Allen Barnes Nominated as Director of Georgia Environmental Protection Division

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has nominated Allen Barnes to be the new Director of the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD). Gov. Perdue has asked the Georgia Board of Natural Resources to confirm the appointment at its meeting on October 28, 2009. Barnes is a partner in the Atlanta office of King & Spalding, practicing environmental law.

Barnes has a distinguished career of public and private service in environmental management, law and education. From 2002 through 2005, he served as the Chief of Staff to the United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Administrator. In that position, he worked closely with Georgia EPD and the other seven southeastern states’ environmental agencies and EPA headquarters in Washington. He also served as the Interim Director of the Office of External Affairs at EPA Region 4, working with U.S. senators, congressmen and their state counterparts. At EPA, he worked on the most significant environmental issues in the Southeast.

Prior to joining EPA in 2002, Barnes taught environmental policy and law at Mississippi State University from 1995 to 2002. From 1983 to 1995 in Pensacola, Fla., he was in private practice, served as a prosecutor for the State of Florida and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. He joined King & Spalding as a partner in the environmental section in 2005.

Barnes earned a J.D. degree from the University of Mississippi and a B.S. degree from the University of West Florida.

Robert D. Hays, Jr., Chairman of King & Spalding, applauded Barnes’ appointment by Gov. Perdue and noted, “Allen has served as a senior EPA official, a federal and state prosecutor, a teacher and an environmental lawyer. In each of these positions he has been a leader who has demonstrated the ability to listen to competing interests and fashion solutions that further the public interest in the protection of the environment and sustainability of the economy.”

Hays added, “We are sorry to lose him at King & Spalding, but honored that Allen has been chosen for this important position. This appointment is consistent with the long tradition of King & Spalding lawyers who have performed public service by agreeing to serve in key positions in our state and federal governments.”

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Big Win for Huge Coral Reefs off NC, SC, Georgia, Florida

/PRNewswire/ -- Environmental Defense Fund saluted the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council today for its final vote to protect what may be Earth's largest deepwater coral ecosystem off the coasts of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. A veritable wonderland of marine life, the 25,000-square-mile area is among the most important in the world for marine species and for exploration for biopharmaceuticals.

A first for fishery councils in the United States, the model safeguards strike an innovative balance between protecting critical habitat while allowing fishermen continued access to traditional fishing grounds using gears that do minimal damage to reefs.

The action by the regional council, which is meeting this week in Charleston, SC, culminates 10 years of collaboration between scientists, managers, conservationists and fishermen.

"We started with the idea of protecting every single square mile, even before we knew how many there were," said Doug Rader, chief oceans scientists for Environmental Defense Fund. "The final plan incorporates the science coming straight from research vessels. I know of no other process in the world where unpublished, brand-new science was translated so directly into world-class protection for a unique natural resource."

Rader served as chair of the regional committee that developed the protection plan. He was instrumental in bringing together fishery managers and fishermen to chart the areas in which fishing is allowed with certain gear.

"The plan could not have happened without the scientists who shared privileged data, the fishery managers who imagined this stunning outcome, and the fishermen who worked side-by-side on the design," said Rader. "We commend the commercial fishermen who participate in the golden crab and royal red shrimp fisheries for their collaboration. Working together, we set an important example of co-management that can be replicated in other fisheries."

The fragile reefs lie 1,000 feet or more below the ocean's surface. Individual colonies may be more than 1,000 years old, and individual coral mounds may be more than one million years old.

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USDA's Interim Final Rule Amends Environmental Quality Incentives Program

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer January 15 announced changes to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the U.S. Department of Agriculture's largest conservation program for working agricultural lands.

USDA published an interim final rule containing the statutory changes to EQIP in the Federal Register today. USDA is seeking public comment on the rule through March 16, 2009.

The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or 2008 Farm Bill, includes non-industrial private forestland as an eligible land use and provides payments for conservation practices related to organic production or the transition to organic production. It also provides for increased payment rates to historically underserved producers, including limited resource, beginning, and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

The EQIP interim final rule can be viewed at the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service's (USDA-NRCS) Web site; at the official government regulation Web Site; and at the Federal Register.

The public comments will be used to finalize the interim final rule. USDA will publish a final rule, which will incorporate statutory changes and establish the program's policy for the life of the 2008 Farm Bill.

USDA-NRCS administers EQIP, a voluntary conservation program that provides technical assistance and payments to help crop and livestock producers address environmental concerns through conservation improvements on agricultural and non-industrial private forest lands. Farmers and ranchers can use EQIP to farm in an environmentally friendly manner and still meet their agricultural production goals. It is designed to produce significant environmental benefits to the public, such as improved soil, water and air quality; and enhanced wildlife habitat. In addition, farmers and ranchers use EQIP to meet federal, state, tribal and local environmental regulations.

Under the amended EQIP, socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers as well as beginning and limited resource producers are authorized to receive payments of up to 90 percent of the costs of installing or implementing a conservation practice. These producers also can receive advance payments of up to 30 percent of the anticipated costs incurred to purchase materials or to contract services to implement a conservation practice.

EQIP will offer financial and technical assistance for conservation practices to certified organic farmers and ranchers as well as producers interested in transitioning to organic farming. Organic producers must develop and carry out an organic system plan. These producers can receive a maximum payment of $20,000 annually, or $80,000 over six years to apply or carry out approved conservation practices contained in that plan.

EQIP will offer financial assistance to forest landowners to develop a forest management plan, along with carrying out the conservation practices contained in the plan. The 2008 Farm Bill also encourages producers to use innovative technologies and cost-effective methods under approved conservation practices to address air quality.

The 2008 Farm Bill reduced the overall payment limitation from $450,000 to $300,000 for a six-year period, except for environmentally significant projects.

The new farm bill also established the Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) as a component of EQIP. AWEP provides technical and financial assistance to help producers carry out water enhancement activities on private agricultural land for the purpose of conserving surface and ground water and improving water quality. USDA published a Request for Proposals for AWEP in the Federal Register on Jan. 14, 2009.

For additional information about EQIP, please visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/EQIP/ or call (202) 720-1845 during business hours.

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Top 10 Most Endangered Areas in the South for 2009

The population along Georgia's coast is expected to double by 2020. How will we take care of our precious salt marshes?

/PRNewswire/ -- The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), the largest environmental advocacy organization dedicated solely to protecting the Southeast, today announced a list of ten special places in the South that face immediate, potentially irreparable threats in 2009. These endangered areas were chosen among hundreds that are impacted by SELC's law and policy work throughout the six states of Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.

"The South is not only the fastest growing region in the United States but in many respects, the South is also a testing ground for the nation's most pressing environmental issues, including energy, global warming, drought, land conservation, and biological diversity," said Jeff Gleason, SELC's Deputy Director.

The next 12 months will be telling for SELC's list of endangered areas as they face a series of decisions that will either raise or lower the bar nationwide on critical issues like air quality and clean water. "Our region will either protect -- or lose -- areas of our native forest, coastline, and rural countryside. How the South accommodates growth and development while preserving our precious natural heritage could set a model for the rest of the country," added Gleason.

Gleason also points out that the South disproportionately contributes to global warming. "If our six-state region were viewed as a country, we would rank 7th in the world for output of carbon dioxide. Reducing carbon emissions in the South is a critical part of any comprehensive global warming solution."

Top Ten Endangered Areas in the South for 2009:

1) Clinch and Powell Rivers (Virginia)

Issue: Construction of a new coal-fired power plant in Wise County will accelerate mountaintop removal mining in Appalachia, and further increase mercury levels in the Clinch and Powell rivers.

2) Interstate 81 Corridor (Virginia)

Issue: Virginia officials are reexamining a plan to widen all 325 miles of I-81 to perhaps eight lanes to support long-haul truck traffic -- a plan that would cost billions of dollars and cause tremendous harm to communities and historic, scenic, and environmental resources.

3) Marine Waters (Virginia)

Issue: Virginia is the first state in our region to begin the process of opening up its marine waters to offshore drilling for oil and gas. The benefit of this short-term supply of energy is dramatically outweighed by the harm to the environment and communities.

4) Globe Forest (North Carolina)

Issue: Destruction of rare, old-growth forest in the Southern Appalachians.

5) Pamlico River (North Carolina)

Issue: The single largest destruction of wetlands in North Carolina's history will occur if a phosphate mining company gets permission to expand its operations on the river's banks.

6) Great Pee Dee River (South Carolina)

Issue: Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility, is proposing to build more coal-fired power plants with outdated technology that would dump an additional 300 pounds of mercury into an already mercury-overloaded river.

7) Johns Island (South Carolina)

Issue: A $420 million highway proposal threatens to bring large-scale development to this historic community, transforming the island into a sea of condos, mega-stores, and traffic.

8) Salt Marshes (Georgia)

Issue: Large-scale development on biologically rich islands and tidal waters.

9) Weeks Bay (Alabama)

Issue: Unchecked development and weak regulation threatens an area so unique it is one of only three in Alabama to receive the designation of Outstanding Natural Resource Water.

10) Cherokee National Forest (Northeast Tennessee)

Issue: The U.S. Forest Service is moving forward with its plans to log several areas of this remarkable landscape, endangering trout, unbroken wildlife habitat and rare species.

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MIT Holding, Inc.: Independent certification and validation of ProVectorTM Completed by Georgia Southern University

(BUSINESS WIRE) - The Georgia Southern University Research and Service Foundation located in Statesboro, GA, advised MIT on November 27, 2008 it had successfully completed its independent Validation and Certification of ProVectorTM Models under contract by MIT, Holding Inc.; portions of the study available on-line at www.mitholdinginc.com.

MIT can now offer for public use the first of the new line of ProVectorTM products developed by Dr. Tom Kollars from MEVLABS, Inc. and Pro Vector, LLC and licensed to MIT. ProVectorTM Bt (patent pending) is an economical and environmentally safe device for killing adult mosquitoes. The parts include a plastic flower with colors, chemical attractants and a refill containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bt) biopesticide. One refill lasts from three to six months depending on the size of the mosquito population.

ProVectorTM Bt is unique because it is the first commercially available device to imitate a flower to which adult mosquitoes come to feed on Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bt) pesticide. It was designed with the philosophy of keeping “Green” and made of virtually indestructible plastic which reduces waste and it only allows mosquitoes to feed on it, eliminating the spread of pesticides into the environment. The device includes a flower with color, chemical attractants, and a refill containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bt) biopesticide. One refill will last from three to six months depending on the size of the mosquito population.

The active biopesticide Bt, is short for Bacillus thuringiensis, is a bacteria that has been studied by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and found Bt safe enough to be exempt from food residue tolerances, groundwater restrictions, species labeling and special review requirements. Bt has historically been used to treat water sources in order to kill mosquito larvae as they filter in water. However, adult mosquitoes do not live in water and have different feeding habits than larvae. In addition to blood, most female mosquitoes feed on sugar sources for energy and all male mosquitoes use sugar sources. The ProVectorTM imitates the look and taste of flowers in order to trick the adult mosquitoes into eating Bt. Dr. Kollars and his staff have had astonishing results with their ProVectorTM Bt formulation, having a kill rate of over 80% in 24 hours and 100% within a week in the laboratory.

ProVectorTM Bt seeks to achieve low cost and safety by using Bt in a contained manner without spreading it to the environment. MIT Holding is pleased to team with MEVLABS, Inc. and ProVector, LLC to provide the ProVectorTM Bt as another tool in the arsenal of public health officials and pest management professionals in their fight to battle mosquitoes and save lives.

About MIT HOLDING

MIT through its wholly owned subsidiaries, based in Savannah, Georgia, provides medical services to Hospitals, Clinics, Doctor’s offices and their Patients. Medical Infusion Technologies is a Pharmacy based infusion business. The licensed pharmacy can dispense infusible and non-infusible prescription pharmaceuticals to treat a wide range of chronic and acute health conditions. The home medical equipment division carries a wide variety of durable medical equipment and supplies for purchase or lease. The division maintains inventory and can rapidly obtain a wide variety of home medical equipment products to match almost any request. The Physician based Ambulatory Care Center provides eight on site intravenous suites for patients with a wide range of IV Therapy needs.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information contained in this release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 the "Exchange Act"), which mean that they relate to events or transactions that have not yet occurred, our expectations or estimates for our future operations, our growth strategies or business plans or other facts that have not yet occurred. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "might," "may," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "likely," "intend," "believe," or "continue" or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. For an explanation of some of the risks and uncertainties facing MIT HOLDING and its investors, please see our most recent prospectus on file with the Securities Exchange Commission. The risk factors contained therein should be considered by prospective investors for their potential impact on forward-looking statements included in this release. These important factors, among others that might not be listed, may cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We caution investors that such discussions of important risks and uncertainties are not exclusive, and our business may be subject to other risks and uncertainties, which are not detailed there.

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. We make forward-looking statements as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements after the date hereof whether as a result of new information or events, changed circumstances, or otherwise, except as required by law.

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Georgia Tech Plays Key Role in Global Energy

Energy and sustainability experts at the Georgia Institute of Technology have taken a leadership role in the U.S. contribution to a 36-nation effort aimed at developing an international standard that would bring consistency to energy management systems worldwide.

The effort has implications for the public and private sectors alike, providing a process for managing energy use and implementing sustainable practices that would help hold down costs and minimize environmental impacts. This first-ever international energy management system standard – to be known as ISO 50001 – would also level the playing field for companies competing in the global marketplace.

With broad applicability across economic sectors, the standard could ultimately affect as much as 60 percent of the energy used in the world.

“Effective implementation of an energy management system standard often yields resource and cost savings, as well as risk avoidance,” explained Bill Meffert, manager of energy and sustainability services at Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute. “Reduction in the use of non-renewable fuels provides environmental benefits to the nation, improves security and leads to use of more sustainable sources of energy. Process and behavioral changes from targeted energy management projects frequently result in reduced raw materials usage, less waste generation and disposal, and lower air emissions.”

Beyond the direct benefits, adoption of ISO 50001 could also lead to long-term cultural changes that benefit organizations in other ways. “An energy management system standard establishes a culture of continual improvement to sustain the gains made, placing the organization in a position to realize even greater energy efficiencies and further savings,” Meffert added.

The U.S. Department of Energy is supporting the effort through a combination of active participation in the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and through financial support for the administration of the U.S. TAG. The U.S. TAG is responsible for developing the U.S. consensus position on the proposed standard.

Rising energy prices have made managing energy a higher priority for industrial, commercial and governmental organizations worldwide. Beyond helping manage costs and controlling environmental impacts, large energy users may be driven to adopt the voluntary standards as evidence of their good corporate citizenship.

“Many countries around the world will use the standard as the basis for national programs that encourage large energy users to demonstrate their environmental stewardship,” Meffert said. “It is expected that national incentives – taxes, credits and similar vehicles – will be used to promote its use and adoption.”

Companies that adopt the new standard may also gain a public relations and marketing advantage.

“Companies that conform to an international energy management system standard will be publicly stating that they have adopted best practices for managing their energy supply and use, which helps make them competitive,” Meffert added. “They are also showing that they are managing their natural resources wisely. Many companies will also want to ensure that their suppliers and partners are environmentally responsible.”

In general, Meffert noted, standards are useful to helping organizations establish the order and consistency to manage key business components, whether they address quality, environmental protection or energy issues.

“By applying this standard, the organization uses the ‘Plan-Do-Check-Act’ steps of the continual improvement framework to manage energy resources, incorporating energy management into everyday business operations and strategies,” he said. “This framework encompasses both the management and the technical elements of energy management. The effective management of energy requires both to be present and integrated.”

While industry has driven development of the new standard, it could be used by any energy-consuming organization. The standard will define a management system for all energy sources – including electricity, liquid and solid fuels, renewable sources, steam, compressed air and chilled water.

The new ISO 50001 is being developed through a consensus process of the International Standards Organization (ISO) that involves representatives from national standards organizations in more than 36 countries who develop proposals, discuss issues, build consensus – and adopt the final standard.

The United States and Brazil are leading the overall effort under ISO’s framework. In addition to member nation representatives, two liaison members – the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the World Energy Council – are also contributing to the effort.

The ISO/PC 242 committee established to develop the standard held its first meeting in Washington in early September, and will hold additional meetings on a regular basis. The goal is to have ISO 50001 ready for publication by the end of 2010, said Deann Desai, project manager with the Enterprise Innovation Institute who serves as secretary to the U.S. TAG.

“Excellent progress was made during the first meeting, and a working draft has already been developed,” she noted. “Among the issues discussed was the need to ensure compatibility between the new ISO 50001 and existing ISO management standards.”

Georgia Tech was heavily involved in developing the existing American National Standards Institute (ANSI) MSE 2000:2008 standard for energy management systems. That standard has seen limited adoption in the United States, but Meffert said globalization of commerce now requires an international standard that will be widely adopted.

“Many businesses today are multinationals that have facilities and/or trading partners overseas,” he explained. “When conducting business on a multinational basis, it is important that the competitive playing field be as even as possible – which is what standardization attempts to accomplish.”

Georgia Tech worked closely with the Department of Energy in activities leading up to the formal launch of the ISO 50001 development effort. Members of Georgia Tech’s energy and sustainability staff helped develop a comparison document that was used to facilitate initial international meetings, and they participated with ANSI in the process of producing an application to ISO explaining the need for the new standard.

Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute is administering the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for ANSI. The group is composed of many energy management experts and helps shape the U.S. position for the international standard.

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CNN Executive Producer Peter Dykstra to Speak at Georgia Southern University

Peter Dykstra, environmental journalist and executive producer for CNN, will speak at Georgia Southern University on Oct. 21. Dykstra will discuss current trends in media concerning environmental journalism. He will present his lecture, Britney vs. The Biosphere: How Reporting on the Fate of the World Gets Obscured by the More Important Stories, at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Hall of the Nessmith-Lane Continuing Education Building.

Dykstra oversees coverage of traditional sciences, technology, the environment, space and the weather for many of CNN’s broadcasts. His awards include a 1993 Emmy for his coverage of the Mississippi River floods, a shared 2004 DuPont-Columbia Award for CNN’s reporting on the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and a 2005 George Foster Peabody Award for CNN’s coverage of both Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. He has been the executive producer of investigative documentaries for CNN, including “Broken Government: Scorched Earth.”

Dykstra received his Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Boston University. He currently serves on the panel for the John Oaks Awards for Environmental Journalism at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. Dykstra is also a former board member of the Society of Environmental Journalism.

This event is free and open to the public. Dykstra’s appearance is sponsored by the Department of Communication Arts at Georgia Southern University. For more information on Dykstra or this event, contact Pam Bourland-Davis at:pamelagb@georgiasouthern.edu .

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