Lake Maurepas
Coverage of Lake Maurepas in the Nexus archive.
- Two years after ‘red mud’ escaped alumina refinery, LDEQ hasn’t penalized company
Two years after red mud waste from the Atalco Gramercy alumina refinery began escaping into public waterways in Louisiana, the state has not penalized the company, instead engaging in confidential settlement negotiations. Federal courts have paused a citizen lawsuit against Atalco, and recent inspections found ongoing leaks into ditches connected to Lake Maurepas.
- Tropical Storm Bertha plods toward Southeast Louisiana
Tropical Storm Bertha is moving toward Southeast Louisiana, expected to bring rain and wind starting late Tuesday. The National Hurricane Center forecasts landfall in Plaquemines Parish on Wednesday, with tropical storm warnings and storm surge watches in effect. A heat advisory with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees is also in place.
- Scrapped Air Products project could signal stiffer headwinds for CO2 storage
Air Products canceled its $8 billion Louisiana Clean Energy Complex and carbon storage project due to political opposition and public distrust. The company will record a $2.2 billion loss, and analysts suggest the cancellation may signal broader challenges for CO2 storage initiatives.
- Nearly 1.5M people in Louisiana depend on this strip of marsh. But it needs saving.
The New Orleans Land Bridge, a critical marshland barrier protecting 1.5 million people in Louisiana from storm surges and floods, is rapidly disappearing due to erosion, sinking land, and sea level rise. A $101 million project aims to restore part of the 57,000-acre land bridge, which separates Lake Pontchartrain from the Gulf of Mexico and is vital for safeguarding the New Orleans levee system.