by Associated Press Published: February 10,2012
Tags: blaze, disaster, fire, forestry, lumber, manufacturing, plant, timber, trees, wood
GLOSTER — A fire has destroyed the former Georgia-Pacific paper mill in Gloster. The Natchez Democrat reports fire units from several counties and Louisiana responded to the fire. Amite County fire coordinator Sam Walsh says the plant was engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived. There were no injuries because workers had already left. The mill [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: January 3,2012
Tags: cleanup, environment, federal government, foresters, forestry, lumber, manufacturing, timber, trees, wood
LAMAR COUNTY — The Environmental Protection Agency has started the cleanup of the Davis Timber Superfund site in Lamar County and the length of the project and cost could turn out to be less than expected. The Hattiesburg American reports EPA official Scott Martin from Atlanta has told supervisors that a November survey of the [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: January 3,2012
Tags: courts, employment, firing, forestry, forests, lumber, state government, timber, trees, wood
FRANKLIN COUNTY — The Mississippi Forestry Commission has appealed a judge’s ruling that it wrongly fired a Franklin County forester who opposed logging plan pushed by the state. The state Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in the case on Jan. 18. A Franklin County judge ruled for Stephen Oglesby in 2010. According to [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: December 16,2011
Tags: environment, federal government, fish, habitat, lumber, mill, pullutants, sawmills. pollution, timber, trees, wildlife
PEARL RIVER — Temple-Inland Inc. faces a federal criminal investigation over an August spill that killed thousands of fish in the Pearl River south of its Bogalusa, La., paper mill. A Mississippi official said environmental regulators from Mississippi and Louisiana have spoken repeatedly to federal investigators about the August incident, which left 500,000 dead fish [...] [...]
by MBJ Staff Published: December 15,2011
Tags: environment, fish, forests, lumber, manufacturing, mills, pollution, state government, timber, trees, wildlife, wood
PEARL RIVER — Staff from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) has released approximately 3,000 “harvestable-size” channel catfish into the Pearl River. These larger fish will provide an immediate fishing resource to a depleted population, are less susceptible to predation than fingerlings, and will [...] [...]
MARION COUNTY — Georgia Pacific is closing down its Marion County sawmill, effectively putting 65 people out of work. Georgia Pacific spokeswoman Melody Ruse tells WDAM-TV employees of the sawmill, located just north of Columbia, were informed of the closure Monday. Ruse says dwindling housing starts nationwide is the reason for the closure. She says [...] [...]
Forisk Consulting of Athens, Ga., forecasts sawtimber prices for the U.S. South weakening 2.7 percent in 2012 and then strengthening 2.9 percent into 2013. Key factors include weak expectations for housing starts and low utilization rates at sawmills. While sawtimber prices can increase temporarily from artificial shortages related to weather and logging capacity, long-term strengthening [...] [...]
FULTON — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Graham Lumber Co. for 15 safety and health violations following the March death of a worker who was electrocuted at the company’s Fulton sawmill while troubleshooting a malfunctioning starter inside a motor power control center. Two serious safety violations related to the fatality include failing [...] [...]
LOWNDES COUNTY — Weyerhaeuser Co. is planning expansions at both of its Lowndes County production facilities over the next two years. Company spokeswoman Mary Hudson told the Commercial Dispatch that Weyerhaeuser plans to modernize equipment to reduce operating costs as well as improve product quality and environmental performance, reducing water consumption by 15 percent. Weyerhaeuser [...] [...]
COLUMBUS — Shuqualak Lumber, along with several other 4-County Electric Power Association commercial customers, is doing its part to curb peak demand for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and help keep electric prices affordable. Shuqualak Lumber is part of a demand response program offered through 4-County and TVA. The program offers incentives to businesses that [...] [...]