Latest news: March 23, 2012

03.23.2012 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

Highway bill with money for coastal restoration remains stalled
By Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). March 22, 2012.
“WASHINGTON — Here’s the latest in efforts by Louisiana lawmakers to pass the Restore Act, which would funnel 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the 2010 BP oil spill to the five Gulf States: On Wednesday, the House, on a mostly party line vote, rejected a Democratic move to pass a two-year $109 billion Senate transportation bill, which includes the RESTORE Act…” (Read more)

Oil spill fines on hold
By Dominick Cross, Independent Weekly (Lafayette, La.). March 22, 2012.
“An effort to pass the Restore Act by Louisiana lawmakers failed Wednesday in the House. The act would send 80 percent of fines from the Clean Water Act from the 2010 BP oil spill to Gulf Coast states affected by the spill…” (Read more)

Coastal protection plan headed to vote
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). March 23, 2012.
“The fate of Louisiana’s 50-year, $50 billion master plan for coastal restoration and protection will soon be in the hands of the state Legislature…” (Read more)

Master plan approved by coastal board
By Nikki Buskey, The Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). March 22, 2012.
“The final version of the state’s master plan for coastal restoration and hurricane protection will contain new projects aimed at protecting lower Terrebonne and south Lafourche…” (Read more)

BP Oil Spill’s Sticky Remnants Wash Up Sporadically On Gulf Beaches
By Brian Handewerk, National Geographic News. March 22, 2012.
“As they walk the sands of Orange Beach, Alabama, T. Prabhakar Clement and Joel Hayworth have no difficulty finding traces of the Deepwater Horizon disaster—in fact, the Auburn University researchers have a harder time making sure those traces don’t stick to their feet…” (Read more)

Studies look at BP oil spill’s effect on insects
Associated Press. March 22, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Nearly two years after oil from BP’s busted well in the Gulf of Mexico fouled coastal marshes, scientists are studying the impact on some of the area’s tiniest residents: bugs…” (Read more)

Climate change could cause frequent flooding
By Nikki Buskey, Houma Courier (Houma, La.). March 22, 2012.
“Sea-level rise from global climate change could increase flooding problems for already vulnerable residents of Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, according to a new report…” (Read more)