Latest news: May 9, 2012

Lawmakers begin debate on RESTORE Act
By Ledyard King, Florida Today (Brevard, Fla.). May 8, 2012.
“Members of a House-Senate conference committee began debating legislation Tuesday that would steer billions of dollars to Florida and other Gulf Coast states still recovering from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil disaster…” (Read more)

Letter: ‘Sensible, equitable’
By Manley K. Fuller (Tallahassee President, Florida Wildlife Federation), Naples Daily News (Naples, Fla.). May 8, 2012.
“It is disappointing to see how some elected officials in Florida are turning the pending RESTORE (Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourism Opportunities and Revived Economy) Act legislation into nothing but another election-year fight…” (Read more)

Vitter: Pipeline a priority
By Jordan Blum, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). Mayu 9, 2012.
“WASHINGTON — Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and a large conference committee of House and Senate members began meeting Tuesday to sculpt a compromise to transportation legislation containing the RESTORE Act language that directs BP fine money to Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states…” (Read more)

2 U.S. House Republicans cry foul over part of bill including Restore Act
By Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). May 8, 2012.
“Two U.S. House Republicans appointed to help negotiate a transportation bill raised objections Tuesday to provisions that helped provide key Senate votes for the Restore Act. The proposal, which would send 80 percent of any Clean Water Act fines from the BP oil spill to the five Gulf states, was added to the $109 billion Senate transportation bill that passed 76-22 in March. The fines are expected to generate between $5 billion and $20 billion…” (Read more)

Program aims to expand migratory bird habitat
By Nikki Buskey, The Daily Comet (Thibodaux, La.). May 8, 2012.
“Natural resource officials are trying to expand the wetlands available to the millions of migratory birds that pass through the state each year…” (Read more)

CRCL Organizing Huge Christian Marsh Volunteer Planting Event
KATC News (Lafayette, La.). May 8, 2012.
“The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), the Rainey Alliance and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority are looking for volunteers to participate in a marsh restoration project at Christian Marsh (west of Vermilion Bay)…” (Read more)

Local oyster grounds closed after norovirus outbreak
By Nikki Buskey, Houma Courier (Houma, La.). May 8, 2012.
“State health officials closed Terrebonne Parish oyster grounds Tuesday after 14 people became ill from eating oysters in a New Orleans area restaurant late last month…” (Read more)

Marine life suffers near BP’s Deepwater Horizon site
By Susan Buchanan, The Louisiana Weekly. May 7, 2012.
“Dolphins and fish are dying at distressing rates as oil and dispersants from BP’s 2010 spill lurk in Gulf waters and south Louisiana marshes. Last month, Riki Ott, marine toxicologist and former Alaska fisherwoman, said “the Gulf looks a lot like Prince William Sound,” where the Exxon Valdez spill occurred in 1989…” (Read more)