Henifin to take over control of Jackson sewer system - WAPT Jackson

Henifin to take over control of Jackson sewer system

JOINS US IN THE STUDIO NOW WITH MORE ON TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE FEDERAL AGREEMENT KEEGAN... THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY, AND THE CITY OF JACKSON AGREED TO THE TRANSFER OF POWER TO EXPEDITE NEEDED SEWER SYSTEM REPAIRS... THE AGENCIES AND THE NEW LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY'S SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD HELP ADDRESS SPILLS OF RAW AND UNDER-TREATED SEWAGE INTO HOMES, BUSINESSES, STREETS, YARDS AND WATERWAYS. UNDER THE TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT -- HENIFIN, WHO HAS BEEN SERVING AS INTERIM THIRD-PARTY MANAGER FOR THE CITY'S DRINKING WATER SYSTEM SINCE NOVEMBER 2022, WOULD MANAGE, OPERATE, AND MAINTAIN THE CITY'S SEWER SYSTEM. THE PROPOSAL IS AN INTERIM MEASURE UNTIL THE PARTIES NEGOTIATE MODIFICATIONS TO A JUDICIALLY ENFORCEABLE CONSENT DECREE TO ACHIEVE THE SEWER SYSTEM'S LONG- TERM COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL AND STATE REGULATIONS. <PARALLEL SITUATIONS BETWEEN THE WATER DISTRIBUTIONS SYSTEMS WHICH MR. HENIFIN ALREADY OVERSEES AND THE SEWAGE SYSTEM AS WELL.. THEY BOTH INVOLVE PIPES UNDER THE GROUND.. SO TO HAVE THEIR TEAM THAT THEY PUT TOGETHER.... BRING ON BOARD.. OUT THERE TRYING TO GET THE SEWER SYSTEM BETTER AND UNDER CONTROL AND SOME OF THE SATURATED SEWAGE OVERFLOWS ADDRESSED..WILL BE GOOD FOR THE CITIZENS OF JACKSON AND GOOD FOR THE CITY AS WELL. > JACKSON HAS BEEN UNDER A FEDERAL CONSENT DECREE SINCE 2013.. JACKSON CITY LEADERS SAY SINCE THEN -- LITTLE PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE --- IN FACT THEY SAY THE SEWER SYSTEM - - FURTHER DETERIORATED OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS. THE FEDERAL JUDGES DECISION COMES A WEEK AFTER THE JACKSON CITY COUNCIL VOTED 5 TO 2, APPR

Henifin to take over control of Jackson sewer system

Third party administrator already overseeing city's water system

Updated: 10:40 PM CDT Jul 26, 2023

The man in charge of the city of Jackson’s water will now also oversee the city’s sewer system under a federal agreement announced Wednesday.The Environmental Protection Agency Justice Department, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the city of Jackson, Mississippi, agreed to a proposed stipulated order in federal district court to expedite needed sewer system repairs and to address spills of raw and undertreated sewage into homes, businesses, streets, yards and waterways. Under the terms of the agreement, the federal court would appoint Ted Henifin as interim third-party manager of the city’s sewer system. Henifin, who has been serving as interim third-party manager for the city’s drinking water system since November 2022, would manage, operate and maintain the city’s sewer system.The proposal is an interim measure until the parties negotiate modifications to a judicially enforceable consent decree to achieve the sewer system’s long-term compliance with federal and state regulations.“Under today’s 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,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “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.”Jackson has been under a federal consent decree since 2013, under which little progress has been made. According to the agreement, the sewer system has, in fact, further deteriorated over the past 10 years.

JACKSON, Miss. —

The man in charge of the city of Jackson’s water will now also oversee the city’s sewer system under a federal agreement announced Wednesday.

The Environmental Protection Agency Justice Department, the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, and the city of Jackson, Mississippi, agreed to a proposed stipulated order in federal district court to expedite needed sewer system repairs and to address spills of raw and undertreated sewage into homes, businesses, streets, yards and waterways.

Under the terms of the agreement, the federal court would appoint Ted Henifin as interim third-party manager of the city’s sewer system. Henifin, who has been serving as interim third-party manager for the city’s drinking water system since November 2022, would manage, operate and maintain the city’s sewer system.

The proposal is an interim measure until the parties negotiate modifications to a judicially enforceable consent decree to achieve the sewer system’s long-term compliance with federal and state regulations.

“Under today’s 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,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “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.”

Jackson has been under a federal consent decree since 2013, under which little progress has been made. According to the agreement, the sewer system has, in fact, further deteriorated over the past 10 years.