Mississippi Business Journal » federal agency

EPA looking to minimize chemical releases during hurricanes

MBJ Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:00:23 +0000

GULF OF MEXICO — As hurricane season approaches, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a Hazardous Weather Release Prevention and Reporting alert to remind facility operators of certain regulations that require minimization of chemical releases during process shutdown operations. This alert is designed to increase awareness among facility operators about their obligation to [...]

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Bill exempting small farms from fuel storage regs passes Senate

MBJ Staff — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:11:26 +0000

WASHINGTON — Legislation to exempt small farms from Environmental Protection Agency fuel storage requirements has been incorporated into the Senate-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA), according to a release from U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.). The Senate passed WRDA legislation (S.601), and with it also approved all the provisions included in the Farmers [...]

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Deadline approaching for post-tornado loans from SBA

MBJ Staff — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:12:07 +0000

ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — The U.S. Small Business Administration reminds homeowners, renters, businesses and non-profit organizations of the deadline to submit disaster loan applications for damages due to the severe storms and tornadoes April 11-12. The deadline to apply for physical damage is June 17. Low-interest disaster loans are available in the following counties: Noxubee County [...]

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Undersecretary: ‘I understand the frustration’ over catfish inspections

Associated Press — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:03:55 +0000

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has received word that the U.S. Department of Agriculture could complete a final rule for implementing a catfish inspection program by this October, Cochran reports in a release. Dr. Elisabeth Hagen, USDA undersecretary for food safety, today told Cochran the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) is committed [...]

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Feds claims MDA has documented only handful of port workers

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:55:19 +0000

GULFPORT — The federal government says the Mississippi Development Authority has documented only 50 of the 1,286 direct, full-time jobs it claims at the state port, and insists MDA provide records to show all the jobs exist. The Sun Herald obtained a copy of a letter sent April 22 to the MDA from Stanley Gimont, [...]

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NOAA nixes Gulf state’s red snapper season request

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:43:53 +0000

GULF OF MEXICO — Red snapper, one of the most popular fish in the Gulf of Mexico, are the biggest and most plentiful in years, but the red snapper season in federal waters keeps getting shorter. A branch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has rejected the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council’s request [...]

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USDA revokes zoo’s license; owners plan appeal

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 11:20:07 +0000

COLLINS — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has revoked the exhibitor’s license of the Collins Zoo following a hearing before an administrative law judge. The decision adds to the stack of legal troubles facing zoo owners Gus and Betty White following the most recent Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks raid of the U.S. [...]

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Senator: Is federal bioenergy program undercutting foresters?

MBJ Staff — Mon, 13 May 2013 11:30:33 +0000

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) is questioning whether a U.S. Department of Agriculture bio-based marketing program amounts to a bias against traditional forest products and whether such policies are fair. Cochran broached the topic at a Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee hearing to review the FY2014 budget request for the USDA. The USDA BioPreferred [...]

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Senator presses ag secretary again on fish inspections

MBJ Staff — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:23:20 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has once again pressed the U.S. secretary of agriculture to explain why a catfish inspection program authorized five years ago has not been implemented. Cochran, who has been fighting to ensure a fair and level playing field for U.S. catfish producers, raised the issue again with Agriculture [...]

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Senator introduces amendments in wake of La. levee flak

MBJ Staff — Thu, 09 May 2013 12:51:10 +0000

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI — U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) has introduced a series of amendments intended to ensure the safety of Mississippians from flooding or storm surge threats that might result from a new flood control proposal for Louisiana. To various degrees, the three Cochran amendments to the Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (S.601 or [...]

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