Coastal Crisis: One Year Later - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC

Crowd at Biloxi shrimp boat dock remembers, laments oil spill

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A large group of fishermen, environmentalists and concerned citizens gathered beside a shrimp boat dock in Biloxi on Wednesday to remember the victims of the BP oil rig explosion, and lament the ongoing impact of that disaster which happened one year ago. More>>

A year after the spill, tourists trickle back to the Gulf Coast

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One year after the BP oil spill in the Gulf, tourism related businesses on the Mississippi Gulf Coast are still struggling to recover their losses. Most business owners are cautiously optimistic that things will be better this year, but they know nothing is certain. More>>

Mississippi barrier islands still recovering from spill

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Louis Skrmetta is hoping for a busy summer season for Ship Island Excursions. Opening day, the family ferry business took more than 500 visitors to the island. That's good news, since last year his business was down by about 60 percent because of the oil spill. More>>

MDEQ director: Perception still a problem with oil spill

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The director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality says she's pleased with the response and clean-up of the oil on this week's one year anniversary of the BP oil spill. Trudy Fisher says the biggest challenge still remaining is perception. More>>

NOAA: All federal waters now open after oil spill

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Just one day before the one year anniversary of the Gulf oil spill, NOAA announced that the last area of federal waters has reopened to fishing. The last 1,041 square miles of Gulf waters immediately surrounding the Deepwater Horizon wellhead is now open to commercial and recreational fishing. More>>

Cat Island clean-up crews making progress

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Clean-up crews contracted by BP are making progress clearing the tar balls and waste oil from Cat Island. The oil giant recently purchased a portion of the island from private owners. More>>

Are stall tactics delaying BP payments?

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Many individuals and businesses along the Mississippi Gulf Coast continue to wait for final payments for costs and damages as a result of the BP oil spill. AJ Giardina spoke with a few individuals who say the Gulf Coast Claims Facility is using delay tactics in sending out checks. More>>

Workers making progress on cleaning barrier islands

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Removing all the oil from Mississippi's barrier islands is a bit like chasing a moving target. As soon as one section of beach is cleaned, the dynamics of wind and waves take over, shifting sand to reveal new sections of tar balls and oil patties. More>>