Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 25, 2013

07.25.2013 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

Gulf of Mexico natural gas well stops flowing gas and fire is subsiding
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 25, 2013.
“The leaking natural gas well in the Gulf of Mexico has stopped flowing, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed on Thursday morning. The fire has decreased to a small flame fueled by residual gas at the top of the well, the agencies reported…” (Read more).

Our Views: Suit raises big questions
Opinion by The Advocate. July 24, 2013.
“Considering the long legacy of official supplication to the oil and gas industry in Louisiana, a lawsuit by a New Orleans area flood protection authority asking the industry to pay for environmental abuses seems at first glance to have a lot of merit.  But we’re concerned about the methods…” (Read more).

Why The Latest Gulf Leak Is No BP Disaster
By Christopher Joyce. National Public Radio. July 24, 2013.
“Teams of workers are mobilizing in the Gulf of Mexico to try to stem a natural gas leak at an offshore drilling rig that exploded and caught fire Tuesday. The rig off the Louisiana coast has been partially destroyed by the out of control blaze, and firefighting boats are on the scene…” (Read more).

Halliburton says progress toward spill deal slows
By Harry R. Weber. The Houston Chronicle. July 24, 2013.
“Three months ago, Halliburton said talks to resolve a substantial portion of private claims related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill were at an advanced stage and that it had offered cash and stock to make a deal happen.  But the oil field services giant warned Monday that discussions…” (Read more).

Historic lawsuit seeks billions in damages from oil, gas, pipeline industries for wetlands losses
By Mark Schleifstein. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 24, 2013.
“Faced with a continuing loss of wetlands and the protection they provide to newly rebuilt levees in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the authority that oversees East Bank levee districts filed a historic lawsuit Wednesday against 97 oil, gas and pipeline companies…” (Read more).

Jindal lashes out against coastal erosion suit
By Jeff Adelson. The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). July 24, 2013.
“With the ink barely dry on a massive lawsuit accusing nearly 100 energy companies of devastating Louisiana’s coast and increasing the risk of catastrophic damage during a hurricane, political maneuvering over the case has already begun.  Gov. Bobby Jindal blasted the suit Wednesday…” (Read more).

Locals interested in suit against oil companies
By Nikki Buskey. Houma-Courier (Houma, La.). July 24, 2013.
“Local levee leaders are watching a historic lawsuit filed by a New Orleans-area levee district that blames oil and gas companies for wetlands loss that has made coastal communities increasingly vulnerable to flooding.  In the suit, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East claims salt water…” (Read more).

New Notre Dame study proposes changes in New Orleans area levee systems
By William G. Gilroy.  The Science Daily. July 24, 2013.
“Less may mean more when it comes to the levee systems designed to protect New Orleans from hurricanes.  That’s the conclusion of a new study by a team of University of Notre Dame researchers led by Joannes Westerink, chair of the department of civil and environmental engineering…” (Read more).

Sen. Landrieu: Louisiana should fight ‘everywhere,’ including courts, to stop wetlands loss
By Bruce Alpert. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 24, 2013.
“WASHINGTON — Louisiana congressional members are taking a wait-and-see attitude about the historic lawsuit filed Wednesday on behalf of East Bank levee districts seeking money to restore wetlands district officials say were destroyed or damaged by the operations of oil, gas and pipeline companies…” (Read more).

Local leader testifies for restoration money
By Nikki Buskey. The Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). July 23, 2013.
“Terrebonne Levee Director Reggie Dupre told Congress on Tuesday about on the importance of increasing the share of offshore oil and gas revenues paid back to coastal states for coastal protection and restoration.  Dupre testified before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee…” (Read more).