U.S. Coast Guard Heartland Office: well59response@gmail.com
NEW ORLEANS — The Unified Command, consisting of the Coast Guard and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO), continue to respond to mitigate public safety and environmental threats from an uncontrolled oil and natural gas discharge in coastal Louisiana.
As of 11:00 a.m., the Unified Command has more than 165 responders supporting response efforts. This includes the deployment of 6 MARCO skimmers, 6 drum skimmers, and a variety of recovery storage equipment. Boom deployment continues, with 15,200 feet of 18” containment boom already in place and 6,800 feet on standby. Responders have also deployed 740 bales of absorbent boom to protect nearby islands. To date, responders have recovered approximately 50,148 gallons of oily water mixture.
Current amount of oil discharged is still unknown at this time. The well control contractor is on-scene and continuing source intervention and control operations. Well intervention equipment, including cutting tools, a capping stack, piping, a crane and storage barges are enroute and being staged. Responders continue to actively monitor weather windows and refine plans to secure the source of the discharge and mitigate impacts to the environment.
In response to the ongoing oil discharge and associated environmental risks, the Coast Guard assumed federal control of pollution response efforts, Thursday, from Spectrum OpCo, LLC. This decision ensures continuity of operations and allows for the continued mobilization of resources necessary to secure the source of discharge and mitigate environmental threats. The Federal On-Scene Coordinator accessed the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund and contracted Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services Inc. as the primary oil spill removal organization for this case. Source control and pollution containment operations have continued without interruption. Information regarding the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund can be found here.
Aerial surveys are ongoing, and air monitoring has not indicated any immediate concerns in the response area. Both the one nautical mile radius vessel safety zone and the two-mile, 2,000 feet elevation temporary flight restriction remain in place. The public should avoid the area to protect themselves and allow responders to safely continue response efforts. The Unified Command will continue to release imagery and updates from the response site.
To date, there has been one oiled bird observed, but not captured. The public is encouraged to report any observation of impacted wildlife to the Wildlife Hotline Phone Number at 832-514-9663. Observations of oil should be made to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802. Individuals or businesses directly impacted by the incident can contact 1-866-601-5880 for assistance and information.
Coordinating agencies and response stakeholders include:
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA)
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
- Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF)
- Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ)
- Louisiana Department of Energy and Natural Resources (LDENR)
- Plaquemines Parish Government
- Forefront Emergency Management (FEM)
- Environmental Safety & Health Consulting Services Inc. (ES&H)
- Clean Gulf Associates (CGA)
- Wild Well Control
- Couvillion Group
The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Media should direct inquiries to well59response@gmail.com.
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