News

Battle shaping up over 'Big Oil' lawsuit bill

by Walter Pierce

Advocates of a lawsuit filed by a Louisiana flood control board against scores of oil and gas companies over erosion of coastal wetlands are making plans to fight legislation they say could undermine the suit.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Advocates of a lawsuit filed by a Louisiana flood control board against scores of oil and gas companies over erosion of coastal wetlands are making plans to fight legislation they say could undermine the suit.

Among other things, the bill set for debate in this year's legislative session would ensure Gov. Bobby Jindal's power to reject an independent committee's nominations for membership on the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. Jindal is a critic of the lawsuit filed by the SLFPA-E last year.

The advocacy group Levees.Org, which was formed to call attention to levee failures that led to catastrophic flooding during Hurricane Katrina, announced Thursday's news conference, planned for the site of a breach on New Orleans' London Avenue canal.