Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 16, 2015

Louisiana coastal board asks fed approval of 4 projects funded with BP spill fines
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. July 15, 2015
“The state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority on Wednesday (July 15) asked the U.S. Department of Treasury to approve its plan to spend $39.4 million promised the state from fines related to the BP oil spill on four complex coastal restoration projects.” (Read More)
 
The BP settlement is only a down payment on the massive coastal restoration bill
By Bob Marshall, The Lens. July 15, 2015
“It’s still a drop in the bucket compared to the overall needs for the plan,” said Chris Dalbom, of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy. “The best-case scenario is this is all kind of seed money to get Master Plan projects going in earnest.” (Read More)
 
State to seek $38.3 million of some BP penalties for coastal restoration projects
By Amy Wold, The Advocate. July 16, 2015
“The state’s coastal authority approved sending a request for $38.3 million to the U.S. Department of Treasury for coastal restoration projects. The U.S. Department of Treasury is in charge of money paid directly to the five Gulf states affected by the disaster.” (Read More)
 
New Orleans area to see BP settlement money for years to come
By Don Ames, WWL. July 16, 2015
“Five billion dollars of that has to go towards restoring resources that were damaged by the oil spill,” Shrinath says. “So, marsh creation projects are likely, as well as sediment diversions that might restore resources in that area.” (Read More)