Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 24, 2013
Gulf Gas Leak: Fire Breaks Out On Evacuated Drilling Rig
By Kevin McGill. Associated Press. July 24, 2013.
“NEW ORLEANS — An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast continued to burn Wednesday after it caught fire following a blowout that prompted the evacuation of 44 workers, authorities said. Meanwhile, officials stressed that Tuesday’s blowout wouldn’t be close to as damaging…” (Read more).
Louisiana Agency to Sue Energy Companies for Wetland Damage
By John Schwartz. The New York Times. July 24, 2013.
“Louisiana officials will file a lawsuit on Wednesday against dozens of energy companies, hoping that the courts will force them to pay for decades of damage to fragile coastal wetlands that help buffer the effects of hurricanes on the region…” (Read more).
Rig owner loses round in oil spill document fight
By Associated Press. July 24, 2013.
“NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Transocean Deepwater Drilling Corp. has lost a round in its fight to avoid handing over documents to a government board investigating the 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion. Transocean is appealing a federal court order enforcing a subpoena…” (Read more).
Science to be key factor in lawsuit against oil and gas companies for coastal loss
By Bob Marshall. The Lens (New Orleans, La.). July 23, 2013.
“Over the last seven months, three New Orleans-area law firms spent thousands of hours researching how to do something that many have talked about, but never tried — hold oil and gas companies accountable for increasing the flood risk to the metro area by destroying coastal wetlands…” (Read more).
Obama administration ‘cannot support’ bill increasing offshore revenue sharing
By Bruce Alpert. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 23, 2013.
“WASHINGTON — A key Interior Department official Tuesday said the Obama administration “cannot support” legislation that would increase revenue sharing from offshore oil and gas development because it would increase the federal deficit and doesn’t appear targeted to advance energy conservation…” (Read more).
Environmental groups’ lawsuit to stop flow from failed Taylor Energy platform cleared for trial
By Mark Schleifstein. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 23, 2013.
“A federal judge in New Orleans has cleared the way for a trial to begin in a lawsuit filed by environmental groups attempting to force Taylor Energy to halt the flow of oil from a platform 12 miles south of the mouth of the Mississippi River. The platform, which had 28 oil and gas wells…” (Read more).
National Marine Fisheries Service scientist has serious concerns with planned Barataria Bay diversion
By Todd Masson. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 23, 2013.
“The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion that’s one of the hallmarks of the state’s Coastal Master Plan could have devastating impacts to fisheries and the way of life in Louisiana’s coastal towns, according to Roy Crabtree, regional administrator for the National Marine Fisheries Service…” (Read more).
150 attend meeting about flood insurance costs
By Xerxes Wilson. Houma Courier (Houma, La.). July 23, 2013.
“Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet appealed for calm in the face of a “perfect storm” spawned by the convergence of new flood maps and reforms to the National Flood Insurance Program. More than 150 people packed the conference room in the parish’s Main Library…” (Read more).
BP’s ‘breathtaking’ spill settlement shenanigans
Opinion by Thomas L. Young. The Tampa Tribune. July 22, 2013.
“British Petroleum’s whining about how it’s being fleeced by excessive claims from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill is one of the more breathtaking examples of corporate revisionist history. The legally binding settlement agreement BP is now trying to extricate itself from is the same agreement…” (Read more).