On October 5, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force released its comprehensive preliminary strategy for long term Gulf of Mexico ecosystem restoration. Entitled "Gulf of Mexico Regional Ecosystem Restoration Strategy (Preliminary)," the strategy will be available for public review and feedback through October 26.
The strategy calls, in part, for working in the Gulf of Mexico and upstream in the Mississippi River Basin to reduce the loading of nitrogen and phosphorus into the Gulf "by supporting state nutrient reduction frameworks, new nutrient reduction approaches, and targeted watershed work to reduce agricultural and urban sources of nutrients."
According to a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) press release, the strategy represents an opportunity to address "long-standing issues contributing to the decline of the Gulf’s critical ecosystem." The Task Force is an advisory body comprised of lead officials from the five Gulf states, and from 11 Federal agencies and White House offices. It is chaired by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. The Task Force will release the final version in December 2011, following review of public input received during the current comment period.
The strategy will be available to the public for review and feedback at the Task Force Home Page, through October 26. Comments can be submitted by email, fax, first class mail or in person as described on that page.
Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Agriculture -
- Researchers: farmers running out of time to diversify crops before climate change has irreversible effects http://yhoo.it/nx6j17
- Bipartisan group of farm state Senators introduces Aggregate Risk & Revenue Management program farming bill http://bit.ly/r9Gszi
- National Research Council: US will fail to reach cellulosic bioethanol mandate unless producers innovate significantly http://bit.ly/ou9Vwj
- Reps. Goodlatte/Costa co-sponsored biofuel bill would sharply cut usage mandates that underpin ethanol industry http://bit.ly/nfEcFs
- Sen Lugar/Rep Stutzman (both R-IN) co-sponsor bill to cut ag by $40B overall & farm conservation by $11.3B http://bit.ly/qXfWth
- Kansas City Star editorial board calls for end to/limits on various Farm Bill payments http://bit.ly/oyFYDZ
- 56 groups release Conservation Principles to inform Farm Bill debate http://bit.ly/r0OlDL (story) & http://bit.ly/r7yvmh (press release PDF)
- Senate Ag Comm Chair Stabenow: Agriculture committee coalescing around safety net structure for 2012 Farm Bill http://bit.ly/nc1m4d
- Very informative webcast & testimony: Tues Sen. Environ & Public Works Subcomm hearing on nutrient water pollution http://1.usa.gov/poBhLp
- KY Gov. Beshear (D) asks Obama to spur EPA issuance of Clean Water Act coal mining permits http://bit.ly/qUSAnM (PDF of Beshear letter)
- Environmentalists reach settlement with Arch Coal Co. over selenium pollution violations at several WV mines http://bit.ly/n5MJDO & http://bit.ly/oal2a4
- Water Chief Stoner to Senate EPW Subcommittee: EPA working with states to fight water pollution http://1.usa.gov/q4RFDh (testimony PDF)
- Though extended thru short-term CRs, passage of National Flood Insurance Program 5-year extension proving elusive http://bit.ly/qZcnyY
- Wall Street Journal article summarizes summer's Missouri River flood impacts: http://on.wsj.com/qPnjaR
- Report touts green water infrastructure's job-creating capacity: http://bit.ly/ovCez4
- In water-rich Minnesota, DNR worries about limits to supply http://bit.ly/r5SsCY
- WI State Journal editorial: speed up Army Corps study on separating Great Lakes from Mississippi River watershed http://bit.ly/rfVp9L
- Interior Dept report: 62,300 acres of US wetlands disappeared over last 5 yrs - at slightly faster rate http://1.usa.gov/qVz7Kq (PDF)
- House passes spending stopgap bill funding federal government through Nov 18, sends to Obama http://bit.ly/oodmev
- Committee for Economic Development releases set of 6 standards Fed debt Supercommittee must follow to succeed http://bit.ly/pSCNZp (PDF)
- Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force: Coastal states must work together to restore Gulf of Mexico http://bit.ly/nTF2IL
- Comprehensive Task Force prelim strategy for long term Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration available for public comment: http://1.usa.gov/qvYSmk
- Save Our Gulf collaborative releases "The State of the Gulf: A Status Report" (re: BP oil spill impacts) http://bit.ly/pMyvOx
- Gulf Coast US House Members agree to introduce bill to target 80 % of BP spill funds to Gulf Coast restoration http://bit.ly/oKLnbS
- KY Gov. Beshear (D) asks Obama to spur EPA issuance of Clean Water Act coal mining permits http://bit.ly/qUSAnM (PDF of Beshear letter)
- October 28 briefing; Washington, DC: New USGS Water Quality Management Tool http://bit.ly/qkCZ9a
- Nat Conf on Ecosystem Restoration (NCER) 2011 Post Conference Speaker Presentations Available online http://bit.ly/ouXET3
- Farm Foundation Forum, Washington, DC , Oct 11: Future Role of Federal Government in Agricultural Risk Management http://bit.ly/pCqQSx
- Combined EPA & State Annual Enforcement Actions Map is newest EPA "Enforcement and Compliance History Online" update http://bit.ly/rl6V9F
- Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL) will not seek another term in US House of Representatives next year bit.ly/onBCIK adds to Dem workload http://bit.ly/pLzqUT
- Rep. Kinzinger kicks off re-election campaign in IL redrawn 16th district vs. fellow sitting GOP Congressman Manzullo http://bit.ly/nkmjqx
- Democrat Tomblin wins WV Governor's special election http://politi.co/px9Bp9
- IL Democrats target five GOP US House Members for defeat in redrawn Congressional maps http://bit.ly/rsezid
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