A legitimate debate needs to be had over whether the federal government was fully engaged in the Gulf Coast oil disaster from the moment they should have been. Did the Department of Homeland Security have plans for a catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf, or were they unprepared for what should have been a foreseeable […]
Tag: BP
Posted inEnvironment
BP still handing out contracts struck down by federal court
Despite a Sunday federal-court decision to the contrary, BP representatives today were telling would-be cleanup mariners that they had to absolve the oil giant of any liability if they wanted to get the lucrative work. The contracts handed out at the John A. Alario Center on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish included language that […]
Posted inEnvironment
National discussion on spill needs to focus on coast
Something bothers me about the national discussion about the Gulf Coast oil disaster. It’s not that people are discussing the political implications of the event or even referring to political “opportunities” that may arise from the crisis. What kills me is that the “opportunity” being discussed involves a possible change in how the country will […]
Posted inEnvironment
Waiting is the easy part
The geyser of oil resulting from the Deepwater Horizon offshore platform explosion continues to dump hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude into the Gulf of Mexico each day. Oil giant BP, which leased the platform and is responsible for stopping the leak and cleaning up the spill, has been unable to activate the blowout […]
Posted inEnvironment
Federal judge says BP can't force local workers to sign waivers of liability
Berrigan On Sunday, U.S. District Court Judge Ginger Berrigan prevented oil giant BP from having ad hoc local workers sign agreements releasing the company from any liability in the cleanup efforts. Shrimpers, oyster harvesters and others who work on the water, concerned about protecting their livelihoods, have asked BP to hire them as daily contractors […]