State
Volunteers sought in DeSoto clean up campaign
Commercial Appeal
DeSoto's declared "war on litter" is enlisting volunteers to haul rubbish
to bins at 14 sites across the county over the next two weeks, and to keep
the effort going year-
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/volunteers-sought-in-desoto-clean-up-campaign_49885668
Lawmakers pass watered-down contract reform
Clarion Ledger
The House on Monday sent a contract reform and transparency bill on
to the governor, amid complaints that the Senate had greatly
weakened the measure.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/03/23/house-passes-senates-weaker-reforms/70353622/
Oil Spill
BP ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT RAISES CONCERNS
MPB
A report by BP ahead of the five-year anniversary of the spill in about one
month argues the environmental effects of the massive 2010 Gulf oil spill
are not as bad as initially feared. But, as MPB's Evelina Burnett reports,
some environmental groups disagree.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/03/23/bp-environmental-report-raises-concerns/
National
GOP bill delays climate rule, gives states veto
The Hill
House Republicans are preparing a bill that would delay implementation of
the Obama administration's climate rule for power plants and let state
governors veto compliance plans.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236656-house-gop-seeks-to-delay-epa-climate-rule-gives-states-vetoes
Power Companies Seek to End Losing Streak on EPA at Top U.S. Court
Bloomberg
Think the U.S. Supreme Court is pro-business? Try telling that to the
utility industry.
Coal-dependent power companies have taken a pounding at the high court over
the last decade, most recently with two losses last year on Obama
administration clean air rules. Those defeats have come even as the court,
with its Republican-appointed majority, embraces business arguments in
other contexts.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-24/power-companies-seek-to-end-losing-skid-on-epa-at-top-u-s-court
U.S. Catfish Fight Expected to Sink a Popular Import
USDA to tighten rules for Vietnamese fish known as basa or swai
Wall Street Journal
A white flaky fish that recently overtook cod and crab to become the sixth
most popular seafood in the U.S. could soon disappear from American dinner
plates.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-catfish-fight-expected-to-sink-a-popular-import-1427131633
Opinion
Mercurial Regulators Making Fishy Calculations
On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear a challenge to a costly EPA rule
limiting power-plant emissions.
Wall Street Journal
How many pregnant women do you know who fish—not recreationally, but to
feed themselves? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a
whopping 15% of all pregnant women in Wisconsin subsist primarily by
catching and eating as much as six pounds of lake fish a week. The EPA says
the percentage is 21% in neighboring Minnesota and 6% nationally. To put
these numbers in perspective, the average American consumes about five
ounces of fish from oceans and lakes a week, and the EPA recommends that
pregnant women eat less than 12 ounces a week.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/brian-potts-mercurial-regulators-making-fishy-calculations-1427153569
Press Releases
Timber Company Pro South Expanding Operations in Prentiss County, Miss.
JACKSON—Officials from Pro South announce the company is expanding its
operations by adding a sawmill at its location near Booneville, Miss., in
Prentiss County. The project represents a $2.75 million company investment
and will create 57 new jobs.
Pro South is involved in several sectors of the timber industry. In
addition to the company's logging, trucking, timber purchasing, and wood
yard services operations, Pro South's new sawmill will produce large
quantities of processed lumber and timber products.
"I am grateful to the Pro South team for its commitment to Mississippi and
Prentiss County. Part of what makes Mississippi work is the continued
growth of existing businesses," Gov. Phil Bryant said. "I am very pleased
to see Pro South expand and wish the company continued success in north
Mississippi."
"We are excited about the future of our company and for the new job
creation in our own hometown as a result of this latest sawmill project,"
said Pro South President Russell Stites. "By diversifying our business, we
are seeking to provide enhanced job security and longevity for all of our
employees, new additions and long-termers alike, that make this growth
opportunity possible."
The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the
project to transport and reassemble refurbished equipment, as well as for
workforce training.
"MDA is dedicated to strengthening the state's economy through investment
and job creation, and we are glad to have assisted Pro South as it grows in
Prentiss County and provides nearly 60 new job opportunities for the area's
residents," said MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen. "We thank our
partners at Prentiss County and the Prentiss County Development Association
for working with us to help this great company expand."
For more information about Pro South, please visit www.prologging.com.
###
EPA Releases Final Risk Assessment for Chemical used for Paint and Coating
Removal
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. EPA released the final risk assessment for
N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP), a chemical commonly used to remove paint and
other coatings. The assessment identified risks to pregnant women and women
of childbearing age, who have high exposure to NMP through paint or other
coating removal.
"By completing this assessment, we have taken an important step in
protecting pregnant women and women of childbearing age who are using NMP
to remove paint," said Jim Jones, Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office
of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. "It is a reminder that as we
evaluate these risks, it is very clear that our nation's chemical laws are
in much need of reform. Completing this assessment will now trigger a
process to address these unacceptable risks."
Acute and chronic risks identified for women of childbearing age who use
NMP for less than four hours per day may be reduced by use of specific
types of chemical-resistant gloves. However, gloves and respirators do not
adequately reduce risks to women of childbearing age who use NMP for more
than four hours per day on a single day or repeatedly over a succession of
days.
The NMP final risk assessment was developed as part of the Agency's Toxic
Substances Control Act (TSCA) Work Plan, which identified chemicals for
review and assessment of potential risks to people's health and the
environment.
NMP is a common alternative to methylene chloride, also known as
Dichloromethane (DCM), a chemical-based paint and coating remover. EPA has
also identified risks associated with methylene chloride during the removal
of paint and other coatings. For both NMP and methylene chloride, EPA is
considering a range of voluntary and regulatory actions to reduce risks,
and recommends finding safer paint/coating removal chemicals, or taking
precautions that can reduce exposures, such as using the product outside,
in a well-ventilated area, and wearing proper gloves and respiratory
protection.
Additional information on the NMP final risk assessment and other work plan
chemicals can be found at:
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/riskassess.html
Settlement with Continental Carbon Company to Reduce Air Pollution at
Manufacturing Facilities in Three States
WASHINGTON – In a settlement with the United States and the states of
Alabama and Oklahoma, Continental Carbon Company has agreed to install
pollution control technology that will significantly cut emissions of
harmful air pollutants at manufacturing facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma and
Texas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of
Justice announced today. The settlement will resolve claims that
Houston-based Continental violated the Clean Air Act by modifying their
facilities in a way that caused the release of excess sulfur dioxide (SO2)
and nitrogen oxide (NOx).
The settlement requires Continental to pay a civil penalty of $650,000,
which will be shared with Alabama and Oklahoma, co-plaintiffs in the case.
Continental must also spend $550,000 on environmental projects to help
mitigate the harmful effects of air pollution on the environment and to
benefit local communities, including at least $25,000 on energy efficiency
projects in the communities near each of the three facilities.
"This settlement brings another major carbon black company into compliance
with a law that protects clean air for American communities," said Cynthia
Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance. "By investigating all 15 carbon black manufacturing
plants in the U.S., EPA is committed to improving public health and
leveling the playing field for companies that follow the law. By installing
the latest pollution control technology and funding environmental projects,
Continental is taking steps to reduce emissions of air pollutants that can
lead to serious health problems."
"Today's agreement is good news for residents living near Continental
facilities in Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas, who will benefit from cleaner
air for years to come because of this action," said Assistant Attorney
General John C. Cruden for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural
Resources Division. "The agreement also reflects our continuing efforts to
vigorously enforce the Clean Air Act to protect public health and the
environment. The settlement requires Continental to control large sources
of air pollution with advanced technology and requires projects that will
have a direct and positive impact on Continental's neighbors."
Continental manufactures carbon black, a fine carbonaceous powder used in
tires, plastics, rubber, inkjet toner and cosmetics, at facilities in
Phenix City, Ala., Ponca City, Okla., and Sunray, Texas. Because the oil
used to make carbon black is high in sulfur, its production creates large
amounts of nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. This
settlement supports EPA's and DOJ's national efforts to advance
environmental justice by working to protect communities such as Phenix City
and Ponca City that have been disproportionately impacted by pollution.
EPA expects that the actions required by the settlement will reduce harmful
emissions by approximately 6,278 tons per year of sulfur dioxide and 1,590
tons per year of nitrogen oxide. Continental estimates that it will spend
about $98 million to implement the required measures. The pollution
reductions will be achieved through the installation, upgrade and operation
of state-of-the-art pollution control devices designed to reduce emissions
and protect public health.
SO2 and NOx have numerous adverse effects on human health and are
significant contributors to acid rain, smog, and haze. These pollutants are
converted in the air to particulate matter that can cause severe
respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, and premature death.
EPA concluded that the modifications made at Continental's plants violated
the Clean Air Act based on information the company submitted in response to
an information request from EPA in 2007. EPA issued notices of violation to
Continental for these claims in 2012.
The settlement was filed with the United States District Court for the
Western District Court of Oklahoma and is subject to a 30 day public
comment period. The company is required to pay the penalty within 30 days
after the court approves the settlement.
This settlement is part of EPA's National Enforcement Initiative to control
harmful emissions from large sources of pollution. Through the initiative,
EPA investigated all 15 of the carbon black plants in the U.S. for
violations of the Clean Air Act's Prevention of Significant Deterioration
requirements. With this settlement, six of the 15 facilities will be
covered by consent decrees with EPA. In 2013, EPA announced the first
national carbon black settlement with Boston-based Cabot Corporation, the
second largest carbon black manufacturer in the United States.
More on the settlement:
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/continental-carbon-company-clean-air-act-settlement
