Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Federal Gov't Halts Sand Berm Dredging

WDSU in New Orleans has reported on this most recent interference by the Federal Government into the dredging operation meant to protect the shores of Louisiana. With the hurricane season approaching, time is of the essence and the 7 days it will take to move the operation and loss of what was already done is critical according to the local government.

There is a lot of concern that the cleanup and barrier efforts are being impeded for political reasons, and if not that why not suspend the Jones Act, why not accept other countries help and why block or slow down local efforts?

Excerpt:
The federal government is shutting down the dredging that was being done to create protective sand berms in the Gulf of Mexico.

The berms are meant to protect the Louisiana coastline from oil. But the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department has concerns about where the dredging is being done.

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, who was one of the most vocal advocates of the dredging plan, has sent a letter to President Barack Obama, pleading for the work to continue.
Nungesser said the government has asked crews to move the dredging site two more miles farther off the coastline.

"Once again, our government resource agencies, which are intended to protect us, are now leaving us vulnerable to the destruction of our coastline and marshes by the impending oil," Nungesser wrote to Obama. "Furthermore, with the threat of hurricanes or tropical storms, we are being put at an increased risk for devastation to our area from the intrusion of oil.
Nungesser has asked for the dredging to continue for the next seven days, the amount of time it would take to move the dredging operations two miles and out resume work.

Federal Gov't Halts Sand Berm Dredging

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