The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality convened at 9:00 a.m. on August 26, at the offices of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in Jackson. Jack Winstead chaired the meeting. Minutes from the last meeting held in June were approved. Following a prepared agenda, items considered were as follows:
ELECTION OF OFFICERS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2011
Chairman Jack Winstead was re-elected as well as Vice-Chairman, Martha Dalrymple.
BROWNFIELD CONSULTING FIRM
The Commission voted to approve the following firm as a Brownfield Consulting Firm:
Cardno TBE
2804 Remington Green Circle – Suite 4
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING FUND LOAN PROGRAM
Tony Caldwell, MDEQ staff, recommended the adoption by the Commission of the FY-2010 Intended Use Plan. The plan identifies the loan funds available to communities for the construction of wastewater infrastructure, the communities to receive such loan funds, the loan interest rate, program deadlines, and other related information. Caldwell explained to the Commission that two conditions in the program, the use of green infrastructures and providing subsidies to communities, are similar to Obama’s stimulus bill. The Commission approved the FY-2010 Intended Use Plan.
MISSISSIPPI RECYCLING COOPERATIVE GRANT REGULATIONS
The proposed Mississippi Recycling Cooperative Grant Regulations address the establishment and administration of the Recycling Cooperative Grants Fund as required by the Miss. Code Ann. Section 17-17-63. The fund will be used to provide grants to regional recycling cooperative organizations of local governments for the purpose of collection, processing and marketing of recyclables. The regulations include requirements related to the eligibility and allocation of grant funds, the required grant application procedures and content, and the conditions of grant awards. Upon recommendation of MDEQ staff, the Commission approved the regulations.
ALCORN COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
In an informational presentation, Mark Williams, MDEQ Solid Waste Division, introduced to the Commission Alcorn County’s request for approval of two proposed amendments to its solid waste management plan. The first proposed amendment is to expand the existing Class I rubbish facility in the county in order to provide another 1-2 years of capacity to the existing facility while the county determines its future solid wastes plans.
The second proposed amendment involves the addition of a 128 acre solid waste facility on Forest School Road, one mile from Corinth’s city limits. MDEQ believes that Alcorn County has shown a determination of need for the facility and has completed all procedural requirements to comply with state law. The staff recommended approval of the proposed amendments with the understanding that approval of the amendments does not guarantee the issuance of permits for the facility. Jeff Patterson, a member of the Alcorn County Board of Supervisors, supported statements made by Williams.
John Brunini addressed the Commission on behalf of opponents to the proposed second amendment. Brunini explained to the Commission that the county failed to include information about costs and funding for the facility at the public hearings. Such information is required by state law.
The Commission made a motion to review the information presented and consider the issue at a later date. The Commission voted for a continuance of the proposed amendments.
MADISON COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Prior to consideration of the matter, Chairman Jack Winstead announced that the presentation before the Commission was only informational and that the Commission would not take any action on this matter at today’s meeting.
Mark Williams explained to the Commission that CP Farms, LLC, would be the fourth proposed facility located on County Line Road. Williams briefly reviewed the history of the four County Line Road facilities. In 2008, MCEQ gave “conditional” approval to Madison County to amend the Madison County Solid Waste Management Plan. The matter of the CP Farms facility came up during the course of amending the county’s plan.
CP Farms, LLC is a proposed 61 acre facility located on North County Line Road at Greens Crossing Road. MDEQ has reviewed the determination of need for this facility as well as the procedural process to meet all legal requirements necessary when amending a solid waste management plan. MDEQ reviewed the county’s amendment to include the CP Farms facility and recommended approval of the updated plan because MDEQ saw a “need” for composting and recycling in the areas serviced by CP Farms, LLC.
James Baker, Director of Planning and Administration of Public Works for Jackson, addressed the Commission in opposition to CP Farms, LLC. D.I. Smith, a supervisor from District 3 in Madison County, also addressed the Commission. Smith stated that the “business of Madison County is residential” and, therefore, the county does not need another landfill. Jim McNaughton addressed the Commission on behalf of the applicant, CP Farms, LLC. In response to Baker’s concerns about the condition of County Line Road, McNaughton reminded the Commission that Madison County proposed to assume responsibility for the continual maintenance of County Line Road. Eric Hamer, Board Attorney for Madison County, reiterated to the Commission that Madison County had offered to assume responsibility for the maintenance of County Line Road. Hamer then stated that Hinds County has chosen not to accept Madison County’s offer. Nevertheless, Hamer assured the Commission that Madison County stands behind this offer.
Chairman Jack Winstead thanked everyone for their comments and recognized that the Commission and the MDEQ staff have a great deal of information to review before a final decision is made by the Commission.
OTHER BUSINESS
MDEQ staff provided the Commission with an update on the CDBG Infrastructure Projects in the Gulf Coast region that were approved and commenced following Hurricane Katrina.
Richard Ingram, MDEQ staff, provided the Commission with information about the “Hypoxia Task Force,” and Mississippi’s leadership role in this regional project along the Mississippi River and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Executive Director Trudy Fisher informed the Commission that Governor Haley Barbour is organizing a state-wide summit on the effects and aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The summit will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2010.
Forrest, Jackson, Harrison, Warren, Smith, Hancock, and Perry.
*The Commission approved 19 emergency expenditures incurred since the last report.
Thirty-seven administrative orders issued by the Executive Director and approved by the Commission included the following matters:
The remaining five Orders were not enforcement-oriented, but rather dealt with adoption of regulations, approvals of Solid Waste Management Plan amendments, Brownfield projects, and other routine administrative matters.
The next Commission meetings are scheduled for September 23, November 18, and December 9 at 9:00 a.m.
