News Clippings 9/10/13

9/10/13



Oil Spill


BP's traveling a different road to redemption
Politico
By: Talia Buford
September 10, 2013 05:05 AM EDT


Three years after the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history, BP's
post-disaster demeanor has gone from contrite to combative.


http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/bp-oil-spill-96500.html?hp=r15




Judge expands independent review involving BP claims, threatens to

disqualify lawyers

Mark Schleifstein



The Times-Picayune



September 09, 2013 at 11:41 AM



The federal judge overseeing a multi-billion-dollar BP claims settlement

program has ordered former senior claims program attorneys and law firms

they were connected with to explain why one law firm's $7.9 million claim

shouldn't be disallowed.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/barbier_expands_freeh_duties_i.html





State





Annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup, Renew Our Rivers both set for October

Mississippi Press



Warren Kulo



September 09, 2013 at 5:49 PM



BILOXI, Mississippi -- Cleaning up coastal waterways of trash and debris

will be in full swing during October, as both the Mississippi Coastal

Cleanup and Renew Our Rivers are set during the month.

http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2013/09/annual_mississippi_coastal_cle.html#incart_river





Lawmaker: Wild hog problem is reaching epidemic proportions
Clarion Ledger


As many as 150,000 wild hogs are roaming the state, destroying farm land,

cemeteries, golf courses and pretty much any other property they come

across.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130910/NEWS010504/309100016/Lawmaker-Wild-hog-problem-reaching-epidemic-proportions?nclick_check=1







Mississippi DMR fisheries director will retire


Sun Herald


By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com


BILOXI -- The head of the Department of Marine Resources fisheries division

is retiring later this fall. Dale Diaz, 51, has been director of the

Office of Marine Fisheries, which has 47 employees, since February 2007.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/09/4938128/mississippi-dmr-fisheries-director.html





National





Industry to EPA on climate regs: Let's talk
The Hill


By Ben Geman - 09/10/13 06:07 AM ET


Industry groups are pressing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
ensure they're "actively included" as the agency crafts carbon emissions
standards for power plants, a pillar of President Obama's climate agenda.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/321241-industry-to-epa-on-climate-regs-lets-talk





EPA assailed for withdrawing rules on chemical safety
The Hill


By Ben Goad - 09/09/13 01:33 PM ET


The Environmental Protection Agency's decision to withdraw a pair of draft
rules designed to expand oversight of dangerous chemicals is drawing fierce
criticism from a prominent legal group.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/321061-epa-assailed-for-withdrawal-of-chemical-safety-regs





GOP report cites 'culture of secrecy and evasion' at EPA under Jackson
The Hill


By Ben Goad - 09/09/13 02:22 PM ET


Republican lawmakers on Monday issued a scathing report accusing the
Environmental Protection Agency of flouting transparency regulations in
pursuit of its policy goals.
http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/321091-gop-report-cites-culture-of-secrecy-and-evasion-at-epa




Seismologist: Fracking doesn't cause earthquakes



By VICKI SMITH


Associated Press


September 9, 2013



MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Human activity associated with oil and gas

production can sometimes cause earthquakes, but the problem is not

hydraulic fracturing, a seismologist from the University of Texastold

researchers gathered for a two-day conference on Marcellus shale-gas

drilling.

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/texas/article/Seismologist-Fracking-doesn-t-cause-earthquakes-4798554.php





Press releases






EPA Web Tool Expands Access to Scientific, Regulatory Information on
Chemicals
Release Date: 09/09/2013
Contact Information: Cathy Milbourn, Milbourn.cathy@epa.gov, 202-564-7849,
202-564-4355


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a
web-based tool, called ChemView, to significantly improve access to
chemical specific regulatory information developed by EPA and data
submitted under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).


"This online tool will improve access to chemical health and safety
information, increase public dialogue and awareness, and help viewers
choose safer ingredients used in everyday products," said James Jones,
assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention. "The tool will make chemical information more readily available
for chemical decision-makers and consumers."


The ChemView web tool displays key health and safety data in an online
format that allows comparison of chemicals by use and by health or
environmental effects. The search tool combines available TSCA information
and provides streamlined access to EPA assessments, hazard
characterizations, and information on safer chemical ingredients.
Additionally, the new web tool allows searches by chemical name or Chemical
Abstracts Service (CAS) number, use, hazard effect, or regulatory action.
It has the flexibility to create tailored views of the information on
individual chemicals or compare multiple chemicals sorted by use, hazard
effect or other criteria. The new portal will also link to information on
manufacturing, processing, use, and release data reported under the
Chemical Data Reporting Rule, and the Toxics Release Inventory.


In the months ahead, EPA will be continuously adding additional chemicals,
functionality and links. When fully updated, the web tool will contain data
for thousands of chemicals. EPA has incorporated stakeholder input into the
design, and welcomes feedback on the current site.


By increasing health and safety information, as well as identifying safer
chemical ingredients, manufacturers and retailers will have the information
to better differentiate their products by using safer ingredients.


In 2010, EPA began a concerted effort to increase the availability of
information on chemicals as part of a commitment to strengthen the existing
chemicals program and improve access and usefulness of chemical data and
information. This included improving access to the TSCA inventory, issuing
new policies for the review of confidential business information claims for
health and safety studies, and launching the Chemical Data Access Tool.
Today's launch of the ChemView provides the public with a single access
point for information that has been generated on certain chemicals
regulated under TSCA.


View and search ChemView: http://www.epa.gov/chemview


###

News Clippings 9/9/13

9/9/13

 

OilSpill

 

Possible Fraud Cited in Deepwater Horizon Oil-Spill Fund

Wall Street Journal

    By TOM FOWLER

Former FBI director  Louis Freeh found there may have been criminal fraud on the part of some lawyers overseeing payments from the Deepwater Horizon settlement fund, according to a report released Friday.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323893004579059652497717442.html?KEYWORDS=TOM+FOWLER

 

BPclaims investigation finds 'isolated' fraud, but says payments should continue

Press-Register

George Talbot

September07, 2013 at 10:31 AM

NEW ORLEANS, La. - Former FBI chief Louis Freeh on Friday submitted results of his investigation into the office that handles claims against BP from the 2010 Gulf oil spill, finding that two former staff attorneys took kickbacks but clearing the top administrator of any wrongdoing.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/09/bp_claims_investigation_finds.html

 

Probe clears BP claims administrator despite staff misconduct

Reuters

Fri,Sep 6 2013

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An investigation led by former FBI Director Louis Freeh cleared the BP claims administrator of misconduct in handling settlement payouts from the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, but found some of his staff took kickbacks for referrals.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/07/us-bp-settlement-idUSBRE98603N20130907

 

Somecorruption in BP oil spill settlement program, Freeh says, but not on part of claims administrator

The Associated Press

September06, 2013 at 8:55 PM

An independent probe by former FBI director Louis Freeh has concluded that several private plaintiffs' attorneys worked together to corrupt a settlement process designed to compensate victims of BP's  2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico .

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/some_corruption_in_bp_oil_spil.html

 

Rebel claimants in BP spill settlement get expedited hearing

Reuters

Fri,Sep 6 2013

(Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court will hold an expedited hearing for a small group of claimants in a Gulf spill settlement with BP Plc, with oral arguments set for the week of November 4, the court said on Friday.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/06/us-bp-spill-appeal-idUSBRE9850WI20130906

 

Florida tourism gets boost from BP– again

Fox 13

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) -Visit St. Pete-Clearwater has been awarded a $500,000 grant related to 2010's BP oil spill -- again.

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/story/23363991/2013/09/06/florida-tourism-gets-boost-from-bp-again

 

   

State

 

ANALYSIS: Will MDA hear South Mississippi's voice on drillingthis time?

Sun Herald

By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com

Opponents of a plan to drill for natural gas off the Mississippi Coast have reason to be skeptical. TheMississippi Development Authority has been ignoring them for years.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/07/4933465/analysis-will-mda-hear-south-mississippis.html

 

MDA issues statement aboutoil and gas drilling story

WLOX

We have a follow-up to a story WLOX News firstreported on Thursday.

It involves the debate over oil and gas drilling in Mississippi waters. That issue is heating up again because the Mississippi Development Authority has begun the process of allowing an offshore lease sale.

http://www.wlox.com/story/23363877/mda-issues-statement-about-oil-and-gas-drilling-story

 

Wastewater plant dedicated

DeSoto takes care of its business

DeSoto Times

By ROBERT LEE LONG
Published:  Saturday,September 7, 2013 10:02 AM CDT

 

WALLS — DeSoto County's western wastewater plant wasdedicated Thursday as a host of state, local and federal officials looked on.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2013/09/09/news/doc522a7866cb39c082437796.txt

 

Sludgereport: Buildup more prevalent than previously expected

Buildupmore prevalent than previously expected

HattiesburgAmerican

In the Highlands of Scotland, a monster allegedly lives near the bottom of a lake, a beastie capable of stirring up an occasional fuss and conversation that has come to be known as “Nessie.”

In Hattiesburg, a monster definitely lives near the bottom of a lagoon, a long-ignored and unwanted nasty beast more than capable of stirring up a regular stink and consternation that has become, quite frankly, “Messy.”

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20130909/NEWS01/309090011/Sludge-report-Buildup-more-prevalent-than-previously-expected

 

Mississippi lawmakers to meet on wild hog problem

AP

Mississippi lawmakers are to hear from wildlife and hunting experts Monday on possible programs to combat a growing wild hog population.

http://www.clarionledger.com/viewart/20130909/NEWS010504/130909001/Mississippi-lawmakers-meet-wild-hog-problem-

 

Regional

 

Shrimp Raise Big Question: Friend or Foe?

InvasiveAsian Tiger Species, Now in the U.S., Has Scientists Worried About Ecosystem

Wall Street Journal

By  CAMERON MCWHIRTER

BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala.—Dennis Morrison took a boatout with a friend recently to cast nets for white shrimp in the marshes around this seafood port. On one of his last throws, an odd-looking black shrimp came up in the haul. It didn't act like the others; it jumped and flopped in the boat.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323893004579057403395388302.html?mod=wsj_share_tweet

 

National

 

EPA pulls backchemical regs

The Hill

By Ben Goad -  09/06/13 04:13 PM ET

The Environmental Protection Agency is withdrawing a pair of regulations drafted to boost oversight of dangerous chemicals, they agency said Friday.

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/energyenvironment/320781-obama-administration-pulls-back-chemical-regulations

 

 

House to takeaim at fracking regulations

The Hill

By Julian Hattem -  09/06/13 04:54 PM ET

Lawmakers in the House will focus in coming weeks on a measure to combat new regulations on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/legislation/320801-house-to-take-aim-at-fracking-regulations

 

 

 

Opinion

 

GeoffPender:Kemper plant no political game changer

Clarion Ledger

When, or maybe if, Mississippi Power fires up the burners at its Kemper County plant next spring, many state leaders will be watching with bated breath, and their anxiousness will be more about politics than power generation.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130908/COL0601/309080008/Geoff-Pender-Kemper-plant-no-political-game-changer?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CColumnists%7Cp&nclick_check=1

 

THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI DAILY JOURNAL: Nuclear storage ideais premature and ill-timed

Patrick Sullivan, director of the private-sector Mississippi Energy Institute, and Jason Dean, a lobbyist and former education assistant to former Gov. Haley Barbour, have been shopping the idea that jobs will run to Mississippi if the state opens itself to nuclear waste storage and reprocessing of nuclear waste. Gov. Bryant apparently has become a supporter and criticized voices in opposition, like U.S. Rep. Steven Palazzo, the 4th District Republican.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/08/4930945/the-northeast-mississippi-daily.html

 

James Gill:BP’s money drowns integrity

By James Gill

The Advocate

Nobodydenies that BP is paying hundreds of millions, or more, to settle claims brought by businesses that suffered no losses whatsoever from the Deepwater Horizon leak in 2010.

http://theadvocate.com/columnists/6976447-55/bps-noney-drowns-integrity

 

Teague: BP needs to honor its compensation agreement

Houston Chronicle

ByStephen Teague   |  September 7, 2013 

 

Over thepast year, BP has made several challenges to the court-approved settlement program established to compensate those who suffered medical injuries and economic losses as a result of the April 2010, BP oil disaster.

http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Teague-BP-needs-to-honor-its-compensation-4795316.php

 

BPnegotiated the settlement it's trying to disown: Keith Jones

Times-Picayune

Contributing Op-Ed columnist

September06, 2013 at 6:52 AM

As an attorney, I am dismayed to see the ease with which many in the media have blindly bought into BP's latest round of misleading advertisements and take its propaganda for gospel. The facts are simple. BP wrote and  agreed to the settlement   -- including all the  portions it now whines and complains about  --in an effort to buy peace and bring closure to its investors.

http://www.nola.com/opinions/index.ssf/2013/09/bp_negotiated_the_settlement_i.html

News Clippings 9/6/13

9/6/13



Oil Spill





BP, feds offer dueling Gulf oil spill estimates as second phase of trial

approaches

The Associated Press

September 05, 2013 at 8:41 PM



With a high-stakes trial set to resume in less than a month, BP and the

federal government on Thursday offered conflicting estimates of how much

oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico after the blowout of the company's

Macondo well triggered a deadly explosion.

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2013/09/bp_feds_offer_dueling_gulf_oil.html






Treasury releases RESTORE rules

advocate washington bureau

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury announced Thursday night newly proposed

federal rules to govern and hand out the funds generated from the RESTORE

Act legislation signed into law last year that originated from the 2010 BP

oil disaster.



http://theadvocate.com/news/6978887-123/treasury-releases-restore-rules





BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill RESTORE Act regulations released by Treasury





Times-Picayune



The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday announced a new proposed

regulation to govern the spending of billions of dollars of Clean Water Act

fines to restore the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of the BP Deepwater

Horizon oil spill.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/09/bp_deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.html





BP Wants To Halt Deepwater Horizon Claims Process

NPR
by EVE TROEH
September 05, 2013 5:16 PM


BP is fighting the settlement it agreed to last summer that let the oil
company avoid thousands of potential lawsuits over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil spill.


http://www.npr.org/2013/09/05/219356299/bp-wants-to-halt-deepwater-horizon-claims-process





State





Debate heating up again over oil and gas drilling in Mississippi

WLOX




The debate over oil and gas drilling in Mississippi waters is about to
heat-up again. A legal notice published by the DMR, caught the attention of
those who've been closely involved with this issue.
http://www.wlox.com/story/23354332/debate-heating-up-again-over-oil-and-gas-drilling-in-mississippi





Latest move toward gas drilling off Mississippi Coast meets with opposition
Sun Herald
By PAUL HAMPTON — jphampton@sunherald.com


Opposition is building to the latest move in a plan to explore for natural

gas in Mississippi waters.

http://www.sunherald.com/2013/09/05/4928953/latest-move-toward-gas-drilling.html







Miss. Power: Grant rate hike, then we'll eat extra costs for Kemper plant
Clarion Ledger


Mississippi Power Co. CEO Ed Holland said Thursday that if a 22 percent

rate hike is approved to pay for its Kemper County power plant, the company

won't try to hit up customers for more, and shareholders will eat hundreds

of millions in cost overruns.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20130906/NEWS01/309060008/Miss-Power-Grant-rate-hike-then-we-ll-eat-extra-costs-Kemper-plant







Regional





Gulf states taking red snapper management matters into their own hands

Press-Register

Jeff Dute

September 05, 2013 at 4:07 PM



With uncertainty continuing to swirl around results generated by new

federal methods to collect data on recreational red snapper catches in the

Gulf of Mexico, states are beginning to take management matters into their

own hands.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/09/gulf_states_taking_red_snapper.html#incart_river





National





Enviro groups press Supreme Court to revive major EPA air pollution rule
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/05/13 11:31 AM ET


Green groups are warning the Supreme Court that upholding a lower court's
nullification of a major 2011 pollution rule would prevent regulators from
ever tackling unhealthy power plant emissions that cross state lines.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/320431-enviro-groups-press-supreme-court-to-revive-major-epa-air-pollution-rule



Rep. Issa, ex-EPA chief Jackson to square off over email allegations
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/05/13 03:42 PM ET


Former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson will
testify before House Republicans who allege that she shielded agency
business from public view by using secondary and perhaps personal email
accounts.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/320533-rep-issa-ex-epa-chief-jackson-to-square-off-over-email-allegations




EPA fines Shell $1.1 million for Arctic air pollution
The Hill
By Ben Geman - 09/06/13 07:30 AM ET


Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell will pay $1.1 million in fines for violating
the Clean Air Act last year during operations in Arctic waters off Alaska's
northern coast.
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/320597-epas-fines-shell-11-million-for-arctic-drilling-air-pollution



Press releases






EPA Launches New Online Mapping Tool for Environmental Impact Statements


WASHINGTON – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the
EIS Mapper, an interactive web-based tool that allows the public to learn
about Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) filed with EPA for major
projects proposed on federal lands and other proposed federal actions.
Users of the tool can click on any state for a list of Environmental Impact
Statements, including information about the potential environmental, social
and economic impacts of these projects.


The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to
consider the impacts of proposed actions, as well as any reasonable
alternatives as part of their decision-making process. For proposed
projects with potentially significant impacts, federal agencies prepare a
detailed Environmental Impact Statement which is filed with EPA and made
available for public review and comment. EPA is required to review and
comment on Environmental Impact Statements prepared by other federal
agencies.


"The EIS Mapper makes it easier for the public to be informed about the
environment around them," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for
EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, which oversees NEPA
compliance. "Major projects and decisions have the potential to affect the
environment where you work and live. I encourage everyone to check out the
mapper, stay informed and lend your voice."


The user can click on a state in the map and is provided with comment
letters submitted by the EPA on Environmental Impact Statements within the
last 60 days. The tool also provides users with the information they need
to identify projects with open comment periods, including how to submit
comments.


The EIS Mapper supports EPA's commitment to utilize advanced information
technologies that help increase transparency of its enforcement and
compliance programs. EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
has recently launched the "Next Generation Compliance" initiative, designed
to modernize its approach and drive improved compliance to reduce
pollution. Learn more about the effort by visiting:
http://blog.epa.gov/epaconnect/2013/08/nextgen/.


To use EPA's EIS Mapper, visit http://eismapper.epa.gov/.


For more about EPA's NEPA Program, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/nepa/




Morrell to Lead New BP America Communications & External Affairs Team

Release Date: 05 September 2013


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today BP announced the appointment of Geoff Morrell to
the position of Senior Vice President in charge of the newly formed U.S.
Communications & External Affairs organization. Communications & External
Affairs is a consolidation of three previously existing teams within the
company – U.S. Communications, which Morrell previously led, as well as
Government and Public Affairs, and Federal and International Affairs.


In this new role, Geoff will be responsible for oversight of all of the
company's internal and external stakeholder engagement in the U.S.,
including outreach to employees, media, and government officials. He will
also oversee BP America's community affairs, charitable, and political
giving programs.


"BP is America's biggest energy investor and our reach and influence should
be commensurate to that," said BP Group Chief Executive Bob Dudley. "Over
the past two years Geoff has quickly established our U.S. Communications
team as a forward-leaning, assertive voice for the company. I expect he
will soon do the same with the entire Communications & External Affairs
team."


"As we continue to address the political and legal challenges we face in
the United States, we have consistently conveyed BP's commitment to America
and the contributions we make to the nation's economy and energy security,"
said BP America Chairman and President John Mingé. "I look to Geoff and his
team to ensure that this message is delivered with absolute clarity day in
and day out."


Morrell takes on his new responsibilities immediately. "I'm excited about
the opportunity to lead this new fully integrated organization," said
Morrell. "We're blessed with strong communications and government relations
professionals who are committed to this company. Through greater
collaboration and a more assertive posture, I think we will become even
more effective than we already are."


Prior to joining BP in September 2011, Morrell spent four years as Pentagon
Press Secretary, acting as chief spokesman for Defense Secretary Robert M.
Gates and the United States Military. He had previously worked as a White
House correspondent for ABC News and held other reporting assignments at
both the network and local levels.


Morrell's primary office will be in Washington, D.C. where he currently
resides with his wife and two children.

http://www.bpuspress.com/go/doc/1927/1890693/Morrell-to-Lead-New-BP-America-Communications-External-Affairs-Team