Louisiana Oil Spill Information - Updates - Links

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This post provides an overview of the Horizon Deepwater oil spill off the coast of Louisiana. Please add information as it becomes available.

Overview

Following an explosion, fire and sinking of the Transocean Deepwater Horizon drilling rig 130 miles southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana faces an oil spill with potential for serious damage to the environment and much of the Gulf of Mexico seafood industry.

According to government reports, as of April 30, 2010 nearly 2,000 personnel are involved in the response effort with additional resources being mobilized as needed. The federal government has been engaged in the response since the incident occurred April 20.

Incident Facts:

As of April 30, 2010

More than 217,000 feet of boom (barrier) has been assigned to contain the spill. An additional 305,760 feet is available.

To date, the oil spill response team has recovered 20,313 barrels (853,146 gallons) of an oil-water mix. Vessels are in place and continuing recovery operations.

75 response vessels are being used including skimmers, tugs, barges and recovery vessels.

139,459 gallons of dispersant have been deployed and an additional 51,000 gallons are available.

Five staging areas are in place and ready to protect sensitive shorelines.  These areas include:

Biloxi, Miss., Pensacola, Fla. Venice, La., Pascagoula, Miss., and Theodore, Ala.

A sixth staging area is being set up in Port Sulphur, La.

Weather conditions for April 30 - Winds from the southeast at 20 knots, 5 - 7 seas with slight chance of afternoon showers.

126 people were on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig when the incident occurred. 11 remain unaccounted for; 17 were injured, 3 of them critically.  1 injured person remains in the hospital.

In response to the BP oil spill, the Secretary of Defense is authorizing under Title 32 the mobilization of the Louisiana National Guard to help in the ongoing efforts to assist local communities in the cleanup and removal of oil and to protect critical habitats from contamination. As the responsible party in this incident, the government will hold BP accountable for the costs of the deployment.

Important Information

To report oiled or injured wildlife, please call 1-800-557-1401.

To report spill related damage claims, please call 1-800-440-0858.

To report oil on land, or for general Community and Volunteer Information, please call 1-866-448-5816.

For the latest information visit www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com

Oil Spill Cleanup Employment

Commercial fishing vessels needed for oil spill cleanup work - http://www.commercial-fishing.org/forum/index.php?topic=589.0

oil spill cleanup jobs, employment - http://www.louisianashrimp.org/employment.html

Related Links

http://www.epa.gov/bpspill

http://www.emergency.louisiana.gov/

http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/

http://louisianaseafood.com/

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog

Claims and procedures for the deepwater horizon incident - http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/doc/2931/536815/

To report oiled fish or fishing gear at the federal level, call 1-800-info-fda (1-800-463-6332).

To report oiled fish or fishing gear at the state level, visit http://www.gulfcouncil.org/news_resources/oil_spill_gulf_mexico.php#State%20Information

Social Media Links

Twitter:

Oil_Spill_2010

Facebook:

Deepwater Horizon Response

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NOAA is restricting fishing for a minimum of ten days in federal waters most affected by the BP oil spill, largely between Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to waters off Florida’s Pensacola Bay. The closure is effective immediately. For more information please see the attached press release or visit the NOAA website at:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100502_fisheries.html