Latest Mississippi River Delta News: July 19, 2013

The Gulf’s Suffering Continues, So Should BP’s Payments
Opinion by Kathleen Koch. U.S. News & World Report. July 19, 2013.
“It’s hard to miss the commercials that bombard television viewers, showing cheerful scenes of the Gulf Coast and assuring everyone that oil giant British Petroleum’s “commitment to the Gulf and to America has never been stronger.” Yet today BP appears before a federal judge…” (Read more).

Corps of Engineers moves closer to decision on how to ‘armor’ New Orleans area levees
By Mark Schleifstein. The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, La.). July 18, 2013.
“The Army Corps of Engineers is closer to making a final decision on how to “armor” the earthen levees in the New Orleans area hurricane levee system, to keep the levees from eroding or breaching during hurricane storm surges, corps officials said Thursday…” (Read more).

Plaintiffs attorneys oppose BP’s effort to halt Gulf spill payments
By Harry Weber. FuelFix – The Houston Chronicle. July 18, 2013.
“Attorneys for victims of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill oppose BP’s request to suspend all payments from a multibillion dollar civil settlement, saying in a court filing Thursday there is no evidence the overall processing of claims has been corrupted…” (Read more).

Delays on restoration work spark concern
By Nikki Buskey. Houma Courier (Houma, La.). July 18, 2013.
“Local officials and environmental advocates stressed Thursday that early restoration work planned for the Gulf Coast after the BP oil spill is urgently needed and can’t keep suffering bureaucratic delays.  Terrebonne and Lafourche residents had the opportunity…” (Read more).

Sediment diversions are important to survival of state’s coast
Opinion by Aaron Viles. The Lens (New Orleans, La.). July 18, 2013.
“Regarding the July 3 opinion piece, “Sediment diversions not the way to rebuild Louisiana’s coast,” by George Ricks:  There’s a massive irony in the name of your contributor’s organization, the so-called Save Louisiana Coalition…” (Read more).

Levee protection methods debated at meeting
By Jeff Adelson. The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). July 18, 2013.
“Ongoing tension continued Thursday between the board overseeing the East Bank’s flood protection system and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over how to ensure the area’s levees hold if they get overtopped during storm surges…” (Read more).

Landrieu, Cassidy gloss over cooperation on flood insurance measure
By Stephanie Grace. The Advocate (Baton Rouge, La.). July 18, 2013.
“On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu issued a news release announcing great news for certain Louisiana property owners whose flood insurance rates were scheduled to rise: Landrieu had just shepherded legislation delaying the increase through a subcommittee…” (Read more).