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• La. lawmakers to discuss sinkhole in Feb.

  January 25, 2013 11:47 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana lawmakers are planning to hold a joint meeting of the Senate and House Natural Resources committees in mid-February about the large sinkhole in northern Assumption Parish. State Sen. Rick Ward III, vice chairman of the Senate Natural Resources Committee, tells The Advocate the joint hearing, which he... more »

• Environmentalists hail Obama climate change focus

  January 22, 2013 4:34 AM

  WASHINGTON - Environmental groups are hailing President Barack Obama's warning about climate change but say they'll be watching his decision on the future of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. Environmentalists say the pipeline would transport "dirty oil" from tar sands in Alberta, Canada, and produce heat-trapping gases that contribute... more »

• La. officials deny EPA violation claim

  January 9, 2013 7:20 AM

  BATON ROUGE - State environmental quality officials say they followed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's instructions on submitting a plan to reduce ozone, but they are unsure why Louisiana was included on a list of states that failed to do so. On Jan. 4, the EPA sent notices of... more »

• La. group joins suit against EPA over refineries

  September 28, 2012 9:24 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana Bucket Brigade and other environmental groups around the nation are suing the Environmental Protection Agency to force the agency to cut air emissions of the most toxic, cancer-causing chemicals released by 150 oil refineries in 32 states. The suit contends EPA's rules are based... more »

• Report: Isaac damaged 2 tanks, chemicals leaked

  September 14, 2012 10:13 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A chemical storage facility southeast of New Orleans that flooded during Hurricane Isaac reported to state officials that no more than about 38,700 gallons of chemicals leaked from two tanks damaged by storm surge and that an underdetermined amount of chemicals flowed off the facility's grounds. The... more »

• DEQ probes chemical leaks at Isaac-hit facility

  September 13, 2012 4:58 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - State officials are investigating how many chemicals leaked from storage tanks at a facility flooded by Hurricane Isaac with about 7 feet of water. Isaac's surge damaged the Stolthaven Braithwaite LLC chemical storage and transfer facility next to the Mississippi River in Braithwaite, a Plaquemines Parish community... more »

• Search for source of bayou gas bubbles continues

  July 2, 2012 1:14 PM

  NAPOLEONVILLE - Emergency officials watching gas bubble up in Assumption Parish bayous said there's still no risk of explosion, but the release continues. The Assumption Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said readings are being taken twice a day in Bayou Corne and other areas where residents... more »

• DEQ investigates chemical spill

  June 22, 2012 9:56 AM

  BATON ROUGE - The Department of Environmental Quality is investigating a spill that happened at the ExxonMobil Chemical Plant. A report from the plant earlier this wekk said the spill on June 14 turned out to be much larger than initially reported, which prompted the investigation. News 2's... more »

• Litter clogging Iberville bayous Play Video

  June 18, 2012 5:07 PM

  PLAQUEMINE- Iberville Parish leaders are starting a campaign to stop littering in their bayous. Leaders fear litter in the city's streets and neighborhoods is winding up in nearby bayous, and could be detrimental to tourism as well as the ecosystem. "It makes the bayou look terrible and that's... more »

• EPA IG: Louisiana flunks enviro enforcement

  December 13, 2011 4:47 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana is among the worst states at enforcing federal clean air, clean water and hazardous waste laws, according to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general. The Times-Picayune reports that the inspector general's report does not spotlight specific environmental problems caused by Louisiana's alleged lax... more »

• Two accused of pollution violations

  December 8, 2011 3:37 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The head of an independent oil company and his brother have been accused of illegally discharging pollutants. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says Lobdell Percy Brown III and Carr Brown surrendered to authorities on Thursday. Authorities said Lobdell Brown is chief executive of T&F Oil Co.,... more »

• BP, 2 others face more citations in Gulf spill

  November 28, 2011 1:55 PM

  WASHINGTON - The Obama administration says BP and two other companies are likely to face new citations for alleged safety and environmental violations stemming from last year's Gulf oil spill. Michael Bromwich, head of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, says the upcoming notices stem from reviews that... more »

• Panel: Drilling impacts could be 'excessive'

  November 10, 2011 6:25 PM

  WASHINGTON - A federal advisory panel is warning that "serious environmental consequences" could result from the gas drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing if steps aren't taken to reduce its impacts. The seven-member committee said in a report released Thursday that progress by the federal government and the oil... more »

• Scientists urge La. to protect netted sea turtles

  November 2, 2011 4:00 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Dozens of scientists are asking Gov. Bobby Jindal to scrap a 1987 law that bars state marine agents from enforcing federal rules requiring shrimpers to have special devices on their nets that allow ensnared sea turtles to swim to safety. On Wednesday, more than 60 scientists... more »

• BP, 2 other companies cited over Gulf oil spill

  October 12, 2011 5:20 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Federal regulators have cited oil company BP PLC and two other companies - Transocean Ltd. and Halliburton - for alleged safety and environmental violations stemming from last year's rig explosion and massive oil spill in the Gulf. The companies have 60 days to appeal Wednesday's citations... more »

• State OKs restart at mill blamed for fish kill

  August 29, 2011 5:26 PM

  BATON ROUGE - State environmental regulators have approved plans for operations to resume at a Bogalusa paper mill responsible for a massive fish kill in the Pearl River. The Department of Environmental Quality said Monday that it had approved Temple-Inland's request for authorization to restart operations at the mill... more »

• Feds eye tougher measures to protect sea turtles

  June 24, 2011 3:11 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Federal regulators say they're considering new restrictions on Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast shrimpers because of the damage the industry is causing to threatened and endangered sea turtles. The regulatory move by the National Marine Fisheries Service signals the next stage in a growing fight... more »

• Court to state: Take a harder look at oil drilling

  June 13, 2011 4:11 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - Louisiana regulators have been ordered by a state appellate court to thoroughly analyze possible contamination, including radiation, from dumping fluids used in drilling for oil and natural gas into the seas just off the coast. On Friday, the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled that the... more »

• DEQ, DNR give lawmakers a flood impact report

  June 7, 2011 5:46 PM

  BATON ROUGE- State environmental agencies say oil and gas facilities were notified and prepared for the Mississippi River flooding, despite reports of some chemical storage facilities being threatened by the rising water. Members of the Department of Natural Resources and Dept. of Environmental Quality said the opening of the... more »

• DEQ: Smoke from Mexico to hike ozone in Louisiana

  May 27, 2011 4:17 AM

  BATON ROUGE- Louisiana's Department of Environmental Quality says smoke from wildfires in Mexico may increase ozone levels in Baton Rouge and the New Orleans area on Friday to a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. It says moderate southwesterly winds ahead of a cold front are likely to carry the... more »

• Report: Effects of spill will unfold over years

  April 12, 2011 5:35 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A new report by a prominent environmental group says the effects of the BP oil spill on the Gulf of Mexico and the animals that live in it will take place over years, if not decades. The National Wildlife Federation says it is much too soon... more »

• Six months after oil spill, much remains unknown

  October 20, 2010 3:30 PM

  The crude has stopped gushing and coastlines are largely clear of the thick goo that washed ashore for months, but the impact of the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history will linger for years. Six months after the April 20 Deepwater Horizon explosion, the environment and economy of the... more »

• Scientist hopes oil spill opens eyes to restoration needs

  June 29, 2010 10:17 PM

  A coastal scientist says the spill is a perfect example of how a restoration suggestion from the past could help today. "I've watched canals, the effect of man on the environment," said Woody Gagliano, Ph.D., "saw the aftermath of Katrina and Rita and Gustav and Ike all across the coast.... more »

• Nucor gets air quality permit for proposed plant

  May 26, 2010 5:23 AM

  Nucor is one step closer to building a proposed iron plant in St. James Parish after state environmental regulators issued an air quality permit for the project. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality issued the permit Tuesday for Nucor Corp., fulfilling one of the requirements necessary to continue plans to... more »

• So far, few oiled birds, no turtles, brought in

  May 7, 2010 5:27 AM

  When you're getting ready to rescue sea turtles from an oil spill, the shopping list includes 50 wading pools. Michele Kelley, Louisiana state marine mammal and sea turtle stranding coordinator, says they've probably ruined every child's summer in New Orleans because they bought all the kidding pools. But so far,... more »

• Preparing for possible ill effects from oil spill

  May 7, 2010 5:16 AM

  There are a variety of hazards to human health if and when the full brunt of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill washes ashore. The list of potential threats runs from temporary, minor nuisances such as runny noses and headaches to long-term risks such as cancer if contaminated seafood ends... more »

• Giant box close to being over oil-spewing well

  May 7, 2010 5:10 AM

  A 100-ton containment box is close to being in place over a blown-out well that's been spewing oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The first mate of the supply boat that brought the box to the site, confirmed a radio transmission from the nearby vessel lowering the device that said... more »

• EPA Holds Oil Spill Meetings

  May 1, 2010 12:13 PM

  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a meeting in a New Orleans church today. Administrator Lisa Jackson, says the spill has spawned a huge environmental challenge, but not yet a "catastrophe." The challenge is complicated by the well head being 5,000 feet below water. Jackson says efforts to use... more »

• BP's image taking a beating

  April 30, 2010 11:00 AM

  Experts say BP's once environmentally-friendly image is taking a beating because of its inability to contain the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The company responded by saying the focus of its efforts is tackling the oil spill, and not public relations. Environmentalists say BP's response has... more »

• BP sets up 3 oil spill hotlines

  April 30, 2010 7:33 AM

  BP LLC has set up hotlines to report oiled wildlife, get information about volunteering, and to report spill-related damage or oiled shoreline from the offshore well that blew wild April 20. To report oiled wildlife, call 1-866-557-1401. Messages will be checked hourly. To discuss spill related damage, call... more »

• Polluted Cities: most Americans live in unclean air

  April 28, 2010 11:38 AM

  Despite progress in reducing smog, chances are you still live in an area with unhelathy air. A new report, released by the American Lung Assooc. (based on 2006-2008 figures), says more than half of Americans live in unclean air. It says some progress has been made in reducing particle... more »

• Environmental expert weighs in on oil spill concerns

  April 27, 2010 4:55 PM

  Today the Coast Guard announced that the oil spill caused by a rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico is getting bigger. Environmental expert Ed Overton talked with News 2's Lori Steele about how the spill could affect the ecosystem, and how officials plan to contain it. more »

• Crews work on trying to stop oil leak in the Gulf

  April 26, 2010 6:12 AM

  It could take hours or it could take months to stop a 42,000-gallon-a-day oil leak polluting the Gulf of Mexico at the site of a wrecked drilling platform. Whether the environmental threat grows many times bigger depends on whether the oil company involved can turn the well completely off. Crews... more »

• East Baton Rouge sued in sewage case

  March 24, 2010 7:01 AM

  The East Baton Rouge City-Parish Council is being sued by an environmental group in order to force compliance with federal regulations on discharges from sewage treatment plants. The Louisiana Environmental Action Network alleges three sewage-treatment plants have violated the Clean Water Act at least 60 times since Jan. 1, 2008.... more »

• La. Christmas tree crop looks good

  October 21, 2009 9:29 PM

  The push is on to convince to you to go green this holiday with a real Louisiana Christmas tree. This year's Christmas tree crop looks strong in Louisiana, according to local growers. Going green is also good for the state's environment. Dora Ann Hatch, an LSU AgCenter community rural development... more »