1.21.2014
Oil Spill
BP can't stop seafood payments, plaintiffs attorneys say
By Jef Feeley and Laurel Brubaker Calkins
Bloomberg News
BP Plc should keep paying more than $2.3 billion to seafood-industry
interests as part of a settlement of claims over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico
oil spill while a fraud probe tied to the accord is pending, plaintiffs'
attorneys said.
http://fuelfix.com/blog/2014/01/17/bp-cant-stop-seafood-payments-plaintiffs-attorneys-say/
BP claims appeals coordinator resigned after improperly forwarding claims
information, new report says
Mark Schleifstein
The Times-Picayune
January 17, 2014 at 10:31 PM
The appeals coordinator for the BP oil spill private claims program
resigned Oct. 7, three days after a federal magistrate judge was told the
coordinator improperly forwarded information about a claim to the law firm
handling the case, according to a report filed Friday by former FBI
Director Louis Freeh.
http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2014/01/bp_claims_appeals_coordinator.html
Texas lawyer seeks hold on BP oil spill lawsuit
The Associated Press
January 18, 2014 at 12:04 PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- A Texas lawyer being sued by oil giant BP over
allegations that he falsely claimed to represent thousands of deckhands who
lost money in the 2010 Gulf oil spill has asked a federal court to delay
the lawsuit while a criminal investigation plays out.
http://blog.al.com/live/2014/01/texas_lawyer_seeks_hold_on_bp.html
New Orleans attorneys deny improper actions in BP spill claims
The Associated Press
January 17, 2014 at 6:36 PM
Lawyers for two attorneys involved in the claims process arising from the
2010 BP oil spill say there is no evidence supporting a former FBI
director's contention that they acted improperly.
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2014/01/new_orleans_attorneys_deny_imp.html
Judge to sentence Halliburton manager in oil spill
BY MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated PressJanuary 21, 2014
NEW ORLEANS — A former Halliburton manager faces a possible prison term
when a federal judge sentences him for destroying evidence in the aftermath
of BP's massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/21/5273529/judge-to-sentence-halliburton.html
State
Tupelo, North Lee negotiators 'optimistic' about water service
By Robbie Ward
Daily Journal
TUPELO – The city's negotiations to provide water to residents in annexed
areas currently served by the North Lee County Water Association have been
described as "positive" by representatives on both sides.
http://djournal.com/news/tupelo-north-lee-negotiators-optimistic-water-service/
Hancock County to build sports complex
The Associated Press
January 20, 2014 at 9:57 AM
KILN, Mississippi -- Hancock County leaders have announced plans to build a
sports complex.
…Supervisor Steve Seymour said the county acquired a provisional permit
from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and now is only lacking a storm-water
permit from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality before it
can move forward.
Once the county receives the title to the land and the DEQ permit, it will
advertise for construction bids, Seymour said.
http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2014/01/hancock_county_to_build_sports.html
Regional
For Gulf fisheries' sustainability, Audubon teams with Gulf States Marine
Fisheries Commission
Benjamin Alexander-Bloch
The Times-Picayune
January 18, 2014 at 5:40 PM
Audubon Nature Institute's sustainable seafood program has teamed up with
the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission as part of its effort to ensure
the long-term sustainability of Gulf seafood.
http://www.nola.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/01/for_gulf_fisheries_sustainabil.html#incart_river
National
More oil spilled from trains in 2013 than in previous 4 decades, federal
data show
BY CURTIS TATE
McClatchy Washington BureauJanuary 20, 2014
WASHINGTON — More crude oil was spilled in U.S. rail incidents last year
than was spilled in the nearly four decades since the federal government
began collecting data on such spills, an analysis of the data shows.
http://www.sunherald.com/2014/01/20/5272320/more-oil-spilled-from-trains-in.html
'War on coal:' GOP Senate group moves to block EPA power plant rules
Published January 18, 2014
FoxNews.com
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and 39 fellow Republicans are
attempting to use a rarely used legislative tactic to block planned
Environmental Protection Agency greenhouse gas standards that would limit
the amount of carbon new power plants can emit.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/01/18/mcconnell-moves-to-block-epa-power-plant-rules/
Ranchers, farmers fear eco-terrorists after EPA releases private info
By Perry Chiaramonte
Published January 17, 2014
FoxNews.com
The Environmental Protection Agency has told farmers and ranchers it is
sorry for handing private information about them over to environmental
groups, but agriculture advocates who fear attacks from eco-terrorists say
it's like closing the barn door after the horses escaped.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/01/17/ranchers-farmers-fear-eco-terrorists-after-epa-releases-private-info/
Opinion
Editorial: Time to speak up
Pensacola News Journal
April marks the fourth anniversary of the BP oil spill that polluted the
Gulf and hurt the local economy, not to mention the impact on Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama.
http://www.pnj.com/article/20140117/OPINION/301170009/Editorial-Time-speak-up?nclick_check=1
