News Clippings 6/27/16

State

Residents continue to Keep Cleveland Beautiful

Bolivar Commercial

Despite the heat and need for many lemonade breaks, residents continue to work outside to make their homes, the downtown area, and the rest of Cleveland beautiful. 

http://www.bolivarcommercial.com/newsx/item/4522-residents-continue-to-keep-cleveland-beautiful

 

County gets grant for hazardous waste disposal event

Daily Corinthian

Local residents will get an opportunity to safely dispose of old paint, batteries, electronics and other items in a household hazardous waste disposal day later this year.

http://www.dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/27217423/article-County-gets-grant-for-hazardous-waste-disposal-event?

 

Adams County Awarded Grant to Clean Illegal Dumps

Natchez Democrat

http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/2016/06/26/adams-county-awarded-grant-to-clean-illegal-dumps/

 

Combined bus routes will save money

Daily Corinthian

by Zack Steen

The Alcorn School District will save around $38,000 by combining three bus routes.

…Johnson was also able to secure a $15,000 grant from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality towards the purchase of a new bus.

http://www.dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/27217417/article-Combined-bus-routes-will-save-money?instance=news_main

 

 

City taking bids for Meigg Street sidewalks, lighting

Daily Corinthian

The Shiloh Road commercial strip that included House of Beauty is getting closer to demolition. Code Enforcement Officer Kim Ratliff reported that the owners have secured an asbestos removal contractor and are awaiting approval from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to begin the work. The Board of Aldermen gave a 30-day continuance on the property’s adjudication proceedings.

http://www.dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/27217425/article-City-taking-bids-for-Meigg-Street-sidewalks--lighting?instance=news_main

 

 

Trace State Park water level continues to fall

Daily Journal

PONTOTOC – The lake at Trace State Park in eastern Pontotoc County remains inaccessible to launch fishing and ski boats because of very low water level.

http://djournal.com/news/trace-state-park-water-level-continues-fall/

WLOX exclusive: Kemper Co. power plant tour

WLOX

KEMPER COUNTY, MS (WLOX) -In a WLOX News Now exclusive, we take you to Kemper County and see the much-maligned plant that's about to turn lignite into electricity.

http://www.wlox.com/story/32301851/wlox-exclusive-kemper-co-power-plant-tour?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Meet the challenge of public land deer

Clarion Ledger

Travis Murray of Crosby has killed his share of trophy deer. He has four gross-scoring between 139 and 169 inches listed in the Magnolia Records Program and more on his walls. One of them scored 190 inches, but ask him which is his favorite and he'll say it's a much smaller 10-point.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/sports/2016/06/24/meet-challenge-public-land-deer/86326618/

 

Bryant calls special session

Clarion Ledger

Gov. Phil Bryant on Monday issued a call for a special session of the Legislature to deal with revenue shortfall at the end of this fiscal year.

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/27/bryant-calls-special-session/86423800/

 

Oil Spill

 

BP spill cost Gulf fishing industry $94.7 m to $1.6 b in 2010

Times-Picayune

The BP oil spill may have cost the Gulf of Mexico's commercial fishing industrybetween $94.7 million and $1.6 billion and between 740 and 9,315 jobs from May to December 2010, according to a study released Wednesday (June 22)  by theBureau of Ocean Energy Management.

http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/06/bp_spill_cost_gulf_fishing_ind.html#incart_river_index

 

Regional

 

EPA says Shelby County’s air meets smog standards, removing obstacle to attracting industry

Commercial Appeal

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared Shelby County in compliance with federal smog standards, handing local officials a potent selling point in their efforts to recruit industry.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/government/epa-says-shelby-countys-air-meets-smog-standards-removing-obstacle-to-attracting-industry-3607becc-c-384270201.html

 

Management debate rages amid easy snapper fishing

Caller Times

PORT ARANSAS — You have until July 16 to catch red snapper in federal waters, but only if you're fishing from a charter or party boat.

http://www.caller.com/sports/outdoors/management-debate-rages-amid--easy-snapper-fishing-35e045a5-9d3a-5939-e053-0100007f9cbb-384348511.html

 

 

 

National

 

Court delays challenge to Obama carbon rule

The Hill

A federal appeals court is delaying the schedule for a lawsuit challenging a White House regulation that limis carbon dioxide emissions.

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/284776-court-puts-hold-on-challenge-to-obama-carbon-rule

 

Dozens of senators push EPA for higher ethanol mandate

The Hill

A bipartisan group of senators on Friday chided federal regulators for pulling back on the federal ethanol mandate. 

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/284845-dozens-of-senators-push-epa-for-higher-ethanol-mandate

 

 

Press Releases

Governor Phil Bryant Calls Special Session for Tuesday

 

Jackson, Miss. – Gov. Phil Bryant has called a special session for Tuesday, June 28.

 

The call contains one item: legislation authorizing Gov. Bryant to transfer money from the state’s Working Cash Stabilization Reserve Fund into the General Fund to cover a small deficit in fiscal year 2016’s budget.

 

“Disciplined and conservative spending by Republican leadership the last five legislative sessions has left the Rainy Day Fund in the perfect position to fill the small deficit in the FY16 budget,” Gov. Bryant said. “I would urge lawmakers to complete their work quickly, to keep taxpayers’ costs as low as possible.”

 

The session will start at 10 a.m.

 

"Unfortunately, revenue has not come in to the degree projected," said Speaker of the House Philip Gunn. "This is not the first time this has happened, and it will not be the last time. Due to Republican leadership, we have $364 million set aside in the state's Rainy Day Fund. The sole purpose of the Rainy Day Fund is to be used to assist in situations like this. 

 

"We are talking about one percent of the overall approximated $6.3 billion budget. To put this in perspective: if someone makes $30,000 a year, we are talking about a shortfall of $300. I am thankful the governor, the lieutenant governor and the conservative leadership have taken measures through the years to ensure our preparedness to handle this." 

 

"Because Republicans have been fiscally responsible over the past five years, Mississippi has a larger balance in its Rainy Day Fund in FY 2016 than at any time in our state's history,” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said. “It appears the revenue estimate adopted by the state's fiscal experts for FY 2016 will come up short by some amount less than 1 percent of our overall operating budget. Gov. Bryant, Speaker Gunn and I agree that the best way to address this shortfall is through a transfer from the Working Cash Stabilization Reserve Fund, and I expect this to be quickly resolved in the special session to minimize costs for taxpayers.”

 

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Southern Brownfield Report

If you're interested in Mississippi Environmental News, you may also be interested in the Southern Brownfield Report at http://www.southernbrownfield.com.

News Clippings 6/24/16

State
DEQ schedules date to consider permit for Renaissance expansion
MBJ


The Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board will meet at 9 a.m. on
June 30 in the commission hearing room at 515 East Amite Street in
Jackson to consider issuance of a federal Clean Water Act certification and
a storm water permit sought by Renaissance at Colony Park, LLC, Phase III
in Ridgeland.
http://msbusiness.com/2016/06/deq-schedules-date-to-consider-permit-for-renaissance-expansion/





Forrest, Lamar counties receive waste grants from MDEQ
Hattiesburg American


Forrest and Lamar counties are the recipients of more than $41,000 total in
Solid Waste Assistance Grants from the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality that will be used for various waste-disposal efforts.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/news/local/2016/06/23/forrest-lamar-counties-receive-waste-grants-mdeq/86263938/





Hattiesburg settles suit with Hercules plant


WDAM


HATTIESBURG, MS (WDAM) -The city of Hattiesburg hasconfidentially settled a
2013 lawsuit against Hercules, Inc. and Ashland, Inc. that alleged the
company "knowingly and improperly disposed of hazardous industrial waste."




…The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducted groundwater testing on and
off the plant's site in 2011 and 2013 and found chemical contaminants like
benzene in the soil.


http://www.wdam.com/story/32282058/hattiesburg-settles-suit-with-hercules-plant



MDEQ issues water contact advisory


Sun Herald


The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a water contact
advisory for a section of Gulfport beach Thursday.

http://www.sunherald.com/news/local/article85608737.html



Building goes up in flames at Tupelo manufacturing plant


WTVA


TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) — Firefighters appear to have controlled a fire in a
huge metal building at a lawnmower wheel manufacturer in east Tupelo.

http://www.wtva.com/news/local/Firefighters_Work_To_Put_Out_Blaze.html



Deputy treasurer Jackson appointed to head state DFA
Clarion Ledger


Gov. Phil Bryant has named Deputy State Treasurer Laura D. Jackson
as director of the Department of Finance and Administration to
replace Kevin Upchurch, who is leaving at the end of June.


http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2016/06/23/jackson-dfa-director/86279330/





Oil Spill


Halliburton, Transocean to pay another $1.24 billion for BP spill


Times-Picayune



Two new settlements totaling close to $1.24 billion have been reached
between private BP oil spill claimants and the Halliburton and Transocean
companies to settle punitive damage claims stemming from their roles in the
April 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.


http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2016/06/halliburton_transocean_to_pay.html#incart_river_index





Regional


U.S. Oil Companies Crank Up Production in Gulf of Mexico

Surge threatens to prolong crude glut that helped push down prices
WSJ


Oil companies are pumping more crude off the U.S. coast in the Gulf of
Mexico, a surprising trend that shows the resilience of the nation's energy
industry.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-oil-output-to-get-boost-from-gulf-of-mexico-1466703667





National


VW to Pay Near $10.2B to Settle Emissions Claims


AP


Volkswagen will spend about $10.2 billion to settle an emissions cheating
scandal in the U.S. that has turned into one of the largest cases of
corporate deception in the nation's history.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/ap-source-vw-pay-102b-settle-emissions-claims-40076502





EPA: Filtered Flint water is safe
The Hill




The tap water in Flint, Mich., is safe for anyone to drink — as long as it
is filtered, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared Thursday.


http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/284621-epa-filtered-flint-water-is-safe





Solar Power to Grow Sixfold as Sun Becoming Cheapest Resource
Bloomberg


The amount of electricity generated using solar panels stands to expand as
much as sixfold by 2030 as the cost of production falls below competing
natural gas and coal-fired plants, according to the International Renewable
Energy Agency.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-22/solar-power-to-grow-sixfold-as-sun-becoming-cheapest-resource





Press Releases



U.S. EPA to Help Six Communities Develop Sustainable Design Strategies


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today
it has selected six cities for technical assistance with sustainable design
strategies under its Greening America's Communities (GAC) program. The 2016
cities chosen for assistance are: Columbia, SC; Brownsville, TX; Oklahoma
City, OK; Muscatine, IA; Honolulu, HI; and Multnomah County, OR.

"EPA is excited to roll up our sleeves and start working with the next
round of cities through Greening America's Communities," said EPA
Administrator Gina McCarthy. "This program is another example of EPA
making a visible difference in communities—helping build healthy, vibrant
neighborhoods and stronger local economies centered on environmental
sustainability."

In the coming months, EPA will fund a team of designers to visit each
selected city to create designs that will support a larger planning and
implementation process for a pilot area. Through the Greening America's
Communities program, these teams will provide assistance to help
communities use green infrastructure and other environmentally friendly
designs to create more walkable, bikeable, and vibrant neighborhoods.

EPA will provide assistance for the following projects:





• Columbia, SC will create designs to protect an urban stream and
create a greenway that will minimize flooding and establish a walkable
connection through the Capital City Mill District.


• Brownsville, TX will add green infrastructure to the
International Greenway along the U.S.-Mexico border to manage stormwater,
create a more walkable street, and add shade and plants to cool an area
experiencing higher temperatures due to climate change.


• Oklahoma City, OK will use green infrastructure to minimize
flooding from a local stream and make improvements to streets in four
neighborhoods that will increase safety and improve quality of life for
residents.


• Muscatine, IA will receive assistance to redesign a former
state highway that now serves as a city street to help it become a safer
gateway into downtown for both cars and bicycles.


• Honolulu, HI will receive assistance to design street
improvements and green infrastructure to better support walking and
economic development around two planned rail stations.


• Multnomah County will create designs for streets and public
spaces in the Jade District to address heat island and air quality issues,
manage stormwater, bolster infill development, and support the character
and concerns of the surrounding community.





Under the GAC program, formerly known as Greening America's Capitals, EPA
helped 23 capital cities and the District of Columbia with sustainable
design strategies. Results from previous GAC projects include:





• Little Rock, AR received more than $3.2 million in public
investment to revitalize Main Street.


• Charleston, WV received a $650,000 grant from the U.S
Department of Transportation for Slack Plaza redesign.


• Lincoln, NE invested over $1.5 million from a U.S Department of
Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant and from
local funds to add green infrastructure and other improvements along 11th
Street.


• Baton Rouge, LA has secured $250,000 to begin detailed design
of the Downtown Greenway and $100,000 for construction on the first section
of the greenway trail.


• Phoenix, AZ spent $575,000 to complete the first phase of bike
lanes and other road improvements along Grand Avenue.


• Montgomery, AL has spent $1.3 million of local funds to make
improvements to the historic Selma to Montgomery Trail.




More information on Greening America's Communities:
https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/greening-americas-communities






EPA Extends Application Deadline for Next Class of the Environmental
Justice Academy

New Deadline to Apply is June 30, 2016

Contact: James Pinkney, 404-562-9183 (direct), 404-562-8400 (main),
pinkney.james@epa.gov


ATLANTA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 has
extended the application deadline for the second class of the Environmental
Justice (EJ) Academy. Applications are now due by June 30, 2016. The EJ
Academy is a rigorous, nine-month leadership development program designed
to cultivate skills participants can use to identify and address
environmental challenges in their communities.


Application criteria and instructions are posted online at:
http://go.usa.gov/chhYJ


The EJ Academy is primarily based on the EPA Collaborative Problem-Solving
(CPS) Model, which is a seven-step process for bringing about positive
change and community revitalization by having community leaders, community
members, and their stakeholders working together. Each module focuses on
one element of the CPS Model and includes a combination of lectures by
subject-matter experts, in-class exercises, and homework assignments.


The EJ Academy teaches participants:


· How to leverage human, social, intellectual, technical, legal, and
financial resources to make long-term progress in a community;


· How to use consensus-building processes and skills to help ensure
successful collaboration and negotiations;


· How to increase capacity to address communities' environmental and/or
public health issues; and


· A basic understanding of environmental justice and environmental
regulations


As a result of participating in the EJ Academy, graduates will receive the
following benefits:


· Complete a community portfolio, which may assist in securing funding,
describing community resources and challenges and establishing
credibility amongst stakeholders;


· Complete an action plan to guide organizational activities;


· Identify and secure potential partners to assist communities with
addressing their challenges;


· Interact directly with technical experts from EPA and other
organizations;


· Network with regional community leaders to establish mutually
beneficial relationships;


· Be matched with nearby academic institutions in EPA's College
Underserved Community Partnership Program (CUPP) to provide ongoing
technical assistance; and


· Receive individualized feedback, guidance, and assistance from a
variety of experts.


For questions, contact Sheryl Good, 404-562-9559, or Saudia Muwwakkil,
404-562-8207. You may also email: R4_EJAcademy@epa.gov.