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.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A Mississippi community takes on a U.K. energy giant over pollution concernsSince 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.
Read more »
Shots fired into home of Mississippi candidate running for state representative'I just fell to the floor and began to crawl to the back of my house,” Tamarra Grace Butler-Washington said.
Read more »
Mississippi residents say cops’ convictions for torturing 2 black men reveals culture of violence in departmentFive deputies from the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office and an officer from the Richland Police Department admitted to taking part in a racist assault against Michael Corey Jenkins and Eddie Te…
Read more »
Mississippi Stories: Vincent J. VenturiniOn this episode of Mississippi Stories, editor-at-large Marshall Ramsey visits with author Vincent Venturini about his new book, 'Once We Crowned Royalty'.
Read more »
Dem gubernatorial candidate took money from solar utility officials he regulates: 'Blows my mind'Democrat Mississippi gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley appeared to violate state corruption laws by taking possibly illegal donations from entities he regulates. The Republican governor has taken steps to ‘protect’ women and children from what he considers a far-left culture. FIRST ON FOX: Mississippi governor, received campaign donations from green energy entities he oversees. One former Mississippi Public Service commissioner who spoke to Fox News Digital said it 'blows my mind' that Presley accepted such contributions.
Read more »
Marshall Ramsey: Dark MoneyThe latest from Marshall Ramsey: Dark Money
Read more »