Summary of Meeting Held January 11, 2021
The Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board (“Board”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on December 8, 2020. This meeting was held through a telephone conference call and the public was invited to listen to the deliberations of the Board. The Board first approved minutes from the previous meeting held on December 8, 2020 and the non-controversial actions/ certifications completed by the staff since the June meeting. Then, following a prepared agenda, the Board considered items as follows:
OFFICE OF GEOLOGY
Ron Porter (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 |
| Edge Construction, LLC | Lafayette | P13-013 | Final 10% |
OFFICE OF LAND AND WATER RESOURCES
Permitting, Certification and Compliance Division
Kay Wittington (MDEQ Office of Land and Water Resources) presented the MDEQ Staff’s recommendation and the Board approved the Revision of the General Permit for Groundwater Withdrawal renewals for the uses of Irrigation, Aquaculture and Wildlife Habitat Enhancement from the Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer (MRVA) in the Mississippi Delta. MDEQ received two general comments during the comment period; however no changes were based on those comments.
Other Business
Roy Furrh, MDEQ Legal Counsel reminded the Permit Board members that they need to complete their annual compliance forms; statement of economic interest forms and EPA forms.
Mr. Furrh also stated that the February 9, 2021 Permit Board Meeting will be in person and that the Evidentiary Hearing regarding Port of Gulfport Water Certification will be held after.
Mr. Furrh stated that the Gold Coast Evidentiary Hearing has been scheduled to be heard after the March Permit Board Meeting.
The next Permit Board meeting will be held on February 9, 2021, 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.