Oil Pollution Law Firm Serving Plaquemines Parish
According to a U.S. Department of the Interior report, Louisiana lost approximately 2,006 square miles of wetlands between 1932 and 2016. Coastal wetlands are ecologically important to wildlife and they are also important to humans. Coastal wetlands prevent flooding and erosion, which can protect Louisiana residents in the event of hurricanes. Wetlands are also important habitat for fish and birds. Yet, these wetlands are threatened. Sea level rise due to climate change is one factor. Stronger hurricanes are another factor. And oil and gas activities in Louisiana have also been blamed for coastal erosion. According to the Advocate, Plaquemines Parish is the center of a legal battle that can have major consequences for the oil industry, for the environment, and for the people who live in Louisiana.
The cost of coastal restoration when damage occurs can be immense. The question of who pays for this damage has been up for debate. Local government doesn’t always have the resources to afford important coastal restoration measures. Recent lawsuits are trying to hold oil and gas companies financially accountable for the impact that oil and gas pipes and oil and gas drilling has had on the local environment.
Who is impacted by coastal wetland damage? All of us. But the damage is felt most acutely by commercial fishermen who rely on the wetlands for their catch, and on individuals whose homes or properties are near the wetlands, and who have seen their land get polluted by oil and gas. Coastal erosion can put coastal homes at risk in the event of a storm. Oil and gas companies are being cited in several major lawsuits regarding the damage oil and gas exploration in the area has caused.
The Advocate notes that oil and gas drilling began in the Bayou Gentilly Oil Field in 1941. Since then, the wetlands have decreased by 62 percent. Canals have been cited as being to blame, as has the pollution of the water. Analysis of the sediment in the marsh indicates that there are dangerous toxins present.
Citizens who eat locally sourced fish and who drink local water are rightfully concerned. Stag Liuzza is an oil pollution law firm serving Plaquemines Parish in Louisiana that is currently taking on cases involving polluters. If your land or water was contaminated as a result of oil and gas exploration or if you have questions about what your rights might be, reach out to Stag Liuzza today.
Louisiana Wetland Loss
The U.S. Department of the Interior report indicates that wetland loss is slowing down, but this may only be due to the fact that the region hasn’t seen a major hurricane in a few years and due to the fact that many of the most vulnerable wetlands may have already been lost. Coastal restoration can have an impact in slowing down wetland loss, but this costs money. Unfortunately, the tab has often been left to the taxpayers. Now, lawsuits brought forth by law firms like Stag Liuzza are trying to hold the polluters responsible for paying the bills for property damage. Oil companies have made billions of dollars off of Louisiana oil. It might be about time they be held accountable for the damage they may have done. Have questions about the lawsuits or whether you may have a claim? Reach out to Stag Liuzza.
Plaquemines Parish Water Pollution
Citizens of Plaquemines Parish have been starting to fight back against oil and gas companies that may have contributed to water pollution in the region. When oil and gas companies release polluted water into the waterways, this water can sometimes enter the water table, which becomes the water we drink. If you are concerned about the safety of your water, you are not alone. There have been several reports in Louisiana about contaminated water due to oil and fracking activities in the state. If you have questions about your rights regarding polluted water, consider reaching out to Stag Liuzza, a firm who has handled cases for residents who believe their water or land may have been polluted due to oil, gas, and industry in Louisiana.
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Our physical office is located in New Orleans, however, we service clients throughout the state of Louisiana and nation wide.