State
SEVENTH AVENUE BOX CULVERT PROJECT COMPLETION
WCBI
COLUMBUS,Miss.(WCBI)—For decades the people who lived around the old Kerr McGee plant in Columbus have been fighting for funds to clean up their neighborhood.
http://www.wcbi.com/video-seventh-avenue-box-culvert-project-completion/
City, neighbors celebrate an improved 7th Avenue
WTVA
COLUMBUS, Miss. (WTVA) -- A sigh of relief has come for some neighbors in one Columbus community.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34336419/city-neighbors-celebrate-a-new-7th-avenue
Environmental Quality building could be named for Nunnelee
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
Mississippi lawmakers are working to name a state building in honor of a congressman who died in 2015.
The House voted unanimously Tuesday to name the headquarters of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality as the Patrick Alan Nunnelee building.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article128496454.html
'Use money to clean up Sound' is a Coastian's comment on Lake George
Sun Herald
LUCEDALE
More than 250 people filled the Senior Citizen Building on Tuesday night to tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers what they think of the proposed Lake George project.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/george-county/article128560739.html
Workshop will screen well water for bacteria
WTVA
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - A workshop next month gives private well owners an opportunity to screen their well water for bacteria.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34337835/workshop-will-screen-well-water-for-bacteria
Lawsuit alleges Southern Co. wasn't truthful about progress at Kemper plant
Sun Herald
A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Southern Co. over Mississippi Power's construction of the Kemper County energy plant.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article128417389.html
World record longnose gar caught in Mississippi
Clarion Ledger
A Southaven man recently caught a world record longnose gar below the Sardis Lake spillway.
State personnel director to lead Mississippi Bar Association
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
The director of the agency that oversees Mississippi government employees will be moving to a new job.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/state/mississippi/article128509894.html
Oil Spill
Opportunity: Create Innovative Water Quality Solutions for the Mississippi Coast
ECO
Individuals, students, companies, and teams can compete to create innovative solutions for addressing untreated stormwater and improving water quality associated with beach outfalls. It is expected that the designs will be implemented at a larger scale across the Mississippi Coast.
Florida DEP secretary Jon Steverson going to work for firm that just got new DEP contract
Tampa Bay Times
At the end of January, two things will change about the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
One is that Secretary Jon Steverson will leave his post after two stormy years in charge, to take a new job with the law firm of Foley & Lardner.
National
Trump's EPA pick gets a boost but is still opposed by Senate Democrats
McClatchy
WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump's nomination of Scott Pruitt to lead the U.S. Environment Protection Agency got a lift Monday when the chair of a key Senate committee declared that the Oklahoma attorney general had been "comprehensively vetted," and was in need of no further questioning.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article128538719.html
EPA contract freeze, media blackout leave states confused
AP
WASHINGTON
A Trump administration freeze on new Environmental Protection Agency contracts and grant awards raised fears that states and other recipients could lose essential funding for drinking water protection, hazardous waste oversight and a host of other programs — while a communications blackout left them dangling in uncertainty.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/article128607159.html
At EPA, Trump administration orders news, social media blackout
AP
WASHINGTON -- The Trump administration has instituted a media blackout at the Environmental Protection Agency and barred staffers from awarding any new contracts or grants. It's part of a broader communications clampdown within the executive branch.
Trump administration tells EPA to cut climate page from website: sources
Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has instructed the Environmental Protection Agency to remove the climate change page from its website, two agency employees told Reuters, the latest move by the newly minted leadership to erase ex-President Barack Obama's climate change initiatives.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-administration-tells-epa-cut-climate-page-website-021207124.html
National park deletes tweets about climate science
The Hill
A national park Twitter account has deleted tweets it sentearly Tuesday about climate science.
Republican senator presses McMahon on EPA water rule
The Hill
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) pressed Linda McMahon, President Trump's nominee to head the Small Business Administration, on whether she'll push the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to repeal the Waters of the United States rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/315854-republican-sen-presses-mcmahon-on-epa-water-rule
Trump takes action to move forward with Keystone, Dakota Access pipelines
The Hill
President Trump on Tuesday moved two controversial pipeline projects forward by signing a pair of executive actions that could speed up approval of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access projects.
Flint, Michigan water has fallen below federal lead limit
AP
LANSING, Mich. -- Flint's water system no longer has levels of lead exceeding the federal limit, a key finding that Michigan state environmental officials said Tuesday is good news for a city whose 100,000 residents have been grappling with the man-made water crisis.
http://www.nola.com/traffic/index.ssf/2017/01/flint_michigan_water_below_fed.html#incart_river_index
Get Rich. Save the World. Gut Fish
Venture capitalist Ross Baird backs a radical plan to turn invasive Asian carp into American industry.
Bloomberg
Venture capitalist Ross Baird, 32, has red hair and an open face that calls to mind Happy Days-era Ron Howard. He's one of those preternaturally mature millennials who already has a developed philosophy, glossy academic credentials, and financial backing from important people for his fund, Village Capital. In high school at Phillips Exeter Academy, Mark Zuckerberg was the dormitory proctor who set up his e-mail. Plus, Baird wants to save the world while getting rich. All very Silicon Valley.
Press releases
MDEQ Offers Emergency Debris Guidance
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is working with officials and residents to assist with storm damage recovery and to provide guidance on proper debris management resulting from last weekend's tornado in the Pine Belt area. Information on emergency debris management is available at: www.deq.state.ms.us/solidwaste.
MDEQ is currently working with local officials on damage assessment to determine the best options for debris management. Local officials will provide information to residents on how and when storm debris will be collected and disposed. If residents choose to initiate debris removal, including structural debris, furnishings, vegetative debris, and other bulky materials, such debris should be disposed at area solid waste management facilities (see list here: http://bit.ly/2kdH5kN).
MDEQ reminds residents that storm debris should not be burned. Additionally, normal household garbage should not be mixed with storm debris but disposed of through normal garbage collection services as before the storm. MDEQ is currently evaluating whether separate collection services will be provided for household hazardous wastes.
If residents or local officials have questions or concerns about storm related debris clean up or other resulting environmental issues, please contact MDEQ Solid Waste staff at 601-961-5171.
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Updated Severe Weather Damage Reports: Tues. 10 a.m.
PEARL – Updated damage reports to the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency show a total of more than 1,400 homes damaged in eight counties, 715 of them were destroyed or sustained major damage. There were also four confirmed deaths and 60 injuries from tornadoes and severe storms on Jan 21-22.
Gov. Phil Bryant sent an official request for a Federal Disaster Declaration to President Donald J. Trump Monday night. The request is for Individual Assistance to help affected residents in Forrest, Lamar, Lauderdale and Perry counties.
A breakdown of damage by county:
Forrest: Four deaths and 56 injuries. 771 homes destroyed/major damage, 629 minor/affected.
Franklin: One home major damage and two bridges destroyed, one road with major damage.
Jones: Two injuries, three homes damaged.
Lamar: 26 homes destroyed/major damage, 52 minor. Two roads major damage.
Lauderdale: One injury, 10 homes, one business and one farm building destroyed/major damage, 11 homes minor damage.
Perry: One injury, six homes destroyed/major damage, five homes minor damage.
Pike: One home destroyed, five with minor damage.
Wilkinson: One home minor damage and seven roads with minor damage.
The National Weather Service in Jackson confirmed an EF-3 tornado struck portions of Lamar and Forrest counties, and an EF-2 touched town in Lauderdale County. NWS Mobile ruled an EF-2 tornado struck Perry County.
There are an estimated 1,180 residents without power, mostly in the Hattiesburg area, according to the Dixie Electric Power Association.
The State Emergency Operations Center remains activated with MEMA and key state agencies coordinating resources to the affected areas.
-more-
MS Department of Human Services & American Red Cross:
Forrest County 361 Saferoom/Shelter: 35 occupants reported; MS Department of Mental Health has a crisis team on site to assist with any potential needs.
MDHS provided 326 SNAP replacement benefits and issued applications to potential new clients.
Salvation Army:
- Three Canteen/Feeding Units are deployed in the Hattiesburg area.
MS Department of Public Safety:
- MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, & Parks has assigned 10 Special Response Team (SRT) officers to Hattiesburg Police Department.
- Mississippi Highway Patrol has 20 troopers in the city of Petal and eight assisting William Carey University.
MS National Guard:
- 22 National Guardsmen deployed to Forrest County assisting law enforcement.
MS Department of Health:
Administering Tetanus shots in the affected areas at Health Dept. offices.
MS Department of Education:
- Working with the Petal School District on the two damaged schools:
o Petal Upper Elementary and Petal Primary School.
MS Department of Environmental Quality:
- Coordinating with all affected counties on debris management and disposal plans.
MS Emergency Management Agency:
- Six generators provided to Forrest County.
- 3,000 tarps and 1,500 bottles of water delivered to affected areas.
- Seven Disaster Reservists activated.
Gov. Phil Bryant declared a State of Emergency and signed an executive order to authorize use of the National Guard on January 21st.
MEMA will provide updates as information becomes available. The best way to get up-to-date information during this event is to "Like" MEMA on Facebook, or "Follow" us on Twitter @msema.
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