Latest news: November 18, 2011

11.18.2011 | In Latest News, Uncategorized

One piece at a time, Louisiana chalks up a rare victory protecting coastline

Reported by John Snell, Fox8TV (New Orleans, La.). November 16, 2011.

“Maurepas, LA– On the shores of Lake Maurepas, giants rise to dominate the landscape. Jurassic-like, they will grow to become the largest and oldest living things east of the Mississippi River– if only given the chance…”

District commander says corps is doing ‘less with less’

By Cara Bayles, Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). November 16, 2011.

“Maintaining levee infrastructure and dredging local waterways is proving financially challenging, the commander of the local Army Corps of Engineers district said Tuesday in Houma. “It’s not even a question of doing more with less,” said Col. Ed Fleming, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans district. “We’re doing less with less.”…”

Pearl River fish could take years to rebound

By Susan Buchanan, The Louisiana Weekly. November 14, 2011.

“Last week, the state’s Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries said Temple-Inland Inc. agreed to a $760,246 settlement after a black-liquor discharge by the company’s Bogalusa paper mill extinguished Pearl River fish. More than 430,000 freshwater mussels and 160,000 fish died in the August kill. Experts say the river’s fish population will need three to five years to recuperate, and some species—including certain mussels—may not fully return…”

State Law Will Not Apply in Recovery for Damages from Gulf Oil Spill

By Sabrina Canfield, Courthouse News Service. November 17, 2011.

“NEW ORLEANS (CN) – U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier ruled that Alabama and Louisiana may recover damages arising from the April 2010 explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig, including punitive damages, under the federal Oil Pollution Act and maritime law. But Barbier said damages under state law cannot be applied…”

Levees.org to defend listing of levee breach sites to National Register

By Sandy Rosenthal, Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). November 17, 2011.

“Today, at the Louisiana State Capitol, Levees.org will defend its quest to list two major levee breach sites to the National Register of Historic Places…”

Parishes could receive millions in new recovery money

By the Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). November 17, 2011.

“Terrebonne and Lafourche could receive another infusion of millions in hurricane recovery dollars to strengthen and flood-proof homes, parish infrastructure and public buildings…”