Wednesday, August 31, 2016

News Clippings 8/31/16

State

Waste Pro low bidder for city garbage service

Meridian Star

Meridian's Waste Pro, the city's garbage collection contractor for the last six years, submitted the low bid at Tuesday's agenda setting meeting at city hall.

http://www.meridianstar.com/news/local_news/waste-pro-low-bidder-for-city-garbage-service/article_5eaf56a6-14eb-5d6d-82e8-9a2f9cc0c446.html

 

Oil Spill

 

Government Council Seeks Public Comment On BP Oil Spill Settlement Funds

WFSU

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill devastated the Gulf Coast, and cost BP a total of $61.2 billion. Now a government council is seeking public input on how some of thatmoney should be spent.

http://news.wfsu.org/post/government-council-seeks-public-comment-bp-oil-spill-settlement-funds

 

National

 

EPA watchdog to ‘evaluate’ drinking water monitoring

The Hill

The Environmental Protection Agency’s internal watchdog has begun “preliminary research” into the department’s oversight of state drinking water testing. 

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/293860-epa-watchdog-to-evaluate-drinking-water-monitoring

 

Health Commissioner: State Acted Properly on Tainted Water

AP

The state followed federal guidelines in addressing industrial chemical contamination of a village's drinking water, but the Environmental Protection Agency gave "confusing, changing and inconsistent guidance," New York Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said Tuesday.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/village-residents-contaminated-water-speak-hearing-41743728

 

Is a blue fire tornado the future of oil spill cleanup?

Fox News

A blue fire tornado sounds like it could be an alarming natural disaster, but this phenomenon could actually offer a way to burn fuel with reduced carbon emissions, a new study finds.

http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/08/31/is-blue-fire-tornado-future-oil-spill-cleanup.html

 

Feds move toward online auctions for oil, gas drilling

The Hill

Federal officials are clearing the way for online auctions for oil and natural gas drilling rights on federal land.

http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/293805-feds-issue-new-rules-for-oil-and-gas-auctions

 

Opinion

 

It’s good to have Lt. Gov. Reeves in Coast’s corner in fight for BP money

Sun Herald

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves can come back any time.

Reeves was on the Coast last week trying to soothe the Coast’s perennial case of the jitters about state funding. We’re thankful for the state’s help on some big project such as MGM Park in Biloxi and the aquarium proposed for Gulfport.

http://www.sunherald.com/opinion/editorials/article98937562.html

 

 

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

News Clippings 8.30.16

State

 

OKTIBBEHA LAKE TO GET DAM REPAIRS

WCBI

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Repairs at Oktibbeha County Lake are finally moving forward.

http://www.wcbi.com/video-oktibbeha-lake-get-dam-repairs/

 

More issues at Shelbi’s Place

Oxford Eagle

Residents of Shelbi’s Place subdivision were not very happy during Friday afternoon’s deluge that caused serious street flooding, as well as floating debris from the latest construction project that has come under criticism.

http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2016/08/29/more-issues-at-shelbis-place/

 

Harrell joins FC&E

MBJ

Richard Harrell, P.E., BCEE has joined FC&E Engineering as Director of Operations.  Harrell retired from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality as Director of the Office of Pollution Control, where he was responsible for managing the agency’s Air, Water, Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, CERCLA, Brownfields other programs and associated US EPA federal delegation of programs to the State.

http://msbusiness.com/2016/08/harrell-joins-fce/

 

Read appointed Appropriations chairman in Legislature

Clarion Ledger

House Speaker Philip Gunn has appointed veteran state Rep. John Read, R-Gautier, as House Appropriations chairman, one of the top positions in the Legislature.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/29/read-appropriations-chair/89548738/

 

Gautier’s Read will lead Mississippi House appropriations

Sun Herald

Rep. John Read of Gautier will be the new chairman of the Appropriations Committee in the state House of Representatives.

http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/crawdaddy/article98620827.html

 

Late revenue report follows declining collection trends

By Bobby Harrison

Daily Journal Jackson Bureau

JACKSON – The trend of declining state revenue collections continued during July – the first month of the new fiscal year.

http://djournal.com/news/late-revenue-report-follows-declining-collection-trends/

 

Regional

Watchdog: Chemical spill remnants may be flowing into Chattahoochee River

WTVM

SMYRNA, GA (CBS46) -An environmental watchdog group said elements of a chemical that spilled into waterways in Smyrna have been detected downstream, toward the Chattahoochee River.

http://www.wtvm.com/story/32867708/watchdog-chemical-spill-remnants-may-be-flowing-into-chattahoochee-river

 

National

 

U.S. Regulators Warn Drillers to Find Solution to Subsea Bolt Failures

Failures of fasteners could result in oil spill on the scale of Deepwater Horizon disaster, officials say

WSJ

Federal regulators Monday warned subsea oil drillers and equipment makers that bolt failures in the Gulf of Mexico could result in an oil spill on the scale of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-regulators-warn-drillers-to-find-solution-to-subsea-bolt-failures-1472490185

 

Lawmakers back automakers on gas mileage standards

USA Today

DETROIT -- Three members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are urging government regulators to give automakers more time to respond to a July report that will help to shape fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations over the next 10 years.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2016/08/30/lawmakers-back-automakers-gas-mileage-standards/89573974/

 

Maryland fines coal power plants $1 million for polluting Potomac, Patuxent rivers

Baltimore Sun

Maryland is fining the owner of two of the state's largest coal power plants $1 million for dumping too much nitrogen into the Potomac and Patuxent rivers, one of the largest penalties state environmental regulators have levied in years.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/blog/bs-md-power-plant-fines-20160829-story.html

 

New regs for Tuesday: Immigration, endangered species, efficiency

The Hill

Endangered: The Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will review the status of nearly two dozen endangered and threatened species, including the Alabama beach mouse, oyster mussel and tulotoma snail.

Efficiency: The Department of Energy is proposing new efficiency rules for water heaters.

http://thehill.com/regulation/293648-new-regs-for-tuesday-immigration-endangered-efficiency

 

 

Monday, August 29, 2016

News Clippings 8.29.16

State

 

Pascagoula renews contract with Waste Pro to improve waste collection

Mississippi Press

PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The City of Pascagoula announced on Friday that it has renewed its residential and light commercial contract with Waste Pro. According to the release, residents will be receiving new recycling roll-out cans to help make recycling easier. All citizens should receive a new rolling recycle can by September 12.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2016/08/pascagoula_renews_contract_wit.html#incart_river_index

 

Ocean Springs schools change garbage vendors, lose recycling program

Mississippi Press

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- In a constant quest to balance its budget, the Ocean Springs school district changed garbage vendors earlier this year, saving $7,000 in annual costs, but in the process lost the recycling program.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2016/08/ocean_springs_schools_change_g.html#incart_river_index

 

Supervisors borrow for Bogue Chitto River project

Ernest Herndon | Enterprise-Journal 

Pike County supervisors proceeded with plans Thursday to borrow $600,000 to repair bridge-threatening erosion on the Bogue ChittoRiver at Holmesville.

In other business Thursday, supervisors:

• Learned that Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 22, at the county health department. No household garbage will be accepted.

• Met with Artis Brown, Recycle One program manager for the city of McComb. She said a Department of Environmental Quality grant ended this year but she got a $50,000 solid waste assistance grant, with $37,000 to go to the city and $13,000 to the county.She also got a $10,000 Dr. Pepper-Snapple grant to put 25 recycling containers in city parks. Brown said there are recycling sites in McComb, Magnolia, Osyka and Summit.

http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_099d1738-6cd8-11e6-9392-ebe47880f012.html

 

City to get Kuhn property through eminent domain

Vicksburg Post

The city of Vicksburg is going to court to acquire the 12.8-acre Kuhn Memorial Hospital property.

http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2016/08/26/city-to-get-kuhn-property-through-eminent-domain/

 

MSU-USDA to create national training academy

WTVA

STARKVILLE, Miss (WTVA) -- Mississippi State and the USDA APHIS Wildlife Services program are partnering for a national training academy on the MSU campus.

http://www.wtva.com/news/local/MSU-USDA_to_create_national_training_academy.html

 

Early migratory game-bird season begins Labor Day weekend

Sun Herald

Labor Day weekend marks the start of early hunting seasons for migratory game birds in Mississippi.

http://www.sunherald.com/sports/outdoors/article98354532.html

 

Oil Spill

Analysis: Miss. lawmakers jockey for BP money

Jeff Amy

BP

JACKSON - Generally, there's nothing better for a politician than spending "free" money — cash that arrived in the treasury without lawmakers having to vote to raise taxes on their constituents.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/08/28/analysis-miss-lawmakers-jockey-bp-money/89519716/

 

Regional

 

N.C. policy makers, regulators attack EPA's Clean Power Plan

Charlotte Business Journal

The Obama administration's Clean Power Plan, requiring states to achieve 30% reductions in carbon emissions, did not get much love at the Carolinas Federal and State Policy Briefing sponsored by E4 Carolinas.

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2016/08/29/n-c-policy-makers-regulators-attack-epas-clean.html

 

Study: Triangle ozone deaths can be prevented

News & Observer

RALEIGH 

An estimated 25 deaths each year in the Triangle from health problems caused by poor air quality could be prevented by reducing ozone pollution to levels recommended by the American Thoracic Society, according to a report released by the society and the New York University Marron Institute for Urban Management.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article98181542.html

 

See how Louisville's air quality has improved

Courier-Journal

Failing grades from the American Lung Association. Among the highest-ranked cities for toxic air emissions from industry.

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/tech/science/watchdog-earth/2016/08/26/see-how-louisvilles-air-quality-has-improved/89396854/

 

Exposure to fracking chemicals might impair fertility, study says

Times-Picayune

Exposure to chemicals released during hydraulic fracturing has been linked to adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes in mice, according to aUniversity of Missouri study released Thursday (Aug. 25). Exposure to the chemicals also could pose a threat to human development, the university said in an announcement of the study.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/08/exposure_to_fracking_chemicals.html#incart_river_index

 

Picture this: Better flood forecast graphics still 5 years away

Times-Picayune

Amid the flooding that swamped 20 Louisiana parishes, damaging an estimated 60,000 homes and killing 13 people, survivors lamented that they were not sufficiently warned. Sure, they knew it was going to rain heavily and that flooding was possible in their parish, but somehow the gravity of the forecast had not sunk in.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/08/new_rainfall_flood_inundation.html#incart_river_index

 

National

 

EPA Bans Exports of Five Mercury Compounds as of 2020

Bloomberg

The Environmental Protection Agency is banning exports of five mercury compounds effective Jan. 1, 2020.

http://www.bna.com/epa-bans-exports-n73014446904/

 

Report: Texas Flouted Federal Aquifer Rules for 34 Years

AP

Texas allowed the drilling of oil and natural gas injection wells in some areas near drinking water sources starting more than three decades ago, but state regulators recently assured the federal government the effort posed "little to no risk" to the subterranean reserves, according to a report released Friday.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/report-texas-flaunted-federal-aquifer-rules-34-years-41680189

 

Which State Is a Big Renewable Energy Pioneer? Texas

The Lone Star state has added more wind-based capacity than any other, as part of an aggressive energy diversification that seeks to skirt ideological land mines

WSJ

SAN ANTONIO—On a blustery February night, the Texas electricity market hit a milestone. Nearly half the power flowing onto the grid came from wind turbines, a level unimaginable a decade ago in a place better known for its long romance with fossil fuels.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/which-state-is-a-big-renewable-energy-pioneer-texas-1472414098

 

Sewer spills put city under EPA scrutiny

Analysis: Poor, minority areas most affected

Houston Chronicle

It's something of a ritual. Every time it storms, Rudy Barajas grabs an umbrella and trudges to the end of his street in southwest Houston to see if raw sewage is gurgling out of a nearby manhole on Wilcrest.

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Sewer-spills-put-city-under-EPA-scrutiny-9188683.php

 

New regs for Monday: Trash, lamps, ships

The Hill

Efficiency: The Department of Energy is moving forward with new efficiency rules for fluorescent lamps.

Emissions: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with new emissions guidelines for municipal solid waste landfills where communities dispose of trash.

http://thehill.com/regulation/293434-new-regs-for-monday-trash-lamps-ships

 

Opinion

 

Working across borders is essential for birds, but also people

The Hill

With political divisiveness so often headlining the news, how refreshing it is to celebrate a centennial that demonstrates the power of countries coming together. One hundred years ago, the United States and Great Britain (for Canada) came together for birds when they signed theMigratory Bird Treaty, a convention to protect migratory birds across international borders.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/energy-environment/293476-working-across-borders-is-essential-for-birds-but-also

 

Friday, August 26, 2016

News Clippings 8.26.16

State

 

Percy Quin is ready

Enterprise-Journal

“There’s a lot going on, and money is being spent at Percy Quin.”

Park administrator Will Busby gave an update on the state of the park Tuesday in remarks to the McComb Lions Club, and in light of the upcoming resumption of fishing on Lake Tangipahoa after a multi-year hiatus, it promises to be a busy autumn.

http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_5f57b6c6-6ae2-11e6-96d0-cf776f0aa31c.html

 

USM Marine Research Center planned at Port of Gulfport

WLOX

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Bids will go out in the next 30 days for a $10 million USM Marine Research Center. That educational facility will be built near a busy intersection that serves as the "front door" for the Port of Gulfport.

http://www.wlox.com/story/32843420/usm-marine-research-center-planned-at-port-of-gulfport

 

City of Hernando Awarded $400,000 Brownfields Grant

Memphis Daily News

The city of Hernando has earned a $400,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will be used to clean up a brownfields site for redevelopment.

https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2016/aug/26/city-of-hernando-awarded-400000-brownfields-grant/#110441

 

Audit: FEMA grant funds for Louisville at risk

Clarion Ledger

Federal funding to rebuild a Louisville factory is in jeopardy after the Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to properly approve changes to the project, according to an audit released this month.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/08/24/audit-fema-grant-funds-louisville-risk/89254386/

 

DRA ANNOUNCES $15 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

MPB

Millions of dollars in grants will go toward improving infrastructure in the delta region. MPB's Ezra Wall reports.  The Delta Regional Authority says $15 million in grants will help complete eight infrastructure projects in Mississippi.  The projects range from sewer projects in Cleveland and Lexington to establishing an urgent care clinic in Belzoni.  

http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/08/26/dra-announces-15-million-for-infrastructure/

 

Biloxi says Secretary of State owes city $1.2 million

WLOX

BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The City of Biloxi and the Institutions of Higher Learning are joining forces against the Secretary of State in Chancery Court to get money they say they are owed.

http://www.wlox.com/story/32845264/biloxi-says-secretary-of-state-owes-city-12-million

 

Regional

 

EPA launches federal investigation into Smyrna creek spill

WSB

SMYRNA, Ga. - Nearly two weeks after a chemical spill at Apollo Technologies in Smyrna sent 2,300 gallons of carburetor cleaner into a creek, turning the water that flows through Dana McPherson's neighborhood white, we've confirmed through our sources that the EPA has launched a federal criminal investigation.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/cobb-county/epa-launches-federal-investigation-into-smyrna-creek-spill/429820312

 

National

 

Study: Ethanol increases carbon emissions

The Hill

Replacing traditional gasoline with ethanol results in a net increase in carbon dioxide emissions, a new study concluded.

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/293291-study-ethanol-increases-carbon-emissions

 

Obama plans to create world's largest marine protected area

AP

The White House says that President Barack Obama will expand a national monument off the coast of Hawaii, creating the world's largest marine protected area.

http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/article98005342.html

 

 

San Fernando Valley will soon store 5 billion gallons of stormwater

LA Times

The Tujunga Spreading Grounds may look like a vast, barren plot of dirt.

But it’s what’s beneath the dirt that matters.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-stormwater-20160823-snap-story.html

 

As toxic algae bloom spreads, will Michigan add Lake Erie to impaired list?

MLive

LANSING, MI — As this summer's harmful algae bloom in Lake Erie grows in toxicity, Michigan environmental regulators are still reviewing whether to add the state's portion of the lake to a list of impaired waters that was supposed to be in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's hands this spring.

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/08/michigan_lake_erie_impaired_tm.html

 

Opinion

 

Ethanol mandate is relic of a different time: Column

Clarion Ledger

Be careful what you wish for, which sums up the federal Renewable Fuel Standard, better known as the ethanol mandate.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/columnists/2016/08/25/ethanol-mandate-relic-different-time-column/89271650/

 

Press Releases

 

MSU-led Northern Gulf Institute renews agreement with EPA

Contact: Diane Godwin

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A coastal-based research cooperative led by Mississippi State is extending its memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Northern Gulf Institute provides the Gulf of Mexico region with diverse, science-based services to help protect the ecosystem while continuing to ensure healthy communities situated along its borders.

University officials recently were notified of the institute’s five-year renewal by counterparts with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.

While the original NGI-EPA collaboration that began in 2013 covered areas around Florida’s Tampa Bay, this latest agreement covers the entire gulf region.

Along with NOAA and other regional partners, both agencies are working to maintain and enhance a wide range of activities focused on restoration and management activities. Their ultimate goal: to provide coastal communities with equitable, efficient and effective solutions that safeguard the natural environment and human well-being.

In addition to MSU, the Northern Gulf Institute includes the universities of Alabama-Huntsville and Southern Mississippi, Florida State and Louisiana State universities, and the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory near Mobile.

For more information about the MOU renewal, contact Steve Ashby, at sashby@gri.msstate.edu or Jim Harvey atharvey.jim@epa.gov.

 

Thursday, August 25, 2016

News Clippings 8.25.16

State

Two parts of the Mississippi Sound safe for swimming, but seven others are not

WLOX

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted two water contact advisories Wednesday. Seven other advisories remain in effect. 

http://www.wdam.com/story/32833293/another-section-of-the-mississippi-sound-not-safe-for-swimming

 

Garbage collection crackdown proposed: City of Meridian

WTOK

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) - Curbside trash pickup is a service that Meridian residents pay to receive. However, in some cases city officials say residents don't put the items in the proper place.

http://www.wtok.com/content/news/Garbage-collection-crackdown-proposed-City-of-Meridian-391168661.html

 

AGENCIES CONTINUE AUDIT OF $30M COASTAL RETROFIT PROGRAM

MPB

State and federal officials are continuing a probe of what happened with a $30 million grant program intended to protect Mississippi coastal homes against hurricanes. MPB’s Evelina Burnett reports.

http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/08/24/agencies-continue-audit-of-30m-coastal-retrofit-program/

 

Oil Spill

 

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves to ask Coast residents how to spend BP money


Sun Herald

LONG BEACH 

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves will hold town halls across the three Coast counties to gather ideas on how to spend BP settlement money on economic development projects.

http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article97565947.html

 

Lt. Governor Reeves talks BP money priorities

WLOX

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves met with Coast lawmakers Wednesday morning to discuss a strategy for spending millions of BP settlement dollars on economic development projects in South Mississippi.

http://www.wlox.com/story/32834806/lt-governor-reeves-talks-bp-money-priorities

 

Regional

 

New Orleans group sues EPA for delaying new lead standards

Times-Picayune

A New Orleans nonprofit and seven other community organizations around the United States sued the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday (Aug. 24) for failing to update its 15-year-old standards about what constitutes safe levels of lead-based paint and lead dust. The suit contends that the EPA has yet to institute new lead hazard standards despite a growing body of scientific research suggesting its current standards are outdated.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/08/epa_lawsuit_lead_orleans.html#incart_river_index

 

More join legal fight over water pollution limits

Tallahassee Democrat

The city of Miami and others are joining the legal fight against proposed new surface water standards approved last month by the Florida Environmental Regulation Commission.

http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2016/08/24/more-join-legal-fight-over-water-pollution-limits/89268926/

 

National

 

Protect Workers From Harmful Chemicals, Advocates Urge EPA

Bloomberg

The Environmental Protection Agency should use the new authorities under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act to protect workers and other at-risk groups, advocates say.

http://www.bna.com/protect-workers-harmful-n73014446766/

 

National Park Service turns 100, and some sites are showing their age

Washington Post

When dusk falls Thursday on Yellowstone National Park, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is expected to kick off a commemoration of the 100th birthday of the National Park Service that will probably go well into the night.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/08/24/national-parks-turn-100-and-theyre-showing-their-age/?utm_term=.5b3e83a79bd2