Latest news: June 21, 2012
No deal has been struck on sending BP oil spill fines to Gulf Coast
By Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 20, 2012.
“Washington — With time running out, House-Senate negotiators still haven’t reached a deal on a transportation spending bill that Louisiana lawmakers hope will designate 80 percent of BP oil spill fines to the Gulf Coast. Both House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered a bit of bipartisan advice this week to the negotiators: Come up with a compromise…” (Read more)
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar repeats commitment to use BP money for coastal restoration
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 20, 2012.
“Traveling by airboat through the Delta National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar repeated the Obama administration’s commitment to using large chunks of money paid by BP to rebuild Louisiana wetlands…” (Read more)
Mississippi mud may be used to stave off erosion
By Associated Press. June 20, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS (AP) — There’s mud — lots of it — flowing down the Mississippi River and washing out into the Gulf of Mexico every day…” (Read more)
LDWF to Host Series of Outreach Workshops Targeting Oyster Industry Representatives
By Melissa Canone, KATC (Lafayette, La.). June 20, 2012.
“The Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, in coordination with the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals, will begin a series of public meetings next week to provide critical information on current rules that will affect the oyster harvesting, dealing and processing communities in Louisiana…” (Read more)
Gulf of Mexico oil, gas lease sale nets $1.7B, as oil companies return to vicinity of BP spill
By Associated Press. June 20, 2012.
“NEW ORLEANS — The federal government’s first auction of offshore petroleum leases in the same area where the Deepwater Horizon exploded in 2010 brought in $1.7 billion in winning bids Wednesday…” (Read more)
Local scientist named to nonprofit research institute
By Nikki Buskey, The Houma Courier. June 19, 2012.
“A Montegut wetlands researcher has been named chief scientist at the newly formed nonprofit research organization Water Institute of the Gulf in Baton Rouge. Denise Reed, a University of New Orleans scientist who’s been long involved with state coastal restoration projects and policy,…” (Read more)