State
MDEQ awards waste tire grant to Pine Belt
Hattiesburg American
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has awarded the
Pine Belt Regional Solid Waste Management Authority a $160,783 waste
tire grant to continue the local waste tire collection program for
small quantity generators of waste tires for Covington, Jones, and
Perry Counties as well as the Cities of Hattiesburg, Laurel, and
Petal.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2015/01/05/mdeq-awards-waste-tire-grant-to-pine-belt/21293751/
Southwest Mississippi feeling impact of drop in oil and gas prices
WLBT
PIKE COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Oil and gas prices keep dropping
but not everyone is jumping for joy.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27766420/southwest-mississippi-feeling-impact-of-drop-in-oil-and-gas-prices
Trial of former Harrison County utility boss set for Feb. 23
The Associated Press
GULFPORT, MISS. — The former head of the Harrison County Utility Authority
is set for a Feb. 23 trial on charges that he took bribes from a
contractor.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/01/06/6002453/trial-of-former-harrison-county.html?sp=/99/184/218/
Former board attorney now a Harrison County supervisor
WLOX
HARRISON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Former board attorney Joe Meadows is now a
Harrison County supervisor. At least through the end of this year.
Supervisors voted unanimously Monday morning to appoint Meadows to fill the
remainder of former supervisor Kim Savant's term.
http://www.wlox.com/story/27765750/former-board-attorney-now-a-harrison-county-supervisor
National
New Congress Grapples With Energy Issues
GOP Majority Can Press Significant Changes to Obama's Agenda
Wall Street Journal
Legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline, which lawmakers will take
up as soon as this week, will open the first broad debate on energy policy
in Congress in eight years and give the new Republican majority a chance to
push for significant changes to PresidentBarack Obama 's agenda.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-congress-grapples-with-energy-issues-1420515420
EPA: insecticide a risk for workers, drinking water
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency is considering whether additional
restrictions are necessary to better protect sources of drinking water and
workers from the pesticide chlorpyrifos.
http://thehill.com/regulation/228518-epa-insecticide-a-risk-for-workers-drinking-water
Feds want 'zero-energy' building standards
The Hill
The Department of Energy (DOE) wants regulators and the private sector to
agree on standards for zero-energy buildings.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/228480-feds-want-zero-energy-building-standards
EPA facing lawsuit over dog collar regs
The Hill
Environmental activists are pushing to ban toxic chemicals often found in
dog collars and other pet products.
http://thehill.com/regulation/228530-epa-facing-lawsuit-over-dog-collar-regs
Press Releases
EPA Revised Chlorpyrifos Assessment Shows Risk to Workers
WASHINGTON -Today, EPA is releasing an assessment for public comment on the
potential for human health risk of the pesticide chlorpyrifos.
This assessment shows some risks to workers who mix, load and apply
chlorpyrifos pesticide products. When used in large amounts, chlorpyrifos
has the potential to pose risks in limited geographic areas when drinking
water from small watersheds. There were no additional risks from pesticide
exposures in food or exposures to bystanders and workers from airborne
chlorpyrifos. The latest USDA pesticide residue data show no concerns for
chlorpyrifos in food, with the pesticide detected in less than 1% of
samples.
Based on the results of the risk assessment, additional restrictions may be
necessary to ensure that workers who use or work around areas treated with
chlorpyrifos are protected and that drinking water sources are protected.
The agency will now begin work on measures to reduce these risks.
In 2000, EPA banned household uses of chlorpyrifos, with the exception of
ant and roach bait in child-resistant packaging. Between 2000 and 2002 EPA
cancelled the use of chlorpyrifos on tomatoes and restricted use on crops
including apples, citrus and tree nuts. In 2012, EPA imposed "no-spray"
buffer zones around public spaces, including recreational areas and homes,
and significantly lowered pesticide application rates.
The assessment updates the June 2011 preliminary human health risk
assessment based on new information received, including public comments.
EPA factored in exposures from multiple sources including from the
exposures from food and water, from inhaling the pesticide and through the
skin. EPA considered all populations including infants, children, and women
of child-bearing age. EPA incorporated information from a 2012 assessment
of spray drift exposure and as well as new restrictions put into place to
limit spray drift.
EPA is also assessing the ecological risks from chlorpyrifos in conjunction
with the agency's Endangered Species Protection Program; Results are
expected later in 2015.
To view EPA's revised risk assessment:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0850-0195
To view related documents and submit comments, go to docket
EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0850 at www.regulations.gov. The public comment period will
be open for 60 days, beginning the day of publication in the Federal
Register.
To read more about chlorpyrifos and its uses visit:
http://www2.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/revised-human-health-risk-assessment-chlorpyrifos
