State
City responds to complaints over dust, dust control in East Biloxi
Sun Herald
Heavy rain in East Biloxi this week is causing more problems for residents who are driving its mostly dirt streets and the contractor doing miles of infrastructure work.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article120977308.html
East Biloxi roadwork completion delayed until 2018
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The completion date for the east Biloxi roadwork project is being pushed back again.
http://www.wdam.com/story/34056678/east-biloxi-roadwork-completion-delayed-until-2018
Pebble Creek subdivsion to appeal planning ruling
Oxford Eagle
A controversial subdivision development proposed for the Spring Lake area will come before the Lafayette County Planning Commission during a special appeal meeting at the Chancery Building on Friday morning.
http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2016/12/14/pebble-creek-subdivsion-to-appeal-planning-ruling/
DeSoto Supes hear upbeat greenways, road reports
DeSoto Times-Tribune
The DeSoto Board of Supervisors heard an upbeat report on regional greenways progress and got an optimistic forecast for greenbacks, as in more federal cash for county road and flood-prevention projects.
New Toyota Mississippi president named
Daily Journal
BLUE SPRINGS – Toyota Mississippi is celebrating its 10th anniversary next year, but the executive that oversaw the start of production won’t be there to celebrate.
http://djournal.com/news/new-toyota-mississippi-president-named/
Mississippi finishes last – again – among all states in annual health ranking
McClatchy
WASHINGTON
Mississippi dropped to dead last this year among all 50 states in the annual “America’s Health Ranking” released Thursday by the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit arm of insurer United Health Group.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article120910893.html
Mississippi governor searching for new public safety leader
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant is searching for a new public safety commissioner as the current one prepares to retire after a rocky tenure.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article120868408.html
How budget cuts differ between Bryant, Legislature
Mississippi Today
Separate Fiscal Year 2018 budget proposals from Gov. Phil Bryant and legislative leaders would cut millions of dollars in spending by state agencies.
http://mississippitoday.org/2016/12/14/how-budget-cuts-differ-between-bryant-legislature/
Oil Spill
How the Coast can make a case for BP money
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
The BP settlement dominated the legislative portion of Leadership Gulf Coast’s Government Day on Wednesday at the Knight Nonprofit Center.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article120860163.html
Past record haunts BP fraudster at sentencing
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola on Wednesday sentenced Gregory Warren, 52, of Lafayette, Louisiana, to 17 years in prison and fined him $250,000 in a BP-fraud case that saw San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts and four others acquitted.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/crime/article120958238.html
Regional
A connection between waterfowl and the spread of resistant weeds?
Missouri study sheds light on the role of waterfowl in spread of resistant weeds
Delta Farm Press
It’s that time of year when the migration of waterfowl has begun and hunters unlock the gun cabinet and pull on camo. It turns out those wonderful ducks may be carrying more than the odd band and a desire for warmer climes.
Is the rapid spread of herbicide-resistant pigweeds in the Mid-South at least partially attributable to the flyway? A recent study out of Missouri says it is quite likely.
http://www.deltafarmpress.com/weeds/connection-between-waterfowl-and-spread-resistant-weeds
Charlie Melancon out as Wildlife & Fisheries secretary
Times-Picayune
Charlie Melancon, a former U.S. congressman who has served since January as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has resigned from the position, a high-ranking source told NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune Wednesday afternoon.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2016/12/charlie_melancon_out_as_wildli.html
Students to present project on water quality
Star Press
MUNCIE, Ind. — You'll soon be able to learn more about the quality of Indiana's water — and its far-reaching impact — thanks to a group of Ball State University students and the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry.
National
Environmentalists Brace For Scott Pruitt To Take Over EPA
NPR
What will an anti-regulation, climate skeptic do as head of the Environmental Protection Agency? Environmentalists are bracing. But Scott Pruitt will also face limits if he tries to strip the agency of its power.
http://www.npr.org/2016/12/14/505592195/environmentalists-brace-for-scott-pruitt-to-take-over-epa
Obama environmental legacy at stake as GOP, industry align
AP
BILLINGS, MONT.
The Obama administration will leave behind a host of disputed recent actions and unfinished business on the environment — from shelved energy leases and blocked mining projects to pollution restrictions and decisions on hundreds of potentially imperiled species.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article121030158.html
A look at recent disputed environmental actions under Obama
AP
BILLINGS, MONT.
Republicans and business groups pledge to reverse or block a string of recent and pending actions from the administration of President Barack Obama. President-elect Donald Trump campaigned on promises to reverse course on some of Obama's environmental initiatives, including a moratorium on new federal coal sales.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article121030808.html
From Trump and his new team, mixed signals on climate change
AP
WASHINGTON
He brushed off climate change as a Chinese hoax, then called it the real deal and finally declared that "nobody really knows." Donald Trump is sending mixed signals on whether or how he will try to slow Earth's warming temperatures and rising sea levels.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/health/article121018603.html
Companies Should Report Possible Climate Costs, Say Global Executives
The information should routinely appear in financial statements, according to recommendations to be presented to G-20 leaders
WSJ
LONDON—Companies should publish an assessment of the losses they could suffer through climate change as part of their routine financial statements, according to a panel of financial and business executives chaired by Michael Bloomberg.
New regs for Thursday: Food stamps, eagles, birds
The Hill
Eagles: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is moving forward with plansthat could disturb bald and golden eagle populations.
Birds: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is proposing to loosen the protections for small birds known as black-capped vireos.
http://thehill.com/regulation/310337-new-regs-for-thursday-food-stamps-eagles-birds
Opinion
High-Energy Rick Perry
Revive Yucca Mt.’s nuclear waste site, then close Energy down.
WSJ
Donald Trump is not without a sense of irony, as witness his choice of Rick Perry to run the Energy Department, which the former Texas Governor couldn’t even recall in a 2011 presidential debate and which he wanted to eliminate. Now is his chance.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-energy-rick-perry-1481762970
Press Releases
COCHRAN: MISSISSIPPI TO BENEFIT FROM ARMY CORPS DISASTER FUNDING
More Than $30 Million in Disaster Relief Available for Levee, Navigation Repairs in Mississippi
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today said repairs to federal flood control projects and navigation improvements in Mississippi will be funded from more than $400 million in disaster relief approved by Congress to address flood damage that occurred in the Lower Mississippi River Valley in the winter and spring of 2016.
Cochran said more than $30 million of this lower Mississippi funding has been identified for use in Mississippi on at least 23 different Army Corps of Engineers projects to repair damages to levees, dikes and backwater improvements.
“Ongoing assessments of flood control systems, ports and navigation on the lower Mississippi indicate extensive and corrosive damage from flooding last winter and spring,” Cochran said. “The strength of the Mississippi River levee system is measured by its weakest link. It was important that the Army Corps of Engineers has resources to ensure viable navigation and flood protection on the Mississippi and its tributaries.”
Cochran, as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was instrumental in ensuring that the Army Corps received emergency funding as the Congress approved a disaster recovery package. The disaster funding became law when President Obama signed the FY2017 continuing resolution (HR.2028) this weekend.
The continuing resolution provides the Army Corps with more than $400 million for improvements in the Lower Mississippi Valley. This funding is provided through the Mississippi River and Tributaries project, Operations and Maintenance account and the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies program. This ongoing work is necessary to prevent another disaster like the great the flood of 1927, which caused the equivalent of more than $17 billion in damages.
The Mississippi River Commission assessed the MR&T system and determined that heavy rains and severe flooding caused by storms in December 2015 and March 2016 compounded the need for repairs already underway following the historic 2011 floods.
The Board of Mississippi Levee Commissioners, the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Levee Board and the City of Vicksburg are among dozens of flood control districts, levee boards and port authorities that supported emergency appropriations to accelerate repairs on the lower Mississippi River.
Overall, $1.02 billion is available to the Army Corps nationwide to repair damage caused by floods, hurricane and other natural disasters. This assistance is in addition to regular FY2016 discretionary appropriations enacted by Congress.
The Lower Mississippi River Valley generally stretches from southern Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico and includes the states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Illinois.
MR&T, which was authorized by Congress following the devastating flood of 1927, is a comprehensive system of levees, floodways, channel and tributary basin improvements providing flood protection for approximately 4 million people and navigation benefits to the nation. It has saved taxpayers approximately 45 dollars for every 1 dollar invested in it since its inception.
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Service Announces Final Rule to Further Conserve, Protect Eagles through Revised Permitting, Monitoring Requirements Updated Science Guides Process to Address Impacts from Potentially Harmful Human Activities
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service today announced it has finalized a rule that will help protect and conserve eagle populations through revised permitting processes and monitoring requirements. The revised rule engages a variety of industries more fully in eagle conservation and helps the Service better understand how human activities across the landscape affect eagles. The rule includes revisions to the permitting system for unintentional prohibited impacts to eagles and will help protect local populations by providing much-needed information to support greater scientific understanding and decision-making.
“No animal says America like the bald eagle, and the Service is using the best available science to make eagle management decisions that promote eagle conservation,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “Our success in recovering this bird when its populations plummeted in the lower 48 nearly a half-century ago stands as one of our greatest national conservation achievements. The final revised regulations build on this success, taking a comprehensive approach to eagle conservation and demonstrating the Service’s longstanding commitment to bald and golden eagles, responsible industry operations, and the interests of the American people.”
Under the revised rule, permits may be granted only when the applicant agrees to specific measures to first reduce take to the greatest extent possible. To protect local eagle populations, the Service uses precautionary, conservative estimates to arrive at the eagle take number for each permit, meaning fewer birds will likely end up being taken than are permitted. The permittee also must agree to assume additional responsibility for monitoring eagle loss at its facilities, which is critical to developing a better understanding of ways impacts to eagles can be reduced in the future.
Changes to the regulations include a new requirement that monitoring for long-term permits be conducted by independent contractors who report directly to the Service and for their monitoring data to be made available to the public. The maximum term for a permit is extended to 30 years, but longer-term permits will be closely re-evaluated every five years. After each five-year period, the permittee will need to review the permit and monitoring data with Service biologists to ensure permit terms are being maintained and eagle populations are conserved. Other changes to the rule include revisions to permit issuance criteria, compensatory mitigation standards, criteria for eagle nest removal permits, permit application requirements, and fees.
The regulations guide the Service’s administration of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (Eagle Act). Revisions to the rule, which was originally published in 2009, build on extensive public input and are supported by a significant body of science, including findings from a Service and U.S. Geological Survey initiative that began in 2011. The findings <https://www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/pdf/management/EagleRuleRevisions-StatusReport.pdf>
represent a compilation of the most current research on the population status and trends of bald and golden eagles and serve as the biological basis for the final rule.
Incidental take of eagles (unintentional disturbance, injury or loss of eagles due to otherwise lawful activities) has been a longstanding issue.
An incidental take permit system – first under the Endangered Species Act, then the Eagle Act – has provided a way for companies or individuals to work collaboratively with the Service to lessen their impact and compensate for any unavoidable loss of eagles while also reducing their risk of being charged with violations of federal law.
Today, Americans can enjoy seeing more bald eagles than at any time in the past 50 years. Populations, nearly extinct in the lower 48 states in the 1960s, now number at least 143,000 individuals. In contrast, data suggest golden eagle populations are stable but may gradually decline. Therefore, under the revised rule, any loss of golden eagles can be approved only with the application of actions that ensure there is no net loss of golden eagles.
“The impact of development on wildlife and their habitats can often be significantly reduced if there is the will and a framework to guide us,”
Ashe noted. “The Service has a long history of working cooperatively with multiple industry sectors through the permitting system to reduce impacts to eagles and other federally protected wildlife species. Renewable energy development is increasing, reducing carbon emissions that jeopardize humans and wildlife through climate change. The Service is working with these and other interests to help them implement practices to site, design and operate facilities in ways that reduce impacts to eagles and other animals.”
For additional information and to view the final rule, please see https://www.fws.gov/birds/management/managed-species/eagle-management.php.
