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| Home Front: Politix |
| Jindal's Islands to Protect the Shore |
| 2010-07-20 |
| Here, more than 15 miles offshore, a dredging company is building an island about as wide as an interstate highway. Officially called Sand Berm E-4, it is part of this state's most ambitious plan to combat the oil and at the same time help stave off long-term coastal erosion. It is at the heart of a politically touchy spat between Louisiana and the federal government, and between Louisiana and some of its scientists, over how to fight the oil that has leaked from the Macondo well. Louisiana officials say the most reliable way to stop the oil from reaching sensitive marshes is to put solid land - built from sandbags, sand piles or plain old rocks - in its way. But many scientists and environmentalists say they are not convinced that these efforts will do much good. "They are going to cost a lot of money, and their ultimate value is very much in question," said Aaron Viles, of the nonprofit Gulf Restoration Network. In some places, he said, the state's land-building "may be doing more harm than good." If you can't do it perfectly, don't do it at all. Louisiana, led by Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), has reacted with furious work to keep oil out of those marshes - and with criticism of the Obama administration for holding its efforts up. State officials say they chose to build land barriers because they extend to the ocean floor, unlike the floating "containment boom." They can also stay put in a storm, unlike the barges used to block marsh inlets. The state says the land-building plan will still be necessary, even if the BP well remains capped. The state has already filled in 14 inlets that connected the marshes with the Gulf of Mexico, using mounds of dirt and giant sandbags in metal frames. But this man-made island is part of a far more ambitious effort: The state has proposed building 128 miles of islands in arcs off the coast, based on existing plans to rebuild lost barrier islands to fight erosion. In May, the federal government issued permits for the construction of 45 miles of islands. BP agreed to foot the bill of $360 million. But state officials say that even this first 45 miles won't be done until around Halloween, which would give oil months to float past. Some scientists in Louisiana are also questioning whether berms such as this one will survive the gulf's pounding waves. It doesn't have to last forever, you want it to erode, eventually. Now the state is pushing a plan that, although smaller in scope, is even more controversial. Jefferson Parish, with the state's support, wants to pile lines of rock partway across a pair of passes that connect marshes to the gulf. If oily water hits the rocks, officials think, it will be pushed away from the opening and toward a confined area where skimmers can suck it up. The complaints about the rocks "are 'what-if,' or 'what-may-happen,' " said Bonano, of Jefferson Parish. "That's our frustration: that the opposition to the plan is based on what may happen. . . . As opposed to the oil that is happening." |
| Posted by:Bobby |
| #3 There needs to be a plan to modify salt water crocs to eat the oil? hmmm |
| Posted by: 3dc 2010-07-20 20:41 |
| #2 "may be doing more harm than good." Sounds like a talking-point. The WashingPost dutifully let it stand without challenge. "Who's a good little lapdog?" |
| Posted by: Grenter, Protector of the Geats 2010-07-20 15:42 |
| #1 If you can't do it perfectly, don't do it at all. It's that darned (R) Bobby has after his name... |
| Posted by: Gabby 2010-07-20 12:09 |