Latest news: April 19, 2012
← Older posts Newer posts →Latest news: April 19, 2012
House moves along Restore Act to help Gulf Coast By Maria Recio, McClatchy Newspapers. April 18, 2012 “WASHINGTON — On the cusp of the second anniversary of the BP oil spill, the House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a transportation bill that includes a provision setting aside 80 percent of the BP fines for the five Gulf states _ Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Texas _ for restoration and recovery of the areas affected by the Deepwater Horizon disaster…” (Read …
Two Years Later: Dolphins Struggling
Two years after the start of the BP oil spill, dolphins in the northern Gulf of Mexico are dying in unprecedented numbers. This month marks a record-shattering 26 consecutive months of above-average dolphin strandings. Only 5 percent of the stranded dolphins were recovered alive and their prognosis was usually poor. Share this photo on Facebook. Share this image on Twitter. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently did an in-depth study of 32 dolphins in Barataria Bay, an area …
Two Years Later: Shoreline Impacts
Two years after the start of the oil spill, a significant stretch of the Gulf Coast remains affected. A recent article in National Geographic quotes Jacqueline Michel, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) coordinator for the Shoreline Clean-up Assessment Program saying, “The current oiling, where you still see anything on the shoreline, is around 450 miles as of February 25.” The affected areas stretch from Louisiana to Florida. An earlier NOAA report documented a total of 1,050 total …
Latest news: April 18, 2012
The Big Spill, Two Years Later Editorial, The New York Times. April 17, 2012. “Friday is the second anniversary of the explosion at BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig that killed 11 workers and spilled upwards of five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico…” (Read more) Transportation bill would direct BP fine funds to La. By Jordan Blum, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). April 18, 2012. “WASHINGTON — The U.S. House could pass its 90-day transportation extension bill Wednesday. …
Two Years Later: Day 2
From April 20th, 2010 through April 5th, 2011 some 1,149 sea turtles washed up along the gulf coast. Of the dead turtles, an overwhelming majority were Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the most endangered sea turtle species in the world, which nests only in the Gulf of Mexico. Last month alone, 40 more dead sea turtles were found on the shores of Mississippi, proving that two years later, the worst effects of the BP oil spill are far from over. Check …
Latest news: April 17, 2012
Momentum for Restore Act in Congress: An editorial Editorial, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). April 17, 2012. “The Restore Act, which promises to give 80 percent of Clean Water Act fines from the BP oil spill to the Gulf Coast, is regaining momentum as part of a second 90-day extension of federal highway funding. That’s a promising development…” (Read more) Gulf oil spill’s legacy: preparation and cooperation Editorial, The Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.). April 16, 2012. “WHAT WILL be the legacy of …
Two Years Later: Day 1
Welcome to the first day of “Two Years Later.” We’re kicking off the week with a video from our partners at Environmental Defense Fund showing some of the awful destruction that took place as a result of the 2010 BP oil spill. After all that, can you believe that two years later, the gulf coast STILL has not received any money from the Clean Water Act penalties? httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jPjJPVdR4g Check out our Facebook page to share this with your friends. …
Two Years Later
This week marks the two year anniversary of the BP oil spill Do you remember where you were on April 20th, 2010 – when news broke of the horrific explosion on the Deepwater Horizon BP oil rig, killing 11 workers, injuring 17 others and wreaking unimaginable havoc on the already struggling gulf coast? Do you remember the fiery inferno, the polluted water or the oil-covered dead animals that flooded the media shortly thereafter? Before we go any further, stop everything …
Latest news: April 16, 2012
Two years later, spill’s dangers linger Editorial, The Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times. April 16, 2012. “The second anniversary of America’s worst environmental disaster on Friday should serve as a reminder to the nation that there remains much work to be done…” (Read more) ‘Restore Act’ likely to pass By Joe Macaluso, The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). April 15, 2012. “Congressman Steve Scalise brought good news Friday to Baton Rouge…” (Read more) Southerland predicts RESTORE Act will pass By Randal Yakey, …
Senate Natural Resources Committee approves Louisiana Coastal Master Plan
By Karen Gautreaux, The Nature Conservancy On Thursday (April 12), the Louisiana State Senate Natural Resources Committee unanimously approved the 2012 Louisiana Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, helping the plan reach its first legislative milestone. State and local officials provided testimony in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 46 by Senator Dan Morrish (District 25), including Representative Joe Harrison (District 51), St. Mary Parish President Paul Naquin and Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Director and former state senator Reggie …
“Two Years Later” campaign starts next week
Looking for something cool to get involved in next week? Look no further! We wanted to post a quick heads up about a string of events we’re running next week around the BP oil spill anniversary. As you probably know, next Friday, April 20th will mark two years since the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill (I know, I can’t believe it either). But even today, oil is still washing up on the shores of one of our nation’s most precious landscapes. …
Latest news: April 13, 2012
Another weapon in our arsenal Editorial, The Houma (La.) Courier. April 12, 2012. “Is coastal Louisiana worth the effort and expense it would cost to save it from being enveloped by the Gulf of Mexico..” (Read more) OP-ED: Why passage of the RESTORE Act is so important By James Cummins for the Mississippi Press. April 13, 2012. “Last month, the U.S. Senate demonstrated its commitment to restoring the Gulf of Mexico’s economy and environment by approving the RESTORE Act. Known …
Latest news: April 12, 2012
AP NewsBreak: Texas signs first conservation deal using money from Gulf oil spill settlement Associated Press. April 10, 2012. “HOUSTON — Texas is the first state to confirm a deal to spend settlement money from the Gulf oil spill for long-term coastal conservation, working with a private nonprofit to cut through red tape and buy 80 acres of prime habitat for endangered whooping cranes…” (Read more) Report: Dolphins heavily affected by oil spill By Claire Taylor, The Daily Advertiser (Lafayette, …
Report: Reengineer Mississippi River Delta To Protect Nation’s Economic, Ecological Assets
Scientists call for “immediate action” to address disintegration of delta News Release (Baton Rouge, La.—April 11, 2012) Building a series of engineered structures called diversions along the lower Mississippi River will yield tens of billions of dollars in net annual benefits to the nation and hedge against future disasters, according to a new report co-authored by 22 prominent scientists and engineers. The report, “Answering 10 Fundamental Questions about the Mississippi River Delta,” makes a scientific and economic case for restoring the …
Tagged ReportsLatest news: April 11, 2012
National Wildlife Federation says Gulf of Mexico still suffering from oil spill By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans). April 10, 2012. “Two years after the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill, there are still clear signs that the environment along the northern Gulf of Mexico, especially in Louisiana, continues to be affected by oil pollution, according to a report released Tuesday by the National Wildlife Federation…” (Read more) Gulf Still in Jeopardy after BP Oil Spill By Debbie Williams, WKRG …