Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Oct. 3, 2014
BP Seeks Revised Verdict or New Trial on Spill Negligence
By Margaret Cronin Fisk and Laurel Brubaker Calkins, Bloomberg. Oct. 3, 2014.
“BP asked the U.S. judge in charge of thousands of oil-spill damage lawsuits to review a ruling that exposes the company to as much as $18 billion in fines, saying it was based on evidence he said he wouldn’t consider…” (read more).
$1 billion cost estimate prompts Louisiana to rethink coastal project
By John Snell, WVUE (New Orleans). Oct. 2, 2014.
“Louisiana is re-examining its ambitious plans for a major river sediment diversion project to build wetlands, based partly on costs that could top $1 billion, according to the state’s No. 2 coastal official…” (read more).
For coal export terminal in Plaquemines Parish, Corps of Engineers says no public hearing
By Andrea Shaw, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). Oct. 1, 2014.
“The Army Corps of Engineers said Wednesday it will not hold a public hearing on a proposed coal export terminal in Plaquemines Parish, a setback for West Bank residents who have been clamoring in opposition to the project…” (read more).
Offiicals ill-prepared to help those outside of levee system, Tulane study finds
By Bob Marshall, The Lens. Oct. 2, 2014.
“Tulane researchers recently sought the answer to a question the coastal-restoration community usually avoids: What happens to people and towns if state fails in its efforts to prevent the Gulf of Mexico from swallowing southeastern Louisiana?…” (read more).
BP asks court to revise findings or grant new trial
By Collin Eaton, FuelFix. Oct. 2, 2014.
“BP wants a federal judge to change his findings that the company was reckless in the days before the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill or grant it a new trial…” (read more).
BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill didn’t shrink number, size of Louisiana shrimp, study says
By Benjamin Alexander-Bloch, The Times-Picayune. Oct. 2, 2014.
“Looking at the abundance and size of Louisiana white and brown shrimp before and after the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a scientific paper published Wednesday said the amount of shrimp actually increased in local estuaries through 2011 and that the size of that shrimp remained unaffected…” (read more).
BP challenges $18bn Deepwater Horizon ruling
By Ed Crooks, The Financial Times. Oct. 3, 2014.
“Lawyers for BP have called for a retrial or a revised judgment after spotting what they believe to be a legal mistake in the court ruling last month that the company acted with gross negligence in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster…” (read more).
New Acting Director and Associate Director Announced for NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program
By Julien Lartigue, NOAA. Oct. 2, 2014.
“Russ Beard has been leading the NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program since April 2013. Mr. Beard has now been asked and agreed to serve as the interim science coordinator for the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council, a position which necessitates that he no longer serve as the acting Director for the science program…” (read more).
U.S. House candidates spar over coastal restoration
By Chris Leblanc, The Houma Courier. Oct. 2, 2014.
“Republican congressional candidate Garrett Graves fired back this week at criticism of his and Gov. Bobby Jindal’s efforts aimed at stemming coastal wetlands loss in Louisiana…” (read more).