Public meetings scheduled for salt dome plan

The Department of Energy announced today its intent to hold public meetings in April in George, Greene and Jackson County about the Richton salt dome project.

The meetings are as follows:

Greene County - April 8; 2-8 p.m.; Greene County High School, 4336 High School Road, Leakesville

George County - April 9; 2-8 p.m.; George County Senior Center, 7102 Hwy. 198 E., Lucedale

Jackson County: April 10; 2-8 p.m.; B.E. Mac McGinty Civic Center, 2902 Shortcut Road, Pascagoula.

These meetings are for public comment on the potential use of the Pascagoula River to hollow out a giant salt cavern near Richton, in Perry County, to store petroleum in the event of an emergency that threatens the nation's oil supply. An earlier environmental assessment addressed the use of the smaller Leaf River for the project, which was later deemed too small to accommodate the freshwater needs of the project. Read more