News

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced today that the Mississippi Based RESTORE Act Center of Excellence (MBRACE) has been selected as the RESTORE Research Center of Excellence. Following the Deepwater Horizon disaster, Congress passed the RESTORE Act to direct a portion of Clean Water Act civil penalties collected from responsible parties to the states impacted by the oil spill, and it includes a 2.5 percent funding designation to establish Research Centers of Excellence.MBRACE is a consortium made up of Mississippi’s four major research institutions: the University of Southern Mississippi, Jackson State University, the University of Mississippi, and Mississippi State University. The University of Southern Mississippi will serve as the lead institution with the MBRACE program administered within the University’s Center for Gulf Studies.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), through its Beach Monitoring Program, issued a preemptive beach closure Thursday for a section of beach in Biloxi. The City of Biloxi notified MDEQ that a force main at the end of Sylvania Street cracked resulting in raw sewage entering into a storm drain and then into the Mississippi Sound. The city has repaired the leak, stopped the flow, and are continuing repairs to the system. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced today that two documents needed to forge the path forward for Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration plans on the Gulf Coast are now available for public comment. Once approved, the total compensation to offset injuries resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster will reach at least $2.17 billion. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced today that two documents needed to forge the path forward for Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration plans on the Gulf Coast are now available for public comment. Once approved, the total compensation to offset injuries resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster will reach at least $2.17 billion. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Pearl River County a solid waste assistance grant of $23,434 that will be used by the county for a Household Hazardous Waste collection event. The date has not yet been determined. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Leake County a solid waste assistance grant of $25,728 that will be used by the county for a local solid waste enforcement officer. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Clay County a solid waste assistance grant of $10,618 that will be used by the county for a local solid waste enforcement officer. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Carroll County a solid waste assistance grant of $12,327 that will be used by the county to clean up illegal dump sites. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will be installing electronic monitoring equipment on Monday, October 5, to help conduct a water quality sampling survey on the Leaf River from Hattiesburg to Beaumont. During the survey, a bright red, non-toxic dye will be released into the water. This dye is not toxic or hazardous. People should not be alarmed if they notice red coloration in the water. The dye is not harmful to people, plants, wildlife, fish, or seafood. 

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) awarded Yazoo County a solid waste assistance grant of $16,355 that will be used by the county for clean up of illegal dumps.