State
MDEQ gives Patel June 30 deadline to correct issues
Daily Journal
TUPELO – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has told Tupelo hotelier and developer Bruce Patel that he has until the end of the month to correct issues the department found on a site visit last month to the Pinnacle Point development on North Gloster Street.
COSTS CITED FOR REDUCED RECYCLING
Northside Sun
From providing curbside pickup to having only one bin, Madison County’s recycling system has been significantly scaled back.
One Lake sparks worries downriver
Daily Leader
The plan has been alive, under one name or another, for 22 years. It started in 1996 as the Comprehensive Levee Plan.
LEGAL BATTLE CONTINUES WITH RESIDENTS WANTING AMENDMENTS PREVENTED
Northside Sun
The legal battle in the Ridgeland Costco case continues.
And again, the amendments to the city of Ridgeland’s zoning ordinance are being questioned.
N’SIDER SPENDS SPARE TIME CLEANING PEARL RIVER
Northside Sun
When he’s not working, John Breland can be found traversing the Pearl River, picking up other people’s trash.
New Keep Tupelo Beautiful director makes mark
Daily Journal
TUPELO – Herbs growing inside concrete blocks. Daffodils blooming across the city. Clean roadways where once there was litter.
State Government
Mississippi Patrol Pays $500K in Wreck That Killed 1, Hurt 2
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is paying $500,000 in a lawsuit over a fatal wreck that happened when a state trooper was driving without his blue lights flashing.
AP
STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — The Mississippi Highway Patrol is paying $500,000 in a lawsuit over a fatal wreck that happened when a state trooper was driving fast on a dark highway without his blue lights flashing.
New Executive Director for the Mississippi Fair Commission has big plans for the future
WJTV
The Mississippi Fair Commission has a new executive director after 8 months without one.
New executive Director Steve Hutton is taking time to enjoy one of the many events the Mississippi Fair Commission puts on.
Oil Spill
Coast Electric, Infinity Science Center partnership gives raptors safe nesting place
Sea Coast Echo
Ospreys and other raptors now have a safe place to nest on the grounds of Infinity Science Center thanks to a partnership between Coast Electric Power Association and Infinity.
Regional
City considers pursuing grants
El Dorado News Times
The city of El Dorado has been encouraged to pursue federal grants that are available to identify and assess brownfield sites, and the El Dorado Works Board has agreed to meet with city officials and other civic leaders to determine if the grant program would benefit the community.
Jere “Trey” Hess, of PPM Consultants, Inc. — an environmental science and engineering consulting firm based in Monroe, Louisiana, — recently spoke to the EWB about the grants, saying that brownfields could hinder economic development opportunities.
Flesh-eating bug found in Baldwin County woman
Al.com
A woman in Robertsdale tested positive for a lethal flesh-eating bug Friday after bathing at Fairhope's Municipal beach.
Coral sites proposed for protection
Houma Courier
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is set to vote on protecting 21 coral sites in the Gulf of Mexico at its meeting from June 18-21.
Federal grant to Livingston meant to help foster healthy initiatives
Tuscaloosa News
Livingston has been awarded a $15,000 federal grant meant to help rural communities create walkable healthy, economically vibrant downtowns and neighborhoods.
National
Ethics Watchdog Asks EPA to Expand Probe into Pruitt’s Actions
Letter cites additional questions concerning employees completing errands for him, business opportunities for his wife
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The federal government’s ethics watchdog pushed the Environmental Protection Agency’s in-house investigators Friday to expand and accelerate their inquiry into allegations against Administrator Scott Pruitt.
EPA SENDS ROLLBACK OF OBAMA WATER PROTECTION RULE TO WHITE HOUSE
ABC
he Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers have sent a proposal to revise an Obama administration rule intended to protect bodies of water to the White House for review, a move that could roll back what some industry groups have called burdensome federal overregulation.
Fear And Frustration Over EPA Move To Kill Chemical-Disaster Protections
NPR
The Environmental Protection Agency intends to block an Obama-era proposal and effectively shield companies from scrutiny about how they prevent and respond to chemical disasters.
EPA won't force refiners to make up waived biofuels volumes
Reuters
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it cannot make large oil refineries blend additional biofuels into their gasoline to make up for volumes waived under the small refinery hardship waiver program unless Congress authorizes it.
EPA backpedals on suspending pesticide rule following lawsuit
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Thursday backtracked on its suspension of a chemical requirement that aimed to help farmworkers handling toxic pesticides.
Tidal Wave of Toxics Deadlines Awaits EPA, Industries in 2019
Bloomberg
The EPA faces a deluge of tight deadlines over the next 24 months as it must make decisions that will affect dozens of chemicals that companies make and use every day.
A Study Measuring Air Quality at Fracking Sites Nears Completion
WKSU
A three-year study of the possible health effects of fracking on people who live near shale drilling sites is entering its final phase.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler arrested in Volkswagen diesel emissions probe
NBC
Invasive plant that causes 3rd-degree burns, permanent blindness discovered in Virginia
Fox News
Officials in Virginia are warning residents to be on the lookout after an invasive plant was found Tuesday in the northern part of the state that can cause third-degree burns and even permanent blindness.
Man wades through 100 yards of sewer sludge to rescue tired fawn
AP
Fort Benton, MT —A north-central Montana man rescued a tired fawn from a bed of drying sewer sludge while others helped reunite the baby deer with its mother nearby.
Press Releases
EPA and Army Take Next Step in Joint Efforts to Redefine “Waters of the United States”
06/15/2018
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) will be sending a proposed “Step 2” rule that would redefine “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review.
Arkansas Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines Helping Farmers
June 15, 2018
Voluntary Smoke Management Guidelines are helping Arkansas farmers to manage smoke during post-harvest stubble removal.
