The Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board (“Board”) convened its regular monthly meeting at 9:00 a.m. on June 13, 2017, 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 May meeting and the non-controversial actions/ certifications completed by the staff since the March meeting.
Following a prepared agenda, items considered were as follows:
OFFICE OF POLLUTION CONTROL – No items.
OFFICE OF GEOLOGY
In accordance with MDEQ staff recommendations, the Board approved the following surface mining bond releases:
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| Milton Chad Coffee | Union | P07-014T | Initial 20% |
| Foshee Construction Company, Inc. | Madison | P99-047 | Additional 40% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | P93-061 | Initial 10% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | P96-052 | Initial 10% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | P97-046 | Initial 10% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | P00-064 | Initial 10% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | POl-037 | Initial 10% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | P02-026 | Initial 10% |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Yazoo | P02-030AAA | Initial 10% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P79-002T2 | Initial 20% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P02-043 | Final 20% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P87-040T2 | Additional 20% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P92-107 | Initial 50% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P94-103 | No release |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P95-069T2 | Initial 10% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P98-003 | Final 10% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P07-007 | Initial 10% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | Pl0-027 | No release |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P16-015 | Initial 10% |
| Krystal Gravel, Inc. | Copiah | P16-032 | No release |
| W. S. Newell | Marshall | Pl3-024 | Initial 90% |
| W. S. Newell | Marshall | P13-025 | Initial 90% |
| W. S. Newell | Marshall | P13-026 | Initial 90% |
| W. S. Newell | Marshall | P14-007 | Initial 90% |
| Oddee Smith & Sons, Inc. | Lincoln | P87-025 | Final 50% |
| Oddee Smith & Sons, Inc. | Lincoln | POS-013 | Final 15% |
| T. L. Wallace Construction, Inc. | Hinds | PlS-010 | Initial 90% |
In accordance with MDEQ staff recommendations, the Board approved the following surface mining permits to cancel:
| Permittee | County | Permit |
| Pat Fore Truck Lines, Inc. | Harrison | P95-082 |
| Pat Fore Truck Lines, Inc. | Harrison | P95-083 |
| AMO Construction. Inc. | Tallahatchie | P16-018 |
OTHER BUSINESS:
Lisa Ouzts, Senior Attorney with MDEQ, presented the proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (“Findings of Facts”) for consideration regarding the evidentiary hearing held on March 14, 2017, in the matter of Drying Facility Assets Holding, LLC, Pearl River County, Mississippi, regarding the issuance, transfer, and modification of the Section 401 Water Quality Certification (WQC2012071), transfer of certificate of coverage under Mississippi’s Large Construction Storm Water General Permit (MSR106120), transfer of certificate of coverage under Mississippi’s Baseline Storm Water General Permit (MSR002071), and transfer of Permit to Construct Air Emissions Equipment (No. 2180-00052) to Drying Facility Assets Holding LLC, Pearl River County, Mississippi. Staff previously circulated the proposed Findings of Facts to all parties and received only minor (non-substantive) edits. Based on Staff recommendation, Board approved the Findings of Facts.
ELECTION OF BOARD CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN FOR 2017-2018
The Board voted unanimously to elect the following:
Chair – Dennis Riecke, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks
Vice-Chairman – James Hoffmann, Office of Land and Water
The next Permit Board meeting will be held on July 11, 2017, at 9 a.m.