State
Hattiesburg Clinic unveils expansion plans
Hattiesburg American
…In other work session action:
•Reid Engineering of Fredericksburg, Virginia, proposed a five-stage
"Bardenpho" system for Hattiesburg wastewater treatment. The system
has a capacity of 18 million gallons per day.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2015/06/01/hattiesburg-clinic-proposes-new-campus/28334173/
Tidelands Grants improving and building Harrison Co. boat launches
WLOX
More than $400,000 of work is set to be done on a couple of boat launches
in Harrison County. One project will be improvements on an existing launch
and another will be a brand new launch.
http://www.wlox.com/story/29209564/tidelands-grants-improving-and-building-harrison-co-boat-launches
DeSoto supervisors OK 25-year tri-state Greenprint plan
Commercial Appeal
Looking at a path to funding, growth and enhanced quality of life, the
DeSoto County Board of Supervisors on Monday voted unanimously to adopt a
tri-state regional plan that envisions 500 miles of off-street trails and
200 miles of bicycle lanes tying parks, communities and workplaces.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/desoto-supervisors-ok-25year-tristate-greenprint-plan_12962471
Record Drug Take Back Day in Laurel
WHLT
LAUREL, Miss. - Laurel Police Department logged a record Drug Take Back Day
on Saturday.
http://www.whlt.com/story/29208275/record-drug-take-back-day-in-laurel
Oil Spill
Judge tosses 1 of 2 charges against ex-BP exec on trial
The Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS — A federal judge on Monday tossed out one of two pending
charges against a former BP executive the federal government accuses of
trying to hide the severity of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/01/6254907/trial-set-for-ex-bp-executive.html
Lawmakers consider plan for $50 million bond issue for Gulf State Park
Al.com
Mike Cason
June 01, 2015 at 5:53 PM
A bill to authorize up to $50 million in bonds to help build a 350-room
lodge and conference center and other improvements at Gulf State Park is
moving through the state Legislature.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/lawmakers_consider_plan_for_50.html
National
Watchdog: EPA managers let workers get away with timesheet fraud, watching
porn at work
Washington Post
The Environmental Protection Agency is creating a festering "culture of
complacency" by dragging its feet on action against employee misconduct,
the agency's watchdog found, leaving the public to wonder if one of the
most mission-driven areas of government is running smoothly.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/06/01/when-epa-employees-do-wrong-managers-let-things-slide-watchdog-says/
Obama's (theatrical) big climate plan drop
By DARREN SAMUELSOHN
Politico
The EPA's carbon rules for power plants are the biggest thing still looming
on President Barack Obama's green agenda, and for a year we've known
they're coming down soon. But when exactly?
http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/06/obamas-theatrical-big-climate-plan-drop-000055
House passes bill to overhaul fishery management
The Hill
The House on Monday passed legislation to overhaul federal management of
marine fisheries nationwide.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/243700-house-passes-bill-to-overhaul-fishery-management
New regs for Tuesday: Highways, oil and gas, efficiency
The Hill
Oil and gas: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying new
regulations for oil and gas extraction wastewater under the Clean Water
Act.
http://thehill.com/regulation/243590-new-regs-for-tuesday-highways-oil-and-gas-efficiency
Opinion
Why every property owner should fear EPA's "waters of the United States"
rule
By James Inhofe
Published June 02, 2015
FoxNews.com
The Environmental Protection Agency released its final rule last week
defining "waters of the United States" (WOTUS), a measure that hugely
expands the ability of this aggressive agency to disregard the conservation
efforts of American states and interfere with the daily lives and property
of the American people.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/06/02/why-every-property-owner-should-fear-epas-waters-united-states-rule.html
The Shale Boom Shifts Into Higher Gear
Oil production is becoming a modern manufacturing process, with frackers
using the 'just-in-time' approach.
Wall Street Journal
By DONALD L. LUSKIN And MICHAEL WARREN
May 31, 2015 4:28 p.m. ET
Have the American entrepreneurs who developed horizontal drilling and
hydraulic fracturing—"fracking"—done their jobs too well? The increase in
domestic crude oil production of 3.6 million barrels a day in less than
four years, reversing almost four decades of decline, has created a
spectacular macroeconomic anomaly—a crash in oil prices without a recession
to cause it.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-shale-boom-shifts-into-higher-gear-1433104129
Press Releases
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| USDA Announces Restart of Biomass Crop Assistance Program for Renewable Energy |
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|WASHINGTON, June 1, 2015 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced |
|that incentives will resume this summer for farmers, ranchers and forest landowners |
|interested in growing and harvesting biomass for renewable energy. The support comes |
|through the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), which was reauthorized by the 2014 |
|Farm Bill. BCAP provides financial assistance to establish and maintain new crops of |
|energy biomass, or who harvest and deliver forest or agricultural residues to a |
|qualifying energy facility. |
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|Financial assistance is available through BCAP for costs associated with harvesting and|
|transporting agriculture or forest residues to facilities that convert biomass crops |
|into energy. Eligible crops may include corn residue, diseased or insect infested wood |
|materials, or orchard waste. The energy facility must first be approved by USDA to |
|accept the biomass crop. Facilities can apply for, or renew, their BCAP qualification |
|status beginning today. $11.5 million of federal funds will be allocated to support the|
|delivery of biomass materials through December 2015. Last year, more than 200,000 tons |
|of dead or diseased trees from National Forests and Bureau of Land Management lands |
|were removed and used to produce renewable energy, while reducing the risk of forest |
|fire. Nineteen energy facilities in 10 states participated in the program. |
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|Farmers, ranchers and forest landowners can also receive financial assistance to grow |
|biomass crops that will be converted into energy in selected BCAP project areas. New |
|BCAP project area proposals will be solicited beginning this summer and accepted |
|through fall 2015, with new project area announcements and enrollments taking place in |
|early spring 2016. The extended proposal submission period allows project sponsors time|
|to complete any needed environmental assessments and allows producers enough lead time |
|to make informed decisions on whether or not to pursue the BCAP project area enrollment|
|opportunity. This fiscal year USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) will allocate up to $8 |
|million for producer enrollment to expand and enhance existing BCAP project areas. |
|Additionally, in accordance with the 2014 Farm Bill, underserved farmers are eligible |
|for a higher establishment cost share. BCAP projects have supported over 50,000 acres |
|across 74 counties in 11 different project areas. |
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|BCAP was made possible 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. |
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