State
Five water contact advisories lifted along the coast
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Five areas of the shoreline are now safe for swimming. Friday, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted its water contact advisories for the following areas:
http://www.wdam.com/story/33449376/five-water-contact-advisories-lifted-along-the-coast
It's in the bag
DeSoto Times-Tribune
Holding up a bright red-orange pen about the size of a flashlight, Meleiah Tyus was moved to say, "Wow, these are gi-normous."
Added Brenda Smith of the prodigious, eight-inch pens from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality's Air Division, "The kids will love these."
http://www.desototimes.com/news/it-s-in-the-bag/article_420b02d6-97d7-11e6-a3e6-d7317cb20425.html
28th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup teaches lesson to volunteers, children
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Volunteers around the Mississippi Gulf Coast showed up on Saturday to beautify South Mississippi as the 28th annual Mississippi Coastal Cleanup kicked off Saturday morning.
Oyster reef’s opening off Ocean Springs will boost activity at harbor
Sun Herald
OCEAN SPRINGS
For the first time in many years, the state DMR is opening an oyster reef near the Ocean Springs Harbor and sacks of oysters will be hauled into the harbor beginning Nov. 1.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article109827212.html
COMMUNITY DRUG TAKE BACK
WCBI
TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI)- Some Tupelo area residents took advantage of a program that allows the safe disposal of no longer needed over the counter and prescription drugs.
http://www.wcbi.com/video-community-drug-take-back/
A 20-year-old lawsuit has cost Gulfport millions in interest
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
Interest payments are mounting as the city continues a 20-year legal dispute with the Dedeaux family, most recently shelling out 71 percent of its BP oil-settlement fund — $2.7 million — to satisfy the latest jury verdict in the case.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article110035572.html
Regional
Ash pond closure method safety called into question by environmental groups
Safety concerns arise over closure methods of Georgia Power coal ash ponds
Albany Herald
ALBANY — Georgia Power recently announced the closure plans for all of its 29 coal ash ponds across the state and several environmental groups, including the Southern Environmental Law Center, the Georgia Water Coalition and The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, are concerned about the long term safety of those closure methods.
Louisville’s Response To ‘Teflon’ In Water Supply
WFPL
Louisville’s drinking water, like many other water systems, has trace levels of PFOA, or C8, a chemical once widely used in consumer products but now known to have negative health effects. Louisville found the chemical in water at amounts well below the limit recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency. Still, environmental advocates and many scientists say that level is too high.
http://wfpl.org/louisvilles-response-teflon-water-supply/
National
Maritime Nations Near Big Cut to Pollution-Causing Sulfur in Ships’ Fuel
Reducing sulfur in 2020 would improve human health, officials say, but cost shipping companies billions of dollars
WSJ
The world’s leading maritime nations are leaning toward setting rules next week to cut the sulfur in oceangoing vessels’ fuel by more than 85% in 2020, people familiar with the matter say.
Chesapeake Energy Declares ‘Propageddon’ With Record Frack
Bloomberg
The era of the monster frack has arrived in North America, and Chesapeake Energy Corp. is singing its praises.
Tapping landfills to generate power seemed smart. So why is the industry threatened?
LA Times
Tapping methane produced from decaying garbage in landfills to generate electricity was among California’s earliest experiments in renewable energy.
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-methane-gas-conundrum-20161021-snap-story.html
High Praise for Toxics Release Inventory at 30
Bloomberg
Thirty years after coming into existence, the Toxics Release Inventory database received high praise from activists and academics at an Oct. 19 TRI national training conference.
http://www.bna.com/high-praise-toxics-n57982079009/
VW Settlement Specifically Targets Overburdened Communities
Bloomberg
Low income and minority communities stand to directly benefit under the proposed $14.7 billion Volkswagen settlement that was negotiated with them specifically in mind, a unique approach from previous mobile source settlements.
http://www.bna.com/vw-settlement-specifically-n57982079007/
Opinion
Our advice for beach: Clean up the water
Sun Herald
Imagine driving across Mississippi with a vanload of inquisitive children. Destination: The Mississippi Coast. Miles of beach to run down, acres of sand to play in. Oh, and water to splash around in.
http://www.sunherald.com/opinion/editorials/article109696032.html
It’s time we let some facts get in way of climate-change deniers
Paul Hampton
Sun Herald
I wonder what the world will look like when our elected officials finally “get it.”
I’ll know they get it when I get a press release from one of our congress members saying something’s going on with the climate and we have to fix it now.
http://www.sunherald.com/opinion/other-voices/article109696437.html
