Oil, chemical, coal releases during Hurricane Isaac should have been avoided, environmental groups say

Published: Thursday, September 06, 2012, 4:28 PM     Updated: Thursday, September 06, 2012, 5:26 PM, By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune

At least 93 pollution incidents related to Hurricane Isaac should have been prevented by proper precautions by oil and gas, chemical and coal-handling facilities, representatives of three environmental groups said Thursday. 

"Its completely shameful and irresponsible and inexcusable that seven years after Katrina and Rita, the lessons of those storms, the lessons we were taught by the BP oil disaster, that we have industry's continued business-as-usual approach to showcase the fact that their inaction and their ill preparedness has proven to be dangerous and deadly and unacceptable to the health of our communities, our families and our workers," said Jill Mastrototero, Gulf Coast Campaign director for the Sierra Club.