Tuesday, March 31, 2020

News Clippings March 31, 2020

State

Existing biosecurity measures keep poultry industry operating
Daily Journal

The strict biosecurity measures already practiced in Mississippi’s $2.7 billion poultry industry allow this “essential critical infrastructure workforce” to continue business as usual during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vicksburg District closes Steele Bayou Control Structure
WJTV

VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District closed the gates of the Steele Bayou Control Structure. It is located approximately 10 miles north of Vicksburg, Mississippi.


State Government

Coronavirus in Mississippi: What we know Tuesday
Clarion Ledger

This story will be updated throughout the day with the latest news about coronavirus and its effects in Mississippi. 

Trump nominates Mississippi judge for 5th US appeals court
AP

A judge on the Mississippi Court of Appeals is being nominated to serve on a federal appeals court that handles cases for Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, the White House announced Monday.


Regional

Mississippi River rising to near 17 feet again, but still no spillway opening
NOLA.com

The Mississippi River in New Orleans is again forecast to rise to just below 17 feet, the official flood stage, by April 13, thanks to heavy rains over the weekend and new ones expected in the next few days over the lower Ohio and Arkansas rivers, according to the National Weather Service.


National

NRDC gears up to sue over Trump rollback of Obama water law
The Hill

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) plans to sue the Trump administration over a rollback to a controversial Obama-era water law, arguing leaders failed to consider how it would impact endangered species.

Trump rollback of mileage standards guts climate change push
AP

President Donald Trump is poised to roll back ambitious Obama-era vehicle mileage standards and raise the ceiling on damaging fossil fuel emissions for years to come, gutting one of the United States' biggest efforts against climate change.

EPA asking Americans to watch what they flush
AP

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - The Environmental Protection Agency has a message for Americans - watch what you flush!

Supreme Court rules Citgo responsible for 2004 oil spill
The Hill

Citgo is liable for a 2004 oil spill and must pay back cleanup costs, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday.


Press Releases

Interior Disburses $353 Million in GOMESA Revenues for Gulf State Coastal Conservation and Hurricane Protection Projects
DOI

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced that the Department disbursed almost $353 million in FY 2019 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 64.2 percent ($138 million) over the prior year.

EPA Encourages Americans to Only Flush Toilet Paper
03/30/2020

WASHINGTON (March 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging all Americans to only flush toilet paper, not disinfecting wipes or other non-flushable items that should be disposed of in the trash.

EPA Announces New Tool for Soybean Growers to Combat Weeds
03/30/2020

WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the registration of the use of isoxaflutole on genetically engineered soybeans, providing soybean farmers with a new tool they can use to control weeds that have become resistant to many other herbicides.

Department of Energy to Provide $22 Million for Research on Capturing Carbon Dioxide from Air

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced plans to provide up to $22 million for research aimed at achieving breakthroughs in the effort to capture carbon dioxide directly from ambient air. 

President Trump Picks Cory T. Wilson & Kristi H. Johnson to Serve on Federal Bench

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker, R-Miss., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., today welcomed President Trump’s nominations of Judge Cory T. Wilson of Flora to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Kristi H. Johnson of Brandon to serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi.


Monday, March 30, 2020

News Clippings March 30, 2020

State

Rock found in Mississippi proves to be fossilized tooth from prehistoric ‘hell pig’
Sun Herald

A strange black rock found recently in eastern Mississippi turned out to be a tooth from a species of prehistoric creature occasionally referred to as “giant killer pigs from hell.”

KEEP BEACH GROUPS SMALL, PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING, HARRISON SUPERVISORS REMIND RESIDENTS
WXXV

The Harrison County Supervisors issued a statement Friday reminding residents and visitors to the Coast that the beaches are closed to groups of more than 10.

Ocean Springs mayor wants beaches shut down due to coronavirus. He has to wait on Jackson County
Sun Herald

Crowds of more than 10 still gathered Saturday on Front Beach in Ocean Springs despite the threat of the new coronavirus.

Jackson County hires social-distancing monitors for beaches
WLOX

JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - Beachgoers in Jackson County will soon have additional supervision to help maintain social distancing guidelines.

A CONVERSATION WITH SIGMAN ON FLOODING AND SALVINIA
Northside Sun

John Sigman has served as the executive director of the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD), the state agency that manages the Ross Barnett Reservoir and surrounding property, for 10 years.

 
State Government

Gov. Reeves, health officer: Statewide shutdown 'not sustainable.' Quarantine for 'clusters'
Clarion Ledger

In a Sunday social media address, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and state Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said the state's "offensive" strategy against coronavirus is to step up testing and isolate "clusters" of the disease, a strategy South Korea and Singapore used with relative success.

Coronavirus in Mississippi: What we know Monday
Clarion Ledger

This story will be updated throughout the day with the latest news about coronavirus and its effects in Mississippi. 

Analysis: Virus upends Mississippi budget writing process
AP

Mississippi legislators are supposed to set a state spending plan before the new fiscal year begins July 1. The coronavirus pandemic has scrambled most of the planning that budget writers have done the past few months, leaving uncertainty about how a shaky economy will affect tax collections.


Regional

Asian carp are not the only alien invaders in Tennessee
WTVC

There has been lots of news in the last year or two regarding the influx of Asian carp into Tennessee’s waterways, including Chickamauga Lake.


National

Trash Industry Braces for Potential Deluge of Coronavirus Waste
WSJ

As coronavirus spreads across the U.S., the trash industry is girding for a potential rise in infectious waste while grappling with concerns about workers’ exposure to the pathogen.

A Challenging Time for Recyclers: First, China’s Ban. Now, Coronavirus.
WSJ

Waste Management Inc. is dealing with an extraordinary amount of change in its recycling business. Two years ago, China decided to ban imports of mixed paper and plastic and introduced limits for scrap metal, upending global recycling markets. The disruption forced Waste Management, the largest residential recycler by volume in the U.S., to re-examine its strategy.

EPA relaxes rules regarding gasoline sales amid coronavirus outbreak
The Hill

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said Friday that it will extend the amount of time that winter gasoline can be sold this year as producers have been facing lower demand due to the coronavirus. 

Court OKs Trump repeal of Obama public lands fracking rule
The Hill

A federal judge on Friday upheld the Trump administration’s decision to repeal an Obama-era rule that established standards for hydraulic fracking on federal land. 

More States Charge Fees for Electric Vehicles
WSJ

More states are imposing special registration fees on electric vehicles, sparking complaints that the levies undermine efforts to get consumers to embrace alternative-fuel cars.


Opinion

Stock market dive brings attention to state pension plan investments. But it isn’t going broke anytime soon.
MS Today

While the stock market recently has had a rebound, thanks at least in part to the federal stimulus package, its roller-coaster ride during the economic upheaval caused by COVID- 19 still has left it significantly lower.

 
Press Releases

EPA Announces Steps to Protect the Availability of Gasoline during COVID-19 Pandemic
03/27/2020

WASHINGTON (March 27, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced several steps the Agency is taking to protect the Nation’s gasoline supply in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

EPA Urges States to Support Drinking Water and Wastewater Operations during COVID-19
03/27/2020

WASHINGTON (March 27, 2020) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to Governors in all 50 states, territories and Washington, D.C. urging them to ensure that drinking water and wastewater employees are considered essential workers by state authorities when enacting restrictions such as shelter in place orders to curb the spread of COVID-19.




Friday, March 27, 2020

News Clippings March 27, 2020

State

CITY URGES RESIDENTS TO AVOID FLUSHING "FLUSHABLE" WIPES
Northside Sun

In an effort to keep sewer lines clear, the City of Jackson is asking residents to avoid flushing sanitation wipes, even if the package states they are flushable.

Recycling businesses taking more precautions while collecting items during COVID-19 outbreak
WLBT

Small businesses are having to adjust, increasing personal safety in the wake of COVID-19.
One metro area recycling company is working longer days and nights to protect the planet and themselves as they keep your glass, plastics, paper and more from ending up in our landfills.

MDEQ LIFTS BEACH WATER CONTACT ADVISORY IN PASS CHRISTIAN
WXXV

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, lifted a water contact advisory Thursday for Station 5 (Pass Christian West Beach).

Barnett Reservoir: Pelahatchie Bay and new boat launch to open soon
Clarion Ledger

Two long-awaited events are scheduled to take place at Ross Barnett Reservoir. Boat traffic is expected to resume between the main lake and Pelahatchie Bay, and construction of a new boat launch off Mississippi 43 will soon be underway.


State Government

Gov. Reeves: 'Stay home, if you can.' State vows to 'go on the offensive' with coronavirus
Clarion Ledger

Gov. Tate Reeves and state health officials on Thursday vowed to become more aggressive in testing for and isolating coronavirus cases once expected federal money is in hand.

Mississippi legislative session will not convene Apr. 1
WTOK
JACKSON, Miss. (WTOK) - The Mississippi Legislature will delay reconvening the 2020 session beyond Wednesday, Apr. 1, by agreement of Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn.

Coronavirus in Mississippi: What we know Friday
Clarion Ledger

This story will be updated throughout the day with the latest news about coronavirus and its effects in Mississippi. 


National

Citing virus, EPA has stopped enforcing environmental laws
AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday abruptly waived enforcement on a range of legally mandated public health and environmental protections, saying industries could have trouble complying with them during the coronavirus pandemic.

EPA Plans to Show Leniency With Some Civil-Rule Violators
WSJ

WASHINGTON—The Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t expect to seek penalties for some civil environmental-rule violations caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the agency said Thursday.

Oil price drop threatens US fracking boom
The Hill

Plummeting oil prices caused by a Saudi-Russian feud and the coronavirus outbreak may lead to a decline in fracking, the controversial practice that has fueled the domestic energy revolution in the U.S.


Press Releases

EPA Announces Enforcement Discretion Policy for COVID-19 Pandemic
03/26/2020

WASHINGTON (March 26, 2020) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is mindful of the health and safety of the public, as well as our staff, and those of Federal Agencies, State and Local Governments, Tribes, Regulated Entities, Contractors, and Non-governmental Organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

EPA Continues Efforts to Help Increase the Availability of Disinfectant Products for Use Against the Novel Coronavirus
03/26/2020

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took steps to provide additional flexibilities to manufacturers of disinfectants and other pesticides.