Brunini Law

Edmund Lawrence Brunini, Jr.

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April 21, 1944 – August 31, 2021

Edmund L. Brunini, Jr. a leader of Brunini Law Firm, passed away on August 31, 2021.  He began his law career in 1969 with Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes where he practiced law for 45 years.  During that time he had an accomplished career focusing on litigation and regulatory law.

In his early years Mr. Brunini served clients in the oil and gas industry of Mississippi. As major petroleum producers began exiting the state, he transitioned into the practice area of healthcare.  He established a relationship with the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois and their mission of St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson. As the need for legal services increased, he was able to provide the counsel and resources they needed to help meet the needs of this mission.

Mr. Brunini also served a wide array of other clients in various industries which included manufacturing, healthcare, general business and local governments.

“I always admired Eddie for his keen intellect, sound judgment, compassion for his fellow man, and truly incomparable wit.  We will all miss him and what he provided to our firm,“ said David Kaufman, Partner.

Not only was Mr. Brunini a successful attorney, but he valued and was actively involved in community service.  He modeled this through the many leadership roles he held in numerous community organizations.

“Eddie Brunini was an outstanding lawyer and leader of the Brunini Firm for many years,” said Sam Kelly, Managing Partner of Brunini Law Firm.  “He reminded us all of the importance of service not only to our clients but also to our communities.  He could always be counted on to lighten a moment with his humor and wit.  He will indeed be missed, but his legacy at the Brunini Firm will continue for many years into the future.”

See obituary

 

Brunini Attorneys Recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers

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Brunini is honored to have many of our attorneys recognized in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers of America.  Recognition by Best Lawyers of America is based entirely on peer review.  Best Lawyers of America employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services.

Additional recognitions are also awarded to individual lawyers with the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region.  Only one lawyer is recognized as the “Lawyer of the Year” for each specialty and location.

Best Lawyers of America’s “Ones to Watch” category recognizes extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for less than 10 years in the United States.  This award is also based entirely on peer review.

We congratulate the following attorneys for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence.

2022 – Lawyer of the Year

  • Jackson-MS
        • Norman E. Bailey – Trademark Law
        • Stephen J. Carmody – Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
        • Lynne K. Green – Elder Law
        • Karen E. Howell – Litigation – ERISA
        • R. David Kaufman – Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Warren Ken Rogers – Corporate Governance Law
        • John E. Wade – Litigation – Health Care
  • Tupelo
        • J. Gordon Flowers – Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants

  2022 Ones to Watch

Alston F. Ludwig (2021)

        • Alternative Dispute Resolution
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
  • Lane Bobo (2021)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
        • Health Care Law
  • Jacob A. Bradley (2021)
        • Construction Law
        • Litigation – Construction
        • Commercial Litigation
  • Drew C. Bigelow (2021)
        • Corporate Law
        • Real Estate Law
        • Trusts and Estates

 2022 Recognized Lawyers in the following fields by Best Lawyers in America

  • Jackson, MS
    • John M. Flynt (2011)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Finance Law
        • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Elder Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Real Estate Law
  • James L. Halford (2007)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Communications Law
        • Energy Law
        • Energy Regulatory Law
  • John E. Milner (1993)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Environmental Law
        • Litigation – Environmental
  • Gene Wasson (2018)
        • Administrative / Regulatory Law
        • Environmental Law
        • Litigation – Environmental
        • Natural Resources Law
        • Oil and Gas Law
        • Real Estate Law
  • William Trey Jones III (2003)
        • Appellate Practice
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Litigation – Environmental
        • Litigation – Trusts and Estates
  • Patrick McDowell (2012)
        • Appellate Practice
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Litigation – Securities
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • William D. Drinkwater (2020)
        • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – Banking and Finance
        • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
        • Litigation – Real Estate
        • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • James A. McCullough II (2012)
        • Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Energy Law
        • Litigation – Bankruptcy
        • Litigation – ERISA
        • Litigation – Health Care
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
  • David Kaufman (2003)
        • Bet-the-Company Litigation
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Litigation – Antitrust
        • Litigation – Securities
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Ken Harmon (2018)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Oil and Gas Law
        • Real Estate Law
  • William C. Penick IV (2016)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Nonprofit / Charities Law
        • Tax Law
        • Trusts and Estates
  • Warren Ken Rogers (2015)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Finance Law
        • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
        • Corporate Governance Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
  • Walter S. Weems (1999)
        • Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
        • Commercial Finance Law
        • Commercial Transactions / UCC Law
        • Corporate Law
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Tax Law
  • Lynne K. Green (2003)
        • Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Elder Law
        • Tax Law
        • Trusts and Estates
  • Matthew W. Allen (2016)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Sheldon G. Alston (2016)
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
        • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
        • Litigation – Real Estate
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Commercial Litigation
  • Norman E. Bailey (2016)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Trademark Law
  • Cody C. Bailey (2020)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
        • Litigation – Construction
  • Richard Cirilli Jr (2016)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Health Care Law
        • Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Litigation – Health Care
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
        • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Karen E. Howell (2018)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Corporate Law
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – ERISA
        • Litigation – Land Use and Zoning
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Trademark Law
  • Samuel C. Kelly (2006)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Construction Law
        • Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
        • Litigation – Construction
  • John E. Wade (2008)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Land Use and Zoning Law
        • Litigation – Health Care
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
  • Ron A. Yarbrough (2007)
        • Construction Law
        • Litigation – Construction
  • Stephen J. Carmody (2009)
        • Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
        • Employment Law – Management
        • Labor Law – Management
        • Litigation – ERISA
        • Litigation – Intellectual Property
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Christopher R. Fontan (2019)
        • Employment Law – Management
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
        • Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers
  • Claire W. Ketner (2022)
        • Litigation – Labor and Employment
  • Joseph E. Varner III (2012)
        • Mergers and Acquisitions Law
        • Tax Law
        • Trusts and Estates
  • Columbus, MS
    • Gordon Flowers (2009)
        • Commercial Litigation
        • Environmental Law
        • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
        • Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
        • Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
  • Scott F. Singley (2022)
        • Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
  • Biloxi, MS
    • Leonard A. Blackwell II (2005)
        • Gaming Law
        • Land Use and Zoning Law

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Brunini’s Matt Allen was a contribution author to the American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) recently released publication

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Jackson, MS:  Brunini’s Matt Allen was a contribution author to the American Bar Association Section on Environment, Energy, and Resources (SEER) recently released publication, The 2020 Year in Review. The Year in Review is the Section’s annual summary of important developments in environmental, energy, and resources law. Matt was a contributing author on the topics of Pesticides, Chemical Regulation and Right-to-Know and Water Quality and Wetlands. Other topics include air quality, environmental transactions and brownfields, water quality and wetlands, public land and resources, oil and gas, and water resources.

Matt joined the Brunini Law Firm in 2005 and is a member of the firm’s litigation department and environmental law practice group. He has extensive experience litigating a range of matters in federal and state courts, including complex commercial, product liability, environmental, tax, public record, media, and constitutional disputes. He has also advised private entities, non-profits, and local governments on general business and regulatory matters.

For more information contact Matt Allen at mwallen@brunini.com.

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Brunini Law Firm Earns Recertification in Meritas, the Leading Global Alliance of Independent Business Law Firms

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Brunini Law Firm membership in Meritas means clients can access quality legal expertise around the world

JACKSON, MS – July 19, 2021– Brunini Law Firm, a Mississippi – based law firm, today announced that it has been awarded recertification in Meritas, a global alliance of independent business law firms. As a condition of its membership, Brunini is required to successfully complete recertification every three years.

Meritas is the only law firm alliance with an established and comprehensive means of monitoring the quality of its member firms, a process that saves clients’ time validating law firm credentials and experience. Meritas membership is selective and by invitation only. Firms are regularly assessed and recertified for the breadth of their practice expertise, client satisfaction and high standards of cybersecurity to keep legal information safe. Meritas’ extensive due diligence process ensures that only firms meeting the tenets of Meritas’ unique Quality Assurance Program are allowed to maintain membership. The measurement of the firm’s performance, based on input from clients, is reflected in a Satisfaction Index score, which is available online on the Meritas website.

“Our values of quality service and client satisfaction align with the Meritas mission to provide a safe and responsive global offering to clients,” said Benje Bailey, Partner. “We’ve successfully collaborated with colleagues in many jurisdictions around the world to solve client issues and help them seize opportunities outside of this market. We look forward to keeping those vital connections through membership in Meritas.”

The recertification process Brunini completed to maintain its membership status included exacting self-assessment, peer review by other law firms and client feedback.

“Businesses trust the Meritas alliance of law firms for top-tier quality, convenience, consistency and value,” said Sona Pancholy, president of Meritas. “Brunini has demonstrated its commitment to world-class legal standards, and therefore has successfully earned its recertification in Meritas.”

For more information about Brunini’s capabilities and the benefits of its membership in Meritas, visit brunini.com or call 601-948-3101.

About Brunini Law Firm

Brunini Law Firm, a Meritas member firm, was founded in 1891 and currently operates with 39 lawyers and 29 support staff. With offices in three locations, including Jackson, Columbus and Biloxi,  Brunini’s comprehensive and accomplished law practice offers coordinated services across a diverse field of clients, industries and issues. For more information about Brunini visit brunini.com or call 601-948-3101.

 About Meritas

Meritas’ global alliance of independent, market-leading law firms provides borderless legal services to companies looking to effectively capture opportunities and solve issues anywhere in the world. Companies benefit from local knowledge, collective strength and new efficiencies when they work with Meritas law firms. The personal attention and care they experience is part of Meritas’ industry-first commitment to the utmost in quality of service and putting client priorities above all else. Founded in 1990, Meritas has member firms in 259 markets worldwide with more than 7,500 dedicated, collaborative lawyers. To locate a Meritas resource for a specific need or in a certain market, visit Meritas.org or call +1-612-339-8680.

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Brunini Law Firm Welcomes Suzette Turner

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June 24, 2021

Brunini Law Firm welcomes Suzette Turner as a new Associate with the firm.  Turner received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law in December, 2020. While in law school she served as President of the Dean’s Leadership Council.  Turner served as student liason for faculty hiring and selection and was a founding member of the Latin Law Students Association.

From 2019-2020, Turner served as the student attorney for Housing Clinic/Advance Housing Clinic.  She co-authored two federal complaints filed in the U.S. District Court of Mississippi and presented oral arguments in Mississippi State Courts.

Turner graduated cum laude in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science and Molecular Biology from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Suzette is a part of the Litigation group of Brunini Law firm and focuses primarily on Civil Litigation.

 

 

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Brunini Law Firm Attorney Matt Allen presenting at the 29th Annual Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference

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Brunini Law Firm Attorney Matt Allen will be presenting “Corporate Initiatives to Adjust to a Low-Carbon Economy in Response to EPA’s Deregulatory Agenda: Opportunities for Environmental Professionals” at the 29th Annual Southeastern Environmental Law and Regulation Conference on June 18, 2021.

Allen is a member of the Environmental Practice Group within Brunini Law Firm.  The group is acknowledged as a statewide leader in Environmental Law.  Allen has been with Brunini Law Firm since 2005. He has the highest peer review rating available by Martindale-Hubblell (AV), been recognized numerous times by SuperLawyers as one of the top lawyers in the Mid-South as well as being recognized by Best Lawyers in America.

The Conference is sponsored by Environmental Law Section of the Alabama State Bar and the Section on Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law of the Mississippi Bar.

He may be reached by email at mallen@brunini.com.

For more information regarding the conference go to: https://beaconcle.com/29th-southeastern-environmental-law-regulation-conference/

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Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality Summary of Meeting Held May 27, 2021

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Prepared By Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on May 27, 2021.  This meeting was held through a telephone conference and Zoom call.  The public was invited to listen to the deliberations of the Commission on the conference phone and Zoom lines.  The Commission first approved minutes from the previous meeting held on April 22, 2021.  Then, following a prepared agenda, the Commission considered items as follows:

Request from the Northeast Mississippi Solid Waste Management Authority (The “Authority”) for a Variance to State Siting Criteria for the Proposed Expansion Area at the Authority’s Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Staff of the MDEQ Waste Division presented information regarding the landfill siting criteria and information on the existing Northeast Mississippi Regional Landfill (“Northeast Landfill”). The Authority and its experts then presented the details of proposed expansion plans and relevant information regarding the proposed variance request.

The Mississippi Nonhazardous Solid Waste Management Regulations (11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 4 Ch. 1.), states that “New landfills shall be located where there are adequate naturally occurring geological materials present of low permeability to act as a buffer between the base of the landfill liner and the top of the uppermost aquifer. Such materials shall generally consist of clays, silty clays, clayey silts, or other soils which have an average hydraulic conductivity of 1 x 10-6 cm/sec or less. The thickness, or depth, of these materials shall extend to at least five feet immediately beneath the base of the landfill liner.” The Authority is proposing an expansion of the disposal area at the existing Northeast Landfill. Portions of the proposed disposal area (approximately 14%) do not appear to have the required naturally-occurring buffer.  MDEQ staff noted that granting the variance does not guaranty the issuance of a permit and that the Authority will now have to go through Permit Board approval, including public hearings and comment period.  No one appeared in opposition to the variance.  After some discussion, the request for variance was approved.

Commission Approval of Brownfield Agreement – Delmar Plaza Holdings, LLC

The MDEQ staff recommended and the Commission approved the Brownfield Agreement between the Commission and Delmar Plaza Holdings, LLP (Delmar) regarding the remediation of brownfield property located at 12057 Highway 49 North in Gulfport, Mississippi (Delmar Brownfield Site). Delmar has agreed that the proposed remediation measures will be through the biological enhanced reductive dechlorination and in-situ chemical reduction pathways, and has also agreed to the filing of a land use restriction with the property deed, and to enter into a Brownfield Agreement. The Delmar Brownfield Site will be subject to an environmental covenant restricting the future site use, including all impacted media. The draft Brownfield Agreement has completed the 30-day public comment period on May 10, 2021. No comments were received. The MDEQ staff have evaluated the proposed Brownfield Agreement and stated that, with the conditions and restrictions contained within the proposed Brownfield Agreement, the Delmar Brownfield Site will be in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws and standards and will be protective of the public health and the environment once the Brownfield Agreement is completed by Delmar.

Restrictive Use Agreed Order and Environmental Covenant for FC Meyer Packaging, LLC

Pursuant to the Commission’s delegation regulations (11 Miss. Admin. Code Pt. 1, R.1.1.Y.), the Executive Director of MDEQ approved the Restrictive Use Agreed Order and Environmental Covenants between the Commission and FC Meyer Packaging, LLC regarding the remediation of property located at 101 Ascher Street, Quitman, Clarke County, Mississippi. FC Meyer Packaging, LLC operated the site as a cardboard packaging manufacturing facility. Environmental Site Assessments have revealed presence of trichloroethene impacting groundwater at concentrations in excess of Target Remediation Goals (TRGs). Therefore, remediation of the site has been determined by MDEQ staff to be necessary. The MDEQ staff has evaluated the proposed Restrictive Use Agreed Order and Environmental Covenant and stated that, with the conditions and restrictions contained within; the site will be in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and standards and will be protective of the public health and the environment.  This agenda item is for reporting purposes only.

CERTIFICATIONS APPROVED

Asbestos:                     84 certifications

Lead Paint:                  60 certifications

Wastewater

Operator:                     11 certifications

Emergency

Clean-up Expenses:     4 emergency expenditure

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDERS APPROVED

Eleven (11) Agreed Orders and three (3) Amended Orders were issued by the Executive Director and approved by the Commission since the last report.

The next Commission meeting is proposed to be on June 24, 2021, at 9 a.m.

This Newsletter is a publication of the Environmental Department of the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes located in Jackson, Mississippi. This Newsletter is not designed or intended to provide legal or professional advice, as any such advice requires the consideration of the facts of the specific situation.

If you have any questions concerning the content of a newsletter, or if you would like further information about the matters addressed in a newsletter, please contact John Milner, the Brunini Firm Environmental Practice Group leader, at jmilner@brunini.com or (601) 960-6842.

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Brunini Law Firm and Attorneys Ranked in Prestigious Chambers USA 2021 Guide

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Chambers USA, an independent research company which operates across 200 jurisdictions and provides detailed rankings and insights into the world’s leading lawyers, has released its 2021 guide.

Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC is pleased to have been ranked by Chambers USA in 7 practice areas with 13 attorney rankings.

Ranked categories include: Construction; Corporate/Commercial; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment; Litigation: General Commercial; Real Estate and High Net Worth.

Congratulations to the following Chambers USA ranked Brunini attorneys:

Cody Bailey, Construction – Up and Coming

Lynne Green, High Net Worth

James L. Halford, Energy & Natural Resources

David Kaufman, Litigation: General Commercial, Star Individual

Sam Kelly, Construction

Patrick McDowell, Litigation: General Commercial

John Milner, Environment

Watts Ueltschey, Energy & Natural Resources, Senior Statesman

Joseph Varner, High Net Worth

Gene Wasson, Energy & Natural Resources as well as Environment (2 categories)

Walter Weems, Corporate/Commercial

Ron Yarborough, Construction

Chambers USA ranks Law Firms and attorneys following intensive research which includes submissions from the firm as well as interviews from clients and attorneys.

For more information on Chambers USA go to https://chambers.com

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Brunini Law Firm selected as Mississippi Firm of the Year for 2021 by Benchmark Litigation

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Benchmark Litigation has once again selected Brunini as the Mississippi Firm of the Year for 2021.  The award was announced at this year’s annual Benchmark Litigation US Awards.

Benchmark Litigation is the definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers.  It provides law firm and lawyer rankings based on extensive interviews with litigators, their clients, and an analysis of each state’s most important cases and firm developments.  It is the only rating service focused exclusively on litigation.

“We are honored to be recognized by Benchmark for the second year in a row as the Top Litigation Firm in Mississippi,” said Sam Kelly, Managing Partner. “We are grateful to all of our clients that give us an opportunity to represent them.  Our commitment is to give every matter the time, attention and resources needed to insure that the client’s interests are fully represented in a professional, competent and thorough manner.”

Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, founded over one century ago, today is one of Mississippi’s largest and most respected law firms.  They serve primarily business clients, including a number of Fortune 500 companies and other significant Mississippi companies, including the nation’s largest privately held wireless company, one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers, one of Mississippi’s largest health insurers and one of the state’s largest banks and health care systems.

For more information on Benchmark Litigation go to https://benchmarklitigation.com. 

Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality

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Prepared By Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

The Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality (“MCEQ”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on March 25, 2021.  This meeting was held through a telephone conference call.  The public was invited to listen to the deliberations of the Commission on the conference phone line.  The Commission first approved minutes from the previous meetings held on February 25, 2021.  Then, following a prepared agenda, the Commission considered items as follows:

 

Gold Coast Commodities, Inc. Order

 The Commission is required to issue an Order reflecting its findings of fact and conclusions of law subsequent to an evidentiary hearing.  The Order memorializes the Commission’s decision in this matter on November 19, 2020. At the February 25, 2021 meeting, the Commission directed MDEQ staff to revise the proposed Order.  MDEQ staff revised its original proposed Order and the Commission approved the revised Order.

 

The next Commission meeting is proposed to be on April 22, 2021, at 9 a.m.

This Newsletter is a publication of the Environmental Department of the law firm of Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes located in Jackson, Mississippi. This Newsletter is not designed or intended to provide legal or professional advice, as any such advice requires the consideration of the facts of the specific situation.

If you have any questions concerning the content of a newsletter, or if you would like further information about the matters addressed in a newsletter, please contact John Milner, the Brunini Firm Environmental Practice Group leader, at jmilner@brunini.com or (601) 960-6842.

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