State
Meridian moves forward on EPA consent decree
Meridian Star
Work required under the City of Meridian's $126 million, 20-year consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency moves forward as cities across the state battle ballooning cost estimates in similar agreements.
2019 south Delta flood 'should never have happened'
South Delta farmers wait on EPA to reverse veto of flood-relief pumps.
Delta Farm Press
As Holly Bluff, Miss., farmer Clay Adcock stares across one of his fields covered in water, he, more than many who call the south Delta their home, realizes the flood that continues to place undue hardships on him and his neighboring Mississippians should never have happened.
SUPERVISORS TIRED OF OLD TIRES
South Reporter
The Marshall County Board of Supervisors is putting used tire haulers on notice – no dumping in Marshall County.
...Hall said the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality pays the county for the disposal of used tires. And tire centers are required to collect $1 when they replace an old tire that goes to the fund to dispose of the rubber.
Utility Faces Federal Investigation Over Failed Power Plant
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A utility giant faces a federal investigation over a $7.5 billion coal-fueled power plant that Mississippi regulators pushed the electrical utility into partly cancelling.
Leaders to discuss Giant Salvinia at the Reservoir
WJTV
BRANDON, Miss. (WJTV) - The Pearl River Valley Water Supply District will host a news conference on Thursday, May 2.
Rainfall events pose setback to waterway dredge completion date
Monroe Journal
ABERDEEN – Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith saw remnants of the late February flooding event on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway first-hand during an April 23 briefing at the Aberdeen Lock and Dam. One of the many takeaways was the estimated reopening of the waterway to barge traffic has been pushed back due to above average rainfalls.
President Trump adds limited disaster aid for 13 Mississippi counties
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — President Donald Trump is expanding limited disaster aid to 13 more Mississippi counties following storms and flooding in February and March.
Oil Spill
Advisory board begins plan to select BP grant-funded projects
WLOX
GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) - The signing of the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund law was like a party.
Millions in BP money is headed to South Mississippi. Who’s in charge of it?
Sun Herald
A citizens advisory board prepared Wednesday to dig through South Mississippi applications for $57 million in BP economic damage funds the state will receive each year through 2033 because of the 2010 oil spill catastrophe.
Regional
Tenn. trash fire creates massive billow of smoke, now contained
WVLT
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- A thick, black billow of smoke can be seen for miles around Knoxville as a fire erupted at a recycling center.
City of Memphis launches app to help customers keep up with trash collection
WMC
The city of Memphis has launched an app to help customers keep up with trash collection.
The “Memphis Curbside Collection” app will allow customers to create collection calendars, sign up for reminders, and receive service changes alerts.
National
OSU lands $2M grant to study PFAS
Corvallis Gazette-Times
An Oregon State University research team has landed a $2 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to study the toxicity of a widely used class of chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short.
Oklahoma Becomes 30th State To Adopt Environmental 'Audit Privilege' Law
KGOU
Gov. Stitt signed a bill allowing companies to self-audit their compliance with environmental regulations and seal the records.
Maine becomes first state to ban sale of Styrofoam
The Hill
Maine is the first state in the nation to ban Styrofoam food containers.
Press Releases
EPA Awards $3.9 Million to Research PFAS Challenges, Reducing Health Impacts
05/01/2019
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding approximately $3.9 million through two grants for research that improves understanding of human and ecological exposure to per– and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment.
HYDE-SMITH, WICKER PRAISE FINAL ANTIDUMPING DETERMINATION ON IMPORTED VIETNAMESE CATFISH FILLETS
Commerce Dept. Responds to Concerns Raised by Hyde-Smith, Wicker & Other Lawmakers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) today praised a final determination on antidumping duties to be imposed on Vietnamese catfish exporters, a move that will help ensure U.S. catfish producers can compete on a more level playing field.
State of Our Coast scheduled for May 6
BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) will host its “State of Our Coast” meeting from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday, May 6, in Biloxi.
Water Quality Initiative Targets Two Watersheds in Mississippi
April 29, 2019, Jackson, Miss. – The United States Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will offer financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers in two impaired watersheds in Mississippi through the National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI).
EPA appoints Gregory Sopkin as Region 8 Administrator
05/01/2019
DENVER -- Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced the appointment of Gregory Sopkin of Colorado to become regional administrator for Region 8. Mr. Sopkin will oversee environmental protection efforts in the states of Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming and in 27 Tribal Nations.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Releases Assessments that Identify Target Areas for Coastal Resilience Conservation Projects
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 1, 2019) – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced the release of Coastal Resilience Assessments and the creation of a new analytical tool that can identify specific coastal areas with the greatest potential to boost community resilience while also improving habitats for fish and wildlife.
Welcome Chevron to the Gulf Star Program
Ocean Springs, MS – The Gulf of Mexico Alliance (Alliance) has welcomed Chevron USA, Inc. into their Gulf Star program. Chevron (NYSE:CVX) is one of the leading leaseholders in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. The company strives to build lasting relationships with communities in which it operates. Given the depth of expertise Chevron has with the region, they are an ideal partner to support the Alliance’s benthic habitat mapping project as a Gulf Star partner.
