Only a piece of the pie: BP settles private claims, still in talks with government
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By Whit Remer, Environmental Defense Fund Earlier this month, news broke that BP had settled its pending court case resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Perhaps the most important takeaway is that BP has still not settled its case for environmental violations with the U.S. government. The gulf oil spill caused disastrous effects on both the economy and environment of the Gulf Coast. The settlement reached addresses the economic and health-related claims brought against BP from private plaintiffs consisting …
NGOs urge federal government to restore coast damaged by Mississippi River Gulf Outlet
(March 7, 2012 — New Orleans) On March 2, the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the November 2009 landmark decision that found the Army Corps liable for catastrophic flooding in the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish during Hurricane Katrina due to the grossly negligent management of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO). In 2009, Judge Stanwood Duval ruled that the dangerous condition of the shipping channel was clearly acknowledged by the Corps for decades, but the Corps …
Groups hail Senate passage of transportation bill with gulf restoration amendment
Vote follows recent House approval of efforts to dedicate oil spill fines to gulf restoration (Washington, D.C.—March 14, 2012) A coalition of six Gulf Coast restoration advocacy groups praised the Senate today for passing the Surface Transportation bill with an amendment that would dedicate 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines from BP and the other parties responsible for the Gulf oil spill to restoring the Gulf Coast. The current transportation bill expires on March 31. The amendment, called …
A call to keep RESTORE Act moving
By Whit Remer, Environmental Defense Fund Last week was a huge win for the gulf. On Thursday, the Senate passed the Nelson-Shelby-Landrieu RESTORE Act amendment to the surface transportation bill by an impressive bipartisan vote of 76-22. The amendment would ensure 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are dedicated to gulf restoration. The Senate is expected to hold a final vote to pass the transportation bill in the next day or two. For the …
Gulf groups hail Senate passage of gulf restoration amendment
Vote follows recent House approval of similar amendment News Release (Washington, D.C.—March 8, 2012) A coalition of six Gulf Coast restoration advocacy groups praised the Senate today for its strong bipartisan approval of legislation that would dedicate 80 percent of the Clean Water Act (CWA) fines for the gulf oil disaster to restoring the gulf ecosystem and economy. The RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act was originally introduced by nine of the 10 gulf state senators, including Senators Mary Landrieu (D-La), Bill …
Call your senators now and ask them to pass the RESTORE Act amendment today!
The Senate will be voting on the RESTORE Act amendment early this afternoon. Please call your senators NOW and tell them to vote Yes on the RESTORE Act amendment! It’s easy: Call the Senate switchboard at 202-224-3121 and tell them you’d like to speak with your senators. Here is a sample script: “Hi, my name is _______ and I’m calling to urge the senator to vote Yes on Senate amendment 1822, the Nelson-Shelby-Landrieu RESTORE Act amendment. The damage from the …
Senate will vote on RESTORE Act amendment today
By Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund It’s an important day for recovery in the Gulf Coast. Nearly two years after the BP oil disaster, the communities, economies and environment of the gulf are still struggling to recover. Today, Congress has the opportunity to take a crucial step towards making the gulf whole again: by voting yes on the Nelson-Shelby-Landrieu RESTORE Act amendment to S. 1813, the Surface Transportation bill. The RESTORE Act amendment has been paired with an additional $1.4 …
As BP settlement talks heat up, groups call for full accountability, restoration
News broke Sunday (Feb. 26) that U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier had delayed the start of the trial over the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster till March 5. The judge postponed the trial to allow more time for settlement negotiations among the parties. If parties reach a settlement, the settlement must hold BP and the other responsible parties fully accountable for the magnitude of the disaster they caused, and it must ensure that penalty dollars come back to restore the region …
ASFPM agrees: Some gulf oil spill fines should go to gulf restoration
This story was originally posted on Environmental Defense Fund’s Restoration and Resilience blog. By Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM), which has chapters in each of the five Gulf Coast states damaged by the 2010 gulf oil spill, says it would be appropriate if Congress dedicated some of the spill fines to restore the gulf. “Recognizing that major funds are needed to support reconstruction of Gulf Coast high hazard areas devastated by the recent oil spill, …
Voices of the Delta: Captain Troy Frady
Next in our Voices of the Delta series, you will meet Captain Troy Frady: Alabama native, owner of Distraction Charters in Orange Beach, Ala. and Gulf Coast restoration advocate. Name: Captain Troy Frady Occupation: Owner/Operator at Distraction Charters in Orange Beach, Alabama What does the Gulf Coast mean to you? My earliest memories of coastal Alabama date back to the early 1970s. There were not many people on the water back then around Orange Beach, Fort Morgan and Dauphin Island. The fish …
House amendment builds momentum for RESTORE Act
By Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund Thanks to the hard work of Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House of Representatives passed an amendment yesterday that would dedicate 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the gulf oil spill to gulf restoration. The amendment, which passed by a voice vote on the transportation reauthorization bill, sets aside the expected penalties from BP and other responsible parties in a Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund to be used solely for restoration. The …
ASBPA sends letter to Congress endorsing RESTORE Act
By Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund Today, the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) sent a letter to Congress endorsing and asking for swift passage of the RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act (S. 1400), a bill that would ensure oil spill fines are dedicated to gulf restoration. The letter, signed by ASBPA president Harry Simmons, urges Senate and House leadership to take immediate steps to pass the legislation. The RESTORE Act would dedicate 80 percent of Clean Water …
RESTORE Act social media week of action continues!
Thanks to all who have been participating in our RESTORE Act social media week of action! Our work is not done. There is a good chance the RESTORE Act could come to a vote in the Senate this week. That’s why it’s important for us to keep the pressure on and continue sending messages to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), asking them to take a position on the RESTORE Act and pass it NOW! Just click …
Voices of the Delta: Keith Blomstrom
This is the second post of our Voices of the Delta series. Name: Keith Blomstrom Occupation: President of the Minnesota Conservation Federation Why are the Mississippi River Delta and Gulf Coast important to Minnesota? Minnesota is linked to the gulf in many ways. The Mississippi River starts in Minnesota — its headwaters are located in Itasca State Park, near Bemidji, Minn. — so the river itself means a great deal to us. Some of the beneficial sediment that travels to …
Tweet your #LOVE for the gulf!
Want to help show your love for the Gulf this Valentine’s Day? It’s easy! Just click on one of the messages below to tell Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) that you want money from the BP oil spill to go back to the gulf. Just click on one of these messages! Show your #LOVE for the #Gulf. Tell @SenatorReid @McConnellPress Pass #RESTOREact NOW! #oilspill http://bit.ly/zyg8vZ via @RestoreDelta Send the #Gulf a Valentine! Tell @SenatorReid @McConnellPress …