Latest news: November 28, 2011

11.28.2011 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

No easy answers, but status quo just won’t do for Gulf

By Editorial page staff, American Press (Lake Charles, La.). November 28, 2011.

“The federal government appears to be getting serious about a problem that has plagued Gulf of Mexico fishermen for decades. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Service is overseeing a five-year, $320 million project to reduce upstream agriculture runoff that flows down the Mississippi River and eventually winds up in the Gulf with alarming results…”

Feds drag feet as La. coastline slowly suffocates from oil spill

By Doug MacEachern, The Arizona Republic. November 27, 2011.

“Storms were predicted for soggy, marshy Plaquemines Parish, La., this weekend, which means the odds are good that another layer of oil will be swept up out of the Gulf of Mexico and deposited onto another 10 feet or so of the parish’s grassy marshes…”

This is a rodeo with a different twist

By Alan Matherne, Houma Courier (Terrebonne Parish, La.). November 27, 2011.

“There’s a new rodeo coming to town, but there will be no bucking bulls or even fish weigh-ins. The first Sassafras Louisiana Nutria Rodeo is scheduled for Saturday at the Oak Ridge Community Park in Golden Meadow…”

Christmas tree program will continue in Terrebonne

By Nikki Buskey, Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). November 25, 2011.

“Terrebonne Parish will once again gather residents’ Christmas trees for use in coastal-erosion projects two years after Louisiana pulled the plug on its statewide program…”

Louisiana Seafood Not Contaminated by BP Oil Spill, State Says

International Business Times. November 24, 2011.

“Despite the negative stigma that still surrounds the Gulf Coast following the BP oil spill last year, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Thursday that tests show sea life in the region has not been contaminated by the oil spill…”

Corps: Plan for Houma levees is a year away

By the Associated Press. November 23, 2011.

“NEW ORLEANS — The Army Corps of Engineers says a new enlarged plan for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf flood protection system — seen as critical to the defense of the oil city of Houma and its surrounding towns — is one year away from completion, but on track…”

Hurricane season spares area

By Diana Soliwon, Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.) and Kate Spinner, Sarasota Herald-Tribune (Sarasota, Fl.). November 28, 2011.

“Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes are poised to end hurricane season Wednesday with no major storms for the third straight year. Officials said today that the gap between major hurricanes has helped them keep levee-building efforts on track…”

Congress must protect coast: Letter

By Letters to the Editor, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). November 20, 2011.

“Re: “GOP blocks effort to make top oil execs testify on spill,” Page A9, Nov. 3. It seems that since April 2010, Big Oil has done everything it can to return to business as usual in the Gulf. Thanks to political cover and hand-holding, industry has done a good job getting there…”