State
FATE OF SECOND LANDFILL IN MADISON COUNTY IN LIMBO
Northside Sun
After years of attempts to construct a third landfill in Madison County, the fate of the issue remains in limbo.
EPA awards city grant to assess Mercy Hospital, other property
Vicksburg Post
The old Mercy Hospital will be one of the properties assessed by the city under a $300,000 Brownelds grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The grant was announced Thursday by EPA Region 4 Administrator Mary Walker during an afternoon press conference.
City of Hattiesburg approves contract with new recycling partner
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - The City of Hattiesburg will be making changes to its curbside recycling program plan.
MDEQ LIFTS TWO BEACH WATER CONTACT ADVISORIES IN HARRISON COUNTY
WXXV
(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, lifted water contact advisories Thursday for Station 5 (Pass Christian West Beach) and Station 10 (Gulfport Central Beach) in Harrison County.
IMMS, Gulfport Fire release rehabilitated sea turtle ‘Tiny Tom’
WLOX
GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - A sea turtle is back in its natural habitat thanks to a partnership between the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and the Gulfport Fire Department.
Gulfport Fire Chief Michael Beyerstedt had the honor of releasing “Tiny Tom” Thursday morning.
Forestry commission urges no outdoor burning
WTOK
JACKSON, Miss. (WTOK) - The Mississippi Forestry Commission says it's continuing to monitor wildfires in the southern part of the state and urges no outdoor burning.
State Government
Mississippi governor, lawmakers reach truce in coronavirus spending battle
Clarion Ledger
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann and House Speaker Philip Gunn announced Thursday they have reached a truce in a battle for control over $1.25 billion of federal coronavirus relief money.
Miss. Ag. Commissioner launches plan to assist farmers, keep food supply strong during pandemic
WLBT
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson discussed the steps being taken to strengthen Mississippi’s food supply chain.
TIPS FOR USING DISINFECTING PROPERLY AT HOME AND WORK
WCBI
STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Most of us have continued to clean and disinfect at home and at work.
Oil Spill
CPRA receives $3.2M to support Coastal Master Plan research
KATC
BATON ROUGE, La. - Today, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) announced the U.S. Treasury Department is awarding $3.2 million to Louisiana's Center of Excellence Research Grants Program, the second installment in a RESTORE Act allocation of $26.6 million over 15 years to support research relevant to implementing the CPRA Coastal Master Plan.
Regional
EPA offers environmental justice grants during pandemic
Al.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is offering new grants for projects to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 in environmental justice communities like north Birmingham, places where poor and often minority residents are negatively impacted by pollution or other nearby industrial activity.
National
Senate Panel Moves Major Water Bills, Adding PFAS Actions
Bloomberg
The Senate’s environment panel pushed through two major water infrastructure bills Wednesday, rejecting a GOP member’s attempt to give Western states more authority over water supplies but agreeing to direct the EPA to set drinking water limits for “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
Oil communities face prospect of years-long recovery
The Hill
Communities reliant on the oil and gas industry say it may take years, not months, to bounce back from the coronavirus pandemic that’s ravaging local economies.
Opinion
INSIGHT: Can’t Comply With EPA During Pandemic? Documentation Is Key
Bloomberg
Companies faced with Covid-19 recently received some relief from environmental compliance after the EPA released guidance that said the agency was using enforcement discretion on noncompliance during the pandemic. Thompson Coburn’s Eric Berry says the guidance is reasonable but is not a license to pollute and gives tips on proper documentation and the agency’s reporting expectations.
Press Releases
EPA Selects Four Projects in Mississippi to Receive $1.4 Million for Brownfields Cleanup and Assessment
05/07/2020
JACKSON, Miss. (May 7, 2020) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced four grant recipients in Mississippi have been selected to receive awards totaling $1,464,000 to assess and clean up contaminated properties under the agency’s Brownfields program. Recipients include the City of Canton ($300,000), the City of Vicksburg ($300,000), the Three Rivers Planning and Development District Inc. for work in New Albany, Pontiac and Tupelo ($600,000), and the West Point Consolidated School District for work in Cedar Bluff ($264,000).
Simpson County Lake closed to public access
MDWFP
Simpson County Lake is closed to public access. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) began draining the lake in November for a dam repair project.
Secretary of Commerce allocates $300 million in CARES Act aid to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by COVID-19
NOAA
Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $300 million in economic relief to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interior and Partners Commit to Long-Term Initiative to Conserve the American Bison
10-year initiative provides framework for shared conservation goals
DOI
WASHINGTON - U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt today announced the Bison Conservation Initiative (BCI), a new cooperative initiative that will coordinate conservation strategies and approaches for the wild American Bison over the next 10 years.
Change to Federal Duck Stamp Contest Celebrates the Conservation Achievements of Waterfowl Hunters
USFWS
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today is celebrating the remarkable conservation achievements of waterfowl hunters and our unique American hunting heritage with the permanent addition of a theme for the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, commonly known as the Duck Stamp.
