Since U.K. energy giant Drax opened a plant in Gloster, Mississippi, residents have complained of deteriorating air quality and health, and the state’s environmental regulator has twice issued notices regarding violations of air pollution regulations.
Such emissions are legal in certain quantities as long as companies operating industrial plants receive a permit from the state. Drax currently has a permit to operate as a minor source of hazardous air pollutants and volatile organic compounds, which allows the company’s plant to emit less than 25 tons of hazardous air pollutants and 249 tons of volatile organic compounds per year.
In March, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality issued a notice of violation to Drax, saying its plant exceeded air pollution limits for emissions coming from the plant. The notice alleges that since April 2022, Drax has been operating without a permit as a “major source” polluter by emitting more than 25 tons of hazardous air pollutants annually.
The March notice of violation to Drax serves only as an allegation, Chris Wells, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, said in a phone interview. If no agreement is reached, the department escalates the matter to the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality. Generally, repeat violations mean stronger penalties that may even affect a facility’s permit renewal, Wells said.
Local residents who spoke with NBC News say the impact of Drax’s alleged air pollution has been noticeable since the company first opened the Gloster facility. The discontent from local residents, activists and environmental groups extends beyond Drax to state and federal regulators. Much of the local frustration stems from a community meeting on May 9, where more than 200 Gloster residents gathered to voice concerns about Drax to several officials from the EPA and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Rep. Thompson touts Trump indictments while Presley focuses on Mississippi welfare scandalBrandon Presley has consistently focused on issues he believes would directly impact the state and has largely avoided speaking on national politics.
Consulte Mais informação »
How rogue Mississippi officers tried to cover up their torture of 2 Black menA rogue group of deputies who called themselves “The Goon Squad” burst into the home without a warrant and abused the men before shooting one of them.
Consulte Mais informação »
6 Mississippi 'Goon Squad' Deputies Plead Guilty to Torturing Black Men'Anyone surprised by this, at this point, can only be a willful denier of what Black people have said—and continue to say—about the broken culture of policing in America,' says CFColemanJr as 6 Mississippi 'Goon Squad' deputies plead guilty to torture.
Consulte Mais informação »
How rogue Mississippi officers tried to cover up their torture of 2 Black menSix white former law enforcement officers in Mississippi have pleaded guilty to a racist assault on Michael Corey Jenkins and his friend Eddie Terrell Parker, who are Black.
Consulte Mais informação »
5th Circuit panel strikes down Mississippi's lifetime felony voting banA three-judge federal appeals court panel has struck down Mississippi’s lifetime ban on voting for people convicted of certain felonies, saying it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.
Consulte Mais informação »
Former VP Mike Pence coming to Mississippi Book Festival in JacksonCurrent presidential candidate and former Vice President Mike Pence will come to Jackson on Aug. 19 to speak at the Mississippi Book Festival.
Consulte Mais informação »