State
USM marine research vessel arrives in Gulfport, to be used in oil spill
studies
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- A 135-foot research vessel to help study the effects of the BP
oil spill and other marine science issues reached its home port Sunday,
becoming the University of Southern Mississippi's newest and largest
research vessel.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/29/6149600_vessel-to-research-bp-oil-spill.html?rh=1
City to tackle budget issues at Tuesday workshop
Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd
March 29, 2015 4:01 am
…In another matter, McGrevey spoke about the city's ongoing discussions
with the Environmental Protection Agency's allegations that the city has
violated the Clean Water Act.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/city-to-tackle-budget-issues-at-tuesday-workshop/article_4d131be0-d5c9-11e4-aaf1-b3653966fc76.html
A closer look at Yarber's plan after declaring state of emergency
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) - A crumbling infrastructure sends the
City of Jackson into crisis mode. We're learning more about Mayor Tony
Yarber's plan after declaring a state of emergency.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/28635977/governor-bryant-comments-on-jacksons-state-of-emergency
Water Safety Prompted Yarber's Emergency Declaration
Jackson Free Press
The state of emergency Mayor Tony Yarber signed late Thursday will enable
the city to tap into money from state health and environmental agencies,
his office said today.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2015/mar/27/water-safety-prompted-yarbers-emergency-declaratio/
Lawmakers wrestle with bond bills, budget
Clarion Ledger
The Senate adopted a $200 million bond bill Sunday, and lawmakers
agreed on another $249 million bond issue that includes $6 million
for the Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital expansion project.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/03/29/lawmakers-wrestle-bond-bills-budget/70649910/
Former DMR manager Shumate home from prison stint
Sun Herald
Former DMR manager Tina Shumate was released from prison after serving 25
percent of her sentence, her attorney confirmed Friday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/27/6146817/former-dmr-manager-shumate-home.html
Regional
High Mississippi, Atchafalaya rivers pouring sediment into Louisiana
wetlands, lakes, Gulf
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
March 27, 2015 at 10:41 PM
The rising Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers are carrying a wealth of
sediment -- clearly visible from space -- into coastal wetlands, Lake
Pontchartrain and other coastal lakes, and the Gulf of Mexico, according to
a Friday (Mar. 27) image from NASA's MODIS satellite.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/high_mississippi_atchafalaya_r.html#incart_river
Hurricanes spread lionfish, other invasive marine species, website reports
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
March 27, 2015 at 10:41 AM
Florida researchers studying lionfish, an invasive species more and more
common in Louisiana waters, have determined that changing ocean currents
during hurricanes can accelerate the distribution of such invasive marine
species, the website Azula.com reported.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/hurricanes_spread_lionfish_oth.html#incart_river
National
EPA Refines Interpretation of Its Authority as It Prepares to Defend Clean
Power Rule
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency has refined its interpretation of a
problematic amendment added to the Clean Air Act in 1990 as it prepares to
defend the proposed Clean Power Plan from a coal company lawsuit seeking to
block the rule before it is finalized.
http://www.bna.com/epa-refines-interpretation-n17179924623/
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
Obama admin to unveil climate pact contribution
The Hill
The United States plans to formally submit this week its plans to cut
greenhouse gases as part of a United Nations climate pact.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237331-obama-admin-to-unveil-climate-pact-contribution
EPA: Nearly 700 chemicals used in fracking
The Hill
The Environment Protection Agency on Friday released a new analysis that
concludes almost 700 chemical additives are used in hydraulic fracturing
for oil and natural gas.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237218-epa-finds-almost-700-chemicals-used-in-fracking
Wyoming sues to stop federal fracking rule
The Hill
Wyoming's attorney general is going to court to challenge the federal
Interior Department's right to regulate hydraulic fracturing for oil and
natural gas.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237201-wyoming-sues-to-stop-federal-fracking-rule
Earth Hour 2015: World landmarks go dark to raise awareness on climate
change
Associated Press
March 29, 2015 at 11:37 AM
PARIS (AP) -- The Eiffel Tower went dark briefly to mark Earth Hour, the
campaign to raise awareness about climate change, months before the Paris
2015 climate summit.
The five-minute dark-out on Saturday night was a symbolic gesture in the
City of Light. Cities around the world also marked the event, with other
landmarks like the Kremlin and the Empire State Building going dark.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/earth_hour_2015_cities_around.html#incart_river
Environmental group seeks greater protection for USDA scientists
Reuters
An environmental activist group has filed a legal petition with the U.S.
Department of Agriculture seeking new rules that would enhance job
protection for government scientists whose research questions the safety of
farm chemicals.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/28/us-usda-petition-idUSKBN0MN2RI20150328
EPA official notes planes scan for farm violations
Surveillance revealed at Great Lakes summit concerning algae
Toledo Blade
CHICAGO — Note to corporate agriculture: The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has inspectors in the sky looking down at you.
Susan Hedman, the EPA's Midwest regional administrator, said Friday at a
Great Lakes conference her agency has had inspectors in small planes the
last three years looking for manure-management violations by large
livestock operations known as concentrated animal feeding operations, or
CAFOs.
http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2015/03/28/EPA-official-notes-planes-scan-for-farm-violations.html
Boaters push Senate bill removing corn-ethanol mandate
Todd Masson
The Times-Picayune
March 27, 2015 at 9:54 AM
The nation's largest boating advocacy group has thrown its support behind a
U.S. Senate bill that would do away with the law requiring ethanol produced
from corn to be sold to American consumers.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/03/corn_ethanol_mandate_boaters.html
