Source: WDSU via HotAir
Now, you might be wondering WHY the feds would shut down dredging operations... The answer? A vague concern about the environment... Kind of ironic, huh?
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. The department says one area where sand is being dredged is a sensitive section of the Chandeleur Islands, and the state failed to meet an extended deadline to install pipe that would draw sand from a less-endangered area.Newsflash for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department: If you continue hampering cleanup efforts with red tape, the entire state of Louisiana will become "sensitive."
Source: WDSU via HotAir
Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal is on the case, acting more presidential than President Bow n' Tax ever could:
Governor Jindal said, “We got word yesterday that federal officials were going to shut down our dredging operations on the North Chandeleur Islands and those operations were indeed stopped under the federal government’s command at 6PM last night.
“Our request here today is simple. We are again calling on the federal government to allow us to continue these dredging operations as we mobilize pipe for another two miles – which will take around just seven more days. Getting this pipe in place without stopping the dredging operations will allow us a seamless transition as we move the dredge to a new borrow site. After this pipe is in place, our dredger can disconnect and move to the next site where it can then resume dredging operations in just one day.
Source: Gov Monitor
Then, Jindal did something that President Obama won't like at all... He explained exactly how much bureaucratic red tape has been thrown up in front of him and how he has complied with it:
“We have jumped through every hoop that the federal government has placed in front of us since this spill started. On May 2, we submitted our initial boom plan to the Incident Command Post since there was not a plan. When BP and the Coast Guard were unable to provide the appropriate boom resources, we began developing innovative solutions like Tiger Dams, air-dropping sand bags, Hesco baskets, opening all freshwater diversions, vacuum barges and many other alternatives.
“On May 11th, we submitted a proposal to the regulatory agencies, BP and the Coast Guard to approve our sand berms. It took almost a month for the federal government to approve the plan and make BP pay for the work. Meanwhile, we had millions of gallons of oil covering our wetlands, killing our wildlife and forcing our people out of work.”
Source: Gov Monitor
