State
Lake George isn't dead, it's only sleeping until January
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA
Lake George is not dead. It's just been sleeping, and it's about to wake up.
The application for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permits is moving forward. There's a new website, and the Corps plans a public meeting in late January. It's the beginning of the EIS, the environmental impact study that takes 2-3 years.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article122927349.html
Troubled Clean-Coal Plant Could Get New Lifeline
Congress weighs tax-credit incentives that could benefit Southern Co. project
WSJ
The most expensive fossil-fuel power plant ever built in the U.S. could soon get a financial lifeline thanks to President-elect Donald Trump, who has signaled interest in clean-coal initiatives as a way to preserve mining jobs.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/troubled-coal-fired-plant-could-get-new-lifeline-1482321602
N'sider brings awareness to climate change
Northside Sun
One nORTHSIDER is helping with the fight to teach state representatives about the causes and effects of climate change, formerly called global warming.
Dr. Dominike Parry is part of the Jackson chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby (CCL), a national organization.
http://northsidesun.com/news/n%E2%80%99sider-brings-awareness-climate-change#sthash.gM59xJP7.dpbs
City leaders consider revising burning regulations
Daily Journal
TUPELO – City leaders are looking at a proposal to allow some limited burning on agricultural land within the city limits.
http://djournal.com/news/city-leaders-consider-revising-burning-regulations/
Fulton refunds lumber company $18K in sewer fees
Itawamba County Times
Fulton aldermen have refunded a local lumber company more than $18,000 in sewer fees the company shouldn't have been paying in the first place.
http://djournal.com/itawamba/2016/12/23/fulton-refunds-lumber-company-18k-sewer-fees/
Speckled trout minimum increased by CMR
Sun Herald
The state Commission on Marine Resources recently decided to change the recreational size limit for speckled trout.
http://www.sunherald.com/sports/outdoors/article122911084.html
Energy program seeks to reduce electric usage for local residents
Commercial Dispatch
Santa Claus came early for Alice Barham when her house received an energy makeover last month.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=55177
Turkey harvest declines spur action
Clarion Ledger
A continued decline in turkey harvest numbers has concerned hunters and biologists alike. That has prompted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and the Mississippi Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation to take proactive approaches to curbing that trend.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/12/19/turkey-harvest-declines-spur-action/95620994/
Wildlife Bureau director Dacus leaves MDWFP
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Wildlife Bureau director Chad Dacus has resigned.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/12/21/mdwfp-wildlife-bureau-director-dacus-leaves-mdwfp/95649444/
Oil Spill
Analysis: Oil spill cash could tempt MS lawmakers
AP
JACKSON - Nearly seven years after a massive oil spill sullied the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi lawmakers are faced with a pot of money that could become a great temptation.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/25/analysis-oil-spill-cash-tempt-mississippi-budgeters/95841344/
Supervisors want to use some of the state's BP funds to fix roads
Daily Leader
Everyone agrees something needs to be done about the roads of Lincoln County. Those who oversee those roads in particular want to see some progress made, but improvements take money and that's where the problem lies.
http://www.dailyleader.com/2016/12/25/supervisors-want-to-use-some-of-the-states-bp-funds-to-fix-roads/
Regional
EPA Doesn't Have to Set Water Limits for 2 Fertilizers
AP
A federal judge has given the Environmental Protection Agency more time to work with states on limiting their runoff of chemicals blamed for oxygen-depleted "dead zones" in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-set-water-limits-fertilizers-44308168
Haze rule petitions to include industries
1
U.S. court clerk OKs intervention
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Industry groups can intervene in all seven petitions for review -- including the state's -- of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's plan for implementing the 1999 Regional Haze Rule in Arkansas, a federal appeals court clerk ordered Friday.
http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2016/dec/24/haze-rule-petitions-to-include-industri-1/?f=news-arkansas
LaPlace plant agrees to reduce emissions by 85 percent after study shows chemical a 'likely' carcinogenic
Advocate
A chemical plant in LaPlace that has routinely discharged an air pollutant that the Environmental Protection Agency now says is "likely" to cause cancer has agreed to try to cut its emissions by 85 percent by the end of next year.
http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/environment/article_6170671c-c6f1-11e6-8b51-5ba657e762a3.html
Recovery clear eight years after TVA ash spill
WBIR
ROANE COUNTY - Eight years ago, an avalanche of ash collapsed into rivers and neighborhoods in one of the largest environmental disasters in U.S. history. The recovery since then has been slow, but dramatic.
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/recovery-clear-eight-years-after-tva-ash-spill/376604066
Geologists believe drillers can tap North Georgia natural gas without fracking
Region may have larger deposits than projected; local environmentalists push for new regulations on controversial technique
Chattanooga Times Free Press
DALTON, Ga. — Local environmentalists hope to push fracking regulations through the Georgia capitol next year.
But as they do that, another issue remains unknown: How much natural gas actually sits a mile below the ground in Northwest Georgia? And can anyone take advantage?
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2016/dec/27/north-georgimay-be-rich-natural-gas-geologist/404662/
National
Outgoing EPA chief: Science is 'fundamental to absolutely everything we do.'
Washington Post
Gina McCarthy — Boston native, Irish Catholic, lover of Guinness beer and a good laugh — has been a central player in the Obama administration's work to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and combat global warming at home and abroad.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/21/outgoing-epa-chief-science-is-everything-it-is-fundamental-to-absolutely-everything-we-do/?utm_term=.189b73ba9cb2
EPA Vapor Intrusion Rule Offers Little Help for Superfund Towns
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency's new rule spotlighting vapor intrusion won't change the reality faced by frustrated residents of a contaminated New Jersey borough.
https://www.bna.com/epa-vapor-intrusion-n73014449062/
EPA looks to mitigate chemical plant disasters
The Hill
A new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulation aims to minimize the harm to local communities from disasters at chemical plants.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/311383-epa-looks-to-mitigate-chemical-plant-disasters
Study: EPA, Interior plotting $6B in environmental 'midnight' regs
The Hill
The Obama administration is racing to issue nearly $6 billion worth of environmental regulations, according to a new study.
http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/311378-study-epa-interior-plotting-6b-in-environmental-midnight-regs
EPA will not extend review of fuel efficiency standards
The Hill
Federal regulators will not extend their deadline for comments on strict fuel efficiency standards, effectively allowing them to finalize the standards before President Obama leaves office next year.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/311576-epa-will-not-extend-review-of-fuel-efficiency-standards
Short On Data, EPA's Final Report On Fracking Leaves Many Disheartened
NPR
The EPA spent years investigating whether the fracking process pollutes nearby drinking water. To the frustration of many, its final report leaves a lot of questions unanswered.
http://www.npr.org/2016/12/25/506898869/short-on-data-epa-s-final-report-on-fracking-leaves-many-disheartened
Press Releases
EPA Amends its Risk Management Program for Chemical Facilities
Final rule improves chemical process safety and strengthens protections for communities and first responders
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule amending its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations to reduce the likelihood of accidental releases at chemical facilities and improve emergency response activities when those releases occur. This rule is the latest in a series of actions the federal government has taken in consultation with industry, local and state governments, and other stakeholders to improve chemical process safety, assist local emergency authorities in planning for, and responding to, accidents, and improve public awareness of chemical hazards at regulated sources.
"This rule is based on extensive engagement with nearly 1,800 people over the last two and a half years," said Mathy Stanislaus, EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management. "These changes are intended to protect the lives of emergency responders and the public, while preserving information security."
This rule will help prevent chemical accidents, such as the explosion in West Texas in 2013, and their devastating effects. While numerous chemical plans are operated safely, in the last 10 years more than 1,500 accidents were reported by RMP facilities. These accidents are responsible for causing nearly 60 deaths; some 17,000 people being injured or seeking medical treatment; almost 500,000 people being evacuated or sheltered-in-place; and more than $2 billion in property damages.
The Accidental Release Prevention regulations under Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) – also known as the EPA RMP regulations – require covered facilities to develop and implement a risk management program. EPA shares RMP information with state and local officials to help them plan for and prevent chemical accidents and releases.
The amendments to EPA's RMP regulations are a key action item under President Obama's Executive Order (EO) 13650, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security. While developing and finalizing the rule, EPA met with stakeholder groups, solicited public comments, held listening sessions and webinars, and considered extensive comments on the proposed rule.
The amendments are intended to:
• Prevent catastrophic accidents by improving accident prevention program requirements
• Enhance emergency preparedness to ensure coordination between facilities and local communities
• Improve information access to help the public understand the risks at RMP facilities
• Improve third-party audits at RMP facilities
For more information about the final amendments to the RMP rule:
http://www.epa.gov/rmp/final-amendments-risk-management-program-rmp-rule
| USDA Invests $225 Million in Innovative Conservation Partnerships |
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| Addition of 88 projects brings federal, partner investment to over $2 billion since 2014 |
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| WASHINGTON, Dec. 21, 2016 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that 88 high-impact projects across the country will receive $225 million in federal funding as part of the USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). In addition, partners have proposed to contribute up to an additional $500 million to improve the nation's water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. With today's announcement, the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing a total of $825 million in 286 projects, bringing together more than 2,000 conservation partners who have committed an estimated $1.4 billion in financial and technical assistance. By 2018, NRCS and its partners, including Indian tribes, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments, private industry, water districts, universities and many others, will have invested at least $2.4 billion through RCPP, which was created by the 2014 Farm Bill. "RCPP plays a critical role in connecting partners with producers to design and implement conservation solutions that benefit both natural resources and agriculture," Vilsack said. "The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for private lands conservation, and RCPP is contributing innovative conservation solutions to communities across the country." RCPP offers new opportunities for the NRCS, conservation partners and agricultural producers to work together to harness innovation, expand the conservation mission, and demonstrate the value and efficacy of voluntary, private lands conservation. The program is increasing investment in conservation from a diversity of partners, leading to cleaner and more abundant water, improved soil and air quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, and stronger rural economies. Water quality and drought are dominant themes in this year's RCPP project list with 46 of the 88 projects focusing on water resource concerns. More than a fourth of the projects are focused on improving fish and wildlife habitat. See the full list of 2017 projects spanning the country, impacting almost every state in the nation and Puerto Rico. In California, NRCS is investing $10 million in the Black Rascal Creek Project, which is proposed by the partnership of Merced County, Merced Irrigation District, and City of Merced. The project will provide flood protection to the communities of Merced and Franklin/Beachwood, as well as surrounding prime agricultural lands, in an area that has seen frequent and severe flooding. In addition to flood control, this multi-benefit project will address drought, water quality, soil quality, and inadequate wildlife habitat. Partners expect to triple the federal investment in the project. NRCS is also investing $6 million in the 25,000-square-mile Maine Aquatic Connectivity Restoration Project, which will restore some of the state's highest-value aquatic networks that have been impacted by habitat fragmentation and degradation caused by road-stream crossings. Led by The Nature Conservancy and 18 other partners, the project will use Stream Smart design and installation to improve habitat and aquatic organism passage and reduce the impacts of increasingly volatile storm-water flows. The tribal, state, federal, nonprofit, and private landowner partnership will more than double the NRCS investment. In Iowa, NRCS is investing $900,000 in the Fox River Water Quality Project, one of the longest running watershed projects in Iowa. The river has been on Iowa's and Missouri's impaired waters list for many years. In its 18th year, the project is committed to continued conservation efforts improving the health of the Fox River by addressing water quality, conservation, protection, and development of natural resources using voluntary programs, while providing economic opportunity. The eight partners, led by the Davis County Soil and Water Conservation District, will help producers improve water quality through conservation practices like installing grade stabilization structures, water and sediment control basins, tile outlet terraces, and cover crops. Since 2009, USDA has invested more than $29 billion to help producers make conservation improvements, working with as many as 500,000 farmers, ranchers and landowners to protect over 400 million acres nationwide, boosting soil and air quality, cleaning and conserving water and enhancing wildlife habitat. For an interactive look at USDA's work in conservation and forestry over the course of this Administration, visit http://medium.com/usda-results. # |
Volkswagen to Recall 83,000 3.0 Liter Diesel Vehicles and Fund Mitigation Projects to Settle Allegations of Cheating Emissions Tests on Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Vehicles
Settlement requires Volkswagen to offer to buy back older vehicles, and spend $225 million to mitigate NOx pollution. Volkswagen will also repair newer vehicles to comply with the standards to which they were certified
WASHINGTON – In a second partial settlement announced today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the State of California, automakers Volkswagen AG, Audi AG, Porsche AG and related entities (collectively referred to as Volkswagen), have agreed to recall 83,000 model year 2009 through 2016 3.0 liter diesel vehicles sold or leased in the U.S. that are alleged to be equipped with "defeat devices" to cheat emissions tests, in violation of the Clean Air Act and California law. For the older vehicles, Volkswagen is required to offer to buy back the vehicles or terminate leases, and must also offer an emissions modification to substantially reduce emissions if one is proposed by Volkswagen and approved by regulators. For the newer vehicles, if Volkswagen demonstrates it can make the vehicles compliant with the certified exhaust emission standards, it will have to fix the vehicles and will not be required to buy the vehicles back. Volkswagen is also required to spend $225 million to fund projects that will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx).
Today's partial settlement does not resolve any pending claims for civil penalties, nor does it address any potential criminal liability. The settlement also does not resolve any consumer claims, claims by the Federal Trade Commission, or claims by individual owners or lessees who may have asserted claims in the ongoing multidistrict litigation. The state of California has secured a separate resolution for the 3.0 liter violations that addresses issues specific to vehicles and consumers in California.
The affected older vehicles (referred to as "generation 1" vehicles) are the 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7 diesel models. The affected newer vehicles (referred to as "generation 2" vehicles) are the 2013-2016 Volkswagen Touareg diesels, 2013 through 2015 Audi Q7 diesels, 2013 through 2016 Porsche Cayenne diesels, and 2014 through 2016 Audi A6 quattro, A7 quattro, A8, A8L and Q5 diesel models.
"EPA has a public health imperative to hold Volkswagen accountable and remedy the illegal pollution their cars put into the air," said Cynthia Giles, EPA's Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "From the start, our team vigorously pursued this case to ensure these cars were fixed or taken off the road. Today we've secured another important settlement that delivers on EPA's essential public health mission."
"The settlement marks another significant step in holding Volkswagen accountable for cheating Americans out of the promise of cleaner air by selling vehicles equipped with defeat devices," said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden. "This consent decree provides a remedy for every affected vehicle which will be removed from the road or meet enforceable standards that will reduce emissions, and will also require VW to provide additional funding to address the harmful impacts to human health and the environment from VW's violations."
"This settlement highlights the fact that cheating to get a car certified has consequences for air quality and the public's health -- and that cheaters will be caught and held accountable, said CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey. "Because California is able to enforce its vehicle regulations, CARB was instrumental in uncovering the cheating in the 3-liter, and before that, in the 2-liter diesel engines. The mitigation in this settlement will now help California address its serious air quality and climate challenges with a focus on putting the very cleanest vehicles in disadvantaged communities where they are needed most."
According to the civil complaint against Volkswagen filed by the Justice Department on behalf of EPA on January 4, 2016, and amended on October 7, 2016, Volkswagen allegedly equipped its 3.0 liter diesel vehicles with illegal software that detects when the car is being tested for compliance with EPA or California emissions standards and turns on required emissions controls only during that testing process. During normal driving conditions, the software renders these emissions control systems inoperative or reduces their effectiveness, resulting in increased emissions. This is known as a defeat device. By using a defeat device, these cars meet emissions standards in the laboratory, but emit up to nine times or more above the EPA-compliant levels for NOx during normal on-road driving conditions. The Clean Air Act requires manufacturers to certify to EPA that vehicles will meet federal emissions standards. Vehicles with defeat devices cannot be certified.
Because Volkswagen cannot modify the affected 2009 through 2012 Volkswagen Touareg and Audi Q7 generation 1 diesel vehicles to meet EPA-certified exhaust emissions standards, the settlement requires Volkswagen to offer owners of generation 1 vehicles the option to have the company buy back the car and to offer lessees a lease cancellation at no cost. If a plan is proposed by Volkswagen and approved by EPA and CARB to substantially reduce emissions from the generation 1 vehicles, Volkswagen will also have to offer that as an option for consumers.
For the generation 2 vehicles, Volkswagen will recall and fix these vehicles so they meet their certified exhaust emissions standards, after the technical solution is approved by regulators. If after extensive testing the solution does not perform as expected and is not approved, Volkswagen must offer to buy back the vehicles. In that case, the company can also seek approval of an emissions modification plan to substantially reduce emissions and, if approved, can offer that as an additional option for generation 2 vehicles.
Under the terms of the settlement, Volkswagen must achieve an overall recall rate of at least 85% for each of the generation 1 and generation 2 vehicles recall programs or pay additional sums into the mitigation trust fund. The buyback and lease termination program for generation 1 vehicles will begin within 30 days following court approval of the settlement. Vehicle modifications will become available to eligible owners and lessees once the modifications are approved by regulators.
Vehicle owners and lessees will receive updated information from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche concerning their available buyback or modification options after today's settlement is approved by the court, and can also obtain information about these options at: www.VWCourtSettlement.com and www.AudiCourtSettlement.com.
The settlement requires Volkswagen to pay $225 million to fund projects across the country that will reduce emissions of NOx where the 3.0 liter vehicles were, are or will be operated. This funding is intended to fully mitigate the past and future NOx emissions from the 3.0 liter vehicles. That money will be placed in the same mitigation trust to be established under the partial settlement for the 2L vehicles. This $225 million is in addition to the $2.7 billion that Volkswagen is required to pay into that trust under the prior settlement. The mitigation trust will be administered by an independent trustee. Beneficiaries, which may include states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Indian tribes, may obtain funds for designated NOx reduction projects upon application to the trustee.
The emissions reduction program will help reduce NOx pollution that contributes to the formation of harmful smog and soot, exposure to which is linked to a number of respiratory- and cardiovascular-related health effects as well as premature death. Children, older adults, people who are active outdoors (including outdoor workers), and people with heart or lung disease are particularly at risk for health effects related to smog or soot exposure. NO2 formed by NOx emissions can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, and may also contribute to asthma development in children.
The provisions of the settlement are contained in a proposed consent decree filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, as part of the ongoing multi-district litigation, and will be subject to public comment period of 30 days, which will be announced in the Federal Register in the coming days.
For more information: https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/volkswagen-clean-air-act-partial-settlement
