State
Thousands of missing artifacts back at Mississippi museum
AP
They’re back. Or at least most of them are. Thousands of artifacts missing from the Museum of the Mississippi Delta’s most prized archeological collection have been returned.
COMMISSION TACKLING NET METERING
Northside Sun
The Mississippi Public Service Commission could be rolling out a modified rule for net metering in 2021.
State Government
MEMA executive director hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications
WLBT
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Mississippi Emergency Management Agency executive director is hospitalized due to COVID-19 complications.
Oil Spill
Triumph Gulf Coast doles out nearly $18 million ahead of the holiday season
NW Florida Daily News
Perhaps it was holiday spirit, or maybe just looking to end a bad year on a good note.
Something sure had the Triumph Gulf Coast board in a giving mood Thursday, as its membership voted to hand out almost $18 million in new grant awards.
Regional
Groups challenge EPA rule allowing roads built with gypsum waste, prevalent in Louisiana
NOLA.com
A group of environmental and union organizations on Friday challenged a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy that would allow phosphogypsum wastes that contain small amounts of radioactivity to be used in federal, state and local road construction projects.
Facing budget crisis, Louisiana wildlife agency to ask state for $20 million in emergency funds
NOLA.com
Louisiana’s lead wildlife agency is in such deep financial trouble that it will take the unprecedented step of asking the state Legislature for an emergency infusion of $20 million to avoid deep, across-the-board cuts to staff and dozens of fishing, hunting and conservation programs next year.
Illegal winery busted at Alabama town’s sewage plant
AP
RAINSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama sheriff’s office says it’s busted an illegal winery that was operating at a city’s sewage plant.
National
Biden Unveils His Climate Team, Promising To Fight 'With The Urgency It Demands'
NPR
President-elect Joe Biden formally introduced his climate team on Saturday, saying that the people he has selected will lead his administration's "ambitious plan to address the existential threat of our time, climate change."
Michael Regan, Biden’s E.P.A. Pick, Faces ‘Massive Reconstruction and Rebuilding’
NYT
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. has selected Michael S. Regan, North Carolina’s top environmental regulator, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, Mr. Biden’s transition team announced Thursday.
Five states sue EPA over rule limiting pesticide safety enforcement
The Hill
Five states this week sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over a rule that narrows the areas where farmers are required to limit human presence during the application of pesticides.
Congress approves major boost in Great Lakes funding
MLive
Ten months after being approved in U.S. House with heavy bipartisan support, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act has passed the Senate and is headed for President Donald Trump’s desk.
Some McDonald's locations are installing cameras in dumpsters to help alleviate waste problem
CNN
According to CNN, some McDonald's restaurants in the U.S. have partnered with tech expert and owner of Compology, Jason Gates.
Home Depot to pay $20M fine for lead paint violations
Fox News
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department announced Thursday they have reached a settlement with Home Depot over lead paint violations across the country.
Press releases
EPA Releases Interim Guidance on Destroying and Disposing of Certain PFAS and PFAS-Containing Materials
12/18/2020
WASHINGTON (December 18, 2020) - Today, as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) aggressive efforts under the PFAS Action Plan, the agency is releasing new interim guidance on destroying and disposing of certain PFAS and PFAS-containing materials for public comment.
Massive restoration project begins on North Breton Island
Breton Island supports one of the largest water bird colonies and brown pelican rookeries in Louisiana
USFWS
December 18, 2020
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is pleased to announce the start of restoration work on North Breton Island as the first of 5.87 million cubic yards of dredged sand is placed on the island.
