State
MDEQ Recognizes 2016 enHance Members
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) Thursday accepted three new members and eight renewal memberships
into its enHance program for the 2016 class. The recognition was part of
the annual workshop and awards luncheon held in
Jacksonhttp://www.wtva.com/news/local/MDEQ_Recognizes_2016_enHance_Members.html
MDEQ lifts two water contact advisories, but issues another
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Thursday the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality lifted two of six water contact advisories for the
Mississippi Sound.
http://www.wlox.com/story/31784139/mdeq-lifts-two-water-contact-advisorie-but-five-other-sections-of-water-still-not-safe-for-swimming
Utility Authority to seek additional funding for sewer work
Picayune Item
http://www.picayuneitem.com/2016/04/utility-authority-to-seek-additional-funding-for-more-sewer-work/
Cooperation needed in Barnett bass study
Clarion Ledger
More than 500 largemouth bass have been tagged in Ross Barnett
Reservoir as a part of a study, but according to the biologist
overseeing the project, data collection by anglers has been less
than ideal.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/04/21/fish-barnett-bass-study/83339000/
3 good reasons to clear out your hazardous waste this weekend
Sun Herald
GAUTIER -- First, it's Earth Day.
So what better way to protect the environment and celebrate Earth Day than
to plan now to deliver half-empty paint cans, waste oil and gasoline that's
contaminated to the old Singing River Mall site on Saturday.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article73119352.html
Parkway students learn about environment ahead of Earth Day
By Emma Crawford Kent
Daily Journal
TUPELO – Malak Rayyan might only be in the second grade, but she feels
strongly that recycling is important.
http://djournal.com/news/parkway-students-learn-environment-ahead-earth-day/
Safe drug disposal next Saturday in Houston
WTVA
HOUSTON, Miss. (WTVA) – Here's a chance to turn in unused or expired
medication for safe disposal.
http://www.wtva.com/news/Safe_drug_disposal_next_Saturday_in_Houston.html
Oil Spill
Restore Mississippi Sound lobbies for higher water quality
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Some of the BP settlement money needs to be spent on
improving water quality in the Mississippi Sound. That's the message from
an environmental group that gathered on the beach in Gulfport Thursday
afternoon.
http://www.wlox.com/story/31787926/restore-mississippi-sound-lobbies-for-higher-water-quality
A cleaner Mississippi Sound with BP money is group's rallying cry
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- Sometimes simple is the most powerful.
The message at Thursday's Restore Mississippi Sound rally on the beach was
use the BP recovery money to clean up the water of the Mississippi Sound.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article73205187.html
Group: Spend BP money to clean Mississippi Sound
Sun Herald
Video
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article73212872.html
Mississippi Legislature out, but special BP money session possible
Sun Herald
Coast lawmakers hope to get a special legislative session to try to bring
another $110 million in BP settlement money back to the Coast.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/crawdaddy/article73054577.html
Update on Gulf ecosystem 6 years after BP oil disaster
WMNF
One question that remains six years after the BP oil disaster in the Gulf
of Mexico is how the use of dispersants affected the Gulf ecosystem. To
find out, Thursday morning WMNF News interviewed David Hollander, a
professor of chemical oceanography at the University of South Florida
College of Marine Science. He was chief scientist on several of the first
studies of the BP disaster. His team tracked oil in the water and sediments
and how it affected the ecosystem.
http://www.wmnf.org/update-gulf-ecosystem-6-years-bp-oil-disaster/
BP money in St. Petersburg to be spent on bikes, but not sewers — yet
Tampa Bay Times
ST. PETERSBURG — Rental bikes or better sewers?
The City Council decided Thursday it had enough cash from its multimillion
dollar settlement with energy giant BP to pay for both.
http://web.tampabay.com/news/bp-money-to-be-spent-on-sewers-and-bikes-in-st-petersburg/2274233
Regional
Turner stepping down from Georgia's top environmental post
Atlanta Business Chronicle
The head of Georgia's Environmental Protection Division is stepping down in
June, Gov. Nathan Deal announced Thursday.
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2016/04/21/turner-stepping-down-from-georgias-top.html
National
Leaders Roll Up Sleeves on Climate, but Experts Say Plans Don't Pack a
Wallop
NY Times
An airport hangar outside Paris shook with cheers, toasts and
foot-stomping in December as diplomats ushered a landmark climate
agreementinto existence. On Friday morning, world leaders will
gather again at theUnited Nations for a grand ceremony to sign the
document.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/22/science/united-nations-paris-climate-change-document.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fearth&action=click&contentCollection=earth®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
Senate measure to stop Obama water rule fails
The Hill
Senate Democrats on Thursday blocked a Republican effort to prevent further
spending on an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule designed to
establish federal regulatory control over small waterways.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/277134-senate-measure-to-stop-obama-water-rule-fails
Owners of half million polluting VWs can sell them back, under settlement
AP
SAN FRANCISCO — The owners of nearly half a million polluting Volkswagens
in the U.S. will have the option of selling them back to the company or
getting them repaired at VW's expense, under a deal announced Thursday by a
federal judge.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/04/owners_of_half_million_polluti.html#incart_river_index
Daimler shares slide on U.S. emissions investigation
Reuters
Daimler (DAIGn.DE) shares fell more than five percent on Friday, hit by
news that the United States Department of Justice had asked the carmaker to
investigate its emissions certification process for vehicles including its
Mercedes brand.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-daimler-emissions-idUSKCN0XJ0X0
Opinion
EPA recognizes Cardinals for reducing environmental footprint
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
As we celebrate Earth Day on April 22, we set aside time to also celebrate
improving the environment in St. Louis.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/epa-recognizes-cardinals-for-reducing-environmental-footprint/article_9cb4c583-b89b-5143-8506-27a7b3bbf3eb.html
Press Releases
Apr 21 2016
Wicker Votes to Defund EPA's Water Rule
Senate Democrats Again Block Efforts to Stop Federal Overreach
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today voted for an
amendment to defund the "waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule. The proposal,
authored by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., was blocked by Senate Democrats from
being included in the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which is
currently being considered by the chamber.
"Despite claims from the President's allies in Congress, this massive
federal overreach is not about making water cleaner or safer," Wicker said.
"In fact, this power grab would have hardly any environmental benefit at
all. Instead, it could have a far-reaching impact on the livelihoods of
Mississippi farmers, ranchers, and property owners. Property rights and
economic development would be at the mercy of Washington bureaucrats with
new authority over small ponds and even drainage ditches. Americans do not
deserve this unnecessary red tape."
In October 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit ordered a
nationwide stay of the rule pending further judicial proceedings. It found
that the rulemaking process was likely "facially suspect" and that the
regulation itself was out of step with Supreme Court precedent.
In November 2015, Wicker voted in favor of the "Federal Water Quality
Protection Act," S. 1140. That measure would have directed EPA and the Army
Corps to issue a revised WOTUS rule to protect traditional navigable water
and wetlands from water pollution, while also protecting farmers, ranchers,
and private landowners. Although the proposal received 57 votes in the
Senate, it did not reach the 60-vote threshold needed to proceed because of
Democratic opposition.
The final "waters of the U.S." rule extends federal jurisdiction under the
"Clean Water Act" to irrigation ditches, isolated ponds, prairie potholes,
and other non-navigable waters. If implemented, it would force farmers,
ranchers, families, home builders, manufacturers, state and local
governments, small businesses, and other property owners to seek permission
from the federal government before beginning any activity remotely related
to water.
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2016/4/wicker-votes-to-defund-epa-s-water-rule
EPA Celebrates SmartWay Affiliates that Support Cleaner Freight
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is honoring seven
affiliates for raising awareness about the benefits of sustainable goods
movement as part of the 2016 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge. SmartWay
affiliates participating in this year's challenge have done outstanding
work reaching out to inform and educate businesses, their communities,
truck drivers and other stakeholders about steps they can take to reduce
freight emissions and their other environmental impacts.
"EPA commends the Affiliate Challenge honorees for their commitment,
enthusiasm, and creativity in supporting our shared goals for sustainable
transportation," said Christopher Grundler, director of EPA's Office of
Transportation and Air Quality. "Their work is helping advance more
sustainable systems for delivering freight, reducing its climate change
impacts and improving air quality."
Transportation is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions in
the U.S., accounting for close to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions
annually. Freight delivery accounts for nearly 40 percent of those
emissions.
EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership empowers businesses to move goods in
the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible to protect public health
and reduce the emissions that contribute to climate change. Demonstration
of a commitment to corporate sustainability and social responsibility
through SmartWay provides for a more competitive and environmentally
friendly business environment.
Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 72 million
metric tons of the carbon pollution that contributes to climate change,
while saving more than 170 million barrels of oil and more than $24 billion
in fuel costs. SmartWay also contributes to cleaner air and healthier
citizens by significantly reducing emissions of the pollution that
contributes to smog.
The 2016 SmartWay Affiliate Challenge Honorees are:
American Trucking Associations
Environmental Defense Fund
North Central Texas Council of Governments
Penske Truck Leasing
Retail Industry Leaders Association
Specialty Graphic Industry Association
Wisconsin Clean Cities
For more information on SmartWay: http://www.epa.gov/smartway/
