June 11, 2012
← Older posts Newer posts →June 11, 2012
More reason to fight for RESTORE money (editorial) The Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.). June 10, 2012. “THE ADDITION of thousands of new jobs is just the latest of many reasons why Congress needs to keep the RESTORE Act in the federal transportation bill, and then pass it…” (Read more) Don’t shortchange Louisiana’s wetlands: An editorial The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 11, 2012. “Requiring developers who destroy wetlands to offset the loss by restoring them elsewhere is critical to the environment — …
Latest news: June 8, 2012
BP fine funds tied by politics By Jordan Blum, The Advocate. June 8, 2012. “WASHINGTON — Optimism continued to wane Thursday for the fate of the federal transportation spending legislation that contains language that would direct several billion dollars in BP fine money to Louisiana and other Gulf states…” (Read more) Study: Oyster reef restoration could boost Gulf Coast economy By Harlan Kirgan, The Mississippi Press. June 7, 2012. “PASCAGOULA, Mississippi — Oyster reef restoration projects using penalty money from …
RESTORE Fines Focused on Oyster Reef Restoration Will Jumpstart Gulf Economy, Create Jobs
This release was originally distributed by Environmental Defense Fund. Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida Stand Most to Benefit (Washington, D.C.–June 6, 2012) After a comprehensive investigation into the hiring potential of 130 nationwide firms involved in the oyster reef restoration industry, the Duke University Center on Globalization, Governance & Competitiveness today released a report, “RESTORING GULF OYSTER REEFS: Opportunities for Innovation,” finding that oyster reef restoration projects could provide quadruple economic returns for the Gulf Coast states. The study comes …
Latest news: June 7, 2012
Study: Job growth if BP fines used for coast By Kevin McGill, Associated Press. June 6, 2012. “NEW ORLEANS — A study commissioned by two nonprofit groups says thousands of jobs would be created along the Gulf Coast if money from BP oil spill penalties and other sources were dedicated to coastal restoration…” (Read more) U.S. House approves energy bill with change in wetlands regulations By Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 6, 2012. “WASHINGTON — The House approved …
Latest news: June 6, 2012
Senate proposal has language on RESTORE Act By Jordan Blum, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). June 6, 2012. “WASHINGTON — A Senate-led proposal submitted Tuesday for the transportation legislation included the RESTORE Act language directing BP fine money to Louisiana and other Gulf states…” (Read more) Louisiana Fishermen Pioneer Floating Architecture By Saskia de Melker, PBS NewsHour. June 5, 2012. “Raccourci Old River is known as one of the best fishing spots in Point-Coupee Parish, Louisiana. This community of more …
Latest news: June 5, 2012
New $10 million for Louisiana’s coast would be a key appropriation: An editorial The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 4, 2012. “U.S. Reps. Steve Scalise and Cedric Richmond scored a victory for Louisiana’s imperiled coast Friday, successfully amending the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to include $10 million for a restoration plan that was first authorized by Congress five years ago…” (Read more) Legislature approves plan to use oil spill fines for coastal restoration By Jeff Adelson, The Times-Picayune. June 4, …
Latest news: June 4, 2012
The Wild Side The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). June 3, 2012. “Once again, the 2012 session of the Legislature provided us with more reason to understand why the words “infinite wisdom” and “Louisiana Legislature” are seldom mentioned in the same sentence…” (Read more) U.S. House votes to restore funding for Louisiana ecosystem restoration By Bruce Alpert, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 1, 2012. “WASHINGTON – The House voted 216-177 today to restore $10 million of the $16.8 million proposed by …
Getting back to nature: New study looks at the past, present and future of the Mississippi River Delta
By Alisha A. Renfro, Ph.D, Coastal Scientist, National Wildlife Federation The Mississippi River has played an important role in the history, physical and economic growth of the United States. However, the Mississippi River and the delta region it built didn’t always look the way they do today. In an article by Michael Blum, Ph.D. and Harry Roberts, Ph.D. titled “The Mississippi Delta Region: Past, Present, and Future” published in The Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences (vol. 40), researchers …
Tagged ReportsLatest news: June 1, 2012
Don’t raid coastal money from BP spill fines: An editorial By Manuel Torres, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). June 1, 2012. “Louisiana lawmakers must understand the urgency of coastal restoration — this state is facing a struggle for its survival and desperately needs Congress to commit 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the BP spill to the Gulf Coast states by passing the Restore Act…” (Read more) Editorial: Lawmakers may be gambling with state’s coast The American Press (Lake …
Conservation groups laud funding for restoration efforts from U.S. House
Federal funds will support critical restoration construction projects, jobs in Louisiana FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Washington, D.C. — June 1, 2012) Today, local and national conservation groups applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for approving $10 million in new funding for critical Louisiana coastal restoration projects. Passed as an amendment to the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, the measure was sponsored by Louisiana Representatives Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Cedric Richmond (D-La.) and directs $10 million to the U.S. Army Corps …
On the first day of hurricane season, a call for coastal restoration
By Amanda Moore, National Wildlife Federation Water. Flashlight. Batteries. Canned food. It’s hurricane season. In coastal Louisiana, we’ll keep a close eye on the weather until November — hoping to dodge each swirling white storm that crops up on the radar. As the world witnessed in 2005 during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Louisiana is dangerously vulnerable to strong storms. One major reason for our vulnerability is the collapse of coastal wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta in southern Louisiana. Since the 1930s, due …
Louisiana residents: Call your state senator NOW before session ends!
“I oppose the Senate Finance Committee amendment to House Bill 812. Money from the BP oil spill should be used for coastal restoration and not be redirected for ‘other purposes.’ Please support the House passed versions of HB 812 and HB 838.” Call the state Senate office today (225) 342-2040 and ask to be connected to your senator (you can give them your address if you don’t know who he or she is) and relay the message above. Once you’ve …
It’s here – the start of the 2012 hurricane season
By Douglas Meffert, National Audubon Society, Audubon Louisiana For those of us living on the Gulf of Mexico and east coast of the United States, we are entering our annual season of trepidation and preparedness — the annual hurricane season, which officially begins this Friday, June 1. Last Thursday, Robert Detrick, Director of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, announced that NOAA expects an “average” hurricane season, based on a 30-year seasonal average. They estimate 9 to 15 named …
Latest news: May 31, 2012
Congressman Steve Scalise opposes amendment allowing state lawmakers to redirect oil spill fines By Jeff Adelson, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). May 30, 2012. “U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Metairie, is calling on state lawmakers to abandon a proposal that could allow the Legislature to redirect fines from the Deepwater Horizon disaster to projects unrelated to coastal restoration…” (Read more) Oversight of BP fine money sparks concern in Legislature By Jeremy Alford, The Houma (La.) Courier. May 30, 2012. “BATON ROUGE — …
More than 100 Gulf Coast cities, municipalities, economic development groups and chambers of commerce urge Congress to pass RESTORE Act
Yesterday, 118 leaders representing cities, municipalities, economic development groups and chambers of commerce from all five gulf states sent a joint letter to House and Senate leadership urging them to pass the RESTORE Act. If passed, the RESTORE Act would direct the majority of fines paid by those responsible for the 2010 gulf oil spill back to Gulf Coast communities. Both the Senate and House have passed versions of the RESTORE Act as part of their transportation bills. The legislation …