Thursday, August 31, 2017

News Clippings August 31, 2017



State

NEW DEAL?
Northside Sun

City officials working to reduce consent decree costs
A new deal could be in the works when it comes to the capital city’s sewer consent decree. However, that doesn’t mean Jackson will be off the hook when it comes to making some $400 million in repairs to bring its system into compliance with federal law.

REPAIRS MADE TO SPILLWAY LANDSLIDE AT RESERVOIR
Northside Sun

Last week workers were repairing a small landslide on the eastern side of the reservoir spillway. The work was scheduled to be completed this week. 
...Safety officers from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality inspected the slide soon after it occurred, and agreed with reservoir officials that it would not pose a danger between the time it occurred and when the damage could be fixed.

RETENTION PONDS MAY BE NEEDED TO STOP FLOODING
Northside Sun

In 2011, UMMC needed the approval of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for its facilities master plan and it submitted plans that included several retention ponds.

Fuel leaking from sunken boat in Pass Christian Harbor
WLOX

PASS CHRISTIAN, MS (WLOX) -An accident in the Pass Christian Harbor left a boat underwater and a big mess to clean up.

BOAT SINKS IN PASS CHRISTIAN HARBOR
WXXV

Today crews worked to clean up a fuel leak in the Pass Christian Harbor after an accident caused a boat to sink.

VOLUNTEERS “GET SWEPT UP” IN STARKVILLE
WCBI

STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI)- College football is right around the corner, and for the city of Starkville, that means some game day prep that involves getting your hands dirty!

Red snapper season ends Monday in Mississippi
AP

BILOXI, Miss. (AP) — Recreational anglers looking for that highly sought after red snapper have until Monday to do so.

Oil Spill

A tad late, bicentennial ad blitz to start
Clarion Ledger

The Mississippi Bicentennial Commission on Wednesday voted to start the process on a $2.8 million ad campaign to bring in tourists for the state's 200th birthday and opening of the Mississippi History and Civil Rights museums in downtown Jackson.

How was the Deepwater Horizon BP Settlement money spent?
Al.com

If you've been reading AL.com closely this year you may already be aware that the first installment of the BP settlement money, given to the state by the international oil company for its role in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the Gulf Coast in 2010, is now being spent on various environmental restoration projects in Alabama.

Regional

Georgia Power Makes Progress Closing Coal Ash Ponds
WABE

A couple years ago, Georgia Power decided to close all 29 of its coal ash ponds around the state. The utility says it’s now finished excavating three ponds, including one in metro Atlanta, at Plant McDonough.

Memphis ends sewer taps, clogging unincorporated development
Commercial Appeal

The city of Memphis will no longer offer sewer taps in unincorporated parts of Shelby County, bringing new development to a standstill and forcing county officials to consider spending millions — if not tens of millions — developing a county sewer system.


National

EPA sends people, planes to gauge pollution from Texas storm
Reuters

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Wednesday it has sent people and airplanes to assess pollution in areas hit by Tropical Storm Harvey, as concerns mount over leaks and spills from the Texas oil industry and Superfund sites.

Harvey’s flooding spurs concern about Houston’s toxic waste sites
Washington Post

Harris County has at least a dozen federal Superfund sites, more than any county in Texas. Up to 30 percent of the county is under water, spurring worries about toxins leaking.

A Sea of Health and Environmental Hazards in Houston’s Floodwaters
NY Times

Officials in Houston are just beginning to grapple with the health and environmental risks that lurk in the waters dumped by Hurricane Harvey, a stew of toxic chemicals, sewage, debris and waste that still floods much of the city.

Blasts, ‘chemical reactions’ rock storm-crippled chemical plant in Texas as Harvey flooding persists
Washington Post

CROSBY, Tex. — The remnants of Hurricane Harvey carried its wrath up the Mississippi Delta on Thursday, but not before hammering the Gulf Coast with more punishing cloudbursts and growing threats that included blasts and “black smoke” at a crippled chemical plant and the collapse of the drinking water system in a Texas city.

Harvey damages oil tanks, spilling 30,000 gallons of crude
Fox News

Flooding caused by Harvey has toppled two oil storage tanks in southern Texas, releasing about 30,000 gallons of crude oil, authorities said Wednesday.

EPA extends a waiver on motor fuel contents to apply nationwide, not just to Texas
Washington Post

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt on Wednesday expanded the scope of an emergency waiver of Clean Air Act restrictions on motor fuel requirements, saying the waiver would apply not only to Texas but also to 11 states and the District of Columbia through Sept. 15.

Press Releases

EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waivers for Gulf and East Coast States
08/30/2017
Contact Information: 
WASHINGTON — As a result of the continuing impacts on Gulf Coast-area refineries and disruption to the fuel distribution system caused by Hurricane Harvey, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt today exercised EPA’s emergency fuel waiver authority to help ensure an adequate supply of fuel throughout the South, Southeast and the Mid-Atlantic. 
EPA has waived requirements for reformulated gasoline and low volatility gasoline through September 15 in the following states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Louisiana and the District of Columbia. The waiver authority was exercised under the Clean Air Act and was granted by EPA Administrator Pruitt, in coordination with the U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. 
As required by law, EPA and Department of Energy (DOE) evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with the public interest. EPA and DOE are continuing to actively monitor the fuel supply situation as a result of Hurricane Harvey, and will act expeditiously if extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist in other areas.
To mitigate any impacts on air quality, the Clean Air Act provides strict criteria for when fuels waivers may be granted, and requires that waivers be limited as much as possible in terms of their geographic scope and duration.


How Mississippians Can Help Texas in Harvey Recovery

PEARL – The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency has received an outpouring of requests from generous residents and businesses around the state about how to help Texans in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. There are many questions, rumors and offers circulating across social media outlets so MEMA has compiled the following official ways to give of your time and resources.

TO DONATE TO RELIEF EFFORTS:
The most effective way to support disaster survivors in their recovery is to donate money and time to trusted, reputable, voluntary or charitable organizations.
·       Cash donations offer voluntary agencies and faith-based organizations the most flexibility to address urgently developing needs. With cash in hand, these organizations can obtain needed resources nearer to the disaster location. This inflow of cash also pumps money back into the local economy and helps local businesses recover faster.
·       Please do not donate unsolicited goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, medicine, or perishable foodstuffs at this time. When used personal items are donated, the helping agencies must redirect their staff away from providing direct services to survivors in order to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.
·       Donate through a trusted organization. At the national level, many voluntary-, faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. Individuals, corporations, and volunteers, can learn more about how to help on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) website.
·       In addition to the national members, The Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (Texas VOAD) has a list of vetted disaster relief organizations providing services to survivors. Texas VOAD represents more than three dozen faith-based, community, nonprofit and non-governmental organizations.   

TO PERSONALLY VOLUNTEER IN THE DISASTER AREAS:
The State of Texas is asking volunteers to not self-deploy, as unexpectedly showing up to any of the communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey will create an additional burden for first responders. The National VOAD has also noted the situation may not be conducive to volunteers entering the impacted zone and individuals may find themselves turned away by law enforcement.
-more-
·       To ensure volunteer safety, as well as the safety of disaster survivors, volunteers should only go into affected areas with a specific volunteer assignment, proper safety gear, and valid identification.
·       At this time, potential volunteers are asked to register with a voluntary or charitable organization of their choice, many of which are already in Texas and supporting survivors on the ground.
·       The National and Texas VOAD websites are offering links to those who wish to register to volunteer with community- and faith-based organizations working in the field.
·       Most importantly, please be patient. Although the need is great, and desire to help strong, it is important to avoid donating material goods or self-deploying to help until communities are safe and public officials and disaster relief organizations have had an opportunity to assess the damage and identify what the specific unmet needs are.
·       Volunteer generosity helps impacted communities heal from the tragic consequences of disasters, but recovery lasts much longer than today. There will be volunteer needs for many months, and years, after the disaster, so sign up now.

FEMA Jobs:
There are a lot of questions and rumors about FEMA job postings for Harvey. If you’re interested in getting involved in the response, we want to make sure you’re working through trustworthy sources. To verify, please visit the rumors section of our Hurricane Harvey page: https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey.

If you’d like to help out the FEMA mission as a temporary hire, visit: https://careers.fema.gov/hurricane-harvey

The Mississippi State Emergency Operations Center is staffed and monitoring conditions and requests for resources both in and out of our state.

MEMA will provide updates as information becomes available. The best way to get up-to-date information during this event is to “Like” MEMA on Facebook, or “Follow” us on twitter @msema.
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The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) seeks public comment on a proposal to amend its Initial (2015) Funded Priorities List to approve $1,790,546 in implementation funding for the Robinson Preserve Wetlands Restoration project sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These funds would be used to restore 118.2 acres of coastal habitat and restore more natural hydrology, along with related activities in Tampa Bay, Florida.

On August 30, 2017, the Council issued a 30-day Federal Register notice on this proposed funding approval. This notice includes additional information on this proposal, as well as how to submit comments to the Council. The public is encouraged to review this proposed funding approval and provide comment prior to the close of the Federal Register comment period on September 29, 2017. After considering all public input received during the comment period, the Council will then determine whether to proceed to a vote on this funding proposal.


Please send any questions or comments to:
Keala J. Hughes
Director of External Affairs & Tribal Relations
(504) 717-7235


Red Snapper season ends Sept. 4

BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources are reminding recreational anglers that Red Snapper season in state and federal waters ends at 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4.
Anglers can fish for Red Snapper from Friday, Sept. 1, through Labor Day. They still are required to participate in MDMR’s program for Red Snapper, “Tails n’ Scales.” This reporting program is available through a smartphone app, a website and a call center.
The app is available in iTunes and Google Play. The website is tailsnscales.org. Fishermen also can call 1-844-MSSNAPP (677-6277) to speak to a representative 24 hours a day.
Anglers must create a profile and start a trip in “Tails n’ Scales.” They must have a trip authorization number when they are out on the water. They must report their catch and close out one trip before creating a new one.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

News Clippings August 30, 2017



State

Brandon residents staring down property tax, utility rate increases
Clarion Ledger

Brandon residents learned Monday night that they are not only facing increasing property taxes, but water, sewer and sanitation rate hikes as well. 
...Less federal funding is also available from agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency. That means state agencies like the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality have less to offer, Lee said.

HARVEY LEADS TO HIGHER PRICES AT THE GAS PUMP
MPB

Mississippians won't see skyrocketing gas prices because of Tropical Storm Harvey according to an analyst. But, it will cost more to fill the tank.

Lake in south Mississippi temporarily closed for upkeep
AP
MONTICELLO, MISS. 

A lake in south Mississippi is being closed so workers can repair piers and other structures.
The state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks says in a news release that Lake Mary Crawford has been drained.

This stinks! Invasive stink bugs plaguing Mississippi
AP

NEW ORLEANS — The Deep South's nastiest soybean pest is marching north, and Mississippi and Arkansas are facing their worst invasion ever.

State pension fund's future is still uncertain
WLBT

JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -The fate of Mississippi's pension fund is once again in the spotlight.

National

In Releasing Water from Houston Dams, Army Corps Picks Least Bad Option
Controlled releases seen as prudent choice in face of risk that reservoirs could overrun the barriers
WSJ

With Tropical Storm Harvey dumping record rainfall on Houston, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers faced a dilemma as water volumes rose to perilous levels in its two reservoirs west of the city center.

Harvey’s Toll on Energy Industry Shows a Texas Vulnerability
NY Times

HOUSTON — For years, much of the nation’s refinery capacity and chemical production have been concentrated along the swamps and narrow inlets of the Gulf of Mexico, risking devastation in a monster storm.

EPA taps climate change doubter to lead Midwest office
The Hill

The Trump administration has named Wisconsin’s top environmental regulator to lead the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Midwest regional office.

WOTUS PUBLIC MEETINGS SCHEDULED
KTIC

The Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers Monday announced a series of teleconferences regarding the repeal and revision of the Waters of the U.S. rule.

9th Circuit upholds EPA consent decree on air sulfur levels
Reuters

A divided federal appeals court on Monday upheld a consent decree that gives the Environmental Protection Agency until 2020 to determine which geographic areas are violating health standards for air pollution from sulfur dioxide.

Icahn Sees Biofuels Fight Deepening as Refinery Losses Mount
Bloomberg

Billionaire Carl Icahn says an oil industry push for structural changes to the U.S. biofuels mandate will persist, even if the Environmental Protection Agency rebuffs requests from refiners to relieve them of the regulatory burden.

Press Releases

EPA Approves Emergency Fuel Waivers for Texas and Georgia
08/29/2017
Contact Information: 

WASHINGTON -- Following Hurricane Harvey’s landfall, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has approved emergency fuel waiver requests from the Texas Comptroller and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division.
EPA has waived the highway diesel fuel red dye requirements to allow the use of non-road diesel fuel for on-highway vehicles involved in emergency response and disaster recovery in Texas as a result of Hurricane Harvey, though September 15.
EPA has also waived the requirement for low volatility gasoline for 13 counties in the Atlanta Metro Area, as a result of the disruption in the supply to that area caused by Hurricane Harvey. The waiver will allow the higher volatility fuel to be sold in the Atlanta area through September 15.
The waiver authority was exercised under the Clean Air Act and was granted by EPA Administrator Pruitt, in coordination with the U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. The requests were made by Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar on behalf of Governor Greg Abbott and Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Richard E. Dunn on behalf of Governor Nathan Deal.
As required by law, EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) evaluated the situation and determined that granting a short-term waiver was consistent with the public interest. EPA and DOE are continuing to actively monitor the fuel supply situation as a result of Hurricane Harvey, and will act expeditiously if extreme and unusual supply circumstances exist in other areas.
To mitigate any impacts on air quality, the Clean Air Act provides strict criteria for when fuels waivers may be granted, and requires that waivers be limited as much as possible in terms of their geographic scope and duration.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Register Now for a Delta Communities Convening on Affordable Housing

           

CD Logo for Cvent



Delta Communities
The Transformative Potential of Affordable Housing
Development on Communities and Families in the Delta

Dear Trey,

Demand for affordable rental housing has increased by 21 percent, but the rate of building these units is at its lowest since the 1970s.* The 2017 annual report from The Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, The State of the Nation's Housing, found that the demand for affordable rental housing far outpaces supply. More than 11 million renter households were severely cost burdened in 2015 (i.e., those spending more than 50 percent of their income for housing).

The Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program was added to the Internal Revenue Code in 1986 to provide an incentive to private owners to create and maintain affordable housing. Since its inception, LIHTC has been synonymous with low-quality housing, especially in southern states. When used properly as urban renewal capital, however, LIHTC transforms blighted or disinvested neighborhoods into thriving, strong communities.

Please join us for our next Delta Communities convening on September 21. We will explore how affordable housing development, done properly, can break the cycle of poverty, catalyze change and generate economic development for communities and families in the Delta. Speakers will include: 

  • Clarence Chapman, CEO of Chartre Consulting Ltd., who will explain how—as a private developer—his company produces high-quality housing available exclusively for lower-income residents;
  • Billy Nowell, mayor of Cleveland, Miss., who will share the positive impact that affordable housing built by Chartre Consulting has had on a blighted neighborhood, city and residents; and
  • Jere ("Trey") Hess, director of brownfields and economic development at PPM Consultants, who will discuss how one city's liability—an old hospital—will be transformed into an asset: an affordable housing development. 

There will also be two panels comprised of representatives from lenders who offer financing for single-family and multifamily housing.

Participation in this session is free; however, registration is required by Monday, September 18, as space is limited. Lunch will be provided.

Please note that, while the forum will be held in Clarksdale, leaders from communities across the Delta region are encouraged to attend.

For more information, please contact Faith Weekly at 502-568-9216 or
faith.e.weekly@stls.frb.org.

We look forward to seeing you!

 

When

Thursday, September 21, 2017
10 a.m.–1 p.m. CT

Where

The Bank
123 East Second St.
Clarksdale, MS 38614

Registration
Deadline

Monday, September 18, 2017

* Data from Greystone Affordable Housing Research: Affordable Housing Market Update, August 2017.


 

Click here for the event summary

Do you want to register?

Yes          No

Presented by the Community Development department at the
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.

 


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