EPA Rule Change Could Help Florida's Disappearing Wetlands

Environmental experts met Tuesday in Naples to discuss massive wetland loss in the state and looming federal policy changes that could help. The EPA is weighing a big change in how it determines which water bodies it protects under the Clean Water Act. Right now, those jurisdictions are determined mostly by the federal Commerce Clause. But, due to some recent Supreme Court rulings, the EPA says it's time to turn to peer-reviewed science.

EPA Announces $43 Million For Southwestern Tribes Suffering Drought

On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced $43 million for environmental projects on Native American grounds throughout the Southwest. According to EPA's Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest Jared Blumenfeld, 44 tribes in California are in danger of running out of water. With tribes in Arizona and Nevada also suffering through extremely dry conditions, the biggest change in this year's funding will be for more drought-specific projects. Often this involves reaching remote communities with little access to outside resources.

United States v. Transocean Deepwater Drilling, Inc. ruling

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the Chemical Safety Board (CSB), an independent federal agency established by the Clean Air Act (CAA), had jurisdiction to investigate emissions from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The CSB had issued subpoenas to Transocean in connection with its investigation. After Transocean failed to comply with the subpoenas, the U.S. government filed an action to enforce them. Transocean argued that the CSB lacked jurisdiction to conduct the investigation because the incident was a marine oil spill and did not occur on a stationary source. The court ruled that the installation was a "stationary source" within the meaning of the CAA.

Alaska Cmty. Action on Toxics v. Aurora Energy Servs., LLC ruling

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on a citizen suit challenging the non-stormwater discharges of coal into Alaska's Resurrection Bay. The U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska had granted a partial summary judgment in favor of the defendants, owners and operators of a coal loading facility. The Ninth Circuit overturned the decision, finding that the plain terms of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit prohibited the non-stormwater discharge of coal.

Three Portland Harbor sites may be used to dump dredged mud

A group working to create a disposal site for dredged sediment from around Portland's waterfront has identified three potential locations in Portland Harbor to bury the mud. The Portland Harbor Non-Federal Dredge Workgroup will outline its proposal and provide other details about plans for a confined aquatic disposal - or CAD - cell to the Waterfront Alliance, a group of Portland and South Portland marine interests at 4 p.m. Tuesday on the third floor of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute at 350 Commercial St.

New program coordinates environmental efforts between Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Officials gathered in Newport on Wednesday to announce a new program that will help coordinate and support coastal initiatives in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The interstate New England Coastal Watershed Restoration Program will help with efforts to restore degraded coastal waters and protect the shoreline from the impacts of climate change. To kick off the program, the officials chose Easton's Beach as the setting to announce $730,000 in grants for Rhode Island provided by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. The first round of grants are focused on water-quality projects.

Beach replenishment project gets underway in West Haven

In case you're wondering what that orange snow fence installed in recent days along Ocean Avenue for much of the length of the city's West Shore is for: it's for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers beach replenishment project scheduled to begin Wednesday, officials said.

Bronx waterfront revitalized by $9 million marsh project

A $9 million restoration of saltwater marshes and tidal wetlands is in full bloom at Soundview Park. The southern portion of the 205-acre Bronx park, once a landfill, has been transformed into a waterside sanctuary by the Army Corps of Engineers and the New York City Parks Department. "The Corps of Engineers is proud to have worked with our many partners, and especially the local community, on this great ecosystem project in the Bronx," Army Corps of Engineers New York District Commander Col. Paul Owen told The News.

Virginia Institute of Marine Science to protect key Native American site

A $199,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will allow researchers at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to help protect Werowocomoco-one of the most important Native American sites in the eastern U.S.-from shoreline erosion and sea-level rise. Occupied for the last 10,000 years, Werowocomoco was the seat of power for Algonquian Chief Powhatan when English colonists arrived at Jamestown in 1607. The site-where Captain John Smith was purportedly saved by Powhatan's daughter Pocahontas-occupies an eroding headland on the north side of the York River about half way between Yorktown and West Point. Bob and Lynn Ripley, the current landowners, have graciously allowed a conservation easement and archeological excavations on the 57 acres of their property that form the core of the historic village.

Independent survey of Outer Banks beach may shore up public's trust

Eyeballing the beach along Nags Head's oceanfront leads to no clear conclusions on how well the town's 3-year-old widening project is holding up against the elements. Recent months have been especially rough on the new beach as an unusual number of days with high surf and east winds have challenged the project. The town's contractor, Coastal Science and Engineering, has acknowledged that as much as half of the visible beach has slid back into the surf zone. But engineers say that was part of the plan to build an underwater cushion to take the punch out of storm tides.

Gulf Coast region can now receive restore act funding from U.S. Treasury

The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced that eligible states and local governments can now apply for and receive grants to support the recovery of communities affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Interim Final Rules governing the funding became effective Oct. 14, allowing the States of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, along with 23 Florida Gulf Coast counties and 20 Louisiana coastal parishes, to receive funding under the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act.

2 reefs in Mobile Bay get essential upgrades

The continued partnership between Alabama's Marine Resources Division and Coastal Conservation Association Alabama has ensured two reefs in Mobile Bay continue to support recreational fishing opportunities. This summer more than 5,000 tons of limestone rock was placed on P. Grey Cane Jr. Reef (30 27.460' - 87 55.940'), which resulted in adding 3 inches of relief to the reef except in the northwestern corner of the reef which had significant shell remaining and only required a light deployment of rock. The reef is located southwest of Point Clear.

Long-awaited sand reaches an eroded Hueneme Beach

Crews linked together the last stretch of pipes Tuesday morning, preparing to dredge a choked sand trap at Channel Islands Harbor and replenish an eroded Hueneme Beach. Every two years, sand is piped from the trap to Hueneme Beach, a project that dates back several decades. But in recent years, too little sand has ended up on the California beach.

New research in California shows that salinity plays a major role in salt marsh grass's response to insect grazing

Twenty years ago, biologists Kathy Boyer and Joy Zedler, then researchers at San Diego State University, speculated that too many insects feeding on cordgrass in the marshes of San Diego Bay could endanger the grass, and in turn endanger the bay wildlife that relies on it. Picking up where Boyer and Zedler left off, SDSU biologist Jeremy Long is currently further exploring the dimensions of this relationship. What he's found so far suggests that it's not a simple as saying too many insects spell death for a host plant. Instead, his research suggests a complex interplay between insects, plant growth, and the overall stress of the marsh environment.