Summary of Meeting Held February 8, 2022
Prepared By Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC
The Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board (“Board”) convened at 9:00 a.m. on February 8, 2022. 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 January 11, 2022 and the non-controversial actions/certifications completed by the staff since the January 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 Release
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| Joe McGee Construction Company, Inc. | Newton | P10-022 | Final 80% |
| Joe McGee Construction Company, Inc. | Rankin | P18-14 | Initial 70% |
| Oddee Smith Construction, Inc. | Lincoln | P08-029 | Additional 30% |
| Parker Sand & Gravel | Lowndes | P17-002 | Initial 90% |
James Matheny (MDEQ Office of Geology, Mining and Reclamation) presented the MDEQ Staff’s recommendations and Board approved the following:
Surface Coal Mining Bond Release
| Permittee | County | Permit |
| Liberty Fuels | Kemper | MS-003 |
Other Business
Roy Furrh, MDEQ Chief Counsel, reminded the Permit Board members that they need to complete their annual compliance forms; statement of economic interest forms and EPA conflict forms.
Mr. Furrh noted that he has sent a copy of Gold Coast Commodities, Inc.’s revocation to the Board.
Next, Mr. Furrh informed the Board that the parties involved in the Jimmy Le d/b/a Le Poultry application have voluntarily dismissed the appeal and that Jimmy Le d/b/a Le Poultry has sold the property.
Finally, Mr. Furrh briefly discussed Senate Bill 2087 (Open meetings law for public bodies; require all official meetings to be broadcast via video livestream applications). This Bill was introduced by Senator Boyd would affect the Board if it passes.
The next Permit Board meeting will be held on March 8, 2022, 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.