State
Hazardous waste disposal events coming
By Errol Castens
Daily Journal
OXFORD – The last few days of spring break might be a good time to look for
old motor oil, dead batteries, leftover paint and a host of other unneeded
or obsolete chemicals and other items whose disposal is problematic.
http://djournal.com/news/hazardous-waste-disposal-events-coming/
Prentiss County awarded grant to tackle illegal dumping sites
WTVA
BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) -- Prentiss County is the recipient of a grant
that will aid with cleaning up illegal dumping sites.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Prentiss-County-awarded-grant-to-tackle-illegal/sBJu4VnK_UC325HPw902ew.cspx?rss=3033
Oyster council reaching out to the public this week
WLOX
http://www.wlox.com/story/28535909/oyster-council-reaching-out-to-the-public-this-week
Ergon, Gavilon to partner on ethanol plant duties
Vicksburg Post
Ethanol production at the Port of Vicksburg will have a new partner when
it's expected to restart in May.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/03/16/ergon-gavilon-to-partner-on-ethanol-plant-duties/
Palazzo named to US House Appropriations Committee
AP
JACKSON — Republican Rep. Steven Palazzo of Mississippi is joining the U.S.
House Appropriations Committee.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2015/03/18/palazzo-named-to-us-house-appropriations-committee/
Oil Spill
5 things you should know about BP's state of the Gulf report
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
March 17, 2015 at 2:27 PM
BP released a report Monday (March 16) that said the Gulf of Mexico is
rebounding from the effects of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/5_things_you_should_know_about.html#incart_river
National
EPA is on a 'constitutionally reckless mission,' Obama's law professor
testifies
The Hill
The law professor, who taught President Obama says the Environmental
Protection Agency lacks the statutory and constitutional authority to force
states to implement plans to cut carbon emissions at existing power plants.
http://thehill.com/regulation/235931-epa-is-on-a-constitutionally-reckless-mission-obamas-law-professor-testifies
House lawmakers debate power rule
The Hill
Legal experts spent the majority of Tuesday's hearing of the House Energy
and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power arguing whether a certain
amendment to the Clean Air Act prohibits the Environmental Protection
Agency from adopting it's proposed clean power rule.
http://thehill.com/regulation/235953-clean-air-act-prohibits-epa-from-adopting-clean-power-rule-experts-testify
Obama guarantees GOP will change on climate
The Hill
President Obama said that the Republican Party will be forced to change its
views on climate change in a new interview with Vice News.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/235856-obama-guarantee-gop-will-flip-on-climate-change
Regulators from coastal states of Florida, N.C., pan EPA climate plan
BY SEAN COCKERHAM
McClatchy Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — Florida and North Carolina regulators came to Congress on
Tuesday for an assault on the Environmental Protection Agency's plan to
slash the emissions of planet-warming gases from power plants.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2015/03/17/260061/regulators-from-coastal-states.html
House GOP budget targets Obama's environmental agenda
The Hill
House Republicans are using their budget proposal to push cuts to renewable
energy incentives and climate change programs.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/235926-house-gop-budget-targets-obamas-environmental-agenda
Industry assails Obama's ozone regulations
The Hill
Business groups are waging war on the Obama administration's proposal to
reduce ozone pollution, arguing the regulations would cripple the U.S.
economy.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236040-industry-assails-obamas-ozone-regulations
Republican chairman says EPA has 'muzzled dissenting voices'
The Hill
Republicans on the House Science Committee questioned Tuesday whether the
Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to reduce ozone pollution would
bring the promised benefits.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/235951-lawmakers-question-benefits-of-epa-ozone-rule
EPA apologizes to farm groups on murky Clean Water Act; says final rule
expected by summer
Fox News
WASHINGTON – Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy
has apologized to farmers for failing to include them on proposed changes
with the Clean Water Act and its rocky rollout.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/03/17/epa-apologizes-to-farm-groups-on-murky-clean-water-act-says-final-rule-expected/
EPA's waters rule would hit farmers, Republicans say
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) controversial waters regulation
would have "dire and significant consequences" for American farmers,
Republican lawmakers said Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/235990-epas-waters-rule-would-hit-farmers-republicans-say
House passes bill to overhaul EPA Scientific Advisory Board
The Hill
The House passed legislation on Tuesday to modify the selection process for
members of the Environmental Protection Agency's Scientific Advisory Board.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/235988-house-passes-bill-to-overhaul-epa-advisory-board
New fracking rules coming in 'days'
Houston Chronicle
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is poised to impose new rules for
hydraulic fracturing on public lands.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/03/17/new-fracking-rules-coming-in-days/
Opinion
BP misuses data to fit its claim the Gulf won't suffer long-term from
spill: Editorial
The Editorial Board
The Times-Picayune
March 18, 2015 at 6:04 AM
The cover of a new report on the Gulf of Mexico includes a trio of photos:
A beautiful egret, an expanse of bright green marsh grass and a line of
umbrellas on white sand. The cover page also has a BP logo at the top.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/bp_misuses_data_to_suit_its_st.html#incart_river
Could the federalism arguments in King v. Burwell sink the EPA's 'Clean
Power Plan'? Prof. Larry Tribe thinks so.
Washington Post
By Jonathan H. Adler March 17 at 7:35 PM
I've previously noted that the federalism arguments deployed on behalf of
the IRS rule authorizing tax credits on federal exchanges have the
potential to disrupt other federal programs if adopted by the Supreme Court
in King v. Burwell. Environmental programs, including portions of the
Clean Air Act, could be particularly vulnerable. Testifying today before
the House energy and Commerce Committee on the Environmental Protection
Agency's proposed regulations to control power plant emissions of
greenhouse gases under CAA Section 111(d) , Harvard law professor Laurence
Tribe made much the same point:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/03/17/could-the-federalism-arguments-in-king-v-burwell-sink-the-epas-clean-power-plan-prof-larry-tribe-thinks-so/
Press Releases
Mississippi NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the
Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) Initiative. WLFW is a partnership
between the NRCS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and private
landowners. Application deadline is April 17, 2015.
This financial assistance program assists farmers, ranchers and forest
managers with assistance in restoring populations of declining wildlife
species that fall into the Endangered Species Act (ESA). NRCS and FWS
experts provide technical and financial assistance to landowners who
voluntarily choose to implement specific conservation practices for
endangered species while continuing to manage the property as working
lands. These conservation practices and measures were developed to benefit
species within the ESA. It also strengthens rural economies by protecting
the productivity of working lands.
The seven species included in the WLFW nationally are the Bog Turtle,
Golden-Winged Warbler, Gopher Tortoise, Greater Sage-Grouse, Lesser
Prairie-Chicken, New England Cottontail and Southwestern Willow Flycatcher.
The Gopher Tortoise is the only species in Mississippi.
Interested landowners should contact their local NRCS service center to
determine if your land is a suitable habitat to benefit the species. This
initiative is funded through Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(EQIP). 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 .
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/.
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