Latest news: January 3, 2012

01.03.2012 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

RESTORE Act is unfinished business for the Gulf Coast (editorial)

By Press-Register Editorial Board, Mobile Press-Register. January 1, 2012.

“IN THE category of Unfinished Business of 2011, one matter stands out among the rest: Congress has yet to give final approval to the RESTORE Act, which would direct 80 percent of the BP fines under the Clean Water Act to the Gulf Coast…”

Our Opinion: Spend it here

By Tallahassee Democrat Editorial Board, The Tallahassee Democrat. January 1, 2012.

“When millions of barrels of oil spewed into the Gulf of Mexico after a blowout in the Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20, 2010, the beaches of Oklahoma were not covered with a sticky goo. Salmon in Washington State were unaffected, and the oysters of Chesapeake Bay kept doing whatever it is oysters do.

No, it was five states — Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida — that bore the damage. Shorelines were soiled, marshes clogged, wildlife killed, the fishing and tourism industries damaged. Still unknown is what the longer-term effects will be…”

Editorial: Finally closing in on BP?

By PNJ editorial Staff. The Pensacola News Journal. January 2, 2012.

“The BP oil spill investigation could be getting serious. News “leaked” last week that federal prosecutors are writing up criminal charges against company employees…”

BP sues Halliburton over $42bln oil spill bill

By Reuters. January 2, 2012.

“Jan 2 (Reuters) – BP has called on contractor Halliburton to pay all costs and expenses it incurred to clean up the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which the oil major previously put at around $42 billion…”

A Gulf Chorus Fights BP’s PR War

By Rocky Kistner, Bridge the Gulf Project. December 30, 2011.

“BP’s newest PR salvo touting its Gulf cleanup hit a nerve with many residents still struggling to get their lives back . The oil behemoth’s slickly produced pleas for Americans to “come on down” to the Gulf where the weather is warm, the food is sublime and the beaches are sparkling clean–at least in the commercials–has long stuck in the craw of people whose shrimp boxes are bare and whose beaches and bayous are sometimes littered with sticky tar balls and bloated dolphins…”