State
World’s largest wood pellet plant planned in Lucedale. Residents, environmental activists at odds.
Sun Herald
Residents of Lucedale who showed up in force to a public hearing Tuesday already made up their minds about the largest wood pellet mill in the country locating in their town.
In Shift, Environmental Activists and Leonardo DiCaprio Target Renewable Energy Jobs in Mississippi
Inside Sources
Lucedale is a small city tucked into the southeast corner of George County, Mississippi. Its estimated population is barely 3,000 residents and more often than not is passed by on the way to somewhere else.
Dam repair project underway on Spillway
WAPT
RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. — Work crews are carving out a big section of the reservoir dam.
Crews are working to correct a big portion of the dam that broke loose a few months ago, sending thousands of pounds of dirt and grass sliding.
Supervisors continue discussion about storms’ aftermath
Monroe Journal
ABERDEEN – During its May 10 meeting, the board of supervisors took action to address burn permits and a resolution for an Aberdeen city ditch cleanout, among other talking points stemming from April 13 and 14’s severe weather outbreak.
The board authorized the signing of burning agreements for two sites in the north and south parts of the county and a request for burn permits from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Aldermen approve new office for West Jackson?St.
Madison County Journal
…Approved the acceptance of a grant modification. The grant in the amount of $8,000 is issued through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. McCollum said that the Ridgeland High School Robotics Team is constructing five interactive recycling containers for city parks. The amendment asks that the city expand the project period. Instead of an ending date set for this summer, McCollum asked that it be changed to next June.
PROGRESS IS BEING MADE ON THE TENN-TOM WATERWAY IN ABERDEEN
WCBI
ABERDEEN, Miss. (WCBI) – Progress is being made with the sandbar that’s sitting in the Tenn-Tom Waterway at the Aberdeen Lock and Dam.
Meridian's Household Hazardous Waste Day set for Saturday
WTOK
MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) - It's O.K. to throw away most household trash in your garbage can. But certain household items should be disposed of differently. That's why the city of Meridian is having another Household Hazardous Waste Day Saturday, to allow residents to bring in these types of items.
Zinnia Fields Forever receives national award
Madison County Journal
The Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce and Keep Ridgeland Beautiful received the 2018 Keep America Beautiful Innovative Partnership Award for Zinnia Fields Forever – a partnership between the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce, Keep Ridgeland Beautiful and the City of Ridgeland Public Works Department.
Happening May 25: Mississippi Coastal Cleanup
Mississippi Coastal Cleanup takes to the streets and beaches along the Coast to pick up trash that pollutes our environment. Here to tell us how you can be part of the movement, we have Program Coordinator Mandy Sartain.
WLOX
Video
Mississippi extends duck hunting season
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM - The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks recently extended the dates for duck hunting season and added special hunting dates for youths, veterans and active duty military.
State Government
State’s GDP hit 10-year high in 2018
MBJ
Most years, Mississippi’s state economist Darrin Webb sees a lot of sameness in analyzing the state’s Gross Domestic Product, personal income and other economic indicators.
But a break in the sameness has occurred. Calculations show last year brought something Mississippi has not seen in 11 years: Real GDP growth of 1 percent or more.
Oil Spill
Study: Louisiana marshes will take longer to recover from Deepwater Horizon oil spill
WWL
HOUMA, La. — While prior research suggested it takes a decade to recover from oil spills, scientists believe it will take a few more years for Louisiana’s marshes to recover from the Deepwater Horizon spill.
Regional
State agency helping monitor impact of spillway opening on fish, wildlife
Daily Comet
After the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway opened on May 10 for a historic second time this year, one state organization continues its monitoring of fish and wildlife resources related to the spillway opening.
N. Breton Island to gain 53 acres for pelicans oiled in 2005 Hess spill
Times-Picayune
Federal and state officials Wednesday (May 15) proposed adding $8.6 million from a settlement with Hess Corp. over the 2005 spill in Breton Sound of a dozen barrels of oil to an existing $72 million plan to rebuild North Breton Island that is funded with money from the BP oil spill.
National
Lawmakers, 13 Bills Seek Answers to Nonstick Chemical Pollution
Bloomberg
Lawmakers have been laying the groundwork for months to come up with solutions to a growing headache for water providers in all corners of the U.S.
House members are meeting today to discuss a strategy for moving through Congress over a dozen bills on pollution from poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—chemicals linked to thyroid and liver problems, cancer, and immune system deficiencies.
Lawmakers at odds over how to tackle spread of harmful chemicals in water
The Hill
House lawmakers on Wednesday reviewed over a dozen pieces of legislation regarding the spread of harmful nonstick chemicals in drinking water, exposing the lack of agreement on how to deal with the problem.
Exclusive: Trump EPA did not await court ruling to loosen biofuel rules for refiners - documents
Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Trump administration made it easier for oil refineries to get waivers from the nation’s biofuel law at least four months before a 2017 court decision it often cites to justify the move to the corn lobby, and the move was motivated by a desire to save the oil industry money, Reuters has learned.
Press Releases
EPA Seeks Public Input on Draft Study of Oil and Gas Extraction Wastewater Management
05/15/2019
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on a draft study that takes a holistic look at how the agency, states, tribes and others view the current state of regulation and management of wastewater from the oil and gas industry and provides insight into how this wastewater might be returned to beneficial use in the water cycle.
Open Ocean Draft Restoration Plan 2 Available for Public Comment
