State
Landfill controversy continues in Hinds County
WLBT
HINDS COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -The landfill expansion controversy
continues. A decision regarding the expansion of Faircloth Rubbish Landfill
off Springridge Road in Hinds County has not been decided.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/28534771/landfill-controversy-continues-in-hinds-county
Cleveland prepares for second cleanup day
Bolivar Commercial
The Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce recently announced this
year's cleanup project for Keep Cleveland Beautiful.
http://www.bolivarcommercial.com/newsx/item/1595-cleveland-prepares-for-second-cleanup-day
DeSoto's mayors join anti-litter effort
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Published: Tuesday, March 17, 2015 1:05 AM CDT
DeSoto County's mayors joined the ant-litter effort launched by the DeSoto
County Board of Supervisors two weeks ago.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2015/03/17/news/doc5507713c19d9b311848526.txt
Forrest Co. fire departments receive new trucks
Hattiesburg American
Approved and authorized the submittal of the 2015 Non-Competitive
Solid Waste Assistance Grant Application to the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality in the amount of $16,355.00.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/forrest-county/2015/03/16/forrest-county-new-fire-trucks/24879929/
Governor establishes Katrina Remembrance Commission
WLOX
The 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina is several months away, but
Monday Governor Phil Bryant came to South Mississippi to announce the
Katrina Remembrance Commission. The Governor said the goal of the
commission is to honor those who served during and after the the worst
natural disaster to hit the United States and our Gulf Coast community.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28532454/governor-establishes-katrina-remembrance-commission
Bryant, Barbour invite world to see Mississippi Coast 10 years after
Katrina
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
BILOXI -- Mississippi is inviting the world to come see what it has become
10 years after Hurricane Katrina.
Gov. Phil Bryant, in announcing former Gov. Haley Barbour and his wife will
lead the One Coast One Remembrance Katrina Remembrance Commission, said the
purpose was to honor the remarkable people of the Gulf Coast and the people
of the world who came to help them recover from the storm.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/16/6125944_bryant-barbour-invite-world-to.html?rh=1
Oil Spill
BP report says Gulf rebounding, but government officials, environmentalists
dismiss results as 'cherry-picked'
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
March 16, 2015 at 7:00 PM
The Gulf of Mexico and coastal shoreline environments have already
rebounded from the effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil
spill, according to a new report issued Monday (Mar. 16) by BP, a month
before the five-year anniversary of the disaster.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/bp_report_says_gulf_rebounding.html#incart_most_shared-environment
BP reports Gulf of Mexico almost back to normal, but others claim otherwise
New Orleans Advocate
By AMY WOLD
The Gulf of Mexico is close to being back to normal and there are no
indications of any long-term damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon
disaster, a BP report released Monday says.
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/11861644-123/bp-reports-gulf-of-mexico
NOAA slams BP statement on gulf environment
UPI
Published: March 17, 2015 at 8:01 AM
Daniel J. Graeber
WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) --WASHINGTON, March 17 (UPI) -- Statements made
by BP about the state of the U.S. Gulf Coast environment after the
Deepwater Horizon incident are off the mark, the federal government said.
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2015/03/17/NOAA-slams-BP-statement-on-gulf-environment/8661426592837/
BP's 5 Year Report on Oil Spill, Premature says Locals
WKRG
On a day like this, it's hard to tell the worse environmental disaster in
U.S. history ever touched these beaches.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/28534663/bps-5-year-report-on-oil-spill-premature-says-locals
Feds appeal ruling limiting BP's oil spill fine to $13.7 billion
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
March 16, 2015 at 3:26 PM
Federal prosecutors will appeal a January ruling that caps BP's potential
oil spill penalty at $13.7 billion, well below the amount the government
originally sought. A federal judge has yet to make a final ruling on how
much BP will pay for each barrel of oil spilled.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/feds_appeal_bp_oil_spill_size.html#incart_river
National
GOP governors blast EPA ozone rule
The Hill
Eleven Republican governors told the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Monday that its proposed rule to reduce ozone is "onerous" and
"job-crushing."
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/235855-gop-governors-blast-epa-ozone-rule
Texas-led states' letter to EPA asks to scrap ozone change
AP
FORT WORTH, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott has requested that the Environmental
Protection Agency scrap plans to lower the national standard for
ground-level ozone, the toxic gas that can harm the respiratory system and
cause asthma, a day before a public comment period ends.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150316-texas-led-states-letter-to-epa-asks-to-scrap-ozone-change.ece
Oil lobby wants ozone rule scrapped
The Hill
The oil industry says it's inappropriate for the Obama administration to
try restricting ozone standards when the country is still working toward
the current requirements.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/235833-oil-lobby-wants-ozone-rule-scrapped
EPA expects final version of 'Clean Water Rule' this spring
EPA administrator tells National Farmers Union that Waters of the
U.S./Clean Water Rule concerns have been heard; ag exemptions will be
included
Published on: Mar 16, 2015
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy wasted no words regarding the Waters of the
U.S. proposal and Renewable Fuel Standard volumes in an appearance before
the National Farmers Union convention in Wichita, Kan., Monday morning.
http://farmfutures.com/story-epa-expects-final-version-clean-water-rule-spring-0-125244
Former Freedom Industries Owner Pleads Guilty in Chemical Spill Case
AP
CHARLESTON, W.Va.—A former owner of Freedom Industries pleaded guilty
Monday to federal Clean Water Act violations stemming from last year's
chemical spill in Charleston.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/former-freedom-industries-owner-pleads-guilty-in-chemical-spill-case-1426521392
Press Releases
New report shows Gulf environment returning to pre-spill conditions
Scientific studies underscore the Gulf of Mexico's resilience and recovery
Release Date: 16 March 2015
HOUSTON - In the five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,
scientific data and studies are showing that the Gulf environment is
returning to its baseline condition, according to a new report BP released
today. The Gulf of Mexico Environmental Recovery and Restoration report
also indicates that impacts from the spill largely occurred in the spring
and summer of 2010.
The report is based on scientific studies that government agencies,
academic institutions, BP and others conducted as part of the spill
response, the ongoing Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) process or
through independent research. While individual studies are helpful, they
tell only part of the story. This report, a wide-ranging compilation of
reputable studies by respected researchers, provides a broader overview of
the state of the Gulf environment.
"The data and studies summarized in this report are encouraging and provide
evidence that the most dire predictions made after the spill did not come
to pass," said Laura Folse, BP's executive vice president for response and
environmental restoration. "The Gulf is showing strong signs of
environmental recovery, primarily due to its natural resilience and the
unprecedented response and cleanup efforts."
The report also looks at the large-scale, BP-funded early restoration
projects to speed the recovery of natural resources in the Gulf that were
injured as a result of the spill.
The report finds that:
* Available data does not indicate the spill caused any significant
long-term population-level impact to species in the Gulf. For example, NRDA
data do not reveal ongoing adverse impacts to bird populations linked to
the spill beyond the initial, limited acute mortality in 2010. National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) data show that fish
populations are robust, and commercial landings generally have been
consistent with pre-spill trends and ranges. Findings published by a group
of researchers, including scientists working with the NRDA trustees, show
the accident did not affect most deepwater coral communities.
* Several key factors lessened the spill's impact. The spill took place
in deep water, far offshore and in a temperate climate, allowing the oil to
break down. The type of "light" crude oil involved in this spill also
degrades and evaporates faster than heavier oils. At the same time, the
massive offshore response and shoreline cleanup - for which BP spent more
than $14 billion and workers devoted more than 70 million personnel hours -
mitigated the damage. And the Gulf, which contains many natural oil seeps
and robust populations of oil-eating microbes, is extraordinarily
resilient.
* Affected areas are recovering faster than predicted. For example, in
2010 the U.S. Coast Guard documented 86 miles of marsh that were
categorized as heavily oiled. And by early 2014, after the response effort
as well as natural attenuation, just 0.7 miles remained heavily oiled and
were recovering naturally.
* Injured natural resources are being restored in an unprecedented
fashion. In 2011, BP voluntarily agreed to spend $1 billion on these
projects to expedite the restoration of natural resources in the Gulf while
the NRDA process was ongoing. No company has ever undertaken a program of
this scale before or since. As of December 2014, BP and the federal and
state natural resource trustees had agreed on 54 early restoration projects
totaling about $698 million.
The NRDA is the process through which the U.S. government, state agencies
and BP conduct studies to identify injuries to natural resources resulting
from the Deepwater Horizon accident, as well as the best way of restoring
injured resources and the amount of money required to do so. This ongoing
NRD assessment is the largest environmental evaluation of its kind ever
conducted, spanning nearly five years and costing around $1.3 billion to
date. BP also has committed to pay $500 million over 10 years to support
independent research through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
In addition to those costs, BP has spent more than $28 billion on response,
cleanup, early restoration and claims payments.
Environmental data collected by NRDA and response efforts are available
at:http://gulfsciencedata.bp.com<http://gulfsciencedata.bp.com/>
The full Gulf of Mexico Environmental Recovery and Restoration report is
available at: http://www.bp.com/gulf5yearreport
For more information on our progress toward fulfilling our commitment to
economic and environmental restoration, please
visithttp://www.theStateoftheGulf.com<http://www.thestateofthegulf.com/>.
U.S. REPS. CONAWAY, VEASEY, AND HARPER FORM CONGRESSIONAL CARBON DIOXIDE
ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY (CO2-EOR) CAUCUS
WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, U.S. Representatives Michael
Conaway (R-Texas), Marc Veasey (D-Texas), and Gregg Harper (R-Miss.) will
host a launch event for the newly formed Congressional Carbon Dioxide
Enhanced Oil Recovery (CO2-EOR) Caucus. The CO2-EOR Caucus will serve as an
informal group of Members dedicated to educating Congressional Members and
Staff on the economic and environmental benefits of enhanced oil recovery
from carbon dioxide. Reps. Conaway, Veasey, and Harper will be the acting
Co-chairmen for the CO2-EOR Caucus for the 114th Congress. The March 17th
event will feature energy and environment experts who will provide an
overview of the process and benefits of CO2-EOR.
Congressmen Conaway, Veasey, and Harper issued the following statements
ahead of the formal launch of the new caucus:
Rep. Conaway: "Our nation is blessed with an abundance of both natural
resources and innovative minds. Energy companies in West Texas have been
using the CO2-EOR process for quite some time now, but it is still a
relatively little known technique for oil recovery. I'm glad to be working
alongside Congressmen Harper and Veasey to help our colleagues in
Washington understand the vast benefits of the carbon dioxide enhanced oil
recovery process."
Rep. Veasey: As a problem solver, Congressman Marc Veasey, is constantly
looking for ways that members of Congress from across the aisle can form
sound policy solutions for satisfying our domestic energy needs while being
stewards of our natural environment. "Our energy future is not controlled
by Congress, but Congress can help enact policies that further economic
growth, allow for sustainable energy production practices, and provide a
cleaner environment for all of us to share. While my home state of Texas is
the top oil and gas producing state in our nation, it also produces a
variety of renewable energy sources. CO2-EOR can be a part of the solution.
It is a win-win solution to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and increase
energy independence here at home." Rep.
Harper: "I became interested in the CO2-EOR process after meeting with
constituents who use enhanced oil recovery to extract oil from fields that
were once thought to be depleted. At a time when the United States is
experiencing an energy renaissance, I believe Members of Congress will
benefit by gaining a better understanding of the CO2-EOR process. I
appreciate Congressmen Veasey and Conaway for their help in forming this
Caucus so that we can serve as a resource on this issue."
###
Governor Bryant Announces Katrina Remembrance Commission to Mark 10-Year
Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
BILOXI—At a news conference today on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Governor
Phil Bryant announced the formation of the Katrina Remembrance Commission
to help mark the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The commission
will be chaired by former Governor Haley Barbour and former First Lady of
Mississippi Marsha Barbour and will be co-chaired by the mayors and
presidents of the boards of supervisors in Hancock, Harrison and Jackson
counties.
The commission will serve as an umbrella organization to help Gulf Coast
communities plan and promote events commemorating the anniversary of the
storm.
"We want to reach out to the entire Gulf Coast to honor those who were lost
and those who put their lives on the line to respond and also to celebrate
how far we have come in our recovery," Gov. Phil Bryant said at the news
conference. "We are on offense. Our infrastructure, our industries, our
resorts and our entire Gulf Coast have made a remarkable comeback.
"It was Haley and Marsha Barbour who lead us through the dark days
following the storm and laid the groundwork for where we are today. We are
moving ahead with one coast and one recovery."
August 29, 2015, will mark 10 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall
in Mississippi. The storm took the lives of 231 Mississippians and caused
billions of dollars in damage.
"The people of the Gulf Coast are remarkable. There is just no quitting in
them," Gov. Bryant continued. "A decade since Katrina, how we've responded
and recovered is a story that must continue to be told. We want to let
local communities know that the state is with them to mark this anniversary
and to finish strong. This tide raises all of our boats."
###
Mississippi River Basin Watershed Initiative Funds Available for
Mississippi Delta
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI) through the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). This cost-share program
assists producers with water improvement and quality in the 14 Mississippi
watersheds that are within the Mississippi River Basin
Application deadline is April 17, 2015.
The program will help landowners and producers to voluntarily implement
conservation and management practices that prevent, control and trap
nutrient runoff from agricultural land. It also helps to improve water
quality in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi Delta counties included in the program are Bolivar,
Carroll, Coahoma, DeSoto, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Panola,
Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Warren,
Washington, and Yazoo.
Producers can apply for financial assistance by contacting the NRCS office
in their local USDA Service Center. To locate an office, please go to
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app. For more information, visit
our website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ms/home/.
Gulf of Mexico Initiative Will Assist Watersheds
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently accepting applications
for the Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI) through the Environmental Quality
Incentives Program (EQIP). Application cutoff for GoMI is April 17, 2015.
GoMI is a voluntary conservation program that provides financial assistance
to eligible producers in the Bayou La-Terre and Rotten Bayou watersheds in
Hancock and Harrison counties that drain into the Gulf of Mexico. The
program is focused on improving water quality, water quantity and fish and
wildlife habitat within these watersheds.
The program will promote grade stabilization structures, tree planting,
longleaf pine establishment and wildlife habitat management. These
conservation practices will assist to improve water quality in the Gulf of
Mexico, Bay St. Louis and Jourdan River.
"Conservation programs offer farmers, ranchers and forestland managers a
variety of options to conserve natural resources while boosting land
production and improving the environmental health of Mississippi," stated
Mississippi State Conservationist Kurt Readus.
NRCS is encouraging local registered foresters to sign-up as Technical
Service Providers (TSP) and provide service to landowners with developing
Forestry Management Plans for the Gulf of Mexico Initiative in Harrison and
Hancock counties. For additional information on becoming a TSP visit the
NRCS TSP website: http://techreg.usda.gov .
For more information about EQIP or other technical or financial assistance
programs offered by NRCS, please contact your local service center:
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs .
EPA Encourages Consumers to Save 1 Trillion Gallons of Wasted Water
WaterSense Partners Celebrate Fix a Leak Week, March 16-22
Washington — Every year, more than one trillion gallons of water go down
the drain because of household leaks. Leaks may increase a water bill by as
much as 10 percent. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense
program encourages consumers to celebrate the seventh annual Fix a Leak
Week, March 16-22, 2015, by finding and fixing water leaks in their homes.
Annually, the average American family could be wasting more than 10,000
gallons of water — enough for 270 loads of laundry — due to easy-to-fix
leaks. Since 2006 WaterSense has helped consumers save a cumulative 757
billion gallons of water and over $14.2 billion in water and energy bills.
Here's how to reduce water waste:
Check: Look at your water meter, usually located outside your house, before
and after a two-hour period of no water use. If the number changed, there
is likely a leak, which could be as simple to fix as replacing a worn
rubber flapper in the toilet tank.
Twist: Fix dripping pipes, fixtures or hoses by using a wrench to twist and
tighten the connections. If needed, pipe tape can help seal shower fixtures
or hose connections. Check washers and valves for persistent drips and
repair or replace, if necessary. Remind everyone to turn faucets and
showers off tightly.
Replace: For old or inefficient fixtures not easily repaired, look for
WaterSense labeled models to replace them. WaterSense products are
available in a variety of styles and price points at home improvement
stores. These money-saving products are high performing and independently
certified to use at least 20 percent less water. Look for the WaterSense
label on product packaging or the website of your favorite plumbing brand.
Many WaterSense partners also offer rebates for WaterSense labeled
products.
WaterSense, an EPA partnership program, seeks to protect the future of our
nation's water supply by offering people a simple way to use less water
with water-efficient products, new homes and services. The program helps
consumers make smart water choices that save money and maintain high
environmental standards without compromising performance.
What They Said
"Fixing household leaks is not only an important way to conserve water, but
it is a simple way that American families can reduce energy use and lower
utility bills," said Ken Kopocis, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water
at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
More Details
To help consumers find and fix leaks, EPAWaterSense partners are sponsoring
running races, workshops, contests and other educational eventsacross the
country. For example:
• The city of Goodyear, Arizona, is teaming upwith the Cincinnati Reds and
Cleveland Indians to offer complimentary spring training baseball tickets
to local residentswhose 2015 winter water bills show a reduction from 2014.
• Citrus County (Florida) Utilities is helping customers "Schedule a
Specialist" to check their water meters and irrigation systems for leaks.
The utility is also offering a $150rebate for WaterSense labeled irrigation
controllers.
• The city of Fort Worth, Texas, is partnering with the Fort Worth Runners
Club to host a 5-kilometer race for Fix a Leak Week andthe City of Plano,
Texas, is hosting a fun run and a social media challenge to reward those
who implement water-saving strategies learned at the event.
• The Regional Water Authority of Sacramento, California is teaming up with
the Sacramento Bee newspaper to host the 2015 Water Spots Video Contest.
The contest encourages middle and high school students to submit a public
service announcement on the 2015 water efficiency theme: BEAT THE LEAK:
Find and fix leaks fast.
• The New Mexico Office of the State Engineer is partnering with several
local water authorities holding workshops and hands on displays throughout
the state. All events will have leak detection and fixing tips and
information along with other water conservation and efficiency information.
More Information
Visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fixaleak to learn more. The WaterSense
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/EPAWatersense also has a map to help you
find Fix a Leak Week events in your community.
