Latest Mississippi River Delta News: October 16, 2012

Now is not the time to work out BP fine money split
By Mike Marshall, The Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.). October 15, 2012.
“Ever so quietly, deals are being cut right now to divvy up between $5 billion and $21 billion in BP fine money. And the U.S. Justice Department is doing the divvying, three weeks before an extremely tight presidential election…” (Read more)

Don’t let election politics spoil RESTORE Act
By J.D. Crowe, The Press-Register. October 15, 2012.
“Money is the mother’s milk of politics.

If the U.S. Justice Department – “Mama Justice” – uses BP fine money to nurse swing state Florida, the RESTORE Act will be spoiled for Alabama…” (Read more)

Coastal Bays: A look back on the 1972 Clean Water Act
By Harrison Jackson for Delmarva Now. October 15, 2012.
“A lot has changed since 1972; disco is not popular anymore, Richard Nixon is not running for president, Betamax and VHS are old news and computers do not take up half your desk and make noises like a phone line with a cold. But there is one thing from 1972 that still makes a difference in millions of people’s lives daily — the Clean Water Act…” (Read more)

Tidal records expose surge in hurricanes
By Andy Coghlan, NewScientist. October 15, 2012.
“The world really is getting stormier. US tide records have provided compelling evidence that global warming is making large storms and cyclones more frequent. If current trends continue, the US will be battered increasingly often, and by more big storms like Hurricane Katrina…” (Read more)