Mississippi Environmental News: News Clippings May 4, 2017

State

Units respond to hazardous material call
Vicksburg Post

Acid leaking from a truck forced authorities to shut down the westbound Interstate 20 truck scales and briefly close one lane of the Interstate Tuesday evening.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2017/05/03/units-respond-to-hazardous-material-call/

Laurel City Council issues $4 million in bonds for water/sewer repair
WDAM

LAUREL, MS (WDAM) -Laurel residents will soon see stepped up efforts to repair, replace and improve the city's aging water and sewer system.
http://www.wdam.com/story/35333602/laurel-city-council-issues-4-million-in-bonds-for-watersewer-repair

Forrest County residents to pay more for Hattiesburg sewer services
WDAM

FORREST COUNTY, MS (WDAM) -Several subdivisions outside of Hattiesburg that use city sewer services will soon pay more than those living in the city limits, and residents said they are not sure that is fair.
http://www.wdam.com/story/35334263/forrest-county-residents-to-pay-more-for-hattiesburg-sewer-services

Hazardous household waste collection this weekend in Gulfport
WLOX

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) -Mississippi Power will host its annual hazardous household waste collection day in Harrison County this weekend at Plant Watson.
http://www.wlox.com/story/35333011/hazardous-household-waste-collection-this-weekend-in-gulfport

Nettleton aims for beautification through annual cleanup day
Monroe Journal

NETTLETON – Citizens are encouraged to take to the streets May 6 and do their part in beautifying it as part of Nettleton Cleanup Day. The tradition was started by Paul Waddle and is continuing into its fourth year.
http://djournal.com/monroe/2017/05/02/nettleton-aims-beautification-annual-cleanup-day/

Attorney General announces the Consumer Guide to Solar Power in Mississippi
WLBT

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -Attorney General Jim Hood announced the creation of the Consumer's Guide to Solar Power in Mississippi.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/35333533/attorney-general-announces-the-consumer-guide-to-solar-power-in-mississippi

State Capitol earns national historic landmark designation
WLBT

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -The U.S. Department of Interior today named the Mississippi State Capitol as a National Historic Landmark, a rare designation marking the building’s architectural significance.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/35339461/state-capitol-earns-national-historic-landmark-designation

Group studying lottery starts meeting in Mississippi
AP

A group appointed by a top Mississippi lawmaker has started meeting to discuss the pros and cons of starting a state lottery.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/03/mississippi-lottery/101262744/

Oil Spill

PUBLIC HEARING ON OIL SPILL PROPOSAL
WXXV

It’s been seven years since the BP oil spill devastated the gulf coast and environmental groups want to make sure we’re prepared to it doesn’t happen again.
http://wxxv25.com/2017/05/03/public-hearing-oil-spill-proposal-2/

National

Environmental groups sue EPA over rollback of pollution rule
AP

Environmentalists and public health advocates are going to court to fight the Trump administration's move to rewrite Obama-era rules limiting water pollution from coal-fired power plants.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/environmental-groups-sue-epa-rollback-pollution-rule-47187038

EPA chief: US needs coal to protect electric grid
The Hill

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) argued Wednesday that using coal for electricity is necessary for the reliability of the electric grid.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/331819-epa-chief-us-needs-coal-to-protect-electric-grid

EPA's Pruitt: Paris Agreement was a Bad Business Deal for America
Fox Business

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator Scott Pruitt on Wednesday said President Trump will soon make a decision on whether to pull out of the global Paris Climate Agreement signed in 2015.
http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2017/05/03/epas-pruitt-paris-agreement-was-bad-business-deal-for-america.html

Ethanol fight complicates push to repeal Obama drilling rule
The Hill

A handful of GOP senators have said they might hold up legislation to repeal an Obama administration oil and natural gas drilling rule to secure a vote on an ethanol policy change.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/331757-ethanol-fight-complicates-push-to-repeal-obama-drilling-rule

US officials, company, to discuss radioactive sludge spill
AP
CHEYENNE, WYO.

U.S. regulators and representatives of a Canadian uranium mining company will discuss what caused radioactive sludge to leak from a truck onto a highway on two occasions.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article148550414.html

Opinion

State contract standard invites corruption
Greenwood Commonwealth

Mississippi's "lowest and best" standard for awarding government contracts creates an avenue for public officials to award business to their friends and supporters.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/05/03/state-contract-standard-invites-corruption/101254016/

Press releases

Gas Station Operator Pleads Guilty in Mississippi to Discharge of Hazardous Pollutant Into City Sewage Treatment System

Mahant Singh, operator of a convenience store and gas station in Yazoo City, Mississippi, pleaded guilty today to a criminal violation of the Clean Water Act. Singh admitted to discharging the contents of an underground fuel storage tank into a sewage line connected to the Yazoo City wastewater treatment system, which created a fire or explosion hazard and risked contaminating local water supplies, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Harold Brittain for the Southern District of Mississippi.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/gas-station-operator-pleads-guilty-mississippi-discharge-hazardous-pollutant-city-sewage

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Thursday, May 4, 2017

News Clippings May 4, 2017