State
Proposed development raises concerns in north Gulfport
WLOX
On paper, the plan is ambitious: A $100 million development in north
Gulfport that would include retail, office space, a town center and a light
industrial park. It would create as many as 6,000 jobs. But there's also
concern. If the 1,300 acres are developed, will excess flooding come along
with those jobs?
http://www.wlox.com/story/28556390/proposed-development-raises-concerns-in-north-gulfport
Plans back on to develop Ward property in North Gulfport
Sun Herald
BY ANITA LEE
GULFPORT -- Jerard Ward hopes his company is finally on track to develop a
business and technology campus, including retail shops, professional
offices and a town center -- on 1,300 acres that is mostly wetlands just
south of Interstate 10 and west of U.S. 49 in Gulfport.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/17/6128187/plans-back-on-to-develop-ward.html
MDEQ, EPA to host public availability sessions
Hattiesburg American
JACKSON - The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and
the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency will host three public
availability sessions on March 24 to inform local residents on the
Hercules, Inc. investigation, environmental work, and future plans
for site remediation.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/2015/03/18/public-availability-sessions/24985551/
Point Sur purchase boosts USM's marine science program
Hattiesburg American
The University of Southern Mississippi's marine sciences program is
about to kick things up a notch this year with the acquisition of
the Point Sur, a 135-foot research vessel, which is making its way
to Gulfport from California by way of the Panama Canal.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/education/usm/2015/03/18/vessel-boosts-usm-marine-science/24990473/
Point Sur has much to offer USM
Hattiesburg American
The Point Sur — the University of Southern Mississippi's new
research vessel — has already been around the block a time or two.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/education/usm/2015/03/18/point-sur-offers-much-usm/24990755/
Madison park delayed after subcontractor files for bankruptcy
Clarion Ledger
Completion of the 64-acre Sulphur Springs park in northern Madison
County will be delayed after one of the subcontractors on the
project filed for bankruptcy, county officials say.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/madison/2015/03/18/park-delayed-subcontractor-files-bankruptcy/24975329/
SCUA explores new revenue stream
Stone County Enterprise
By Jody O'Hara
Mar 12, 2015, 12:57
The Stone County Utility Authority may have come across a way to bring in
some much needed revenue.
After hearing from Mississippi State Department of Health District IX
Environmental Supervisor Pansy Maddox at its Feb. 9 meeting, the authority
has begun looking into accepting septic and other wastes which are now
hauled out of county for disposal.
http://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/article_2529.shtml
Illegal dumping continues to plague Grenada County
Grenada Star
Illegal dumps have always been a problem in Grenada County, but now
officials are starting to see 'red' over the violations.
http://www.grenadastar.com/contentitem/392217/1218/illegal-dumping-continues-to-plague-grenada-county
KCCB wins state award
Copiah County Courier
The Mississippi Recycling Coalition selected Keep Copiah County Beautiful
as one of the recipients of the 2014 Environmental Hero Award as Recycler
of the Year for Non-profit organizations.
http://copiahcountycourier.com/contentitem/392077/1230/kccb-wins-state-award
Saturday is the first Tippah Trash Off drop off day
Southern Sentinel
by Joyce Brock | 12:25 pm | March 17, 2015
RIPLEY — This weekend, local residents will have the opportunity to
beautify the community while helping local charities and organizations.
The fourth annual Tippah County Trash Off, which coincides with Keep
America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup, is underway.
http://southern-sentinel.com/2015/03/17/saturday-is-the-first-tippah-trash-off-drop-off-day/
Mississippi gets C+ on transparency
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi has again received a grade of C+ in government spending
transparency according to a report released Wednesday.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/03/18/state-gets-transparency/24961875/
Oil Spill
BP report says Gulf environment returning to normal, others call report
premature, cherry-picked
Press-Register
Dennis Pillion
March 18, 2015 at 1:36 PM
BP published a report on its web site this week saying that the "Gulf
environment (is) returning to pre-spill conditions" since the 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil spill, going so far as to say "data BP has collected
and analyzed to date do not indicate a significant long-term impact to the
population of any Gulf species."
http://www.al.com/news/beaches/index.ssf/2015/03/bp_report_says_gulf_environmen.html#incart_river
Despite rosy report, BP still cleaning up oil
WWL
EAST GRAND TERRE ISLAND, La. — Just as BP released a report this
week stating that its massive oil spill five years ago did not have
a lasting impact on the Gulf environment, WWL-TV found crews trying
to clean up the largest tar mat seen in Louisiana in more than a
year.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/19/despite-rosy-report-bp-still-cleaning-up-oil/25001431/
The Science of Gulf Recovery from BP Oil Spill
WKRG
Almost five years ago a gusher of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico
unabated for almost three months. Scientist studying marine life and
eco-systems say their findings show a mixed message.
http://www.wkrg.com/story/28556656/the-science-of-gulf-recovery-from-bp-oil-spill
Regional
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell defends proposal to 'redirect' offshore
royalties from Gulf Coast states
Jennifer Larino
The Times-Picayune
March 18, 2015 at 3:10 PM
Oil and gas resources in federal waters off the coast of Louisiana and
other Gulf Coast states "are owned by all Americans" and, as such, revenues
generated from them should benefit the whole country, Interior Secretary
Sally Jewell said during a Wednesday (March 18) stop in New Orleans.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/jewell_louisiana_oil_revenue.html#incart_river
Feds sell nearly 1 million acres for Gulf offshore drilling
The Hill
Federal officials brought in $539 million in high bids Wednesday for the
rights to drill for oil and natural gas in almost 1 million acres in the
Gulf of Mexico.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/236135-feds-sell-nearly-1-million-acres-for-gulf-offshore-drilling
National
Obama to Order Cuts in Federal Greenhouse Gas Emissions
NY Times
WASHINGTON — President Obama will sign an executive order
on Thursday to cut the federal government's greenhouse gas
emissions, a White House official said, his latest use of
presidential power to address the root causes of climate
change.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/20/us/politics/obama-order-to-cut-federal-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html?ref=earth&_r=0
House passes bill to ban EPA 'secret science'
The Hill
The House passed a bill Wednesday that aims to increase public scrutiny of
the scientific research behind Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
regulations.
http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/236132-house-passes-bill-to-prevent-epa-secret-science
