Vol. 18 Issue 9 September 2021
News from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Mississippi Restoration Summit - Save the Date

The Mississippi Restoration Summit is scheduled for November 9 at the Mississippi Coast Convention Center in Biloxi.

Stay tuned for more details as the summit draws nearer. Sign up here to join the Restoration email list for updates and upcoming details about the summit.
MDEQ Seeks Environmental Leaders for enHance Membership

MDEQ is now accepting applications for enHance, the agency’s environmental stewardship program, through November 1. 
 
enHance is a voluntary stewardship program that recognizes committed environmental leaders who accomplish goals beyond their standard regulatory requirements. Participating organizations make a commitment to address and achieve ongoing environmental improvements. Read the press release.
Commission on Environmental Quality Selects Officers

The Commission on Environmental Quality selected officers at its monthly meeting in August. Brenda Lathan was chosen as Chair and Patrick L. Johnson, Jr. became the Vice Chair.

The Commission on Environmental Quality is empowered by state law to formulate policy for MDEQ, enforce rules and regulations, receive funding, conduct studies for using the state’s resources, and discharge duties, responsibilities and powers as necessary.
  
The seven members are appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of the Mississippi State Senate. The members are chosen from each of the state’s 1978 Congressional Districts and two at-large. The members serve staggered, seven-year terms.
 
The current members of the Commission are:
 
Brenda Lathan (Columbus), Chair
Patrick L. Johnson, Jr. (Tunica), Vice Chair
John Dane III (Gulfport)
Jamie Martin (Jackson)
Chat Phillips (Yazoo City)
W.J. (Billy) Van Devender (Jackson)
Jack Winstead (Brandon)
 
More information about the Commission, agendas, minutes, and issued orders can be found here.
Air Application Form Updated

The Environmental Permits Division (EPD) is notifying regulated entities that the Air Application Form has been updated to revise Sections A, B, D, and N of the form. Please note that these revisions generally affect any facility submitting an air application and should be incorporated in any future application submittals. The most significant changes are found in Section B and include the addition of a worksheet to summarize emission points (Section B.0) and changes regarding the requirement to submit Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions (Section B.4). A specific list of the revisions is available at the Air Application website.

For questions and more information, please contact Carla Brown.  
Waste Tire Abatement Opportunity Available

MDEQ is currently soliciting applications from waste tire haulers, waste tire processors, and other contractors until September 29, 2021, for the purpose of procuring waste tire abatement services. These services include the complete removal of waste tires from selected sites where tires have been abandoned or improperly dumped and delivery of these tires to an authorized facility for processing and disposal.

More information and how to apply can be found here.
MDEQ's Purvis Appointed to Advisory Council

Governor Tate Reeves recently appointed MDEQ's Human Resources Director Mandy Purvis to the Mississippi Personnel Advisory Council. The council consist of the personnel directors of five major state agencies to:
  • Advise the State Personnel Board in the development of comprehensive policies and programs for the improvement of public employees.
  • Assist in the formulation of rules, regulations and standards relating to the state personnel system.
  • Assist in the promotion of public understanding of the purposes, policies and practices of the state personnel system.
Deadline Approaching for NOx Emissions Reduction Projects Applications
 
MDEQ released an application package on June 11 for the funding of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions reduction projects. This funding opportunity is a reimbursement program for qualifying projects under the State of Mississippi Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Program. The project submittal deadline is October 29, 2021.
 
MDEQ invites universities, private organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses, and any county, city, state, or other local government in Mississippi to submit applications to implement cost-effective and innovative projects to reduce NOx emissions.
MDEQ Awards 31 Solid Waste Grants

MDEQ recently awarded 31 Solid Waste Assistance and Waste Tire Grants to local governments totaling more than $1.1 million. Press releases detailing those grants can be found here.

Local governments may apply for Solid Waste Assistance Grants through MDEQ. These grants are used by local communities for programs to prevent and clean up unauthorized dumps; to aid in hiring local solid waste enforcement officers; for public education efforts on solid waste disposal and recycling; and, to establish programs for the collection of white goods, household hazardous waste, bulky wastes, and recyclables.  Waste tire assistance grants are available to county governments for the development and implementation of local waste tire collection and clean up programs. 

More information can be found here and by contacting Taaka Bailey. Application deadlines for the Competitive Solid Waste Assistance Grants are October 1 and April 1 annually. The application deadline for the Allocated SWAG grants is April 30 of a state fiscal year. Waste Tire Assistance Grants may be applied for year-round as funding is needed.  
Photo of the Month

MDEQ's Madison Kymes took this photo of the Mississippi Sound and majestic oak trees near Biloxi when he was measuring some water wells.