Latest Mississippi River Delta News: December 10, 2012

Restoration Council begins oil spill recovery effort with meeting in Mobile (Guest Column)
By Bethany Kraft, Ocean Conservancy, for The Press Register (Mobile, Ala.). December 7, 2012.
“Citizens across the Gulf region have an unprecedented opportunity through the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to not only restore what was lost in the BP oil disaster, but to leave a legacy of healthy communities, strong economies, and productive coastal and marine environments…” (Read more)

BP spill’s socioeconomic damage needs attention, too: Jeffrey Buchanan
By Jeffrey Buchanan, OxFam America, for The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). December 7, 2012.
“On the heels of a historic criminal plea agreement between BP and the Justice Department over the 2010 oil spill, questions about how the money will be spent loom ever larger…” (Read more)

BP Oil Spill Flow Rate Vastly Understated For Weeks, Emails Show
By John Rudolf, The Huffington Post. December 8, 2012.
“Emails that attorneys representing a defendant in the BP oil spill case plan to introduce in February show for the first time that the oil company knew the massive scale of the 2010 blowout in the Gulf of Mexico weeks earlier than previously disclosed…” (Read more)

Regional panel approves new formula to share BP money
By Tom McLaughlin, Northwest Florida Daily News. December 8, 2012.
“SANTA ROSA BEACH — Representatives from Okaloosa, Walton and Santa Rosa counties voted Friday to accept a lesser share of RESTORE Act funds so smaller counties among Florida’s eight most impacted by the BP oil spill can receive more…” (Read more)

‘Duck Dynasty’ stars, local artist team up to save La.’s coast
By Lesley Simpson and Maya Rodriguez, WWL-TV (New Orleans). December 9, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS — Through the A&E reality show “Duck Dynasty,” Jase Robertson and his family give viewers an inside look at what it means to be one with nature…” (Read more)

Society gears up for annual bird count
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). December 10, 2012.
“The Baton Rouge Audubon Society will hold a short orientation for newcomers and veteran bird watchers on Dec. 12 in preparation for the annual Christmas Bird Count in Baton Rouge on Jan. 5…” (Read more)

Obama asks for $60.4B Sandy aid
CBS News. December 7, 2012.
“President Barack Obama asked Congress Friday for $60.4 billion in federal aid for New York, New Jersey and other states hit by Superstorm Sandy in late October. It’s a disaster whose cost is rivaled only by the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the 2005 Hurricane that devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast…” (Read more)

The Road Back Home: Environmental Justice & Wetlands Restoration in the Lower 9
Sustain the Nine. December 8, 2012.
“It’s been a long time in the making – and well worth the wait! Check out this film, just released to YouTube, by Reynaldo Morales, a graduate fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison…” (Read more)