State
Barker: Explore all wastewater options
Hattiesburg American
Rep. Toby Barker, R-Hattiesburg, has weighed in on Hattiesburg's proposed mechanical wastewater treatment system, saying city officials should take a step back and look at all the options before pulling the trigger on the $135 million project.
MDEQ sets Costco appeal hearing
Madison County Journal
A date has been set for an evidentiary hearing requested from the Department of Environmental Quality by a Ridgeland citizen in regard to permits issued to Costco earlier this summer.
http://onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/MDEQ-sets-Costco-appeal-hearing/-3/592/38408
Nine sections of the Mississippi Sound not safe for swimming
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -There are now nine sections of the Mississippi Sound not safe for swimming. The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued four water contact advisories Wednesday afternoon.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32783676/nine-sections-of-the-mississippi-sound-not-safe-for-swimming
Nine beach advisories in effect across 3 Coast counties
Sun Herald
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued four water-contact advisories Wednesday, and advisories are are still in effect for five others.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article96282997.html
Meridian council tables Highland Park Project
Meridian Star
The council also accepted a $50,000, two-year solid waste assistance grant from Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Ecru residents concerned about water quality
WTVA
ECRU, Miss. (WTVA) -- They sprang up years ago across the state, rural water associations designed to bring clean water to small communities.
http://www.wtva.com/news/Ecru_residents_concerned_about_water_quality_.html
FLOOD-BORNE MOSQUITOES MAY POSE SOME HEALTH RISKS AFTER FLOODS
MPB
As Mississippians begin to recover from recent flooding, new fears over potential health risks are cropping up.
Hub City enters into energy-savings contract
Hattiesburg American
Officials from Hattiesburg and Johnson Controls — a diversified technology and industrial firm that serves customers in more than 150 countries — have teamed up to implement a $7.2 million energy-savings performance contract.
Biologist sues Mississippi Marine Resources over firing
Clarion Ledger
A marine fisheries biologist’s lawsuit against the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is calling into question the state allowing some departments and agencies to be removed from State Personnel Board Rules.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/08/17/mississippi-marine-resources-lawsuit/88889722/
National
Business lobby slams EPA for unfunded mandates
The Hill
States are on the hook for implementing the majority of federal environmental regulations but receive little federal money to help them do that, according to a new report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/291695-chamber-hits-epa-for-unfunded-mandates
EPA Gets High-Profile Backers in Methane Legal Battle
Bloomberg
Aug. 16 — States and environmental groups separately sought to intervene Aug. 15 on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency in a federal appeals court battle over the agency's first-ever methane emissions standards for new oil and gas infrastructure ( North Dakota v. EPA, D.C. Cir. , No. 16-1242, motions filed 8/15/16 ).
http://www.bna.com/epa-gets-highprofile-n73014446473/
Colorado: Water Contamination Likely Came From Military Base
AP
Colorado health officials said it's highly likely that trace amounts of toxic chemicals found in three drinking water systems came from firefighting foam used at a nearby Air Force base.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/colorado-water-contamination-military-base-41473359
Prove Mining Assurances Need EPA Boost, States Say
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency continues to fall far short in placating opposition to a new Superfund financial assurance rule for hardrock mining, according to interviews and comments released to Bloomberg BNA.
http://www.bna.com/prove-mining-assurances-n73014446522/
GE Wants to Bring More Life to Coal
After playing down fuel’s future, group chases rising demand in India and Southeast Asia
WSJ
General Electric Co. has stopped trying to write coal’s obituary.
The conglomerate—one of the world’s biggest suppliers of power-plant equipment—for years played down coal’s future as challenged by environmental and cost issues. Instead, it has promoted natural gas as the fuel of the future.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/ge-wants-to-bring-more-life-to-coal-1471453593
Hundreds of fish found dead in pond on National Mall
AP
WASHINGTON
Officials believe the recent extreme heat was responsible for the deaths of several hundred fish found belly-up in a pond on the National Mall.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/article96343397.html
Press releases
Update Damage Reports to MEMA
PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has updated damage assessments for flood damage from six counties from a heavy rain system August 11-14. No serious injuries or deaths have been reported.
Damage reports by county:
· Adams: Two public roads damaged. There are 44 people in the county 361 shelter in Natchez.
· Amite: One home destroyed, several roads/bridges with major damage.
· Copiah: One public road major damage.
· Harrison: Four homes and five public roads with minor damage.
· Pike: One home with minor damage and seven public roads with major damage.
· Wilkinson: Two homes destroyed, 23 with homes major damage; 58 homes minor damage, 23 public roads and 10 bridges damaged.
Additional damage report updates will be released as they become available.
The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service has set up a website to accept monetary donations to help those affected by the flooding, www.msdisasterresponse.org.
MEMA urges the public to report damages to your local Emergency Management Agency. For a list of contact numbers for your county, visit www.msema.org/local-ema.
For more information, go to MEMA’s website at www.msema.org, or download the MEMA mobile app on your iOS or Android device. The best way to get up-to-date information is to “Like” MEMA on Facebook, or “Follow” us on twitter.
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