News Clippings December 6, 2019

State Jackson and Ridgeland mayors, residents speak out at rally against Madison Co. landfill Clarion Ledger Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba joined Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee and other elected officials, community members and organizations on Thursday to rally against a proposed Madison County landfill.  https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2019/12/05/madison-county-landfill-jackson-ridgeland-mayors-speak-out-rally/2611457001/ Residents, city leaders continue rallying against proposed landfill in Ridgeland WLBT RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) - Residents and city leaders continue to galvanize against a proposed landfill in Madison county. https://www.wlbt.com/2019/12/06/residents-city-leaders-continue-rallying-against-proposed-landfill-ridgeland/ Metro mayors, residents gather to oppose landfill plan WAPT RIDGELAND, Miss. — Local elected officials and hundreds of people from the community are rallying together against a proposed landfill site. https://www.wapt.com/article/metro-mayors-residents-gather-to-oppose-landfill-plan/30142024 Spillway opening takes its toll on unique small business WLOX LONG BEACH, Miss. (WLOX) - The Bonnet Carré Spillway may have been closed months ago, but the devastating impacts of trillions of gallons of freshwater being dumped into the Mississippi Sound are still being felt. For a Long Beach business owner, it meant closing his unique shop. https://www.wlox.com/2019/12/06/spillway-opening-takes-its-toll-unique-small-business/ How the Bonnet Carré Spillway openings impacted the Mississippi Coast in 2019 Sun Herald Video The record two openings in one year of the Bonnet Carré Spillway started a domino effect of troubles for the water quality and seafood industry of the Mississippi Sound. An algae bloom shut down beaches for much of the summer. https://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article237981854.html Ridgeland Costco nears completion WAPT RIDGELAND, Miss. — The city of Ridgeland is dreaming of a Costco Christmas. As the year comes to a close, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee says residents of Ridgeland and the metro area at-large can expect the state's first Costco by March 2020. https://www.wapt.com/article/ridgeland-costco-nears-completion/30142265 Preliminary autopsy results provided in Louisville plant death WTVA LOUISVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - Preliminary autopsy results are back following the death of a worker at Winston Plywood & Veneer. https://www.wtva.com/content/news/Preliminary-autopsy-results-provided-in-Louisville-plant-death--565848851.html He's off the charts again: This deer made another amazing journey Clarion Ledger Buck No. 27 stunned researchers last year when he traveled over 13 miles from his capture site and set up shop in another location for winter. This year, the highly mobile deer did it again and another buck in the study group may have traveled even farther. https://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/outdoors/2019/12/05/buck-msu-deer-lab-study-makes-13-mile-trek-winter-home-hunting-mississippi-state-university/2606178001/ State Government State auditor’s findings show MBN executive director to repay $30K to taxpayers WLBT JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - The biggest sticking points for the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office in their audit of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics’ 2018 fiscal year revolved around Executive Director John Dowdy is, in fact, a sworn law enforcement officer. https://www.wdam.com/2019/12/05/state-auditors-findings-show-mbn-executive-director-repay-k-taxpayers/ Davis leaving DMR to serve as Watson’s chief of staff WLOX JACKSON, Miss. (WLOX) - Secretary of State-elect Michael Watson is bringing another South Mississippian to Jackson to serve as his chief of staff. Keith Davis is currently serving as the Chief of Enforcement for the Department of Marine Resources (DMR). https://www.wlox.com/2019/12/05/davis-leaving-dmr-serve-watsons-chief-staff/ Oil Spill New wave of suits linked to BP oil spill hitting courts WALA A new wave of lawsuits against BP is hitting the federal courts nearly a decade after the Gulf oil spill. https://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article238107989.html Escambia County plans business incubator to help in Brownsville revitalization PNJ Storefronts offered at low rent meant to help startup retail businesses is what county officials have in mind for helping to rejuvenate the Brownsville area. https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2019/12/06/escambia-county-business-incubator-aims-help-brownsville-revitalization/2608806001/ Regional Louisiana's DEQ saw among largest cuts to state environmental agencies over past 10 years NOLA.com In a 10-year period marked by a dramatic increase in newly built and planned petrochemical plants in the state, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality has seen its budget slashed by nearly 35 percent and its staff cut by almost 30 percent. https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_b9edcfcc-16fa-11ea-9a1f-e37486f9b033.html LSU researcher: Southern Hills Aquifer has ample supply; salt water intrusion no crisis NOLA.com Groundwater levels in the aquifer underneath East Baton Rouge Parish have been recovering for at least the past decade, and continuing salt water intrusion into that aquifer doesn't represent a crisis-level threat to the drinking water supply, according to recent research. https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/article_4792822a-1780-11ea-9640-03741e31ddaa.html Danger in the ground: Lead contaminates westside Atlanta neighborhood AJC Rosario Hernandez regularly gardens with her grandchildren at her two Atlanta properties in the English Avenue district, about a mile from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. https://www.ajc.com/news/local/danger-the-ground-lead-contaminates-westside-atlanta-neighborhood/r1wiLsN2tyUIIbuTI7yxEO/ Record-sized megalodon tooth from SC tops auction prediction. Here’s what it sold for Sun Herald Prehistoric megalodon shark teeth are found frequently in South Carolina’s rivers, but a unique example believed to be the biggest on record sold for five times the predicted price Thursday at auction. https://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article238068599.html National EPA didn't conduct required analyses of truck engine rule: internal watchdog The Hill The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not conduct required analyses for a proposed repeal of an Obama-era rule, an internal government watchdog has found.  https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/473243-epa-didnt-conduct-required-analyses-of-truck-engine-rule-internal Watchdog faults rushed EPA rulemaking on glider trucks AP WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration rushed to exempt a type of super-polluting cargo truck from clean air rules without conducting a federally mandated study on how it would impact public health, the Environmental Protection Agency’s inspector-general said Thursday. https://apnews.com/2c8b935888b013784f26f2266566554d Illinois has cut its EPA workforce by 38% in the past decade — more than any other state, report shows Chicago Tribune Years before President Donald Trump’s industry-backed appointees began rolling back enforcement of environmental laws, Illinois had begun shedding inspectors and slowing the policing of air and water pollution. https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/environment/ct-met-illinois-epa-budget-cuts-20191205-pkwnmzzvuvgk3fgbplvxhbji6q-story.html Report: Wisconsin led nation in cuts to environmental protection since 2008 Madison.com Wisconsin lawmakers cut environmental protection funding more than any other state over the past decade, according to a new study of state pollution control programs. https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/environment/report-wisconsin-led-nation-in-cuts-to-environmental-protection-since/article_daffc6a9-4984-5f9b-b2ce-415ed65e3ee3.html EPA authorizes use of 'cyanide bombs' to protect livestock against predators The Hill The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorized the use of "cyanide bombs" to protect livestock against wild animals on Thursday after adding additional safety requirements in response to backlash from environmental groups. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/473184-epa-authorizes-use-of-cyanide-bombs-to-protect-livestock-against-predators Rate of new endangered species listings declines under Trump The Hill The rate of listing new endangered and threatened species has slowed under the Trump administration, a trend that highlights an administrative push to shrink the number of animals ultimately placed on the endangered species list. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/473230-rate-of-new-endangered-species-listings-down-under-trump Press Releases EPA Seeks Input on National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants: Ethylene Oxide Commercial Sterilization and Fumigation Operations 12/05/2019 WASHINGTON (Dec. 5, 2019) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses, governments, and not-for-profit organizations to participate as Small Entity Representatives (SERs) providing advice and recommendations to a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-seeks-input-national-emission-standards-hazardous-air-pollutants-ethylene-oxide EPA Announces Revised Interim Decision for M-44 Predator Control Devices Decision includes new restrictions and revisions that will better protect public health and non-target animals from accidental exposure 12/05/2019  WASHINGTON (Dec. 5, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing a more protective interim decision on sodium cyanide, the compound used in M-44 devices to control certain wild predators, primarily coyotes, as part of the re-registration review process required by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-revised-interim-decision-m-44-predator-control-devices Connect with us ‌ ‌ ‌

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News Clippings December 5, 2019

State Jackson mayor to join rally against proposed Madison County landfill Clarion Ledger Jackson Mayor Chokwe A. Lumumba plans to join Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee and other elected officials, community members and organizations on Thursday to rally against a proposed Madison County landfill.  https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2019/12/04/jackson-mayor-rally-against-madison-county-landfill/2609507001/ Deadline to oppose 3rd dump nears Madison County Journal A group opposed a third garbage dump in south Madison County was to have rallied today (Thursday) before a deciding Dec. 10 MDEQ vote. http://onlinemadison.com/Content/Default/News/Article/Deadline-to-oppose-3rd-dump-nears/-3/592/43094 Rally to oppose proposed Madison County landfill WJTV RIDGELAND, Miss. (WJTV) – Local community members, elected officials and organizations will rally on Thursday, December 5, to oppose a proposed landfill in Madison County. https://www.wjtv.com/news/rally-to-oppose-proposed-madison-county-landfill/ Recycling to cost city of Brookhaven more Daily Leader The price of recycling to the city is going up, but Brookhaven aldermen plan to absorb that cost in order to keep the program going. https://www.dailyleader.com/2019/12/04/recycling-to-cost-city-of-brookhaven-more/ Waste service ends recycling pickup Daily Corinthian When the truck leaves today, loaded with plastic soda bottles and milk jugs, it’s not coming back. https://www.dailycorinthian.com/news/waste-service-ends-recycling-pickup/article_ccee6660-aa60-52fb-b235-e68dcf6257f4.html Medical waste facility proposed Stone County Enterprise David Wolf, the owner of Earthcare, Inc., a medical waste-disposal company, came before the Stone County Board of Supervisors Monday to seek approval for a facility in the county. Wolf said his company has been utilizing another company to sterilize the collected waste before it goes to a landfill. https://www.stonecountyenterprise.com/news/local/medical-waste-facility-proposed/article_194d774a-16a3-11ea-885a-c378528c7a8a.html Team Rubicon arrives to help demolish homes in South Delta Vicksburg Post It will be years before areas of the South Delta — such as Eagle Lake — find any sense of normalcy following the devastating, months-long flood that ravaged the area for much of the year. https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2019/12/04/team-rubicon-arrives-to-help-demolish-homes-in-south-delta/ Flaggs set to host Thursday public hearing on future of Kuhn site Vicksburg Post The public will get its first look at Mayor George Flaggs Jr.’s plans for the Kuhn Memorial Hospital property on Thursday. https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2019/12/04/flaggs-set-to-host-thursday-public-hearing-on-future-of-kuhn-site/ River expert: Current swell in the Mississippi River no reason for concern Vicksburg Post The Mississippi River at Vicksburg is expected to crest at 37 to 37.5 feet by mid-December, a hydrologist for the National Weather Service Office in Jackson said Wednesday. Beyond that, the river is expected to fall over the rest of the month, before rising once again. https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2019/12/04/river-expert-current-swell-in-the-mississippi-river-no-reason-for-concern/ City set to install LED lights starting this month Commercial Dispatch   A project to install more than 4,000 energy-efficient LED lights in the city is set to begin this month. https://cdispatch.com/news/article.asp?aid=77760 State Government Hinds CC President Dr. Clyde Muse announces retirement plans Vicksburg Post RAYMOND – Hinds Community College President Dr. Clyde Muse today announced to the Board of Trustees at their regular monthly meeting his intention to retire on June 30, 2020, after 42 years as chief of the college and 68 years as an educator. https://www.vicksburgpost.com/2019/12/04/hinds-cc-president-dr-clyde-muse-announces-retirement-plans/ Oil Spill MAFES to open seafood lab on Mississippi Gulf Coast Starkville Daily News Mississippi State University is gearing up to continue its approximately 15 years of seafood research in the Gulf of Mexico. https://www.starkvilledailynews.com/news/mafes-to-open-seafood-lab-on-mississippi-gulf-coast/article_5062c088-16b1-11ea-a239-9778c49676bc.html Regional Black Warrior Riverkeeper seeks more fines against Alabama Power for fish kill 33/40 Walker County, Alabama — Take a look at the photos of just some of the 508 dead fish that were found six days after a chemical spill in March at Alabama Power’s Plant Gorgas in Walker County. https://abc3340.com/news/abc-3340-news-iteam/black-warrior-riverkeeper-seeks-more-fines-against-alabama-power-for-fish-kill Jefferson Parish secures funding for 'living coastline' in Bucktown as work continues on boardwalk NOLA.com Bucktown probably isn't the first place that comes to mind when you think of coastal restoration. In fact, Lake Pontchartrain probably isn't either. https://www.nola.com/news/article_aa90bf5c-1070-11ea-9c8a-ebc0f5b3c6aa.html National States slashed 4,400 environmental agency jobs in past decade: study The Hill A new report warns that spending cutbacks at state environmental protection agencies have led to thousands of job cuts at a time when the federal government is rolling back regulations. https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/473034-states-have-slashed-4400-environmental-agency-jobs-in-past-decade-study EPA ignores health benefits of coal rule it plans to weaken: economists Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposal to weaken a rule on coal plant pollution fails to consider billions of dollars in health benefits for Americans, economists from universities including Harvard and Yale said on Wednesday. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-epa-mercury/u-s-epa-ignores-health-benefits-of-coal-rule-it-plans-to-weaken-economists-idUSKBN1Y82CD Songbirds Are Shrinking in Size, Study Finds WSJ North American songbirds have been shrinking steadily in size over the past 40 years, according to scientists who measured tens of thousands of the feathered creatures from dozens of different species and attributed the changes to rising temperatures. https://www.wsj.com/articles/songbirds-are-shrinking-in-size-study-finds-11575468001 Invasive cats, pigs and more plague most US parks, report warns. Can they be stopped? Sun Herald National parks across the United States draw visitors with the promise of native wildlife sightings, beautiful landscapes and hiking opportunities. But invasive species — everything from rats to Burmese pythons — have spread to more than half of national parks, according to new research published this week, which also offers suggestions for stopping non-native animals while safeguarding native species into the future. https://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article238050639.html Offshore drilling creates these new dangers onshore, environmental report says Sun Herald Devastating oil spills of the Deepwater Horizon variety aren’t the only risk posed by expanded offshore drilling in waters off the United States, a new environmental report says. https://www.sunherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article238059169.html Opinion EDITORIAL/Let Gov. Bryant know: No more garbage dumps Madison County Journal The deadline to voice opposition to a third smelly garbage dump in south Madison County is Tuesday and everyone should voice opposition on the grounds we’re not the dumping ground of the South. http://www.onlinemadison.com/Content/EDITORIALS/Editorials/Article/EDITORIAL-Let-Gov-Bryant-know-No-more-garbage-dumps/3/3/43088 Press Releases EPA Moves Forward on Key Drinking Water Priority Under PFAS Action Plan 12/04/2019 WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2019) — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent the proposed regulatory determination for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in drinking water to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-moves-forward-key-drinking-water-priority-under-pfas-action-plan EPA Awards $4 Million to Protect America’s Estuaries and Coastal Waters 12/04/2019 WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $4 million cooperative agreement with Restore America’s Estuaries to help fund projects supporting National Estuary Program coastal watersheds and estuaries. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-awards-4-million-protect-americas-estuaries-and-coastal-waters EPA Finds That Financial Risks from Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing Industry Does Not Warrant Additional Federal Requirements 12/04/2019  WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2019) — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to not impose burdensome and potentially duplicative financial responsibility requirements for the petroleum and coal products manufacturing industry (the industrial sector that transforms crude petroleum and coal into usable products) because the financial risk to the federal government from those facilities is already addressed by various existing federal and state technical and financial requirements and modern material management practices. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-finds-financial-risks-petroleum-and-coal-products-manufacturing-industry-does-not Connect with us ‌ ‌ ‌

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