Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

What Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality does

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is a state government agency headquartered at 515 East Amite Street in Jackson, Mississippi, established in 1979 to protect the state's air, land, and water resources. It is led by Executive Director Chris Wells, with regional offices in Biloxi (coastal operations and laboratory) and Gulfport. MDEQ serves Mississippi residents, businesses, and local governments through regulatory, monitoring, and restoration programs, including the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program (real-time sampling stations across Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson counties), air quality monitoring with Air Quality Action Day forecasts, water quality and harmful algal bloom advisories, and environmental permitting services for air, water, and waste discharges. The agency also operates the NetDMR electronic Discharge Monitoring Report system and the enSearch public environmental data portal.

MDEQ's business model is non-commercial: it is funded through state appropriations, federal grants, and permit/service fees rather than product sales. Its most material financial responsibility is administering Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement compensation totaling nearly $2.174 billion, distributed across the RESTORE Act Multiyear Implementation Plan (Bucket 1, $258M+ across 49 projects), the State Expenditure Plan (Bucket 3, $211M+ across 9 amendments), the Natural Resource Damage Assessment program, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, and Clean Water Act penalties. Notable funded initiatives include the University of Southern Mississippi Oyster Hatchery and Research Center, Mississippi State University research programs, the Mississippi Aquarium, and the Health Professions Center of Excellence.

Recent strategic direction includes the December 2025 MIP Amendment #9 and 2025 MSEP Amendment, ongoing public engagement through the annual Mississippi Restoration Summit, and a newer critical minerals initiative evaluating Direct Lithium Extraction from the Smackover Formation in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. MDEQ has also asserted enforcement authority over high-profile operators, including public identification of xAI's unpermitted turbines at a Southaven power plant, indicating an expanded regulatory posture toward large-scale industrial and energy infrastructure.

Name

Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

Legal name

Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality

Website

https://mdeq.ms.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is Mississippi's state environmental regulatory agency, headquartered in Jackson, that protects the state's air, land, and water through permitting, real-time beach and air quality monitoring, and administration of nearly $2.174 billion in Deepwater Horizon restoration funding for coastal and statewide projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Environmental Regulatory Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAC

Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

SECONDARYEUANAAAG

Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Drinking Water Supply & Distribution

Keywords

• Environmental regulation
• Air quality monitoring
• Water quality programs
• Beach monitoring services
• Coastal restoration funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Deepwater Horizon NRDA Settlement: Natural Resource Damage Assessment settlement payments from BP totaling $295,557,000 including $112,557,000 in Early Restoration funds for environmental restoration projects
2. RESTORE Act Direct Component (Bucket 1): Federal funding from civil penalties under RESTORE Act's Direct Component, Mississippi receives 7% of the 35% allocation, currently totaling over $258 million across 49 projects
3. RESTORE Act Spill Impact Component (Bucket 3): State Expenditure Plan funding under Bucket 3 of RESTORE Act, Mississippi receives 19.07% of the 30% allocation, with nine amendments totaling $211 million
4. NFWF Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund: National Fish and Wildlife Foundation funding from Deepwater Horizon settlement, approximately $356 million in early funding received
5. Clean Water Act Penalties: Civil penalties under the Clean Water Act from Deepwater Horizon settlement, approximately $582 million to be distributed over 15 years
6. Economic Damages: Economic damages payment of $750 million paid over 17 years into Mississippi Budget Contingency Fund for legislative appropriation
7. Permit and Service Fees: Fees collected for environmental permits, certifications, licensing, and training programs for businesses

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

MDEQ safeguards Mississippi's air, land, and water through environmental regulatory programs, real-time monitoring of beach water quality and ambient air quality, issuance of state environmental permits (air, water, waste management), and administration of more than $2 billion in Deepwater Horizon oil spill restoration funding under the RESTORE Act and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) programs. The agency also runs public education programs, an electronic DMR reporting system (NetDMR), the enSearch public records portal, and beach/oyster/harmful algal bloom advisories along the Gulf Coast.

Product overview

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is a state government agency providing environmental protection services rather than commercial products. The agency's portfolio consists of regulatory, monitoring, and restoration programs including: the Beach Monitoring Program for Gulf Coast water quality; air and water quality monitoring services; permitting services for environmental compliance; the RESTORE Act restoration funding programs (Multiyear Implementation Plan and State Expenditure Plan) distributing Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement funds; and the Natural Resource Damage Assessment program. These are government service programs focused on environmental protection, public health, and coastal restoration, not software products or commercial offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program A statewide program that monitors water quality at Mississippi Gulf Coast beaches, collects bacterial samples at coastal stations, and issues or lifts water contact advisories when Enterococcus levels exceed safe thresholds; serves Mississippi residents and visitors through beaches.mdeq.ms.gov, on-site signage, and text-alert subscriptions.
• NetDMR Electronic Reporting System An electronic reporting system that allows regulated Mississippi permittees to submit Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) directly to MDEQ online, replacing paper-based regulatory reporting; serves industrial operators and wastewater facilities requiring water permit compliance.
• enSearch Environmental Records Portal A public web portal providing access to environmental records, complaint status checks, and regulatory information maintained by MDEQ; serves individuals, businesses, attorneys, and consultants seeking environmental data and open-records requests.
• Mississippi Restoration Summit An annual public summit hosted by MDEQ providing restoration project updates, announcing new RESTORE Act and NRDA-funded projects, and facilitating public comment on Multiyear Implementation Plans and State Expenditure Plans.
• RESTORE Act Multiyear Implementation Plan (Bucket 1) A federally-funded restoration program distributing Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement funds for environmental and economic restoration projects along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, including water quality improvement, habitat restoration, and infrastructure projects; administered by MDEQ in coordination with the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council and approved through Multiyear Implementation Plans.
• Mississippi State Expenditure Plan (MSEP, RESTORE Act Bucket 3) Bucket 3 (Spill Impact Component) of the RESTORE Act covering coastal habitat conservation, water quality improvements, and economic development initiatives funded by Mississippi's share of Deepwater Horizon civil penalties.
• Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Restoration Program A program assessing and restoring natural resources injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, implementing restoration projects across coastal habitats, marine resources, and wildlife populations — administered by MDEQ in partnership with the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group (NOAA, DOI, EPA, USDA).
• Air Quality Monitoring and Action Day Program Programs monitoring ambient air quality, issuing Air Quality Action Days when ozone levels exceed National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and regulating emissions from industrial and commercial sources; serves Mississippi residents via daily forecasts.
• Water Quality Programs A suite of programs addressing surface-water and groundwater quality, brownfields remediation, beach monitoring, and public advisories — including Harmful Algal Bloom advisories — serving Mississippi residents, businesses, and partner agencies.
• Environmental Permitting Services Statutory environmental permitting services for air emissions, water discharges, waste management, and other regulated activities, with fee-based applications, online forms, and the NetDMR electronic reporting system; serves Mississippi regulated industries and commercial operators.
• MDEQ Virtual Classroom (and Mobile Classroom) An educational outreach program providing environmental learning materials on composting, recycling, and stewardship — plus a Mobile Classroom that delivers community outreach in person; serves K-12 schools, community groups, and the general public.
• Certification, Licensing and Training Programs Formal certification, licensing, and training courses for wastewater operators, environmental professionals, and regulated-entity staff; required or recommended for compliance with Mississippi environmental statutes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Managed $508 million+ in restoration projects by 2018, growing to nearly $2.174 billion total compensation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2016MDEQ coordinates with the RESTORE Council for approval of Mississippi's Multiyear Implementation Plan (Bucket 1) and State Expenditure Plan (Bucket 3) under the RESTORE Act. The Council unanimously approved over $403 million in restoration funding for Gulf Coast states in June 2026, including $87 million specifically for Alabama projects.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAA is part of the Mississippi Trustee Implementation Group (MS TIG) for Deepwater Horizon NRDA, working with MDEQ on restoration planning and implementation. NOAA leads the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trustee Council.
• U.S. Department of the InteriorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOI is a trustee in the MS TIG responsible for assessing and restoring injured natural resources from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPA participates in the MS TIG and collaborates on Gulf Coast restoration efforts, including NRDA and RESTORE Act implementation.
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSDA participates in the MS TIG for Deepwater Horizon NRDA restoration planning.
• Mississippi Department of Marine ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDMR partners with MDEQ on coastal restoration including oyster projects, marine habitat conservation, and Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration. MDMR is a co-implementing agency for Alabama's $87 million RESTORE Act projects.
• Mississippi Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMDCNR coordinates implementation of approved RESTORE Act projects in Alabama, working with MDEQ on approved project execution.
• University of Southern MississippicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSM received $11.7 million for Oyster Hatchery and Research Center and $2 million for Marine Research Center. MDEQ funds USM restoration and research activities through RESTORE Act and NRDA projects.
• Mississippi State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSU partners on marine mammal and turtle conservation ($9.9 million), Northern Gulf Aquatic Food Research Center ($3 million), and various restoration research projects funded through MDEQ.
• Mississippi State Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSDH is a partnering agency in the Mississippi Beach Monitoring Program, serving as lead agency on public health matters related to beach water quality advisories.
• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration CouncilcoreTechnology or IntegrationEPA Gulf of Mexico Division partners with MDEQ on beach monitoring program and Gulf Coast environmental protection initiatives.
• Mississippi Secretary of StateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency in the Beach Monitoring Program, providing administrative support for coastal environmental initiatives.
• Oak Ridge National LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientists from Oak Ridge National Laboratory presented Direct Lithium Extraction technology at the Mississippi Natural Resources Summit, supporting MDEQ's critical minerals initiative for lithium extraction from the Smackover Formation.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Texas's state environmental regulatory agency with permitting authority over air, water, and waste; one of the largest state DEQs by jurisdiction and budget, providing a comparable model for environmental regulatory administration in a Gulf state.
• Alabama Department of Environmental Management: Alabama's state environmental regulatory agency co-implementing RESTORE Act projects and Gulf restoration initiatives with MDEQ and adjacent Gulf states; directly comparable scope, scale, and federal partnership model.
• Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality: Louisiana's parallel state environmental regulatory agency, also administering Deepwater Horizon RESTORE Act and NRDA funds along its Gulf Coast; directly comparable in mandate, funding structure, and Gulf restoration role.
• Georgia Environmental Protection Division: Georgia's state environmental regulatory authority responsible for air, water, and land permitting; comparable state-level environmental regulatory mandate and organizational structure, though operating outside the Gulf Coast.
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Florida's state environmental agency administering coastal restoration, beach monitoring, and Gulf-related environmental programs; comparable in mandate and coastal focus, though Florida's DEP operates at substantially larger scale.

Others

• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Administrator of the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund from the Deepwater Horizon settlement, providing approximately $356M in early funding to Mississippi; a funding and program partner rather than a regulatory peer.
• Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council: Multi-state federal council that approves RESTORE Act Bucket 1 plans including Mississippi's Multiyear Implementation Plan; an ecosystem participant and funding partner rather than a direct competitor, but central to MDEQ's restoration program operations.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Federal environmental regulator that delegates authority to and partners with MDEQ under the Clean Water Act and other statutes; broadly overlapping mandate at the national level, with MDEQ acting as the state-level implementation partner.
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Federal partner leading the Deepwater Horizon Trustee Council and collaborating with MDEQ on NRDA restoration; comparable in coastal and water quality science expertise but operating at federal scale with broader jurisdiction.

Regional players

• Mississippi Department of Marine Resources: Mississippi's sister state agency managing marine fisheries, coastal habitats, and partnering with MDEQ on oyster restoration and Gulf Coast projects; operates in adjacent rather than overlapping regulatory domains within the same geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MDEQ

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality