State
Crews continue monitoring North Mississippi dam for possible breach
WMC
LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Miss. (WMC) - Crews are still monitoring a dam in a North Mississippi neighborhood to make sure it doesn’t breach from flooding.
Flood threat forces evacuation in Lafayette County, Miss. community
WMC
LAFAYETTE COUNTY, Miss. (WMC) - The threat of flooding forced residents in one Lafayette County community out of their homes Wednesday.
Crews continue to monitor lake levels; residents worry Lake Tara Dam might break
Fox 13
OXFORD, Miss. — Oxford neighbors who were told to evacuate in case of a dam break were back at home safe Wednesday night.
Crews battle to keep Lake Tara Dam levee from failing
Oxford Eagle
The Lafayette County Fire Department is working to relieve pressure from the Tara Lake Dam before a levee breaches due to the heavy rainfall received on Tuesday and Wednesday.
People asked to evacuate over Lafayette County dam concerns can return home
WTVA
UPDATE
OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) — The Lafayette County Fire Department is now telling people asked to evacuate their homes because of concerns about the Lake Tara Dam they can now go home.
City of Canton looks to expand landfill
WJTV
CANTON, Miss. (WJTV) – While one landfill in Madison County has been struck down by the Department of Environmental Quality another is trying to expand its current dumping grounds. But serious legal questions linger over if it’s done properly.
Landfill killed at MDEQ hearing
Madison County Journal
A new law giving voters the say in new landfill construction was a deciding factor in the the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality denying five outstanding permits for a proposed site west of Ridgeland, officials said.
Seismic testing for oil coming to Amite
Enterprise-Journal
LIBERTY — The eastern edge of Amite County may soon be the scene of seismic testing in the search for oil.
Mississippi approves first wind turbine electricity facility
AP
TUNICA, Miss. (AP) — The state of Mississippi has approved its first wind turbine facility to generate electricity in the Mississippi Delta, the Mississippi Public Service Commission announced Wednesday.
Barker overwhelmingly wins re-election as Hattiesburg mayor
WDAM
…Barker’s administration also reached a settlement with the the Environmental Protection Agency and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality over longstanding issues with the city’s wastewater system.
Tractor trailer on fire on Interstate 22 in Marshall County, expect traffic delays
WTVA
RED BANKS, Miss. (WTVA) - A tractor trailer caught on fire on Interstate 22 in Marshall County early Thursday morning.
Mississippi Aquarium offers tour of Mississippi Sound
WHLT
GULFPORT, Miss. (WHLT) – Leaders with the Mississippi Aquarium announced a new weekly program Eco Tours, a guided tour of the Mississippi Sound. The boat tour is a partnership with Ship Island Excursions in Gulfport.
Least tern nests face storm danger again in 2021
WLOX
PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (WLOX) - Last week, there were only a few least tern nests on the beach in Pass Christian. Now, there are more than 40, which is why Audubon Mississippi roped off the area.
Bones from cemetery washing down Pearl River: Small Mississippi church desperate for help
Clarion Ledger
HARRISVILLE, Miss. — Atop a bluff overlooking the Pearl River, Cranford Wheeler stands on the edge of a cemetery where a small Black church has been burying folks for "well over a hundred years."
GCRL retires long-serving research vessel RV Hermes
WLOX
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) - On Wednesday, the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Lab retired a long and faithful servant.
Two Coast student artists place in MDWFP art contest
WXXV
Two Coast students placed in their age groups in an art contest as part of the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.
PSC APPROVES RATE CUTS FOR ENTERGY AND MISSISSIPPI POWER
Northside Sun
The Mississippi Public Service Commission approved three rate cuts for the state's two investor-owned utilities at its monthly meeting Tuesday.
State Government
BILL CHANGES BID PROCESS FOR TERM COMMODITIES
Northside Sun
A large part of a key procurement reform passed in 2017 that was saving taxpayers money will be struck down when a new law passed this session goes into effect.
Regional
Louisiana polluters could report violations to receive lower fines, confidentiality
NOLA.com
A proposal encouraging Louisiana industrial plants to report and correct their pollution violations, in exchange for reduced fines and keeping some information secret from the public, has survived the legislative process and is headed to Gov. John Bel Edwards.
$1.6M from US for project using vessels to gather river data
AP
The federal government is putting up $1.6 million to help Louisiana develop “smart ports” that will gather data about Mississippi River conditions and traffic from tugs, barges and other vessels, officials said Wednesday.
Gulf of Mexico ‘Dead Zone’ Is Shrinking
WUSF
Every year during the summer, several marine species in the Gulf of Mexico die after being exposed to a dead zone, an overgrowth of algae and excess nutrients that create a lack of oxygen.
Manatees dying at an alarming rate in Florida
NBC 2
Florida’s manatees are dying at unusually high rates this year, and experts said the sustained loss of a key food source is to blame.
National
Biden Administration to Propose New Federal Clean-Water Regulation
WSJ
The Biden administration has plans to roll out a new proposal for federal clean-water regulations, working to undo moves by the Trump administration that had eased permit requirements for landowners.
EPA chief emphasizes staffing, environmental justice in Appropriations testimony
The Hill
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan addressed the agency’s fiscal 2022 budget request Wednesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee, focusing on depleted staffing and calls for improvements to water infrastructure.
Officials push for national PFAS drinking water standard
AP
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Setting a national drinking water standard for what have been referred to as “forever chemicals” will be important in addressing contamination at military bases and communities throughout the U.S., witnesses said Wednesday during a congressional hearing.
Volkswagen says former executive paying $13M over role in emissions scandal
The Hill
Volkswagen said Wednesday that its former CEO will pay more than $13 million for his role in the company's 2015 emissions scandal.
Company officially nixes Keystone XL pipeline
The Hill
The company behind the Keystone XL pipeline announced on Wednesday that it's officially scrapping the project after President Biden nixed a border-crossing permit for it.
Scientists hail golden age to trace bird migration with tech
AP
TAKOMA PARK, Md. (AP) — A plump robin wearing a tiny metal backpack with an antenna hops around a suburban yard in Takoma Park, then plucks a cicada from the ground for a snack.
Department of Natural Resources director Carol Comer dies
AP
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Carol Comer has died, state officials said Wednesday.
Press releases
ARMY CORPS OFFICIAL TO HYDE-SMITH: YAZOO PUMP PROJECT ALIGNED WITH ‘ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE’ GOALS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Biden administration official today confirmed U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith’s assertion that the unfinished Yazoo Backwater Area pumps constitute an environmental injustice to Mississippians.
EPA, Army Announce Intent to Revise Definition of WOTUS
06/09/2021
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of the Army (the agencies) are announcing their intent to revise the definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to better protect our nation’s vital water resources that support public health, environmental protection, agricultural activity, and economic growth.
EPA Reverses 2020 Rule, Restoring Key Functions of Environmental Appeals Board, Promoting Fairness and Integrity in Decision-Making
This rule restores transparency and meaningful public participation to the board’s impartial appeals process
06/09/2021
WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rescinded most of a 2020 rule on the EPA appeals process, restoring the organization and function of the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), an independent, impartial review board that makes final Agency decisions in administrative appeals.
