News Clippings 7/11/12

Oil Spill

Study: Gulf oil spill might have lasting impact

Microscopic changes found could have a 'ripple effect'


ASSOCIATED PRESS


MOBILE -- New research by an Auburn University professor and other

scientists suggests the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill may have affected

microscopic life in ways that might not become apparent for years.

http://www.sunherald.com/2012/07/10/4056031/study-gulf-oil-spill-might-have.html





New study finds microorganisms along Gulf Coast impacted by BP oil spill
WWL



GRAND ISLE, La.-- To the casual observer, the beaches along the Gulf Coast

look back to normal, more than two years after oil marred the shoreline. In

a new study, though, scientists sampled the sand and sediment, taking a

closer look at the microorganisms there.

http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/New-study-finds-microorganisms-along-Gulf-Coast-impacted-by-BP-oil-spill-161994725.html



Local chefs cooking Gulf seafood at the Olympics

Poplin, Coleman, others from Gulf Coast will serve at BP-sponsored event


Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ — meperez@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- Two chefs from South Mississippi will bring a taste of the Coast

to the 2012 London Olympic Games as part of the "Spirit of the Gulf."





http://www.sunherald.com/2012/07/10/4056030/local-chefs-cooking-gulf-seafood.html









State News




Genesis Energy to create new jobs for handling of dilbit


by Associated Press
Published: July 10,2012

NATCHEZ — Genesis Energy L.P. says it plans to create 20 jobs in Adams
County to handle the transportation of a product made from bitumen.

http://msbusiness.com/2012/07/genesis-energy-to-create-new-jobs-for-handling-of-dilbit/





Forum set to explain flood program
Bolivar Commercial
by Chance Wright
07.10.12 - 04:17 pm

As rebuilding efforts continue on the western side of Bolivar County
following the 2011 flood which destroyed most everything inside the levee
system, there are some concerns that not everyone is adhering to FEMA's
policies laid out in the National Flood Insurance Program.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/19253698/article-Forum-set-to-explain-flood-program?instance=homethirdleft





Gov. Bryant honors Hinds CC president
Clinton News
Hinds Community College President Dr. Clyde Muse was presented the

inaugural Excellence in Government Award in Local and District Government

by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. (Embedded image moved to file:

pic22549.jpg)



Bryant also presented the Excellence in State Government Award to Trudy

Fisher and Terri Torrence on behalf of the Mississippi Department of

Environmental Quality.

http://www.clintonnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120710/NEWS/120710001/Gov.-Bryant-honors-Hinds-CC-president







National News






EPA official predicts new rule to be approved by court
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/10/12 03:24 PM ET



A new rule aimed at limiting air pollutants from power plants in one state
that affect a state downwind will likely be upheld Friday, a senior EPA
official predicted Tuesday.




http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/237055-epa-official-predicts-new-rule-to-be-approved-by-court





New research shows no Marcellus Shale pollution
Posted on July 10, 2012 at 6:49 am by Associated Press




PITTSBURGH — New research on Marcellus Shale gas drilling in Pennsylvania
may only add fuel to the debate over whether the industry poses long-term
threats to drinking water.


http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/07/10/new-research-shows-no-marcellus-shale-pollution/






GOP puts biofuels on the chopping block
The Hill
By Zack Colman - 07/11/12 05:00 AM ET



The biofuels industry is at loggerheads with House Republicans, who are
eyeing its funding for elimination in the farm bill.


http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/237183-house-gop-puts-biofuels-on-the-chopping-block





Firm Blamed In The Costliest Onshore Oil Spill Ever
NPR


by ELIZABETH SHOGREN


July 10, 2012


Two years ago this month, an oil pipeline burst in Michigan, contaminating

38 miles of the Kalamazoo River. It didn't get much national notice because

everyone was focused on the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

http://www.npr.org/2012/07/10/156561319/oil-company-knew-michigan-pipeline-was-cracked

News Clippings 7/10/12

Oil Spill




Gulf oil spill had dramatic impact on microscopic life, study suggests

Published: Tuesday, July 10, 2012, 6:00 AM

By Brendan Kirby



Press-Register



MOBILE, Alabama — Months after BP PLC capped the gushing well in the Gulf

of Mexico and crews had cleared oil from coast, Alabama's beaches looked

like they had returned to normal.

New research by an Auburn University professor and other scientists,

though, suggests that significant changes had taken place in creatures too

small to be seen by the naked eye. Those changes, professor Ken Halanych

said, bear further study and could have big impacts that might not become

apparent for years.

http://blog.al.com/live/2012/07/gulf_oil_spill_had_dramatic_im.html




BP Oil Spill: Two Years Later, Dispersants' Effects Still a Mystery

ABC


By ALON HARISH


July 9, 2012


Two years ago this week, the wellhead that ruptured on the sea floor of the

Gulf of Mexico, sending 4.9 million barrels of oil into the water, was

capped. After three months, the end of the largest oil spill in the

industry's history was in sight.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/bp-oil-spill-years-dispersants-effects-mystery/story?id=16727991&singlePage=true#.T_rfV3DqPCQ




Landrieu hails Restore Act; now real fight begins

Updated: Jul 09, 2012 8:47 PM CDT


Fox 8


Written by: Rob Masson


New Orleans, La. - The accolades continue to pour in for a new law that
cold pump hundreds of millions of dollars into coastal restoration in
Louisiana.


http://www.fox8live.com/story/18982930/landrieu-hails-restore-act-now-real-fight-begins






Florida Readies for RESTORE Act Funds



WKRG


By Debbie Williams

Empty streets and barren beaches, hallmarks of what many have referred to
as the "lost summer of 2010".

http://www2.wkrg.com/member-center/share-this/print/?content=ar4098436





State News




Miss. Power appeals rate increase denial on Kemper

By AP
July 10, 2012

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Power Co. asked the state Supreme Court

Monday to overturn regulators' rejection of a rate increase. And while that

appeal is going on, the company wants the high court to allow it collect

the additional $55 million from customers.

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/90249--miss-power-appeals-rate-increase-denial-on-kemper#.T_t-cb1Jlao.twitter





Coal plant rising over a rural Kemper County landscape

Sun Herald


Multibillion-dollar coal plant rising over a rural landscape


By MICHAEL NEWSOM — mmnewsom@sunherald.com


KEMPER COUNTY -- Mississippi Power Co.'s multibillion-dollar coal

gasification plant is going up here, towering over the rural landscape on

an isolated site about 20 miles north of Meridian.Thousands of workers have

poured into the sleepy area to build the large power generation plant along

two-lane Mississippi 493, which will use lignite coal found in the ground

here to generate 582 megawatts.

http://www.sunherald.com/2012/07/07/4050778/coal-plant-rising-over-a-rural.html#storylink=misearch






MSU-developed grass being studied as renewable energy source


by MBJ Staff
Published: July 10,2012

STARKVILLE — A variety of grass developed at Mississippi State University
is getting its moment in the sun as a biofuel ingredient, thanks to a
recent U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement.

http://msbusiness.com/2012/07/msu-developed-grass-being-studied-as-renewable-energy-source/





National News





Dead zone pollutant grows despite decades of work

Published: Monday, July 09, 2012, 5:00 PM

By Contributing writer



The Times-Picayune





For two centuries, the town of Hermann has been known for the Missouri

River. But now the river is making Hermann known for an unexpected reason:

It is a hot spot for nitrate. Despite three decades of costly efforts to

clean it up, the levels at Hermann have increased 75 percent since 1980.

From farm and urban runoff, nitrate throughout the vast Mississippi River

basin funnels into the Gulf of Mexico, where it sucks oxygen out of the

water and kills almost everything in its path, creating what has been

called the "dead zone."

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/07/dead_zone_pollutant_nitrate_gr.html






OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Federal officials to defend EPA air rules
The Hill
By Ben Geman and Zack Colman - 07/09/12 05:53 PM ET

On Tap Tuesday: Senior Obama administration officials will gather with
state-based energy regulators Tuesday to chat about Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) air pollution rules that have come under fire from
Republicans and some state officials.

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/236811-overnight-energy-federal-officials-to-defend-epa-air-rules






EPA, environmentalists agree: Chesapeake Bay cleanup plan on track to 2025
restoration



By Associated Press, Published: July 9

RICHMOND, Va. — The six states and the District of Columbia within the
Chesapeake Bay watershed are on pace to restore the nation's largest
estuary, state and federal officials and environmentalists agreed Monday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/chesapeake-bay-panel-leading-the-estuarys-restoration-meeting-monday-in-northern-virginia/2012/07/09/gJQAX8SXXW_story.html

News Clippings 7/9/12

Oil Spill


RESTORE Act for Gulf Coast is now law as Louisiana and others wait for the
money

Updated: Jul 06, 2012 7:19 PM CDT


Fox 8


Written by: John Snell


New Orleans, La. - President Obama's signature on the huge transportation
bill clears up one of the great mysteries surrounding the 2010 Gulf oil
spill: how the government would decide to handle billions of dollars in
fines it will reap from BP PLC and BP contractors.


http://www.fox8live.com/story/18968667/with-restore-ac



Obama signs RESTORE Act; billions headed to Gulf states
BY JORDAN BLUM
Advocate Washington bureau
July 08, 2012



WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law late
Friday afternoon that will direct billions of dollars in BP oil leak fine
funds to Louisiana's coast.
The omnibus transportation bill, which includes the RESTORE Act billions
for Gulf Coast states, also gives $1.47 billion to Louisiana in highway
construction and transit funds over two years. East Baton Rouge Parish's
share is an estimated $200 million.
http://theadvocate.com/home/3285058-125/obama-signs-restore-act-billions





Obama signs transportation bill heralded as 'triple win' for Louisiana

Published: Friday, July 06, 2012, 8:30 PM

By Bruce Alpert



Times-Picayune





President Barack Obama on Friday signed into law a transportation bill that

is expected to funnel billions of dollars in fines from the 2010 BP oil

spill to Louisiana and four other Gulf states. The bill is the most

significant for Louisiana adopted by the current Congress, which has been

best known for bitter partisan battles.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/07/president_signs_transportation.html





Louisiana won't get as much in Gulf oil spill fines as officials hoped

Published: Sunday, July 08, 2012, 6:40 AM

By Mark Schleifstein



The Times-Picayune





A close reading of the conference committee report outlining the compromise

Restore Act approved by Congress last week shows that Louisiana won't get

as many billions in Clean Water Act fines as state leaders had hoped.

Compromise language awards other states larger shares than Louisiana

officials believe they deserve.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/07/louisiana_wont_get_as_much_in.html







BP oil-spill fines could boost Everglades restoration

Environmentalists eye billions to shore up Florida ecology


By William E. Gibson, Washington Bureau – Sun Sentinel


WASHINGTON -- Everglades restoration backers are aiming to get a big piece
of the billions of dollars of fines that oil giant BP is expected to pay
for polluting the Gulf of Mexico and disrupting Florida's delicate ecology
during the Deepwater Horizon spill of 2010.

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-07-08/news/fl-everglades-backers-seek-bp-billions-20120708_1_everglades-restoration-deepwater-horizon-future-oil-spills





Dispersant's use adds subplot to oil spill saga
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 6:50 am




As a federal judge considers a proposed settlement between BP and Gulf
Coast residents harmed by the 2010 oil spill, a legal subplot has developed
around workers who allege they were sickened by chemicals used to clean up
the oil.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2012/07/09/dispersants-use-adds-subplot-to-oil-spill-saga/





Plenty of fish in the sea: Recreational fishing makes comeback after tough
time
Hattiesburg American


By Thursday morning moonlight, Capt. Kyle Jarreau idled the Jus Add Water

out of its home in a Bay St. Louis marina.

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20120708/NEWS01/207080334/Plenty-fish-sea-Recreational-fishing-makes-comeback-after-tough-time







State News





2nd county rubbish site considered
Bolivar Commercial
by Rory Doyle
07.05.12 - 01:18 pm

Talks of a temporary rubbish holding site, which would serve the towns of
North Bolivar County and be placed in Shelby, are in the works.
http://www.bolivarcom.com/view/full_story/19232318/article-2nd-county-rubbish-site-considered?instance=latest_articles




Community members pitch in to cleanup beach



WLOX




Fourth of July celebrations left quite a mess on South Mississippi beaches.
WLOX aired a story on Thursday showing the amount of trash left behind and
that story prompted one of our own to jump into action. So Carrie Duncan
decided to do something about it.
http://www.wlox.com/story/18972606/beach-cleanup-effort-spearheaded-by-our-own-carrie-duncan





Mangrove trees showing up on Horn Island may indicate climate change

Published: Monday, July 09, 2012, 7:02 AM

By Ben Raines, Press-Register

A low shrub sitting at the mouth of the big lagoon on Horn Island provides

another piece of evidence that our climate may be changing.

http://blog.al.com/live/2012/07/mangrove_trees_show_up_on_horn.html



Tagged Kemp's ridley turtles released into Gulf of Mexico (Gallery)

Published: Friday, July 06, 2012, 6:07 PM Updated: Monday, July 09,

2012, 7:11 AM

By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press



GULFPORT, Mississippi -- One by one, 22 tagged Kemp's ridley sea turtles

that had been rehabilitated at the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies were

released into the Gulf of Mexico south of Ship Island on Friday morning.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/07/tagged_kemps_ridley_turtles_re.html




Commission unanimously approves sea turtle study resolution


by MBJ Staff
Published: July 7,2012

GULF OF MEXICO — The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources (CMR)
unanimously approved a Sea Turtle Study Resolution, which was presented to
them for approval at the June 19 CMR meeting.

http://msbusiness.com/2012/07/commission-unanimously-approves-sea-turtle-study-resolution/





Surviving and thriving: Hatchery aims to keep fish off endangered list
by M. Scott Morris
NEMS Daily Journal
07.08.12 - 08:05 am

Sometimes nature needs a helping hand, and the staff at the Private John
Allen National Fish Hatchery is there to give it.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/19235714/article-Surviving-and-thriving--Hatchery-aims-to-keep-fish-off-endangered-list?instance=secondary_stories_left_column





Transition time: Fish hatchery in middle of makeover
by M. Scott Morris
NEMS Daily Journal
07.08.12 - 07:56 am

TUPELO – The Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery is in the middle of
a makeover and more changes are on the horizon.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/19235410/article-Transition-time--Fish-hatchery-in-middle-of-makeover?instance=secondary_stories_left_column





Analysis: Agencies seek to preserve Miss. heritage
by Emily Wagster Pettus
The Associated Press
07.09.12 - 06:00 am

JACKSON — Culture Club isn't just a 1980s British band featuring guys who
wear makeup. In Mississippi, it's the nickname that leaders of some state
agencies have jokingly given themselves.
http://djournal.com/view/full_story/19240049/article-Analysis--Agencies-seek-to-preserve-Miss--heritage?instance=secondary_stories_left_column





National News





Senate, House farm bills follow different paths
Politico
By: David Rogers
July 8, 2012 10:39 PM EDT


To look behind the numbers for the House and Senate farm bills is to see
rival visions of the government's role in agriculture — each playing on the
different ambitions and anxieties of farmers themselves.


http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0712/78220.html




Opinion




What price clean air?

By George F. Will, Published: July 6


PHOENIX


The federal government is a bull that has found yet another china shop,
this time in Arizona. It seems determined to inflict, for angelic motives
and progressive goals, economic damage on this state. And economic and
social damage on Native Americans, who over the years have experienced
quite enough of that at Washington's hands.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/george-will-epa-regulations-threaten-arizonas-economy-navajos-livelihood/2012/07/06/gJQAzWFfSW_story.html