State agencies request millions from BP to offset impact of Gulf oil spill -- NOLA, TimesPic

[nashville_brook]

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/05/state_agencies_request_300_mil.html


State agencies request millions from BP to offset impact of Gulf oil spill

By Kia Hall Hayes, The Times-Picayune
May 29, 2010, 5:30PM

Calling the economic losses stemming from the Gulf oil spill "a formidable challenge" that requires BP's assistance and cooperation, multiple state agencies have requested that BP allocate hundreds of milions of dollars to mitigate the spill's economic effects and to implement a long-term seafood safety plan.

Agencies including the Louisiana departments of Social Services, Health and Hospitals, and Wildlife and Fisheries, along with the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Louisiana Economic Recovery, and Louisiana Economic Development sent the requests in two separate letters. The first, sent Friday, asks BP to establish a fund, with an initial $300 million deposit, to help mitigate the immediate, short and long-term impacts on affected businesses and individuals. The programs will provide financial assistance and technical support, as well as a mechanism to analyze the economic impacts of the oil spill.

"This disaster is causing extreme stress to our citizens in these coastal communities that already have endured five years of recovery from four catastrophic storms," the letter states.
The second letter, sent today, asks BP to contribute $457 million to help implement a 20-year seafood safety plan.

(snip)

The plan includes implementation of a science-based seafood safety testing program, a certification program for quality and processing of certified Louisiana seafood, and short- and long-term consumer information campaigns geared toward reasserting Gulf seafood. "We believe it is important to act swiftly to reassure the public of the quality of our seafood. And we believe a long-term, sustained effort is necessary if we are going to impact consumer attitudes," the letter states.

(we need science, not propaganda...sez brook)

[aquart]

1. "Ask"? Demand. Or seize.

The idea of begging those bastards for remedies to their utter destruction? Every fucking dime. Leave them naked. Leave their investors weeping.

[readmoreoften]

2. Millions? They make that in a week. Time for billions. BILLIONS--a lotta billions and no less.

Or, alternately, seize ownership.