Latest Mississippi River Delta News: September 7, 2012
Feds Leave Door Open To Hit BP With Top Penalties For Gulf Spill
By Susan Cosier for Forbes. September 6, 2012.
“More than two years after the Deepwater Horizon explosion, which spewed 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. government has cast a jaundiced eye on BP’s estimates of recovery in the area…” (Read more)
Isaac washes BP oil onto Louisiana beaches, tests reveal
The Associated Press. September 6, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana — Laboratory tests show that globs of oil found on two Louisiana beaches after Hurricane Isaac came from the 2010 BP spill…” (Read more)
Oil, chemical, coal releases during Hurricane Isaac should have been avoided, environmental groups say
By Mark Schleifstein, The Time-Picayune (New Orleans). September 6, 2012.
“At least 93 pollution incidents related to Hurricane Isaac should have been prevented by proper precautions by oil and gas, chemical and coal-handling facilities, representatives of three environmental groups said Thursday…” (Read more)
Hurricane Isaac’s surge, waves, wipe out BP oil berm along northern Chandeleur Islands
By Mark Schelifstein, The Times-Picayune. September 6, 2012.
“Hurricane Isaac’s surge and waves swept away almost all of the sand from the 6-foot-high berm built in 2010 along the northern end of the Chandeleur Islands to capture oil from the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, according to U.S. Geological Survey photos taken in the aftermath of the storm this week…” (Read more)
New Orleans Levees Hold, and Outsiders Want In
By John Schwartz and Campbell Robertson, The New York Times. September 6, 2012.
“LaPLACE, La. — As the motorcade swept through waterlogged stretches of St. John the Baptist Parish earlier this week, Natalie Robottom, the parish president, made her case to President Obama. Using maps and force of will, she told him that while a new ring of levees had saved New Orleans from the waters of Hurricane Isaac, LaPlace and other communities in St. John, west of the city, were still unprotected despite years of study and discussion…” (Read more)
New Orleans eyes more levees after passing Isaac’s test
By Kathy Finn, Reuters. September 7, 2012.
“Thanks to $14.6 billion spent on new flood defences, roughly $17,400 per resident, Clara Carey and her husband could afford to sit tight in their home when Hurricane Isaac pushed toward New Orleans last week…” (Read more)
Oystermen Struggling in Apalachicola
By Ashley Arnold, WJHG-TV, Pensacola Fla. September 6, 2012.
“Oystermen and officials in Franklin County are crying out for help as they face what they’re considering the worst season for oystering in years…” (Read more)