State
Group: Pearl River endangered by proposed dam, lake
Clarion Ledger
A new dam and lake proposed by local government inspired
environmental activists to name the Pearl River as one of the most
endangered in the country on Tuesday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/04/07/group-pearl-river-endangered-proposed-dam-lake/25433687/
Pearl River makes advocacy group's endangered rivers list
Bob Warren
The Times-Picayune
April 07, 2015 at 4:07 PM
An advocacy group that annually ranks the 10 most "endangered'' rivers in
the U.S. has put the Pearl River at No. 10 in its most recent list.
American Rivers said a proposed new dam near Jackson, Miss., could cause
more habitat fragmentation and dramatically change the timing and amount of
freshwater discharges that could harm fisheries.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/pearl_river_makes_endangered_l.html#incart_river
Mayors 'disappointed' by Tidelands Fund allocations
Sea Coast Echo
By Geoff Belcher
Apr 7, 2015, 20:55
Bay St. Louis and Waveland weren't the only Coast municipalities that got
less money from 2015 Tidelands Fund appropriations than expected – the city
of Pass Christian got about $75,000 of a requested $295,000.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_8706.shtml#.VSUmF_mjNcZ
Olive Branch to study sewer expansion
Commercial Appeal
Olive Branch elected officials voted Tuesday night for a cooperative
agreement to study sewer expansion options in light of anticipated growth.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/olive-branch-to-study-sewer-expansion_34250010
Grant would let Lumberton address infrastructure woes
Hattiesburg American
LUMBERTON – For years, Lumberton has had to bandage a decrepit
water/sewer system that has slowly decayed beneath the cash-strapped
city's streets.
But that is on track to change, possibly before the end of the year.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lumberton/2015/04/07/lumberton-sewer-grant/25431713/
Solar power coming to Entergy Mississippi
Clarion Ledger
By the end of August, solar power should be part of Entergy
Mississippi's electricity-generation repertoire.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2015/04/07/solar-power-coming-entergy-mississippi/25431825/
Regulators seek comment on rule to aid solar development
AP
JACKSON — Though Mississippi has lagged in its use of solar energy, it may
be starting to catch up.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2015/04/08/regulators-seek-comment-on-rule-to-aid-solar-development/
S.H. Anthony contract with Hancock County is 300 days overdue
Engineering firm wants $27,000 for nearly an extra year of work
Sun Herald
BY WESLEY MULLER
BAY ST. LOUIS -- Some Hancock County supervisors are displeased with a
waterlines-expansion project contracted by S.H. Anthony that is more than
300 days behind schedule and resulting in additional engineering costs.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/07/6164247/sh-anthony-contract-with-hancock.html
Oil Spill
Dispersants used in Gulf oil spill could damage human, animal tissue, UAB
study finds
Press-Register
Dennis Pillion
April 07, 2015 at 5:10 PM
One of the primary dispersants used in the response to the 2010 Deepwater
Horizon oil spill can cause damage to the respiratory epithelial cells of
humans and animals in a laboratory setting, according to a recent study
conducted at UAB, but the researchers also found a possible way to lessen
that damage.
http://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2015/04/dispersants_used_in_gulf_oil_s.html
Oil industry says offshore response better, faster 5 years after BP spill
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
April 07, 2015 at 4:23 PM
Five years after the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, the oil and gas
industry can respond and contain well blowouts offshore faster than ever
before, said Don Armijo, CEO of the Marine Well Containment Co. But he said
work remains to make sure containment equipment keeps pace with industry's
push to drill in deeper waters.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/don_armijo_oil_spill_response.html#incart_river
BP could give Texas $1Billion for 2010 oil spill cleanup
KHOU
In Texas, $54 million is currently available for improving wildlife
habitat and improving water quality due to the RESTORE Act, money
paid in penalties by those responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil
spill; however, Texas could receive up to $1 billion.
http://www.khou.com/story/news/2015/04/07/bp-could-give-texas-1billion-for-2010-oil-spill-cleanup/25439323/
Regional
EPA likely won't have to adopt more stringent restrictions on nutrients in
Mississippi River, appeals court rules
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 08, 2015 at 7:34 AM
A federal appeals court Tuesday (April 7) ordered a New Orleans federal
judge to reconsider his ruling that the Environmental Protection Agency
must decide whether more stringent rules are needed to curb the flow of
fertilizer and other nutrient pollutants into the Mississippi River to stem
the size of a low-oxygen "dead zone" that forms along Louisiana's coast
each spring.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/epa_likely_wont_have_to_adopt.html#incart_river
UA partners with AU, MSU on water resources
Crimson White
Sports may divide schools in the Southeastern Conference, but one of
Earth's most basic resources has brought together three Southern
institutions.
On March 12, Mississippi State University officially signed into a
partnership with The University of Alabama and Auburn University to
collaborate on water resource issues. Bennett Bearden, director of The
University of Alabama's Water Policy and Law Institute, said the initiative
will bring together the strengths of each of the schools' long-term
research programs.
http://www.cw.ua.edu/article/2015/04/ua-partners-with-au-msu-on-water-resources
National
Obama: Daughter's asthma attack made climate change personal
The Hill
President Obama said in an interview broadcast Wednesday that his push to
address climate change has been partly influenced by a frightening moment
when his daughter Malia had an asthma attack as a four-year-old.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/238171-obama-daughters-asthma-attack-made-climate-change-personal
Report: Big shift from electricity to solar power
Report shows shift from electricity to solar power
BY CHRIS MOONEY
Washington Post
WASHINGTON -- In recent years, the growth of the rooftop solar market has
been astounding. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the
growth rate for at-home solar has been above 50 percent for three years
running (2012, 2013, and 2014).
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/07/6163992/report-big-shift-from-electricity.html
Press Releases
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| USDA Funding to Help Clean Waterways in Mississippi River Basin |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
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| 13 States to Receive Support |
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| |
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| |
|WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 – Targeted conservation work in the Mississippi River basin |
|will unite the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), farmers and local |
|organizations to help clean waterways that flow into the nation's largest river. USDA's|
|Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $10 million this year in 27 |
|new high-priority watersheds and 13 existing projects that will help improve water |
|quality and strengthen agricultural operations. This investment is part of a commitment|
|of $100 million over four years to address critical water quality concerns in priority |
|watersheds while boosting rural economies. |
| |
| |
|"We know that when we target our efforts to the places most in need, we see stronger |
|results," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "These projects focus on watersheds |
|in need, where we have opportunities to work with partners and farmers to get |
|conservation work on the ground. " |
| |
| |
|NRCS worked with state agencies, farmers and other partners to identify high-priority |
|watersheds that align with established state priorities and have strong partnerships in|
|place — and where targeted conservation on agricultural land can make the most gains in|
|improving local and regional water quality. Conservation systems implemented in these |
|areas will reduce the amount of nutrients flowing from agricultural land into |
|waterways, curb erosion and improve the resiliency of working lands in the face of |
|droughts and floods. This investment builds on $18.5 million already allocated to |
|projects in the basin in fiscal 2015. |
| |
| |
|These projects are funded through the agency's Mississippi River Basin Healthy |
|Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), which uses funding from several Farm Bill conservation |
|programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), to help |
|farmers adopt conservation systems to improve water quality and habitat and restore |
|wetlands. Since MRBI's start in 2009, NRCS has worked with more than 600 partners and |
|5,000 private landowners to improve more than 1 million acres in the region. Through |
|these partnerships, the initiative more than quadrupled the number of contracts |
|addressing water quality concerns in targeted project areas. |
| |
| |
|New projects include: |
| |
| |
| · Lower South Fork Root River Watershed, Minnesota: NRCS will work with the Root |
| River and Fillmore soil and water conservation districts, Minnesota Department of|
| Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource |
| Center, Monsanto and others to achieve a 40 percent reduction in sediment and |
| associated phosphorus by 2020. NRCS plans to invest $39,000 in fiscal 2015 as |
| part of a $1.2 million commitment in the watershed over four years. |
| |
| |
| · Headwaters–Big Pine Creek, Indiana: NRCS will work with the Benton and White |
| county soil and water conservation districts, Big Pine Creek Watershed Group, The|
| Nature Conservancy, Conservation Technology Information Center, Ceres Solutions |
| LLC, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Pheasants |
| Forever and Indiana Department of Environmental Management to reduce nitrogen, |
| phosphorus, and sediment in this critical watershed to improve the conditions of |
| waterways for recreational use and wildlife. NRCS plans to invest $50,000 in |
| fiscal 2015 as part of a nearly $500,000 commitment over four years. |
| |
| |
| · Long Lake, Mississippi: NRCS will work with Delta F.A.R.M., Mississippi Soil and |
| Water Conservation Commission and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality|
| to address water quality concerns in priority watersheds identified in the Delta |
| Nutrient Reduction Strategy. NRCS plans to invest $710,000 in fiscal 2015 as a |
| part of a total commitment of $4.3 million over four years. |
| |
| |
|See full list of watershed projects. |
| |
| |
|Projects will be funded in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, |
|Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. |
| |
| |
|"These projects put to work some of our core conservation practices, which we know are |
|having tremendous impacts downstream," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. "Putting to work |
|NRCS-recommended conservation practices helps clean and conserve water, makes |
|agricultural operations more resilient, and stimulates rural economies as this work |
|often relies on help from biologists, foresters, pipe makers, dirt movers, welders, |
|engineers and many more different professions to implement." |
| |
| |
|Conservation systems include practices that promote soil health, reduce erosion and |
|lessen nutrient runoff, such as cover crops, reduced tillage and nutrient management; |
|waste management systems that treat agricultural waste and livestock manure; irrigation|
|systems that capture and recycle nutrients back to the field; and wetland restoration |
|that increases wildlife habitat, mitigates flooding, and improves water quality. |
| |
| |
|Findings from a 2014 report by the USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project |
|(CEAP) show that conservation work on cropland in the Mississippi River basin has |
|reduced the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus flowing to the Gulf of Mexico by 18 and |
|20 percent, respectively. CEAP models have also shown that the targeted approach of |
|MRBI has enhanced the per-acre conservation benefit by 70 percent for sediment losses, |
|30 percent by nitrogen losses, and 40 percent for phosphorus losses, when compared to |
|general program activities. |
| |
| |
|Meanwhile, watersheds prioritized by MRBI have shown clear successes in helping to |
|improve water quality. For example, two stream segments in the St. Francis River |
|watershed in Arkansas have been removed from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's|
|list of impaired streams. |
| |
| |
|MRBI is one of many landscape-level efforts to address water quality; similar efforts |
|are ongoing in the Great Lakes region, Gulf of Mexico region, Chesapeake Bay watershed |
|and California Bay Delta region. |
| |
| |
|# |
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| USDA Awards Grants to Address Water Quality, Availability in Agriculture Communities |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| More than $10 million for critical water problems |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
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| |
|WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National |
|Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 21 grants totaling more than |
|$10 million have been awarded to universities to support critical water problems in |
|rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States. The awards were made |
|through NIFA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Water for Agriculture |
|challenge area and the National Integrated Water Quality Program. |
| |
| |
|"Water is our most precious resource, one that is essential for both human survival and|
|well-being and for our ability to grow our crops and livestock," said Sonny Ramaswamy, |
|NIFA director. "By funding research, extension, and education for citizens and the |
|agriculture community, we are able to proactively create solutions to water-related |
|issues like drought and its impact on food security." |
| |
| |
|The AFRI Water for Agriculture challenge area was first introduced in fiscal year (FY) |
|2014, and these grants represent the first year of funding for the program. Funded |
|projects link social, economic, and behavioral sciences with traditional biophysical |
|sciences and engineering to address regional scale issues with shared hydrological |
|processes, and meteorological and basin characteristics. Fiscal year 2014 Water for |
|Agriculture grants recipients are: |
| |
| |
| · University of California, Riverside, Calif., $149,990 |
| |
| |
| · Georgia College and State University, Milledgeville, Ga., $56,943 |
| |
| |
| · Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., $999,438 |
| |
| |
| · Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich., $900,000 |
| |
| |
| · University of Missouri, Kansas City, Mo., $148,995 |
| |
| |
| · University of Nevada, Reno, Nev., $500,000 |
| |
| |
| · State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry, |
| Syracuse, N.Y., $128,511 |
| |
| |
| · Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, $49,968 |
| |
| |
| · Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., $150,000 |
| |
| |
| · University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $900,000 |
| |
| |
| · West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas, $149,777 |
| |
| |
| · University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, $900,000 |
| |
| |
| · Utah State University, Logan, Utah, $49,534 |
| |
| |
| · University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisc., $900,000 |
| |
| |
|This year's projects include the University of Nevada's Coordinated Agricultural |
|Program designed to increase research and participatory engagement with American |
|Indians and assess the impacts of climate change on future water supplies and enhance |
|the climate resiliency of tribal agriculture. Another project from Clemson University |
|will integrate remote sensing products and weather forecast information for farmers and|
|growers to address the best products, increase agricultural drought indices, and |
|develop an agricultural drought forecasting model to provide near real-time feedback. |
| |
| |
|NIFA is expected to make $30 million available over the next five years for the AFRI |
|Water for Agriculture challenge area, with the expectation that the new projects |
|awarded this fiscal year would receive additional funds (based on available funding) if|
|they achievement project objectives and milestones. |
| |
| |
|The FY 2015 request for applications for the AFRI Water for Agriculture challenge was |
|released on February 18, 2015. Applications are due July 16, 2015. |
| |
| |
|NIFA also funded projects through the National Integrated Water Quality Program (NIWQP)|
|for science-based decision making and management practices that improve the quality and|
|quantity of the Nation's water resources in agricultural, rural, and urbanizing |
|watersheds. Applicants were asked to develop the science behind the most appropriate |
|drought triggers and provide an understanding of the connection between trigger levels |
|and drought management responses or decisions; or provide estimates of the economic |
|value of water across different uses. The approaches to estimating water values will |
|reflect uncertainties associated with future weather and climate conditions. |
|Quantifying the value of water will provide valuable signals to agricultural producers,|
|rural communities, and policy makers to aid decision-making for allocating agricultural|
|water use across consumptive or non-consumptive uses. |
| |
| |
|Fiscal Year 2014 NIWQP grant recipients are: |
| |
| |
| · Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colo., $659,954 |
| |
| |
| · University of Connecticut, Storrs, Conn., $750,000 |
| |
| |
| · University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., $659,676 |
| |
| |
| · Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind., $659,839 |
| |
| |
| · Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, $660,000 |
| |
| |
| · South Dakota State University, Brookings, S.D., $227,135 |
| |
| |
| · University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tenn., $659,926 |
| |
| |
|This year's projects include South Dakota State University's research to identify |
|drought triggers, develop mitigation plans, investigate socio-economic factors |
|associated with new technology adoption, and educate different age groups of students |
|about drought issues. The University of Tennessee will execute a long-term plan to |
|assist agricultural producers, policymakers, and communities throughout the |
|Southeastern United States as they adapt to water scarcity by efficiently allocating |
|water and adopting water-conserving practices and technologies. |
| |
| |
|Find a complete list of this year's project descriptions on the NIFA Website. |
| |
| |
|Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, |
|NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's |
|daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. |
| |
| |
|# |
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| U.S. Forest Service Partnership Effort Improves Health of America's Forests |
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| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Program has supported 4,300 jobs per year, improved 1.45 million acres of America's |
| forests since 2010 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
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| |
|WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 — The U.S. Forest Service announced today that 1.45 million ||acres of America's forests and watersheds – an area larger than Delaware – are |
|healthier as a result of collaborative partnerships to reduce the risk of catastrophic |
|wildfires. |
| |
| |
|Authorized for 10 years through the 2009 Omnibus Public Land Management Act, the |
|Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program (CFLRP) was created to emphasize |
|partnerships between government and local forest workers, sawmill owners, |
|conservationists, businesses, sportsmen, outdoor recreationists and others to improve |
|forest health and promote the well-being of local communities. |
| |
| |
|"Collaboration is working. CFLRP demonstrates that we can bring together forest |
|industry, environmentalists, local communities and others to produce healthier forests |
|while producing a sustainable timber supply for local mills," said Agriculture Under |
|Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie. "This long-term |
|investment gives our partners the confidence to fully engage in restoration activities.|
|The collaboratives expand Forest Service resources – generating over $76.1 million in |
|matching funding from partners in the past five years, and with continued support we |
|expect this number to grow over the next five years." |
| |
| |
|"The Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program is a groundbreaking approach to|
|improving our nation's forests, making communities safer and bolstering local |
|economies," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell. "The Forest Service is anchoring |
|projects across the country with more than 200 local partners to restore our forests |
|and support our local economies." |
| |
| |
|Since 2010, the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program has brought local |
|communities and timber companies together to improve forests conditions across 23 |
|high-priority project sites, from Florida, to Missouri, to Washington State and places |
|in-between. The coordination with local partner organizations is essential to getting |
|substantial work done. |
| |
| |
|The program's restoration activities have resulted in part: |
| |
| |
| · More than 1.45 million acres of forest more resilient to the effects of |
| catastrophic wildfire, |
| |
| |
| · More than 1.33 million acres of wildlife habitat improved, |
| |
| |
| · More than 84,570 acres of forest lands treated through timber sales, |
| |
| |
| · More than 73,600 acres treated for noxious weeds and invasive plants, |
| |
| |
| · Supporting 4,360 jobs in local communities each year. |
| |
| |
|Under Secretary Bonnie said the Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program is |
|improving the health of forests and rural communities by exceeding five-year targets |
|for production of forest products. The Forest Service set a five-year goal for CFLRP |
|projects of 1 billion board feet of timber sold and has exceeded that by nearly 25 |
|percent. |
| |
| |
|"The restoration challenge is significant. We are making a difference in the forests |
|and in surrounding communities," said Chief Tidwell. |
| |
| |
|"This program demonstrates the value the Forest Service places on collaboration and |
|on-the-ground achievements," said Steering Committee member Dylan Kruse of Sustainable |
|Northwest. "The last five years have proven that listening to diverse interests and |
|providing smart investments pays off for measurable improvements across the landscape."|
| |
| |
|More information on the five-year report and links to project factsheets can be found |
|at http://www.fs.fed.us/restoration/CFLRP/index.shtml. |
| |
| |
|The mission of the Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to |
|sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation's forests and grasslands |
|to meet the needs of present and future generations. |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
News Clippings 4/7/15
State
Proposed dam puts Pearl River on country's top 10 most endangered rivers
list
Proposed dam puts Pearl River on endangered rivers list
SUN HERALD
American Rivers, an advocacy group headquartered in Washington D.C., has
named the Pearl River one of the country's 10 most endangered rivers for
2015.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/06/6162587_proposed-dam-puts-pearl-river.html?rh=1
DeSoto names anti-litter team; welcomes top health ranking
Commercial Appeal
DeSoto environmental and physical health dominated the agenda as the county
Board of Supervisors named appointees to a permanent anti-litter commission
and welcomed another No. 1 overall health ranking among Mississippi's 82
counties.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/desoto-names-antilitter-team-welcomes-top-health-ranking_79632806
Litter clean-up yields tons
Signs to be posted across county
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
DeSoto County's recent Annual Spring Clean-up 2015 yielded more than 14,000
pounds of litter picked up alongside the county's roads and highways,
DeSoto County Environmental Services manager Ray Laughter informed the
DeSoto County Board of Supervisors on Monday.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2015/04/07/news/doc55231cc4711c3769929110.txt
Dumpster Days Begin
Brookhaven Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2015/04/03/111537/
SMCC well construction program gets donation
By Lauren Thornton Tobin
Enterprise-Journal
The Well Construction Technology Program at Southwest Mississippi Community
College on March 25 received a $25,000 donation on behalf of Cotton Gin
International, a start-up company dedicated to providing safe drinking
water throughout the world.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_6a2ef590-dc87-11e4-bfe9-f7ee93f5c798.html
Oil Spill
Fines from BP spill to help restore Gulf
WTSP
It has been nearly five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
explosion sent an estimated 134 million gallons of crude oil
spilling into the Gulf of Mexico, washing tar balls up on Florida
beaches, costing lives and livelihoods.
http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2015/04/06/5-years-after-the-gulf-oil-disaster/25374477/
Environmentalists Evaluate the Gulf Five Years After the Spill
WUSF
It's been nearly five years since the explosion and oil spill on the BP oil
rig Deepwater Horizon. On Monday a diverse group of environmentalists got
together to talk about the lingering environmental effects.
http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/environmentalists-evaluate-gulf-five-years-after-spill
Regional
Oil spill reported in Mississippi River after multi-ship collision
Heather Nolan
The Times-Picayune
April 07, 2015 at 6:50 AM
About 420 gallons of oil spilled into the Mississippi River near Convent
after a multi-ship collision around 4 p.m. Monday (April 6), according to
the U.S. Coast Guard.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/04/oil_spill_reported_in_mississi.html#incart_river
National
Obama to describe climate change as a threat to Americans' health
The Associated Press
April 07, 2015 at 6:52 AM
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will ask Americans to think of climate
change as a threat not just to the environment, but also to their health.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/obama_to_describe_climate_chan.html#incart_river
EPA sends controversial water pollution rule to White House
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday sent to the White House
its controversial regulation to redefine the extent of its authority over
water pollution control.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237980-epa-sends-controversial-water-rule-to-white-house
U.S. safety board: Oil train tank cars need urgent upgrades
BY MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press
BILLINGS, MONT. — Tank cars carrying oil or ethanol by rail urgently need
to be retrofitted or replaced to make them more fire-resistant after a
spate of explosive accidents in recent months revealed the shortcomings of
voluntary industry standards, U.S. safety officials said Monday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/07/6162800/us-safety-board-oil-train-tank.html
Fewer Oil Trains Ply America's Rails
Safety concerns, low crude prices depress train traffic
Wall Street Journal
The growth in oil-train shipments fueled by the U.S. energy boom has
stalled in recent months, dampened by safety problems and low crude prices.
The number of train cars carrying crude and other petroleum products peaked
last fall, according to data from the Association of American Railroads,
and began edging down. In March, oil-train traffic was down 7% on a
year-over-year basis.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-shipments-by-rail-take-slow-track-1428348393
Researchers map climate opinions by county, congressional district
The Hill
Researchers with Yale University have created maps of public opinions of
climate change down to the county-by-county level.
The maps by the Project on Climate Change Communication use data and
estimates provided by Yale and Utah State University.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/238025-researchers-map-climate-opinions-by-county-congressional-district
New regs for Tuesday: Tuna fishing, endangered crayfish, oil and gas
wastewater
The Hill
Tuesday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for the
treatment of oil and gas extraction wastewater, women-owned small
businesses, tuna fishing boats and endangered crayfish.
http://thehill.com/regulation/237964-new-regs-for-tuesday-tuna-fishing-endangered-crayfish-oil-and-gas-wastewater
Press releases
Mississippi NRCS Accepting Applications for Agriculture Land Easements
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program- (ACEP-ALE). This program helps
protect productive farm and ranch lands from being converted for commercial
development. Through ACEP-ALE, private land owners, land trusts and other
entities are able to obtain federal support to help preserve working farm
lands and ranches and restore, enhance and protect wetlands and grasslands
through a permanent easement. The deadline for applications for funding
consideration for this fiscal year is May 15, 2015.
ACEP was created by the 2014 Farm Bill and divided into two components: a
wetland easement component (WRE), which largely mirrors the former Wetland
Reserve Program and an agricultural land easement component (ALE), which
retains the purposes and functionality of the Grassland Reserve Program and
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.
"ACEP-ALE gives landowners and other entities an opportunity to work
together to preserve working lands," stated Kurt Readus, Mississippi NRCS
state conservationist. "We encourage Indian tribes, state and local
governments, non-governmental organizations and private landowners to
contact their local NRCS office to apply."
To enroll eligible land through agricultural land easements, partners
should discuss the development of an easement proposal with their local
NRCS field office staff. Applications are continuously accepted for ACEP.
To find a NRCS office nearest you, please visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs
Proposed dam puts Pearl River on country's top 10 most endangered rivers
list
Proposed dam puts Pearl River on endangered rivers list
SUN HERALD
American Rivers, an advocacy group headquartered in Washington D.C., has
named the Pearl River one of the country's 10 most endangered rivers for
2015.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/06/6162587_proposed-dam-puts-pearl-river.html?rh=1
DeSoto names anti-litter team; welcomes top health ranking
Commercial Appeal
DeSoto environmental and physical health dominated the agenda as the county
Board of Supervisors named appointees to a permanent anti-litter commission
and welcomed another No. 1 overall health ranking among Mississippi's 82
counties.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/desoto-names-antilitter-team-welcomes-top-health-ranking_79632806
Litter clean-up yields tons
Signs to be posted across county
DeSoto Times
By ROBERT LEE LONG
DeSoto County's recent Annual Spring Clean-up 2015 yielded more than 14,000
pounds of litter picked up alongside the county's roads and highways,
DeSoto County Environmental Services manager Ray Laughter informed the
DeSoto County Board of Supervisors on Monday.
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2015/04/07/news/doc55231cc4711c3769929110.txt
Dumpster Days Begin
Brookhaven Daily Leader
http://www.dailyleader.com/2015/04/03/111537/
SMCC well construction program gets donation
By Lauren Thornton Tobin
Enterprise-Journal
The Well Construction Technology Program at Southwest Mississippi Community
College on March 25 received a $25,000 donation on behalf of Cotton Gin
International, a start-up company dedicated to providing safe drinking
water throughout the world.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_6a2ef590-dc87-11e4-bfe9-f7ee93f5c798.html
Oil Spill
Fines from BP spill to help restore Gulf
WTSP
It has been nearly five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig
explosion sent an estimated 134 million gallons of crude oil
spilling into the Gulf of Mexico, washing tar balls up on Florida
beaches, costing lives and livelihoods.
http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/local/2015/04/06/5-years-after-the-gulf-oil-disaster/25374477/
Environmentalists Evaluate the Gulf Five Years After the Spill
WUSF
It's been nearly five years since the explosion and oil spill on the BP oil
rig Deepwater Horizon. On Monday a diverse group of environmentalists got
together to talk about the lingering environmental effects.
http://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/post/environmentalists-evaluate-gulf-five-years-after-spill
Regional
Oil spill reported in Mississippi River after multi-ship collision
Heather Nolan
The Times-Picayune
April 07, 2015 at 6:50 AM
About 420 gallons of oil spilled into the Mississippi River near Convent
after a multi-ship collision around 4 p.m. Monday (April 6), according to
the U.S. Coast Guard.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/04/oil_spill_reported_in_mississi.html#incart_river
National
Obama to describe climate change as a threat to Americans' health
The Associated Press
April 07, 2015 at 6:52 AM
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama will ask Americans to think of climate
change as a threat not just to the environment, but also to their health.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/obama_to_describe_climate_chan.html#incart_river
EPA sends controversial water pollution rule to White House
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Monday sent to the White House
its controversial regulation to redefine the extent of its authority over
water pollution control.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237980-epa-sends-controversial-water-rule-to-white-house
U.S. safety board: Oil train tank cars need urgent upgrades
BY MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press
BILLINGS, MONT. — Tank cars carrying oil or ethanol by rail urgently need
to be retrofitted or replaced to make them more fire-resistant after a
spate of explosive accidents in recent months revealed the shortcomings of
voluntary industry standards, U.S. safety officials said Monday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/07/6162800/us-safety-board-oil-train-tank.html
Fewer Oil Trains Ply America's Rails
Safety concerns, low crude prices depress train traffic
Wall Street Journal
The growth in oil-train shipments fueled by the U.S. energy boom has
stalled in recent months, dampened by safety problems and low crude prices.
The number of train cars carrying crude and other petroleum products peaked
last fall, according to data from the Association of American Railroads,
and began edging down. In March, oil-train traffic was down 7% on a
year-over-year basis.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/oil-shipments-by-rail-take-slow-track-1428348393
Researchers map climate opinions by county, congressional district
The Hill
Researchers with Yale University have created maps of public opinions of
climate change down to the county-by-county level.
The maps by the Project on Climate Change Communication use data and
estimates provided by Yale and Utah State University.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/238025-researchers-map-climate-opinions-by-county-congressional-district
New regs for Tuesday: Tuna fishing, endangered crayfish, oil and gas
wastewater
The Hill
Tuesday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for the
treatment of oil and gas extraction wastewater, women-owned small
businesses, tuna fishing boats and endangered crayfish.
http://thehill.com/regulation/237964-new-regs-for-tuesday-tuna-fishing-endangered-crayfish-oil-and-gas-wastewater
Press releases
Mississippi NRCS Accepting Applications for Agriculture Land Easements
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program- (ACEP-ALE). This program helps
protect productive farm and ranch lands from being converted for commercial
development. Through ACEP-ALE, private land owners, land trusts and other
entities are able to obtain federal support to help preserve working farm
lands and ranches and restore, enhance and protect wetlands and grasslands
through a permanent easement. The deadline for applications for funding
consideration for this fiscal year is May 15, 2015.
ACEP was created by the 2014 Farm Bill and divided into two components: a
wetland easement component (WRE), which largely mirrors the former Wetland
Reserve Program and an agricultural land easement component (ALE), which
retains the purposes and functionality of the Grassland Reserve Program and
Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.
"ACEP-ALE gives landowners and other entities an opportunity to work
together to preserve working lands," stated Kurt Readus, Mississippi NRCS
state conservationist. "We encourage Indian tribes, state and local
governments, non-governmental organizations and private landowners to
contact their local NRCS office to apply."
To enroll eligible land through agricultural land easements, partners
should discuss the development of an easement proposal with their local
NRCS field office staff. Applications are continuously accepted for ACEP.
To find a NRCS office nearest you, please visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs
Monday, April 6, 2015
News Clippings 4/6/15
State
Mississippi Power officials tout benefits of Kemper plant
Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd
April 5, 2015 4:06 am
Just inside the Kemper County line and 20 miles north of Meridian,
construction on Mississippi Power Company's power plant continues.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/mississippi-power-officials-tout-benefits-of-kemper-plant/article_f792488a-db54-11e4-a41e-77b62b83a461.html
Broom: Feds may grant redfish exemption
Clarion Ledger
For the first time since the 1980s, Mississippi anglers could have a
chance to harvest redfish in federal waters.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/04/04/broom-feds-may-grant-redfish-exemption/25306159/
Waterway district asks Miss Supreme Court to reconsider
AP
HATTIESBURG, MISS. — The Pat Harrison Waterway District is asking the
Mississippi Supreme Court to reconsider its recent close ruling that Lamar
County may leave the district with a $337,000 payment.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/05/6160605/waterway-district-asks-miss-supreme.html
On the move: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Clarion Ledger
Cori Carraway has been selected chief of the permit section of the
regulatory branch of Operations Division for the Vicksburg District. She
previously served as a senior environmental specialist in the permit
section. A Vicksburg native, Carraway has a bachelor's degree in
environmental science from Mississippi State University.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2015/04/04/move-us-army-corps-engineers/25298737/
Mississippi legislators divided on tax issues as session ends
AP
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi lawmakers finished their three-month session
last week and returned home with plenty of campaign fodder as most of the
122 House members and 52 senators seek re-election.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/mississippi-legislators-divided-on-tax-issues-as-session-ends_42166662
Oil Spill
Dispersant used in BP spill might cause damage to human lungs, fish, crab
gills, new study says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 03, 2015 at 8:36 PM
The dispersant most often used during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
might cause damage to cells in human lungs and in the gills of fish and
crabs, according to a study published Thursday in a peer-reviewed
scientific journal.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/dispersant_used_in_bp_spill_mi.html#incart_river
Regional
In Bonnet Carre Spillway test, corps will pull some needles from bay
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 03, 2015 at 4:55 PM
The Army Corps of Engineers plans to take advantage of high water
conditions on the Mississippi River to practice removing wooden needles
from one of the 350 bays in the Bonnet Carre Spillway between Norco and
Montz. The exercise takes place Wednesday (April 8).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/corps_test_will_pull_some_wood.html#incart_river
National
Recycling Becomes a Tougher Sell as Prices Drop
The fall in oil prices has dragged down the price of virgin plastic,
erasing recyclers' advantage
Wall Street Journal
BINBROOK, England—A former World War II bomber hangar houses a monument to
the recent plunge in oil prices: hundreds of bags of shredded plastic.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/recycling-becomes-a-tougher-sell-as-plastic-prices-drop-1428279575
Beneath California Crops, Groundwater Crisis Grows
NY Times
Even as the worst drought in decades ravages California,
and its cities face mandatory cuts in water use, millions
of pounds of thirsty crops like oranges, tomatoes and
almonds continue to stream out of the state and onto the
nation's grocery shelves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/science/beneath-california-crops-groundwater-crisis-grows.html?_r=0
Press Releases
GCRL Oil Spill Seminar Series coincides with Deepwater Horizon 5th
Anniversary
The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
(GCRL) will host a seminar series, "Deepwater Horizon: A scientist's
perspective," which will begin on April 20, the fifth anniversary of the
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Deepwater Horizon spill occurred some 42 miles off the coast of
Louisiana and is said to be the worst in U.S. history. Estimates of the
amount of oil spilled range from 3-5 million barrels. Eleven rig employees
lost their lives during the explosion and subsequent sinking of the rig.
The leaking oil well was not capped until July 15, 2010, 87 days after the
incident.
This seminar series offers a retrospective exploration of the spill through
presentations by research staff and discussions among speakers, education
staff and attendees to answer pressing questions. The series will be
introduced with an interactive session to present a broad overview of
research areas with general results and how these studies exemplify the
process of science in building new knowledge. Attendees will be invited to
submit their questions for later speakers. Later sessions will feature
researchers sharing results from across their fields of expertise through
interactive presentations.
April 20, 2015 Spill Science Five Years Later: Addressing your questions
with science
Dr. Jessie Kastler, Coordinator of Program Development, Marine Education
Center, GCRL, USM
May 11, 2015 Oil and Dispersants: Where are they now and what have they
done?
Dr. Joe Griffitt, Associate Professor, Department of Coastal Science &
GCRL, USM
Dr. Vernon Asper, Professor, Department of Marine Science, USM
June 1, 2015 Oil spill impacts on Gulf animals: How are they doing?
Dr. Frank Hernandez, Assistant Professor, Department of Coastal Sciences &
GCRL, USM
Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Senior Marine Scientist II, Dauphin Island Sea Lab &
Associate Professor of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama
June 22, 2015 Gliders in the Gulf: Ocean technology and the oil spill
Dr. Oscar Schofield, Professor, Institute of Marine and Coastal Science,
Rutgers University
July 13, 2015 Where Do We Go from Here? Future directions in oil spill
research
Dr. Monty Graham, Interim Director of GCRL & Professor and Chair of Marine
Science, USM
These seminars will be free of charge and the public is encouraged to
attend. They will be held at 6:00 pm Mondays in the Caylor Auditorium on
the GCRL campus, for directions please go
to:http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/about_us/location.php . To reserve your seat
please register for the seminar(s) you plan on
attending:https://campscui.active.com/orgs/UniversityofSouthernMississippiMEC
The sponsoring partners for this seminar series include CONCORDE, a
multi-university oil spill research team and its sponsor the Gulf of Mexico
Research Initiative (GoMRI), and the Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant
Consortium (MASGC).
Mississippi NRCS Accepting Applications for Wetland Reserve Easements
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has secured available funds for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easements
(ACEP-WRE). This program assists farmers, ranchers, private forest
landowners and partners with restoring and enhancing wetlands and improving
wildlife and plant habitat. Eligible lands include farmed or converted
wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored. The
deadline for applications for funding consideration for this fiscal year is
May 15, 2015.
The ACEP-WRE are funded by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill divides ACEP
into two components: a wetland easement component, which largely mirrors
the former Wetland Reserve Program and an agricultural land easement
component, which retains the purposes and functionality of Grassland
Reserve Program and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.
"ACEP-WRE provides an opportunity for landowners to get involved in
conserving our natural resources," stated Kurt Readus, Mississippi NRCS
state conservationist. "The benefits of ACEP-WRE will benefit generations
to come through perpetual easements on eligible lands and restoring the
wetland values."
To enroll eligible land through wetland reserve easements, landowners
should submit an application to their local NRCS field office. To find a
NRCS office nearest you, please visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs
Applications are currently being accepted and can be obtained at your local
Mississippi NRCS field office in Mississippi or by visiting
www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. ACEP-WRE applications are accepted on a
continuous basis; however the deadline for submission for FY 2015 funding
consideration is May 15, 2015.
Please visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ms/programs/easements for
more information about ACEP-WRE and other easement options.
Mississippi Power officials tout benefits of Kemper plant
Meridian Star
By Jeff Byrd
April 5, 2015 4:06 am
Just inside the Kemper County line and 20 miles north of Meridian,
construction on Mississippi Power Company's power plant continues.
http://www.meridianstar.com/news/mississippi-power-officials-tout-benefits-of-kemper-plant/article_f792488a-db54-11e4-a41e-77b62b83a461.html
Broom: Feds may grant redfish exemption
Clarion Ledger
For the first time since the 1980s, Mississippi anglers could have a
chance to harvest redfish in federal waters.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2015/04/04/broom-feds-may-grant-redfish-exemption/25306159/
Waterway district asks Miss Supreme Court to reconsider
AP
HATTIESBURG, MISS. — The Pat Harrison Waterway District is asking the
Mississippi Supreme Court to reconsider its recent close ruling that Lamar
County may leave the district with a $337,000 payment.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/04/05/6160605/waterway-district-asks-miss-supreme.html
On the move: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Clarion Ledger
Cori Carraway has been selected chief of the permit section of the
regulatory branch of Operations Division for the Vicksburg District. She
previously served as a senior environmental specialist in the permit
section. A Vicksburg native, Carraway has a bachelor's degree in
environmental science from Mississippi State University.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2015/04/04/move-us-army-corps-engineers/25298737/
Mississippi legislators divided on tax issues as session ends
AP
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi lawmakers finished their three-month session
last week and returned home with plenty of campaign fodder as most of the
122 House members and 52 senators seek re-election.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/local-news/desoto/mississippi-legislators-divided-on-tax-issues-as-session-ends_42166662
Oil Spill
Dispersant used in BP spill might cause damage to human lungs, fish, crab
gills, new study says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 03, 2015 at 8:36 PM
The dispersant most often used during the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
might cause damage to cells in human lungs and in the gills of fish and
crabs, according to a study published Thursday in a peer-reviewed
scientific journal.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/dispersant_used_in_bp_spill_mi.html#incart_river
Regional
In Bonnet Carre Spillway test, corps will pull some needles from bay
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
April 03, 2015 at 4:55 PM
The Army Corps of Engineers plans to take advantage of high water
conditions on the Mississippi River to practice removing wooden needles
from one of the 350 bays in the Bonnet Carre Spillway between Norco and
Montz. The exercise takes place Wednesday (April 8).
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/corps_test_will_pull_some_wood.html#incart_river
National
Recycling Becomes a Tougher Sell as Prices Drop
The fall in oil prices has dragged down the price of virgin plastic,
erasing recyclers' advantage
Wall Street Journal
BINBROOK, England—A former World War II bomber hangar houses a monument to
the recent plunge in oil prices: hundreds of bags of shredded plastic.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/recycling-becomes-a-tougher-sell-as-plastic-prices-drop-1428279575
Beneath California Crops, Groundwater Crisis Grows
NY Times
Even as the worst drought in decades ravages California,
and its cities face mandatory cuts in water use, millions
of pounds of thirsty crops like oranges, tomatoes and
almonds continue to stream out of the state and onto the
nation's grocery shelves.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/science/beneath-california-crops-groundwater-crisis-grows.html?_r=0
Press Releases
GCRL Oil Spill Seminar Series coincides with Deepwater Horizon 5th
Anniversary
The University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
(GCRL) will host a seminar series, "Deepwater Horizon: A scientist's
perspective," which will begin on April 20, the fifth anniversary of the
oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Deepwater Horizon spill occurred some 42 miles off the coast of
Louisiana and is said to be the worst in U.S. history. Estimates of the
amount of oil spilled range from 3-5 million barrels. Eleven rig employees
lost their lives during the explosion and subsequent sinking of the rig.
The leaking oil well was not capped until July 15, 2010, 87 days after the
incident.
This seminar series offers a retrospective exploration of the spill through
presentations by research staff and discussions among speakers, education
staff and attendees to answer pressing questions. The series will be
introduced with an interactive session to present a broad overview of
research areas with general results and how these studies exemplify the
process of science in building new knowledge. Attendees will be invited to
submit their questions for later speakers. Later sessions will feature
researchers sharing results from across their fields of expertise through
interactive presentations.
April 20, 2015 Spill Science Five Years Later: Addressing your questions
with science
Dr. Jessie Kastler, Coordinator of Program Development, Marine Education
Center, GCRL, USM
May 11, 2015 Oil and Dispersants: Where are they now and what have they
done?
Dr. Joe Griffitt, Associate Professor, Department of Coastal Science &
GCRL, USM
Dr. Vernon Asper, Professor, Department of Marine Science, USM
June 1, 2015 Oil spill impacts on Gulf animals: How are they doing?
Dr. Frank Hernandez, Assistant Professor, Department of Coastal Sciences &
GCRL, USM
Dr. Ruth Carmichael, Senior Marine Scientist II, Dauphin Island Sea Lab &
Associate Professor of Marine Sciences, University of South Alabama
June 22, 2015 Gliders in the Gulf: Ocean technology and the oil spill
Dr. Oscar Schofield, Professor, Institute of Marine and Coastal Science,
Rutgers University
July 13, 2015 Where Do We Go from Here? Future directions in oil spill
research
Dr. Monty Graham, Interim Director of GCRL & Professor and Chair of Marine
Science, USM
These seminars will be free of charge and the public is encouraged to
attend. They will be held at 6:00 pm Mondays in the Caylor Auditorium on
the GCRL campus, for directions please go
to:http://www.usm.edu/gcrl/about_us/location.php . To reserve your seat
please register for the seminar(s) you plan on
attending:https://campscui.active.com/orgs/UniversityofSouthernMississippiMEC
The sponsoring partners for this seminar series include CONCORDE, a
multi-university oil spill research team and its sponsor the Gulf of Mexico
Research Initiative (GoMRI), and the Mississippi Alabama Sea Grant
Consortium (MASGC).
Mississippi NRCS Accepting Applications for Wetland Reserve Easements
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has secured available funds for the
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easements
(ACEP-WRE). This program assists farmers, ranchers, private forest
landowners and partners with restoring and enhancing wetlands and improving
wildlife and plant habitat. Eligible lands include farmed or converted
wetlands that can be successfully and cost-effectively restored. The
deadline for applications for funding consideration for this fiscal year is
May 15, 2015.
The ACEP-WRE are funded by the 2014 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill divides ACEP
into two components: a wetland easement component, which largely mirrors
the former Wetland Reserve Program and an agricultural land easement
component, which retains the purposes and functionality of Grassland
Reserve Program and Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program.
"ACEP-WRE provides an opportunity for landowners to get involved in
conserving our natural resources," stated Kurt Readus, Mississippi NRCS
state conservationist. "The benefits of ACEP-WRE will benefit generations
to come through perpetual easements on eligible lands and restoring the
wetland values."
To enroll eligible land through wetland reserve easements, landowners
should submit an application to their local NRCS field office. To find a
NRCS office nearest you, please visit
http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app?agency=nrcs
Applications are currently being accepted and can be obtained at your local
Mississippi NRCS field office in Mississippi or by visiting
www.nrcs.usda.gov/GetStarted. ACEP-WRE applications are accepted on a
continuous basis; however the deadline for submission for FY 2015 funding
consideration is May 15, 2015.
Please visit
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/ms/programs/easements for
more information about ACEP-WRE and other easement options.
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