State
Jackson mayor declares infrastructure emergency
Clarion Ledger
Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber signed an emergency declaration for
Jackson's infrastructure system Thursday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2015/03/26/jackson-state-of-emergency-for-infrastructure/70496284/
City Works to Ensure Recycling Efforts Continue
Brookhaven Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2015/03/26/city-works-to-ensure-recycling-efforts-continue/
Anglers needed to help with fishing study
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -The Gulf Coast Research Lab has launched a new
program and is seeking the help of anglers all across South Mississippi.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28623996/anglers-needed-to-help-with-fishing-study
Suit against Kemper employee Brett Wingo is dismissed
MBJ
A case involving a key manager at Mississippi Power Co'.s Kemper County
clean-coal plant who had been taken to court in Birmingham by the utility's
parent has been dismissed.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2015/03/26/suit-against-kemper-employee-brett-wingo-is-dismissed/
Law to bolster utilities' economic development efforts gets mixed reactions
MBJ
A bill to bolster electric utilities' economic development efforts sailed
through the Mississippi Legislature and was signed by Gov. Phil Bryant on
March 13.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2015/03/26/law-to-bolster-utilities-economic-development-efforts-gets-mixed-reactions/
Regional
Gulf Coast not immune to tsunamis, say researchers
Al.com
Leigh Morgan
March 25, 2015 at 10:23 AM
It's Tsunami Preparedness Week, and National Weather Service offices
nationwide -- including those along the Gulf Coast -- are raising awareness
and offering safety tips in case one comes your way.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/03/gulf_coast_not_immune_to_tsuna.html
National
McConnell amendment slows EPA regulations
The Hill
The Senate passed an amendment Thursday night that makes it harder for the
White House to enforce environmental regulations.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/237169-senate-passes-mcconnells-epa-amendment
Kill coal regs, save the manatees? Republicans find new argument against
EPA rules
Fox News
Republicans may have found an unconventional argument against tightening
regulations on coal-fired power plants: think about the manatees.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/03/26/manatees-coal-fired-power-plants/
Oil trains put US on target for more derailments, warn experts
Fox News
Activists call them "bomb trains," and they're likely rolling through a
town near you.
The oil boom in North Dakota and Alberta, Canada, has put a record number
of train cars on tracks carrying hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude
oil each day all across the U.S. Several accidents have already happened,
and local leaders say it is a matter of time until more occur.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/27/oil-trains-put-us-on-target-for-more-derailments-warn-experts/?intcmp=latestnews
EPA: Cars exceeding emissions standards
The Hill
Cars sold in the United States exceeded federal 2013 greenhouse gas
emissions standards on average, the second year in a row cars have beaten
the standards, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237046-epa-cars-exceeding-emissions-standards
Elizabeth Southerland: Providing the science to keep the nation's water
safe for drinking, swimming and fishing
Washington Post
As new chemicals enter the marketplace and often end up in the nation's
waterways, Elizabeth Southerland's office at the Environmental Protection
Agency produces the research that the agency uses to set water-pollution
limits.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/elizabeth-southerland-providing-the-science-to-keep-the-nations-water-safe-for-drinking-swimming-and-fishing/2015/03/26/cdff9b84-d3c6-11e4-8fce-3941fc548f1c_story.html
Opinion
ELIZABETH BARBER: A triple bottom line benefit positions Mississippi as a
restoration leader
MBJ
With the five year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster around
the corner on April 20th, anyone who lives or works on the Mississippi Gulf
Coast knows that restoration work is just beginning. Ongoing research and
monitoring show that the Gulf continues to suffer impacts from the tragedy,
which in turn means that our coastal industries – seafood, recreational
fishing, tourism and more – are far from being fully recovered.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2015/03/26/elizabeth-barber-a-triple-bottom-line-benefit-positions-mississippi-as-a-restoration-leader/
Press Releases
Mayor Tony T. Yarber Declares State of Emergency for City of Jackson
Infrastructure
Mayor Tony T. Yarber on Thursday, March 26, signed an emergency declaration
for the City of Jackson's infrastructure system.
The Mayor has met with Gov. Phil Bryant and representatives of the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, who all support the move.
The city's aged infrastructure system has been plagued by problems for
decades, but it has reached a crisis point following severe winter weather.
"The city of Jackson's drinking water quality is among the highest in
state. But the issue is our failing infrastructure. I'm declaring this
emergency to protect our city's water quality," Yarber said. "We are very
serious about the quality of life we desire for residents in Jackson. With
this declaration, we hope to gain access to federal funds that can expedite
infrastructure repairs in this city. We have a plan to fix this."
In recent weeks, there have been numerous water main breaks and a growing
pothole problem. The water main breaks can cause extensive damage to public
and private property. The breaks have the potential to lead to sewer
problems and wastewater back-ups, which are obvious threats to public
health.
EPA Report: Automakers Surpassing Light-Duty Greenhouse Gas Standards
Manufacturers competing to deliver most fuel-efficient vehicles
WASHINGTON – For the second consecutive model year, the automotive industry
outperformed the national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards by a
wide margin. Overall industry compliance in model year 2013 was 12
grams/mile – or 1.4 miles per gallon – better than required by the 2013
standard.
These were among the top findings released today in the Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) second annual Manufacturers' Performance
Report. The report presents detailed information about how individual firms
are complying with GHG emissions standards for cars and light trucks.
"These findings are a terrific early success story for President Obama's
historic effort to reduce the pollution that contributes to climate
change," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Automakers are racing to
meet our goals. The American auto industry has never been stronger, we're
creating jobs here in the U.S., selling cleaner cars here and overseas, and
consumers are really benefitting from the innovations spurred by these
standards."
The report found:
· Overall industry compliance in model year 2013 was 12 grams/mile
better than required by the 2013 standard. This marks the second
consecutive model year of industry outperforming the standards by a
wide margin.
· The majority of manufacturers (representing more than 99% of sales)
met both the 2012 and 2013 standards. The remaining manufacturers
have several more years to come into compliance.
· Automakers are using the optional flexibilities built into the
standards such as improved air conditioning systems and the use of
fleet averaging. These flexibilities continue to increase consumer
choice, spur technology innovation and decrease compliance costs all
while providing manufacturers with options on how and when to make
reductions.
According to EPA's most recent CO2 Emissions and Fuel Economy Trends
Report, model year 2013 vehicles achieved an all-time record average of
24.1 miles per gallon (mpg) – a 0.5 mpg increase over the previous year and
an increase of nearly 5 mpg since 2004. Average carbon dioxide emissions
from cars and light trucks are also at a record low. Fuel economy has
increased in eight of the last nine years. There are more than three times
as many 30 mpg vehicles than just five years ago, and fuel economy for SUVs
has been increasing faster than for any other vehicle type.
EPA's GHG emissions standards cover light-duty vehicles from model year
2012 to 2025. The standards are projected to save 12 billion barrels of
oil, and cut 6 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases over the lifetimes
of vehicles sold in these years. The standards are also projected to save
consumers who purchase a new MY 2025 vehicle more than $8,000 in fuel costs
over that vehicle's lifetime.
More information on the Manufacturers' Performance Report:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/ghg-report.htm
More information on Light Duty Vehicle Standards:
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-light-duty.htm
More information on greenhouse gases and Fuel Economy Trends:
http://epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm
