News Clippings May 8, 2017

State Gas station operation pleads in pollutant case AP JACKSON, MISS.  The operator of a convenience store and gas station in Yazoo City, Mississippi, has pleaded guilty to a violation of the federal Clean Water Act. http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article149053089.html Massive fire darkens Houston skyline Daily Journal HOUSTON – White smoke – the sign of a dying fire – began boiling from a massive warehouse fire as firefighters got the upper hand on a blaze in northwest Houston about 2 p.m. Friday. http://djournal.com/chickasaw/news/massive-fire-darkens-houston-skyline/article_f1f20746-3a06-56ae-9a09-87a36688c1a8.html FIRE CLEANUP IN HOUSTON WCBI HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI News) – As things wind down in Houston after a thirteen hour long factory fire, officials and residents prepare to clean the debris from the destruction, and hopefully rid the area of harmful chemicals released from the foam that was stored inside. http://www.wcbi.com/video-fire-cleanup-houston/ HOUSTON WAREHOUSE EXPECTED TO BURN THROUGH THE WEEKEND WCBI HOUSTON, Miss. (WCBI) -The black clouds of smoke could be seen for miles. It took much of Friday to contain a massive fire at an old textile plant in Houston. http://www.wcbi.com/video-houston-warehouse-expected-burn-weekend/ Fire in Houston still under investigation, voluntary evacuation lifted WTVA 11:26 p.m. Chickasaw County EMA Director Linda Griffin says the devastating fire is still under investigation. http://www.wtva.com/story/35352694/large-fire-reported-in-houston Lumberton sees good turnout for Day Against Litter Hattiesburg American The citizens who participated in the Day Against Litter program sponsored by the Lamar County Board of Supervisors did Lumberton and Supervisor Warren Byrd proud. http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/lumberton/2017/05/06/bogle-lumberton-sees-good-turnout-day-against-litter/101329150/ Ole Miss partnership with TVA, NEMEPA saves $217,000 annually Oxford Eagle The University of Mississippi, Tennessee Valley Authority and North East Mississippi Electric Power Association marked the completion Thursday of a project that saves the university more than $217,000 in utility costs each year and reduces its carbon footprint. http://www.oxfordeagle.com/2017/05/07/ole-miss-partnership-with-tva-nemepa-saves-217000-annually/ Wild hogs: Reservoirs of disease Clarion Ledger Most everyone who has encountered wild hogs knows the non-native species is a problem. Feral swine destroy crops, root up food plots and outcompete deer and other native wildlife species for food. But pigs present another danger — leptospirosis. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2017/05/06/wild-hogs-reservoirs-disease/101331816/ It’s almost time to apply for alligator hunting permits NewsMS Don’t start getting out the camo and cleaning your guns just yet, alligator hunting season isn’t until August. However, it is almost time to apply for your permit.  http://newsms.fm/its-almost-time-to-apply-for-alligator-hunting-permits/ Improved state revenue a counterpoint to credit worries AP Getting better or getting worse? That's the question Mississippi leaders are debating after the third major credit rating agency warned last week that it was concerned about weakness in state finances and the overall economy. http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2017/05/07/improved-mississippirevenue-counterpoint-credit-worries/101407682/ Oil Spill BP settlement funds could boost panhandle tourism WEAR A bill releasing the first payment in a $1.5 billion oil spill settlement is now ready for the governor's signature. As part of the Triumph Gulf Coast legislation, Northwest Florida tourism could get a big boost. http://weartv.com/news/local/bp-settlement-funds-could-boost-panhandle-tourism Regional TVA demolishes remnants of John Sevier Coal Plant in Hawkins Co. WJHL HAWKINS COUNTY, TN (WJHL)- On Saturday, officials with the Tennessee Valley Authority demolished two, 350ft stacks that were remnants of the John Sevier Coal Plant. http://wjhl.com/2017/05/06/tva-demolishes-remnants-of-john-sevier-coal-plant-in-hawkins-co/ National States move to roll back environmental rules in Trump’s wake Bloomberg WASHINGTON — Emboldened by the environmental rollbacks of President Donald Trump, state legislatures are following suit, taking aim at items as varied as solar incentives, chemical spill protections and even anti-pipeline protesters. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/may/06/states-move-to-roll-back-environmental-rules-in-tr/ EPA administrator will recuse himself from lawsuits he brought against agency Washington Post Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt has recused himself from ongoing lawsuits against the agency that he participated in during his previous job as Oklahoma attorney general. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/05/epa-administrator-will-recuse-himself-from-lawsuits-he-brought-against-agency/?utm_term=.67cacf5cff31 E.P.A. Dismisses Members of Major Scientific Review Board NY Times WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency has dismissed at least five members of a major scientific review board, the latest signal of what critics call a campaign by the Trump administration to shrink the agency’s regulatory reach by reducing the role of academic research. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/07/us/politics/epa-dismisses-members-of-major-scientific-review-board.html?referer=&_r=1 Is EPA Moving Too Fast on Deregulation to Listen to Public? Bloomberg The EPA is moving fast—maybe too fast—on identifying regulations to be revised or killed in response to a White House order, worrying environmentalists, state officials and even some in the private sector. https://www.bna.com/epa-moving-fast-n73014450567/ The EPA just buried its climate change website for kids Washington Post The Environmental Protection Agency has sidelined a website aimed at teaching schoolchildren about climate change, a public watchdog group has determined, as part of the agency’s efforts to align online content with the new administration’s values. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/05/06/epa-buries-climate-change-site-for-kids/?utm_term=.d07a48a75e59 Environmental groups sue EPA over Philly ozone levels Philadelphia Inquirer Two California-based environmental groups have sued the EPA for failing to make a final determination on whether Philadelphia meets acceptable levels of ozone, a pollutant responsible for smog. http://www.philly.com/archive/frank_kummer/Environmental-groups-sue-EPA-over-Philly-ozone-levels.html President Trump threatens protections for 27 national monuments AP WASHINGTON (AP) -- Twenty-seven national monuments, mostly in the West, face the curtailing or elimination of protections put in place over the past two decades by presidents from both parties, the Interior Department said. http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/05/trump_threatens_to_pull_protec.html#incart_river_index Secretary of the Interior hosts "Doggy Days" at work CBS The Department of the Interior kicked off its first-ever "Doggy Day" on Friday. Secretary Ryan Zinke says this is the first federal department to become a dog-friendly workplace, and CBS News' Chip Reid reports he's confident it's going to reduce stress and improve morale. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/department-of-the-interior-secretary-ryan-zinke-hosts-bring-your-dog-to-work-day/ New regs for Monday: Nuclear, relocation, pesticides The Hill Nuclear: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is considering new procedures for decommissioning nuclear power reactors. As part of the rulemaking process, the commission is publishing a preliminary draft regulatory analysisof the decommissioning rule. The NRC hopes the new rules will make the decommissioning process more efficient. The public has until June 13 to comment on the analysis. Pesticides: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying a review of various pesticides. The EPA opened a risk assessment review last November of pyrethroid chemicals and linuron to determine the impact they have on health and the environment. But the EPA said Friday it is reopening the comment period to give the public more time to consider the changes. The public now has an additional 60 days to comment. http://thehill.com/regulation/332074-new-regs-for-monday-nuclear-relocation-pesticides Connect with us

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