Oil Spill
Bryant questions BP 'spin'; announces restoration projects
Published: Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 6:14 AM
By Harlan Kirgan, Mississippi Press
GULFPORT, Mississippi -- Gov. Phil Bryant announced Tuesday that $13.6
million in restoration projects from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill are
about to begin and he took the opportunity to counter BP's assertion that
beach cleanup is 98 percent completed.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2012/04/bryant_questions_bp_spin_annou.html
Restoration projects to begin bids
Sun Herald
By NICOLE DOW
GULFPORT -- Just a few days shy of the second anniversary of the BP oil
spill, Gov. Phil Bryant spoke in Gulfport about restoration plans for the
Mississippi Gulf Coast. A total of $13.6 million of BP's $100 million
commitment will be spent on oyster-cultch and artificial-reef restoration
projects, Bryant said.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/17/v-print/3889012/restoration-projects-to-begin.html
Gov. Bryant announces $13.6M in BP-funded restoration work
WLOX
As we approach the two year anniversary of the BP oil spill, Governor Phil
Bryant on Tuesday announced two BP-funded projects to help restore the
gulf. Those projects involve restoring damaged oyster reefs offshore and
near shore fishing reefs.
http://www.wlox.com/story/17516090/gov-bryant-announces-136m-in-bp-funded-restoration-work
Coast man takes worries to BP's London meeting
Sun Herald
By MICHAEL NEWSOM
A South Mississippi man spoke in London at BP's annual shareholders meeting
and invited company officials in the United Kingdom to come to the Gulf
Coast and investigate lingering effects of the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster,
which happened two years ago this week.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/16/v-print/3886347/coast-man-takes-worries-to-bps.html
BP oil spill: Safety practices still a concern 2 years after Gulf of Mexico
oil spill
5:50 p.m. EST, April 17, 2012|
By Kevin Spear
Orlando Sentinel
Exhaustive probes of the nation's largest offshore oil spill two years ago
uncovered blunder after blunder, all tied to underlying factors that
experts say remain a concern in the disaster's continuing aftermath.
http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-17/news/os-bp-gulf-spill-anniversary-20120414_1_deepwater-horizon-rig-gulf-of-mexico-oil-bob-dudley
BP, plaintiffs' attorneys present federal judge with terms of $7.8B Gulf
oil spill settlement
By Associated Press,
NEW ORLEANS — BP and a team of plaintiffs' attorneys have presented a
federal judge with the details of a proposed class-action settlement
designed to resolve billions of dollars in economic damage claims spawned
by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/bp-plaintiffs-attorneys-present-federal-judge-with-terms-of-78b-gulf-oil-spill-settlement/2012/04/18/gIQA3lQcQT_print.html
Gulf oil spill case settlement details to be filed this morning
Published: Wednesday, April 18, 2012, 7:00 AM
By Rebecca Mowbray, The Times-Picayune
BP and the committee of plaintiff attorneys pressing the Gulf oil spill
litigation are expected to file details of the settlements they reached
over health issues and economic damage in federal court on Wednesday by
8:30 a.m. The documents will contain important information about what "risk
transfer premiums" will be applied to different types of economic claims,
or essentially, the multiplier on people's damages.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2012/04/settlement_details_to_be_filed.html
Orange Beach Looks Back Two Years After BP Oil Spill
(ORANGE BEACH, Ala.) - Friday marks the two year anniversary of the BP oil
spill disaster.
http://www.local15tv.com/mostpopular/story/Orange-Beach-Looks-Back-Two-Years-After-BP-Oil/AZKPG58D7U6QG9czdx5qdw.cspx
The Big Spill, Two Years Later
Editorial – NY Times
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. Thanks partly to nature's resilience, some
progress has been made. The gulf is open to fishing, beaches are mostly
clean and President Obama has resurrected an ambitious oil exploration plan
that he shelved immediately after the spill.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/opinion/the-big-spill-two-years-later.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print
State News
USM gets Gulf research grant
Sun Herald
The University of Southern Mississippi has been awarded a $424,853 grant to
continue a research program on Gulf marine life.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/18/v-print/3889304/usm-gets-gulf-research-grant.html
Biloxi council rezones part of Deer Island
Sun Herald
By MARY PEREZ
BILOXI -- Eight acres of Deer Island were rezoned Tuesday by the City
Council at the request of a developer who wants to build a resort on the
island just south of Casino Row in East Biloxi.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/17/v-print/3888850/biloxi-council-rezones-part-of.html
AROUND SOUTH MISSISSIPPI
Sun Herald
MDEQ lifts some water advisories
The Department of Environmental Quality has lifted three beach
water-contact advisories issued April 13.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/17/v-print/3889008/around-south-mississippi.html
DEBRIS PILE
The Picayune Item
PICAYUNE — More than three years after a fire devastated the Centraplex,
debris from the demolition of the damaged section remains in piles. Cleanup
of the debris, torn down in August of last year, halted after asbestos was
discovered. The owner of the damaged section, J.J. Eugeron, repeatedly
informs city representatives that he will have the debris removed as fast
as possible, but the debris still remains.
http://picayuneitem.com/local/x101451951/DEBRIS-PILE
Bryant to speak during annual meeting of Delta Council in May
AP
Gov. Phil Bryant will be the keynote speaker at the Delta Council's 77th
annual meeting on May 11.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20120418/NEWS/204180343/Bryant-speak-during-annual-meeting-Delta-Council-May
Port of Gulfport bill passes
AP
Legislation that removes the Port of Gulfport and its $570 million
post-Hurricane Katrina expansion and renovation from state government
oversight has been sent to the governor.
http://www.sunherald.com/2012/04/18/v-print/3889670/port-of-gulfport-bill-passes.html
National News
House bill increases hunter access to public lands
Published April 17, 2012
Associated Press
WASHINGTON – A hunting bill passed by the House on Tuesday makes it harder
to restrict hunting and fishing on public lands and ensures that the
hunter's arsenal will continue to include lead bullets
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/17/house-bil-increases-hunter-access-to-public-lands/?test=latestnews?test=latestnews
Gas drilling spurs jobs in wildlife, software
Associated Press
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Before work begins on a gas well or pipeline in northern
Pennsylvania, Merlin Benner or one of his colleagues walks the land looking
for timber rattlesnakes, a protected species.
http://online.wsj.com/article/APb16d352007864479804ce8602bb058f0.html?grcc=56b0b3ac3ac45c8fcb0947546b0e9698Z11ZhpgeZ0Z9Z128Z11Z11&mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_newyork
Press Releases
GOV. BRYANT UNVEILS PROJECTS TO RESTORE COAST FOLLOWING 2010 OIL SPILL
GULFPORT – Mississippi plans to use $13.6 million from BP to begin two
restoration projects in the Gulf of Mexico following the 2010 BP/Deepwater
Horizon oil spill, Gov. Phil Bryant announced today.
The money is part of $100 million the company directed to Mississippi for
early restoration projects. The two projects will restore oyster reefs and
construct and rehabilitate artificial reefs in the Mississippi Sound.
"These funds focus on marine resources, which are a vital part of the
economic engine that drives the coastal economy," Gov. Bryant said.
As executive director of Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
and trustee of Mississippi's Natural Resource Damage Assessment, Trudy
Fisher is leading the two projects.
"Both the Governor and I are intent on maximizing the use of local
expertise in implementing these and other projects," Fisher said. "We have
scores of businesses and individuals on the Mississippi Gulf Coast who can
bring talent and energy to these and other restoration projects. I urge all
interested parties to be alert to the upcoming announcement of how to
become involved in the work on the coast."
Bryant said the health and the sustainably of the Gulf are vital links to a
strong economy and the livelihood of coastal residents. "On behalf of the
state of Mississippi, I will vigorously pursue every avenue available for
recovery, and the state will move swiftly and aggressively to restore our
natural resources.
"Our intent is to spend every single dollar of early restoration funding on
projects that benefit the Gulf, local businesses and the individuals who
make their living there."
Bryant says he and other Mississippi officials will continue to push for
more early restoration projects, keeping in mind that early restoration is
just the first step in recovery.
"While it is important to move quickly, it is equally important to be
thorough and to rely on science and public input to guide early restoration
decisions," Bryant said. "The public have been and will continue to be our
biggest allies in the recovery from this disaster. Gulf Coast residents are
skilled survivors who continue to show great resilience in recovering from
natural disasters. This man-made disaster will be no different."
###
Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Trustees
Announce Major Progress in Gulf Restoration Effort
For Immediate Release: April 18, 2012
An estimated $60 million in early restoration projects soon will begin
along the Gulf Coast following the nation's largest oil spill, the
Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Trustee Council
announced today.
With finalization of the "Deepwater Horizon Phase I Early Restoration Plan
& Environmental Assessment" (ERP/EA), eight restoration projects will be
implemented. The projects provide for marsh creation, coastal dune habitat
improvements, nearshore artificial reef creation, and oyster cultch
restoration, as well as the construction and enhancement of boat ramps to
compensate for lost human use of resources.
The ERP/EA is the first early restoration plan under the unprecedented
April 2011 agreement with BP to fund $1 billion in early restoration
projects. The funding enables the trustees to begin restoration before the
completion of damage assessment activities.
The trustees are working to move the next phase of early restoration
forward. The selection process for future early restoration projects will
proceed along the same lines as the first. After reaching preliminary
agreement with BP on proposed projects, the trustees will seek public
comments before finalizing any future plan.
"Having carefully planned the projects in Phase I and extensively discussed
them with the public, we are confident that the projects will achieve our
goal of beginning to heal the Gulf's ecosystem and people's enjoyment of
it," said Alabama representative Cooper Shattuck, chair of the NRDA Trustee
Council's Executive Committee.
The Phase I projects, including two each in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama
and Florida, were the focus of 12 public meetings held throughout the Gulf
states and in Washington, D.C., during the months of January and February
2012.
In addition to speaking at meetings, hundreds of citizens filed comments by
mail and online. Following the meetings, more than 500 people and
organizations submitted comments, which were gathered and carefully
evaluated. The comments, as well as trustee responses to them, are included
in the Phase I plan, which can be reviewed at
www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov and www.doi.gov/deepwaterhorizon. The
NOAA Gulf Spill Restoration site also provides additional information about
restoration planning and a status update on the ongoing damage assessment.
"We are deeply grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in the
process and hope for their continued engagement as we move ahead," said
Department of the Interior trustee Rachel Jacobson, Acting Assistant
Secretary of Fish and Wildlife and Parks. "The public's comments strengthen
our belief in these projects, and offer some great ideas for the future."
"The early restoration projects will drive both ecological and economic
renewal," said NOAA trustee Monica Medina, Principal Deputy Undersecretary
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. "Through these and future projects,
the trustees intend to build a regional restoration economy."
"These projects allow us to begin implementing restoration of Louisiana's
natural resources quickly, rather than waiting years for the completion of
the full assessment," said Louisiana trustee Garret Graves, chairman of the
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana. "But we continue
to be focused on pursuing additional projects with BP. Nearly two years
after the start of the oil spill, we hope that BP moves quickly to approve
future restoration for the Gulf Coast."
"The Phase I projects mark an important first step in assuring
Mississippi's recovery from the Deepwater Horizon spill, but they are only
a first step. We will continue to press for additional projects to restore
coastal marshes, damaged shorelines and sensitive areas of ocean habitat
and estuaries vital to the sustainability of marine ecosystems," said
Mississippi trustee Trudy D. Fisher, Executive Director of the Mississippi
Department of Environmental Quality. "The health and sustainability of the
Gulf of Mexico are vital links to a strong economy and the livelihood of
our coastal residents."
"Florida's focus on early restoration has been to ensure environmental
impacts are addressed as well as to make up for the loss of access to our
natural resources by residents and visitors alike," said Florida trustee
representative Mimi A. Drew, special advisor to the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. "Public
confidence in a healthy, high-quality environment in Florida is vital to
ensuring a healthy economy."
"Natural systems are interconnected, and these Phase I projects will
contribute to making the Gulf system whole," said Carter Smith, Texas Parks
and Wildlife Department executive director, representing the Texas
trustees. "As we mark this milestone, we're looking forward to advancing
Texas-specific project proposals for the next early restoration phase."
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