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Lack of snow reduces Mississippi flood risk: NWS
Lack of snow reduces Mississippi flood risk: NWS
Houston, 15 March (Argus) — The Mississippi River faces below normal flood risk this spring because of historically low snowpack, meaning barges carrying fertilizer and other commodities may experience fewer delays from high water. The lack of snowpack in the Mississippi River basin resulted from persistent drought since last September and unseasonably warm temperatures across the Northern Plains, which prevented a base layer of heavy snow from forming, the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its final spring flood outlook on 14 March. Meteorologist Brennan Dettmann told Argus there is no snowpack in Minnesota, with only a light covering along the northern border, making for one of five driest years since the NWS began recording snowpack in 1872. There is no snow at the Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport this week compared to 10 inches of snow on the ground a year ago. This year, the most amount of snow on the ground at the airport was 7 inches on 14 February, according to NWS. Risk of flooding for the upper Mississippi River and tributaries will be entirely dependent on rainfall, with much of the basin already in a precipitation deficit because of the drought. Barges have been navigating through the upper Mississippi and will soon reach the Twin Cities after locks open tonight at midnight . This time last year, tows were just breaking the ice on Lake Pepin , signaling safe passage to begin through the upper Mississippi River. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Final locks to open on upper Mississippi River
Final locks to open on upper Mississippi River
Houston, 13 March (Argus) — Locks 3 and 7 on the upper Mississippi River will open at midnight on 15 March after being closed for repairs, allowing access to St Paul, Minnesota, for barge carriers, according to the US Army Corps of Engineers. Barges are already heading toward the locks carrying plenty of commodities, to the northern Plains for distribution. Locks 7 and 3 are located at miles 703 and 796 of the upper Mississippi River, respectively. The Corps anticipates barges passing through the locks starting over the weekend. Navigation repairs for the locks have been finished as well, the Corps said. Maintenance for the locks determined the opening date this year, as the Lake Pepin ice measurements that typically establish the date were cancelled due to unseasonably warm weather. A barge carrier mentioned some of their barges may arrive in time to cross at midnight. By Meghan Yoyotte Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Maine classifies chemical recycling as 'processing'
Maine classifies chemical recycling as 'processing'
Houston, 13 March (Argus) — Maine has classified chemical recycling as "chemical plastic processing" instead of recycling, one of the first laws of its kind. State senator Anne Carney's (D) proposal, Legislative Document 1660, passed into law on 5 March without a signature from Governor Janet Mills. Carney introduced the legislation last year in opposition to state chemical recycling laws supported by the plastics industry that reduce government oversight. Chemical recycling laws "allow facilities to evade the public permitting process, siting restrictions, reporting requirements, and operating conditions that apply to all solid waste facilities," Carney testified last May to Maine's Joint Standing Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. "LD 1660 will protect Maine from this type of harmful legislation by reinforcing Maine's solid waste hierarchy and accurately reflecting that this process and these facilities are not recycling." Chemical recycling typically uses heat and pressure to convert waste plastics that are hard to recycle mechanically into pyrolysis oil and other raw materials that can be used to create new plastics. Chemical recycling laws categorize chemical recycling as manufacturing instead of solid waste disposal, which allows for less regulatory oversight. A flurry of chemical recycling laws, supported by plastics industry organizations such as the American Chemistry Council (ACC), have been passed in US states. Last year, Kansas became the 24th state to pass a chemical recycling law. The ACC said the Maine law will inhibit "innovative technologies" that could lead to an increase in types of plastic that can be recycled. "LD 1660 contains vague language that could disincentivize investments in recycling technologies – working against much needed increases in plastics recycling, and potentially disadvantaging economic opportunities," ACC division president Ross Eisenberg told Argus . By Zach Kluver Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Malaysia's February palm oil exports, stocks hit lows
Malaysia's February palm oil exports, stocks hit lows
Singapore, 11 March (Argus) — Malaysian palm oil exports fell to a three-year low in February, along with lower production and a drop in stocks to a seven-month low. Palm oil exports fell by 25pc on the month to 1.02mn t in February, the lowest level since February 2021, according to the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB). Purchases from price-sensitive countries have fallen as the price discount for palm oil has narrowed compared with rival soft vegetable oils. Average crude palm oil prices delivered to Indian ports rose to $911/t cif in January from $883/t cif in December 2023, while crude soybean oil prices fell to $939/t cif from $976/t cif over the same period, according to the Solvent Extractors' Association of India. Malaysian palm oil inventories also dropped by 5pc on the month to a seven-month low of 1.92mn t in February, falling below the 2mn t threshold for the first time since July 2023, MPOB data show. Market participants look to Malaysia's monthly palm oil stock levels as a gauge for price direction. Malaysia is the world's second-biggest palm oil producer. A drop in production contributed to the export and stock declines. Crude palm oil (CPO) production fell by 10pc on the month to 1.26mn t in February, although output was stable from a year earlier. The month-on-month decline was mainly driven by lower production in the east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, which are the country's largest palm oil producers. Output fell by nearly 15pc each in Sabah and Sarawak from January to 291,000t and 276,000t respectively. Palm kernel production fell by 12pc on the month to 302,000t in February, while output of crude palm kernel oil fell by 14pc to 139,000t, the MPOB said. Tight palm oil supplies will likely support palm oil prices at relatively high levels over the next three months, analysts forecast last week. Malaysian exports of biodiesel also fell by 28pc on the month to 29,400t in February. Outbound trade of oleochemicals rose to 255,000t, 1pc higher from January, but palm kernel oil exports fell by 19pc on the month to 55,600t in February. By Lauren Moffitt Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.