State
Residents frustrated over Magnolia sewer problems
Enterprise-Journal
A Magnolia family is fed up with smelly water, seeing bubbles form in the street after washing their clothes and smelling sewage.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_2f83a16a-96e5-11e6-8328-3b53788aeaa1.html
MENTORING?
Northside Sun
One percent money going to non-infrastructure costs
Jackson could be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to mentor a contractor that, according to the mentor firm itself, doesn’t need the guidance.
http://northsidesun.com/front-page-slideshow-news/mentoring
Opinions mixed on speckled trout regulations
Clarion Ledger
In its Tuesday meeting, the Commission on Marine Resources passed new regulations for speckled trout fishing. As most expected, the commission approved increasing the minimum length for recreational sector from the current 13 inches to 15 inches for three years.
Oil Spill
Wanted: BP-funded projects that will last decades
Sun Herald
DIAMONDHEAD
The crowd offered plenty of ways to spend BP economic damages money, but only one person suggested how not to spend it.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article109472727.html
HANCOCK COUNTY BP TOWN HALL MEETING
WXXV
Today, South Mississippi had a second chance to provide input on how the state should spend more than $700 million of BP settlement money.
http://www.wxxv25.com/2016/10/20/hancock-county-bp-town-hall-meeting/
Louisiana recommends 1st BP natural resource restoration projects
Times-Picayune
Louisiana officials announced the selection of the first six projects aimed at restoring damage to natural resources caused by the BP oil spill, and proposes spending $22.3 million on engineering and design for the projects, which are expected to cost $460.4 million to build.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/10/la_recommends_1st_bp_natural_r.html
Regional
Response to gas leak in California sickens, outrages Alabama town
LA Times
EIGHT MILE, ALA.
When methane started leaking out of a well at the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility outside Los Angeles last October, noxious fumes blanketed the nearby Porter Ranch neighborhood for months. Residents complained of nausea, nosebleeds and vomiting; more than 8,000 families were forced out of their homes by the stench of the chemical odorant added to natural gas to help detect leaks.
http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article109544922.html
National
EPA releases new oil and gas pollution guidelines
The Hill
Federal regulators on Thursday finalized new guidelines to reduce emissions of ozone-forming pollutants for oil and gas drilling sites.
Global climate pact may bump into Senate roadblock
The Hill
An ambitious global pact among almost 200 nations to cut greenhouse gases may stall in the Senate, where members are likely to be skeptical of supporting an international climate change treaty.
EPA postpones glyphosate SAP panel in face of industry criticism
Delta Farm Press
The Environmental Protection Agency postponed the Scientific Advisory Panel scheduled to review its position on glyphosate after CropLife America accused one of the SAP members of being biased against the use of pesticides.
http://deltafarmpress.com/regulatory/epa-postpones-glyphosate-sap-panel-face-industry-criticism
Ethanol mandate for 2017 nears finalization
The Hill
The White House has started its formal regulatory review of the national ethanol-blending mandate for 2017.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/301973-white-house-reviews-ethanol-mandate-for-2017
Watchdog: EPA was too slow to act on Flint
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog is faulting the agency for not acting sooner than it did on the drinking water lead contamination crisis in Flint, Mich.
New regs for Friday: Cloud computing, pipelines, efficiency
The Hill
Efficiency: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with new rules for residential wood heaters.
The EPA finalized the wood heater standards in 2015, and on Thursday denied a petition to reconsider the rules. The standards also apply to residential hydronic heaters and forced-air furnaces.
The denial goes into effect immediately.
Pipelines: The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is correcting a mistake in a gas distribution safety rule.
The PHSMA rule applies to excess flow vales.
http://thehill.com/regulation/301966-new-regs-for-friday-cloud-computing-pipelines-efficiency
Press Releases
USDA
The Gulf Coast ecosystem is vital to our nation and our economy, providing valuable energy resources, abundant seafood, extraordinary recreational activities and a rich cultural heritage. This ecosystem was significantly injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill—the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history—and has also suffered from harm caused by hurricanes, subsidence and other human actions and naturally-occurring events.
With the historic settlement of the litigation with BP, there will be up to $16 billion available for ecosystem restoration in watersheds across Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas through the RESTORE Act, the Natural Resource Damages Assessment process and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the Office of Management and Budget released a memorandum directing federal agencies to take steps to ensure we are doing everything we can to deliver restoration dollars more efficiently and effectively. The memo calls upon USDA, the Departments of Army, Commerce, Interior and the EPA to prioritize ecosystem restoration investments in the Gulf and ensure robust coordination in the review and permitting processes. Agencies will also ensure that we work together and with the states in designing strategic projects and maximizing leveraging opportunities.
The federal government has a longstanding partnership with the five Gulf Coast States for conservation and restoration of the region. Given the complexity and scope of the restoration challenges before us, it is imperative that we build on this partnership and work together on this multi-generational ecological restoration.
USDA serves as the chair of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council). Late last year the council approved the first tranche of funds for Gulf restoration. This initial investment of approximately $157 million will deliver restoration projects and help fund detailed plans for additional projects that can be implemented as more funds become available from the BP settlement.
In August, the RESTORE Council released a draft update to our Comprehensive Plan. This draft update provides a framework that ensures restoration investments maximize benefits for the ecosystem and for the many Gulf communities that depend on a healthy Gulf. The draft plan improves collaboration among Council members and partner restoration programs, improves how we use science to restore the Gulf, increases transparency and advances planning for the investments that the federal government and States will make to restore the Gulf. After reviewing the extensive public comments the Restore Council has received over the last several weeks, we will finalize the comprehensive plan later this year.
But with these dollars, as well as funds from other sources, it is vital that the federal agencies be as efficient as possible in designing, analyzing and ultimately putting meaningful restoration projects on the ground in each of the states. These projects will include sediment diversions, forest and marsh restoration, oyster restoration, more sustainable farm and ranch operations, land conservation, and many other activities.
At the same time, it is critical that we improve the efficiency and timeliness of permitting and other regulatory reviews required to implement these projects.
As Chair of the RESTORE Council, I want to thank Director Donovan and Managing Director Goldfuss for their leadership in taking steps that will improve the speed and quality of restoration in the coming years. On behalf of USDA and our other federal partners, we look forward to working with the States to help restore the Gulf for residents of the region and for all Americans.
http://blogs.usda.gov/2016/10/20/gulf-of-mexico-communities-depend-on-a-healthy-gulf/
GOV. BRYANT DECLARES FALL SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDENESS WEEK
PEARL – Gov. Phil Bryant declares Oct. 24-28 as Fall Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Mississippi.
Mississippi is making the transition into fall, opening the severe weather season. The state has been hit by 772 tornadoes in the months of November, December, January and February since 1950, according to the National Weather Service.
On Dec. 23, 2015, tornadoes killed 11 Mississippians and injured 56 others. The first was an EF-3 that was on the ground for 63 miles going through Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman and Panola counties. That tornado lifted briefly before setting back down as an EF-4 for 75 miles hitting Tate, Marshall, Benton and Tippah counties. It eventually crossed into Tennessee.
“Severe weather deaths, injuries and damage are devastating whenever they occur, but more so around the holidays when we celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with friends and family,” said Gov. Bryant. “I encourage all Mississippians to be prepared and have a plan.”
The National Weather Service will issue a statewide test tornado warning on NOAA weather radios at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26. Schools, government agencies and businesses throughout the state are encouraged to participate in the tornado drill.
“There are three things for people to remember when severe weather threatens,” said MEMA Director Lee Smithson “Get off the roads, get out of mobile homes and get to a safe place.”
The federal, state and local governments have invested millions of dollars in nearly 100 safe rooms across Mississippi that are intended to protect citizens from severe weather. The buildings are constructed to withstand 200 mph winds. Check with your county emergency manager to find out the closest one in your area or where a local shelter will be available.
MEMA and the NWS will focus on specific types of severe weather each day of the week on social media and websites. The outline is as follows:
- Monday, Oct. 24: Alerts and Warnings. There are numerous ways to receive weather alerts from your cellphones to weather radios to mass notification systems.
- Tuesday, Oct 25: Severe Thunderstorms. Lightning, large hail and damaging winds from severe storms are just as dangerous as tornadoes.
- Wednesday, Oct. 26: Tornado Safety. A statewide tornado drill will be conducted at 9:15 a.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 27: Flooding and Flash Flooding. Flooding is the number one cause of weather-related deaths behind heat. Remember… Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
- Thursday, Oct. 28: Winter Weather. Surprisingly, these winter events can affect the Magnolia State before winter officially begins in late December.
-more-
Local weather information and alerts are available through the NWS online at the following websites:
- Central Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/jan.
- Coastal Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/mob or www.srh.noaa.gov/lix.
- Northern Mississippi counties: www.srh.noaa.gov/meg.
There are several ways to receive severe weather warnings, like a NOAA weather radio, or one of several applications on mobile devices. A number of free mobile applications are available for download on smart phones, which can alert you when a watch or warning is issued for your area.
For detailed preparedness information, contact your county emergency management agency, or go to MEMA’s website at www.msema.org. The best way to get up-to-date information is to “Like” MEMA and the National Weather Service on Facebook, or “Follow” us on Twitter.
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EPA Awards $10.8M for National Environmental Education Training Program
WASHINGTON - More than 4,400 environmental educators will gain training and leadership opportunities in 2017 through a new cooperative agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE).
EPA is funding up to $10.8 million over five years through the agency’s teacher training program, formally known as the National Environmental Education Training Program (NEETP).
“Environmental educators help learners of all ages understand and value the ecosystems around them,” said U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “The teacher training program gives educators access to the best classroom and out-of-classroom materials and professional development opportunities, focused on using the environment as a platform for learning science, technology, engineering and math skills to improve decision-making.”
NAAEE will launch a five-year program called “ee360,” starting in 2017. The association is bringing together a broad collection of partners: Antioch University, the Center for Diversity and the Environment, Earth Force, the NAAEE Affiliate Network, Project Learning Tree, Stanford University, the University of Oregon, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. National Park Service, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Forest Service.
NAAEE and these partners will train professionals to deliver high-quality environmental education in formal and non-formal education settings. In the first year, ee360 aims to train more than 4,400 educators. The partners will also strengthen the field by building infrastructure through leadership clinics, developing state certification programs, using technology, expanding access to resources, and researching the value of environmental education.
Since 1992, EPA’s teacher training program has funded training, helped universities and states develop accredited certification programs, and promoted the national Environmental Education Guidelines for Excellence.
For more information on the teacher training program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/education/national-environmental-education-training-program
For more information on NAAEE, visit: www.naaee.org
MDMR establishes email, phone line
to provide information about Speckled Trout
BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources on Thursday established a phone information line and an email address for fishermen to get information and provide comments about proposed changes to recreational Speckled Trout regulations.
The phone line is 1-844-SPECK16 (773-2516) and will provide updated information about regulations and upcoming dates for public meetings. Anyone who would like to comment on the proposed changes or ask questions can send an email to speckinfo@dmr.ms.gov.
At its Oct. 18 meeting, the Commission on Marine Resources approved two items regarding Speckled Trout. Members voted unanimously to change the minimum size limit to 15 inches for recreational fishermen. This vote also prohibits charter boat captains and crew members from keeping a daily bag limit.
In a separate vote, the Commission approved closing the recreational season from Jan. 1, 2017, through March 31, 2017.
MDMR officials will schedule a public hearing within the next few weeks. The Commission is scheduled to take final action on the minimum size change at its Nov. 15 meeting.
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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