State
Nunnelee's impact recalled during naming ceremony
Daily Journal
JACKSON – Gov. Phil Bryant said Thursday that if he had his way, he would name the Mississippi Capitol after Alan Nunnelee.
http://www.djournal.com/news/nunnelee-s-impact-recalled-during-naming-ceremony/article_34790347-9508-50a9-a745-ececda160044.html
MDEQ building renamed in honor of Alan Nunnelee
WJTV
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) — Gov. Phil Bryant and other state leaders dedicated a building and plaque to the late Alan Nunnelee.
Building dedicated to Mississippi US rep who died in 2015
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
A state government building in Mississippi has been named for a congressman who died in 2015.
MDEQ BUILDING DEDICATION HONORS CONGRESSMAN ALAN NUNNELEE
WTVA
JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) – Late Congressman Alan Nunnelee will continue to be remembered as state lawmakers dedicated a government agency building in his honor.
EPA HOLDS MEETING ABOUT MISSISSIPPI PHOSPHATE SITE
WXXV
The Mississippi Phosphate site is finally getting cleaned up with the help of the Environmental Protection Agency. Tonight, they hosted a public meeting in Pascagoula to discuss their cleanup project with the community.
Sophia Myers' grieving mother turning agony into action
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -Everything changed on February 22.
City of Jackson hopes to have all broken water mains fixed by Friday afternoon
WLBT
Thursday marked Day 8 of the water crisis in Jackson, and that day finally bore some good news: The City hopes to have ALL 139 broken water mains fixed by Friday evening.
State Government
DESIGNATION OF CCID FUNDS UNDER STUDY
Northside Sun
A plan on how the funds earmarked for the Capitol Complex Improvement District (CCID) will be spent should be in place well before August, so says an official with the agency that will be overseeing the spending.
Lawmakers push to divert state use taxes to cities, counties
Clarion Ledger
The House Republican leadership moved Wednesday to divert tens of millions of dollars in state use tax collections to cities and counties hurting for road and bridge funds.
Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, chosen to chair Energy committee
Daily Leader
Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, is one of several state officials who were given new Senate committee appointments by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves Thursday.
Oil Spill
Fight for BP money continues at the Capitol
WLOX
JACKSON, MS (WLOX) -More than 100 coast business and community leaders are heading back home after an intense day of lobbying state lawmakers.
Oil spills are bad, but dispersants are worse for deep-sea coral
Times-Picayune
An oil spill's effect on deep-sea corals is bad enough. But the chemicals used to clean spills are worse.
Regional
Former Kentucky coal executive joins Tenn. Valley Authority
AP
A former executive at a Kentucky coal company has joined the Tennessee Valley Authority board of directors after a presidential appointment.
National
Ford sued in federal court over claims of diesel emissions cheating
Detroit Free Press
Another lawsuit over diesel emissions was filed Wednesday in federal court in Detroit. This case, filed by a group of Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty owners, alleges Ford cheated on emission tests of the diesel engines because they pollute much more than the tests certify.
U.S. vehicle fuel economy rises to record 24.7 mpg: EPA
Reuters
The fuel economy of new U.S. cars and trucks hit a record 24.7 miles per gallon in the 2016 model year, a government report said, even as some automakers had to buy credits to meet federal requirements.
Opinion
Climate of Unaccountability
Are foundations running state energy policy without transparency?
WSJ
With President Trump putting economic growth above climate alarums, green activists are turning to progressive states to press their regulatory agenda.
Press Releases
EPA Releases Cleanup Plan for Portions of the Mississippi Phosphates Corporation Site
Public Meeting Tonight and Public Comments Sought Through Feb. 10, 2018
ATLANTA (January 11, 2018) EPA has prepared a cleanup plan for portions of the Mississippi Phosphates Corporation (MPC) Site in Pascagoula, Miss. EPA invites public comment on the cleanup plan for 30 days, through Feb. 10, 2018. EPA is hosting a public meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at the Pascagoula Senior Center, 1912 Live Oak Avenue in Pascagoula, to introduce the cleanup plan and answer questions.
EPA’s preferred cleanup alternatives, described in an Engineering Evaluation/Cost Analysis (EE/CA), are protective of human health and the environment, will eliminate storage of more than 500 million gallons of contaminated water on site, and will reduce the volume of water requiring treatment by an estimated 98 percent during an average precipitation year. The total cost to implement the three recommended alternatives is $71.6 million.
The cleanup plan is focused on the closure of the East Gypsum Stack and the North Ponds at the West Gypsum Stack. The work is divided into three phases and EPA evaluated several cleanup alternatives for each. The phases, timeframes and costs associated with EPA’s preferred cleanup alternatives are:
· Phase 1 (2018) – Closure of the current East Gypsum Stack, including Pond 3 and Pond 4 and stack side slopes. Phase 1 will reduce rain water contact by 155 acres, or 41 percent. Cost of $31.4 million.
· Phase 2 (2019) – Closure of East Gypsum Stack Pond 5 and the West Gypsum Stack North Ponds. Phase 2 will reduce rain water contact by an additional 90 acres, or 64 percent total. Cost of $18.4 million.
· Phase 3 (2020) – Closure of East Gypsum Stack Pond 6 and the water return ditch around the perimeter of the East Gypsum Stack. Phase 3 results in 100 percent closure. Cost of $21.8 million.
The EE/CA and other site-related documents are also available for review at the information repository located in the Pascagoula Public Library at 3214 Pascagoula Street. Written comments may be e-mailed to zeller.craig@epa.gov or mailed to: Craig Zeller, U.S. EPA Region 4, Superfund Division - 11th Floor, 61 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA.
After considering all information received during the public comment period, EPA will consult with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and publish an Action Memorandum formalizing the cleanup plan.
MPC is a former diammonium phosphate fertilizer plant that ceased operations in December 2014 following bankruptcy, leaving more than 700,000,000 gallons of low-pH, contaminated wastewater stored at the facility. On Feb. 11, 2017, EPA assumed temporary control of wastewater treatment operations at the site once the MPC Environmental Trust, which owns the property, exhausted available funds.
EPA treats the wastewater to neutralize the pH and remove high levels of nutrients to prevent an uncontrolled release to Bayou Casotte and the Grand Bay Estuary Reserve. Neutralizing the pH prevents any acute toxicity impacts to aquatic wildlife. Removing nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorous and ammonia, prevents harmful algal blooms from forming.
These first phases of cleanup will be followed at a later date by a site-wide final cleanup. EPA will propose the site-wide cleanup plan to the public before a decision is made.
EPA is currently overseeing wastewater treatment at a rate of approximately 2,000,000 gallons per day – at a cost of approximately $1,000,000 per month – due to the high volume of wastewater generated that requires treatment. EPA will continue to oversee wastewater treatment operations at the MPC site until the facility is sold or cleaned up and closed.
On Dec. 8, 2017, EPA announced that the MPC site is among those that Administrator Pruitt has targeted for immediate and intense attention. The 21 sites on the list – from across the United States – are in direct response to the Superfund Task Force Recommendations, issued this summer, calling for this list.
EPA proposed listing the site on the Superfund National Priorities List on Aug. 3, 2017. EPA proposed the site to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) on August 3, 2017. On January 9, 2018, EPA announced the site is being added to the NPL.
And on Twitter: @EPASoutheast
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For Immediate Release
The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) is announcing the Gulf Coast Conservation Reserve Program (GCCRP) (Planning & Implementation) - Mississippi award to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (Mississippi office) for a total amount of $1,500,000.00. This project focuses on restoring terrestrial habitats on the six Mississippi coastal counties and improving water quality in waters flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Restoration activities will take place on both private & eligible public lands within the following Mississippi counties: George, Jackson, Hancock, Harrison, Pearl River, and Stone. The primary objectives of this project are restoration, enhancement, and protection of habitat, while secondary objectives include, restoration, improvement, and protection of water resources.
Learn more about:
For additional information please contact:
Keala J. Hughes
Director of External Affairs & Tribal Relations
Fuel Economy Reaches New Record, Manufacturers Meet Greenhouse Gas Standards, EPA Reports Show
01/11/2018
Contact Information:
Today, EPA issued two annual reports that provide information on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions from light duty vehicles in the United States. The reports show auto manufacturers continue to innovate and make progress increasing fuel economy and reducing pollution.
The Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975-2017 report is the authoritative reference for real world fuel economy, technology trends and tailpipe carbon dioxide emissions, for new personal vehicles sold in the U.S. every year since 1975. The report shows fuel economy for the U.S. fleet continues to improve. Model year (MY) 2016 vehicle fuel economy was 24.7 mpg, slightly higher than MY 2015, and a record high overall. Since MY 2004, fuel economy and CO2 emissions have improved in ten out of twelve years.
The Manufacturer Performance Report assesses compliance performance for individual automakers and for the U.S. fleet as a whole with the greenhouse gas emissions standards for light duty vehicles. This year’s report shows all manufacturers are in compliance with the standards.
EPA, the Department of Transportation, and the California Air Resources Board implement coordinated regulations for passenger cars and light trucks on fuel economy and GHG emissions.
USDA Investing Millions in Wildfire Mitigation and Water Quality Projects Through Joint Chiefs’ Partnership
Projects will restore healthy forests on private and public lands in 24 states
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2018 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest nearly $32 million this year to mitigate wildfire risk, improve water quality and restore healthy forest ecosystems in 24 states and Puerto Rico. Since 2014, USDA has invested $176 million in 56 Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership Projects, which focus on areas where public forests and grasslands intersect with privately-owned lands.
"Through Joint Chiefs, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with agricultural producers and forest landowners to improve forest health using available Farm Bill conservation programs, and the Forest Service enhances forest health on public lands -- stitching together a larger footprint of healthy ecosystems in priority areas," said Leonard Jordan, acting NRCS chief.
This year the Joint Chiefs’ partner USDA agencies are providing $2.9 million to fund seven new projects and $29 million to support 21 ongoing partnership projects. Federal, state, and local partners will bring an additional $12 million through financial and in-kind contributions over three years to implement the newly added projects. These contribute to jobs and economic benefits that sustain rural communities.
“Wildfires are a serious and on-going threat to forests and communities alike, as we’ve seen in California and throughout the nation this past year,” said Forest Service Chief Tony Tooke. “Through these Joint Chief’s projects, USDA will be working with local partners in high-risk project areas to control invasive species, install fire breaks and implement other targeted forest management practices to help mitigate the risk of wide-spread wildfires.”
Along with mitigating fire risk, Joint Chiefs’ projects work to improve water quality by restoring healthy forests and grasslands. For example, one of the new 2018 projects, Sublette County Forest Collaborative: Working Together for Forest Health, specifically addresses protecting the sole drinking water source of Pinedale, Wyoming, near the Bridger Teton National Forest. The project area includes lands managed by the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, State of Wyoming and private landowners in Sublette County, Wyoming. In addition to improving water quality, project goals include providing fire protection for rural residents, restoring aspens, and habitat improvements for mule deer, greater sage-grouse and pronghorn. USDA will invest more than $700,000 in this project in 2018.
Florida – Ocala Longleaf Priority Protection Area (Ocala National Forest)
By implementing restoration activities on public and adjacent private lands, this ecosystem and its suite of species, will experience accelerated forest restoration at a landscape-scale, reduced wildfire risk, increased appropriate understory vegetation and pollinator habitat, control non-native and invasive species, and protect water quality.
Partners: The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The National Forest Foundation (NFF) and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
FY18 USDA investment: $437,080 (Forest Service - $256,000, NRCS - $181,080)
Hawaii – Wildfire Prevention and Invasive Plant Control in West Maui (West Maui Mountains, non-National Forest)
Prior to human occupation, fire in Hawaii occurred once every 700 to 1,000 years. In the last decade, several major wildfires burned thousands of acres in West Maui alone, mostly occurring in drier regions. Because of the enormous damages associated with these fires, the project will help implement the partner’s new Community Wildfire Protection Plan.
Partners: West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership, County of Maui, and State of Hawaii
FY18 USDA investment: $123,278 (NRCS)
Louisiana – Joint Chief’s Louisiana Native Pine Partnership Project (Kisatchie National Forest)
Partners and stakeholders are working to accelerate the restoration of longleaf pine and other native ecosystems on public and private lands. The restoration of native trees and ecosystems will expand to include shortleaf pine.
Partners: LA Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; LA Department of Agriculture and Forestry; US Fish & Wildlife Service; Soil and Water Conservation Districts; The National Wild Turkey Federation; The Nature Conservancy; LA Forestry Association; and USDA APHIS-Wildlife Services.
FY18 USDA investment: $291,801 (Forest Service - $200,000, NRCS - $91,801)
Montana – Capital 360 (Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest)
Nearly 290,000 acres are included this project which targets high-priority treatment areas benefiting the water supply source for the more than 30,000 residents of Helena and East Helena, Montana. The Capital 360 effort continues to build on the successful implementation of smaller-scale fuels reduction projects by various entities in the project area.
Partners: State Forestry Funds (Montana DNRC); Tri-County FireSafe Working Group; City of Helena, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
FY18 USDA investment: $696,046 (Forest Service - $450,000, NRCS - $246,046)
New Mexico – Taos Valley Watershed Coalition (Carson National Forest)
This project includes 280,000 acres of contiguous landscape including a range of vegetation types from piñon/juniper woodland to spruce/fir. The area encompasses most of the headwaters of the Rio Grande within Taos County; waters that are critical to the economy and well-being of New Mexico’s most populous areas such as Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque.
Partners: Carson National Forest; Grande Water Fund-LOR Foundation; New Mexico Water Trust Board; Taos County; and Taos Pueblo.
FY18 USDA investment: $403,800 (Forest Service - $250,000, NRCS - $153,800)
Puerto Rico – Landscape-scale Restoration Initiative to Establish Biological Corridors and Restore Ecosystem Functionality after the Impact of a Major Hurricane in the Caribbean Area (Six Watershed in Puerto Rico)
The project will help mitigate flooding, erosion and other impacts of extreme weather events. Partners ill implement conservation practices such as: establishment of vegetation and tree planting, erosion control measures, nutrient and waste management, establishment of fire breaks and wind breaks, propagation of native species for agroforestry practices and forest enhancement, habitat restoration for targeted species, debris and obstruction removal.
Partners: Caribbean NRCS; Envirosurvey, Inc.; Cafiesencia, Inc; Protectores de Cuencas, Inc.; Puerto Rico Conservation Trust; Para la Naturaleza; and USFWS Caribbean Ecological Services Field Office.
FY18 USDA investment: $225,000 (NRCS)
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