State
Ole Miss offsets electricity use with renewable energy certificates
Oxford Eagle
The University of Mississippi has offset a portion of the electricity it uses through the purchase of renewable energy certificates.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission backs Grand Gulf through 2044
Vicksburg Post
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved Entergy's Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Station in Port Gibson through 2044.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2017/03/03/nuclear-regulatory-commission-backs-grand-gulf-through-2044/
Okatibbee among resources luring outdoor enthusiasts to Lauderdale County
Meridian Star
Eric Plowman has been fishing for more than 40 years, and the Collinsville resident's favorite spot is, of course, Lake Okatibbee.
Senator: Feds shut down more than 100 bridges in Miss.
Clarion Ledger
The chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee says inspections by the Federal Highway Administration have led to the closure of more than 100 crumbling bridges in the past week.
Deer, turkey harvest reporting dead?
Clarion Ledger
In a move that surprised some, a bill calling for mandatory harvest reporting of deer and wild turkeys died in the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks committee. But according to one senator, that's not the end of it.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2017/03/03/deer-turkey-harvest-reporting-dead/98629632/
Students compete with robots; interest in engineering grows
WTVA
OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - Students from across Mississippi in grades 7-12 competed in the FIRST Tech Challenge. It is a competition designed to help students fall in love with engineering, because the field has been dying.
http://www.wtva.com/story/34666923/students-compete-with-robots-they-built
Oil spill
Scientists find dozens of new species in Gulf of Mexico after Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Fox News
It may have been one of the world's largest oil spill disasters but the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico appears to have had little effect on the ecosystem as dozens of new species of animals are living in the body of water.
Familiar name could land first big aquarium construction contract
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
The city is set to award the first contract for construction of the Mississippi Aquarium to W. C. Fore, a Gulfport businessman who has worked on some of the Coast's most iconic projects.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article136208583.html
Fairhope one step closer to Restore Act funding
WALA
FAIRHOPE, AL (WALA) -The Gulf Coast Restoration Council has narrowed down more than 300 proposed projects to less than 30. Those projects were submitted by a variety of towns and agencies in both Mobile and Baldwin counties. Fairhope's two projects that would help address ongoing watershed problems made it through the first cut.
http://www.fox10tv.com/story/34662264/fairhope-one-step-closer-to-restore-act-funding
Regional
Major victory for oil companies: Appeals court refuses to revive lawsuit over damage to Louisiana coast
AP
A federal appeals court on Friday refused to revive a Louisiana levee board's lawsuit blaming dozens of oil and gas companies for damage to the state's fragile coast.
New forest conservation program in north Louisiana said to benefit both industry and environment
The Advocate
A lot of people have to buy in to protect Southern forests: Most of the land is held in small private patches, a few dozen acres here and there that in combination form whole forests.
Bring your food waste to the library for composting: Yes, really
Times-Picayune
Next time you head to certain New Orleans public libraries, bring along a bag of onion, celery and bell pepper peelings and maybe those used coffee and chicory grounds.
http://www.nola.com/food/index.ssf/2017/03/bring_your_food_waste_to_the_l.html#incart_river_index
Remembering John Hankinson Jr., Towering Force in Environmental Protection in Flagler and Elsewhere
Flagler Live
John Hankinson Jr., a towering force in the environmental community, a long-time resident of Summer Haven just north of Marineland and a frequent performer in the local musical scene as Johnny Matanzas, died Friday.
https://flaglerlive.com/105435/john-hankinson-jr/
DEQ appointee plans for agency to be more transparent, work with legislators
Star News
COASTAL N.C. -- Michael Regan wants the residents of North Carolina -- and their elected officials -- to understand the Department of Environmental Quality is about more than regulations.
National
Week ahead: White House readies climate orders
The Hill
The White House in the coming week could release long-awaited climate change executive orders undoing much of the Obama administration's work on the issue.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/322286-week-ahead-white-house-readies-climate-orders
Climate, other programs get deep cuts in EPA budget proposal
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration would slash programs aimed at slowing climate change and improving water safety and air quality, while eliminating thousands of jobs, according to a draft of the Environmental Protection Agency budget proposal obtained by The Associated Press.
White House proposes steep budget cut to NOAA, leading climate science agency
Washington Post
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump's administration is seeking to slash one of the government's premier climate science agencies by 17 percent, delivering steep cuts to research funding and satellite programs, according to a four-page budget memo obtained by The Washington Post.
New Interior secretary 'not happy' about budget proposal
The Hill
The new head of the Interior Department told employees Friday he is "not happy" about the agency's upcoming budget request crafted by the White House.
Interior Sec. Zinke promises review of coal leasing program
AP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke on Friday promised a comprehensive review of the federal coal leasing program, even as President Donald Trump moves to do away with a moratorium on coal leases on public lands.
New Toxic Controls to Emerge in Chemical Sector's March Madness
Bloomberg
It is March madness in the chemicals arena as chemical makers, trade associations, lawyers and environmentalists scramble to shape how the EPA exercises new oversight over chemicals in commerce.
https://www.bna.com/new-toxic-controls-n57982084781/
EPA Nears Reversing Prior Decision Finalizing Car Emissions Targets
Agency close to reopening review of future vehicle mileage, emissions standards closed under Obama administration
WSJ
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is near reversing an Obama administration decision to lock in future stringent vehicle fuel-economy and emission standards after auto makers lobbied the agency's new chief to reopen a review of the regulations, said people familiar with the matter.
Air pollution in Asia is wafting into the USA, increasing smog in West
USA Today
Air pollution from China, India and several other Asian countries has wafted across the Pacific Ocean over the past 25 years, increasing levels of smog in the western U.S., a study finds.
Southern California regulators approve smog plan with tougher refinery rules, voluntary measures for ports
LA Times
Southern California air quality officials voted Friday to impose tougher rules on oil refineries but rejected a proposal to regulate pollution from ports and warehouses, which are responsible for much of the region's harmful emissions.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-smog-plan-20170303-story.html
How California Utilities Are Managing Excess Solar Power
'Virtual power plants' would store renewable energy in batteries by day and redistribute it when demand surges after sunset
WSJ
California utilities including PG&E Corp., Edison International and Sempra Energy are testing new ways to network solar panels, battery storage, two-way communication devices and software to create "virtual power plants" that manage green power and feed it into the power grid as needed.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-california-utilities-are-managing-excess-solar-power-1488628803
Earthquake monitoring system being rolled out in North Texas
Star-Telegram
FORT WORTH
Nearly two years after a rash of earthquakes rattled the sensibilities of North Texas residents and state lawmakers, a meticulously designed network of seismographs is being rolled out to determine if the tremors are occurring naturally or can be linked to oil and gas industry production.
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/barnett-shale/article136344848.html
China Softens Coal Focus in Bid to Clean Up Its Skies
Premier Li Keqiang announces plan to eliminate more than 50 gigawatts of coal-power capacity
WSJ
BEIJING—China's government pledged to dramatically slow a coal-power building binge that is threatening its environment, saying Sunday it would shut down dozens of coal-power plants and stop some new construction.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-softens-coal-focus-in-bid-to-clean-up-its-skies-1488710457
Opinion
Why farmers and ranchers think the EPA Clean Water Rule goes too far
PBS
President Trump issued an executive order Feb. 28 directing federal agencies to revise the Clean Water Rule, a major regulation published by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers in 2015. The rule's purpose is to clarify which water bodies and wetlands are federally protected under the Clean Water Act.
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/farmers-ranchers-think-epa-clean-water-rule-goes-far/
More vetting of bills needed in the Legislature
Jimmy Gates
Clarion Ledger
There are times when what silver-tongued Rep. Steve Holland, D-Plantersville, says is dismissed because of his colorful quotes, but he has repeatedly warned that lawmakers aren't doing a good job of vetting bills before presenting them for a vote.
Now: No longer maintained, national forest site a garbage dump
· Enterprise-Journal
· By Pat Parker Guest
· I discovered Pipes Lake in Helen McGinnis' "Hiking Mississippi" book. I knew that McGinnis' book was not as up-to-date as Johnny Molloy's guidebook, but I got a copy because I wanted to compare the differences in their accounts and perspectives.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/article_09bd9abe-015f-11e7-b568-136eb03e1cd5.html
Press Releases
Forestry Commission Educates Public on Outdoor Fire Safety - Wildfire Prevention Month (March)
Jackson, MS, March 04, 2017 --(PR.com)-- March is Wildfire Prevention Month in Mississippi as stated by Governor Phil Bryant's proclamation. Historically, March has one of the highest wildfire occurrence rates of the year due to the weather transition from winter to spring, dry vegetation, and windy conditions. Since January 1, 2017, the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) responded to and suppressed 491 wildfires that burned 9,422 acres. MFC Wildland Firefighters saved 1,072 homes and structures. Wildfire activity destroyed or damaged 28 homes and structures. Sadly, 2 wildfire-related fatalities were reported.
"Nationwide, 9 out of 10 wildfires are human-caused, which means 9 out of 10 wildfires could have been prevented with proper care. Wildfire prevention month allows us to highlight the responsibility of Mississippi's citizens to help protect lives, homes, and forestland by focusing on how to prevent wildfires," said Charlie Morgan, State Forester.
Please do your part to help prevent wildfires by following the tips below:
- Check the local weather forecast - do not engage in any outdoor burning on dry, windy days.
- If the purpose of the burn is agriculture or forestry related, call the MFC Central Dispatch Center for your area to obtain a burning permit: http://bit.ly/MFCDispatch
- Always find out if there is a burn ban in your area before doing any outdoor recreational burning. To see a list of burn bans: http://bit.ly/BurnBans
- Check local laws and city ordinances in your area to make sure outdoor recreational burning is allowed.
- Choose a safe burn site - the ground around the burn site should be surrounded by gravel or dirt and clear of vegetation that could catch fire (minimum of 10 feet in all directions).
- Only burn untreated wood debris (waste, plastic, rubber tires, and other manufactured products may not be burned). To view the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality standards regarding outdoor burning, visit: http://bit.ly/MDEQOpenBurning
- Keep campfires small and never leave an outdoor fire unattended.
- Always have water on hand to put out the fire and stay until it has been completely extinguished.
- When homes are near wooded areas, prescribed (or controlled) burning can be utilized responsibly by a Certified Burn Manager to reduce fuel for wildfires. Prescribed burning clears underbrush and other flammable vegetation that builds up on the forest floor. A burning permit from the MFC is required for this activity. To learn more about becoming a Certified Burn Manager: http://bit.ly/PBS_2017
Make Firewise preparations to help defend your home in the event of a wildfire. The Firewise program equips homeowners and community leaders with the information they need to help design, construct, landscape, and maintain homes and communities to better withstand wildfires. To learn more about how to have a Firewise home: http://bit.ly/Firewise
To report a wildfire, dial 911 or call the Central Dispatch Center for your area:
Northwest Region: 1-877-226-5414
Northeast Region: 1-800-681-8760
Southwest Region: 1-888-823-3473
South Central Region: 1-800-736-9115
Southeast Region: 1-800-240-5161
The State of Mississippi benefits from forestry, which contributes $12.79 billion to the state's economy, over $20 million (on average) toward education through School Trust Land timber sale revenue, and employs almost 70,000 people.
Established in 1926, the Mississippi Forestry Commission (MFC) protects the state's valuable forest resources from wildfire, manages approximately 480,000 acres of forested School Trust Land, and delivers quality forest management services and assistance to both rural and urban landowners. Our mission is to provide active leadership in forest protection, forest management, forest inventory, and effective forest information distribution, necessary for Mississippi's sustainable forest-based economy.
