State
EPA continues progress covering Mississippi Phosphates site
WLOX
Firefighters learn to battle burning cars and oil fires at Chevron Refinery
WLOX
PASCAGOULA, MS (WLOX) - Bright orange flames covered various structures. Thick black smoke billowed into the air. The acrid smell of burning gasoline wafted on the breeze as a team of men rushed to douse the flames with water.
Mississippi counts 75 tornadoes for year, 43 for April 18
AP
With three more tornadoes confirmed Friday from an April 18 outbreak, the National Weather Service now says 43 tornadoes hit Mississippi that day, and 75 for the year.
Residents and Farmers Still Dealing With Flood Conditions In Parts of South Delta
Delta News TV
Continued rain showers not giving much relief to parts of the Delta still looking for relief from flooding.
TALKING TRASH
Recycling just part of cleaner Meridian, Lauderdale County
Meridian Star
Throughout Lauderdale County, illegal dump sites and trash litter roadways as maintenance crews frantically try to keep up.
Oil Spill
NOARC set to make waves with ‘Blue Economy’
Sea Coast Echo
The National Oceans and Applied Research Center (NOARC) is about to take the plunge.
When Gov. Phil Bryant created NOARC in 2012, he set a lofty goal for Hancock County. He said he wanted it to be the Mississippi Coast’s Woods Hole, a reference to the esteemed ocean-research center in Massachusetts. Bryant said he wanted in a matter of years to see a booming “blue economy” in Mississippi’s waters.
Nine years after Deepwater Horizon disaster, Alabama officials welcome two coastal projects
Al.com
Nine years ago, the Deepwater Horizon disaster caused the largest oil spill in U.S. history, polluting Alabama’s coastline, ravaging its seafood industry and hurting tourism.
Years later, legal settlements from that disaster are making their way into coastal restoration projects.
Regional
The Bonnet Carre Spillway may reopen to prevent river flooding in New Orleans
WLOX
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - For the first time, the Bonnet Carre Spillway could operate twice in one calendar year.
Birmingham rated 14th worst U.S. city for year-round particulate air pollution
Al.com
The American Lung Association listed Birmingham as No. 14 on its list of U.S. cities with the highest levels of year-round particulate air pollution.
People flee airborne acid as North Carolina zinc plant burns
AP
Authorities in North Carolina say a fire at a zinc production plant in Mooresboro forced some residents to evacuate the area early Monday.
National
New EPA document tells communities to brace for climate change impacts
Washington Post
The Environmental Protection Agency published a 150-page document this past week with a straightforward message for coping with the fallout from natural disasters across the country: Start planning for the fact that climate change is going to make these catastrophes worse.
Critics accuse EPA of weakening pollution rule for Pentagon
The Hill
Critics say an Environment Protection Agency (EPA) proposal would weaken the Pentagon's obligation to deal with harmful chemicals that pollute groundwater near military bases.
They say the proposal, released Thursday, is the result of a long military effort to weaken EPA standards on cleaning up chemical pollution.
U.S. oil-storage industry fines soar on air, water violations
Reuters
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Fines for violations of air, water and waste regulations by U.S. petroleum storage facilities so far this year have exceeded all of last year - even without including two major Houston-area disasters in the last month still under investigation - according to a Reuters analysis of federal data.
A Trashy Alternative Fuel Is Emerging Deep Inside Coal Country
Bloomberg
In the heart of America’s coal country, a cavernous new recycling plant is turning trash into a fuel that burns cleaner than coal, using a first-in-the-nation process hailing from Europe.
New research links fracking to earthquakes in central, eastern U.S.
UPI
April 26 (UPI) -- Scientists have uncovered more evidence linking fracking to earthquakes, this time in the central and eastern United States.
Tests show high levels of coral-harming chemical in Hawaii
AP
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) — Officials have found high levels of a chemical commonly used in sunscreen that is believed to harm coral reefs in bay waters off Hawaii's Big Island.
Pigs Are Playing a Part of Las Vegas' Efforts to Cut Food Waste
AP
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The reduction of food waste has taken hold in a city known for excess: Las Vegas.
Unraveling the mystery of whether cows fart
In the climate change debate, some policymakers seem to be bovine flatulence deniers.
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Let’s clear the air about cow farts.
Press Releases
Open Public Comment Period- Planning Framework Draft
On April 26, 2019, the RESTORE Council staff begins a 45-day public review and comment period on the Planning Framework draft, that will conclude at 11:59 pm MDT on June 12, 2019. The RESTORE Council staff will host and record two live public webinars on April 29, 2019. During each live webinar, Council staff will present an overview of the Planning Framework draft, and respond in real time to selected questions from webinar participants.
The registration links for the live public webinars are below:
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. A recording of the presentation and a list of all questions and responses from each webinar will be posted at www.restorethegulf.gov.
In order to give the public additional opportunities to learn about the Planning Framework draft, ask questions, and provide comments, the RESTORE Council will host public meetings in each of the Gulf Coast states during the public comment period. Please forward this invitation to others interested in the RESTORE Council’s activities.
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