MS SC550

Expresses Mississippi Legislature's support for plaintiffs in Harrison County, et al. v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, January 2023) regarding Bonnet Carré Spillway operations.

Requests the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and National Marine Fisheries Service comply with the court ruling and the federal Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to protect Essential Fish Habitat in the Mississippi Sound.

Supports completion of a new or supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act to assess impacts of Bonnet Carré Spillway openings and evaluate alternative flood control methods for the Mississippi River.

Acknowledges environmental and economic damage from recent spillway operations, including decimation of oyster harvests, shrimp and blue crab populations, algae blooms, and adverse impacts to Mississippi's tourism industry and public tidelands.

Authorizes the Mississippi Attorney General to request the court retain jurisdiction and join litigation to ensure compliance with the court's order and to protect the state's citizens and fisheries.