State
Petal considers land application to treat wastewater
WDAM
PETAL, MS (WDAM) -The city of Petal might not wait on Hattiesburg to choose
a wastewater treatment system that has been called "environmentally
friendly."
http://www.wdam.com/story/30049810/petal-considers-land-application-to-treat-wastewater
"AMERICA'S NATURAL GAS HIGHWAY" WELCOMES MISSISSIPPI
MPB
The company Clean Energy is the leading provider of natural gas fuel for
transportation in the U.S.
They are putting Mississippi on what they call "America's Natural Gas
Highway" - opening the state's first natural gas fueling station in Pearl.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2015/09/17/americas-natural-gas-highway-welcomes-mississippi/
Wildlife panel gives deer baiting final OK
Clarion Ledger
In a 4-1 vote on Wednesday, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries
and Parks finalized an amendment to supplemental feeding of wildlife
regulations to allow the hunting of deer over feed so along as the
hunter is 100 yards or more away from the feeder.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/outdoors/outdoorsreport/2015/09/16/wildlife-panel-gives-deer-baiting-final-ok/32523911/
Harrison County contractor's sentencing delayed in corruption case
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- Sentencing has been delayed until Nov. 2 in U.S. District Court
for contractor Sean Anthony, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe two
public officials from the Harrison County Utility Authority.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/16/6417381_contractors-sentencing-delayed.html?rh=1
Oil Spill
Gov. Bobby Jindal asks for part of BP money to be diverted to Louisiana 1
bridge project
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
September 16, 2015 at 3:50 PM
Gov. Bobby Jindal has asked coastal restoration officials to change state
policy to allow some of the BP oil spill settlement to be used to pay for
part of a $350 million Louisiana 1 bridge connecting Port Fourchon with
Golden Meadow.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/09/jindal_asks_for_part_of_bp_mon.html#incart_most_shared-environment
National
Air pollution kills 3.3 million worldwide, study says
The Associated Press
September 17, 2015 at 6:34 AM
WASHINGTON — Air pollution is killing 3.3 million people a year worldwide,
according to a new study that includes this surprise: Farming plays a large
role in smog and soot deaths in industrial nations.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/09/air_pollution_kills_33_million.html#incart_river
Government agencies set goal to cut food waste in half by 2030
USA Today
As part of its effort to act against climate change, theObama
administration has taken a sweeping stance to reduce food waste by
50% in the next 15 years.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/09/16/usda-epa-want--cut-food-waste--half--2030/32513053/
Press Releases
EPA and Partners to Host Free Environmental Justice Workshop in Gulfport,
Miss.
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, 404-562-8293 (direct), 404-562-8400
(main), marraccini.davina@epa.gov
ATLANTA – Representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) together with Oxfam America and the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will present a Mississippi environmental
justice workshop on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, at the Westside Community
Center in Gulfport. The workshop is free and open to the public, and
participants may register through Sept. 18, 2015.
The workshop will provide a forum for capacity building and resource
sharing relative to promoting just practices and improving conditions in
environmentally overburdened communities across Mississippi. The theme,
"Encouraging Just Practices in Vulnerable Communities," is critical to
understanding and advancing environmental justice.
WHO:
EPA, Oxfam America and MDEQ
WHAT:
Mississippi Environmental Justice Workshop
WHEN:
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 from 8:30 am to 5 p.m. CST (Registration will open
at 7:30 a.m.)
WHERE:
Westside Community Center
4006 8th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501
Community members interested in obtaining additional information are
encouraged to contact LaKeshia Robertson at robertson.lakeshia@epa.gov or
Keala Hughes at hughes.keala@epa.gov.
For more information and to register, visit
https://epa.connectsolutions.com/gom_ejworkshop/event/event_info.html and
select "view" after entering your data.
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA and EPA Join with Private Sector, Charitable Organizations to Set Nation's First |
| Food Waste Reduction Goals |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|NEW YORK, Sept. 16, 2015 – Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Environmental |
|Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Stan Meiburg announced the United States' |
|first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50-percent reduction by |
|2030. As part of the effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with |
|charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector and local, |
|state and tribal governments to reduce food loss and waste in order to improve overall |
|food security and conserve our nation's natural resources. The announcement occurs just|
|one week before world leaders gather at the United Nations General Assembly in New York|
|to address sustainable development practices, including sustainable production and |
|consumption. As the global population continues to grow, so does the need for food |
|waste reduction. |
| |
| |
|"The United States enjoys the most productive and abundant food supply on earth, but |
|too much of this food goes to waste," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "An |
|average family of four leaves more than two million calories, worth nearly $1500, |
|uneaten each year. Our new reduction goal demonstrates America's leadership on a global|
|level in in getting wholesome food to people who need it, protecting our natural |
|resources, cutting environmental pollution and promoting innovative approaches for |
|reducing food loss and waste." |
| |
| |
|Food loss and waste in the United States accounts for approximately 31 percent—or 133 |
|billion pounds—of the overall food supply available to retailers and consumers and has |
|far-reaching impacts on food security, resource conservation and climate change. Food |
|loss and waste is single largest component of disposed U.S. municipal solid waste, and |
|accounts for a significant portion of U.S. methane emissions. Landfills are the third |
|largest source of methane in the United States. Furthermore, experts have projected |
|that reducing food losses by just 15 percent would provide enough food for more than 25|
|million Americans every year, helping to sharply reduce incidences of food insecurity |
|for millions. |
| |
| |
|"Let's feed people, not landfills. By reducing wasted food in landfills, we cut harmful|
|methane emissions that fuel climate change, conserve our natural resources, and protect|
|our planet for future generations" said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Today's |
|announcement presents a major environmental, social and public health opportunity for |
|the U.S., and we're proud to be part of a national effort to reduce the food that goes |
|into landfills." |
| |
| |
|Ongoing federal initiatives are already building momentum for long-term success. In |
|2013, USDA and EPA launched the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, creating a platform for |
|leaders and organizations across the food chain to share best practices on ways to |
|reduce, recover, and recycle food loss and waste. By the end of 2014, the U.S. Food |
|Waste Challenge had over 4,000 active participants, well surpassing its initial goal of|
|reaching 1,000 participants by 2020. |
| |
| |
|In addition to the U.S. Food Waste Challenge, USDA has unveiled several food loss |
|reduction initiatives over the past few years, including an app to help consumers |
|safely store food and understand food date labels, new guidance to manufacturers on |
|donating misbranded or sub-spec foods, and research on innovative technologies to make |
|reducing food loss and waste cost effective. USDA will build on these successes with |
|additional initiatives targeting food loss and waste reduction throughout its programs |
|and policies. |
| |
| |
|In addition, today, USDA is launching a new consumer education campaign through its |
|Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion with information on food loss and waste facts|
|and reduction tips. Moreover, a new section on ChooseMyPlate.gov will educate consumers|
|about reducing food waste to help stretch household budgets. |
| |
| |
|USDA and EPA will also continue to encourage the private sector—food service companies,|
|institutions, restaurants, grocery stores, and more—to set their own aggressive goals |
|for reducing food loss and waste in the months ahead. Organizations such as the |
|Consumer Goods Forum, which recently approved a new resolution to halve food waste |
|within the operations of its 400 retailer and manufacturers members by 2025, are |
|helping to lead the way. |
| |
| |
|The United States is leading global efforts to address the threat of climate change. |
|The first-ever national food waste goal is just one part of the Obama Administration's |
|commitment to protecting our environment for future generations. Since President Obama |
|took office in 2009, the United States has increased solar generation by more than |
|ten-fold, tripled electricity production from wind power, and reduced greenhouse gas |
|pollution in the United States to its lowest levels in nearly 20 years. By setting |
|achievable environmental goals, this Administration is making strides to help boost the|
|economy and protect the health of American families for the long-term. |
| |
| |
|# |
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