State
Analysis: Mississippi pump proposal evokes strong reactions
AP
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Farmers, rural shopkeepers and Mississippi politicians from both major parties are speaking out to support a proposed flood control project that would pump water from parts of the south Delta.
Lauderdale County's only solid waste enforcement officer fights illegal dumpsites
Meridian Star
David Pogue spends his days driving through rural Lauderdale County, both on back roads and on highways.
Bay signs emergency contract for Hurricane Zeta debris removal
Sea Coast Echo
The city of Bay St. Louis on Thursday signed an emergency contract with Florida-based Ashbritt Environmental to being removing debris from Hurricane Zeta, and the company should be able to begin cleanup efforts some time next week.
Natchez bringing in inmate help for storm clean up
Natchez Democrat
NATCHEZ — Natchez Public Works and inmate laborers will help haul off Hurricane Delta debris for city residents beginning as early as Monday next week, officials said.
See a deer sporting an orange collar? MSU Deer Lab has message for hunters
Clarion Ledger
Equipment malfunctions have left tracking collars on several mature bucks that were part of a study in Mississippi, so hunters are being asked to harvest the animals if encountered this season.
Donated building, property moving closer to becoming city’s new animal shelter
Vicksburg Post
Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said Thursday that the city of Vicksburg is still on track to take possession of a piece of property that it will turn into a new animal shelter.
...According to the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality’s flood zone map, a portion of the building — the southwest corner — falls into a flood zone.
State Government
Former State Senator Tommy Moffatt Sr. passes away
WLOX
JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX) - Tommy Moffatt Sr., former state senator from Jackson County, has passed away at the age of 85.
Oil Spill
On Louisiana's coast, a second effort to plant Queen Bess Island for pelicans
NOLA.com
After Louisiana officials finished restoring 37-acre Queen Bess Island in February, much of the vegetation planted on its small footprint of newly pumped sand didn't have time to take root before more than 6,000 brown pelicans arrived for breeding season. The birds pulled up some sprouts to use in their nests.
Regional
Exxon oil rig becomes tallest structure converted to artificial reef in Gulf of Mexico
NOLA.com
An oil rig taller than the Empire State Building is now undergoing conversion into a habitat-boosting artificial reef about 50 miles south of Grand Isle.
After cleanup at old Jacksonville pollution site, neighbors, city wonder how to reuse land
Florida Times-Union
Opinion
Mississippi Public Universities help protect state’s natural resources
Picayune Item
Mississippi Public Universities Communications
Mississippi is rich in natural resources that not only provide beautiful scenery, but fuel Mississippi’s economy through recreational activities, tourism opportunities, and supporting businesses in several sectors.
Press Releases
Public Review and Comment Period- Draft Funded Priorities List 3b
RESTORE Council
On November 16, 2020, the RESTORE Council staff is releasing the draft Funded Priorities List (FPL) 3b for a 50-day public review and comment period that will conclude at 11:59 pm MT on January 5, 2021. Today, the RESTORE Council will host and record two live public webinars. During each live webinar, Council staff will present an overview of the draft FPL 3b, and respond to requests for clarifications from webinar participants.
The registration links for the live draft FPL 3b- Public Comment webinars are below:
You may register for these webinars in advance. Once registered, a link to access the webinar will be sent to the email address provided during registration. A recording of the presentation and a list of all questions and responses from each webinar will be posted at https://www.restorethegulf.gov. Due to the health pandemic, the Council will schedule regionally focused virtual public meetings to review the proposed activities for draft FPL 3b in each Gulf state. Please forward this invitation to others who may be interested in the RESTORE Council's activities.
USACE publishes Mississippi River mainline levees Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
Published Nov. 13, 2020
VICKSBURG, Miss. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) published its Final Supplement II (Final SEIS II) to the 1976 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) Project, Mississippi River Mainline Levees (MRL), in the Federal Register today, Nov. 13.
