News Round Up: May 30, 2011

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Today’s essential reads

FRACKING:

Garrettsville Officials Protest ‘Fracking’

As one driller seeks permits for the first large-scale hydraulic fracturing operation in Portage County, the village of Garrettsville is asking the state of Ohio to put a hold on issuing permits for the process commonly known as “fracking.”

Coal Seam Gas Rally Attracts Thousands

The sentiment of northern suburbs residents was broadcast to the universe yesterday as thousands staged their opposition to coal seam gas mining.

Texas May Soon Make ‘Frack’ Chemicals Public

Texas could soon become the first state to require drilling companies to publicly disclose the chemicals they use to crack tight rock formations in their search for natural gas.

Earthlife Africa Slams Karoo Fracking

Environmental organizations have reacted strongly to comments by a Cape Town professor that hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo would not have a significant impact on the environment.

BP OIL SPILL:

Former BP Chief Tony Hayward Called to Give Evidence in Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Court Case

Tony Hayward, the former boss of BP, will be called back to the Gulf of Mexico to give evidence in the flagship court case against the energy major and its partners over last year’s oil spill.

Gushing Oil Spills Drill Taxpayer Pockets

A year after the largest marine oil spill in history, we must remember that the improbable remains not only possible, but beyond our ability to predict and control. Offshore oil spills are Black Swan Events — extremely hard-to-predict events that carry the risk of major impact. And they come with significant costs.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna on US Environmental Watchlist

The US government put the Atlantic bluefin tuna on an environmental watchlist as a “species of concern” on Friday, and will keep checking for any impact on these fish from the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Editorial: Oil Spill’s Not Over

It’s hard to say what, exactly, is causing the sick fish which now appear to be spread across a wide area of the Gulf of Mexico. Certainly the oil spill comes to mind. But one thing is crystal clear: BP should keep its checkbook open, because this spill isn’t over.

JAPAN NUCLEAR CRISIS:

Fukushima Risks Chernobyl ‘Dead Zone’ as Radiation Soars

Radioactive soil in pockets of areas near Japan’s crippled nuclear plant have reached the same level as Chernobyl, where a “dead zone” remains 25 years after the reactor in the former Soviet Union exploded.

Hong Kong Finds Radioactive Iodine in Fish

A small amount of radioactive iodine-131 has been found in a sample of fish taken from a wholesale market in Hong Kong, the Government said today.

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Stuart H. Smith is an attorney based in New Orleans fighting major oil companies and other polluters.
Cooper Law Firm

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