State
Starkville leaders consider water, sewage rate changes
Commercial Dispatch
Starkville's water and sewage rates will likely increase as the city undertakes a massive infrastructure replacement project.
PSC TO CONVENE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING SALTILLO WATER
WTVA
SALTILLO, Miss. (WTVA) - Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley has scheduled a public hearing to be held in Saltillo next month regarding dirty drinking water.
City investigating dead goldfish in Memorial Park fountain
Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — A state fish expert and officials from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are investigating the sudden death of goldfish at the fountain in Memorial Park.
State tiger shark record falls on second day of Deep Sea Rodeo
Sun Herald
Two tiger sharks pounded past the Mississippi state record on the second day of the 71st Mississippi Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo on Saturday at Jones Park in Gulfport.
Long-time conservationist, media personality Paul Ott Carruth dies at 83
WLBT
Singing game warden and talk show host Paul Ott Carruth passed away at his home Sunday morning.
State Government
Agencies will have to spend $100 million more on pensions
AP
Public agencies in Mississippi will have to contribute another $100 million toward worker pensions beginning July 1, 2019, after a vote by the state Public Employees Retirement System's board.
Democrat Thomas resigns after 21 years in Mississippi House
AP
A Democrat from the Mississippi Delta is leaving the state House of Representatives.
Rep. Sara Richardson Thomas of Indianola says her resignation takes effect Saturday, the last day of the state budget year.
Bryant names new head of State Aid Road Construction
AP
A new leader has been named for the Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction.
Gov. Phil Bryant announced Friday that he is appointing Harry Lee James as the state aid engineer.
New Mississippi laws target dogfighting, left-lane driving
AP
JACKSON -- Several new laws are taking effect Sunday in Mississippi. They are listed with bill numbers used during the legislative session.
Dye, longtime Mississippi lieutenant governor, dies at 84
AP
Brad Dye, who was lieutenant governor longer than anyone else in Mississippi history, died Sunday at age 84 from respiratory failure.
Regional
Federal report focuses on toxicity of Decatur-area chemicals
Decatur Daily
A federal report released this month underlines the need for stricter limits on potentially toxic chemicals that are pervasive in the Decatur area, according to an environmental expert.
Red tide's effect on marine life
Fox 4
MATLACHA, Fla. -- As people see red tide kill marine life on Southwest Florida's beaches, fisheries want people to know most fish caught commercially is safe for consumption.
Cancer study questions need to move students farther from LaPlace chemical plant
Times-Picayune
Moving children to a different school farther from Denka Performance Elastomers, the LaPlace chemical plant at the center of controversy over potential cancer-causing emissions, would not significantly reduce their chance of cancer, according to a new study released Friday by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.
Shelby officials consider conservation fees for private wells
Commercial Appeal
Four Memphis-area industries making everything from bathroom tissue to cyanide products for mining pumped more water from private wells last year than the Tennessee Valley Authority has proposed using at its new power plant, figures compiled by state officials show.
National
Trump administration looks to boost case to repeal Obama water rule
The Hill
The Trump administration acted Friday to try to bolster its case to repeal the Obama administration’s controversial water pollution regulation.
EPA says it doesn’t need new ‘good neighbor’ air pollution rule
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday said that it doesn’t need to write a new regulation to comply with a legal requirement to address air pollution that blows across state lines.
Court: Trump administration exceeded authority by delaying emissions penalties
The Hill
Federal appeals judges said Friday that the Trump administration "exceeded its statuary authority" when it moved to indefinitely delay fines for car companies who broke an Obama-era fuel efficiency rule.
Could Quicker, Cheaper Superfund Cleanups Create Uncertainty?
Bloomberg
The start-and-stop approach the EPA wants to use for toxic site cleanup could be quicker, cheaper, and more effective than the process the agency has used for decades, but some are concerned it could increase uncertainty for the companies involved.
The E.P.A.’s Ethics Officer Once Defended Pruitt. Then He Urged Investigations.
NYT
WASHINGTON — The chief ethics officer of the Environmental Protection Agency — the official whose main job is to help agency staffers obey government ethics laws — has been working behind the scenes to push for a series of independent investigations into possible improprieties by Scott Pruitt, the agency’s administrator, a letter sent this week says.
Emails reveal close rapport between top EPA officials, those they regulate
Washington Post
On the morning of April 1, 2017, Environmental Protection Agency appointee Mandy Gunasekara welcomed to her office a team of lobbyists representing the makers of portable generators.
Air pollution linked to 3.2 million new diabetes cases in one year
CNN
WVU researcher's method can stop nutrient runoff could help create an industry in the Mountain State
Register-Herald
Kaushlendra Singh, an associate professor of wood science and technology at West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design is leading a multi-university team to find ways to improve soil quality while not harming downstream water bodies.
Press Releases
EPA and Army Seek Additional Public Comment on ‘Waters of the U.S.’ Repeal
06/29/2018
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) are issuing a supplemental proposal to the July 2017 proposed action to repeal the 2015 definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS).
EPA Proposal Addresses “Good Neighbor” Obligations for 2008 Ozone Standard
Eastern States on Track to Meet 2008 Ozone Standards
06/29/2018
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to determine that the 2016 Cross State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) Update satisfies “good neighbor” obligations in the 2008 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone.
EPA Launches National Electronic Hazardous Waste Tracking System
06/29/2018
WASHINGTON — Tomorrow, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will launch the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest System (e-Manifest). The system will improve access to higher quality and more timely hazardous waste shipment data and save industry and states valuable time and resources to the tune of $90 million annually.
EPA Approves Changes to Arkansas’ Clean-Air Plan for New or Modified Minor Sources of Air Pollution
06/29/2018
DALLAS – (June 29, 2018) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved revisions to the state of Arkansas’ clean-air plan for minor New Source Review (NSR).
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA announce new coastal resilience funding
Partnership with up to $30 million in funding will enhance coastal communities’ natural defenses against severe weather and flooding
NOAA
June 29, 2018
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today announced a partnership that will restore, increase and strengthen natural infrastructure — the landscapes that help absorb the impacts of storms and floods — to protect coastal communities, while also enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife.
A Great Day for Ducks and Geese: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Unveils New Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp
June 29, 2018
Mallards and emperor geese were the stars of the show today as the 2018-2019 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp – commonly known as the Duck Stamp – went on sale.
