Prepared By Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC
The Environmental Practice Group of the Brunini Law Firm publishes a summary of the proceedings of each monthly meeting of the Mississippi Environmental Quality Permit Board and of the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality. We strive to provide, in a succinct newsletter format, the key points addressed in each meeting that will be of interest to the regulated community in Mississippi.
If you have any questions concerning the content of a newsletter it 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.
Meeting Summary
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Permit Board (Board) convened its regular monthly meeting at 9:00 a.m. on February 9, 2016 at the offices of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality in Jackson. Mr. David H. Snodgrass, RPG chaired the meeting. The Board approved minutes from the January regular meeting along with non-controversial actions/certifications by the staff since the January meeting.
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 permit to transfer.
Surface Mining Bond Releases:
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| Burns Dirt Construction, Inc. | Oktibbeha | P13-010 | Final 50% release |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Holmes | P97-027 | Final 20% release |
| Hammett Gravel Company, Inc. | Holmes | P98-004 | Final 20% release |
Surface Mining Permit to Transfer:
| Permittee | County | Permit | Staff Recommendation |
| Riverwind Construction, Inc., requests that P08-036 be transferred to Sikes Equipment Company, LLC | Rankin | P08-036 | Approval of transfer |
OFFICE OF POLLUTION CONTROL
Liza Ouzts, MDEQ Senior Attorney, informed the Board that the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law have been completed subsequent to the evidentiary hearing that was held in September 2015 regarding the NPDES permit issued to the West Rankin Utility Authority (MS0061743). Following the hearing, the Board affirmed the issuance of the NPDES permit. Copies of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law were submitted to West Rankin Utility Authority and the City of Jackson. Both parties made comments regarding elements of the hearing that were absent from the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. Consequently, MDEQ staff developed a redline version that incorporated the requested elements.
Pursuant to the MDEQ staff recommendation, the Board voted to accept the redline version of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law.
OTHER BUSINESS
Mr. Roy Furrh, MDEQ General Council, reminded Board members to submit their statements of interest.
The next Permit Board meeting will be held on March 8, 2016 at 9 a.m.
This Newsletter is a publication of the Environmental Department 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.
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