State
Coastal Mississippi open for business despite algae bloom concerns
WLBT
BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (WLBT) - Headlines of Mississippi’s coastal beaches closing due to the algae bloom are sparking questions for tourists. True, the water is off limits, but the sand is not.
Coast hotels see drop in revenue as water advisory continues
WLOX
Despite Hurricane Barry, algal bloom keeps warnings in place at area beaches
Sea Coast Echo
While Hurricane Barry churned the waters along the Gulf Coast, it did little to help alleviate the ongoing algal bloom situation.
Back Bay fishing tournament not affected by algae bloom in Sound
WLOX
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - Selena Ybarra and her family were out early Sunday morning, feeling pretty confident they’d reel in a big catch to win the 12th annual Croaker Classic.
Does fear of Vibrio keep you out of Coast waters? Share your thoughts with us
Sun Herald
The water along the Mississippi Coast can’t seem to catch a break lately.
The opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway, the longest in history, is threatening the Coast’s marine ecosystem.
Seminar held to help residents with flood recovery
WLBT
VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) - Delta residents impacted by historic flooding attended a seminar Saturday at Hinds Community College, Vicksburg Campus.
Mississippi River at Greenville Officially Below Flood Stage
WJTV
For the first time since February 17th, 2019, the Mississippi River level at Greenville, MS dropped below flood stage. Sunday morning, the river gauge near the Greenville bridge reported a water level of 47.9 feet. Flood stage is 48 feet. The river had been above flood stage for a record setting 153 days.
PSC INVESTIGATING WHETHER MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY ILLEGALLY RAISING RATES
Northside Sun
The Mississippi Public Service Commission (MPSC) is looking into whether or not Canton Municipal Utilities (CMU) illegally raised their rates without MPSC approval.
Teachers learn about conservation through continuing education
Monroe Journal
There’s a world of learning outside of the classroom, and teachers from throughout the state experienced that as part of a week-long continuing education course focusing on aspects such as tree identification and gathering water samples.
Archaeologists unveil evidence of lost mound at Grand Village
Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — How many mounds are located at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians?
Up until very recently, the obvious answer would have been three, researchers said during a presentation at the Grand Village on Thursday evening. However, their recent studies of the land indicate otherwise.
Jennifer Milner Champions Recycling in Mississippi
Waste360
Jennifer Milner leads the charge for recycling across Mississippi, where she serves as the state recycling coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). Milner executes outreach and education by going out on the road and speaking to residents, local governments and businesses in the state’s 82 counties.
Oil Spill
Parking garage and sports complex upgrades on RESTORE Act application in Ocean Springs
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. (WLOX) - Ocean Springs city leaders Friday agreed to two big projects for their Restoration Act application. This is money available to coastal cities following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Regional
'Flesh-eating' bacteria: Here's how you can avoid contracting necrotizing fasciitis
Knoxville News Sentinel
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Several cases of flesh-eating bacteria, otherwise known as necrotizing fasciitis, have put people in hospitals across the United States and killed some.
What if a hurricane pushed a surge up an already high Mississippi River? No one is certain.
The Advocate
The Mississippi River has always been the lifeblood of New Orleans. It’s the reason for the city’s existence, and an awe-inspiring if sometimes forgotten feature of its landscape. One thing it hasn’t been, at least in recent memory, is a threat.
Gert Town's history of pollution adds confusion amid radiation removal dig
The Advocate
For half a century, Dorothy Travis has coaxed okra, collard greens, radishes, strawberries, sweet potatoes, peppers and flowers out of pots leading up the front steps of her Gert Town home.
New app offers swimming, fishing advisories across Louisiana, but doesn't include algae bloom notices
The Advocate
Knowing where to swim or fish safely in Louisiana just became a bit easier.
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has released a smartphone app, LA Fish Advisories, that provides an interactive map designed to help people navigate unhealthy waters and avoid locations where health advisories for chemicals or other risks are in place.
Dan River coal ash recovery enters final 'legal step to get to the finish line'
News & Record
GREENSBORO — A new lawsuit against Duke Energy is not a contested case likely to end in dramatic closing arguments, but rather a sign of progress in recovering from the company’s coal ash calamity on the Dan River more than five years ago.
Texas attorney general sues Valero over Port Arthur refinery pollution
Houston Chronicle
The Texas Attorney General office is suing Valero Energy for ongoing air pollution at its Port Arthur refinery in another court challenge for the San Antonio refiner already facing mounting legal and regulatory actions over its air emissions.
National
Court upholds Trump bid to drop new rule on mining pollution
AP
BILLINGS, Mont. — A U.S. appeals court panel has sided with the Trump administration in a mining pollution dispute, ruling that state and federal programs already in place ensure that companies take financial responsibility for future cleanups.
Thousands of beach closures and advisories linked to bacteria
Gatehouse Media
Millions of Americans will hit the beach this summer to soak up the sun and surf, and many of them will go home harboring an unintended souvenir — bacterial infection.
Analysis of state report finds Iowa is centuries behind in water quality goals
KCRG
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) - In 2013 the state formed a “Nutrient Reduction Strategy” in response to the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force asking Midwest states to reduce the number of nutrients running off into the Gulf of Mexico by 45% by 2035.
After at least 7 children diagnosed with cancer, parents eye chemical in city's water
CBS
Parents in one California community are fighting for answers after at least seven children were diagnosed with cancer in the past four years.
Press Releases
EPA Receives 51 Requests Totaling Over $6 Billion for Third Round of WIFIA Funding
07/19/2019
Contact Information:
WASHINGTON (July 19, 2019) – In response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) third Notice of Funding Availability, the agency received 51 letters of interest, collectively requesting $6.6 billion in Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) funding.
