Tuberville, Britt fighting to prevent shutdown of gulf energy development

A coalition of environmental groups filed a petition with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish year-round vessel speed restriction zones and other mitigation measures in the northern Gulf of Mexico to protect Rice’s whales — a whale that was only recognized by NOAA as a distinct species two years ago. NOAA also proposed a rule to establish critical habitat for the whales where they acknowledged critical oil and gas and military activity occurs. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt have signed onto legislation that protects Gulf Coast residents and businesses from