State
U.S. Department of the Interior to spend $31 million in Mississippi
Sun Herald
The U.S. Department of the Interior will spend more than $31 million in Mississippi for coastal conservation and hurricane protection projects.
Utility Authority moving on several projects
Picayune Item
Work to connect homes in the Eagle Heights subdivision to a low pressure sewer system has been put on hold, but so far 20 customers are now connected.
City dumps longtime engineers, replaces with two firms -- at twice the cost
Mississippi Press
OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Ocean Springs aldermen recently voted to replace longtime City engineering firm Compton Engineering in what they say was a cost-cutting measure.
One problem: They replaced Compton with two firms -- at twice the cost.
Oil Spill
Study: Gulf salt marshes still recovering from Deepwater spill; marsh grass growth could boost recovery
Virginian-Pilot
When oil from an offshore spill rolls ashore, it wreaks havoc on any salt marsh in its path, smothering its grasses and the multitude of creatures living there.
Regional
The ‘nooch is loose: Alabama’s Sucarnoochee River flows free after dam removal
Al.com
After almost 40 years of being restricted by a concrete and steel dam, the Sucarnoochee River in west Alabama is flowing free again.
The Sucarnoochee, or “the ‘nooch,” as locals call it, now flows unimpeded from headwaters in east Mississippi about 50 miles through Sumter County before joining the Tombigbee River, after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed an obsolete dam last year in the city of Livingston, near the campus of the University of West Alabama.
UL seafood study second phase gets additional $249,000, will be expanded to include all coastal parishes
The Advocate
Minor cut leads to flesh-eating infection on Florida man's hand. Black blisters were sign something was very wrong
USA Today
A Florida man said he is lucky to be alive after a minor prick from a fishing hook led to a life-threatening, flesh-eating bacterial infection.
DeKalb CEO: County will miss 2020 sewer fix deadline
AJC
Nearly a decade ago, DeKalb County committed $326 million to fix its aging sewer system to reduce sanitation spills and agreed to meet a deadline of June 2020.
National
E.P.A. Proposes Weaker Standards on Chemicals Contaminating Drinking Water
NYT
WASHINGTON — After pressure from the Defense Department, the Environmental Protection Agency significantly weakened a proposed standard for cleaning up groundwater pollution caused by toxic chemicals that contaminate drinking water consumed by millions of Americans and that have been commonly used at military bases.
Trump fracking plan targets over 1 million acres in California
LA Times
The Trump administration on Thursday detailed its plan to open more than a million acres of public and private land in California to fracking, raising environmental concerns at a time when opposition to oil and gas drilling in the state is intensifying.
Trump officials halt plans to expand offshore drilling
The Hill
The Trump administration is hitting pause on its ambitious and controversial plans to expand offshore drilling in the Atlantic.
Ford: Justice Dept. opens probe into emissions certification
AP
Ford says the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into its U.S. emissions certification process.
Press Releases
EPA Takes Important Step Under PFAS Action Plan
Agency Asks for Public Input on Draft Interim Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater Contaminated with PFOA and PFOS
04/25/2019
WASHINGTON –Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released draft interim guidance for addressing groundwater contaminated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and/or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) for public review and comment.
Commercial Red Drum season to open May 1, 2019
BILOXI, Miss. – The commercial fishing season for Red Drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) will open at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, May 1 in Mississippi territorial waters, officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources said today.
Interior FY 2018 Energy Revenues for GOMESA Climb to $214.9 Million; Funds will Support Coastal Conservation and Hurricane Protection Projects
$26.95 million increase in revenues further demonstrates President Trump’s energy agenda success
4/25/2019
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary David Bernhardt announced that the Department will disburse nearly $215 million in FY 2018 energy revenues to the four Gulf oil and gas producing states – Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and their coastal political subdivisions (CPS) – an increase of 14.3 percent over the prior year.
