Issues

Impacts & Action: Strategic Responses to the BP Oil Drilling Disaster

RESTORE Act Briefing

On March 12, 2013, The Urban Conservancy and The Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy, with support from the Environmental Law Institute and the Greater New Orleans Foundation, held a targeted, informational briefing about how decisions will be made and dollars may flow from the RESTORE process. Organizers convened this forum at this time since the settlement of the civil penalties aspect of the case against TransOcean and the release of the Proposed Comprehensive Plan from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council have raised both interest and concerns about what the various pots of dollars will be used for, how the Centers of Excellence program is being set up in Louisiana, and the delays that already have occurred in issuing the proposed comprehensive plans and Treasury regulations.

Targeted Stakeholder Briefing on NRDA and the Coastal Restoration Master Plan

The February 23, 2012 Delta Discussion Group briefing was convened by The Urban Conservancy, Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy, and Gulf Restoration Network. Since May 2010, the Delta Discussion Group has served as a participatory forum for a diverse group of scientists, academics, environmentalists, industry experts, artists, writers, NGOs, business owners and others in Southeast Louisiana affected by, documenting, and working to find long-term solutions to the BP drilling disaster, coastal restoration, and a sustainable Gulf ecosystem.

Getting It Done Together: Public Forum

On Thursday, June 23, 2011, 76 coastal citizens of Louisiana and Mississippi participated in Getting It Done Together: The Public’s Role in Shaping Our Coast’s Future, organized by the UC and the Delta Discussion Group at Longue Vue House & Gardens in New Orleans.

Leaders in the coastal restoration movement - Mark Davis (Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law & Policy), Drue Banta (Office of the Governor), Leslie Suazo (Office of Coastal Protection & Restoration), Amanda Moore (National Wildlife Federation), and Cynthia Sarthou (Gulf Restoration Network) - prepared attendees to participate in four state and federal processes critical to restoring Louisiana’s coast.

Dr. Scott P. Milroy of the University of Southern Mississippi amplified the necessity of public advocacy with his research presentation on seafood safety concerns from PAH contamination in the Mississippi Sound.

View the full report, presentations & documents shared at the forum in the UC Library.

Background on the Delta Discussion Group:

The Delta Discussion Group (formerly the Delta Working Group) is a multi-stakeholder forum and discussion that initially met in New Orleans on May 25, 2010 to brief on the status and impacts of the disaster, and what a comprehensive strategy of response must include.

Hosted by The Urban Conservancy and the New Orleans Institute @ City-Works, with support from the Tulane Center for Water Resources Law and Policy, The New Orleans Institute at City-Works, The United Houma Nation, the New Orleans Food and Farm Network, Gulf Restoration Network, The Center for the Study of New Orleans at Loyola University, National Wildlife Federation, People’s Environmental Center.

The Delta Discussion Group has convened four times since the original meeting in 2010.
Read the February 23, 2012 summary report.
Read the June 23, 2011, Getting It Done Together Public Forum documents and presentations.
Read the January 25, 2011 report.
Read the May 25, 2010 summary.
Read the May 25, 2010 full report.
See the May 25, 20101 video.

The Delta Discussion Group has set up a demonstration web portal, www.oilspilldonation.org for legitimate local Gulf Aid groups. Read the press release.

The wetlands that are in danger are more than just trees. They act as a first line of defense for the communities against hurricanes, storms and tidal surge.

Take Action:
Gulf Restoration Network

Volunteer:
Voice of the Wetlands

Submit an Incident:
Bucket Brigade

Donate:
Greater New Orleans Foundation

Report Claims, Oiled Wildlife:
Various phone numbers and webistes

Spill Trajectory Forecasts:
Updated maps from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration showing the predicted trajectory of the oil slick.

News:
Local and national news stories on WWNO

Photographs:
Photos from Times-Picayune - NOLA.com