State
Thompson: Groundwater testing will expand in Grenada
Clarion Ledger
WASHINGTON - Environmental Protection Agency officials plan to expand
groundwater testing beyond a neighborhood in Grenada located near a
contaminated former manufacturing site, according to 2nd District U.S. Rep.
Bennie Thompson.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/05/27/thompson-says-groundwater-testing-expand-grenada/85041402/
Mississippi cities OK'd for brownfield grants
Clarion Ledger
Greenwood, Hernando, Vicksburg and Yazoo City will receive a combined
$1.525 million in federal grants to do assessments and cleanup to redevelop
sites that have potential environmental issues.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/05/28/mississippi-cities-okd-brownfield-grants/85109558/
Jackson Public Works Director Kishia Powell resigns
Clarion Ledger
Kishia Powell has resigned from her position as the Jackson Public Works
director, city officials confirmed Saturday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/05/28/jackson-public-works-director-kishia-powell-resigns/85064934/
Concerns grow over Jackson public works' future
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Just days ago, Jackson Public Works
Director Kishia Powell handed the city her resignation. It's a big
responsibility,and in Powell's case, came with a big paycheck: $150,000 a
year.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/32097786/concerns-grow-over-jackson-public-works-future
East Mississippi Foothills Land Trust looking for volunteers
WTOK
LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Miss. (WTOK) - Stuckey's Bridge in Lauderdale County
received a facelift this past weekend.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/East-Mississippi-Foothills-Land-Trust-looking-for-volunteers--381309821.html
Helping Keep Waveland Beautiful
Sea Coast Echo
In an effort to improve and beautify their community and environment
hundreds of Waveland residents and Keep Waveland Beautiful volunteers
joined in on a Great American Clean-up project Saturday at MLK park in the
Middle Town Community.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_9857.shtml#.V02J-vkguUk
New fishing regs coming to several lakes
Clarion Ledger
Changes in fishing regulation for several lakes were approved by the
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and will become
effective June 23.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/30/new-fishing-regs-coming-several-lakes/85152152/
Bigger bass good for anglers, economy
Clarion Ledger
An injection of new genes into the bass population at Ross Barnett
Reservoir combined with a new regulation is not only good for bass anglers,
it's good for business.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/27/bigger-bass-good-anglers-economy/85034516/
Census: Bay St. Louis only city to eclipse pre-Katrina population
Sun Herald
The U.S. Census released population estimates last week for towns, cities
and counties across the nation, including ones that showed Bay St. Louis
was the second-fastest growing city in Mississippi between 2014 and 2015.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/hurricane-katrina/article80551812.html
Miss. rehabilitation agency cutting services
AP
JACKSON - Another Mississippi government agency says that state budget cuts
beginning July 1 are likely to cause service reductions.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/30/miss-rehabilitation-agency-cutting-services/85169896/
Oil Spill
Uncharted waters: Restoring deep Gulf after BP spill
AP
Far offshore and a mile deep in the dark world below the Gulf of Mexico's
gleaming surface, the catastrophic BP oil spill of 2010 did untold damage
on the ocean floor. But scientists are unsure they can do much to heal
places in the deep that were hurt the most as they undertake what's being
called the largest ecosystem restoration effort ever.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/05/30/uncharted-waters-restoring-deep-gulf-after-bp-spill/85153048/
BP claims delays frustrate Long Beach businessman
Sun Herald
Buddy Ray has had a claim against BP for more than three years.
And has heard next to nothing from the people handling the settlement in
the Deepwater Horizon disaster in all that time.
http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article80594502.html
Regional
State lifts water-contact health advisory for McKellar Lake
Commercial Appeal
In a sign that contamination from a massive sewage spill this spring has
dissipated, Tennessee environmental regulators have lifted a health
advisory for McKellar Lake in southwest Memphis.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/government/state/state-lifts-water-contact-health-advisory-for-mckellar-lake-3385f0e3-0f59-5d3d-e053-0100007f0d4d-380571371.html
National
Conservation program at center of energy bill fight
The Hill
The long-term fate of a major conservation program could end up being a key
sticking point in negotiations over federal energy policy reform.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/281548-conservation-program-at-center-of-energy-bill-fight
REGIONAL HAZE RULE, CHEMICAL DATA REPORTING AND MORE IN THE WEEK OF MAY 30
Bloomberg
Welcome back from the holiday weekend. With Congress in recess, Washington
is set for a slower week. But federal agencies and interest groups are
keeping business moving.
http://www.bna.com/regional-haze-rule-b57982073187/
New regs for Tuesday: Finance, fuel, efficiency
The Hill
Efficiency: The Department of Energy (DOE) is considering stronger
efficiency rules for water heating equipment.
The department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy proposed
on Friday new energy conservation standards for commercial water heaters,
hot water supply boilers and unfired hot water storage tanks.
"DOE has tentatively concluded that there is clear and convincing evidence
to support more stringent standards," the agency wrote.
The public has 60 days to comment.
Fuel: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new renewable
fuel standards.
The renewable fuel standards would address the percent of "cellulosic
biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel"
required to be mixed into gasoline and diesel fuels in 2017 and 2018.
The public has until July 11 to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/281501-new-regs-for-tuesday-finance-fuel-efficiency
Opinion
Moak: Be careful refueling your A/C
Clarion Ledger
As the weather heats up here in the South, our air-conditioning units will
be getting busier and busier. The invention of air-conditioning has without
a doubt created fundamental changes in how we live. Since its introduction
in 1902, air-conditioning has not only changed the way we build structures
(and even entire communities); it has also changed the way we interact (or
don't) with our neighbors and how much time we spend outdoors.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/personal-finance/consumerwatch/2016/05/29/moak-careful-refueling-your-air-conditioner/84992368/
Sid Salter: US-Vietnam catfish war rages
Clarion Ledger
STARKVILLE — Politics is about nothing if not timing, and U.S. Sen. John
McCain, R-Arizona, saw his opportunity and seized upon it while President
Barack Obama was on a state visit to Vietnam in recent days.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/05/28/sid-salter-us-vietnam-catfish-war-rages/84975450/
California's Cap-and-Trade Bubble
The carbon-credit market sputters, as it also has in Europe.
WSJ
When carbon cap and trade flopped in Europe, liberals blamed design flaws
and hailed California's embryonic program as a better regulatory model. But
cap and tax is struggling in the Golden State too.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/californias-cap-and-trade-bubble-1464643546
Budgeting law brings layers of questions
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – Multiple state officials say they are still working to determine
how the far-reaching Budget Transparency and Simplification Act will impact
the new fiscal year, starting July 1.
http://djournal.com/news/budgeting-law-brings-layers-questions/?platform=hootsuite
Press Releases
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Announces More Than $8 Million in Payments to Support the Production of Advanced |
| Biofuel |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, May 27, 2016 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that the |
|U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $8.8 million to boost the production|
|of advanced biofuels and sustain jobs at renewable energy facilities in 39 states. USDA|
|continues to lead the way in promotion of advanced biofuel production, from |
|implementing the revised Farm Bill bio-refinery program to the launching of the Green |
|Fleet with the Department of the Navy and developing the Biogas Opportunities Roadmap, |
|which outlines voluntary strategies to overcome barriers to expansion and development |
|of a robust biogas industry within the United States. |
| |
| |
|"Advanced biofuels expand America's energy options and increase our sources of |
|homegrown, renewable energy," Vilsack said. "These payments not only help to spur |
|biofuel production, but also protect the environment and help create jobs by building a|
|renewable energy economy in rural areas." |
| |
| |
|The funding is being provided through USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which |
|was established in the 2008 Farm Bill. Payments are made to biofuels producers based on|
|the amount of advanced biofuels produced from renewable biomass, other than corn kernel|
|starch. Examples of eligible feedstocks include crop residue, food and yard waste, |
|vegetable oil, and animal fat. Through this program to date, USDA has made $308 million|
|in payments to 382 producers in 47 states and territories. These payments have produced|
|enough biofuel to provide more than 391 billion kilowatt hours of electric energy. |
| |
| |
|Secretary Vilsack has recognized the biobased economy as one of the pillars that |
|strengthen rural communities. Through the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program and other |
|USDA programs, USDA is working to support the research, investment and infrastructure |
|necessary to build a strong biofuels industry that creates jobs and broadens the range |
|of feedstocks used to produce renewable fuel. Over the course of this Administration, |
|USDA has invested $332 million to accelerate research on renewable energy ranging from |
|genomic research on bioenergy feedstock crops, to development of biofuel conversion |
|processes and costs/benefit estimates of renewable energy production. |
| |
| |
|In January, Secretary Vilsack joined Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus to launch the |
|Great Green Fleet, and witnessed destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110) being |
|replenished with advanced biofuel made from waste beef fat. Aviation biofuels, like |
|those used by the Navy, are creating new markets for energy created from agricultural |
|waste products. |
| |
| |
|USDA has also supported efforts to build six new biorefineries to produce advanced |
|biofuels in Louisiana, Georgia, Oregon, Nevada, North Carolina, and Iowa, in addition |
|to three existing facilities in New Mexico, Michigan and Florida. |
| |
| |
|Investments in renewable energy and the biobased economy are a leading part of USDA's |
|commitment to mitigating climate change and promoting a clean-energy economy. This |
|month, the Department is examining what a changing climate means to agriculture and how|
|USDA is working to reduce greenhouse gases. For more information, visit Chapter 5 of |
|https://medium.com/usda-results. |
| |
| |
|Quad County Corn Processors Co-Op of Galva, Iowa, is receiving a $2,011 payment to |
|convert more than 39 million gallons of corn kernel fiber into 660,000 gallons of |
|cellulosic ethanol. The company converts the fiber into ethanol and other products |
|using a process developed by its own research team. |
| |
| |
|Scott Petroleum Corporation in Itta Bena, Miss., is receiving a $13,165 payment to |
|produce more than 2.6 million gallons of biodiesel from 3 million gallons of waste, |
|non-food grade corn and catfish oil and poultry fat. The biodiesel is distributed |
|throughout Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. |
| |
| |
|View the complete list of producers receiving payments. |
| |
| |
|These payments build on USDA's historic investments in rural America over the past |
|seven years. Since 2009, USDA has worked to strengthen and support rural communities |
|and American agriculture, an industry that supports one in 11 U.S. jobs, provides |
|consumers with more than 80 percent of our food, ensures that Americans spend less of |
|their paychecks at the grocery store than most people in other countries, and supports |
|markets for homegrown renewable energy and materials. |
| |
| |
|USDA has developed new markets for rural-made products, including more than 2,500 |
|biobased products through USDA's BioPreferred program since 2009; and has invested $64 |
|billion in infrastructure, housing and community facilities to help improve the quality|
|of life in rural America. |
| |
| |
|Since 2009, USDA's Rural Development agency (@usdaRD) has invested $11 billion to start|
|or expand 103,000 rural businesses; helped 1.1 million rural residents buy homes; |
|funded nearly 7,000 community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care|
|facilities; financed 185,000 miles of electric transmission and distribution lines; and|
|helped bring high-speed Internet access to nearly 6 million rural residents and |
|businesses. For more information, visit www.usda.gov/results. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Friday, May 27, 2016
News Clippings 5.27.16
State
Officials work to clear dead fish along the Coast
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -The Harrison County Sand Beach Authority is working
hard to clean up dead fish that washed ashore Wednesday
http://www.wlox.com/story/32075363/dead-fish-clean-up-begins-along-the-coast
Hundreds of dead fish wash ashore in Gulfport
Sun Herald
Hundreds of dead fish washed onto the beach in Gulfport on Wednesday night,
but state officials and environmental activists disagree on how they got
there.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/article80147202.html
MDEQ: Swimmers beware, avoid two sections of the Mississippi Sound in
Gulfport
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -As we enter the long Memorial Day holiday weekend,
there are now two parts of the Mississippi Sound off Gulfport's beach
swimmers should avoid. Thursday the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality issued a water contact advisory for Gulfport Central Beach from
Alfonso Drive east to Arkansas Avenue.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32077052/mdeq-swimmers-beware-avoid-two-sections-of-the-mississippi-sound-in-gulfport
Mississippi's red snapper season opens Friday
Mississippi Press
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Mississippi's recreational red snapper season will
open Friday, according to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2016/05/mississippis_red_snapper_seaso.html#incart_river_index
Oil Spill
Video of orcas in the Gulf have scientists asking questions
WWL
NEW ORLEANS -- A rare sight off the Louisiana coast is surprising experts
and could have them re-evaluating the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/video-of-orcas-in-the-gulf-have-scientists-asking-questions/216618191
National
The Story Behind the E.P.A's Contaminated Water Revelation
NY Times
Last week 5.2 million Americans learned that their drinking water is
contaminated with man-made chemicals linked to cancer. The Environmental
Protection Agency issued a health advisory for two compounds:
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is used in the manufacture of Teflon
and other nonstick substances, and the related perfluorooctane sulfonic
acid (PFOS).
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/magazine/the-story-behind-the-epas-contaminated-water-revelation.html
Report Warns of Climate Change Disasters That Rival Hollywood's
NY Times
Stonehenge eroding under the forces of extreme weather. The city of Venice
slowly collapsing into its canals. The gradual flooding of the Statue of
Liberty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/science/report-warns-of-climate-change-disasters-that-rival-hollywoods.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fearth&action=click&contentCollection=earth®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
Air pollution in North Pole worse than Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Detroit
combined
News-Miner
FAIRBANKS — The highest counts of episodic PM 2.5 particulate pollution
reported in the country are coming from a pollution monitor on Hurst Road
in North Pole.
http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/air-pollution-in-north-pole-worse-than-los-angeles-milwaukee/article_a797d390-2315-11e6-a864-4714d8ec1790.html
New regs for Friday: Child welfare, transportation, emissions
The Hill
Emissions: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing
preliminary calculations foremissions limits on modern
electricity-generating units in dozens of states.
http://thehill.com/regulation/281348-new-regs-for-friday-child-welfare-transportation-emissions
Press Releases
EPA Advises Facility Operators to Minimize Releases during Hazardous
Weather Events
Contact: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main),
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – As hurricane season approaches, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is issuing a Hazardous Weather Release Prevention and
Reporting alert to remind facility operators of certain regulations that
require minimization of chemical releases during process shutdown
operations. This alert is designed to increase awareness among facility
operators about their obligation to operate facilities safely and report
chemical releases in a timely manner.
The alert specifies operational release minimization requirements and
clarifies reporting requirements, including exemptions. Unlike some natural
disasters, the onset of a hurricane is predictable and allows for early
preparations to lessen its effect on a facility. Before hurricane force
winds and associated storm surge flooding damage industrial processes, the
alert recommends that operators take preventive action by safely shutting
down processes, or otherwise operate safely under emergency procedures.
The alert and requirements are available at
https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/hazardous-weather-release-prevention-and-reporting
.
In the event of a hazardous weather incident, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters for updated emergency information.
Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
Officials work to clear dead fish along the Coast
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -The Harrison County Sand Beach Authority is working
hard to clean up dead fish that washed ashore Wednesday
http://www.wlox.com/story/32075363/dead-fish-clean-up-begins-along-the-coast
Hundreds of dead fish wash ashore in Gulfport
Sun Herald
Hundreds of dead fish washed onto the beach in Gulfport on Wednesday night,
but state officials and environmental activists disagree on how they got
there.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/article80147202.html
MDEQ: Swimmers beware, avoid two sections of the Mississippi Sound in
Gulfport
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -As we enter the long Memorial Day holiday weekend,
there are now two parts of the Mississippi Sound off Gulfport's beach
swimmers should avoid. Thursday the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality issued a water contact advisory for Gulfport Central Beach from
Alfonso Drive east to Arkansas Avenue.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32077052/mdeq-swimmers-beware-avoid-two-sections-of-the-mississippi-sound-in-gulfport
Mississippi's red snapper season opens Friday
Mississippi Press
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Mississippi's recreational red snapper season will
open Friday, according to the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2016/05/mississippis_red_snapper_seaso.html#incart_river_index
Oil Spill
Video of orcas in the Gulf have scientists asking questions
WWL
NEW ORLEANS -- A rare sight off the Louisiana coast is surprising experts
and could have them re-evaluating the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/video-of-orcas-in-the-gulf-have-scientists-asking-questions/216618191
National
The Story Behind the E.P.A's Contaminated Water Revelation
NY Times
Last week 5.2 million Americans learned that their drinking water is
contaminated with man-made chemicals linked to cancer. The Environmental
Protection Agency issued a health advisory for two compounds:
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is used in the manufacture of Teflon
and other nonstick substances, and the related perfluorooctane sulfonic
acid (PFOS).
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/magazine/the-story-behind-the-epas-contaminated-water-revelation.html
Report Warns of Climate Change Disasters That Rival Hollywood's
NY Times
Stonehenge eroding under the forces of extreme weather. The city of Venice
slowly collapsing into its canals. The gradual flooding of the Statue of
Liberty.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/27/science/report-warns-of-climate-change-disasters-that-rival-hollywoods.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fearth&action=click&contentCollection=earth®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
Air pollution in North Pole worse than Los Angeles, Milwaukee and Detroit
combined
News-Miner
FAIRBANKS — The highest counts of episodic PM 2.5 particulate pollution
reported in the country are coming from a pollution monitor on Hurst Road
in North Pole.
http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/air-pollution-in-north-pole-worse-than-los-angeles-milwaukee/article_a797d390-2315-11e6-a864-4714d8ec1790.html
New regs for Friday: Child welfare, transportation, emissions
The Hill
Emissions: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing
preliminary calculations foremissions limits on modern
electricity-generating units in dozens of states.
http://thehill.com/regulation/281348-new-regs-for-friday-child-welfare-transportation-emissions
Press Releases
EPA Advises Facility Operators to Minimize Releases during Hazardous
Weather Events
Contact: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main),
harris-young.dawn@epa.gov
ATLANTA – As hurricane season approaches, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is issuing a Hazardous Weather Release Prevention and
Reporting alert to remind facility operators of certain regulations that
require minimization of chemical releases during process shutdown
operations. This alert is designed to increase awareness among facility
operators about their obligation to operate facilities safely and report
chemical releases in a timely manner.
The alert specifies operational release minimization requirements and
clarifies reporting requirements, including exemptions. Unlike some natural
disasters, the onset of a hurricane is predictable and allows for early
preparations to lessen its effect on a facility. Before hurricane force
winds and associated storm surge flooding damage industrial processes, the
alert recommends that operators take preventive action by safely shutting
down processes, or otherwise operate safely under emergency procedures.
The alert and requirements are available at
https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/hazardous-weather-release-prevention-and-reporting
.
In the event of a hazardous weather incident, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters for updated emergency information.
Connect with EPA Region 4 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion4
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
Thursday, May 26, 2016
News Clippings 5/26/16
State
MDEQ discusses Renaissance phase at Purple Creek
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND — Residents opposed to a Costco on Highland Colony Parkway south
of the Natchez Trace voiced their opposition to the Mississippi Department
of Environmental Quality during a public hearing last week.
http://www.onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/MDEQ-discusses-Renaissance-phase-at-Purple-Creek/-3/592/38026
Costco site plan OK'd by board
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND - The city's Architectural Review Board voted to approve site
plans for the controversial Costco site set to be built south of the
roundabout on Highland Colony, despite opposition from several residents.
http://www.onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/Rotator/Article/Costco-site-plan-OK-d-by-board/-3/593/38023
COSTCO
Northside Sun
WED, 05/25/2016 - 12:23PM BY ANTHONY WARREN
MDEQ to determine fate of wholesale store on parkway
The future of a Costco in Ridgeland is now in the hands of the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality's (MDEQ) permit board.
http://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news/costco
MDEQ: All but 1 section of Mississippi Sound safe for swimming
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend,
the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted four of five
water contact advisories on Wednesday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32066185/mdeq-only-one-section-of-the-mississippi-sound-not-safe-for-swimming
MDEQ LIFTS FOUR WATER CONTACT ADVISORIES; ONE STATION UNDER ADVISORY
WXXV
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its
Beach Monitoring Program, lifted four water contact advisories Wednesday
for beach monitoring stations 1, 2, 7A, and 9. Water samples at these
stations show the areas have attained acceptable bacteria levels. There is
currently one station across the Mississippi Gulf Coast under an
advisory—Station 11.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/05/25/mdeq-lifts-four-water-contact-advisories-one-station-advisory/
Students celebrate Arbor Day at the Red Hills Mine
May 25, 2016
Choctaw Plaindealer
The fourth grade students of the Choctaw County School District celebrated
Arbor Day Wednesday, April 20, 2016.
…Representatives from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) and Office of Surface Mining (OSM) also volunteered at the Arbor Day
celebration.
http://choctawplaindealer.com/2016/05/25/students-celebrate-arbor-day-at-the-red-hills-mine-2/
Hundreds of dead fish found on Gulfport beach
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Department of Marine Resource officials are looking
into what caused hundreds of fish to wash ashore in Gulfport Wednesday
night.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32067813/hundreds-of-dead-fish-found-on-gulfport-beach
OCEANA CALLS FOR MANDATORY TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES ON SHRIMP BOATS
MPB
A new report by the advocacy group Oceana says a minor change to a
turtle-excluder device used on shrimp boats could reap benefits for Gulf
wildlife, shrimpers and other fishermen.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/05/25/oceana-calls-for-mandatory-turtle-excluder-devices-on-shrimp-boats/
City responds to erosion problems
WTOK
Meridian, Miss. City officials in Meridian are responding to concerns
raised by some residents about a creek they say is a hazard.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Creek-problems-City-responds-380860821.html
Solid waste department has changing of the guard
Monroe Journal
WESTVILLE – Like Dan Reese of Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority
said, the garbage business is relentless; it just keeps going from the
first stop to the last stop in rain, storms or sunshine.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2016/05/20/solid-waste-department-changing-guard/
Health officials ask governor for guidance on budget changes
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – The state Department of Health is waiting on "legal guidance"
from Gov. Phil Bryant to determine the impact of changes made during the
2016 session on its budget.
http://djournal.com/news/health-officials-ask-governor-guidance-budget-changes/
Oil Spill
Petitioners opposing Gulfport aquarium call it a 'dolphin prison'
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- A former dolphin trainer at Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfort
says she has collected more than 91,000 signatures on a petition she hopes
will scuttle the proposed Mississippi Aquarium, which she calls a dolphin
prison.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article79887327.html
National
White House to Push Companies for More Disclosure on Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Shareholders also pushing oil giants for more disclosure on impact of
climate-change regulations
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The White House is set to propose a new rule Wednesday that
would push companies with federal contracts to publicly disclose more
information about their impact on climate change, their efforts to address
the issue, and how a warmer planet could affect business operations.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-to-push-companies-for-more-disclosure-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions-1464184983
Exxon, Chevron Shareholders Narrowly Reject Climate-Change Stress Tests
Supporters of proposals see victory in defeat
WSJ
Shareholders at Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. narrowly voted down
resolutions calling for stress tests to determine the risk that efforts to
curb climate change pose to their businesses.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/exxon-chevron-shareholders-narrowly-reject-climate-change-stress-tests-1464206192
Senate votes to block USDA catfish inspections
The Hill
The Senate voted Wednesday to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) from inspecting catfish, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle
clashed over the program.
http://thehill.com/regulation/legislation/281222-republicans-feud-over-catfish-inspections
Long missing frog, turtle species making return to Yosemite
AP
FRESNO, CALIF.
A type of frog made famous by Mark Twain will soon be hopping and swimming
through California's Yosemite National Park after a decades-long absence,
officials said Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article79974782.html
Fuel-Economy Debate Comes to a Head
Car makers fear U.S. mileage report could lead to cars that can't find a
market
WSJ
Auto makers and U.S. environmental regulators are headed for a clash over
tougher fuel-economy standards due to take effect in six years.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/fuel-economy-debate-comes-to-a-head-1464123751
The war over Chesapeake Bay
The government just paid this family to pull up productive farmland—in a
huge scheme that stretches the limits of the law, but just might help save
a jewel.
Politico
LANCASTER, Pa. — Linn Moedinger's farm has been in his family for 10
generations, dating back to 1711, 150 acres of rich fields and meandering
streams nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. As long as the
family has owned it, it's been a working farm; today Moedinger leases the
fields to a neighbor who grows corn, wheat and soybeans. The family relies
on the crop income to keep up the historic farmhouses they call home.
http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/05/obama-chesapeake-bay-restoration-000127
Opinion
Salter: Delta Council's focus practical, political
Clarion Ledger
CLEVELAND - At face value, it's still a day of Matlock meets Betty
Crocker at a lawn party fish fry. Southern traditions — real and
imagined, it seems — still hang in the air on the campus of Delta
State University as thick as the humidity.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/05/25/sid-salter-delta-councils-focus-practical-political/84864740/
Press releases
EPA and NIH Award $25.5 Million to Help Improve Environmental Conditions in
Disadvantaged Communities
Harvard, Boston University, Johns Hopkins, University of New Mexico,
University of Arizona, and University of Southern California will receive
funding to create research centers
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), are funding research centers at five
universities to work with local communities to better understand ways to
improve environmental conditions for vulnerable populations.
"Exposures to harmful contaminants in low-income communities is an ongoing
problem in our country," said Michael Slimak, director of EPA's sustainable
and healthy communities' research program. "With the support of these
centers of excellence, EPA is working to address this issue and protect
human health."
Environmental health problems are more likely to occur in communities that
have ongoing exposure to multiple sources of pollution. These communities
are usually economically disadvantaged with limited access to quality
healthcare.
Each university will establish a center of excellence on environmental
health disparities research, which will conduct multidisciplinary research
to mitigate and prevent health disparities driven by environmental causes.
This research will focus on understanding the relationships between
biological, chemical, environmental, genetic and epigenetic, and social
factors.
The following universities received funding:
· Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston University
School of Public Health, Boston, Mass., "Disparities in Exposure and
Health Effects of Multiple Environmental Stressors across the Life
Course," for studying how housing may affect birth weight, childhood
growth trajectories, and risk of death from cardiovascular disease,
and whether improved urban housing may benefit health.
· Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., "Comparing Urban and Rural
Effects of Poverty on COPD," for comparing urban and rural effects of
poverty on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the
impact of improved dietary intake on preventing or mitigating disease
progression.
· University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, N.M.,
"Center for Native American Health Equity Research," for examining
how contact with metal mixtures from abandoned mines affects rural
Native American populations through exposures related to inadequate
drinking water infrastructure, reliance on local foods, and other
uses of local resources to maintain their traditional lifestyle and
culture.
· University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., "Center for Indigenous
Environmental Health Research," for working with indigenous
populations to examine chemical contamination of traditional foods,
water, air, and household environments, while increasing
environmental health literacy.
· University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., "Maternal and
Developmental Risks from Environmental Social Stressors," for
studying how environmental factors may contribute to childhood
obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy in Hispanic and
Latino communities.
The new centers, funded by five-year grants, are an expansion of a
successful pilot program originally started by EPA and the National
Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. EPA's contribution to
this research partnership will be $7.5 million, with $18 million from three
institutes at the NIH (NIMHD, NIEHS, and NICHD).
Information about these grants:
https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/currently-funded-grantees-centers-excellence-environmental-health-disparities
Information about EPA's health research: https://www.epa.gov/healthresearch
MDEQ discusses Renaissance phase at Purple Creek
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND — Residents opposed to a Costco on Highland Colony Parkway south
of the Natchez Trace voiced their opposition to the Mississippi Department
of Environmental Quality during a public hearing last week.
http://www.onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/MDEQ-discusses-Renaissance-phase-at-Purple-Creek/-3/592/38026
Costco site plan OK'd by board
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND - The city's Architectural Review Board voted to approve site
plans for the controversial Costco site set to be built south of the
roundabout on Highland Colony, despite opposition from several residents.
http://www.onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/Rotator/Article/Costco-site-plan-OK-d-by-board/-3/593/38023
COSTCO
Northside Sun
WED, 05/25/2016 - 12:23PM BY ANTHONY WARREN
MDEQ to determine fate of wholesale store on parkway
The future of a Costco in Ridgeland is now in the hands of the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality's (MDEQ) permit board.
http://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news/costco
MDEQ: All but 1 section of Mississippi Sound safe for swimming
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Just in time for the long Memorial Day weekend,
the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted four of five
water contact advisories on Wednesday.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32066185/mdeq-only-one-section-of-the-mississippi-sound-not-safe-for-swimming
MDEQ LIFTS FOUR WATER CONTACT ADVISORIES; ONE STATION UNDER ADVISORY
WXXV
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its
Beach Monitoring Program, lifted four water contact advisories Wednesday
for beach monitoring stations 1, 2, 7A, and 9. Water samples at these
stations show the areas have attained acceptable bacteria levels. There is
currently one station across the Mississippi Gulf Coast under an
advisory—Station 11.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/05/25/mdeq-lifts-four-water-contact-advisories-one-station-advisory/
Students celebrate Arbor Day at the Red Hills Mine
May 25, 2016
Choctaw Plaindealer
The fourth grade students of the Choctaw County School District celebrated
Arbor Day Wednesday, April 20, 2016.
…Representatives from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
(MDEQ) and Office of Surface Mining (OSM) also volunteered at the Arbor Day
celebration.
http://choctawplaindealer.com/2016/05/25/students-celebrate-arbor-day-at-the-red-hills-mine-2/
Hundreds of dead fish found on Gulfport beach
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Department of Marine Resource officials are looking
into what caused hundreds of fish to wash ashore in Gulfport Wednesday
night.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32067813/hundreds-of-dead-fish-found-on-gulfport-beach
OCEANA CALLS FOR MANDATORY TURTLE EXCLUDER DEVICES ON SHRIMP BOATS
MPB
A new report by the advocacy group Oceana says a minor change to a
turtle-excluder device used on shrimp boats could reap benefits for Gulf
wildlife, shrimpers and other fishermen.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/05/25/oceana-calls-for-mandatory-turtle-excluder-devices-on-shrimp-boats/
City responds to erosion problems
WTOK
Meridian, Miss. City officials in Meridian are responding to concerns
raised by some residents about a creek they say is a hazard.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Creek-problems-City-responds-380860821.html
Solid waste department has changing of the guard
Monroe Journal
WESTVILLE – Like Dan Reese of Three Rivers Solid Waste Management Authority
said, the garbage business is relentless; it just keeps going from the
first stop to the last stop in rain, storms or sunshine.
http://monroecountyjournal.com/2016/05/20/solid-waste-department-changing-guard/
Health officials ask governor for guidance on budget changes
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – The state Department of Health is waiting on "legal guidance"
from Gov. Phil Bryant to determine the impact of changes made during the
2016 session on its budget.
http://djournal.com/news/health-officials-ask-governor-guidance-budget-changes/
Oil Spill
Petitioners opposing Gulfport aquarium call it a 'dolphin prison'
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- A former dolphin trainer at Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfort
says she has collected more than 91,000 signatures on a petition she hopes
will scuttle the proposed Mississippi Aquarium, which she calls a dolphin
prison.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article79887327.html
National
White House to Push Companies for More Disclosure on Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Shareholders also pushing oil giants for more disclosure on impact of
climate-change regulations
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The White House is set to propose a new rule Wednesday that
would push companies with federal contracts to publicly disclose more
information about their impact on climate change, their efforts to address
the issue, and how a warmer planet could affect business operations.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/white-house-to-push-companies-for-more-disclosure-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions-1464184983
Exxon, Chevron Shareholders Narrowly Reject Climate-Change Stress Tests
Supporters of proposals see victory in defeat
WSJ
Shareholders at Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. narrowly voted down
resolutions calling for stress tests to determine the risk that efforts to
curb climate change pose to their businesses.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/exxon-chevron-shareholders-narrowly-reject-climate-change-stress-tests-1464206192
Senate votes to block USDA catfish inspections
The Hill
The Senate voted Wednesday to block the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) from inspecting catfish, as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle
clashed over the program.
http://thehill.com/regulation/legislation/281222-republicans-feud-over-catfish-inspections
Long missing frog, turtle species making return to Yosemite
AP
FRESNO, CALIF.
A type of frog made famous by Mark Twain will soon be hopping and swimming
through California's Yosemite National Park after a decades-long absence,
officials said Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article79974782.html
Fuel-Economy Debate Comes to a Head
Car makers fear U.S. mileage report could lead to cars that can't find a
market
WSJ
Auto makers and U.S. environmental regulators are headed for a clash over
tougher fuel-economy standards due to take effect in six years.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/fuel-economy-debate-comes-to-a-head-1464123751
The war over Chesapeake Bay
The government just paid this family to pull up productive farmland—in a
huge scheme that stretches the limits of the law, but just might help save
a jewel.
Politico
LANCASTER, Pa. — Linn Moedinger's farm has been in his family for 10
generations, dating back to 1711, 150 acres of rich fields and meandering
streams nestled in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country. As long as the
family has owned it, it's been a working farm; today Moedinger leases the
fields to a neighbor who grows corn, wheat and soybeans. The family relies
on the crop income to keep up the historic farmhouses they call home.
http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/05/obama-chesapeake-bay-restoration-000127
Opinion
Salter: Delta Council's focus practical, political
Clarion Ledger
CLEVELAND - At face value, it's still a day of Matlock meets Betty
Crocker at a lawn party fish fry. Southern traditions — real and
imagined, it seems — still hang in the air on the campus of Delta
State University as thick as the humidity.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/05/25/sid-salter-delta-councils-focus-practical-political/84864740/
Press releases
EPA and NIH Award $25.5 Million to Help Improve Environmental Conditions in
Disadvantaged Communities
Harvard, Boston University, Johns Hopkins, University of New Mexico,
University of Arizona, and University of Southern California will receive
funding to create research centers
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), are funding research centers at five
universities to work with local communities to better understand ways to
improve environmental conditions for vulnerable populations.
"Exposures to harmful contaminants in low-income communities is an ongoing
problem in our country," said Michael Slimak, director of EPA's sustainable
and healthy communities' research program. "With the support of these
centers of excellence, EPA is working to address this issue and protect
human health."
Environmental health problems are more likely to occur in communities that
have ongoing exposure to multiple sources of pollution. These communities
are usually economically disadvantaged with limited access to quality
healthcare.
Each university will establish a center of excellence on environmental
health disparities research, which will conduct multidisciplinary research
to mitigate and prevent health disparities driven by environmental causes.
This research will focus on understanding the relationships between
biological, chemical, environmental, genetic and epigenetic, and social
factors.
The following universities received funding:
· Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Boston University
School of Public Health, Boston, Mass., "Disparities in Exposure and
Health Effects of Multiple Environmental Stressors across the Life
Course," for studying how housing may affect birth weight, childhood
growth trajectories, and risk of death from cardiovascular disease,
and whether improved urban housing may benefit health.
· Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md., "Comparing Urban and Rural
Effects of Poverty on COPD," for comparing urban and rural effects of
poverty on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the
impact of improved dietary intake on preventing or mitigating disease
progression.
· University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, N.M.,
"Center for Native American Health Equity Research," for examining
how contact with metal mixtures from abandoned mines affects rural
Native American populations through exposures related to inadequate
drinking water infrastructure, reliance on local foods, and other
uses of local resources to maintain their traditional lifestyle and
culture.
· University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz., "Center for Indigenous
Environmental Health Research," for working with indigenous
populations to examine chemical contamination of traditional foods,
water, air, and household environments, while increasing
environmental health literacy.
· University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif., "Maternal and
Developmental Risks from Environmental Social Stressors," for
studying how environmental factors may contribute to childhood
obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy in Hispanic and
Latino communities.
The new centers, funded by five-year grants, are an expansion of a
successful pilot program originally started by EPA and the National
Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. EPA's contribution to
this research partnership will be $7.5 million, with $18 million from three
institutes at the NIH (NIMHD, NIEHS, and NICHD).
Information about these grants:
https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/currently-funded-grantees-centers-excellence-environmental-health-disparities
Information about EPA's health research: https://www.epa.gov/healthresearch
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
News Clippings 5.25.16
State
MS GETS EPA APPROVAL TO USE UNAUTHORIZED PESTICIDE TO SAVE GRAIN SORGHUM
CROP
MPB
Farmers in Mississippi will now have another tool to avoid economic losses
by using a unauthorized pesticide to defend certain crops from bugs that
destroy them. Experts disagree over the impact the pesticide poses to honey
bees. As MPB's Mark Rigsby reports, the Environmental Protection Agency is
taking public comment on a new plan to put the pesticide back on the
market.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/05/25/ms-gets-epa-approval-to-use-unauthorized-pesticide-to-save-grain-sorghum-crop/
Five sections of the Mississippi Sound not safe for swimming
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality issued a water contact advisory Tuesday for Gulfport East Beach
from Tegarden Road east to Anniston Avenue. That now makes two sections of
water in Gulfport under water contact advisories. The other location is
Gulfport Harbor Beach from 20th Avenue east to Thornton Avenue.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32055077/five-sections-of-the-mississippi-sound-not-safe-for-swimming
New bass minimum length set for Barnett Reservoir
Clarion Ledger
A new minimum length requirement for largemouth and Kentucky spotted
bass in Ross Barnett Reservoir has been approved by the Mississippi
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. It's a move biologists
hope will improve the quality of the fishery.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/23/bass-minimum-length-barnett-reservoir/84788414/
Creek concerns in Meridian
WTOK
MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) Concern has been raised about what one Meridian
landowner calls a creek and another calls a ditch. However, both say they
agree that the area in question is a hazard.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Creek-concerns-in-Meridian-380690051.html
Oil Spill
TEAM DEVELOPING MARSH RESTORATION DATABASE
Civil Engineering
April 19, 2016—The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
has hired a team of engineering firms to examine the geographic
characteristics, shoreline retreat rates, and dredging activities of St.
Louis Bay, Back Bay Biloxi, and the Escatawpa/Pascagoula regions of the
state to help identify the most strategic and cost-effective sites for
marsh restoration and living shoreline projects.
http://www.asce.org/magazine/20160419-team-developing-marsh-restoration-database/
Regional
Thousands of dead fish wash up on Grand Isle beach
WWL
GRAND ISLE, La. -- Residents woke up to hundreds of thousands of dead fish
washing up on the beach Tuesday morning, just days before Memorial Day
weekend.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/thousands-of-dead-fish-wash-up-on-grand-isle-beach/214159245
National
GOP looks to cut EPA funding, block Obama environment rules
The Hill
House Republicans on Tuesday released a $32.1 billion funding bill for the
Interior Department and environmental programs that would cut Environmental
Protection Agency regulatory funding and block key Obama administration
rules.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/281042-house-looks-to-cut-epa-funding-block-obama-environment-rules
Public Campaign Against Exxon Has Roots in a 2012 Meeting
NY Times
The activists who have painted a bright target on the back of Exxon Mobil
have "colluded to push politically motivated investigations of climate
dissent," and conducted a "real-life RICO-type conspiracy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/24/science/public-campaign-against-exxon-has-roots-in-a-2012-meeting.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fearth&action=click&contentCollection=earth®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
House Passes Sweeping Chemical Safety Bill
Bipartisan support comes after states, retailers began to address consumer
concerns
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved new chemical safety
rules designed to overhaul federal regulation covering thousands of
chemicals in daily use, a rare bipartisan action in a year when Congress is
torn by presidential politics.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-sweeping-chemical-safety-bill-1464125287
House votes to loosen EPA pesticide rules to fight Zika
The Hill
The House voted along party lines Tuesday to approve a bill that would
loosen pesticide regulations in the name of fighting the Zika virus.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/281111-house-votes-to-loosen-epa-pesticide-rules-to-fight-zika
House Measure Supports Shippers on Ballast Water Dumping
AP
A plan gaining support in Congress and backed by the cargo shipping
industry would establish a nationwide policy for dumping ballast water into
U.S. waterways that environmental groups say would open the door to more
invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels, which have wreaked economic
havoc from the Great Lakes to the West Coast.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/house-measure-supports-shippers-ballast-water-dumping-39336860
New regs for Wednesday: Greenhouse gas disclosures and nurses
The Hill
Greenhouse gas disclosures: The Department of Defense, the General Services
Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is
moving forward with a rule that will require gas suppliers to report
whether they publicly disclose greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas
reduction goals or targets.
http://thehill.com/regulation/pending-regs/281028-new-regs-for-wednesday-greenhouse-gas-disclosures-and-nurses
Press releases
Wicker, Cochran Voice Opposition to New Energy Tax
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran,
R-Miss., today voiced their opposition to a tax on carbon dioxide (CO2),
which would raise the cost of electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and other
energy sources.
The Mississippi lawmakers were among the 24 Senators cosponsoring a
resolution, which expresses the Senate's concern that a CO2 tax would be
detrimental to the economy of the United States.
"A carbon dioxide tax would negatively impact every single American,"
Wicker said. "The Obama Administration continues to push its oppressive
climate agenda, putting our economy at a huge disadvantage with minimal
benefits to the environment. Too many people are facing long-term
unemployment and stagnant wages. Another tax from this White House could
further slow the economy and make it even more difficult for people to find
good-paying jobs."
"The Obama administration's energy and climate change policies rely on new
taxes and regulations that would have damaging effects on the economy of
Mississippi and the entire country. A carbon tax would be prohibitively
costly to the nation," Cochransaid.
Introduced by Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the resolution states that a
carbon dioxide tax is not in the best interest of the United States because
it would increase energy prices, "cause families and consumers to pay more
for essential items such as food, gasoline, and electricity," and "cause
the greatest hardship for the poor, the elderly, and individuals living on
fixed incomes."
The resolution further reflects the sense of the Senate that "the energy
policy of the United States should encourage private sector innovation and
development and not increase the existing tax burden on manufacturers."
A CO2 tax would be applied to energy resources that have accounted for at
least 80 percent of total U.S. energy consumption since 1990, according to
the Energy Information Administration.
A companion measure was introduced in the House of Representatives in
October 2015. It is cosponsored by Representative Steven Palazzo
(R-Miss.).
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2016/5/wicker-cochran-voice-opposition-to-new-energy-tax
EPA and The Recycling Partnership Team Up to Capture the State of Recycling
Contact Information: James Pinkney, (404) 562-9183 (Direct), (404) 562-8400
(Main) pinkney.james@epa.gov
Jason Hale, (252) 455-4788, The Recycling Partnership
jhale@recyclingpartnership.org
ATLANTA – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
national nonprofit The Recycling Partnership are joining forces to focus on
the state of curbside recycling in the U.S.
To accomplish this expansive task, The Partnership will take a hard look at
400 curbside programs, gathering and analyzing 17 distinct markers for
each. Work has already begun, with early results expected in September 2016
and final analysis slated for October 2016.
"The breadth and depth of data this project will produce, coupled with the
meaningful analysis of trends and potential areas of improvement, will
allow the EPA to more effectively support communities through their
transitions to sustainable materials management," said Alan Farmer, EPA
Region 4 Division Director. "The potential for positive impact cannot be
overstated, and our collaboration with The Recycling Partnership is shaping
up to be fruitful indeed."
The research will capture the national picture, with a special focus given
to communities within EPA regions 3, 4, and 5. Select communities will
include the most populated cities in each state, along with a number of
other smaller communities to round out the geographic distribution.
"The secondary material stream begins with local programs, and there is a
great deal of untapped potential there," said Cody Marshall, The
Partnership's Technical Assistance Lead. "Looking at snapshots of programs
across the country will allow us to cross-reference best practices and
pinpoint opportunities to increase recovery. Those insights will in turn
allow national and federal organizations to create targeted action plans."
The Partnership will catalog information on 39 categories of recyclable
materials, along with collection frequencies, tonnages, funding mechanisms,
service providers, and a host of other details. It will analyze this data
for trends and gaps in curbside recycling infrastructure, and ultimately
deliver a graphically rich summary report along with the full database.
To add context and local color to the report, it will include highlight
stories from a number of the communities involved. These stories will share
insights into the current status of local recycling and forecast the
potential to increase tonnage.
"We like to say that recycling is a loosely connected, highly dependent
industry, and it will take meaningful engagement of all players to make the
most of the system," advised Karen Bandhauer, The Partnership's Project
Director. "It takes strong partnerships to deliver the tons needed to make
tomorrow's new consumer goods, and this initial engagement with the EPA
fits the bill."
About The Recycling Partnership
The Recycling Partnership (recyclingpartnership.org) is a dynamic industry
collaboration focused on systematically and measurably improving curbside
recycling in the United States. Working with community and industry
partners nationwide, our strength lies in our best-in-class operational and
technical support, proven community outreach approaches, and
highly-leveraged seed grants to communities.
###
After Hurricane Katrina: Where Are They Now?
Posted on May 23, 2016
Population and housing estimates from last decade show how Hurricane
Katrina affected Gulf Region
Written by: Sarah Gibb, statistician/demographer, Population Division
As you might know, we released the population estimates for cities and
towns last week. However, following Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the
U.S. Census Bureau did not release these estimates for four Mississippi
Gulf Coast communities— Bay St. Louis, Long Beach, Pass Christian and
Waveland in 2006. The cities sustained severe damage from Katrina, and the
impact to their populations and housing stock could not be reliably
measured.
In the aftermath of the storm, the Gulf Coast would face many years of
rebuilding, and learning how populations were rebounding would be critical
for community leaders. For the Census Bureau, producing population
estimates for places where many homes had been destroyed and people
displaced presented a unique but vital challenge.
Between 2006 and 2009, the Census Bureau used a variety of methods and data
sources, including data from the U.S. Postal Service, to estimate the
impact to the population and housing stock in the counties and parishes hit
hardest by the hurricane.
In 2008, we used the number of active utility connections to produce a
complete time series of housing and population estimates for these cities,
going back to 2006. By 2009, the Census Bureau had resumed the pre-2006
methods for estimating housing units and populations for almost all cities
and towns across the country. We estimated 2006 county and parish housing
units in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes by first calculating the ratio of
the 2006 household population to the 2005 household population. We applied
the ratio to the 2005 county housing unit estimate to produce the 2006
estimated housing.
The population and housing unit estimates produced last decade, along with
the 2010 Census counts and the 2015 estimates released today, provide a
basis for understanding how Hurricane Katrina affected the Gulf Coast, and
in particular the four Mississippi cities discussed in this blog.
Population
Bay St. Louis — On July 1, 2005, the population stood at 11,287. Just one
year later, it had declined by more than 2,000 people, or about 18 percent.
Its population remained flat through 2010 but recovered over the next five
years, increasing by about 2,800 (30 percent) to 12,030, or about 700 more
people than in July 2005, before Hurricane Katrina. Of the four cities we
looked at, it was the only one to surpass its pre-Katrina population.
Long Beach — Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Long Beach numbered 16,855, making
it the largest of the four cities in terms of population. It also had the
largest numeric loss after the storm. By July 1, 2006, its population had
dropped by a little more than 2,200 (13 percent). By 2010, the city's
population had recovered to 14,790, or approximately 88 percent of its
population before the hurricane. Like Bay St. Louis, the city of Long Beach
saw its population increase from 2010 to 2015. Ten years after the
hurricane, the city remained about 1,300 people shy of its pre-Katrina
population with a population of 15,555.
Pass Christian — About a year after the hurricane, Pass Christian's
population had dropped 15 percent from its pre-Katrina estimate of 5,845,
putting it just under 5,000 people. Its population continued to decline
until 2010, when it reached a low of 4,613. From that point forward,
however, the trend reversed and on July 1, 2015, the population estimate
reached 94 percent of its pre-Katrina level.
Waveland — Of these four Gulf Coast communities, Waveland had the largest
percent decrease in population in the year after Hurricane Katrina. On July
1, 2005, Waveland's population was 7,849. A year later its population had
declined by 18 percent and would remain mostly unchanged over the next four
years. Between 2010 and 2015, the city's population declined by another 40
people. Its population on July 1, 2015, was at about 82 percent of its
population 10 years earlier.
Housing Units
Every year, the Census Bureau releases population estimates for cities and
towns across the country, and housing unit estimates for the nation,
states, and counties. Of the four cities discussed previously, Bay St.
Louis and Waveland are in Hancock County. Long Beach and Pass Christian are
in Harrison County.
Hancock County — On July 1, 2005, Hancock County had 24,179 housing units.
About one year after Katrina, it declined by about 7,000 housing units, or
30 percent of its housing stock. By 2010, the housing stock had returned to
approximately 90 percent of its pre-Katrina level. As of July 1, 2015,
Hancock County was back up to 24,083 housing units, a mere 96 shy of where
it stood 10 years earlier.
Harrison County — On July 1, 2005, Harrison County had 88,281 housing
units, nearly four times as many as Hancock County. Almost a year after
Hurricane Katrina, Harrison County's housing stock decreased by more than
14,000 housing units, or about 16 percent of its housing estimate before
the hurricane. Between July 1, 2006, and April 1, 2010, the reference day
for the 2010 Census, almost 11,000 housing units were added, an increase of
about 15 percent. By July 1, 2015, it had 90,749 housing units, about 2,500
more than it had 10 years earlier.
These estimates reflect several years of special processing to produce a
time series that accurately reflects the impact Hurricane Katrina had on
these communities.
If you would like to continue to explore these estimates, or examine other
population trends in the United States, please go to<
http://www.census.gov/popest/>. You may also wish to contact the State Data
Center of Mississippi for their perspectives on the population and housing
trends highlighted here. To learn more about the characteristics in these
areas, check out data from the American Community Survey and economic data.
http://blogs.census.gov/2016/05/23/after-hurricane-katrina-where-are-they-now/?eml=gd&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&cid=HK
MS GETS EPA APPROVAL TO USE UNAUTHORIZED PESTICIDE TO SAVE GRAIN SORGHUM
CROP
MPB
Farmers in Mississippi will now have another tool to avoid economic losses
by using a unauthorized pesticide to defend certain crops from bugs that
destroy them. Experts disagree over the impact the pesticide poses to honey
bees. As MPB's Mark Rigsby reports, the Environmental Protection Agency is
taking public comment on a new plan to put the pesticide back on the
market.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/05/25/ms-gets-epa-approval-to-use-unauthorized-pesticide-to-save-grain-sorghum-crop/
Five sections of the Mississippi Sound not safe for swimming
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality issued a water contact advisory Tuesday for Gulfport East Beach
from Tegarden Road east to Anniston Avenue. That now makes two sections of
water in Gulfport under water contact advisories. The other location is
Gulfport Harbor Beach from 20th Avenue east to Thornton Avenue.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32055077/five-sections-of-the-mississippi-sound-not-safe-for-swimming
New bass minimum length set for Barnett Reservoir
Clarion Ledger
A new minimum length requirement for largemouth and Kentucky spotted
bass in Ross Barnett Reservoir has been approved by the Mississippi
Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks. It's a move biologists
hope will improve the quality of the fishery.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/23/bass-minimum-length-barnett-reservoir/84788414/
Creek concerns in Meridian
WTOK
MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) Concern has been raised about what one Meridian
landowner calls a creek and another calls a ditch. However, both say they
agree that the area in question is a hazard.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/Creek-concerns-in-Meridian-380690051.html
Oil Spill
TEAM DEVELOPING MARSH RESTORATION DATABASE
Civil Engineering
April 19, 2016—The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
has hired a team of engineering firms to examine the geographic
characteristics, shoreline retreat rates, and dredging activities of St.
Louis Bay, Back Bay Biloxi, and the Escatawpa/Pascagoula regions of the
state to help identify the most strategic and cost-effective sites for
marsh restoration and living shoreline projects.
http://www.asce.org/magazine/20160419-team-developing-marsh-restoration-database/
Regional
Thousands of dead fish wash up on Grand Isle beach
WWL
GRAND ISLE, La. -- Residents woke up to hundreds of thousands of dead fish
washing up on the beach Tuesday morning, just days before Memorial Day
weekend.
http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/thousands-of-dead-fish-wash-up-on-grand-isle-beach/214159245
National
GOP looks to cut EPA funding, block Obama environment rules
The Hill
House Republicans on Tuesday released a $32.1 billion funding bill for the
Interior Department and environmental programs that would cut Environmental
Protection Agency regulatory funding and block key Obama administration
rules.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/281042-house-looks-to-cut-epa-funding-block-obama-environment-rules
Public Campaign Against Exxon Has Roots in a 2012 Meeting
NY Times
The activists who have painted a bright target on the back of Exxon Mobil
have "colluded to push politically motivated investigations of climate
dissent," and conducted a "real-life RICO-type conspiracy."
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/24/science/public-campaign-against-exxon-has-roots-in-a-2012-meeting.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fearth&action=click&contentCollection=earth®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
House Passes Sweeping Chemical Safety Bill
Bipartisan support comes after states, retailers began to address consumer
concerns
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The House on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved new chemical safety
rules designed to overhaul federal regulation covering thousands of
chemicals in daily use, a rare bipartisan action in a year when Congress is
torn by presidential politics.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-passes-sweeping-chemical-safety-bill-1464125287
House votes to loosen EPA pesticide rules to fight Zika
The Hill
The House voted along party lines Tuesday to approve a bill that would
loosen pesticide regulations in the name of fighting the Zika virus.
http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/281111-house-votes-to-loosen-epa-pesticide-rules-to-fight-zika
House Measure Supports Shippers on Ballast Water Dumping
AP
A plan gaining support in Congress and backed by the cargo shipping
industry would establish a nationwide policy for dumping ballast water into
U.S. waterways that environmental groups say would open the door to more
invasive species like zebra and quagga mussels, which have wreaked economic
havoc from the Great Lakes to the West Coast.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/house-measure-supports-shippers-ballast-water-dumping-39336860
New regs for Wednesday: Greenhouse gas disclosures and nurses
The Hill
Greenhouse gas disclosures: The Department of Defense, the General Services
Administration and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is
moving forward with a rule that will require gas suppliers to report
whether they publicly disclose greenhouse gas emissions and greenhouse gas
reduction goals or targets.
http://thehill.com/regulation/pending-regs/281028-new-regs-for-wednesday-greenhouse-gas-disclosures-and-nurses
Press releases
Wicker, Cochran Voice Opposition to New Energy Tax
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Thad Cochran,
R-Miss., today voiced their opposition to a tax on carbon dioxide (CO2),
which would raise the cost of electricity, gasoline, natural gas, and other
energy sources.
The Mississippi lawmakers were among the 24 Senators cosponsoring a
resolution, which expresses the Senate's concern that a CO2 tax would be
detrimental to the economy of the United States.
"A carbon dioxide tax would negatively impact every single American,"
Wicker said. "The Obama Administration continues to push its oppressive
climate agenda, putting our economy at a huge disadvantage with minimal
benefits to the environment. Too many people are facing long-term
unemployment and stagnant wages. Another tax from this White House could
further slow the economy and make it even more difficult for people to find
good-paying jobs."
"The Obama administration's energy and climate change policies rely on new
taxes and regulations that would have damaging effects on the economy of
Mississippi and the entire country. A carbon tax would be prohibitively
costly to the nation," Cochransaid.
Introduced by Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the resolution states that a
carbon dioxide tax is not in the best interest of the United States because
it would increase energy prices, "cause families and consumers to pay more
for essential items such as food, gasoline, and electricity," and "cause
the greatest hardship for the poor, the elderly, and individuals living on
fixed incomes."
The resolution further reflects the sense of the Senate that "the energy
policy of the United States should encourage private sector innovation and
development and not increase the existing tax burden on manufacturers."
A CO2 tax would be applied to energy resources that have accounted for at
least 80 percent of total U.S. energy consumption since 1990, according to
the Energy Information Administration.
A companion measure was introduced in the House of Representatives in
October 2015. It is cosponsored by Representative Steven Palazzo
(R-Miss.).
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2016/5/wicker-cochran-voice-opposition-to-new-energy-tax
EPA and The Recycling Partnership Team Up to Capture the State of Recycling
Contact Information: James Pinkney, (404) 562-9183 (Direct), (404) 562-8400
(Main) pinkney.james@epa.gov
Jason Hale, (252) 455-4788, The Recycling Partnership
jhale@recyclingpartnership.org
ATLANTA – The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
national nonprofit The Recycling Partnership are joining forces to focus on
the state of curbside recycling in the U.S.
To accomplish this expansive task, The Partnership will take a hard look at
400 curbside programs, gathering and analyzing 17 distinct markers for
each. Work has already begun, with early results expected in September 2016
and final analysis slated for October 2016.
"The breadth and depth of data this project will produce, coupled with the
meaningful analysis of trends and potential areas of improvement, will
allow the EPA to more effectively support communities through their
transitions to sustainable materials management," said Alan Farmer, EPA
Region 4 Division Director. "The potential for positive impact cannot be
overstated, and our collaboration with The Recycling Partnership is shaping
up to be fruitful indeed."
The research will capture the national picture, with a special focus given
to communities within EPA regions 3, 4, and 5. Select communities will
include the most populated cities in each state, along with a number of
other smaller communities to round out the geographic distribution.
"The secondary material stream begins with local programs, and there is a
great deal of untapped potential there," said Cody Marshall, The
Partnership's Technical Assistance Lead. "Looking at snapshots of programs
across the country will allow us to cross-reference best practices and
pinpoint opportunities to increase recovery. Those insights will in turn
allow national and federal organizations to create targeted action plans."
The Partnership will catalog information on 39 categories of recyclable
materials, along with collection frequencies, tonnages, funding mechanisms,
service providers, and a host of other details. It will analyze this data
for trends and gaps in curbside recycling infrastructure, and ultimately
deliver a graphically rich summary report along with the full database.
To add context and local color to the report, it will include highlight
stories from a number of the communities involved. These stories will share
insights into the current status of local recycling and forecast the
potential to increase tonnage.
"We like to say that recycling is a loosely connected, highly dependent
industry, and it will take meaningful engagement of all players to make the
most of the system," advised Karen Bandhauer, The Partnership's Project
Director. "It takes strong partnerships to deliver the tons needed to make
tomorrow's new consumer goods, and this initial engagement with the EPA
fits the bill."
About The Recycling Partnership
The Recycling Partnership (recyclingpartnership.org) is a dynamic industry
collaboration focused on systematically and measurably improving curbside
recycling in the United States. Working with community and industry
partners nationwide, our strength lies in our best-in-class operational and
technical support, proven community outreach approaches, and
highly-leveraged seed grants to communities.
###
After Hurricane Katrina: Where Are They Now?
Posted on May 23, 2016
Population and housing estimates from last decade show how Hurricane
Katrina affected Gulf Region
Written by: Sarah Gibb, statistician/demographer, Population Division
As you might know, we released the population estimates for cities and
towns last week. However, following Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the
U.S. Census Bureau did not release these estimates for four Mississippi
Gulf Coast communities— Bay St. Louis, Long Beach, Pass Christian and
Waveland in 2006. The cities sustained severe damage from Katrina, and the
impact to their populations and housing stock could not be reliably
measured.
In the aftermath of the storm, the Gulf Coast would face many years of
rebuilding, and learning how populations were rebounding would be critical
for community leaders. For the Census Bureau, producing population
estimates for places where many homes had been destroyed and people
displaced presented a unique but vital challenge.
Between 2006 and 2009, the Census Bureau used a variety of methods and data
sources, including data from the U.S. Postal Service, to estimate the
impact to the population and housing stock in the counties and parishes hit
hardest by the hurricane.
In 2008, we used the number of active utility connections to produce a
complete time series of housing and population estimates for these cities,
going back to 2006. By 2009, the Census Bureau had resumed the pre-2006
methods for estimating housing units and populations for almost all cities
and towns across the country. We estimated 2006 county and parish housing
units in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes by first calculating the ratio of
the 2006 household population to the 2005 household population. We applied
the ratio to the 2005 county housing unit estimate to produce the 2006
estimated housing.
The population and housing unit estimates produced last decade, along with
the 2010 Census counts and the 2015 estimates released today, provide a
basis for understanding how Hurricane Katrina affected the Gulf Coast, and
in particular the four Mississippi cities discussed in this blog.
Population
Bay St. Louis — On July 1, 2005, the population stood at 11,287. Just one
year later, it had declined by more than 2,000 people, or about 18 percent.
Its population remained flat through 2010 but recovered over the next five
years, increasing by about 2,800 (30 percent) to 12,030, or about 700 more
people than in July 2005, before Hurricane Katrina. Of the four cities we
looked at, it was the only one to surpass its pre-Katrina population.
Long Beach — Prior to Hurricane Katrina, Long Beach numbered 16,855, making
it the largest of the four cities in terms of population. It also had the
largest numeric loss after the storm. By July 1, 2006, its population had
dropped by a little more than 2,200 (13 percent). By 2010, the city's
population had recovered to 14,790, or approximately 88 percent of its
population before the hurricane. Like Bay St. Louis, the city of Long Beach
saw its population increase from 2010 to 2015. Ten years after the
hurricane, the city remained about 1,300 people shy of its pre-Katrina
population with a population of 15,555.
Pass Christian — About a year after the hurricane, Pass Christian's
population had dropped 15 percent from its pre-Katrina estimate of 5,845,
putting it just under 5,000 people. Its population continued to decline
until 2010, when it reached a low of 4,613. From that point forward,
however, the trend reversed and on July 1, 2015, the population estimate
reached 94 percent of its pre-Katrina level.
Waveland — Of these four Gulf Coast communities, Waveland had the largest
percent decrease in population in the year after Hurricane Katrina. On July
1, 2005, Waveland's population was 7,849. A year later its population had
declined by 18 percent and would remain mostly unchanged over the next four
years. Between 2010 and 2015, the city's population declined by another 40
people. Its population on July 1, 2015, was at about 82 percent of its
population 10 years earlier.
Housing Units
Every year, the Census Bureau releases population estimates for cities and
towns across the country, and housing unit estimates for the nation,
states, and counties. Of the four cities discussed previously, Bay St.
Louis and Waveland are in Hancock County. Long Beach and Pass Christian are
in Harrison County.
Hancock County — On July 1, 2005, Hancock County had 24,179 housing units.
About one year after Katrina, it declined by about 7,000 housing units, or
30 percent of its housing stock. By 2010, the housing stock had returned to
approximately 90 percent of its pre-Katrina level. As of July 1, 2015,
Hancock County was back up to 24,083 housing units, a mere 96 shy of where
it stood 10 years earlier.
Harrison County — On July 1, 2005, Harrison County had 88,281 housing
units, nearly four times as many as Hancock County. Almost a year after
Hurricane Katrina, Harrison County's housing stock decreased by more than
14,000 housing units, or about 16 percent of its housing estimate before
the hurricane. Between July 1, 2006, and April 1, 2010, the reference day
for the 2010 Census, almost 11,000 housing units were added, an increase of
about 15 percent. By July 1, 2015, it had 90,749 housing units, about 2,500
more than it had 10 years earlier.
These estimates reflect several years of special processing to produce a
time series that accurately reflects the impact Hurricane Katrina had on
these communities.
If you would like to continue to explore these estimates, or examine other
population trends in the United States, please go to<
http://www.census.gov/popest/>. You may also wish to contact the State Data
Center of Mississippi for their perspectives on the population and housing
trends highlighted here. To learn more about the characteristics in these
areas, check out data from the American Community Survey and economic data.
http://blogs.census.gov/2016/05/23/after-hurricane-katrina-where-are-they-now/?eml=gd&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery&cid=HK
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
News Clippings 5.24.16
State
Cities Awarded EPA Grants
WXVT
Three Delta area communities will benefit from more than $1 million in
grants to clean up industrial waste.
http://www.yourdeltanews.com/grenada-man-jailed-after-child-dies-car-cleveland-resident-states-top-cop-cities-awarded-epa-grants
Lamar County officials urge people to use White Goods drop-off sites
WDAM
LAMAR COUNTY, MS -Lamar county officials want people to take their larger
trash items to White Goods drop-off sites.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32044914/lamar-county-officials-urge-people-to-use-white-goods-drop-off-sites
Harrison Co. supervisors oppose oyster farming at Henderson Point
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -Debate continues over the future of oyster
aquaculture on the coast. At issue is a proposal from the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources for a 24 acre oyster farm "between the
bridges" at Henderson Point. Many neighbors don't want it there, and the
controversial issue came before Harrison County supervisors at Monday's
board meeting.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32044155/harrison-co-supervisors-oppose-oyster-farming-at-henderson-point
Restaurateurs support oyster farming but residents against it
Sun Herald
BILOXI -- Harrison County supervisors say they support efforts to increase
oyster farming in Coast waters, but not near Henderson Point in West
Harrison County.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article79450922.html
Some businesses shun Mississippi shrimp over skimmer nets
Sun Herald
Thousands of restaurants and stores across America could be shying away
from some Mississippi caught shrimp because a small portion of the shrimp
fleet isn't taking steps to save sea turtles, a watchdog group says.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article79479272.html
Improvement projects underway at GCRL properties
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -It's usually a quiet, peaceful educational
setting at the Gulf Coast Research Lab, a branch of the University of
Southern Mississippi. Not so much these days with saws and drills whirring
away.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32044542/improvement-projects-underway-at-gcrl-properties
GROUPS URGE END TO OFFSHORE DRILLING
MPB
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is looking for feedback from the
public about future Gulf oil and gas lease sales. Environmental and fishing
industry advocates in Mississippi tell MPB's Evelina Burnett, they're
standing together against any new offshore drilling leases.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/05/23/groups-urge-end-to-offshore-drilling/
National
New Mexico Is First to Sue EPA, Mine Owners Over Toxic Spill
AP
New Mexico on Monday became the first state to sue the federal government
and the owners of two mines over the release of 3 million gallons of toxic
wastewater from a closed Colorado gold mine, seeking tens of millions of
dollars for environmental and economic damage caused by the spill.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/mexico-sue-epa-mine-owners-2015-spill-39317012
AG drops climate change subpoena against libertarian think tank
Fox News
The Virgin Islands attorney general has withdrawn a controversial subpoena
against a prominent libertarian D.C. think tank, after being accused of
bullying the group as part of a broader probe into whether ExxonMobil
misled the public about global warming.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/05/23/ag-drops-climate-change-subpoena-against-libertarian-think-tank.html?intcmp=hplnws
EPA RELEASES FINAL DRAFT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 2020 STRATEGY
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency released today the final draft of its
environmental justice strategy that would run through 2020.
http://www.bna.com/epa-releases-final-b57982072819/
Cities Awarded EPA Grants
WXVT
Three Delta area communities will benefit from more than $1 million in
grants to clean up industrial waste.
http://www.yourdeltanews.com/grenada-man-jailed-after-child-dies-car-cleveland-resident-states-top-cop-cities-awarded-epa-grants
Lamar County officials urge people to use White Goods drop-off sites
WDAM
LAMAR COUNTY, MS -Lamar county officials want people to take their larger
trash items to White Goods drop-off sites.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32044914/lamar-county-officials-urge-people-to-use-white-goods-drop-off-sites
Harrison Co. supervisors oppose oyster farming at Henderson Point
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -Debate continues over the future of oyster
aquaculture on the coast. At issue is a proposal from the Mississippi
Department of Marine Resources for a 24 acre oyster farm "between the
bridges" at Henderson Point. Many neighbors don't want it there, and the
controversial issue came before Harrison County supervisors at Monday's
board meeting.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32044155/harrison-co-supervisors-oppose-oyster-farming-at-henderson-point
Restaurateurs support oyster farming but residents against it
Sun Herald
BILOXI -- Harrison County supervisors say they support efforts to increase
oyster farming in Coast waters, but not near Henderson Point in West
Harrison County.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article79450922.html
Some businesses shun Mississippi shrimp over skimmer nets
Sun Herald
Thousands of restaurants and stores across America could be shying away
from some Mississippi caught shrimp because a small portion of the shrimp
fleet isn't taking steps to save sea turtles, a watchdog group says.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article79479272.html
Improvement projects underway at GCRL properties
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -It's usually a quiet, peaceful educational
setting at the Gulf Coast Research Lab, a branch of the University of
Southern Mississippi. Not so much these days with saws and drills whirring
away.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32044542/improvement-projects-underway-at-gcrl-properties
GROUPS URGE END TO OFFSHORE DRILLING
MPB
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is looking for feedback from the
public about future Gulf oil and gas lease sales. Environmental and fishing
industry advocates in Mississippi tell MPB's Evelina Burnett, they're
standing together against any new offshore drilling leases.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/05/23/groups-urge-end-to-offshore-drilling/
National
New Mexico Is First to Sue EPA, Mine Owners Over Toxic Spill
AP
New Mexico on Monday became the first state to sue the federal government
and the owners of two mines over the release of 3 million gallons of toxic
wastewater from a closed Colorado gold mine, seeking tens of millions of
dollars for environmental and economic damage caused by the spill.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/mexico-sue-epa-mine-owners-2015-spill-39317012
AG drops climate change subpoena against libertarian think tank
Fox News
The Virgin Islands attorney general has withdrawn a controversial subpoena
against a prominent libertarian D.C. think tank, after being accused of
bullying the group as part of a broader probe into whether ExxonMobil
misled the public about global warming.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/05/23/ag-drops-climate-change-subpoena-against-libertarian-think-tank.html?intcmp=hplnws
EPA RELEASES FINAL DRAFT OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE 2020 STRATEGY
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency released today the final draft of its
environmental justice strategy that would run through 2020.
http://www.bna.com/epa-releases-final-b57982072819/
Monday, May 23, 2016
News Clippings 5.23.16
State
COURT DENIES JACKSON REQUEST TO MOVE TREATMENT PLANT CASE FROM RANKIN TO
HINDS COUNTY
Northside Sun
FRI, 05/20/2016
Arguments can finally begin in a case that will determine whether or not
Rankin County will get its own wastewater treatment plant.
http://northsidesun.com/news/court-denies-jackson-request-move-treatment-plant-case-rankin-hinds-county
Code Orange Ozone Advisory in effect today
Fox 13
A "Code Orange Ozone Forecast" has been issued for the Memphis metropolitan
area for today.
http://www.fox13memphis.com/news/code-orange-ozone-advisory-in-effect-today/298509644
Miss. campus news: May 22
Clarion Ledger
]MSU
Researchers lead efforts to protect watershed
More than 20 campus units and 30 faculty and staff members at Mississippi
State University are teaming with state and federal agencies and local
stakeholders to restore the water quality of a creek that flows through
campus and is the focal point of the Catalpa Creek watershed.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/05/22/miss-campus-news-may-22/84757948/
Rare Black Bears are on the move
WLBT
Some folks in the Edwards believe a rare black bare has been sniffing
around their home. Mississippi Wildlife experts tell us, yes that's
possible since the small bears are shaking off winter doldrums.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/32027622/rare-black-bears-are-on-the-move
Oil Spill
Six years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, scientists still know
little about Gulf dolphins
Houston Chronicle
Kristi Fazioli slowed the Boston Whaler and cut the engine when a fin
finally emerged where the Houston Ship Channel passes Bolivar Peninsula. At
the bow, Sherah Loe, a graduate student, readied her camera.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Six-years-after-the-Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill-7930581.php
Regional
Edible 6-pack rings provide safe snack for ocean life
Times-Picayune
A Florida microbrewery has created an edible six-pack ring that, if it ends
up in the ocean, can be safely eaten by marine life.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/05/edible_6-pack_rings_provide_sa.html#incart_river_index
8 Alabama drinking water systems have chemicals linked to cancer above safe
levels, EPA says
Al.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new drinking water health
advisory for certain man-made chemicals Thursday, warning consumers that
exposure to elevated levels of the compounds can lead to a number of health
problems over time, including cancer in adults and developmental effects
impacts to fetuses and breastfed infants.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/epa_8_alabama_drinking_water_s.html
National
House, Senate roll out chemical safety compromise
The Hill
Leading lawmakers in the House and Senate on Friday unveiled a compromise
chemical safety overhaul bill after months of negotiations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/280707-house-senate-roll-out-chemical-safety-compromise
New Complaints of Exposures Emerge at Hanford Site
Noxious-vapors incidents spur renewed calls for action at nuclear-weapons
cleanup project
WSJ
A fresh spate of worker complaints about exposures to noxious vapors from
waste tanks at the closed Hanford nuclear-weapons complex in Washington has
brought renewed calls for action and renewed criticism of the Energy
Department's handling of the giant cleanup project.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-complaints-of-exposures-emerge-at-hanford-site-1463823000
Opinion
Session II: Attack of Lawmakers Wanting to Spend BP Money
Geoff Pender
Clarion Ledger
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, there's talk of
"2016 Legislative Session II: Attack of the Lawmakers Wanting to Spend BP
Money."
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/05/21/pender-special-session/84658854/
Legislative Dems, Bryant find common ground on Personnel Board
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – If legislative leaders attempt to override the veto of Republican
Gov. Phil Bryant on at least one piece of legislation, he will have the
backing of an unusual group – legislative Democrats.
http://djournal.com/news/legislative-dems-bryant-find-common-ground-personnel-board/
Press Releases
May 20 2016
Wicker Helps States Improve Dam Safety, Infrastructure
Miss. Senator Works to Prevent Dam Failures, Protect Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works, is supporting legislation aimed
at preventing dam failures and improving dam safety throughout the country.
The "High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act" – introduced by Senators
Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jack Reed, D-R.I. – would provide
federal grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of non-federal,
high-hazard-potential dams.
"Dams play a critical role in our nation's water supply, flood control,
recreation, and other commercial needs," Wicker said. "There are more than
300 high-hazard dams in Mississippi, many located in small communities that
cannot afford to make repairs. I am hopeful that this new effort will
improve safety and protect this important infrastructure."
The bipartisan bill, S. 2835, would expand FEMA's existing National Dam
Safety Program to allow non-federal entities to apply for matching grants
for the repair and removal of non-federal, non-agricultural,
non-hydroelectric small dams that a state dam safety agency has identified
as having high-hazard potential. The program is not mandatory, but allows
states to determine which, if any, dams they would submit for assistance.
The legislation is supported by the Association of State Dam Safety
Officials and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
High-hazard-potential dams are categorized as those where failure is
probable to cause loss of human life and endanger population centers and
ecosystems, especially in periods of extreme weather and flooding.
According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the number of
high-hazard potential dams increased nationally from 9,281 in 1998 to more
than 14,700 in 2013.
There is currently no federal program to assist states with the repair or
removal of these non-federal, high-hazard-potential small dams. This leaves
many dams vulnerable and some states without the ability to address the
risks posed by small dam failures that would likely result in the loss of
lives, homes, and businesses.
The state of Mississippi has 5,680 dams on the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality inventory, 305 of which are classified as having
high-hazard potential.
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0DD2F8C0-B6E6-4A89-BA7E-D4C848C7C1D9
EPA Announces over $1.5 Million to Assess and Clean Up Contaminated Sites,
Promote Economic Redevelopment in Mississippi
Brownfields grants to transform and uplift communities, leverage jobs
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293 (Direct), (404)
562-8400 (Main) marraccini.davina@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today
the selection of 4 new grant investments totaling $1,525,000 to four
communities in Mississippi. Recipients will each receive approximately
$325,000 - $400,000 in funding toward EPA cooperative agreements. The
Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (ARC) grants go to communities
that are underserved and economically disadvantaged, including
neighborhoods where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed.
"These grants will empower communities to transform idle, languishing lands
into vibrant hubs for business, jobs, and recreation," said EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy. "It's all about providing that initial
funding, and sparking that first conversation to set stalled sites on a
path toward smart, safe redevelopment that directly benefits communities."
EPA's Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to
recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The
investments will provide communities with the funding necessary to assess,
clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and
leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
Brownfields ARC grants provide resources early on, which is critical for
the success of communities' abilities to leverage additional partnerships
and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and
governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources
needed to meet their revitalization goals.
The Mississippi grant recipients are:
· Greenwood, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $400,000
· Hernando, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $400,000
· Vicksburg, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $400,000
· Yazoo City, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $325,000
Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites
that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent. Data also shows
that brownfields clean ups can increase overall property values within a
one-mile radius. Preliminary analysis of 48 brownfields sites shows that an
estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue was
generated for local governments in a single year after cleanup. This is two
to seven times more than the $12.4 million the EPA contributed to the
cleanup of these brownfields.
This latest funding advances EPA's broader commitment to making a visible
difference in communities by focusing on coordinating federal investments
to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically
distressed communities address local priorities. The Brownfields Program
invests in communities where there are multiple federal agency partnerships
at work. Aligning federal resources allows agencies to better meet
communities' needs and for communities to more effectively reap the
benefits of collaborative investments. ARC grantees demonstrate a high
level of preparedness to undertake specific projects, as they have firm
commitments of leveraged funds to move projects forward. An impressive 70
percent of recipients have secured public and private resources which will
directly align and further the efforts of proposed projects.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in
America. Since the inception of the EPA's Brownfields Program in 1995,
cumulative brownfields program investments have leveraged more than $20
billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and
redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged
per EPA brownfields dollar expended. These investments have resulted in
approximately 108,924 jobs nationwide. EPA's Brownfields Program empowers
states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent,
assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.
List of the FY 2016 Applicants Selected for Funding:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-fy16-arc-grants-selected-funding
More on ARC grants:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
More on EPA's Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
More on successful Brownfields stories:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories
Administrator McCarthy Announces $55.2 Million to Assess and Clean Up
Contaminated Sites, Promote Economic Redevelopment Nationwide
Brownfields grants to transform and uplift communities, leverage jobs
WASHINGTON – At an event at a former brownfield site in Burlington,
Vermont, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina
McCarthy announced today the selection of 218 new grant investments
totaling $55.2 million to 131 communities across the U.S. Recipients will
receive approximately $200,000 - $820,000 in funding toward EPA cooperative
agreements. The Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (ARC) grants go
to communities that are underserved and economically disadvantaged,
including neighborhoods where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most
needed.
"These grants will empower communities to transform idle, languishing lands
into vibrant hubs for business, jobs, and recreation," said EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy. "It's all about providing that initial
funding, and sparking that first conversation to set stalled sites on a
path toward smart, safe redevelopment that directly benefits communities."
Today's event highlighted progress made in cleaning up and redeveloping a
formerly contaminated site in Burlington, the Maiden Lane project. Public
and private investment in the site, including by ARC grant recipient
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), led to the
development of 28 housing units, including four affordable housing units.
The CCRPC invested $38,000 in assessment funding from a previous assessment
grant at the site, which leveraged private investment of more than $5
million.
EPA's Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to
recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The
investments will provide communities with the funding necessary to assess,
clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and
leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
Brownfields ARC grants provide resources early on, which is critical for
the success of communities' abilities to leverage additional partnerships
and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and
governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources
needed to meet their revitalization goals.
Approximately $14 million of the assessment and cleanup funding will go to
applicants who are also EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant recipients
and Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/Dept. of Transportation
(DOT)/EPA partnership communities. Funding will help communities clean up
and reuse brownfield sites to create community assets such as housing,
recreation and open space, health facilities, employment, education, social
services, transportation options, infrastructure and commerce
opportunities. For example, Dubuque, Iowa's new $200,000 cleanup grant will
address contamination at the Blum property, a former scrap yard and
recycling facility, and will lead to the development of a pocket park for
residents of the distressed Washington Neighborhood within Dubuque. In
addition to the benefits gained by creating more community spaces, this
funding will also build upon Dubuque's 2010 DOT TIGER grant and 2015 EPA
Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant which support the revitalization of
the Washington Neighborhood.
Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites
that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent. Data also shows
that brownfields clean ups can increase overall property values within a
one-mile radius. Preliminary analysis of 48 brownfields sites shows that an
estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue was
generated for local governments in a single year after cleanup. This is two
to seven times more than the $12.4 million the EPA contributed to the
cleanup of these brownfields.
This latest funding advances EPA's broader commitment to making a visible
difference in communities by focusing on coordinating federal investments
to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically
distressed communities address local priorities. The Brownfields Program
invests in communities where there are multiple federal agency partnerships
at work. Aligning federal resources allows agencies to better meet
communities' needs and for communities to more effectively reap the
benefits of collaborative investments. ARC grantees demonstrate a high
level of preparedness to undertake specific projects, as they have firm
commitments of leveraged funds to move projects forward. An impressive 70
percent of recipients have secured public and private resources which will
directly align and further the efforts of proposed projects.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in
America. Since the inception of the EPA's Brownfields Program in 1995,
cumulative brownfields program investments have leveraged more than $20
billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and
redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged
per EPA brownfields dollar expended. These investments have resulted in
approximately 108,924 jobs nationwide. EPA's Brownfields Program empowers
states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent,
assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.
List of the FY 2016 Applicants Selected for Funding: https://www.epa.gov/
brownfields/brownfields-fy16-arc-grants-selected-funding
More on ARC grants:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
More on EPA's Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
More on successful Brownfields stories:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories
COURT DENIES JACKSON REQUEST TO MOVE TREATMENT PLANT CASE FROM RANKIN TO
HINDS COUNTY
Northside Sun
FRI, 05/20/2016
Arguments can finally begin in a case that will determine whether or not
Rankin County will get its own wastewater treatment plant.
http://northsidesun.com/news/court-denies-jackson-request-move-treatment-plant-case-rankin-hinds-county
Code Orange Ozone Advisory in effect today
Fox 13
A "Code Orange Ozone Forecast" has been issued for the Memphis metropolitan
area for today.
http://www.fox13memphis.com/news/code-orange-ozone-advisory-in-effect-today/298509644
Miss. campus news: May 22
Clarion Ledger
]MSU
Researchers lead efforts to protect watershed
More than 20 campus units and 30 faculty and staff members at Mississippi
State University are teaming with state and federal agencies and local
stakeholders to restore the water quality of a creek that flows through
campus and is the focal point of the Catalpa Creek watershed.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/05/22/miss-campus-news-may-22/84757948/
Rare Black Bears are on the move
WLBT
Some folks in the Edwards believe a rare black bare has been sniffing
around their home. Mississippi Wildlife experts tell us, yes that's
possible since the small bears are shaking off winter doldrums.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/32027622/rare-black-bears-are-on-the-move
Oil Spill
Six years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, scientists still know
little about Gulf dolphins
Houston Chronicle
Kristi Fazioli slowed the Boston Whaler and cut the engine when a fin
finally emerged where the Houston Ship Channel passes Bolivar Peninsula. At
the bow, Sherah Loe, a graduate student, readied her camera.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Six-years-after-the-Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill-7930581.php
Regional
Edible 6-pack rings provide safe snack for ocean life
Times-Picayune
A Florida microbrewery has created an edible six-pack ring that, if it ends
up in the ocean, can be safely eaten by marine life.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/05/edible_6-pack_rings_provide_sa.html#incart_river_index
8 Alabama drinking water systems have chemicals linked to cancer above safe
levels, EPA says
Al.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a new drinking water health
advisory for certain man-made chemicals Thursday, warning consumers that
exposure to elevated levels of the compounds can lead to a number of health
problems over time, including cancer in adults and developmental effects
impacts to fetuses and breastfed infants.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/05/epa_8_alabama_drinking_water_s.html
National
House, Senate roll out chemical safety compromise
The Hill
Leading lawmakers in the House and Senate on Friday unveiled a compromise
chemical safety overhaul bill after months of negotiations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/280707-house-senate-roll-out-chemical-safety-compromise
New Complaints of Exposures Emerge at Hanford Site
Noxious-vapors incidents spur renewed calls for action at nuclear-weapons
cleanup project
WSJ
A fresh spate of worker complaints about exposures to noxious vapors from
waste tanks at the closed Hanford nuclear-weapons complex in Washington has
brought renewed calls for action and renewed criticism of the Energy
Department's handling of the giant cleanup project.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-complaints-of-exposures-emerge-at-hanford-site-1463823000
Opinion
Session II: Attack of Lawmakers Wanting to Spend BP Money
Geoff Pender
Clarion Ledger
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, there's talk of
"2016 Legislative Session II: Attack of the Lawmakers Wanting to Spend BP
Money."
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/05/21/pender-special-session/84658854/
Legislative Dems, Bryant find common ground on Personnel Board
By Bobby Harrison
Daily Journal Jackson Bureau
JACKSON – If legislative leaders attempt to override the veto of Republican
Gov. Phil Bryant on at least one piece of legislation, he will have the
backing of an unusual group – legislative Democrats.
http://djournal.com/news/legislative-dems-bryant-find-common-ground-personnel-board/
Press Releases
May 20 2016
Wicker Helps States Improve Dam Safety, Infrastructure
Miss. Senator Works to Prevent Dam Failures, Protect Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., a member of the Senate
Committee on Environment and Public Works, is supporting legislation aimed
at preventing dam failures and improving dam safety throughout the country.
The "High Hazard Potential Small Dam Safety Act" – introduced by Senators
Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Jack Reed, D-R.I. – would provide
federal grant assistance for the rehabilitation and repair of non-federal,
high-hazard-potential dams.
"Dams play a critical role in our nation's water supply, flood control,
recreation, and other commercial needs," Wicker said. "There are more than
300 high-hazard dams in Mississippi, many located in small communities that
cannot afford to make repairs. I am hopeful that this new effort will
improve safety and protect this important infrastructure."
The bipartisan bill, S. 2835, would expand FEMA's existing National Dam
Safety Program to allow non-federal entities to apply for matching grants
for the repair and removal of non-federal, non-agricultural,
non-hydroelectric small dams that a state dam safety agency has identified
as having high-hazard potential. The program is not mandatory, but allows
states to determine which, if any, dams they would submit for assistance.
The legislation is supported by the Association of State Dam Safety
Officials and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
High-hazard-potential dams are categorized as those where failure is
probable to cause loss of human life and endanger population centers and
ecosystems, especially in periods of extreme weather and flooding.
According to the Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the number of
high-hazard potential dams increased nationally from 9,281 in 1998 to more
than 14,700 in 2013.
There is currently no federal program to assist states with the repair or
removal of these non-federal, high-hazard-potential small dams. This leaves
many dams vulnerable and some states without the ability to address the
risks posed by small dam failures that would likely result in the loss of
lives, homes, and businesses.
The state of Mississippi has 5,680 dams on the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality inventory, 305 of which are classified as having
high-hazard potential.
http://www.wicker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=0DD2F8C0-B6E6-4A89-BA7E-D4C848C7C1D9
EPA Announces over $1.5 Million to Assess and Clean Up Contaminated Sites,
Promote Economic Redevelopment in Mississippi
Brownfields grants to transform and uplift communities, leverage jobs
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, (404) 562-8293 (Direct), (404)
562-8400 (Main) marraccini.davina@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today
the selection of 4 new grant investments totaling $1,525,000 to four
communities in Mississippi. Recipients will each receive approximately
$325,000 - $400,000 in funding toward EPA cooperative agreements. The
Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (ARC) grants go to communities
that are underserved and economically disadvantaged, including
neighborhoods where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed.
"These grants will empower communities to transform idle, languishing lands
into vibrant hubs for business, jobs, and recreation," said EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy. "It's all about providing that initial
funding, and sparking that first conversation to set stalled sites on a
path toward smart, safe redevelopment that directly benefits communities."
EPA's Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to
recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The
investments will provide communities with the funding necessary to assess,
clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and
leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
Brownfields ARC grants provide resources early on, which is critical for
the success of communities' abilities to leverage additional partnerships
and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and
governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources
needed to meet their revitalization goals.
The Mississippi grant recipients are:
· Greenwood, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $400,000
· Hernando, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $400,000
· Vicksburg, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $400,000
· Yazoo City, Miss. Assessment Grant
Community-wide $325,000
Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites
that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent. Data also shows
that brownfields clean ups can increase overall property values within a
one-mile radius. Preliminary analysis of 48 brownfields sites shows that an
estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue was
generated for local governments in a single year after cleanup. This is two
to seven times more than the $12.4 million the EPA contributed to the
cleanup of these brownfields.
This latest funding advances EPA's broader commitment to making a visible
difference in communities by focusing on coordinating federal investments
to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically
distressed communities address local priorities. The Brownfields Program
invests in communities where there are multiple federal agency partnerships
at work. Aligning federal resources allows agencies to better meet
communities' needs and for communities to more effectively reap the
benefits of collaborative investments. ARC grantees demonstrate a high
level of preparedness to undertake specific projects, as they have firm
commitments of leveraged funds to move projects forward. An impressive 70
percent of recipients have secured public and private resources which will
directly align and further the efforts of proposed projects.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in
America. Since the inception of the EPA's Brownfields Program in 1995,
cumulative brownfields program investments have leveraged more than $20
billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and
redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged
per EPA brownfields dollar expended. These investments have resulted in
approximately 108,924 jobs nationwide. EPA's Brownfields Program empowers
states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent,
assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.
List of the FY 2016 Applicants Selected for Funding:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-fy16-arc-grants-selected-funding
More on ARC grants:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
More on EPA's Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
More on successful Brownfields stories:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories
Administrator McCarthy Announces $55.2 Million to Assess and Clean Up
Contaminated Sites, Promote Economic Redevelopment Nationwide
Brownfields grants to transform and uplift communities, leverage jobs
WASHINGTON – At an event at a former brownfield site in Burlington,
Vermont, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina
McCarthy announced today the selection of 218 new grant investments
totaling $55.2 million to 131 communities across the U.S. Recipients will
receive approximately $200,000 - $820,000 in funding toward EPA cooperative
agreements. The Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup (ARC) grants go
to communities that are underserved and economically disadvantaged,
including neighborhoods where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most
needed.
"These grants will empower communities to transform idle, languishing lands
into vibrant hubs for business, jobs, and recreation," said EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy. "It's all about providing that initial
funding, and sparking that first conversation to set stalled sites on a
path toward smart, safe redevelopment that directly benefits communities."
Today's event highlighted progress made in cleaning up and redeveloping a
formerly contaminated site in Burlington, the Maiden Lane project. Public
and private investment in the site, including by ARC grant recipient
Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), led to the
development of 28 housing units, including four affordable housing units.
The CCRPC invested $38,000 in assessment funding from a previous assessment
grant at the site, which leveraged private investment of more than $5
million.
EPA's Brownfields Program strives to expand the ability of communities to
recycle vacant and abandoned properties for new, productive reuses. The
investments will provide communities with the funding necessary to assess,
clean up and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and
leverage jobs while protecting public health and the environment.
Brownfields ARC grants provide resources early on, which is critical for
the success of communities' abilities to leverage additional partnerships
and resources. Partnerships between neighborhoods, local developers and
governments are essential for impacted communities to acquire the resources
needed to meet their revitalization goals.
Approximately $14 million of the assessment and cleanup funding will go to
applicants who are also EPA Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant recipients
and Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)/Dept. of Transportation
(DOT)/EPA partnership communities. Funding will help communities clean up
and reuse brownfield sites to create community assets such as housing,
recreation and open space, health facilities, employment, education, social
services, transportation options, infrastructure and commerce
opportunities. For example, Dubuque, Iowa's new $200,000 cleanup grant will
address contamination at the Blum property, a former scrap yard and
recycling facility, and will lead to the development of a pocket park for
residents of the distressed Washington Neighborhood within Dubuque. In
addition to the benefits gained by creating more community spaces, this
funding will also build upon Dubuque's 2010 DOT TIGER grant and 2015 EPA
Brownfields Area-Wide Planning grant which support the revitalization of
the Washington Neighborhood.
Studies have shown that residential property values near brownfields sites
that are cleaned up increased between 5 and 15 percent. Data also shows
that brownfields clean ups can increase overall property values within a
one-mile radius. Preliminary analysis of 48 brownfields sites shows that an
estimated $29 million to $97 million in additional tax revenue was
generated for local governments in a single year after cleanup. This is two
to seven times more than the $12.4 million the EPA contributed to the
cleanup of these brownfields.
This latest funding advances EPA's broader commitment to making a visible
difference in communities by focusing on coordinating federal investments
to help environmentally overburdened, underserved, and economically
distressed communities address local priorities. The Brownfields Program
invests in communities where there are multiple federal agency partnerships
at work. Aligning federal resources allows agencies to better meet
communities' needs and for communities to more effectively reap the
benefits of collaborative investments. ARC grantees demonstrate a high
level of preparedness to undertake specific projects, as they have firm
commitments of leveraged funds to move projects forward. An impressive 70
percent of recipients have secured public and private resources which will
directly align and further the efforts of proposed projects.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated waste sites in
America. Since the inception of the EPA's Brownfields Program in 1995,
cumulative brownfields program investments have leveraged more than $20
billion from a variety of public and private sources for cleanup and
redevelopment activities. This equates to an average of $17.79 leveraged
per EPA brownfields dollar expended. These investments have resulted in
approximately 108,924 jobs nationwide. EPA's Brownfields Program empowers
states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent,
assess, safely clean up, and sustainably reuse brownfields sites.
List of the FY 2016 Applicants Selected for Funding: https://www.epa.gov/
brownfields/brownfields-fy16-arc-grants-selected-funding
More on ARC grants:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/types-brownfields-grant-funding
More on EPA's Brownfields Program: https://www.epa.gov/brownfields
More on successful Brownfields stories:
https://www.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfields-success-stories
Friday, May 20, 2016
News Clippings 5.20.16
State
MDEQ hosting Thursday hearing for Renaissance III
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND — Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality officials are
set to hold a public hearing Thursday night (tonight) concerning matters
with Renaissance at Colony Park Phase III.
http://onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/MDEQ-hosting-Thursday-hearing-for-Renaissance-III/-3/592/37993
Mississippi pauses implementation of controversial Clean Power Plan
Mississippi Watchdog
Senior House Republicans have accused the Environmental Protection Agency
ofviolating a Supreme Court order by continuing to implement the agency's
Clean Power Plan, but Mississippi environmental regulators are holding
fast.http://watchdog.org/265697/clean-power-plan-9/
4 things that should be on your summer bucket list
Clarion Ledger
Summer doesn't officially start until next month, but with warmer weather
already here and kids finishing school, it might as well have begun. And if
you're like many of us, you've already marked down vacation days to go to
the beach, noted the weekend of your family reunion and maybe have a day or
two scheduled with your favorite fishing guide on the coast.
…And there is no shortage of places to use one. According to the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, there are over 26,000
miles of streams and rivers that flow year-round in Mississippi, which is
roughly the distance around Earth.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/19/4-things-summer-bucket-list/84501012/
PUBLIC MEETING ON GULF OF MEXICO DRILLING
WXXV
Dozens of men and women took a stand against offshore drilling leases this
afternoon in Gulfport.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/05/19/public-meeting-on-gulf-of-mexico-drilling/
Testing Solar in Mississippi
Jackson Free Press
JACKSON — It's a relatively overcast day, but the rows of solar panels are
tilted to face where the sun could be shining if the clouds parted. The
backs of the panels are mirrored, reflecting the green glass below them,
giving off a sort of space-age vibe.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/may/18/testing-solar-mississippi/
Deer carcass import ban proposed
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has proposed a
ban on the importation of deer, elk, moose and caribou carcasses into
Mississippi. According to Wildlife Bureau Director Chad Dacus, the intent
of the regulation is to prevent the introduction of disease into
Mississippi's deer herd.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/19/deer-carcass-import-ban-proposed/84599076/
State finance leader retiring in June
Kevin Upchurch leaving DFA Executive Director position
WAPT
JACKSON, Miss. —Kevin Upchurch, the state fiscal officer and executive
director of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration,
announced that he is planning to retire from state government service at
the end of June.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/state-finance-leader-retiring-in-june/39637244
Oil Spill
Season's first Kemp's turtle nest spotted
Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON - Two college students on Thursday discovered the first eggs this
nesting season laid by an endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle on the upper
Texas Gulf Coast.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Season-s-first-Kemp-s-turtle-nest-spotted-7784719.php
Regional
Nile crocodiles captured in South Florida still have scientists seeking
answers
AP
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Step aside, Burmese python — you may no longer be
Florida's scariest invasive species. Researchers have confirmed that three
Nile crocodiles were captured near Miami, and they say it's possible more
of the man-eating reptiles are still out there, although no one can say for
sure.
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/05/20/nile-crocodiles-captured-in-south-florida-still-have-scientists-seeking-answers.html?intcmp=hpbt4
National
Carbon dioxide levels jump by record amount due to El Nino
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) - The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air
jumped by the biggest amount on record last month, a rise amplified by El
Nino, scientists say.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32018323/carbon-dioxide-levels-jump-by-record-amount-due-to-el-nino?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
EPA Issues New Health Advisories for Chemical Found Near Some Plastics
Plants
Agency decreases acceptable concentrations of PFOA and PFOS
WSJ
The Environmental Protection Agency announced a new health advisory
Thursday for perfluorooctanoic acid, a potentially toxic chemical, calling
for water utilities across the nation to adhere to a stricter guideline
than the agency had previously recommended.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-issues-new-health-advisories-for-chemical-from-some-plastics-plants-1463687484
EPA suggests tighter limits for industrial chemical in water
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators announced tighter guidelines Thursday
for human exposure to an industrial chemical used for decades in such
consumer products as non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpets and microwave
popcorn bags.
http://ktar.com/story/1081028/epa-issues-tighter-limits-for-industrial-chemical-in-water/
EPA shifting from science to 'public perception' model on pesticides?
Organizations say adversarial relationship becoming strained
May 19, 2016Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press
Farmers are losing crop protection chemicals at an alarming rate, often due
to what are being called increasingly arbitrary decisions by the
Environmental Protection Agency acting outside of FIFRA.
http://deltafarmpress.com/cotton/epa-shifting-science-public-perception-model-pesticides?page=1
State Officials Investigated Over Their Inquiry Into Exxon Mobil's Climate
Change Research
NY Times
Since last November, a growing number of state attorneys general have been
pointing their fingers at Exxon Mobil, investigating whether the energy
company's research about climate change conflicted directly with its public
statements on the issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/science/exxon-mobil-climate-change-global-warming.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&_r=0
Deal Settles Homeowners' Suit Over Nuclear-Weapons Plant
Dow Chemical, Rockwell Automation agree to pay $375 million in lawsuit over
plutonium releases
AP
DENVER—Thousands of homeowners have reached a $375 million settlement over
their claims that plutonium releases from a nuclear-weapons plant in
Colorado damaged their health and devalued their property, officials said
Thursday.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/deal-settles-homeowners-suit-over-nuclear-weapons-plant-1463706965
Lake Mead declines to lowest level in history
The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The nation's largest reservoir has broken a record,
declining to the lowest level since it was filled in the 1930s.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/05/19/lake-mead-declines-lowest-level-history/84628000/
People love watching nature on nest cams – until it gets grisly
Washington Post
The osprey cam at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is trained on a
nest near the Massachusetts seaside, and the pair that call it home are now
waiting for three eggs to hatch. But for the first spring in a decade, the
camera is dark, and a note on the institute's website offers only a
two-sentence explanation.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article78784122.html
Press releases
FEMA Adds Two Additional Counties to Disaster Declaration for Public
Assistance
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant's request for Issaquena and Lawrence counties to
become eligible for all categories of Public Assistance was approved today.
Public Assistance provides reimbursement to state, tribal and local
governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations for things like
debris removal and repair of damaged infrastructure.
The counties granted all categories of the Public Assistance program are:
Bolivar, Claiborne, Clarke, Coahoma, Covington, Forrest, Greene, Holmes,
Issaquena, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Leake, Leflore,
Lincoln, Marion, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Quitman, Sunflower,
Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Walthall, Washington and Wayne.
The Public Assistance categories are as follows:
· Category A: Debris Removal.
· Category B: Emergency Protective Measures.
· Category C: Roads and Bridges.
· Category D: Water Control Facilities.
· Category E: Buildings and Equipment.
· Category F: Utilities.
· Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items.
The Public Assistance Grant Program through FEMA is a reimbursement grant
program paid to state, tribal and local governments, and certain non-profit
groups. Typically, the federal share is 75 percent, and the remaining 25
percent is shared between the state and local governments at a rate of 12.5
percent respectively. Eligible non-profit groups are responsible for the
full 25 percent.
Residents in Bolivar, Clarke, Coahoma, Forrest, George, Greene, Jones,
Marion, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie,
Tunica, Washington and Wayne counties can register online for FEMA's
Individual Assistance Program at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The hearing and speech impaired can call
1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Survivors of the March floods in Individual
Assistance declared counties have until Tuesday, May 24, 2016 to register
with FEMA.
For more information about recovery efforts, visit MEMA's website at
www.msema.org. The best way to get up-to-date information is to "Like" MEMA
on Facebook, or "Follow" us on Twitter @msema.
###
MAY 19, 2016
Science Guides Public Health Protection for Drinking Water
By Joel Beauvais
As a country, we've come a long way toward providing clean air, water, and
land – essential resources that support healthy, productive lives. But
we have more work to do to make sure that every American has access to safe
drinking water.
That's why EPA launched a concerted engagement effort with key partners and
stakeholders – including state, tribal and local governments, drinking
water utilities, and public health, environmental and community
stakeholders – to develop and implement a national action plan to address
critical drinking water challenges and opportunities.
As always, our work to protect public health and the environment must
consistently be built on a foundation of sound science and data. When it
comes to drinking water, scientific information helps us identify
pollutants of concern – including new or emerging contaminants – assess
potential health impacts, and understand the steps needed to address them.
Today, based on the latest science on two chemical contaminants called PFOA
and PFOS, EPA released drinking water health advisories to provide the most
up-to-date information on the health risks of these chemicals. These
advisories will help local water systems and state, tribal and local
officials take the appropriate steps to address PFOA and PFOS if needed.
For many years, PFOA and PFOS were widely used in carpets, clothing,
furniture fabrics, food packaging, and other materials to make them more
resistant to water, grease, and stains. PFOA and PFOS were also used for
firefighting at airfields and in a number of industrial processes. Between
2000 and 2002, PFOS was voluntarily phased out of production in the U.S. by
its primary manufacturer. And EPA asked eight major companies to commit to
eliminate their production and use of PFOA by the end of 2015 and they have
indicated that they have met their commitments. While there are some
limited ongoing uses of these chemicals, in recent years, blood testing
data has shown that exposures are declining across the country.
For most people, their source of exposure to PFOA and PFOS has come through
food and consumer products. But drinking water can be an additional source
of exposure in the small percentage of communities where these chemicals
have contaminated water supplies. This is typically a localized issue
associated with a specific facility – for example, in communities where a
manufacturing plant or airfield made or used these chemicals.
EPA's assessment indicates that drinking water with individual or combined
concentrations of PFOA and PFOS below 70 parts per trillion is not expected
to result in adverse health effects over a lifetime of exposure. These
levels reflect a margin of protection, including for the most sensitive
populations.
If these chemicals are found in drinking water systems above these levels,
system operators should quickly conduct additional sampling to assess the
level, scope, and source of contamination. They should also promptly
notify consumers and consult with their state drinking water agency to
discuss appropriate next steps. Public notification is especially important
for pregnant or nursing women because of the impact these chemicals can
have on the development of fetuses and breastfed or formula-fed infants.
There are a number of options available to water systems to lower
concentrations of these chemicals in the drinking water supply.
EPA will continue sharing the latest science and information so that state
and local officials can make informed decisions and take actions to protect
public health. This is an important part of our broader effort to support
states and public water systems as we work together to strengthen the
safety of America's drinking water.
For more information on the health advisories for PFOA and PFOS, visit the
webpage.
https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/05/protection-for-drinking-water/
MDEQ hosting Thursday hearing for Renaissance III
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND — Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality officials are
set to hold a public hearing Thursday night (tonight) concerning matters
with Renaissance at Colony Park Phase III.
http://onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/MDEQ-hosting-Thursday-hearing-for-Renaissance-III/-3/592/37993
Mississippi pauses implementation of controversial Clean Power Plan
Mississippi Watchdog
Senior House Republicans have accused the Environmental Protection Agency
ofviolating a Supreme Court order by continuing to implement the agency's
Clean Power Plan, but Mississippi environmental regulators are holding
fast.http://watchdog.org/265697/clean-power-plan-9/
4 things that should be on your summer bucket list
Clarion Ledger
Summer doesn't officially start until next month, but with warmer weather
already here and kids finishing school, it might as well have begun. And if
you're like many of us, you've already marked down vacation days to go to
the beach, noted the weekend of your family reunion and maybe have a day or
two scheduled with your favorite fishing guide on the coast.
…And there is no shortage of places to use one. According to the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, there are over 26,000
miles of streams and rivers that flow year-round in Mississippi, which is
roughly the distance around Earth.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/19/4-things-summer-bucket-list/84501012/
PUBLIC MEETING ON GULF OF MEXICO DRILLING
WXXV
Dozens of men and women took a stand against offshore drilling leases this
afternoon in Gulfport.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/05/19/public-meeting-on-gulf-of-mexico-drilling/
Testing Solar in Mississippi
Jackson Free Press
JACKSON — It's a relatively overcast day, but the rows of solar panels are
tilted to face where the sun could be shining if the clouds parted. The
backs of the panels are mirrored, reflecting the green glass below them,
giving off a sort of space-age vibe.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/may/18/testing-solar-mississippi/
Deer carcass import ban proposed
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks has proposed a
ban on the importation of deer, elk, moose and caribou carcasses into
Mississippi. According to Wildlife Bureau Director Chad Dacus, the intent
of the regulation is to prevent the introduction of disease into
Mississippi's deer herd.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/05/19/deer-carcass-import-ban-proposed/84599076/
State finance leader retiring in June
Kevin Upchurch leaving DFA Executive Director position
WAPT
JACKSON, Miss. —Kevin Upchurch, the state fiscal officer and executive
director of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration,
announced that he is planning to retire from state government service at
the end of June.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/state-finance-leader-retiring-in-june/39637244
Oil Spill
Season's first Kemp's turtle nest spotted
Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON - Two college students on Thursday discovered the first eggs this
nesting season laid by an endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle on the upper
Texas Gulf Coast.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/bayarea/news/article/Season-s-first-Kemp-s-turtle-nest-spotted-7784719.php
Regional
Nile crocodiles captured in South Florida still have scientists seeking
answers
AP
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Step aside, Burmese python — you may no longer be
Florida's scariest invasive species. Researchers have confirmed that three
Nile crocodiles were captured near Miami, and they say it's possible more
of the man-eating reptiles are still out there, although no one can say for
sure.
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/05/20/nile-crocodiles-captured-in-south-florida-still-have-scientists-seeking-answers.html?intcmp=hpbt4
National
Carbon dioxide levels jump by record amount due to El Nino
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) - The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air
jumped by the biggest amount on record last month, a rise amplified by El
Nino, scientists say.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32018323/carbon-dioxide-levels-jump-by-record-amount-due-to-el-nino?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
EPA Issues New Health Advisories for Chemical Found Near Some Plastics
Plants
Agency decreases acceptable concentrations of PFOA and PFOS
WSJ
The Environmental Protection Agency announced a new health advisory
Thursday for perfluorooctanoic acid, a potentially toxic chemical, calling
for water utilities across the nation to adhere to a stricter guideline
than the agency had previously recommended.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/epa-issues-new-health-advisories-for-chemical-from-some-plastics-plants-1463687484
EPA suggests tighter limits for industrial chemical in water
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators announced tighter guidelines Thursday
for human exposure to an industrial chemical used for decades in such
consumer products as non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpets and microwave
popcorn bags.
http://ktar.com/story/1081028/epa-issues-tighter-limits-for-industrial-chemical-in-water/
EPA shifting from science to 'public perception' model on pesticides?
Organizations say adversarial relationship becoming strained
May 19, 2016Forrest Laws | Delta Farm Press
Farmers are losing crop protection chemicals at an alarming rate, often due
to what are being called increasingly arbitrary decisions by the
Environmental Protection Agency acting outside of FIFRA.
http://deltafarmpress.com/cotton/epa-shifting-science-public-perception-model-pesticides?page=1
State Officials Investigated Over Their Inquiry Into Exxon Mobil's Climate
Change Research
NY Times
Since last November, a growing number of state attorneys general have been
pointing their fingers at Exxon Mobil, investigating whether the energy
company's research about climate change conflicted directly with its public
statements on the issue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/20/science/exxon-mobil-climate-change-global-warming.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fscience&_r=0
Deal Settles Homeowners' Suit Over Nuclear-Weapons Plant
Dow Chemical, Rockwell Automation agree to pay $375 million in lawsuit over
plutonium releases
AP
DENVER—Thousands of homeowners have reached a $375 million settlement over
their claims that plutonium releases from a nuclear-weapons plant in
Colorado damaged their health and devalued their property, officials said
Thursday.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/deal-settles-homeowners-suit-over-nuclear-weapons-plant-1463706965
Lake Mead declines to lowest level in history
The (Palm Springs, Calif.) Desert Sun
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — The nation's largest reservoir has broken a record,
declining to the lowest level since it was filled in the 1930s.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/05/19/lake-mead-declines-lowest-level-history/84628000/
People love watching nature on nest cams – until it gets grisly
Washington Post
The osprey cam at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute is trained on a
nest near the Massachusetts seaside, and the pair that call it home are now
waiting for three eggs to hatch. But for the first spring in a decade, the
camera is dark, and a note on the institute's website offers only a
two-sentence explanation.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article78784122.html
Press releases
FEMA Adds Two Additional Counties to Disaster Declaration for Public
Assistance
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant's request for Issaquena and Lawrence counties to
become eligible for all categories of Public Assistance was approved today.
Public Assistance provides reimbursement to state, tribal and local
governments, as well as certain non-profit organizations for things like
debris removal and repair of damaged infrastructure.
The counties granted all categories of the Public Assistance program are:
Bolivar, Claiborne, Clarke, Coahoma, Covington, Forrest, Greene, Holmes,
Issaquena, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lawrence, Leake, Leflore,
Lincoln, Marion, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Quitman, Sunflower,
Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Walthall, Washington and Wayne.
The Public Assistance categories are as follows:
· Category A: Debris Removal.
· Category B: Emergency Protective Measures.
· Category C: Roads and Bridges.
· Category D: Water Control Facilities.
· Category E: Buildings and Equipment.
· Category F: Utilities.
· Category G: Parks, Recreational Facilities and Other Items.
The Public Assistance Grant Program through FEMA is a reimbursement grant
program paid to state, tribal and local governments, and certain non-profit
groups. Typically, the federal share is 75 percent, and the remaining 25
percent is shared between the state and local governments at a rate of 12.5
percent respectively. Eligible non-profit groups are responsible for the
full 25 percent.
Residents in Bolivar, Clarke, Coahoma, Forrest, George, Greene, Jones,
Marion, Panola, Pearl River, Perry, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie,
Tunica, Washington and Wayne counties can register online for FEMA's
Individual Assistance Program at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling
1-800-621-FEMA (3362). The hearing and speech impaired can call
1-800-462-7585 (TTY). Survivors of the March floods in Individual
Assistance declared counties have until Tuesday, May 24, 2016 to register
with FEMA.
For more information about recovery efforts, visit MEMA's website at
www.msema.org. The best way to get up-to-date information is to "Like" MEMA
on Facebook, or "Follow" us on Twitter @msema.
###
MAY 19, 2016
Science Guides Public Health Protection for Drinking Water
By Joel Beauvais
As a country, we've come a long way toward providing clean air, water, and
land – essential resources that support healthy, productive lives. But
we have more work to do to make sure that every American has access to safe
drinking water.
That's why EPA launched a concerted engagement effort with key partners and
stakeholders – including state, tribal and local governments, drinking
water utilities, and public health, environmental and community
stakeholders – to develop and implement a national action plan to address
critical drinking water challenges and opportunities.
As always, our work to protect public health and the environment must
consistently be built on a foundation of sound science and data. When it
comes to drinking water, scientific information helps us identify
pollutants of concern – including new or emerging contaminants – assess
potential health impacts, and understand the steps needed to address them.
Today, based on the latest science on two chemical contaminants called PFOA
and PFOS, EPA released drinking water health advisories to provide the most
up-to-date information on the health risks of these chemicals. These
advisories will help local water systems and state, tribal and local
officials take the appropriate steps to address PFOA and PFOS if needed.
For many years, PFOA and PFOS were widely used in carpets, clothing,
furniture fabrics, food packaging, and other materials to make them more
resistant to water, grease, and stains. PFOA and PFOS were also used for
firefighting at airfields and in a number of industrial processes. Between
2000 and 2002, PFOS was voluntarily phased out of production in the U.S. by
its primary manufacturer. And EPA asked eight major companies to commit to
eliminate their production and use of PFOA by the end of 2015 and they have
indicated that they have met their commitments. While there are some
limited ongoing uses of these chemicals, in recent years, blood testing
data has shown that exposures are declining across the country.
For most people, their source of exposure to PFOA and PFOS has come through
food and consumer products. But drinking water can be an additional source
of exposure in the small percentage of communities where these chemicals
have contaminated water supplies. This is typically a localized issue
associated with a specific facility – for example, in communities where a
manufacturing plant or airfield made or used these chemicals.
EPA's assessment indicates that drinking water with individual or combined
concentrations of PFOA and PFOS below 70 parts per trillion is not expected
to result in adverse health effects over a lifetime of exposure. These
levels reflect a margin of protection, including for the most sensitive
populations.
If these chemicals are found in drinking water systems above these levels,
system operators should quickly conduct additional sampling to assess the
level, scope, and source of contamination. They should also promptly
notify consumers and consult with their state drinking water agency to
discuss appropriate next steps. Public notification is especially important
for pregnant or nursing women because of the impact these chemicals can
have on the development of fetuses and breastfed or formula-fed infants.
There are a number of options available to water systems to lower
concentrations of these chemicals in the drinking water supply.
EPA will continue sharing the latest science and information so that state
and local officials can make informed decisions and take actions to protect
public health. This is an important part of our broader effort to support
states and public water systems as we work together to strengthen the
safety of America's drinking water.
For more information on the health advisories for PFOA and PFOS, visit the
webpage.
https://blog.epa.gov/blog/2016/05/protection-for-drinking-water/
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