State
GOV. BRYANT ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDERS FOLLOWING MILITARY PLANE CRASH
MPB
The 15 Marines and a Navy sailor killed in a plane crash Monday in Mississippi came from all over the country. Six of the Marines and the sailor were from an elite Marine Raider battalion at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Nine were based out of Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, New York, home of a Marine Aerial Refueling and Transport Squadron.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article161010069.html ENDANGERED SEA TURTLES TO BE RELEASED INTO THE GULF WXXV
Mississippi Sanitation worker is recovering from burns after trash explodes on his route
WLBT
Thus far, the Trump administration has pursued an agenda that has alarmed scientists and environmentalists, including the recent decision to pull out of the Paris climate agreement. The administration has also been slow to appoint scientific leadership, both in the White House and across federal agencies.
But the appointment of fisheries biologist Chris Oliver to lead NOAA Fisheries — the agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is charged with sustainable management of commercial fisheries worth
more than $140 billion — represents a striking departure from the Trump administration’s scientific and environmental personnel and policy choices.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/07/13/the-rare-trump-appointment-that-is-actually-making-scientists-very-happy/?utm_term=.d70e28cbbc82 Does the World’s Top Weed Killer Cause Cancer? Trump’s EPA Will Decide Bloomberg
Every year, farmers spray, on average, almost a pound of the herbicide glyphosate on every acre of cropland in the U.S., and nearly half a pound on every acre of cropland worldwide. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, a huge source of income for its manufacturer,
Monsanto Co., and the foundation for its epochal foray into genetically modified organisms.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-07-13/does-the-world-s-top-weed-killer-cause-cancer-trump-s-epa-will-decide Exxon Mobil Fined for Louisiana Refinery Explosion That Injured Four Reuters
Portland is well-known as a tree-hugging, outdoorsy city, but the river that powers through its downtown has never been part of that green reputation.
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/portland-cleans-dirty-river-invites-residents-dip-48631525 Press releases
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OPENS TODAY The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) announces the availability of the Draft 2017 Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support (draft CPS FPL) in accordance with the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf States Act (RESTORE Act). In the draft CPS FPL, the Council proposes to provide its members with funding to enhance collaboration, coordination, public engagement and use of best available science needed to make efficient use of Gulf restoration funds resulting from the
Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These awards will support the Council’s commitment to a coordinated approach to ecosystem restoration, as called for in the
Comprehensive Plan Update 2016: Restoring the Gulf Coast’s Ecosystem and Economy. The draft CPS FPL is now available for public and Tribal review and comment at
www.restorethegulf.gov.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments on the 2017 Draft Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support by 11:59pm MT August 14, 2017.
WEBINAR MEETING NOTICES: Two informational webinars will be conducted. You may register for these webinars in advance. Once registered, a link to access the webinar will be sent to the email address provided during registration:
· July 13, 2017 at 6:00 pm Central Time [
Webinar Registration Link]:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8691294554732234497 · July 25, 2017 at 2:00 pm Central Time [
Webinar Registration Link]:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6303399390784342017 Please Note: - Every question or comment you type will be considered as a public comment and will be part of the public record. This includes your name, e-mail, and any other information you provide.
- Attendees will not have the ability to ask questions orally.
- Other attendees will not be able to view your comments during the webinar.
- Council staff will read and respond to clarifying questions related to issues such as to how to provide formal comment or next steps during this webinar. When answering these questions, Council staff will not identify the participant asking the question(s).
- Council staff will provide written responses to all questions as part of the response to public comments.
HOW TO COMMENT: You may submit public comments on the 2017 Draft Funded Priorities List: Comprehensive Commitment and Planning Support by one of the following methods:
·
Electronic Website Submission:
www.restorethegulf.gov ·
Email: frcomments@restorethegulf.gov ·
Mail/Commercial Delivery to: Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council
Attention: Draft FPL Comments
Hale Boggs Federal Building
500 Poydras Street, Suite 1117
New Orleans, LA 70130
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Please send questions by email to
RestoreCouncil@restorethegulf.gov, or contact Keala J. Hughes at (504) 717-7235.
Secretary Zinke Announces 76 Million Acres Offered in Gulf of Mexico Region-Wide Oil and Gas Lease Sale All Unleased Areas of Federal Waters Available; Shallow Water Leases to See Reduced Royalties
7/13/2017
Date: July 13, 2017
Contact:
Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov John Filostrat (BOEM) 504-731-7815
john.filostrat@boem.gov WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced that the Department would offer 75.9 million acres offshore Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida for oil and gas exploration and development. The region-wide lease sale scheduled for August 16, 2017 would include all available unleased areas in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and provide a reduced royalty rate for shallow water leases to encourage exploration and production under current market conditions.
Lease Sale 249, scheduled to be livestreamed from New Orleans, will be the first offshore sale under the National Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022. Under this program, ten region-wide lease sales are scheduled for the Gulf, where resource potential and industry interest are high, and oil and gas infrastructure is well established. Two Gulf lease sales will be held each year and include all available blocks in the combined Western, Central, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas.
On June 29, President Donald J. Trump and Secretary Zinke
announced the public comment period for a new Five-Year National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The comment period is the first step in executing the new program. The 2017-2022 Program, which begins with the lease sale announced today, will continue to be executed until the new National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program is complete.
"Our Outer Continental Shelf lands offer vast energy development opportunities and we are committed to encouraging increased energy exploration and production in these offshore areas to maintain the Nation’s global dominance in energy production,"
Secretary Zinke said. "As a global energy leader, we will foster energy security and resilience for the benefit of the American people. A strong offshore energy plan that responsibly harnesses more of our resources will spur economic opportunities for industry, states, and local communities, creating jobs and revenue. That's why we also are developing a new national Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas program that will best meet our future energy needs."
Lease Sale 249 will include about 14,220 unleased blocks, located from three to 231 miles offshore, in the Gulf’s Western, Central and Eastern planning areas in water depths ranging from nine to more than 11,115 feet (three to 3,400 meters). Excluded from the lease sale are blocks subject to the Congressional moratorium established by the
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006; blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap; and whole blocks and partial blocks within the current boundary of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
"To advance commonsense domestic energy production, the terms of this sale have been developed through extensive environmental analysis, public comment, and consideration of the best available information,” said
Counselor to the Secretary on Energy Policy Vincent DeVito. “This will ensure appropriate resource development and further our energy dominance strategy.”
The Gulf of Mexico OCS, covering about 160 million acres, has technically recoverable resources of 550 million barrels of oil and 1.25 trillion cubic feet of gas, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the oil and a fourth of the natural gas produced on federal lands.
The lease sale terms include stipulations to protect biologically sensitive resources, mitigate potential adverse effects on protected species, and avoid potential conflicts associated with oil and gas development in the region. Additionally, BOEM has included appropriate fiscal terms that take into account market conditions and ensure taxpayers receive a fair return for use of the OCS. These terms include a 12.5 percent royalty rate for leases in less than 200 meters of water depth, and a royalty rate of 18.75 percent for all other leases issued pursuant to the sale.
The 12.5 percent royalty rate for leases in less than 200 meters is lower than the proposed 18.75 percent royalty rate for shallow water leases that BOEM published in the Proposed Notice of Sale. The purpose of this change is to adjust the royalty rate to reflect recent market conditions, thereby encouraging competition and continuing to receive a fair and equitable return on oil and gas resources.
"The rate change reflects this Administration's willingness to swiftly respond to economic indicators,” said DeVito. “The 12.5 percent royalty rate is closer in harmony with the current market and federal onshore lease sales.”
As of July 3, 2017, 15.6 million acres on the U.S. OCS are under lease for oil and gas development (2947 active leases) and 4.1 million of those acres (842 leases) are producing oil and natural gas. More than 97 percent of these leases are in the Gulf of Mexico; about 3 percent are on the OCS off California and Alaska.
All terms and conditions for Gulf of Mexico Region-wide Sale 249 are detailed in the Final Notice of Sale (FNOS) information package, which is available at:
http://www.boem.gov/Sale-249/. Copies of the FNOS maps can be requested from the Gulf of Mexico Region’s Public Information Unit at 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, LA 70123, or at 800-200-GULF (4853).
The Notice of Availability of the FNOS is available today for inspection in the Federal Register at:
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/index.html and will be published in the Federal Register on July 17, 2017.
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-announces-76-million-acres-offered-gulf-mexico-region-wide-oil-and-gas 
