Press Releases

Conservation Groups React to Coastal Restoration Cuts in President’s Budget

Conservation Groups React to Coastal Restoration Cuts in President’s Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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 Jacques Hebert, National Audubon Society, 504.264.6849, jhebert@audubon.org Conservation Groups React to Coastal Restoration Cuts in President’s Budget Proposed budget jeopardizes critical wetlands restoration (NEW ORLEANS – February 4, 2015) On Monday, President Obama unveiled a $4 trillion proposed budget that would tap more than $3 billion in future oil and gas revenues from Gulf Coast states to pay for other …

NEWS RELEASE: Louisiana Governor Cuts Coastal Funds, Jeopardizing Coast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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 Jimmy Frederick, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 225.767.4181, jimmy.frederick@crcl.org Louisiana Governor Cuts Coastal Funds, Jeopardizing Coast Budget cuts will impact restoration programs and raises question of how state will pay for Coastal Plan (New Orleans – January 21, 2015) On Wednesday, January 21, 2015, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal announced budget cuts including cuts …

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 …

NEWS RELEASE: Conservation Groups Release Restoration Solutions for Mississippi River Delta

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 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 Conservation Groups Release Restoration Solutions for Mississippi River Delta New report recommends a series of science-based restoration efforts to benefit coastal Louisiana (NEW ORLEANS – December 9, 2014) Today, leading national and local conservation groups released a report outlining 19 priority projects for restoring the Mississippi River Delta following the 2010 Gulf oil …

Media Advisory: Conservation Groups Release Priority Restoration Solutions for La and Gulf Coast

MEDIA ADVISORY for Tuesday Dec. 9 Louisiana telepresser – 10 am CT Gulf-wide telepresser – 11 am CT Conservation Groups Release Priority Restoration Solutions for Louisiana and Gulf Coast Two new reports outline path toward comprehensive Gulf Coast ecosystem restoration following oil disaster 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 …

Conservation Organizations Respond to RESTORE Council Release of Gulf Coast Restoration Project Proposals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS: Elizabeth Van Cleve, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, evancleve@edf.org Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, schatzele@nwf.org Lauren Bourg, National Audubon Society, 504.264.6862, lbourg@audubon.org Conservation Organizations Respond to RESTORE Council Release of Gulf Coast Restoration Project Proposals Council should select projects that provide maximum benefit to Gulf Coast ecosystem (New Orleans—December 1, 2014) Today, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (Council) released its list of project and program proposals to be considered for funding with select penalty money from the 2010 …

New Website Tracks Impacts of Coastal Restoration On Businesses and the Gulf Economy

This post originally appeared on the website OurCoastOurEconomy.org. Environmental Defense Fund today launched a new business-focused website, OurCoastOurEconomy.org, which provides comprehensive information and data on the direct links between Louisiana coastal restoration and the survival and growth of business sectors in the state, Gulf region and nation. The website offers resources on the economics of restoration, policy updates on the RESTORE Act and other restoration funding, a map of businesses poised to grow with increased funding for coastal restoration, news updates and reports. Who would find this website …

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 …

New study of storm and flooding mitigation recommendations released today

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 New study of storm and flooding mitigation recommendations released today As Katrina anniversary nears, conservation groups share study of ‘nonstructural measures’ (August 27, 2014 – New Orleans) As Hurricane Katrina’s ninth anniversary approaches this week, a new study released today provides key recommendations to assist coastal residents and businesses in building safe and more resilient communities. The report, entitled “Achieving Resilience in …

You’re invited: Join experts to talk about cost of restoring Louisiana's coast and who will pay

The Lens, with sponsorship from the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Coalition, is hosting a panel discussion on the financing of Louisiana’s $50-billion Coastal Master Plan at Loyola University this Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. This event is designed to send the audience home with a solid understanding of how to restore our coast. An example of questions The Lens plans to address include the following: How far can we go on the current master plan with the funding in …

Groups Praise Release of Gulf Restoration Guidelines

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  Groups Praise Release of Gulf Restoration Guidelines “Today’s regulations are a vital step forward on the long road to restoring the Mississippi River Delta” (August 13, 2014—Washington, DC) This morning, the Treasury Department released an Interim Final Rule describing how RESTORE Act funds can be spent. The Restore the Mississippi River Delta Campaign – a coalition of …

For Immediate Release: Groups Echo Urgency for Gulf Restoration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, eskree@edf.org Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation, 512.610.7765, mccormick@nwf.org Erin Greeson, National Audubon Society, 503.913.8978, egreeson@audubon.org Andrew Blejwas, The Nature Conservancy, 617.785.7047, ablejwas@tnc.org John Wark, Ocean Conservancy, 850.321.6490, johntwark@gmail.com Mary Babic, Oxfam America, 617.517.9475, mbabic@oxfamamerica.org GROUPS ECHO URGENCY FOR GULF RESTORATION Senators urge Council to accelerate restoration projects   (Washington, D.C. – July 29, 2014) Following a hearing this morning in the Senate Commerce Committee, groups working on environmental and economic restoration in the Gulf …

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 …

Gulf Oil Disaster’s Impacts to Wildlife and Habitat Still Unaddressed Four Years Later

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Greeson, National Audubon Society, 503.913.8978, egreeson@audubon.org Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, schatzele@nwf.org Elizabeth Skree, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.553.2543, eskree@edf.org Gulf Oil Disaster’s Impacts to Wildlife and Habitat Still Unaddressed Four Years Later Leading Conservation Groups Highlight New Findings, Need for Restoration (New Orleans, LA—April 17, 2014) Four years after the Gulf oil disaster began, killing 11 men and spewing 4.1 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, leading national and local conservation …