State
Tropical Storm Nate forms in the Caribbean
WLOX
Tropical Depression 16 is now Tropical Storm Nate. It formed in the Caribbean Wednesday morning near Nicaragua.
National Hurricane Center
City officials to meet with EPA officials about Kuhn
Vicksburg Post
City officials are planning a meeting with Environmental Protection Agency officials to begin preparing the plans for the demolition and cleanup of the Kuhn Memorial Hospital property.
Supervisors approve next step in potential landfill expansion
Monroe Journal
ABERDEEN – The board of supervisors approved a modification to the Three Rivers Solid Waste management plan Sept. 22 for an additional 7.6-acre cell at the Monroe County Landfill in Westville. The action was a step required before the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality considers granting permits for the expansion.
Litter, Vandalism Bring Scrutiny
North Mississippi Herald
COFFEEVILLE – Sign shooting, tree painting, road littering and other detestable acts in the county triggered conversation at Friday’s Board of Supervisor meeting about finding long-term solutions to combat the problematic behavior.
Toyota throwing party to mark 10th anniversary
Daily Journal
TUPELO – To celebrate its 10th anniversary in Northeast Mississippi, Toyota is hosting a free concert in Fairpark in downtown Tupelo on Nov. 4, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Oil Spill
Mississippi Aquarium bids delayed a third time
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
The opening of bids has been delayed a third time for construction of
The Mississippi Aquarium, billed as the Coast’s biggest coming tourist attraction.
FSU researchers study long-term affects of Deepwater Horizon oil spill
WTXL
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - It's been 7 years since an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform caused 5 million barrels of oil to spew into the Gulf of Mexico, yet researchers, led by Florida State University, continue to study the effects of the disaster.
Regional
Seventh Case Of Vibrio Confirmed Near Dog River In Mobile County
WKRG
MOBILE, AL (WKRG) — A seventh case of vibrio has been confirmed in Mobile County. This is the first flesh-eating bacteria case in the county.
What does it look like to dive in the Gulf dead zone? This diver took video
Times-Picayune
Researchers have measured the dead zone growing along the Louisiana and Texas coasts during the summer months since 1985. This year, one of those researchers carried a GoPro with him as he dove below the surface in the heart of the oxygen-deprived waters.
Fish shrinking as Gulf temperatures rise, LSU study finds
Times-Picayune
Louisiana's biggest catch is shrinking as ocean temperatures rise.
National
Trump Administration Takes Steps to Replace Obama Clean Power Plan
Climate program is one of several the president wants to roll back
WSJ
The Environmental Protection Agency is seeking to replace Obama -era federal limits on carbon emissions from power plants, according to an internal agency document, triggering what could be a yearslong process to come up with its own rules.
Court blocks Trump’s ‘unlawful’ delay of Obama methane leak rule
The Hill
A federal court ruled late Wednesday that the Trump administration broke the law when it tried this summer to delay an Obama administration rule related to greenhouse gas released through oil and natural gas drilling.
USDA invests $150 million in watershed improvements
Projects aim to reduce damages from flooding, sedimentation and erosion.
Delta Farm Press
Noise, water levels used in fight against Asian carp
WXOW
Genoa, WI (WXOW) - -Asian carp have the potential to dwindle the number of native fish in the Mississippi.
Galveston Bay being tested for possible Harvey contaminants
Houston Chronicle
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — As the R/V Trident sped northwest through Galveston Bay, students and researchers from Texas A&M University's Galveston campus donned blue latex gloves and bright orange life vests, silently mouthing the words to Foreigner's "Cold As Ice" blaring over the boat's loud speakers.
Thousands of Sharks, Other Sea Life Mysteriously Die in San Francisco Bay
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife isn't dedicating any funding toward determining the cause, says resources are needed elsewhere
NBC Bay Area
As many as 2,000 leopard sharks have mysteriously died in the San Francisco Bay over the past few months. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife says determining the cause is not a priority for the state since the sharks are not threatened or endangered, however, scientists say additional research and resources are crucial since the threat is now believed to be preying on other marine life.
Press Releases
EPA Announces Appointment of Cosmo Servidio to Region 3 Administrator
10/04/2017
Contact Information:
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the appointment of Cosmo Servidio of Pennsylvania to become regional administrator for Region 3. Mr. Servidio will oversee environmental protection efforts in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Cosmo Servidio currently holds the position of director of environmental affairs for the Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority in Pennsylvania where he plays a vital leadership role in one of the state’s largest water and wastewater utilities. Mr. Servidio oversees operations and facility planning to help identify needed improvements to maintain essential water and wastewater services and provides oversight to ensure utilities comply with all state and federal requirements. Prior to joining Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority, Mr. Servidio served as regional director for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection for the Southern Region, where he worked to ensure staff implemented the Department’s priorities to improve air quality, waste management, radiation protection, remediation, conservation, safe drinking water, dam safety, and clean water programs.
Mr. Servidio also served as the chief of staff for EPA’s Region 2 headquarters from 2005-2009, where he helped administer federal programs in implementing the Agency’s mission in New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virginia Islands.
“Cosmo Servidio has spent much of his career providing administrative support for institutions that provide healthy environmental outcomes for the public,” said Administrator Pruitt. “He brings federal, state, and local administrative experience working in the environmental field and will provide exceptional leadership for Region 3.”
Cosmo Servidio’s appointment is receiving support from across the region:
Douglas Bilheimer, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association: “We are very pleased to learn that Cosmo Servidio has been appointed to serve as director of EPA Region 3. Mr. Servidio’s background at Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection and most recently with one of our largest most progressive municipal authorities will serve him well in his new responsibilities.”
Austin Caperton, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection: “I was very encouraged by my first meeting by phone with Cosmo Servidio. He is obviously experienced and qualified for the position. It was clear that he believes in cooperative federalism and the rights of states. He is clearly in line with the current administration. But most important to me: he listened!”
Ben Grumbles, Maryland Secretary of the Environment: “Cosmo is a seasoned environmental professional who knows how to build partnerships for progress throughout our region."
Debra McCarty, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Department: “Cosmo Servido is an excellent appointment. He was good to work with at the PA DEP and will bring pragmatism, experience and commonsense to the EPA. I look forward to again working him in this new role to protect the environment.”
Maya K. van Rossum, Delaware Riverkeeper: “Cosmo Servidio is the best choice for Regional Administrator. He is highly regarded by throughout the environmental community. This respect has been earned by the fair minded and forthright decisions and actions taken by Cosmo to implement the law and achieve the goals of community and environmental protection. Even if there was a decision Cosmo made in his role as regional director at PADEP that I didn’t like or agree with, I always knew it was a decision grounded in the facts, the law and one that Cosmo truly believed was the right outcome. I might not always like the answers Cosmo gave me as a regulator, but I always knew I could trust that he was telling me the truth. That kind of integrity from a Regional Administrator is critical for success, particularly in today’s political climate.”
Wilmer Stoneman, Director of Commodities and Marketing, Virginia Farm Bureau: “Virginia Farm Bureau certainly welcomes this opportunity to work with Mr. Servidio to balance the needs of Virginia Farmers and the Chesapeake Bay.”
Jeff Warmann, CEO and President, Monroe Energy LLC: “Cosmo’s leadership is unparalleled. He has a keen ability to bring regulators and business together, ensuring that they communicate effectively and that their shared goals of protecting the environment are achieved. Cosmo and his team were readily available to answer any questions we had or to provide guidance when needed. I want to congratulate Cosmo on his appointment to Region Three Administrator; I know that he will do a tremendous job.”
Rob Wonderling, President and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia: “On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia we applaud the recent appointment of Cosmo Servidio as the Region III EPA Administrator. Cosmo has served our region well as a public servant and business leader who keenly understands that environmental stewardship and economic growth require consensus, collaboration, and a modern approach to policy and regulation. Cosmo has a proven track record of being a highly energetic leader and innovative leader who actively listens to all sides and perspectives related to complex environmental issues. He also has a keen eye on global trends, solid science, and macroeconomic opportunities that will serve our region and nation well in this new assignment.”
Deepwater Horizon oil spill researchers receive last round of grants
LSU
University scientists have received the final round of grants to study the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on Louisiana’s marshes. Researchers were awarded $4.8 million over the next two years under the umbrella of Coastal Waters Consortium.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill of April 20, 2010 was the largest in history, with about 5 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico according to Pew Research Center.
The principal investigator of this award is Department of Oceanography & Coastal Sciences professor Nancy Rabalais.
“Louisiana has always had oil and gas development, and has always had the potential of contamination,” Rabalais said. “One of the things is that the oil contaminant levels have not gotten back to pre-oil spill levels. They’ve declined, but it looks like we have a new baseline which I expect we’ll be at for a long time.”
A large contingent of University scientists will participate in the consortium’s work, including LSU College of the Coast & Environment faculty R. Eugene Turner, Edward B. Overton, Michael Polito, Giulio Mariotti, Dubravko Justic and Haosheng Huang. LSU AgCenter faculty Sabrina Taylor and Philip Stouffer and scientists from several other U.S. universities will also participate. The group was successful in being one of eight funded consortia among a field of 23 submissions, according to a news release.
“We’re studying the movement of oil, salinity, currents and water movement because we want to know how the oil moves within it,” Turner said. “We’re also looking at the chemistry of the oil, how it’s changed over time and its effects on the biology, which includes migratory birds, seaside sparrows, algae, larger plants in marsh, and the chemistry of soil and how it’s recovering.”
The success of seaside sparrow nests declined after the oil spill, but appear to be back to normal according to Rabalais. Researchers have found evidence that the sparrows were trying to metabolize oil.
“We’ve measured maybe a hundred times, a thousand times more oil in some places in the marsh than was in that background of already oiled marsh, and so were watching that decline over time,” Turner said. “Part of that decline is because it’s getting buried and because it’s being decomposed. Right now, the oil concentration might be 95 or 96 percent gone, but on the other hand, it’s still ten times higher than what it was.”
One of the effects of the toxicity of oil exposure was that there was about three times faster erosion in the first year or two. However, it seems to have slowed down, Turner said.
“You can see some obvious effects of the spill on marsh vegetation that was killed immediately,” Rabalais said. “There are longer term effects in erosion and other areas that look like they might be fine, but the root systems are not.”
Studies have shown that fish can sense where there is oil and will migrate away from it, making it difficult to study the population. Researchers also are studying the interactions between the food web.
Rabalais has researched the effects of the oil spill on oxygen conditions. She has found there is no evidence the oil spill made the dead zone worse.
“Just looking at a marsh doesn’t tell you if it’s healthy,” Rabalais said. “We’re doing multiple measures to determine marsh health. It’s recovered enough that animals are using it, populations are coming back in, but it hasn’t returned to pre-2010.”
