State
Trash left behind by flooding 'is unbelievable,' governor says
First lady to launch cleanup initiative
WAPT
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi's first lady is launching an initiative to help clean up the trash left behind by flooding.
Waste Management: Separate household trash from flood debris
WJTV
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Due to the recent flooding from the Pearl River, Waste Management of Mississippi, Inc. is reminding customers, who were impacted, to keep their household garbage off the street in areas that are experiencing flooding. Neighbors are encouraged to separate household garbage from flood debris.
Outflows continue to reduce through Barnett Reservoir dam
WJTV
RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Barnett Reservoir officials on Wednesday morning made two significant reductions in the release of water through the dam, and the lake is now in a situation to hold future rainfall.
Could One Lake Project prevent future floods?
WJTV
JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)–The great Pearl River flood is adding pressure to officials about the completion of the One Lake Project.
Corinth continues clean up from Tropical Storm Olga
WTVA
CORINTH, Miss (WTVA)- The city of Corinth is still working to clean up storm damage from tropical storm Olga back in October. The sides of the roads are still lines with debris all over the city.
Street flooding plagues North Columbus
Commercial Dispatch
Since she moved to her home near the end of 22nd Street North, Columbus in 1977, Mary Erby has always had a problem with her drainage whenever there's heavy rainfall.
...A detention pond would have helped with the situation, Smith said. Puckett had agreed to work with the city, he said, but changed his mind after learning that the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality might have to conduct an environmental study before that.
City of Jackson settles lawsuit with Siemens for $89 million over faulty water meter system
WLBT
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba announced Wednesday that the city has reached a settlement with Siemens regarding faulty water meter and billing system. The settlement is for over $89 million.
Oil Spill
Lead-free program for MN loons gets green light
MPR
A Senate committee has cleared the way for Minnesota to receive federal funding to help the state's loons.
Regional.
Officials ban construction near levees but will not open Bonnet Carre as Mississippi River rises
NOLA.com
Florida moving ahead to take over federal wetlands permitting
Tampa Bay Times
For decades Florida’s developers have pushed for the state to take over from the federal government issuing permits for filling wetlands. On Wednesday, the state took a crucial step toward fulfilling that wish — much to the dismay of the state’s environmental groups.
Fish stocks are rebounding after devastating red tide. But the state will keep harvest closures in place.
News-Press
Red tide impacts from a devastating bloom that killed millions of pounds of marine life in Lee County alone are still being felt as the state has extended a no-take order for three popular coastal fish.
After historic environmental spill, TVA says it now has 'world class' coal ash cleanup approach
Chattanooga Times Free Press
The coal ash slurry spill at the Kingston Fossil Plant more than 11 years ago dumped more than 1.1 billion gallons of coal fly ash into neighboring rivers and properties in one of the worst environmental spills in U.S. history.
Moisture Sensors useful irrigation scheduling tool
Delta Farm Press
If farmers wait to see visible stress on crops before they initiate irrigation, they lose yield potential.
National
EPA proposes additional rollback to Obama-era coal ash regulation
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday announced a new proposed rollback to an Obama-era regulation dealing with waste from coal-fired power plants known as coal ash.
IRS issues guidances on carbon capture tax credit
The Hill
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Wednesday issued two guidances aimed at helping businesses take advantage of a tax credit for those using use equipment to capture carbon from the atmosphere.
New Jersey sues Trump's EPA again to curb air pollution entering from other states
North Jersey
New Jersey, four other states and New York City are suing the Trump administration again to try to force it to clamp down on upwind states that contribute significantly to poor air quality in the Garden State.
Trump Signs Order Giving California Farmers More Water
WSJ
BAKERSFIELD, Calif.—President Trump ordered regulators to give farmers here in California’s Central Valley more access to water, a decision that fulfills a 2016 campaign promise and immediately enraged environmentalists.
Press Releases
EPA Proposes Additional Amendments to the Regulations for Coal Combustion Residuals
02/19/2020
Contact Information:
WASHINGTON (Feb.19, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced further proposed revisions and flexibilities to the regulations for the management of coal combustion residuals (CCR), commonly known as coal ash, from electric utilities.
EPA’s 2019 Power Plant Emissions Data Demonstrate Significant Progress
02/19/2020
Contact Information:
WASHINGTON (Feb.19, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released preliminary data on 2019 emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and mercury (Hg) from power plants in the lower 48 states. This data shows a marked decline in emissions of these pollutants compared to 2018.
EPA Announces Availability of $40 Million to Further Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
02/19/2020
Contact Information:
WASHINGTON (Feb.19, 2020) — Today, as part of EPA’s 50th anniversary celebration, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of approximately $40 million to assist disadvantaged communities and schools with removing sources of lead in drinking water.
EPA Takes Important Step to Reduce Unnecessary Animal Testing
Agency releases final guidance intended to reduce pesticide testing on birds while ensuring continued protection of public health
02/19/2020
Contact Information:
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another important step carrying out Administrator Andrew Wheeler’s directive to reduce animal testing. The agency’s new science policy reduces testing on birds when the agency has enough other information to safely register outdoor pesticides.
