[StBernard] Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zone Around All Deepwater Horizon Protective Boom, Operations in Southeast, La.

[Westley Annis]

Coast Guard Establishes Safety Zone Around All Deepwater Horizon Protective
Boom & Operations in Southeast LA
The New Orleans Captain of the Port, under the authority of the Ports and
Waterways Safety Act, has established a 100- meter safety zone surrounding
all Deepwater Horizon booming operations and oil response efforts taking
place in Southeast Louisiana. Vessels must not come within 100 meters of
booming operations, boom, or oil spill response operations under penalty of
law. 

The safety zone has been put in place to protect members of the response
effort, the installation and maintenance of oil containment boom, the
operation of response equipment and protection of the environment by
limiting access to and through deployed protective boom.

In areas where vessels operators cannot avoid the 100-meter rule, they are
required to be cautious of boom and boom operations by transiting at a safe
speed and distance.

Violation of a safety zone can result in up to a $40,000 civil penalty.
Willful violations may result in a class D felony.

Permission to enter any safety zone must be granted by the Coast Guard
Captain of the Port of New Orleans by calling 504-846-5923.

For information about the response effort, visit
www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com - ### -