For a century, energy companies have been digging up Louisiana's coast for exploration and pipelines. A state board that oversees flood-protection has now sued them for destroying the coastal wetlands that stood as a natural buffer against flooding.
"Louisiana officials filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against dozens of energy companies, hoping that the courts will force them to pay for decades of damage to fragile coastal wetlands that help buffer the effects of hurricanes on the region," reports John Schwartz.
"The suit [PDF], which was denounced by Louisiana’s governor, Bobby Jindal, was filed in civil district court in New Orleans by the board of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. The board argues that the energy companies, including BP and Exxon Mobil, should be held responsible for fixing damage done by cutting thousands of miles of oil and gas access and pipeline canals through the wetlands. It alleges that the network functioned 'as a mercilessly efficient, continuously expanding system of ecological destruction,' killing vegetation, eroding soil and allowing salt water into freshwater areas."
"Gladstone N. Jones III, a lawyer for the flood protection authority board, said the plaintiffs were seeking damages equal to 'many billions of dollars. Many, many billions of dollars.'”
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