Frustration over sand barriers boils in Louisiana as federal government offers few answers

Times-Picayune ^ | May 24, 2010, 3:27PM | Chris Kirkham, The Times-Picayune

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Patrick Semansky/The Associated PressGov. Bobby Jindal, center, speaks at a news conference in Galliano. With Jindal on Monday, from left, are Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sen. David Vitter and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Frustration is mounting among Gov. Bobby Jindal and other state and local leaders as the federal government on Monday could not give a clear direction on whether the state can move ahead with a plan to erect more than 80 miles of sand barriers to keep oil from the Gulf of Mexico out of the state's wetlands.

Jindal and Sen. David Vitter, R-La., pushed the plan again in a news conference this morning in Galliano with congressional leaders, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

"Every day that it's not approved is another day the choice is made for us" to allow oil to seep into coastal marshes, Jindal said.

In a news conference in Washington this afternoon, Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen said "we're looking at it in parallel" with the Army Corps of Engineers. The corps received the first permit request from the state on May 11 and a revised one May 14, but the corps has not released any updates or comments from federal and state agencies about the barrier island plan.

Allen, the national incident commander overseeing the oil spill response, offered few new details Monday about the federal government's thoughts on the sand barriers. He did point out several logistical challenges.

[annieokie]

JUST SO IT, seems to be the consensus.

What the hell are they going to do about it if he does. NOTHING.

Except: use it to destroy his future elections, or try too. They would blame him for destroying something else. I think that would backfire on them. SO: JUST DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW.

[numberonepal]

Dear Bobby,

Do it!

Regards,

Numberonepal

[The Comedian]

Oh come on.

Hoping this Federal Regime will solve *any* problem is like handing a slide rule to a gorilla and hoping he'll give you back artillery trajectory tables.

Just stop talking to the puppets. It's embarrassing.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[Tailback]

Just do it and get the permits later, seriously, if he’s really concerned he’ll take some action.

If he had HUGE brass balls, he'd write up some pardons ahead of time, have the people start building the berms, and station the LA National Guard to keep federal officials away. Then flip the feds the bird when they squealed like little girls.

[Hoodat]

[a real Sheila]

then there’s this-
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/25/louisiana-fishermen-reportedly-getting-sick-cleaning-gulf-bp/Biden

Will this awful drama EVER end?

[Uncle Miltie]

Jindal’s a Republican. 0bummer says “Tough luck!”

[Uncle Miltie]

Stop asking for permission, Jindal. Do it, and F*** the forgiveness request.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Preach it! That’s what I’m sayin’. You can bet Gov. Rick Perry won’t be waiting for permission should the spill head for the Texas coast. He’ll tell the feds to shove their permits “where the sun don’t shine.”

[BuckeyeTexan]

I truly believe Obama wouldn’t DARE interfere in any efforts Jindal authorizes at this point. Obama can’t afford the loss of political capital. You just don’t prevent or hamper a State’s efforts to protect itself from the largest environmental disaster to date.

[valkyry1]

Such a sad photo. Next spring all of that will be gone most likely for at few years.