State
Downed Aerators Cited In Smelly Lagoon
North Mississippi Herald
ATER VALLEY – Unusual January weather and multiple downed aerators at the City of Water Valley’s wastewater treatment plant was the culprit in the strong odor many residents noticed during January.
http://yalnews.com/contentitem/420710/1175/downed-aerators-cited-in-smelly-lagoon
Hinds, Rankin Battle for Wastewater Treatment
Jackson Free Press
The City of Jackson's monopoly on wastewater treatment for the region lost ground last week as a Rankin chancery court agreed with an earlier decision to allow the West Rankin Utility Authority to build its own wastewater-treatment facility on the Pearl River.
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2017/feb/01/hinds-rankin-battle-wastewater-treatment/
Water contact advisory issued for 2 Rankin Co. creeks
WAPT
FLORENCE, Miss. —The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality ( MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Wednesday for two creeks in the Florence area in Rankin County.
https://wapt.relaymedia.com/amp/article/water-contact-advisory-issued-for-2-rankin-co-creeks/8664875
MDEQ issues water contact advisory for Indian Creek and Steen Creek in Rankin County
WLBT
RANKIN COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has issued a water contact advisory Wednesday for two creeks in the City of Florence area in Rankin County.
MDEQ issues water contact advisory for 2 Rankin County creeks
WJTV
RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has issued a water contact advisory for two creeks in the City of Florence area in Rankin County.
http://wjtv.com/2017/02/01/mdeq-issues-water-contact-advisory-for-2-rankin-county-creeks/
Tanker truck overturns in Tupelo
WTVA
TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - No injuries are being reported after a tanker truck overturns in Tupelo.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34409357/tanker-overturns-in-tupelo
Diesel leak contained after 3 big rigs crash on I-10 in Biloxi
WLOX
BILOXI, MS (WLOX) -The eastbound side of I-10 in Biloxi is open to traffic again after three 18-wheelers crashed near the Cedar Lake exit.
http://www.wlox.com/story/34399163/diesel-leak-contained-after-3-big-rigs-crash-on-i-10-in-biloxi
KEMPER MAKES ELECTRICITY, BUT MORE WORK, COST REVIEW AHEAD
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - More than $4 billion over budget and more than two years late, Mississippi Power Co. announced Tuesday that its $7.1 billion Kemper County plant is finally making electricity from gasified lignite coal.
So you think you can fish?
Clarion Ledger
The Mississippi Museum of Natural Science will host "So you think can fish?" this weekend and attendees can learn from top names in catfishing and kayak fishing.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2017/02/01/so-you-think-you-can-fish/97348048/
House passes bill to divert $20M for Jackson infrastructure
Clarion Ledger
The House passed a Capitol Complex Improvement District bill that would divert an additional $20 million annually in sales tax revenue to Jackson for infrastructure improvements.
Regional
Environmentalists sue to block TVA wells in Memphis aquifer
Commercial Appeal
Two environmental groups filed a court challenge Wednesday seeking to block the Tennessee Valley Authority from pumping millions of gallons of water daily from the Memphis Sand aquifer to cool a power plant.
Federal utility expected to close trial over pollution claim
AP
NASHVILLE, TENN.
The Tennessee Valley Authority is expected to conclude a trial in which environmental groups accuse the utility's power plant outside Nashville, Tennessee, of illegally polluting the Cumberland River with coal ash.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article130271684.html
National
Battle over EPA pick is big business
The Hill
Outside groups are spending millions in the Senate battle over confirming Scott Pruitt, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/317472-battle-over-epa-pick-is-big-business
Dems boycott committee vote on Trump’s EPA pick
The Hill
Senate Democrats on Wednesday boycotted a committee vote on President Trump’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), preventing the GOP from moving his confirmation forward.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/317311-dems-boycott-committee-vote-on-trumps-epa-pick
GOP House votes to reject Obama administration stream protection rule
CNN
Washington (CNN)The Republican-led Congress took its first steps Wednesday to roll back environmental, financial disclosure and energy regulations put in place by the Obama administration.
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/01/politics/stream-protection-rule/index.html
Press Releases
Olson, Capito, Flake, Manchin, Flores, Latta Reintroduce Ozone Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) were joined today by Representatives Pete Olson (R-Texas), Bill Flores (R-Texas) and Bob Latta (R-Ohio) in reintroducing the Ozone Standards Implementation Act in the 115th Congress. This legislation, which was introduced in both the House and Senate, would update how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) addresses ozone requirements in the Clean Air Act.
Currently, the EPA must review national ambient air quality standards every five years. This has resulted in new ozone standards being issued before previous standards are implemented, leaving states faced with the prospect of simultaneously implementing two ozone standards. The Ozone Standards Implementation Act would elongate the time between each review from five years to 10 years, making it easier and more cost-effective for states to comply.
“In West Virginia and across the country, states have suffered job losses and economic devastation under the regulatory burdens of the previous administration. The Ozone Standards Implementation Act will provide more clarity, more regulatory certainty, and ease the economic burden of never-ending overreach,” said Senator Capito.
“This commonsense bill provides relief from the EPA’s burdensome ozone standard requirements and builds on the ORDEAL Act’s efforts to streamline costly agency regulations,” said Senator Flake. “Eliminating regulatory uncertainty will allow states and businesses to focus on creating jobs instead of complying with federal mandates.”
“I’ve always said we need to strike a balance between the environment and the economy and the Ozone Standards Implementation Act will do just that,” Senator Manchin said. “The current EPA rule is reviewed and implemented too frequently and leaves states unsure on which standards to implement, creating unnecessary confusion. This legislation also requires the EPA to consider technological feasibility when revising standards and report the impacts of foreign emissions to Congress. We must hold the EPA accountable and streamline these overreaching regulations that have been crippling West Virginia’s economy.”
"Our nation has worked hard to reduce ozone levels and improve air quality. As we continue this progress, we need to give states better tools to meet air quality goals efficiently. As we work to keep this trend moving in the right direction, this bill provides needed flexibility so that states and localities can properly achieve new, lower standards with time for compliance. I'm pleased that we have strong, early support for this bill in both the House and Senate,” Rep. Pete Olson said.
“The Ozone Standards Implementation Act gives states the needed time to fully implement two different ozone standards sequentially in a realistic and coordinated manner. By harmonizing the EPA’s conflicting ozone standards, this bill provides for a more efficient implementation process and protects American jobs and public health,” said Rep. Bill Flores.
“Providing more time and flexibility for states to implement the EPA’s 2015 standards will lower regulatory costs that harm job creation in our energy, manufacturing, and chemical sectors," said Rep. Bob Latta. "While we all share the goal of clean air, this legislation alleviates the challenges that many states, including Ohio, are facing as they seek to meet the new requirements. This bill is commonsense legislation that allows us to maintain high environmental standards without placing an undue burden on our economy."
The Ozone Standards Implementation Act also addresses the overlap between standards that were issued in 2008 and 2015. States did not receive implementation guidelines for the 2008 ozone standards until March 2015. Seven months later, in October 2015, the EPA issued new standards to replace the existing 2008 standards, which states are still working to comply with. This bill extends the compliance date for the 2015 standards to 2025. It also directs the EPA to submit a report to Congress within two years regarding the impact of foreign pollutions sources on compliance.
In addition to Senators Capito, Flake and Manchin, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act is co-sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.).
Highlights of the Ozone Standards Implementation Act:
Revised Timelines
· Changes the mandatory review of national ambient air quality standards from five years to 10 years.
· Phases in implementation of the 2008 and 2015 ozone standards, extending the compliance date for the 2015 standards to 2025.
Consideration of Feasibility
· Calls on the EPA to consider technological feasibility when revising standards.
Congressional Oversight
· EPA shall submit a report to Congress within two years regarding the impacts of foreign emissions on compliance and related matters.
Click here to view a one-pager on the bill.
Click here to view the bill text.
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MDEQ Announces Waste Disposal Opportunities for Forrest, Lamar, and Perry Counties
(JACKSON, Miss.) -- The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), announced Wednesday that there will be two opportunities for disposal of household hazardous wastes, white goods, and electronic wastes for residents of Forrest, Lamar, and Perry counties impacted by the tornado outbreak on January 21.
The wastes will be collected at the Hattiesburg-Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport at Gate 1 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10, and Saturday, February 11.
Household hazardous wastes are chemicals used to maintain homes, yards, or used in equipment. Accepted wastes will include household chemicals such as insecticides, poisons, herbicides, used oil and gasoline, paint, solvents, and fertilizers. Other wastes will also be accepted such as thermostats, lighting ballasts, computers, televisions, lead batteries, and cell phones. White goods accepted include refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and hot water heaters.
For questions, contact the Forrest County EOC at 601-544-5911 or the MDEQ Solid Waste staff at 601-961-5171. More information about solid waste is available at www.deq.state.ms.us/solidwaste.
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MDEQ Issues Water Contact Advisory for Indian Creek and Steen Creek in Rankin County
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a water contact advisory Wednesday for two creeks in the City of Florence area in Rankin County. An advisory is issued for a segment of Indian Creek from its intersection with Highway 469 east of Florence to where it flows into Steen Creek. The advisory on Steen Creek extends from that point until it crosses White Road west-southwest of Florence (see attached map).
The advisory is being issued due to a failed lift station located on Highway 49 south of Florence that resulted in a release of wastewater into Indian Creek. The city is working on repairs and informs MDEQ that they expect the lift station to be repaired by tomorrow.
MDEQ recommends that people avoid water contact such as swimming, wading, and fishing. People should also avoid eating fish or anything else taken from these waters until further notice.
MDEQ has taken samples and will continue to monitor the water quality in the creeks and will revise the advisory as needed.
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