State
Hazardous Waste Day Saturday
Vicksburg Post
A yearly event to get rid of garbage and finish the last bit of spring
cleaning will be held this weekend to help keep the county beautiful.
http://www.vicksburgpost.com/2016/06/08/hazardous-waste-day-saturday/
HIGHWAY 8 REOPENS AFTER FUEL LEAK
WCBI
CALHOUN CO, Miss. (WCBI)- A fuel leak in Derma has stopped, and Highway 8 is now open.
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/update-highway-8-reopens-fuel-leak/
FUEL LEAK STOPPED, REPAIR EFFORTS BEGIN
WCBI
DERMA, Miss. (WCBI) — All throughout the day, an air quality monitor was at
work.
And yellow tape cordoned off part of the property in front of the "Derma
Fast Stop," where a gasoline leak was first noticed Tuesday evening.
http://www.wcbi.com/business/video-fuel-leak-stopped-repair-efforts-begin/
Weekend Ticket
Natchez Democrat
Grand Village lecture with David Dockery
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2016/06/09/weekend-ticket-aircraft-fly-in-poker-run-top-weekend/
Fossil Road Show brings rock festival to city
New Albany Gazette
Fossils, the history of fossil collecting, great specimens, gems and
minerals will all be at the annual Fossil Road Show in New Albany this
Saturday, June 11, at the Union County Heritage Museum from 10 until 2.
http://newalbanygazette.com/2016/06/08/fossil-road-show-brings-rock-festival-city/
One of two workers buried at gravel pit collapse found
WAPT
COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. —One of two buried gravel pit workers has been found in Copiah County, authorities said.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/jackson/one-of-two-workers-buried-at-gravel-pit-collapse-found/39974956
Director: Mississippi Health Department expects more layoffs
AP
JACKSON, MISS.
The Mississippi State Department of Health has already laid off some
workers in recent months because of state spending constraints and will cut
more jobs after the new budget year begins July 1, the department's
director told lawmakers Wednesday.
http://www.sunherald.com/news/health/article82507482.html
Regional
Alabama has no-swim, fish consumption advisories for same chemicals that
caused water warning
WHNT
DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT) - The recent health advisory for drinking by the EPA
has set off a chain reaction in North Alabama, with one water system
advising customers not to drink its water and Gov. Robert Bentley insisting
there is no crisis.
http://whnt.com/2016/06/08/alabama-has-no-swim-fish-consumption-advisories-for-same-chemicals-that-caused-water-warning/
National
House Approves Bill to Delay EPA Rule on Ozone Pollution
AP
Ignoring a White House veto threat, the Republican-controlled House on
Wednesday approved a bill delaying an Obama administration rule setting
stricter limits on air pollutionlinked to asthma and respiratory illness.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/house-approves-bill-delay-epa-rule-ozone-pollution-39709532
House votes to delay ozone rule
The Hill
The House on Wednesday passed legislation to block a major Obama
administration rule on ozone pollution despite a veto threat from the White
House.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/282752-house-votes-to-delay-ozone-rule
Oil train rules move to White House review
The Hill
Regulators are one step closer to adopting new standards for oil trains
that Congress mandated last year.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/282692-oil-train-rules-move-to-white-house-review
EPA draft triazine assessment stirs up criticism from agriculture
Delta Farm Press
Agriculture's ongoing disagreement with the direction EPA seems to be
taking in registering pesticides took another turn Thursday (June 2) when
the agency released its Draft Triazine Ecological Rick Assessments.
http://deltafarmpress.com/corn/epa-draft-triazine-assessment-stirs-criticism-agriculture?page=1
Superfund plan for Colorado mines stirs few protests now
AP
DENVER — A proposal to deploy the powerful Superfund program to clean up
leaky Colorado mines — including one that unleashed millions of gallons of
wastewater last year — isn't stirring up much passion, despite formidable
resistance in the past.
http://gazette.com/superfund-plan-for-colorado-mines-stirs-few-protests-now/article/1577836
EPA Issues Draft Radiological Guide for Drinking Water
Bloomberg
Emergency responders should restrict the general population's consumption
of drinking water after a radiological incident occurs if the water has a
radionuclides concentration of at least 500 millirem projected dose in the
first year, the Environmental Protection Agency said in recently released
draft guidance developed in response to Japan's Fukushima disaster.
http://www.bna.com/epa-issues-draft-n57982073785/
Thursday, June 9, 2016
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
News Clippings 6/8/16
State
Most assessment sites found to be clean
Daily Corinthian
Sites targeted for brownfield assessments in Corinth have thus far been
found largely free of pollutants that could pose an obstacle to
redevelopment.
http://www.dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/27203537/article-Most-assessment-sites-found-to-be-clean
?
CREWS CLEANING UP CALHOUN CO. GAS LEAK
WCBI
DERMA, Miss. (WCBI) — Crews are working to stop a gas leak in Calhoun
County.
EMA Director Randy Skinner tells WCBI the underground tank at the Derma One
Stop gas station blew around 5 p.m., Tuesday.
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/crews-cleaning-calhoun-co-gas-leak/
JRA member, city contractor indicted on Medicaid fraud charges
Clarion Ledger
A Hinds County grand jury has indicted Jackson city contractor and Jackson
Redevelopment Authority commissioner Andria Jones on charges of Medicaid
fraud and conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/06/07/jackson-city-contractor-accused-medicaid-fraud/85137954/
Rescuers reach machine swallowed by gravel pit
Progress made in search for missing workers
WAPT
COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. —Progress is being made at a Copiah County gravel pit
after crews dug up part of the machine that was swallowed along with two
workers during Friday's collapse.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/rescuers-reach-machine-swallowed-by-gravel-pit/39956164
Quitman's aging water sewer pipes
WTOK
Quitman, Mississippi After more then five decades, the City of Quitman's
sewer pipes are showing their age. Major Eddie Fulton taxpayers can't foot
the bill to fix them.
http://www.wtok.com/content/news/Quitmans-againg-water-sewer-pipes-382170441.html
It's My Job: Conservation Research Biologist
Clarion Ledger
My name is James Hill, and I'm a conservation research biologist for the
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. I've worked in the
aquariums at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson about
five years.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2016/06/07/s-my-job-conservation-research-biologist/85547256/
State Auditor Stacey Pickering called to active Guard duty
AP
State Auditor Stacey Pickering is being called to active duty in the
Mississippi Air National Guard.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/07/mississippi-auditor-national-guard-duty/85568724/
Oil Spill
Louisiana lawmakers take $7M in oil spill money from AG's office
AP
BATON ROUGE — Attorney General Jeff Landry will have to return a $7 million
oil spill recovery payment given to his agency, under a bill sent to the
governor in the final minutes of the legislative session.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/louisiana_lawmakers_take_7m_in.html
Regional
Who pays for $3 billion MR-GO wetlands restoration?
Times-Picayune
Louisiana and the Army Corps of Engineers sparred before a three-judge
panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday (June 7) over
whether the state should pay 35 percent of the almost $3 billion corps plan
to restore wetlands along the closed Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet. U.S.
District Judge Lance Africk had concluded in August that the corps must pay
the full cost for the agency's improper construction and maintenance of the
MR-GO, but the Justice Department asked the 5th Circuit to overturn his
ruling.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/06/louisiana_corps_spar_at_5th_ci.html#incart_river_index
Louisiana environmental workers catching fish for mercury testing
AP
BATON ROUGE — Carefully piloting a boat in the Atchafalaya River Basin on a
recent morning, the state Department of Environmental Quality workers were
on the hunt for an invisible prey.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/06/louisiana_environmental_worker.html#incart_river_index
National
HOUSE TO VOTE ON REP. OLSON'S OZONE STANDARDS BILL
Bloomberg
Later today, the House of Representatives is set to consider H.R. 4775, the
Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016.
http://www.bna.com/house-vote-rep-b57982073760/
Senate Approves Bill to Overhaul Chemicals Oversight
President Obama expected to sign measure into law
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation aimed at overhauling
federal regulations governing thousands of chemicals businesses and
consumers use every day, setting up the bill for President Barack Obama's
signature in the coming days.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-approves-bill-to-overhaul-chemicals-oversight-1465342236
With Chemical Safety Law, Congress Hands EPA Herculean Task
Bloomberg
Hormone-disrupting chemicals used to make your shower curtain or water
bottle could face stiffer rules under a measure passed by Congress this
week. But it will be years before regulators determine if phthalates and
thousands of other chemicals are risky and should face restrictions or
bans.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-08/with-chemical-safety-law-congress-hands-epa-herculean-task
EPA: Widely Used Herbicide is Harmful to Wildlife
WTTW
A widely used herbicide is harmful to animals, a new report from the
Environmental Protection Agency states, but some farm groups are
criticizing the report's findings and have expressed concerns about the
economic impacts of a possible ban.
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/06/08/epa-widely-used-herbicide-harmful-wildlife
U.S. lawmakers probe EPA staff over possible bias in herbicide review
Reuters
U.S. lawmakers are investigating whether U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency staff influenced the World Health Organization's review of
glyphosate and its finding that the herbicide probably causes cancer,
according to a letter sent to the agency on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-glyphosate-epa-idUSKCN0YT2FP
Poll: Climate is most divisive issue in U.S.
The Hill
Climate change is the most divisive issue among United States voters'
rankings of policy areas by importance, a new survey found.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/282554-poll-climate-is-most-divisive-issue-in-us
Connecticut asks EPA to limit air pollution from diesel trucks,
Pennsylvania power plants
AP
HARTFORD — Connecticut's top environmental official says the state will no
longer accept being the "tailpipe of America" and has asked the federal
government to limit air pollution from a Pennsylvania energy plant and
diesel trucks.
http://fox61.com/2016/06/07/connecticut-asks-epa-to-limit-air-pollution-from-diesel-trucks-pennsylvania-power-plants/
Opinion
Methane emissions - latest non-problem for natural gas
By Dr. J. Winston Porter
The Hill
Methane emissions have been identified by anti-fracking activists as an
argument of last resort to stop everything from more production of natural
gas to the construction of gas pipelines in New England. Now that argument,
like others before it about the safety of fracking, needs to be retired.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/282518-methane-emissions-latest-non-problem-for-natural-gas
Most assessment sites found to be clean
Daily Corinthian
Sites targeted for brownfield assessments in Corinth have thus far been
found largely free of pollutants that could pose an obstacle to
redevelopment.
http://www.dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/27203537/article-Most-assessment-sites-found-to-be-clean
?
CREWS CLEANING UP CALHOUN CO. GAS LEAK
WCBI
DERMA, Miss. (WCBI) — Crews are working to stop a gas leak in Calhoun
County.
EMA Director Randy Skinner tells WCBI the underground tank at the Derma One
Stop gas station blew around 5 p.m., Tuesday.
http://www.wcbi.com/local-news/crews-cleaning-calhoun-co-gas-leak/
JRA member, city contractor indicted on Medicaid fraud charges
Clarion Ledger
A Hinds County grand jury has indicted Jackson city contractor and Jackson
Redevelopment Authority commissioner Andria Jones on charges of Medicaid
fraud and conspiracy to commit Medicaid fraud.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/06/07/jackson-city-contractor-accused-medicaid-fraud/85137954/
Rescuers reach machine swallowed by gravel pit
Progress made in search for missing workers
WAPT
COPIAH COUNTY, Miss. —Progress is being made at a Copiah County gravel pit
after crews dug up part of the machine that was swallowed along with two
workers during Friday's collapse.
http://www.wapt.com/news/central-mississippi/rescuers-reach-machine-swallowed-by-gravel-pit/39956164
Quitman's aging water sewer pipes
WTOK
Quitman, Mississippi After more then five decades, the City of Quitman's
sewer pipes are showing their age. Major Eddie Fulton taxpayers can't foot
the bill to fix them.
http://www.wtok.com/content/news/Quitmans-againg-water-sewer-pipes-382170441.html
It's My Job: Conservation Research Biologist
Clarion Ledger
My name is James Hill, and I'm a conservation research biologist for the
Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. I've worked in the
aquariums at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science in Jackson about
five years.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/business/2016/06/07/s-my-job-conservation-research-biologist/85547256/
State Auditor Stacey Pickering called to active Guard duty
AP
State Auditor Stacey Pickering is being called to active duty in the
Mississippi Air National Guard.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/07/mississippi-auditor-national-guard-duty/85568724/
Oil Spill
Louisiana lawmakers take $7M in oil spill money from AG's office
AP
BATON ROUGE — Attorney General Jeff Landry will have to return a $7 million
oil spill recovery payment given to his agency, under a bill sent to the
governor in the final minutes of the legislative session.
http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/06/louisiana_lawmakers_take_7m_in.html
Regional
Who pays for $3 billion MR-GO wetlands restoration?
Times-Picayune
Louisiana and the Army Corps of Engineers sparred before a three-judge
panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday (June 7) over
whether the state should pay 35 percent of the almost $3 billion corps plan
to restore wetlands along the closed Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet. U.S.
District Judge Lance Africk had concluded in August that the corps must pay
the full cost for the agency's improper construction and maintenance of the
MR-GO, but the Justice Department asked the 5th Circuit to overturn his
ruling.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/06/louisiana_corps_spar_at_5th_ci.html#incart_river_index
Louisiana environmental workers catching fish for mercury testing
AP
BATON ROUGE — Carefully piloting a boat in the Atchafalaya River Basin on a
recent morning, the state Department of Environmental Quality workers were
on the hunt for an invisible prey.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/06/louisiana_environmental_worker.html#incart_river_index
National
HOUSE TO VOTE ON REP. OLSON'S OZONE STANDARDS BILL
Bloomberg
Later today, the House of Representatives is set to consider H.R. 4775, the
Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2016.
http://www.bna.com/house-vote-rep-b57982073760/
Senate Approves Bill to Overhaul Chemicals Oversight
President Obama expected to sign measure into law
WSJ
WASHINGTON—The Senate on Tuesday approved legislation aimed at overhauling
federal regulations governing thousands of chemicals businesses and
consumers use every day, setting up the bill for President Barack Obama's
signature in the coming days.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/senate-approves-bill-to-overhaul-chemicals-oversight-1465342236
With Chemical Safety Law, Congress Hands EPA Herculean Task
Bloomberg
Hormone-disrupting chemicals used to make your shower curtain or water
bottle could face stiffer rules under a measure passed by Congress this
week. But it will be years before regulators determine if phthalates and
thousands of other chemicals are risky and should face restrictions or
bans.
http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-06-08/with-chemical-safety-law-congress-hands-epa-herculean-task
EPA: Widely Used Herbicide is Harmful to Wildlife
WTTW
A widely used herbicide is harmful to animals, a new report from the
Environmental Protection Agency states, but some farm groups are
criticizing the report's findings and have expressed concerns about the
economic impacts of a possible ban.
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2016/06/08/epa-widely-used-herbicide-harmful-wildlife
U.S. lawmakers probe EPA staff over possible bias in herbicide review
Reuters
U.S. lawmakers are investigating whether U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency staff influenced the World Health Organization's review of
glyphosate and its finding that the herbicide probably causes cancer,
according to a letter sent to the agency on Tuesday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-glyphosate-epa-idUSKCN0YT2FP
Poll: Climate is most divisive issue in U.S.
The Hill
Climate change is the most divisive issue among United States voters'
rankings of policy areas by importance, a new survey found.
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/282554-poll-climate-is-most-divisive-issue-in-us
Connecticut asks EPA to limit air pollution from diesel trucks,
Pennsylvania power plants
AP
HARTFORD — Connecticut's top environmental official says the state will no
longer accept being the "tailpipe of America" and has asked the federal
government to limit air pollution from a Pennsylvania energy plant and
diesel trucks.
http://fox61.com/2016/06/07/connecticut-asks-epa-to-limit-air-pollution-from-diesel-trucks-pennsylvania-power-plants/
Opinion
Methane emissions - latest non-problem for natural gas
By Dr. J. Winston Porter
The Hill
Methane emissions have been identified by anti-fracking activists as an
argument of last resort to stop everything from more production of natural
gas to the construction of gas pipelines in New England. Now that argument,
like others before it about the safety of fracking, needs to be retired.
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-environment/282518-methane-emissions-latest-non-problem-for-natural-gas
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
News Clippings 6/7/16
State
How are gravel pits permitted and regulated in Mississippi?
WLBT
COPIAH COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -As people continue to search for
the missing gravel pit workers, we started asking questions about the
regulations on sites like those.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/32158701/how-are-gravel-pits-permitted-and-regulated-in-mississippi
MEMA: No 'textbook' approach to recovering buried men
Clarion Ledger
Amid mounting criticism, state officials vowed to work around the clock to
recover the bodies of two men, buried Friday beneath sludge, sand and
gravel while operating equipment at a gravel pit in Copiah County.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/06/06/recovery-effort-two-men-continues-copiah-co/85514798/
Recycling program gets $50K grant
By Clay Russell | Enterprise-Journal | Posted: Monday, June 6, 2016 2:00 pm
Pike County's recycling program, the only one of its kind in southwest
Mississippi, just received a welcome boost with over $50,000 in state
grants.
Artis Brown, McComb's Waste Coordinator/Program Manager, said the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has awarded the City of
McComb a $37,000 Solid Waste Assistance Grant for 2016.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_fa6fe8fc-2c05-11e6-bec0-1b084d5f871b.html?_dc=648401411595.582
Jackson committee nixes consent decree deal
Clarion Ledger
Los Angeles-based engineering firm AECOM, along with local partners, "The
Jackson Five," wanted to show the city how to get an "A" in wastewater
management. But on Monday, the Jackson City Council Rules Committee voted
down the deal, which would have made AECOM Jackson's new consent decree
program manager.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/06/06/jackson-committee-nixes-consent-decree-deal-no-more-manager/85480412/
Southaven disputes British newspaper report on water testing "cheat"
Commercial Appeal
Southaven is taking issue with a British newspaper's report that the city
is among more than 30 U.S. cities that "cheated" on water quality testing,
resulting in potentially false findings on lead levels.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/suburbs/desoto/southaven-disputes-british-newspaper-report-on-water-testing-cheat-34a23f81-6c3c-4a11-e053-0100007f0-382021631.html
Judge: OS East Beach public, not private
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -We have new developments in the battle over who
owns portions of East Beach in Ocean Springs: The state or property owners
across from the beach.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32157484/judge-os-east-beach-public-not-private
STATE LEADERS UNSURE OF ADDITIONAL BUDGET CUTS
MPB
The end of the 2016 fiscal year is only a few weeks away, but the threat of
budget cuts still loom.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/06/06/state-leaders-unsure-of-additional-budget-cuts/
How are gravel pits permitted and regulated in Mississippi?
WLBT
COPIAH COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -As people continue to search for
the missing gravel pit workers, we started asking questions about the
regulations on sites like those.
http://www.msnewsnow.com/story/32158701/how-are-gravel-pits-permitted-and-regulated-in-mississippi
MEMA: No 'textbook' approach to recovering buried men
Clarion Ledger
Amid mounting criticism, state officials vowed to work around the clock to
recover the bodies of two men, buried Friday beneath sludge, sand and
gravel while operating equipment at a gravel pit in Copiah County.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2016/06/06/recovery-effort-two-men-continues-copiah-co/85514798/
Recycling program gets $50K grant
By Clay Russell | Enterprise-Journal | Posted: Monday, June 6, 2016 2:00 pm
Pike County's recycling program, the only one of its kind in southwest
Mississippi, just received a welcome boost with over $50,000 in state
grants.
Artis Brown, McComb's Waste Coordinator/Program Manager, said the
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has awarded the City of
McComb a $37,000 Solid Waste Assistance Grant for 2016.
http://www.enterprise-journal.com/news/article_fa6fe8fc-2c05-11e6-bec0-1b084d5f871b.html?_dc=648401411595.582
Jackson committee nixes consent decree deal
Clarion Ledger
Los Angeles-based engineering firm AECOM, along with local partners, "The
Jackson Five," wanted to show the city how to get an "A" in wastewater
management. But on Monday, the Jackson City Council Rules Committee voted
down the deal, which would have made AECOM Jackson's new consent decree
program manager.
http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/06/06/jackson-committee-nixes-consent-decree-deal-no-more-manager/85480412/
Southaven disputes British newspaper report on water testing "cheat"
Commercial Appeal
Southaven is taking issue with a British newspaper's report that the city
is among more than 30 U.S. cities that "cheated" on water quality testing,
resulting in potentially false findings on lead levels.
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/suburbs/desoto/southaven-disputes-british-newspaper-report-on-water-testing-cheat-34a23f81-6c3c-4a11-e053-0100007f0-382021631.html
Judge: OS East Beach public, not private
WLOX
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) -We have new developments in the battle over who
owns portions of East Beach in Ocean Springs: The state or property owners
across from the beach.
http://www.wlox.com/story/32157484/judge-os-east-beach-public-not-private
STATE LEADERS UNSURE OF ADDITIONAL BUDGET CUTS
MPB
The end of the 2016 fiscal year is only a few weeks away, but the threat of
budget cuts still loom.
http://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/2016/06/06/state-leaders-unsure-of-additional-budget-cuts/
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