Summary of Meeting Held April 14, 2020
The Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board (“Board”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on April 14, 2020. This meeting was held through a telephone conference call. The public was invited to listen to the deliberations of the Board on the conference phone line. The Board first approved minutes from the previous meeting held on March 10, 2020 and the non-controversial actions/ certifications completed by the staff since the March meeting. Then, following a prepared agenda, the Board considered items as follows:
OFFICE OF GEOLOGY
James Matheney (MDEQ Office of Geology, Mining and Reclamation) presented the MDEQ Staff’s recommendations and Board approved the following:
Surface Mining Bond Releases
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| Eutaw Construction Company | Panola | P16-016 | Additional 15% |
| Eutaw Construction Company | Oktibbeha | P16-004 | Final 50% |
| James Construction Group | Hinds | P14-005A | No Release |
| Joe McGee Construction Co. | Tallahatchie | P16-029A | Initial 70% |
| Wet Mine Assets Holding, LLC | Hancock | P04-008AT | Initial 50% |
Other Business
Roy Furrh, MDEQ Legal Counsel, informed the Board Members that the evidentiary hearing regarding Mississippi State Port Authority – North Port Property in Harrison County, scheduled for May 12, 2020, has been postponed and will be rescheduled. Steve Ray will be the hearing officer.
Mr. Furrh also reminded the Permit Board members that they need to complete their annual compliance forms and statement of economic interest forms and turn in their Designee Letters.
Mr. Furrh also discussed the upcoming May 12, 2020 Board meeting and stated that there are agenda items for which they expect persons to oppose Permit Board approval for these items. Mr. Furrh stated that holding the meeting via Zoom or WebEx is being considered in order to allow all interested persons to address the Board in an easier manner. MDEQ will announce the meeting format at a later date.
The next Permit Board meeting will be held on May 12, 2020, at 9 a.m.
This Newsletter is a publication of the Environmental Practice Group 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.