As the offshore spill cleanup progresses, Louisiana regulators and residents are engaged in another fight against oil pollution on land.
Tag: oil spill
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Obama moratorium may be result of being twice bitten
Despite howls from South Louisiana, President Obama hasn’t budged on his deepwater oil drilling moratorium, which will cost thousands of jobs. Many people can’t understand why he is so steadfast on this particular policy response to the BP oil disaster, while being somewhat flexible on other issues, such as sand berms and skimmers. Many conservative pundits imply […]
Posted inEnvironment, Government & Politics
Gulf Coast states lag behind other states in getting contracts for oil disaster work
An overwhelming number of federal contracts related to the BP oil disaster have gone to companies outside of the area most affected by the environmental and economic catastrophe, according to data from government agencies. About $6.5 million in federal contracting money has gone to Louisiana since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the state’s […]
Posted inEnvironment
Legislators seek transparency from BP but feel snubbed
Two state lawmakers who persuaded the Legislature to call for BP to provide full access to its oil-spill information now say they’re frustrated with the oil giant’s continued lack of compliance. Leger Richmond The state House and Senate in June unanimously passed House Concurrent Resolution 208, sponsored by New Orleans Democratic Reps. Walter Leger III […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Twilight for Gulf Coast
Ten weeks into the oil gusher, Coast Guard officials claim more oil response assets are “urgently” required, and their need for more skimmers approaches “critical mass.” What a timely assessment! Can Professor Prompt award them all honorary degrees for foresight? And then the Obama administration informs us that the screening process to assess offers of […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
BP bankruptcy is a real fear
After meeting with BP Chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg on June 16, President Obama said he was “absolutely confident BP will be able to meet its obligation to the Gulf Coast and to the American people. BP is a strong and viable company and it is in all of our interests that it remain so.” The stock […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Can Mabus save us?
Though President Obama’s highly anticipated oil-gusher speech was widely panned, he made an important commitment to restoring Louisiana’s coastal wetlands. If kept, this expensive, long-term promise – made before a national prime-time audience – might be the most significant commitment a president ever made to the Pelican state. Here’s the relevant excerpt from Obama’s Oval […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Jindal needs to engage in more than a war of words
Weeks ago, Gov. Bobby Jindal joined Sen. David Vitter’s call for the government to treat the response to the Gulf Coast oil gusher as it would a war. Here’s a representative quote: “[W]e need the federal government and BP to intensify their efforts and treat this oil spill like a war. We need to be […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
What’s in a blowout’s name?
The May 1980 issue of Popular Mechanics discusses what at that time was the world’s worst oil spill – the Ixtoc I blowout, which gushed an estimated 140 million gallons into the Gulf of Mexico for 10 months. Towards the end of the article we learn that “Ixtoc”, is the Mayan term for “blowout,” or […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Another man-made disaster, another presidential speech
As President Obama prepares to make a prime-time address about the oil gusher, South Louisiana finds itself in a familiar position: reeling from man-made disaster, concerned about the future, and hopeful their president will make a bold commitment to the region in front of a national TV audience. Based on past experience, the smart money […]