State
NEW VESSELS HELP BOOST RESEARCH OF GULF OF MEXICO
MPB
Ocean scientists at the University of Southern Mississippi say the recent addition of two new vessels is improving both student experiences and our knowledge of the Gulf of Mexico. MPB’s Evelina Burnett reports.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/08/09/new-vessels-help-boost-research-of-gulf-of-mexico/
MDEQ lifts three water contact advisories, but issues a new one
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted three water contact advisories Tuesday afternoon and issued a new one.
http://www.wdam.com/story/32723182/mdeq-lifts-three-water-contact-advisories-but-issues-a-new-one
Hattiesburg residents talk increased water, sewer rates
Hattiesburg American
When Hattiesburg resident Cheryl Mueller got the first glimpse of her latest water and sewer bills, she could think of only one proper reaction.
Here comes the sun power
Mississippi Today
“When I got elected eight years ago, you couldn’t find a solar project with a SWAT team or a search warrant,” says Brandon Presley, chairman of the Mississippi Public Service Commission. “Now, we just did the announcement in Houston, and we’ve got other things that are on tap.”
http://mississippitoday.org/2016/08/10/here-comes-the-sun-power/
Tupelo airport to look at solar farm feasibility
By Dennis Seid
Daily Journal
TUPELO – In 2008-2009, former Tupelo Regional Airport executive director Terry Anderson looked into the feasibility of building a solar farm on airport property.
http://djournal.com/news/tupelo-airport-look-solar-farm-feasibility/
Hood’s rulings on special funds will apply for now
Mississippi Today
The agency charged with approving state spending has decided to follow the opinions of Attorney General Jim Hood on what special funds may be swept into the state's general fund for the current fiscal year.
http://mississippitoday.org/2016/08/09/hoods-rulings-on-special-funds-will-apply-for-now/
Oil Spill
Wanted: Gulfport hiring director for planned Mississippi Aquarium
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
The Mississippi Aquarium needs a director who can manage a $65 million project, namely construction and stocking of the Mississippi Aquarium planned for downtown Gulfport.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article94565832.html
Investigators focusing on spending at Wildlife and Fisheries in wake of BP oil spill
Times-Picayune
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is being investigated for possible misuse of funds during the administration of Secretary Robert Barham, according to a letter written by current Secretary Charlie Melancon. Barham confirmed the investigation, although he said there is no criminal element to it.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/08/investigators_focusing_on_spen.html
Use of $8.6M seafood testing grant after BP spill at heart of Wildlife and Fisheries probe
The Advocate
State authorities are deep into a criminal investigation of officials at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, focused among other things on the potential misuse of government-issued credit cards and money from a BP grant.
National
Feds warn freshwater mussels are endangered
The Hill
Mussels are facing new protections from the Obama administration.
The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Tuesday to list the Texas hornshell, a freshwater mussel found in the American Southwest, as an endangered species.
http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/290854-feds-warn-freshwater-mussels-are-endangered
Use of a Water Disinfectant Is Challenged
Chloramine has been widely adopted by water utilities, but some cities’ residents have opposed its use
WSJ
After an unusual petition drive, city officials in Hannibal, Mo., decided last week to put the question of how the city disinfects its drinking water in the hands of voters.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/use-of-a-water-disinfectant-is-challenged-1470785357
How Bad Is Your Air-Conditioner for the Planet?
NY Times
We may be in the clear when it comes to heat domes, but it’s still really hot. More than half the country could see temperatures in the 90s by the end of the week, and if that forecast comes true, you may find relief in the cool, crisp breeze of an air-conditioner.
California dairy industry launches defense of flatulent cows
Sacramento Bee
Cow dung and cow stomach gas: not just smelly, but also politically loaded.
Hence a new California dairy industry campaign pushing back on California’s recommendation to regulate a naturally occurring source of methane.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article94738892.html
Press Releases
MDMR to hold public hearing Aug. 10
on oyster aquaculture
BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, about proposed changes to oyster regulations.
The purpose of the hearing is to allow public comment on proposed amendments to agency regulations regarding oyster aquaculture in Mississippi.
“Enhancing Mississippi’s oyster resources through aquaculture was a top recommendation of the Governor’s Oyster Restoration Council,” said Jamie Miller, executive director of MDMR. “These proposed changes are necessary for Mississippi to realize the benefits oyster aquaculture can bring to the industry and our environment.”
The public hearing will be held in the auditorium on the first floor of the Bolton Building, 1141 Bayview Ave. in Biloxi.
MDMR staff will present the proposed changes to the Commission on Marine Resources at the Aug. 16 meeting, and the CMR will make the final decision.
The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.
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EPA Awards $4.5 Million to Advance Air Monitoring Technology
Technology will be used to help communities tackle unique air quality challenges
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced grants to six research organizations to develop and use low-cost air pollution sensor technology, while engaging communities to learn about their local air quality.
“Through these projects, scientists and communities will join together to develop and test new low-cost, portable, easy-to-use ways to measure air pollution,” said Thomas A. Burke, EPA science advisor and deputy assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research will provide tools communities can use to understand air pollution in their neighborhoods and improve public health.”
While recent advances in technology have led to the development of low-cost air pollution sensors, they have not been widely tested, especially under field conditions. These grants will help fund research projects that explore how scientific data can be effectively gathered and used by communities to learn about local air quality.
The grantees will also study the accuracy of data produced by sensors and sensor networks. For example, comparing high-quality data from existing monitoring technology that are used to support air quality regulations.
The grants, which are funded through the EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program, are being awarded to the following:
- Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pa., will research the accuracy of air pollution sensors and the usefulness of the sensor data. Air quality modeling will be combined with sensor data to develop maps and other tools for displaying air quality information. Researchers will collaborate with local community groups in Pittsburgh to help them understand the data and how the findings might be used to reduce exposure to air pollutants.
- Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kan., will create a partnership with local organizations in South Chicago to evaluate the effects of community-led research on the community’s understanding of air pollution. Researchers will develop sustainable, local strategies to monitor, analyze, and share measurement results about air pollutants.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass., will create a Hawaii Island Volcanic Smog Sensor Network (HI-Vog) of air pollution sensors to track air quality changes caused by the emissions from the Kilauea volcano that impacts health and agricultural crops. The project will emphasize community engagement in collaboration with the Kohala Center in Waimea, Hawaii, local schools and health centers.
- Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, N.C., will create a framework to empower and support communities near Denver, Colo. to design and conduct air quality monitoring studies. Researchers will use low-cost sensors to address local concerns in collaboration with National Jewish Health in Denver and the communities of Globeville and Elyria Swansea, Colo.
- The South Coast Air Quality Management District, Diamond Bar, Calif., will engage California communities on the use, accuracy, and application of “low-cost” air monitoring sensors in collaboration with the University of California, Los Angeles. The project will also develop a toolkit with best practices for data collection and data interpretation from these sensors.
- University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., will use low-cost, next-generation air particle sensors to address wood smoke exposures within the Yakama Nation and Latino populations in a rural area of Washington State. Researchers will work with local students to understand and help reduce the community’s exposure to wood smoke. The team will also create a curriculum adaptable for other settings in collaboration with Heritage University, Toppenish, Wash.
More about the grant recipients: https://www.epa.gov/research-grants/air-research-grants
More information on EPA’s air, climate and energy research: http://www.epa.gov/airresearch
