State
Vicksburg sees a whole lot of positive during the second week of June
Vicksburg Post
On Saturday, the Warren County Board of Supervisors and the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality hosted the hazardous waste collection
day.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2016/06/13/vicksburg-sees-a-whole-lot-of-positive-during-the-second-week-of-june/
Taking Back Our Neighborhoods: Catalina Crisis continues
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Three On Your Side is back on Catalina
Circle, Monday, because we received an urgent email from a resident who
says she received a disturbing call from a city official about an eyesore
on her street.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32213245/2016/06/13/taking-back-our-neighborhoods-catalina-crisis-continues
Neighbors distressed over tree cutting at lake
Panolian
The scarred landscape along Union Road as it winds its way to Lespedza
Point on the north shore of Sardis Lake is a jarring contrast to the canopy
that stood there a few months ago.
http://www.panolian.com/68824/1180/breaking-news-1
USM announces new School of Ocean Science
Sun Herald
GULFPORT -- The University of Southern Mississippi on Monday announced the
formation of a new School of Ocean Science and Technology, which will be
housed in the College of Science and Technology.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/education/article83613777.html
NEW OCEAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SCHOOL AT USM GULF PARK
WXXV
Tragedies like hurricanes and oil spills have caused a need for more ocean
studies. The University of Southern Miss will have a school just for that
right here on the Gulf Coast.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/06/13/new-ocean-science-technology-school-usm-gulf-park/
Port of Gulfport energy project could be worth $2 billion
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -It's been a secretive deal called "Project Aqua." But
on Monday, details were made public on a major energy development at the
Port of Gulfport.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32212098/port-of-gulfport-energy-project-could-be-worth-2-billion
Lock & Dam repair plan expected soon
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2016
Slim Smith
Six months after a pair of barges crashed in the dam at the East Bank of
the Columbus Lock & Dam, Corps of Engineers Operations Manager Rick Saucer
has an idea of the extent of the damage down the one of the dam's five
massive gates.
http://www.cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=50867
COLUMBUS LAKE LOADED WITH LUNKERS
WCBI
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP)
recently stocked 62,000 Florida-strain largemouth bass fingerlings into
Columbus Lake on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (TTW).
http://www.wcbi.com/local-sports/columbus-lake-loaded-lunkers/
Mississippi catfish farmers fight for stricter safety laws
Clarion Ledger
In an industry that's lost over half of its jobs in the past decade,
Mississippi's catfish farmers have by no means given up to heated
competition from abroad.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/06/13/miss-catfish-farmers-fight-for-stricter-safety-laws/85623230/
National group molds Mississippi's future minority engineers
Mississippi Today
The National Society of Black Engineers chose Jackson for the third year in
a row as a site for its Summer Engineering Experience for Kids program or
SEEK.
http://mississippitoday.org/2016/06/13/national-group-molds-mississippis-future-minority-engineers/
Regional
Small oil spills could help raise funds for restoration projects under
Louisiana's new mitigation bank program
Advocate
Small oil spills off Louisiana's coast could help pay for coastal
restoration projects as part of a state law signed by Gov. John Bel
Edwards.
http://theadvocate.com/news/15903613-184/small-oil-spills-could-help-raise-funds-for-restoration-projects-under-louisianas-new-mitigation-ban
National
Supreme Court rejects Schuette's 2nd shot at EPA rules
Detroit Free Press
WASHINGTON — Last June, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette won a U.S.
Supreme Court challenge to federal regulations on coal- and oil-fired power
plants. Not so this year.
http://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/13/supreme-court-rejects-schuettes-2nd-shot-epa-rules/85825476/
Scientists to report results of fracking air pollution study
AP
DENVER (AP) - Scientists are about to report the results of a three-year
study of air pollution from western Colorado fracking wells.
http://www.9news.com/news/local/science/scientists-to-report-results-of-fracking-air-pollution-study/243532498
Senate sends pipeline safety bill to Obama
The Hill
By Devin Henry - 06/13/16 07:14 PM EDT
The Senate on Monday unanimously passed a bill to reauthorize the federal
pipeline safety oversight board, sending the measure to President Obama for
his signature.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/283354-senate-sends-pipeline-safety-bill-to-obama
U.S. lead rule to stand till '17 despite Flint crisis
Detroit News
The federal law that regulates lead in water has long frustrated U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency staffers, with one scientist alleging its
lack of clarity opens the door to "wanton experimentation on the public,"
according to emails related to Flint's water contamination.
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/06/13/lead-copper-rule-flint-water-crisis/85854134/
Opinion
Special funds grab has consequences
by Charlie Mitchell
Daily Corinthian
OXFORD — Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves says it's Obama's fault, but state agency
chiefs are pointing a disappointed finger at Reeves and legislators.
For what?
The Great Scrape of 2016.
http://www.dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/27207953/article-Special-funds-grab-has-consequences
Will EPA regulate your dishwashing detergent?
Jun 13, 2016by Hembree Brandon in Farm Press Blog
All the while American consumers have been railing about the evils of
agricultural pesticides — some of the most tested and regulated materials
on the planet — they have daily used, with nary a thought, an array of
household chemicals with toxicity that can range from mild to deadly, and
with labels that often don't disclose the ingredients.
http://deltafarmpress.com/blog/will-epa-regulate-your-dishwashing-detergent-0
Press Releases
Southern Miss announces new School of Ocean Science and Technology
LONG BEACH, MS (WDAM) -
The following is a news release from The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi has taken transformative steps to
fortify its reputation as the leader in marine education and research along
the Gulf of Mexico with the formation of a new School of Ocean Science and
Technology (SOST).
The new school, housed within the College of Science and Technology, brings
together marine-related research and education programs under one
administration and harnesses elements from key areas of the university,
including the Division of Marine Science based at the John C. Stennis Space
Center in Hancock County, the USM Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and
Division of Coastal Sciences in Ocean Springs and the university's fleet of
five research vessels.
The fleet includes the new 60-foot R/V Jim Franks, completed in February
2016, and the 135-foot R/V Point Sur, acquired by the university in
February 2015. The R/V Point Sur is the only oceanographic class research
vessel home-ported in the northern Gulf of Mexico east of the Mississippi
River.
"Through the new School of Ocean Science and Technology, the University
will position itself as a national leader in marine science research," said
Steven R. Moser, USM provost and senior vice president for academic
affairs. "Our faculty and staff in the school will continue to provide
high-quality educational and research opportunities in the northern Gulf of
Mexico, allowing us to better understand our coastal resources and the
associated impacts those resources have on our economy and community."
Monty Graham, chair of the Division of Marine Science and interim director
of the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, will serve as the school's director.
Graham points out that the establishment of the new school reflects the
nexus between USM's identified center of excellence in marine science and
education with an emphasis on stakeholder engagement and economic
development.
"The ultimate goal of the School of Ocean Science and Technology is to
increase productivity of USM's research, education and economic development
enterprises through enhanced coordination of research and education
programs, improved opportunities for external funding, and increased focus
on community and industry relations," Graham said. "Factors we are using to
gauge our success are increased graduate and undergraduate enrollment,
increased scholarly output by faculty, and meeting the educated workforce
needs of the growing blue economy on the Mississippi Gulf Coast."
Michael Jones, president of The Maritime Alliance – a non-profit based in
San Diego whose mission is to promote blue jobs and blue tech around the
world – applauds USM for what he believes the new school will provide for
the Gulf Coast region's environmental and economic sustainability.
"It is important and timely to see USM organize its already significant
marine science efforts into a new School of Ocean Science and Technology to
better focus on the vibrant Gulf Coast's blue economy," Jones said.
"Enhanced interaction between academia, industry and policy makers at new,
state-of-the-art facilities will promote innovation, better prepare the
entrepreneurs and workforce of tomorrow, and create exciting growth
opportunities for the region. As the largest blue-tech cluster in the
United States, The Maritime Alliance looks forward to working closely with
USM and the region as it institutionalizes its cluster and increasingly
engages nationally and internationally."
The Marine Industries Science and Technology cluster is administered by USM
in partnership with the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology. The cluster
is comprised of marine-related entities, which includes private business,
state agencies, non-profits, colleges and universities in Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
"One of the most important results of creating this school is we are now
bringing people of different disciplines together for profound research,"
said David Hayhurst, dean of the College of Science and Technology. "There
is significant synergy within these different divisions that will allow a
much broader stroke of scientific discoveries."
Anticipated benefits of SOST include increased educational opportunities
for students – such as the university's unique degree offerings in the
field of hydrographic science. SOST holds the distinction of being the only
school in North America that offers an undergraduate degree in marine
science with an emphasis in hydrographic science.
Hydrography is the branch of applied sciences that deals with the
measurement and description of the physical features of oceans, seas,
coastal areas, lakes and rivers – as well as with the prediction of their
evolution – for the primary purpose of safety of navigation and all other
marine purposes and activities, including economic development, security
and defense, scientific research, and environmental protection.
The USM hydrographic science graduate program has seen a continued increase
in non-sponsored students due to the two-year program's 100 percent job
placement of graduates.
Graham stresses that additional rewards from the new school will include
increased efficiency during projects and easier-to-leverage resource funds.
He notes that Mississippi Gulf Coast residents, in particular, should
benefit from the formation of the school.
"Before this school was created, the challenge to respond in the face of
natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina or the 2010 oil spill was
daunting; you had to go through multiple layers and a series of approvals
before any action could be taken," he said. "With the new school creating a
house for all of the resources to exist under a single unit, a response
will be efficient and well organized."
Following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, now known as the largest
environmental disaster in United States history, The University of Southern
Mississippi led the way in mapping and analyzing the oil spill's effects on
the Gulf's ecosystem. Faculty and staff within GCRL and the Division of
Marine Science began investigating and processing the damage as 200 million
gallons of crude oil billowed into the Gulf of Mexico. Within two weeks
after the initial explosion, the university assembled an Oil Spill Response
Team to coordinate efforts in monitoring the spill's repercussions. More
than six years after the spill, university faculty members continue to
research and study the effects in Gulf waters.
"Our goal is to expand and advance research in the Gulf of Mexico – work
that directly impacts the regional and national economy," Graham said.
"Establishing this school allows The University of Southern Mississippi to
assume a leading role in marine science and education in the Gulf of
Mexico."
For more information about the University's School of Ocean Science and
Technology, visitwww.usm.edu/ocean.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32214774/southern-miss-announces-new-school-of-ocean-science-and-technology
EPA Honors Winners of the 2016 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge
Awards
Innovative technologies tackle climate change, water, and chemical issues
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing
landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and
leading scientists that turn climate risk and other environmental problems
into business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development.
"From academia to business, we congratulate those who bring innovative
solutions that will help solve some of the most critical environmental
problems," said Jim Jones, EPA's assistant administrator for chemical
safety and pollution prevention. "These innovations reduce the use of
energy, hazardous chemicals and water, while cutting manufacturing costs
and sparking investments. They even turn pollution into useful products.
Ultimately, these manufacturing processes and products are safer for
people's health and the environment. We will continue to work with the 2016
winners as their technologies are adopted in the marketplace."
The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award winners will be honored at
a ceremony in Portland, Ore. on June 13. The winners and their innovative
technologies are:
- Professor Paul Chirik of Princeton University is being
recognized for discovering a new class of catalysts that are used to
produce silicones, found in silicone rubber, tires, shampoos, furniture
fibers and paper coatings without using hard-to-obtain platinum. This could
reduce the mining of ore which reduces costs, greenhouse gas emissions and
waste. This technology could cut energy usage by 85 billion BTUs/year,
waste generation by 8.5 million kg/year and carbon generation by 21.7
million kg/year.
- Verdezyne of Carlsbad, Calif. is being recognized for
developing a yeast that produces a chemical used to make high performance
nylon 6,12 for hairbrushes toothbrushes, adhesives, coatings, fragrances,
and automotive and aviation oils. In addition to using a plant-based
feedstock and having lower greenhouse gas emissions, this process is also
safer because it does not use high temperatures or concentrated nitric
acid. The product has qualified for the USDA Certified Biobased label.
- Newlight Technologies of Costa Mesa, Calif. is being recognized
for developing a plastic made from methane-based greenhouse gas. It is now
used to make bags, cell phone cases, containers, furniture and other
products, and has been adopted by Dell, Hewlett Packard, KI, Sprint,
Virgin, the Body Shop and other companies. This plastic is net carbon
negative. It is less expensive and has equal or greater performance than
traditional petroleum-based plastic products. It is commercially
successful, with contracts for almost 30 billion pounds of product and a 50
million pounds per year expansion plant that is already sold out.
- CB&I, The Woodlands, Texas and Albemarle are being recognized
for developing and commercializing safer technology to produce alkylate, a
clean gasoline component produced at about 30 billion gallons per year, 60%
of which is produced in North America. CB&I, Albemarle, and Neste have
replaced the traditional toxic and corrosive liquid acid catalysts with
safer technology that has a lower environmental impact.
- Dow AgroSciences, LLC of Indianapolis, Ind. is being recognized
for developing and commercializing Instinct®, an additive that reduces
fertilizer nitrate leaching ground and surface waters. It also reduces
atmospheric nitrous oxide emissions. Nutrient pollution is one of America's
most widespread, costly and challenging environmental problems. Reducing
nutrient run-off from agricultural operations is a high priority for EPA.
Retaining applied nitrogen longer in the plants' root zones is optimal for
crop utilization and yield, and for reducing run-off. In 2014 alone, the
Dow AgroSciences technology added about 50 million bushels of additional
corn - equating to about $205,500,000 additional production revenue for
U.S. corn growers - and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about 664,000
metric tons.
During the 21 years of the program, EPA has received more than 1600
nominations and presented awards for 109 technologies. Winning technologies
are responsible for annually reducing the use or generation of more than
826 million pounds of hazardous chemicals, saving 21 billion gallons of
water, and eliminating 7.8 billion pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent
releases into the air.
An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical
Society Green Chemistry Institute formally judged the 2016 submissions from
among scores of nominated technologies and made recommendations to EPA for
the 2016 winners. The 2016 awards event will be held in conjunction with
the 20th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference.
More information: www.epa.gov/greenchemistry
