State
UPDATE: MDEQ LIFTS WATER CONTACT ADVISORY IN OKTIBBEHA COUNTY
WTVA
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has lifted a general water contact advisory for body of water in Oktibbeha County.
PETAL FINISHES CENTRAL AVENUE SEWER PROJECT
Hub City Spokes
Officials from the city of Petal have completed and paid for a sewer repair project at Central Avenue and Hillcrest Loop.
...Back in March, aldermen voted to apply for a $350,000 loan from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to fund the sewer project, as well as another project that will upgrade a lift station on Walnut Drive.
Mississippi mayor: City needs funding for sewer line repairs
AP
GREENWOOD, MISS.
The mayor of a Mississippi city says funding is needed to replace sewer lines that are beginning to crumble from old age.
GULFPORT ROAD CLOSED DUE TO SEWER CAVE-IN
WXXV
The east and west bound lanes on Edwards Drive between South Kerns Drive and Janell Drive will be closed to thru traffic in order to repair a sewer cave-in.
HATTIESBURG UPDATES MOSQUITO SPRAYING
Hub City Spokes
Hattiesburg is shifting times in the war on mosquitoes this summer, planning a late-evening barrage and eliminating the morning salvos. However, an increased number of West Nile Virus cases would be an indication to step up spraying.
...“We’re taking some examples from MDEQ (Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality) and the industry for better practices,” he said.
CITY LACKS FUNDING TO ADDRESS FLOODING ISSUES
Northside Sun
The city of Jackson has a couple of options for curbing flooding along Belhaven Creek.
Plans for improving the drainage ditch have been drawn, with engineers suggesting several creek bed improvements, and/or adding a retention pond.
More Costco Appeals
Northside Sun
Whether or not the state’s high court will reconsider its ruling in the Ridgeland Costco case could come down to what it considers text amendments and rezoning.
Garbage Contract Extended
Northside Sun
The city of Madison has extended their contract with Waste Management. The mayor and board of aldermen voted to extend the three-year contract, which started in 2015, by one year.
Why am I not getting a straw?
Hattiesburg American
Video
Hattiesburg Zoo food and beverage server Faith Johnson explains the "one less straw" initiative
State Government
MISS. LEGISLATORS QUESTION THE GOVERNOR'S POWER OVER BUDGETS
MPB
Two Democratic legislators are suing Governor Bryant saying he overstepped his boundaries when he made cuts to the state's budget and public schools.
Regional
Code Orange Ozone Advisory issued for Memphis
WMC
The Shelby County Health Department issued a Code Orange Ozone Forecast for Shelby County in Tennessee along with DeSoto County in Mississippi and Crittenden County in Arkansas.
Gulf of Mexico 'Dead Zone' expected to be larger than Connecticut this summer, scientists say
The Advocate
Once again, the Gulf of Mexico "dead zone" must be measured in the size of a U.S. state.
LSU scientists predict this summer's iteration will exceed the size of Connecticut — about 6,620 square miles. The U.S. Geological Survey forecast 5,780 square miles. A tropical storm could stir up the water and drive the size down, both noted.
National
EPA to consider changing how it weighs costs, benefits of regulations
The Hill
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt is floating major changes to how the agency weighs the benefits and costs of regulations on air pollution and other subjects.
EPA chief’s top legal counsel latest senior aide to leave
AP
WASHINGTON — Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt announced the resignation of his senior legal counsel Thursday, the second departure of a top aide in as many days and one of a half-dozen since April amid unending barrages of ethics complaints and federal inquiries.
Scott Pruitt enlisted security detail in picking up dry cleaning, moisturizing lotion
As EPA chief, Pruitt has received round-the-clock protection since he took office in February 2017
Washington Post
WASHINGTON – Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt asked members of his 24/7 security detail to run errands for him on occasion, including picking up his dry cleaning and taking him in search of a favorite moisturizing lotion, according to two individuals familiar with those trips who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk frankly.
Blue bins overflow with Amazon and Walmart boxes. But we're actually recycling less
USA Today
SAN FRANCISCO – Walk down the street on garbage day in many towns, and evidence of our love affair with online shopping is plain to see. Recycling bins overflow with boxes from Amazon, eBay, Walmart and others.
Arizona plans to use Volkswagen settlement to replace aging school buses
Tucson.com
More than 280 aging — and presumably high-polluting — school buses are going to be replaced, at no cost to Arizona taxpayers.
Oklahoma, Volkswagen settle suit related to deceptive advertising, attorney general announces
The Oklahoman
Attorney General Mike Hunter announced Wednesday that an $8.5 million settlement has been reached between the state, Volkswagen and related auto manufacturers in a case that accused the carmakers of false and deceptive advertising.
Press Releases
EPA Administrator Pruitt Proposes Cost-Benefit Analysis Reform
06/07/2018
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to announce that the Agency is soliciting public input on whether and how to change the way it considers costs and benefits in making regulatory decisions.
EPA Finalizes Action Promoting Greater Transparency on Certain Chemicals used in Cleaners, Detergents
EPA Adds Nonylphenol Ethoxylates to Toxics Release Inventory
06/07/2018
WASHINGTON - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is finalizing a rule to add a category of thirteen specific nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). This addition ensures the most up-to-date information is easily accessible to the public.
Average sized dead zone forecast for Gulf of Mexico
NOAA’s annual prediction based on USGS data
NOAA
June 7, 2018NOAA scientists are forecasting that this summer’s Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone or ‘dead zone’ – an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and other marine life – will be approximately 5,780 square miles, approximately the size of Connecticut.
Local Anglers Assist with Largemouth Bass Stocking at Ross Barnett Reservoir
6/7/2018
MDWFP
JACKSON – The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, (MDWFP) recently stocked Florida-strain largemouth bass into Ross Barnett Reservoir, with help from the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District and local bass anglers.
Trump Administration Announces $50 Million in Construction Projects Approved for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Approved projects will repair and rehabilitate aging wildlife refuge and fish hatchery infrastructure
6/7/2018
WASHINGTON— U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke today announced $50 million in approved funding to rebuild critical U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service infrastructure.
State for-hire Red Snapper season
ends June 10
BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Thursday that state for-hire vessels are projected to reach their quota for Red Snapper, and the season will end at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, June 10.
