Latest news: December 8, 2011

12.08.2011 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

Oil spill: Supporters of fine bill face skeptical lawmakers

By George Altman, Mobile Press-Register. December 8, 2011.

“WASHINGTON — Gulf Coast lawmakers, business leaders and local officials pressed a congressional committee Wednesday for approval of a bill that could send billions of dollars in oil spill fines to the Gulf states, but met tough questions from critics of the proposal…”

BP oil spill fines may not flow easily to Gulf Coast states

By Bruce Alpert, Times-Picayune. December 8, 2011.

“WASHINGTON — Two influential House Republicans raised concerns Wednesday about legislation to direct 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the BP oil spill to the five Gulf Coast states, suggesting passage won’t come without a fight. Despite the sharp questioning, Louisiana lawmakers expressed optimism that the “Restore Act” will eventually win enactment…”

Now Is the Time to Invest in Restoring the Health of the Gulf of Mexico

By Vikki N. Spruill, CEO, Ocean Conservancy for Huffington Post. December 7, 2011.

“More than 18 months have passed since the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, but evidence of the spill remains…”

Local Mayor Gets Five Minutes On Capitol Hill

By Pat Peterson, WKRG Pensacola. December 7, 2011.

“GULF SHORES, Alabama — Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft had five minutes to convince members of Congress why Alabama and the four other Gulf states should get the bulk of the B-P fine money…”

BP faces more fines over spill

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Houston Chronicle. December 7, 2011.

“WASHINGTON – The federal government on Wednesday issued a second set of citations against BP that accused the oil company of violating safety and environmental regulations while drilling the Macondo well that blew out last year in the Gulf of Mexico…”

Scientists working on report card for Gulf’s health

By Matthew Tresaugue, Houston Chronicle. December 7, 2011.

“The Gulf of Mexico is not tar-black and dead, but is it healthy?

The question remains unanswered more than a year after the Deepwater Horizon disaster dumped nearly 5 million barrels of oil into the Gulf…”

Donation could help rebuild islands for birds

By Nikki Buskey, Houma Today. December 7, 2011.

“A Thibodaux coastal-advocacy group is hoping to rebuild a cluster of small islands in Barataria Bay that provide vital nesting habitat for thousands of Louisiana birds with the help of a $1 million donation…”

In BP’s Gulf, a Movie Runs Through It as Miracle Hopes Fade

By Rocky Kistner, NRDC Media Associate, for Huffington Post. December 7, 2011.

“As I write this, I am traveling on a bus to New York to speak at a screening of The Big Fix, Josh and Rebecca Tickell’s powerful documentary about the explosion of BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig that spewed nearly 200 million gallons of Louisiana crude along the coastlines and marshes of four Gulf states, changing the lives of millions…”