BP Complaints

NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 24, 2010) – The following information is an operations update from the Unified Area Command for the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Approximately 22,632 personnel are currently responding to protect the shoreline, wildlife and cleanup vital coastlines.

Currently, 1,381 vessels are responding on site, including skimmers, tugs, barges, and recovery vessels to assist in containment and cleanup efforts.

More than 32,000 water samples have been taken throughout the Gulf of Mexico in the search for residual sub-surface oil.

More than 556 tons of recyclable waste, including oily liquid & oily solid waste, has been processed.

To date, 87% of closed fisheries have been reopened.

Approximately 104 miles of Gulf Coast shoreline is currently experiencing moderate to heavy oil impacts-approximately 94 miles in Louisiana, 9 miles in Mississippi and 1 mile in Florida. Approximately 483 miles of shoreline are experiencing light to trace oil impacts-approximately 224 miles in Louisiana, 85 miles in Mississippi, 59 miles in Alabama, and 115 miles in Florida. These numbers reflect a weekly snapshot so that planning and field operations can more quickly respond to new impacts; they do not include cumulative impacts to date, or shoreline that has already been cleared.

Resources:

For information about the response effort, visit www.RestoreTheGulf.gov.

For specific information about the federal-wide response, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/deepwater-bp-oil-spill. To contact the Deepwater Horizon Joint Information Center, call (713) 323-1670.

To submit your vessel as a vessel of opportunity skimming system, or to
submit alternative response technology, services, or products, call
281-366-5511.

To report oiled wildlife, call (866) 557-1401.

For information about validated environmental air and water sampling results, visit http://www.epa.gov/bpspill.

For National Park Service updates about potential park closures, resources at risk, and NPS actions to protect vital park space and wildlife, visit http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/oil-spill-response.htm.

For Fish and Wildlife Service updates about response along the Gulf Coast and the status of national wildlife refuges, visit http://www.fws.gov/home/dhoilspill/.

For daily updates on fishing closures, visit http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov.

For information on assistance loans for affected businesses, visit the SBA’s Web site at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance, call (800) 659-2955 (800-877-8339 for the hearing impaired), or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. 

For information on how to file a claim, visit the Gulf Coast Claims Facility (GCCF) Web site. In addition, www.disasterassistance.gov has been enhanced to provide a one-stop shop for information on how to file a claim and access additional assistance-available in English and Spanish.

Any members of the press who encounter response personnel restricting their access or violating the media access policy set forth by Admiral Allen should contact the Joint Information Center. At the above listed telephone numbers.

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WHAT: The R/V Ocean Veritas will depart Port Fourchon, La., to conduct near-shore, sub-surface monitoring operations off the coast of Louisiana.  This mission is part of the comprehensive subsurface oil monitoring effort being carried out by the Unified Area Command in the Gulf of Mexico as part of the ongoing response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill.  Federal On Scene Coordinator Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft and senior members of the science team will be available to answer questions from credentialed media concerning the upcoming operations and the overall monitoring program. Availability to board the vessel is dependent on operations in preparation for departure.

WHERE: Port Fourchon next to the R/V Ocean Veritas.

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. CDT.

WHO: Coast Guard Rear Adm. Paul Zukunft, Federal On Scene Coordinator,  Ian Heartwell, NOAA Chief Scientist for the research cruise and Captain Perry Rosenthall operator of the R/V Ocean Veritas.

CONTACT: For questions on this event, please contact the Joint Information Center at (713) 323-1670.

NOTE: For safety reasons, participants should wear long trousers, shirts with sleeves and closed-toed shoes in the event the vessel is available to board.

WHAT: A pair of near-shore sub-surface monitoring demonstrations in Mississippi and Louisiana. Credentialed media are invited to Biloxi, Miss., and Venice, La., to receive demonstrations of near-shore aspects of the ongoing Sub-Surface Monitoring and Assessment Program. This program is designed to help oil spill responders best track and understand the fate of sub-surface oil and oil remnants in the Gulf of Mexico.

EVENT IN BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI:

WHERE: The tour and briefing in Biloxi, Miss., will take place on board a vessel in the Biloxi Bay.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

WHO: U.S. Coast Guard Lt. John Garr and Gary Petrae, NOAA Scientific Support Team.

CONTACT: Reservations are required. For reservations or questions, please contact the Joint Information Center at the ICP in Mobile: (251) 445-8965.

NOTE: For safety reasons, participants must wear long trousers, shirts with sleeves and closed-toed shoes.

EVENT IN LOUISIANA:

WHERE: The tour and briefing in Venice, La., will take place on a vessel and will include a demonstrastion of the SNARE Sentinel program at a facility in Venice, La.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. CDT.

WHO: Representatives from NOAA, EPA, and the SNARE Sentinel program.

CONTACT: Reservations are required. For reservations or questions, please contact the Joint Information Center at the ICP in Houma: (985) 493-7835.

NOTE: For safety reasons, participants must wear long trousers, shirts with sleeves and closed-toed shoes.

For information on the response efforts, please visit: www.restorethegulf.gov or www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com.

GONZALES, La. – Approximately 300,000 feet of ready-to-deploy, containment boom is stored at the Lamar-Dixon staging area for the Deepwater Horizon Response, Aug. 29, 2010. The staging area was selected as a distribution point because it is located safely above the flood plane. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew S. Masaschi.

GONZALES, La. – Approximately 1 million feet of ready-to-deploy, sorbent boom is stored at the Lamar-Dixon staging area, Aug. 29, 2010. The staging area was selected as a distribution point because it is located safely above the flood plane. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew S. Masaschi.

GONZALES, La. – Approximately 1 million feet of ready-to-deploy, sorbent boom is stored at the Lamar-Dixon staging area in response to the Deepwater Horizon spill, Aug. 29, 2010. The facility is a central distribution center to many of the forward operating bases within the Gulf region. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew S. Masaschi.

WHAT: A pair of near-shore sub-surface monitoring demonstrations in Louisiana and the Florida Panhandle. Credentialed media are invited to Pensacola Bay, Fla., and Lake Borgne, La., to receive demonstrations of near-shore aspects of the ongoing Sub-Surface Monitoring and Assessment Program. This program is designed to help oil spill responders best track and understand the fate of sub surface oil and oil remnants in the Gulf of Mexico.

EVENT IN PENSACOLA, FLORIDA:

WHERE: The tour and briefing in Pensacola, Fla., will take place on board a vessel in Pensacola Bay.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

WHO: U.S. Coast Guard Lt. John Garr and Ruth Yender, NOAA Scientific Support Coordinator.

CONTACT: Reservations are required. For reservations or questions, please contact the Joint Information Center at the ICP in Mobile: (251) 445-8965.

NOTE: For safety reasons, participants must wear long trousers, shirts with sleeves and closed-toed shoes.

EVENT IN SLIDELL, LOUISIANA:

WHERE: The tour and briefing in Slidell, La., will take place on board a vessel in Lake Borgne.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. CDT.

WHO: NOAA representative and Chelsea Murphy, Staff Scientist at the SNARE Sentinel Program.

CONTACT: Reservations are required. For reservations or questions, please contact the Joint Information Center at the ICP in Houma: (985) 493-7835.

NOTE: For safety reasons, participants must wear long trousers, shirts with sleeves and closed-toed shoes.

Today NOAA reopened 4,281 square miles of Gulf waters off western Louisiana to commercial and recreational fishing. The reopening was announced after consultation with FDA and under a re-opening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.

On July 18, NOAA data showed no oil in the area. Light sheen was observed on July 29, but none since. Trajectory models show the area is at a low risk for future exposure to oil, and fish caught in the area and tested by NOAA experts have shown no signs of contamination.

“Scientists, food safety experts, members of the fishing industry and local, state, federal officials, are working together every day to ensure that seafood from the Gulf is safe to eat,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “We will remain vigilant and continue to monitor and test seafood in reopened waters.”

Between July 26 and July 29, NOAA sampled the area for both shrimp and finfish, including mackerel and snapper.  Sensory analyses of 41 samples and chemical analyses of 125 specimens that were composited into 14 samples followed the methodology and procedures in the re-opening protocol, with sensory analysis finding no detectable oil or dispersant odors or flavors, and results of chemical analysis well below the levels of concern.

At its closest point, the area to be reopened is about 185 miles west of the Deepwater/BP wellhead.  The entire area is heavily fished by fishermen targeting reef fish, menhaden and shrimp.

“Because of our strict adherence to the reopening protocol agreed to by the states and the federal government we have confidence that seafood harvested from this area is free from harmful oil residues and can be enjoyed by consumers around the nation,” said Margaret Hamburg, M.D., Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

NOAA will continue to take samples for testing from the newly re-opened area, and the agency has also implemented dockside sampling to test fish caught throughout the Gulf by commercial fishermen. To view the fact sheet released today on the administration-wide effort to ensure Gulf seafood safety, click here.

Fishing closures remain the first line of defense to prevent contaminated seafood from entering the marketplace. NOAA continues to work closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Gulf states to ensure seafood safety. NOAA and FDA are working together on broad-scale seafood sampling that includes sampling seafood from inside and outside the closure area, as well as dockside and market-based sampling.

The closed area now covers 48,114 square miles, or about 20 percent of the federal waters in the Gulf, which was 37 percent at its height.  On July 22, NOAA reopened 26,388 square miles of Gulf waters off of the Florida Peninsula, and on August 10 opened 5,144 square miles off the Florida Panhandle.

NOAA will continue to evaluate the need for fisheries closures and will re-open closed areas as appropriate.

NOAA has a number of methods for the public to obtain information or be notified when there is a change to the closed area:

• Sign up to receive Southeast Fishery Bulletins by email at SERO.Communications.Comments@noaa.gov.

• Call 1-800-627-NOAA (1-800-627-6622) to hear a recording of the current coordinates in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish.

• Listen to NOAA Weather Radio for messages about the closure.

• Receive text messages on your cell phone about changes to the closed area by texting fishing@gulf to 84469 (visit http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/558107 for more information).

• Follow us on Twitter: @usnoaagov to get a tweet when the closed area changes.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us at www.noaa.gov or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/usnoaagov.

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NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Unified Area Command continues to expand techniques and programs, as part of its aggressive monitoring efforts, to determine the presence of sub-surface oil in the coastal waters of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle. 

“As we continue to expand the scope and resources dedicated to detect, monitor and sample for sub-surface oil and dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico, we continue to leverage a variety of techniques to help us better understand the impacts of the oil spill at all depths,” said Federal On-Scene Coordinator Admiral Paul Zukunft. “We are aggressively monitoring the fate of the oil in the Gulf, and these techniques will help to provide additional information as the full picture becomes clearer.”

Techniques and methods currently employed in near-shore waters include:

• Placement of snare sentinels – innovative strings of absorbent materials, deployed in shallow waters – at a variety of depths to gauge any presence of oil. If oil is detected, qualified sampling personnel are dispatched to obtain water samples which are sent for laboratory tests.
• Sampling with equipment that scoops sediment from areas where the shoreline continues to be impacted. If anomalies are noted or oil is suspected, the sample is sent for testing.
• Trawling for floating tar balls or oiled-debris with specially-equipped, large shrimp boats off the coast. If the presence of oil is detected in an area, qualified sampling personnel obtain water samples which are sent for laboratory tests.
• In coastal and offshore waters, “flourometers” – devices that shine fluorescent light through the water measure the light reflected and refracted back for indications that oil is present – are utilized by responders to screen for oil.
• If the presence of oil is detected in the water column, then qualified sampling personnel obtain water samples which are sent for laboratory tests.  Sediment samples are also taken at designated locations.  If anomalies are noted or oil is suspected, the sample is sent for testing.
• Farther offshore, vessels are outfitted with sampling platforms – called rosettes – that have niskin bottles on them to take water samples to check for sub-surface oil offshore. These samples undergo chemical analysis at off-site locations for concentrations of oil, oil remnants and other compounds.

“A wide variety of U.S. government, private sector, university and other independent vessels are working offshore as part of our aggressive efforts to monitor for any sub-surface oil,” said NOAA Captain Barry Choy, who heads the Sub-Surface Monitoring Unit at ICP Houma. “Together these efforts ensure transparency in our assessment procedures.”

Several Vessels of Opportunity are participating in the sub-surface monitoring effort – transporting personnel and equipment and conduct surveys.

Survey and test data will be evaluated to determine if additional monitoring, sampling and testing are required. Representatives from federal, state and local agencies, the scientific community, industry and academia are working collaboratively in this survey and assessment over the next several weeks.    

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