Latest Mississippi River Delta News: September 6, 2012

09.06.2012 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

Hurricane Isaac is a reality check for Louisiana’s shrinking coast
By Bob Marshall, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). September 6, 2012.
“I wish most of metro New Orleans had been with me Friday as I talked with marina owners in southeast Louisiana. The conversation with Jack Payne at his Sweetwater Marina in Delacroix was typical…” (Read more)

Feds accuse BP of gross negligence in 2010 Gulf oil spill
By Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune. September 5, 2012.
“WASHINGTON — In a legal filing that could have a huge impact for how much coastal assistance money flows to Louisiana, the Justice Department is accusing BP of gross negligence that contributed to the massive 2010 Gulf oil spill…” (Read more)

U.S. vows to prove gross negligence by BP
By Michael Kunzelman, The Associated Press. September 5, 2012
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to ignore BP’s assertion that the Gulf Coast’s natural resources are making a “robust recovery” from its massive 2010 oil spill…” (Read more)

Breakingviews: BP’s path to Macondo settlement just got harder
By Kevin Allison, Thomson Reuters. September 5, 2012.
“ONDON, Sept 5 (Reuters Breakingviews) – Macondo is back. After March’s $7.8 billion settlement with Gulf Coast fishermen and other private plaintiffs, a deal with the U.S. government over civil and potential criminal liability for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico disaster seemed to be in reach for BP. It probably still is – the two sides are still in talks ahead of a civil trial in January. But sharp rhetoric in new filings by U.S. government lawyers is a reminder that the UK oil major faces a tough path to securing a favourable outcome. The market’s reaction – wiping $5 billion off BP’s market value – looks appropriate…” (Read more)

Storm scatters tar balls buried since BP spill
By Nikki Buskey, The Houma (La.) Courier. September 5, 2012.
“Hurricane Isaac’s wind and waves unearthed oil buried since the 2010 BP oil spill and scattered tar balls along Grand Isle, Elmer’s Island and Fourchon Beach, state officials said…” (Read more)

Oil from BP spill uncovered by Isaac’s waves
By Jay Reeves, The Associated Press. September 5, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS — Waves from Hurricane Isaac uncovered oil previously buried along Gulf Coast beaches, exposing crude that wasn’t cleaned up after the BP spill in 2010…” (Read more)

Congressional forecast: Fight over coastal flood protection funds
By Richard Simon, The Los Angeles Times. September 5, 2012.
“WASHINGTON — Now that Hurricane Isaac has passed, a political storm is brewing in Congress over a new effort by coastal lawmakers to secure a larger share of federal royalties from energy production off their shores to fund projects such as flood protection…” (Read more)

Is It Already Too Late?
By John Swanson, Off Beat (New Orleans). September 5, 2012.
“Hurricane Isaac was a massive, slow moving storm that did tremendous damage, destroyed entire towns and caused numerous fatalities. It was “only” a category 1 hurricane, yet it created a surge of water similar to the deluge that caused the post-Katrina federal flood. Levees downriver from New Orleans in Plaquemines Parish failed this time, with devastating results…” (Read more)