Latest news: March 8, 2012

Keep the Restore the Gulf Act moving in Congress
Editorial, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). March 8, 2012.
“Gulf Coast states should be able to count on getting an 80 percent share of Clean Water fines that will be assessed for the BP oil spill, but legislation directing that money to Louisiana and its neighbors is having to overcome roadblocks…” (Read more)

Settlement for the Gulf
Editorial, The New York Times. March 7, 2012.
“The proposed multibillion-dollar settlement between BP and individuals and businesses hurt by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is a welcome development. If a federal judge grants final approval, it could spare both plaintiffs and the company a lengthy legal battle with uncertain outcomes. It is also further evidence that BP is willing to pay serious money to atone for its errors…” (Read more)

BP’s $7.8 Billion Settlement of Deepwater Horizon Spill Does Nothing for Louisiana
By John M. Barry, The Daily Beast. March 7, 2012.
“BP’s agreement last Friday to settle nearly $8 billion worth of private claims stemming from the catastrophic Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010 is commendable. But while it will help thousands of people get back on their feet, it does nothing to address the elephant in the room: the very survival of coastal Louisiana, which includes New Orleans, the largest port in the country, and three more of the nation’s biggest ports…” (Read more)

Faith Leaders Call for RESTORE Act to Repair the Still Suffering Gulf
By Casey Schoeneberger. Faith in Public Life. March 6, 2012.
“Nearly two years after the largest oil spill in American history, Gulf Coast residents are still struggling to recover from Deepwater Horizon’s devastating impact on the ecosystem and their livelihoods, which were largely dependent on the now-devastated tourism and fishing industries…” (Read more)