Coal mining cleanups: hundreds of millions went to other uses, federal watchdog claims
Fox News
The state of Mississippi is seeing higher than predicted revenue collections for two months straight, after nearly two years of not meeting projections. As MPB's Mark Rigsby reports, some state leaders are hopeful it's a good sign of things to come.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2017/05/10/state-revenue-up-in-march-april/ Oil Spill
Plaquemines Parish settles with BP for $45 million over 2010 oil disaster Times-Picayune
A total of $67.4 million in supplemental appropriations is included in the budget plan, with $1.7 million to go toward a lawsuit with the state of Mississippi over the Memphis aquifer. In its 13th year, the lawsuit filed by Mississippi seeks $615 million in damages, claiming Memphis Light, Gas and Water is improperly pumping millions of gallons of water from the Memphis Sand and Sparta Sand and leaving “cones of depression” in the water table.
https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2017/may/10/tennessee-senate-approves-37b-budget/ National
EPA seeks governors’ input in rewriting Obama water rule The Hill
Stepping aside from lawsuits he brought against the EPA will not hinder Administrator Scott Pruitt’s ability to reshape the climate change and water regulations he challenged as Oklahoma attorney general.
https://www.bna.com/pruitt-free-hand-n73014450647/
U.S. Commerce chief says EPA permits top regulatory 'hit list' Reuters
America's fishing industry declined slightly in 2015 as fishermen contended with environmental and market forces, the federal government says.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article149518459.html Six-Figure Payouts for Sick Leave Spur Outrage, Calls for Overhaul For Retiring College Head, 1,250 Unused Sick Days Equals $266,060 Payday WSJ
By Doug Daigle Guest Columnist
As Louisiana moves ahead with the 2017 Coastal Master Plan, it’s important that the state not forget a separate but related issue that affects the coast. The large area of low oxygen that forms off Louisiana’s coast has come to be known as the “dead zone.”
http://www.houmatoday.com/opinion/20170510/opinion-dont-forget-gulf-dead-zone BOBBY HARRISON: Reeves wears role of obstructionist well Daily Journal
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army sent a letter to governors today soliciting input from states on a new definition of protected waters that is in-line with a Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s opinion in the 2006 Rapanos v. United States case. Scalia’s definition explains that federal oversight should extend to “relatively permanent” waters and wetlands with a “continuous surface connection” to large rivers and streams.
“EPA is restoring states’ important role in the regulation of water,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Like President Trump, I believe that we need to work with our state governments to understand what they think is the best way to protect their waters, and what actions they are already taking to do so. We want to return to a regulatory partnership, rather than regulate by executive fiat.”
"The Army, together with the Corps of Engineers, is committed to working closely with and supporting the EPA on these rulemakings. As we go through the rulemaking process, we will continue to make the implementation of the Clean Water Act Section 404 regulatory program as transparent as possible for the regulated public, " said Douglas Lamont, senior official performing the duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.
The Clean Water Act asserts federal control over “navigable waters” without providing clarity or details about the law’s scope. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on February 28, 2017 to direct federal agencies to roll back and replace the Obama Administration’s Clean Water Rule – also known as the “Waters of the U.S.” or WOTUS – to ensure that the nation’s navigable waters are kept free from pollution, while at the same time promoting economic growth, minimizing regulatory uncertainty, and showing due regard for the roles of Congress and the States under the Constitution.
To meet the objectives of the executive order, federal agencies are following a two-step process that will provide as much certainty as possible, as quickly as possible, to the regulated community and the public during the development of the replacement rule.
The first step is to revise the Code of Federal Regulations to re-codify the definition of “Waters of the United States” which currently governs administration of the Clean Water Act, in light of a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit staying a definition of “Waters of the United States” promulgated by the agencies in 2015. This action will simply make the text of the Code of Federal Regulations reflect the definition currently in effect under the Sixth Circuit stay. This action, when final, will not change current practice with respect to the how the definition applies, which is consistent with Supreme Court decisions, agency guidance documents, and longstanding practice.
The second step will be a public notice-and-comment rulemaking involving a substantive reevaluation and revision of the definition of “Waters of the U.S.” in accordance with the executive order. The letter sent to governors today is seeking input on the second step of the process.
