Phase III, Week 1: Recap of the BP oil spill trial
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By Will Lindsey The first week of phase III of the BP trial ended on Friday, January 23. During this phase, which is expected to last three weeks, Judge Carl Barbier will determine the amount of Clean Water Act civil penalties that BP must pay for the 2010 Gulf oil disaster. Phase III comes after two previous phases, the first of which determined that BP was 67 percent responsible for the spill, while phase II determined that 3.19 million barrels …
What is Phase III of the BP Trial?
Phase III of the BP Trial started this week. But what does this mean? Why are there “phases”, and when will this trial end? All good questions. The BP trial underway is a civil (not criminal) litigation between the U.S. Department of Justice and BP and other parties responsible for the 2010 Gulf oil spill. BP and others are being held accountable for violations of the Clean Water Act for spilling millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. …
Final Phase of BP Oil Spill Trial to Begin Next Week
Press Statement + Interview Opportunities Available Contact: Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, schatzele@nwf.org Elizabeth Van Cleve, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, evancleve@edf.org Lauren Bourg, National Audubon Society, 225.776.9838, lbourg@audubon.org Final Phase of BP Oil Spill Trial to Begin Next Week BP must be held fully accountable for its role in nation’s largest oil disaster (New Orleans – January 15, 2015) On Tuesday, January 20, 2015, the third and final phase of the BP oil spill civil trial will begin …
Another piece of the puzzle: New study sheds light on oil’s effects on plant life
By Matt Phillips, National Wildlife Federation The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster spilled nearly 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Oil coated the shore, covering hundreds of miles of coastline, including some of Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. Scientists have spent the years since the spill assessing its continuing impacts on Gulf wildlife and ecosystems. And next Tuesday in New Orleans, Phase III of the BP oil spill trial will start in New Orleans. In a recent study, …
River diversion model debuted at Plaquemines Parish Orange Festival
By Philip Russo, Outreach Coordinator, Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition Land along a river has long been coveted for its agricultural productivity, but few rivers can compete with the mighty Mississippi. With a drainage basin stretching across 31 U.S. states and parts of Canada, it is no surprise that the Mississippi River carries a lot of sediment. Historically, the river would deposit this sediment near its mouth in what is now southeast Louisiana, creating new land. But since leveeing …
Media Advisory: Conservation Groups Release Restoration Solutions for Mississippi River Delta
MEDIA ADVISORY for Tuesday Dec. 9: Telepresser at 10:00 a.m. CT Conservation Groups Release Restoration Solutions for Mississippi River Delta New report recommends a series of science-based restoration efforts to benefit coastal Louisiana The 2010 Gulf oil disaster dumped more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, affecting hundreds of miles of coastline along the five Gulf states, with Louisiana’s coast receiving the greatest damage. BP and the other companies responsible will pay billions of dollars …
The Beauty of the Louisiana Barrier Islands
By Eden Davis, Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign On September 12, I had the opportunity to travel to Raccoon Island, one of the remaining barrier islands outside of Terrebonne Bay. Raccoon Island was once part of the 25-mile-long barrier island chain called Isles Dernieres or Last Islands. Prior to the Last Island Hurricane of August 10, 1856, Isles Dernieres was a famous resort destination. When the Last Island Hurricane hit, more than 200 people perished in the storm, and …
Conservation Groups React to Ruling that BP Grossly Negligent in 2010 Oil Disaster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, schatzele@nwf.org Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, eskree@edf.org Erin Greeson, National Audubon Society, 503.913.8978, egreeson@audubon.org Conservation Groups React to Ruling that BP Grossly Negligent in 2010 Oil Disaster Today’s ruling a vital step toward holding BP accountable, restoring the Gulf (September 4, 2014 – New Orleans) National and local organizations working on Mississippi River Delta restoration – Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society and the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation – released the following …
Risk and Resilience: Society of Environmental Journalists hosts annual conference this week in New Orleans
By Elizabeth Skree, Communications Manager, Environmental Defense Fund This week, along the Mississippi River at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, hundreds of environmental journalists, reporters and bloggers; journalism students and professors; communications professionals; and NGO and government expert presenters and panelists are gathering for the annual Society of Environmental Journalists Conference. The conference brings together environmental journalists from around the world to learn about emerging environmental issues, meet new sources and experts, learn about new tools and programs, network …
Nine years later: Is the Gulf Coast prepared for another Katrina?
This post originally appeared on Environmental Defense Fund’s EDF Voices blog. By Estelle Robichaux, Environmental Defense Fund Nine years ago, as Hurricane Katrina gathered strength in the Gulf of Mexico, I called my grandmother and namesake to wish her happy 84th birthday – and to urge her to leave her home on Bayou Lafourche until the storm passed. It would take several more days before I heard my mother’s voice over the phone and was reassured that everyone in my family …
Hurricane Katrina anniversary serves as reminder of need for increased storm protection
By Alisha Renfro, Ph.D., National Wildlife Federation While the Atlantic hurricane season started June 1, the time period between the end of August and October 1 is typically the most active part of the season. It was during this window that some of the biggest and most destructive hurricanes made landfall along the Gulf Coast, including Betsy (1965), Camille (1969), Katrina (2005), Rita (2005), Gustav (2008) and Ike (2008). As waters in the Gulf of Mexico warm – providing fuel …
IPCC report examines climate change’s effects on Mississippi River Delta and strategies for adaptation
By Keenan Orfalea, Communications Intern, Environmental Defense Fund “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long range risks of comfortable inaction.” – President John F. Kennedy The Mississippi River Delta – one of the largest and most productive wetland ecosystems in North America – is teeming with life, and this rich bounty has supported the development of unique cultures and traditions, alongside industry. At the same time, Louisiana’s fragile coastal wetland ecosystems are …
Tagged Economics, ReportsGuest Post: Why New Orleanians should care about coastal restoration, by Lynda Woolard
Guest post by Lynda Woolard (New Orleans) This post is the first in a two-part guest series. “The simple truth is, if we fail to restore our coast, we fail to protect our city from future storms.” I was recently blessed with an opportunity to go along for a boat trip to see the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) and the Central Wetlands of southeast Louisiana with a delegation from the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Campaign. I was initially a …
Bill to Protect Louisiana’s Coastal Fund Passes House
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, eskree@edf.org Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, schatzele@nwf.org Erin Greeson, National Audubon Society, 503.913.8978, egreeson@audubon.org Bill to protect Louisiana’s Coastal Fund passes House Legislation to prevent misuse of Fund moves to Senate (May 5, 2014—Baton Rouge, LA) Today, the Louisiana House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 490, legislation that will protect the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund from misuse. National and local conservation organizations committed to Mississippi River Delta restoration – Environmental …
Support HB 490: Legislation to protect Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund
By Cynthia Duet, Director of Governmental Relations, Audubon Louisiana On May 24, 2013, a curious, if not uncomfortable, rhetorical question was posed in bold red lettering in an article from The Lens by Representative Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles. He asked, “Do you think when we created the Coastal Restoration Fund, it was meant to be used for money-laundering?” Our groups believe the answer to be an unqualified “No” and therefore are supporting a bill this legislative session – HB 490, …