[StBernard] St. Bernard Parish trained fishermen continue deployment of protective booms

[Westley Annis]

St. Bernard Parish trained fishermen continue deployment of protective booms


Subsurface Dispersant testing conducted in the past 24 hours, awaiting
scientific evaluation, outlook is positive

 

St.  Bernard Parish officials said boom is still being deployed by local
fishermen to protect St. Bernard's coastline from the drifting oil spill in
the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon. A total of 25,000 feet of
hard boom and over 11,000 soft boom have been deployed over the past two
days, covering over six miles of our coast. There have been no confirmed
reports of oil reaching St. Bernard marshes or waters at this time.
Additionally, inspectors are being assembled to go to each of the zones
where the booms have been deployed to ensure they were able to stay in place
after the recent inclement weather.

 

Subsurface disbursing tests were conducted over the past 24 hours, which
injected disbursant at the site of the oil leaks underwater to determine how
effective the disbursant is at breaking up the oil. This method hasn't been
used since 1996, but officials are awaiting scientific evidence to determine
whether this will be an effective method of disbursing the oil underwater.
Multiple aerial surveillance resources have been deployed to determine its
effectiveness. Preliminary reports suggest there are gaps being seen in the
water where there was previously oil, indicating that the oil may be
breaking up under water. 

 

Training continued today for commercial and charter fisherman of St. Bernard
Parish, who may be called in the near future for employment to assist in
additional boom deployment and post-contamination cleanup as needed.
Fishermen can continue to sign up through the website at www.sbpg.net
<http://www.sbpg.net/>  at the Contact Us button, by email to
kbazile at sbpg.net <mailto:kbazile at sbpg.net>  or by phone to the Office of
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at 504-278-4268. All
volunteering fishermen must include the Vessel Name, Owner/Captain Name,
Contact phone, email and address, Vessel Length, Horsepower and Draft. 

 

Additionally, access has been restricted at Shell Beach and Breton Sound.
Fishermen are asked not to report to the launch points without proper
authorization. Because St. Bernard commercial fishermen have been
financially impacted by the spill, St. Bernard is focusing on linking the
fishermen with BP's Vessel of Opportunity program so they will be
compensated for their efforts.

 

Please monitor the news for additional information. Updates also will be
posted on the parish website at www.sbpg.net.

 

###