From the Houma Comet
The spill threatens to have far-reaching consequences.
It could cause widespread damage to wildlife in an area of highly sensitive marshes, wetlands and estuaries that produce one-quarter of the seafood consumed in the USA, said Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La., whose district includes Louisiana's southeast coast. "Every American is going to feel this if it gets as bad as they say it might," he said.
Melancon said he was "waiting for answers" from the federal government as to what equipment was available to stop the oil from spreading, and when it could get there. "You just feel helpless," he said. "This is an area that has been through an awful lot."
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal warned that billions of dollars' worth of coastal restoration projects undertaken after hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005 are at risk. The disaster also could affect a pillar of Obama's energy plan - an initiative announced a month ago that could open up new areas off the Atlantic Coast and elsewhere to offshore drilling.
Local fisherman Acy Cooper said he was frustrated that the cleanup effort - headed by the Coast Guard and the oil rig's operator, global energy giant BP - waited until Thursday to begin recruiting local fishermen to help.
"We should've been the first one they contacted," Cooper said "We know the bayous better than anyone else."
Friday, April 30, 2010
The face of tragedy
PHOTO BY TED JACKSON (nola.com) Worry and concern shows on the faces as Louisiana fishers talk outside the front doors of the council chambers in Chalmette, La. following in an emergency meeting Wednesday, April 28, 2010 to see how they can use their resources to help fight the oil spill spewing from from the Deepwater Horizon oil rig disaster that is threatening the Louisiana coastline and its estuaries.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Hello, Tomorrow
From noaa.gov, tomorrow's prediction of this manmade disaster:
Yes, it's just a prediction and it looks bad.
But we will work through this, right?
Yes, it's just a prediction and it looks bad.
But we will work through this, right?
Anatomy of an oil spill
This is the best depiction of what's going on out in the Gulf right now. Click on picture to go to website.
From livescience dot com
From livescience dot com
I can smell it
Going outside at lunchtime I realized that I could actually SMELL the oil
from the Gulf of Mexico. It's THAT close. WWL radio confirmed that oil
is what I'm smelling by reporting that there have been several calls around
the New Orleans area from people smelling the same thing. It's actually
pretty nauseating.
Thanks, BP.
Navy coming to help with oil spill cleanup
The U.S. Navy sent equipment to help with cleanup of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the Defense Department said Thursday it stands ready to expand its response to the disaster.
Navy spokesman Lt. Myers Vasquez said Thursday that 66,000 feet (20,000 meters) of inflatable boom and seven skimming systems were on their way to the Navy base in Gulfport, Miss. The help is being provided under an existing pollution cleanup agreement between the Navy and Coast Guard.
The Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida is in use as a staging area for more booms, recovery barges, tractor trailers, pumps and other related equipment used by Coast Guard contractors, Vasquez said.
He was unaware of any military personnel who might be sent to help with the cleanup.
The White House has asked the Defense Department to discuss possible additional requests. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the military is assessing how it might help and what resources could be deployed. He did not say how long that might take.
"There is a full-blown effort within this department to try to find the kinds of things that could be helpful," Morrell said.
He said the federal response is far wider than the Pentagon and should involve a close partnership with the energy industry. For example, he said, industrial research on submersible vehicles that can operate at great depth outpaces the military's.
Morrell said the focus of military efforts now is on helping to contain the spill at sea, but that the Pentagon would be ready to offer other kinds of help should the spill reach shore. He would not speculate on what that additional assistance might include, but one possibility would be an influx of U.S. troops to help with shoreline cleanup.
Navy spokesman Lt. Myers Vasquez said Thursday that 66,000 feet (20,000 meters) of inflatable boom and seven skimming systems were on their way to the Navy base in Gulfport, Miss. The help is being provided under an existing pollution cleanup agreement between the Navy and Coast Guard.
The Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida is in use as a staging area for more booms, recovery barges, tractor trailers, pumps and other related equipment used by Coast Guard contractors, Vasquez said.
He was unaware of any military personnel who might be sent to help with the cleanup.
The White House has asked the Defense Department to discuss possible additional requests. Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said the military is assessing how it might help and what resources could be deployed. He did not say how long that might take.
"There is a full-blown effort within this department to try to find the kinds of things that could be helpful," Morrell said.
He said the federal response is far wider than the Pentagon and should involve a close partnership with the energy industry. For example, he said, industrial research on submersible vehicles that can operate at great depth outpaces the military's.
Morrell said the focus of military efforts now is on helping to contain the spill at sea, but that the Pentagon would be ready to offer other kinds of help should the spill reach shore. He would not speculate on what that additional assistance might include, but one possibility would be an influx of U.S. troops to help with shoreline cleanup.
Obama's support (NOT)
Wow, the prez gave a less than 1 minute mention on the upcoming disastrophe.
He said they're sending "swat teams" to inspect all rigs.
And he said they're going to find out what caused the explosion of the rig.
WTF? The Gulf Coast is in danger of an ecological disaster and he's sending SWAT TEAMS???
Help to lay boom
Any fishermen out there who are interested in helping to lay out boom,
here is some contact info:
Be sure to have your Vessel's dimesion/Specs/Location info ready
Call 425-745-8017
Or email
Thanks
Our State Agencies' Activities
Noon 4/29/10: Jindal declares state of emergency (48 hours late)
Actions By State Agencies
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF):
Yesterday (4/28), the Coast Guard began working to protect the Pass-A-Loutre Wildlife Management area by placing 55,000 feet of oil containment boom around the affected area. Due to weather conditions, only around 9,000 feet of boom have been placed at Pass-A-Loutre. The 55,000 feet of boom was requested by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). LDWF has requested 100,000 feet of boom to be staged at Venice. LDWF is working alongside their federal partners today to identify more priority areas to protect. Governor Jindal noted that these priority areas are where there is a concentration of wildlife and nesting birds.
LDWF is working with federal partners to see about the possibility of involving the fishing industry with the clean-up effort. LDWF’s biologists are also assessing the water to determine any potential closures for commercial and recreational fishermen. The earliest closures would come at some point late Friday or early Saturday morning.
After consulting with key fishing industry leaders and fisheries biologists, LDWF is also announcing that a special shrimp season will open this evening at 6PM in the portion of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds commonly-known as the “double-rig line.” “Reports have indicated that a number of large white shrimp are available in this portion of state waters and LDWF is making every effort available to the commercial fishing industry to harvest this marketable crop before the potential impact of the oil spill. These waters will remain open to shrimp harvesting until further notice.
The Governor stressed that Louisiana seafood is currently safe to eat and LDWF and other appropriate agencies will continue to monitor the fisheries. LDWF is also considering partnering with the Department of Corrections to train prisoners to help clean birds that may be impacted by the oil.
A toll-free number has been issued by the federal government to report oiled or injured wildlife. To report affected wildlife call (866) 557-1401.
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ):
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has 40 regional staff members with oil spill and hazard experience deployed.
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA):
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is evaluating models associated with the Caernarvon Diversion to identify the best way to use water from the Mississippi River to help mitigate the impact of the spill on Louisiana’s coast.
Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH)
The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) will be issuing advisories if it is not safe to swim. Additionally, they are monitoring oyster beds and will take appropriate action shortly if oil impacts these areas. At this point, DHH does not anticipate a drinking water problem.
GOHSEP:(Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness)
GOHSEP has deployed its mobile command center to the Unified Area Command in Robert, Louisiana.
Why are they in ROBERT, LOUISIANA?????
Actions By State Agencies
Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF):
Yesterday (4/28), the Coast Guard began working to protect the Pass-A-Loutre Wildlife Management area by placing 55,000 feet of oil containment boom around the affected area. Due to weather conditions, only around 9,000 feet of boom have been placed at Pass-A-Loutre. The 55,000 feet of boom was requested by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). LDWF has requested 100,000 feet of boom to be staged at Venice. LDWF is working alongside their federal partners today to identify more priority areas to protect. Governor Jindal noted that these priority areas are where there is a concentration of wildlife and nesting birds.
LDWF is working with federal partners to see about the possibility of involving the fishing industry with the clean-up effort. LDWF’s biologists are also assessing the water to determine any potential closures for commercial and recreational fishermen. The earliest closures would come at some point late Friday or early Saturday morning.
After consulting with key fishing industry leaders and fisheries biologists, LDWF is also announcing that a special shrimp season will open this evening at 6PM in the portion of Breton and Chandeleur Sounds commonly-known as the “double-rig line.” “Reports have indicated that a number of large white shrimp are available in this portion of state waters and LDWF is making every effort available to the commercial fishing industry to harvest this marketable crop before the potential impact of the oil spill. These waters will remain open to shrimp harvesting until further notice.
The Governor stressed that Louisiana seafood is currently safe to eat and LDWF and other appropriate agencies will continue to monitor the fisheries. LDWF is also considering partnering with the Department of Corrections to train prisoners to help clean birds that may be impacted by the oil.
A toll-free number has been issued by the federal government to report oiled or injured wildlife. To report affected wildlife call (866) 557-1401.
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ):
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has 40 regional staff members with oil spill and hazard experience deployed.
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA):
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is evaluating models associated with the Caernarvon Diversion to identify the best way to use water from the Mississippi River to help mitigate the impact of the spill on Louisiana’s coast.
Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH)
The Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) will be issuing advisories if it is not safe to swim. Additionally, they are monitoring oyster beds and will take appropriate action shortly if oil impacts these areas. At this point, DHH does not anticipate a drinking water problem.
GOHSEP:(Governor's Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness)
GOHSEP has deployed its mobile command center to the Unified Area Command in Robert, Louisiana.
Why are they in ROBERT, LOUISIANA?????
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