State
Environmental impact study to be done on possible Costco site
WLBT
We have obtained a copy of an application to The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and DEQ. It was submitted by developer Andrew Mattice for a
permit to construct a retail facility and flood retention basin along
Purple Creek.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/30111206/environmental-impact-study-to-be-done-on-possible-costco-site
MSU, KSU receives $20,000 grant from environmental agency
The Reflector
Jennifer Flinn
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Mississippi State
University a $20,000 grant, along with Kansas State University, in order to
carry out green infrastructure demonstrations and training projects.
http://www.reflector-online.com/news/article_9870f87a-60c8-11e5-b236-5f28683a1f4f.html
No questions asked during DEA's prescription drug take back event Saturday,
authorities say
Mississippi Press
JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Residents may drop off their unused and
unwanted prescription drugs during the DEA's national drug take back event
this Saturday, and authorities assure that no questions will be asked.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/09/no_questions_asked_during_deas.html#incart_river
Drive-through dropoffs aim to collect unwanted drugs in South Mississippi
Sun Herald
Federal drug agents want South Mississippi residents to turn in their
unwanted prescription drugs Saturday. The program's aim is to help curb
prescription drug abuse in a region with the state's highest rate of drug
deaths.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/24/6432150_drive-through-dropoffs-aim-to.html?rh=1
National Take Back Day
WTVA
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA)--According to a 2011 nationwide survey, twice as many
Americans regularly abused pills more than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens
and inhalants combined.
http://www.wtva.com/news/National_Take_Back_Drug_Day.html
State health department has $18.5 million deficit
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi State Department of Health, faced with an $18.5
million budget deficit, is seeking to reduce some services and raise
fees.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/09/24/state-health-department-million-deficit/72740994/
MSU Rolls Out New Deer App
WCBI
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Hunters can go into the woods armed with the knowledge
of Mississippi State University deer experts, thanks to a newly updated MSU
phone app called "Deer Hunt."
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/msu-rolls-out-new-deer-app/
National
China to Announce Cap-and-Trade Program to Limit Emissions
NY Times
WASHINGTON — President Xi Jinping of China will make a
landmark commitment on Friday to start a national program
in 2017 that will limit and put a price on greenhouse gas
emissions, Obama administration officials said Thursday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/25/world/asia/xi-jinping-china-president-obama-summit.html?ref=earth&_r=0
Investors mine for water, the next hot commodity
New York Times News Service
CADIZ, CALIF. — Gazing out of a turboprop high above his company's main
asset – 34,000 acres in the Mojave Desert with billions of gallons of fresh
water locked deep below the sagebrush-dotted land – Scott Slater paints a
lush picture that has enticed a hardy band of investors for a
quarter-century.
http://www.sunherald.com/2015/09/25/6432817/investors-mine-for-water-the-next.html
EPA's fondness for high-end furniture costs taxpayers $92 million
Washington Times
By Kellan Howell
September 24, 2015
The federal agency that has the job of protecting the environment doesn't
seem to have too much concern for trees, at least the ones cut down to make
furniture.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/sep/24/golden-hammer-epas-fondness-for-high-end-furniture/
Press Releases
EPA Finalizes Rule to Modernize Clean Water Act Reporting
WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
finalized a rule to modernize Clean Water Act reporting for municipalities,
industries, and other facilities. The final rule will require regulated
entities and state and federal regulators to use existing, available
information technology to electronically report data required by the
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program instead of
filing written paper reports.
EPA estimates that, once the rule is fully implemented, the 46 states and
the Virgin Islands Territory that are authorized to administer the NPDES
program will collectively save approximately $22.6 million each year as a
result of switching from paper to electronic reporting. The final rule will
make facility-specific information, such as inspection and enforcement
history, pollutant monitoring results, and other data required by NPDES
permits accessible to the public through EPA's website.
"Electronic reporting will give the public full transparency into water
pollution sources, save millions of dollars, and lead to better water
quality in American communities," said Cynthia Giles, assistant
administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance.
"This rule will significantly reduce the burden and costs of paperwork,
freeing up limited resources for states and other regulatory authorities to
focus on the most serious water quality problems. After more than two years
of working closely with states and a range of stakeholders, today we take a
critical step to bring clean water protection into the modern age."
"ECOS is pleased to see a rule move ahead that modernizes how businesses,
states, and the federal government interface and share information in the
clean water program," said Alexandra Dapolito Dunn, Executive Director and
General Counsel of the Environmental Council of the States. "Our focus
going forward with EPA and the impacted regulated community will be on
smooth implementation of this rule, and on developing flexible approaches
when needed."
The Clean Water Act requires that municipal, industrial or commercial
facilities that discharge wastewater directly into waters of the United
States obtain a permit. The NPDES program requires that permitted
facilities monitor and report data on pollutant discharges and take other
actions to ensure discharges do not affect human health or the environment.
Currently, some facilities subject to these reporting requirements submit
data in paper form to states and other regulatory authorities, where the
information must be manually entered into data systems. Through the
e-reporting rule, these facilities will electronically report data directly
to the appropriate regulatory authority.
EPA proposed the e-reporting rule in July of 2013 with a public comment
period. Since then, EPA has held over more than 70 technical and individual
meetings with states to review the electronic reporting provisions and to
identify any issues requiring resolution. In addition, EPA held over 50
webinars and meetings with over 1,200 stakeholders to discuss the
rulemaking. EPA will continue collaborating with states as they enhance
their electronic reporting capabilities to support the rule's
implementation. Over the next few months, EPA will schedule trainings and
outreach webinar sessions for states and regulated entities to provide an
overview of the final rule, and the next steps for implementing electronic
reporting.
In response to state feedback, the final rule provides authorized NPDES
programs with more flexibility for implementation, providing more time for
the transition from paper to electronic reporting and more flexibility in
how they can grant electronic reporting waivers to facilities. Most
facilities subject to effluent monitoring reporting requirements will be
required to start submitting data electronically one year following the
effective date of the final rule. A second phase will incorporate
electronic reporting for other Clean Water Act reports such as performance
status reports for municipal urban stormwater programs, controls on
industrial discharges to local sewage treatment plants, and sewer
overflows. Also in response to comments and suggestions from states, EPA is
providing states with more time to electronically collect, manage, and
share this data – up to five years instead of two years as initially
proposed.
This rulemaking is part of EPA's Next Generation Compliance strategy, as
well as the E-Enterprise for the Environment strategy with states and
tribes, to take advantage of new tools and innovative approaches to
increase compliance and reduce pollution. The shift toward electronic
reporting in the NPDES program and others will help make environmental
reporting more accurate, complete, and efficient. It will also help EPA and
co-regulators better manage information, and improve effectiveness and
transparency.
EPA expects to publish the final rule in the Federal Register in October,
2015. The final rule will be effective 60 days following this publication.
View the final rule at:
http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/final-national-pollutant-discharge-elimination-system-npdes-electronic-reporting-rule
More information on Next Generation Compliance:
http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/next-generation-compliance
EPA Proposes New Protections for International Hazardous Waste Shipments
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing
enhancements to the oversight of hazardous waste shipments to help ensure
safe management of imported and exported hazardous wastes.
"When hazardous waste is shipped across multiple countries there can be a
higher risk of mismanagement from unsafe transport, recycling and disposal
practices," said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator of EPA's Office
of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. "This proposal will provide greater
protection to communities and the environment through increased
transparency, better data sharing and more efficient compliance
monitoring."
The rule proposes consolidation of the regulations so that one set of
protective requirements will apply to transboundary movements of hazardous
waste. The proposal, when finalized, will affect the approximately 3,000
hazardous waste import shipments and 49,000 hazardous waste export
shipments that largely occur within North America.
The proposal will also make electronic reporting to EPA mandatory and will
require linking the consent to export with the exporter declaration
submitted to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. These changes will provide
for more efficient compliance monitoring and will enable increased sharing
of hazardous waste import and export data with state programs, the general
public, and individual hazardous waste exporters and importers.
The Agency will accept public comments on the proposal for 60 days
following publication in the Federal Register.
For additional information on the proposed rule, including how to submit
comments, visit http://www2.epa.gov/hwgenerators.
