State
PES implements composting to reduce cafeteria waste
WTOK
Philadelphia Elementary students are learning how to compost.
http://www.wtok.com/content/news/PES-implements-composting-to-reduce-cafeteria-waste-414376593.html
Landfill company fields questions about County Line Road proposal
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -A Canton based company is making another attempt at putting a landfill on County Line Road in Ridgeland.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/34563995/landfill-company-fields-questions-about-county-line-road-proposal
2 meetings held about proposed landfill in Ridgeland
WJTV
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) — A proposal for a new landfill is on the table in Ridgeland.
http://wjtv.com/2017/02/21/2-meetings-held-about-proposed-landfill-in-ridgeland/
Keep DeSoto County Beautiful wins national award
DeSoto Times-Tribune
A national award recently bestowed upon DeSoto County gives new meaning to the phrase that "one person's trash is another's treasure."
http://www.desototimes.com/news/keep-desoto-county-beautiful-wins-national-award/article_d4e71ef8-f84b-11e6-8c49-63075d6b7279.html
'One Lake' bill moves forward; fed money, approval pending
Clarion Ledger
A bill to help move the "One Lake" project forward passed the House overwhelmingly on Tuesday, but the flood control reservoir idea discussed and planned for decades still needs more federal approval and money.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/21/one-lake-bill/98214952/
CHRISTY NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF YMD
Leland Progress
Don Christy has been named the new Executive Director of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta Joint Water Management District (YMD). Christy, a Jackson native, has over 25 years experience working with water use policy, water quality, and water availability and supply. He holds an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Southern Mississippi; a Masters degree in Conservation Ecology from the University of Georgia; and a Doctorate in Ecology from the University of Georgia. Both his master’s and doctoral research focused on water resources policy.
In his new role, Christy will pull from his experience as the Chief of Staff at the regional office of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Atlanta, and his work assisting the Mississippi Legislature and Georgia General Assembly on environmental protection and water resource management policy issues.
“I believe water use is going to remain a most significant challenge for years to come,” said Christy. “There are opportunities to make an impact and address some challenges through conservation and irrigation efficiency and other means. I want to be part of that equation, and work with partners like DEQ, USGS, ARS, MSU, the Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Delta Council, Delta F.A.R.M., and Farm Bureau to come up with options for dealing with these challenges.”
The 17 counties that make up the YMD are Humphreys, Holmes, Tate, Carroll, Desoto, Panola, Issaquena, Yazoo, Sharkey, Tunica, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Coahoma, Leflore, Washington, Sunflower and Bolivar.
CMR debates restoration of oyster industry
WLOX
MOSS POINT, MS (WLOX) -Mississippi's oyster industry is in a re-building phase. The Commission on Marine Resources agrees on that. But there is much debate on choosing the best strategy to restore the resource.
http://www.wlox.com/story/34562772/cmr-debates-restoration-of-oyster-industry
Jackson water outage upcoming; emergency declared
Clarion Ledger
Some Jackson residents are facing an upcoming water outage, putting the city's infrastructure woes under a spotlight.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2017/02/21/jackson-water-outage-upcoming-emergency-declared/97998104/
Chemical reaction causes Biloxi library to be evacuated
Sun Herald
BILOXI
The Margaret Sherry Library on Popp’s Ferry Road was evacuated briefly as a precaution after waste in a garbage truck created a chemical reaction during a stop Tuesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article134056359.html
Bryant forced to make more emergency budget cuts
Clarion Ledger
Gov. Phil Bryant announced Tuesday he's again forced to make emergency mid-year cuts to the state budget and dip into the state's rainy day fund, the fifth such cut for most state agencies in less than two years, with more cuts on the horizon from the Legislature for the coming year.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/02/21/bryant-forced-cut-budget-again/98199496/
STATE AGENCIES ABSORB ANOTHER ROUND OF BUDGET CUTS
MPB
State agencies in Mississippi are trying to figure out how to absorb another round of budget cuts. Legislators aren't surprised by the shortfall.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2017/02/22/state-agencies-absorb-another-round-of-budget-cuts/
Oil Spill
Shrimp association to received Deepwater Horizon fund money
Houston Chronicle
The Texas Shrimp Association is in line to receive $300,000 from a fund set aside to restore the Texas coast following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico, officials with the organization said in a release.
http://www.chron.com/local/article/Shrimp-association-to-received-Deepwater-Horizon-10949397.php
Regional
From restaurants to reefs: recycling discarded oyster shells
AP
ON LAKE ATHANASIO, LA.
If you slurp oysters from the half-shell in New Orleans, you may be doing more than satisfying a culinary craving: You could be helping to construct reefs that environmental groups hope will save a bit of Louisiana’s coastline.
http://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/article134029644.html
Red Tide Hurting Local Fishing Industry
WWSB
SARAOTA, Fla. (WWSB)--Red tide continues to linger in Suncoast waters and it's doing more than ruining a day at the beach. Local fishermen, both commercial and recreational, say the algae is hurting profits and creating an image problem for fresh-caught seafood.
http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/red-tide-hurting-local-fishing-industry/article_8a6d28a4-f891-11e6-924e-4f1dd042b813.html
Boone Dam Update: TVA stepping up underground monitoring, some employees furloughed
WJHL
Boone Lake (WJHL) — The Tennessee Valley Authority is ramping up its efforts to understand what’s going on underground at Boone Dam.
http://wjhl.com/2017/02/21/boone-dam-update-tva-stepping-up-underground-monitoring-some-employees-furloughed/
Investigation continues into TVA accident
Leaf-Chronicle
CUMBERLAND CITY, Tenn. — TVA officials continue to investigate why a coal storage silo collapsed last Friday at the Cumberland Fossil Plant, spilling tons of coal into the surrounding area.
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/local/stewart-houston/news/2017/02/21/investigation-continues-into-tva-accident/98207170/
National
Scott Pruitt Signals Dramatic Shift in EPA Priorities
In speech before employees, the new chief emphasized giving business certainty about rules
WSJ
WASHINGTON—In his first speech as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt stressed a dramatic change of priorities at the agency, stating the importance of the agency’s communication and relationship with businesses but giving few details about policy changes.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/scott-pruitt-signals-dramatic-shift-in-epa-priorities-1487708036?mod=wsj_streaming_stream
Pruitt to EPA employees: ‘We don’t have to choose’ between jobs and the environment
Washington Post
In his first full work day as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt made clear Tuesday that he intends to step back from what he sees as the agency’s regulatory overreach during the Obama administration.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/02/21/pruitt-to-epa-employees-we-dont-have-to-choose-between-jobs-and-the-environment/?utm_term=.ad48ef480151
EPA's Pruitt urges officials to avoid regulatory 'abuses' in first speech to staff
Fox News
The new head of the EPA set a decidedly more pro-business tone for the agency Tuesday during his first remarks to rank-and-file employees, promoting a balance between protecting the environment and the economy -- and warning officials to "avoid" regulatory "abuses."
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/02/21/epas-pruitt-urges-officials-to-avoid-regulatory-abuses-in-first-speech-to-staff.html
EPA head's emails with energy companies to be released
AP
The Oklahoma attorney general's office said Tuesday it is complying with a judge's order to surrender documents related to new Environmental Protection Agency leader Scott Pruitt's communications with energy companies while he served as the state's attorney general.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/epa-heads-emails-energy-companies-released-45643494
Trump to roll back Obama’s climate, water rules through executive action
Washington Post
President Trump is preparing executive orders aimed at curtailing Obama-era policies on climate and water pollution, according to individuals briefed on the measures.
Trump seeks to quell ethanol industry worry as Pruitt enters EPA
Reuters
President Donald Trump on Tuesday assured ethanol industry advocates of their importance in U.S. energy strategy in an apparent bid to quell concerns over potential changes to policies that mandate the use of such renewable fuels.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-ethanol-idUSKBN1602T8
Auto Makers Ask EPA’s Pruitt to Reverse Fuel-Economy, Emissions Decision
Companies seek to take advantage of President Donald Trump’s pledge to roll back regulations
WSJ
Auto makers asked the Environmental Protection Agency to undo the Obama administration’s decision to lock in future stringent fuel-economy and emissions standards, as the companies seek to take advantage of President Donald Trump’s pledge to roll back regulations.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/auto-makers-ask-epas-pruitt-to-reverse-fuel-economy-emissions-decision-1487738674
New regs for Wednesday: Nutrition, beds, air pollution
The Hill
Air pollution: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying new air pollution rules.
The EPA proposed air pollution emissions standards for publicly owned treatment works in December, but is now extending the comment period to give the public more time to consider the changes. The delay does not seem to be related to President Trump’s regulatory moratorium.
The public now has until March 29 to comment.
http://thehill.com/regulation/320415-new-regs-for-wednesday-nutrition-beds-air-pollution
