State
One swimming warning lifted for the Mississippi Sound, three others issued
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted the water contact advisory for Biloxi East Central Beach from St. Peter Street east to Dukate Street Thursday afternoon.
Popp's Ferry Road gets green light for route to Biloxi beach
Sun Herald
BILOXI
Popp's Ferry Road ends at Pass Road now, but it's just gotten another step closer to the beach.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article104968326.html
Mississippi Power hosts 11th annual Pascagoula River clean-up
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Miss. – Water is a necessity and a staple of Jackson County municipalities and because of its importance to the community, Mississippi Power continued to show its dedication to the preservation of the Pascagoula River by hosting its 11th annual clean-up of the river.
Every ton picked up helps Pascagoula River tourism, environment
Sun Herald
MOSS POINT
Hauling a refrigerator off the Pascagoula River can be as easy as pulling up to it in a skiff, tying on a small rope, maneuvering it out of the log jam and gently floating it along behind the boat.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article105006911.html
Energy industry leaders discuss the future at Biloxi summit
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -Deep water drilling, unnecessary regulations, and the future recovery of oil and gas interests were all topics at Thursday's Gulf Energy Summit in Biloxi.
http://www.wlox.com/story/33281091/energy-industry-leaders-discuss-the-future-at-biloxi-summit
Lamar Co. Supervisors explore energy saving options
WDAM
LAMAR COUNTY, MS (WDAM) -The Lamar County Supervisors are exploring different avenues to save on energy bills and looking at ways to make some of the county buildings more energy efficient.
http://www.wdam.com/story/33283925/lamar-co-supervisors-explore-energy-saving-options
Mosquito company brings jobs to Miss. to fight Zika
Clarion Ledger
A Virginia-based mosquito control company plans to branch into Mississippi because of the threat of the Zika virus. To date, there are 23 reported cases of Zika in Mississippi, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health. All cases have beentravel-related.
Oil Spill
Gulf oil spill fines to help restore barrier island
Daily Comet
About $7.3 million from fines levied in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill will be used to start a barrier island restoration project just east of Grand Isle.
http://www.dailycomet.com/news/20160929/gulf-oil-spill-fines-to-help-restore-barrier-island
Checking out RESTORE ideas for the Gulf Coast
WALA
MOBILE, AL (WALA) -FOX10 News is committed to following how RESTORE Act money from the BP spill is used in our area.
http://www.fox10tv.com/story/33278789/checking-out-restore-ideas-for-the-gulf-coast
Notices for last $520M in BP spill seafood claims out next week
Times-Picayune
Claimants in line to collect the last $520 million of $2.3 billion in seafood claims money stemming from the BP oil spill will receive notices that their payments are ready next week, court-appointed private claims administrator Patrick Juneau announced Thursday (Sept. 29). Another five categories of private claims, totaling $454 million, are also near completion, Juneau said.
'Deepwater Horizon' Film Poses Fresh Woes for BP
Lions Gate's $100 million dramatization of 2010 disaster features unflattering portrayals of energy giant's executives
WSJ
Director Peter Berg was prepared for just about any response to his new movie "Deepwater Horizon."
http://www.wsj.com/articles/deepwater-horizon-film-poses-fresh-woes-for-bp-1475227803
Regional
In Louisiana's litter battle, residents asked to 'love the boot, don't pollute'
The Advocate
The new slogan to bring renewed attention to reducing littering in the Bayou State bears a simple message: "Love the boot, don't pollute."
National
California proposes pesticide buffer zones around schools and day cares
LA Times
Crop dusting and many other forms of pesticide spraying will be banned within a quarter of a mile of schools and child day-care centers during the bulk of daylight hours, under a rule proposed by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-pesticides-schools-20160929-snap-story.html
EPA Plans $97M Cleanup of Houston-Area Superfund Site
AP
About $97 million will be spent to remove material in waste pits along the San Jacinto River east of Houston that is contaminated with toxic chemicals from a former paper mill, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/epa-plans-97m-cleanup-houston-area-superfund-site-42424006
Press releases
EPA Requests Applications to Reduce Diesel Emissions from School Buses
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the availability of approximately $7 million in rebates to public school bus fleet owners to help them replace or retrofit older school buses. Upgrading buses with older engines reduces diesel emissions and improves air quality.
"Modernizing school bus fleets across the country with retrofits, replacements, and idle reduction practices helps reduce children's exposure to air toxics," said Janet McCabe, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "With the amount of time kids spend on buses, we need to protect them from the harm older diesel engines can cause."
EPA standards for new diesel engines make them more than 90 percent cleaner than older ones, but many older diesel engines still in operation predate these standards. Older diesel engines emit large quantities of pollutants such as particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which have been linked to serious health problems such as aggravated asthma and lung damage.
EPA will accept applications from September 29 to November 1, 2016.
This is the fourth rebate program to fund cleaner school buses offered under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) reauthorization. Nearly 25,000 buses across the country have already been made cleaner as a result of DERA funding.
To learn more about the rebate program, applicant eligibility, selection process and informational webinar dates, visit www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-rebates.
Questions about applying may be directed to CleanDieselRebate@epa.gov.
Reference News Release: Chemoil to Retire More Than $71 Million in Credits from Renewable Fuels Market under Settlement with U.S.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced a settlement with Chemoil Corporation that requires the company to retire 65 million renewable fuel credits to resolve alleged violations of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program. The current market value of the credits -- along with an additional 7.7 million renewable identification numbers (RINs) already retired by Chemoil in the lead up to this settlement -- is more than $71 million. Chemoil will also pay a $27 million civil penalty under the settlement, the largest in the history of the EPA's fuel programs.
EPA and the Department of Justice allege that Chemoil exported at least 48.5 million gallons of biodiesel from 2011 to 2013, but failed to retire the more than 72 million RINs that were generated for the exported fuel. RINs are credits created when a company produces or imports renewable fuel and can be traded or sold to refiners and fuel importers or exporters to help them comply with the RFS program requirements.
The RFS program requires exporters to retire RINs for renewable fuel like biodiesel, because the fuel exported is no longer available for blending into United States' fossil fuel supply and, for that reason, cannot be used to meet the renewable fuel volume mandate established by Congress. If exporters fail to retire the appropriate number and type of RINs associated with the exported fuel, as the United States alleges happened here, it artificially inflates the volume of renewable fuel available for blending in this country and the number of RINs available to meet the renewable fuel volume mandate. Ensuring exporters comply with the regulations for RIN retirement is critical to the proper functioning and integrity of the RFS program.
"This settlement delivers on the greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals that Congress envisioned for the Renewable Fuel Standard," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "It's vital that companies retire renewable fuel credits when exporting fuel abroad. Upholding this requirement is a key way EPA is working to maintain program integrity and a level playing field for companies that follow the law."
"Congress adopted the Renewable Fuel Standards program to achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions, reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, and grow our domestic renewable energy industry," said Assistant Attorney for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, John C. Cruden. "By ensuring a level playing field within the industry through vigorous compliance monitoring and enforcement, we help ensure that these important Congressional goals are met."
EPA discovered the alleged violations as a result of tips from RFS program participants.
EPA is responsible for developing and implementing regulations to ensure that transportation fuel sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel. The RFS program created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 - was developed in collaboration with refiners, renewable fuel producers and many other stakeholders. It was expanded and strengthened under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was designed to encourage the blending of renewable fuels into our nation's motor vehicle fuel supply to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, help grow the nation's renewable energy industry and achieve greenhouse gas reductions.
Chemoil is based in San Francisco, California, and sells marine, aviation, diesel, renewable fuels and residual oil products.
The proposed settlement, lodged today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
For more information on the settlement and for information on how to submit a comment, visit
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/chemoil-corporation-renewable-fuel-standard-settlement
WILDFIRE WORRIES GROWING FOR FORESTRY COMMISSION
JACKSON, Miss. – As the weather transitions from summer to fall, dry vegetation and lower humidity have the potential to increase wildfire activity statewide.
Since June 1, 2016 the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) has responded to and suppressed 259 wildfires that burned 2,363 acres in the state of Mississippi. MFC wildland firefighters were able to save 348 structures from being damaged or destroyed. During the 2015 fall wildfire season, MFC wildland firefighters responded to and suppressed 1,195 wildfires that burned 14,144 acres. As a result, Governor Bryant enacted the first Statewide Burn Ban issued in Mississippi since 2010.
"We would like to ask the public to exercise caution with any outdoor recreational burning, such as campfires and outdoor grills this fall. Wildfires can start with just a spark and spread quickly to endanger forestland, personal property, and lives" said Charlie Morgan, State Forester. "Please do your part to help prevent wildfires by observing local burn bans and exercising proper fire safety."
To see a complete list of burn bans in Mississippi, please visit:www.mfc.ms.gov/burn-bans
Burn bans are subject to change at any time. Please check our website frequently to stay up-to-date on any new burn bans that are issued.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is 500 – 700 in most areas of the state. The KBDI measures the water content of the soil and duff layers, the scale ranges from 0 – 800 with 800 meaning there is no soil moisture available for vegetation. The index increases for each day an area does not experience rain. High values on the KBDI means that the area is experiencing a severe draught and conditions are favorable for an increase in wildfire activity. In order to view a current KBDI map, visit:bit.ly/KBDIMap
Wildfire prevention tips:
- Find out if there is a burn ban in effect for your area before burning. For a complete list of burn bans, visit: www.mfc.ms.gov/burn-bans
- Check the local weather forecast – do not burn on dry, windy days. Wind carries embers long distances, which can cause spot fires as far away as one-half mile from the burning area.
- Choose a safe burn site for outdoor recreational burning – keep campfires small, only burn untreated wood debris (waste, plastic, rubber tires, and other manufactured products may not be burned), and keep a garden hose or source of water easily accessible. To view the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality standards regarding outdoor burning, visit:bit.ly/MDEQOpenBurning
- The same preventive measures apply when using charcoal grills. When you are finished using a charcoal grill, always let the coals cool completely and douse in water before disposing of them in a metal container. Never leave a grill unattended.
- To report a wildfire, dial 911 or call the Central Dispatch Center for your area, visit: www.mfc.ms.gov/wildfire-report
Nationwide, nine out of ten wildfires are caused by people and could have been prevented with proper care. Please do your part to help prevent wildfire activity by checking burn bans and weather conditions before doing any recreational outdoor burning.
For more information, please visit our website: www.mfc.ms.gov
CMR to hold workshop Sept. 30
BILOXI, Miss. – The state Commission on Marine Resources will hold a workshop at 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, 2016.
The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the Bolton Building, 1141 Bayview Ave. in Biloxi.
Commissioners will discuss the Spotted Seatrout assessment options and will receive an update on the MDMR oyster vessel, The Conservationist.
MS Gulf Coast National Heritage Area
announces nature tourism plan; reveals new website, logo
BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area will announce the new nature-based tourism initiative at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Biloxi Visitors Center.
They also will reveal the new logo, website and video for the Heritage Area during the event.
Several local, state and federal officials will be on hand for the announcement.
Pres. George W. Bush established the Mississippi Gulf Coast as a National Heritage Area on Dec. 8, 2004. The designated area includes Harrison, Hancock, Jackson, Pearl River, Stone and George counties.
The Department of Marine Resources administers the program, which is part of the National Park Service.
The Heritage Area is a partnership of communities, businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations and individuals working together to promote this region's cultural and environmental diversity, history, beauty and traditions.
