(JACKSON, Miss.) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) will host the second annual Mississippi Restoration Summit on November 14 at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi. The public is invited to learn about current restoration projects in Mississippi and the announcement of new projects for 2017. Registration to attend the Restoration Summit is not required.

“The summit will present an overview of all of the restoration efforts in Mississippi—a comprehensive explanation of where we’ve been, where we are, and where we are headed. In addition, we will explain how new and existing projects, from all the various funding streams, will work together to improve our natural resources and our quality of life for decades to come,” said Gary Rikard, MDEQ Executive Director. The Restoration Summit is open to the public from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will include the 2017 annual public meeting of the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group (MS TIG).

The schedule for the day includes:

•Open House – 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Learn about current and planned restoration activities. Information on new and current projects will be available as well as representatives from various local, state, and federal organizations.

•Summit Kick-Off – 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. — Hear from MDEQ leadership about current restoration projects in Mississippi and the announcement of new projects for 2017.

•Stakeholder Conversations – 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — Participate in discussions to inform future project planning.

In addition, MDEQ is also offering two educational breakout sessions: Restoration Finance and Restoration through Resource Management. Participation in both educational breakout sessions is open to the public. These sessions also offer an opportunity to earn professional continuing education credits. Registration is required for the educational breakout sessions at www.restore.ms.

•Restoration Finance (Breakout Session 1) — This session will provide information for financial professionals, contractors, and the general public about regulations and standards that govern the funding of restoration projects.

▪2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Procurement Standards (2 CFR 200) and Contracting Workshop.

▪3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. – Waste, Fraud, Abuse**CPE credit hours available pending approval of presentation materials by Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. MDEQ has applied to the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education for approval of this course or a portion thereof for a maximum of three hours of credit.•Restoration Through Resource Management (Breakout Session 2) — Information about how Mississippi is achieving restoration within a variety of resources.

▪3:15 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. – Topics include Water Quality, Land Conservation, Beneficial Use/Marsh Restoration, and Oysters.*PDH credit hours available. MDEQ has applied to the Mississippi Commission on Continuing Legal Education for approval of this course or a portion thereof for a maximum of two hours of credit.

For questions about the 2017 Mississippi Restoration Summit, please email restore@mdeq.ms.gov or access http://www.restore.ms/2017-restoration-summit.

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