State
EPA takes over Mississippi Phosphates’ huge mounds of acidic byproduct
Sun Herald
PASCAGOULA
The EPA took control of the two huge gypsum mounds along Industrial Road east of Pascagoula last month.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/jackson-county/article137021948.html
EPA takes over treatment of acidic, slightly radioactive wastewater at Pascagoula site
Al.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has assumed control of wastewater treatment at the shuttered Mississippi Phosphates Corporation factory in Pascagoula, and is processing 2 million gallons of highly acidic, slightly radioactive, liquid waste a day.
http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2017/03/epa_takes_over_treatment_of_ac.html
Debris removal deadline for Petal residents
WDAM
PETAL, MS (WDAM) -Petal residents need to have all storm debris out by the road for pick-up come Monday morning.
http://www.wdam.com/story/34690153/debris-removal-deadline-for-petal-residents
Great American Clean-up set for Saturday in Pike
Enterprise-Journal
It’s time for Pike County to do a little spring cleaning.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_4c2404c4-035d-11e7-b1d3-279c8d47a0d7.html
Unwanted items going into recycling bins
Enterprise-Journal
Pike County supervisors got an update Monday from Artis Brown about the Recycle One program.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_30a95818-035b-11e7-b5bb-2fb8cb24ea63.html
Council hears about sewer improvements
Picayune Item
Picayune City Councilors heard from the executive director of the Pearl River County Utility Authority about ongoing improvements being made to the city’s wastewater infrastructure.
http://www.picayuneitem.com/2017/03/council-hears-about-sewer-improvements/
MEMA: State is prepared to assist in Jackson water crisis
WLBT
JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -On Tuesday, MEMA held a news conference to discuss how the state is prepared to help during this weekend's widespread water outage.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/34674169/mema-state-is-prepared-to-assist-in-jackson-water-crisis
OSHS students release 2,500 speckled trout into Davis Bayou
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -Fishing for speckled trout in South Mississippi waters is going to be a little bit easier in the future.
http://www.wlox.com/story/34687315/oshs-students-release-2500-speckled-trout-into-davis-bayou
Upgrades planned for river stage system
Vicksburg Post
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District is upgrading its system on the Old U.S. 80 bridge to get and report Mississippi River stages for Vicksburg, the Warren County Board of Supervisors learned Monday.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2017/03/07/upgrades-planned-for-river-stage-system/
Changes coming in alligator hunting permit process
Clarion Ledger
Two years of frustrated alligator hunters have prompted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks to recommend major changes to the alligator possession permit purchasing process.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2017/03/07/changes-coming-gator-permit-process/98810906/
Oil Spill
Mississippi Aquarium not a ‘pipe dream’ any longer
Sun Herald
GULFPORT
Mississippi Aquarium downtown has jumped 15 percent in less than six months, to a total of almost $93 million, according to a budget document the City Council unanimously approved Tuesday afternoon.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/counties/harrison-county/article137017453.html
Regional
Columbia hopes for EPA money to help spur redevelopment of flood-damaged areas
The State
COLUMBIA, SC
A federal grant program that has leveraged hundreds of millions of dollars in private development in Columbia over the past two decades could help spur the redevelopment of flood-impacted areas in the city.
http://www.thestate.com/news/local/article136991863.html
Wanted: South Florida python hunters for hire
Miami Herald
South Florida water managers may amp up the state’s failing war against the Burmese python with a new weapon: a paid python posse.
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article137005128.html
National
E.P.A. Head Stacks Agency With Climate Change Skeptics
NY Times
WASHINGTON — Days after the Senate confirmed him as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt appeared at the Conservative Political Action Conference and was asked about addressing a group that probably wanted to eliminate his agency.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/us/politics/scott-pruitt-environmental-protection-agency.html?_r=0
Endangered Species Pesticide Case Could Wrap Up Quickly
Bloomberg
A federal judge appeared ready to move quickly in deciding a court case challenging the EPA’s approval of a pesticide under the Endangered Species Act (Center for Biol. Diversity v. EPA, D.C., 14-1036, 1/11/17).
https://www.bna.com/endangered-species-pesticide-n57982084856/
New regs for Wednesday: Gas, prison, trucks
The Hill
Gas: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying new rules for natural gas processing facilities.
http://thehill.com/regulation/322682-new-regs-for-wednesday-gas-prison-trucks
Press Releases
Working Lands for Wildlife Initiative Targets Yazoo Darter
Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture / Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Yazoo Darter Initiative. Applications that are
received by April 21, 2017 will be considered in the first ranking period.
The Yazoo Darter (Etheostoma raneyi) habitat is exclusively within the Yocona and Little
Tallahatchie River watersheds. This small species of fish typically inhabit small streams with a
variety of streambed types including silt, clay, sand and gravel. This project will allow Mississippi
land owners in these watersheds located in portions of Benton, Calhoun, Lafayette, Marshall,
Pontotoc Tippah, Union, and Yalobusha Counties to enhance and create habitat for the Yazoo Darter.
In recent years, Yazoo Darter populations have been in decline, bringing the long-term viability
of the species to the concern of scientific experts. Population declines are thought to be the
result of poor water quality and habitat modifications such as stream channelization and
improper installation of culverts and other stream crossing structures. These serve as fish
passage barriers that could significantly limit access to habitat needed for migration, breeding,
spawning, feeding and sheltering.
The Yazoo Darter project is part of the Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW) partnership
between the NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the land owner, aimed to establish
conservation practices that assist with the restoration of wildlife habitat for at-risk species.
“This WLFW partnership will assist land owners with planning and implementing a variety
of conservation practices that will benefit the Yazoo Dater, as well as other local aquatic
species close to being endangered,” stated Glynda Clardy, Natural Resources Conservation
Service Wildlife Biologist.
Applications for all NRCS financial-assistance programs are accepted on a continuous
sign-up process, however specific sign-up deadlines are established to rank, contract and
fund qualified tracts of land. Applications for the Yazoo Darter initiative received
by April 21, 2017 will be considered for funding in the first ranking period.
NRCS financial assistance covers part of the cost to implement conservation practices.
information.
For more information, visit our website at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/site/ms/home/.
Applications are available at GetStarted.
