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April 2011
The Conveyance Online
Restore or Retreat's E-newsletter
In This Issue
House Committee to Meet in Houma
ROR Annual Meeting
Local Women Storm DC

Sponsor Spotlight: Chevron USA 


Chevron

Chevron is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, with subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide. The company's success is driven by the ingenuity and commitment of its employees and their application of the most innovative technologies in the world. Chevron has had operations in the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding states for nearly 65 years. 

 

Chevron USA has been a supporter of Restore or Retreat since 2009. We are grateful for their corporate support and the direct support of their wonderful employees. 

Restore or Retreat Executive Committee

 

Mike Plaisance, President

Plaisance Dragline and Dredging

 

Ted Falgout, Vice President

Ted M. Falgout and Associates

 

Robert Naquin, Treasurer

Capital One

 

Henri Boulet, Secretary

LA 1 Coalition

 

Tim Allen

Apache Louisiana Minerals

 

Charlotte Bollinger

Bollinger Shipyards

 

Berwick Duval

Duval, Funderburk, Sundbery, Lovell and Watkins

 

Dr. John J. Jones, Jr.

Jones Mora Dermatology

Calendar
Mississippi River Commission
Fri, April 15, 9am
Lower Julia Street Warf NOLA
  
State Oyster Advisory Committee
Friday, April 15
11:30am
UNO
  
U.S. House Natural Resources Field Hearing
Monday, April 18
9:30am
Houma Civic Center
  
CPRA
Wed, April 20, 1:30pm
Grand Isle Community Center
Quick Links

House Natural Resources Committee to Meet in Houma

 

WASHINGTON D.C. -On Monday, April 18th the House Natural Resources Committee will hold a full committee oversight field hearing in Houma, LA, entitled "Gulf of Mexico: A Focus on Community Recovery and New Response Technology."

 

"This field hearing is an opportunity for Congress to listen to the people, communities and businesses in the Gulf of Mexico that were directly impacted by the tragic rig explosion, oil spill and the Administration's de facto moratorium," said Chairman Doc Hastings.  "We'll examine on-going obstacles to getting people back to work, environmental impacts, and new technology to ensure that U.S. offshore drilling moves forward safely and responsibly."

  

WHAT:

House Natural Resources Committee Oversight Field Hearing on "Gulf of Mexico: A Focus on Community Recovery and New Response Technology."

 

Witnesses to be announced.

 

WHEN:

Monday, April 18, 2011
9:00 A.M. CT

 

WHERE:

Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center

346 Civic Center Blvd.

Houma, Louisiana 70360

 

ROR Annual Meeting Features

Rear Admiral Mary Landry, USCG

 

Landry
Rear Admiral Mary Landry addresses guests at ROR's Annual Membership Meeting last month.

The Commander of the Eight District of the United States Coast Guard and the Federal-On-Scene Coordinator of the Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico addressed over 80 guests at the Restore or Retreat Annual Membership Meeting with the themes of applying lessons-learned and creating a responsible path-forward.

 

As District Commander, Rear Admiral Landry is responsible for U.S. Coast Guard Operations covering 26 states, more than 1200 miles of coastline, and 10,300 miles of inland waterways from Florida to Mexico, including the safety of over 30,000 offshore workers.

 

Admiral Landry expressed her deep connection to the rich resources of south Louisiana, including having several of the Coast Guard fleet built at Bollinger Shipyards in Lafourche Parish and, most recently, working closely with local officials on oil spill response.

 

Moving forward, Admiral Landry also expressed the need to transition to long-term recovery, natural resources damage assessments and public health programs.  Adm. Landry applauded Restore or Retreat for standing ready to be a resource to the community and for being prepared to participate in the recovery planning process.  She conlcuded by stating the need to capture lessons learned, to identify potential areas for improvements, and to implement recommendations to more effectively respond to future spills.

 

Click here to view the Courier article on the ROR Annual Meeting. 

Local Women Storm Capitol Again

On a brilliantly sunny day on Capitol Hill, more than 140 women standing under bright blue umbrellas urged Congress to dedicate 80% of the BP oil spill fine dollars to Gulf Coast states for restoration. 

Women of the Storm

 

Women of the Storm, a non-partisan, grassroots coalition, was formed after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  The group travelled to Washington in January 2006 with the blue umbrellas representing the blue tarps that covered thousands of damaged roofs along the Gulf.  The group travelled again later that year to advocate for Congress to dedicate offshore oil and gas revenues to the producing Gulf States, which gained passage at the end of 2006.  Following the environmental and economic storms caused by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, the group expanded to include women from all five Gulf Coast states.

 

Immediately following the spill, the Women spearheaded the "be the One" public service campaign featuring Sandra Bullock and other celebrities with Louisiana connections which garnered over 131,000 signatures by citizens in every state who signed the e-petition.  (The petition can be found at www.RestoretheGulf.com.) 

 

The Capitol Hill conference was attended by Administrator Lisa Jackson, Senator Mary Landrieu (LA), Congressman Steve Scalise (LA), Alabama business women Lucy Buffett, Alexandra Cousteau, and New Orleanians Donna Brazile and Mary Matalin.

 

WOS Founder Anne Milling explained, "If Congress doesn't pass legislation to dedicate the fines into a Gulf Coast recovery fund, billions of dollars from the pockets of BP will be washed away into the general fund.  At this time, there is no requirement for the BP dollars to be used to restore this region's ability to provide the nation with sustainable food supplies, energy production and other natural resources."

 

Under the Clean Water Act, BP and the other parties liable for the Deepwater Horizon disaster may pay fines totaling a minimum of $5 billion -- or up to $21 billion if they are found to have been grossly negligent.  Until a cap of $2.7 billionis reached, fines are required by law to go into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to clean up the next disaster.  The Women of the Storm are speaking up about the billions of dollars expected to exceed that $2.7 billion cap.

 

The group's position reflects that of the bipartisan federal Oil Spill Commission, headed by Sen. Bob Graham and Bill Reilly, as well as the Mabus Commission and public polling in the five Gulf Coast states. The Obama Administration has also suggested that a significant portion of the fines go to a Gulf Coast recovery fund.

 

"It is often said that a rising tide lifts all boats," Milling said.  "If Congress takes the common sense step of dedicating BP fines to the Gulf Coast region, all Americans will benefit for generations to come from a healthy coast that supports domestic energy, shipping, seafood, ecology, recreation and culture."

 

Courier Editorial: Seeking Money for a Good Cause

 Courier Article: Women Will Storm the Capitol For Restoration

Times-Picayune Article: Women of the Storm Urge Congress to devote BP Penalties to Restoration

Times-Pic Editorial: Speak with One Voice on BP Money for Restoration

WWL TV: Women of the Storm Fight For Gulf Coast Restoration in DC

Advocate: Women of the Storm Call For BP Fines to Go to Coastal Parishes

 

Thank you for your continuous support for our organization!  We are looking forward to another great year in 2011.
 
Sincerely,

Simone Maloz

Executive Director

Restore or Retreat, Inc.