VICTORY! On February 16th, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama barred the state of Alabama and federal trustees from using $58.5 million of Early Natural Resource Damage funds from the BP oil disaster to construct a hotel and convention center in Alabama’s Gulf State Park. This is a big win for […]
Victory at Gulf State Park! Read More »
Taylor Energy Company was once one of the largest offshore operators in the Gulf of Mexico. Today, it employs exactly one individual. This sea change arose from the death of its founder, but also because of a dirty (not-so?) little secret.That secret was revealed in 2010, when satellites captured daily oil sheens near “Ground Zero’
Taylor Energy Did What? Read More »
Yesterday, Taylor Energy, the company responsible for a decade-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, held a public meeting to disclose details of the chronic spill. Taylor Energy was required to host this public, daylong hearing as a result of a court settlement with environmental groups. The leak began in 2004, when Hurricane Ivan
Taylor Energy Leak Is a Cautionary Tale Read More »
As the Department of Justice moves closer to finalizing the settlement with BP, there is much that leaves us unsettled. Our trip to Grand Isle State Park this past 14 November, offered more than a stroll in the sand. Many of the usual tar balls were scattered on the beach just yards away from the
The Tar Sands of Grand Isle Read More »
After the BP disaster, the federal government made a lot of promises to Gulf residents – promises about ensuring safety compliance from the oil & gas industry and prioritizing environmental protection. Unfortunately, five years later, the federal agency in charge of monitoring the industry is shirking its commitment to the people of the Gulf. Although
Serious Concerns About Offshore Enforcement Read More »
Trading in Bienvenue for Howdy is both bittersweet and exciting as I transition from the GRN headquarter office in New Orleans to begin a new chapter and open our Texas Office in Austin.As a Texas native, born and raised in Houston, I’m looking forward to furthering our engagement across the expansive Texas Coast. I have
Texas Bound: GRN Opens Shop in Austin Read More »
Five years ago, the BP Deepwater Horizon rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana, claiming eleven lives and causing devastating harm to Gulf Coast’s communities and ecosystem. Today, BP, the Gulf States and the Department of Justice reached a settlement agreement on the fines associated with their Clean Water Act penalties and the Natural Resources
BP Settles for $18.7 Billion Read More »
Sometimes in this work, it is necessary to keep the faith. For three years I have worked on a “win/win” campaign to protect bluefin tuna and 80 other species that are the unintended catch of Gulf of Mexico longline fishing. We have been determined since the beginning to work with fishermen to find a solution
Victory for Bluefin, Finally Read More »
If you listened to too many Louisiana politicians, you might think that the Gulf of Mexico is only good for Deepwater extraction and harboring the largest mainline of oil import into the United States. If you were satisfied with macro-scale oceanography, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Loop Current was all you needed
Secret Rivers in the Gulf Read More »
Today, across the Gulf, residents are marking 5 years since the beginning of the BP drilling disaster. 5 years later, the oil is still here and so are we. 5 years later, we’ve made progress but there is a long road to restoration still ahead. As we observe this milestone, Gulf Restoration Network and our
Sunshine on Gulf Restoration Read More »