State
Water advisory lifted for Pass Christian beach
Sun Herald
PASS CHRISTIAN -- Authorities with the state Department of Environmental
Quality lifted a water-contact advisory Tuesday for an area of beach from
Fort Henry to Elliott Avenue in Pass Christian.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/31/6153604_around-south-mississippi.html?rh=1
Gulfport plans aquarium on site of Katrina-damaged library
The Associated Press
April 01, 2015 at 6:40 AM
GULFPORT, Miss. -- The historic downtown library in Gulfport is being
incorporated into the city's plans for a major aquarium development that
will cost $90 million to $120 million.
Mayor Billy Hewes said the library would become a welcome center and
transit area for residents and tourists who visit the aquarium and
Gulfport's waterfront.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/gulfport_plans_aquarium_on_sit.html#incart_river
Volunteers to pick up trash along North Mississippi highways
Commercial Appeal
Volunteers will be spread out along North Mississippi highways Thursday,
collecting litter as part of the Mississippi Department of Transportation's
annual daylong "Trash Bash" event.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/volunteers-to-pick-up-trash-along-north-mississippi-highways
Two major improvement projects taking place in Laurel
WDAM
Two major road/sewer projects have started in the City of Laurel. One is a
sewer improvement project and the other is a 7th Avenue reconstruction
project.
http://www.wdam.com/story/28675919/two-major-improvement-projects-taking-place-in-laurel
Kemper Coal Plant Opposed by Lauderdale County Group
WTOK
The construction of The Kemper Coal Plant has been in the works for nearly
5 years and has already cost over 6 billion dollars. One local group met
Tuesday night to oppose the plant.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Kemper-Coal-Plant-Opposed-by-Lauderdale-County-Group-298244141.html
Oil Spill
Judge: Jury Can Decide Alabama's Gulf-Oil-Spill Claims
AP
A judge says Alabama's Gulf oil-spill-damage claims under the federal Oil
Pollution Act can be heard by a jury.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-jury-decide-alabamas-gulf-oil-spill-claims-30035820
NEW REPORT SAYS GULF STILL STRUGGLING FIVE YEARS AFTER SPILL
MPB
The National Wildlife Federation says in a new report the Gulf is still
struggling almost five years after the massive BP oil spill. The new study
looks at 20 species in the Gulf, including oysters, sea turtles and blue
crabs.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/03/31/new-report-says-gulf-still-struggling-5-years-after-spill/
Cat Island nearly gone; BP oil mat and tar balls still visible on East
Grand Terre Island
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
March 31, 2015 at 10:11 PM
Only two tiny strips of sand and shell, dotted with a few skeletal remains
of mangrove trees, are all that was left of Cat Island, a tiny isle in
Barataria Bay that held thriving colonies of brown pelicans, wading birds
and gulls prior to the BP Deepwater Horizion oil spill, on Tuesday (Mar.
31).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/03/cat_island_nearly_gone_tar_bal.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Environmental groups say ongoing effects of BP oil spill not always visible
to the eye, but damage is continuing
Baton Rouge Advocate
By AMY WOLD
MYRTLE GROVE — On a boat ride Tuesday from Myrtle Grove through Barataria
Bay to see what remains of the Deepwater Horizon oil almost five years
after the April 20, 2010, disaster, it all looks so normal.
http://theadvocate.com/news/11809601-123/environmental-groups-say-ongoing-effects
BP, critics paints sharply different views of life in the Gulf
WVUE
A virtual flotilla headed down the Wilkinson Canal Tuesday morning in
Plaquemines Parish as environmental groups eagerly hauled reporters and
photographers into Barataria Bay.
http://www.fox8live.com/story/28682512/bp-critics-paints-sharply-different-views-of-life-in-the-gulf
National
Obama Administration Submits Plan for Cutting Greenhouse Gases
Part of a major global effort to curb emissions of carbon dioxide; other
economies that formally submitted are EU, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland and
Russia
Wall Street Journal
The Obama administration formally submitted its plan for cutting greenhouse
gases nearly 30% by 2025, part of a global effort this year to curb
emissions of carbon dioxide.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-administration-submits-details-on-cutting-greenhouse-gases-1427813981
Gas Utilities Reduce Leaks of Methane, Study Finds
NY Times
Utilities are making progress in reducing leaks from their
natural gasdistribution networks, a new study has found,
but the industry and regulators can do more.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/science/earth/gas-utilities-reduce-leaks-of-methane-study-finds.html?ref=science&_r=0
North Dakota joins Wyoming in fracking suit
AP
Bismarck, N.D. • North Dakota, whose oil riches have been unlocked by the
use of hydraulic fracturing, said Tuesday it will join Wyoming in a lawsuit
challenging a new federal rule requiring more information about the process
when it's used on U.S. government lands.
http://www.sltrib.com/home/2352750-155/north-dakota-joins-wyoming-in-fracking
Press Releases
The Mississippi State Department of Health Wants to Hear from You
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) needs
your feedback on its first Mississippi State Health Assessment, a tool that
will help shape public health efforts and policy in the coming years.
"This assessment is an opportunity for us to improve the state public
health system. While we always work with partners and advocates, it's also
critically important to hear from the people we serve – all
Mississippians," said State Health Officer Dr. Mary Currier. "It is crucial
to get feedback from as many Mississippians as possible to help us create a
thriving public health effort that is supported by active and committed
citizens and organizations."
Nine areas of improvement have been identified to help MSDH make strides in
improving the lives of Mississippians. They are: improving access to care,
building healthy communities, improving infant health, reducing risky
sexual behavior, reducing the rates of chronic disease, improving mental
health, increasing educational levels, reducing poverty, and sharing public
health goals.
Learn more about these nine important areas and give us your feedback by
visiting our website
at HealthyMS.com/future.
For an in-depth look at the key findings of the State Health Assessment,
the public is also invited to attend one of three upcoming presentations
online. These live, over-the-Web presentations are an opportunity to ask
questions and learn more from some of the public health professionals
involved in the Assessment.
The webinars are schedules for:
· 2-4 p.m., Wednesday, April 1
· 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday April 2
· Space is limited to 200 participants per session and registration is
required.
· Visit http://HealthyMS.com/future to register for a webinar.
Follow MSDH by e-mail and social media at HealthyMS.com/connect.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA to Provide $332 Million to Protect and Restore Agricultural Working Lands, |
| Grasslands and Wetlands |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Private landowners, tribes, and eligible entities encouraged to apply by May 15 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, March 31, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that |
|U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available $332 million in financial and |
|technical assistance through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). |
|USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will accept ACEP applications to |
|help productive farm and ranch lands remain in agriculture and to protect the nation's |
|critical wetlands and grasslands, home to diverse wildlife and plant species. |
| |
| |
|"USDA helps farmers, ranchers, private forest landowners and partners to achieve their |
|conservation goals using our technical expertise, Farm Bill funding and sound |
|conservation planning," Vilsack said. "Conservation easements are an important tool to |
|help these landowners and partners voluntarily provide long-term protection of our |
|nation's farmland, ranchland, wetlands and grasslands for future generations." |
| |
| |
|The 2014 Farm Bill consolidated three previous conservation easement programs into ACEP|
|to make it easier for diverse agricultural landowners to fully benefit from |
|conservation initiatives. NRCS easement programs have been a critical tool in recent |
|years for advancing landscape-scale private lands conservation. In FY 2014, NRCS used |
|$328 million in ACEP funding to enroll an estimated 145,000 acres of farmland, |
|grassland, and wetlands through 485 new easements. |
| |
| |
|In Florida, NRCS used ACEP funds to enroll an additional 6,700 acres in the Northern |
|Everglades Watershed, supporting the restoration and protection of habitat for a |
|variety of listed species, including the Wood Stork, Crested caracara, and Eastern |
|Indigo Snake. The Nebraska Land Trust plans to use ACEP to enroll more than 1,400 acres|
|of native grazing lands that also include grasslands and woodlands that provide |
|critical habitat for Nebraska's bighorn sheep and elk. |
| |
| |
|ACEP's agricultural land easements not only protect the long-term viability of the |
|nation's food supply by preventing conversion of productive working lands to |
|non-agricultural uses, but they also support environmental quality, historic |
|preservation, wildlife habitat and protection of open space. American Indian tribes, |
|state and local governments and non-governmental organizations that have farmland or |
|grassland protection programs are eligible to partner with NRCS to purchase |
|conservation easements. A key change under the new agricultural land easement component|
|is the new "grasslands of special environmental significance" that will protect |
|high-quality grasslands that are under threat of conversion to cropping, urban |
|development and other non-grazing uses. |
| |
| |
|Wetland reserve easements allow landowners to successfully enhance and protect habitat |
|for wildlife on their lands, reduce impacts from flooding, recharge groundwater and |
|provide outdoor recreational and educational opportunities. NRCS provides technical and|
|financial assistance directly to private and tribal landowners to restore, protect and |
|enhance wetlands through the purchase of these easements, and Eligible landowners can |
|choose to enroll in a permanent or 30-year easement; tribal landowners also have the |
|option of enrolling in 30-year contracts. |
| |
| |
|ACEP applications may be submitted at any time to NRCS; however, applications for the |
|current funding round must be submitted on or before May 15, 2015. |
| |
| |
|To learn about ACEP and other technical and financial assistance available through NRCS|
|conservation programs, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or your local USDA Service |
|Center. |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement was made possible by the 2014 Farm Bill. The 2014 Farm Bill builds|
|on historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, while achieving |
|meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for taxpayers. Since enactment, |
|USDA has made significant progress to implement each provision of this critical |
|legislation, including establishing innovative public-private conservation |
|partnerships. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
EPA Awards Student Fellowships in 25 States and Puerto Rico to Support the
Next Generation of Environmental Scientists
Washington, DC –Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced 34 fellowships for undergraduate students in 25 states and Puerto
Rico to pursue environmental science and related fields of study at
universities and colleges across the nation, helping to inspire the next
generation of environmental scientists and engineers. The awards, part of
EPA's Greater Research Opportunities (GRO) fellowship program, provide
students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with agency
scientists.
"These students' ambitious and innovative ideas will help create a more
sustainable future," said Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator for
EPA's Office of Research and Development. "EPA is investing in the next
generation of environmental scientists and engineers whose research will
help achieve our mission of protecting human health and the environment."
Previous fellows have been recognized as leaders and educators in
environmental health and science. More than 362 fellows have completed
EPA's program and have employed their knowledge and expertise in the
workplace. Examples include:
• Evan Bredeweg, a 2006 GRO Fellow, elaborated on his time in the
program saying, "The GRO fellowship has definitely helped me pursue my
goals. It provided a starting block for me to begin my academic career and
helped open doors to further opportunities."
• Sacoby Wilson, a 1996 GRO fellow, is now an assistant professor with
the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health (MIAEH) and
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health,
University of Maryland-College Park;
• Cynthia Williams, a 2000 GRO fellow, is a systems engineer at the
Missile Defense Agency.
The students selected for fellowships are undergraduates entering their
junior year. The fellowship provides up to $20,700 a year of academic
support that includes both stipend and tuition support as well as $8,600
for an internship during the summer for a combined total of up to $50,000
over the life of the fellowship.
For more than 30 years, EPA's GRO Fellowship has been providing students in
environmental science related fields the tools to succeed not only in their
undergraduate studies and internship, but also in their future careers. The
GRO program gives institutions the opportunity to grow and create a culture
of excellence through their students.
The 2014 fellowships have been awarded to students at the following
universities:
• University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Ala.
• Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.
• University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.
• Claremont Mckenna College, Claremont, Calif.
• University of San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif.
• University of Denver, Denver, Colo.
• University of New Haven, West Haven, Conn.
• Delaware State University, Dover, Del.
• Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Ga.
• University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii
• Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Ill.
• Buena Vista University, Storm Lake, Iowa
• Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, La.
• Smith College, Northampton, Mass.
• Stonehill College, North Easton, Mass.
• Wellesley College, Wellesley, Mass.
• Salisbury University, Salisbury, Md.
• Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.
• Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich.
• Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, N.C.
• University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.
• City College of New York, New York, N.Y.
• Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
• Portland State University, Portland, Ore.
• Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
• Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa.
• University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
• Dakota State University, Madison, S.D.
• Baylor University, Waco, Texas
• University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
• Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Va.
• University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wis.
• University of Wisconsin - Green Bay, Green Bay, Wis.
The solicitation for the next round of GRO fellowships is now open for
applications.
For more information on the awarded GRO Fellows:
http://epa.gov/ncer/14GROfellows ;
For more information about applying for the next round of GRO fellowships:
http://epa.gov/ncer/rfa/2015/2015_gro_undergrad.html
For information about the GRO Fellowship Program:
http://epa.gov/ncer/fellow/
For more information on fellowships at EPA:
http://epa.gov/ncer/fellow/gro-faq.pdf
