State
Grant supports hazardous waste day disposal event
Daily Corinthian
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is granting $25,000 to support another hazardous waste day disposal event for Alcorn County and Corinth.
Alcorn Co., Corinth receive MDEQ grant
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Alcorn County and Corinth have received a large grant that will be used for an upcoming waste collection event.
City seeks advice for user fees
Vicksburg Post
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen Monday hired two consultants and authorized advertising for a third as they try to get a handle on the city’s soaring employee health insurance costs and begin moving closer to raising water and sewer user fees for city residents.
...Thomas said the facilities assessment for the sewer system is required before the city can apply for revolving fund loans to repair and upgrade the city’s sewer system.
Money for the loans comes from federal funds, which are administered by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and require the city to follow federal procurement guidelines in hiring a firm.
County plans to renew with Waste Pro
Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — Adams County decided Monday to renew its trash collection agreement with Waste Pro for another year. Board President Mike Lazarus said Adams County’s solid waste hauling rate compared favorably to other places in southwest Mississippi.
Did you know this rare species calls Harrison County home?
Sun Herald
An endangered species is making a “last stand” in the De Soto National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service says.
No settlement yet between PSC, MS Power over Kemper plant
WLOX
KEMPER COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -Settlement talks between the Mississippi Public Service Commission and Mississippi Power have not produced the results the PSC expected.
Energy efficiency program improves 139 local homes
Commercial Dispatch
Samella Degraffen Reid's home much more comfortable now than it used to be, and that's the most important thing for her.
Lindsey Abernathy named Associate Director of Sustainability at Ole Miss
Oxford Eagle
OXFORD — The University Mississippi Office of Sustainability, which is a catalyst for environmental change in the community, has named Lindsey Abernathy its new associate director.
Marine crash inquiry continues, but no answers expected soon
AP
Military investigators are trying to piece together the cause of a crash that killed 16 Marines and a sailor in Mississippi in July, but it could be a year or more until any information becomes public.
Oil Spill
Law firm asks court to force Plaquemines to pay its share of $45 million BP settlement
Times-Picayune
A New Orleans law firm that represented Plaquemines Parish in its $45 million Deepwater Horizon oil spill damages settlement with BP has gone to federal court to demand its share of the settlement, which it says is $6.4 million. Plaquemines Parish officials responded with a request that the demand be transferred to a state court in the parish, but on Monday asked the federal judge to delay a hearing on the case indefinitely as both sides discuss a settlement.
National
Trump administration halts research on mountaintop removal coal mining
The Hill
The Trump administration has ordered researchers to stop work on an independent evaluation of potential health effects from mountaintop removal coal mining.
Can low doses of chemicals affect your health? A new report weighs the evidence
AP
(THE CONVERSATION) Toxicology’s founding father, Paracelsus, is famous for proclaiming that “the dose makes the poison.” This phrase represents a pillar of traditional toxicology: Essentially, chemicals are harmful only at high enough doses.
But increasing evidence suggests that even low levels of “endocrine disrupting chemicals” can interfere with hormonal signals in the body in potentially harmful ways.
Press Releases
EPA Announces Appointment of Trey Glenn to Region 4 Administrator
Glenn Will Lead Environmental Protection Efforts Across Eight Southern States
WASHINGTON (August 21, 2017) – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the appointment of Trey Glenn of Alabama to become Regional Administrator for EPA’s Southeast Region (Region 4). Mr. Glenn will employ his 22 years of environmental and regulatory experience in leading the environmental protection efforts across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Mr. Glenn served as director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) from 2005 - 2009 where he managed over 600 ADEM employees tasked with ensuring a safe, healthy, and productive environment to all Alabama residents. Mr. Glenn also served as division director for the Alabama Office of Water Resources from 2001- 2005 where he was responsible for leading day-to-day operations on coordinating and managing Alabama’s water resources. Most recently, Mr. Glenn has been working as an independent engineer consultant and business owner, focused on environmental issues.
“Trey Glenn will bring invaluable experience as regional administrator having spent over two decades working in the field of environmental and regulatory policy,” said Administrator Pruitt. “Mr. Glenn will help us carry out President Trump’s vision of creating a more streamlined and efficient EPA that focuses on the Agency’s core mission, while also providing more regulatory certainty to our nation’s businesses.”
What others are saying about Trey Glenn’s appointment:
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey: "We are proud to have a person of Trey Glenn’s caliber leading such an important organization for our area. His experience as Director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management places him in a unique position to be prepared to work with these southern states. We are also especially glad to know someone with in-depth knowledge of Alabama will be overseeing our region. Our state looks forward to working closely with Trey and the EPA team to ensure the needs of the state are met and that we stay environmentally friendly."
United States Senator Richard Shelby: "As an accomplished environmental engineer from Alabama, Trey Glenn is well-prepared for this new role and challenge as the EPA Region 4 Administrator. Trey has a proven record of leveraging internal and external operations to advance clearly defined goals. Having served as the director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, he understands the value and importance of state authority and control. I am confident that Trey will provide respected leadership across the eight state region, while also promoting and protecting a strong and healthy environment."
Director of Alabama Department of Environmental Management Lance R. LeFleur: "I have had the opportunity to work with Trey Glenn as I transitioned into my position as Director of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management – a position he previously occupied – so I have seen his capabilities first hand. President Trump made a wise choice in selecting Trey. I am confident he will do an outstanding job, especially considering he will have an exceptionally fine career staff in Region 4 at his side. I look forward to working with Trey in assuring for Alabama citizens a safe, healthful, and productive environment."
Georgia Environmental Protection Division Director Richard Dunn: "We welcome the selection of Trey Glenn and look forward to working with him and the Region 4 team to identify more aligned and mutually supportive efforts to address today’s environmental challenges."
Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection Commissioner Aaron Keatley: "The Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet is pleased to learn of Trey Glenn’s appointment as the U.S. EPA Regional Administrator for EPA Region 4. His experience in leading a state environmental agency and in private sector consulting provides him with a valuable perspective on state and local priorities and needs. Trey’s experience and leadership will help facilitate the ability of U.S. EPA to make reasonable and timely decisions on environmental topics important to Kentucky. We look forward to working with Trey as we partner together to protect Kentucky’s environment and create new opportunities for the growth of Kentucky’s economy."
South Carolina Director of Environmental Affairs Myra Reece: "The new Regional Administrator has experienced first hand the many environmental challenges that states and rural communities face, as well as recognizes the value of robust stakeholder engagement and collaborative problem solving. We look forward to working with Trey and the entire EPA Region 4 team as we enhance and reconfigure the cooperative federalism relationship and work more effectively in achieving SC's vision of Healthy People Living in Healthy Communities."
Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Gary Rikard: "I look forward to working with Trey Glenn in his new position as EPA Regional Administrator. His prior experience as head of the Alabama Department of Environmental Management will bolster Administrator Pruitt’s goal of improving cooperative federalism and building relationships between EPA and the states in administering environmental regulations and policy."
Secretary Perdue Announces Tony Tooke as New Forest Service Chief
(Washington, D.C., August 21, 2017) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced Tony Tooke will serve as the new Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Tooke has worked for the Forest Service since age 18 and currently is the Regional Forester for the Southern Region. Following the announcement, Secretary Perdue issued this statement:
“The Forest Service will be in good hands with the U.S. Forest Service’s own Tony Tooke whose knowledge of forestry is unmatched. Tony has been preparing for this role for his whole professional life, and at a time when we face active and growing fires, his transition into leadership will be seamless. He will oversee efforts to get our forests working again, to make them more productive, and to create more jobs. His focus will be on ensuring we are good neighbors and are managing our forests effectively, efficiently, and responsibly, as well as working with states and local governments to ensure the utmost collaboration. No doubt, the stewardship of our forests is an awesome and sacred responsibility, and no one knows that better than Tony who has dedicated his career to this noble cause,” said Secretary Perdue.
Tony Tooke Biography:
Tony Tooke is the Regional Forester for the Southern Region of the USDA Forest Service. Tooke has worked for the Forest Service since age 18, including many assignments in Region 8 and the Washington Office (WO).
He is responsible for 3,100 employees, an annual budget exceeding $400 million, 14 national forests, and two managed areas, which encompass more than 13.3 million acres in 13 states and Puerto Rico.
His previous position in Washington, DC was Associate Deputy Chief for the National Forest System; with oversight of Lands and Realty, Minerals and Geology, Ecosystem Management Coordination, Wilderness and Wild and Scenic Rivers, the National Partnership Office, and Business Administration and Support Services.
As Associate Deputy Chief, Tooke was the Forest Service Executive Lead for Environmental Justice; Farm Bill implementation; and implementation of the Inventory, Monitoring, and Assessment Improvement Strategy. Another priority included implementation of a new planning rule for the National Forest System.
Also in the WO, Tooke served as Director for Ecosystem Management Coordination, Deputy Director for Economic Recovery, and Assistant Director for Forest Management.
Prior to 2006, Tooke served as Deputy Forest Supervisor for the National Forests in Florida as well as District Ranger assignments at the Talladega NF in Alabama, the Oconee NF in Georgia, and the DeSoto NF in Mississippi. His other field assignments were Timber Management Assistant, Other Resource Assistant, Silviculturist, and Forester on six Ranger Districts in Mississippi and Kentucky.
Tooke grew up on a small 200-acre farm in Detroit, AL. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Forestry from Mississippi State University. He was in the Forest Service’s inaugural class of the Senior Leadership Program, and he has completed the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.
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