State
COSTCO PROJECT COULD AFFECT WETLANDS AND CREEKS
Northside Sun
Despite developers' best efforts to seal their plans for a Costco, more
details about the project are coming to light.
Last week, the Sun learned several specifics about the project in a notice
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Developers Andrew Mattiace and H.C. Bailey are in talks with Costco to
bring the big box retailer to Ridgeland as part of the Renaissance phase
three development.
Last week, the Sun reported on the fact that a local chancery judge had
sealed records regarding the project at developers' request.
However, a better picture of the size and scope of the project can be found
in a recent notice issued by the corps.
The corps and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)
have to sign off on the project because of its impact on nearby creeks and
more than 14 acres of wetlands.
The center would be located on roughly 45 acres of property on Highland
Colony Parkway, south of the roundabout.
The development would "consist of one primary tenant and five additional
tenants," according to the release.
"The anchor tenant would be located in the southern portion of the
development and include an approximately 150,000-square-foot building with
… 650 parking spaces."
The entire development would be 158,000 square feet and include 955 parking
spaces, the notice states.
The project is opposed by many residents because of the impact it could
have on traffic, property values, and the historic nature of the area. The
development would be located near the Natchez Trace Parkway and Old Agency
Road.
The project also would impact 14.06 acres of wetlands, as well as two
nearby creeks.
The notice states that if the project is allowed to move forward there
would be an "unavoidable loss of wetland."
Mattiace and Bailey are proposing purchasing credits from a wetland
mitigation bank to offset the loss.
Wetland mitigation banks are aquatic areas that are set aside to offset the
"unavoidable impacts" of wetlands, streams or other aquatic resources to
development, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's Web site.
Because aquatic resources would be affected by Renaissance phase three,
developers must obtain a water quality permit from MDEQ and the corps.
"If you don't get it from MDEQ you don't get anywhere," said Greg Raimondo,
chief of public affairs with the corps' Vicksburg district.
Mattiace applied for the permit earlier this year, and a notice for a
public hearing was issued on September 2, according to corps documents. The
deadline to ask for a hearing was September 23.
At press time, Raimondo said the corps had received no requests for a
hearing. The corps and state likely will decide whether or not to grant the
permit within approximately 60 days of the permit's expiration date,
Raimondo said.
Mattiace and Bailey came under fire recently for asking a chancery judge to
seal records related to his application for a "cultural retail
attraction" (CRA) tax subsidy to help finance an expansion of Renaissance.
The Sun was notified by the Mississippi Development Authority last week
that the records had been sealed by Judge William Singletary. MDA
administers the CRA program, which sunset in 2014.
Mattiace was awarded nearly $30 million in CRA rebates to help finance a
$98.6 million expansion of the Renaissance at Colony Park. Some, including
Ridgeland Alderman Ken Heard, believe the application for the subsidy was
modified to include Costco.
$30 million JCUA bond needed to 'catch up' on infrastructure repairs,
director says
Mississippi Press
April M. Havens
September 23, 2015 at 3:58 PM
PASCAGOULA, Mississippi -- Utility rate hikes that are part of the Jackson
County Utility Authority's proposed budget are due to JCUA's increasing
energy costs, new positions and an anticipated bond issuance.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2015/09/30_million_jcua_bond_needed_to.html#incart_river
Improvements being made at Rotten Bayou
WLOX
DIAMONDHEAD, MS (WLOX) -Rotten Bayou in Harrison and Hancock Counties is on
its way to becoming a healthier body of water, thanks to the completion of
the Building Rotten Bayou Watershed Partnership.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30095946/improvements-being-made-at-rotten-bayou
Hunter-Douglas celebrates 30 years
Lee County Courier
SHANNON, MISS. – Hunter Douglas Tupelo welcomed current employees, former
employees, local officials and manufacturing neighbors today as it
celebrated its 30th anniversary in Lee County. Mike Robinson, general
manager of metals and distribution, commented, "This is truly a milestone
for this Hunter Douglas plant. We want to thank Tupelo and Lee County for
the opportunities extended to us to do business here. We are proud to be a
corporate citizen. Our 30th anniversary is your accomplishment, too."
http://www.leecountycourier.net/articles/2015/09/23/news/doc5602fcf85fa1b109952816.txt
Jackson residents to get free tire collection
Clarion Ledger
Jackson residents won't see an increase in garbage fees under the
city's new garbage collection contract.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/09/23/jackson-residents-get-free-tire-collection/72702816/
Dispose of old medication properly, not into the environment
WDAM
Unused drugs stored at home can be dangerous to other people and the
environment.
http://www.wdam.com/story/30102193/dispose-of-old-medication-properly-not-into-the-environment
Stormwater readers tap young minds
DeSoto Times-Tribune
Tracking paths in a maze in their "Adventures of Stormy the Raindrop" book,
6-year-old Hernando Elementary first-grader Louis Harrell told classmate
Eason Goss: "If you get the dog poop, you can go to the soap and get
clean."
http://www.desototimes.com/news/stormwater-readers-tap-young-minds/article_a8242d76-624b-11e5-b0bd-1b77db2a335b.html
On the move: Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes PLLC
Clarion Ledger
John Milner, an attorney in the Jackson-based firm, has been elected vice
chairman of the American Bar Association's Section of Environment, Energy
and Resources. Milner concentrates his practice primarily in environmental
law and litigation.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/money/business/2015/09/23/move-brunini-grantham-grower-hewes-pllc/72700972/
Oil Spill
Latest round of early-restoration projects approved for BP money include 2
in South Mississippi
Sea turtles, birds, fish, recreation, reefs to benefit
BY KAREN NELSON
Sun Herald
Trustees have selected and approved 10 projects for the latest round of
Deepwater Horizon early-restoration projects totaling $134 million. Two of
the projects are specific to Mississippi.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/23/6430364/latest-round-of-early-restoration.html
$134M for recovery projects arising from 2010 Gulf oil spill
The Associated Press
September 23, 2015 at 9:10 PM
A panel on Wednesday approved using $134 million provided by energy giant
BP PLC on 10 projects to help the Gulf of Mexico recover from a
catastrophic 2010 oil spill.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/09/134m_for_recovery_projects_ari.html#incart_river
LSU professor studies oil spills' impact on plankton
Daily Reveille
Sam Karlin
Wednesday, September 23, 2015 6:45 pm
Coastal Fisheries Institute Assistant Professor Malinda Sutor has a
"plankton lab" dedicated to researching offshore ecosystems.
http://www.lsureveille.com/daily/lsu-professor-studies-oil-spills-impact-on-plankton/article_3631f250-624d-11e5-b39b-1bc23105c676.html
UNO Professor Receives Grant For Oil Cleanup Study
WWNO
The National Science Foundation will spend nearly half a million dollars to
help a University of New Orleans chemistry professor study sunlight and oil
spills. WWNO reporter Tegan Wendland had a conversation with UNO chemistry
professor Matthew Tarr.
http://wwno.org/post/uno-professor-receives-grant-oil-cleanup-study
Should BP fine money go toward building a bridge?
Todd Masson
The Times-Picayune
September 23, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Louisiana will get a windfall when the $18.7 billion fine the Gulf states
negotiated with BP is finally meted out. The money is supposed to be used
to rebuild the coast and mitigate damage from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon
spill, but last week, Gov. Bobby Jindal petitioned the Coastal Protection
and Restoration Authority to divert some of the cash to a bridge project
that would connect Port Fourchon and Golden Meadow.
http://www.nola.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2015/09/should_bp_fine_money_go_toward.html#incart_river
National
EPA hears widely different views on methane threat
AP
DENVER — Over-regulating methane emissions could discourage the use of
environment-friendly natural gas, an energy industry representative told
the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2015/09/23/epa-hears-widely-different-views-on-methane-threat/
EPA puts $12.3M in program to help cities cleanup contaminated sites
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency is putting another $13.2 million
towards a program to help communities clean up contaminated development
sites, known as brownfields.
http://thehill.com/regulation/254656-epa-puts-123m-in-program-to-help-cities-cleanup-contaminated-sites
Pope praises Obama's climate change rule
The Hill
Pope Francis on Wednesday praised the main piece of President Obama's
climate change agenda, his limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power
plants.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/254622-pope-backs-obamas-on-climate
EPA says it will build temporary treatment plant for mine
AP
DENVER — The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday it will set up
a temporary treatment plant for wastewater flowing from the Gold King Mine
in southwestern Colorado after 3 million gallons surged out of the mine in
August, tainting rivers in three states.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/epa-says-it-will-build-temporary-treatment-plant-for-mine/2015/09/23/3a733ee8-623c-11e5-8475-781cc9851652_story.html
Watchdog: EPA official flew home nearly every weekend on taxpayer's dime
Fox News
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) official flew nearly every weekend
from his office in San Francisco to his home in southern California,
amassing $69,000 in "excessive trips," according to the Office of Inspector
General (OIG).
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/09/24/watchdog-epa-official-flew-home-nearly-every-weekend-on-taxpayers-dime/?intcmp=hplnws
Researchers finish study of Michigan oil, gas fracking
AP
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Michigan's oil and gas industry and its
regulators have a long way to go toward convincing the public that
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is environmentally sound, said the
director of a study on the practice released Wednesday.
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/energy/article/Researchers-finish-study-of-Michigan-oil-gas-6523830.php
'Blood & Oil' Brings Fracking to Prime Time
In ABC's 'Blood & Oil,' the oil-drilling of 'Dallas' moves to fracking in
North Dakota
WSJ
Fracking now has its own prime-time TV show.
ABC's new "Blood & Oil," which premieres Sunday, shifts the oil-drilling
action from the fields of Texas ("Dallas") and Colorado ("Dynasty") to
North Dakota, where the vast Bakken Shale oil deposit ignited a boom in the
town of Williston in 2008.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/blood-oil-brings-fracking-to-prime-time-1443022073
Press Releases
EPA Announces $13.2 Million in Supplemental Funds to Clean up Contaminated
Brownfields Sites Across the Country
WASHINGTON – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced
approximately $13.2 million in supplemental funding to help transform
communities by cleaning up contaminated Brownfields properties.
Supplemental funding of the Revolving Loan Funding (RLF) will be given to
31 successful RLF grantees helping 44 communities carry out cleanup and
redevelopment projects. These projects will help communities create jobs
while protecting people's health and the environment. Many of the RLF
cleanups are in under-served and economically disadvantages neighborhoods -
places where environmental cleanup and new jobs are most needed.
"These funds – granted to communities who have already achieved success in
their work to clean up and redevelop brownfields – will help boost local
economies, create local jobs and protect people from harmful pollution by
expediting Brownfield projects," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "The
RLF supplemental recipients are some of the nation's top performers.
Collectively, these communities have already leveraged more than $5 billion
in clean up and redevelopment investment – the RLF funding announced today
will help sustain that incredible progress."
The RLF grantees provide a level of funding for cleanups that isn't
available through traditional financing options or through other brownfield
grants, serving as the critical gap financing needed to jump-start the
redevelopment process. RLF funding is often the last key piece of funding
needed to make the cleanup and reuse of the property happen. RLFs
specifically supply funding for loans and sub-grants to carry out cleanup
activities at brownfield sites. When these loans are repaid, the loan
amount is then returned to the fund and re-loaned to other borrowers,
providing an ongoing sustainable source of capital within a community for
additional cleanup of brownfield sites. The supplemental funding to each
grantee ranges from about $250,000 to $700,000.
EPA continues to engage and help new communities address barriers to
redeveloping sites which are plaguing their communities. All of the
grantees selected for funding have significantly depleted their RLF funds
and need supplemental funding in order to recapitalize their loan pool to
continue making loans and subgrants to clean up brownfields properties. The
supplemental funds help keep the cleanup momentum going so that more
cleanups can be completed. To date, RLF grantees have completed over 400
cleanups, leveraged approximately 15,000 jobs and over $5 billion of public
and private funding.
The grantees receiving supplemental funding this year continue to
demonstrate a high-level of preparedness to undertake specific shovel ready
projects and have the committed leveraged funds necessary to move projects
forward. This year's supplemental funds will support an array of cleanup
and redevelopment projects across the country. For example:
· The City of Kansas City, Mo. will use their funding to continue
making loans to clean brownfields sites - similar to what they have
done at the Ivanhoe Gateway at 39th street project where the RLF
helped in the financing of a brownfield cleanup project which enabled
the nearly $5M first phase of this $100M redevelopment project to
proceed. Construction is underway on seven two-story duplex units to
be followed by 12 one-story senior cottages. The entire mixed income,
multi-phased development will not only feature the new duplexes and
senior cottages, but will also include detached single family units,
restoration/rehab of existing buildings, and new infrastructure and
green space for the area.
· Southern Maine Planning & Development Commission will contribute
$500,000 toward a $1,121,000 loan to Biddeford, Maine for the Lincoln
Mill site. The site will be a mixed-use development with 92
residential units, 79 room hotel with meeting space, restaurant &
pool.
· The Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE)
will use its supplemental funding for the Freight Residences in
Denver, Colo. The Freight Residence project will include mixed-use
residential and commercial spaces. In addition to providing much
needed housing for the area, there is also extensive job creation
potential from the commercial redevelopment aspects of the project.
· Detroit/Wayne County will make a loan to the Henry Ford Community
Heath project in Mich. The reuse will support buildings for Henry
Ford Hospital as well as mixed-use development including retail near
the hospital. The project will create jobs in a community
economically disrupted by the closure of auto plants and other
manufacturing. RLF funded projects for the Henry Ford Hospital have
already leveraged $30 million.
· The City of Rockford, Ill. will make a loan to clean up the Rockford
Watch Factory. The site will be home to a downtown sports complex.
The project has $18 million in state grants, local bonds and City
funding.
There are an estimated 450,000 abandoned and contaminated sites in the
United States. EPA's Brownfields program targets these sites to encourage
redevelopment, and help to provide the opportunity for productive community
use of contaminated properties. Since the inception of the EPA's
Brownfields Program in 1995, cumulative brownfield program investments have
leveraged more than $23.3 billion from a variety of public and private
sources for cleanup and redevelopment activities. This equates to an
average of $17.79 leveraged per EPA brownfield dollar expended. These
investments have resulted in approximately 109,787 jobs nationwide.
More information on EPA's Brownfields program:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
More information on Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grants:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/rlflst.htm
