State
Rental businesses feeling the pinch from recent beach closures
WLOX
We have some good news. All beaches across South Mississippi are currently
open. The bad news is some businesses are still feeling the impacts of the
recent closures and contact advisories.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29101127/rental-businesses-feeling-the-pinch-from-recent-beach-closures
KEMPER-RELATED RATE INCREASES COULD BE AS HIGH AS 41 PERCENT
MPB
Mississippi Power says it may have to raise customer rates as much as 41
percent if the state Supreme Court doesn't re-consider its recent decision
rolling back the rate increases already made for the new Kemper County
power plant.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/05/19/kemper-related-rate-increases-could-be-as-high-as-41-percent/
250 Tons Collected During Dumpster Days
Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2015/05/19/250-tons-collected-during-dumpster-days/
Long awaited dredging of Gautier's Graveline Bayou in the works
WLOX
After nearly three years of trying to find funding to remove the large
amount of sediment build up in Graveline Bayou, Gautier and Jackson County
leaders say dredging work will finally begin next month.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29107289/long-awaited-dredging-of-gautiers-graveline-bayou-in-the-works
Ross Barnett Reservoir backs away from user fee
Clarion Ledger
The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District's Parks Policy
Committee recommended Monday to rescind the proposed lake user fee
for Ross Barnett Reservoir.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/outdoors/2015/05/19/rez-backs-away-user-fee/27578351/
Commission on Marine Resources Meeting
WXXV
No headway was made at today's Commission on Marine Resources meeting in a
debate that has continued for nearly three decades.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Commission-on-Marine-Resources-Meeting/5iPodWI7QUGn6Dbc2YjokQ.cspx
Joint engineering program could benefit Gulf Coast
AP
GAUTIER, Miss. (AP) — Leaders at Mississippi State University and
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College now have a timetable and other
solid plans for their joint engineering degree.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Joint-engineering-program-could-benefit-Gulf-Coast/MOzJrV63MUmXg9c8-bBSJw.cspx
Oil Spill
Dolphin deaths result of BP spill? Report to be released today
Mississippi Press
The results of a federal study into possible links between BP's
catastrophic 2010 oil spill and a spate of dolphin deaths since the spill
is set to be released Wednesday.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/05/dolphin_deaths_result_of_bp_sp.html#incart_river
National
Obama: Climate change is a national security threat
USA Today
WASHINGTON — President Obama will use a commencement speech at the
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Wednesday to argue ever more forcefully
that climate change is a threat to America's national defense.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2015/05/20/obama-climate-change-national-security-coast-guard/27628313/
Groups jockeying to shape EPA water rule
The Hill
More than 100 advocates representing dozens of industry groups, companies
and environmental organizations are flocking to the White House in a
last-ditch effort to influence controversial regulations that would
redefine the reach of the federal government's water pollution enforcement.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/242614-groups-jockeying-to-shape-epa-water-rule
Republicans: States, not EPA, can regulate water
The Hill
Republicans on a Senate Environment and Public Works panel hit an Obama
administration clean water rule proposal as an example of federal overreach
on Tuesday as they began considering a bill that would undo it.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/242511-republicans-states-not-epa-can-regulate-water
EPA extends deadline for biofuels compliance by 7 months - statement
Reuters
The Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday it plans to extend the
reporting deadline for compliance with its biofuels program by seven
months, part of an effort to get the program "back on track."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/19/usa-biofuels-compliance-idUSL1N0YA1FW20150519
Oil pipeline spills thousands of gallons off California
Associated Press
GOLETA, CALIF. — An estimated 21,000 gallons of crude oil dumped into the
ocean from a broken pipeline just off the central California coast before
it was shut off on Tuesday, creating a spill stretching about 4 miles along
the beach, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/05/20/6235838/oil-pipeline-spills-thousands.html
White House unveils new plan to save the bees
The Hill
The White House on Tuesday unveiled a new plan aimed at stopping the rapid
decline in bee and butterfly populations that has become a threat to the
nation's crops.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/242498-white-house-unveils-plan-to-save-the-bees
New regs for Wednesday: Trains, agricultural workers, energy conservation
standards
The Hill
Wednesday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for the
on-time performance of trains, agricultural workers, and energy efficiency
rules for water heaters and residential boilers.
http://thehill.com/regulation/242476-new-regs-for-wednesday-trains-agricultural-workers-energy-conservation-standards
Press Releases
U.S. Settles with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to Cut Harmful Air
Emissions at Facilities in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a settlement with Marathon Petroleum
Corporation today that resolves various alleged Clean Air Act violations at
10 Marathon facilities and requires Marathon to take steps to reduce
harmful air pollution emissions at facilities in three states. EPA and DOJ
allege that Marathon failed to comply with certain Clean Air Act fuel
quality emissions standards and recordkeeping, sampling and testing
requirements. These violations may have resulted in excess emissions of air
pollutants from motor vehicles, which can pose threats to public health and
the environment. Marathon self-reported many of these issues to EPA.
Under a consent decree lodged in United States District Court for the
Northern District of Ohio, Marathon will spend over $2.8 million on
pollution controls to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds on 14
fuel storage tanks at its distribution terminals in Indiana, Kentucky and
Ohio.
Marathon will also pay a $2.9 million civil penalty and retire 5.5 billion
sulfur credits, which have a current market value of $200,000. Sulfur
credits are generated when a refiner produces gasoline that contains less
sulfur than the federal sulfur standard. These credits can be sold to other
refiners that may be unable to meet the standard.
"Fuel standards established under the Clean Air Act play a major role in
controlling harmful air pollution from vehicles and engines," said Cynthia
Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and
Compliance Assurance. "If unchecked, these pollutants can seriously impair
the air we breathe, especially during summer months when they can reach
higher levels. This settlement incorporates innovative pollution control
solutions to reduce air pollution in overburdened communities."
"The changes required by this settlement will positively impact air quality
in communities across the Midwest," said Assistant Attorney General John C.
Cruden for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources
Division. "All Americans deserve to enjoy the benefits of clean air, land,
and water. These benefits spring from our nation's bedrock environmental
laws and we will use them vigorously in the pursuit of environmental
justice."
"This agreement will help reduce air pollution emissions in Ohio and
elsewhere," said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Steven M.
Dettelbach. "We're pleased this settlement will protect the air we breathe
while promoting the use of next-generation technology."
In their complaint, EPA and DOJ allege that Marathon:
> Produced about 356 million gallons of reformulated gasoline at its Texas
City, Texas refinery during 2007 that did not meet Clean Air Act standards
for reducing volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds are one
of the primary constituents of smog and react in sunlight to form
ground-level ozone. Breathing ozone can trigger a variety of health
problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion,
and can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Children, the elderly and
people who have lung diseases such as asthma are particularly prone to
these problems.
> Produced more than 40 million gallons of gasoline at the Texas City,
Texas refinery in 2009 that exceeded standards for sulfur levels. The goal
of the Clean Air Act program that regulates sulfur in gasoline is to
minimize emissions from vehicles and to ensure emissions control systems
function effectively.
> Sold about 12 million gallons of gasoline that contained elevated levels
of ethanol. Excess ethanol in gasoline can harm emission control components
on some vehicles and engines.
> Sold about 1 million gallons of gasoline at its Tampa, Fl. terminal in
2013 that exceeded standards for volatility, known as the Reid Vapor
Pressure, that help control ground level ozone during summer months.
Gasoline with higher volatility results in increased emissions of volatile
organic compounds, which contribute to the formation of ground level ozone.
> Failed to comply with numerous sampling, testing, recordkeeping, and
reporting requirements for fuel production. EPA discovered these violations
during inspections of Marathon refineries and laboratories in 2008 and
2009. The sampling, testing, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements of
the fuels program provide the foundation for EPA's compliance program.
Marathon will also install geodesic domes, fixed roofs, or secondary rim
seals and deck fittings on 14 fuel storage tanks at several of its fuel
distribution terminals in order to reduce emissions of volatile organic
compounds. Marathon is also required to use innovative pollutant detection
technology during the implementation of the environmental mitigation
projects. Marathon will use an infrared gas-imaging camera to inspect the
fuel storage tanks in order to identify potential defects that may cause
excessive emissions. If defects are found, Marathon will conduct up-close
inspections and perform repairs where necessary.
EPA's Next Generation Compliance Strategy promotes advanced emissions and
pollutant detection technology so that regulated entities, the government,
and the public can more easily see pollutant discharges, environmental
conditions, and noncompliance. Many of the facilities where the pollution
controls will be installed are located in areas that may present
environmental justice concerns.
More information about EPA's Next Generation Compliance Strategy is
available at:
http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/next-generation-compliance.
The proposed consent decree is subject to a 30 day public comment period
and is available on EPA's website at
http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/marathon-petroleum-corporation-clean-air-settlement
.
