State
Harrison Co. beaches nearly ready for 4th of July weekend
WLOX
LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) - Harrison County sand beach crews are still cleaning up the sand since Tropical Storm Cristobal. The good news? All 26 miles of county beaches will be open by Thursday.
Vicksburg District to increase Eagle Lake drawdown rate
WJTV
VICKSBURG, Miss. (WJTV) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District plans to operate the Muddy Bayou Control Structure to lower the elevation of Eagle Lake, located approximately 10 miles north of Vicksburg, Mississippi, by as much as 0.5 feet per day beginning June 30.
Wildlife biologist shares tips, facts about snake encounters
WDAM
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WDAM) - When it comes to snakes, many people’s initial reaction is fear.
Oil Spill
Coast group picked 14 projects for oil spill money. But Jackson just passed a new list.
Sun Herald
Members of the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund Advisory Board spent months reviewing possible projects to finance with $85.5 million in RESTORE Act money, and their final recommendation was 14 projects they said would have the biggest economic impact across South Mississippi.
Regional
Rare Fish rescued in Bonnet Carre’ Spillway
WGNO
The Army Corps of Engineers opens the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway when the Mississippi River is running high. The spillway is designed to protect New Orleans and levees down river. Caught up in the rush of the water are thousands of fish including federally endangered fish like the paddle fish and sturgeon.
DeSantis Signs Sweeping New Environmental Law For Cleaner Water
WUFT
MIAMI – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Tuesday a proposal expected to improve water quality across the state.
National
EPA to end policy suspending pollution monitoring by end of summer
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will rescind its controversial policy allowing companies to skip monitoring their pollution by the end of the summer, the agency wrote in a letter to lawmakers.
Covid-19 Fears Spur More Cars on Roads, Threatening Air Quality
Bloomberg
Officials across the nation are worried that as the coronavirus pandemic persists, commuters will avoid taking buses and trains, and opt for their cars, potentially leading to dangerous new levels of air pollution.
Toxic algae and dead fish: Newark’s iconic lake is sick
NJ.com
The dead fish floated along the surface, covering much of Branch Brook Lake.
Catherine Marcal was stunned by the sheer number of them, stretching from the lion statues at the Prudential Concert Grove to the Park Avenue overpass.
Press Releases
EPA’s Latest Regulatory Agenda Continues Commitment to Strong Environmental Protections and Regulatory Reform into 2021
06/30/2020
WASHINGTON (June 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the rest of the federal government, released the Spring 2020 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Spring Agenda), which provides updates to the public about regulatory activity planned for the next 12 months.
EPA’s Methane Challenge Partners Lead in Efficiency and Emissions Reductions
06/30/2020
WASHINGTON (June 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published new data showing that from 2016 to 2018 oil and natural gas companies that participated in EPA’s voluntary Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program reduced methane emissions by the equivalent of over 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide – all through voluntary actions to reduce emissions from key sources across their operations.
EPA Releases Additional Funding for 2020 Environmental Justice Small Grants
Agency selects 12 organizations to receive $360,000 nationwide
06/30/2020
WASHINGTON (June 30, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced 12 organizations will receive a total of $360,000 to help address environmental justice issues in their communities.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Union Sportsmen’s Alliance Join Forces to Increase Public Access for Outdoor Recreation
Agreement will Help Restore and Support Recreational Opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries
June 30, 2020
Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) have reaffirmed an existing relationship that promises to benefit hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts for generations to come. A recently signed agreement builds on past successes between the Service and the USA by creating new volunteer opportunities for skilled union trades workers to engage in infrastructure and access projects on national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries.
