State
Opponents warn of One Lake plan risks
Daily Leader
A group that opposes the “One Lake” project — an effort to create a 1,500-acre lake on the Pearl River in Jackson — said Tuesday that a study of the project shows serious public and environmental health risks.
The Mississippi Dept. of Environment Quality raised questions about water quality and called for additional analysis to determine how downstream water would be affected.
Aquaculture research grants could save Coast oyster industry
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) - Help is on the way for the Coast oyster industry. It’s been faltering for several years. This past year, the season only lasted a few days with barely any oysters being harvested. But, the federal government is providing close to five million dollars over the next five years to conduct research on how to save the industry and the jobs that go along with it.
Supervisors meet with waste haulers to discuss countywide service
Picayune Item
Pearl River County may have countywide garbage pickup in its future. But, it could be months or even years before it comes to fruition.
Tanker truck fire in Clinton
WJTV
The Clinton Fire Department responded to a tanker truck fire on I-20 West before the Norrell Road exit.
MGCCC ADDS $17 MILLION STEM BUILDING IN JACKSON COUNTY
WXXV
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Jackson County campus will soon feature a new $17 million facility.
State Government
WDAM Investigates: Expensive taxpayer-bought equipment sits around
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) - With Stion Corporation closed and the economic black eye it caused likely to never financially heal, there’s some movement at the old plant in the Forrest County Industrial Park. Specifically, the equipment left behind.
Bill would require transition to electronic court documents
AP
Some House lawmakers want to require the state's courts to complete their transition to an electronic filing system.
Regional
TVA, Environmentalists Consider What To Do With Stored Coal Ash In Southwest Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) - The process continues to figure out what to do with stored coal ash sitting in southwest Memphis. Those with the Tennessee Valley Authority and environmentalists so far are unable to figure out what to do with it.
DEQ requires north Louisiana wood pellet plant to reduce pollution -- its pellets are exported through Baton Rouge port
The Advocate
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is requiring a Morehouse Parish wood pellet manufacturing plant to install pollution control equipment following complaints from an environmental group.
How big is the 15-year-old oil spill near the Mouth of the Mississippi? It depends on who you ask
WWL
NEW ORLEANS — Taylor Energy is defending its efforts over nearly 15 years to stop an interminable oil leak off the tip of Louisiana.
Key West bans the sale of sunscreens that hurt coral reefs in the Keys
AP
One of the world’s sunniest spots just took a stand on two sunscreen chemicals that scientists have said are hurting the coral reef ecosystem in the Florida Keys.
Memphis neighborhood fights proposed gravel pit
WMC
A nearly decade-old fight is heading back to a Shelby County Commission Committee meeting on Wednesday.
National
Nomination of acting EPA head Wheeler moves to full Senate
AP
WASHINGTON — Acting Environmental Protection Agency chief and former coal lobbyist Andrew Wheeler won a Senate committee's approval of his appointment to the permanent post on Tuesday, along with praise from the panel's Republicans for his work rolling back a series of Obama-era environmental measures.
Air Permitting Violations May No Longer Be an EPA Priority
Bloomberg
Refineries and power plants that need permits for their air pollution could face less scrutiny from the EPA as the agency considers dropping a 20-year-old enforcement priority.
Opinion
One Lake’s true costs: Bridges, dumps and pumps
Clarion Ledger
Andrew Whitehurst and Martha Watts, Guest Columnists
The Rankin Hinds Pearl River Flood Control and Drainage District’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is out of the public eye, but this sales pitch is nevertheless inching through the review process toward a Corps of Engineers decision sometime in 2019… maybe. Information is scarce since public comments closed in September.
Press Releases
EPA and Army Announce Public Hearing on Proposed New “Waters of the United States” Definition
Hearing will be held February 27-28, 2019 in Kansas City, Kansas
02/06/2019
WASHINGTON — Following President Trump’s directive to provide certainty to American farmers and landowners so that the economy can continue to expand while waters are protected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (Army) are moving to the next steps in proposing a new definition of the “Waters of the United States.” EPA and the Army will hold a public hearing on the proposed new “Waters of the United States” definition in Kansas City with sessions on February 27 and 28, 2019.
