State
Groundworx still appealing decision
Hattiesburg American
A local wastewater dispersal company's appeal to the Mississippi
Supreme Court of a decision in a breach-of-contract complaint
against the City of Hattiesburg remains in place.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/hattiesburg/2015/03/06/groundworx-appeal-supreme-court-continues/24529241/
Ole Miss Campus Leaders Work to Achieve Climate Neutrality
University of Mississippi leaders gathered recently to discuss an action
plan to advance sustainable initiatives on campus, with the long-term goal
of achieving climate neutrality.
http://hottytoddy.com/2015/03/07/ole-miss-campus-leaders-work-to-achieve-climate-neutrality/
Mayor: TMS far from done
Tully Taylor
Enterprise-Journal
Friday, March 6, 2015 2:00 pm
While Tuscaloosa Marine Shale activities have decreased, the major players
will be back when oil prices rise and McComb's rail yard will play a role.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_73300d44-c433-11e4-add2-233483236ed6.html
Annexed residents seek sewer service
Justin Vicory
Enterprise-Journal
Sunday, March 8, 2015 8:00 am
Residents of North Street in Magnolia came out in force Monday before the
city of Magnolia's work session, and board members took steps to address
their demands on Tuesday.
They are now on a septic sewage system operated by Sunny Hill.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_8a03fcaa-c556-11e4-94a7-b758f69a713a.html
Oil Spill
BP ends attempt to oust oil spill claims administrator
AP
NEW ORLEANS – BP has ended its effort to have courts remove the
administrator of claims arising from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil
spill.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/03/07/bp-ends-attempt-oust-oil-spill-claims-administrator/24585657/
UL-Lafayette team heads back to Gulf to determine BP disaster effect on
whales, dolphins
Baton Rouge Advocate
Looking to answer the question of how the BP oil disaster five years ago
affected whales and dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico, a research team is
returning to the Gulf.
http://theadvocate.com/news/11778331-123/ul-lafayette-team-heads-back-to
Regional
Study: Excess nutrients affect stream's ecosystem
University of Alabama professor Johnathan Benstead co-authors article in
the journal Science
By Ed Enoch
The Tuscaloosa News
Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 10:00 p.m.
A study published in the journal Science co-authored by a University of
Alabama associate professor reports that nutrient pollution accelerates the
breakdown of forest detritus in streams, affecting the food webs in the
ecosystems.
http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20150305/NEWS/150309700?tc=cr
National
What if states just say 'no' to climate rule?
The Hill
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is counseling states to defy a key
pillar of President Obama's climate change initiative.
But while it may be politically attractive for some states to heed the call
to just say "no," to the Environmental Protection Agency's landmark limits
on power plant emissions, experts say doing so could bring unwanted
consequences.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/234940-what-if-states-just-say-no-to-the-epas-climate-rule
EPA: Illinois oil train derailment threatens Mississippi River
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON — An oil train derailment and spill in northwest Illinois poses
an "imminent and substantial danger" of contaminating the Mississippi
River, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Saturday.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/03/07/6109204/epa-illinois-oil-train-derailment.htmlc
Wrecks Hit Tougher Oil Railcars
Sturdier train cars built to carry crude oil have failed to prevent spills
in recent derailments
Wall Street Journal
In a string of recent oil train derailments in the U.S. and Canada, new and
sturdier railroad tanker cars being built to carry a rising tide of crude
oil across the continent have failed to prevent ruptures.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/train-wrecks-hit-tougher-oil-railcars-1425861371
Some States Fight to Keep Their Wood Fires Burning
AP
Smoke wafting from wood fires has long provided a familiar winter smell in
many parts of the country — and, in some cases, a foggy haze that has
filled people's lungs with fine particles that can cause coughing and
wheezing.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/states-fight-wood-fires-burning-29481533?singlePage=true
Opinion
Le Coz: Legislature squabbles over state contract reform
Clarion Ledger
After all the political posturing amid last year's revelations that
weak state contracting laws fostered the biggest bribery scandal in
years, you'd think legislators would unite to enact tough new
reforms.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/03/07/emily-le-coz-mississippi-legislature-contract-reform/24572757/
Press Releases
MISSISSIPPI UPPER Black Creek Watershed INITIATIVE SIGNUP ANNOUNCED
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is currently accepting applications
for the Upper Black Creek Watershed Initiative through the Environmental
Quality Incentives Program (EQIP).
The Upper Black Creek Watershed Initiative project is part of the Joint
Landscape Restoration partnership investing $1.76 million in Mississippi to
help mitigate wildfire threats to communities and landowners. The project
will also assist to improve wildlife habitat for at-risk species and
protect water quality and supply throughout the area.
NRCS and the United States Forest Service (USFS) are partnering to improve
the health and resiliency of the forest ecosystems where public and private
lands meet. They will place priority on creating watershed health and
landscapes with the additional funding resources.
The south Mississippi counties that are eligible include all or parts of
the following counties: Jefferson Davis, Marion, Lamar, Forrest, Perry,
Pearl River, Stone, George and Jackson.
"NRCS is proud to partner with the USFS to provide financial assistance to
eligible landowners and operators to address the resource concerns in the
Upper Black Creek Watershed," stated Kurt Readus, state conservationist for
Mississippi. "The funding for FY 2015 is in addition to the $1.03 million
we received in FY 2014."
Landowners and producers interested in participating in the Upper Black
Creek Watershed Initiative may apply at their local USDA Service Center /
NRCS office. This is a continuous signup however only applications
received by April 17, 2015 will be considered in the first ranking pool for
financial assistance designed to address critical natural resource
concerns.
For additional information on the 2015 Upper Black Creek Watershed
Initiative , contact the NRCS Office in the eligible counties. You can
find your local service at http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app
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