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 170 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 15,300 feet of 18” containment boom already in place and 4,200 feet on standby. Responders have also deployed 972 bales of absorbent boom to protect nearby islands. To date, responders have recovered approximately 60,732 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 currently staged on scene and preparing for operations. Responders continue to actively monitor weather windows and refine plans to secure the source of the discharge and mitigate impacts to the environment.
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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