try-to-comply/2015/10/23/1002a1de-79c6-11e5-b9c1-f03c48c96ac2_story.html
Lawsuits pile up against Obama's climate rule
The Hill
A wide range of litigants filed lawsuits Friday against President Obama's
signature climate change rule for power plants, representing a broad group
of business interests.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257958-lawsuits-pile-up-against-obamas-climate-rule
Friday, October 23, 2015
Obama Carbon Rules to Face Lawsuits, Congressional Tests
Obama Carbon Rules to Face Lawsuits, Congressional Tests
Challengers are expected to focus on whether the EPA exceeded its powers by
pushing utilities to shift to cleaner forms of energy
WSJ
WASHINGTON—What is expected to be a yearslong legal and political battle
over President Barack Obama's legacy on climate change formally kicked off
Friday, with two dozen states filing a lawsuit against regulations aimed at
cutting U.S. carbon emissions.
The states sued in a Washington-based federal court challenging the
initiative, which seeks to reduce carbon output from hundreds of power
plants across the nation. Congressional Republicans also say they will
introduce measures in the coming week seeking to block the rules.
The moves will put pressure on the administration from the two other
branches of government and, if successful on either front, could cast
uncertainty over the rules into the next presidential administration.
The legal challengers are expected to contest the Environmental Protection
Agency's authority on a range of grounds, some of them little explored by
the courts. Industry associations and companies also are expected to file
separate cases as soon as Friday.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, one of the leaders of the
states' lawsuit, said the EPA rule was illegal and "one of the most
aggressive executive-branch power grabs we've seen in a long time."
Mr. Morrisey said the state challengers later on Friday would ask the court
to block the EPA rules temporarily while they mount their case, an early
legal battle that could provide clues about which side will have the upper
hand in the litigation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), meanwhile, said Friday
that he will lead a mostly Republican-backed effort to invoke a rarely used
legislative tool that enables lawmakers to nullify recently completed rules
with a simple majority vote of both the House and Senate.
The EPA published the rule in the Federal Register on Friday, a necessary
bureaucratic move that clears the way for opponents to mount challenges.
In the works since 2013 and issued in early August, the regulations require
a 32% cut in power-plant carbon emissions by 2030 based on emissions levels
of 2005.
Coal-fired electricity produced about 34% of the U.S.'s electricity in July
and a much larger share in some Midwestern and Appalachian states. The coal
industry is expected to be hit the hardest because coal emits the most
carbon emissions of any power source. Many of the states and politicians
leading the legal and political challenges, including West Virginia and
Kentucky, depend heavily on coal for their economies and electricity.
The EPA is relying upon a seldom-used section of the Clean Air Act called
111(d) as its authority for the rules, which leaves an opening for legal
scrutiny. Challengers are expected to focus on whether the agency exceeded
its powers by pushing utilities to shift to cleaner forms of energy instead
of just focusing on pollution controls at fossil-fuel-fired power plants.
Senior EPA officials say they are confident the rules, known as the Clean
Power Plan, are legally sound.
"The Clean Power Plan has strong scientific and legal foundations, provides
states with broad flexibilities to design and implement plans, and is
clearly within EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act," EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy said Friday.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-carbon-rules-to-face-lawsuits-congressional-tests-1445611059?alg=y
Challengers are expected to focus on whether the EPA exceeded its powers by
pushing utilities to shift to cleaner forms of energy
WSJ
WASHINGTON—What is expected to be a yearslong legal and political battle
over President Barack Obama's legacy on climate change formally kicked off
Friday, with two dozen states filing a lawsuit against regulations aimed at
cutting U.S. carbon emissions.
The states sued in a Washington-based federal court challenging the
initiative, which seeks to reduce carbon output from hundreds of power
plants across the nation. Congressional Republicans also say they will
introduce measures in the coming week seeking to block the rules.
The moves will put pressure on the administration from the two other
branches of government and, if successful on either front, could cast
uncertainty over the rules into the next presidential administration.
The legal challengers are expected to contest the Environmental Protection
Agency's authority on a range of grounds, some of them little explored by
the courts. Industry associations and companies also are expected to file
separate cases as soon as Friday.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, one of the leaders of the
states' lawsuit, said the EPA rule was illegal and "one of the most
aggressive executive-branch power grabs we've seen in a long time."
Mr. Morrisey said the state challengers later on Friday would ask the court
to block the EPA rules temporarily while they mount their case, an early
legal battle that could provide clues about which side will have the upper
hand in the litigation.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), meanwhile, said Friday
that he will lead a mostly Republican-backed effort to invoke a rarely used
legislative tool that enables lawmakers to nullify recently completed rules
with a simple majority vote of both the House and Senate.
The EPA published the rule in the Federal Register on Friday, a necessary
bureaucratic move that clears the way for opponents to mount challenges.
In the works since 2013 and issued in early August, the regulations require
a 32% cut in power-plant carbon emissions by 2030 based on emissions levels
of 2005.
Coal-fired electricity produced about 34% of the U.S.'s electricity in July
and a much larger share in some Midwestern and Appalachian states. The coal
industry is expected to be hit the hardest because coal emits the most
carbon emissions of any power source. Many of the states and politicians
leading the legal and political challenges, including West Virginia and
Kentucky, depend heavily on coal for their economies and electricity.
The EPA is relying upon a seldom-used section of the Clean Air Act called
111(d) as its authority for the rules, which leaves an opening for legal
scrutiny. Challengers are expected to focus on whether the agency exceeded
its powers by pushing utilities to shift to cleaner forms of energy instead
of just focusing on pollution controls at fossil-fuel-fired power plants.
Senior EPA officials say they are confident the rules, known as the Clean
Power Plan, are legally sound.
"The Clean Power Plan has strong scientific and legal foundations, provides
states with broad flexibilities to design and implement plans, and is
clearly within EPA's authority under the Clean Air Act," EPA Administrator
Gina McCarthy said Friday.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-carbon-rules-to-face-lawsuits-congressional-tests-1445611059?alg=y
News Clippings 10/23/15
State
E-Waste and Paper Shred Day
WLBT
Video
http://www.msnewsnow.com/clip/11944302/e-waste-and-paper-shred-day
MS Power's Kemper Co. plant completes first year of operation
WLOX
KEMPER COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Mississippi Power is celebrating a major
milestone. The company's Kemper County power plant has been producing
energy for customers for more than a year.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30328669/ms-powers-kemper-co-plant-completes-first-year-of-operation
18-wheeler Overturned in Saucier
WXXV
Traffic was narrowed to one lane for several hours today in Saucier after
an 18-wheeler overturned.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/18-wheeler-Overturned-in-Saucier/L6j8HOgsWE6HfxziCL1vEQ.cspx
Seraphim Solar to build manufacturing facility in Jackson; says will create
up to 250 jobs
MBJ
Chinese solar panel maker Seraphim Solar announced Wednesday that it will
invest $50 million to open its first U.S. factory in Jackson.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/07/seraphim-solar-to-build-manufacturing-facility-in-jackson-says-will-create-up-to-250-jobs/
Newton to get new water well
Meridian Star
By Bill Graham
Friday, October 23, 2015 4:04 am
The city of Newton is in the process of replacing one of its old,
broken water wells.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/newton-to-get-new-water-well/article_40516774-793c-11e5-817c-8f00105bab80.html
Wild hog population on pace to overwhelm
By Charles Dunagin
Enterprise-Journal
Thursday, October 22, 2015 2:32 pm
Pigs can't fly, but they frequently ride in trailers pulled by pickup
trucks.
Unless they are being hauled to market, that's a ride that needs to be
stopped, according to Cliff Covington, a wildlife specialist with the
Mississippi State University Extension Service, who spoke to the McComb
Rotary Club on Wednesday.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_a727c91e-78f3-11e5-a4eb-ff9f8ea4fc39.html
Oil Spill
Transocean Settlement Going To Alabama General Fund
WKRG
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange
announced late Thursday they'd reached a settlement with the owner of the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig. Transocean has agreed to pay the state $20
million from damages related to the 2010 BP oil disaster.
http://wkrg.com/2015/10/23/transocean-settlement-going-to-alabama-general-fund/
BP settlement contains too little money, restoration for Plaquemines
Parish, parish officials say
Times-Picayune
The proposed $20.8 billion omnibus settlement of federal and state civil
claims against BP for civil fines and environmental damages resulting from
the Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill does not adequately compensate
damages suffered by Plaquemines Parish, attorneys representing the parish
said Thursday night (Oct. 22).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/bp_settlement_contains_too_lit.html
National
EPA: Climate rule on 'sound legal and technical foundation'
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is confident that its landmark
climate rule for power plants will withstand lawsuits, its top air
regulator said.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257748-epa-climate-rule-on-sound-legal-and-technical-foundation
EPA head: Relationship with states never better
The Hill
Federal environmental regulators have never had a "better relationship"
with states than they do now, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Gina McCarthy said Thursday, one day before a new regulation is expected to
attract a bevy of lawsuits from state attorneys general.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257738-epa-head-defends-better-relationship-with-states
Government Report: Lack of Expertise Caused Colorado Mine Spill
Interior Department report says team contracted by EPA underestimated toxic
water built up inside mine
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The U.S. government has concluded that a lack of technical
expertise was the driving factor behind a rupture that spilled three
million gallons of toxic waterinto a Colorado river in August as the
Environmental Protection Agency was trying to clean up an abandoned gold
mine.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/government-report-lack-of-expertise-caused-colorado-mine-spill-1445543749?alg=y
Lumber Liquidators pays $13.2 million for environmental crimes
USA Today
Flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Holdings pleaded guilty Thursday and
agreed to pay $13.2 million in fines and penalties for the illegal
importation of hardwood flooring.
http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2015/10/22/lumber-liquidators-pays-13-2-million-for-environmental-crimes/
New regs for Friday: Coal, furnaces, vending machines
The Hill
Climate: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with a
controversialclimate rule to reduce carbon emissions from coal power
plants.
The EPA announced the new carbon emissions limits this summer but is
formally publishing them in the Federal Register. The rule is aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reversing climate change.
The rule goes into effect in 60 days.
Furnaces: The Department of Energy is delaying new efficiency rules for
residential furnaces.
The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
released a notice of data availability last month it plans to use to inform
its decision about new energy conservation standards for residential
furnaces, but the Department said Thursday it is extending the comment
period to give the public more time to discuss the changes.
The public has until Nov. 6 to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/257721-new-regs-for-friday-coal-furnaces-vending-machines
E-Waste and Paper Shred Day
WLBT
Video
http://www.msnewsnow.com/clip/11944302/e-waste-and-paper-shred-day
MS Power's Kemper Co. plant completes first year of operation
WLOX
KEMPER COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Mississippi Power is celebrating a major
milestone. The company's Kemper County power plant has been producing
energy for customers for more than a year.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30328669/ms-powers-kemper-co-plant-completes-first-year-of-operation
18-wheeler Overturned in Saucier
WXXV
Traffic was narrowed to one lane for several hours today in Saucier after
an 18-wheeler overturned.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/18-wheeler-Overturned-in-Saucier/L6j8HOgsWE6HfxziCL1vEQ.cspx
Seraphim Solar to build manufacturing facility in Jackson; says will create
up to 250 jobs
MBJ
Chinese solar panel maker Seraphim Solar announced Wednesday that it will
invest $50 million to open its first U.S. factory in Jackson.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/07/seraphim-solar-to-build-manufacturing-facility-in-jackson-says-will-create-up-to-250-jobs/
Newton to get new water well
Meridian Star
By Bill Graham
Friday, October 23, 2015 4:04 am
The city of Newton is in the process of replacing one of its old,
broken water wells.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/newton-to-get-new-water-well/article_40516774-793c-11e5-817c-8f00105bab80.html
Wild hog population on pace to overwhelm
By Charles Dunagin
Enterprise-Journal
Thursday, October 22, 2015 2:32 pm
Pigs can't fly, but they frequently ride in trailers pulled by pickup
trucks.
Unless they are being hauled to market, that's a ride that needs to be
stopped, according to Cliff Covington, a wildlife specialist with the
Mississippi State University Extension Service, who spoke to the McComb
Rotary Club on Wednesday.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_a727c91e-78f3-11e5-a4eb-ff9f8ea4fc39.html
Oil Spill
Transocean Settlement Going To Alabama General Fund
WKRG
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and Attorney General Luther Strange
announced late Thursday they'd reached a settlement with the owner of the
Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig. Transocean has agreed to pay the state $20
million from damages related to the 2010 BP oil disaster.
http://wkrg.com/2015/10/23/transocean-settlement-going-to-alabama-general-fund/
BP settlement contains too little money, restoration for Plaquemines
Parish, parish officials say
Times-Picayune
The proposed $20.8 billion omnibus settlement of federal and state civil
claims against BP for civil fines and environmental damages resulting from
the Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill does not adequately compensate
damages suffered by Plaquemines Parish, attorneys representing the parish
said Thursday night (Oct. 22).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/bp_settlement_contains_too_lit.html
National
EPA: Climate rule on 'sound legal and technical foundation'
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is confident that its landmark
climate rule for power plants will withstand lawsuits, its top air
regulator said.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257748-epa-climate-rule-on-sound-legal-and-technical-foundation
EPA head: Relationship with states never better
The Hill
Federal environmental regulators have never had a "better relationship"
with states than they do now, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator
Gina McCarthy said Thursday, one day before a new regulation is expected to
attract a bevy of lawsuits from state attorneys general.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257738-epa-head-defends-better-relationship-with-states
Government Report: Lack of Expertise Caused Colorado Mine Spill
Interior Department report says team contracted by EPA underestimated toxic
water built up inside mine
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The U.S. government has concluded that a lack of technical
expertise was the driving factor behind a rupture that spilled three
million gallons of toxic waterinto a Colorado river in August as the
Environmental Protection Agency was trying to clean up an abandoned gold
mine.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/government-report-lack-of-expertise-caused-colorado-mine-spill-1445543749?alg=y
Lumber Liquidators pays $13.2 million for environmental crimes
USA Today
Flooring retailer Lumber Liquidators Holdings pleaded guilty Thursday and
agreed to pay $13.2 million in fines and penalties for the illegal
importation of hardwood flooring.
http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2015/10/22/lumber-liquidators-pays-13-2-million-for-environmental-crimes/
New regs for Friday: Coal, furnaces, vending machines
The Hill
Climate: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with a
controversialclimate rule to reduce carbon emissions from coal power
plants.
The EPA announced the new carbon emissions limits this summer but is
formally publishing them in the Federal Register. The rule is aimed at
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reversing climate change.
The rule goes into effect in 60 days.
Furnaces: The Department of Energy is delaying new efficiency rules for
residential furnaces.
The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
released a notice of data availability last month it plans to use to inform
its decision about new energy conservation standards for residential
furnaces, but the Department said Thursday it is extending the comment
period to give the public more time to discuss the changes.
The public has until Nov. 6 to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/257721-new-regs-for-friday-coal-furnaces-vending-machines
Thursday, October 22, 2015
News Clippings 10/22/15
State
Hinds County residents reignite fight to stop landfill expansion
WLBT
HINDS COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Landfill owners in Hinds County
want to expand their business, but many folks who live and work near the
area are saying no to the proposed project.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30321007/hinds-county-residents-reignite-fight-to-stop-landfill-expansion
Coast groups attend senate panel hearing to support protecting the
Pascagoula River
Sun Herald
JACKSON -- Jeff Wilkinson told a Coast group outside a state Senate
committee meeting Wednesday, "It seems like every few years we have to
fight something like this."
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article40576788.html
Forrest County to host Clean Up Day for non-hazardous materials
WDAM
FORREST COUNTY (WDAM) -Forrest County residents will have a chance to get
rid of that old refrigerator or TV set they might have sitting in their
garage free-of-charge this weekend.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30317391/forrest-county-hosting-clean-up-day-saturday-for-non-hazardous-materials
Forrest County Clean Up Day
WHLT
FORREST COUNTY,Miss – Residents in Forrest County will be able to properly
dispose of unwanted items this Saturday.
http://whlt.com/2015/10/21/forrest-county-clean-up-day/
Aldermen to consider amendment for storm-water retention structures
Oxford Eagle
When developers wanted to put a storm-water retention pond on the front of
their property, they needed a variance by the Oxford Planning Commission
since the city ordinance classified storm-water retention structures in the
same category as any "structure."
http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2015/10/21/aldermen-to-consider-amendment-for-storm-water-retention-structures/
Gautier joins other coastal governments in effort to challenge current FEMA
flood maps
Mississippi Press
GAUTIER, Mississippi --- City leaders adopted a resolution on Tuesday night
to urge the Mississippi Legislature to appropriate $1.5 million to further
a combined effort of the three coastal counties to obtain more accurate and
consistent flood zone mapping.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/gautier_joins_other_coastal_go.html#incart_river
Ashley Edwards to head Gulf Coast Business Council
Sun Herald
Ashley Edwards, who has served as CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor
Commission since 2013, will become the new president of the Gulf Coast
Business Council effective Dec. 1.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article40779651.html
Oil Spill
La. 1 bridge deal: 10% of offshore revenue OK for infrastructure
Times-Picayune
The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on Wednesday (Oct.
21) approved a compromise proposal that will allow the Louisiana 1 bridge
to be completed with offshore oil money, rather than BP oil disaster fine
money.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/compromise_reached_on_la_1_10.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Lawyer indicted in BP oil spill fraud case
AP
JACKSON, Miss. — A Texas lawyer faces criminal charges after he was accused
of submitting thousands of false claims for damages from the 2010 Gulf of
Mexico oil spill.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/lawyer_indicted_in_bp_oil_spil.html#incart_river
Regional
Historic vote moves 2 Mississippi River sediment diversions toward
construction
Times-Picayune
The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on Wednesday (Oct.
21) voted to allow its staff to begin engineering and design work necessary
to begin building at least two major diversions of Mississippi River
sediment and water to restore wetlands in the Barataria Basin and Breton
Sound, possibly as early as July 2019.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/historic_vote_moves_two_missis.html#incart_river
National
Strong Oklahoma Quakes Linked to Industrial Activity, Study Says
U.S. Geological Survey says wastewater from fracking likely induced
earthquakes
AP
TULSA, Okla.—A sharp rise in earthquakes in Oklahoma in the past 100 years
is likely the result of industrial activities in the energy-rich state,
such as oil and natural gas production, a new study suggests.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/strong-oklahoma-quakes-linked-to-industrial-activity-study-says-1445483701
Opinion
WILL PRIMOS: Let's build on Roosevelt's foundation
Daily Journal
When we visit the places that wildlife call home we marvel at the peace we
find. I for one was lucky to have been able to canoe, hike, ride bikes as
well as hunt or fish in every county of our fine state.
http://djournal.com/opinion/will-primos-lets-build-on-roosevelts-foundation/
Hinds County residents reignite fight to stop landfill expansion
WLBT
HINDS COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Landfill owners in Hinds County
want to expand their business, but many folks who live and work near the
area are saying no to the proposed project.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30321007/hinds-county-residents-reignite-fight-to-stop-landfill-expansion
Coast groups attend senate panel hearing to support protecting the
Pascagoula River
Sun Herald
JACKSON -- Jeff Wilkinson told a Coast group outside a state Senate
committee meeting Wednesday, "It seems like every few years we have to
fight something like this."
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article40576788.html
Forrest County to host Clean Up Day for non-hazardous materials
WDAM
FORREST COUNTY (WDAM) -Forrest County residents will have a chance to get
rid of that old refrigerator or TV set they might have sitting in their
garage free-of-charge this weekend.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30317391/forrest-county-hosting-clean-up-day-saturday-for-non-hazardous-materials
Forrest County Clean Up Day
WHLT
FORREST COUNTY,Miss – Residents in Forrest County will be able to properly
dispose of unwanted items this Saturday.
http://whlt.com/2015/10/21/forrest-county-clean-up-day/
Aldermen to consider amendment for storm-water retention structures
Oxford Eagle
When developers wanted to put a storm-water retention pond on the front of
their property, they needed a variance by the Oxford Planning Commission
since the city ordinance classified storm-water retention structures in the
same category as any "structure."
http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2015/10/21/aldermen-to-consider-amendment-for-storm-water-retention-structures/
Gautier joins other coastal governments in effort to challenge current FEMA
flood maps
Mississippi Press
GAUTIER, Mississippi --- City leaders adopted a resolution on Tuesday night
to urge the Mississippi Legislature to appropriate $1.5 million to further
a combined effort of the three coastal counties to obtain more accurate and
consistent flood zone mapping.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/gautier_joins_other_coastal_go.html#incart_river
Ashley Edwards to head Gulf Coast Business Council
Sun Herald
Ashley Edwards, who has served as CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor
Commission since 2013, will become the new president of the Gulf Coast
Business Council effective Dec. 1.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article40779651.html
Oil Spill
La. 1 bridge deal: 10% of offshore revenue OK for infrastructure
Times-Picayune
The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on Wednesday (Oct.
21) approved a compromise proposal that will allow the Louisiana 1 bridge
to be completed with offshore oil money, rather than BP oil disaster fine
money.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/compromise_reached_on_la_1_10.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Lawyer indicted in BP oil spill fraud case
AP
JACKSON, Miss. — A Texas lawyer faces criminal charges after he was accused
of submitting thousands of false claims for damages from the 2010 Gulf of
Mexico oil spill.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/lawyer_indicted_in_bp_oil_spil.html#incart_river
Regional
Historic vote moves 2 Mississippi River sediment diversions toward
construction
Times-Picayune
The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on Wednesday (Oct.
21) voted to allow its staff to begin engineering and design work necessary
to begin building at least two major diversions of Mississippi River
sediment and water to restore wetlands in the Barataria Basin and Breton
Sound, possibly as early as July 2019.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/10/historic_vote_moves_two_missis.html#incart_river
National
Strong Oklahoma Quakes Linked to Industrial Activity, Study Says
U.S. Geological Survey says wastewater from fracking likely induced
earthquakes
AP
TULSA, Okla.—A sharp rise in earthquakes in Oklahoma in the past 100 years
is likely the result of industrial activities in the energy-rich state,
such as oil and natural gas production, a new study suggests.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/strong-oklahoma-quakes-linked-to-industrial-activity-study-says-1445483701
Opinion
WILL PRIMOS: Let's build on Roosevelt's foundation
Daily Journal
When we visit the places that wildlife call home we marvel at the peace we
find. I for one was lucky to have been able to canoe, hike, ride bikes as
well as hunt or fish in every county of our fine state.
http://djournal.com/opinion/will-primos-lets-build-on-roosevelts-foundation/
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
News Clippings 10/21/15
Permit flub may delay Ocean Springs Harbor improvement project
Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A permit problem may ultimately delay the
Ocean Springs Harbor improvement project by up to 4-6 weeks, city officials
said Tuesday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/permit_snafu_may_delay_ocean_s.html#incart_river
Water Quality Testing at USM Gulf Park
WXXV
Students at the USM Gulf Park campus hope to improve the water quality of
the Gulf Coast by conducting several tests on their campus.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Water-Quality-Testing-at-USM-Gulf-Park/bJab9S4CAUmF8oXRpW8HTQ.cspx
Citizens Ask Questions about Kemper Plant at Forum
WTOK
Meridian, Mississippi The Kemper County coal plant was the hot topic at a
forum(Embedded image moved to file: pic16118.jpg) in Meridian Tuesday
night.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Citizens-Ask-Questions-about-Kemper-Plant-at-Forum-334910091.html
City to privatize water treatment plant
Vicksburg Post
Published 10:52 am Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Vicksburg's water treatment plant on Haining Road is going private — a move
that will result in the possible layoff of the eight city employees working
there.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/10/20/city-to-privatize-water-treatment-plant/
Entire state of Mississippi put under burn ban
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
The entire state of Mississippi has been put under a burn ban because of
dry conditions.
Gov. Phil Bryant issued the ban Tuesday at the request of the Mississippi
Forestry Commission. It will last indefinitely.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article40525998.html
Oil Spill
Public urged to voice opinions on oil spill money at Tuesday's meeting
WLOX
LONG BEACH, MS (WLOX) -Residents and business owners on the Mississippi
Gulf Coast are invited and urged to attend a public forum on Tuesday to
review and comment on two documents that are crucial to restoration plans
from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30308745/public-urged-to-voice-opinions-on-oil-spill-money-at-tuesdays-meeting
MDEQ Hosts Public Comment Forum
WXXV
Tonight the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality hosted an open
forum at the USM Gulf Park campus.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-Hosts-Public-Comment-Forum/k4cPsCdcJki36N7hsYJ33Q.cspx
Biloxi Coliseum windfalls make land purchase possible
Sun Herald
BILOXI -- A settlement from BP and a refund from Mississippi Power came at
just the right time for the Coast Coliseum Commission to buy 8 acres of
land, possibly for a hotel or other development.
http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article40555158.html
Firm ranks Escambia projects for RESTORE
Pensacola News Journal
Waterway restoration topped the preliminary list submitted by a
consulting firm for RESTORE Act projects for Escambia County. Now,
the RESTORE Advisory Committee will provide its input.
http://www.pnj.com/story/news/2015/10/20/escambia-county-restore-santa-rosa-county/74277892/
Lawmakers Sort Out Details of BP Settlement Money
WCTV
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- With billions of dollars coming to Florida in
reparation for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a Senate panel Tuesday
tried to get a better feel for how the money will be spent.
http://www.wctv.tv/news/APNews/headlines/Judge-BP-Payouts-to-Local-Entities-to-Start-Soon-for-Spill-318673141.html
National
Group asks EPA to step up oversight of state DNR
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison — A group of Wisconsin residents and an environmental legal
advocacy organization on Tuesday asked the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency to strip the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources of its
administration of a major water pollution program if the state doesn't make
progress on past problems cited by the EPA.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/group-asks-epa-to-step-up-oversight-of-state-dnr-b99600088z1-334650651.html
Opinion
SUN HERALD | Editorial: Jackson County Supervisor Barry Cumbest shouldn't
vote for Lake George
Jackson County Board of Supervisors President Barry Cumbest and his family
own 240 acres that could become part of the Lake George twin lakes.
http://www.sunherald.com/opinion/editorials/article40542729.html
Press Releases
Mississippi under Statewide Burn Ban
JACKSON—At the request and advice of the Mississippi Forestry Commission,
Gov. Phil Bryant has signed a proclamation initiating a statewide burn ban.
The ban is effective immediately and remains in force until lifted.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission will continue to monitor conditions,
and public updates on the burn ban will be issued as needed. The public is
asked to refrain from outdoor burning until further notice.
Much of the state is experiencing significant drought conditions, and more
than half of Mississippi counties have already issued bans in response to
increasingly hazardous conditions.
The Mississippi Forestry Commission estimates that it has responded to more
than 430 wildfires since Oct. 1. Those fires have consumed more than 7,000
acres and threatened hundreds of homes and buildings, destroying 23.
To report a wildfire, dial 911 or contact the Mississippi Forestry
Commission Central Dispatch region in your area:
· Northwest Dispatch: 1-877-226-5414
· Northeast Dispatch: 1-800-681-8760
· Southwest Dispatch: 1-888-823-3473
· South Central Dispatch: 1-800-736-9115
· Southeast Dispatch: 1-800-240-5161
For a list of counties included in each dispatch district and for a
printable map of Mississippi Forestry Commission Central Dispatch Regions,
visit http://www.mfc.ms.gov/wildfire-report.php
To learn more about wildfire prevention, visit http://www.mfc.ms.gov/.
###
ATTORNEY GENERAL JIM HOOD ADVISES CONSUMERS TO KNOW THE FACTS BEFORE
INVESTING IN SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS
October 20, 2015
Attorney General Jim Hood is offering Mississippi residents factors to
consider in purchasing residential solar energy systems, including
cautioning consumers to be alert for potential consumer fraud schemes.
In an effort to use alternative energy sources for cost-savings and
environmental reasons, many consumers are reducing their energy usage and
using more renewable energy by installing solar generating units on their
homes and property. Photovoltaic systems ("PV system" or "solar system")
supply energy through nature; therefore, the energy is free and abundant.
Like many other industries, the growing popularity of solar has caused some
unethical businesses to enter into the market. To lure customers into a
lease, some of these unscrupulous solar companies often claim that
consumers can potentially reduce costly electric bills by utilizing various
federal, state and local tax credits and rebates. This can be deceptive,
however, since the solar company is usually the entity which receives the
tax benefits and incentives. In addition, for cash purchases, the price of
PV systems can range anywhere from $10,000 to $60,000 or more.
"Before consumers make a significant investment in a solar system, they
should research their options to make sure they are in fact getting cost
savings and meeting their goals of environmental sustainability. While
there are some exemplary companies, other solar companies are using
misleading sale pitches to entice consumers into paying for overpriced PV
system agreements or failing to disclose how various subsidies, government
programs and rate making practices may affect the future cost of energy for
the consumer," said Attorney General Hood. "These companies' deceptive
practices often result in a higher energy price tag for consumers after
installing the system than they had before."
Attorney General Hood encourages all solar companies operating within
Mississippi to review the Solar Energy Industries Association's Solar
Business Code. This code lays out best practices and ethical standards for
solar companies. The Code can be found at:
www.seia.org/policy/consumer-protection/seia-solar-business-code.
There are many factors to consider before making a decision to go solar.
Attorney General Hood offers some basic tips to help keep you from becoming
a victim of consumer fraud if you plan to purchase a PV system:
· As with every product or service, comparison shop with several solar
companies to make sure you are getting the best deal. Obtaining a written
estimate from at least two companies will allow you to compare the cost and
installation of the same size system between two companies. Be sure to
request that major components are itemized.
· Inquire about tax credits. Consult with a tax expert to verify your
tax credit eligibility and calculate the correct figures before you enter
into a purchase agreement with the solar company. Beware of guarantees
that 50% or more of the cost of the solar system is covered by tax credits.
In order to receive tax credits, you must have taxable income. Often,
retirees or young families do not have enough taxable income to fully
realize the tax benefits.
· Be more skeptical of installers that promise no out-of-pocket costs
prior to even reviewing your specific situation.
· Beware of promises that your utility company will be issuing you a
check every month for the electricity that you provide to the local utility
grid. Ask what will happen if the solar company promises a certain
percentage of savings from your utility bill and the amount of savings is
not achieved.
· Be aware of the terms of solar panel leasing. Solar panel leasing is
advertised as a way to obtain a solar system without having to put any
money down; yet, the consumer should be aware that he or she is still
responsible for the lease costs.
· Consider reviewing the Solar Energy Industry Association's Consumer
Guide to going solar:
http://www.seia.org/research-resources/residential-consumer-guide-solar-power
. You may also wish to visit the solar industry's consumer protection
resource center: https://www.seia.org/policy/consumer-protection
If you believe you have been a victim of consumer fraud in the sale or
lease of a solar system, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the
Attorney General's Office at 1-800-281-4418. Click here to file a consumer
complaint form.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
News Clippings 10/20/15
State
Council offers recommendations to help restore Coast oyster industry
Sun Herald
LONG BEACH -- A council formed to help the oyster industry recover from a
'triple whammy' of disasters has offered recommendations to restore the
oyster economy.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article40433211.html
Council asked to approve code changes to fit solar farm
Hattiesburg American
Decisions by the Hattiesburg City Council on Oct. 19 could mean a
multimillion-dollar economic development impact over the next few
years.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2015/10/19/council-asked-approve-code-changes-fit-solar-farm/74221320/
Pass Christian fire engulfs oil containment material
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -Firefighters spent all day Monday battling a
blaze that engulfed a pile of stored oil spill containment materials in
Pass Christian.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30298601/pass-christian-fire-engulfs-oil-containment-material
D'Iberville native Anthony Wilson named president of Mississippi Power,
will become CEO Jan. 1
Mississippi Press
GULFPORT, Mississippi -- D'Iberville native Anthony L. Wilson has been
named president of Mississippi Power, according to the company, and will
also take over as CEO on Jan. 1.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/diberville_native_anthony_wils.html#incart_river
Oil Spill
$9 billion set aside to restore coast in proposed BP settlement
Houma Courier
By Jacob Batte
Published: Monday, October 19, 2015 at 8:31 p.m.
More than half of the $9 billion set aside in a proposed settlement from
the BP Oil Spill would be spent restoring damages from the spill, according
to a plan released by the group charged with overseeing the money.
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20151019/ARTICLES/151019672/-1/sports06?Title=-9-billion-set-aside-to-restore-coast-in-proposed-BP-settlement
National
Radiation Sensors in Major U.S. Cities Turned Off Because They Don't Work
Most stations run by EPA can't monitor for beta particles in real time,
prompting criticism; agency says monitoring for gamma rays is enough
WSJ
A national radiation-monitoring system enhanced after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks isn't working as intended, with nearly three-quarters of
stations not checking for a type of radiation in real time, including ones
in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/radiation-sensors-in-major-u-s-cities-turned-off-because-they-dont-work-1445276241
States probe VW over emissions, look for settlement money
AP
WASHINGTON
An expanding investigation into Volkswagen's emissions-cheating scandal
launched by state attorneys general could last years and will likely end in
a negotiated settlement.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article40429800.html
Council offers recommendations to help restore Coast oyster industry
Sun Herald
LONG BEACH -- A council formed to help the oyster industry recover from a
'triple whammy' of disasters has offered recommendations to restore the
oyster economy.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article40433211.html
Council asked to approve code changes to fit solar farm
Hattiesburg American
Decisions by the Hattiesburg City Council on Oct. 19 could mean a
multimillion-dollar economic development impact over the next few
years.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2015/10/19/council-asked-approve-code-changes-fit-solar-farm/74221320/
Pass Christian fire engulfs oil containment material
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -Firefighters spent all day Monday battling a
blaze that engulfed a pile of stored oil spill containment materials in
Pass Christian.
http://www.wlox.com/story/30298601/pass-christian-fire-engulfs-oil-containment-material
D'Iberville native Anthony Wilson named president of Mississippi Power,
will become CEO Jan. 1
Mississippi Press
GULFPORT, Mississippi -- D'Iberville native Anthony L. Wilson has been
named president of Mississippi Power, according to the company, and will
also take over as CEO on Jan. 1.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/10/diberville_native_anthony_wils.html#incart_river
Oil Spill
$9 billion set aside to restore coast in proposed BP settlement
Houma Courier
By Jacob Batte
Published: Monday, October 19, 2015 at 8:31 p.m.
More than half of the $9 billion set aside in a proposed settlement from
the BP Oil Spill would be spent restoring damages from the spill, according
to a plan released by the group charged with overseeing the money.
http://www.houmatoday.com/article/20151019/ARTICLES/151019672/-1/sports06?Title=-9-billion-set-aside-to-restore-coast-in-proposed-BP-settlement
National
Radiation Sensors in Major U.S. Cities Turned Off Because They Don't Work
Most stations run by EPA can't monitor for beta particles in real time,
prompting criticism; agency says monitoring for gamma rays is enough
WSJ
A national radiation-monitoring system enhanced after the Sept. 11, 2001,
terrorist attacks isn't working as intended, with nearly three-quarters of
stations not checking for a type of radiation in real time, including ones
in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/radiation-sensors-in-major-u-s-cities-turned-off-because-they-dont-work-1445276241
States probe VW over emissions, look for settlement money
AP
WASHINGTON
An expanding investigation into Volkswagen's emissions-cheating scandal
launched by state attorneys general could last years and will likely end in
a negotiated settlement.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article40429800.html
Monday, October 19, 2015
News Clippings 10/19/15
State
Testing on Kerr-McGee sites should begin in November
Commercial Dispatch
October 17, 2015 11:08:52 PM
Slim Smith - ssmith@cdispatch.com
It's been 21 months since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set
aside funds for the clean-up on the old Kerr-McGee facility in Columbus.
Officials said it would be a long, painstaking process.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=45543
Lake George: Twin lakes, many unanswered questions
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile has released to
the public two key documents from a proposal to create large lakes just a
few miles off the Pascagoula River in Jackson and George counties.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article39618363.html
Jackson County supervisor says he co-owns land in Lake George area
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County Board of Supervisors President Barry Cumbest
said he and members of his family are among those who own land in the area
of a twin-lake project called Lake George.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article39618357.html
Coastal clean-up targets Deer Island
WLOX
The coast is a lot cleaner after the 27th annual Mississippi Coastal
Cleanup on Saturday, which saw volunteers at 58 sites across 90 miles of
beach.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30287067/coastal-clean-up-targets-deer-island
Oil Spill
Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Selected as the RESTORE
Research Center of Excellence
Southern Miss now
ARTICLE | FRI, 10/16/2015 - 2:13PM
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced
today that the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE)
has been selected as the RESTORE Research Center of Excellence.
http://www.usm.edu/news/article/mississippi-based-restore-act-center-excellence-selected-restore-research-center-excellence
BP's Deepwater spill was even worse on Gulf animals than believed
Houston Chronicle
Hundreds of billions of Gulf creatures perished in the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon, according to a recently released report by the Department of
Justice, and some ecosystems could take centuries to rebound.
http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/BP-s-Deepwater-spill-was-even-worse-on-Gulf-6574371.php
Number of dolphin deaths leveling off after oil spill
AP
TAMPA, FLA.
Scientists say the number of dead dolphins washing shore is declining five
years after the Deepwater Horizon Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article39611721.html
Regional
Steelmaker says EPA exceeded authority in Arkansas haze reduction plan
Reuters
A U.S. steelmaker has challenged a proposed federal plan to reduce haze in
Arkansas, arguing the Environmental Protection Agency lacks the legal
authority to implement the new standards.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/16/usa-energy-steel-idUSL1N12G0E520151016
National
Interest Builds In Giving Farmers Credit For Growing Green
NPR
Like all business owners, farmers want to get paid for their work.
Sometimes, that work creates problems for the environment, so regulators
are advancing the idea of creating environmental markets to allow farmers
to make money off of their conservation practices.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/10/16/449216756/environmental-markets-could-sell-farmers-on-conservation
Week ahead: Republicans renew fight against Obama climate regs
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be on the hot seat as
Republicans resume their assault on the Obama administration's climate
policy.
http://thehill.com/regulation/257164-week-ahead-republicans-renew-fight-against-obama-climate-regs
Watchdog to study ethanol's environmental impact
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) internal watchdog is launching
a project to analyze the environmental impact of the federal ethanol
mandate.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257133-watchdog-to-study-ethanols-environmental-impact
New regs for Monday: Hazardous waste, folding chairs, infant bouncer seats
The Hill
Hazardous waste: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new
rules for the exports and import of hazardous waste materials in the U.S.
The hazardous waste regulations are intended to protect public health and
the environment, but could cost industry about $1 million each year to
comply with.
The public has 60 days to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/257136-new-regs-for-monday-hazardous-waste-folding-chairs-infant-bouncer-seats
Testing on Kerr-McGee sites should begin in November
Commercial Dispatch
October 17, 2015 11:08:52 PM
Slim Smith - ssmith@cdispatch.com
It's been 21 months since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set
aside funds for the clean-up on the old Kerr-McGee facility in Columbus.
Officials said it would be a long, painstaking process.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=45543
Lake George: Twin lakes, many unanswered questions
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Mobile has released to
the public two key documents from a proposal to create large lakes just a
few miles off the Pascagoula River in Jackson and George counties.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article39618363.html
Jackson County supervisor says he co-owns land in Lake George area
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- Jackson County Board of Supervisors President Barry Cumbest
said he and members of his family are among those who own land in the area
of a twin-lake project called Lake George.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article39618357.html
Coastal clean-up targets Deer Island
WLOX
The coast is a lot cleaner after the 27th annual Mississippi Coastal
Cleanup on Saturday, which saw volunteers at 58 sites across 90 miles of
beach.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30287067/coastal-clean-up-targets-deer-island
Oil Spill
Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence Selected as the RESTORE
Research Center of Excellence
Southern Miss now
ARTICLE | FRI, 10/16/2015 - 2:13PM
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced
today that the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE)
has been selected as the RESTORE Research Center of Excellence.
http://www.usm.edu/news/article/mississippi-based-restore-act-center-excellence-selected-restore-research-center-excellence
BP's Deepwater spill was even worse on Gulf animals than believed
Houston Chronicle
Hundreds of billions of Gulf creatures perished in the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon, according to a recently released report by the Department of
Justice, and some ecosystems could take centuries to rebound.
http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/BP-s-Deepwater-spill-was-even-worse-on-Gulf-6574371.php
Number of dolphin deaths leveling off after oil spill
AP
TAMPA, FLA.
Scientists say the number of dead dolphins washing shore is declining five
years after the Deepwater Horizon Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article39611721.html
Regional
Steelmaker says EPA exceeded authority in Arkansas haze reduction plan
Reuters
A U.S. steelmaker has challenged a proposed federal plan to reduce haze in
Arkansas, arguing the Environmental Protection Agency lacks the legal
authority to implement the new standards.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/16/usa-energy-steel-idUSL1N12G0E520151016
National
Interest Builds In Giving Farmers Credit For Growing Green
NPR
Like all business owners, farmers want to get paid for their work.
Sometimes, that work creates problems for the environment, so regulators
are advancing the idea of creating environmental markets to allow farmers
to make money off of their conservation practices.
http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/10/16/449216756/environmental-markets-could-sell-farmers-on-conservation
Week ahead: Republicans renew fight against Obama climate regs
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be on the hot seat as
Republicans resume their assault on the Obama administration's climate
policy.
http://thehill.com/regulation/257164-week-ahead-republicans-renew-fight-against-obama-climate-regs
Watchdog to study ethanol's environmental impact
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) internal watchdog is launching
a project to analyze the environmental impact of the federal ethanol
mandate.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/257133-watchdog-to-study-ethanols-environmental-impact
New regs for Monday: Hazardous waste, folding chairs, infant bouncer seats
The Hill
Hazardous waste: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new
rules for the exports and import of hazardous waste materials in the U.S.
The hazardous waste regulations are intended to protect public health and
the environment, but could cost industry about $1 million each year to
comply with.
The public has 60 days to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/257136-new-regs-for-monday-hazardous-waste-folding-chairs-infant-bouncer-seats
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)