Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Aug. 13, 2013
Feds cite sequestration for 5% cut of Restore Act funds
By Stephanie Riegel, Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Aug. 12, 2013.
“Among the latest victims of the federal budget cuts known as sequestration is the pot of money that is supposed to go to Gulf Coast states affected by the Deepwater Horizon spill…” (read more).
BP orchestrates media blitz to sway public opinion
By David Hammer, WWL-TV (New Orleans). Aug. 12, 2013.
“NEW ORLEANS — With its efforts to rein in a costly oil spill damage settlement going nowhere, BP has unleashed a media blitz to try to turn the tide in the court of public opinion…” (read more).
No Surprises: BP Tries to Back Out of Their Responsibilities in the Gulf
By Brian Young, Huffington Post. Aug. 12, 2013.
“Shortly after an explosion on British Petroleum’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 people and spilled an estimated 210 million gallons of oil off the coast of Louisiana, the company sprung into action to protect what matters — its public image…” (read more).
Gulf oil spill claims administrator must respond to BP request to halt claims payments
By Mark Schleifstein, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 12, 2013.
“U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier on Monday ordered the administrator of the court-supervised settlement of private claims against BP stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster to respond by Aug. 26 to BP’s request for an injunction temporarily halting millions of dollars in claims payments until an investigation into possible wrongdoing in the program is completed…” (read more).
BP sues federal government to get new contracts in wake of oil spill
By The Associated Press. Aug. 12, 2013.
“HOUSTON — BP is suing the U.S. government over a decision to bar the oil giant from getting new federal contracts to supply fuel and other services after the company pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other criminal charges related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill…” (read more).
US shrimp industry seeks import duties to thwart foreign producers
By James Politi, Financial Times (London). Aug. 12, 2013.
“American shrimp producers from the Gulf of Mexico are asking the US government to slap duties on $3.4bn of annual imports from seven developing countries including Thailand, Indonesia and India in an effort to thwart what they see as damaging competition driven by illegal subsidies…” (read more).
Sequester hits Restore Act funding for Louisiana other Gulf states
By Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 12, 2013.
“WASHINGTON – The automatic budget reductions known as sequestration are cutting into the funding available for coastal restoration and economic recovery under the Restore Act, the 2012 legislation that funnels 80 percent of fines from the 2010 BP oil spill to the five Gulf States…” (read more).
NOAA Fisheries Seeks Public Comment on a Proposed Rule to Increase Red Snapper Quotas
By KATC (Lafayette, La.). Aug. 12, 2013.
“NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a proposed rule that would increase the commercial and recreational quotas for Gulf of Mexico red snapper and potentially re-open the recreational season for 2013. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on August 14, 2013…” (read more).