Scientists team up to attack (Bobby Jindal's stupid) Louisiana's Gulf oil spill berm plan

[jpak]

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0723/Scientists-team-up-to-attack-Louisiana-s-Gulf-oil-spill-berm-plan

A group of prominent coastal scientists is calling for a halt to large-scale engineering projects – like Louisiana's berm plan – aimed at protecting wetlands from encroaching oil from the Gulf oil spill. They want experts to have time to review the longer-term effects these projects could have on the natural processes that sculpt and sustain the coastline.

The danger, they argue, is that the projects will siphon cash from more cost-effective approaches to dealing with the oil, such as expanded use of skimmers and booms. Moreover, the projects could well waste the relatively small amounts of offshore sand that was to be used to build up the Mississippi Delta and slow its long-term erosion.

The call came in an open letter to retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who heads the oil spill response effort. The letter was released July 21 and signed by 21 researchers from coastal-studies institutes in the Gulf region as well as around the country.

The Louisiana berm project involves building 40 miles of sand berms to augment what remains of once robust barrier islands. The letter also targets projects that have emerged in other Gulf states and which reportedly have not received approval from any state or federal regulators.

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