Latest news: October 24, 2011

RESTORing the Gulf Coast (Insight)

By U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, Special to the Press-Register (Mobile, Al.). October 23, 2011.

“On Sept. 21, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works approved the RESTORE Act, legislation I co-authored with Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., to aid in the Gulf Coast’s recovery from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. I am pleased that a contingent of Gulf Coast representatives recently added to the momentum we established in the Senate by introducing virtually identical legislation in the House…”

Activity is picking up in Gulf of Mexico, executives say

By Richard Thompson, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). October 23, 2011.

“It’s been a year-and-a-half since David Rabalais recruited a new tenant for the Port of Terrebonne, the last one having signed on just before BP’s Macondo well erupted in the Gulf of Mexico and triggered a months-long moratorium on deepwater drilling permits. That may soon change…”

River reroute has local impact

By Nikki Buskey, Houma Courier (Terrebonne Parish, La.). October 22, 2011.

“A plan to reroute part of the lower Atchafalaya River means Terrebonne must look for a new spot for sediment that could be used to nourish its eroding wetlands, officials say. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a realignment of navigation on the river that has been long sought by Morgan City officials to reduce the need for dredging in a curve called Horseshoe Bend…”

Gov. Bobby Jindal easily wins re-election

By The Associated Press. October 22, 2011.

“Gov. Bobby Jindal easily coasted to a second term, winning in a landslide election Saturday after failing to attract any well-known or well-funded opposition to oust the popular Republican from office. Jindal overwhelmed a field of nine competitors in the open primary. He had nearly 67 percent of the vote with three quarters of Louisiana’s precincts reporting…”

BP step closer to drilling new Gulf wells

By Harry R. Weber, Associated Press. October 22, 2011.

“BP moved a step closer to being allowed to drill new deepwater wells in the Gulf of Mexico when the agency that regulates U.S. offshore drilling said Friday it approved a supplemental exploration plan submitted by the oil giant…”

Senate amendment would require audit of oil spill claims facility

By George Altman, Press-Register (Mobile, Al.). October 22, 2011.

“WASHINGTON — The U.S. attorney general would be legally required to appoint an independent auditor for the Gulf Coast Claims Facility under an amendment added to a Senate spending bill early Friday morning…”