State
DEQ on front lines protecting water
Charles Dunagin
Enterprise-Journal
Thursday, January 29, 2015 2:00 pm
Thousands of feet separate the underground fresh water supply for Southwest
Mississippi from the oil in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_e5a4b410-a7dc-11e4-88ea-0b23a5abfbda.html?_dc=540095743723.2137
DMR leader vows Mississippi oyster industry will get attention in 2015
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -The oyster harvest in Mississippi has declined
by more than 80 percent in the past decade. Following a string of manmade
and natural disasters affecting the industry, the DMR is looking at ways to
restore this once thriving industry.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27976924/dmr-leader-vows-mississippi-oyster-industry-will-get-attention-in-2015
U.S. Forest Service balances prescribed burns with protecting endangered
frog
WLOX
HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Firefighters are trying to prevent catastrophic
wildfires without causing harm to a frog now on the brink of extinction.
The U.S. Forest Service conducted a prescribed burn in Harrison County off
of East Wortham Road, which is the habitat of the last few remaining Dusky
Gopher Frogs in the world.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27978779/us-forest-service-balances-prescribed-burns-with-protecting-endangered-frog
Contracting, transparency reforms move forward
Clarion Ledger
A measure to strengthen the state's contracting laws in the wake of
a corrections bribery scandal passed the House Accountability,
Efficiency and Transparency Committee without objection Thursday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/01/29/contracting-transparency-reforms-move-forward/22568151/
The Privilege of Power: How state legislators are protected more than
average citizens
WDAM
During certain months of the year, state lawmakers are allowed to get away
with a few acts that average citizens would be cited for.
http://www.wdam.com/story/27946040/privilege-of-power
Oil Spill
BP's 'civically responsible' spending after oil spill propped up Gulf
economy, expert testifies
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
January 29, 2015 at 10:36 AM
Baton Rouge economist Loren Scott predicted "the bottom would fall out" for
the region's economy when oil started washing ashore in the early days of
the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Scott testified on Wednesday those
forecasts were some of the "worst I've ever given," failing to anticipate
the "robust recovery" driven by billions of dollars BP pumped into the Gulf
Coast for cleanup and damage claims.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/bps_civically_responsible_paym.html
National
Groups petition EPA for stricter ozone standards
The Hill
Health and environmental advocates are expected to make their case for
stricter ozone standards at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing
today.
http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/231127-groups-petition-epa-for-stricter-ozone-standards
Doctors' groups press EPA for much stricter federal ozone limit
Dallas Morning News
ARLINGTON — The top doctors' organizations in Texas and Dallas County,
along with other groups and individuals, pressed hard on Thursday for a
much tougher federal limit on ozone, or smog.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20150129-doctors-groups-press-epa-for-much-stricter-federal-ozone-limit.ece
Keystone XL oil pipeline construction bill passes US Senate
The Associated Press
January 29, 2015 at 4:34 PM
The Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday approved a bipartisan bill to
construct the Keystone XL oil pipeline, defying a presidential veto threat
and setting up the first of many battles with the White House over energy
and the environment.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/01/keystone_xl_oil_pipeline_const.html#incart_river
Nuclear-Dump Cleanup Gets Complicated
Federal Report on Pennsylvania Site Foresees Costlier Work
Wall Street Journal
The cleanup of a radioactive-waste dump in a small Pennsylvania town will
likely be more complicated and potentially riskier than originally
envisioned, and cost nearly 10 times as much, according to a revised
federal plan.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/pennsylvania-nuclear-dump-cleanup-gets-more-complicated-1422558579
EPA administrator talks climate change with Vatican officials ahead of
environment encyclical
AP
VATICAN CITY – The Obama administration is seeking to hitch its climate
change message onto that of the ever-popular Pope Francis, whose upcoming
environmental encyclical has drawn more speculation than any papal document
in recent memory.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/01/30/epa-administrator-talks-climate-change-with-vatican-officials-ahead-environment/
Offshore Wind Farm Leases Draw Few Bids From Wary Industry
NY Times
Not too long ago, in 2013, the Obama administration began
auctioning off leases for offshore wind farms up and down
the Eastern Seaboard, hoping to spur a nascent industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/business/energy-environment/offshore-wind-farm-leases-draw-few-bids-from-wary-industry.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Incredible 50-ft 'dragon' dinosaur unearthed by Chinese farmers
CNN
Hong Kong (CNN)Paleontologists have discovered a 50-ft "dragon" dinosaur
species in China that may have roamed the earth 160 million years ago in
the Late Jurassic period.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/30/asia/china-dragon-dinosaur/index.html
Opinion
5 years after the spill: What BP owes the Gulf Coast
BY DAVID YARNOLD
CQ-Roll CallJanuary 29, 2015
It's been nearly five years since BP slimed the Gulf Coast, taking the
lives of 11 men, wrecking livelihoods and killing tens of thousands of
helpless coastal birds. Finally, federal Judge Carl Barbier is heading into
the final stretch, deciding how much the third largest oil company in the
world will have to pay in pollution fines for the worst oil spill in U.S.
history.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/01/29/254845/5-years-after-the-spill-what-bp.html
Press releases
EPA Announces Voluntary Cancellation of Certain Methomyl Uses
Limiting use will reduce risks to drinking water
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the
manufacturers of the insecticide methomyl have agreed to cancel some uses
and limit use on certain crops to reduce risks to drinking water. From 1995
to 2013, exposure from food to carbamates, which includes methomyl, has
fallen by approximately 70 percent. Today's action is a continuation of
EPA's efforts to reduce carbamate use, thereby protecting people's health,
especially the health of children who may be more sensitive to pesticides.
EPA found drinking water risks during the periodic evaluation of methomyl
and negotiated with the manufacturers to voluntarily cancel certain uses.
Voluntary cancellation is the quickest way to eliminate risk.
While Florida and California were the areas of greatest concern for risks
from methomyl in drinking water, the following measures will be implemented
nationwide:
· canceling the use on barley, oats and rye;
· limiting its use on wheat to Idaho, Oregon, and Washington;
· reducing the number of applications to corn, celery, and head and
leaf lettuce; and,
· reducing the number of applications and the seasonal maximum
application rate for peppers.
These measures are currently being phased in, ensuring timely
implementation of the changes for several crops.
EPA and the manufacturers reached agreement to stop making and selling some
fly bait products and to add information to the label that clarifies the
approved uses. EPA believes that these changes will reduce the illegal use
of methomyl fly bait products which can kill wildlife, an issue that was
reported to EPA by a number of states.
First registered 1968 and then reregistered in 1998, methomyl is restricted
and must only be used by certified and trained applicators and has no
residential uses. The only non-agriculture use of methomyl is in fly bait.
EPA will continue the registration review process for methomyl. The next
step in that process is the release of the methomyl draft risk assessment
in 2016. In Nov. 2014, EPA asked for public comments on the requests to
voluntarily cancel the uses of methomyl on barley, oat and rye. No comments
were received. The nationwide agricultural mitigation measures can be
viewed in the risk mitigation decision document available at
EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0751 at www.regulations.gov .
Learn more about methomyl:
http://www2.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/methomyl
EPA Recognizes NHL's Nashville Predators as an Outstanding Food Recovery
Challenge Participant
Food Recovery Challenge Participants Alone Diverted 370,000 Tons of Wasted
Food from Landfills
Contact: Jason McDonald, 404-562-9203, mcdonald.jason@epa.gov
ATLANTA — On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recognizes the accomplishments of the Nashville Predators of the National
Hockey League (NHL) as well as other organizations and businesses that
participated in EPA's Food Recovery Challenge. Participants in the program
were successful in reducing their climate footprint, improving efficiency,
helping communities and achieving cost savings through waste reduction. The
program saves money, protects the environment and feeds the hungry.
"In 2013, EPA's Food Recovery Challenge participants diverted more than
370,000 tons of wasted food from entering landfills or incinerators. Of
this total, more than 36,000 tons of food was donated to feed people in
need, which equates to nearly 56 million meals," said Mathy Stanislaus,
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. "I commend the efforts of our award winners and encourage others
to follow their lead by joining the Food Recovery Challenge. These leaders
demonstrate that protecting the environment, saving money and feeding the
hungry can go hand in hand."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that wasted food costs America
more than $165 billion annually and that the average family of four throws
away $1,600 of food each year. The Food Recovery Challenge participants and
endorsers, through innovation and hard work, have greatly reduced wasted
food. Food pantries, food rescue programs, local food banks, soup kitchens
and shelters are benefitting from donations of wholesome and nutritious
food — helping feed people, not landfills.
EPA presented 23 awards to Food Recovery Challenge participants and
endorsers in two categories: data-driven and narrative. The Predators, who
play their home contests at the Bridgestone Arena, were the Facility Winner
in the Sports Venue category. The data-driven award recipients achieved the
highest percentage of wasted food diversion and prevention. The narrative
award winners excelled in areas of source reduction, leadership,
innovation, education and outreach, and endorsement.
Food Recovery Challenge participants include groups such as grocers,
educational institutions, sports and entertainment venues, and hospitality
businesses. Participants are not only benefitting their bottom line, they
are reducing hunger through innovative community partnerships.
For more information about the Food Recovery Challenge, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/foodrecoverychallenge/
