State
MDEQ recognizes enHance member Plymouth Tube
April 29, 2015
Webster Progress Times
Plymouth Tube Co. of Eupora was proud to receive its "enHance Associate"
award from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality on April 16.
http://websterprogresstimes.com/2015/04/29/mdeq-recognizes-enhance-member-plymouth-tube/
Waste grants awarded to Calhoun, Oktibbeha County
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality has awarded two grants to combat illegal dump sites.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Waste-grants-awarded-to-Calhoun-Oktibbeha-County/Kg03CLkm_k-DLCQokgiyxA.cspx?rss=3033
Oktibbeha, Calhoun Gets Solid Waste Grants
WCBI
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Calhoun
County a solid waste assistance grant of $11,473 and Oktibbeha County one
for $15,378 to help clean up and stop illegal dumping sites.
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/oktibbeha-calhoun-gets-solid-waste-grants/
Mississippi, USDA agencies to begin enrolling farmers in CREP April 27
Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press
A lot of people celebrated Earth Day, but few did it as close to nature as
Karis Gutter, USDA's deputy undersecretary for farm and foreign
agricultural services.
http://deltafarmpress.com/soybeans/mississippi-usda-agencies-begin-enrolling-farmers-crep-april-27
Lake Lamar Bruce to reopen next week
WTVA
After nearly five years of being closed, Lake Lamar Bruce is set to reopen
next week.
http://www.wtva.com/mostpopular/story/Lake-Lamar-Bruce-to-reopen-next-week/vxUs4sQJfk-s7lWrlDcjeQ.cspx
Oil Spill
BP oil spill recovery: The Galveston Island State Park in Texas to get
$10.7 million
The Associated Press
April 29, 2015 at 12:34 PM
The headquarters at The Galveston Island State Park was meant to be
temporary.
The Galveston County Daily News reports the aging building where
administrators work is little more than a shed with a leaky ceiling and
failing water pipes.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/bp_oil_spill_recovery_the_galv.html#incart_river
National
McConnell confronts EPA chief on climate rules
The Hill
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) took advantage of a rare
opportunity Wednesday to attack the head of the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) over her agency's main climate change rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/240526-mcconnell-faces-off-with-epa-head-over-climate-rule
House panel passes bill to delay, weaken EPA climate rule
The Hill
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted Wednesday to delay the Obama
administration's landmark climate rule for power plants and let states opt
out of complying with it.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/240494-house-panel-passes-bill-to-delay-weaken-epa-climate-rule
WH threatens veto of GOP bill to kill water regs
The Hill
The White House has threatened to veto a Republican bill that would repeal
a controversial Environmental Protection Agency clean water rule.
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/240535-wh-threatens-veto-of-gop-bill-to-kill-water-regs
USDA starts plan to reduce ag-related greenhouse gases
Apr 23, 2015Southeast Farm Press
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Michigan April 23 announced a plan to
partner with agricultural producers to address climate change by using
voluntary, incentive-based conservation, forestry and energy programs to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration.
http://southeastfarmpress.com/government/usda-starts-plan-reduce-ag-related-greenhouse-gases
Major hurricane 'drought' for U.S.? Yes, researchers say
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 30, 2015 at 12:48 AM
The United States is experiencing an unprecedented drought in the number of
major hurricanes, Category 3 and above, with none having crossed the
nation's shoreline since Category 5 Hurricane Wilma hit south Florida in
October 2005, according to a new study published Wednesday (April 29) in
Geophysical Research Letters.
http://www.nola.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/04/major_hurricane_drought_for_us.html#incart_river
New regs for Thursday: Mussels, electrical fires, coal
The Hill
Thursday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules to protect
mussels species, peak heat release from electrical enclosures during fires,
and emissions from coal plants.
http://thehill.com/regulation/240440-new-regs-for-thursday-mussels-electrical-fires-coal
Press Releases
Getting More Green for your Stormwater Infrastructure
May 5th, 2015
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT
REGISTER!
This webcast will showcase different ways of measuring both cost savings
and benefits related to green infrastructure practices. EPA staff and
leading professionals from the field will discuss new research and case
studies detailing successful approaches to valuing green infrastructure.
This event is part of EPA's Green Infrastructure Program 2015 Webcast
Series sponsored by the Office of Wastewater Management.
Speakers:
· Chris Kloss, National Green Infrastructure Coordinator, US
EPA
· Dan Christian, Senior Project Manager and Water Resource
Engineer, Tetra Tech
· Andrew Potts, Senior Watershed Services Technologist, CH2M HILL
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
News Clippings 4/29/15
State
Deer Island pier project to increase public access
WLOX
Increasing public access to nearby Deer Island. That's the main purpose of
a project to build a new public pier on the island. Secretary of State,
Delbert Hosemann, held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss plans
for the pier.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28923941/deer-island-pier-project-to-increase-public-access
Deer Island access could come by end of year
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
BILOXI -- A state pier on Deer Island should be finished late this year and
a ferry to the island in place a short time later, Secretary of State
Delbert Hosemann said Tuesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/28/6199481_deer-island-access-could-come.html?rh=1
Sewage leak fixed after running into Hattiesburg creek
WDAM
A line break at a manhole at the former Inn on the Hill in Hattiesburg
caused an overflow into Mixon's Creek, which runs into the Bouie River.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28923161/sewage-leak-fixed-after-running-into-hattiesburg-creek
Oil Spill
BP profits fall amid oil price slide
USA Today
British energy giant BP p.l.c .(BP) reported a steep decline in
first-quarter profits Tuesday, showing the financial impact of the
global slide in oil prices.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/04/28/bp-lower-earnings/26498249/
U.K. Tells BP it Would Oppose Foreign Takeover of the Company
Government wants oil giant to remain a British company with global clout
Wall Street Journal
LONDON—The U.K. government told BP PLC that it would oppose any potential
foreign takeover of the company because it wants the oil giant to remain a
British company with global clout.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-tells-bp-it-would-oppose-foreign-takeover-of-the-company-1430087446
Regional
Backing Up: Suit Pushes Memphis Sewer Work
WHBQ
Spring storms in Memphis can cause havoc on the roadways, play tricks on
your hair, and what's much worse, cause nasty sewage backups in basements
across the city. The reason? The city's sewage system, which in many parts
of town dates back more than a century, is leaking like a sieve.
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/28911091/backing-up-suit-pushes-memphis-sewer-work
National
Senators vote to block EPA's use of 'secret science'
The Hill
A Senate committee voted Tuesday to prohibit the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) from using 'secret science' to back its regulations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/240365-senators-vote-to-block-epas-use-of-secret-science
Oklahoma Senate sends anti-EPA bill to governor's desk
Tulsa World
By BARBARA HOBEROCK
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Senate sent Gov. Mary Fallin a bill Tuesday
touted as a means to challenge a pollution rule by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/senate-sends-anti-epa-bill-to-governor-s-desk/article_b8193f06-fea1-5d22-be7e-e0146043d417.html
U.S. court throws out challenge to EPA truck emission rules
Reuters
A federal court has rejected a challenge to the first U.S. greenhouse gas
emission standards for heavy trucks, ruling that the plaintiffs had failed
to show how the court
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/28/usa-energy-trucks-idUSL1N0XP0IZ20150428
Press Releases
Agricultural Land Easements Webinar
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will host a live webinar for land
trusts , non-profit organizations, landowners and other entities that are
interested in participating in the Agricultural Conservation Easement
Program's Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE).
This webinar will provide ACEP-ALE information and eligibility requirements
to interested individuals or groups. NRCS personnel will be available to
answer questions on the ACEP-ALE application and ranking process. All
eligibility requirements are set forth by NRCS national headquarters.
Under ACEP-ALE, NRCS provides cost-share assistance to eligible entities to
purchase agricultural land easements from eligible landowners to protect
the agricultural use, including grazing uses, and related conservation
values on eligible lands.
The online sessions will be held Monday, May 4, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.
Registration for the webinar is obtained via:
http://techoutreach.msucares.com/webinars/usdanrcs-conservation-programs-acep-working-lands-wildlife
.
Participants will identify themselves to enable NRCS staff and moderators
to interact and answer question more effectively.
For more ACEP-ALE information, contact Ronald McCain, NRCS Easement
Specialist, 601-965-5205, EXT 154.
EPA Recognizes Efforts of More Than 400 Federal Facilities for Green
Leadership: Reducing Pollution, Conserving Energy and Saving Money
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recognizes the efforts of more than 400 federal facilities that took steps
to reduce pollution, support renewable energy, and operate more efficiently
in 2014 as part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC), resulting in an
estimated cost savings to U.S. taxpayers of more than $24 million. The
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from participating facilities is
equivalent to annual emissions from 190,000 passenger vehicles.
"The agencies who participate in EPA's Federal Green Challenge are green
leaders, reducing pollution, realizing significant cost savings, and making
green improvements that will leave a healthier planet for future
generations," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator of EPA's
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "The awards recognize the
commitment from these federal agencies to being good neighbors and
environmental leaders in their communities."
A national effort under EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Program, the
FGC allows federal offices or facilities to pledge participation in
reducing the federal government's environmental impact.
The FGC supports Executive Order 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability
in the Next Decade, which outlines aggressive new efficiency standards for
Federal Agencies, as well as its earlier versions.
Within the target areas, challenge participants in FY14:
- diverted over 390,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste and Construction &
Demolition waste from landfills;
- saved nearly 80 million gallons of water;
- saved 107 million cubic feet of natural gas;
- reduced fleet distance traveled by 12.3 million miles;
- sent 450 tons of end of life electronics to third party certified
recyclers;
- avoided purchasing 15,000 pounds of office paper; and
- saved U.S. taxpayers over $24 million.
Agencies strive for annual improvements in selected target areas (Waste,
Electronics, Purchasing, Water, Energy and/or Transportation) and report
their improvements to EPA, demonstrating the financial and environmental
benefits of their actions. For the third year in a row, EPA is recognizing
facilities for annual improvements.
The 2015 National Awardees are:
Improvement by Target Area - highest increased percentage over previous
year
Waste: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Department of Veterans
Affairs, Tucson, Ariz.
Electronics: Western Laboratory, Drug Enforcement Administration,
Department of Justice, San Francisco, Calif.
Purchasing: U.S. Courthouse, General Services Administration, Los Angeles,
Calif.
Energy: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, U.S. Marine Corps, Department of
Defense, San Diego, Calif.
Water: Oregon Caves National Monument, National Park Service, Department of
the Interior, Cave Junctions, Ore.
Transportation:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Department of Energy, Golden, Colo.
- Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Department of Veterans Affairs,
Minneapolis, Minn.
- Capulin Volcano National Monument, National Park Service, Department of
the Interior, Capulin, N.M.
More information on the Federal Green Challenge:
http://www.epa.gov/fgc/awards/2015.html
Deer Island pier project to increase public access
WLOX
Increasing public access to nearby Deer Island. That's the main purpose of
a project to build a new public pier on the island. Secretary of State,
Delbert Hosemann, held a news conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss plans
for the pier.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28923941/deer-island-pier-project-to-increase-public-access
Deer Island access could come by end of year
Sun Herald
BY PAUL HAMPTON
BILOXI -- A state pier on Deer Island should be finished late this year and
a ferry to the island in place a short time later, Secretary of State
Delbert Hosemann said Tuesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/28/6199481_deer-island-access-could-come.html?rh=1
Sewage leak fixed after running into Hattiesburg creek
WDAM
A line break at a manhole at the former Inn on the Hill in Hattiesburg
caused an overflow into Mixon's Creek, which runs into the Bouie River.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28923161/sewage-leak-fixed-after-running-into-hattiesburg-creek
Oil Spill
BP profits fall amid oil price slide
USA Today
British energy giant BP p.l.c .(BP) reported a steep decline in
first-quarter profits Tuesday, showing the financial impact of the
global slide in oil prices.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/04/28/bp-lower-earnings/26498249/
U.K. Tells BP it Would Oppose Foreign Takeover of the Company
Government wants oil giant to remain a British company with global clout
Wall Street Journal
LONDON—The U.K. government told BP PLC that it would oppose any potential
foreign takeover of the company because it wants the oil giant to remain a
British company with global clout.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-k-tells-bp-it-would-oppose-foreign-takeover-of-the-company-1430087446
Regional
Backing Up: Suit Pushes Memphis Sewer Work
WHBQ
Spring storms in Memphis can cause havoc on the roadways, play tricks on
your hair, and what's much worse, cause nasty sewage backups in basements
across the city. The reason? The city's sewage system, which in many parts
of town dates back more than a century, is leaking like a sieve.
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/28911091/backing-up-suit-pushes-memphis-sewer-work
National
Senators vote to block EPA's use of 'secret science'
The Hill
A Senate committee voted Tuesday to prohibit the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) from using 'secret science' to back its regulations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/240365-senators-vote-to-block-epas-use-of-secret-science
Oklahoma Senate sends anti-EPA bill to governor's desk
Tulsa World
By BARBARA HOBEROCK
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Senate sent Gov. Mary Fallin a bill Tuesday
touted as a means to challenge a pollution rule by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/capitol_report/senate-sends-anti-epa-bill-to-governor-s-desk/article_b8193f06-fea1-5d22-be7e-e0146043d417.html
U.S. court throws out challenge to EPA truck emission rules
Reuters
A federal court has rejected a challenge to the first U.S. greenhouse gas
emission standards for heavy trucks, ruling that the plaintiffs had failed
to show how the court
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/28/usa-energy-trucks-idUSL1N0XP0IZ20150428
Press Releases
Agricultural Land Easements Webinar
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will host a live webinar for land
trusts , non-profit organizations, landowners and other entities that are
interested in participating in the Agricultural Conservation Easement
Program's Agricultural Land Easements (ACEP-ALE).
This webinar will provide ACEP-ALE information and eligibility requirements
to interested individuals or groups. NRCS personnel will be available to
answer questions on the ACEP-ALE application and ranking process. All
eligibility requirements are set forth by NRCS national headquarters.
Under ACEP-ALE, NRCS provides cost-share assistance to eligible entities to
purchase agricultural land easements from eligible landowners to protect
the agricultural use, including grazing uses, and related conservation
values on eligible lands.
The online sessions will be held Monday, May 4, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.
Registration for the webinar is obtained via:
http://techoutreach.msucares.com/webinars/usdanrcs-conservation-programs-acep-working-lands-wildlife
.
Participants will identify themselves to enable NRCS staff and moderators
to interact and answer question more effectively.
For more ACEP-ALE information, contact Ronald McCain, NRCS Easement
Specialist, 601-965-5205, EXT 154.
EPA Recognizes Efforts of More Than 400 Federal Facilities for Green
Leadership: Reducing Pollution, Conserving Energy and Saving Money
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
recognizes the efforts of more than 400 federal facilities that took steps
to reduce pollution, support renewable energy, and operate more efficiently
in 2014 as part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC), resulting in an
estimated cost savings to U.S. taxpayers of more than $24 million. The
reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from participating facilities is
equivalent to annual emissions from 190,000 passenger vehicles.
"The agencies who participate in EPA's Federal Green Challenge are green
leaders, reducing pollution, realizing significant cost savings, and making
green improvements that will leave a healthier planet for future
generations," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator of EPA's
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "The awards recognize the
commitment from these federal agencies to being good neighbors and
environmental leaders in their communities."
A national effort under EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Program, the
FGC allows federal offices or facilities to pledge participation in
reducing the federal government's environmental impact.
The FGC supports Executive Order 13693, Planning for Federal Sustainability
in the Next Decade, which outlines aggressive new efficiency standards for
Federal Agencies, as well as its earlier versions.
Within the target areas, challenge participants in FY14:
- diverted over 390,000 tons of Municipal Solid Waste and Construction &
Demolition waste from landfills;
- saved nearly 80 million gallons of water;
- saved 107 million cubic feet of natural gas;
- reduced fleet distance traveled by 12.3 million miles;
- sent 450 tons of end of life electronics to third party certified
recyclers;
- avoided purchasing 15,000 pounds of office paper; and
- saved U.S. taxpayers over $24 million.
Agencies strive for annual improvements in selected target areas (Waste,
Electronics, Purchasing, Water, Energy and/or Transportation) and report
their improvements to EPA, demonstrating the financial and environmental
benefits of their actions. For the third year in a row, EPA is recognizing
facilities for annual improvements.
The 2015 National Awardees are:
Improvement by Target Area - highest increased percentage over previous
year
Waste: Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Department of Veterans
Affairs, Tucson, Ariz.
Electronics: Western Laboratory, Drug Enforcement Administration,
Department of Justice, San Francisco, Calif.
Purchasing: U.S. Courthouse, General Services Administration, Los Angeles,
Calif.
Energy: Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, U.S. Marine Corps, Department of
Defense, San Diego, Calif.
Water: Oregon Caves National Monument, National Park Service, Department of
the Interior, Cave Junctions, Ore.
Transportation:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Department of Energy, Golden, Colo.
- Minneapolis VA Healthcare System, Department of Veterans Affairs,
Minneapolis, Minn.
- Capulin Volcano National Monument, National Park Service, Department of
the Interior, Capulin, N.M.
More information on the Federal Green Challenge:
http://www.epa.gov/fgc/awards/2015.html
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
News Clippings 4/28/15
State
MDEQ gives permit for wastewater plan in Rankin County
WLBT
If you live in Brandon, Flowood, Pearl, Richland or are apart of the Pearl
River Water Supply District land you may be dishing out more money on your
water bill.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/28912815/mdeq-gives-permit-for-wastewater-plan-in-rankin-county
Magnolia faces expensive decision on how to treat sewage
Posted: Friday, April 24, 2015 3:06 pm
By Justin Vicory
Enterprise-Journal
A difficult decision looms for Magnolia officials, and the only two options
will be expensive — and expansive.
The city is coming to grips with what to do with its wastewater disposal
system, environmental permits for which expired long ago.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_6eb4c790-eabd-11e4-b9ba-93dd3a7c840d.html
Hancock County gets $55,000 grant to further tire recycling
Sun Herald
BY WESLEY MULLER
HANCOCK COUNTY -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
announced Friday it awarded the county a $55,000 waste-tire grant to
continue collecting and recycling old tires.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/24/6193558_hancock-county-gets-55000-grant.html?rh=1
Grants will continue waste tire collection
WTVA
Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority was awarded a grant to
continue its local waste tire collection program in surrounding counties.
The $80,000 grant was given by the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Grants-will-continue-waste-tire-collection/lH-06dQUiEa94gu2fFdCgg.cspx
Action Report: What is being done in the derelict boat cleanup in the Bay
WLOX
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -Dwayne Lewis, Helen Peters and Roy Herron
complained that the City of Bay St. Louis, the Department of Marine
Resources and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality have done
nothing to force Dewey Bobinger, the owner of the boat, to remove the once
submerged vessel which they say was leaking fluids into the canal.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28895000/action-report-what-is-being-done-in-the-derelict-boat-cleanup-in-the-bay
Pascagoula River goes blue
Clarion Ledger
The Pascagoula River is is the largest unimpeded watershed in the
contiguous United States. It is known for its wildlife, fishing and
unmatched scenery. Now, enjoying this resource is much easier.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/04/26/pascagoula-river-goes-blue/26405153/
Deer Island access project receives final approval
Hattiesburg American
BILOXI — A project to bring public access to Deer Island has
received final approval by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Construction
on the 170-foot pier located on the north side of Deer Island will
begin this summer.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/2015/04/27/deer-island-access-project-receives-approval/26475487/
Miss.'s 'balanced' budget not so balanced
Clarion Ledger
Most every spring, Mississippi lawmakers laud themselves for having
passed a "balanced budget," which is technically required by state
law.
This year, the Legislature even voted to join a states' drive to try
to force Congress to balance its budget a la the Magnolia State. If
we can do it, they can do it.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/25/misss-balanced-budget-balanced/26395591/
Oil Spill
BP says oil spill bill over $2 billion would be "severe"
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON – Any fine above $2 billion against BP for the Deepwater Horizon
disaster would be "extraordinary and severe," double the highest-ever U.S.
water-pollution fine and potentially crippling its American oil business,
BP said in court documents.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/04/27/bp-says-oil-spill-bill-over-2-billion-would-be-severe/
Keep track of BP oil spill restoration projects with new web database
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 24, 2015 at 3:51 PM
The public will be able to track the status of environmental restoration,
recreation improvements and science research projects in Louisiana and
other states that are paid for with fines and other money provided by BP
and its drilling partners in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon
disaster and oil spill, thanks to a new online database created by the Gulf
of Mexico Alliance, the Trust for Public Land and Ducks Unlimited.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/gulf_states_organization_creat_1.html#incart_river
Does Alabama's economy stand to gain more from the oil spill than it lost?
Michael Finch II
Al.com
April 24, 2015 at 3:12 PM
Five years after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP already has pumped
billions of dollars into Alabama's economy, with potentially hundreds of
millions more on the way.
The numbers are so large, they prompt a provocative question: When all is
said and done, will Alabama get more from payments related to the spill
than the disaster actually cost the state?
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/does_alabamas_economy_stand_to.html
BP oil spill: Judge OKs jury trials for medical lawsuits
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
A federal judge in New Orleans has ruled oil spill cleanup workers who sue
BP for medical problems that surface later in life have the right to make
their case before a jury of peers. The ruling has the potential to impact
hundreds of medical claims that could land in court over coming years.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/bp_medical_claims_jury_trial.html
National
States: Comment period on EPA climate rule a 'sham'
The Hill
Fifteen states suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told a
federal court that the agency's public comment period for its land climate
rule is a "sham" because it has already made up its mind about the rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/240212-states-comment-period-on-epa-climate-rule-a-sham
Study links drilling to earthquakes
The Hill
Oil and gas drilling is responsible for small earthquakes at more than a
dozen sites around the United States, the United States Geological Survey
reported Thursday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239882-study-links-drilling-to-earthquakes
New regs for Monday: Train speed limits, school meal requirements,
emissions
The Hill
Monday's edition of the Federal Register contains new speed limits for
trains carrying petroleum and other flammable liquids, emissions standards
for sewage sludge incineration facilities, and meal pattern requirements
for schools.
http://thehill.com/regulation/239958-new-regs-for-monday-train-speed-limits-school-meal-requirements-emissions
Opinion
EDITORIAL: Mississippi recovering 5 years after oil spill
Sunday, April 26, 2015 | 6:00 a.m. CDT
BY NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI JOURNAL
Five years ago this week Mississippians and millions of other people in the
states of the Gulf South began watching as flames soared and oil gushed
from broken pipes deep underneath the Deepwater Horizon production platform
operated and leased by BP, the giant energy company.
https://www.columbiamissourian.com/a/188038/editorial-mississippi-recovering-5-years-after-oil-spill/
MISSISSIPPI ENVIRONMENT FOCUS GROUP: Stay engaged in Mississippi oil
disaster restoration effort
MISSISSIPPI ENVIRONMENT FOCUS GROUPApril 25, 2015
Sun Herald
Recent news headlines and coverage marking five years since the Deepwater
Horizon oil disaster began have been tragic reminders that 11 lives were
lost and the worst man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history happened
not far from Mississippi's shores.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/25/6193340/mississippi-environment-focus.html
Our view: Gulf State Park project is reasonable, responsible
AL.com Editorial Board
April 24, 2015 at 7:18 AM
If the Gulf State Park project were a mega-development dropping from the
sky onto a place where no lodge had existed before, we would be seriously
concerned.
But that's not the case. The goal of the $85.5 million project planned for
Alabama's premier state park, which draws 600,000 visitors annually, is to
replace a previous structure with a reasonably sized lodge and meeting
space that would be both economically and environmentally sustainable.
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/our_view_gulf_state_park_proje.html
MDEQ gives permit for wastewater plan in Rankin County
WLBT
If you live in Brandon, Flowood, Pearl, Richland or are apart of the Pearl
River Water Supply District land you may be dishing out more money on your
water bill.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/28912815/mdeq-gives-permit-for-wastewater-plan-in-rankin-county
Magnolia faces expensive decision on how to treat sewage
Posted: Friday, April 24, 2015 3:06 pm
By Justin Vicory
Enterprise-Journal
A difficult decision looms for Magnolia officials, and the only two options
will be expensive — and expansive.
The city is coming to grips with what to do with its wastewater disposal
system, environmental permits for which expired long ago.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_6eb4c790-eabd-11e4-b9ba-93dd3a7c840d.html
Hancock County gets $55,000 grant to further tire recycling
Sun Herald
BY WESLEY MULLER
HANCOCK COUNTY -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
announced Friday it awarded the county a $55,000 waste-tire grant to
continue collecting and recycling old tires.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/24/6193558_hancock-county-gets-55000-grant.html?rh=1
Grants will continue waste tire collection
WTVA
Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority was awarded a grant to
continue its local waste tire collection program in surrounding counties.
The $80,000 grant was given by the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Grants-will-continue-waste-tire-collection/lH-06dQUiEa94gu2fFdCgg.cspx
Action Report: What is being done in the derelict boat cleanup in the Bay
WLOX
BAY ST. LOUIS, MS (WLOX) -Dwayne Lewis, Helen Peters and Roy Herron
complained that the City of Bay St. Louis, the Department of Marine
Resources and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality have done
nothing to force Dewey Bobinger, the owner of the boat, to remove the once
submerged vessel which they say was leaking fluids into the canal.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28895000/action-report-what-is-being-done-in-the-derelict-boat-cleanup-in-the-bay
Pascagoula River goes blue
Clarion Ledger
The Pascagoula River is is the largest unimpeded watershed in the
contiguous United States. It is known for its wildlife, fishing and
unmatched scenery. Now, enjoying this resource is much easier.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/04/26/pascagoula-river-goes-blue/26405153/
Deer Island access project receives final approval
Hattiesburg American
BILOXI — A project to bring public access to Deer Island has
received final approval by the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Construction
on the 170-foot pier located on the north side of Deer Island will
begin this summer.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/2015/04/27/deer-island-access-project-receives-approval/26475487/
Miss.'s 'balanced' budget not so balanced
Clarion Ledger
Most every spring, Mississippi lawmakers laud themselves for having
passed a "balanced budget," which is technically required by state
law.
This year, the Legislature even voted to join a states' drive to try
to force Congress to balance its budget a la the Magnolia State. If
we can do it, they can do it.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/25/misss-balanced-budget-balanced/26395591/
Oil Spill
BP says oil spill bill over $2 billion would be "severe"
Houston Chronicle
HOUSTON – Any fine above $2 billion against BP for the Deepwater Horizon
disaster would be "extraordinary and severe," double the highest-ever U.S.
water-pollution fine and potentially crippling its American oil business,
BP said in court documents.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/04/27/bp-says-oil-spill-bill-over-2-billion-would-be-severe/
Keep track of BP oil spill restoration projects with new web database
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 24, 2015 at 3:51 PM
The public will be able to track the status of environmental restoration,
recreation improvements and science research projects in Louisiana and
other states that are paid for with fines and other money provided by BP
and its drilling partners in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon
disaster and oil spill, thanks to a new online database created by the Gulf
of Mexico Alliance, the Trust for Public Land and Ducks Unlimited.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/gulf_states_organization_creat_1.html#incart_river
Does Alabama's economy stand to gain more from the oil spill than it lost?
Michael Finch II
Al.com
April 24, 2015 at 3:12 PM
Five years after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, BP already has pumped
billions of dollars into Alabama's economy, with potentially hundreds of
millions more on the way.
The numbers are so large, they prompt a provocative question: When all is
said and done, will Alabama get more from payments related to the spill
than the disaster actually cost the state?
http://www.al.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/does_alabamas_economy_stand_to.html
BP oil spill: Judge OKs jury trials for medical lawsuits
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
A federal judge in New Orleans has ruled oil spill cleanup workers who sue
BP for medical problems that surface later in life have the right to make
their case before a jury of peers. The ruling has the potential to impact
hundreds of medical claims that could land in court over coming years.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/bp_medical_claims_jury_trial.html
National
States: Comment period on EPA climate rule a 'sham'
The Hill
Fifteen states suing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) told a
federal court that the agency's public comment period for its land climate
rule is a "sham" because it has already made up its mind about the rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/240212-states-comment-period-on-epa-climate-rule-a-sham
Study links drilling to earthquakes
The Hill
Oil and gas drilling is responsible for small earthquakes at more than a
dozen sites around the United States, the United States Geological Survey
reported Thursday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239882-study-links-drilling-to-earthquakes
New regs for Monday: Train speed limits, school meal requirements,
emissions
The Hill
Monday's edition of the Federal Register contains new speed limits for
trains carrying petroleum and other flammable liquids, emissions standards
for sewage sludge incineration facilities, and meal pattern requirements
for schools.
http://thehill.com/regulation/239958-new-regs-for-monday-train-speed-limits-school-meal-requirements-emissions
Opinion
EDITORIAL: Mississippi recovering 5 years after oil spill
Sunday, April 26, 2015 | 6:00 a.m. CDT
BY NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI JOURNAL
Five years ago this week Mississippians and millions of other people in the
states of the Gulf South began watching as flames soared and oil gushed
from broken pipes deep underneath the Deepwater Horizon production platform
operated and leased by BP, the giant energy company.
https://www.columbiamissourian.com/a/188038/editorial-mississippi-recovering-5-years-after-oil-spill/
MISSISSIPPI ENVIRONMENT FOCUS GROUP: Stay engaged in Mississippi oil
disaster restoration effort
MISSISSIPPI ENVIRONMENT FOCUS GROUPApril 25, 2015
Sun Herald
Recent news headlines and coverage marking five years since the Deepwater
Horizon oil disaster began have been tragic reminders that 11 lives were
lost and the worst man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history happened
not far from Mississippi's shores.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/25/6193340/mississippi-environment-focus.html
Our view: Gulf State Park project is reasonable, responsible
AL.com Editorial Board
April 24, 2015 at 7:18 AM
If the Gulf State Park project were a mega-development dropping from the
sky onto a place where no lodge had existed before, we would be seriously
concerned.
But that's not the case. The goal of the $85.5 million project planned for
Alabama's premier state park, which draws 600,000 visitors annually, is to
replace a previous structure with a reasonably sized lodge and meeting
space that would be both economically and environmentally sustainable.
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/our_view_gulf_state_park_proje.html
Friday, April 24, 2015
News Clippings 4/24/15
State
Security threat 'a significant event' at Chevron refinery
BY KAREN NELSON
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- An April 6 security threat to Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery
"was a pretty significant event," a representative of the refinery told
emergency planners in Jackson County on Thursday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/23/6191562_security-threat-a-significant.html?rh=1
"Stink Fest" continues awareness of Hattiesburg waste water issues
WDAM
The second annual Hattiesburg Stink Fest kicks off Friday, April 24, in
hopes of raising awareness to the ongoing issue of the city's struggle to
repair its waste waster treatment and meet EPA standards.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28885610/stink-fest-continues-awareness-of-hattiesburg-waste-water-issues
County recycling program starts Saturday
Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd
Friday, April 24, 2015 4:04 am
The Lauderdale County Board of Supervisor's recycling program will
start Saturday morning at 9 at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/county-recycling-program-starts-saturday/article_15f350f8-ea37-11e4-8ef9-13fe9035f324.html
Pascagoula volunteers to plant 1 acre of urban forest at IG Levy Park
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 23, 2015 at 6:06 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The city of Pascagoula and volunteers from
multiple community organizations are partnering to bring improvements to
the Whitehead Lake watershed this Friday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/04/pascagoula_volunteers_to_plant.html#incart_river
Mississippi Power announces plans for largest utility-scale solar projects
in the state
Mississippi Press
April 23, 2015 at 11:08 AM
GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Mississippi Power is partnering with two solar
businesses and the U.S. Navy to build utility-scale solar electric
generating farms at two different locations in the company's service
territory.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/mississippi_power_announces_pl.html#incart_river
State has authority to buy old Wright & Ferguson site
Clarion Ledger
The state now has the authority to purchase the old Wright &
Ferguson Funeral Home in downtown Jackson, pending available
funding.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/23/state-authority-buy-old-wright-ferguson-site/26256333/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: THE FUTURE OF RESTORATION AND RESEARCH
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
The work to restore the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon drilling
disaster is just beginning. As MPB's Evelina Burnett reports in the final
part of our week-long series, what we know about the massive oil spill and
its effects is also expected to grow.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/24/five-years-later-the-future-of-restoration-and-research/
Regional
CCA files suit to stop divvying up of recreational red snapper quota
Todd Masson
The Times-Picayune
April 23, 2015 at 7:01 PM
The Coastal Conservation Association has filed suit to block a move by the
Department of Commerce to grant special red snapper-fishing privileges to
the Gulf of Mexico charter-fishing fleet.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/04/red_snapper_sector_separation.html#incart_river
National
Obama looks to farmers, foresters to fight climate change
The Hill
The Obama administration announced a suite of voluntary programs Thursday
aimed at getting farmers, ranchers and foresters to adopt more
environmentally friendly practices.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239887-obama-looks-to-farmers-foresters-to-fight-climate-change
EPA reveals more than 1,000 pages of texts, phone records from chief
The Hill
The Obama administration revealed late Thursday more than 1,000 pages of
text messages and cell phone records from Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) head Gina McCarthy.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239937-epa-reveals-more-than-1000-pages-of-texts-phone-records-from-chief
New Rules, Cheap Energy Heighten Battle Between Coal and Gas
Heated words on both sides at energy conference
Wall Street Journal
HOUSTON—Tough new environmental rules and cheap energy prices are
heightening the battle between coal miners and natural-gas pumpers over
which fuel will dominate the U.S. power market.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-rules-cheap-energy-heighten-battle-between-coal-and-gas-1429802782
Troubling Interdependency of Water and Power
NY Times
In Modesto, Calif., utility records chart an 18 percent
rise in farmers' energy use in 2014 compared with 2013. No
evidence shows exactly why this happened, but California's
drought, now in its fourth year, sent many farmers to
their wells to pump from hidden aquifers water that
normally would be found at ground level.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/business/energy-environment/troubling-interdependency-of-water-and-power.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Press Releases
MDEQ officials visit MSU, discuss research programs
By Nathan Gregory
MSU Ag Communications
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University project updates
and future programs to address environmental issues were the focus of a
campus visit by officials from the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ).
Senior staff members from the MDEQ divisions for pollution control,
geology, and land and water resources presented a seminar Monday and
Tuesday on their roles and priorities as the agency charged with protecting
Mississippi's air, land and water. MSU faculty members presented updates on
programs ranging from the MSU Extension Service to the university's Gulf
Coast Community Design Studio in Biloxi.
Greg Bohach, vice president for the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry
and Veterinary Medicine, said the two-day event was an opportunity for MDEQ
and Mississippi State to provide updates on areas of mutual interest, such
as environmental issues and research conducted to address them.
"The university, including our Delta Research and Extension Center, has
worked with MDEQ over the years to inform growers about ways to improve
irrigation efficiency and water quality while maintaining profitability,"
Bohach said. "We also remain in close collaboration with MDEQ through the
activities of our Water Resources Research Institute, along with numerous
other projects."
Existing partnerships between MDEQ and MSU include projects with the
university's Bagley College of Engineering, Department of Geosciences,
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Forest and
Wildlife Research Center, Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, and Research
and Education to Advance Conservation and Habitat program.
Kay Whittington, chief of the MDEQ Office of Land and Water Resources, said
the visit was a chance for agency officials to speak with MSU researchers
and Extension experts about environmental concerns of chief importance to
the state.
"I think we've been very fortunate to already have a great relationship,"
Whittington said. "This has been a wonderful opportunity to hear more
in-depth about some of the things we do not have a chance to see outside
the realm of people we were already working with. It is important for us to
learn about the wide variety of research and activities that can help us
address some of our highest priority needs related to research and issues
that we face in the environmental arena."
David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at MSU,
said the partnership between the university and MDEQ includes funded
research projects, academic and outreach collaborations, and intern and
co-op programs.
"We want to learn about what MDEQ's pressing needs and priorities are so we
can generate new ideas and design research and Extension programs to be
able to address those priorities," Shaw said. "Our faculty are going to
jump at that opportunity."
New Public-Private Partnership Provides Incentives to Landowners to Restore
Wetlands in the Mississippi Delta
Washington — Eleven Mississippi Delta counties will benefit from a new
public-private partnership created today in a signing ceremony in Yazoo
City, Mississippi. Officials from the USDA, the state of Mississippi and
The Nature Conservancy met to create the first ever Mississippi Delta
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The program offers private
landowners incentives to voluntarily implement conservation practices that
will restore bottomland hardwood wetland forests, increase wildlife habitat
and improve water quality. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) provides private
funding through a partnership that includes the Walton Family Foundation,
and Entergy Mississippi, while public program support comes from
conservation partners Delta Wildlife, Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Mississippi Soil
and Water Conservation Commission.
The program seeks to initially enroll 4,000 acres in the following
conservation practices: CP 22 (Riparian Forest Buffer), CP 23 (Wetland
Restoration), and CP 31 (Bottomland Hardwood Timber Establishment on
Wetlands). Counties eligible for enrollment are: Bolivar, Coahoma, Holmes,
Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie,
Washington, and Yazoo. Land in these counties meeting USDA standard
eligibility requirements will qualify for enrollment in the Mississippi
Delta CREP. The program will provide an increased Signing Incentive Payment
of up to $200 per newly enrolled acre plus the standard incentives per acre
that accompany each practice. Private landowners will enter into contract
periods lasting between 14 to 15 years. Over the course of the contracts,
the partnership will provide participants with the standard annual rental
payments and cost-share assistance for installing approved conservation
practices. By doing so, the state seeks to restore wetlands, improve water
quality and establish, preserve and/or enhance wildlife habitat.
Sign-up for Mississippi Delta CREP will begin April 27, 2015, and continue
until enrollment goals are attained and/or as long as there is statutory
authority for such CRP enrollment. More information on Mississippi Delta
CREP is available at local FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and
Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation District offices. Information may
also be found on FSA's website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senior White House Advisor Brian Deese Announce |
| Partnerships with Farmers and Ranchers to Address Climate Change |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Voluntary, Incentive-based Efforts Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Expand |
|Renewable Energy Production, Help Producers Boost their Operations and Grow the Economy|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Fact Sheet |
| |
| |
|EAST LANSING, Mich., April 23, 2015 -- In a speech today at Michigan State University, |
|Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out a comprehensive approach to partner with |
|agricultural producers to address the threat of climate change. Building on the |
|creation of USDA's Climate Hubs last year, the new initiatives will utilize voluntary, |
|incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas |
|emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the |
|agricultural and forestry sectors. Through these efforts, USDA expects to reduce net |
|emissions and enhance carbon sequestration by over 120 million metric tons of CO2 |
|equivalent (MMTCO2e) per year – about 2 percent of economy-wide net greenhouse |
|emissions – by 2025. That's the equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road, or |
|the emissions produced by powering nearly 11 million homes last year. |
| |
| |
|The Secretary was joined at Michigan State by Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the |
|President, as well as agricultural producers and other private partners. Deese noted |
|that last year, President Obama made a pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions |
|in the range of 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. Deese said that today's |
|announcement will help the American agriculture and forest sectors contribute to that |
|goal. |
| |
| |
|"American farmers and ranchers are leaders when it comes to reducing carbon emissions |
|and improving efficiency in their operations. That's why U.S. agricultural emissions |
|are lower than the global average," said Vilsack. "We can build on this success in a |
|way that combats climate change and strengthens the American agriculture economy. |
|Through incentive-based initiatives, we can partner with producers to significantly |
|reduce carbon emissions while improving yields, increasing farm operation's energy |
|efficiency, and helping farmers and ranchers earn revenue from clean energy |
|production." |
| |
| |
|"This is an innovative and creative effort to look across all of USDA's programs and |
|put forward voluntary and incentive-based programs that will increase the bottom lines |
|of ranchers and farmers while reducing net greenhouse gas emissions," said Deese. |
|"Taken together, these partnerships will reduce emissions by 120 million metric tons or|
|two percent of our economy-wide emissions in 2025 – exactly the collaborative, bold |
|action this moment demands of us." |
| |
| |
|The framework announced today consists of ten building blocks that span a range of |
|technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon storage |
|and generate clean renewable energy. Through this initiative, USDA will use authorities|
|provided in the 2014 Farm Bill to offer incentives and technical assistance to farmers,|
|ranchers, and forest land owners. USDA intends to pursue partnerships and leverage |
|resources to conserve and enhance greenhouse gas sinks, reduce emissions, increase |
|renewable energy and build resilience in agricultural and forest systems. |
| |
| |
|USDA Building Blocks for Climate Action: |
| |
| |
|Soil Health: Improve soil resilience and increase productivity by promoting |
|conservation tillage and no-till systems, planting cover crops, planting perennial |
|forages, managing organic inputs and compost application, and alleviating compaction. |
|For example, the effort aims to increase the use of no-till systems to cover more than |
|100 million acres by 2025. |
| |
| |
|Nitrogen Stewardship: Focus on the right timing, type, placement and quantity of |
|nutrients to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and provide cost savings through efficient |
|application. |
| |
| |
|Livestock Partnerships: Encourage broader deployment of anaerobic digesters, lagoon |
|covers, composting, and solids separators to reduce methane emissions from cattle, |
|dairy, and swine operations, including the installation of 500 new digesters over the |
|next 10 years. |
| |
| |
|Conservation of Sensitive Lands: Use the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the |
|Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to reduce GHG emissions through |
|riparian buffers, tree planting, and the conservation of wetlands and organic soils. |
|For example, the effort aims to enroll 400,000 acres of lands with high greenhouse gas |
|benefits into the Conservation Reserve Program. |
| |
| |
|Grazing and Pasture Lands: Support rotational grazing management on an additional 4 |
|million acres, avoiding soil carbon loss through improved management of forage, soils |
|and grazing livestock. |
| |
| |
|Private Forest Growth and Retention: Through the Forest Legacy Program and the |
|Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, protect almost 1 million |
|additional acres of working landscapes. Employ the Forest Stewardship Program to cover |
|an average of 2.1 million acres annually (new or revised plans), in addition to the 26 |
|million acres covered by active plans. |
| |
| |
|Stewardship of Federal Forests: Reforest areas damaged by wildfire, insects, or |
|disease, and restore forests to increase their resilience to those disturbances. This |
|includes plans to reforest an additional 5,000 acres each year. |
| |
| |
|Promotion of Wood Products: Increase the use of wood as a building material, to store |
|additional carbon in buildings while offsetting the use of energy from fossil fuel. |
| |
| |
|Urban Forests: Encourage tree planting in urban areas to reduce energy costs, storm |
|water runoff, and urban heat island effects while increasing carbon sequestration, curb|
|appeal, and property values. The effort aims to plant an additional 9,000 trees in |
|urban areas on average each year through 2025. |
| |
| |
|Energy Generation and Efficiency: Promote renewable energy technologies and improve |
|energy efficiency. Through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program, work |
|with utilities to improve the efficiency of equipment and appliances. Using the Rural |
|Energy for America Program, develop additional renewable energy opportunities. Support |
|the National On-Farm Energy Initiative to improve farm energy efficiency through |
|cost-sharing and energy audits. |
| |
| |
|These efforts will provide economic and environmental benefits through efficiency |
|improvements, improved yields, and climate resilience while also reducing greenhouse |
|gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration. For example, implementing no-till |
|practices can both increase carbon sequestration and improve the soil's water holding |
|capacity, reducing the vulnerability to drought and soil erosion. Likewise, adopting |
|the right timing, placement, source, and rate of nutrients can reduce input costs and |
|maintain agricultural yield while minimizing nitrous oxide emissions, a potent |
|greenhouse gas. |
| |
| |
|Addressing climate change is critical for future agricultural and forest health and |
|will require innovation, creativity, and consideration of all potential solutions. |
|Liquid renewable fuels (ethanol and biodiesel) are already supplying 10 percent of U.S.|
|transportation fuel needs. Great strides have been made to improve the performance of |
|the ethanol and biodiesel industry. The newest and most efficient ethanol plants |
|produce fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 40 percent, and there are |
|opportunities to improve performance even further. |
| |
| |
|Biomass can also contribute to heating, cooling and electric needs, offering a low-cost|
|option to reduce greenhouse gases. USDA is promoting a strategy that recognizes forest |
|stocks can reduce emissions by substituting for fossil fuels and energy intensive |
|materials. Doing so will create strong markets for wood materials, raise the value of |
|lands in forests, and encourage investment in forest regrowth and expansion. |
| |
| |
|USDA's strategy will be based on the following principles: |
| |
| |
| · Voluntary and incentive-based: Farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners are |
| stewards of the land. USDA has a track record of successful conservation though |
| voluntary programs designed to provide technical assistance for resource |
| management. These efforts fit within USDA's approach of "cooperative |
| conservation." |
| |
| |
| · Focused on multiple economic and environmental benefits: To be successful, the |
| proposed actions should provide economic and environmental benefits through |
| efficiency improvements, improved yields, or reduced risks. |
| |
| |
| · Meet the needs of producers: This strategy is designed for working farms, |
| ranches, forests, and production systems. USDA will encourage actions that |
| enhance productivity and improve efficiency. |
| |
| |
| · Cooperative and focused on building partnerships: USDA will seek out |
| opportunities to leverage efforts by industry, farm groups, conservation |
| organizations, municipalities, public and private investment products, tribes, |
| and states. |
| |
| |
| · Assess progress and measure success: USDA is committed to establishing |
| quantitative goals and objectives for each building block and will track and |
| report on progress. |
| |
| |
|America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have a track record of extraordinary |
|productivity gains and natural resource stewardship. Today, producers are working |
|alongside USDA and other partners to make their operations and communities more |
|resistant to a changing climate. Building on this legacy of partnership, efficiency and|
|innovation, said Vilsack, American agriculture and the Nation's forests can continue to|
|play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon |
|storage in our forests and our soils. U.S. producers and landowners are already global |
|leaders in sustainable land management and efficient production systems, and in turn |
|will continue to be global leaders in implementing climate change solutions. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Security threat 'a significant event' at Chevron refinery
BY KAREN NELSON
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA -- An April 6 security threat to Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery
"was a pretty significant event," a representative of the refinery told
emergency planners in Jackson County on Thursday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/23/6191562_security-threat-a-significant.html?rh=1
"Stink Fest" continues awareness of Hattiesburg waste water issues
WDAM
The second annual Hattiesburg Stink Fest kicks off Friday, April 24, in
hopes of raising awareness to the ongoing issue of the city's struggle to
repair its waste waster treatment and meet EPA standards.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28885610/stink-fest-continues-awareness-of-hattiesburg-waste-water-issues
County recycling program starts Saturday
Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd
Friday, April 24, 2015 4:04 am
The Lauderdale County Board of Supervisor's recycling program will
start Saturday morning at 9 at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/county-recycling-program-starts-saturday/article_15f350f8-ea37-11e4-8ef9-13fe9035f324.html
Pascagoula volunteers to plant 1 acre of urban forest at IG Levy Park
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 23, 2015 at 6:06 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- The city of Pascagoula and volunteers from
multiple community organizations are partnering to bring improvements to
the Whitehead Lake watershed this Friday.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/04/pascagoula_volunteers_to_plant.html#incart_river
Mississippi Power announces plans for largest utility-scale solar projects
in the state
Mississippi Press
April 23, 2015 at 11:08 AM
GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Mississippi Power is partnering with two solar
businesses and the U.S. Navy to build utility-scale solar electric
generating farms at two different locations in the company's service
territory.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/mississippi_power_announces_pl.html#incart_river
State has authority to buy old Wright & Ferguson site
Clarion Ledger
The state now has the authority to purchase the old Wright &
Ferguson Funeral Home in downtown Jackson, pending available
funding.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/23/state-authority-buy-old-wright-ferguson-site/26256333/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: THE FUTURE OF RESTORATION AND RESEARCH
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
The work to restore the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon drilling
disaster is just beginning. As MPB's Evelina Burnett reports in the final
part of our week-long series, what we know about the massive oil spill and
its effects is also expected to grow.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/24/five-years-later-the-future-of-restoration-and-research/
Regional
CCA files suit to stop divvying up of recreational red snapper quota
Todd Masson
The Times-Picayune
April 23, 2015 at 7:01 PM
The Coastal Conservation Association has filed suit to block a move by the
Department of Commerce to grant special red snapper-fishing privileges to
the Gulf of Mexico charter-fishing fleet.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/04/red_snapper_sector_separation.html#incart_river
National
Obama looks to farmers, foresters to fight climate change
The Hill
The Obama administration announced a suite of voluntary programs Thursday
aimed at getting farmers, ranchers and foresters to adopt more
environmentally friendly practices.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239887-obama-looks-to-farmers-foresters-to-fight-climate-change
EPA reveals more than 1,000 pages of texts, phone records from chief
The Hill
The Obama administration revealed late Thursday more than 1,000 pages of
text messages and cell phone records from Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) head Gina McCarthy.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239937-epa-reveals-more-than-1000-pages-of-texts-phone-records-from-chief
New Rules, Cheap Energy Heighten Battle Between Coal and Gas
Heated words on both sides at energy conference
Wall Street Journal
HOUSTON—Tough new environmental rules and cheap energy prices are
heightening the battle between coal miners and natural-gas pumpers over
which fuel will dominate the U.S. power market.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-rules-cheap-energy-heighten-battle-between-coal-and-gas-1429802782
Troubling Interdependency of Water and Power
NY Times
In Modesto, Calif., utility records chart an 18 percent
rise in farmers' energy use in 2014 compared with 2013. No
evidence shows exactly why this happened, but California's
drought, now in its fourth year, sent many farmers to
their wells to pump from hidden aquifers water that
normally would be found at ground level.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/business/energy-environment/troubling-interdependency-of-water-and-power.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Press Releases
MDEQ officials visit MSU, discuss research programs
By Nathan Gregory
MSU Ag Communications
MISSISSIPPI STATE, Miss. -- Mississippi State University project updates
and future programs to address environmental issues were the focus of a
campus visit by officials from the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality (MDEQ).
Senior staff members from the MDEQ divisions for pollution control,
geology, and land and water resources presented a seminar Monday and
Tuesday on their roles and priorities as the agency charged with protecting
Mississippi's air, land and water. MSU faculty members presented updates on
programs ranging from the MSU Extension Service to the university's Gulf
Coast Community Design Studio in Biloxi.
Greg Bohach, vice president for the MSU Division of Agriculture, Forestry
and Veterinary Medicine, said the two-day event was an opportunity for MDEQ
and Mississippi State to provide updates on areas of mutual interest, such
as environmental issues and research conducted to address them.
"The university, including our Delta Research and Extension Center, has
worked with MDEQ over the years to inform growers about ways to improve
irrigation efficiency and water quality while maintaining profitability,"
Bohach said. "We also remain in close collaboration with MDEQ through the
activities of our Water Resources Research Institute, along with numerous
other projects."
Existing partnerships between MDEQ and MSU include projects with the
university's Bagley College of Engineering, Department of Geosciences,
Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Forest and
Wildlife Research Center, Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, and Research
and Education to Advance Conservation and Habitat program.
Kay Whittington, chief of the MDEQ Office of Land and Water Resources, said
the visit was a chance for agency officials to speak with MSU researchers
and Extension experts about environmental concerns of chief importance to
the state.
"I think we've been very fortunate to already have a great relationship,"
Whittington said. "This has been a wonderful opportunity to hear more
in-depth about some of the things we do not have a chance to see outside
the realm of people we were already working with. It is important for us to
learn about the wide variety of research and activities that can help us
address some of our highest priority needs related to research and issues
that we face in the environmental arena."
David Shaw, vice president for research and economic development at MSU,
said the partnership between the university and MDEQ includes funded
research projects, academic and outreach collaborations, and intern and
co-op programs.
"We want to learn about what MDEQ's pressing needs and priorities are so we
can generate new ideas and design research and Extension programs to be
able to address those priorities," Shaw said. "Our faculty are going to
jump at that opportunity."
New Public-Private Partnership Provides Incentives to Landowners to Restore
Wetlands in the Mississippi Delta
Washington — Eleven Mississippi Delta counties will benefit from a new
public-private partnership created today in a signing ceremony in Yazoo
City, Mississippi. Officials from the USDA, the state of Mississippi and
The Nature Conservancy met to create the first ever Mississippi Delta
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The program offers private
landowners incentives to voluntarily implement conservation practices that
will restore bottomland hardwood wetland forests, increase wildlife habitat
and improve water quality. The Nature Conservancy (TNC) provides private
funding through a partnership that includes the Walton Family Foundation,
and Entergy Mississippi, while public program support comes from
conservation partners Delta Wildlife, Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Mississippi Soil
and Water Conservation Commission.
The program seeks to initially enroll 4,000 acres in the following
conservation practices: CP 22 (Riparian Forest Buffer), CP 23 (Wetland
Restoration), and CP 31 (Bottomland Hardwood Timber Establishment on
Wetlands). Counties eligible for enrollment are: Bolivar, Coahoma, Holmes,
Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie,
Washington, and Yazoo. Land in these counties meeting USDA standard
eligibility requirements will qualify for enrollment in the Mississippi
Delta CREP. The program will provide an increased Signing Incentive Payment
of up to $200 per newly enrolled acre plus the standard incentives per acre
that accompany each practice. Private landowners will enter into contract
periods lasting between 14 to 15 years. Over the course of the contracts,
the partnership will provide participants with the standard annual rental
payments and cost-share assistance for installing approved conservation
practices. By doing so, the state seeks to restore wetlands, improve water
quality and establish, preserve and/or enhance wildlife habitat.
Sign-up for Mississippi Delta CREP will begin April 27, 2015, and continue
until enrollment goals are attained and/or as long as there is statutory
authority for such CRP enrollment. More information on Mississippi Delta
CREP is available at local FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and
Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation District offices. Information may
also be found on FSA's website at http://www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Senior White House Advisor Brian Deese Announce |
| Partnerships with Farmers and Ranchers to Address Climate Change |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Voluntary, Incentive-based Efforts Will Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Expand |
|Renewable Energy Production, Help Producers Boost their Operations and Grow the Economy|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|Fact Sheet |
| |
| |
|EAST LANSING, Mich., April 23, 2015 -- In a speech today at Michigan State University, |
|Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack laid out a comprehensive approach to partner with |
|agricultural producers to address the threat of climate change. Building on the |
|creation of USDA's Climate Hubs last year, the new initiatives will utilize voluntary, |
|incentive-based conservation, forestry, and energy programs to reduce greenhouse gas |
|emissions, increase carbon sequestration and expand renewable energy production in the |
|agricultural and forestry sectors. Through these efforts, USDA expects to reduce net |
|emissions and enhance carbon sequestration by over 120 million metric tons of CO2 |
|equivalent (MMTCO2e) per year – about 2 percent of economy-wide net greenhouse |
|emissions – by 2025. That's the equivalent of taking 25 million cars off the road, or |
|the emissions produced by powering nearly 11 million homes last year. |
| |
| |
|The Secretary was joined at Michigan State by Brian Deese, Senior Advisor to the |
|President, as well as agricultural producers and other private partners. Deese noted |
|that last year, President Obama made a pledge to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions |
|in the range of 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. Deese said that today's |
|announcement will help the American agriculture and forest sectors contribute to that |
|goal. |
| |
| |
|"American farmers and ranchers are leaders when it comes to reducing carbon emissions |
|and improving efficiency in their operations. That's why U.S. agricultural emissions |
|are lower than the global average," said Vilsack. "We can build on this success in a |
|way that combats climate change and strengthens the American agriculture economy. |
|Through incentive-based initiatives, we can partner with producers to significantly |
|reduce carbon emissions while improving yields, increasing farm operation's energy |
|efficiency, and helping farmers and ranchers earn revenue from clean energy |
|production." |
| |
| |
|"This is an innovative and creative effort to look across all of USDA's programs and |
|put forward voluntary and incentive-based programs that will increase the bottom lines |
|of ranchers and farmers while reducing net greenhouse gas emissions," said Deese. |
|"Taken together, these partnerships will reduce emissions by 120 million metric tons or|
|two percent of our economy-wide emissions in 2025 – exactly the collaborative, bold |
|action this moment demands of us." |
| |
| |
|The framework announced today consists of ten building blocks that span a range of |
|technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon storage |
|and generate clean renewable energy. Through this initiative, USDA will use authorities|
|provided in the 2014 Farm Bill to offer incentives and technical assistance to farmers,|
|ranchers, and forest land owners. USDA intends to pursue partnerships and leverage |
|resources to conserve and enhance greenhouse gas sinks, reduce emissions, increase |
|renewable energy and build resilience in agricultural and forest systems. |
| |
| |
|USDA Building Blocks for Climate Action: |
| |
| |
|Soil Health: Improve soil resilience and increase productivity by promoting |
|conservation tillage and no-till systems, planting cover crops, planting perennial |
|forages, managing organic inputs and compost application, and alleviating compaction. |
|For example, the effort aims to increase the use of no-till systems to cover more than |
|100 million acres by 2025. |
| |
| |
|Nitrogen Stewardship: Focus on the right timing, type, placement and quantity of |
|nutrients to reduce nitrous oxide emissions and provide cost savings through efficient |
|application. |
| |
| |
|Livestock Partnerships: Encourage broader deployment of anaerobic digesters, lagoon |
|covers, composting, and solids separators to reduce methane emissions from cattle, |
|dairy, and swine operations, including the installation of 500 new digesters over the |
|next 10 years. |
| |
| |
|Conservation of Sensitive Lands: Use the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the |
|Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to reduce GHG emissions through |
|riparian buffers, tree planting, and the conservation of wetlands and organic soils. |
|For example, the effort aims to enroll 400,000 acres of lands with high greenhouse gas |
|benefits into the Conservation Reserve Program. |
| |
| |
|Grazing and Pasture Lands: Support rotational grazing management on an additional 4 |
|million acres, avoiding soil carbon loss through improved management of forage, soils |
|and grazing livestock. |
| |
| |
|Private Forest Growth and Retention: Through the Forest Legacy Program and the |
|Community Forest and Open Space Conservation Program, protect almost 1 million |
|additional acres of working landscapes. Employ the Forest Stewardship Program to cover |
|an average of 2.1 million acres annually (new or revised plans), in addition to the 26 |
|million acres covered by active plans. |
| |
| |
|Stewardship of Federal Forests: Reforest areas damaged by wildfire, insects, or |
|disease, and restore forests to increase their resilience to those disturbances. This |
|includes plans to reforest an additional 5,000 acres each year. |
| |
| |
|Promotion of Wood Products: Increase the use of wood as a building material, to store |
|additional carbon in buildings while offsetting the use of energy from fossil fuel. |
| |
| |
|Urban Forests: Encourage tree planting in urban areas to reduce energy costs, storm |
|water runoff, and urban heat island effects while increasing carbon sequestration, curb|
|appeal, and property values. The effort aims to plant an additional 9,000 trees in |
|urban areas on average each year through 2025. |
| |
| |
|Energy Generation and Efficiency: Promote renewable energy technologies and improve |
|energy efficiency. Through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program, work |
|with utilities to improve the efficiency of equipment and appliances. Using the Rural |
|Energy for America Program, develop additional renewable energy opportunities. Support |
|the National On-Farm Energy Initiative to improve farm energy efficiency through |
|cost-sharing and energy audits. |
| |
| |
|These efforts will provide economic and environmental benefits through efficiency |
|improvements, improved yields, and climate resilience while also reducing greenhouse |
|gas emissions and increasing carbon sequestration. For example, implementing no-till |
|practices can both increase carbon sequestration and improve the soil's water holding |
|capacity, reducing the vulnerability to drought and soil erosion. Likewise, adopting |
|the right timing, placement, source, and rate of nutrients can reduce input costs and |
|maintain agricultural yield while minimizing nitrous oxide emissions, a potent |
|greenhouse gas. |
| |
| |
|Addressing climate change is critical for future agricultural and forest health and |
|will require innovation, creativity, and consideration of all potential solutions. |
|Liquid renewable fuels (ethanol and biodiesel) are already supplying 10 percent of U.S.|
|transportation fuel needs. Great strides have been made to improve the performance of |
|the ethanol and biodiesel industry. The newest and most efficient ethanol plants |
|produce fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by over 40 percent, and there are |
|opportunities to improve performance even further. |
| |
| |
|Biomass can also contribute to heating, cooling and electric needs, offering a low-cost|
|option to reduce greenhouse gases. USDA is promoting a strategy that recognizes forest |
|stocks can reduce emissions by substituting for fossil fuels and energy intensive |
|materials. Doing so will create strong markets for wood materials, raise the value of |
|lands in forests, and encourage investment in forest regrowth and expansion. |
| |
| |
|USDA's strategy will be based on the following principles: |
| |
| |
| · Voluntary and incentive-based: Farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners are |
| stewards of the land. USDA has a track record of successful conservation though |
| voluntary programs designed to provide technical assistance for resource |
| management. These efforts fit within USDA's approach of "cooperative |
| conservation." |
| |
| |
| · Focused on multiple economic and environmental benefits: To be successful, the |
| proposed actions should provide economic and environmental benefits through |
| efficiency improvements, improved yields, or reduced risks. |
| |
| |
| · Meet the needs of producers: This strategy is designed for working farms, |
| ranches, forests, and production systems. USDA will encourage actions that |
| enhance productivity and improve efficiency. |
| |
| |
| · Cooperative and focused on building partnerships: USDA will seek out |
| opportunities to leverage efforts by industry, farm groups, conservation |
| organizations, municipalities, public and private investment products, tribes, |
| and states. |
| |
| |
| · Assess progress and measure success: USDA is committed to establishing |
| quantitative goals and objectives for each building block and will track and |
| report on progress. |
| |
| |
|America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have a track record of extraordinary |
|productivity gains and natural resource stewardship. Today, producers are working |
|alongside USDA and other partners to make their operations and communities more |
|resistant to a changing climate. Building on this legacy of partnership, efficiency and|
|innovation, said Vilsack, American agriculture and the Nation's forests can continue to|
|play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing carbon |
|storage in our forests and our soils. U.S. producers and landowners are already global |
|leaders in sustainable land management and efficient production systems, and in turn |
|will continue to be global leaders in implementing climate change solutions. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Thursday, April 23, 2015
News Clippings 4.23.15
State
MDEQ recognizes 2015 enHance Members including Mississippi Lignite Mining
Company
April 22, 2015
Choctaw Plaindealer
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) recently
accepted two new members and seven renewal memberships into its enHance
program for the 2015 class. In addition, two other members upgraded their
membership status. The recognition was part of the annual workshop and
awards luncheon held in Jackson.
http://choctawplaindealer.com/
EPA plans public meeting on pollution at Cavenham Forest Industries site in
Gulfport
BY WESLEY MULLER
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- The Environmental Protection Agency plans a public meeting
Thursday evening to discuss the ongoing cleanup of the Cavenham Forest
Industries plant, which closed in 1987 after 80 years, polluting the soil
and groundwater with chemicals, creosote and diesel fuel.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/22/6190209/epa-plans-public-meeting-on-pollution.html
Jackson: Rankin Wastewater Plan 'Disingenuous'
Jackson Free Press
With Jackson and its citizens burdened with a $4 million consent decree to
fix its sewer system, it was already going to be a tough hill to climb.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2015/apr/22/jackson-rankin-wastewater-plan-disingenuous/
Utility Authority expecting to accept new Facility
Picayune Item
http://www.picayuneitem.com/2015/04/utility-authority-expecting-to-accept-new-facility/
Volunteers make Deer Island a cleaner place
WLOX
More than 100 volunteers from several Biloxi casinos spent this Earth Day
cleaning up Deer Island. The island cleanup event was also the kickoff to
Mississippi Power Company's annual Renew Our Rivers program.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28873784/volunteers-make-deer-island-a-cleaner-place
'We don't waste anything'
Vicksburg Post
In an effort to be environmentally friendly, a local sawmill is using all
of its resources responsibly.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/we-dont-waste-anything/
Composting lessens impact on landfills
Vicksburg Post
Landfills are reaching capacity levels. Some have already closed, and with
increases in population, the need for space to discard garbage will only
grow.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/composting-lessens-impact-on-landfills/
River keeps green industry rolling
Vicksburg Post
The safest, most environmentally friendly means of transportation in the
country rolls through Vicksburg on a daily basis.
Yet, shipping via towboat and barge slips by almost unnoticed in an
industry that often conjures up ideas of smog, crowded highway and
dangerous rail crossings.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/river-keeps-green-industry-rolling/
What's black, white and green?
Vicksburg Post
A few decades ago, the printing industry was often held up as a model of
ecological waste.
It took thousands of trees to print a single edition of a major
metropolitan newspaper. Petroleum-based ink and other chemicals created
hazardous waste.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/whats-black-white-and-green/
Easy, affordable ways to be green
Vicksburg Post
People are planting trees, picking up trash and riding their bikes around
the nation to celebrate Earth Day, but why is protecting the Earth so
important?
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/easy-affordable-ways-to-be-green/
45th Earth Day observed at Infinity Science Center
WLOX
HANCOCK COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Instead of a planet in outer space, the focus at
the Infinity Science Center in Hancock County was on planet Earth.
Volunteers from three organizations and government agencies teamed up for
an environmental cleanup and beautification project on the grounds of
Infinity.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28875423/45th-earth-day-observed-at-infinity-science-center
Pascagoula students go green for Earth Day
WLOX
Students in Pascagoula celebrated Earth Day by planting seeds for a greener
future. To make this day even more special, Chevron, the American Heart
Society and the Pascagoula River Audubon Center provided the kids with
valuable lessons on being good stewards of the environment.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28875496/pascagoula-students-go-green-for-earth-day
MDEQ issues new water contact advisories
WLOX
There are some new water contact advisories in South Mississippi from the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28873193/mdeq-issues-new-water-contact-advisories
Coast man fighting for his life; loses leg after a day on the water
WLOX
A day on the water had a tragic outcome for an Ocean Springs man who is
fighting for his life at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28863089/coast-man-fighting-for-his-life-loses-leg-after-a-day-on-the-water
MDA closing regional offices
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Development Authority is closing its regional
offices across the state, in an effort to streamline operations and
on recommendation from a recent study.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/politicalledger/2015/04/22/mda-regional-offices/26213407/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: CLAIMS PROCESS LEAVES SOME BUSINESSES DISSATISFIED
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
More than 36,000 claims have been submitted by Mississippi businesses and
individuals for economic losses from the BP oil spill. That's about 12
percent of the total, and far lower than in Louisiana, Florida or Alabama.
As MPB's Evelina Burnett reports, many people who have filed claims say
they weren't fully compensated for what they lost, or are still waiting to
be paid.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/23/five-years-later-claims-process-leaves-some-businesses-dissatisfied/
Cultivating a demand for raw Gulf oysters five years after BP spill
CNN
Mike and Ardis Knoflicek acquired a taste for raw oysters late in life.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/22/living/feat-gulf-oyster-farming-bp-oil-spill-effects/index.html
National
EPA releases new standards for measuring air pollutants in industrial
flares
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
April 22, 2015 at 7:52 PM
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released new standards
for chemical plants and refineries to measure the volatile organic
compounds in their flares.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/epa_releases_new_standards_for.html#incart_river
Thermal camera 'sees' hidden pollution, nets major settlement with energy
firm
Washington Post
In normal daylight, the big tanks used to store Noble Energy Inc.'s
petroleum looked solid enough. But when regulators examined them through
thermal cameras, they made a startling discovery: Noxious pollutants
escaped from the tanks like smoke from a chimney.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/22/thermal-camera-sees-hidden-pollution-nets-73-million-settlement-with-energy-firm/
Popular pesticide hurts wild bees in major field study
The Associated Press
April 22, 2015 at 2:19 PM
WASHINGTON — A common type of pesticide is dramatically harming wild bees,
according to a new in-the-field study that outside experts say may help
shift the way the U.S. government looks at a controversial class of
chemicals.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/popular_pesticide_hurts_wild_b.html#incart_river
High Costs Put Cracks in Glass-Recycling Programs
Some cities pull back as processors begin to charge for accepting
trash-heavy shipments
Wall Street Journal
The glass recycling business is at a tipping point.
In many parts of the country, glass—the original recyclable—is becoming too
expensive to handle, placing a growing burden on towns and businesses. Some
cities, including Harrisburg, Pa., and Charleston, W. Va., consider it more
cost-effective to have residents throw glass bottles in the trash than to
recycle them.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-costs-put-cracks-in-glass-recycling-programs-1429695003
Recycling Peanuts and Cracker Jack
NY Times
For years, sports fans have been told to put their glass
bottles and aluminum cans in recycling bins at arenas and
stadiums.
Now, a growing number of teams, eager to cut costs, are
asking them to toss their food and biodegradable cutlery,
trays and cups in separate bins, too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/business/energy-environment/recycling-peanuts-and-cracker-jack.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Committee passes $35B funding bill for energy, water development
The Hill
House appropriators on Wednesday advanced a $35.4 billion bill that would
fund energy and water development for fiscal year 2016.
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/239708-energy-water-development-35b-funding-bill-passes-full-committee
New regs for Thursday: Hazardous materials, pesticides, efficiency
The Hill
Thursday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for trains
and ships transporting hazardous materials, pesticides used on corn,
competitive bidding rules, and efficiency rules for pumps.
http://thehill.com/regulation/239677-new-regs-for-thursday-hazardous-materials-pesticides-efficiency
Opinion
No convention center was damaged in the BP oil spill (guest opinion)
By Cyn Sarthou
Who can forget the heartbreaking photos of oil-covered convention centers
after the BP oil disaster?
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/no_convention_center_was_damag.html
MDEQ recognizes 2015 enHance Members including Mississippi Lignite Mining
Company
April 22, 2015
Choctaw Plaindealer
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) recently
accepted two new members and seven renewal memberships into its enHance
program for the 2015 class. In addition, two other members upgraded their
membership status. The recognition was part of the annual workshop and
awards luncheon held in Jackson.
http://choctawplaindealer.com/
EPA plans public meeting on pollution at Cavenham Forest Industries site in
Gulfport
BY WESLEY MULLER
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- The Environmental Protection Agency plans a public meeting
Thursday evening to discuss the ongoing cleanup of the Cavenham Forest
Industries plant, which closed in 1987 after 80 years, polluting the soil
and groundwater with chemicals, creosote and diesel fuel.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/22/6190209/epa-plans-public-meeting-on-pollution.html
Jackson: Rankin Wastewater Plan 'Disingenuous'
Jackson Free Press
With Jackson and its citizens burdened with a $4 million consent decree to
fix its sewer system, it was already going to be a tough hill to climb.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2015/apr/22/jackson-rankin-wastewater-plan-disingenuous/
Utility Authority expecting to accept new Facility
Picayune Item
http://www.picayuneitem.com/2015/04/utility-authority-expecting-to-accept-new-facility/
Volunteers make Deer Island a cleaner place
WLOX
More than 100 volunteers from several Biloxi casinos spent this Earth Day
cleaning up Deer Island. The island cleanup event was also the kickoff to
Mississippi Power Company's annual Renew Our Rivers program.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28873784/volunteers-make-deer-island-a-cleaner-place
'We don't waste anything'
Vicksburg Post
In an effort to be environmentally friendly, a local sawmill is using all
of its resources responsibly.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/we-dont-waste-anything/
Composting lessens impact on landfills
Vicksburg Post
Landfills are reaching capacity levels. Some have already closed, and with
increases in population, the need for space to discard garbage will only
grow.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/composting-lessens-impact-on-landfills/
River keeps green industry rolling
Vicksburg Post
The safest, most environmentally friendly means of transportation in the
country rolls through Vicksburg on a daily basis.
Yet, shipping via towboat and barge slips by almost unnoticed in an
industry that often conjures up ideas of smog, crowded highway and
dangerous rail crossings.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/river-keeps-green-industry-rolling/
What's black, white and green?
Vicksburg Post
A few decades ago, the printing industry was often held up as a model of
ecological waste.
It took thousands of trees to print a single edition of a major
metropolitan newspaper. Petroleum-based ink and other chemicals created
hazardous waste.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/whats-black-white-and-green/
Easy, affordable ways to be green
Vicksburg Post
People are planting trees, picking up trash and riding their bikes around
the nation to celebrate Earth Day, but why is protecting the Earth so
important?
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/22/easy-affordable-ways-to-be-green/
45th Earth Day observed at Infinity Science Center
WLOX
HANCOCK COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Instead of a planet in outer space, the focus at
the Infinity Science Center in Hancock County was on planet Earth.
Volunteers from three organizations and government agencies teamed up for
an environmental cleanup and beautification project on the grounds of
Infinity.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28875423/45th-earth-day-observed-at-infinity-science-center
Pascagoula students go green for Earth Day
WLOX
Students in Pascagoula celebrated Earth Day by planting seeds for a greener
future. To make this day even more special, Chevron, the American Heart
Society and the Pascagoula River Audubon Center provided the kids with
valuable lessons on being good stewards of the environment.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28875496/pascagoula-students-go-green-for-earth-day
MDEQ issues new water contact advisories
WLOX
There are some new water contact advisories in South Mississippi from the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28873193/mdeq-issues-new-water-contact-advisories
Coast man fighting for his life; loses leg after a day on the water
WLOX
A day on the water had a tragic outcome for an Ocean Springs man who is
fighting for his life at Singing River Hospital in Pascagoula.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28863089/coast-man-fighting-for-his-life-loses-leg-after-a-day-on-the-water
MDA closing regional offices
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Development Authority is closing its regional
offices across the state, in an effort to streamline operations and
on recommendation from a recent study.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/politicalledger/2015/04/22/mda-regional-offices/26213407/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: CLAIMS PROCESS LEAVES SOME BUSINESSES DISSATISFIED
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
More than 36,000 claims have been submitted by Mississippi businesses and
individuals for economic losses from the BP oil spill. That's about 12
percent of the total, and far lower than in Louisiana, Florida or Alabama.
As MPB's Evelina Burnett reports, many people who have filed claims say
they weren't fully compensated for what they lost, or are still waiting to
be paid.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/23/five-years-later-claims-process-leaves-some-businesses-dissatisfied/
Cultivating a demand for raw Gulf oysters five years after BP spill
CNN
Mike and Ardis Knoflicek acquired a taste for raw oysters late in life.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/04/22/living/feat-gulf-oyster-farming-bp-oil-spill-effects/index.html
National
EPA releases new standards for measuring air pollutants in industrial
flares
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
April 22, 2015 at 7:52 PM
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week released new standards
for chemical plants and refineries to measure the volatile organic
compounds in their flares.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/epa_releases_new_standards_for.html#incart_river
Thermal camera 'sees' hidden pollution, nets major settlement with energy
firm
Washington Post
In normal daylight, the big tanks used to store Noble Energy Inc.'s
petroleum looked solid enough. But when regulators examined them through
thermal cameras, they made a startling discovery: Noxious pollutants
escaped from the tanks like smoke from a chimney.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/22/thermal-camera-sees-hidden-pollution-nets-73-million-settlement-with-energy-firm/
Popular pesticide hurts wild bees in major field study
The Associated Press
April 22, 2015 at 2:19 PM
WASHINGTON — A common type of pesticide is dramatically harming wild bees,
according to a new in-the-field study that outside experts say may help
shift the way the U.S. government looks at a controversial class of
chemicals.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/popular_pesticide_hurts_wild_b.html#incart_river
High Costs Put Cracks in Glass-Recycling Programs
Some cities pull back as processors begin to charge for accepting
trash-heavy shipments
Wall Street Journal
The glass recycling business is at a tipping point.
In many parts of the country, glass—the original recyclable—is becoming too
expensive to handle, placing a growing burden on towns and businesses. Some
cities, including Harrisburg, Pa., and Charleston, W. Va., consider it more
cost-effective to have residents throw glass bottles in the trash than to
recycle them.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-costs-put-cracks-in-glass-recycling-programs-1429695003
Recycling Peanuts and Cracker Jack
NY Times
For years, sports fans have been told to put their glass
bottles and aluminum cans in recycling bins at arenas and
stadiums.
Now, a growing number of teams, eager to cut costs, are
asking them to toss their food and biodegradable cutlery,
trays and cups in separate bins, too.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/23/business/energy-environment/recycling-peanuts-and-cracker-jack.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Committee passes $35B funding bill for energy, water development
The Hill
House appropriators on Wednesday advanced a $35.4 billion bill that would
fund energy and water development for fiscal year 2016.
http://thehill.com/policy/finance/239708-energy-water-development-35b-funding-bill-passes-full-committee
New regs for Thursday: Hazardous materials, pesticides, efficiency
The Hill
Thursday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for trains
and ships transporting hazardous materials, pesticides used on corn,
competitive bidding rules, and efficiency rules for pumps.
http://thehill.com/regulation/239677-new-regs-for-thursday-hazardous-materials-pesticides-efficiency
Opinion
No convention center was damaged in the BP oil spill (guest opinion)
By Cyn Sarthou
Who can forget the heartbreaking photos of oil-covered convention centers
after the BP oil disaster?
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/no_convention_center_was_damag.html
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
News Clippings 4.22.15
State
DeSoto's air quality under discussion
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 1:05 AM CDT
DeSoto County is gathering facts and preparing its case to seek air quality
attainment status from the federal Environmental Protection Agency after
being listed in non-attainment status along with Crittenden County, Ark.
Shelby County, Tenn., and Fayette County, Tenn.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2015/04/21/news/local/doc553592e75acf5021470065.txt
Florence company to being mapping sewer system
Vicksburg Post
A Florence company is expected to begin the first phase of 10-year project
to assess, evaluate, replace and upgrade the city's sewer system as part of
a consent decree between the city and the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/21/florence-company-to-being-mapping-sewer-system/
All clear after chemical release at DuPont
Sea Coast Echo
By Dwayne Bremer
Apr 21, 2015, 18:03
The DuPont DeLisle plant on Tuesday accidentally released 1,000 pounds of
chemicals into the atmosphere, officials said Tuesday.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_8743.shtml#.VTeXgSG6eUm
Smokestack 'burps' hazardous chemical at DuPont plant
BY WESLEY MULLER
Sun Herald
DELISLE -- Authorities responded to a hazardous chemical released into the
air Tuesday morning at the DuPont chemical plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/21/6187588_chemical-accidentally-released.html?rh=1
Proposed Pearl River dam project making waves on the Coast
WLOX
Tuesday morning, the Commission on Marine Resources heard from both sides
of a controversial flood control project in Jackson. That project involves
building a dam on the Pearl River.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28862050/proposed-pearl-river-dam-project-making-waves-on-the-coast
Council votes against mayor's emergency declaration
Clarion Ledger
The Jackson City Council has voted down Mayor Tony Yarber's new
infrastructure emergency declaration.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/21/jackson-city-council-emergency-declaration/26162447/
Hub City to roll out recycling bins over 5-week period
Hattiesburg American
The Big Blues are on the way to Hattiesburg customers.
Residents enrolled in the city's curbside recycling service should
find new, 65-gallon cans delivered to their driveways over the next
five weeks.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2015/04/21/hattiesburg-distribute-blue-recycling-cans/26140141/
Events celebrating Earth Day in South Mississippi
WLOX
Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day. It's a chance to show how important the
environment is for you. People across the coast will join people worldwide
by spending their day raising environmental awareness.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28865954/celebrating-earth-day-in-south-mississippi
USM researching new ways of detecting radiation in air
WDAM
University of Southern Mississippi researchers are working on developing
safer and more accurate ways to detect radiation in the air. They're using
lasers and a vacuum chamber to determine atmospheric changes due to
radiation.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28863688/usm-researching-new-ways-of-detecting-radiation-in-air
Archives department backs off text message guidelines
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
JACKSON – Text messages of public officials may qualify as public records,
just not easily or readily accessible to the public.
Mississippi Department of Archives and History officials have backed off
efforts to set guidelines for local governments to maintain text messages
of Mississippi public officials. This announcement comes a year after the
state Ethics Commission ruled the electronic communications qualify as
public records when they deal with government business.
http://djournal.com/news/archives-department-backs-off-text-message-guidelines/
Mississippi state Capitol getting makeover
Clarion Ledger
The state Capitol is getting an $8.7 million renovation, its first
major overhaul since a $19 million restoration project from 1979-82.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/21/mississippi-state-capitol-getting-makeover/26153593/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: MISSISSIPPI FISHERMEN SAY THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
Mississippi Gulf Coast fishermen say that five years after the BP oil
spill, life has not returned to normal. In the third part of a week-long
series, MPB's Evelina Burnett looks at how the disaster affected the
coast's Vietnamese fishing community.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/22/five-years-later-mississippi-fishermen-say-theyre-still-struggling/
DMR remains active in post-oil spill restoration projects
WLOX
Five years after the BP oil spill, the Department of Marine Resources
remains active in both assessing the damage and planning restoration
projects.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28863564/dmr-remains-active-in-post-oil-spill-restoration-projects
Appetite For Gulf Seafood Is Back, But The Crabs And Oysters Aren't
NPR
In 2010, just after the BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, seafood
restaurants were bombarded with questions from concerned diners: "How bad
is the spill?" "Is this from the Gulf?" "Is it safe?" Demand for Gulf
seafood tanked.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/04/20/399645484/appetite-for-gulf-seafood-is-back-but-the-crabs-and-oysters-arent
5 Years After BP Oil Spill, Experts Debate Damage To Ecosystem
NPR
At the Gulf State Park Pier in Orange Beach, Ala., Wetzel Wood casts his
fishing line into the rough surf of the Gulf of Mexico. He pulls his bait,
a cigar minnow, through the water just beyond where the waves break for the
shore.
http://www.npr.org/2015/04/21/401288698/five-years-after-bp-oil-spill-experts-debate-damage-to-ecosystem
BP Said to Seek Bids for $2 Billion in U.S. Infrastructure
Bloomberg
BP Plc is seeking buyers for as much as $2 billion of U.S. pipelines and
storage terminals, according to people familiar with the matter, making the
U.K. energy giant the latest looking to offload some of its non-drilling
infrastructure.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-21/bp-said-to-seek-bids-for-2-billion-in-u-s-pipeline-operations
National
Utilities need more time for Obama climate rule, federal office says
The Hill
Utilities will need more time to comply with the Obama administration's new
climate rule, the organization responsible for electricity reliability said
Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239524-reliability-group-utilities-need-more-time-for-climate-rule
At Everglades, Obama to warn of damage from climate neglect
The Associated Press
April 22, 2015 at 7:16 AM
WASHINGTON -- With swampy wetlands and alligators as his backdrop,
President Barack Obama will use a visit to Florida's Everglades to warn of
the damage that climate change is already inflicting on the nation's
environmental treasures -- and to hammer political opponents he says are
doing far too little about it.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/obama_florida_everglades.html#incart_river
Why Earth Day's creator might not celebrate Earth Day
Washington Post
Soledad O'Brien, former CNN news anchor extraordinaire, was met with a
puzzling situation last Saturday. She was co-hosting a massive Earth Day
extravaganza on the National Mall. She was standing in front of a crowd she
estimated at 250,000 people. She had a microphone. But she was talking and
nobody was listening.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/22/why-earth-days-creator-might-not-celebrate-earth-day/?tid=hp_mm&hpid=z3
Opinion
Why States Should Boycott the Federal Clean Power Plan
Better for states not to comply with the EPA's plans than to go along and
absolve the feds of accountability for the mess.
Wall Street Journal
By KENNETH C. HILL
April 21, 2015 7:33 p.m. ET
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) set off a firestorm
recently when he advised states not to comply with the Environmental
Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. Yet that advice isn't as radical as
his detractors make it sound. As a state public utilities commissioner who
deals with the effects of federal regulations on a regular basis, I also
recommend that states not comply.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-states-should-boycott-the-federal-clean-power-plan-1429659225
DeSoto's air quality under discussion
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Published: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 1:05 AM CDT
DeSoto County is gathering facts and preparing its case to seek air quality
attainment status from the federal Environmental Protection Agency after
being listed in non-attainment status along with Crittenden County, Ark.
Shelby County, Tenn., and Fayette County, Tenn.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2015/04/21/news/local/doc553592e75acf5021470065.txt
Florence company to being mapping sewer system
Vicksburg Post
A Florence company is expected to begin the first phase of 10-year project
to assess, evaluate, replace and upgrade the city's sewer system as part of
a consent decree between the city and the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2015/04/21/florence-company-to-being-mapping-sewer-system/
All clear after chemical release at DuPont
Sea Coast Echo
By Dwayne Bremer
Apr 21, 2015, 18:03
The DuPont DeLisle plant on Tuesday accidentally released 1,000 pounds of
chemicals into the atmosphere, officials said Tuesday.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_8743.shtml#.VTeXgSG6eUm
Smokestack 'burps' hazardous chemical at DuPont plant
BY WESLEY MULLER
Sun Herald
DELISLE -- Authorities responded to a hazardous chemical released into the
air Tuesday morning at the DuPont chemical plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/21/6187588_chemical-accidentally-released.html?rh=1
Proposed Pearl River dam project making waves on the Coast
WLOX
Tuesday morning, the Commission on Marine Resources heard from both sides
of a controversial flood control project in Jackson. That project involves
building a dam on the Pearl River.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28862050/proposed-pearl-river-dam-project-making-waves-on-the-coast
Council votes against mayor's emergency declaration
Clarion Ledger
The Jackson City Council has voted down Mayor Tony Yarber's new
infrastructure emergency declaration.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/21/jackson-city-council-emergency-declaration/26162447/
Hub City to roll out recycling bins over 5-week period
Hattiesburg American
The Big Blues are on the way to Hattiesburg customers.
Residents enrolled in the city's curbside recycling service should
find new, 65-gallon cans delivered to their driveways over the next
five weeks.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2015/04/21/hattiesburg-distribute-blue-recycling-cans/26140141/
Events celebrating Earth Day in South Mississippi
WLOX
Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day. It's a chance to show how important the
environment is for you. People across the coast will join people worldwide
by spending their day raising environmental awareness.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28865954/celebrating-earth-day-in-south-mississippi
USM researching new ways of detecting radiation in air
WDAM
University of Southern Mississippi researchers are working on developing
safer and more accurate ways to detect radiation in the air. They're using
lasers and a vacuum chamber to determine atmospheric changes due to
radiation.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28863688/usm-researching-new-ways-of-detecting-radiation-in-air
Archives department backs off text message guidelines
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
JACKSON – Text messages of public officials may qualify as public records,
just not easily or readily accessible to the public.
Mississippi Department of Archives and History officials have backed off
efforts to set guidelines for local governments to maintain text messages
of Mississippi public officials. This announcement comes a year after the
state Ethics Commission ruled the electronic communications qualify as
public records when they deal with government business.
http://djournal.com/news/archives-department-backs-off-text-message-guidelines/
Mississippi state Capitol getting makeover
Clarion Ledger
The state Capitol is getting an $8.7 million renovation, its first
major overhaul since a $19 million restoration project from 1979-82.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/21/mississippi-state-capitol-getting-makeover/26153593/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: MISSISSIPPI FISHERMEN SAY THEY'RE STILL STRUGGLING
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
Mississippi Gulf Coast fishermen say that five years after the BP oil
spill, life has not returned to normal. In the third part of a week-long
series, MPB's Evelina Burnett looks at how the disaster affected the
coast's Vietnamese fishing community.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/22/five-years-later-mississippi-fishermen-say-theyre-still-struggling/
DMR remains active in post-oil spill restoration projects
WLOX
Five years after the BP oil spill, the Department of Marine Resources
remains active in both assessing the damage and planning restoration
projects.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28863564/dmr-remains-active-in-post-oil-spill-restoration-projects
Appetite For Gulf Seafood Is Back, But The Crabs And Oysters Aren't
NPR
In 2010, just after the BP oil well in the Gulf of Mexico exploded, seafood
restaurants were bombarded with questions from concerned diners: "How bad
is the spill?" "Is this from the Gulf?" "Is it safe?" Demand for Gulf
seafood tanked.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/04/20/399645484/appetite-for-gulf-seafood-is-back-but-the-crabs-and-oysters-arent
5 Years After BP Oil Spill, Experts Debate Damage To Ecosystem
NPR
At the Gulf State Park Pier in Orange Beach, Ala., Wetzel Wood casts his
fishing line into the rough surf of the Gulf of Mexico. He pulls his bait,
a cigar minnow, through the water just beyond where the waves break for the
shore.
http://www.npr.org/2015/04/21/401288698/five-years-after-bp-oil-spill-experts-debate-damage-to-ecosystem
BP Said to Seek Bids for $2 Billion in U.S. Infrastructure
Bloomberg
BP Plc is seeking buyers for as much as $2 billion of U.S. pipelines and
storage terminals, according to people familiar with the matter, making the
U.K. energy giant the latest looking to offload some of its non-drilling
infrastructure.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-21/bp-said-to-seek-bids-for-2-billion-in-u-s-pipeline-operations
National
Utilities need more time for Obama climate rule, federal office says
The Hill
Utilities will need more time to comply with the Obama administration's new
climate rule, the organization responsible for electricity reliability said
Tuesday.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239524-reliability-group-utilities-need-more-time-for-climate-rule
At Everglades, Obama to warn of damage from climate neglect
The Associated Press
April 22, 2015 at 7:16 AM
WASHINGTON -- With swampy wetlands and alligators as his backdrop,
President Barack Obama will use a visit to Florida's Everglades to warn of
the damage that climate change is already inflicting on the nation's
environmental treasures -- and to hammer political opponents he says are
doing far too little about it.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/obama_florida_everglades.html#incart_river
Why Earth Day's creator might not celebrate Earth Day
Washington Post
Soledad O'Brien, former CNN news anchor extraordinaire, was met with a
puzzling situation last Saturday. She was co-hosting a massive Earth Day
extravaganza on the National Mall. She was standing in front of a crowd she
estimated at 250,000 people. She had a microphone. But she was talking and
nobody was listening.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/22/why-earth-days-creator-might-not-celebrate-earth-day/?tid=hp_mm&hpid=z3
Opinion
Why States Should Boycott the Federal Clean Power Plan
Better for states not to comply with the EPA's plans than to go along and
absolve the feds of accountability for the mess.
Wall Street Journal
By KENNETH C. HILL
April 21, 2015 7:33 p.m. ET
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) set off a firestorm
recently when he advised states not to comply with the Environmental
Protection Agency's Clean Power Plan. Yet that advice isn't as radical as
his detractors make it sound. As a state public utilities commissioner who
deals with the effects of federal regulations on a regular basis, I also
recommend that states not comply.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-states-should-boycott-the-federal-clean-power-plan-1429659225
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
News Clippings 4/21/15
State
DeSoto supervisors treasure trash art, weigh legal fast-track on air
quality
Commercial Appeal
Before tackling issues from ozone nonattainment to bridge inspections and a
bid on a sheriff's parking lot, the DeSoto Board of Supervisors was greeted
by a truly trashy display Monday.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/desoto-supervisors-treasure-trash-art-weigh-legal-fasttrack-on-air-quality_53104264
Water quality advisory cautions swimmers along beach
WLOX
You may have noticed orange caution flags along the beach. The Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality issued a water quality advisory over
the weekend,
http://www.wlox.com/story/28851483/water-quality-advisory-cautions-swimmers-along-beach
State Supreme Court accepts briefs asking for a rehearing on Kemper rates
SUN HERALD
The Mississippi Supreme Court has accepted briefs filed by three
Mississippi business organizations asking the court to rehear a case that
would require Mississippi Power to refund the rate hike for the Kemper
County power plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/20/6185934/state-supreme-court-accepts-briefs.html
MUW celebrates Earth Day Wednesday
Commercial Dispatch
April 20, 2015 9:58:34 AM
Mississippi University for Women is organizing activities in conjunction
with Earth Day to support the university's sustainability initiatives and
promote green living.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=41464
Hattiesburg, Mississippi's 'Stink Fest' features 35 bands, 5 venues;
Festival named for distinct odor
The Hattiesburg Stink Music & Arts Festival returns to Mississippi this
Friday and Saturday for its second year.
http://blog.gulflive.com/news_impact/print.html?entry=/2015/04/hattiesburg_mississippis_stink.html
KiOR, Twin Creeks among innovative no-goes
Clarion Ledger
While Mississippi has had success with home-grown innovations, it
has had less so with such imported efforts.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2015/04/18/kior-twin-creeks-among-innovative-goes/26013175/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: MISSISSIPPI'S ENVIRONMENT AFTER THE BP SPILL
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig five years ago led to the
release of millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In the
second part of a week-long series, MPB's Evelina Burnett looks at what the
impacts of the spill have been on Mississippi's wildlife and environment.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/21/five-years-later-mississippis-environment-after-the-bp-spill/
Millions in BP restoration money coming to the Coast
WLOX
About $1 billion were set aside by BP after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf
of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Assessment Fund was set
up to help states affected by the disaster.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28851554/millions-in-bp-restoration-money-coming-to-the-coast
More Gulf recovery projects floated
AP
State and federal officials overseeing $1 billion provided by BP PLC
to spur recovery from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill said Monday
they're proposing another 10 projects totaling $134 million.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/20/gulf-bp-oil-spill-recovery/26109761/
Officials propose another 10 projects in early restoration work following
Deepwater Horizon disaster
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
A list of 10 proposed projects to be funded by $134 million to help restore
the environment as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster has
been released by federal and state trustees as well as BP.
http://theadvocate.com/news/12159869-123/officials-propose-another-10-projects
Four projects in Coastal Alabama included in $134 million early restoration
plan
Al.com
Michael Finch II
April 20, 2015 at 4:06 PM
Federal, state and BP officials identified a group of 10 projects that
could receive funding for early restoration efforts along the Gulf of
Mexico. The tentative plan was released Monday, which was precisely the day
the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 people five years ago.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/04/four_restoration_projects_in_c.html
2010 Gulf oil spill was bad for Coast businesses
WLOX
Kenny Dinero owns Ocean Springs Marine Mart. His dog, Pirate, is always by
his side. Customers joke that black lab Pirate was a white lab before the
spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28823567/2010-gulf-oil-spill-was-bad-for-coast-businesses
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
WXXV
Five years after the BP Oil Spill, there are still a lot of unanswered
questions.
Tonight, scientists from the USM Marine Research Lab gathered to face some
of those questions.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Gulf-Coast-Research-Laboratory/-UDzFCGpekiDBSXTJ5EPng.cspx
7 Ways the BP Oil Spill Will Leave Its Mark on Law
Times-Picayune
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/historic_bp_oil_spill_cases.html#0
Five years on, what do we know about BP oil spill damage?
PBS
JUDY WOODRUFF: There are plenty of different opinions and findings about
how well or poorly the Gulf Coast's waters, wildlife, businesses and people
have recovered.
We explore that now with two people from the region. Mark Schleifstein,
he's the environment reporter at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. And
John Young, he's president of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It's a coastal
district near the epicenter of the 2010 spill.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/five-years-know-bp-oil-spill-damage/
Five Years After BP Spill, Questions Linger in the Gulf
NBC
Five years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster that claimed 11 oil workers
and left the Gulf of Mexico slick with crude, what remains are questions.
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/five-years-after-bp-spill-questions-linger-gulf-n344906
Where is the BP RESTORE Act Money?
WKRG
Five years after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Alabama is still waiting
for its share of BP Clean Water Act fine money.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/28851658/where-is-the-bp-restore-act-money
Louisiana oysters, shrimp, crab catch slightly down, but earnings up since
BP oil spill: Updated database
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
April 21, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Louisiana oyster, shrimp and crab catch since the BP oil spill in 2010
generally has been down on average statewide when compared to pre-spill
averages. But earnings for those fishers at the dock generally has been up,
according to an analysis of basin-by-basin catch and value figures from
2002 through 2013
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/louisiana_seafood_database_sea_1.html#incart_river
BP oil spill: Environmental groups comment on 5th anniversary of the spill
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 20, 2015 at 6:18 PM
A variety of environmental and civic groups have issued statements on the
fifth anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill,
outlining their continued concerns about the oil cleanup, the effects of
oil on wildlife and plans for restoration of wildlife and habitat affected
by the spill.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/bp_oil_spill_environmental_gro.html#incart_river
National
Carbon emissions grew in 2014
The Hill
Carbon emissions grew last year, according to government figures, although
slower than the economy did as a whole.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239386-carbon-emissions-grow-in-2014
NSA unveils pro-recycling mascot for kids named 'Dunk'
The Hill
Recycling might not be the first thing people think of when they hear about
the National Security Agency, but the spy agency wants to change that.
The Fort Meade, Md., institution has a new pro-recycling mascot named
"Dunk" that it's using as part of an effort to get students in Maryland
schools to cut down on their trash.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/239414-the-nsa-has-a-blue-recycling-mascot-named-dunk
Press releases
With USDA Assistance, Private Landowners Play Pivotal Role Aiding Gulf
Recovery
Jackson, Miss. – In the five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,
America's farmers, ranchers and forest managers have partnered with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to voluntarily help Gulf of Mexico
ecosystems recover. Their proven conservation efforts on private lands have
helped clean and conserve water, restore habitat and strengthen
agricultural operations in the region.
Landowners in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida worked
with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to make
conservation improvements on more than 22 million acres during fiscal years
2010-2014. An important part of this work was executed through targeted,
landscape-level initiatives, such as the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative
(MBHI) and Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI).
Just weeks after the spill, NRCS launched MBHI, an effort to aid landowners
in creating alternative habitat for migratory birds. Landowners in an
eight-state area created 470,000 acres of habitat for the millions of
migratory birds, including ducks, geese and shorebirds, that travel the
Mississippi Flyway each year to winter in Gulf of Mexico-area ecosystems,
or in the case of many shorebirds, Central and South America. A recent
study by Mississippi State University has shown the effectiveness of this
effort.
NRCS launched GoMI in 2012 to accelerate conservation to Gulf-area
watersheds most in need. This targeted work helped landowners trap and
reduce runoff of nutrients and sediment, which can impair water quality,
and restore habitat on about 60,000 acres during fiscal 2012-2014.
"When we target voluntary conservation efforts to the places most in need,
we see better results," stated Kurt Readus state conservationist in
Mississippi. "Landscape-scale natural resource concerns are most
effectively addressed across boundaries, and our efforts like the Migratory
Bird Habitat Initiative and Gulf of Mexico Initiative transcend farm,
county, parish and state boundaries."
A number of other landscape-level efforts enabled producers to improve
quality of water and habitat downstream in the Gulf region, including the
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative, National Water
Quality Initiative, Everglades Initiative and Longleaf Pine Initiative.
In addition to this on-the-ground work with farmers, ranchers and forest
managers, USDA collaborates with local, state and federal partners to aid
Gulf recovery. USDA serves on both the Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Trustee Council and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, providing
technical assistance to both councils and working to broaden opportunities
for voluntary private lands conservation. Additionally, NRCS partnered with
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation last year, both committing $20
million for projects to this year, and up to $30 million in the next four
years.
For more on technical and financial assistance available through
conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA
service center.
DeSoto supervisors treasure trash art, weigh legal fast-track on air
quality
Commercial Appeal
Before tackling issues from ozone nonattainment to bridge inspections and a
bid on a sheriff's parking lot, the DeSoto Board of Supervisors was greeted
by a truly trashy display Monday.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/desoto-supervisors-treasure-trash-art-weigh-legal-fasttrack-on-air-quality_53104264
Water quality advisory cautions swimmers along beach
WLOX
You may have noticed orange caution flags along the beach. The Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality issued a water quality advisory over
the weekend,
http://www.wlox.com/story/28851483/water-quality-advisory-cautions-swimmers-along-beach
State Supreme Court accepts briefs asking for a rehearing on Kemper rates
SUN HERALD
The Mississippi Supreme Court has accepted briefs filed by three
Mississippi business organizations asking the court to rehear a case that
would require Mississippi Power to refund the rate hike for the Kemper
County power plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/20/6185934/state-supreme-court-accepts-briefs.html
MUW celebrates Earth Day Wednesday
Commercial Dispatch
April 20, 2015 9:58:34 AM
Mississippi University for Women is organizing activities in conjunction
with Earth Day to support the university's sustainability initiatives and
promote green living.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=41464
Hattiesburg, Mississippi's 'Stink Fest' features 35 bands, 5 venues;
Festival named for distinct odor
The Hattiesburg Stink Music & Arts Festival returns to Mississippi this
Friday and Saturday for its second year.
http://blog.gulflive.com/news_impact/print.html?entry=/2015/04/hattiesburg_mississippis_stink.html
KiOR, Twin Creeks among innovative no-goes
Clarion Ledger
While Mississippi has had success with home-grown innovations, it
has had less so with such imported efforts.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2015/04/18/kior-twin-creeks-among-innovative-goes/26013175/
Oil Spill
FIVE YEARS LATER: MISSISSIPPI'S ENVIRONMENT AFTER THE BP SPILL
Posted by Evelina Burnett
MPB
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig five years ago led to the
release of millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. In the
second part of a week-long series, MPB's Evelina Burnett looks at what the
impacts of the spill have been on Mississippi's wildlife and environment.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/04/21/five-years-later-mississippis-environment-after-the-bp-spill/
Millions in BP restoration money coming to the Coast
WLOX
About $1 billion were set aside by BP after the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf
of Mexico. The Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Assessment Fund was set
up to help states affected by the disaster.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28851554/millions-in-bp-restoration-money-coming-to-the-coast
More Gulf recovery projects floated
AP
State and federal officials overseeing $1 billion provided by BP PLC
to spur recovery from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill said Monday
they're proposing another 10 projects totaling $134 million.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/20/gulf-bp-oil-spill-recovery/26109761/
Officials propose another 10 projects in early restoration work following
Deepwater Horizon disaster
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
A list of 10 proposed projects to be funded by $134 million to help restore
the environment as a result of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster has
been released by federal and state trustees as well as BP.
http://theadvocate.com/news/12159869-123/officials-propose-another-10-projects
Four projects in Coastal Alabama included in $134 million early restoration
plan
Al.com
Michael Finch II
April 20, 2015 at 4:06 PM
Federal, state and BP officials identified a group of 10 projects that
could receive funding for early restoration efforts along the Gulf of
Mexico. The tentative plan was released Monday, which was precisely the day
the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, killing 11 people five years ago.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/04/four_restoration_projects_in_c.html
2010 Gulf oil spill was bad for Coast businesses
WLOX
Kenny Dinero owns Ocean Springs Marine Mart. His dog, Pirate, is always by
his side. Customers joke that black lab Pirate was a white lab before the
spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/28823567/2010-gulf-oil-spill-was-bad-for-coast-businesses
Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
WXXV
Five years after the BP Oil Spill, there are still a lot of unanswered
questions.
Tonight, scientists from the USM Marine Research Lab gathered to face some
of those questions.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Gulf-Coast-Research-Laboratory/-UDzFCGpekiDBSXTJ5EPng.cspx
7 Ways the BP Oil Spill Will Leave Its Mark on Law
Times-Picayune
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/historic_bp_oil_spill_cases.html#0
Five years on, what do we know about BP oil spill damage?
PBS
JUDY WOODRUFF: There are plenty of different opinions and findings about
how well or poorly the Gulf Coast's waters, wildlife, businesses and people
have recovered.
We explore that now with two people from the region. Mark Schleifstein,
he's the environment reporter at The Times-Picayune in New Orleans. And
John Young, he's president of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It's a coastal
district near the epicenter of the 2010 spill.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/five-years-know-bp-oil-spill-damage/
Five Years After BP Spill, Questions Linger in the Gulf
NBC
Five years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster that claimed 11 oil workers
and left the Gulf of Mexico slick with crude, what remains are questions.
http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/five-years-after-bp-spill-questions-linger-gulf-n344906
Where is the BP RESTORE Act Money?
WKRG
Five years after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Alabama is still waiting
for its share of BP Clean Water Act fine money.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/28851658/where-is-the-bp-restore-act-money
Louisiana oysters, shrimp, crab catch slightly down, but earnings up since
BP oil spill: Updated database
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
April 21, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Louisiana oyster, shrimp and crab catch since the BP oil spill in 2010
generally has been down on average statewide when compared to pre-spill
averages. But earnings for those fishers at the dock generally has been up,
according to an analysis of basin-by-basin catch and value figures from
2002 through 2013
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/louisiana_seafood_database_sea_1.html#incart_river
BP oil spill: Environmental groups comment on 5th anniversary of the spill
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 20, 2015 at 6:18 PM
A variety of environmental and civic groups have issued statements on the
fifth anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill,
outlining their continued concerns about the oil cleanup, the effects of
oil on wildlife and plans for restoration of wildlife and habitat affected
by the spill.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/bp_oil_spill_environmental_gro.html#incart_river
National
Carbon emissions grew in 2014
The Hill
Carbon emissions grew last year, according to government figures, although
slower than the economy did as a whole.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/239386-carbon-emissions-grow-in-2014
NSA unveils pro-recycling mascot for kids named 'Dunk'
The Hill
Recycling might not be the first thing people think of when they hear about
the National Security Agency, but the spy agency wants to change that.
The Fort Meade, Md., institution has a new pro-recycling mascot named
"Dunk" that it's using as part of an effort to get students in Maryland
schools to cut down on their trash.
http://thehill.com/policy/technology/239414-the-nsa-has-a-blue-recycling-mascot-named-dunk
Press releases
With USDA Assistance, Private Landowners Play Pivotal Role Aiding Gulf
Recovery
Jackson, Miss. – In the five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,
America's farmers, ranchers and forest managers have partnered with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to voluntarily help Gulf of Mexico
ecosystems recover. Their proven conservation efforts on private lands have
helped clean and conserve water, restore habitat and strengthen
agricultural operations in the region.
Landowners in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida worked
with USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to make
conservation improvements on more than 22 million acres during fiscal years
2010-2014. An important part of this work was executed through targeted,
landscape-level initiatives, such as the Migratory Bird Habitat Initiative
(MBHI) and Gulf of Mexico Initiative (GoMI).
Just weeks after the spill, NRCS launched MBHI, an effort to aid landowners
in creating alternative habitat for migratory birds. Landowners in an
eight-state area created 470,000 acres of habitat for the millions of
migratory birds, including ducks, geese and shorebirds, that travel the
Mississippi Flyway each year to winter in Gulf of Mexico-area ecosystems,
or in the case of many shorebirds, Central and South America. A recent
study by Mississippi State University has shown the effectiveness of this
effort.
NRCS launched GoMI in 2012 to accelerate conservation to Gulf-area
watersheds most in need. This targeted work helped landowners trap and
reduce runoff of nutrients and sediment, which can impair water quality,
and restore habitat on about 60,000 acres during fiscal 2012-2014.
"When we target voluntary conservation efforts to the places most in need,
we see better results," stated Kurt Readus state conservationist in
Mississippi. "Landscape-scale natural resource concerns are most
effectively addressed across boundaries, and our efforts like the Migratory
Bird Habitat Initiative and Gulf of Mexico Initiative transcend farm,
county, parish and state boundaries."
A number of other landscape-level efforts enabled producers to improve
quality of water and habitat downstream in the Gulf region, including the
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative, National Water
Quality Initiative, Everglades Initiative and Longleaf Pine Initiative.
In addition to this on-the-ground work with farmers, ranchers and forest
managers, USDA collaborates with local, state and federal partners to aid
Gulf recovery. USDA serves on both the Natural Resource Damage Assessment
Trustee Council and the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, providing
technical assistance to both councils and working to broaden opportunities
for voluntary private lands conservation. Additionally, NRCS partnered with
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation last year, both committing $20
million for projects to this year, and up to $30 million in the next four
years.
For more on technical and financial assistance available through
conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA
service center.
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