State
Lamar County receives $25,000 'white goods' grant
Hattiesburg American
PURVIS – A program that allows Lamar County residents to dispose of
non-toxic, "white goods" each month will continue under a $25,000
grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lamar-county/2015/06/15/lamar-county-receives-grant/71265164/
MDEQ aids Winona's recycling program
WTVA
WINONA, Miss. (WTVA) -- The City of Winona is getting a grant from the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for its recycling efforts.
http://www.wtva.com/news/local/story/MDEQ-aids-Winonas-recycling-program/mHs3TekSHUaEpdLjR-vtSA.cspx
Local counties granted funds to combat illegal dumping
WTVA
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has awarded three local
counties grants to assist them with illegal dumping.
http://www.wtva.com/news/national/story/Local-counties-granted-funds-to-combat-illegal/5SqbKLuMI0qg9I8orwOdBA.cspx
Diamondhead Water & Sewer board ordered to stop violating transparency laws
BY WESLEY MULLER
Sun Herald
DIAMONDHEAD -- The city water and sewer district's Board of Commissioners
must stop breaking the state's transparency laws, according to a recent
order by the Mississippi Ethics Commission that found dozens of violations
of the state's Open Meetings Act.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/15/6278288_diamondhead-water-sewer-board.html?rh=1
Oil Spill
LRC's first stab at RESTORE winners
By AARON LITTLE | PRESS GAZETTE
Published: Monday, June 15, 2015 at 11:17 AM.
Santa Rosa County Commissioner Lane Lynchard presented a starting list of
potential recipients for the first round of BP oil spill settlement dollars
at Monday's Local RESTORE Council (LRC) meeting. Lynchard said, "This was
just something I wanted to put together to see, as an example what could we
do in this first round with $4 million, roughly."
http://www.srpressgazette.com/news/business/lrc-s-first-stab-at-restore-winners-1.491203
Regional
What TVA is doing ahead of EPA's new pollution rules
Nashville Business Journal
Even before new federal pollution rules were put on the table last year,
theTennessee Valley Authority has been putting a great deal of focus on
reducing its emissions footprint.
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/blog/2015/06/what-tva-is-doing-ahead-of-epa-s-new-pollution.html
Florida warns beachgoers about 'flesh-eating' bacteria
Sharks aren't the only thing beachgoers have to be worried about when
enjoying the sand and surf. According to the Florida Health Department,
deadly bacteria that can live in warm water has killed two and injured
seven so far this year.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/florida_warns_beachgoers_about.html#incart_river
National
White House announces $4B in private sector climate pledges
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The White House is announcing $4 billion in pledges from major
foundations and institutional investors to pay for innovations that reduce
carbon pollution. President Barack Obama is also using his executive powers
to help make such investments easier.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/16/6278950/white-house-announces-4b-in-private.html
Pope's climate change encyclical leaks
The Hill
An Italian magazine on Monday posted an early draft version of Pope
Francis' highly anticipated environment encyclical, a move that a Vatican
official denounced as a "heinous act."
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/245002-popes-climate-change-encyclical-leaks
Coal, Oil Must Decline to Curb Carbon Emissions by 2020, IEA Says
Wall Street Journal
LONDON—Coal and oil use must begin declining after 2020, and natural gas,
nuclear and renewable energy usage must rapidly increase, for the world to
begin curbing emissions in the next decade, the International Energy Agency
said in a report Monday.
http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2015/06/15/coal-oil-must-decline-to-curb-carbon-emissions-by-2020-iea-says/
Energy Industry Is Gassing Down
Collapse of oil and gas prices has producers rethinking output
Wall Street Journal
U.S. energy companies are taking their foot off the natural-gas pedal,
slowing down their production growth after years of furious pumping.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/energy-industry-is-gassing-down-1434410757
Opinion
EPA Shifts Its Legally Suspect 'Environmental Justice' Agenda Into Higher
Gear
Forbes
In one of the first posts on WLF's blog, the Legal Pulse five years ago, we
wrote about efforts at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
revitalize "environmental justice" (EJ), which had essentially laid dormant
since the Clinton Administration.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/wlf/2015/06/15/epa-shifts-its-legally-suspect-environmental-justice-agenda-into-higher-gear/
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Monday, June 15, 2015
News Clippings 6.15.15
State
Area companies have paid nearly half million in penalties since 2011
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2015 10:57:14 PM
Andrew Hazzard
Entities in the Golden Triangle have paid nearly half a million dollars in
environmental penalties in fewer than five years.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42578
Permit error could have led to EPA violation
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2015 10:57:14 PM
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has corrected an error
in the wastewater pretreatment permit it issued Yokohama that would have
allowed the company's Clay County facility to discharge cadmium, a known
cancer-causing agent, at a level that exceeds safe limits.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42577
What's in a tire? It's not just rubber.
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2015 10:57:14 PM
A tall, blue-collar man is eating at a gas station. His sewn-on nametag
says 'Jimmy' in red letters and he's talking with another man over
sandwiches. When asked if he knew what was in his tires, he laughed and
looked around uncertainly.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42579
As FBI informant, former Utility Authority director wants case against him
dismissed
BY ANITA LEE
Sun Herald
Former Harrison County Utility Authority Director Kamran Pahlavan says he
served as an FBI informant for an investigation into corruption at the
agency, but never expected to be indicted himself.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/13/6275874/as-fbi-informant-former-utility.html
Developer questions Diamondhead sewer plant
Sea Coast Echo
By Dwayne Bremer
A developer who recently purchased 80 acres of commercial property in
Diamondhead has asked the Diamondhead Water and Sewer District (DWSD) to
change the location of its proposed new treatment plant so she can bring a
multi-million development to the city.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_8883.shtml#.VX7G_Pm6eUl
Final water contact advisory lifted in Gulfport
Sun Herald
HARRISON COUNTY -- Officials with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality announced the removal of the remaining water contact
advisory on the Gulf Coast.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/12/6273670/final-water-contact-advisory-lifted.html
Endangered frog finds new home in Jackson County
Critically endangered amphibian is given a new home in Jackson County
BY JEFF CLARK
Sun Herald
GAUTIER -- An endangered South Mississippi frog may be leaping away from
extinction and into repopulation, thanks to a program at the Mississippi
Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Gautier.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/12/6273773_endangered-frog-finds-new-home.html?rh=1
Kemper green-energy plant at risk as key contract deadline passes
Watchdog
The success of Mississippi Power's Kemper Plant rests in part on the
assumption that there will be one or more buyers for some 3 million tons of
CO2 generated each year as a byproduct of the plant's revolutionary coal
gasification process.
http://watchdog.org/223943/kemper-green-energy-plant-at-risk/
Regional
Raw oysters can harbor flesh eating bacteria
WVUE
NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) - The count continues to rise of the number of
people along the Gulf Coast who've contracted a rare, flesh eating
bacteria. One local expert explains why you could be at risk eating raw
oysters.
http://www.fox8live.com/story/29314095/raw-oysters-can-harbor-flesh-eating-bacteria
Swarm of earthquakes rattles rural Alabama; reason unclear
The Associated Press
June 13, 2015 at 8:31 AM
Jim Sterling didn't know what had hit his 156-year-old antebellum home when
an earthquake struck Alabama's old plantation region early one morning last
November. Startled, he grabbed a gun and ran outdoors.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/swarm_of_earthquakes_rattles_r.html#incart_river
National
GOP pushes changes to clean air law to fight ozone rule
The Hill
House Republicans knocked a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule
restricting ozone levels on Friday, suggesting they could change the Clean
Air Act in order to hamper the regulations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244844-gop-pushes-changes-to-clean-air-law-to-fight-ozone-rule
Week ahead: House GOP takes aim at EPA funding
The Hill
A bill slashing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding and blocking
several of its new regulations is scheduled to pass through the House
Appropriations Committee.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244896-week-ahead-house-gop-takes-aim-at-epa-funding
Bill targets 'loopholes' for fracking pollution
The Hill
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced a bill to close what he
characterized as loopholes for pollution that the oil and natural gas
industry uses for hydraulic fracturing.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244802-dem-seeks-to-close-fracking-pollution-loopholes
Wastewater disposal, not fracking, causing earthquakes, USGS says
Robert Rhoden
The Times-Picayune
June 12, 2015 at 12:08 PM
The number of earthquakes in the central U.S. has increased dramatically in
recent years, jumping from a yearly average of 24 quakes of magnitude 3 or
larger from 1973-2008 to 193 such quakes per year from 2009-2014, the U.S.
Geological Survey reported. In 2014 alone, 688 earthquakes were reported.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/wastewater_disposal_not_fracki.html#incart_river
High-Tech Solar Projects Fail to Deliver
Wall Street Journal
Some costly high-tech solar power projects aren't living up to promises
their backers made about how much electricity they could generate.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-tech-solar-projects-fail-to-deliver-1434138485
Press Releases
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|USDA Begins Accepting Applications from States for $100 Million Biofuels Infrastructure|
| Partnership |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 12, 2015 – Following an announcement by the U.S. Department of |
|Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 29, 2015, the Commodity Credit |
|Corporation (CCC) today announced that all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico |
|and Washington, D.C. may now apply for up to $100 million in grants under the Biofuels |
|Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). The funding is to support the infrastructure needed |
|to make more renewable fuel options available to American consumers. The Farm Service |
|Agency will administer BIP. |
| |
| |
|USDA continues to aggressively pursue investments in American-grown renewable energy to|
|create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help Americans save money on their |
|energy bills, support America's clean energy economy, cut carbon pollution and reduce |
|dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels. A typical gas pump delivers fuel |
|with 10 percent ethanol, which limits the amount of renewable energy most consumers can|
|purchase at the pump. |
| |
| |
|Through BIP, USDA will award competitive grants, matched by states, to expand the |
|infrastructure for distribution of higher blends of renewable fuel. These competitive |
|grants are available to assist states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, |
|D.C. with infrastructure funding. States that offer funding equal to or greater than |
|that provided by the federal government will receive higher consideration for grant |
|funds. States may work with private entities to enhance their offer. |
| |
| |
|CCC funds must be used to pay a portion of the costs related to the installation of |
|fuel pumps and related infrastructure dedicated to the distribution of higher ethanol |
|blends, for example E15 and E85, at vehicle fueling locations. The matching |
|contributions may be used for these items or for related costs such as additional |
|infrastructure to support pumps, marketing, education, data collection, program |
|evaluation and administrative costs. |
| |
| |
|This new investment seeks to double the number of fuel pumps capable of supplying |
|higher blends of renewable fuel to consumers. This will expand markets for farmers, |
|support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and ultimately give |
|consumers more choices at the pump. |
| |
| |
|Applications must be submitted by July 15, 2015, using www.grants.gov. To locate, |
|search by funding opportunity number "USDA-FSA-2015-22." |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Area companies have paid nearly half million in penalties since 2011
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2015 10:57:14 PM
Andrew Hazzard
Entities in the Golden Triangle have paid nearly half a million dollars in
environmental penalties in fewer than five years.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42578
Permit error could have led to EPA violation
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2015 10:57:14 PM
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has corrected an error
in the wastewater pretreatment permit it issued Yokohama that would have
allowed the company's Clay County facility to discharge cadmium, a known
cancer-causing agent, at a level that exceeds safe limits.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42577
What's in a tire? It's not just rubber.
Commercial Dispatch
June 13, 2015 10:57:14 PM
A tall, blue-collar man is eating at a gas station. His sewn-on nametag
says 'Jimmy' in red letters and he's talking with another man over
sandwiches. When asked if he knew what was in his tires, he laughed and
looked around uncertainly.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=42579
As FBI informant, former Utility Authority director wants case against him
dismissed
BY ANITA LEE
Sun Herald
Former Harrison County Utility Authority Director Kamran Pahlavan says he
served as an FBI informant for an investigation into corruption at the
agency, but never expected to be indicted himself.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/13/6275874/as-fbi-informant-former-utility.html
Developer questions Diamondhead sewer plant
Sea Coast Echo
By Dwayne Bremer
A developer who recently purchased 80 acres of commercial property in
Diamondhead has asked the Diamondhead Water and Sewer District (DWSD) to
change the location of its proposed new treatment plant so she can bring a
multi-million development to the city.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_8883.shtml#.VX7G_Pm6eUl
Final water contact advisory lifted in Gulfport
Sun Herald
HARRISON COUNTY -- Officials with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality announced the removal of the remaining water contact
advisory on the Gulf Coast.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/12/6273670/final-water-contact-advisory-lifted.html
Endangered frog finds new home in Jackson County
Critically endangered amphibian is given a new home in Jackson County
BY JEFF CLARK
Sun Herald
GAUTIER -- An endangered South Mississippi frog may be leaping away from
extinction and into repopulation, thanks to a program at the Mississippi
Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Gautier.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/12/6273773_endangered-frog-finds-new-home.html?rh=1
Kemper green-energy plant at risk as key contract deadline passes
Watchdog
The success of Mississippi Power's Kemper Plant rests in part on the
assumption that there will be one or more buyers for some 3 million tons of
CO2 generated each year as a byproduct of the plant's revolutionary coal
gasification process.
http://watchdog.org/223943/kemper-green-energy-plant-at-risk/
Regional
Raw oysters can harbor flesh eating bacteria
WVUE
NEW ORLEANS, LA (WVUE) - The count continues to rise of the number of
people along the Gulf Coast who've contracted a rare, flesh eating
bacteria. One local expert explains why you could be at risk eating raw
oysters.
http://www.fox8live.com/story/29314095/raw-oysters-can-harbor-flesh-eating-bacteria
Swarm of earthquakes rattles rural Alabama; reason unclear
The Associated Press
June 13, 2015 at 8:31 AM
Jim Sterling didn't know what had hit his 156-year-old antebellum home when
an earthquake struck Alabama's old plantation region early one morning last
November. Startled, he grabbed a gun and ran outdoors.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/swarm_of_earthquakes_rattles_r.html#incart_river
National
GOP pushes changes to clean air law to fight ozone rule
The Hill
House Republicans knocked a proposed Environmental Protection Agency rule
restricting ozone levels on Friday, suggesting they could change the Clean
Air Act in order to hamper the regulations.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244844-gop-pushes-changes-to-clean-air-law-to-fight-ozone-rule
Week ahead: House GOP takes aim at EPA funding
The Hill
A bill slashing Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding and blocking
several of its new regulations is scheduled to pass through the House
Appropriations Committee.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244896-week-ahead-house-gop-takes-aim-at-epa-funding
Bill targets 'loopholes' for fracking pollution
The Hill
Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has introduced a bill to close what he
characterized as loopholes for pollution that the oil and natural gas
industry uses for hydraulic fracturing.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244802-dem-seeks-to-close-fracking-pollution-loopholes
Wastewater disposal, not fracking, causing earthquakes, USGS says
Robert Rhoden
The Times-Picayune
June 12, 2015 at 12:08 PM
The number of earthquakes in the central U.S. has increased dramatically in
recent years, jumping from a yearly average of 24 quakes of magnitude 3 or
larger from 1973-2008 to 193 such quakes per year from 2009-2014, the U.S.
Geological Survey reported. In 2014 alone, 688 earthquakes were reported.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/wastewater_disposal_not_fracki.html#incart_river
High-Tech Solar Projects Fail to Deliver
Wall Street Journal
Some costly high-tech solar power projects aren't living up to promises
their backers made about how much electricity they could generate.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/high-tech-solar-projects-fail-to-deliver-1434138485
Press Releases
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|USDA Begins Accepting Applications from States for $100 Million Biofuels Infrastructure|
| Partnership |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
|WASHINGTON, June 12, 2015 – Following an announcement by the U.S. Department of |
|Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on May 29, 2015, the Commodity Credit |
|Corporation (CCC) today announced that all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico |
|and Washington, D.C. may now apply for up to $100 million in grants under the Biofuels |
|Infrastructure Partnership (BIP). The funding is to support the infrastructure needed |
|to make more renewable fuel options available to American consumers. The Farm Service |
|Agency will administer BIP. |
| |
| |
|USDA continues to aggressively pursue investments in American-grown renewable energy to|
|create new markets for U.S. farmers and ranchers, help Americans save money on their |
|energy bills, support America's clean energy economy, cut carbon pollution and reduce |
|dependence on foreign oil and costly fossil fuels. A typical gas pump delivers fuel |
|with 10 percent ethanol, which limits the amount of renewable energy most consumers can|
|purchase at the pump. |
| |
| |
|Through BIP, USDA will award competitive grants, matched by states, to expand the |
|infrastructure for distribution of higher blends of renewable fuel. These competitive |
|grants are available to assist states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and Washington, |
|D.C. with infrastructure funding. States that offer funding equal to or greater than |
|that provided by the federal government will receive higher consideration for grant |
|funds. States may work with private entities to enhance their offer. |
| |
| |
|CCC funds must be used to pay a portion of the costs related to the installation of |
|fuel pumps and related infrastructure dedicated to the distribution of higher ethanol |
|blends, for example E15 and E85, at vehicle fueling locations. The matching |
|contributions may be used for these items or for related costs such as additional |
|infrastructure to support pumps, marketing, education, data collection, program |
|evaluation and administrative costs. |
| |
| |
|This new investment seeks to double the number of fuel pumps capable of supplying |
|higher blends of renewable fuel to consumers. This will expand markets for farmers, |
|support rural economic growth and the jobs that come with it, and ultimately give |
|consumers more choices at the pump. |
| |
| |
|Applications must be submitted by July 15, 2015, using www.grants.gov. To locate, |
|search by funding opportunity number "USDA-FSA-2015-22." |
| |
| |
|# |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Friday, June 12, 2015
News Clippings 6.12 .15
State
Bill would recognize 9-mile offshore limit for 3 Gulf states
The Associated Press
June 12, 2015 at 6:26 AM
Since July 2013, Mississippi has claimed its state waters extend nine miles
south into the Gulf of Mexico, but the federal government refuses to
recognize the declaration. Mississippi's senior U.S. senator is trying to
change the government's mind.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/bill_would_recognize_9-mile_of.html#incart_river
Coahoma County to expand recycling program
The Associated Press
CLARKSDALE, MISS. — Coahoma County will spend $46,800 to add new locations
for its recycling program.
The money came in a grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/12/6273166/coahoma-county-to-expand-recycling.html
Miss. Supreme Court refuses to reconsider Kemper ruling
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied a request by Mississippi
Power Co. and the Mississippi Public Service Commission that it
reconsider its February ruling that invalidated the rate increases
for the Kemper County coal plant.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2015/06/11/court-refuses-kemper-rehearing/71076552/
Diamondhead Woman Hopes to Move Potential Sewer Plant to Build Commercial
Development
WXXV
Imagine being in the process of purchasing nearly 80 acres of land for
commercial development only to realize a sewer plant was being built right
in the middle of it. That's reality for one Diamondhead woman.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Diamondhead-Woman-Hopes-to-Move-Potential-Sewer/dmWSos6H4kqlL3yCVPMjLw.cspx
Sea oats on the beach to control erosion
Sun Herald
Harrison County Sand Beach workers plant sea oats on the beach in Pass
Christian on Thursday. The work is part of a $125,000 Mississippi Tidelands
Grant to identify areas where existing dune plantings and sand fence
stabilization systems are failing. Plants and or sand fence are being
installed in appropriate places to control sand erosion.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/11/6272852_sea-oats-on-the-beach-to-control.html?rh=1
State leaders don't want bigger double-trailer trucks
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi's transportation commissioners are urging Sen. Thad
Cochran to help squash a proposal that would force the state to
allow larger double-trailer trucks on its roads.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/06/11/state-leaders-want-bigger-double-trailer-trucks/71097910/
Oil Spill
BP oil spill: Court filing hints penalty ruling near
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
June 11, 2015 at 4:34 PM
A routine filing in federal court Wednesday (June 10) hints a New Orleans
judge could be close to a ruling on how much BP will pay in fines for its
role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/bp_oil_spill_penalty_ruling.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Feds approve sand source for Louisiana barrier island rebuilding project
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
June 11, 2015 at 3:57 PM
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has signed an agreement with
Louisiana officials allowing the state to mine 13.4 million cubic yards of
sand from Ship Shoal, an underwater sand formation in federal waters. The
sand will be used to rebuild the Caillou Lake Headlands - also known as
Whiskey Island - on the southern edge of Terrebonne Parish.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/feds_approve_sand_source_for_b.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Regional
Authorities say Bogalusa paper mill release doesn't pose threat
Robert Rhoden
The Times-Picayune
June 11, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Authorities said the release of a substance into the air Wednesday night
(June 10) at International Paper Mill in Bogalusa does not pose a threat to
nearby businesses and residents.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/authorities_say_bogalusa_paper.html#incart_river
National
Republican Senators Allege Inadequate EPA Small Business Input in Clean
Power Plan
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency continues to not properly follow
statutory requirements for gathering the input of small entities as it
prepares to finalize its Clean Power Plan to address carbon dioxide
emissions from the nation's fleet of power plants, seven Republican
senators said June 10.
http://www.bna.com/republican-senators-allege-n17179927557/
Ag lobby: Final EPA water rule is worse than proposal
The Hill
The largest lobby group for farmers and ranchers declared Thursday that the
Obama administration's new rule asserting power over small waterways is
worse than what had been proposed.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244750-agriculture-lobby-epa-water-rule-is-worse-than-proposal
Gasoline Industry Wrestles With Biofuel Law's Unintended Consequences
A new EPA proposal has shaken the market for an esoteric asset underlying
the fuel industry
Wall Street Journal
A new Environmental Protection Agency proposal has shaken the market for an
esoteric asset underlying the fuel industry, as suppliers and financial
speculators trade billions of federal credits aimed at cutting pollution
and reliance on foreign oil.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/gasoline-industry-wrestles-with-biofuel-laws-unintended-consequences-1434043770
New regs for Friday: Air pollution, trains, pilots
The Hill
Friday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for air
pollution, older pilots flying internationally, speed limits for passenger
trains, and procedures for handling radioactive material.
Here's what is happening:
Radioactive materials: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is
considering loosening theprotections for radioactive material.
In response to a petition from the Nuclear Energy Institute, the agency
says it is considering new exemptions for the physical protection
requirements around radioactive material.
Air pollution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new
air pollution rules for the use of methyl bromide.
The proposed rules would allow for the critical use of limited amounts of
methyl bromide, which was commonly used as a pesticide before it was phased
out in 2005.
"Methyl bromide is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas which is used as a
broadspectrum pesticide," the agency wrote. "Methyl bromide was once widely
used as a fumigant to control a variety of pests such as insects, weeds,
rodents, pathogens, and nematodes."
The public has 30 days to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/244661-new-regs-for-friday-air-pollution-trains-pilots
Press releases
EPA Releases Technical Guides to Support Vapor Intrusion Assessment and
Mitigation Activities
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
two technical guides to support assessment and mitigation activities at
sites where vapor intrusion is an actual or potential concern.
The Technical Guide for Assessing and Mitigating the Vapor Intrusion
Pathway from Subsurface Vapor Sources to Indoor Air applies to all sites
being evaluated under federal land cleanup statutes by EPA, other federal
agencies, state and tribal governments and brownfield grantees. A
companion document, the Technical Guide for Addressing Petroleum Vapor
Intrusion at Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites addresses any sites
where vapor intrusion related to petroleum contamination from underground
storage tanks is a potential concern. Both guides are applicable to
residential and non-residential settings.
"These guides will promote national consistency in assessing and addressing
the vapor intrusion human exposure pathway at contaminated sites to protect
human health -- particularly the most vulnerable," says Mathy Stanislaus,
assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. "States, tribes and localities, in particular, will find the
guides to be critical resources for identifying and considering key factors
related to vapor intrusion assessments, risk management decisions and
mitigation actions."
National awareness and concern about vapor intrusion has grown over the
last several decades. At the same time, knowledge of and experience with
assessment and mitigation of vapor intrusion has substantially increased,
leading to heightened understanding of and improved approaches for
evaluating and managing vapor intrusion. Relying upon this enhanced
knowledge and more extensive experience, the guides present EPA's current
recommendations for identifying, evaluating and managing vapor intrusion
while providing flexible technical approaches to accommodate site-specific
conditions and circumstances.
At sites where vapor intrusion poses a potential or actual hazard to
occupants' health or safety, exposures usually can be prevented or reduced
through relatively simple actions such as changing building pressure and
ventilation. In most cases, costs associated with addressing vapor
intrusion can be very manageable, resulting in long-term benefits including
improved public health and less costly response actions. These benefits are
especially likely when actions are undertaken early.
Vapor intrusion refers to the migration of hazardous vapors from
contaminated subsurface sources such as groundwater through soil into
overlying building and structures. Exposure to these vapors by building
occupants can potentially pose both acute and chronic health risks. Vapor
intrusion is a potential concern at any building—existing or
planned—located near soil or groundwater contaminated with vapor-forming
toxic chemicals.
To access the documents and for more information on vapor intrusion:
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/vaporintrusion/
Bill would recognize 9-mile offshore limit for 3 Gulf states
The Associated Press
June 12, 2015 at 6:26 AM
Since July 2013, Mississippi has claimed its state waters extend nine miles
south into the Gulf of Mexico, but the federal government refuses to
recognize the declaration. Mississippi's senior U.S. senator is trying to
change the government's mind.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/06/bill_would_recognize_9-mile_of.html#incart_river
Coahoma County to expand recycling program
The Associated Press
CLARKSDALE, MISS. — Coahoma County will spend $46,800 to add new locations
for its recycling program.
The money came in a grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental
Quality.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/12/6273166/coahoma-county-to-expand-recycling.html
Miss. Supreme Court refuses to reconsider Kemper ruling
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied a request by Mississippi
Power Co. and the Mississippi Public Service Commission that it
reconsider its February ruling that invalidated the rate increases
for the Kemper County coal plant.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2015/06/11/court-refuses-kemper-rehearing/71076552/
Diamondhead Woman Hopes to Move Potential Sewer Plant to Build Commercial
Development
WXXV
Imagine being in the process of purchasing nearly 80 acres of land for
commercial development only to realize a sewer plant was being built right
in the middle of it. That's reality for one Diamondhead woman.
http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/Diamondhead-Woman-Hopes-to-Move-Potential-Sewer/dmWSos6H4kqlL3yCVPMjLw.cspx
Sea oats on the beach to control erosion
Sun Herald
Harrison County Sand Beach workers plant sea oats on the beach in Pass
Christian on Thursday. The work is part of a $125,000 Mississippi Tidelands
Grant to identify areas where existing dune plantings and sand fence
stabilization systems are failing. Plants and or sand fence are being
installed in appropriate places to control sand erosion.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/06/11/6272852_sea-oats-on-the-beach-to-control.html?rh=1
State leaders don't want bigger double-trailer trucks
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi's transportation commissioners are urging Sen. Thad
Cochran to help squash a proposal that would force the state to
allow larger double-trailer trucks on its roads.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/06/11/state-leaders-want-bigger-double-trailer-trucks/71097910/
Oil Spill
BP oil spill: Court filing hints penalty ruling near
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
June 11, 2015 at 4:34 PM
A routine filing in federal court Wednesday (June 10) hints a New Orleans
judge could be close to a ruling on how much BP will pay in fines for its
role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/06/bp_oil_spill_penalty_ruling.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Feds approve sand source for Louisiana barrier island rebuilding project
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
June 11, 2015 at 3:57 PM
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has signed an agreement with
Louisiana officials allowing the state to mine 13.4 million cubic yards of
sand from Ship Shoal, an underwater sand formation in federal waters. The
sand will be used to rebuild the Caillou Lake Headlands - also known as
Whiskey Island - on the southern edge of Terrebonne Parish.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/feds_approve_sand_source_for_b.html#incart_most_shared-environment
Regional
Authorities say Bogalusa paper mill release doesn't pose threat
Robert Rhoden
The Times-Picayune
June 11, 2015 at 11:35 AM
Authorities said the release of a substance into the air Wednesday night
(June 10) at International Paper Mill in Bogalusa does not pose a threat to
nearby businesses and residents.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/06/authorities_say_bogalusa_paper.html#incart_river
National
Republican Senators Allege Inadequate EPA Small Business Input in Clean
Power Plan
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency continues to not properly follow
statutory requirements for gathering the input of small entities as it
prepares to finalize its Clean Power Plan to address carbon dioxide
emissions from the nation's fleet of power plants, seven Republican
senators said June 10.
http://www.bna.com/republican-senators-allege-n17179927557/
Ag lobby: Final EPA water rule is worse than proposal
The Hill
The largest lobby group for farmers and ranchers declared Thursday that the
Obama administration's new rule asserting power over small waterways is
worse than what had been proposed.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/244750-agriculture-lobby-epa-water-rule-is-worse-than-proposal
Gasoline Industry Wrestles With Biofuel Law's Unintended Consequences
A new EPA proposal has shaken the market for an esoteric asset underlying
the fuel industry
Wall Street Journal
A new Environmental Protection Agency proposal has shaken the market for an
esoteric asset underlying the fuel industry, as suppliers and financial
speculators trade billions of federal credits aimed at cutting pollution
and reliance on foreign oil.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/gasoline-industry-wrestles-with-biofuel-laws-unintended-consequences-1434043770
New regs for Friday: Air pollution, trains, pilots
The Hill
Friday's edition of the Federal Register contains new rules for air
pollution, older pilots flying internationally, speed limits for passenger
trains, and procedures for handling radioactive material.
Here's what is happening:
Radioactive materials: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is
considering loosening theprotections for radioactive material.
In response to a petition from the Nuclear Energy Institute, the agency
says it is considering new exemptions for the physical protection
requirements around radioactive material.
Air pollution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new
air pollution rules for the use of methyl bromide.
The proposed rules would allow for the critical use of limited amounts of
methyl bromide, which was commonly used as a pesticide before it was phased
out in 2005.
"Methyl bromide is an odorless, colorless, toxic gas which is used as a
broadspectrum pesticide," the agency wrote. "Methyl bromide was once widely
used as a fumigant to control a variety of pests such as insects, weeds,
rodents, pathogens, and nematodes."
The public has 30 days to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/244661-new-regs-for-friday-air-pollution-trains-pilots
Press releases
EPA Releases Technical Guides to Support Vapor Intrusion Assessment and
Mitigation Activities
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released
two technical guides to support assessment and mitigation activities at
sites where vapor intrusion is an actual or potential concern.
The Technical Guide for Assessing and Mitigating the Vapor Intrusion
Pathway from Subsurface Vapor Sources to Indoor Air applies to all sites
being evaluated under federal land cleanup statutes by EPA, other federal
agencies, state and tribal governments and brownfield grantees. A
companion document, the Technical Guide for Addressing Petroleum Vapor
Intrusion at Leaking Underground Storage Tank Sites addresses any sites
where vapor intrusion related to petroleum contamination from underground
storage tanks is a potential concern. Both guides are applicable to
residential and non-residential settings.
"These guides will promote national consistency in assessing and addressing
the vapor intrusion human exposure pathway at contaminated sites to protect
human health -- particularly the most vulnerable," says Mathy Stanislaus,
assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response. "States, tribes and localities, in particular, will find the
guides to be critical resources for identifying and considering key factors
related to vapor intrusion assessments, risk management decisions and
mitigation actions."
National awareness and concern about vapor intrusion has grown over the
last several decades. At the same time, knowledge of and experience with
assessment and mitigation of vapor intrusion has substantially increased,
leading to heightened understanding of and improved approaches for
evaluating and managing vapor intrusion. Relying upon this enhanced
knowledge and more extensive experience, the guides present EPA's current
recommendations for identifying, evaluating and managing vapor intrusion
while providing flexible technical approaches to accommodate site-specific
conditions and circumstances.
At sites where vapor intrusion poses a potential or actual hazard to
occupants' health or safety, exposures usually can be prevented or reduced
through relatively simple actions such as changing building pressure and
ventilation. In most cases, costs associated with addressing vapor
intrusion can be very manageable, resulting in long-term benefits including
improved public health and less costly response actions. These benefits are
especially likely when actions are undertaken early.
Vapor intrusion refers to the migration of hazardous vapors from
contaminated subsurface sources such as groundwater through soil into
overlying building and structures. Exposure to these vapors by building
occupants can potentially pose both acute and chronic health risks. Vapor
intrusion is a potential concern at any building—existing or
planned—located near soil or groundwater contaminated with vapor-forming
toxic chemicals.
To access the documents and for more information on vapor intrusion:
http://www.epa.gov/oswer/vaporintrusion/
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