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ATLANTA, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Georgia Power continues to make progress towards the closure of three ash ponds at Plant Mitchell with the dewatering process scheduled to begin in February. Dewatering marks a significant step towards completing the closure process, and Georgia Power’s ash pond closure plan for Plant Mitchell is specifically designed for the site to help ensure water quality is protected every step of the way.

“As we begin the dewatering process at Plant Mitchell, we continue to focus on safety and meeting all requirements throughout the process to fulfill our longstanding commitment to protect the environment, our local communities and water quality every step of the way,” said Dr. Mark Berry, vice president of Environmental & Natural Resources for Georgia Power. “Throughout the process, clear communication to our customers and the community about our progress remains a priority.”

With the Plant Mitchell project, approximately two million tons of stored coal ash will be removed from the existing ash ponds for reuse in Portland cement manufacturing. The project at Plant Mitchell marks the first time that stored ash from existing ash ponds at sites in Georgia will be excavated for beneficial reuse as part of an ash pond closure project.

Today, the company already recycles more than 85 percent of all ash and gypsum, including more than 95 percent of fly ash, it produces from current operations for various beneficial reuses such as concrete production as well as other construction products.

The ash pond dewatering plan for Plant Mitchell has been approved by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and describes the water treatment system, controls and monitoring that will be used during the process to help ensure that the water discharged is protective of water quality standards. The planned onsite closure methods are being permitted and regulated by the EPD.

Communication regarding the closure plan is provided through EPD permitting notifications as well as posting on Georgia Power’s website. To read more about Plant Mitchell’s ash pond closure and dewatering process, click here.

Georgia Power first announced plans to permanently close all of its ash ponds in September 2015, with initial plans released in June 2016. Georgia Power’s ash pond closure plans fully comply with the federal Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) rule, as well as the more stringent requirements of Georgia’s state CCR rule. Georgia was one of the first states in the country to develop its own rule regulating management and storage of CCR such as coal ash. The state rule, which goes further than the federal rule, regulates all ash ponds and landfills in the state and includes a comprehensive permitting program through which the EPD will approve all actions to help ensure ash pond closures are protective of water quality.

Protecting Water Quality
Since 2016, Georgia Power has installed more than 550 groundwater monitoring wells around its ash ponds and onsite landfills to actively monitor groundwater quality to help ensure the company is being protective of lakes, rivers and drinking water. In 2020 alone, there were 1,292 groundwater samples collected and 54 groundwater reports completed.

Third-party professional engineers and geologists direct the appropriate placement of monitoring wells for Georgia Power based on site-specific geology. Independent, third-party professionals perform sampling, with analysis by accredited, independent laboratories.

Monitoring is being conducted in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. The first round of testing was completed with results published in August 2016, more than 18 months ahead of federal requirements, and the company continues to post testing results on Georgia Power’s website and report them to the EPD.

Dewatering Process
The dewatering process marks a significant step towards completing the ash pond closure process and is now underway at seven sites: Plants Bowen, Hammond, McDonough, McManus, McIntosh, Branch and Yates. Georgia Power’s commitment to protecting water quality of surface waters, such as lakes and rivers, includes comprehensive and customized dewatering processes during ash pond closures. The company’s process treats the water to help ensure that it meets the requirements of the plant’s wastewater discharge permits approved by the EPD and is protective of applicable water quality standards.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America’s premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the Company’s promise to 2.6 million customers in all but four of Georgia’s 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the Company is recognized by J.D. Power as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the Company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning ash pond closure and ash removal plans and schedules. Georgia Power cautions that there are certain factors that can cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the control of Georgia Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance that such suggested results will be realized. The following factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, Georgia Power’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ materially from management expectations as suggested by such forward-looking information: the impact of recent and future federal and state regulatory changes, including tax, environmental, and other laws and regulations to which Georgia Power is subject, as well as changes in application of existing laws and regulations; the extent and timing of costs and legal requirements related to CCR; current and future litigation or regulatory investigations, proceedings, or inquiries; the ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns during the development, construction and operation of facilities or other projects; advances in technology; state and federal rate regulations and the impact of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including rate actions relating to cost recovery mechanisms; catastrophic events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events, or other similar occurrences; and the effect of accounting procurements issued periodically by standard-setting bodies.  Georgia Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information.

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SOURCE Georgia Power

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — WeissLaw LLP is investigating possible breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of law by the board of directors of FNS Bancshares, Inc. (“FNS” or the “Company”) (OTCQX: FNSB), a bank holding company, in connection with the Company’s proposed stock-for-stock merger of the Company with BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS), a bank holding company operating approximately 310 full-service branch locations as well as additional mortgage, insurance, and loan production offices. Under the terms of the merger agreement, BancorpSouth will issue 2,975,000 shares of common stock, plus $18.0 million in cash, for all outstanding shares of FNS capital stock, subject to certain conditions and potential adjustments. Based upon the closing price of BancorpSouth common stock on January 12, 2021, the transaction is valued at approximately $108.4 million, or $90.04 per share of FNS common stock.

If you own FNS shares and wish to discuss this investigation or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, visit our website:

https://www.weisslawllp.com/FNSB/

Or please contact:

Joshua Rubin, Esq.

WeissLaw LLP
1500 Broadway, 16^th Floor
New York, NY  10036
(212) 682-3025
(888) 593-4771
[email protected]

WeissLaw LLP is investigating whether FNS’ board acted to maximize shareholder value prior to entering into the acquisition agreement, and whether all material information regarding the process undertaken by the board and the valuation of the transaction will be fully and fairly disclosed to FNS’ public shareholders. 

WeissLaw LLP has litigated hundreds of stockholder class and derivative actions for violations of corporate and fiduciary duties. We have recovered over a billion dollars for defrauded clients and obtained important corporate governance relief in many of these cases. If you have information or would like legal advice concerning possible corporate wrongdoing (including insider trading, waste of corporate assets, accounting fraud, or materially misleading information), consumer fraud (including false advertising, defective products, or other deceptive business practices), or anti-trust violations, please email us at [email protected]

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shareholder-alert-weisslaw-llp-investigates-fns-bancshares-inc-301208804.html

SOURCE WeissLaw LLP

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The UMC COVID-19 Vaccination Center will open its doors at Encore at Wynn Las Vegas (Nasdaq: WYNN) on Monday, January 18.

The UMC COVID-19 Vaccination Center will operate Monday – Friday, with the ability to increase hours as the program expands. It is conveniently located in the resort’s convention space near the Encore self-parking garage. Vaccines at the Center are available to residents of Nevada who are eligible under the current State of Nevada vaccination guidelines.

Initially, the UMC COVID-19 Vaccination Center will only offer the vaccine to people 70 and older, healthcare workers, and first responders.

To ensure efficiency, appointments are required by UMC and can be scheduled in advance at

www.umcsn.com/COVIDvaccine

or by calling (702) 383-2619. Eligible Nevadans may need to book their appointments several weeks in advance.

To determine eligibility for the vaccine under the current state guidelines, please visit https://nvhealthresponse.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NEVADA-COVID-19-VACCINE-PLAYBOOK-V3-BRIEF_011121.pdf.

This unique partnership was formed to increase distribution of the vaccine throughout the Las Vegas Valley at a convenient location, and to assist in the state’s recovery from the pandemic.

“We offered Encore as a vaccination location to help facilitate vaccine distribution as quickly and efficiently as possible throughout the Las Vegas Valley,” said Matt Maddox, CEO of Wynn Resorts. “Our partnership with UMC began with our extensive onsite employee testing program. Based upon the success of that program with UMC, we look forward to hosting this critical step in our state’s economic and health recovery.”

“The UMC COVID-19 Vaccination Center at Encore will serve as a valuable asset to our community as we work together to protect our most vulnerable populations and eventually bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said UMC CEO Mason Van Houweling. “UMC’s world-class health care team members look forward to working alongside our trusted partners at Wynn Resorts to build a brighter, healthier future for Southern Nevada.”

The Encore location will replace UMC’s existing COVID-19 vaccination clinic at UMC’s Delta Point Building. All UMC vaccination appointments scheduled on or after January 18 will take place at the Encore location.

The UMC COVID-19 Vaccination Center is equipped to offer hundreds of vaccinations each day. Additional information is available at www.umcsn.com/COVIDvaccine.

About Wynn Resorts COVID-19 Relief Efforts

Wynn Resorts is committed to protecting our employees, working for the health and safety of our guests, and taking care of our communities impacted by COVID-19 with relief efforts that fill financial and supply chain gaps where they matter most. The donation and volunteer strategies follow an extensive financial protection plan implemented by Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox that began with a $250 million investment that ensured all 15,000 Wynn employees in North America received their full wage during the government-mandated shutdown.

To provide relief to first responders and protection to those suffering the financial impact of the crisis, the Company procured and donated more than $3 million worth of financial aid, personal protective equipment, food and prepared meals, and essential cleaning and hygiene supplies to dozens of health care facilities and local nonprofit organizations throughout Las Vegas and Greater Boston. In May 2020, Wynn Las Vegas began providing all employees with direct access to reliable and accurate COVID-19 tests on-site at no cost; and in early 2021 will debut a custom-built state-of-the-art COVID-19 testing lab and mobile health app available to resort guests.

Media Contact:

Michael Weaver

702-770-7501
[email protected]

Deanna Pettit-Irestone

702-770-2121
[email protected] 

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-medical-center-opens-onsite-covid-19-vaccination-center-at-encore-at-wynn-las-vegas-301208822.html

SOURCE Wynn Las Vegas