State
DEQ finds violations at man camp site
Enterprise-Journal
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has notified the owner of an unoccupied workforce housing site of alleged violations of erosion control regulations.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_df55416e-f46b-11e6-b885-770c7721bc24.html
Miss. Recycling Coalition announces school grant award recipients
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTV)-- The Mississippi Recycling Coalition, or MRC, announced the award of five Mississippi School Recycling Grants for the 2016-2017 School Year to schools in Batesville, Guntown, New Albany, Philadelphia, and Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34525779/miss-recycling-coalition-announces-school-grant-award-recipients
USDA/NRCS Soil Health Initiative in Mississippi
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA)--The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Science, NRCS, has established a statewide Soil Health Initiative that focuses on building soil health and productivity.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34527474/usdanrcs-soil-health-initiative-in-mississippi
Sustainable farmers urge lawmakers to rethink 'burdensome' rules
Mississippi Today
Beth Simmons, who co-owns Nature's Gourmet Farm in Petal with her husband, said she believes agriculture regulations in Mississippi tend to favor industrial farms over smaller, sustainable farms like hers.
http://mississippitoday.org/2017/02/16/sustainable-farmers-urge-lawmakers-to-rethink-burdensome-rules/
Gov. Bryant named as Honorary Chairman by Mossy Oak
NewsMS
Mossy Oak has launched an initiative that has named Governor Phil Bryant as the State of Mississippi's Honorary Chairman of Sportsmen Organized for Law Enforcement (S.O.L.E.).
http://newsms.fm/gov-bryant-named-as-honorary-chairman-by-mossy-oak/
Oxford's Richard Howorth elected TVA chair
Oxford Eagle
Former Oxford mayor and Square Books owner Richard Howorth has been elected chair of the Tennessee Valley Authority.
http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2017/02/16/oxfords-richard-howorth-elected-tva-chair/
Turkey season forecast mixed
Clarion Ledger
Strong turkey hatches in parts of the state should offer hunters improved opportunities and if the warm weather continues, expect a lot of gobbling early in the season.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2017/02/17/turkey-season-forecast-mixed/97985988/
RESERVOIR IMPROVEMENTS
Northside Sun
Reservoir officials are looking into improving the Madison Landing site.
During the parks policy committee meeting on February 13, officials accepted a $60,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
http://northsidesun.com/news/reservoir-improvements#sthash.pshwjf7N.dpbs
Continental hires Miss. companies for 30 percent of work
Clarion Ledger
A Jackson engineering firm will receive a portion of the engineering design and program management contract for the new Continental Tire plant in Hinds County.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2017/02/16/continental-hires-miss-companies-30-percent-work/97992616/
Toyota donates $750K to Mississippi museums
Clarion Ledger
Toyota officials announced a donation $750,000 Thursday to the Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, both under construction in downtown Jackson.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2017/02/16/toyota-donates-to-mississippi-museums/97992330/
LEGISLATORS JUGGLING STATE NEEDS AND SHORTFALLS
MPB
Mississippi's budget woes continue to keep legislators juggling the needs of the state with shortfalls in tax revenues. There's some growth but not enough.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2017/02/17/budget-woes-keeps-legislators-juggling-state-needs-and-shortfalls/
13 things you need to know about the state economy
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi lawmakers, as they get down to brass tacks on a roughly $6 billion state budget, on Thursday received their "Legislative Economic Briefing" from State Economist Darrin Webb and Deputy Treasurer Jesse Graham.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/16/state-economic-briefing/97993092/
Bishop James L. Black leads with conviction
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -Bishop James L. Black of Biloxi was active in the Boy Scouts, and served in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine.
http://www.wlox.com/story/34526194/bishop-james-l-black-leads-with-conviction
Oil Spill
Coast senators will be closely watching this BP bill
Sun Herald
Coast senators said they will be closely watching a Senate bill that deals with BP money as it heads to the House.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article133216914.html
It is rocket science and it's here at Stennis and Infinity
Sun Herald
HANCOCK COUNTY
NASA's Stennis Space Center is already on a mission to Mars and Infinity Science Center lets visitors build a hurricane — and the directors at both centers want to do more.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/technology/article133069544.html
Regional
Toxic sites in Louisiana: 15 of the state's most polluted places
Times-Picayune
troubling history with humans
Louisiana has a history of man-made environmental disasters, from the worsening "dead sea" off the Gulf of Mexico to the high-profile BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010. But many incidents of damage fly under the radar. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, however, keeps a priority list of toxic sites as part of its "Superfund" program.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2017/02/pollution_louisiana_27_epa_sup.html#incart_river_index
Late night earthquakes shake parts of Alabama
WTVA
TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, Ala. (WTVA) -- Two late night earthquake have shaken parts of Tuscaloosa County in Alabama.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34529817/early-morning-earthquakes-shake-parts-of-alabama
National
Senate on track to confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator
AP
WASHINGTON
Senate Republicans are poised to use their majority to confirm President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, despite calls from Democrats for a delay.
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/national-politics/article133303384.html
Judge: EPA nominee Pruitt must provide records of meetings
AP
OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma judge Thursday ordered state Attorney General Scott Pruitt, President Donald Trump's pick to head the Environmental Protection Agency, to turn over documents related to Pruitt's communications with coal, oil and natural gas corporations that an advocacy group has sought for more than two years.
http://www.startribune.com/judge-oklahoma-ag-must-provide-records-sought-for-2-years/414007003/
E.P.A. Workers Try to Block Pruitt in Show of Defiance
NY Times
WASHINGTON — Employees of the Environmental Protection Agency have been calling their senators to urge them to vote on Friday against the confirmation of Scott Pruitt, President Trump's contentious nominee to run the agency, a remarkable display of activism and defiance that presages turbulent times ahead for the E.P.A.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/16/us/politics/scott-pruitt-environmental-protection-agency.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fearth&action=click&contentCollection=earth®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0
The EPA's social-media accounts have been silent since the inauguration
Washington Post
Nearly a month after the presidential inauguration — and after being subject to temporary media blackout shortly thereafter — the Environmental Protection Agency has remained silent on social media, even while other federal agencies have gone on communicating as usual. In fact, the agency has posted nothing on its official Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts since Jan. 19, the day before President Trump was sworn into office.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/02/16/the-epas-social-media-accounts-have-been-silent-since-the-inauguration/?utm_term=.c290b0ec37e5
Trump signs bill undoing Obama coal mining rule
The Hill
President Trump on Thursday signed legislation ending a key Obama administration coal mining rule.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/319938-trump-signs-bill-undoing-obama-coal-mining-rule
Scientists have just detected a major change to the Earth's oceans linked to a warming climate
Washington Post
A large research synthesis, published in one of the world's most influential scientific journals, has detected a decline in the amount of dissolved oxygen in oceans around the world — a long-predicted result of climate change that could have severe consequences for marine organisms if it continues.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/02/15/its-official-the-oceans-are-losing-oxygen-posing-growing-threats-to-marine-life/
Arizona Plant Poses First Test of Donald Trump's Support for Coal Sector
Navajo Nation president appeals to White House to save facility from shutdown
WSJ
WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump's promise to help the coal industry could be facing its first big test: the decision earlier this week to close a large Arizona coal-burning power plant, and a demand that Mr. Trump prevent that shutdown.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/arizona-plant-poses-first-test-of-donald-trumps-support-for-coal-sector-1487287788
Energy Companies Face Crude Reality: Better to Leave It in the Ground
High costs, low prices and tough new environmental rules forcing companies to cancel plans to produce oil
WSJ
A new era of low crude prices and stricter regulations on climate change is pushing energy companies and resource-rich governments to confront the possibility that some fossil-fuel resources are likely to be left in the ground.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/energy-companies-face-crude-reality-better-to-leave-it-in-the-ground-1487327406
North Dakota, feds address garbage left at pipeline protest camp
AP
BISMARCK, N.D. – Federal and state officials announced plans Wednesday to accelerate cleanup at a camp in southern North Dakota that has housed hundreds and sometimes thousands of Dakota Access pipeline opponents.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/feb/15/north-dakota-feds-address-garbage-left-at-pipeline/
Pennsylvania to release probe results on quakes, fracking
AP
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Pennsylvania environmental regulators are set to release the findings of their investigation into a series of minor earthquakes that took place near fracking operations by an oil and gas company.
http://abc27.com/2017/02/17/pennsylvania-to-release-probe-results-on-quakes-fracking/
Opinion
Don't Wimp Out on Climate
If Trump doesn't dump the Paris accord, his economic agenda is in jeopardy.
WSJ
By KIMBERLEY A. STRASSEL
President Trump will soon turn his attention to another major campaign promise—rolling back the Obama climate agenda—and according to one quoted administration source his executive orders on that topic will "suck the air out of the room." That's good, but only if Team Trump finishes the job by casting into that vacuum the Paris climate accord.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-wimp-out-on-climate-1487290672
Press Releases
USDA/NRCS Soil Health Initiative in Mississippi
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS), has established a statewide Soil Health Initiative that
focuses on building soil health and productivity. Mississippi cropland and pastureland
are eligible for this initiative. Applications received by March 17, 2017 will be
considered in the first ranking period.
This Soil Health Initiative will assist to improve the visibility, accessibility and participation
in soil health programs and technical services under the Environmental Quality Incentive
Program (EQIP). EQIP programs help to reduce the carbon footprint, increase water
infiltration and improve wildlife habitat, all while helping farmers realize better crop yields.
"As the world population grows, so does the demand for food production," stated Kurt Readus,
NRCS State Conservationist in Mississippi. "A growing number of farmers are using soil
health management systems to improve the health and functions of their soil."
More farmers are increasing their soil's organic matter and improving microbial activity
by practicing good soil health principles. The top resource concerns in Mississippi are
associated with water quality the soil health initiative helps to address sediment & nutrient
reduction, soil quality, water quality, and water supply. Farmers are addressing these
concerns by practicing diverse crop rotation by planting diverse species and reducing tillage.
"We recognize the growing interest in soil health management," stated Readus.
"For this initiative, we hope to see more implementation of conservation practices that
support soil health."
Landowners interested in participating in the Soil Health Initiative may apply at their local
USDA Service Center / NRCS office. NRCS financial-assistance programs offer a continuous
sign-up; however, applications received by March 17, 2017, will be considered in the first ranking period.
To locate the nearest NRCS office: http://offices.sc.egov.usda.gov/locator/app.
