A wall of oyster shells has been erected near Montegut to protect historical Native American mounds threatened by erosion and sea level rise. The partially-submerged wall was completed this month by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe and more than 100 volunteers. They spent weeks hauling and placing about 200 tons of shells gathered from […]
Judge: Louisiana officials must look anew at Port Allen industrial recycling plant application
A judge has paused — at least for the time being — construction of an industrial recycling facility in Port Allen where residents have raised concerns about toxic chemicals. The company Thermaldyne provided a “deficiency” of information when it applied for a permit with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality last year, 19th Judicial District Judge […]
Doing Something About Oil Spills
It is our sad reality that wells and pipelines seem to spill oil in Louisiana every few months. Many of you have asked what can be done, particularly in Hilcorp’s December spill in Lake Grand Ecaille. We spoke about the problem of proving where the oil went and what damage it would cause, and promised […]
2018 Staff Christmas Party
Waltzer Wiygul & Garside Moves Westbank Office To New Location
Waltzer Wiygul & Garside recently moved its office from 1000 Behrman Hwy. to a new location on the Westbank of New Orleans. The new office is located at the following address: 3201 General DeGaulle Drive, Suite 200 New Orleans, LA 70114 Please note the new address when visiting and update your contacts with the new […]
Residents oppose Thermaldyne variance
Residents packed the West Baton Rouge Parish Council chambers to oppose the variance requested by Thermaldyne, an environmental services firm that recently completed a $50 million facility on North Line Road in Port Allen, during a public hearing hosted by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) Thursday, Sept. 20. Rep. Edmond Jordan criticized LDEQ […]
LDEQ holds public hearing on proposed waste recycling facility
PORT ALLEN — The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality will host a public hearing Thursday regarding a permit request from an environmental services firm building a $50 million industrial waste reclamation plant in Port Allen. The Louisiana Environmental Action Network says Thermaldyne’s request for a feedstock variance is an attempt to bypass federal and state mandates […]
Hilcorp Energy settles suit with oystermen over unauthorized dredging through wetlands
The Louisiana Oystermen Association and Hilcorp Energy Company filed a consent judgment that, if approved by the court, will settle the association’s lawsuit against Hicorp for dredging in the coastal zone without a permit, according to a news release. The Texas-based oil and gas exploration company has agreed to pay $920,000 toward development of an […]
Alabama Settles Gulf State Park Lawsuit
After nearly three years in court, the Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) has settled the lawsuit it filed against the state of Alabama over its use of $58 million of BP monies to rebuild a hotel and “convention center” at the Gulf State Park in Baldwin County. Specifically, the lawsuit was filed against trustees representing a […]
Hilcorp seeks dredging permit a year after dragging drilling barge through shallow water
Dozens of oystermen and coastal residents spoke out at a public hearing Thursday night, arguing that the state shouldn’t grant an oil and gas company a permit to dredge wetlands around a drilling site near Port Sulfur. But they can’t stop Hilcorp Energy Co. of Houston from dredging. The company already cut the channel back […]