State
Sewage spill puts spotlight on city’s aging infrastructure
Starkville Daily News
A winding underground network of pipes can go easily overlooked to the casual observer amid the wear and tear above the surface. But city officials say recent problems facing Starkville’s own water and sewer infrastructure are nothing unique to the city.
UPDATE: CREWS COMPLETE REPAIRS AFTER STARKVILLE SEWAGE SPILL
WTVA
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Repairs have been made following a sewage spill in Starkville during the weekend.
DAMAGED PIPELINE FIXED FROM STARKVILLE SEWAGE SPILL
WCBI
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Starkville Utilities has dug themselves out of a stinky situation, announcing Tuesday that they’ve completed all repairs on the sewage spill.
County administrator named to the EPA Advisory Committee, Subcommittee
Mississippi Press
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has named Jackson County Administrator Brian Fulton to its Local Government Advisory Committee they announced on Tuesday.
Complaints say Natchez violated Mississippi open meeting act
AP
NATCHEZ, MISS. Several complaints have been filed against a Mississippi city for privately negotiating a contract that increases garbage collection prices by 25 percent.
Massive fire engulfs Flora warehouse overnight
WLBT
MADISON COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -An investigation is underway following a massive fire in Madison County.
Dry conditions spark wildfires in South Mississippi
WLOX
Several fires burned across South Mississippi in a matter of days.
It took fire boats hours to put out a blaze on Deer Island last Sunday.
OCEAN SPRINGS MAN SETS STATE RECORD FOR ALMACO JACK
WXXV
The Commission on Marine Resources on Tuesday approved a new conventional tackle state record for Almaco Jack (Seriola rivoliana).
Regional
Citizens discuss environment and Syrah Technologies
Natchez Democrat
VIDALIA — Faced with a decision between environment and economy, emotions ran high Tuesday night during a meeting meant to educate the public about a new graphite company coming to Vidalia.
Louisiana Wants To Use The Muddy Mississippi To Build Up Its Coast
WCAI
Over the past century, Louisiana has lost more than 2,000 square miles of coastline, leaving it more vulnerable to storms, flooding and sea level rise. State officials have been fighting back, building levees, artificial marshes and barrier islands. Now they want to harness the muddy Mississippi River, diverting its sediment-rich waters into shrinking marshes and wetlands.
Nutria in Jefferson Parish drainage canals to stay in SWAT crosshairs
Times-Picayune
They once talked about installing noose traps to drown the critters. Then they wanted to float rafts bearing poisoned potatoes onto the water, in hopes the unsuspecting vermin would nibble at the spiked spuds and die.
National
House lawmakers vote to give modest budget cuts to EPA, Interior
The Hill
House lawmakers voted Tuesday night to give modest budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Interior Department.
Watchdog: EPA can do more to find emissions cheating after Volkswagen scandal
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has improved its car emissions testing following the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal, but it could still take more steps, the agency’s internal watchdog said Tuesday.
Pruitt Adds New EPA Office to Further Efficiency Effort
Bloomberg
EPA head Scott Pruitt’s efficiency push throughout the agency will get its own office, the administrator announced May 14.
Water Utilities Get More Time to Apply for EPA Loans
Bloomberg
Water utilities now have additional time to apply for low-cost loans from the EPA, as the agency is extending the deadline for a new infrastructure financing program by nearly four weeks.
Trump Administration Won’t Consult California on Vehicle Emissions Rules
Environmental Protection Agency is sticking with a plan to finalize its proposal before taking input from the state
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The Trump administration doesn’t intend to give any special treatment or outreach to California while it drafts new federal rules on vehicle emissions, according to people familiar with the matter.
EPA watchdog announces new probe into Pruitt's emails
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) inspector general said it is investigating EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s use of nonpublic email accounts, the latest in a series of federal investigations into the agency chief.
10 coffee-roasting operations found to have elevated levels of dangerous chemicals in air, sickly workers
USA Today
For the last two years, a small group of doctors and scientists with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have spent their days in coffee shops around the country.
They weren’t there sipping their morning cup of Joe. Their mission? To protect the health of the rapidly growing number of workers who make their living roasting, grinding, packaging and serving coffee.
Press releases
EPA’s Office of Enforcement to Host Listening Sessions On Superfund Task Force Recommendations
05/15/2018
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance will host eight web-based listening sessions beginning May 21, 2018, to solicit public and stakeholder input related to specific recommendations from the Agency’s Superfund Task Force Recommendations Report.
EPA Updates Superfund National Priorities List, Commits to Clean Up Six New Sites
05/15/2018
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its commitment to clean up six new sites by adding them to the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) and proposing to add another three hazardous waste sites to the NPL.
EPA Extends Deadline to Apply for a WIFIA Water Infrastructure Loan
05/15/2018
WASHINGTON –– Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt announced at a meeting with water sector associations that the deadline to submit letters of interest for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans has been extended to July 31, 2018.
Fishing Rule Changes Announced
5/15/2018
MDWFP
JACKSON - The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) Fisheries Bureau announced fishing regulation changes on several MDWFP managed lakes.
