Latest news: October 13, 2011

Move to close West Bay diversion meets opposition

By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). October 13, 2011

“Complaints from shippers set in motion plans to close the controversial West Bay diversion near the mouth of the Mississippi River. But the diversion got unexpected support Wednesday from two key players in the shipping industry during a meeting of the federal-state coastal restoration task force, which earlier this year voted to close it down…”

BP and partners face $45m in fines over Gulf oil spill

By Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guardian (London, U.K.). October 13, 2011.

“BP and its partners on the doomed Deepwater Horizon oil rig face fines of up to $45m after receiving formal notice of a series of safety violations leading up to the Gulf of Mexico disaster…”

U.S. to impose sanctions on BP, Gulf spill contractors

By Ayesha Rascoe, Reuters. October 13, 2011.

“(Reuters) – The U.S. offshore drilling regulator on Wednesday formally issued sanctions against BP and the major contractors involved in the 2010 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 workers and spewed more than 4 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico…”

Editorial: Concern about shrimp

By Editorial staff, Pensacola News Journal (Pensacola, Fl.). October 12, 2011.

“The New York Times reported Tuesday that the harvest of white shrimp appears to be down dramatically in Louisiana waters, the hardest hit by the BP oil spill…”

Two whooping cranes shot dead in Jeff Davis Parish

By Olivia Vidal, KPLCtv.com. October 12, 2011.

“JEFF DAVIS PARISH, LA (KPLC) –

Two whooping cranes were found dead after Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said two juveniles allegedly shot them…”

Congressional Republicans, Democrats spar over post-spill oil drilling

By George Altman, Press-Register (Mobile, Al.). October 12, 2011.

“WASHINGTON — During a congressional hearing on Wednesday, Republicans and Democrats sparred over restrictions on new drilling in the Gulf of Mexico put in place after last year’s massive oil spill…”