Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 16, 2013

Federal agencies raise questions about state’s Mid-Barataria
By Mark Schleifstein. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 15, 2013.
“The National Marine Fisheries Service has raised a series of questions about a state proposal to build a diversion on the Mississippi River near Myrtle Grove that would pump between 50,000 and 75,000 cubic feet per second of sediment and freshwater into Barataria Bay…” (Read more).

BP launches anti-fraud hotline for claims arising from 2010 oil spill in Gulf of Mexico
By The Associated Press. July 15, 2013.
“NEW ORLEANS –  BP has set up a hotline for people to report alleged fraud involving claims arising from the company’s massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.  Monday’s launch of the hotline comes a week after a federal appeals court heard BP’s argument…” (Read more).

Amendment targets project costs
By Nikki Buskey. The Daily Comet (Lafourche Parish, La.). July 15, 2013.
“An amendment passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week that would prevent the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from applying mitigation rules that local leaders say have drastically driven up the cost of projects. Mitigation is work that is legally required to make up for the environmental impact…” (Read more).

BP looks to shave more money off Gulf oil spill fines tab
By Harry Weber. FuelFix – The Houston Chronicle. July 15, 2013.
“BP is asserting that roughly 10 percent of the crude that entered the water during the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill should not be counted in the civil fines it faces because the oil dissolved before reaching the surface, the U.S. government said…” (Read more).

New Map Shows Where Nature Protects U.S. Coast
By Brian Handwerk. National Geographic. July 14, 2013.
“Americans looking to buy seaside property would do well to study the first ever nationwide map showing how and where natural habitats like reefs and vegetation best protect coastal residents from rising seas and catastrophic storms like last year’s Hurricane Sandy…” (Read more).

Marine Fisheries Service expresses concerns about Myrtle Grove diversion
By Bob Marshall. The Lens (New Orleans, La.). July 14, 2013.
“In a recent letter to the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the National Marine Fisheries Service expressed many of the same concerns about the planned Myrtle Grove diversion voiced by opponents of the diversions contained in the state master plan for the coast…” (Read more).

BP is just having buyer’s remorse on spill settlement sediment diversion plan
By Jim Hood. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 14, 2013.
“Along the Gulf Coast, we are all too familiar with BP’s disingenuous advertisements. Since the Deepwater Horizon disaster on April 20, 2010, we’ve been subjected to BP’s protestations that it is trying to “make things right.” Three years and thousands…” (Read more).