State
MDEQ orders Encana to pay $72K fine
AP
Sunday, April 12, 2015 8:00 am
CENTREVILLE (AP) — A Canadian oil company is paying an $18,000
environmental fine and giving $54,000 to two school districts to buy buses.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_ae098e04-e0cb-11e4-9d62-db80f1843923.html
The Meridian Star wins national award
Meridian Star
Sunday, April 12, 2015 4:05 am
The Meridian Star garnered top honors in the Public Service category
for small dailies in the Best of CNHI contest for coverage of Long Creek
Reservoir.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/the-meridian-star-wins-national-award/article_635202de-e0c5-11e4-b04f-67e6dcec408d.html
Mississippi farmers fear pesticide restriction
Clarion Ledger
New applications for a pesticide popular with Mississippi row-crop
farmers will be restricted under a proposal by the Environmental
Protection Agency.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2015/04/11/mississippi-farmers-fear-pesticide-restriction/25641337/
DeSoto part of Mississippi solar power pilot project
Commercial Appeal
DeSoto County is getting in on the ground floor of a pilot project that's
looking to the sky to supply future power needs.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/desoto-part-of-mississippi-solar-power-pilot-project_36493423
Chevron's Pascagoula refinery 'secure, safe' after potential security
threat
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
April 10, 2015 at 3:18 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Chevron's Pascagoula Refinery is "secure and
safe," after responding to a potential security threat, officials said in a
news release this afternoon.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/04/chevrons_pascagoula_refinery_s.html#incart_river
Oil Spill
5 Years Later, no final word on BP spill's effects
WWL
SHELL BEACH, La. — Brad Robin says there's no
doubt the BP oil spill has caused lasting damage
to the Gulf Coast.
http://www.wwltv.com/story/news/local/investigations/david-hammer/2015/04/12/5-years-later-no-final-word-on-bp-spills-effects/25678219/
Five Years After BP Spill, It's Safe To Eat Gulf Seafood, If You Can Find
It
WWNO
Monday, April 20th marks the 5th anniversary of the 2010 BP oil spill that
sent millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Right after
the spill, seafood restaurants were bombarded with concerns about the
safety of what was being served, and where it came from. Today, the public
has stopped asking questions and is ready to eat. But now there's a supply
issue. While marketing campaigns are spreading a message of safe and
bountiful gulf seafood, others in the industry worry about the future.
http://wwno.org/post/five-years-after-bp-spill-its-safe-eat-gulf-seafood-if-you-can-find-it
Scientists to live stream 6-month expedition to study oil spill effects on
coral reefs, underwater life
WDSU
NEW ORLEANS —It's been nearly five years since the BP oil spill in the Gulf
of Mexico wreaked havoc on the ecosystem, damaging plants and other life
deep in the sea. Thursday, a team of scientists launched an historic
six-month research project to study the effects of the spill and to
discover other activity on the ocean floor.
http://www.wdsu.com/news/local-news/new-orleans/scientists-to-live-stream-6month-expedition-to-study-oil-spill-effects-on-coral-reefs-underwater-life/32283210
New Sea Drilling Rule Planned, 5 Years After BP Oil Spill
NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is planning to
impose a major new regulation on offshore oil and gas
drilling to try to prevent the kind of explosions that
caused the catastrophic BP oil spill in the Gulf of
Mexico, administration officials said Friday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/11/us/new-sea-drilling-rule-planned-5-years-after-bp-oil-spill.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Regional
Dwindling oyster supply threatens Florida town's economy, frustrates Gulf
Coast restaurants
Al.com
Mark Heim
April 11, 2015 at 10:10 AM
Five generations of Philip Vinson's family have labored using tongs to pull
oysters from Apalachicola Bay's shallow waters. He fears there won't be a
sixth.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/dwindling_oyster_supply_threat.html#incart_river
National
EPA to Propose Federal Plan in August To Guide State Clean Power Plan
Compliance
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency plans to propose in August a federal
plan to guide states as they prepare to comply with carbon dioxide
emissions limits proposed for existing power plants.
http://www.bna.com/epa-propose-federal-n17179925166/
EPA says it will get back on schedule in issuing rules for biofuels
Washington Post
The Environmental Protection Agency, embattled after missing several
deadlines to implement the nation's renewable fuel law, has reached an
agreement with industry to get on a set schedule.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/10/epa-says-it-will-get-back-on-schedule-in-issuing-rules-for-biofuels/
Week ahead: Climate rule gets its day in court
The Hill
The Obama administration will go to court next week to defend its signature
climate change regulation.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/238494-week-ahead-climate-rule-gets-its-day-in-court
Press Releases
Governor Bryant Signs Gun Rights Measures into Law
JACKSON—Governor Phil Bryant has signed two gun rights measures into law.
Senate Bill 2394 allows Mississippians the option of carrying a pistol or
revolver in a purse, briefcase or other fully enclosed case without a
concealed carry permit. Senate Bill 2619, which is effective immediately,
allows active duty military, veterans and honorably retired law enforcement
officers to count firearms training toward the requirements for an enhanced
concealed carry permit and protects Mississippians from federal
overregulation of ammunition.
"The right to keep and bear arms is fundamental to America and to
Mississippi," Gov. Phil Bryant said. "I have always been a staunch
supporter of the Second Amendment, and I am proud to sign these bills into
law. I thank the National Rifle Association for their support of these
measures and thank Rep. Andy Gibson for his continued leadership on behalf
of gun owners in Mississippi."
Senate Bill 2394, which is effective July 1, 2015, also:
· reduces the fee for concealed carry permits from $100 to $80;
· reduces permit renewal fees;
· exempts active duty military from paying the concealed carry fee, and
· beginning Jan. 1, 2016, allows the Department of Public Safety to
include the designation "retired law enforcement officer" on driver
licenses for honorably retired law enforcement and correctional
officers.
"The NRA's five million dues-paying members appreciate the leadership of
Governor Phil Bryant on Second Amendment issues. The legislation he signed
into law will provide key reforms and strengthen the Second Amendment
rights of law-abiding Mississippians," said Chris W. Cox, Executive
Director of the NRA-ILA.
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