State
Repairs complete on lagoon levee
Daily Leader
Repairs for a breached levee at the Brookhaven Wastewater Treatment Plant were completed Tuesday, according to Regional Manager Ralph Augimeri with Mitchell Technical Services.
http://www.dailyleader.com/2016/09/21/repairs-complete-on-lagoon-levee/
| MDEQ Lifts Three Water Contact Advisories |
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, lifted three water contact advisories Wednesday for sampling stations 1, 7, and 10. Advisories remain in effect for stations 8, 11A, and 12B.
http://www.seacoastecho.com/article_10187.shtml#.V-Pg-fnx6Uk
Supervisors Take Initial Steps To Start Recycling Program
North Mississippi Herald
COFFEEVILLE – Supervisors agreed to take initial steps to explore launching a recycling program in the county after the topic surfaced in Monday’s recessed meeting at the Coffeeville courthouse. District 3 Supervisor Lee McMinn opened the discussion, relaying information he learned after attending a recent meeting in Desoto County about recycling.
Lafayette County to spend $1 million for garbage trucks, containers
Oxford Eagle
Lafayette County is moving forward when it comes to garbage collecting.
U.S. 49 lanes back open after oil spill
Sun Herald
Northbound lanes of U.S. 49 in Gulfport have been reopened after being closed about an hour by an oil spill, Gulfport police said.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/traffic/article103134237.html
CMR taking deeper look into trout decline
Clarion Ledger
In its Tuesday meeting, the Commission on Marine Resources opted to review more data rather than make a decision on regulation changes for speckled trout fishing.
Ocean Springs gets something the mayor has worked on for 8 years
Sun Herald
OCEAN SPRINGS
The new kayak launch at the county’s Ocean Springs Harbor is a double, which means it can launch a kayak on either side of the dock.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article103202262.html
| Beaches Will Close At Lakes North Mississippi Herald VICKSBURG – Swimming areas at some of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in northern Mississippi will be closing soon. Arkabutla, Sardis, Enid, and Grenada lakes have begun drawing down water levels as part of their normal flood control operations. |
http://yalnews.com/contentitem/417660/1175/beaches-will-close-at-lakes
Oil Spill
First town hall meeting to discuss BP money set for Thursday
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Mississippi lawmakers are debating how and where to spend money from the BP settlement. If you think that money should be spent here along the coast, you'll have three chances to speak your mind.
http://www.wlox.com/story/33150580/first-town-hall-meeting-to-discuss-bp-money-set-for-thursday
Report questions Louisiana fish safety testing
AP
BATON ROUGE, LA.
Gulf oil spill recovery money intended for testing to ensure fish caught off Louisiana were safe for consumers instead paid for unnecessary iPads, cameras, boats and now-missing fishing equipment, state auditors said, calling the safety program so mismanaged it couldn't even declare if the catch was fit to eat.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article103365452.html
National
Trade Secret Claims Scrutinized by EPA, Chemical Attorneys Say
Bloomberg
The Environmental Protection Agency is asking chemical manufacturers to justify confidential business information claims they used to routinely grant, attorneys and other specialists working with manufacturers told Bloomberg BNA.
http://www.bna.com/trade-secret-claims-n57982077380/
EPA to inspect DNR records in Madison
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Federal environmental regulators will be inspecting state Department of Natural Resources records in Madison the week of Oct. 10 after an environmental group petitioned federal regulators to more closely monitor water pollution programs in Wisconsin.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2016/09/21/epa-inspect-dnr-records-madison/90792284/
Nestle can keep piping water from national forest, despite outdated permit
USA Today
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. — A federal judge has ruled that a permit allowing Nestle to pipe water out of theSan Bernardino National Forest is valid, despite the fact that the permit listed 1988 as the expiration date and was never renewed.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/09/22/nestle-water-national-forest/90824246/
Opinion
ROGER WICKER: Water Resources bill can move projects forward
Daily Journal
Earlier this year, I toured a site on the Pearl River in Hinds and Rankin counties where construction of a new underwater dam, also known as a weir, could protect the Jackson metro area from disastrous flooding.
http://djournal.com/opinion/roger-wicker-water-resources-bill-can-move-projects-forward/
Press Releases
Governor Phil Bryant Appoints John Dowdy Director of Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics
Jackson, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant announced today that he has appointed John Dowdy director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
Dowdy replaces Sam Owens, who is retiring. Dowdy comes to MBN from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Mississippi, where he worked in the criminal division. Dowdy started in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1988.
“John’s decades of experience as a prosecutor make him a perfect fit to lead MBN,” Gov. Bryant said. “As a former law enforcement officer, I have made it a priority to rid our communities of the drug trade. John shares that commitment. I am delighted he has accepted this appointment.”
Dowdy’s appointment is effective Nov. 1.
"I want to thank Gov. Bryant for this opportunity,” he said. “It is an honor to serve the people of Mississippi as the director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. As director, my priority will be to ensure that drug dealers are arrested, convicted and sent to prison in an effort to make our streets and communities safer for our citizens and children."
As chief of the criminal division, Dowdy oversaw dozens of narcotics investigations and prosecutions involving major drug trafficking organizations importing illegal narcotics into Mississippi with sources of supply in many cases linked to Mexican cartels. Dowdy also served on the executive committee of the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
Dowdy’s auxiliary responsibilities at the U.S. Attorney’s Office included coordinating task forces related to Katrina fraud, public corruption and environmental crimes. He served the office’s coordinator for victims’ rights, confidential human sources and crisis management.
Dowdy enjoyed a decorated career as a prosecutor. Among his honors are three Special Achievement Awards from the United States Department of Justice, the Director’s Award for Superior Performance as an AUSA in 1998 and the agency’s Certificate of Appreciation for his work reviewing FBI reports related to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
Dowdy graduated from Mississippi College with a bachelor of science in business administration. He earned his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law.
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Southwest Mississippi Flood Recovery Update
PEARL – Recovery efforts are going strong in Wilkinson County after the historic rainfall and flooding in early August. Several neighboring counties are pitching in to assist with debris removal through mutual aid.
A breakdown of counties assisting:
- Harrison County:
- Public Works Department is assisting in the county and the town of Crosby, removing debris from the mucked out homes and the roadways.
- Sent debris removal equipment and personnel for four days to collect and remove debris, and transported that debris to a waste facility.
- Public Works Department is assisting in the county and the town of Crosby, removing debris from the mucked out homes and the roadways.
- Adams County:
- Public Works Department sent five large debris removal vehicles, along with personnel to operate the equipment.
- Public Works Department sent five large debris removal vehicles, along with personnel to operate the equipment.
- Franklin County:
- Public Works Department sent two large debris removal vehicles, along with personnel to operate the equipment.
- Public Works Department sent two large debris removal vehicles, along with personnel to operate the equipment.
“Every county in this state has needed assistance from another at one point, so it’s our duty to be there for one another, especially when other assistance may not be available,” said Harrison County Emergency Management Agency Director Rupert Lacy. “The old Civil Defense principals have carried over and we are all happy to help out through the State Mutual Aid Compact”.
This week, the first $50,000 of a $250,000 grant from MEMA went to Wilkinson County to buy materials and supplies to repair flood-damaged homes. The work will be done by volunteer groups coordinated through the county’s newly formed non-profit Community Based Recovery Committee (CBRC).
MEMA requested Joint Damage Assessments from FEMA to see if any southwest Mississippi counties could be eligible to receive Public Assistance grants to repair infrastructure. Mississippi’s threshold for a PA declaration is $4.2 million in damage. The results of the joint MEMA-FEMA assessments revealed $1.38 million dollars in damage, making the state ineligible for assistance.
MEMA will provide updates as information becomes available. The best way to get up-to-date information is to “Like” MEMA on Facebook, or “Follow” us on Twitter @msema.
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