State
Ridgeland receives grant for bottle filler
Madison County Journal
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality announced last week that they have issued grants to two Madison County cities to use in waste management programs. http://onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/Ridgeland-receives-grant-for-bottle-filler/-3/592/38178
Watch for water hazards at beaches, lakes
Daily Journal
TUPELO – Water hazards aren’t just for the golf course.
At salt water beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, fresh water lakes or pools, swimmers need to watch out for disease-causing germs in the water.
http://djournal.com/news/watch-water-hazards-beaches-lakes/
Despite reports of flesh-eating bacteria, only one MS beach flagged with warning
WBRZ
GULFPORT, Mississippi - Data available on the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality website indicates only one beach on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is flagged with an advisory due to probable high bacteria levels.
Municipal League draws crowds, praise
DeSoto Times-Tribune
There's a lot of running involved at a Mississippi Municipal League Conference: scurrying to make it to sessions on new state and federal rules affecting cities, to Certified Municipal Official classes for professional growth to better run a city, and in-between running new ideas up the peer flagpole. Sometimes there's just plain running.
…The funds will be used to identify environmentally tainted sites for a Mississippi Redevelopment Act program that encourages private-sector developers to clean up and reuse inactive properties, bringing them back as job and tax revenue producers. Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality officials say the law's benefit to developers is that when cleanup work is bid, the developer qualifies for up to 2.5 times the value of the work in reimbursement through rebates of city and state sales taxes. Hernando has used an earlier brownfields grant to to help redevelop two old, idle garage properties north of the courthouse square. Also drawing good reviews was a session on possible city uses of mobile "smart phone apps" to inform the public. Use of the internet and cell phone technology "has been something we as a city have been comfortable with for some time," said Johnson.
UNOPENED E-MAIL RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT CITY’S SLUDGE-HAULING CONTRACT
Northside Sun
Questions remain about the city of Jackson’s recent awarding of a $13.7 million sludge-hauling contract.
Mississippi promotes Deer Island but won’t provide ferry
Sun Herald
Mississippi owns all but 17 acres of Deer Island, and Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said Wednesday, “You can go to your own island.”
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article86751812.html
BRAD YOUNG ON WILDLIFE FEDERATION
Northside Sun
Brad Young is executive director for the Mississippi Wildlife Federation in Madison. The Madison resident holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. Prior to joining the federation, Young was the black bear program leader for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. He recently spoke to Sun Staff Writer Anthony Warren about the federation.
House approves rainy day fund spending, ends session
Clarion Ledger
After several hours of partisan debate, the House approved a measure to allow Gov. Phil Bryant to dip further into the rainy day fund to cover shortfalls for the budget year that ends Thursday, ending a two-day special session.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/29/house-special-session/86506512/
Oil Spill
Auditor Jim Zeigler claims funding for Alabama Gulf park project 'unlawful'
Al.com
State Auditor Jim Zeigler wants to join a lawsuit filed by former state Conservation Commissioner Charles Grimsley challenging the use of BP funds to build a new lodge, conference center, and other improvements at Alabama's Gulf State Park.
http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/06/auditor_jim_zeigler_claims_fun.html
Regional
Arsenic, other toxins found at three Georgia Power plants
AJC
Georgia Power said it found arsenic and other toxic chemicals in a handful of test wells near coal ash ponds at three of its power plants near Newnan, Rome and Savannah.
http://www.ajc.com/news/business/arsenic-other-toxins-found-at-three-georgia-power-/nrp8R/
National
Senate Gives Go-Ahead on Brownfields Boost
Bloomberg
The Senate passed legislation by unanimous consent to reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency's brownfields program and increase grant resources for remediation.
http://www.bna.com/senate-gives-goahead-n57982076290/
Virgin Islands withdraws climate subpoena against Exxon
The Hill
The Virgin Islands agreed Wednesday to withdraw a contentious subpoena it had filed probing decades of Exxon Mobil Corp.’s research and advocacy on climate change.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/286065-virgin-islands-withdraws-climate-subpoena-against-exxon
Opinion
Editorial: EPA compliance gives Memphis an important breath of fresh air
Commercial Appeal
It has been a long time coming, but having the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency declare Shelby County in compliance with federal smog standards is great news for several reasons.
Press Releases
USDA/NRCS Soil Health Initiative in Mississippi
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), has established a new statewide soil initiative that focuses on building soil
health and productivity.
Mississippi cropland, forestlands, and pasturelands are eligible for this initiative.
This initiative will assist to improve the visibility, accessibility and participation in
NRCS soil health programs and technical services. These programs help to reduce
the carbon footprint, increase water infiltration and improve wildlife habitat, all
while helping farmers realize better crop yields.
“As the world population grows, so does the demand for food production,”
stated Kurt Readus, NRCS State Conservationist in Mississippi. “A growing
number of farmers are using soil health management systems to improve the
health and functions of their soil.”
More farmers are increasing their soil’s organic matter and improving microbial
activity by practicing good soil health principles. The top resource concerns in
Mississippi are: sediment, nutrients, soil erosion and compaction, soil quality,
water quality, and water supply. Farmers are addressing these concerns by
practicing diverse crop rotation, planting diverse species and reducing tillage.
“We recognize the growing interest in soil health management,” stated Readus.
“With this new initiative, we hope to see more implementation of conservation
practices that support soil health.”
Landowners interested in participating in the Soil Health Initiative may apply
at their local USDA Service Center / NRCS office. NRCS financial-assistance
programs offer a continuous sign-up; however, applications received by
July 15, 2016, will be considered for funding in the second ranking period.
To locate the nearest NRCS office: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
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