Proponents say wastewater assimilation helps rebuild wetlands. Their opponents warn it’s making them much worse. Now DEQ says it’s reviewing the practice’s impacts across south Louisiana.
Author Archives: Tom Wright
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 22: ‘There’s a civil war going on out there’
An emotional hearing last week on a proposed change to environmental cleanup regulations. The LDEQ has since withdrawn the revision pending further public outreach. Plus, four F-rated New Orleans schools implement improvement plans and a major update in the fake subpoena story.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 21: ‘Commence operations’
Audio from the opening of the Bonnet Carre spillway. A proposed chemical plant gets pushback from St. James Parish residents. And New Orleans charter school leaders are trying to align their calendars.
Posted inEnvironment
St. James residents slam Wanhua chemical plant plans in Convent
A representative of the Chinese-based chemical giant assured parish planning commissioners Monday that its planned isocyanate plant in Convent would provide hundreds of new direct and indirect jobs and would be managed safely. But some members of the public offering were not having it.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 20: ‘Not two cents’
This week’s Entergy vote. A troubling warning about the wastewater situation in St. James Parish. And The Lens’ new series on school closures in New Orleans.
Posted inEnvironment
Hard-hit Blind River wildlife could suffer badly in Mosaic wastewater release
Slight lateral movement continued to be reported along the north perimeter, crest and slope of Mosaic Fertilizer’s Gypsum Stack No. 4, which holds back hundreds of millions of gallons of wastewater. But the company says the overall rate of movement has slowed substantially.
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 19: ‘We no longer can suffer another no-call’
Michael Isaac Stein covers the City Council hearing on Entergy’s $5 million fine. Tom Wright updates the Mosaic wastewater crisis. Audubon’s Kara Lankford promotes a new vision for Gulf restoration.
Posted inEnvironment
Mosaic says it can keep wastewater on site in case of breach
Representatives of Mosaic Fertilizer say they are confident about their ability to prevent a potential breach of its gypsum-walled reservoir in St. James Parish. Even so, Mosaic is taking steps to secure the reservoir to ensure that any potential leak of acidic wastewater does not escape from their property
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 18: ‘A very difficult and unpleasant decision that is part of the landscape in New Orleans’
Marta Jewson talks about how school closure decisions are made. And Tom Wright goes to Braithwaite to talk about state coastal restoration efforts.
Posted inEnvironment
Residents seek answers as CPRA preps for big river diversions
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has a plan for reconnecting the Mississippi River with coastal regions that have steadily disappeared under Gulf waters. But can they connect with public support?