State
EPA: Grenada workers exposed to high levels of toxins
Clarion Ledger
Hundreds of workers at a Grenada manufacturing facility in the northern Mississippi town are likely breathing toxic air throughout their normal workday.
Yokohama's zinc levels exceed limits
Commercial Dispatch
Yokohama's tire manufacturing operation in West Point is asking the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to modify its wastewater pretreatment permit to allow for more zinc discharge.
http://www.cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=55583
MDEQ lifts water warning for a section of the Mississippi Sound, two other sections still unsafe for swimming
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality lifted a water contact advisory Friday for Bay St. Louis Beach from the box culvert near St. Charles Street east to Ballantine Street.
City reviewing costs of replacing key part of wastewater treatment facility
Vicksburg Post
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen could learn the cost of replacing a damaged primary clarifier at the city’s wastewater treatment plant Tuesday.
Starkville leaders to discuss loan for water, sewer work
WTVA
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) -- Starkville city leaders will spend part of their meeting Tuesday night discussing improving sewer service to parts of the city.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34271238/starkville-leaders-to-discuss-loan-for-water-sewer-work
New speckled trout size restrictions go into effect
WLOX
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) -Anglers hitting the water in pursuit of Mississippi’s most popular sport fish have some new size guidelines to consider before throwing their catch into the cooler.
http://www.wlox.com/story/34270471/new-speckled-trout-size-restrictions-go-into-effect
The Mississippi invention that saved the Live oaks on U.S. 49
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
They are alive and thriving — a group of huge Live oaks that “died” in 2010.
What helped save the trees in the median of U.S. 49 near the county line was a patented Mississippi invention.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article126630974.html
Pay raises raise ire of lawmakers
Clarion Ledger
Thousands of pay raises given by state agencies amid drastic budget cuts and revenue shortfalls have drawn the ire of some lawmakers as they ponder more cuts to the coming year’s budget.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/01/16/government-pay-raises/96632860/
Analysis: Tax cuts and economy weigh on Mississippi revenues
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
As Gov. Phil Bryant cut state budgets by $51 million last week, he and Republican lawmakers went through the ritual obligations of sorrow and dismay.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article126468199.html
Oil Spill
Will the Coast see BP money in 2017? Don’t hold your breath
Sun Herald
BAY ST. LOUIS
Rep. David Baria, D-Bay St. Louis, hosted a two-hour meeting with the residents of Hancock County on Saturday morning at the Bay St. Louis Library. Among the topics was the BP economic-damages money and where and when it will be spent.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/hancock-county/article126626584.html
House won't consider using BP money for tourist incentives
News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE - Don't expect settlement money from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster to be used directly to attract tourists or new businesses, House lawmakers said, as they consider how to flow the cash into Gulf Coast counties.
http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20170113/house-wont-consider-using-bp-money-for-tourist-incentives
Regional
Watts Bar recovered from ash spill
Knoxville News Sentinel
The ecosystem in the Watts Bar area that was affected by the 2008 TVA Kingston Fossil Plant coal ash spill has returned to its pre-spill state, the Environmental Protection Agency said Thursday.
http://www.knoxnews.com/story/money/business/2017/01/13/watts-bar-recovered-ash-spill/96547126/
$663 million proposed for coastal restoration, levees in FY 2018
Times-Picayune
Louisiana could spend $663 million on coastal restoration and levee projects in fiscal year 2018, with 56 percent of the money -- $371 million - used for construction, according to a draft coastal annual plan being considered by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Sorrento dump’s strong smell leads woman to fire shotgun in air, deputies say
The Advocate
A vocal critic and next-door neighbor of the BFI Colonial Landfill south of Sorrento was arrested Monday morning after she yelled at workers about the noxious smell from the dump and fired her shotgun into the air, sheriff's deputies said.
Conservation groups decry Louisiana's lack of regulation of turtle trade
The Advocate
Before they become pets in Turkey or ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine, many of the world's commercially-sold turtles hatch in Louisiana.
Ultimately, it's 'up to the crawfish,' but industry seeing mixed bag after August floods
The Advocate
Crawfish farmers and retailers alike are starting to get an idea of what their upcoming season will be like following a roller coaster year for weather marked by record setting rainfall and historic floods.
NC lawmakers seek permanent race car exemption from EPA anti-pollution standard
Charlotte Observer
WASHINGTON
After a scare last year among auto racing fans that the federal Environmental Protection Agency might enforce a new anti-pollution regulation affecting the industry, some North Carolina Republicans in Congress want a new law to protect the sport.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article126359939.html
National
Supreme Court to hear case concerning Obama water rule
The Hill
The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a case over a specific issue arising from President Obama’s Clean Water Rule — the fight over the proper federal court venue for challenging the rule.
Scott Pruitt, Trump’s E.P.A. Pick, Backed Industry Donors Over Regulators
NY Times
WASHINGTON — A legal fight to clean up tons of chicken manure fouling the waters of Oklahoma’s bucolic northeastern corner — much of it from neighboring Arkansas — was in full swing six years ago when the conservative lawyer Scott Pruitt took office as Oklahoma’s attorney general.
Trump’s nominee to head EPA has opposed the Chesapeake Bay cleanup
Washington Post
Oklahoma is 1,400 miles from the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay at Havre de Grace, Md., halfway across the country. But the distance didn’t matter to Oklahoma’s attorney general, Scott Pruitt, after the Environmental Protection Agency drew up a plan to clean the polluted bay. He tried to stop it.
Interior secretary pick to face questions on climate, public lands
CNN
President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for interior secretary will kick off this week of confirmation hearings, and he's expected to face tough questions on climate change and the use of public lands from both sides of the aisle.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/17/politics/ryan-zinke-interior-secretary-confirmation-hearing/index.html
EPA Says It Can't Pay Economic Damages From Mine Spill
AP
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday it will not repay claims totaling more than $1.2 billion for economic damages from a mine waste spill the agency accidentally triggered in Colorado, saying the law prohibits it.
The EPA said the claims could be refiled in federal court, or Congress could authorize payments.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/apnewsbreak-epa-pay-damages-mine-spill-44766524
EPA moves to preserve gas mileage requirements before Trump takes office
LA Times
The Environmental Protection Agency could have waited until April of next year to set fuel economy standards for cars and passenger trucks in stone. Instead, it did so Friday — exactly a week before President-elect Donald J. Trump is to be sworn into office.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hy-epa-mileage-standards-20170113-story.html
EPA tentatively rejects request from Maryland, other states, to act on interstate smog
Baltimore Sun
The Environmental Protection Agency has tentatively denied a request from Maryland and seven other states that it crack down on pollution that blows across state borders — though not because regulators don't recognize that interstate smog is a problem.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-upwind-air-pollution-20170112-story.html
EPA registers Dow’s Enlist Duo herbicide for related cotton technology
Delta Farm Press
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has expanded the use of Enlist Duo herbicide to include Enlist cotton after previously registering the technology for use on Enlist corn and Enlist soybeans in 15 states.
EPA's bee decisions are sweet for growers, but they sting environmentalists
LA Times
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency backed away from tough restrictions on how pesticides can be used while honeybees are pollinating crops, and it declared that three of the pesticides most closely associated with bee deaths are safe in most applications.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-bees-epa-20170113-story.html
How Fiat Chrysler's diesel woes differ from VW's
USA Today
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles found itself with its own diesel emissions debacle on its hands Friday --and the possibility of fines, repairs and a publicity black eye that go with it.
Position cuts, mission shift lead to scaled-back DNR
AP
MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Scott Walker promised to transform the state Department of Natural Resources. And he has, cutting scientists, shrinking its budget and pushing the agency to be more receptive to industry.
http://www.startribune.com/position-cuts-mission-shift-lead-to-scaled-back-dnr/410767625/
Federal agencies agree to better address lead contamination
AP
EAST CHICAGO, Ind. (AP) — A new joint agreement between federal agencies aims to deal with lead contamination of subsidized housing in the wake of the crisis in East Chicago that has led to the relocation of more than 1,000 people.
http://wlfi.com/2017/01/13/federal-agencies-agree-to-better-address-lead-contamination/
For Shale Drillers, Rising Oil Prices Also Come With Rising Costs
Much of shale firms’ savings during downturn came at expense of oil-field-services firms, which aim to raise prices
WSJ
U.S. shale drillers that proved resilient during the oil downturn face a new test in 2017: Can they make money producing more now that prices have stabilized?
Opinion
Sen. Barrasso: For 8 years the EPA has made life hard for too many Americans. That’s about to change
Fox News
Seventy-five thousand dollars per day. That’s how much the Environmental Protection Agency threatened to fine a private land owner in my home state of Wyoming. The crime: digging a pond in his back yard.
Press Releases
WEATHER A WINNER FOR DUCK POPULATION
JACKSON – The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) completed its early January aerial waterfowl survey this week as part of the nationwide Mid-Winter Waterfowl Survey. Estimates for both mallards and total ducks were the highest observed since MDWFP began using its current survey methods in 2005. The survey estimate of the Mississippi Delta is 1,442,406 total ducks, including 678,235 mallards.
The extreme cold weather which swept across the country late last week and remained through early portions of this week likely had a significant impact on the number of birds arriving in Mississippi. “The widespread snowfall and icy conditions that reached into the South over the last several consecutive days forced large numbers of waterfowl to migrate in search of milder weather and available wetland habitat,” said Houston Havens, MDWFP Waterfowl Program Coordinator.
Mississippi usually receives peak waterfowl numbers during the month of January, when the waterfowl hunting season is in full swing. The regular waterfowl season will continue through January 29, followed by the final youth waterfowl hunting day on February 4. Goose hunting seasons will have a final season segment February 4 – 15, 2017. Look at the latest report below
january-2017-waterfowl-reports
http://www.wcbi.com/weather-winner-duck-population/
New Speckled Trout rules begin Jan. 16, 2017
for recreational fishermen
BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources are reminding fishermen that the new minimum size limit for Speckled Trout goes into effect Monday, Jan. 16.
The Commission on Marine Resources voted in December to increase the size limit to 15 inches for recreational fishermen and to prohibit charter vessel captains and crew from keeping a daily bag limit. The daily limit for Speckled Trout remains at 15.
MDMR scientists completed a peer-reviewed stock assessment of Speckled Trout in 2016 and determined that the agency needed to take action to increase the stock of this popular fish.
“We have seen an increase in recreational fishing over the past 10 years, and because of that, we’re taking more Speckled Trout out of the population,” said Jamie Miller, executive director of MDMR.
“Our scientists ran several different models to determine the best way to increase the spawning potential ratio, and they found that increasing the size limit from 13 inches to 15 inches would produce the best results. We believe that this will help us get to a sustainable stock of Speckled Trout in the next three to five years.”
For the latest information regarding Speckled Trout regulations, call 1-844-SPECK16 (773-2516) or send an email to speckinfo@dmr.ms.gov.
Carbon Pollution Standards for Cars and Light Trucks to Remain Unchanged Through 2025
Standards offer savings for U.S. consumers; automakers can comply at lower than expected costs
WASHINGTON — Today, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy finalized her decision to maintain the current greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for model years 2022-2025 cars and light trucks. The final determination finds that a wide variety of effective technologies are available to reduce GHG emissions from cars and light trucks, and that automakers are well positioned to meet the standards through model year 2025 at lower costs than predicted.
“My decision today rests on the technical record created by over eight years of research, hundreds of published reports including an independent review by the National Academy of Sciences, hundreds of stakeholder meetings, and multiple opportunities for the public and the industry to provide input,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “At every step in the process the analysis has shown that the greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and light trucks remain affordable and effective through 2025, and will save American drivers billions of dollars at the pump while protecting our health and the environment.”
The standards are projected to result in average fleet-wide consumer fuel economy sticker values of 36 miles per gallon (mpg) by model year 2025, 10 mpg higher than the current fleet average. Since the first year of the GHG standards, manufacturers have been developing and adopting fuel economy technologies at unprecedented rates. At the same time, the American car industry has been thriving. Since 2010, the industry has had seven consecutive years of sales growth, with 2016 setting a record high for vehicle sales. The Administrator is retaining the current standards to provide regulatory certainty for the auto industry despite a technical record that suggests the standards could be made more stringent.
Retaining the current standards preserves the significant cuts in harmful carbon pollution expected from the original standards, and provides regulatory certainty for this global industry that must meet similar standards in other markets including Canada and Europe.
The Midterm Evaluation process was established as a part of the 2012 final greenhouse gas emissions standards for model years 2017-2025. This decision follows the Proposed Determination issued by the EPA Administrator in November 2016, and the Draft Technical Assessment Report, issued jointly by the EPA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) in July 2016. The Administrator considered the extensive public input on both these documents in reaching her final determination.
For more information on today’s announcement, go to: https://www.epa.gov/otaq/climate/mte.htm
For the First Time in 40 Years EPA to Put in Place a Process to Evaluate Chemicals that May Pose Risk
New chemical law requires the agency to look at chemicals that were grandfathered in under old law
WASHINGTON--The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving swiftly to propose how it will prioritize and evaluate chemicals, given that the final processes must be in place within the first year of the new law’s enactment, or before June 22, 2017.
“After 40 years we can finally address chemicals currently in the marketplace,” said Jim Jones, EPA's Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. “Today’s action will set into motion a process to quickly evaluate chemicals and meet deadlines required under, and essential to, implementing the new law.”
When the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was enacted in 1976, it grandfathered in thousands of unevaluated chemicals that were in commerce at the time. The old law failed to provide EPA with the tools to evaluate chemicals and to require companies to generate and provide data on chemicals they produced.
EPA is proposing three rules to help administer the new process. They are:
Inventory rule. There are currently over 85,000 chemicals on EPA’s Inventory, many of these are no longer actively produced. The rule will require manufacturers, including importers, to notify EPA and the public on the number of chemicals still being produced.
Prioritization rule. This will establish how EPA will prioritize chemicals for evaluation. EPA will use a risk-based screening process and criteria to identify whether a particular chemical is either high or low priority. A chemical designated as high-priority must undergo evaluation. Chemicals designated as low-priority are not required to undergo evaluation.
Risk Evaluation rule. This will establish how EPA will evaluate the risk of existing chemicals. The agency will identify steps for the risk evaluation process, including publishing the scope of the assessment. Chemical hazards and exposures will be assessed along with characterizing and determining risks. This rule also outlines how the agency intends to seek public comment on chemical evaluations.
These three rules incorporate comments received from a series of public meetings held in August 2016.
If EPA identifies unreasonable risk in the evaluation, it is required to eliminate that risk through regulations. Under TSCA the agency must have at least 20 ongoing risk evaluations by the end of 2019.
Comments on the proposed rules must be received 60 days after date of publication in the Federal Register. At that time, go to the dockets at: https://www.regulations.gov/ and search for: HQ-OPPT-2016-0426 for the inventory rule; HQ-OPPT-2016-0636 for the prioritization rule; and HQ-OPPT-2016-0654 for the risk evaluation rule.
Learn more about today’s proposals: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/frank-r-lautenberg-chemical-safety-21st-century-act-5
Learn more about the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/frank-r-lautenberg-chemical-safety-21st-century-act.
