[StBernard] All affected Parish Presidents met with Gov. Jindal and National Incident Commander Admiral Thad Allen to discuss permitting of the Barrier Island Plan

[Westley Annis]

All affected Parish Presidents met with Gov. Jindal and National Incident
Commander Admiral Thad Allen to discuss permitting of the Barrier Island
Plan

St. Bernard Parish receives 30,000 feet of hard boom today

 

 

Governor Bobby Jindal and the U.S. Coast Guard National Incident Commander,
Admiral Thad Allen met with St. Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro, Jr.
and St. Bernard Parish Councilmen Wayne Landry, Ray Lauga and Fred Everhardt
as well as all parish presidents affected by the oil spill and New Orleans
Mayor Mitch Landrieu at the Port of New Orleans for a meeting this afternoon
regarding the proposed barrier island plan. 

 

A panel of experts and scientists provided vital information for the
approval of this 24-section plan. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has
permitted six of the plan's 24 proposed sections, making up 40 miles of
coastline. BP only has been mandated by the U.S. Coast Guard to build one
permitted section of this plan, which only covers a two-mile stretch of
coastline. The meeting's purpose was to educate those agencies who are able
to facilitate the mandating of BP to build the remaining five U.S. Corps of
Engineers permitted sections of the barrier island plan and review the
remaining 18 sections which are not yet permitted.

 

"I really enjoy seeing the parish presidents come together as whole to
protect our coastline against this man-made tragedy that has come before
us," Councilman Everhardt said. "I think Governor Jindal will stand behind
us as a whole, and I hope and pray that the federal government goes ahead
and issues the go ahead for the barrier island plan."

 

"If BP is mandated to build the remaining permitted sections of the plan
then this meeting was productive. If not, it was a waste of time," St.
Bernard Parish President Craig Taffaro said. 

 

"It's time for the federal government to take their rightful position to not
just say that BP is the responsible party, but to act like BP is the
responsible party," Councilman Landry said. "Quit the planning and just get
down to doing it." 

 

St. Bernard Command Centers oil response operations received a large amount
of hard boom - approximately 30,000 feet. The weather caused no disruption
to operations today, and crews deployed 22,300 feet of hard boom and 4,400
feet of soft absorbent boom. Four over flights of St. Bernard Parish waters
and marshes reported no significant sightings of oil. Louisiana Wildlife and
Fisheries is investigating a report of an oiled pelican. The trawling
vessels deployed to detect tar balls reported no tar balls found today.

 

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