State
VIBRIO CASE REPORTED ON THE COAST WXXV
Gov. Phil Bryant on Thursday signed an executive order creating the Ocean Task Force, an umbrella group of business, academic, military and government interests to promote the Coast as a research and development testing ground for unmanned craft for the sea and air.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article153930204.html Gov. Bryant creates new Ocean Task Force WLOX
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) — Congressman Gregg Harper stopped by the WJTV 12 Studios Thursday to talk about President Donald Trump pulling out of the climate agreement and other things that have been happening in Washington D.C.
http://wjtv.com/2017/06/01/congressman-harper-talks-about-climate-agreement-healthcare/ Donald Trump Withdraws From Paris Climate Deal Despite Allies’ Opposition Trump says nation will begin negotiations to re-enter Paris accord or start new deal WSJ
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency plans to offer some employees a buyout program to reduce staff, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters, as President Donald Trump proposes slashing the agency's budget and workforce to reduce regulation.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-epa-buyouts-exclusive-idUSKBN18S6N5 Opinion
Paris deal harms U.S. prosperity: Opposing view USA Today
Roger Wicker
Last month, I signed a letter with 21 of my Senate colleagues urging President Trump to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. The 2015 deal made by the Obama administration runs counter to the actions President Trump has taken to deliver regulatory relief to American families and workers since he took office.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/01/paris-deal-harms-us-prosperity-opposing-view/102401950/ Press Releases
Gov. Phil Bryant Announces Creation of Ocean Task Force
Jackson, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant announced today the creation of the Ocean Task Force during a ceremonial executive order signing in Gulfport. The announcement was made in conjunction with the Naval Oceanography’s Unmanned Systems Operational Demonstration at the Combat Readiness Training Center.
“The Mississippi Gulf Coast is well-positioned to grow as a major unmanned maritime systems center as the result of an increased emphasis on oceanography and survey vessels,” Gov. Bryant said. “The team of experts comprising this Task Force will create the strongest possible environment for attracting the unmanned maritime systems industry to our state.”
The creation of the Ocean Task Force reinforces Mississippi’s commitment to the U.S. Navy and the maritime industry. The purpose of the Task Force is to align Mississippi’s maritime assets to support the Navy’s efforts to maintain its battlespace competitive edge.
“It is the mission of Naval Oceanography to advance ocean science in the U.S. to ensure that the Navy maintains a competitive advantage in our ability to exploit the ocean environment,” said Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command and Oceanographer of the Navy Rear Adm. Tim Gallaudet. “The state of Mississippi’s Ocean Task Force is a clear and demonstrable show of support for the Chief of Naval Operation’s Task Force Ocean. Together, we will ensure that unmanned maritime systems capabilities will be available to rapidly support multiple national maritime and security objectives.”
The Task Force, which is modeled after Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson’s Task Force Ocean, will address a growing need within private and public sectors to close a widening competitive gap around ocean science and technology. The Task Force will also develop a master plan identifying key attractors, partnerships, missing elements, research and training as state, federal and private resources become available.
Additionally, the Task Force will provide recommendations on how the state can quickly facilitate the training necessary to develop a local workforce to support the unmanned maritime systems industry. The workforce will research, develop, build and operate various types of unmanned systems to support the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, NASA, Department of Homeland Security and Mississippi’s Department of Marine Resources.
“I am incredibly honored to chair the Ocean Task Force for Governor Bryant. This is a visionary step toward enhancing our nation’s advantage in the design, development, testing and application of unmanned maritime systems,” said Dr. Monty Graham, director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Ocean Science and Technology. “Mississippi has such a rich history founded on shipbuilding and maritime commerce, and now we plan to lead the nation into the future of science and technology in unmanned maritime systems.”
The Master Plan is due 120 days from the announcement of the Task Force. The Task Force will exist through the Gov. Bryant’s term.
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Mississippi shrimp season opens June 7 BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has set the opening date of the 2017-2018 shrimp season in state territorial waters for 6 a.m. Wednesday, June 7.
All regulations of the MDMR will be in full force and effect, and all boats engaged in catching or transporting shrimp from Mississippi waters must be licensed or permitted by the MDMR before beginning operations.
Recreational and commercial shrimp season north of the Intracoastal Waterway will close at midnight on Dec. 31, 2017. In areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway and west of the Gulfport Ship Channel, shrimp season will close at midnight on April 30, 2018. Live-bait shrimping is open year-round.
Additionally, Marine Patrol officers will be available to perform dockside courtesy inspections of Turtle Excluder Devices upon request of shrimpers. Shrimpers requesting courtesy inspections should contact Marine Patrol at 228-523-4134.
For specific information, call the Mississippi Shrimp Information Hotline at 866-938-7295 or the MDMR at 228-374-5000.
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
www.dmr.ms.gov.
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Administrator Scott Pruitt Speech On Paris Accord, As Prepared Speeches home June 1, 2017 - Thank you, Mr. President.
Your decision today to exit the Paris Accord reflects your unflinching commitment to put America First. And by exiting, you are fulfilling yet one more campaign promise to the American people.
Please know that I am thankful for your fortitude – courage – and steadfastness as you serve and lead our country.
America finally has a leader who answers only to the people – not the special interests who have had their way for much too long. In everything you do, you are fighting for the forgotten men and women of America. You are the champion for hardworking citizens all across this land who just want a government that puts their needs first.
You have promised to put America First in all aspects of your Administration. And you have done that in any number of ways – from trade – to national security – to protecting our border – to right-sizing government here in Washington, D.C.
And today, you have put America First with regard to international agreements and the environment. This is a historic restoration of American Economic Independence – one that will benefit the working class, the working poor, and working people of all stripes. With this action, you have declared that people are the rulers of this country once again.
It should be noted that we as a nation do it better than anyone in the world in striking the balance between growing jobs and our economy – while also being a good steward of our environment. We owe no apologies to other nations for our environmental stewardship.
After all – before the Paris Accord was ever signed – America had reduced its CO2 footprint to levels of the early 1990s. In fact – between the years 2000 and 2014, the United States reduced its carbon emissions by more than 18 percent and this was accomplished largely by American innovation and technology from the private sector rather than government mandate.
For that reason – you have corrected a view that was paramount in Paris – that somehow the United States should penalize its economy – be apologetic – lead with our chin – while the rest of the world does little. Other nations talk a good game – We lead with action – not words.
Our efforts should be on exporting our technology and innovation to nations who seek to reduce their CO2 footprint – to learn from us. That should be our focus versus agreeing to unachievable targets that harm our economy and the American people.
Mr. President – it takes courage and commitment to say no to the plaudits of men while doing what’s right by the American people.
You have that courage –
And the American people can take comfort because you have their back.
Unconventional Oil and Gas Production Not Currently Affecting Drinking Water Quality
USGS
Release Date: MAY 31, 2017
Decades or longer may be needed to fully assess the effects of unconventional oil and gas production on the quality of groundwater used for drinking water in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas
A new U.S. Geological Survey
study shows that unconventional oil and gas production in some areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas is not currently a significant source of methane or benzene to drinking water wells. These production areas include the Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, and Haynesville shale formations, which are some of the largest sources of natural gas in the country and have trillions of cubic feet of gas.
This is the first study of these areas to systematically determine the presence of benzene and methane in drinking water wells near unconventional oil and gas production areas in relation to the age of the groundwater. Methane and benzene, produced by many unconventional oil and gas wells, have various human health implications when present in high concentrations in drinking water.
The USGS has pioneered the ability to determine the age of groundwater. “Understanding the occurrence of methane and benzene in groundwater in the context of groundwater age is useful because it allows us to assess whether the hydrocarbons were from surface or subsurface sources. The ages indicate groundwater moves relatively slowly in these aquifers. Decades or longer may be needed to fully assess the effects of unconventional oil and gas production activities on the quality of groundwater used for drinking water,” said Peter McMahon, USGS hydrologist and study lead.
The USGS examined 116 domestic and public-supply wells in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas that were located as close as 360 feet to unconventional oil and gas wells. Methane was detected in 91 percent of the wells and, of those, 90 percent had methane concentrations lower than the threshold of 10 milligrams per liter. The Department of the Interior Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement
proposed this threshold for the purposes of protection from explosive risk. Most of the methane detected in groundwater was from naturally occurring microbial sources at shallow depths rather than deep shale gas.
Although benzene was detected in 8 percent of the wells sampled, concentrations were low––the highest concentration was nearly 40 times lower than the federal standard for benzene in drinking water (5 micrograms per liter). Benzene was detected about 1.5 to 8 times more frequently in the study area groundwater than in national data sets of benzene in groundwater.
Groundwater in the Louisiana and Texas study areas typically entered the aquifers several thousand years ago. Nearly all the benzene detected in those areas occurred in old groundwater, indicating it was from subsurface sources such as natural hydrocarbon migration or leaking oil and gas wells. In Arkansas, groundwater was much younger—typically less than 40 years old. Benzene was detected in one sample of young groundwater in Arkansas that could be associated with a surface release associated with unconventional oil and gas production activities.
The article, “
Methane and Benzene in Drinking-water Wells Overlying the Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, and Haynesville Shale Hydrocarbon Production Areas,” is published online in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.
Researchers return to Gulf of Mexico to study impacts of oil spill UGA
Athens, Ga. - The 2010 Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in the deaths of 11 oil rig workers and ultimately the largest marine oil spill in history. As this environmental disaster recedes into history, researchers from institutions across the U.S. continue to study its enduring ecological impacts.
One of these research teams will embark on a 12-day expedition in the Gulf on June 11 to investigate the impacts of oil, methane and chemical dispersants on the deep sea ecosystem-in particular deep sea corals. Deep sea corals are ecologically important and provide vital habitat for marine life, including commercially important species like shrimp, crab and grouper.
The scientists are part of the University of Georgia-led Ecosystem Impacts of Oil and Gas to the Gulf research consortium, one of several research consortia supported by the
Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative.
"Large oil and gas injections to an ecosystem, such as that resulting from the Deepwater Horizon accident, cause both immediate and long term impacts," said project director Samantha Joye, Athletic Association Professor in UGA's Franklin College of Arts and Sciences. "This upcoming research expedition is a critical component of ECOGIG's long term monitoring program."
The team will send a remotely operated vehicle to depths of over 1,000 meters and use high-resolution cameras mounted to capture hundreds of still images of corals they have been monitoring yearly since shortly after the spill in 2010. These photographic data will be collected and analyzed- along with images from prior expeditions-to document the spill's impacts and improve understanding of the mechanisms that influence coral recovery and survival.
"Continued monitoring is critical," said project co-leader Chuck Fisher of Pennsylvania State University. "After seven years the 500-year-old corals are still recovering from the effects of the spill and their ultimate fate is still not known. A lot remains to be learned about these amazing and beautiful animals."
ECOGIG outreach and communication specialists aboard the ship during the "Jewels of the Gulf: Deepwater Expedition" will connect with the public in variety of ways. A live ROV camera feed will be accessible throughout the expedition at ecogig.org. Schoolchildren and summer campers across the United States will interact with scientists onboard during live question and answer sessions, and in collaboration with
Mission Blue, an interactive Facebook Live video hosted by
Ocean Allison will be broadcast to a worldwide audience from the Gulf of Mexico.
"The outreach component of this expedition is particularly exciting," said Joye. "Communicating with kids and the public at large about the wonders of the Gulf's deep sea ecosystems and the relevance of this research is important."
Anyone can stay up to date on the research in real time by following along via ECOGIG's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. Additional content including educational videos, podcasts and a documentary short film will become available after the expedition.
Institutions participating in this expedition include University of Georgia, Pennsylvania State University, Temple University, Lehigh University and the U.S. Geological Survey. More information about ECOGIG is available at
ecogig.org, and a full press kit for "Jewels of the Gulf: Deepwater Expedition" is available at
bit.ly/2r0gbAs.
