Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Aug. 21, 2013
Oil from BP spill pushed onto shelf off Tampa Bay by underwater currents, study finds
By Craig Pittman, Tampa Bay Times. Aug. 20, 2013.
“The thick globs of BP oil that washed ashore on beaches along Florida’s Panhandle in 2010 never reached Tampa Bay, to the relief of hotel owners, restaurateurs, anglers, beachgoers and local officials. But oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill, floating beneath the surface after being sprayed with dispersant, settled on a shelf 80 miles from the Tampa Bay region within a year of the spill’s end, according to a scientific study published this week…” (read more).
Gulf Coast compensation fund under attack: Our view
By The Editorial Board, USA Today. Aug. 20, 2013.
“Gulf Coast residents, victimized in 2010 by BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster, are being victimized again, this time by trial lawyers exploiting a legal system ill-equipped to handle such calamities…” (read more).
BP not a victim: Opposing view
Op-ed by Stephen Herman and James Roy, USA Today. Aug. 20, 2013.
“Three years ago, the Gulf Coast was devastated by the worst man-made environmental disaster in American history. Eleven men lost their lives on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, and millions of gallons of oil destroyed countless wildlife. The region’s economic backbone was shattered…” (read more).
Levee board appointments may let Jindal interfere with suit
By Jeff Adelson, The Advocate (Baton Rouge). Aug. 21, 2013.
“Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration will have its first opportunity to directly interfere with a massive lawsuit claiming oil and gas companies contributed to the destruction of Louisiana’s coast next month, when a nominating committee considers whether to reappoint key members of the flood control board that filed the suit…” (read more).
BP puts Louisiana justice on trial: Kemp
By John Kemp, Reuters. Aug. 20, 2013.
“BP’s increasingly bad-tempered spat with the U.S. federal court, claims administrators and legal community in New Orleans over oil-spill compensation payments suggests the company has given up trying to win the case locally…” (read more).
New BP ads say people without losses seeking money for 2010 oil spill
By Bruce Alpert, NOLA.com | Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Aug. 20, 2013.
“BP is back with new newspaper ads, this time aimed at what are billed as unscrupulous trial lawyers seeking a big pay day gaining compensation for people who didn’t suffer any losses from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill…” (read more).
USF scientist says BP oil spill residue still on Florida shelf
By Tampa Bay Business Journal. Aug. 21, 2013.
“A new report published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology by marine science professor at the University of South Florida Dr. John Paul suggests that Tampa Bay’s sea life is still in danger due to BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the chemicals used to disperse oil…” (read more).
BP says community would notice if they were gone
By Howard J. Castray, Jr., Tri-Parish Times (Houma, La.). Aug. 20, 2013.
“BP is making good on its commitment to the region, awarding $625,000 to projects in St. Mary Parish and $6 million to Terrebonne, according to the company’s community relations director…” (read more).
State agency could take action on levee authority’s oil and gas lawsuit
By WWL-TV (New Orleans). Aug. 20, 2013.
“Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority meeting in Dulac Wednesday could take action on the Eastbank Flood Authority’s lawsuit against nearly 100 oil and gas companies for damage to Louisiana’s wetlands…” (read more).
BP Deepwater Horizon oil lingers; BP shirks responsibility
By Tom Young, The Legal Examiner. Aug. 21, 2013.
“Results from a new study conducted by the University of South Florida show that oil from BP’s Deepwater Horizon blowout settled approximately 80 miles off the coast of Tampa Bay, hundreds of miles south of the stricken wellhead. Findings from USF oceanographer John Paul’s study were published this week in the journal Environmental Science & Technology…” (read more).
Seafood safety testing continues three years after oil spill
By Steve Phillips, WLOX-TV (Biloxi, Miss.). Aug. 20, 2013.
“Since the BP oil spill three years ago, the Department of Marine Resources has tested 622 seafood samples. And all of those samples have been shown “safe” to eat. The Commission on Marine Resources heard an update on the seafood safety program at Tuesday’s monthly meeting…” (read more).