Latest Mississippi River Delta News: Nov. 15, 2013
Former swamp to teach about wetlands restoration
By The Associated Press. Friday, Nov. 15, 2013.
“The governor’s coastal restoration czar, Garret Graves, is among officials coming to New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward to unveil signs at a platform overlooking 440 acres of brackish water dotted with cypress stumps…” (read more)
Gulf states get first $113M from oil spill pleas
By Jeff Amy, Associated Press. Nov. 14, 2013.
“Environmental advocates applauded the $40.4 million for a diversion from the west bank of Mississippi south of New Orleans to the Barataria estuary. That diversion is supposed to be a pilot project that will guide the design of others in the future. “The Barataria Basin has one of the highest rates of land loss in the world, and this large-scale wetland restoration project is crucial to reversing that trend,” the Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation said in a joint statement…” (read more)
Local projects to get $14 million from oil spill fines
By Xerxes Wilson, The Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). Nov 14, 2013.
“…Simone Maloz, executive director of the Thibodaux-based coastal advocacy organization Restore or Retreat, said allocation of the remaining money is dependent on BP and Transocean’s payment schedule…” (read more)
La. to get $68 million in barrier island, diversion projects
By Amy Wold, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). Nov. 15, 2013.
“Louisiana will receive almost $68 million for diversion and barrier island restoration projects from the Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, the first of almost $1.2 billion expected over the next five years, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced Thursday…” (read more)
National foundation awards Louisiana first $68 million from BP, Transocean criminal fines for coastal restoration
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). Nov. 15, 2013.
“The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Thursday (Nov. 14) said it awarded $67.9 million in planning and design money for two Louisiana barrier island restoration projects and a major sediment diversion, part of the state’s coastal restoration and storm surge protection Master Plan…” (read more)
Gulf states get first $113M from oil spill pleas
By Jeff Amy, Associated Press. Nov. 14, 2013.
“The five states that border the Gulf of Mexico are getting $113 million to improve the environment. The grants, announced Thursday by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, are the first small chunk of $2.5 billion that BP PLC and Transocean Ltd. were fined as a result of criminal pleas last year following the 2010 Gulf oil spill…” (read more)
A glance at Gulf oil spill restoration projects
By Jeff Amy, Associated Press. Nov. 14, 2013.
“The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation announced $113 million for 22 projects to improve the Gulf of Mexico’s coastal environment using money that BP PLC and Transocean Ltd. paid following criminal pleas after the 2010 oil spill…” (read more)
Letter: Jindal selling out wetlands for political folly
By Ben Bagert, Opinion, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). Nov. 15, 2013.
“Reading Stephanie Grace’s recent column about coastal issues brought back memories of a failed legislative effort to stop the madness in the coastal wetlands 26 years ago…” (read more)
Don Briggs: Coastal suits show need for tort reform
By Don Briggs, The Times of Acadiana (Lafayette, La.). Nov. 15, 2013.
“The same song different verse seems to be the new theme for the Louisiana legal climate. Although the filing of 28 new lawsuits by the same group of trial lawyers should come as no surprise to the oil and gas industry, the lack of surprise makes the issue no less egregious…” (read more)