Wildlife Promise » southcentral http://blog.nwf.org The National Wildlife Federation's blog Wed, 19 Jun 2013 15:24:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Lagniappe for the Mississippi River Delta—and the Gulf of Mexico http://blog.nwf.org/2012/11/lagniappe-for-the-mississippi-river-delta-and-the-gulf-of-mexico/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/11/lagniappe-for-the-mississippi-river-delta-and-the-gulf-of-mexico/#comments Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:59:45 +0000 David Muth http://blog.nwf.org/?p=71177 Read more >]]> Last Thursday began with a buzz of speculation for those of us in the Mississippi River Delta Restoration campaign. The Justice department was going to announce a settlement with BP of the criminal charges arising from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Attorney General Holder then announced the largest criminal settlement in history: $4.5 billion. But to our delight, there was more—$1.2 billion of the money BP will pay to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be directed to Mississippi River diversions and barrier island restoration in hard-hit coastal Louisiana.

The Mississippi River Delta provides critical breeding, wintering and migratory stopover habitat for 100 million individual birds each year. The type of projects funded by the BP settlement will help restore the delta, which is eroding into the Gulf of Mexico at an average rate of a football field every hour. Flickr photo by Dan Pancamo.

These diversions—actually river re-introduction projects—are critical to restoring a naturally functioning delta, and changing the trajectory from wetland loss to wetland gain in one of the most important wildlife habitats in the world.

Decades of National Wildlife Federation involvement in efforts to restore the Mississippi River Delta are about to see fruition.  This was not just serendipity. It followed on the passage of the RESTORE Act and the adoption of the 2012 Louisiana Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, two signature achievements in 2012—the result of years of hard work and dedication by NWF and its many partners. It is no coincidence that both of these accomplishments were referenced during the AG’s press conference.

Furthermore, an additional $1.2 billion will be distributed through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to the remaining Gulf States—Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, for restoration purposes. That is great news for NWF’s efforts to restore the Gulf of Mexico.

We are still anticipating a much larger payment from the resolution of the civil case against BP for their violations of federal environmental laws such as the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act. For now, we welcome that the Department of Justice chose to craft the criminal settlement in the way announced Thursday.

Importantly, the Justice Department made it clear that BP will enjoy no tax advantages from this payment to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and that this will not be used to offset any part of its civil penalties. And Justice also made it very clear that it intends to pursue the civil case vigorously, if BP does not proffer an acceptable settlement.

Thanks to the RESTORE Act we anticipate a great deal more money for restoration, but this restoration money from the criminal case is truly lagniappe, as we say in New Orleans.

Take ActionMake sure the Department of Justice holds BP fully accountable for the 2010 disaster in the Gulf!

 

]]> http://blog.nwf.org/2012/11/lagniappe-for-the-mississippi-river-delta-and-the-gulf-of-mexico/feed/ 0 Gulf Dolphins are Still Dying—Don’t Let BP Off Easy http://blog.nwf.org/2012/11/the-gulfs-dolphins-are-still-dying-dont-let-bp-off-easy/ http://blog.nwf.org/2012/11/the-gulfs-dolphins-are-still-dying-dont-let-bp-off-easy/#comments Sat, 17 Nov 2012 04:22:02 +0000 Lacey McCormick http://blog.nwf.org/?p=71023 Read more >]]>
Dolphin

Photo credit: flickr / thepugfather

Two and a half years after BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig exploded and sent more than 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf, dolphins across the northern Gulf of Mexico are still dying in high numbers.

Yesterday, BP agreed to pay a record criminal fine for the Gulf oil spill, but vowed to vigorously contest the charges it is facing under federal environmental law. Money from these penalties will go to restoring the Gulf.

BP Must be Held Accountable

Dolphins in one heavily oiled section of the Louisiana coast are suffering and even dying from a variety of symptoms–including anemia, low blood sugar, and lung disease–that suggest exposure to oil.

But media reports indicate that BP might be attempting to negotiate an agreement with the Department of Justice to pay less than half of what the company could face at trial for its violations of the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act.

Speak up for Dolphins

The Department of Justice and BP have been in intense negotiations and could announce an agreement at any time.

BP’s fines need to be large enough to restore the Gulf of Mexico for dolphins and other wildlife—and to send a clear message that America holds reckless polluters fully accountable.

Take ActionGulf dolphins need us to help ensure the Department of Justice holds BP fully accountable for restoring Gulf habitat–please add your voice today!

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