DEQ may fine county for silt, other violations
By MICHAEL SIMMONS
Madison County Journal
Fines reaching $20,000 may be levied against Madison County by the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) for multiple
violations at the $2.6 million Sulphur Springs Park under construction
north of Canton.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=29717
Oil Well Fire Continues to Burn
WTOK
A fire at a Smith County oil well continued to burn Wednesday. It could be
several days before it's finally extinguished.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Oil-Well-Fire-Continues-to-Burn-290130401.html
Bill to limit AG's power to sue on behalf of state
Clarion Ledger
A House judiciary committee passed a bill today that would require
the state attorney general to gain approval from an oversight
committee of the governor, lieutenant governor and secretary of
state to file any lawsuit on behalf of the state for more than
$250,000.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/01/28/jim-hood-attorney-general-lawsuits/22468909/
Oil Spill
Gulf Coast beaches, marshes show 'substantial recovery' after 2010 oil
spill, BP witness testifies
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
January 28, 2015 at 8:27 AM
The Gulf Coast shoreline has shown a "substantial recovery" in the years
after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, due in large part to BP's
"comprehensive, thorough and effective" work to clean beaches and marshes,
an expert on oil spill response testifying for the oil giant said Tuesday
(Jan. 27).
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/gulf_coast_beaches_marshes_sho.html
Louisiana's share of BP oil spill fines cut by at least $240 million after
recent ruling, website reports
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
January 28, 2015 at 1:54 PM
Louisiana will lose out on at least $240 million in pollution fines related
to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill after a federal judge ruled earlier
this month that the disaster was smaller than the government estimated, The
Lens reports.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/louisianas_bp_oil_spill_fines.html
BP reduces ownership, partners with Chevron, ConocoPhillips to develop Gulf
of Mexico oilfields
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
January 28, 2015 at 11:53 AM
BP said Wednesday it will scale back ownership in two of its major oil
discoveries in the deepwater Gulf of Mexico and partner with Chevron and
ConocoPhillips to push the region closer to development. The region is
estimated to hold roughly 1 billion barrels of crude oil.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/bp_reduces_ownership_partners.html
National
New Report Urges Western Governments to Reconsider Reliance on Biofuels
NY Times
Western governments have made a wrong turn in energy
policy by supporting the large-scale conversion of plants
into fuel and should reconsider that strategy, according
to a new report from a prominent environmental think tank.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/29/science/new-report-urges-western-governments-to-reconsider-reliance-on-biofuels.html?ref=earth&_r=0
House panel agrees to prioritize climate change
The Hill
The Republican-led House Natural Resources Committee agreed to put climate
change on its agenda over the next two years.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/231042-house-panel-agrees-to-prioritize-climate-change
Suits take aim at factory farm air pollution
January 29, 2015
By Don Hopey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In many of the nation's factory farms, pigs and chickens are tightly
confined. But the odors and noxious chemicals from the waste they produce
aren't, and that's a problem, according to a coalition of environmental and
humane organizations.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2015/01/29/Suits-take-aim-at-factory-farm-air-pollution/stories/201501290183
Judge Rejects Farm Groups' Lawsuit To Keep EPA Data Private
AP
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit by two major farm
groups that sought to block the release of data(Embedded image moved to
file: pic15006.jpg) on large livestock farms in Minnesota and Iowa.
http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2015/01/28/judge-rejects-farm-groups-lawsuit-to-keep-epa-data-private/
Environmental Protection Agency holds smog hearing in Texas
AP
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is holding
a public hearing in North Texas on its proposal to tighten the national
standard on smog.
http://www.12newsnow.com/story/27969023/environmental-protection-agency-holds-smog-hearing-in-texas
Press releases
EPA Seeks Input on Emission Standards for New and Modified Sources in the
Oil and Natural Gas Sector
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting
small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to
participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) for a Small Business
Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. The panel is part of a standard federal
government process and will focus on the agency's development of a rule
that proposes to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, including methane,
and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under its New Source Performance
Standards for the oil and natural gas industry. EPA will build on the
cost-effective standards, issued in 2012, that are currently in place for
several sources in the oil and natural gas industry. The agency intends to
add equipment and processes to those sources currently covered by the
standards. Equipment and processes the agency is considering adding include
hydraulically fractured oil wells, pneumatic pumps, and leaks from new and
modified well sites and compressor stations.
On Jan. 14, 2015, the Obama Administration announced its next steps to cut
methane emission under the March 2014 Strategy to Reduce Methane Emissions.
That strategy, part of the administration's Climate Action Plan, identified
the oil and gas industry as a key source of methane emissions and set out a
series of steps to reduce those emissions while allowing continued
responsible growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production.
As part of that strategy, in April 15, 2014, EPA released for external peer
review and public input five technical white papers on potentially
significant sources of emissions in the oil and gas sector. The white
papers set out data and information available to the agency at that time on
potentially significant sources of emissions in the oil and gas sector, and
options for reducing those emissions. EPA used the papers, along with the
input received from the peer reviewers and the public, to identify
potential common sense, cost-effective approaches to achieve emission
reduction from these sources. Peer reviewers' comments, and instructions
for reading input from the public are available on EPA's
websitewww.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/whitepapers.html.
EPA anticipates proposing a rule this summer and taking final action in
2016.
The panel is being established pursuant to the Regulatory Flexibility Act,
and will include federal representatives from the Small Business
Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA.
The panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and
recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to
inform the panel members about the potential impacts of the proposed rule
on small entities.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be
subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade
associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially
regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs.
Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be
received by February 11, 2015.
Nominate yourself as a SER: http://www.epa.gov/sbrefa/
More information about EPA's strategy for reducing air pollution form the
oil and gas industry:
http://www.epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/pdfs/20150114fs.pdf
EPA and CEQ Open Application Period for National Environmental Educator
Award
WASHINGTON- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in
partnership with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ),
will announce the opening of the application period for 2014-2015
Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators (PIAEE). EPA and
CEQ administer this award to honor, support and encourage educators who
incorporate environmental education in their classrooms and teaching
methods. Applications will be accepted through March 13, 2015.
This award recognizes outstanding kindergarten through grade 12 teachers
who employ innovative approaches to environmental education and use the
environment as a context for student learning. Up to two teachers from each
of EPA's 10 regions, from different states, will be selected to receive
this award.
Winning teachers will receive an award of up to $2,500 to further the
recipient's professional development in environmental education. The
teacher's local education agency will also receive an award of up to $2,500
to fund environmental educational activities and programs.
For more information and to apply, visit:
http://www2.epa.gov/education/presidential-innovation-award-environmental-educators
.
