Oil Spill
Discussions continue about how to restore the gulf
WLOX
A crowd of about 100 gathered at the Westside Community Center in Gulfport Wednesday night, to hear how BP plans to spend $1 billion dollars. That is how much the oil giant has set aside to restore the Gulf after the massive oil spill in 2010.
http://www.wlox.com/story/16550504/coast-residents-and-government-officials-talk-about-restoring-the-gulf
Audubon center moving to downtown Moss Point
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON
MOSS POINT -- The Pascagoula River Audubon center is going to move across Interstate 10 to a 10-acre site on a bayou off the Escatawpa River in downtown Moss Point. The new location is a peaceful sanctuary nestled not far from bustling Mississippi 613.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/01/18/3696641/audubon-center-moving-to-downtown.html
State News
Officials want to air grievance
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012 1:07 AM CST
DeSoto County officials will travel to Washington next month to "clear the air," about the need to remove DeSoto County from being placed under the federal air quality standards governing the Memphis MSA or Metropolitan Statistical Area which includes Crittenden County, Ark. Shelby County, and Fayette County, Tenn.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2012/01/19/news/doc4f175e57beaa6771589702.txt
City cleans trashed dump sites
Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez has been awarded a $25,000 grant to clean four sites where trash has been illegally dumped.
Natchez City Engineer David Gardner said the grant will cover the trash removal and disposal and any excavation and restoration to the sites. The grant is funded by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and requires no match from the city.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2012/01/19/city-cleans-trashed-dump-sites/
City offers recycling services at area apartments
Madison County Journal
RIDGELAND - Recycling services are now being offered on site for apartment residents by the city.
http://onlinemadison.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=24623&TM=39041.58
TIRE REMOVAL
The Picayune Item Picayune Item
Thu Jan 19, 2012, 10:12 AM CST
PICAYUNE — TIRE REMOVAL — Efforts to remove a large collection of used tires at this abandoned business on Neal Road on continues. Workers are removing piles of tires from the inside of the run down structure. Funding to have the tires removed is coming from a Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality grant. (Photo by Jeremy Pittari)
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x538061372/TIRE-REMOVAL
Millions earmarked to upgrade water system
by ANTHONY WARREN
Northside Sun Northsidesun
01.19.12 - 12:00 am
THE CITY OF JACKSON IS PREPARING to pump millions of dollars into its aged water system, and is able to do so after refinancing millions in outstanding water and sewer debt.
http://northsidesun.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Millions+earmarked+to+upgrade+water+system%20&id=17216124&instance=top_stories
Sewage problems addressed
Pontotoc360.Com
Pontotoc Progress
01.11.12 - 07:32 am
The Pontotoc Board of Aldermen last week told four East Valley Drive residents they will seek emergency funds from the Department of Environmental Quality to begin repairing sewer pipe and manhole problems in their neighborhood which have caused homes to be flooded in recent years with raw sewage which backed up into their homes.
Aldermen directed city engineer Mike Falkner to contact Department of Environmental (DEQ) officials regarding the emergency funds.
http://pontotoc360.com/view/full_story/17056419/article-Sewage--problems-addressed?instance=secondary_stories_left_column
Nunnelee visits Red Hills Mine
The Choctaw Plaindealer
01.18.12 - 11:39 am
By Daniel Brunty
The Choctaw Plaindealer
First District of Mississippi Congressman Alan Nunnelee visited the Red Hill Mine located in Ackerman this past Friday. Nunnelee, who is known for his stance on the issue of Energy Independence by reducing the country’s independence on foreign oil, knows that the use of coal can help in that reduction.
http://choctawplaindealer.com/view/full_story/17213505/article-Nunnelee-visits-Red-Hills-Mine-?instance=news_special_coverage_right_column
DMR takes controversial Greenwood Island project off the table
Published: Thursday, January 19, 2012, 6:00 AM
By Kaija Wilkinson , Mississippi Press The Mississippi Press
JACKSON, Mississippi -- Mississippi Department of Marine Resources has scrapped a controversial plan to deposit dredge materials from a Halter Marine expansion on Greewood Island, and south Mississippi legislators are calling it a victory for Pascagoula.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/01/dmr_takes_controversial_greenw.html
State to offer sustainable community grants
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) _ A new mini-grant program hopes to make local governments and communities more sustainable.The grants cannot be used for projects already underway.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/State-to-offer-sustainable-community-grants/d-qdAWC3lE6KsMFJu9vZrg.cspx
Take steps to conserve energy
Op-Ed Clinton News
James L. Cummins
Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used.
http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120119/OPINION/201190309/-1/NEWS01/Take-steps-to-conserve-energy
Wetlands biologically rich habitat
Op-Ed
By Murray Fulton
Special to Rankin Ledger
Wetlands rival the tropical rain forests as the most biologically productive habitats in temperate regions of the world.
http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120117/LIFE/201170313/-1/NEWS01/Wetlands+biologically+rich+habitat
National News
Report: Power plant mercury rule won’t cause power outages
The Hill
By Andrew Restuccia - 01/18/12 10:52 AM ET
New Environmental Protection Agency regulations that limit mercury and other toxic air pollution from power plants will not cause widespread power outages, according to the Congressional Research Service.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/204789-crs-power-plant-mercury-rules-wont-cause-power-outages
EPA won’t promise final power plant carbon rules before 2012 elections
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 01/19/12 10:21 AM ET
The Environmental Protection Agency will soon float delayed draft rules to curb greenhouse gas pollution from power plants, but the agency’s top air quality official isn’t making any promises that the standards will be finalized before the 2012 elections.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/205081-epa-wont-promise-final-power-plant-carbon-rules-before-2012-elections
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
2012-01-18
Oil Spill
Coastians speak out about oil-spill damage at meeting
Sun Herald
By KAREN NELSON
GAUTIER
-- A crowd of about 150 listened to ways federal and state officials plan to
hold BP to its promise to make the Gulf whole in the wake of the 2010 oil-spill
disaster.
Officials hold meeting on Gulf restoration plans
AP
Federal
and state officials have presented plans to hold BP to its promise to make the
Gulf whole in the wake of the 2010 oil-spill disaster.
Oil spill restoration comments center employing
Mississippians on projects (gallery)
Published: Wednesday,
January 18, 2012, 6:29 AM
Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2012, 7:32 AM
Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
GAUTIER, Mississippi --
Nine people commenting at a public meeting on Early Restoration projects
proposed in response to the BP
Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010
mostly stressed they want to see Mississippians employed.
Oyster fishermen want
work restoring reefs
WLOX
Several oyster fishermen spoke
out at Tuesday's Commission on Marine Resources meeting.
Fishermen air woes at Mississippi
Commission on Marine Resources meeting
Published: Tuesday,
January 17, 2012, 3:03 PM
Updated: Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 5:15 PM
Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
BILOXI, Mississippi -- Fishermen said they
need work in the wake of back-to-back seasons impacted by disasters, during Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources
meeting Tuesday.
2010 BP oil spill suit could be resolved before trial,
Alabama AG Luther Strange says
Published: Tuesday,
January 17, 2012, 4:06 PM
Updated: Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 4:07 PM
The
Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange says there
are a number of talks under way between various parties involved in the
upcoming trial concerning the 2010 BP
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and
that it's possible a settlement could be reached before the start of the Feb.
27 trial in New Orleans.
US government challenges credibility of former BP executive hired as company lawyer consultant
By Associated Press,
U.S. officials say a former BP executive was paid $107,000 a month to do consulting for a company lawyer, but allege the money may have been designed to influence her testimony during a deposition in litigation over the Gulf oil spill.
State News
DeSoto readies D.C. argument
against ozone guideline
Supervisors tap delegates in trip;
greenways studied
Commercial Appeal
By Henry Bailey
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
DeSoto
County supervisors Tuesday selected the team going to Washington to battle a feared ozone ranking, and they also
launched studies of greenways needs and public communications.
Mississippi Urban Forestry and Green Infrastructure Conference
Tuesday and Wednesday, February 7-8, 2012, 9 a.m. to 4
p.m.
Mississippi Museum of Natural Science
Jackson, MS
The theme of this year’s 21st
annual conference is creating healthy communities. The focus topics include storm preparedness
and mitigation, creating parks, gardens and other green spaces, benefits of
green space and trees in your space plus what other communities nationwide are
doing to enhance spaces. Through a
variety of progressive green practices you will learn ways to improve your
community, your backyard, local housing, business and commercial areas. Learn how to create better places with proven
methods to enhance the health of not only the community but its citizens. Learn about partnerships, funding and other
resources to implement projects. Learn
about effective planning and collaboration to get the job done. Over 20 of the best speakers from around the
state and nation will gather to share their wealth of knowledge and experience
on a variety of timely topics.
Full Agenda available by request
at dyowell@aol.com
Event Topics
Green Communities-Good Health
Community Gardens,
Orchards, Parks and Green Spaces
Collaboration and Local Green Teams
Grants and Other Valuable Resources
Storm Preparedness and Mitigation
Better Green Policy Development
Policies and Funding That Works
Resiliency and Sustainable Crisis Recovery
Planning Through Partnerships
Newest Approaches to Community Based Green Infrastructure
Creating A Community Forestry Legacy
Comprehensive Planning for Ecological Conservation
Keynote Speakers
Green Communities - Good Health
Dr. Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington
Community greening benefits can be the basis for better partnerships
with planners and public health professionals.
There is extensive scientific knowledge about the health benefits of the
human experience of nature. A project
has summarized the extensive evidence of extensive socio-cultural benefits, and
shares this information in series of summaries to help you. We will build on
this resource to present guidelines for community planning that enhances nature
based human health, well-being and economic success.
Dr. Kathleen Wolf is the nation’s foremost research social scientist,
located at the College of the Environment, University of Washington. She has a joint appointment with the USDA
Forest Service to help develop the Green Cities Research Alliance. Kathy’s research mission is to discover,
understand, and communicate human behavior and benefits.
Comprehensive Planning
for Ecological Conservation
Eric Bridges,
Planner, City of Lakeland, TN
By utilizing a natural resources management staff as part of community
development and growth management, conservation can be achieved during the
inevitable growth process. The role of a
professional forester or other natural resources manager in relation to land-use
planners, landscape architects, engineers, parks & recreation staff and the
general public will be the focus of this presentation. This presentation will
describe how a small rural community under tremendous growth pressure is
utilizing conservation of natural resources as a tool for growth management and
the challenges and opportunities this approach presents to the natural
resources manager, the planning commission, the City staff, and the citizens of
the community.
Developing
Effective Local Tree Policy and Sustainable Crisis Recovery
SHURTZ, ASLA, PLA, ISA
URBAN FORESTRY & LANDSCAPE MANAGER
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
CITY OF BATON ROUGE
This presentation will explain how to plan
for and recover from an urban forestry disaster. It will also examine some
creative ways of approaching debris management, and saving your community money
in the process. STEPHEN
A. Steve Shurtz is Urban Forestry
and Landscape Manager for the East Baton Rouge City-Parish Department of Public
Works. A registered Landscape Architect and ISA Certified Arborist, he has over
30 years of experience in municipal landscape design and urban forestry
management. Steve has twice served as president of the Society of Municipal
Arborists (SMA), is a past president of the Louisiana Chapter of the American
Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), was recently elected to the national
Board of Trustees of the ASLA, is currently President of the Louisiana Urban
Forestry Council and recently completed his second term as a member of the
National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC). Since 1978,
Steve has maintained a private landscape design practice, Stephen A. Shurtz,
ASLA, Landscape Architect, in Baton Rouge.
Also, how to fund a forestry
program. This program will explore
how a community can create a successful and growing urban forestry program with
minimal funding and staffing. We will
discuss creative ways to build public and administrative support for your
program in tough economic times.
Risk
Management and Community Tree Assessments (Parts 1 and 2)
Dudley
R. Hartel, Center Manager,
Urban
Forestry South, SRS-4952 Integrating Human & Natural Systems, Athens,
Georgia 30602
This is a discussion of a comprehensive risk management
program that can better support local management and disaster planning. Urban Forestry South is the Southern Region’s
urban & community forestry Technology Transfer Center which supports
U&CF programs through state agencies and municipalities. This presentation will cover 10 steps
outlined for better storm preparedness and mitigation.
Continuing Education Hours
Elected
officials, planners, foresters, arborist, parks & recreation, engineers, Master
Gardeners, landscape architects, planners, Urban Forest Masters and others are
eligible.
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