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 |
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| |
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| |
|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. |
| |
| |
|# |
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| USDA Seeks Partner Proposals to Protect and Restore Critical Wetlands |
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| |
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| |
|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. |
| |
| |
|# |
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