State
No cause determined in Madison quake
Clarion Ledger
In less than two months, two earthquakes have hit Madison County and
scientists don't know why.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/madison/2015/06/29/madison-county-eathquake/29457035/
3.2 magnitude earthquake confirmed in Madison County
WAPT
MADISON COUNTY, Miss. —A 3.2 magnitude earthquake hit Madison County Monday
morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
http://www.wapt.com/weather/possible-earthquake-reported-by-madison-county-residents/33828044
Damaging earthquakes not likely in Madison County quake zone
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Experts say there is no way to predict
or anticipate, so they rely on history to help them gauge what could happen
next. State Geologist, Michael Bograd at the Department of Environmental
Quality says he would not be surprised to see another quake in this area of
Madison County.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/29436654/damaging-earthquakes-not-likely-in-madison-county-quake-zone
Bass reg changes coming
Clarion Ledger
Changes for largemouth bass limits are coming to several Mississippi
lakes next month. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries
and Parks announced that effective July 22, the creel limit at
Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, and Sardis lakes will be raised from the
current seven-fish limit to 10 per day, per angler.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/06/30/bass-reg-changes-coming/29501049/
New state laws coming July 1
Clarion Ledger
Auto inspection stickers are a thing of the past after Tuesday, and
a caregiver's act goes into effect Wednesday. They are among the new
laws that go into effect July 1.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/06/29/new-laws-make-state-debut/29482661/
Oil Spill
Supreme Court won't hear BP, Anadarko appeal over Gulf spill fines
The Associated Press
June 29, 2015 at 10:47 AM
The Supreme Court won't hear appeals from BP and Anadarko Petroleum Corp.
over Clean Water Act fines for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/supreme_court_bp_appeal.html#incart_river
Scientists say sandy clumps on Sunset Beach contained BP oil from 2010
spill
Tampa Bay Times
Five years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster off the coast of Louisiana
dumped between 3 million and 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of
Mexico, scientists now say they have proof that a little bit of it wound up
on a Pinellas County beach.
http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/scientists-say-sandy-clumps-on-sunset-beach-contained-bp-oil-from-2010/2235552
National
Supreme Court rules against power plant limits; Mississippi Power already
working to meet regulations
Mississippi Power already working to meet regulations
Sun Herald
The Supreme Court ruled Monday against the Obama administration's attempt
to limit power plant emissions of mercury and other hazardous air
pollutants, but it may only be a temporary setback for regulators.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/29/6300243/supreme-court-rules-against-power.html
Mississippi, other states score victory in challenge to EPA rule
MBJ
Mississippi is one of 23 states that succeeded in convincing the U.S.
Supreme Court that cost of compliance — estimated $9.6 billion a year — for
coal-fired power plants should have been considered by the Environmental
Protection Agency in imposing limits on mercury and other air toxins under
the Clean Air Act.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/06/mississippi-other-states-score-victory-in-challenge-to-epa-rule/
High Court Strikes Down EPA Limits on Mercury Emissions
Justices say agency failed to properly consider cost of rules
Wall Street Journal
WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court on Monday dealt a setback to the Obama
administration's environmental agenda by rejecting the first-ever rules
requiring power plants to cut mercury emissions and other toxic air
pollutants.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-court-strikes-down-epa-limits-on-mercury-emissions-1435590069
Supreme Court Blocks Obama's Limits on Power Plants
NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday blocked one of
the Obama administration's most ambitious environmental
initiatives, anEnvironmental Protection Agency regulation
meant to limit emissions of mercury and other toxic
pollutants from coal-fired power plants.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/us/supreme-court-blocks-obamas-limits-on-power-plants.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Coal Industry Scores a Win but Fate of Plants Still in Air
AP
Coal companies and their supporters scored a courtroom victory with a U.S.
Supreme Court decision that said the Obama administration failed to take
potential costs into account when it decided to regulate toxic emissions
from many power plants.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/coal-industry-scores-win-fate-plants-air-32118329?singlePage=true
After Mercury Ruling, Scrutiny of Obama Climate Rules Grows
AP
Sweeping pollution limits at the center of President Barack Obama's climate
change plan are facing increased scrutiny in the wake of a Supreme Court
ruling that showed that the justices aren't afraid to thwart perceived
overreach by Obama or his Environmental Protection Agency.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/mercury-ruling-higher-scrutiny-obama-climate-rules-32117826?singlePage=true
Court emboldens GOP on climate regs
The Hill
The Supreme Court emboldened opponents of the Obama administration's
environmental agenda Monday with its ruling against a major air pollution
rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246476-court-emboldens-gop-on-environmental-rules
Texas leads multistate suit against EPA over water rule
AP
HOUSTON — Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi have sued the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers in Houston federal court over
a rule that they say strips them of jurisdiction over water.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/06/texas-leads-multistate-suit-against-epa-over-water-rule/
Sixteen states sue EPA over clean water rule
Reuters
Sixteen states on Monday filed lawsuits against the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, contesting a rule that expands the definition of bodies
of water subject to federal pollution controls.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/06/29/us-usa-environment-water-epa-idUSKCN0P92QJ20150629
States sue to block Obama's water rule
The Hill
Eighteen states sued the Obama administration Monday to stop a new
regulation asserting federal authority over minor waterways like streams
and wetlands.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246435-three-states-sue-to-stop-obama-water-rule
Opinion
The Mercurial Court
The Supremes rebuke the EPA but decline to rein in its abuses.
Wall Street Journal
A measure of the Environmental Protection Agency's radicalism is that on
Monday even this Supreme Court shot down one of its regulatory abuses. The
agency's extraconstitutional law-writing was too much even for the Court
willing last week to tolerate the rewriting of laws for ObamaCare subsidies
and housing discrimination.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-mercurial-court-1435614498
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 29, 2015
Supreme Court Blocks Obama’s Limits on Power Plants
Supreme Court Blocks Obama's Limits on Power Plants
NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday blocked one of the Obama
administration's most ambitious environmental initiatives, one meant to
limit emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power
plants.
Industry groups and some 20 states challenged the
Environmental Protection Agency's decision to regulate the
emissions, saying the agency had failed to take into
account the punishing costs its regulations would impose.
The Clean Air Act required the regulations to be
"appropriate and necessary." The challengers said the
agency had run afoul of that law by deciding to regulate
the emissions without first undertaking a cost-benefit
analysis.
The agency responded that it was not required to take
costs into account when it made the initial determination
to regulate. But the agency added that it did so later in
setting emissions standards and that, in any event, the
benefits far outweighed the costs.
The two sides had very different understandings of the
costs and benefits involved. Industry groups said the
government had imposed annual costs of $9.6 billion to
achieve about $6 million in benefits. The agency said the
costs yielded tens of billions of dollars in benefits.
The decision, Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency,
No. 14-46 was a setback for environmentalists.
In the term that ended in June 2014, the justices heard
cases on two other sets of environmental regulations — one
aimed at limiting power plant pollution that wafts across
state lines, the other at cutting planet-warming
greenhouse gas emissions. The E.P.A. won the first case
and largely prevailed in the second, though the Supreme
Court indicated that it remained prepared to impose limits
on the agency's regulatory authority.
Monday's decision reversed one from the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,
which ruled that the agency's interpretation of the Clean
Air Act was reasonable.
"For E.P.A. to focus its 'appropriate and necessary'
determination on factors relating to public health
hazards, and not industry's objections that emission
controls are costly, properly puts the horse before the
cart," Judge Judith W. Rogers wrote for the majority.
In dissent, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh said that, in
context, the statute required attention to costs "as a
matter of common sense, common parlance and common
practice."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/us/supreme-court-blocks-obamas-limits-on-power-plants.html?smid=tw-bna&bna=5000&_r=0
NY Times
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday blocked one of the Obama
administration's most ambitious environmental initiatives, one meant to
limit emissions of mercury and other toxic pollutants from coal-fired power
plants.
Industry groups and some 20 states challenged the
Environmental Protection Agency's decision to regulate the
emissions, saying the agency had failed to take into
account the punishing costs its regulations would impose.
The Clean Air Act required the regulations to be
"appropriate and necessary." The challengers said the
agency had run afoul of that law by deciding to regulate
the emissions without first undertaking a cost-benefit
analysis.
The agency responded that it was not required to take
costs into account when it made the initial determination
to regulate. But the agency added that it did so later in
setting emissions standards and that, in any event, the
benefits far outweighed the costs.
The two sides had very different understandings of the
costs and benefits involved. Industry groups said the
government had imposed annual costs of $9.6 billion to
achieve about $6 million in benefits. The agency said the
costs yielded tens of billions of dollars in benefits.
The decision, Michigan v. Environmental Protection Agency,
No. 14-46 was a setback for environmentalists.
In the term that ended in June 2014, the justices heard
cases on two other sets of environmental regulations — one
aimed at limiting power plant pollution that wafts across
state lines, the other at cutting planet-warming
greenhouse gas emissions. The E.P.A. won the first case
and largely prevailed in the second, though the Supreme
Court indicated that it remained prepared to impose limits
on the agency's regulatory authority.
Monday's decision reversed one from the United States
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit,
which ruled that the agency's interpretation of the Clean
Air Act was reasonable.
"For E.P.A. to focus its 'appropriate and necessary'
determination on factors relating to public health
hazards, and not industry's objections that emission
controls are costly, properly puts the horse before the
cart," Judge Judith W. Rogers wrote for the majority.
In dissent, Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh said that, in
context, the statute required attention to costs "as a
matter of common sense, common parlance and common
practice."
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/30/us/supreme-court-blocks-obamas-limits-on-power-plants.html?smid=tw-bna&bna=5000&_r=0
News Clippings 6.29.15
Local Recycling Efforts
WTOK
Tomorrow will mark the end of a recycling pilot program for Lauderdale
County residents. The month of April is when the county started the three
month pilot program. As part of it, residents have been allowed to go to
the Lauderdale County Agri-Center on the last Saturday of each month to
drop off items for recycling. Board of Supervisors President(Embedded image
moved to file: pic14771.jpg) Kyle Rutledge is calling the pilot program a
success.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Local-Recycling-Efforts-310097521.html
Barnett, Pickwick make Top 100
Clarion Ledger
Bassmaster recently released its list of the top 100 bass fisheries
in the nation and Mississippi's two most popular lakes made the cut.
Ross Barnett Reservoir was ranked 97th while Pickwick Lake came in
at 36th.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/06/27/barnett-pickwick-make-top/29411191/
National
Oklahoma earthquakes putting pressure on drilling regulators
The Hill
A series of nearly three dozen small earthquakes over the last week has
prompted Oklahoma regulators to consider new restrictions on oil and gas
drilling the state.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246153-oklahoma-earthquakes-putting-pressure-on-drilling-regulators
Opinion
PEYTON SMITH: Earthquake damage, I'm covered for that right?
MBJ
Saturday, May 2, was just another Saturday in Mississippi. People were
enjoying the one of the biggest sporting days of the year, with Kentucky
Derby, college baseball and of course the "biggest fight in history"
between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather that night. About 7:45 that
night I was at friend's house and somebody said that there had been an
earthquake in Madison.
http://msbusiness.com/2015/06/peyton-smith-earthquake-damage-im-covered-for-that-right/
Friday, June 26, 2015
News Clippings 6.26.15
State
Project looms to wrap up Lake Serene dam fix
Hattiesburg American
PURVIS – When it comes to the earthen walls holding back a lake's
waters, adherence to the most precise details can prevent huge
issues later.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lamar-county/2015/06/25/lamar-dam-repaired/29308241/
What's Working: The Ross Barnett Reservoir
WJTV
Looking a for great place to watch the fireworks this Summer? You might
want to point to family car to the Ross Barnett Reservoir this coming
Saturday.
http://wjtv.com/2015/06/25/whats-working-the-ross-barnett-reservoir/
Red snapper season opens July 16 in Mississippi waters
Sun Herald
BY ROBIN FITZGERALD
BILOXI -- Red snapper season opens in Mississippi waters July 16 and
anglers can use social media outlets to report their harvests.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/25/6293793/red-snapper-season-opens-july.html
Southaven Public Works Director Ray Tarrance dies
Commercial Appeal
Southaven leaders Wednesday were mourning the loss of one of the city's
most familiar faces, Public Works Director Ray Tarrance.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/southaven-public-works-director-ray-tarrance-dies_31961391
National
World's Aquifers Losing Replenishment Race, Researchers Say
NY Times
From the Arabian Peninsula to northern India to
California's Central Valley, nearly a third of the world's
37 largest aquifers are being drained faster than they are
being replenished, according to a recent study led by
scientists at the University of California, Irvine. The
aquifers are concentrated in food-producing regions that
support up to two billion people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/science/worlds-aquifers-losing-replenishment-race-researchers-say.html?_r=0
Wall Street Pumps Billions Into Renewable Energy
Wall Street Journal
After years of lofty promises, Wall Street believes the renewable energy
industry can produce a payoff.
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/06/25/wall-street-pumps-billions-into-renewable-energy/
Governors urge EPA to keep renewable fuel standards intact
AP
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A plan to reduce the amount of renewable fuels
required in the U.S. gasoline supply drew heated condemnation of the
petroleum industry Thursday from two governors who said health of the
ethanol industry is vital to their states' economy.
http://news.yahoo.com/governors-urge-epa-keep-renewable-fuel-standards-intact-195649780.html
EPA Proposal Geared to Boost Ethanol Use, Official Says
Bloomberg
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is aiming to put more ethanol in
gasoline even as it reduced the consumption target established in a 2007
energy law, an EPA official said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-25/epa-proposal-geared-to-boost-ethanol-use-official-says
Opinion
ALAN TURNER — Kemper: A bird's eye view
MBJ
On June 19, I accepted an invitation from Mississippi Power to visit their
Kemper facility, and get an "up close and personal" view of the plant and
how it works.http://msbusiness.com/2015/06/kemper-a-birds-eye-view/
Press Releases
Modifications to Settlement with Alabama Power Company Will Reduce Harmful
Air Pollution
WASHINGTON -- EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice today lodged in U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Alabama a proposed modification
of a prior 2006 consent decree with Alabama Power Company that will secure
further reductions of harmful air pollutants, primarily sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), from three of the company's coal-fired
power plants in Alabama. The proposed modifications, if entered by the
court, will resolve the remaining claims in a long-running case that
alleged violations of the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program.
The pollution reductions will be achieved through operation of
state-of-the-art pollution control devices, the conversion of four units
from the use of coal to natural gas, and the retirement of three other
units. Among other requirements, the company must meet specified emission
rates. Alabama Power will also pay a $100,000 penalty and will spend at
least $1.5 million on providing electrical charging infrastructure for
electric airport service vehicles and passenger cars. This settlement is
part of EPA's national enforcement initiative to control harmful emissions
from large sources of pollution, which includes coal-fired power plants,
under the Clean Air Act's Prevention of Significant Deterioration
requirements.
"This action secures reductions of harmful air pollution at Alabama Power
Company's coal-fired power plants across the state," said Cynthia Giles,
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "This is important progress toward our commitment to cut
emissions from the largest sources, and means cleaner air and improved
public health for communities across Alabama."
For more information about EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance:
http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-enforcement-and-compliance-assurance-oeca
Project looms to wrap up Lake Serene dam fix
Hattiesburg American
PURVIS – When it comes to the earthen walls holding back a lake's
waters, adherence to the most precise details can prevent huge
issues later.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lamar-county/2015/06/25/lamar-dam-repaired/29308241/
What's Working: The Ross Barnett Reservoir
WJTV
Looking a for great place to watch the fireworks this Summer? You might
want to point to family car to the Ross Barnett Reservoir this coming
Saturday.
http://wjtv.com/2015/06/25/whats-working-the-ross-barnett-reservoir/
Red snapper season opens July 16 in Mississippi waters
Sun Herald
BY ROBIN FITZGERALD
BILOXI -- Red snapper season opens in Mississippi waters July 16 and
anglers can use social media outlets to report their harvests.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/25/6293793/red-snapper-season-opens-july.html
Southaven Public Works Director Ray Tarrance dies
Commercial Appeal
Southaven leaders Wednesday were mourning the loss of one of the city's
most familiar faces, Public Works Director Ray Tarrance.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/southaven-public-works-director-ray-tarrance-dies_31961391
National
World's Aquifers Losing Replenishment Race, Researchers Say
NY Times
From the Arabian Peninsula to northern India to
California's Central Valley, nearly a third of the world's
37 largest aquifers are being drained faster than they are
being replenished, according to a recent study led by
scientists at the University of California, Irvine. The
aquifers are concentrated in food-producing regions that
support up to two billion people.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/science/worlds-aquifers-losing-replenishment-race-researchers-say.html?_r=0
Wall Street Pumps Billions Into Renewable Energy
Wall Street Journal
After years of lofty promises, Wall Street believes the renewable energy
industry can produce a payoff.
http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/06/25/wall-street-pumps-billions-into-renewable-energy/
Governors urge EPA to keep renewable fuel standards intact
AP
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A plan to reduce the amount of renewable fuels
required in the U.S. gasoline supply drew heated condemnation of the
petroleum industry Thursday from two governors who said health of the
ethanol industry is vital to their states' economy.
http://news.yahoo.com/governors-urge-epa-keep-renewable-fuel-standards-intact-195649780.html
EPA Proposal Geared to Boost Ethanol Use, Official Says
Bloomberg
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is aiming to put more ethanol in
gasoline even as it reduced the consumption target established in a 2007
energy law, an EPA official said.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-25/epa-proposal-geared-to-boost-ethanol-use-official-says
Opinion
ALAN TURNER — Kemper: A bird's eye view
MBJ
On June 19, I accepted an invitation from Mississippi Power to visit their
Kemper facility, and get an "up close and personal" view of the plant and
how it works.http://msbusiness.com/2015/06/kemper-a-birds-eye-view/
Press Releases
Modifications to Settlement with Alabama Power Company Will Reduce Harmful
Air Pollution
WASHINGTON -- EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice today lodged in U.S.
District Court for the Northern District of Alabama a proposed modification
of a prior 2006 consent decree with Alabama Power Company that will secure
further reductions of harmful air pollutants, primarily sulfur dioxide
(SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), from three of the company's coal-fired
power plants in Alabama. The proposed modifications, if entered by the
court, will resolve the remaining claims in a long-running case that
alleged violations of the Clean Air Act's New Source Review program.
The pollution reductions will be achieved through operation of
state-of-the-art pollution control devices, the conversion of four units
from the use of coal to natural gas, and the retirement of three other
units. Among other requirements, the company must meet specified emission
rates. Alabama Power will also pay a $100,000 penalty and will spend at
least $1.5 million on providing electrical charging infrastructure for
electric airport service vehicles and passenger cars. This settlement is
part of EPA's national enforcement initiative to control harmful emissions
from large sources of pollution, which includes coal-fired power plants,
under the Clean Air Act's Prevention of Significant Deterioration
requirements.
"This action secures reductions of harmful air pollution at Alabama Power
Company's coal-fired power plants across the state," said Cynthia Giles,
assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance. "This is important progress toward our commitment to cut
emissions from the largest sources, and means cleaner air and improved
public health for communities across Alabama."
For more information about EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance
Assurance:
http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-enforcement-and-compliance-assurance-oeca
Thursday, June 25, 2015
News Clippings 6.25.15
State
OYSTER COUNCIL GIVES REPORT TO GOVERNOR
MPB
The Governor's Oyster Council has delivered its almost 70-page report to
Governor Phil Bryant, and now the question is – how to make its
recommendations become a reality. MPB's Evelina Burnett reports.
http://www.mpbonline.org/news/
Pascagoula company awarded bid to build Deer Island pier
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
June 24, 2015 at 4:11 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann announced
Wednesday that a Pascagoula company has been awarded the bid to construct a
public pier at Deer Island.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/pascagoula_company_awarded_bid.html#incart_river
Hillsborough County man dies of 'flesh-eating' bacteria infection
A man from Hillsborough County has died of a bacterial infection that he
contracted through saltwater, but he didn't get it in Florida.
The man was said to be on vacation in Mississippi when he came in contact
with the bacteria.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/29394575/hillsborough-county-man-dies-of-flesh-eating-bacteria-infection
Jubilee leaves Fish Washed up on Coast Shore
WXXV
If you were out on the beaches in Harrison and Hancock Counties this
morning, you probably noticed the large amount of fish washed up on the
Coast line.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Jubilee-leaves-Fish-Washed-up-on-Coast-Shore/bnMmZNGqY0K1-yx4IgoCRg.cspx
Jubilee! Thousands of fish, crabs come ashore in Harrison County
WLOX
It's called a Jubilee, but it's not very fun for fish and crabs. Humans,
though, are another story. By 7:30 Wednesday morning, fish by the thousands
were washing up near the Pass Christian shoreline. The vast majority of
them were still alive, at least for a little while.
http://www.wdam.com/story/29395140/jubilee-thousands-of-fish-crabs-come-ashore-in-harrison-county
Regional
DNA testing reveals goose droppings to blame for Fairhope beach brouhaha
Al.com
Marc D. Anderson
June 24, 2015 at 5:52 PM
A concerned Fairhope resident's posting of a video on June 6 showing feces
lining a stretch of beach on the bay caused quite a stir and the city
wasted no time testing the substance.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/06/dna_testing_reveals_canada_goo.html#incart_river
National
House votes to weaken Obama's climate rule
The Hill
The House voted Wednesday to delay the Environmental Protection Agency's
climate rule for power plants and let state governors opt out of complying.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/246053-house-votes-to-weaken-obamas-climate-rule
Obama nominates two officials to EPA posts
The Hill
President Obama has nominated two Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
officials to be full-time heads of the offices they currently lead.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246039-obama-nominates-two-officials-to-epa-posts
Pence: Indiana won't comply with EPA plan in current form
Courier & Press
Gov. Mike Pence announced on Wednesday the state will not comply with an
impending federal plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants unless
the proposal is "significantly improved" before being finalized.
http://www.courierpress.com/business/local/pence_75114466
EPA sends methane leak rule for final review
The Hill
The Obama administration has started the final review stage for proposed
regulations to minimize methane leaks from the oil and natural gas sector.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245959-epa-sends-methane-leak-rule-for-final-review
EPA declines to study restricting Roundup pesticide's use
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency declined to study restricting the use
of a pesticide believed to harm the monarch butterfly's habitat.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246023-epa-declines-to-pesticides-use-to-protect-butterfly
Data Centers and Hidden Water Use
In California, computer farms are under scrutiny for their large and
growing use of water for cooling
Wall Street Journal
Silicon Valley's appetite for data is well known. Its thirst is less
understood.
Amid record drought in California and other parts of the American West, the
machines that support everything from Instagram photos to Netflix movie
marathons require substantial quantities of water for the air-conditioning
systems needed to keep the servers cool.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10007111583511843695404581067903126039290
Press releases
USDA Seeks Partner Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands in
Mississippi
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Kurt Readus
announced the availability of $17.5 million in financial and technical
assistance nationwide to help eligible conservation partners voluntarily
protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on private and tribal
agricultural lands.
"USDA has leveraged partnerships to accomplish a great deal on America's
wetlands over the past two decades, Readus said. "This year's funding will
help strengthen these partnerships and achieve greater wetland acreage in
Mississippi and throughout the nation."
Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement
Partnership (WREP), a special enrollment option under the Agricultural
Conservation Easement Program's Wetland Reserve Easement component. It is
administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Under
WREP, states, local units of governments, non-governmental organizations
and American Indian tribes collaborate with USDA through cooperative and
partnership agreements. These partners work with willing tribal and private
landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land into easements to protect,
restore and enhance wetlands on their properties. WREP was created through
the 2014 Farm Bill and was formerly known as the Wetlands Reserve
Enhancement Program.
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. The voluntary nature of NRCS' easement programs allows
effective integration of wetland restoration on working landscapes,
providing benefits to farmers and ranchers who enroll in the program, as
well as benefits to the local and rural communities where the wetlands
exist.
Proposals must be submitted to the NRCS state office by July 31, 2015.
Projects can range from individual to watershed-wide to ecosystem-wide.
Under a similar program in the 2008 Farm Bill, NRCS and its partners
entered into 272 easements that enrolled more than 44,020 acres of wetlands
from 2009 through 2013. Most of these agreements occurred through the
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Through
partnerships, MRBI identifies high-priority watersheds where focused
conservation on agricultural land can make the most gains in improving
local, state and regional water quality.
The new collaborative WREP will build on those successes by providing the
financial and technical assistance necessary for states, non-governmental
organizations and tribes to leverage resources to restore and protect
wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Through WREP, NRCS will sign multi-year agreements with partners to
leverage resources, including funding, to achieve maximum wetland
restoration, protection and enhancement and to create optimum wildlife
habitat on enrolled acres. WREP partners are required to contribute a
funding match for financial or technical assistance. These partners work
directly with eligible landowners interested in enrolling their
agricultural land into conservation wetland easements.
This builds on approximately $332 million that USDA has announced this year
to protect and restore agricultural working lands, grasslands and wetlands.
Collectively, NRCS's easement programs help productive farm, ranch and
tribal lands remain in agriculture and protect the nation's critical
wetlands and grasslands, home to diverse wildlife and plant species. Under
the former Wetlands Reserve Program, private landowners, tribes and
entities such as land trusts and conservation organizations enrolled 2.7
million acres through 14,500 agreements for a total NRCS and partner
investment of $4.3 billion in financial and technical assistance.
Visit NRCS's ACEP webpage to learn more about NRCS's wetland conservation
options.
Sea Turtles Targeted in Next Phase of Deepwater Horizon Restoration
The next phase of early restoration for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
includes a proposed project focused on sea turtles. The project will focus
on three species—Kemp's ridley, green, and loggerhead—all of which are
protected under the Endangered Species Act. If the project is selected,
NOAA would co-lead implementation in partnership with the Department of
Interior and the State of Texas.
Sea turtles can live for decades, so we may not know the full extent of the
oil spill's impacts for many years. Sea turtles were exposed to oil through
direct contact, ingestion, and inhalation.
Through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process, NOAA and its
federal and state partners have identified several potential strategies to
restore sea turtles. This phase is focused on reducing bycatch, increasing
survival from events such as extreme cold weather, and increasing nest
success at key nesting beaches.
Studies show that turtle bycatch (the unintentional capture of turtles as
part of normal fishing activity) is a significant cause of turtle deaths.
When sea turtles are trapped in fishing gear, they can drown or suffer
serious injuries. The use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawl
gear allows turtles to escape while retaining shrimp.
NOAA currently has a two-person team that works closely with Gulf fishermen
to ensure their TEDs are installed and working properly. Adding staff to
this effort and focusing in areas where sea turtles and shrimp fisheries
overlap, would help reduce preventable turtle deaths.
Turtles also die during "cold stun" events, which occur when there is a
rapid drop in temperature. This can "stun" turtles, making them lethargic
and eventually killing them. Additional staff, vessels, and mobile
temporary warming facilities would help rescue more turtles and improve
their survival.
The proposed project would also provide enhanced protection of Kemp's
ridley nests in the Gulf of Mexico. The project would provide needed
staff, training, and equipment (including incubation facilities), to help
support successful nesting of Kemp's ridley turtles.
Taken together, the proposed project is designed to conserve turtles at
various stages of their life cycle, from eggs to adults.
Florida largemouth bass stocked into Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway lakes
JACKSON – On May 22, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and
Parks (MDWFP) stocked Florida-strain largemouth bass fingerlings into two
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) lakes.
Aberdeen Lake received approximately 48,000, and 25,000 were stocked into
Lock C near Fulton. "Florida-strain largemouth bass are typically more
aggressive, grow faster, and potentially grow larger than the native bass
found in the TTW," says MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Tyler Stubbs.
According to Stubbs, the goal of the Florida-strain bass stockings is to
help increase the number of trophy-sized bass in these two lakes.
The fish were reared at the MDWFP's Turcotte Fish Hatchery, Canton.
For more information regarding fishing in Mississippi, visit our website at
www.mdwfp.com or call us at (601) 432-2212.
OYSTER COUNCIL GIVES REPORT TO GOVERNOR
MPB
The Governor's Oyster Council has delivered its almost 70-page report to
Governor Phil Bryant, and now the question is – how to make its
recommendations become a reality. MPB's Evelina Burnett reports.
http://www.mpbonline.org/news/
Pascagoula company awarded bid to build Deer Island pier
Mississippi Press
Warren Kulo
June 24, 2015 at 4:11 PM
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann announced
Wednesday that a Pascagoula company has been awarded the bid to construct a
public pier at Deer Island.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/pascagoula_company_awarded_bid.html#incart_river
Hillsborough County man dies of 'flesh-eating' bacteria infection
A man from Hillsborough County has died of a bacterial infection that he
contracted through saltwater, but he didn't get it in Florida.
The man was said to be on vacation in Mississippi when he came in contact
with the bacteria.
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/29394575/hillsborough-county-man-dies-of-flesh-eating-bacteria-infection
Jubilee leaves Fish Washed up on Coast Shore
WXXV
If you were out on the beaches in Harrison and Hancock Counties this
morning, you probably noticed the large amount of fish washed up on the
Coast line.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Jubilee-leaves-Fish-Washed-up-on-Coast-Shore/bnMmZNGqY0K1-yx4IgoCRg.cspx
Jubilee! Thousands of fish, crabs come ashore in Harrison County
WLOX
It's called a Jubilee, but it's not very fun for fish and crabs. Humans,
though, are another story. By 7:30 Wednesday morning, fish by the thousands
were washing up near the Pass Christian shoreline. The vast majority of
them were still alive, at least for a little while.
http://www.wdam.com/story/29395140/jubilee-thousands-of-fish-crabs-come-ashore-in-harrison-county
Regional
DNA testing reveals goose droppings to blame for Fairhope beach brouhaha
Al.com
Marc D. Anderson
June 24, 2015 at 5:52 PM
A concerned Fairhope resident's posting of a video on June 6 showing feces
lining a stretch of beach on the bay caused quite a stir and the city
wasted no time testing the substance.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/06/dna_testing_reveals_canada_goo.html#incart_river
National
House votes to weaken Obama's climate rule
The Hill
The House voted Wednesday to delay the Environmental Protection Agency's
climate rule for power plants and let state governors opt out of complying.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/246053-house-votes-to-weaken-obamas-climate-rule
Obama nominates two officials to EPA posts
The Hill
President Obama has nominated two Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
officials to be full-time heads of the offices they currently lead.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246039-obama-nominates-two-officials-to-epa-posts
Pence: Indiana won't comply with EPA plan in current form
Courier & Press
Gov. Mike Pence announced on Wednesday the state will not comply with an
impending federal plan to reduce carbon emissions from power plants unless
the proposal is "significantly improved" before being finalized.
http://www.courierpress.com/business/local/pence_75114466
EPA sends methane leak rule for final review
The Hill
The Obama administration has started the final review stage for proposed
regulations to minimize methane leaks from the oil and natural gas sector.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245959-epa-sends-methane-leak-rule-for-final-review
EPA declines to study restricting Roundup pesticide's use
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency declined to study restricting the use
of a pesticide believed to harm the monarch butterfly's habitat.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/246023-epa-declines-to-pesticides-use-to-protect-butterfly
Data Centers and Hidden Water Use
In California, computer farms are under scrutiny for their large and
growing use of water for cooling
Wall Street Journal
Silicon Valley's appetite for data is well known. Its thirst is less
understood.
Amid record drought in California and other parts of the American West, the
machines that support everything from Instagram photos to Netflix movie
marathons require substantial quantities of water for the air-conditioning
systems needed to keep the servers cool.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10007111583511843695404581067903126039290
Press releases
USDA Seeks Partner Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands in
Mississippi
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist Kurt Readus
announced the availability of $17.5 million in financial and technical
assistance nationwide to help eligible conservation partners voluntarily
protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on private and tribal
agricultural lands.
"USDA has leveraged partnerships to accomplish a great deal on America's
wetlands over the past two decades, Readus said. "This year's funding will
help strengthen these partnerships and achieve greater wetland acreage in
Mississippi and throughout the nation."
Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement
Partnership (WREP), a special enrollment option under the Agricultural
Conservation Easement Program's Wetland Reserve Easement component. It is
administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Under
WREP, states, local units of governments, non-governmental organizations
and American Indian tribes collaborate with USDA through cooperative and
partnership agreements. These partners work with willing tribal and private
landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land into easements to protect,
restore and enhance wetlands on their properties. WREP was created through
the 2014 Farm Bill and was formerly known as the Wetlands Reserve
Enhancement Program.
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. The voluntary nature of NRCS' easement programs allows
effective integration of wetland restoration on working landscapes,
providing benefits to farmers and ranchers who enroll in the program, as
well as benefits to the local and rural communities where the wetlands
exist.
Proposals must be submitted to the NRCS state office by July 31, 2015.
Projects can range from individual to watershed-wide to ecosystem-wide.
Under a similar program in the 2008 Farm Bill, NRCS and its partners
entered into 272 easements that enrolled more than 44,020 acres of wetlands
from 2009 through 2013. Most of these agreements occurred through the
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Through
partnerships, MRBI identifies high-priority watersheds where focused
conservation on agricultural land can make the most gains in improving
local, state and regional water quality.
The new collaborative WREP will build on those successes by providing the
financial and technical assistance necessary for states, non-governmental
organizations and tribes to leverage resources to restore and protect
wetlands and wildlife habitat.
Through WREP, NRCS will sign multi-year agreements with partners to
leverage resources, including funding, to achieve maximum wetland
restoration, protection and enhancement and to create optimum wildlife
habitat on enrolled acres. WREP partners are required to contribute a
funding match for financial or technical assistance. These partners work
directly with eligible landowners interested in enrolling their
agricultural land into conservation wetland easements.
This builds on approximately $332 million that USDA has announced this year
to protect and restore agricultural working lands, grasslands and wetlands.
Collectively, NRCS's easement programs help productive farm, ranch and
tribal lands remain in agriculture and protect the nation's critical
wetlands and grasslands, home to diverse wildlife and plant species. Under
the former Wetlands Reserve Program, private landowners, tribes and
entities such as land trusts and conservation organizations enrolled 2.7
million acres through 14,500 agreements for a total NRCS and partner
investment of $4.3 billion in financial and technical assistance.
Visit NRCS's ACEP webpage to learn more about NRCS's wetland conservation
options.
Sea Turtles Targeted in Next Phase of Deepwater Horizon Restoration
The next phase of early restoration for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
includes a proposed project focused on sea turtles. The project will focus
on three species—Kemp's ridley, green, and loggerhead—all of which are
protected under the Endangered Species Act. If the project is selected,
NOAA would co-lead implementation in partnership with the Department of
Interior and the State of Texas.
Sea turtles can live for decades, so we may not know the full extent of the
oil spill's impacts for many years. Sea turtles were exposed to oil through
direct contact, ingestion, and inhalation.
Through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment process, NOAA and its
federal and state partners have identified several potential strategies to
restore sea turtles. This phase is focused on reducing bycatch, increasing
survival from events such as extreme cold weather, and increasing nest
success at key nesting beaches.
Studies show that turtle bycatch (the unintentional capture of turtles as
part of normal fishing activity) is a significant cause of turtle deaths.
When sea turtles are trapped in fishing gear, they can drown or suffer
serious injuries. The use of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in shrimp trawl
gear allows turtles to escape while retaining shrimp.
NOAA currently has a two-person team that works closely with Gulf fishermen
to ensure their TEDs are installed and working properly. Adding staff to
this effort and focusing in areas where sea turtles and shrimp fisheries
overlap, would help reduce preventable turtle deaths.
Turtles also die during "cold stun" events, which occur when there is a
rapid drop in temperature. This can "stun" turtles, making them lethargic
and eventually killing them. Additional staff, vessels, and mobile
temporary warming facilities would help rescue more turtles and improve
their survival.
The proposed project would also provide enhanced protection of Kemp's
ridley nests in the Gulf of Mexico. The project would provide needed
staff, training, and equipment (including incubation facilities), to help
support successful nesting of Kemp's ridley turtles.
Taken together, the proposed project is designed to conserve turtles at
various stages of their life cycle, from eggs to adults.
Florida largemouth bass stocked into Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway lakes
JACKSON – On May 22, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and
Parks (MDWFP) stocked Florida-strain largemouth bass fingerlings into two
Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW) lakes.
Aberdeen Lake received approximately 48,000, and 25,000 were stocked into
Lock C near Fulton. "Florida-strain largemouth bass are typically more
aggressive, grow faster, and potentially grow larger than the native bass
found in the TTW," says MDWFP Fisheries Biologist Tyler Stubbs.
According to Stubbs, the goal of the Florida-strain bass stockings is to
help increase the number of trophy-sized bass in these two lakes.
The fish were reared at the MDWFP's Turcotte Fish Hatchery, Canton.
For more information regarding fishing in Mississippi, visit our website at
www.mdwfp.com or call us at (601) 432-2212.
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
News Clippings 6.24.15
State
Gov. Phil Bryant in Biloxi to receive DMR's final Oyster Council report
Sun Herald
BILOXI -- The Governor's Oyster Council presented Phil Bryant with its
final report early Tuesday morning in an effort to help future oyster
seasons prosper.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/23/6290439/governor-phil-bryant-receives.html
Gov. Bryant highlights plans to boost MS oyster industry
WLOX
Calling it the soybean of the sea, Gov. Phil Bryant unveiled his plans to
save the ailing oyster industry this morning. The governor's oyster council
was formed earlier this year, and it has spent the past several months
studying ways to revitalize an industry that has been hit hard by Hurricane
Katrina and the BP oil spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29389192/gov-bryant-highlights-plans-to-boost-ms-oyster-industry
Hernando Soccer launches fundraising effort
DeSoto Times
Hoping to have the City of Hernando's first-ever soccer-only fields in
shape for the fall soccer season, the Hernando Soccer Association has
launched a $25,000 fundraising goal.
…Mayor Chip Johnson explained that the City of Hernando was in danger of
being fined by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality if the
city did not close down the lagoons and divert wastewater to the countywide
wastewater system.
http://www.desototimes.com/news/hernando-soccer-launches-fundraising-effort/article_ce44bbf0-1553-11e5-81c7-1f0c85d0ac39.html
Goodrich signals return
Justin Vicory
Enterprise-Journal
June 22, 2015 2:00 pm
A prominent company operating in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale announced
today it's ramping up production in the oil play, potentially opening the
door for other oil companies to do the same after a six-month hiatus due to
low oil prices.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_02a39a00-191f-11e5-ae3c-430f447207a3.html
Lightning strike causes marsh fire behind Mississippi Power in Gulfport
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- Lighting from a thunderstorm started a marsh fire Tuesday
afternoon on property behind Mississippi Power Company's Plant Jack Watson,
a company spokesman said.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/23/6290771/brush-fire-reported-behind-mississippi.html
Oil Spill
BP's Gulf spill toll could run up to $68.2 billion
Houston Chronicle
The runaway well that emptied millions of barrels crude into the Gulf of
Mexico could ultimately cost BP about $60.2 billion to $68.2 billion, a
high bill for a firm wading through an industry downturn, analysts say.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/06/23/bps-gulf-spill-toll-could-run-up-to-68-2-billion/#33232101=0
National
New Federal Fracking Rules Delayed by U.S. Judge in Wyoming
Bloomberg
New U.S. fracking safety rules set to take effect Wednesday were put on
hold by a Wyoming federal judge who said he needed more evidence to decide
whether to block them as requested by drillers and four western states.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-24/fracking-safety-rules-delayed-by-u-s-judge-in-wyoming
Press Releases
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Announces New Tool to Monitor Dams, Keep Communities Safe |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 23, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the |
|availability of DamWatch, a new web-based application that provides real-time |
|monitoring of rainfall, snowmelt, stream flow and seismic events that could pose |
|potential threats to dam safety. |
| |
| |
|"With tools like this, USDA is using the newest technologies to meet our mission," |
|Vilsack said. "This tool provides a 'one-stop' source for accessing critical documents,|
|databases, onsite electronic monitoring devices and geospatial information. The intent |
|is to help keep the public safe and protect infrastructure." |
| |
| |
|Through a secure interactive web interface, DamWatch will help watershed project |
|sponsors monitor and manage dams that were built with assistance from USDA's Natural |
|Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). By monitoring these structures, project sponsors|
|can better prevent and protect against hazardous, costly and potentially catastrophic |
|events. For example, during recent rainfall events in Oklahoma, NRCS worked with |
|project sponsors to prioritize field reconnaissance of structure sites. |
| |
| |
|DamWatch offers project sponsors an effective way to manage watershed projects. It |
|alerts personnel via email, fax or text message when dams experience one or more |
|potentially hazardous conditions, resulting in the coordinated deployment of personnel |
|and resources at the right time and place. Although NRCS personnel may elect to receive|
|DamWatch alerts, the project sponsor is responsible for monitoring the dams and |
|notifying authorities during an emergency. NRCS may be available to assist the project |
|sponsor at the sponsor's request. |
| |
| |
|During record rainfalls last month in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and other parts|
|of the central plains, nearly 1,000 DamWatch alerts helped NRCS personnel focus their |
|response efforts. NRCS personnel assisted project sponsors in reviewing the condition |
|of hundreds of dams throughout the region. |
| |
| |
|NRCS watershed projects provide an estimated $2.2 billion each year to local |
|communities. Nearly 12,000 dams in 47 states and Puerto Rico help to prevent flooding |
|and erosion damage, provide recreational opportunities, improve water supply and create|
|habitat for wildlife. |
| |
| |
|DamWatch, which was developed for NRCS by USEngineering Solutions Corporation, is |
|currently monitoring nearly 12,000 dams across the country. For more information visit |
|www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA service center. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Gov. Phil Bryant in Biloxi to receive DMR's final Oyster Council report
Sun Herald
BILOXI -- The Governor's Oyster Council presented Phil Bryant with its
final report early Tuesday morning in an effort to help future oyster
seasons prosper.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/23/6290439/governor-phil-bryant-receives.html
Gov. Bryant highlights plans to boost MS oyster industry
WLOX
Calling it the soybean of the sea, Gov. Phil Bryant unveiled his plans to
save the ailing oyster industry this morning. The governor's oyster council
was formed earlier this year, and it has spent the past several months
studying ways to revitalize an industry that has been hit hard by Hurricane
Katrina and the BP oil spill.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29389192/gov-bryant-highlights-plans-to-boost-ms-oyster-industry
Hernando Soccer launches fundraising effort
DeSoto Times
Hoping to have the City of Hernando's first-ever soccer-only fields in
shape for the fall soccer season, the Hernando Soccer Association has
launched a $25,000 fundraising goal.
…Mayor Chip Johnson explained that the City of Hernando was in danger of
being fined by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality if the
city did not close down the lagoons and divert wastewater to the countywide
wastewater system.
http://www.desototimes.com/news/hernando-soccer-launches-fundraising-effort/article_ce44bbf0-1553-11e5-81c7-1f0c85d0ac39.html
Goodrich signals return
Justin Vicory
Enterprise-Journal
June 22, 2015 2:00 pm
A prominent company operating in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale announced
today it's ramping up production in the oil play, potentially opening the
door for other oil companies to do the same after a six-month hiatus due to
low oil prices.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_02a39a00-191f-11e5-ae3c-430f447207a3.html
Lightning strike causes marsh fire behind Mississippi Power in Gulfport
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- Lighting from a thunderstorm started a marsh fire Tuesday
afternoon on property behind Mississippi Power Company's Plant Jack Watson,
a company spokesman said.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/23/6290771/brush-fire-reported-behind-mississippi.html
Oil Spill
BP's Gulf spill toll could run up to $68.2 billion
Houston Chronicle
The runaway well that emptied millions of barrels crude into the Gulf of
Mexico could ultimately cost BP about $60.2 billion to $68.2 billion, a
high bill for a firm wading through an industry downturn, analysts say.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/06/23/bps-gulf-spill-toll-could-run-up-to-68-2-billion/#33232101=0
National
New Federal Fracking Rules Delayed by U.S. Judge in Wyoming
Bloomberg
New U.S. fracking safety rules set to take effect Wednesday were put on
hold by a Wyoming federal judge who said he needed more evidence to decide
whether to block them as requested by drillers and four western states.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-06-24/fracking-safety-rules-delayed-by-u-s-judge-in-wyoming
Press Releases
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Announces New Tool to Monitor Dams, Keep Communities Safe |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 23, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the |
|availability of DamWatch, a new web-based application that provides real-time |
|monitoring of rainfall, snowmelt, stream flow and seismic events that could pose |
|potential threats to dam safety. |
| |
| |
|"With tools like this, USDA is using the newest technologies to meet our mission," |
|Vilsack said. "This tool provides a 'one-stop' source for accessing critical documents,|
|databases, onsite electronic monitoring devices and geospatial information. The intent |
|is to help keep the public safe and protect infrastructure." |
| |
| |
|Through a secure interactive web interface, DamWatch will help watershed project |
|sponsors monitor and manage dams that were built with assistance from USDA's Natural |
|Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). By monitoring these structures, project sponsors|
|can better prevent and protect against hazardous, costly and potentially catastrophic |
|events. For example, during recent rainfall events in Oklahoma, NRCS worked with |
|project sponsors to prioritize field reconnaissance of structure sites. |
| |
| |
|DamWatch offers project sponsors an effective way to manage watershed projects. It |
|alerts personnel via email, fax or text message when dams experience one or more |
|potentially hazardous conditions, resulting in the coordinated deployment of personnel |
|and resources at the right time and place. Although NRCS personnel may elect to receive|
|DamWatch alerts, the project sponsor is responsible for monitoring the dams and |
|notifying authorities during an emergency. NRCS may be available to assist the project |
|sponsor at the sponsor's request. |
| |
| |
|During record rainfalls last month in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Missouri and other parts|
|of the central plains, nearly 1,000 DamWatch alerts helped NRCS personnel focus their |
|response efforts. NRCS personnel assisted project sponsors in reviewing the condition |
|of hundreds of dams throughout the region. |
| |
| |
|NRCS watershed projects provide an estimated $2.2 billion each year to local |
|communities. Nearly 12,000 dams in 47 states and Puerto Rico help to prevent flooding |
|and erosion damage, provide recreational opportunities, improve water supply and create|
|habitat for wildlife. |
| |
| |
|DamWatch, which was developed for NRCS by USEngineering Solutions Corporation, is |
|currently monitoring nearly 12,000 dams across the country. For more information visit |
|www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted or a local USDA service center. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
News Clippings 6/23/15
State
Reef restoration, hatchery cited to help Mississippi oysters
The Associated Press
June 22, 2015 at 5:35 PM
Final recommendations from a group studying ways to help Mississippi's
oyster industry are scheduled to be released Tuesday.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/reef_restoration_hatchery_cite.html#incart_river
Felony charges dismissed against former Harrison agency head Pahlavan
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
GULFPORT -- Federal prosecutors have dismissed a public corruption case
against former Harrison County Utility Authority Director Kamran Pahlavan,
reserving the right to bring future charges.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/22/6289559_felony-charges-dismissed-against.html?rh=1
Stormwater board finds issues with development
Commercial Dispatch
June 20, 2015 10:38:31 PM
Carl Smith
Starkville's stormwater hearing committee tabled an ordinance relief
request from Dan Moreland Friday, but final approval from the group is
unlikely after members said his Louisville Street development is projected
to increase water discharge in the area.
http://cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42704
Port's Katrina relief jobs costly, slow to materialize
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
The state port will have at least until the end of 2019 -- more than 14
years after Hurricane Katrina -- to create jobs promised in exchange for
more than $566 million in federal hurricane-relief funds, a letter from the
federal government says.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/22/6289310/ports-katrina-relief-jobs-costly.html
Oil Spill
Spill debt could hit BP for several years, ratings agency says
Houston Chronicle
A major credit ratings agency says BP's impending environmental fines for
the Deepwater Horizon disaster, combined with the slump in oil prices,
could weigh heavily on its balance sheet for years.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Spill-debt-could-hit-BP-for-several-years-6343084.php
National
E.P.A. Warns of High Cost of Climate Change
NY Times
WASHINGTON — In the absence of global action to curb
greenhouse gas emissions, the United States by the end of
the century may face up to $180 billion in economic losses
because of drought and water shortages, according to a
report released Monday by the White House andEnvironmental
Protection Agency.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/us/politics/effects-of-climate-change-could-cost-billions-epa-report-says.html?ref=earth&_r=0
White House: Action needed now to slow climate change
AP
WASHINGTON — Failure to act on climate change could cause an estimated
57,000 deaths a year in the United States from poor air quality by 2100,
the Obama administration argued in a report released Monday that warns of
dire effects of global warming.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-action-needed-now-to-slow-climate-change/2015/06/22/cad5260c-193c-11e5-bed8-1093ee58dad0_story.html
Climate Clashes Resume in Washington
Wall Street Journal
Washington's climate wars are heating up, with the White House and
congressional Republicans both making moves this week that counter the
other's agenda.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/22/climate-clashes-resume-in-washington/
The EPA's unrealistic climate report
Washington Post
The Environmental Protection Agency released a report Monday predicting a
range of expensive, even deadly consequences if the world's governments do
nothing to combat climate change.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/06/23/the-epas-unrealistic-climate-report/
EPA looks to strengthen storage tank safety
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new safety requirements
for underground storage tanks on Monday, a move it says will protect water
sources by preventing potential petroleum leaks.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245756-epa-looks-to-strengthen-storage-tank-safety
How Fracking Is Fueling A Power Shift From Coal To Gas
NPR
When you flip on a light switch, odds are, you're burning coal. But as the
fracking boom continues to unleash huge quantities of natural gas, the
nation's electric grid is changing. Power plants are increasingly turning
to this low-cost, cleaner-burning fossil fuel.
http://www.npr.org/2015/06/23/414926833/how-fracking-is-changing-the-nation-s-electrical-grid
Feds paying for sewer analysis of pot usage in Washington
BY GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press
SEATTLE — The federal government is chipping in money for a three-year
pilot study using sewage samples to determine levels of marijuana use in
two Washington cities – research that could help answer some key questions
about pot legalization, the University of Puget Sound announced Monday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/22/6289683/feds-paying-for-sewer-analysis.html
Press Releases
EPA Strengthens Underground Storage Tank Requirements to Improve Prevention
and Detection of Leaks
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) is strengthening the
federal underground storage tank (UST) requirements to improve prevention
and detection of petroleum releases from USTs which are one of the leading
sources of groundwater contamination. EPA's action will strengthen
existing requirements and help ensure all USTs in the United States meet
the same release protection standards.
"These changes will better protect people's health and benefit the
environment in communities across the country by improving prevention and
detection of underground storage tank releases," said Mathy Stanislaus,
assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. "Extensive and meaningful collaboration with our underground
storage tank partners and stakeholders was vital to the development of the
new regulations. The revised requirements will also help ensure
consistency in implementing the tanks program among states and on tribal
lands."
Secondary containment and operator training requirements of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 will apply to USTs on tribal lands. In addition, these
requirements improve EPA's original 1988 UST regulation by closing
regulatory gaps, adding new technologies, and focusing on properly
operating and maintaining existing UST systems.
Underground storage tanks are located at hundreds of thousands of
facilities across America. Both marketers and nonretail facilities own
USTs. Marketers include retail facilities such as gas stations and
convenience stores that sell petroleum products. Nonretail facilities
include those that do not sell petroleum products, but may rely on their
own supply of gasoline or diesel for taxis, buses, limousines, trucks,
vans, boats, heavy equipment, or a wide range of other vehicles.
The revised requirements include:
• adding secondary containment requirements for new and replaced
tanks and piping;
• adding operator training requirements;
• adding periodic operation and maintenance requirements for UST
systems;
• removing past deferrals for emergency generator tanks, airport
hydrant systems, and field-constructed tanks;
• adding new release prevention and detection technologies;
• updating codes of practice; and
• updating state program approval requirements to incorporate
these new changes.
States and territories primarily implement the UST program. Many states
already have some of these new requirements in place. For others, these
changes will set standards that are more protective.
In developing the final UST regulation, EPA reached out extensively to
affected and interested UST stakeholders. EPA carefully considered the
environmental benefits of the UST requirements, while balancing those with
the potential future costs of compliance for UST owners and operators. For
example, EPA is not requiring owners and operators to replace existing
equipment, but rather is focusing on better operation and maintenance of
that equipment.
The docket for the UST regulation is EPA-HQ-UST-2011-0301 and can be
accessed at http://www.regulations.gov when the final regulation is
published.
More information about this regulation is available at EPA's UST regulation
website at www.epa.gov/oust
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Updates Department Policy for Climate Change Adaptation |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 22, 2015 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced |
|additional steps it is taking to integrate climate change adaptation into USDA's |
|programs and operations. These efforts will help ensure taxpayer resources are invested|
|wisely and that USDA services and operations remain effective under current and future |
|climate conditions. |
| |
| |
|The effects of climate change are complex and far-reaching and it is clear that |
|potential changes could have important impacts on the ability of USDA to fulfill its |
|core mission. Under the updated USDA Policy Statement on Climate Change Adaptation |
|(Departmental Regulation 1070-001), USDA recognizes that climate stressors have |
|consequences for food production, yields of staple crops, forests and grasslands, and |
|these, in turn, affect the economic well-being of individuals. |
| |
| |
|Climate change adaptation is a critical component of climate change and a complement to|
|mitigation planning. Both are required to address the causes, consequences and |
|potential benefits of climate change. USDA is taking a leadership role with climate |
|adaptation planning to safeguard a resilient, healthy and prosperous Nation in the face|
|of changing climate. |
| |
| |
|Under the changes announced today, USDA will: |
| |
| |
| · Integrate climate change adaptation planning, implementing actions, and |
| performance metrics into USDA programs, policies and operations to minimize |
| climate risks and exploit new opportunities that climate change may bring; |
| |
| |
| · Analyze how climate change is likely to affect its ability to achieve its |
| mission, operations and policy and program objectives; |
| |
| |
| · Identify appropriate key performance measures to evaluate progress in climate |
| change adaptation; |
| |
| |
| · Participate in adaptation implementation as part of a broader commitment to |
| developing the next generation of regional climate solutions through USDA |
| Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change; |
| |
| |
| · Incorporate climate-resilient decision-making into international development |
| programs and investments of relevant USDA agencies; and |
| |
| |
| · Develop and maintain an adaptation plan for managing the challenges and consider |
| potential climate change impacts when undertaking long-term exercise, setting |
| priorities for scientific research and developing performance measures. |
| |
| |
|Departmental Regulation 1070-001 implements sections of Executive Order 13653 and, |
|where applicable, Executive Order 13677. It is consistent with the 2014-2018 USDA |
|Strategic Plan and with guidance from the Council on Environmental Quality and the |
|Federal Council on Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience. The regulation can be |
|found at: www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/adaptation.htm. |
| |
| |
|For more information on USDA's Climate Change activities, please visit: |
|www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/index.htm. This policy supersedes and replaces |
|Department Regulation 1070-001 June 3, 2011. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Seeks Partner Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 22, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the |
|availability of $17.5 million in financial and technical assistance to help eligible |
|conservation partners voluntarily protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on |
|private and tribal agricultural lands. |
| |
| |
|"USDA has leveraged partnerships to accomplish a great deal on America's wetlands over |
|the past two decades, Vilsack said. "This year's funding will help strengthen these |
|partnerships and achieve greater wetland acreage throughout the nation." |
| |
| |
|Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), a |
|special enrollment option under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program's |
|Wetland Reserve Easement component. It is administered by the Natural Resources |
|Conservation Service (NRCS). Under WREP, states, local units of governments, |
|non-governmental organizations and American Indian tribes collaborate with USDA through|
|cooperative and partnership agreements. These partners work with willing tribal and |
|private landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land into easements to protect, |
|restore and enhance wetlands on their properties. WREP was created through the 2014 |
|Farm Bill and was formerly known as the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program. |
| |
| |
|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. The voluntary nature of |
|NRCS' easement programs allows effective integration of wetland restoration on working |
|landscapes, providing benefits to farmers and ranchers who enroll in the program, as |
|well as benefits to the local and rural communities where the wetlands exist. |
| |
| |
|Proposals must be submitted to NRCS state offices by July 31, 2015. Projects can range |
|from individual to watershed-wide to ecosystem-wide. Under a similar program in the |
|2008 Farm Bill, NRCS and its partners entered into 272 easements that enrolled more |
|than 44,020 acres of wetlands from 2009 through 2013. Most of these agreements occurred|
|through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Through |
|partnerships, MRBI identifies high-priority watersheds where focused conservation on |
|agricultural land can make the most gains in improving local, state and regional water |
|quality. The new collaborative WREP will build on those successes by providing the |
|financial and technical assistance necessary for states, non-governmental organizations|
|and tribes to leverage resources to restore and protect wetlands and wildlife habitat. |
| |
| |
|Through WREP, NRCS will sign multi-year agreements with partners to leverage resources,|
|including funding, to achieve maximum wetland restoration, protection and enhancement |
|and to create optimum wildlife habitat on enrolled acres. WREP partners are required to|
|contribute a funding match for financial or technical assistance. These partners work |
|directly with eligible landowners interested in enrolling their agricultural land into |
|conservation wetland easements. |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement builds on the roughly $332 million USDA has announced this year to|
|protect and restore agricultural working lands, grasslands and wetlands. Collectively, |
|NRCS's easement programs help productive farm, ranch and tribal lands remain in |
|agriculture and protect the nation's critical wetlands and grasslands, home to diverse |
|wildlife and plant species. Under the former Wetlands Reserve Program, private |
|landowners, tribes and entities such as land trusts and conservation organizations |
|enrolled 2.7 million acres through 14,500 agreements for a total NRCS and partner |
|investment of $4.3 billion in financial and technical assistance. |
| |
| |
|The funding announced today was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on |
|historic economic gains in rural America over the past six 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 providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening|
|risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; |
|establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new |
|markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing, and |
|community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more |
|information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. |
| |
| |
|Visit NRCS's ACEP webpage to learn more about NRCS's wetland conservation options. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Reef restoration, hatchery cited to help Mississippi oysters
The Associated Press
June 22, 2015 at 5:35 PM
Final recommendations from a group studying ways to help Mississippi's
oyster industry are scheduled to be released Tuesday.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/reef_restoration_hatchery_cite.html#incart_river
Felony charges dismissed against former Harrison agency head Pahlavan
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
GULFPORT -- Federal prosecutors have dismissed a public corruption case
against former Harrison County Utility Authority Director Kamran Pahlavan,
reserving the right to bring future charges.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/22/6289559_felony-charges-dismissed-against.html?rh=1
Stormwater board finds issues with development
Commercial Dispatch
June 20, 2015 10:38:31 PM
Carl Smith
Starkville's stormwater hearing committee tabled an ordinance relief
request from Dan Moreland Friday, but final approval from the group is
unlikely after members said his Louisville Street development is projected
to increase water discharge in the area.
http://cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42704
Port's Katrina relief jobs costly, slow to materialize
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
The state port will have at least until the end of 2019 -- more than 14
years after Hurricane Katrina -- to create jobs promised in exchange for
more than $566 million in federal hurricane-relief funds, a letter from the
federal government says.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/22/6289310/ports-katrina-relief-jobs-costly.html
Oil Spill
Spill debt could hit BP for several years, ratings agency says
Houston Chronicle
A major credit ratings agency says BP's impending environmental fines for
the Deepwater Horizon disaster, combined with the slump in oil prices,
could weigh heavily on its balance sheet for years.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Spill-debt-could-hit-BP-for-several-years-6343084.php
National
E.P.A. Warns of High Cost of Climate Change
NY Times
WASHINGTON — In the absence of global action to curb
greenhouse gas emissions, the United States by the end of
the century may face up to $180 billion in economic losses
because of drought and water shortages, according to a
report released Monday by the White House andEnvironmental
Protection Agency.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/23/us/politics/effects-of-climate-change-could-cost-billions-epa-report-says.html?ref=earth&_r=0
White House: Action needed now to slow climate change
AP
WASHINGTON — Failure to act on climate change could cause an estimated
57,000 deaths a year in the United States from poor air quality by 2100,
the Obama administration argued in a report released Monday that warns of
dire effects of global warming.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/white-house-action-needed-now-to-slow-climate-change/2015/06/22/cad5260c-193c-11e5-bed8-1093ee58dad0_story.html
Climate Clashes Resume in Washington
Wall Street Journal
Washington's climate wars are heating up, with the White House and
congressional Republicans both making moves this week that counter the
other's agenda.
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/06/22/climate-clashes-resume-in-washington/
The EPA's unrealistic climate report
Washington Post
The Environmental Protection Agency released a report Monday predicting a
range of expensive, even deadly consequences if the world's governments do
nothing to combat climate change.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2015/06/23/the-epas-unrealistic-climate-report/
EPA looks to strengthen storage tank safety
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new safety requirements
for underground storage tanks on Monday, a move it says will protect water
sources by preventing potential petroleum leaks.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245756-epa-looks-to-strengthen-storage-tank-safety
How Fracking Is Fueling A Power Shift From Coal To Gas
NPR
When you flip on a light switch, odds are, you're burning coal. But as the
fracking boom continues to unleash huge quantities of natural gas, the
nation's electric grid is changing. Power plants are increasingly turning
to this low-cost, cleaner-burning fossil fuel.
http://www.npr.org/2015/06/23/414926833/how-fracking-is-changing-the-nation-s-electrical-grid
Feds paying for sewer analysis of pot usage in Washington
BY GENE JOHNSON
Associated Press
SEATTLE — The federal government is chipping in money for a three-year
pilot study using sewage samples to determine levels of marijuana use in
two Washington cities – research that could help answer some key questions
about pot legalization, the University of Puget Sound announced Monday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/22/6289683/feds-paying-for-sewer-analysis.html
Press Releases
EPA Strengthens Underground Storage Tank Requirements to Improve Prevention
and Detection of Leaks
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection (EPA) is strengthening the
federal underground storage tank (UST) requirements to improve prevention
and detection of petroleum releases from USTs which are one of the leading
sources of groundwater contamination. EPA's action will strengthen
existing requirements and help ensure all USTs in the United States meet
the same release protection standards.
"These changes will better protect people's health and benefit the
environment in communities across the country by improving prevention and
detection of underground storage tank releases," said Mathy Stanislaus,
assistant administrator of EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. "Extensive and meaningful collaboration with our underground
storage tank partners and stakeholders was vital to the development of the
new regulations. The revised requirements will also help ensure
consistency in implementing the tanks program among states and on tribal
lands."
Secondary containment and operator training requirements of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 will apply to USTs on tribal lands. In addition, these
requirements improve EPA's original 1988 UST regulation by closing
regulatory gaps, adding new technologies, and focusing on properly
operating and maintaining existing UST systems.
Underground storage tanks are located at hundreds of thousands of
facilities across America. Both marketers and nonretail facilities own
USTs. Marketers include retail facilities such as gas stations and
convenience stores that sell petroleum products. Nonretail facilities
include those that do not sell petroleum products, but may rely on their
own supply of gasoline or diesel for taxis, buses, limousines, trucks,
vans, boats, heavy equipment, or a wide range of other vehicles.
The revised requirements include:
• adding secondary containment requirements for new and replaced
tanks and piping;
• adding operator training requirements;
• adding periodic operation and maintenance requirements for UST
systems;
• removing past deferrals for emergency generator tanks, airport
hydrant systems, and field-constructed tanks;
• adding new release prevention and detection technologies;
• updating codes of practice; and
• updating state program approval requirements to incorporate
these new changes.
States and territories primarily implement the UST program. Many states
already have some of these new requirements in place. For others, these
changes will set standards that are more protective.
In developing the final UST regulation, EPA reached out extensively to
affected and interested UST stakeholders. EPA carefully considered the
environmental benefits of the UST requirements, while balancing those with
the potential future costs of compliance for UST owners and operators. For
example, EPA is not requiring owners and operators to replace existing
equipment, but rather is focusing on better operation and maintenance of
that equipment.
The docket for the UST regulation is EPA-HQ-UST-2011-0301 and can be
accessed at http://www.regulations.gov when the final regulation is
published.
More information about this regulation is available at EPA's UST regulation
website at www.epa.gov/oust
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Updates Department Policy for Climate Change Adaptation |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 22, 2015 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced |
|additional steps it is taking to integrate climate change adaptation into USDA's |
|programs and operations. These efforts will help ensure taxpayer resources are invested|
|wisely and that USDA services and operations remain effective under current and future |
|climate conditions. |
| |
| |
|The effects of climate change are complex and far-reaching and it is clear that |
|potential changes could have important impacts on the ability of USDA to fulfill its |
|core mission. Under the updated USDA Policy Statement on Climate Change Adaptation |
|(Departmental Regulation 1070-001), USDA recognizes that climate stressors have |
|consequences for food production, yields of staple crops, forests and grasslands, and |
|these, in turn, affect the economic well-being of individuals. |
| |
| |
|Climate change adaptation is a critical component of climate change and a complement to|
|mitigation planning. Both are required to address the causes, consequences and |
|potential benefits of climate change. USDA is taking a leadership role with climate |
|adaptation planning to safeguard a resilient, healthy and prosperous Nation in the face|
|of changing climate. |
| |
| |
|Under the changes announced today, USDA will: |
| |
| |
| · Integrate climate change adaptation planning, implementing actions, and |
| performance metrics into USDA programs, policies and operations to minimize |
| climate risks and exploit new opportunities that climate change may bring; |
| |
| |
| · Analyze how climate change is likely to affect its ability to achieve its |
| mission, operations and policy and program objectives; |
| |
| |
| · Identify appropriate key performance measures to evaluate progress in climate |
| change adaptation; |
| |
| |
| · Participate in adaptation implementation as part of a broader commitment to |
| developing the next generation of regional climate solutions through USDA |
| Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change; |
| |
| |
| · Incorporate climate-resilient decision-making into international development |
| programs and investments of relevant USDA agencies; and |
| |
| |
| · Develop and maintain an adaptation plan for managing the challenges and consider |
| potential climate change impacts when undertaking long-term exercise, setting |
| priorities for scientific research and developing performance measures. |
| |
| |
|Departmental Regulation 1070-001 implements sections of Executive Order 13653 and, |
|where applicable, Executive Order 13677. It is consistent with the 2014-2018 USDA |
|Strategic Plan and with guidance from the Council on Environmental Quality and the |
|Federal Council on Climate Change Preparedness and Resilience. The regulation can be |
|found at: www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/adaptation.htm. |
| |
| |
|For more information on USDA's Climate Change activities, please visit: |
|www.usda.gov/oce/climate_change/index.htm. This policy supersedes and replaces |
|Department Regulation 1070-001 June 3, 2011. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Seeks Partner Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 22, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the |
|availability of $17.5 million in financial and technical assistance to help eligible |
|conservation partners voluntarily protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on |
|private and tribal agricultural lands. |
| |
| |
|"USDA has leveraged partnerships to accomplish a great deal on America's wetlands over |
|the past two decades, Vilsack said. "This year's funding will help strengthen these |
|partnerships and achieve greater wetland acreage throughout the nation." |
| |
| |
|Funding will be provided through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP), a |
|special enrollment option under the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program's |
|Wetland Reserve Easement component. It is administered by the Natural Resources |
|Conservation Service (NRCS). Under WREP, states, local units of governments, |
|non-governmental organizations and American Indian tribes collaborate with USDA through|
|cooperative and partnership agreements. These partners work with willing tribal and |
|private landowners who voluntarily enroll eligible land into easements to protect, |
|restore and enhance wetlands on their properties. WREP was created through the 2014 |
|Farm Bill and was formerly known as the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program. |
| |
| |
|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. The voluntary nature of |
|NRCS' easement programs allows effective integration of wetland restoration on working |
|landscapes, providing benefits to farmers and ranchers who enroll in the program, as |
|well as benefits to the local and rural communities where the wetlands exist. |
| |
| |
|Proposals must be submitted to NRCS state offices by July 31, 2015. Projects can range |
|from individual to watershed-wide to ecosystem-wide. Under a similar program in the |
|2008 Farm Bill, NRCS and its partners entered into 272 easements that enrolled more |
|than 44,020 acres of wetlands from 2009 through 2013. Most of these agreements occurred|
|through the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI). Through |
|partnerships, MRBI identifies high-priority watersheds where focused conservation on |
|agricultural land can make the most gains in improving local, state and regional water |
|quality. The new collaborative WREP will build on those successes by providing the |
|financial and technical assistance necessary for states, non-governmental organizations|
|and tribes to leverage resources to restore and protect wetlands and wildlife habitat. |
| |
| |
|Through WREP, NRCS will sign multi-year agreements with partners to leverage resources,|
|including funding, to achieve maximum wetland restoration, protection and enhancement |
|and to create optimum wildlife habitat on enrolled acres. WREP partners are required to|
|contribute a funding match for financial or technical assistance. These partners work |
|directly with eligible landowners interested in enrolling their agricultural land into |
|conservation wetland easements. |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement builds on the roughly $332 million USDA has announced this year to|
|protect and restore agricultural working lands, grasslands and wetlands. Collectively, |
|NRCS's easement programs help productive farm, ranch and tribal lands remain in |
|agriculture and protect the nation's critical wetlands and grasslands, home to diverse |
|wildlife and plant species. Under the former Wetlands Reserve Program, private |
|landowners, tribes and entities such as land trusts and conservation organizations |
|enrolled 2.7 million acres through 14,500 agreements for a total NRCS and partner |
|investment of $4.3 billion in financial and technical assistance. |
| |
| |
|The funding announced today was authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, which builds on |
|historic economic gains in rural America over the past six 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 providing disaster relief to farmers and ranchers; strengthening|
|risk management tools; expanding access to rural credit; funding critical research; |
|establishing innovative public-private conservation partnerships; developing new |
|markets for rural-made products; and investing in infrastructure, housing, and |
|community facilities to help improve quality of life in rural America. For more |
|information, visit www.usda.gov/farmbill. |
| |
| |
|Visit NRCS's ACEP webpage to learn more about NRCS's wetland conservation options. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Monday, June 22, 2015
News Clippings 6.22.15
Experts: Vibrio evolved with marine animals
BY JEFF CLARK
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- Although it can be deadly, the hype surrounding Vibrio
vulnificus may be greater than the actual impact the saltwater species has
on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. According to a panel of health and marine
science experts, the presence of what is commonly called "flesh eating
bacteria" is no cause for residents or tourists to be alarmed.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/19/6285852_experts-vibrio-evolved-with-marine.html?rh=1
Medical experts share knowledge on Vibrio bacteria
WLOX
When important topics affect our coastal economy and region, the best thing
to do is bring in experts to make sense of any confusion. If you haven't
been out to enjoy the beaches of the Gulf Coast because of the
"flesh-eating" bacteria scare, you'll be relieved to know that our coastal
waters are safer than you think.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29362743/medical-experts-share-knowledge-on-vibrio-bacteria
Ribbon cuttings abound in Pine Belt
Hattiesburg American
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality recently awarded
the City of Hattiesburg a solid waste assistance grant of $75,000
that will be used by the city for a household hazardous waste
collection event in November.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2015/06/20/pine-belt-business-scene/29060405/
Volunteers are Keeping the Chunky River Clean
WTOK
Chunky, Miss. "Don't be mean; keep the river clean." That's thephilosophy
(Embedded image moved to file: pic16827.jpg) of one local organization.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Volunteers-are-Keeping-the-Chunky-River-Clean-308762011.html
MSU honored for rain garden project
AP
June 20, 2015 10:38:02 PM
STARKVILLE -- A rain garden project in Starkville has been given a regional
award from the Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42702
Sharks in the Mississippi Sound: Fins to the left, fins to the right
Different species of sharks found in Mississippi Sound
BY JAMES JONES
Sun Herald
Sharks are often present in the Mississippi's coastal waters between the
spring and fall.
The Mississippi Sound and Gulf of Mexico could see as many as 15 species of
sharks in the Mississippi waters north of the barrier islands and south of
the barrier islands.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/20/6286500_mississippi-sound-full-of-sharks.html?rh=1
Mississippi ground zero for double trailer debate
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi has become ground zero for the battle in Congress over
whether to force states to allow larger double-trailer trucks on
their roads.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/06/20/mississippi-ground-zero-double-trailer-debate/29045211/
National
American recycling is stalling, and the big blue bin is one reason why
BY AARON C. DAVIS
THE WASHINGTON POST
ELKRIDGE, MD. — Tucked in the woods 30 miles north of Washington is a plant
packed with energy-guzzling machines that can make even an
environmentalist's heart sing – giant conveyor belts, sorters and crushers
saving a thousand tons of paper, plastic and other recyclables from
reaching landfills each day.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/21/6287728/american-recycling-is-stalling.html
Industry groups use mayors' meeting to push against ozone rule
The Hill
A hundred business groups signed a letter to President Obama Friday asking
him to abandon his plan to restrict ozone pollution levels.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245593-industry-groups-use-mayors-meeting-to-push-against-ozone-rule
Mega injections of drilling wastewater trigger more earthquakes, study
finds
The Associated Press
June 19, 2015 at 9:34 AM
WASHINGTON -- The more oil and gas companies pump their saltwater waste
into the ground, and the faster they do it, the more they have triggered
earthquakes in the central United States, a massive new study found.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/manmade_quakes_wastewater.html#incart_river
Opinion
Red snapper season in Mississippi waters?
Mississippi Press
By Al Jones
June 19, 2015 at 10:58 AM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi – Reports during the recent 10-day recreational red
snapper season in federal waters was solid.
But it was a mixture of excitement and disbelief.
http://www.gulflive.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/06/red_snapper_season_in_mississi.html
Press releases
WaterFest Announced for June 27
Free Conservation Event for Families
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) announced
that the free, annual event WaterFest will be held Saturday, June 27, at
the Old Trace Park in Ridgeland from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in conjunction with
the Independence Day Celebration at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
WaterFest 2015 will include interactive exhibits, door prizes, food
vendors, and activities for kids including inflatables. WaterFest, a
signature event of the Rezonate Initiative, educates the public about the
importance of the Ross Barnett Reservoir as a drinking water source, an
economic development driver, and a recreational destination. This free,
family friendly event also promotes the protection and conservation of
water and other natural resources.
"The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is proud to be a
sponsor of WaterFest for the ninth year in a row. The best way to learn is
by having fun, and this event excels at both. We invite people to bring
their families to enjoy what WaterFest offers as well as appreciate the
value of what the Ross Barnett Reservoir provides," said Gary Rikard, MDEQ
Executive Director.
"In 2015 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ross Barnett Reservoir
and the immeasurable, positive impact it has had on Central Mississippi and
the whole state. We need the public's help to conserve and improve this
important asset. WaterFest helps the public understand what their personal
impact is on the water quality of the Reservoir and how important it is to
protect our water source," said John Sigman, General Manager of PRVWSD.
Other partners for WaterFest include the Barnett Reservoir Foundation,
Nissan North America, the Cities of Ridgeland, Jackson, and Flowood, Rankin
County, Keep the Rez Beautiful, the Mississippi Department of
Transportation, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, the Mississippi Soil
and Water Conservation Commission, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting just
to name a few.
The Ross Barnett Reservoir is a 30,000 acre lake in the center of Hinds,
Madison, Rankin, Leake, and Scott counties. It is main drinking source for
175,000 residents and businesses in the City of Jackson and some outlying
areas. It is also a highly used recreational resource in Central
Mississippi.
For more information about the event, visit online at www.rezonate-ms.org
or www.waterfestms.com.
# # #
COMMITTEE DIRECTS FISH & WILDLIFE TO GIVE GULF PREFERRED CONSIDERATION
Senate Interior Appropriations Bill Cites Concerns About Distribution of BP
Plea Agreement Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today said that the
Senate FY2016 Interior Appropriations Bill takes steps to ensure that
settlement funding from the BP oil spill is used for migratory bird and
conservation projects in Gulf Coast states.
Cochran is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which Thursday
approved the Interior appropriations bill with a provision addressing how
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) distributes $100 million it
received as part of the BP Guilty Plea Agreement (Count 13). The funding
is just one aspect of the payments being made by BP following the
disastrous 2010 explosion of a platform in the Gulf of Mexico.
"These BP settlement dollars are intended to ensure the health and
conservation of migratory bird habitats in Gulf Coast states affected by
the oil spill. Our bill takes issue with those funds being directed to
other areas and increases oversight on how the Fish and Wildlife Service
manages those funds," said Cochran, who also serves on the Senate Interior
Appropriations Subcommittee that developed the FY2016 funding measure.
The BP Guilty Plea Agreement provides $100 million to the North American
Wetlands Conservation Fund for migratory bird habitat and other
conservation initiatives in Gulf States affected by the spill. However,
more than 70 percent of expenditures approved to date have been spent
outside of the Gulf region.
The Senate bill directs the FWS to give priority to conservation projects
in Gulf States when distributing funds from the North American Wetlands
Conservation Fund that originate from the BP payments. It also requires
the FWS to report to the Senate and House appropriations committees its
evaluation rating system used to award funding, a summary of selected
projects, and an explanation of why other projects were denied.
The committee-approved bill also recommends $8.1 million, $3.6 million
above the FY2015 enacted level, to the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Gulf of Mexico Program to support restoration work in the Gulf of
Mexico, including water quality improvement, habitat conservation, and
coastal and marine resources protection.
The bill, the first such spending measure marked up in the Senate since
2009, was approved on a 16-14 vote and is now available for consideration
by the full Senate. The measure recommends funding for the U.S. Department
of the Interior, EPA, U.S. Forest Service and numerous agencies and
programs regarding the management of public lands, including national parks
and forests.
To address growing concerns across the country about aggressive EPA
regulatory proposals, the Senate legislation would cut EPA funding by
$538.8 million compared to the FY2015 enacted level. Rather than funding
controversial regulatory programs, the bill increases the budget for EPA's
core mission of on-the-ground environmental cleanup. It would prohibit the
EPA from acting on numerous regulatory ventures, including the Waters of
the United States regulations and a bid to regulate certain types of
ammunition and fishing tackle.
COCHRAN: SENATE FUNDING BILL ADDRESSES WOTUS, DELTA AQUIFER, FORESTRY
Senate Interior & Environment Appropriations Bill Reins in EPA Regulations,
Funds Important Research and Conservation Initiatives
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the
Senate Committee on Appropriations, today reported that a committee-passed
spending bill would help Mississippi overcome natural resource challenges,
including the depletion of underground water supplies in the Delta.
Cochran on Thursday presided over committee approval of the FY2016
Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The bill
would fund and place limitations on federal agencies, including the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Services, that administer water, forestry and conservation
activities in Mississippi. Approved on a 16-14 vote, the bill is now
available for consideration by the Senate.
"Mississippians cherish the natural resources that make our state unique,
and we've tried to direct federal agencies toward actions that will
improve, not hinder, how these assets are used and enjoyed," said Cochran,
who serves on the Senate Interior and Environment Appropriations
Subcommittee. "I'm pleased that the bill would rein in the most onerous
Environmental Protection Agency regulations while ensuring that important
forestry and wildlife management programs can continue."
Within funding for the U.S. Geological Survey, $2 million is provided to
conduct enhanced groundwater resource studies to assess declining aquifers
in regions within the Mississippi River Alluvial Plain which are
experiencing declining or erratic groundwater availability.
"Our state is already working to find solutions to water problems in the
Delta, with a Governor's task force in place and many farmers implementing
more efficient irrigation practices," Cochran said. "The U.S. Geological
Survey can help us better understand the aquifer situation in the
Mississippi Delta, which would give states like Mississippi information on
which to base solution to declining aquifer levels."
Water quality is also addressed through a $164 million appropriation for
the EPA Nonpoint Source grant program, which helps states reduce sediment
runoff and increase water quality. The legislation also requires the EPA to
reevaluate its grant allocation formula to ensure that resources are being
in spent in areas with the most pressing need.
Additionally, the legislation provides a directive for the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S.
Forest Service in order to preserve bottomland hardwood research conducted
by the Forest Service on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sharkey Brown
Tract.
Other items of interest to Mississippi in the Senate FY2016 Interior,
Environment and Related Agencies Bill:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - The bill reduces EPA funding by,
$538.8 million compared to the FY2015 enacted level. Funding for core EPA
regulatory programs is reduced by $57.1 million while on-the-ground cleanup
programs receive a $21.5 million increase. This funding level is intended
to return the agency to its core mission of cleaning up environmental
problems instead of writing costly rules that will harm the economy.
The bill does the following to stop EPA executive overreach:
* Prohibits the EPA from forcing federal plans on states that do not
support the Obama administration's onerous greenhouse gas regulations
* Prohibits the EPA Waters of the United States rule
* Prohibits the EPA from lowering the ozone standard until 85 percent of
counties in non-compliance with the current standard come into compliance
* Prohibits the EPA from requiring duplicative financial surety rules on
the mining industry
* Continues to prohibit the EPA from regulating certain types of ammunition
and fishing tackle
U.S. Geological Survey Groundwater Resource Study - $2 million is provided
for the U.S. Geological Survey to conduct enhanced groundwater resource
studies to assess declining aquifers in regions within the Mississippi
River Alluvial Plain which are experiencing variability in groundwater
systems. These resources will help address significant aquifer declines in
the Mississippi Delta as a result of agriculture irrigation.
Bottomland Hardwood Research - The bill directs the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Forest
Service in order to preserve bottomland hardwood research conducted by the
Forest Service on Fish and Wildlife Service land, such as work on the
Sharkey Country Brown Tract in the Mississippi Delta.
U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory - $27 million, $7 million
above the FY2015 enacted level, to support laboratory research. The bill
directs the laboratory to support work conducted at Land Grant Universities
to accelerate the growth of the domestic finished wood products industry.
EPA Nonpoint Source (Sec. 319) Grant Program - $164.1 million, $4.9 million
above FY2015 enacted level, to fund this grant program. The bill directs
the EPA to reevaluate the allocation formula to ensure that resources are
being in spent in areas with the most pressing need. Grants under Section
319 of the Clean Water Act are provided to states to help implement
EPA-approved Nonpoint Source Management programs designed to reduce
sediment runoff and improve water quality.
EPA Technical Assistance Programs - $13 million, not included in the budget
request, to support grant awards to qualified not-for-profit organizations
for the sole purpose of providing on-site training and technical assistance
for water systems in rural or urban communities.
Heritage Partnership Program - $20.2 million, $10.3 million above the
budget request, for this NPS program. Mississippi has three National
Heritage Areas: Mississippi Hills, Mississippi Gulf Coast, and Mississippi
Delta.
Civil Rights Movement - $5 million within the National Park Service
Historic Preservation Fund to document, interpret, and preserve the sites
and stories associated with the Civil Rights Movement.
EPA and DOT Propose Greenhouse Gas and Fuel Efficiency Standards for
Heavy-Duty Trucks
CONTACT EPA: Christie St. Clair, stclair.christie@epa.gov, 202-564-2880
DOT/NHTSA: Gordon Trowbridge, gordon.trowbridge@dot.gov,
202-366-5789
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department
of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
are jointly proposing standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that
would improve fuel efficiency and cut carbon pollution to reduce the
impacts of climate change, while bolstering energy security and spurring
manufacturing innovation.
The proposed standards are expected to lower CO2 emissions by approximately
1 billion metric tons, cut fuel costs by about $170 billion, and reduce oil
consumption by up to 1.8 billion barrels over the lifetime of the vehicles
sold under the program. These reductions are nearly equal to the greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions associated with energy use by all U.S. residences in
one year. The total oil savings under the program would be greater than a
year's worth of U.S. imports from the Organization of the Petroleum
Exporting Countries (OPEC).
"Once upon a time, to be pro-environment you had to be anti-big-vehicles.
This rule will change that," said U.S Transportation Secretary Anthony
Foxx. "In fact, these efficiency standards are good for the environment –
and the economy. When trucks use less fuel, shipping costs go down. It's
good news all around, especially for anyone with an online shopping habit."
The proposed standards are cost effective for consumers and businesses,
delivering favorable payback periods for truck owners; the buyer of a new
long-haul truck in 2027 would recoup the investment in fuel-efficient
technology in less than two years through fuel savings.
"We're delivering big time on President Obama's call to cut carbon
pollution," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "With emission
reductions weighing in at 1 billion tons, this proposal will save
consumers, businesses and truck owners money; and at the same time spur
technology innovation and job-growth, while protecting Americans' health
and our environment over the long haul."
Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles currently account for about 20 percent of
GHG emissions and oil use in the U.S. transportation sector, but only
comprise about five percent of vehicles on the road. Globally, oil
consumption and GHG emissions from heavy-duty vehicles are expected to
surpass that of passenger vehicles by 2030. Through the G-20 and
discussions with other countries, the United States is working with other
major economies to encourage progress on fuel economy standards in other
countries, which will improve global energy and climate security by
reducing reliance on oil.
The product of three years of extensive testing and research, the proposed
vehicle and engine performance standards would cover model years 2021-2027,
and apply to semi-trucks, large pickup trucks and vans, and all types and
sizes of buses and work trucks. They would achieve up to 24 percent lower
CO2 emissions and fuel consumption than an equivalent tractor in 2018,
based on the fully phased-in standards for the tractor alone in a
tractor-trailer vehicle. Additionally, the proposed standards are:
· Grounded in rigorous technical data and analysis.
· Reflect extensive outreach with industry and other stakeholders.
· Rely on cost-effective technologies to enhance fuel efficiency and
reduce GHG emissions that are currently available or in development.
· They do not mandate the use of specific technologies. Rather they
establish standards achievable through a range of technology options,
and allow manufacturers to choose those technologies that work best
for their products and for their customers. (These technologies
include improved transmissions, engine combustion optimization,
aerodynamic improvements and low rolling resistance tires).
· Phased in over the long-term, beginning in model year 2021 and
culminating in standards for model year 2027 – giving manufacturers
the time and flexibility to plan.
Provide additional flexibility for most manufacturers by allowing banking
and trading emissions credits, providing the opportunity for businesses to
choose the most cost-effective path to meeting the standards.
Like the Administration's successful 2014-2018 fuel efficiency and GHG
standards for heavy duty trucks, the proposal includes separate engine
standards that will promote continued progress on engine efficiency and
allow for direct measurement of engine emissions.
The agencies are also proposing efficiency and GHG standards for trailers
for the first time. The EPA trailer standards, which exclude certain
categories such as mobile homes, would begin to take effect in model year
2018 for certain trailers, while NHTSA's standards would be in effect as of
2021, with credits available for voluntary participation before then. Cost
effective technologies for trailers – including aerodynamic devices, light
weight construction and self-inflating tires – can significantly reduce
total fuel consumption by tractor-trailers, while paying back the owners in
less than two years due to the fuel saved.
Today's proposal builds on the fuel efficiency and GHG emissions standards
already in place for model years 2014-2018, which alone will result in
emissions reductions of 270 million metric tons and save vehicle owners
more than $50 billion in fuel costs. The current standards have been
successful, with truck sales up in model years 2014 and 2015 due in part to
improved fuel efficiency.
The proposal also builds on standards that the Administration has put in
place for light-duty vehicles, which are projected to reduce carbon
pollution by 6 billion tons over the lifetime of vehicles sold, double fuel
economy by 2025, and save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump. These
standards are already delivering savings for American drivers; new vehicles
in 2013 achieved their highest fuel economy of all time.
The proposed standards are fully harmonized between NHTSA and EPA. The
agencies have worked closely with the State of California's Air Resources
Board in developing the proposed standards. All three agencies are
committed to the goal of setting a single set of national standards.
Throughout every stage of development, the Administration's fuel efficiency
program has benefited from close partnership with industry, labor and
environmental leaders. With this proposal, a high level of engagement with
stakeholders will continue to be critical, as feedback will be instrumental
to the agencies' work to finalize the standards by 2016.
A public comment period will be open for 60 days after the proposal is
published in the Federal Register. In addition, NHTSA and EPA will host two
public hearings and continue our open-door policy of meeting with
stakeholders over the course of the comment period.
For more details on DOT's and EPA's notice of proposed rulemaking, visit
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/regs-heavy-duty.htm and
http://www.nhtsa.gov/fuel-economy.
EPA Seeks Input on Modernizing the Risk Management Plan (RMP) Rule
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invites small
businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to participate as
Small Entity Representatives (SERs) for a Small Business Advocacy Review
(SBAR) Panel. This panel will focus on the Agency's development of a rule
that proposes to modify the current Risk Management Plan (RMP) regulation
to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases of toxic and flammable
substances at chemical facilities, and improve emergency response when
those releases occur. This aligns with Executive Order 13650 entitled
Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security (EO 13650) that President
Obama signed on August 1, 2013. EO 13650 directs the federal government to
carry out a number of tasks whose overall aim is to prevent chemical
accidents. These tasks include: improving operational coordination with
state and local partners; enhancing Federal agency coordination and
information sharing; modernizing policies, regulations and standards; and
working with stakeholders to identify best practices.
The panel will include federal representatives from the Small Business
Administration (SBA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and EPA.
The panel members ask a selected group of SERs to provide advice and
recommendations on behalf of their company, community, or organization to
inform the panel members about the potential impacts of the proposed rule
on small entities.
EPA seeks self-nominations directly from the small entities that may be
subject to the rule requirements. Other representatives, such as trade
associations that exclusively or at least primarily represent potentially
regulated small entities, may also serve as SERs.
Self-nominations may be submitted through the link below and must be
received by July 3, 2015.
Nominate yourself as a SER:
http://www.epa.gov/rfa/risk-management-plan.html
More information about the RMP rule: http://www2.epa.gov/rmp
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