State
RESIDENTS COMPLAIN ABOUT RUBBISH PIT FIRE
Yazoo Herald
Residents on Bell Road and other areas near the city’s rubbish pit are complaining about smoke from a fire that has burned at the pit for hours.
DREDGING IN PELAHATCHIE BAY
Northside Sun
Thanks to the Mississippi legislature’s recent bond bill, the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) was granted funds to do much needed dredging in Pelahatchie Bay.
Wildflowers in bloom
Madison County Journal
Keep Ridgeland Beautiful members along with city officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last Thursday celebrating the city’s newly-finished wildflower field at the intersection of I-55 and West Jackson Street.
State Government
Dr. Dobbs to answer questions during live broadcast on MPB
Copiah Monitor
Mississippi Public Broadcasting will air a special live “@ISSUE: The Coronavirus Crisis, A one-on-one with State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs” at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5 on MPB Television, MPB Think Radio, and MPB Online.
MS Conservation Officer hailed as hero for saving life of attempted murder victim
NewsMS
On Monday, Conservation Officer Brian Tallent was on routine patrol in Yalobusha County when he received a call about possible trespassing on or near the Holly Springs National Forest.
Regional
Florida Blue-Green Algae Task Force: Alert public when any toxins detected in algal blooms
TC Palm
How much toxicity does it take to make a blue-green algae bloom hazardous?
The World Health Organization says 10 parts per billion of the toxin microcystin is hazardous to touch. The federal Environmental Protection Agency sets the threshold at 8 parts per billion.
National
Hundreds of hazardous waste sites could face flooding in next 20 years: report
The Hill
Hundreds of hazardous waste sites in the U.S. are at risk of future flooding, which could lead to the spread of contaminants, according to a new report.
EPA looks to other statutes to expand scope of coming 'secret science' rule
The Hill
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will work to expand the scope of its coming regulation that will limit what types of scientific research the agency can consider by applying it to several more individual statutes.
'Silent Epidemic': Nearly 1 In 3 Kids Exposed To Damaging Levels Of Lead
NPR
How many children in the world have been exposed to dangerous levels of lead?
That's a pressing question that has had no definitive answer until now. About 1 in 3 children have been exposed to lead at levels shown to damage their health and cognitive development, according to a groundbreaking report that is the first to document the problem globally.
Oyster farmers reeling in coronavirus pandemic
Fox News
The oyster industry is in murky water. With restaurants serving a limited number of diners and relying primarily on take-out in the age of the coronavirus pandemic, oyster farmers are left with more supply than demand as sales remain sluggish ahead of prime oyster-eating season this fall.
Big-Money Investors Gear Up For A Trillion-Dollar Bet On Farm Land
NPR
For a glimpse of what could happen to a trillion dollars worth of American farmland, meet Ray Williams.
Press Releases
EPA Supports States in Addressing PFAS Across the Southeast
Through technical assistance, grants and enforcement, EPA Region 4 assists states, tribes and local communities respond to PFAS challenges
07/29/2020
ATLANTA (July 29, 2020) — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the progress it has made in aggressively addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at the national level as it implements the PFAS Action Plan — the most comprehensive cross-agency plan ever to address an emerging chemical of concern. Just as important as this progress at the federal level, EPA Region 4 has formed partnerships with states, tribes and local communities to address local PFAS challenges across the Southeast.
EPA Finalizes Revisions to the Coal Ash Closure Regulations, Increases Public Access to Information
07/29/2020
WASHINGTON (July 29, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized several changes to the regulations for coal combustion residuals, known as CCR or coal ash, to implement the court’s vacatur of certain closure requirements as well as adding provisions that enhance the public’s access to information about the management of coal ash at electric utilities.
EPA Announces Another Significant Step in Effort to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water
07/29/2020
WASHINGTON (July 29, 2020) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule to reduce lead in plumbing materials used in public water systems, homes, schools and other facilities.
