State
Ruptured pipe causes 500,000 gallons of raw sewage to spill in Gulfport
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -A water advisory remains in effect for the Industrial Seaway and Bernard Bayou in Gulfport after raw sewage seeped into those waterways.
 | www.wlox.com A water advisory remains in effect for the Industrial Seaway and Bernard Bayou in Gulfport after raw sewage seeped into those waterways. | |
Gulfport sewage gushers taint two waterways
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
They definitely have a dirty job, but the men handling the city's biggest sewer break in years worked overnight and were still at it Tuesday afternoon, determined to keep as much sewage as they could away from businesses and residents.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article105901327.html
| | www.sunherald.com The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality on Tuesday advised against contact with areas of Bayou Bernard and the Industrial Seaway after breaks in two pressurized sewer lines in Gulfport. The city's Public Works Department and contractor Utility Partners quickly contained one leak Monday at Crossroads Parkway, but were still working to fix a second leak Tuesday afternoon off Seaway Road. | |
Three sections of the Mississippi Sound safe for swimming again
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted three water contact advisories Tuesday afternoon. Waters off Pass Christian East Beach from Espy Avenue east to Hayden Avenue, Gulfport West Beach from Marie Avenue east to Camp Avenue and Gulfport Central Beach from Alfonso Drive east to Arkansas Avenue are safe for swimming again.
http://www.wlox.com/story/33317530/three-sections-of-the-mississippi-sound-safe-for-swimming-again
 | www.wlox.com The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted three water contact advisories Tuesday afternoon. Waters off Pass Christian East Beach from Espy Avenue east to Hayden Avenue, Gulfport We... | |
D'Iberville to battle littering
Sun Herald
D'IBERVILLE
An anti-littering campaign begins Wednesday when city employees meet at City Hall at 8:15 a.m. and will be deployed throughout the city.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article105991672.html
ONE NORTH MISSISSIPPI TOWN GETS ITS SOLAR PROJECT OFF THE GROUND
WCBI
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI)-The city of Aberdeen is now one step closer to getting its solar project off the ground.
http://www.wcbi.com/one-north-mississippi-town-gets-solar-project-off-ground/
Kemper plant needs more time, another $62M
AP
JACKSON — Mississippi Power Co. is adding another month to the construction schedule and another $62 million to the cost of the power plant it's building in Kemper County.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/10/04/kemper-plant-needs-time-more-money/91584060/
Port sewer, pretreatment services increase in price
Vicksburg Post
Industries at the Port of Vicksburg will soon be paying more for their sewer service.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2016/10/04/port-sewer-pretreatment-services-increase-in-price/
Lafayette County under burn ban until November, steep fines for violations
Oxford Eagle
As fall emerges in Lafayette County, folks who usually burn off their leaves are going to have to wait a few weeks and hope Mother Nature will soon bring rain to north Mississippi.
Oil Spill
Bay County Commissioners approve a list of projects to spend the first of the BP Oil Spill funds on
WJHG
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - The BP Oil Spill in 2010 took a toll on our tourism economy. Now six years later Bay County is finally getting ready to cash in on the crisis.
Regional
Seminole Tribe seeks halt to water standards amid appeal
Tallahassee Democrat
After losing an initial legal round, the Seminole Tribe of Florida is asking a judge to block the state Department of Environmental Protection from moving forward with controversial new water-quality standards while an appeal plays out.
Fish and wildlife officers begin investigation into St. Petersburg's sewer crisis
Tampa Bay Times
ST. PETERSBURG — The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has opened an investigation into St. Petersburg's sewage discharges, a spokeswoman confirmed Tuesday.
National
Pipeline agency issues rule expanding emergency powers
The Hill
Federal pipeline regulators issued a rule Tuesday to expand their agency's power to regulate pipelines that pose an imminent threat to public safety or the environment.
If finalized, the rule would give the Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) the power to issue emergency restrictions and safety measures on gas or liquid pipeline operators if their pipelines present dangers to the public.
Poll Finds Deep Split on Climate Change. Party Allegiance Is a Big Factor.
NY Times
Americans are deeply divided on the causes, cures and urgency of climate change, and party identification is one of the strongest predictors of individual views, according to a poll released Tuesday by the Pew Research Center.
EPA Declines Farmers' Quid Pro Quo on Pesticide Worker Rule
Bloomberg
The agriculture industry is looking to strike a bargain with the Environmental Protection Agency to resolve a dispute over new pesticide safety regulations for farmworkers, but EPA officials to date have rebuffed its proposals.
http://www.bna.com/epa-declines-farmersquid-n57982077943/
Feds plan to shoot deer at 2 Maryland Civil War battlefields to curb forest damage
AP
HAGERSTOWN, Md. – Federal government sharpshooters will target hundreds of white-tailed deer at two Civil War battlefields in Maryland this December, launching a multi-year program aimed at curbing damage to forests and plants, the National Park Service said Tuesday.
Opinion
Entergy customers are getting a little break
Clarion Ledger
Lynn Fitch and Brandon Presley
Reduced bills and a lighter debt burden are coming soon to Entergy customers and Mississippi taxpayers. With the economy still sluggish, it's not often we get to deliver such all-around good news.
Press Releases
EPA's Gulf of Mexico Program Solicits Nominations for the 2017 Gulf Guardian Awards
Contact Information: Davina Marraccini, 404-562-8293 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main), marraccini.davina@epa.gov
ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Gulf of Mexico Program is seeking nominations for the 2017 Gulf Guardian Awards. These awards recognize and honor businesses, community groups, individuals and organizations that are taking extraordinary steps to keep the Gulf healthy, beautiful and productive. Nominations are due by October 31, 2016.
For 2017, the Gulf of Mexico Program will be awarding 1st, 2nd and 3rd place awards in seven (7) categories:
- Business & Industry
- Environmental Justice/Cultural Diversity
- Civic/Non-Profit Organizations
- Youth Environmental Education
- Individual
- Bi-National
- Partnerships
All 21 winners in these seven categories will be recognized for their project and achievements at a special Gulf Guardian Awards ceremony in Alabama next summer.
The Gulf of Mexico Program is underwritten by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and is a non-regulatory, inclusive consortium focused on the health, productivity and restoration of the Gulf of Mexico and all of the communities that rely on this natural resource.
Participants include members of state and federal government agencies and representatives from the business and agricultural communities, fishing industry, and community and scientific leaders from across the five Gulf States and Mexico.
Gulf Guardian Award recipients exemplify what the Gulf of Mexico Program partnership is all about: innovative solutions that come about when resources are pooled and creative methods are employed to positively impact quality of life and economic well-being in the Gulf of Mexico.
To complete a nomination application for 2017, go to the Gulf of Mexico Program's website athttps://www.epa.gov/gulfofmexico.
The 2017 Gulf Guardian applications are available in both English and Spanish. Email your nomination toGulfGuardian@epa.gov by October 31, 2016.
If you have any questions, or require further information or assistance, please contact The Gulf of Mexico Program at (228) 679-5892.
U.S. Files Complaint, Announces Settlement to Address Alleged Renewable Fuel Standard Violations by NGL Crude Logistics and Western Dubuque Biodiesel
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice today announced the filing of a complaint against NGL Crude Logistics, LLC and Western Dubuque Biodiesel, LLC and a settlement with Western Dubuque to address alleged violations of the Renewable Fuel Standard.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, alleges that NGL entered into a series of transactions with Western Dubuque in 2011 that resulted in the generation of approximately 36 million invalid renewable identification numbers, or RINs. RINs are credits created when a company produces qualifying renewable fuel and can be traded or sold to refineries and importers to use for compliance with renewable fuel production requirements.
Under the settlement, Western Dubuque has agreed to pay $6 million to resolve alleged Renewable Fuel Standard program violations for generating RINs for renewable fuel that was produced using unapproved feedstocks and production processes. A feedstock is the basic material used in the production of renewable fuel. The consent decree does not resolve any claims against NGL.
"These cases uphold the energy independence and greenhouse gas reduction purposes of the law that Congress passed," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "EPA is committed to a level the playing field for responsible companies, and to ensuring that companies that illegally obtain an unfair competitive advantage are held to account."
"Congress passed the Renewable Fuels Standards program to incentivize production of biofuels in order to achieve substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil and modernize the United States' renewable energy industry," said Assistant Attorney General John C. Cruden for the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The Justice Department is committed to ensuring that Congress' goals are not undermined by entities that attempt to compromise the integrity of the incentive program."
"The Department of Justice is committed to maintaining the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard program," said U.S. Attorney Kevin W. Techau for the Northern District of Iowa. "Congress enacted incentives for the production of biofuels to make the United States stronger and more energy independent. This $6 million settlement supports that goal."
The complaint alleges that in 2011, NGL purchased more than 24 million gallons of biodiesel on the open market, and that approximately 36 million RINs had been assigned to the biodiesel. NGL sold most of the RINs to other entities. NGL then sold the biodiesel to Western Dubuque, but designated it as a "feedstock." Western Dubuque reprocessed the biodiesel provided by NGL and generated a second set of RINs for the same fuel. Western Dubuque sold the reprocessed biodiesel and the second set of RINs back to NGL. NGL then sold most of these RINs to other entities.
The complaint asks the court to require NGL to retire 36 million RINs to offset the harm caused by the alleged violations and to pay a civil penalty.
EPA estimates that the generation of the second set of RINs alleged in this case resulted in excess greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 151,319 metric tons of carbon dioxide.
EPA learned that Western Dubuque used improper feedstocks during a 2011 inspection of the company's biodiesel facility, located in Farley, Iowa. EPA then conducted an extensive investigation into transactions between Western Dubuque and NGL, and determined that the feedstocks that NGL supplied to Western Dubuque were biodiesel, which is not a permitted feedstock, and that other companies had already generated RINs for the product. Western Dubuque informed EPA that it has not used biodiesel as a feedstock since 2011.
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 Renewable Fuel Standard 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, and reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, help grow the nation's renewable energy industry, and achieve greenhouse gas reductions.
Western Dubuque owns and operates a 30 million gallon biodiesel plant located in Farley, Iowa. NGL is an energy service company that transports fuel and other products. At the time of the alleged violations, NGL was known as Gavilon, LLC.
The settlement with Western Dubuque is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
The allegations in the complaint remain assertions until they are proved.
For more information about the settlement and the complaint, visit
https://www.epa.gov/enforcement/western-dubuque-biodiesel-llc-clean-air-act-settlement
Service Announces 2016 Expansion of Hunting and Fishing
Opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe today announced the agency
will expand fishing and hunting opportunities on 13 refuges throughout the
Service's National Wildlife Refuge System <http://www.fws.gov/refuges/>.
The final rule also modifies existing refuge-specific regulations on more
than 70 other refuges and wetland management districts. This includes
migratory bird, upland game and big game hunting, and sport fishing.
In Colorado, hunting for elk will occur for the first time in designated
areas of Baca National Wildlife Refuge, as well as in expanded areas of
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge.
"Sportsmen and sportswomen were among the first to champion wildlife
protection. Their efforts are the backbone of the North American Wildlife
Conservation Model — fish and wildlife belong to all Americans, and they
need to be managed in a way that will sustain their populations forever,"
said Ashe. "We are pleased to offer new opportunities for the continuance
of a hunting and fishing tradition that is in accordance with sustainable
recreational use in the National Wildlife Refuge System."
The final rule also includes opening sport fishing of state-regulated
species for the first time at Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge in South
Dakota, and expanding areas available for sport fishing at Patoka River
National Wildlife Refuge in Indiana.
The Service is responsible for managing more than 850 million acres in the
Refuge System, including five marine national monuments, 565 national
wildlife refuges and 38 wetland management districts. The agency manages
hunting and fishing programs to ensure sustainable wildlife populations,
and other forms of wildlife-dependent recreation on refuges, such as
wildlife watching and photography. In addition, the Service's Urban
Wildlife Conservation Program <http://www.fws.gov/urban/index.php>,
launched in 2013, offers opportunities for residents of America's cities to
learn about and take part in wildlife conservation. There is a national
wildlife refuge within an hour's drive from most major metropolitan areas.
Hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities contributed more than $144.7
billion in economic activity across the United States according to the
Service's National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated
Recreation
<http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/2011_Survey.htm>,
published every five years. More than 90 million Americans, or 41 percent
of the United States' population age 16 and older, pursue wildlife-related
recreation. The Service's report Banking on Nature
<http://www.fws.gov/refuges/about/RefugeReports/> shows that refuges pump
$2.4 billion into the economy and support more than 35,000 jobs. More than
48 million visits are made to refuges every year.
"Hunting and fishing give families a chance to carry on traditions that
they have celebrated for generations," Ashe added. "These types of
recreation also benefit local economies and generate much needed additional
funding for wildlife conservation by bringing people into national wildlife
refuges, as well as provide an important connection between people and the
outdoors."
The Service's final rule opens the following refuge to hunting for the
first time:
Colorado
-
Baca National Wildlife Refuge <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/baca/>: Open
migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting. The
refuge is currently closed to other public use activities.
The Service's final rule opens the following refuge to sport fishing for
the first time:
South Dakota
-
Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge
<https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lake_andes/>: Open sport fishing. The refuge
is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting and big
game hunting.
In addition, the Service expands hunting and sport fishing on the following
refuges:
Colorado
-
Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/alamosa/>:
Expand migratory game bird hunting and open big game hunting. The refuge is
already open to migratory game bird hunting and upland game hunting.
-
Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuge
<https://www.fws.gov/refuge/monte_vista/>: Expand migratory game bird
hunting and open big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory
game bird hunting and upland game hunting.
Indiana
-
Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge
<https://www.fws.gov/refuge/patoka_river/> and Management Area: Expand
migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and
sport fishing. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting,
upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.
Louisiana
-
Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge <https://www.fws.gov/atchafalaya/>:
Expand big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird
hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.
-
Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge
<https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Black_Bayou_Lake/>: Expand migratory game
bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting. The refuge is
already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting, big game
hunting and sport fishing.
Michigan
-
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
<https://www.fws.gov/refuge/detroit_river/>: Expand migratory game bird
hunting, upland game hunting and big game hunting. The refuge is already
open to migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game
hunting.
New York
-
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge <http://www.fws.gov/refuge/montezuma/>:
Expand migratory game bird hunting and big game hunting. The refuge is
already open to migratory game bird hunting, big game hunting and sport
fishing.
Oklahoma
-
Washita National Wildlife Refuge <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/washita/>:
Expand big game hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird
hunting, upland game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.
South Carolina
-
Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Waccamaw/>:
Expand migratory game bird hunting, upland game hunting and big game
hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory game bird hunting, upland
game hunting, big game hunting and sport fishing.
Texas
-
Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge <https://www.fws.gov/refuge/anahuac/>:
Expand migratory game bird hunting. The refuge is already open to migratory
game bird hunting and sport fishing.
-
Buffalo Lake National Wildlife Refuge
<https://www.fws.gov/refuge/buffalo_lake/>: Open big game hunting. The
refuge is already open to upland game hunting.
To view a complete list of all hunting and sport fishing opportunities on
refuges, click here <http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/huntFishRegs.html>.
The final rule will become effective upon publication in the Federal
Register on October 4, 2016.
Under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, the
Service permits hunting and fishing along with four other types of
wildlife-dependent recreation, including wildlife photography,
environmental education, wildlife observation and interpretation, when they
are compatible with an individual refuge's purpose and mission. Hunting
<http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/>, within specified limits, is now
permitted on 337 wildlife refuges. Fishing
<http://www.fws.gov/refuges/fishingguide/> is now permitted on 276 wildlife
refuges.
