Jackson’s troubled sewer system will now be under the oversight of Ted Henifin, the interim-third party manager a federal judge appointed last year to oversee the City’s ailing water system. The Mississippi capital’s wastewater system has at least 215 known leaks, with sewage pouring down the streets in some areas.
The decision follows an agreement between the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality and the City of Jackson.
‘Seek Justice, Health and Safety’
Under the agreement, “expedited measures will be taken to address the City of Jackson’s deteriorating sewer infrastructure and inadequate operation and maintenance, which have caused residents and businesses to endure sewage discharges that threaten public health and the environment,” Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division said in a July 26 statement.
“This action shows the continuing commitment of the Justice Department to seek justice, health and safety for the residents of Jackson, Mississippi, and to prioritize enforcement in the communities most burdened by environmental harm,” he added.
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“This action shows the continuing commitment of the Justice Department to seek justice, health and safety for the residents of Jackson, Mississippi, and to prioritize enforcement in the communities most burdened by environmental harm,” Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Environment and Natural Resources Division said on the agreement to appoint Ted Henifin to oversee the City’s sewer system. Courtesy U.S. Department of Justice / Twitter
Following the agreement to place Ted Henifin in charge of the sewer system, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Judge Henry Wingate issued the order appointing Henifin to oversee the sewer system on Monday, July 31.
EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Larry Starfield said in the Justice Department’s statement that the appointment will help the government fulfill its mission “to protect the health and safety of Jackson residents by proposing the oversight and programs needed to restore Jackson’s sewer systems.”
‘The Next Step’
The agreement says the sewage system continued to deteriorate even after a 2012
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