Each summer, the National Sea Grant Law Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law in Oxford, Mississippi hires a full-time paid research associate. During the 8-week position, the research associate functions as an integral component of the Law Center’s staff, assisting with publications, preparation of memorandum of law, and ongoing projects. Previous Research Associates have assisted with research on shellfish permitting, invasive species, and other legal issues related to our oceans and coasts. Associates also write at least one article for publication in the Law Center’s quarterly newsletter, The SandBar.
On February 12, representatives of the state of Mississippi filed a lawsuit against the federal government in the U.S. Court of Claims alleging that federal regulation of Mississippi River water flowing through the Old River Control Structure near Baton Rouge, Louisiana had caused repeated flooding that resulted in a loss of value of land owned by school boards in three counties. Specifically, the lawsuit was filed by Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (due to his position as the co-trustee of state land held for all Mississippi school districts), Attorney General Jim Hood, and the affected Claiborne, Natchez-Adams, and Wilkinson school districts. The state generally contends that the land’s loss of value was the fault of the federal government, thus constituting an unconstitutional “taking” in violation of the Fifth Amendment, which states that private property cannot be taken for public use without just compensation. Mississippi is asking for a minimum of $25 million that would go directly to the affected school districts.
This week the City Commission of Key West voted 6-1 to ban the sale of sunscreens containing chemicals that could harm coral reefs. The banned chemicals are oxybenzone and octinoxate, which can damage reefs by contributing to coral bleaching and death. Key West’s action follows legislation passed by the state of Hawaii last year which prohibits the sale of the same chemicals.
