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
