2026-01-16_Mississippi Environmental News

MDEQ in the News The Commercial Appeal • January 15, 2026 • 10:05 PM EPA updates turbine regulations. How it could impact xAI power options gas turbines at the site. In August, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) approved the use of unpermitted gas turbines The Webster Progress-Times • January 15, 2026 • 8:42 AM Mississippi leads states in environmental budget cuts, new report says Integrity Project, found the state slashed funding for the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality by 71% from 2010 to 2024.

Mississippi WLBT-TV • January 16, 2026 • 1:58 AM $50 million investment breaks ground in the capital city WDAM-TV • January 16, 2026 • 12:48 AM Hattiesburg launches $2.2M drainage project in Unified, Irene Chapel Neighborhoods Environmental Quality's Mississippi Municipality & County Water Infrastructure program and American Rescue Plan Act dollars. "ARPA and MCWI WCBI-TV • January 16, 2026 • 12:35 AM City of Columbus gets approved grant money to finish fossil park WXXV-TV • January 15, 2026 • 11:00 PM Oyster shell recycling site open in Ocean Springs plans to distribute over 500,000 pounds of recycled shells by the end of 2026 for the restoration projects in the Mississippi Sound.

Regional WLOX-TV • January 16, 2026 • 2:42 PM Red-cockaded woodpecker makes comeback in Louisiana The once-endangered red-cockaded woodpecker is showing signs of recovery in central Louisiana's Kisatchie National Forest. Yahoo! News • January 14, 2026 • 10:45 AM It's Responsible for One of the Worst Oil Disasters Ever. It's Counting On Trump to Let It Do It Again. Horizon disaster as the lead investigator for the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill commission . President Barack Obama convened our bipartisan The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate / NOLA • January 13, 2026 • 6:55 PM Louisiana plant that exploded hit with new order from federal regulators records. They were used in EPA's assessment of Smitty's compliance with hazardous waste rules. On Oct. 13, days before EPA handed off day-

National Springer • January 16, 2026 • 5:38 AM Marine pollution: the global challenge of ocean contaminants and mitigation efforts columns (Wurtsbaugh et al. ; Malone and Newton ). The Mississippi River Basin is a prime example of the possibility of seasonal hypoxia in Associated Press • January 15, 2026 • 4:31 PM Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) Market to Reach $72.83B by 2033 - Strategic Revenue Insights (SRI) demand acceleration driven by potable water scarcity and wastewater discharge regulation tightening Asia Pacific will maintain fastest Associated Press • January 13, 2026 • 6:02 PM Marine Ingredient Enriched Nutraceutical Packaging Market to Reach $9.12B by 2033 - Strategic Revenue Insights (SRI) ocean-degradable packaging represents direct consumer action toward environmental restoration. Key sustainability dynamics include: • 72 Yahoo! News • January 13, 2026 • 5:48 PM Casella subsidiary to pay $1.9 million in penalties for alleged Bethlehem violations civil penalty ever assessed for a violation of the state's Solid Waste Management Act , said Attorney General John Formella in a press