State
Chevron agrees to $160 million upgrade, fines to end probe
AP
Federal officials said Wednesday that Chevron Corp. has agreed to pay a nearly $3 million fine and spend $160 million on environmental improvements and upgrading oil refineries to resolve allegations the company violated pollution laws.
Chevron agrees to pay $163 million on fine and upgrades to end probes
CBS
Chevron Corp. has agreed to pay a nearly $3 million fine and spend $160 million on environmental improvements and upgrading oil refineries to resolve allegations the company violated pollution laws, federal officials said Wednesday.
Chevron settles claims it violated Clean Air Act: U.S. Justice Department
Reuters
Chevron Corp will spend about $163 million to settle claims by the U.S. government and the state of Mississippi that it violated provisions of the Clean Air Act when its refineries accidentally released hazardous chemicals, the U.S. Justice Department said on Wednesday.
...The settlement with the Justice Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is subject to final court approval.
It was filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is subject to a 30-day public comment period.
MDEQ APPROVES LANDFILL CLOSURE
South Reporter
The Marshall County Class II landfill closure has been approved as satisfactory, according to county administrator Larry Hall, who recently reported to the board of supervisors.
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) requires a minimum of five years periodic inspection to see if there is any erosion or lack of vegetation prior to installation of any structures or planting of trees, he said. He recommended the board appoint someone to monitor the site.
Board of supervisors to host Forrest County Clean Up Day
WDAM
Residents of Forrest County will have an opportunity this weekend to get rid of unwanted junk and clutter.
..The clean up day is sponsored by the Forrest County Board of Supervisors through a grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Turn in your unused prescription drugs Saturday
Clarion Ledger
If you have unused prescription drugs collecting dust in your medicine cabinet, this Saturday is a good time to clean them out.
Picayune named Keep American Beautiful affiliate
Vicksburg Post
Wednesday morning, committee members of Picayune’s Keep Picayune Beautiful attended training before the city was officially named an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful.
Oil Spill
William Carey University holds dedication for new Pharmacy School
WJTV
On October 19th, William Carey University's Tradition campus honored Joe Frank and Kathy Sanderson at the dedication of the new Sanderson Hall. The Sandersons run Sanderson Farms, which is stationed in Laurel.
Hurricane Michael: Storm-damaged counties will weigh needs for BP money
PNJ
Regional
St. George's Students Study The Memphis Sands Aquifer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) - Several high school students are taking a closer look at the Memphis Sands Aquifer.
National
EPA to Eliminate Letter Grades for Some Project Reviews
As administration seeks simplified permitting, some say the grades helped the public spot problem projects
WSJ
The Environmental Protection Agency will stop using letter grades on some of its environmental-permitting reviews, calling the process antiquated.
University: Truck pollution research cited by EPA was ‘not accurate’
The Hill
The research the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cited in proposing to roll back a major truck pollution rule was “not accurate,” the university that conducted the study has concluded.
New York sues ExxonMobil, accusing it of deceiving investors about climate change risks
Washington Post
New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood sued ExxonMobil on Wednesday, accusing the oil giant of defrauding investors about the financial risks of climate change and lying about how it was calculating potential carbon costs.
Press Releases
Justice Department, EPA, State of Mississippi Reach Nationwide Settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to Address Chemical Accident Prevention Violations
The U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced a national settlement with Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (Chevron) that requires safety improvements at all of its petroleum refineries across the United States, resolving claims that the company violated provisions of the Clean Air Act aimed at preventing accidental releases of hazardous chemicals that can have serious consequences for public health and the environment.
USGS Working to Restore Streamgages
The USGS is working to restore the approximately 14 percent of streamgages that are offline due to an issue with the telemetry system that records and transmits streamgage data.
