The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board (Board) convened its regular monthly meeting at 9:00 a.m. on August 9, 2016, at the offices of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, in Jackson. Mr. Mike Bograd, RPG, chaired the meeting.
The Board approved minutes from the Regular July meeting. Also, the Board approved non-controversial actions/certifications by the staff since the July meeting and incorporated the reports of these actions into the July minutes.
Following a prepared agenda, items considered were as follows:
OFFICE OF GEOLOGY
In accordance with MDEQ staff recommendations, the Board approved the following surface mining bond releases and rescinded the following surface mining permits:
Surface Mining Bond Releases
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| Eutaw Construction Company, Inc. | Pontotoc | P12-017 | Final 30% release |
| Eutaw Construction Company, Inc. | Rankin | P12-020 | Final 50% release |
| Eutaw Construction Company, Inc. | Clay | P13-022 | Additional 30% release |
| Eutaw Construction Company, Inc. | Madison | P15-007 | Initial 40% release |
| Jim Grotkowski | Harrison | P98-055T | Final 50% release |
| Joe McGee Construction Co., Inc. | Madison | P11-024 | No release |
| C. Steve Lee | Hancock | P07-012 | Final 20% release |
Surface Mining Permits to Rescind
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| South Byram Properties, LLC | Hinds | P06-009 | Rescind Permit |
| W.P. Properties, LLC | Hinds | P03-025T | Rescind Permit |
OFFICE OF POLLUTION CONTROL
The Board approved a Modification of Section 401 Water Quality Certification (No. WQC 2012071) for Drying Facility Assets Holding, LLC, Picayune Frac Plant, located in Pearl River County, MS. The modification will alter permittee’s mitigation plan to allow for off-site mitigation, rather than on-site. MDEQ staff took no position on whether the Board should grant the proposed modification. The Modification was approved on the condition that the wetlands designated for enhancement and restoration are left within the perpetual conservation easement.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Roy Furrh, MDEQ General Counsel, advised the Board that due to legislation, passed in the 2016 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature, that places fees collected by state agencies into the state’s general fund, the Office of the Attorney General would no longer be able to provide hearing officers to MDEQ. Mr. Furrh stated that a list of former assistant attorneys general and private practitioners was being compiled to serve as hearing officers.
The next Permit Board meeting will be held on September 13, 2016, at 9 a.m.