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
