State
The Nature Conservancy hosts Turkey Creek watershed meeting
WLOX
Several communities in Gulfport have been fighting for some time to rid
their neighborhoods of flooding and contaminated waters. Turkey Creek is
the source of this water, and people in the surrounding areas are saying
enough is enough. Saturday, the Mississippi Chapter of the Nature
Conservancy held a public meeting to discuss the next steps in this fight.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29197293/the-nature-conservancy-hosts-turkey-creek-watershed-meeting
MDEQ grant helps Lowndes Co. fight illegal dump sites
Commercial Dispatch
May 29, 2015 10:15:38 AM
Slim Smith
Lowndes County Board of Supervisors President Harry Sanders recalls a time
when illegal dumps were as much a part of the rural landscape as fence
posts and hay bales.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42284
Grenada County awarded MDEQ grant for recycling project
WTVA
GRENADA, Miss. (WTVA) -- Grenada County was awarded a grant to help with a
wood waste recycling project.
The $25,000 solid waste assistance grant was provided by the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/Grenada-County-awarded-MDEQ-grant-for-recycling/Z5xMea-YmkK4HHZP90eenQ.cspx
Infrastructure and Habitat Improvements on Pascagoula River WMA
BY JAMES JONES
Sun Herald
Major infrastructure improvements are scheduled for the 37,000 acre
Pascagoula River Wildlife Management Area in George and Jackson counties.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/05/30/6252795/infrastructure-and-habitat-improvements.html
Changes coming to crappie, bass limits
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) -- The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries
and Parks is making some changes to the rules on largemouth bass and
crappie fishing on some state lakes.
http://www.wtva.com/mostpopular/story/Changes-coming-to-crappie-bass-limits/g9tgaykNMEiAvnv-74Mgkw.cspx
State Supreme Court sends Ocean Springs East Beach issue back to court
BY KAREN NELSON
Sun Herald
OCEAN SPRINGS -- A state Supreme Court ruling this week shoots down final
opposition to a retrial on the issue of who owns East Beach.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/05/29/6251249/state-supreme-court-sends-ocean.html
MEMA employee dies after Waffle House robbery, beating
Clarion Ledger
A Mississippi Emergency Management Agency worker who was the victim
of a crime at a Waffle House died Saturday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2015/06/01/jackson-waffle-house-robbery-beating-victim-dies/28294097/
Oil Spill
Trial of former BP supervisor brings constitutional principle into play
Advocate
BY RICHARD THOMPSON
A former BP executive charged with obstructing a congressional
investigation in the weeks after the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion is
set to stand trial Monday in a case that features an unusual legal clash
over whether a sitting U.S. senator and other high-ranking witnesses should
be required to testify.
http://www.theneworleansadvocate.com/news/12475411-123/trial-of-former-bp-supervisor
Regional
Georgia Power executives to testify on nuclear plant delay, cost
BY RAY HENRY
Associated Press
ATLANTA -- Georgia Power executives will face questions this week about the
delays and expense of building a new nuclear plant
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/05/31/6254170/georgia-power-executives-to-testify.html
National
GOP Attack on Water Rule Part of Wider Bid to 'Rein In' EPA
WASHINGTON — Jun 1, 2015, 3:28 AM ET
By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press
The Obama administration says a new federal rule regulating small streams
and wetlands will protect the drinking water of more than 117 million
people in the country.
Not so, insist Republicans. They say the rule is a massive government
overreach that could even subject puddles and ditches to regulation.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/gop-attack-water-rule-part-wider-bid-rein-31437055?singlePage=true
House GOP sets up June votes on EPA bills, chemical reform
The Hill
The House will vote on two bills combating Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) regulations in June, according to a schedule from Majority Leader
Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) office. A bill to update federal chemical
safety regulations is also on the agenda.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/243478-house-gop-sets-up-june-votes-on-epa-bills-chemical-reform
EPA proposes a biofuels compromise — and makes nobody happy
Washington Post
The embattled Environmental Protection Agency on Friday released new
proposed rules for the volume of biofuels to be blended into the nation�
��s
fuels through 2016, in an effort to put itself back on schedule after
numerous missed deadlines but still failing to please business interests on
both sides affected by the rule.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/05/29/epa-proposes-a-biofuels-compromise-and-makes-nobody-happy/
USDA offers $100M for ethanol pumps
The Hill
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is offering states up to
$100 million to encourage the use of gasoline pumps that blend high amounts
of ethanol into the fuel.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/243437-usda-offers-100m-for-ethanol-pumps
E.P.A. Proposal Will Put Bigger Trucks on a Fuel Diet
NY Times
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Inside the National Vehicle and Fuel
Emissions Laboratory here, a mammoth contraption, with
steel rollers, advanced electronics and exhaust tubes, is
nearing completion.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/business/energy-environment/epa-proposal-will-put-bigger-trucks-on-a-fuel-diet.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Federal Agencies Defend Response to California Oil Spill
LOS ANGELES — May 29, 2015, 11:39 PM ET
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD and ALICIA CHANG Associated Press
On the afternoon of the largest coastal oil spill in California in 25
years, graduate student Natalie Phares quickly organized a volunteer bucket
brigade to clean a beach north of Santa Barbara.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/response-operator-broken-oil-pipeline-faces-scrutiny-31392913?singlePage=true
Wyoming and Colorado want court to block BLM fracking rule
AP
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — The states of Wyoming and Colorado are asking a
federal judge to block the U.S. Bureau of Land Management from implementing
its hydraulic fracturing rule.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_28216747/wyoming-and-colorado-want-court-block-blm-fracking?source=rss
Woman tosses Apple computer that turns out to be worth $200G
AP
MILPITAS, Calif. – Her electronic waste is someone else's treasure.
A recycling center in the Silicon Valley is looking for a woman who dropped
off an old Apple computer that turned out to be a collectible item worth
$200,000.
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2015/05/31/woman-tosses-apple-computer-that-turns-out-to-be-worth-200g/?intcmp=latestnews
Opinion
Salter: Delta Council sees 80 years of change, progress
Clarion Ledger
CLEVELAND – The 80th Annual Meeting of the Delta Council on May 29
on the campus of Delta State University presented a tableau of
modern Mississippi that will likely never make network television or
the national newspapers.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2015/05/30/salter-delta-council-80-years/28227873/
Press releases
EPA Proposes Increases in Renewable Fuel Levels
Contact Information: Jason McDonald (News Media only),
mcdonald.jason@epa.gov, (404) 562-9203
ATLANTA — Today the EPA announced proposed volume requirements under the
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016,
and also proposed volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2017.
The proposal would boost renewable fuel production and provide for
ambitious yet responsible growth over multiple years, supporting future
expansion of the biofuels industry.
"This proposal marks an important step forward in making sure the Renewable
Fuel Standard program delivers on the Congressional intent to increase
biofuel use, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy security,�
��
said Janet McCabe, the acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of
Air. "We believe these proposed volume requirements will provide a strong
incentive for continued investment and growth in biofuels."
After extensive outreach and dialogue with the agricultural community,
biofuel producers and the oil and gas industry, EPA is proposing to
establish 2014 standards at levels that reflect the actual amount of
domestic biofuel use in that year, and standards for 2015 and 2016 (and
2017 for biodiesel) that increase steadily over time.
Proposed Renewable Fuels Volumes
| | | |
| 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |2017
-------------+---------+--------+---------+-----
| | | |
Cellulosic | 33 mill |106 mill|206 mill | n/a
biofuel | gal | gal | gal |
-------------+---------+--------+---------+-----
| | | |
Biomass-based|1.63 bill| 1.70 |1.80 bill|1.90
diesel | gal |bill gal| gal |bill
| | | | gal
-------------+---------+--------+---------+-----
| | | |
Advanced |2.68 bill| 2.90 |3.40 bill| n/a
biofuel | gal |bill gal| gal |
-------------+---------+--------+---------+-----
| | | |
Total | 15.93 | 16.30 | 17.40 | n/a
renewable |bill gal |bill gal|bill gal |
fuel | | | |
Note: Units for all volumes are ethanol-equivalent, except for
biomass-based diesel volumes which are expressed as physical gallons.
The proposed volumes represent substantial growth over historic levels. For
example:
· The proposed 2016 standard for cellulosic biofuel – those fuels with the
lowest GHG emissions profile – is more than 170 million gallons higher than
the actual 2014 volumes. That's six times higher than actual 2014 volumes.
· The proposed 2016 standard for total renewable fuel is nearly 1.5 billion
gallons more, or about 9 percent higher, than the actual 2014 volumes.
· The proposed 2016 standard for advanced biofuel is more than 700 million
gallons – 27 percent – higher than the actual 2014 volumes.
· Biodiesel standards grow steadily over the next several years, increasing
every year to reach 1.9 billion gallons by 2017. That's 17 percent higher
than the actual 2014 volumes.
EPA is proposing to use the tools provided by Congress to adjust the
standards below the statutory targets, but the steadily increasing volumes
in the proposal indicate that biofuels remain an important part of the
nation's overall strategy to enhance energy security and address climate
change.
The Clean Air Act requires EPA to set annual RFS volume requirements for
four categories of biofuels. By displacing fossil fuels, biofuels help
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help strengthen energy security.
EPA will hold a public hearing on this proposal on June 25, 2015, in Kansas
City, Kansas. The period for public input and comment will be open until
July 27. EPA will finalize the volume standards in this rule by Nov. 30.
For more information on today's announcement, go to
www.epa.gov/otaq/fuels/renewablefuels/regulations.htm
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA to Invest Up to $100 Million to Boost Infrastructure for Renewable Fuel Use, |
| Seeking to Double Number of Higher Blend Renewable Fuel Pumps |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, May 29, 2015 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the |
|U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest up to $100 million in a Biofuels |
|Infrastructure Partnership to support the infrastructure needed to make more renewable |
|fuel options available to American consumers. Specifically, USDA will administer |
|competitive grants to match funding for state-led efforts to test and evaluate |
|innovative and comprehensive approaches to market higher blends of renewable fuel, such|
|as E15 and E85. States that are able to provide greater than a one-to-one ratio in |
|funding will receive higher consideration. |
| |
| |
|"American-made, clean energy sources support the environment, reduce our dependence on |
|foreign oil, create jobs and sustain the economy in rural communities across the |
|country. We are fortunate that our farmers are producing record amounts of feedstock |
|for these fuels," Vilsack said. "However, a combination of factors, including lower |
|commodity prices and reduced demand for feed as the poultry industry recovers from |
|highly pathogenic avian influenza, are creating uncertainty for America's corn and |
|soybean producers. With this partnership, USDA is helping to ensure the infrastructure |
|is in place for consumers to access more renewable fuels, expand marketing |
|opportunities for farmers, and grow America's rural economies." |
| |
| |
|Higher blends of renewable fuel offer significant potential for increasing the use of |
|renewable fuels in the U.S. gasoline pool, but currently, the typical gas pump can |
|deliver fuel containing a maximum of 10 percent ethanol, limiting the amount of |
|renewable energy consumers can use to fuel their cars. This new USDA partnership will |
|help support the installation of fuel pumps capable of supplying higher blends of |
|renewable fuel by partnering with states to fund innovative, public-private |
|partnerships to test more comprehensive approaches to marketing such blends. This new |
|investment seeks to double the number of fuel pumps capable of supplying higher blends |
|of renewable fuel to consumers, such as E15 and E85. |
| |
| |
|The United States exported more than $2 billion dollars of ethanol last year, making |
|the United States the world's largest exporter of ethanol. Additionally, the United |
|States has become a market leader in the export of high-quality distiller's dried |
|grains (DDG), a byproduct of ethanol production used as a high-protein feed for |
|livestock and poultry. Other countries are investing in clean energy technologies |
|because they realize the tremendous economic potential of these energy sources, and the|
|United States must do the same to remain competitive. The projects funded by these |
|competitive grants will expand markets for farmers and help them diversify their rural |
|energy portfolios, support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and |
|ultimately give consumers more affordable options at the pump. |
| |
| |
|Today's announcement marks USDA's latest effort to increase renewable fuel use in the |
|United States. To formally launch this infrastructure partnership, USDA will post a |
|Notice of Solicitation of Applications in June. |
| |
| |
|Secretary Vilsack has recognized the biobased economy as one of the four pillars of |
|rural economic growth, in addition to production agriculture, local and regional food |
|systems, and conservation and natural resources. Biofuels lower greenhouse gas |
|emissions, reduce dependence on foreign oil, give businesses and consumers more energy |
|options and create well-paying American jobs. |
| |
| |
|USDA has also helped jumpstart efforts to provide a reliable supply of advanced plant |
|materials for biofuels. Through its Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), for |
|example, USDA is incentivizing more than 850 growers and landowners farming nearly |
|48,000 acres to establish and produce dedicated, non-food energy crops for delivery to |
|energy conversion facilities. |
| |
| |
|To ensure those feedstocks are put to use, USDA has invested in the work needed to |
|create advanced biofuels refineries. USDA has supported efforts to build six new |
|biorefineries to produce advanced biofuels in Louisiana, Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, North|
|Carolina, and Iowa, in addition to two existing facilities in New Mexico and Florida |
|previously supported by the program. |
| |
| |
|USDA has also worked with agencies to strengthen markets for biobased products. |
|Approximately 2,000 products now carry USDA's BioPreferred label, and approximately 150|
|applications for the BioPreferred label are in process. Companies in over 40 countries |
|on six continents are now participating in USDA's BioPreferred program. |
| |
| |
|USDA has partnered with the U.S. Navy and Department of Energy to accelerate the |
|development of domestic, competitively-priced "drop-in" diesel and jet fuel |
|substitutes. Awards under the Defense Production Act were announced in 2014 for three |
|companies (Fulcrum Sierra Biofuels, LLC; Emerald Biofuels, LLC; and Red Rock Biofuels, |
|LLC) to scale up production capacity to supply the U.S. Navy with over 100 million |
|gallons per year of advanced drop-in biofuel beginning in 2016 and 2017 at a price |
|competitive with their petroleum counterparts. |
| |
| |
|USDA has invested $332 million over the past six years to accelerate research on |
|renewable energy ranging from genomic research on bioenergy feedstock crops, to |
|development of biofuel conversion processes and costs/benefit estimates of renewable |
|energy production. |
| |
| |
|President Obama's plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and |
|resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President's leadership, investments |
|in housing, community facilities, businesses, infrastructure and renewable energy have |
|empowered rural America to continue leading the way—strengthening America's economy, |
|small towns and rural communities. To create jobs in rural communities, drive economic |
|growth, and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, USDA will continue to |
|aggressively pursue investments in renewable energy. |
| |
| |
|# |
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|Secretary Vilsack Announces Additional 800,000 Acres Dedicated to Conservation Reserve |
| Program for Wildlife Habitat and Wetlands |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Secretary Hails Program's 30th Anniversary, Announces General Signup Period |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|MILWAUKEE, May 29, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that an |
|additional 800,000 acres of highly environmentally sensitive land may be enrolled in |
|Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under certain wetland and wildlife initiatives that |
|provide multiple benefits on the same land. |
| |
| |
|The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will accept new offers to participate in CRP |
|under a general signup to be held Dec. 1, 2015, through Feb. 26, 2016. Eligible |
|existing program participants with contracts expiring Sept. 30, 2015, will be granted |
|an option for one-year extensions. Farmers and ranchers interested in removing |
|sensitive land from agricultural production and planting grasses or trees to reduce |
|soil erosion, improve water quality and restore wildlife habitat are encouraged to |
|enroll. Secretary Vilsack made the announcement during a speech delivered at the Ducks |
|Unlimited National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. |
| |
| |
|"For 30 years, the Conservation Reserve Program has supported farmers and ranchers as |
|they continue to be good stewards of land and water. This initiative has helped farmers|
|and ranchers prevent more than 8 billion tons of soil from eroding, reduce nitrogen and|
|phosphorous runoff relative to cropland by 95 and 85 percent respectively, and even |
|sequester 43 million tons of greenhouse gases annually, equal to taking 8 million cars |
|off the road," said Vilsack. "This has been one of most successful conservation |
|programs in the history of the country, and today's announcement keeps that momentum |
|moving forward." |
| |
| |
|The voluntary Conservation Reserve Program allows USDA to contract with agricultural |
|producers so that environmentally sensitive land is conserved. Participants establish |
|long-term, resource-conserving plant species to control soil erosion, improve water |
|quality and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) |
|provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration|
|is between 10 and 15 years. |
| |
| |
|"CRP protects water quality and restores significant habitat for ducks, pheasants, |
|turkey, quail, deer and other important wildlife. That spurs economic development like |
|hunting and fishing, outdoor recreation and tourism all over rural America," said |
|Vilsack. "Today we're allowing an additional 800,000 acres for duck nesting habitat and|
|other wetland and wildlife habitat initiatives to be enrolled in the program." |
| |
| |
|In addition to Ducks Unlimited's partnership with the Conservation Reserve Program, |
|other longtime partners include Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever, Association of Fish |
|and Wildlife Agencies, National Association of State Foresters, National Wild Turkey |
|Federation, Audubon Society, National Bobwhite Technical Committee, Quality Deer |
|Management Association, National Rural Water Association, Playa Lakes Joint Venture, |
|Longleaf Alliance, state soil and water conservation districts, and state forestry, |
|agriculture and natural resource agencies. |
| |
| |
|"I encourage all farmers and ranchers to consider the various CRP continuous sign-up |
|initiatives that may help target specific resource concerns," said Vilsack. "Financial |
|assistance is offered for many practices including conservation buffers and pollinator |
|habitat plantings, and initiatives such as the highly erodible lands, bottomland |
|hardwood tree and longleaf pine, all of which are extremely important." |
| |
| |
|Farmers and ranchers may visit their FSA county office for additional information. The |
|2014 Farm Bill authorized the enrollment of grasslands in CRP and information on |
|grasslands enrollment will be available after the regulation is published later this |
|summer. |
| |
| |
|The Conservation Reserve Program was re-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. |
| |
| |
|For more information about CRP, visit www.fsa.usda.gov/conservation, or contact your |
|local USDA Farm Service Agency office. To find your local FSA office, visit |
|http://offices.usda.gov. |
| |
| |
|# |
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